₦airaland Forum

By Ameh Comrade Godwin


Drama occurred in Iyana Ejigbo area of Lagos State recently as a man sacked his wife for refusing to scream while being raped by robbers in presence of her husband.

The incident, which happened around Bello Street left many people in confusion.

It was gathered that the heavily armed gunmen had invaded their house around 3am and demanded for money.

DAILY POST gathered that the man, whose identity was given as Baba Eneh, a native of Owukpa in Ogbadibo LGA of Benue State told the robbers that he only had N3’500 at home.

A resident of the area hinted our reporter that Baba Eneh, a road transporter begged the robbers to leave them after collecting the money, saying that they just got married and trying to settle down.

Angered by the man’s inability to provide money, the robbers descended on the wife and started raping her.

Drama occurred during the incident as instead of the woman to scream for help, she was moaning in excitement.

“Instead of her to cry for help, she was busy making some funny sounds, an indication that she was enjoying the sex, even in the presence of her husband,” the source said.

After the robbery incident, the man reportedly ordered her to leave the house on the ground that she disgraced him.

According to the source, it is against the gods of Owukpa for a married woman to sleep with another man.

The man, who was apparently afraid of dying, asked the wife to return to her village until the necessary sacrifices are done.

When DAILY POST contacted the chairman of Owukpa Youths Ambassador chairman in Lagos, Samuel Adikwu, he said the group was aware of the development but failed to give further details because it was a ‘family affair.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


A man identified as Chudi who reportedly cohabited with a lady known as Ginika in Lagos without properly engaging her in marriage before she died in his custody, will now marry her corpse before she will be buried.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the embattled Chudi has agreed to pay N800,000 to the family of the deceased as part of the marriage rites including her bride price.

It was gathered that Ginika’s family has insisted on collecting N5 million, but after much pleading the parties arrived at the price.

This was an agreement reached by both families as a way of settling the matter with the police before Chudi was granted administrative bail to travel for the marriage proposal to the corpse of the lady.

P.M.EXPRESS had reported that Chudi landed in trouble after he took custody of late Ginika as wife without paying her bride price and the consent of her family.

He lived with the woman at Idimu, Lagos and they had two kids before she died at an undisclosed private hospital where she went to deliver her third baby.

The supposed husband, Chudi went to her family to report the death but was arrested and handed over to the police for abduction and suspected murder.

Both the suspect and the deceased were from the Eastern part of the country.

The matter was reported to the Police at Area M Command, Idimu following a petition by the deceased family to the Area Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Austin Akika who ordered one Inspector Odion to investigate the allegations.

It was gathered that the deceased family in the petition alleged that Chudi abducted late Ginika some years ago and hid her from the family who has been looking for her in those years and discovered that it was Chudi that abducted and killed her.

Meanwhile, all the years they have lived together, our correspondent gathered the late wife had requested that Chudi should go to her family and formalize the relationship according to the Igbo culture and tradition and he promised but never did.

So Chudi will now marry her corpse for peace to reign between the families.

By Seun Opejobi


A 14-year-old rape victim, Abasiya Tukur has slashed the manhood of her attacker identified as Bishir Yau with a razor blade while attempting to free herself from his grips in Katsina State.

This was disclosed by police prosecutor, Kabir Mohammed, while arraigning 30-year-old Yau before a Senior Magistrate Court in Katsina State.

Yau of Yargase village in Kankara local government area of the state was arraigned on a count charge of rape, on Monday.

Mohammed told the court that Yau had sometime last month allegedly lured Tukur who resides in the same house with him, into a nearby uncompleted building, and “forcefully had unlawful sexual intercourse with her.”

The prosecutor noted that the offence was contrary to section 283 of Penal Code law.

The police, through its First Information Report with number; KT/741X/17 , read to Yau’s hearing in court said: “On struggling to get herself from him, She (the victim) brought out a razor blade and cut his penis.”

Praying that the case be adjourned as investigation was still in process, Mohammed said, “It is a case of rape for mention.’’

Consequently, the Magistrate, Hajiya Fadile Dikko adjourned the case to 19 July, 2017, for mention.

She also ordered that Yau be remanded in police custody.

She said, “This court will not ask you whether the allegation read and explained to you is true or false as the offence of rape is only triable by the High Court.

After police investigation, your case file would be taken to Ministry of Justice for legal advice. If a prima facie case is established against you, then you will be tried at the High Court.”

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Who are you?

I am Victoria Ezekiel. I am 19 years old.

How did you know Alhaji?

I was selling corn at Nizamiye Turkish hospital, Jabi, Abuja and he used to buy from me. He informed me that he needs a cook and asked if I could prepare Tuwo, rice and other local foods and I said I could. So, he took me to his house on Friday October 7, 2016 and he asked me to resume duty on Saturday. When I went to his house in Karmo, I saw Martha and Nurse Gift. There was one other girl; a house help named Gift. I started working in the house and he agreed to pay me N15,000 monthly.

On December 20, when I was in the kitchen, I felt dizzy and I fell down. I later called Alhaji on the phone that I wasn’t feeling well and wanted to go home. He offered to take me to the hospital. I waited for him till 8pm but he didn’t show up. I normally close by 7pm. He took me to the Federal Staff hospital, Jabi. The doctor examined me and said I had malaria. I was given a form which Joy (Odama) helped me to fill. When we returned home, Alhaji said it was late and that I should sleep over. Joy, Nurse Gift, a girl we call ‘small Gift’ and I went to bed. In the midnight, I wanted to urinate and I saw Joy lying down beside me.

In the morning, I couldn’t stand up. I could only hear noise in the apartment. They rushed me to the hospital, gave me drip and I felt better. It was later I heard that Joy died and I was asking what happened to her. The doctor was also surprised. He asked me if it was the girl that filled my form the night before. We were waiting for Alhaji to come and settle the bill but he didn’t show up till 6pm.

What happened after you were discharged?

Alhaji came to take me home and I also called my sister to come to his place to pick me. Because my legs were swollen, I couldn’t walk, so she came with a cab and took me home. It was sometimes in January, 2017 when Alhaji called me on the phone and said they had buried Joy and that he gave her mother N200,000. He was telling me stupid things before he inquired about my health. He later told me that I would need to make a statement. I went to his house and we went to Karmo Police Station and a policeman said that I should mention Alhaji’s neighbour who lived upstairs as the person that locked the generator door. I told him I didn’t know the person, and besides, I was sick then and why should I lie against the man? Alhaji hit me on the back and called me a fool in Hausa.

When I got home, I informed my mother about what they asked me to say at the police station.

me on the back and called me a fool in Hausa.

When I got home, I informed my mother about what they asked me to say at the police station.

Can you remember other things he told you about Joy’s death when he spoke to you on the phone?

He said he had settled Joy’s case and that he gave the mother N200,000 and the DPO N1m to cover up the case.

Why do you think he told you all that?

I don’t know. I was surprised that he didn’t call me to ask about my health, but instead, he was telling me all these things.

Why do you think the policeman asked you to lie against his neighbour?

I don’t know, maybe they wanted to implicate the neighbour. They wanted me to lie that it was generator fume that made us sick.

How many of you took ill?

First, I was the only one and later, I heard that Joy died. When we got to the hospital, Alhaji was saying it was generator fume that made me sick but the doctor said there was nothing like that. He said I had malaria.

Do you remember eating or drinking anything before you too became sick?

I ate rice in the morning on that day. I was cooking spaghetti for lunch when I became dizzy. But I remembered that I was given an injection by Nurse Gift when my private part was itching a day before. I had a drug I used to take for toilet infection, so the nurse offered to give me injection. She wanted to give me a second one but I declined. She gave me the injection on a Tuesday. It was the next day I felt sick and was taken to the hospital.

How many girls were in Alhaji’s house when you fell sick?

They were Nurse Gift and small Gift, Martha and Joy. Many girls used to come there.

What do they come for?

They come for sex with him. He gives them money after sleeping with them. They would enter his bedroom and lock the door. There was a certain day he asked me to boil water for him so he could take his bath. I mistakenly opened the door and he was sucking their private parts. All the girls were all naked including him. Some married men always come too. Sometimes, he shares bags of rice to them.

Do you know most of them?

Some of them come from Gwagwa and Nyanya. I didn’t have the time to ask them questions. All I did was to serve them food when they visit. Initially, I was working with a house help, Faith, but he sacked her.

Why did he sack her?

The girl lived in Agura. One day when she was going home, he offered her a lift and she refused to enter his car because the residents see Alhaji as an evil person. She declined the offer because she didn’t want people to see her with him. The next day in the morning, he asked her why she refused to enter his car, but she couldn’t speak very well being a village girl. She only said ‘no.’ He sacked her and took her to Karmo Police Station. The DPO asked her why she refused to enter the car, she didn’t respond and Alhaji asked her to go.

Are you aware if Alhaji did anything to Joy the day she slept in his house?

I didn’t know because I slept off the moment we got back from the hospital. But the day she came, I saw her inserting something into her private part, something that looked like a cotton ball. I later learnt that it was Nurse Gift that asked her to do a swab for medical test. One Baba was coming to the house and he would write something like Arabic. He would be saying ‘Zar ka kawo kudi,’ meaning he would bring the money, he would bring it by God’s grace.

He is a Mallam?

Yes.

How many times has Joy visited the house?

The first day she slept there was the day she died. Alhaji called her that I was sick and that she should come and take me to the hospital. After she assisted me in the hospital, she was asked to sleep over because it was late. I usually go home around 7pm every day. We were four that slept in the house that night. The house is a 3-bedroom apartment.

