₦airaland Forum

By Abdullateef Salau, Balarabe Alkassim, Abbas Jimoh & John Chuks Azu



The joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution has recommended over 50 amendments to the country’s main law book.

The current review exercise would be the fifth alteration to the Nigerian constitution. While some amendments were successful, several others suffered serial failure.

The joint National Assembly panel, eight months after holding a zonal public hearing to collect inputs from Nigerians on the document, held a retreat last week, where members considered the proposed amendments clause by clause.

The lawmakers recommended amendments to the constitution to provide for independent candidacy, diaspora voting, mayoralty status for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and power devolution.

They also approved amendments to preserve elections of candidates to the office of president or governor, whose deputies have been found to have deficiencies in their qualifications.

Others are restriction on formation of political parties, timeframe for submission of ministerial nominees, separation of the Office of the Minister of Justice from that of the Attorney-General of the Federation, among others.

Lawyers and civic groups expressed mixed feelings on the proposed amendments. They said while some were long overdue and a way of meeting demands for restructuring, others may harm Nigerians, especially the working class.

Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, who co-chairs the review panel, assured that the report would be presented to both chambers for consideration at the end of this month.

For the amendments to sail through, they have to be approved by the two chambers of the National Assembly and not less than two-thirds of the 36 state assemblies.

The panel recommended an amendment to section 142 of the Principal Act. It states that where a candidate has been elected to the office of the president or governor and his running mate has been found by a competent court or tribunal not to possess the requisite qualification for that office as required, his election shall not be voided because of such defect.

It, however, stated that such a candidate shall nominate another person as his deputy from the same political party that sponsored him.

If this amendment is passed, it would put an end to the Bayelsa scenario, where David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was declared winner of the state’s 2019 governorship election but had his election invalidated on account that his running mate, Degi Eremienyo Wangagra, who submitted a fake certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The joint committee also recommended an amendment to section 177 to allow eligible Nigerians within and outside the country to vote during legislative elections.

The current system only allows Nigerians who have attained the age of 18 and residing in the country to vote.

The proposed alteration seeks to allow eligible citizens to vote in Nigerian legislative elections, who have lived in Nigeria for at least five years from a minimum age of 10 years and as legal residents in any country where the person seeks to vote, for at least 12 months.

It stated that guidelines for diaspora voting will be issued by the INEC.

The committee approved alteration to section 222 of the constitution to enhance existing provisions on the formation of political parties to ensure viability and sustainability.

The proposed alteration states that, in addition to having a headquarters in the FCT, a political party should have verifiable, equipped and staffed offices in at least two-thirds of all the states of the federation; the names and addresses of its national officers; and members shall be registered with the INEC and the list of such members shall be accompanied with an affidavit of non-membership of an existing political party.

Another recommendation is empowering federal and state lawmakers to summon the president and governors respectively to brief them on security issues.

The lawmakers also recommended the creation of the office of a mayor of the Federal Capital Territory.

The proposed section 303 states, “There shall be for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, a mayor who shall be chief executive of the FCT Administration.”

To qualify for election as mayor, a person shall be a citizen of Nigeria by birth, has attained the age of 35 years, is a member of a political party and sponsored by that party, or is an independent candidate and has been educated up to at least school certificate level.

There is also a recommendation to appoint a minister from the FCT.

In section 147, the president is mandated to appoint at least one minister from each state, who shall be an indigene of such state.

In appointing a minister from the FCT, the proposed amendment stated that the person shall be a resident and registered voter in the territory.

The lawmakers also recommended the insertion of a new section 147(7) to mandate the president to nominate ministers for Senate confirmation within 30 days after taking the oath of office.

The submission of names of the ministerial nominees to the Senate for confirmation shall be accompanied by the assigned portfolio of each nominee.

They also recommended that not less than 10 per cent of persons appointed as ministers shall be women.

The same provisions apply to the state governors regarding the appointment of commissioners.

On devolution of power, the lawmakers recommended the transfer of some items from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list. This means that both federal and state assemblies can make laws on them.

The items are airports, correctional services, including the establishment of custodial facilities, geological surveys, railways, public holidays, fingerprints, identification and criminal records, insurance and labour, including trade unions, safety and welfare of labour, industrial relations, disputes and arbitration.


Lawyers, CSOs react

Lawyers and civil society groups have hailed the proposed amendments to the Nigerian constitution, saying they were long overdue in a country with compatriots across the world.

They, however, expressed reservations on others, saying that passing and signing them into law may preserve or mar the institutions of government.

A lawyer, Nnamdi Ahaaiwe, said if the amendments scaled through, the Nigerian constitution would be like those of other countries, where major items are concentrated on the concurrent list instead of the exclusive list.

On policing, he said it was wrong that farmland fights would be reported to the office of the Inspector-General of Police, whereas in other countries, policing is decentralised to the lowest level.

A member of the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS), Kelvin Mejulu, said the amendments were a welcome development.

“It is difficult for the federal government to perform because it is taking so many responsibilities for so many things than the states. It is even doing what local governments should do,” he said.

The director, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Idayat Hassan, also said one of the positives in the proposed constitutional amendment was the provision for diaspora voting.

“This is long overdue, especially when we look at diaspora remittances, which constitute a huge part of the country’s gross domestic product,” she said.

She also said stifling the registration of political parties was a positive proposal, but it would depend on the side of the players.

“This is more so that the electoral act has made provisions for it and that the Supreme Court has ruled on it,” she said.

She described the move to give the FCT a mayoral status as a good development, which would give the country’s capital what any international city would look like.

She, however, said moving labour to the concurrent list would be negative for Nigerian workers, especially on the minimum wage issue.

Speaking on disqualification of candidate’s election with questionable certificates, the executive director, Centre LSD, Mr Monday Osasah, said, “In the past, we have had pockets of disqualification of elected candidates due to defect in running mate qualification.

“I think the ideal thing is to uphold the people’s mandate and allow the party source for an alternative running mate,” he said.

He argued that stiffening requirements for political party formation would mean that those who have no interest in other big parties due to differences in ideology would be either constrained to participate or disenfranchised from participating.

He also said thta diaspora voting had become imminent in Nigeria.

“According to reports, the remittances of people in the diaspora constitute 6.1 per cent to the gross domestic product of Nigeria’s economy, which should not be taken for granted; hence the need to make provision for their participation in elections in Nigeria,” Osasah said.

A 25-year-old woman Rebecca Nicodemus has stabbed her senior rival to death few minutes after sleeping with their husband.

Rebecca was said to have been jealous that her husband left her in bed during an ongoing sex session to make love to the senior wife identified as Precious.

It was gathered that both women lived in a room and a parlour apartment with their husband.

A fracas was said to have ensued between them when late Precious stepped out of the room where she slept with their husband.

The incident occurred on February 4 around 5.00am at Idogun Camp via Ode-Irele in Ondo State.

Rebecca was subsequently arrested and arraigned on a one count charge of murder before an Akure Magistrates’ Court.

In a Police First Information Report where the suspect narrated what transpired, she said it was not her intention to kill the senior wife.

According to her: “I came to Ondo State in January, 2022 and we were leaving in the same house. I am a farmer and we have been relating together in harmony alongside the deceased.

“On that fateful day, my husband was earlier with me in the living room but had to excuse himself on a pretext that we were not free to continue with our love making.

“I was waiting for my husband when I discovered he was making love to the senior wife inside the bedroom.

“I also heard them making derogatory remarks about me. So, I waited in the sitting room for my rival to come out from the room and when she came out , I challenged her over her unkind words.

“Rather than the deceased to be apologetic, she suddenly grabbed my clothes which made me angry

“So, I took a knife on the table in our sitting room and stabbed her at the back with the knife.

“It was not my intention to kill her, I over reacted in anger”.

Police Prosecutor, Obadasa Ajiboye, informed the court that the defendant stabbed her with a knife at her left back side which resulted to her death.

He said the offence was contrary to and punishable under Sections 316 and 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

Plea of the defendant was not taken but the prosecution made an oral application to remand the defendant in prison custody pending the outcome of advice from Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

In his ruling, Magistrate Damilola Sekoni, ordered the remand Rebecca to police custody and adjourned the case to February 22, 2022 for ruling on the remand application.

The commission, however, said both certificates were doctored.


The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has accused a member of the House of Representatives, Mohammed Garba Gololo of forging his BSc and master’s degrees’ certificates.

In the charge it filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the commission alleged that Garba-Gololo falsely claimed to have attended the Lagos State University (LASU), where he purportedly obtained both certificates.

The commission, however, said both certificates were doctored.

The ICPC said the lawmaker representing Gamawa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State presented a forged Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree certificate, stating that he has Second Class Honours (Upper Division).

The agency said the lawmaker similarly forged a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree certificate, which was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to contest an election.

His arraignment planned for Thursday before Justice K. N. Ogbonnaya of the High Court of the FCT in Kubwa was put off when he failed to show up in court.

Justice Ogbonnaya, however, rescheduled the arraignment for April 11, 2022.

Solomon Odeniyi


A man, who identified himself as Harry White, has denied invading the Mab Global Estate, Abuja, with suspected Internet fraudsters.

Residents on the estate had claimed that 40 suspected Yahoo boys invaded the estate, adding that they were dressed in white and their mission was unknown.

But White, in an interview with PUNCH Metro on Tuesday, explained that he planned to hold a surprise all-night engagement party for his fiancée on the estate.

He said he told the owner of a service apartment in the community about the event as well as the number of people who would be attending.

White accused the leadership of the estate of ruining his plan.

He said, “I was to have an engagement for my wife-to-be at the said apartment. I told my agent to make reservations for me there, but I was surprised when my guests arrived and the estate management didn’t allow them in. It was painful that the plan I had to host my wife-to-be to a surprise engagement was destroyed by the leadership of the estate.

“I paid for the apartment and told them the time I would be holding the event and the time my guests were expected to arrive. When my guests arrived and told me they were at the gate, I went to meet them (security) to let them know I was hosting an event on the estate. In order not to disobey the estate management, I told my guests to go back, which they did. Then I saw stories of me and my guests everywhere. The story is false.”

When asked what time they got to the estate, he said, “The engagement was meant to be an all-night affair. I told the person we got the apartment from and he agreed to that. My guests were not violent as was said.

“They were with me while I was trying to call the management of the apartment which served as the venue of the event to clear us to get into the premises, but he didn’t take his calls and we left in peace. They were 80 in number. I told them to appear in white or a touch of white for the event.”

The Secretary of the estate, Kufure Charles, when contacted, queried the time of the event.

He said, “What did they come to do on the estate by 2.30 am? Inside a residential estate? Anyways, the matter is with the police and the Federal Capital Development Agency.”

The agent who gave out the apartment said he was in a meeting and promised to get back to our correspondent.

He had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has quashed the lower court judgment which gave Senator Ibrahim Shekarau’s G-7 faction of the APC in Kano victory over the faction led by the state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Daily Trust gathered that the appellate court ruled in favour of the governor’s faction in all three appeals lodged against the judgments of the lower courts.

The decisions of the courts were delivered Thursday morning by Justices Haruna Tsammani, B. I. Gafai and J. Amadi.