Did the then Karmo DPO visit the house?

Yes, he used to come to Alhaji’s house. They are very close. Anytime he visits, Alhaji would offer him suya and wine. Sometimes, Alhaji would ask me to fry pieces of meat for the DPO.

Did Adamu ever attempt to have sex with you?

Yes and I refused. He was telling me to come into his room and I said for what? He said were those entering his room not my mates. I said you called me your daughter yet you are pestering me for sex. He persisted. But there was a day he asked me again and the nurse knocked at the door, he then left me.

Does he sleep with the nurse too?

Yes, he does.

Sodiq Oyeleke


A section of the Apapa Wharf will be shut down for one - year to enable its construction.

The Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, said this at the official signing of Memorandum of Understanding and handing over of the project to the sponsors.

The N4.34bn project is jointly sponsored by Dangote, Flour Mills companies and Federal Government.

The two kilometres road construction between the Nigerian Port Authority and end of the bridge is expected to take one - year starting from Saturday.

He explained that the use of AG Dangote for the construction was to give the road a better outlook with the use of concrete.

According to the minister, the construction is to resolve the challenges usually encountered on the road.

While commending the sponsors of the project, the minister appealed to road users and stakeholders to persevere.

He said, “ We are embarking on what will be the final solution to the massive inconvenience . Businesses and residents in Apapa and its environment have had to endure for a couple of years.

“ I like to acknowledge the leadership role of Dangote and Flour Mills who are operators and have also contributed to make this reality. They are doing this as a total Corporate Responsibility without asking for tax holiday or reduction . We are also working on how to ensure free access to Tin Can Island.

“ From today that we are handing over the project, the road will take one year to be completed. We need the cooperation of all the stakeholders . There will be some discomfort on the way but we appeal for tolerance and perseverance. It will continue to get better , people should please ensure more to solve the challenge. ”

Engr Joseph Makoju from Dangote, said it was co -sponsoring the project to provide an enabling environment for businesses in the area.

He said, “ This is part of our CSR. Businesses have to engage the community where they operate. Today ’ s CSR has gone to a higher level where we find ourselves embarking on a major infrastructural project, ” he added.

The Managing Director of Flour Mills, Paul Gbededo, urged the Federal Government to place priority on repairing other sections of Apapa.

He also sought the cooperation of other stakeholders and road users during the construction period.

He said, “Apapa has become a very difficult place to work. With this project that the Federal Government has allowed to embark on, it will give succour to business . It has the biggest port in Nigeria and should not be taken with levity.

lalasticlala

A Fulani herdsman, who recently abducted and raped a 22-year-old housewife in Oke Ogun area of Oyo State, Abubakar Mojumba, has explained to the police how he carried out the nefarious act. Speaking after he was paraded alongside other armed robbery suspects by the Oyo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Abiodun Odude, at the Eleyele Police Headquarters in Ibadan, Mojumba, said:
“When we stormed our victim’s residence and abducted her, we collected her husband’s phone number, took his bicycle with which we took the wife away and we kept her with us for four days.

“The following day after the abduction, we went back to the house to drop our phone numbers for easy negotiation of the ransom.” Mojumba (21), who spoke through an interpreter, confessed that he took part in the crime because of the promise of a motorcycle by his partner- in-crime, adding that he and three others stormed the house and robbed the family. “My colleagues promised to give me a motorcy-cle after the ransom must have been paid.

But, now all of them ran away.” While addressing journalists, Dude said: “On June 7 at about 01.00hrs, the suspect and others now at large, conspired together and kidnapped a 22-year-old female victim from her residence at Eelworm village, Iguana to a thick forest in I were-Ile where she was held hostage for three days and sexually abused before she was rescued from her abductors.

“While abducting the victim, the hoodlums also stole her husband’s motorcycle with which she was taken away. The suspect was later arrested with the assistance of the villagers while trying to negotiate ransom with the victim’s family members.”

The police commissioner, however, said the command was still on the trail of the other fleeing suspects and that they would soon be brought to justice. Also paraded were two armed robbery gangs who allegedly terrorised motorists along the Iwere-Ile-Igangan- Ago Awaye-Iseyin Road.

Two of the robbers were identified as Janyu Bello (25) and Aliyu Lawal (20). The second gang allegedly robbed 16 houses in three communities including Keta, Wisdom Estate and Idi Iroko along Olorunda Road Odude said the suspects actually belonged to a fiveman armed robbery gang who laid siege to Iwere-Ile- Igangan Road on June 2 at about 1600hrs and robbed innocent travellers of their valuable property including cash.

Among items said to have been recovered from the suspects are two locally made barrel guns, five mobile phones, a waist pouch containing two wrist watches, a black singlet laced with assorted charms and N26,000. Others were12 vehicles, one motorcycle, three long cutlasses, twelve assorted wrist watches, two gold pendants, a pair of gold earrings, four power banks and several others.

By Ismail Mudashir & Musa Abdullahi Krishi


The structure of the National Assembly belongs to the Federal Government, that’s a fact. But this set of people who have remained in the National Assembly for close to two decades have taken ‘ownership’, so to speak. As far as the affairs of the National Assembly are concerned, they must be reckoned with, and their roles cannot be pushed aside. While some of these ‘landlords’ have spent 18 years at the National Assembly, some are in their 14th year. Of them, only one has stayed put in the Senate, and another has done same at the House of Representatives. The duo have been there since 1999, dictating the direction of the lawmaking ‘factory’.

Aside the aforementioned two, there is another set who have moved from the lower to upper chamber. One of those in this category has been at the National Assembly since 1999. They know, inside-out, the two chambers. The last of them are those who have been in the Senate and House of Reps since 2003.

Daily Trust reports that with this set of people, the country’s legislature is being strengthened and the legislative arm is getting ripe to a level whereby lawmakers would spend decades making laws, as obtained in the United States. Top on the list are Senator David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark, Senator Ahmad Lawan and Rep Nicholas Ebomo Mutu. The trio have been at the National Assembly since the return of democracy in 1999. They have played key roles in enactment of many laws.

Senator David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark (PDP, Benue, 1999-date)

Born in 1948, the retired military officer came to the National Assembly in 1999 when the country embraced democracy after many years of military rule to represent the people of Benue South Senatorial District. The former military administrator of Niger State and Minister of Communication rose to the topmost seat of the legislature in 2007 when he became the Senate President. For eight years, he occupied that position, making him the longest-serving Senate President.

Mark, who succeeded Ken Nnamani, was succeeded by the incumbent Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki. He was unable to retain the coveted seat in 2015 following the defeat of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Two years into the life of this Senate, Senator Mark has not contributed to any debate on the floor and he is not a member of any standing committee. He is now a loner, and one of the ‘landlords’ of the National Assembly.

Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan (APC, Yobe, 1999-date)

Lawan (57) also came to the National Assembly in 1999. While Mark was sworn in for the Upper Chamber, Lawan had his for the Lower Chamber. He remained at the House until 2007 when he stepped up to the Senate. The Yobe-born teacher, who has a Doctorate Degree in Remote Sensing was the preferred candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Senate Presidency in 2015 when the Eighth Senate was inaugurated.

In January this year, Lawan became the Senate Leader. His knowledge of the workings of the legislature is superb, according to his colleagues. He on this Monday said he has spent 18 years in the National Assembly.

Rep Nicholas Ebomo Mutu (PDP, Delta, 1999-date)

The 57-year-old lawmaker came to the House at the inception of this current democratic dispensation. He won election to represent Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency of Delta State at the age of 39. He has been winning elections since then.

Mutu has been operating underground, so to speak, and has been heading the House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) from 2009 to date. The soft-spoken Delta lawmaker rarely contributes to debate on the floor of the House and hardly grants interviews, but he appears to be in firm grip of his committee, as could be seen during the panel’s sittings with government officials.

Senator Ike Ekweremadu (PDP, Enugu, 2003-date)

A lawyer-turned-politician, Senator Ekweremadu was first sworn in to represent Enugu West Senatorial District in 2003, after chairing Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State. At the moment, he is the longest-serving presiding officer in the National Assembly, having served for eight years as Deputy Senate President (2007-2015) under Mark.

Born in 1962, Ekweremadu collaborated with the APC Senators to emerge as the Deputy Senate President when the Eighth Senate was inaugurated in June 2015. He is very familiar with letters of the Constitution and rules of the Senate. He has been a presiding officer for 10 years.

Rep Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos, 2003-date)

Gbaja, as he is popularly called, came to the House in 2003 to represent Surulere 1 Federal Constituency of Lagos State at the age of 40. He first served as House Minority Whip from 2007, and later became Minority Leader, a position he held up to 2015.

Gbajabiamila is one lawmaker that commands a lot of respect from his colleagues largely due to the way he articulates his ideas and thoughts each time he speaks on the floor of the House as his colleagues listen with rapt attention whenever he contributes to a matter.

Gbajabiamila is arguably the most outspoken member of the House and the most accessible, able to respond to a journalist’s inquiry even on a walkway. Although he contested for the position of speaker on June 9, 2015 and lost to Speaker Yakubu Dogara, he was compensated with the position of House Leader. The Lagos lawmaker, who will soon turn 55, has become an authority of a sorts, as far as lawmaking is concerned.

Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno, 2003-date)

Born in 1959, Ndume was first sworn in to represent Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza in 2003. He represented the Federal Constituency until 2011 when he moved forward to represent the Benue South Senatorial District. He was in 2007 made the minority leader while he was in the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP).

At the inauguration of the Eighth Senate in 2015, he was made the Senate Leader, the position he occupied until January 10, this year when he was removed.

However, his stay at the National Assembly received a deadly blow when he was suspended in March over the point of order he raised, demanding the probe of Saraki and Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi) over SUV car and certificate scandal, respectively.

Senator James Manager (PDP, Delta, 2003-date)

Manager (56) was sworn in as a senator in 2003 to represent Delta South and since then he has been at the Senate, chairing various committees. A graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he studied law, he currently chairs the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals. He is respected by his colleagues for his grasp of the workings of the Senate. He, of course, is one of the ‘landlords’ as well.

Rep Leo Ogor (PDP, Delta, 2003-date)

Leo Okuweh Ogor, as he presents himself each time he speaks on the floor, is the Minority Leader of the House. He has been representing Isoko North/Isoko South Federal Constituency of Delta State since 2003. He had served as Deputy House Leader during the last assembly.

Ogor, 58, is one lawmaker that easily convinces his colleagues by arguing a matter logically. Like Gbajabiamila, Ogor is one of the most outspoken members of the House. Not only does he command respect among his colleagues, he wields a lot of influence in the House and attracts lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties to his office at all times.

During the last leadership contest in the House, Ogor secretly nurtured the ambition of becoming the deputy speaker, but he did not succeed. Though not a lawyer, Ogor competes with the lawyers in the House with the way he understands the lawmaking business.

Senator John Owan Enoh (APC, Cross River, 2003-date)

Born in 1966, Enoh who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance was first sworn in to occupy a seat at the House of Representatives. In 2015, he contested and worn the Cross River Central Senatorial District. He was sworn in on June 9th, 2015.

The lawmaker recently decamped to the APC from the PDP. He is one of the landlords of the National Assembly as he has been there for 14 years. At the House of Representatives, he chaired the Committee of Finance and Appropriation at different times.

Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda (PDP, FCT, 2003-date)

Born in Karu in the Federal Capital Territory, Aduda (47) is the bona fide ‘landlord’ of the National Assembly being the representative of the FCT where the National Assembly is situated.

Fondly called ‘Landlord’ by his colleagues, Aduda was first sworn in at the House in 2003 and he was there until 2011 when he stepped up to the Upper Legislative Chamber. At the inauguration of the Eighth Senate, he was made the minority whip.

Yakubu Barde (PDP, Kaduna, 2003-date)

Barde has been representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency of Kaduna State since 2003. He is the current Minority Whip of the House. Vocal and outspoken, Barde has been a frequent face on the floor of the House as he hardly misses plenary sittings, except on few occasions.

He has lent his voice to some critical national issues. By virtue of his long stay in the House and the role he played during the last leadership contest in the House, Barde is considered one of the power brokers in the House. Being a graduate of agricultural economics, the Kaduna lawmaker has legislative interest on agriculture, financial crimes and anti-corruption.

Kabiru Marafa Achida (APC, Sokoto, 2003-date)

Achida, who represents Wurno/Rabah Federal Constituency of Sokoto State, is one lawmaker that does not play to the gallery. He first came to the House in 2003 and has been a constant election winner since then.

He has been a member of committees such as appropriations, civil society and donor agencies, information and national orientation, interior, NDDC, public petitions, among others.

Always sitting at the front row alongside other ranking members of the House, Achida, now 55, does not attract much attention to himself, but he is certainly one of the silent power brokers in the House owing to his long stay in the Green Chamber.

Jagaba Adams Jagaba (1999-2003, 2007-date)

Jagaba Adams Jagaba, who chairs the House committee on interior, won election to the House in 1999. After serving his 4-year term, he re-contested election in 2003 but lost. However, he staged a comeback in 2011 and has been in the House since then, cementing his status as one of the ‘landlords’ of the NASS.

A close ally of Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Jagaba is considered one of the strong men of the current House. He is equally outspoken and no-nonsense in nature. A fellow of the Institute of Public Administrators of Nigeria, Jagaba, 57, had chaired the House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes during the last assembly.

A driver with in one of the major transport company in Edo State, Anthony Akhimien, has been arrested for allegedly killing his girlfriend.

Police said the suspect killed his girlfriend and dumped the corpse in a bathroom close to his house.

The incident happened at number 17 Akugbe Street, off TV road, Benin City.

It was gathered that the suspect threw the corpse over the fence and it landed inside the bathroom where it was discovered on Friday morning.

A tenant in the house where the corpse was found said the man who found the body thought the girl was still alive.

The tenant, who refused to disclose his name, said the man raised alarm after he discovered that the girl was dead.

He said the discovery sparked fears among other tenants as all of them denied bringing any woman home the previous night.

The Nation gathered that the tenants stormed other nearby houses before they found out that the deceased was brought home by the suspect popularly called DPO.

Residents of the building where the killing occurred have fled the house when our correspondent visited the place on Friday.

It is a universal truth that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned! This is almost prophetic for the poor men who’ve found themselves at the receiving end of a woman’s wrath.

A woman who hails from Chikanga felt that she had enough of her husband’s philandering ways and decided to revenge him by shooting series po_rnographic videos with her lover. According to sources close to the family their marriage is in shambles after, Pastor Mapise (the husband), a cleric with the Anglican church in Harare, came across two po_rnographic videos and several nude pictures in his wife’s phone.

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Pastor-Peter-Mapise-


In an interview the wife, who only identified herself as Mai Mapise, denied that it was her in the video since there is not enough visual evidence to support that it is her in the video.

“I only did this as payback for he has subjected me to a lot of emotional abuse in the course of the marriage.

The videos and pictures that he found in my phone are not even mine; I just got them off the internet. It is him who keeps videos and photos of his lovers in his phone for me to see. I’m done with his disrespect and his promiscuity” she fumed.

She openly called out her husband for being a fake man of God who sleeps around a lot. She showed us several chats which she claimed were between her husband and his lovers.

“I have been waiting for a long time to expose my husband in the public media. I do not care if you put my name or my pictures in the paper for the public to see because I have nothing to lose. Rather, he is the one who’s reputation is at stake as he parades himself as a man of God” she said.

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Mercy-Mapise

In an off the record interview, the man of cloth, Peter Mapise, said he came across pornographic videos of his wife being intimate with one of their flock’s husband when he browsed through her phone. He claims that the affair was exposed in December last year after his wife gave him her phone to help her out with a Whatsapp glitch. The pastor received the shock of his life when he came across the videos.

“Listen, I have the two pornographic videos in my possession which were shot on different occasions. She openly confessed to me that she had been in an adulterous affair since October 2015. However, after a fact seeking mission of my own I can tell you it began much earlier that” he claimed.

By Musa Abdullahi Krishi & Daniel Adugbo



The new Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) before the House of Representatives has expanded the concept of host communities to include some non-oil states.

The Bill, read for the second time yesterday, provides that state where there is a refinery, petroleum depot or where pipeline passes through will draw from the host communities’ funds.

According to the NNPC, Nigeria has 5000 kilometres of pipeline network and twenty-one (21) storage depots. Independent marketers account for over 83 depots spread across the country.

The pipeline networks (depending on the product they are conveying) crisscross states in the West mostly Lagos and South Warri, Port Harcourt, East Aba, Owerri down to the North, Kaduna, Kano and Gombe.

The House yesterday passed three different bills on the petroleum industry for second reading including the Senate version already passed by the upper chamber last month.

Although some lawmakers picked holes in the bill, they allowed it pass for second reading for stakeholders to contribute their quota during public hearing.

The bill provides that the benefits to be derived by non-oil communities will be less than those for communities where oil exploration and production take place.

The bill is titled: ‘A Bill for an Act to provide for a framework relating to Petroleum Host Community’s participation, cost and benefit sharing amongst the government, petroleum exploration companies and petroleum host communities and for related matters.’

Leading debate on the Bill, Rep Joseph Akinlaja (PDP, Ondo), said the draft law provides that there should be a Petroleum Communities Trust Fund as a corporate body for each local government hosting upstream facilities to manage the monies received as payment for hosting petroleum operations.

He said there shall be a board for the fund and that 0.5 percent of the fund would be allocated to local government councils in the affected communities.

He said the federal government shall pay to each fund the following monies: 10 percent of the total amount payable to a state government from its derivation revenue and 20 percent of an aggregate of the total royalties accruing to the federal government to be evenly distributed by all concerned local governments.

Other monies to be paid by the federal government are 50 percent of government receipt from levies for pipelines payable to host communities hosting such pipelines and the local government shall be the general custodian of the monies.

“Host communities include both where oil is produced and where pipeline passes as well as where there’s oil installation which can constitute danger to human beings. Nobody knew 10 years ago that oil would be produced in Lagos.

“Communities where oil is produced suffer different degrees of degradation. There are communities that don’t know night because of gas flaring, because there’s always light, but it is dangerous light.

“The core place where crude oil is mined has different percentage from where flow station is. Where the pipelines pass, they’re also part of the communities, but they’re graded in the bill. There are areas we call impacted communities,” he said.

The lawmaker also said the law would encourage people to come into the country for exploration businesses even before production, which would in turn increase investment, transparency and profitability.

On host communities, he said when there is vandalism, where the pipeline passes suffers, not the communities where the exploration takes place.

The bill passed by the Senate has broken the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) into two commercial entities namely: National Oil Company and the Nigerian Petroleum Assets Management Company.