“The judgment of the lower court has been set aside for lack of territorial jurisdiction and also because it is an intra party affair. The third ground is that even the originating process that were used to file the case was wrongly done as such even the originating process was set aside. All the decisions are unanimous,” the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice for Kano State, Barrister Lawan Musa told Daily Trust.

Embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, and four others may spend more time in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency as the NDLEA has approached a Federal High Court in Abuja informing the court of its intention to detain the suspects beyond the stipulated 48 hours.

The PUNCH learnt that the NDLEA has already begun a forensic analysis of the cocaine seized by Kyari.

A top source at the agency, who wished to remain anonymous because he was not authorised to speak with the press, said the cop had made some revelations which would lead to more investigations and as such, the NDLEA would not be able to arraign him just yet.

He said, “Kyari has made some revelations which will lead to more investigations. Also, the NDLEA is doing a forensic analysis of some of the cocaine recovered by Kyari since he claimed in a video that he replaced cocaine with a dummy one.

“So, the agency has approached a Federal High Court in Abuja notifying the court of our intention to interrogate him further and verify some of his claims.”

Kyari was arrested by the police on Monday for alleged drug trafficking and handed over to the NDLEA along with four others – Sunday Ubuah, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agrigba and John Nuhu. Another officer, ASP John Umoru, is said to be at large.

The DCP, who was suspended by the police last July for his alleged links to international fraudster, Hushpuppi, was caught on video during a sting operation by the NDLEA attempting to sell part of the cocaine which was seized from some drug dealers in Enugu, while his suspension was subsisting.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA on Wednesday said that it had no reason to shield anyone who may be indicted in the course of the ongoing investigation of a 25kg cocaine deal involving a gang headed by Kyari.

The agency in a statement by its Spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said it remained committed to evidence based investigation and its resolve cannot be weakened by any misrepresentation of facts.

The NDLEA said this while responding to claims by the police that some NDLEA officials at the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu, connived with drug dealers to bring in 25kg of cocaine which was eventually seized by Kyari and his team.

Reacting in a statement, the agency stated, “To correct some inaccuracies in the information in the public space that NDLEA officers at the Enugu airport were the ones who received from the cartel details about the mule coming from Addis Ababa, the agency wishes to quote from the transcript of Abba Kyari’s recorded conversation with our undercover officer and a portion of ASP James Bawa’s statement to the police as documented in the police investigation report, a copy of which was made available to the agency, to state that it’s an established fact that it’s the Abba Kyari’s team that was contacted by the cartel and without doubt the records clearly show how their ring works.”

He recalled that after NDLEA requested for Kyari and others for interrogation, they were questioned by the police, after which they were handed over along with the report of their interrogation.

The NDLEA spokesman added that according to the police investigation report, ASP James Bawa in his statement to the police revealed that ‘he was called by an informant identified as IK from Brazil who told him that a drug courier will be arriving on board Ethiopian Airlines in Enugu.

“He explained further that a pointer from IK, the Brazil based informant met with him at about 1420hrs on January 19, 2022 outside the airport and showed him a picture of the courier. Subsequently, they sighted the suspect as he exited the airport terminal after all arrival clearance formalities, and he was arrested with another associate.”

He said that in his own recorded conversation with NDLEA undercover officer, Abba Kyari also said the following: “They are greedy, seriously greedy (referring to his informants), we tried to have them accept 40 per cent but they refused, except 50 per cent, they know the rudiment of the deal very well, they are the ones that do the packing. From Brazil, one of the informants accompanied it to Ethiopia. You understand; one of the informants accompanied the goods to Ethiopia, one of the informants that gave us information. He is the boy of the big baron.”

Kyari further stated “In Addis, from Addis it will be given to those to proceed further with it, he will get their snapshots without their knowledge. Yes, he will reveal those that are conveying it further, get snapshots of theirs without their knowledge and send them to us (Abba Kyari’s team). So we already know the goods, pictures and the clothes they are wearing, hope you understand, we know your name, he will give us everything. So, automatically my team will just be waiting, they will just see you and arrest you.”

Responding to a question by the NDLEA officers on whether his boys are usually stationed inside or outside the airport, Kyari was quoted as saying, “Yes, yes, some are outside while some are inside. They will just allow you to finish arrival formalities and arrest you the moment you come out.”

Babafemi said based on Kyari’s own claims, it could be established who the cartel was relating with and their modus operandi.

The NDLEA spokesman said the agency would not be distracted and would focus on evidence-based investigation that will spare nobody found complicit.

In a related development, human rights activist, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), says the case involving Kyari and fraudster, Hushpuppi, would be put on hold pending the investigation by the NDLEA.

Kyari, who was the Commander, Intelligence Response Team, was suspended by the police authorities after being indicted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation which accused him of being part of Hushpupi’s syndicate and collecting funds from the fraudster.

The Nigerian government had said last week that it was looking at the possibility of extraditing him to the US after investigations had been concluded.

Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ programme on Wednesday, however, Adegboruwa said the Extradition Act said that a person could not be tried for the same crime in two jurisdictions and that a person facing trial must complete the process before extradition to the US.

CONTRARY to story making the rounds that President Muhammadu Buhari ordered that a query be issued to the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, over the importation of adulterated fuel into the country, an authoritative source in the Presidency yesterday said there was no such order from the President.

Recall that a national newspaper, had in its report credited to an unnamed source, alleged that an angry President Buhari, who doubles as Minister of Petroleum, directed the Minister of State, Mr Timipre Sylva, to issue a query to Mr Farouk Ahmed, the NMDPRA boss.