The NPC would take charge of petroleum products, while the NPMAC would operate as a commercial entity with the responsibility of managing all assets currently held by the NNPC.

The bill also proposed the establishment of the Nigeria Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NPRC) to serve as the regulator responsible for licensing, monitoring, supervision of petroleum operations enforcing laws, regulations and standards across the value chain.

Meanwhile, the House has referred the three bills to a special ad-hoc committee on PIB to be headed by Chief Whip, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, while other members of the panel include Akinlaja, Nwokolo, Reps Emmanuel Yisa Orker-Jev, Musa Sarkin Adar, Ossai Nicholas Ossai, among others.

The NPC would take charge of petroleum products, while the NPMAC would operate as a commercial entity with the responsibility of managing all assets currently held by the NNPC.

The bill also proposed the establishment of the Nigeria Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NPRC) to serve as the regulator responsible for licensing, monitoring, supervision of petroleum operations enforcing laws, regulations and standards across the value chain.

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Chukwudi Akasike, Port Harcourt


DESPITE acting President Yemi Osinbajo ’ s warning against hate speeches and threats from any part of the country, a coalition of Niger Delta militants has insisted on its quit notice to northerners living in the oil- rich region.

The militant groups , in a statement on Thursday , also lamented that none of the leaders of the northern groups that issued the quit notice to the people of the South - East living in the North had been arrested.

Signatories of the statement issued in Port Harcourt, who gathered under the aegis of the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators, are John Duku (Niger Delta Watchdogs ), Ekpo Ekpo (Niger Delta Volunteers) , Osarolor Nedam ( Niger Delta Warriors) , Okon Etete (Niger Delta Peoples Fighters ), and Asukwo Henshaw (Bakassi Freedom Fighters).

Others are Ibinabo Horsfall (Niger Delta Movement for Justice ), Duke Emmanson (Niger Delta Fighters Network) , Inibeghe Adams ( Niger Delta Freedom Mandate ), and Ibinabo Tariah (Niger Delta Development Network ).

The coalition said , “As a follow - up on our previous press release , a joint meeting between the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators and youth leaders across the Niger Delta region held today (Thursday ) in Port Harcourt to review the state of the Nigerian nation and the position of Niger Delta in the Nigerian state. After hours of deliberation ; we hereby resolve as follows :

“ All northerners living in the Niger Delta have been given three- month notice to quit the Niger Delta before October 1, 2017. We still stand by our previous decisions and we demand the immediate return of the oil blocs owned by northerners to Niger Delta people.

“ All oil and gas companies operating in oil bloc(s)/well(s) illegally owned by northerners should also vacate such oil blocs /wells /platforms before October 1 , 2017.

“We demand an immediate relocation of the NNPC headquarters to the Niger Delta and the replacement of the Group Managing Director of the NNPC with an indigene of the Niger Delta region. All offices/boards/agencies that have anything to do with oil and gas should be relocated immediately to the Niger Delta region and all non - Niger Delta directors /staff replaced with Niger Delta indigenes. ”

We don’t know him — Nnewi monarch

When Vanguard visited Nnewi, the industrial city of Anambra state, yesterday, Evans’ arrest was the topic on everyone’s lips. Most of them, particularly traders, described his action as an embarrassment to the city, describing their indigenes as hard-working.

At his palace, the Obi of Umudim, Chief Okafor, stated; “I was told that he hardly came home. It is only the Akamili kindred where he comes from that will be able to give a little account of the young man. It is unfortunate that many people in this village do not know him because he does not have any investment in Nnewi like an average Nnewi man, neither does he own any house here.”

More facts emerge about the arrest

More facts emerged, yesterday, about the circumstances that led to the location of the residence of the kidnap kingpin leading to his arrest, last Saturday. Sources attributed it to an informant residing in Magodo and intelligence reports that revealed identities of his three girlfriends.

It was gathered that after the Inspector-General of police deployed his Intelligence Response Team to track the notorious kingpin, they made huge progress from the documents recovered from his hideout in Igando, Lagos after the miraculous disappearance of his last victim.

The documents reportedly aided them in identifying occupants of that apartment and opened an avalanche of information leading to Evans movement. That was how they discovered that he lives at Magodo area of Lagos State, while other members were also residing in Lagos, Rivers, Abuja, Edo and Anambara States.

N30m IGP reward as a boost

A source who spoke with Vanguard disclosed that the leader of IGP’s team, Abba Kyari, who was tracking their locations had planned to round-up all the suspects, in one swoop, but his plans failed as Evans was always changing locations, making it difficult to get his exact location.

The source who spoke with Vanguard on the condition of anonymity disclosed that, while Kyari was searching for Evans, and has also mobilized some residents of Magodo Estate, giving them clear descriptions of Evans, his vehicles and the name of his security man, IGP, Ibrahim Idris, also announced a bounty of N30million on information that could lead to the arrest of Evans.

This led to the rounding up of three women believed to be Evans girlfriends, and they were identified as Amaka, Ijeoma and Ngozi. The operatives were said to have discovered that Evans was very close to Amaka and he rented an apartment for her in Okota area of Lagos State. Sources explained that Evans was fond of sleeping in Amaka’s house on a regular basis and they decided to use Amaka to lure him.

His plan to evade arrest

It was further gathered that fearing that Amaka may have been picked by the police, he avoided her as much as he could. However, one of the police informants in Magodo made a breakthrough as the IRT were banking on Amaka, and he called and informed the police that he has located Evans apartment. He also disclosed that Evans has not been seen around his house for a long time and he was believed to have moved out of his house.

Our source revealed that, Evans was highly elusive at this time and he was quite aware that the police were closing in on him and he moved away from his home and relocated to a hotel in Agidigingbi area of Ikeja adding that he also moved his wife and children to Ghana and was trying to dispose some of his properties at the time he was arrested.

The final straw

On the day he was arrested, according to sources, he was said to be unaware that operatives
had located his apartment in Magodo, when he contacted Ama ka on Saturday morning. “He was said to have called her on the phone around 4:15am, without knowing that some policemen were with her and asked her to wait outside her compound to meet him. She reportedly joined him later at the spot and as soon as she got into the car, he attacked her, threatening to kill her for not informing him about the police presence in her house.

Evans was said to have gotten angry and drove away with her in his Grand Cherokee SUV and they had an accident at Iyana-Ipaja area where he abandoned the vehicle, seized Amaka’s phone and asked her to go home. It was from there that he picked a cab to his residence at Magodo to pick some few things towards travelling out of the country. After then, we swooped on him and arrested him inside his bedroom.”

Posted By: Precious Igbonwelundu



Suspected kidnap kingpin Chukwudemeje George Onwuamadike alias Evans is not finding it funny in police custody. He is weeping that he is being held among “common poor criminals”, The Nation learnt yesterday.

The kingpin, who was arrested on Saturday at his 3, Fred Shoboyede Street, Magodo, Lagos home, is being kept in a maximum security cell.

It was gathered that Evans broke down yesterday, lamenting the state of the police cell.

A source said he lamented that after making billions, owning gold, diamond and living like a king, he finally ended up in a cell with poor suspects.

It was gathered that he told his interrogators he has two other detention camps in Lagos.

He was also said to have confessed that he started off as an armed robber in Sokoto State.

The source said: “He has been weeping uncontrollably because he is in a cell with common poor criminals despite all the wealth and mansions he owned.

“He has started talking. He has given us locations of other detention camps he had in Lagos. Aside Igando, he had two others and detectives would visit the place. He also said that his very first robbery was in Sokoto State and that they killed the victim.

“He is still being interrogated and more details would come out after the camps have been visited.”

Meanwhile, The Nation learnt yesterday that Evans has been excommunicated from Nnewi for over five years because of the terror he unleashed on wealthy indigenes of the town.

It was also learnt that his second in command, Felix Chinemerem, a native of Amanagu in Abia State, was also declared wanted in 2014, after his criminal activities led to the killing of many innocent people.

It was learnt that Chinemerem took part in the kidnap of a prominent Nigerian, which prompted policemen to storm the community and allegedly shot randomly, killing villagers.

After the incident, the villagers were said to have moved to kill him but he fled and had not been seen since then.

From NKECHI CHIMA ONYELE

https://www.sunnewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/RESIDENT-300x171.jpg

When Hannah, a native of Benue State, moved in with Matthew a few years ago, she had hoped that they would become husband and wife.

After bearing three female children in quick succession for Matthew, the Tiv native had hoped earnestly that her fourth pregnancy would bring a male child, so that, perhaps, Matthew would do the needful and formally make her his wife.

But all those dreams are gone with the wind now, as the very man Hannah shared a bed with for years has just dispatched her to an early grave after a minor squabble over domestic chores.

Daily Sun gathered that the mother of three, who was eight months pregnant, was beaten to death by her lover on June 6, 2016, in their residence in Lugbe, an Abuja suburb, because she did not wash his clothes.

It was gathered the late Hannah, 30, had spent the greater part of that day at the ante-natal clinic, and by the time she returned home in the evening, she was too tired to do any chores.

Consequently, she had to postpone all the chores to the following day.

Unfortunately for Hannah, her lover, on his return from work, took offence that his clothes were not washed.

The late mother of three was said to have explained and begged her man over her inability to wash his clothes on that particular day, promising to do the laundry the next day.

But all her pleas and explainations were like pouring water on a stone. Matthew promptly descended heavily on his lover. He pummelled her ceaselessly, until she gave up the ghost.

A former neighbour of the couple, Mrs. Precious Igbokwe, told Daily Sun how Matthew made life a living hell for the deceased because she gave birth to only female children.

“I lived close to their apartment as a single lady for over six years; we were close neighbours. Though they were not married legally as confirmed by Hannah, she was hopeful for the future. She really suffered much in the hands of that beast,” Igbokwe said.

She recalled that when the deceased delivered her last girl, her lover abandoned them at the hospital and stopped the neighbours from bathing the baby or assisting the mother.

“Thereafter, he continued maltreating them and calling the baby a bastard. He is a sadist. He doesn’t greet or respond to greetings from neighbours,” she added.

As soon as the incident occurred, Lugbe women took to the streets to protest the gruesome murder of Hannah, whom they described as a rare gem.

Speaking on behalf of Lugbe Women Community, Lan Musa, a native of Kogi State, expressed outrage over the death of the mother of three and called for a stop to domestic violence.

Musa, who has also suffered domestic violence, said Hannah’s death was the third incident of women who have been killed as a result of domestic violence in the locality.

She called on government to take a decisive stand to curb the ugly trend.

Similarly, a friend of the deceased, who she visited on the morning of the day she was killed, Mrs. Felicia Zira, told Abuja Metro with tears in her eyes that: “Hannah complained bitterly how her live-in-lover had been maltreating her for years, beating her uncontrollably, issuing threats to her life.”

“I adviced her to report the matter to her relatives or relevant authorities, like Ministry of Women Affairs, to tackle the domestic violence and stop its recurrence,” she said.

Another of the deceased’s neighbours, Mrs. Joy Ogu, said the the late Hannah lived in fear all through her co-habitation with Matthew, who she respected and adored.

According to her, “In a bid to make life meaningful for herself and children, she engaged in menial jobs in a nearby school, where she sneaked out every morning to clean without the knowledge of her husband, through which she was able to save N10,000 to enable her to set up petty business.

“Painfully, when she started selling kerosine and some foodstuff, he stopped giving them token for feeding, leaving her to worry about their upkeep.”

Ogu lamented that Hannah who desperately craved for a male child, did not live to birth her baby boy.

She said: “Our pastor and some members of the church took her to the mortuary, they evacuated the baby before taking her to the mortuary; they testified it was a handsome male child. What a tragic loss!

“I feel so bad that she died a painful death. Why would a man beat an eight-months-old pregnant woman as if he was in wrestling contest with his fellow man?
“Whitish substances were gushing out from her mouth and he saw her losing life, yet he continued beating her to accomplish his mission,” she said.

Spokesman for the FCT Police Command, ASP Usen Omorodion, confirmed that Matthew was in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department, noting that he would be arraigned in court soon.

“He is with us at the State CID for further investigation. However, we would arraign him in court next week for judgement,” the PPRO said.

Mudiaga Affe, Calabar


A 35 year - old man from Ikot -Okpora village in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State, Okon Ubem, has allegedly killed his wife, Eka Imaobong, after having sex with her in the farm.

The suspect, who will soon be charged to court for murder, is also accused of killing his eight year - old stepson identified as Godswill at the same scene of the incident.

The Cross River State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hafiz Inuwa, stated this in Calabar while addressing journalists.

Inuwa said the suspect was arrested on May 13, 2017 following a tip - off by one John Bassey, adding that he had confessed to the crime and would soon be charged to court.

“ On May 13, 2017, at about 1500 hours, one John Bassey (male ) of Ikot - Okpora village in Biase LGA reported to the Divisional Police headquarters in Akpet Central that one of his tenants, Okon Ubem, went to farm where he murdered his wife , Eka Imaobong, and her eight year - old son , Godswill.

“The suspect confessed to the crime and will be arraigned in court soon," he said.

In an interview with Southern City News, Ubem alleged that he killed his wife because she stole his N40,000.

He admitted that he murdered the stepson because the eight year - old boy insulted him.

Ubem, who did not show remorse for the dastardly act , said he murdered the wife after making love to her in the bush.

“ She stole my N40,000 So, I went to meet her in the farm and killed her . Yes, I made love to her before killing her. I also killed the stepson because he abused me, ” he said.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police has confirmed the arrest of four persons for unlawful possession of 4, 555 national identity cards bearing different names.

He said that on further interrogation, the suspects disclosed that an unidentified employee of the Independent National Electoral Commission gave the identity cards to them.

But it was learnt that the suspects had reportedly broken into the state office of the National Identity Management Commission where they stole the cards.

Inuwa said, “ On May 19, 2017 at about 1730 hours , operatives of the X - squad unit of the command accosted one Donald Okon and Collins Cyril while attempting to escape at a drug joint along Eyo Edem Street in Calabar. Upon search, the following items were found with them:
One voter ’s card in the name of Sam Godwin and 4,555 national identity cards bearing different names.

On interrogation, they claimed that an INEC worker (name unknown) gave the cards to them. Investigation is ongoing, ” he said.

A jealous housewife (names withheld) in Okpanam community near Asaba, Delta State, has allegedly bathed a girlfriend of her husband with substance suspected to be acid water.


It was gathered that the incident which occurred on Sunday morning while the victim was on her way to the church, had been generating serious ripples within the people on Okpanam Community who described the action of the house wife as “Barbaric” and wicked.

Although, the police in the area had confirmed the arrest and subsequent detention of the suspect, but her husband who spoke to Journalists yesterday in the area on condition of anonymity, denied relationship with the victim, saying that the victim most times as neighbor calls him father. He said, “I cannot date a small girl who calls me her father my wife acted in errors, she should face the music.”

Expectedly, the suspect allegedly brought acid and poured it into water can and proceeded to the gate of the church (name withheld) in the area, and unknown to the victim who hails from Oleh town and had been living with her parents in Okpanam bathed her.

The suspect was said to have tried to escape, unfortunately for her, she was nabbed by the on looker church members who later handed her over to the police. Speaking to our reporter the pastor of the church where the victim worships, pastor John Ikubor confirmed that the victim after the alleged acid attack, was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba where she is currently responding to treatment.

At the FMC, Journalists were prevented in taking her picture rather to speak with her. The victim who managed to speak to Journalists said; “my attacker is a liar, I never dated her husband, she hated me and wanted to kill me, My Lord will expose her.”

In a swift reaction, the police Image Maker in the state, Mr. Andrew Aniamaka confirmed that investigation was on going, adding that the suspect would be charged to court on completion of investigation.

Posted by Kunle Azeez


Telecoms companies in Nigeria have recorded a loss of 5.2 million subscribers in one fell swoop on their networks in the month of April.

Telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), disclosed this in its latest monthly subscriber data released yesterday.

According to the data, active mobile voice subscriptions in Nigeria crashed from 154.4 million in March to 149.2 million at the end of April this year.

Global system for mobile communications (GSM) companies, including MTN, Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat, were responsible for the decline.

Analysis shows that across all the four categories of subscribers, such as GSM, the code division multiple access (CDMA) and fixed wired/wireless operators, as well as Voice Over Internet protocol (VoIP), only GSM segment was responsible for the crash in the subscriber base.

NCC data showed that 148.7 million of the 149.2 million active numbers subscribed to the GSM network services.

The GSM operators’ active customers decreased by 3.2 million on the 151.9 million subscribers recorded in March. Among the GSM operators, MTN had 58.1 million users in April, showing a decrease of 2.2 million from the 60.33 million recorded in March.

Globacom’s figure decreased in April by 58,727 with over 37.2 million customers, as against 37.3 million in March.

Airtel had 34.3 million subscribers in the month under review, which showed a decline of 319,803 users, from the 34.6 million recorded in March. Etisalat also recorded a drop in customers by 576,120 in April, giving a customer base of over 19 million, as against 19.6 million users in March.

The CDMA operators had 217,566 users in April, which was same with the result for March.

Between the two surviving CDMA service providers, Visafone had 213,106 customers, while Multi- Links had 4,460 in the month under review.

The monthly subscriber/ operator data showed that the Fixed Wireless network (landline) consumers remained at 26,865 in April.

Between the two landline networks, Visafone had 26,437 subscribers, while Multi-Links maintained its record of 428 customers. It also revealed that the Fixed Wired operators (landline) subscriber base increased by 1,304, giving a total of 126,939 users in April, as against 125,635 recorded in March.

In the Fixed Wired arena, MTN Fixed moved from having 9,532 in March to 9,237 in April, thereby decreasing by 295 users, while Glo Fixed had 12,751 users in April, adding just four customers to the March record of 12,747.

IpNX network moved from 2,611 subscriber base in March to 2,649 in April, increasing its customers by 38. It said that 21st Century network had 102,304 customers in April, recording an increase of 1,559 users on its March record of 100,745.

By Yusha’u A. Ibrahim, Kano


Professor Attahiru Jega has called for the legislation of appointment of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Professor Jega stated this yesterday in Kano while answering questions from participants at a public lecture titled: ‘Electoral Democracy and Integrity in Nigeria: Reflections on INEC’s Transformation 2011-2015’, organised by the Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Research and Training, Mambayya House.

Jega served as INEC chairman and left when his first renewable tenure expired shortly after he conducted the 2015 general elections.

He said giving autonomy to INEC in funding and appointment of its chairman and commissioners was critical to the achievement of credible elections in the future.

Jega explained that although the ex- Chief Justice of Nigeria Lawal Uwais-led electoral reform committee had recommended that INEC should be given autonomy to appoint its chairman and commissioners, the call was not accepted by the executive.