However a competent Presidency source, who reacted to the report told State House correspondents that it was time to set the records straight.

The source that spoke on the condition of anonymity said, “There was no directive to issue a query. What Mr President is interested in is for all the stakeholders to team up, and resolve the issue that has brought untold hardship to Nigerians, who queue hours on end to get petrol. The President is aware that the Minister of State, the Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari, the NMDPRA Head, and everyone involved, are working together to resolve the issues, at the shortest possible time.”

The Presidency source further said that what was uppermost in the mind of the President was the restoration of smooth supply of quality petrol to Nigerians, “and not recriminations or blame game.

“Forget the story of any query being issued. It is not correct. Yes, Mr President is unhappy with what happened, but he didn’t direct that a query be issued. The story is not correct.“

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has begun to grill the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari over alleged drug dealing.

The grilling began on Tuesday following the arrest of the disgraced policeman on Monday.

The agency on Monday alleged that Kyari attempted to compromise 25kg of cocaine in the custody of NDLEA.

Sources at NDLEA headquarters told Vanguard that in conformity with lawful practices, officials of the agency are bent on concluding the interrogations of DCP Kyari and his officers/collaborators by the end of work on Wednesday.

A source further said that following the request by the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba that indicted NDLEA officers should be investigated for their roles in the drug bust, the agency would not spare any of its officers involved.

When contacted, Director Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi said, “We gave an assurance in our statement on Monday that ‘no stone will be left unturned to ensure that all suspects already in custody and those that may still be indicted in the course of the investigation will face the full wrought of the law at the end of the ongoing probe and that still stands. If anyone has concrete information or evidence, our doors are open.”

The NDLEA on Monday announced that an investigation had revealed that Kyari is a member of a drug syndicate that operates across the globe.

The shocking revelation comes amid the police chief's controversial involvement with self-confessed Internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi.

In July 2021, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed how Kyari allegedly collaborated with Hushpuppi to jail one of the latter’s associates after a dispute over a $1.1 million scam on a Qatari businessman.

The FBI also alleged that the embattled social media celebrity sent money to Kyari via a third person’s bank account and hosted him in his Dubai apartment.

According to the US Department of Justice, a criminal complaint initiated the prosecution of Hushpuppi as court documents showed that Abbas, 37, pleaded guilty.

The United States Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, had issued an arrest warrant against Kyari.

Hushpuppi has since pleaded guilty to the charges and if convicted risks a 20-year-jail term, three-year supervision upon completion of jail term, and monetary restitution to the tune of $500,000 or more.

The court documents also outlined a dispute among members of the Hushpuppi conspiracy, which allegedly prompted him to arrange to have an individual identified as ‘co-conspirator’ Kelly Chibuzor Vincent, jailed in Nigeria by DCP Kyari.

Following the allegations, the top detective was suspended and a panel was set up by the Inspector-General of Police to probe the FBI allegations.

By Oladeinde Olawoyin


In what some officials have described as an unprecedented violation of Nigeria’s procurement laws, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has ordered construction giant CCECC Nigeria Limited to award contracts to some local companies he hand-picked.

Mr Amaechi gave the directive to the Chinese construction company in a letter exclusively obtained by this newspaper, dated October 14, 2021.

The letter was signed on behalf of Mr Amaechi by J.A Yusuf, Director of Rail Transport Services at the transportation ministry.

The contracts are in connection with the covering the Lagos-Kano and Kaduna-Kano sections. According to the letter, the minister hand-picked the companies in accordance with what Mr Yusuf described as “Local Content Policy of the Nigerian government”.

Titled ‘Local Content Policy on Construction Materials and Equipment’, the ministry claimed that it received Expression of Interest from the various companies it listed in connection with the railway project. The ministry further directed the construction company to invite the hand-picked companies listed in the letter for contractual engagement.


Controversial ‘Quotation’

Aside from submitting the list of hand-picked companies to the construction firm, Mr Amaechi, through the Ministry of Transportation, attached the letter a quotation showing the expense of purchasing materials in the local market. The quotation also listed all of the companies and the specification and unit of materials they are expected to supply for the construction company.

In addition, the quotation detailed the quantity of materials each company is expected to supply, as well as the ‘market prices’ of the materials. Quick checks conducted on the status of the companies showed that they are domiciled mostly in Kano, Kaduna and Port Harcourt.

Insiders at CCECC have expressed worry over the controversial letter, adding that it is in contravention of the nation’s procurement laws. A source told this newspaper that CCECC management is disturbed by the development, and has found it quite difficult to deal with.


Fuzzy ‘Local Content Policy’ document?


For months, PREMIUM TIMES searched for the ‘Local Content Policy on Construction Materials and Equipment’ referenced by Mr Amaechi through the transportation ministry in its letter to CCECC, but this newspaper could not find any such document.

Officials at the transport ministry declined to speak on the issue when contacted, and they failed to acknowledge if there was any such policy document.

Aliyu Abudukadir, the Director of Corporate Service at the Nigerian Society of Engineers, told PREMIUM TIMES that no one has any idea of any such policy document on the construction materials and equipment

“What we know, which is in the public domain, is Executive Order 5,” he said, adding that the order was signed in 2018.

“Probably that’s what you are referring to but the policy document on the construction materials, I don’t know.”

The Executive Order 5, signed by President Muhammadu Buhari, gives preference to Nigerian indigenous organisations in the award of contracts in either construction or manufacturing.

Government sources told PREMIUM TIMES that no policy or executive order could have given Mr Amaechi the express authorisation to unilaterally hand-pick contractors for a private company engaged by the government. Companies selected for government contracts are expected to go through the process of competitive bidding.