“Still the president nominates INEC’s chairman. It is important to legislate the appointment of the INEC chairman,” adding that despite the fact that Nigeria had achieved a lot, there was need for more reforms.

“Ghana that we celebrate has the worst process of appointing chairman of its electoral body. Once the president nominates, the nominee will obviously emerge as chairman and will stay on that position until he reaches his retirement age, which is 70,” he said.

Prof. Jega also admitted that INEC had gotten relative autonomy in terms of funding because of the recommendations given by the Uwais-led committee, which he said had legislative backing.

“INEC currently has account with the CBN where it controls all its money. This has given the commission relative autonomy in terms of funding; once money is released into its account, it can control it,” he said.

by Dyepkazah Shibayan


Cory Booker and Rand Paul, US senators, have opposed the sale of attack aircraft to Nigeria, saying the country must investigate cases of alleged human rights abuses before sealing the deal with the US.

In a letter dated June 8 and addressed to Rex Tillerson, US secretary of state, the senators expressed concern that Nigeria’s acquisition of these aircraft would “spur unrest and violence, particularly in the north-eastern part of the country.”

They said that if the aircraft are sold without any indication of Nigeria’s commitment to the protection of human rights, it would go contrary to the US security objectives.

While citing the Shi’ites “massacre” allegedly carried out by the Nigerian army and the accidental Rann bombing by the Nigerian airforce, they said there were allegations of corruption, abuse, and misconduct in the military.

Booker was part of a bipartisan group of senators that voted to block a weapons sale to Saudi Arabia “because of concerns over the country’s targeting of Yemen civilians”.

“We request that before you approve this sale, you brief us on the steps Nigeria has taken to investigate and hold accountable those that have committed human rights abuses. We believe the security threats Nigeria is facing are very real but that a sale of this nature, and at this time, is ill-advised,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter.

“Boko Haram – a 5,000 to 10,000 strong insurgent force with ties to the Islamic State – will not be defeated through expanded air power alone.

“At the same time, there continues to be additional allegations of corruption, abuse, and misconduct throughout the Nigerian military. While some soldiers have been released or retired, there has yet to be any real or meaningful accountability for the systemic challenges that have plagued Nigeria’s security forces for decades.

“Without addressing these problems at an institutional level, reform is merely cosmetic and will only perpetuate long-standing patterns of abuse, which could serve as propaganda for Boko Haram and other insurgent groups seeking to discredit the Nigerian government.

“We are concerned that the decision to proceed with this sale will empower the government to backtrack even further on its commitments to human rights, accountability, and upholding international humanitarian law, which in turn could spur greater unrest and violence, particularly in the north-eastern part of the country.

“Accordingly, we strongly urge you to reconsider your decision to sell A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft to Nigeria without any meaningful reform or any clear safeguards in place. Instead, we recommend you make clear to Abuja that the sale of these aircraft can proceed only if there is positive and measurable progress on reforming the security institutions.”

In April, Washington Post reported that the administration of President Donald Trump Trump had agreed to sell 12 fighter jets to Nigeria at $600 million.

Quoting some officials, the newspaper had said congress was expected to receive formal notification of the deal within weeks.

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Lawmakers today jubilated at the National Assembly after a bill for the establishment of the South East Development Commission, scaled the second reading.


The bill which was sponsored by two senators, Stella Oduah, PDP-Anambra, and Samuel Anyanwu, PDP-Imo, was refereed to Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters to report back in 4 weeks.

A similar bill had previously been thrown out in House of Representatives.

The bill is expected to act as a catalyst to develop the commercial potentials of the South East.

ijustdey:
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A 45-year old man, Felix Nnalu Chiabogwu, who is suspected to be a ritualist and member of a kidnapping gang, has been arrested by the Police in Delta State. He was arrested on Sunday in Abavo with human body parts kept in kegs in which he poured a preservative fluid. The kegs were then concealed in two bags of garri.

.Mr. Andrew Aniamaka, Delta State Police Command Public Relations Officer, said Chiabogwu was arrested at about 10:30 am on Sunday.

He described the suspect as a member of a syndicate operating in Amai, adding that the ritualist was arrested while attempting to flee to Lagos.

https://secure.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/normal_medium/public/Ritualist-veiled2.jpg?itok=nqwE22xh Photo for illustration

“The arrest is connected to the investigation of cases of missing persons in the intractable land disputes between Umuebu/Amai/Eziokpo /Obiaruku communities in Ukwuani area. In his possession, we found, concealed in two bags of garri, two four-litre jerry cans stocked with substances suspected to be human parts in a preservative fluid. The investigation is ongoing to unravel other members of the syndicate," Aniamaka said.

By Rotimi Ojomoyela


Ado-Ekiti—There was palpable tension in Ikere-Ekiti yesterday over Governor Ayo Fayose’s order that a shrine represented by a sacred tree located in a historical site in the community be uprooted to pave way for road dualisation project.

Youths and traditionalists in the community on Monday evening prevented attempt by government agents and the contractor handling the project to remove the tree .

Miffed by the resistance in Ikere-Ekiti, Governor Fayose reportedly led armed policemen and operatives of the state security outfit, “Operation Flush” in the heat of the crisis to clear those obstructing the project.

But the indigenes stood their ground, claiming that the historical site known in local parlance as the “Ereja” was significant to the town, a sacred place, which is very central to the history of the ancient town.

According to them, it was the source of Ikere, it was the place where the town was established and removing the tree would spell doom for the community, It is also the location where the annual Olosunta Festival is celebrated.

The residents had placed sacrifices made with a goat, split open and pigeon and other fetish objects at the site while palm fronds were also tied around the shrine.

The angry youths had formed a human shield round the shrine, daring the bulldozer to demolish the site and uproot the sacred tree.

Addressing reporters in his palace yesterday, the visibly angry Olukere of Ikere, Oba Ganiyu Ayodele Obasoyin, said “cutting down the sacred tree and demolishing the Ereja was akin to passing a death sentence on me (Olukere).”

The Olukere was joined at his palace by the Alare of Are-Ikere, Chief Oguntuase Atitebi and the Elejoka of Ikuomoba-Ikere, Chief Benjamin Owolade both of whom claimed that he (Olukere) is the head of the community.

Reacting, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Lanre Ogunsuyi, said the road construction must continue because for every developmental efforts, people must make sacrifices.

“Houses have been demolished, now that it is the shrine, it is only proper that we relocate it to a proper place.

“With the necessary appeasement, the shrine could be relocated. All the gods in Yoruba land are for protection and not for death. We want to assure him (Olukere) that nothing bad will happen to him,” he said.

lalasticlala

Posted by Kunle Azeez


Globacom Chairman and one of Nigeria’s billionaires, Dr. Mike Adenuga, is reportedly making moves to acquire Etisalat as the latter continues to face debt crisis, New Telegraph has learnt.

The development is coming as Etisalat continues to show distress signs evident in its inability to expand its network as it is enmeshed in a $1.2 billion loan.

The inability of the Etisalat to repay the huge loan taken from a consortium of banks in 2013 nearly resulted in a takeover of the United Arabs Emirates (UAE) telecoms company by the creditors last March.

However, quick interventions by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) prevented what could have resulted in a receivership.

“With the ongoing financial challenges facing Etisalat, there are ongoing underground discussions of its possible sale to a Nigerian GSM company owner, who is also into an oil business and this could be Mr. Mike Adenuga of Globacom,” a former management staff of Etisalat disclosed.

Another industry source said: “Etisalat could be acquired by another company if the ongoing discussions with the banks fall through eventually.”

According to Forbes’ Billionaire Ranking 2016, Adenuga, with a net worth of $10 billion, is Nigeria’s second richest man while his most visible company, Globacom, where he sits as Chairman, is the second largest operator in Nigeria.

Adenuga made his first fortune trading in lace and Coca-Cola, but currently makes his fortune from investment in telecommunications and oil.

He currently ranks as the 103rd richest person in the world compared to 2015’s 393rd and a net worth of $4.2 billion, despite the effect of the dwindling oil prices on his company. But spokespersons at Globacom headquarters in Lagos could not confirm the development as at press time yesterday.

Also speaking on telephone, the Vice President for Regulatory Affairs at Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Ibrahim Dikko, denied any knowledge of the ‘said acquisition.”
“I am just getting to know now that you are telling me.

However, I don’t have any information at my disposal regarding your question on the proposed acquisition by the Globacom founder,” he said. Dikko had stated at the wake of the loan crisis last March that Etisalat missed payments to the banks due to an economic downturn in Nigeria.

This newspaper had exclusively reported that Etisalat has been facing ‘down-syndrome’ in its subscriber outlook, as over 2.9 million subscribers have, so far, quit the network in the last 10 months.

Industry analysts link the development to the financial distress of the telecom company, which they argue, has prevented it from engaging in meaningful infrastructure expansion, thereby resulting in debilitating service quality that repel its customers to move to rivals’ networks.

According to an NCC document, as at last September, ending third quarter, there were 22.5 million active subscribers on Etisalat network, but this figure dropped to 20.8 million by December, representing a loss of 1.7 million subscribers within three months.
Similarly, in the first quarter of this year, the telecom communication company lost 1.2 million subscribers as well.

Meanwhile, in a statement made available yesterday on the state of the loan negotiation, Etisalat confirmed that it was still in discussions with its lenders regarding existing obligations under the syndicated loan agreement signed in 2013. It, however, said it had not received any formal communication from the lenders regarding the proposal.