Amaechi’s Record of Violations

Mr Amaechi has a record of violating the nation’s procurement laws. At various times, he has got himself mired in arbitrary conduct in his handling of procurement processes.

In a number of contractual agreements involving the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr. Amaechi has been found to have recklessly violated extant rules.

In one case, he directed the NPA to restore a boat service contract with logistics giants, Intels, in disregard for an ongoing open bidding exercise in which the company had been disqualified. In its intervention, the BPP flayed Mr Aamechi’s position and warned that a monopoly could endanger the nation’s bidding system.

In a related concern around the NPA’s port dredging contract, Mr. Amaechi directed that contracts be extended for a year beyond original expiration dates instead of a bidding exercise, which the BPP had approved.

Last year, a PREMIUM TIMES’ investigation showed how President Muhammadu Buhari and Mr Amaechi approved a huge national security-sensitive maritime contract to a medical company in a process the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) said was “embarrassing” and illegal.

day never finish, main chic don meet side chic for mall pic.twitter.com/bnu2QPbmLX

— Marley #THC®️ (@Ayooluwamarley) February 14, 2022

A combination of photos of President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly complex in Abuja.

President Buhari on Tuesday submitted the 2022 Appropriation amendment proposal to the National Assembly.

The amendment proposal is contained in a letter from the President which was read during the plenary.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila read the letter in their respective chambers.

In the letter, President Muhammadu Buhari said the amendment is necessary to accommodate some issues in the country including Petroleum Subsidy which must be considered.

In the letter, President Buhari is asking the National Assembly to approve the sum of N2.557 trillion supplementary budget for petrol subsidy from July to December 2022.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan says Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos state, deserves a second term in office.

According to Gboyega Akosile, chief press secretary to Sanwo-Olu, Lawan spoke at the fifth town hall meeting and empowerment programme organised by Solomon Olamilekan, lawmaker representing Lagos west, at the Police College, Ikeja.

Lawan praised Sanwo-Olu for “the good work” he is doing towards delivering dividends of good governance to the people of the state and validating the state’s position as the economic and commercial centre of the country.

The senate president was quoted as saying the party leadership across the country had watched with satisfaction the giant strides being made by Sanwo-Olu, adding that without any equivocation, the governor deserved re-election.

Lawan said “the tremendous achievements” the state recorded within a short period under Sanwo-Olu’s first term needs to continue.

“We have been watching you over the last two and half years. You have been very wonderful. You have been consistent in terms of service delivery to the people of Lagos and indeed this country. You are focused,” the senate president was quoted as saying.

“One good term you’re doing deserves another term.”

The senate president also praised Adeola’s contribution to the robustness of the senate and his efforts to uplift his constituents through regular empowerment.

Lawan called for more support for the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had damaged the country beyond measures.

He said the ruling party was up to the task of defeating the opposition again.

On his part, Sanwo-Olu lauded Adeola’s empowerment programme.

He described Adeola’s efforts as complementing those of President Muhammadu Buhari and the state government.

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to further develop Lagos in all ramifications.

He also pledged to continue to carry out human-friendly projects that will have positive impacts on Lagosians and by extension, Nigeria.

Speaking during an interview in January, Sanwo-Olu said Lagosians know what they will be missing if his administration is not allowed a second term.

Realnaijagist:
What kind of help and assistance these two-Naija men were given to the unconscious woman touching and pressing her chest when she was robbed inside her car.

As you see how she was shocked and could not breathe well and the two-man were trying to calm her down pressing her chest and bre@st.

Watch the video here:https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ0y0WtqItN/

INDICATIONS emerged weekend that former President Olusegun Obasanjo and some retired army generals are in support of a power shift to the South in 2023.

It was also gathered that the former president, Obasanjo and former generals are disposed to having any of President of the African Development Bank, Mr Akinwumi Adesina; former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi and a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Professor Kingsley Mohgalu, emerge as President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor.

A close ally of the former president, Obasanjo and some of the generals, who spoke with Vanguard in confidence, however, ruled out the possibility of supporting former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 election.

Besides, the source said former National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, is being favoured to emerge as vice president.

The source said: “He (Obasanjo) supports power shift to the South. The people he has indicated an interest in general and not specifically are Akinwumi Adesina, Peter Obi and Kingsley Moghalu.

”Then in the North, he likes Attahiru Jega (former INEC chairman) to be the running mate. He is not supporting Atiku at all. He supports power-shift.”

Persons seeking to be ministers, ambassadors and heads of critical agencies in the All Progressives Congress-controlled Federal Government must pass a litmus test set by the party before their names are forwarded to the Senate for confirmation. This is according to a proposed amendment of the APC constitution.

According to the proposed constitution, which is expected to be ratified at the APC national convention on February 26, 2021, one of the new duties of the National Executive Committee will be to “Conduct due diligence on nominees considered for statutory positions before transmission to the Senate for confirmation.” This is according to Clause 13.3(xiii) of the APC constitution.

It, however, remains unclear how such “due diligence” will be carried out since by law, the President is only mandated to send such nominations to the Senate for confirmation and not the APC.

Also certain appointments for agencies which ought to be insulated from politics such as the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Independent National Electoral Commission could run into problems with the party.

A chieftain of the APC told The PUNCH that the clause had become necessary in order to checkmate the excesses of technocrats who get juicy government appointments but go ahead to work against the interest of the party.

The chieftain, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “A lot of appointees who are technocrats, get appointments from the APC Federal Government but refuse to adhere to the manifesto of the party. They refuse to award contracts to APC leaders or help with recruitment because they are technocrats.

“Some of them are even members of the opposition. They get there and begin to frustrate the party. What this new clause will achieve is that only those who are willing to stick to the APC programmes should get appointments from the APC government.”