“Whilst we are aware of recent news reports stating that the offer has been rejected by the banks, we cannot confirm this as true as no formal communication has been received from the banks regarding the proposal. “Etisalat has, so far, held robust discussions with lenders in good faith, and we hope that all areas of discord will be resolved in due course.

Indeed, the current economic challenges have occasioned untold hardship on the telecom industry as a whole, , thus requiring a major shift in position by all affected parties.

“We continue to explore all available options to pull through this phase. We will continue to engage all relevant parties in earnest with a view to securing a mutually-agreeable outcome,” it said in the statement.

The telecoms company maintained that it was not taking anything off the table at this time while assuring stakeholders that the ongoing discussions were not intended nor expected to impact negatively on the company’s ability to continue providing seamless communications services to its subscribers.

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CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

https://pmexpressng.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-05-00.24.29-1.jpg

A 42-year old man, Ify Anthony has landed in trouble after he frustrated moves by two lovers to travel abroad to consummate their marriage.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the lovers in question, Felix Akpowowo and his lover, Kelechi Ahuchama was among those Anthony allegedly defrauded million of naira under false pretence of procuring traveling documents to travel abroad for greener pasture.

The incident happened at a popular Hotel at Egan in the out skirt of Lagos, where the victims met Anthony who has now allegedly defrauded them.

The Delta State-born Anthony who had another matter before the same court of the same alleged fraud also obtained money from some victims under the false pretence and ended up defrauding them and escaped.

However, he was later arrested and arraigned before the same Ejigbo Magistrates court were he was granted bail.

When he was taken to Igando police station station, he admitted that he obtained the money from the victims and had spent the money and promised to pay back.

P.M.EXPRESS after Anthony obtained the money from the victims, he went and lodged in a hotel where he was lavishing the money before he was eventually arrested and taken to court.
He peaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, Mr Akeem Fashola granted Anthony bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.

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

The matter was adjourned till 3 July 2017.

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by Mayowa Tijani

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and president of Dangote group, has recorded a $1.1 billion increase in fortune over the last six days.

The increase in Dangote’s fortune is due to the rally currently being recorded at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) over the week.

TheCable understands that NSE has gained N1.06 trillion in June alone, and about 30 percent of that has gone to Dangote Cement.

Dangote, who owns a 91 percent stake in Dangote Cement, the largest company traded on the stock exchange, saw his fortune rise from $10 billion on May 30, 2017 to $11.1 billion as at the close of trading on Monday, June 5, 2017.

Within these days, Dangote Cement stock price has improved from N167.10 on May 30, to a 52-week high of N210 per share on Monday.

According to Bloomberg Billionaire Index , Dangote stands at the 123rd spot on the global billionaire ranking, and the richest man in Africa.

Dangote Cement is currently worth about N3,578,506,555,050 on the Nigerian bourse — about one third of the entire exchange.

Dangote, while unveiling the financial position of the company for 2016, said the cement company saw its revenue jump by 25.1 percent to clock N615 billion — in a recession.

“Looking back at the 2016 financial year, I am pleased to report that our cement sales volumes increased by 25.0 per cent to nearly 23.6Mt. Of this, almost 14.8Mt was sold in the Nigerian market,” Dangote had said.

“Revenues increased by 25.1 per cent to ₦615.1B, of which 68.3 per cent was generated in Nigeria (excluding eliminations) and 31.7 per cent from Pan-African operations. Our earnings before interest, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) decreased only slightly, to ₦257.2 billion, with Pan-African operations contributing ₦26.5 billion, excluding central costs.”

The Igbo for Nigeria Movement, INM, has called for the immediate probe of Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano and other Igbo elites sponsoring the secessionist group, Independent People of Biafra led by Nnamdi Kanu.

The anti-Bifara group was reacting to a shocking revelation made by a group, Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety) and Southeast Based Coalition of Human Rights Organizations (SBCHROs) on those funding the Biafra agitators.

Intersociety and SBCHROs had recently alleged that Anambra State governor, Mr Willie Obiano gave car and cash gifts to the self-acclaimed Supreme Leader of Biafra and IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

In their statement, the group gave names of those behind the agitators as, “Amnesty International, Alaigbo Development Foundation, Igbo Youth Movement, Ike Ekweremadu, Peter Obi, Joe Achuzia, US Embassy in Nigeria, Mike Akuoma, Ugochukwu Chinwuba, Ikechukwu Okoye, Clifford Iloanya, Prince Emeka Onyeso, Okechukwu Nwanguma, Aloysius Attah, Ibuchukwu Ezike, Tochukwu Ezeoke and his Igbo Ekunie group, Justus and Justine Ijeomas, Alex Olisa, Damian Ugwu, Damian Ogudike, Tools & Allied Market and its leadership, Ekwenche Group, USA, Uche Asiegbu, George Onyeibe, Samuel Kamanyoku and others.

The group claimed these patrons were channeling resources meant for improving the lives of Nigerians to the separatist groups to finance their insurgency.

Speaking on the development at a press conference on Saturday, the national leader of INM, Mazi Ifeanyi Igwe, called on the anti-graft agencies to immediately ascertain if Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Rivers, Delta as well as Bayelsa state governors also gave similar questionable gifts to Nnamdi Kanu or any other terrorist group.

According to Igwe, “We are raising this alarm because of the far reaching implication of this recent revelation. The plank of the Igbo agitation is about the neglect and marginalization of the south-east but it appears we have never correctly situated the problem.

“The five south-east states are not governed by Hausa-Fulani or Yoruba, they have been governed by our own blood since the return to civil rule in 1999. What this recent development is telling us is that the governors have been doling out their states’ money to Biafra agitators under different covers.

“For one, we are worried that this overbearing attitude of IPOB, MASSOB, Intersociety and SBCHROs could push other ethnic nationals to a point when they will ask for Igbo states to go their way knowing fully well that a Biafra Republic is the fantasy of its disturbed leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

“He has proven he does not have the capacity and orientation to obey the law; if Nnamdi Kanu cannot obey the law and comply with his bail condition those following him should know that he will only obey his own laws when he becomes the first President of his phantom republic. This much has been confirmed with adoption of the title of “Supreme Leader”.

“We further want Kanu, IPOB, MASSOB, Intersociety and others to know that we are not willing to begin to apply for visas to continue living in places that millions of us know as home. We are facing the reality of our limited landmass that would immediately spell trouble on more than one front. Same way we don’t want to sell our properties in other parts of Nigeria at giveaway prices.

“Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has been named as a patron of separatists. He was placed on the same level as the IPOB leader. We want to ask why he never pushed for fiscal federalism the various times he has presided over the amendment of the constitution.

“Peter Obi, former Anambra state governor, is being hailed as a hero yet no one is asking why he did not turn his state into Nigeria’s Dubai in the eight years he held office as governor. Peter Obi is being commended for being the patron of a group that is pressuring youths to embark on suicide mission; no one is asking him what he will do with his investment in Abuja, Lagos and across Nigeria if his foot soldiers break the country up.”

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Posted By: Yusuf ALLI,


As part of the ongoing probe of the London-Paris Club refunds, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to apply for interim forfeiture of $3 million and N500 million linked to two governors.

Also, two suspects have been listed for trial in connection with the $3 million a governor allegedly laundered through a member of the House of Representatives and his brother.

The said $3 million was said to have been paid into the account of an investment company (name withheld) whose owner is said to be one of the suspects about to be tried.

The affected member of the House of Representatives was said to have gone underground while the serving governor is seeking soft-landing.

The second governor, who had allegedly laundered N500 million from the refunds through a consultancy firm, was fingered in the coordination and bankrolling of a protest march against the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, in Abuja on Thursday.

Investigation conducted by our correspondent revealed that the EFCC was set to lay the facts of its probe of the London-Paris Club refunds which have matured for legal action before the court.

The Presidency had so far released N1.266.44 trillion to the 36 states in the past one year, including the N713.70 billion special intervention funds to states.

Following protests by states against over-deductions for external debt servicing between 1995 and 2002, President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the release of N522.74 billion (first tranche) to states as refunds pending the reconciliation of records.

Each state was entitled to a cap of N14.5 billion, being 25 per cent of the amounts claimed.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, said the payment of the claims would enable states to offset outstanding salaries and pension which had been “causing considerable hardship.”

The governors had sought for the loan refunds to states and local governments in a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on May 24, 2016.

But the alleged mismanagement of about N19 billion and $86 million meant for payment of consultants and legal advisers by some governors is under investigation.

Of the huge sum, EFCC has traced $3 million and N500 million to two of the governors.

A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Contrary to the noise being made, we are ready to approach the court for interim forfeiture of $3 million and N500 million linked to two governors through their fronts.

“By the time we file all necessary papers in court, Nigerians will know that we have conducted due diligence in tracking some of the London-Paris Club refunds.

“This is not a case of media trial. Many suspects have appeared before our team and made confessional statements.

“So far, two suspects will face trial on the alleged laundering of $3 million from the London-Paris Club refund for a governor

“On the $3 million, we have been trying to track down a member of the House of Representatives who we suspected had gone underground because he and his younger brother were implicated on how the cash was laundered through an investment company (names provided but withheld).

“As for the N500 million, the other governor allegedly laundered it from the London-Paris Club refunds through a consultancy firm.

“The same governor has been desperate to avoid being probed and to shield his fronts from being prosecuted.

“It was out of desperation that the governor allegedly bankrolled a protest march against the Acting EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, by engaging an amorphous group called Global Centre for Conscious Living Against Corruption (GLOCCOLAC).