It’s still a proposal, members free to make contributions – Akpanudoedehe

When contacted on the telephone, the Secretary of the APC Caretaker Committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, said the proposal was just a document and everyone was free to make amendments.

Akpanudoedehe said he would not respond to any further questions when he was asked to explain the rationale behind certain clauses.

“Make your submissions. That’s what this (proposal) is all about. That is a proposal. You write your contributions, we will look into it. It is not for me to answer. It is not my document. It is the document of the party,” he said.


Proposed amendment empowers NEC to dissolve NWC

The proposed constitution also increases the powers of the APC NEC and reduces those of the National Working Committee led by the national chairman.

It also empowers the NEC to dissolve the NWC and the state working committees and appoint caretaker committees to run affected chapters for a period of not more than a year. This implies that caretaker committees like the one led by Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, which has spent 20 months in office would no longer be able to stay so long in office once the new constitution is ratified.


In the current APC constitution, only the NWC has the power to appoint caretaker committees. However, the power now resides in NEC.

Clause 13.3(b)(c)read, “Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this constitution, the National Executive Committee shall have the power to set up a caretaker committee in place of any organ at all levels, except the National Advisory Council and National Convention, where in its opinion there is a compelling situation warranting such action in the overriding interest of the party. Any such committee shall have a defined tenure not exceeding 12 months.”

Amendments to bar APC members from taking appointments in govt controlled by other parties

NEC will also be empowered to ensure that the actions and policies of the government at the federal and state levels are consistent with the party’s manifesto and campaign promises

The proposed constitution also bars all members of the APC from accepting any appointment from a government of another party without the express permission of the party.

This implies that a member of the APC cannot take up an appointment in any state government that is being run by the Peoples Democratic Party. It, however, says the NWC of the party could give special permission to such a person.

The party will also name its national headquarters after the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), who is the first President to be elected on the APC platform.


Race for APC national chairmanship gathers steam

Meanwhile, 20 months after sacking its erstwhile chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, and the entire National Working Committee, the APC will this week begin the sale of forms for all those seeking to hold executive positions in the party.

Some of the top positions include: National Chairman, Deputy National Chairman (North), Deputy National Chairman (South), National Secretary, Deputy National Secretary, six National Vice Chairmen, one from each geo-political zones of the country, National Legal Adviser, Deputy National Legal Adviser, National Treasurer and Deputy National Treasurer.

Others include: National Financial Secretary, Deputy National Financial Secretary, National Organising Secretary, Deputy National Organising Secretary, National Welfare Secretary, Deputy National Welfare Secretary, National Publicity Secretary, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, National Auditor, Deputy National Auditor, National Women Leader, Deputy National Woman Leader, National Youth Leader.

Barring any unforeseen changes, the APC is expected to begin the sale of forms on Monday (today).

Top sources told The PUNCH that the North-Central would most likely be favoured by the party to produce the party’s chairman while the South-East would most likely produce the national secretary, which is one of the most powerful positions in the party.

However, the party would not be expected to announce its zoning arrangement but would communicate it within its top hierarchy and ensure that it is followed.

“In theory, the APC does not zone its offices the way the PDP does. But in practical terms, the party does it in a systematic manner. It is unlikely that they will announce the zoning arrangement publicly,” said an aide to one of the governors who wished to remain anonymous.

Also, it was learnt that the APC leadership would be considering the consensus option. Once the President’s preferred choice is identified, other organs of the party would be expected to adopt that person as the consensus candidate while others would be cajoled to step down.

“The APC prefers the option of consensus. That is what the President also prefers. It is usually not rancorous. However, as of yesterday, no one had reached out to any of the aspirants yet. So, the governors’ meeting will be pivotal in determining who emerges as the chairman even though the President will have the final say,” the governor’s aide added.

The party has been enmeshed in crisis for the last two years which culminated in the ouster of its chairman, Oshiomhole.

The Oshiomhole leadership was replaced by a caretaker committee led by Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni. The committee, which had six months to organise a new convention, continued to seek extensions and has now remained in office for 20 months.

Although the Buni-led committee was able to cause the defection of three governors from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC, the crisis in the states continued to deepen.

The crisis reached a climax late last year during the congresses that were conducted in order to elect ward, local government and state executives of the party. In at least 13 states, two or more factions emerged with one being loyal to a governor on the other hand and a minister or senator on the other hand.

Except in Kano State where Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has not been able to have his way, all other 21 governors were able to install their preferred candidates

Idowu Abdullahi




Presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, has praised the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), resolve to reject foreign influence and support for the protest against police brutality and extra-judicial killings in Nigeria.

The #EndSARS protest against police brutality and bad governance took place in Nigeria in October 2020.

Bashir, who is the Personal Assistant to the President on Digital and New Media, disclosed this on his Twitter page on Sunday. He said that irrespective of the critics’ position, no leader would watch the country burn under his watch.

He said that despite criticism that trailed the President’s approach, including the ban placed on the social media platform, Twitter, Buhari’s successor will also adopt the same stringent approach to protect Nigeria’s unity, given such circumstances.

He tweeted, “Those unpatriotic people are still angry with Pres. @MBuhari for not allowing miscreants with help of misguided outsiders to destroy this country, they’re like we can’t wait for 2023, they should know that whoever takes over from Baba will also NEVER allow them to terrorize us.”

The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, slammed the Canadian government and social media giant, Twitter, over the truckers’ protest against COVID-19 restrictions in Canada.

Recall that during the #EndSARS protest in Nigeria, the Canadian government condemned the actions taken to quell the nationwide protest.