“Our detectives are already probing how the governor funded the protest. The cash was openly shared in front of a posh hotel in Abuja with evidence obtained by our detectives.

“The governor was also sighted at a building near the hotel from where he monitored the protest march.

“Despite the fact that he disguised, intelligence picked him up.

“The building where he stayed is not far from EFCC’s office, and it is located near a new complex where electrical fittings are sold. All these places are within the vicinity of EFCC.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “We will apply for the forfeiture of the $3 million and N500 million in order to return them to the treasury. These are public funds allegedly laundered.”

Sections 28 and 34 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004 and Section 13(1) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004 empower the anti-graft agency to invoke Interim Assets Forfeiture Clause on any serving or former public officer or any Nigerian under probe.

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By musa jibril, tunde thomas and VINCENT KALU

For a government that has been dubbed lethargic in its first two years, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo in the last few months was a kick to life, and has brought a modicum of calm to the raging storm of citizen opposition to the APC government. His actions and words appear to have given a human face to the Buhari government otherwise considered by a recession-traumatised citizenry to be insensitive to their suffering and strong-arming the opposition with its war on corruption. While it may not have influenced the public opinion of the APC government, Osinbajo’s visibility, no doubt, mellowed public hostility against the government.

However, in a country of byzantine political ecosystem, and climate of vexing power politics, it is not farfetched for Osinbajo’s recent visibility to be misconstrued as subtly Machiavellian. In the past weeks, there had been grumblings, veiled as passing opinions and with vitriolic undertone.

When at last it came, the hail of criticisms––harshly accusing him of consolidating his power base ahead of the 2019 election––was a viral online polemic by a Dr. Ismaila Farouk.

The opening paragraph of the diatribe accused the Acting President for ‘tactical’ nepotism and cronyism that has seen key strategic cabinet positions filled by people linked to him.

“Contrary to the widely held belief that Vice President Osinbajo, a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and a Professor of Law is above board, a forensic analysis of his activities since he assumed office reveals that the VP has consistently abused his office, negating the principles of Federal Character and has systematically favored members of the Redeemed Church and his Yoruba tribe.”

It particularly knocked Osinbajo for the appointment of Dr Okey Enelamah as Minister for Trade and Investment––noting that the latter was his Deputy and later successor at the RCCG, Banana Island, Lagos. The Vice President was also indicted for the appointment of “his RCCG Brother” Alex Okoh as DG of the Bureau of Public Enterprise.

The long and short of it was that the VP is surreptitiously embedding his lackeys in positions of authority in violation of the principle of Federal Character, in key institutions like INEC and NNPC to the Non-Career Ambassadors and critical Regulatory Agencies.

According to the statement, “While Nigerians were trying to come to terms with the shock of Pastor Enelamah’s nomination, VP Osinbajo took a step further in his nepotistic disposition in the setting up of his office and selection of personal staff. First, he chose his former colleague at the University of Lagos Ade Ipaye who was also his Special Adviser while he was Attorney General of Lagos to serve as his Chief of Staff. Unsurprisingly, Ade Ipaye hails from Ogun State, the VP’s State of origin. He went on to relocate Laolu Akande, an indigene of Ogun State who was hibernating in New York to serve as his Media Adviser. For his Chief Economic Adviser, he appointed Ambassador Dipeolu also of Yoruba extraction. The VP didn’t stop there, of his 10 Principal Officers in his office, 9 are from his Yoruba ethnic group. In his quest to perpetuate his ilk in government, the VP has capitalised on the magnanimity of President Buhari’s implicit confidence in him to plant his Yoruba and RCCG brethren in key agencies of government.”

Senior Special Assistant, Media to the Acting President, Laolu Akande, declined to comment. There are nonetheless others who spoke against the storm precipitated by Farouk. One of such rebuttals online by an anonymous called it “a bunch of deliberate and wicked lies against a man of God who has come to support and serve,” citing the tirade as “an abortive attempt to disparage the truly beloved, humble VP.”


…Eminent Nigerians speak

Eminent Nigerians wade into the smoldering controversy, giving their constructive and weighed opinions.

According to Abubakar Tsav, former commissioner of police, Lagos state “Osinbajo has been very active as Acting President working very hard, with zeal, dedication and utmost efficiency and this is commendable. However, the recent appointments he has been making alarm me. Those appointments are very narrow and sectional. Those appointments will create division and sow seeds of ethnic discord.
How can Osinbajo appoint more than 80 per cent of his personal staff from South-West? Not only that, names of Yoruba also feature prominently on the list of appointments he made into parastatals. Again, most of these appointees are Christians. This is unacceptable. Osinbajo should realise that he is now a national figure.

“Although Osinbajo is humane, but he should be more liberal, and try to be pan-Nigerian in whatever he is doing . With the public outcry against him on this issue, I think he should do the needful. He should realise that what he has done on this appointments issue is not good for his own image, for the interests of the country, and it is also inimical to the growth and development of democracy in this country.”
On his part, Ola Ishola-Williams, a retired army general said

“Osinbajo really disappointed me. Look at the way the lady that used to be at PENCOM was removed. The lady was removed when she has not completed her tenure. She was unceremoniously removed.

Even at that, what I had expected was that the replacement for her should have been somebody from her geo-political zone, but that didn’t’ happen, Osinbajo now appointed a Yoruba to fill the post. That is bad.

Politicians should be careful, they should be sensitive to the feelings of others. It is very sad that Osinbajo is following the footstep of Buhari on issues relating to appointments. He should not copy Buhari at all, because this is how Buhari also concentrated all appointments in the North, and also favour Muslims in government appointments. Osinbajo should revert those appointments and follow due process. I even believe that some of these appointments should be given to professionals. Professionals should be recruited to run these parastatals instead of appointing politicians who are given the positions not based on merit.”

Alhaji Balarabe Musa, second republic governor of kaduna state said: “I will comment appropriately when I see it in prints. It has happened before. For instance, this culture of WAZOBIA all the time, and people are not ashamed of it. When the president comes from the North, you see him marginalizing the Southeast, when the president comes from the Southwest, you see him marginalizing the North, even when the president comes from the South-south you will not see the Southeast getting its fair share. That is why some people who are honest are saying that this time it has to come from the Southeast to give every Nigerian a sense of belonging and for national unity.

So, let us test them and see if it will be the same thing from those from the North, Southwest and South-south.

“It doesn’t make sense to surround yourself with people from your area; it doesn’t provide you with security. With the exception of Gowon and Murtala Mohammed, others didn’t give equal opportunities to people from other parts of the country. That is what Nigerians who are concerned should put their heads together to stop.”

Dr. Junaid Mohammed, second republic member of the House of Representatives in his reaction said “the way and manner Osinbajo made the recent appointment goes to prove that in the event of Osinbajo succeeding Buhari, we are going to have the same problem of nepotism, clannishness, cronyism and religious bigotry.

“Buhari doesn’t know the difference between cronyism, clannishness and religious bigotry, but the one by Osinbajo is determined and being done to pursue and favour the Yoruba agenda in Nigeria.
This untenable and unacceptable and he should be reminded in very clear terms that he has failed legitimately, he was not elected. He is nothing but a spare tyre and he still remains that.

“I understand (I have not been there though) that since Buhari came to power, if you go to Osinbajo’s office it is Ogun dialect that is spoken there. In addition also, all the key appointments, even those not made by Buhari, as he was not in office, he insisted on his own Yoruba people. Is that the kind of Nigeria we want to build?

All this goes to show that Nigerians were unfortunate to have Buhari as a leader, because if Buhari had been a leader there won’t have been all these problems, but because he is not in charge of the Presidency, it has been hijacked by the cabal, and Osinbajo is trying to hijacked what remains of the presidency. His actions are condemnable.”

On his part, Alhaji Shettima Yerima, President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), said “a lot of government officials behave like that. When Buhari was making his appointments, some of us shouted and told him that this would not augur well with the nation, and we are thinking of how to unite the country to avoid any reason for people to be making agitations. What Osinbajo is doing is not different from what Buhari is doing whereby all appointments go to Daura village.

“This won’t help us, we must begin to see that the right thing is done and begin to consider other people and give each person a sence of belonging. When you see agitations coming from some quarters, it is not that they want to go; it is that they are not given the sense of belonging.

Why should somebody a professor of Law, former commissioner, a pastor of a highly reputed church like the Redeemed Christians Church of God, will descend this low to appoint only people from one side in a multi ethnic society.” Prof. Ishaq Akintola, executive director, Muslim Rights Concern, however defended Osinbajo saying he did no wrong.

“Personally, I have not seen Osinbajo doing anything wrong. It is unfortunate that many Nigerians have become professional critics.

Why are they condemning Osinbajo? Are they expecting him to recruit people he doesn’t know to work with him? Are those people he appointed that people are now condemning him for not competent to do the job?

It is natural that when you are a boss, you recruit those you know and trust to work with you. The attack on Osinbajo is not justified at all. It is very unfortunate that rather than appreciating Osinbajo and commend him for the good work he is doing, Nigerians are not appreciating him. Osinbajo is working very hard. Those attacks on him can’t be justified at all.

“I’m a Muslim but I can’t blame Osinbajo if he gives appointments to Christians mostly. It is natural. If a Muslim is occupying the same position, that’s what he will do exactly. You know in Nigeria we don’t trust each other. We have mutual distrust for one another. Until we have a new orientation in our personal inter-personal relationship, this type of issue will continue to come up.”

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