Tweeting through @CanadaFP, it said, “Canada is deeply concerned about the excessive use of force during the ongoing protests in #Nigeria. Those responsible for #HumanRights violations and abuse must be held accountable.”

Likening the #EndSARS protest to the truckers protest in Canada, Mohammed accused Twitter and the West of double standards in the way they perceive the violent protesters in their region and those in Nigeria.

In a news briefing on Sunday, the Minister said “the Canadian protesters, who have blockaded roads and resorted to inconveniencing others, have been branded as terrorists or insurrectionists and subjected to a number of clampdowns by government and private organisations.

It was gathered that he met his waterloo when he visited one Sabira, a teenage girl he had forcibly married in Tashar Biri village.


Residents of Tashar Biri Village in Yatumaki of Dan Musa Local Government Area have been asked by bandits to pay N30 million or risk ferocious attacks.

The request followed the killing of a bandit kingpin known as Dankarami (Small).

Airstrikes executed recently by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft in Katsina State killed Dankarami.

The deceased was born in a settlement called Lambar Gabas in Rukudawa district in the Zurmi Local Government Area, where he owned a mansion with more than 38 rooms, a mosque and an Islamiyya school.

Dankarami is also known as Gwaska. His settlement, Lambar Gabas, is situated not more than two kilometres east of Rukudawa, a farming community that has suffered a series of deadly assaults by armed bandits for more than a decade.

His foot soldiers are notoriously known as “Yan Shabakwai” or the “teenagers” because they are mostly young and are responsible for most of the abductions, cattle rustling and deadly raids on dozens of communities.

It was gathered that he met his waterloo when he visited one Sabira, a teenage girl he had forcibly married in Tashar Biri village.

Following his death, his boys demanded that the community must provide Sabira and her mother and pay N30 million, or risk being attacked.

Also, in the absence of Sabira, the terrorists were said to have abducted her grandmother and one Aliyu, identified as her son.

Most residents have fled the village after they got a hint that the leader of the bandits, one Mai Lore, would raid the community and kill everyone.

There appears to be air of uncertainty in the political camp of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State that is likely to cause some dilemma for Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2023 election. This unease compelled the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola, to make a bold move to douse raging tension within the ruling party on February 8, 2022. Being the eye of the storm in the current wrangling and scheming within the APC, Muri-Okunola in a statement he personally signed denied reports linking him with alleged moves to square up with his boss, Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu, for governorship of the state come 2023.

“I, hereby, dissociate myself from all publications and innuendoes conveying such plots. I reiterate my support for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu,” he wrote in the statement obtained by Saturday Telegraph. The lawyer turned technocrat blamed some yet-tobe identified persons within and outside the state for speculation, saying that the move is aimed at dividing the rank and file of the party and capable of planting ‘a seed of discord between Governor Sanwo-Olu and me.”

Muri-Okunola’s denial of any political ambition came a week after a similar one made by a powerful caucus called Governance Advisory Council who also in a statement debunked claims of endorsing another candidate against the incumbent, maintaining that it has not settled for anyone as replacement for Sanwo-Olu. In a statement signed by its leader, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, GAC who washed its hands off any suggestion that it was endorsing another candidate for the party blamed the tension on social media message orchestrated by those whom he referred to as merchants of hate and discord.

“GAC has not settled for any person to replace Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu as governor. Therefore, it is absolutely false and preposterous for anyone to suggest so,” the statement reads in part just as Olusi added that the council has not discussed the issue (governorship ticket) at any of its past meetings.

The tension that has been generated within the APC in Lagos State is primarily caused by seeming lull in political activities and speculations on whether the incumbent will be allowed to take another shot at the office or if he also will go the way of his immediate predecessor in office, Akinwunmi Ambode, who was shoved aside by top party leaders.

Unlike other governors who eye a return to office, Sanwo-Olu has not commenced any activity to suggest staging a comeback in 2023 thus somewhat lending credence to speculations that he might only spend just a term of office, being the agreement he allegedly reached with some leaders of the APC prior to his emergence in 2019. Speaking with Saturday Telegraph, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho said that it was not yet time for politics, and that Governor Sanwo-Olu is still busy with governance. Omotosho stressed that second term was not a priority for Sanwo-Olu at the moment, adding that he had barely spent two and a half years in office.

“Talking about second term should not be a priority to the Governor now, when he has not spent two and a half years in office. “Look at all the big projects that we have ahead of us that would make life easy for the people of Lagos State; he has been all over the place, in the United States of America, and Turkey trying to get things for the two rail projects; the blue and red lines.

“The tracks are almost ready and he has been able to secure the trains from the USA and Turkey. Even the Bible says that there is time for everything, a time to die, and a time sleep. This is the time for governance and not for politics. “When the time for politics comes, we will play it. Look at all the big housing projects that we want to deliver for Lagosians. He has just delivered Opebi Link Bridge to Iya Alaro in Ojota.

We should be talking about all those things, not about second term,” he said. The commissioner, who said that it was obvious that Governor Sanwo-Olu has done well in office, added that Massey Street Hospital, which is under construction, would be the biggest in Africa, and that the state government had been focusing on several roads projects, including the Lekki-Epe Road that he said was built 49 years ago.

“I can tell you for sure that Governor Sanwo-Olu is interested in a second term of office but what he is waiting for is the go ahead from some leaders of the party to be able to set out fully and properly,” a chieftain of the party who pleaded not to be named told one of our correspondents in Lagos on Thursday.

It is believed that the ‘right quarters’ being alluded to is the National Leader of the party, Senator Bola Tinubu, whose nod is considered critical with regards to the direction the party should move ahead of the forthcoming General Elections. Specifically, it is being rumoured that Sanwo-Olu had a pact with the leadership of the party in the state led by Tinubu for a single term of office to complete the tenure of the Christians in the state with a view to paving the way for a Muslim faithful to succeed him.

Efforts to get Tinubu’s media aide, Mr. Tunde Rahman, to speak on the matter also proved abortive as his phone rang repeatedly without any response but sources within the party maintain that owing to some other compelling reasons and factors the ‘right quarters’ in the party may decide to stick to the agreement allegedly reached with Sanwo-Olu.

However, the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Seye Oladejo, in a chat with one of our correspondents dismissed any claim of a single term for Sanwo-Olu as untrue. He also dismissed claims of any cracks within the party, maintaining that the defection of Olajide Adediran has not in any way eroded its potency to always reassert its dominance in the political life of the state. “The so-called defection of Adediran) remains a non-event and of no political consequence.

We have members in all the nooks and crannies of the state who are galvanised to deliver for the party at all times. “There is absolutely nothing to worry about. Our goodwill among electorates and the widely commendable performance of our elected and appointed officials will go a long way to guarantee our victory,” Oladejo said. Sources within the party added that the choice of Sanwo-Olu for a second term may not be an easy and straight forward decision for the Bola Tinubu led APC in the state to make considering the numerous prevailing political dynamics that would require that the leadership of the party maintain the right balance in terms of managing the interests of the various tendencies and blocs within its fold.

Compared to the situation in the past where the directive of the leadership of the party had been obeyed without any whimper of opposition, sources affirm that the environment has since changed with younger elements demanding to have greater say in the affairs of the party. These elements are demanding more openness and inclusiveness as well as democratisation of decision making in the APC and the emergence of these elements composed mainly of those who see themselves as having been shut out of relevance or who have one or two grievances against the party has considerably reordered the trajectory and calculations within the party.

“No one can deny the existence of powerful counter power bloc in Lagos APC anymore. It exists and that is the reality that is confronting our party as we speak. It reared its head in the last general election because it threw up the duo of Sanwo-Olu and (Obafemi) Hamzat, who eventually became the deputy governor to pacify the other side,” a chieftain told our correspondent. The chieftain who is the chairman of a parallel faction of the party however maintained that his group would settle for the governorship and nothing more this time and that it would exert the right amount of pressure to force the hands of the leadership of the party.

Though, he refused to state if his faction is the one pushing the Muri-Okunola option, the source however added that his group is working round the clock to “change the order of things in the party next year.” Added to that is the religious dimension that the build to the poll is assuming as prominent Muslims in the state are rooting for one of their own to mount the saddle next year after both Ambode and Sanwo- Olu have taken their turns, a development said to have been rejected by Christians who argued that the two have only spent just eight years in power compared to Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola who both spent 16 years.

Besides, the cry of marginalisation by indigenes of the state has assumed a level that Tinubu cannot discountenance and 2023 remains the only year for him to “right perceived political wrongs and injustices meted to the aborigines,” a call sources say Tinubu and the party’s leadership seem very disposed to. As at the time of filing this report, it is however not ascertained where Tinubu stands in all these but sources told Saturday Telegraph that it would be difficult for him to dump Sanwo-Olu for another candidate.

Those who hold such opinion are of the view that the cost of either dropping the governor or retaining him seems enormous but that what would be required is that the party’s leaders must find the right equilibrium with a view to striking the right balance akin to what took place in 2019. “The political cost of shoving Sanwo-Olu aside would be enormous coming after the same scenario occurred in 2019 when Ambode who was seen as a performer was shoved aside. Everyone could see the backlash in terms of low voter turnout as well as low vote cast by the electorate,” a source who is a member of the state executive committee of the party said.

“If the same scenario repeats itself, I doubt if the APC can survive it should the PDP field a viable, strong, acceptable candidate next year. Again, if Tinubu retains Sanwo-Olu against the rising opposition from critical stakeholders in the state, it will be a hard knock for him to crack if the party must continue to control the state.”

Oando Plc has said it did not import adulterated Premium Motor Spirit into the country, in contrast to what the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited said on Wednesday.

The NNPC Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari, had said the national oil firm received on January 20, 2022, a report from its quality inspector on the presence of emulsion particles in PMS cargoes shipped to Nigeria from Antwerp-Belgium.

He said NNPC investigation revealed the presence of methanol in four PMS cargoes imported by its Direct Sale Direct Purchase suppliers namely MRS, Emadeb/Hyde/AY Maikifi/Brittania-U Consortium, Oando and Duke Oil.

But Oando, in a statement released to the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Thursday, said, “Following media reports listing Oando as one of four importers that supplied methanol-blended Premium Motor Spirits into the country, we hereby state that Oando did not import and supply PMS that was adulterated or substandard.

“The PMS supplied by Oando met Nigeria’s import specification. We are committed to working assiduously with the NNPC and industry to identify the root cause(s) of the subsequent contamination of the PMS supplied.

“We want to assure the public that Oando as a responsible corporate citizen would not partake in the importation, distribution, or marketing of substandard petroleum products.

National Environmental Standard and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), on Thursday, seized a lion (cub) and arrested two men for alleged illegal trading in wildlife in Abuja.

Director, Environmental Quality Control of NESREA, Mr Ayuba Jacob, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the agency’s action against illegal wildlife traders, said that the act was a criminal offence.

Jacob warned against illegal wildlife trade in the country, adding that NESREA would continue to apprehend those involved in such act.

According to him, this animal is a cub lion. It is one of the endangered species who trade has been prohibited, both locally and internationally, as stated in the Endangered Species Act.

“It is the mandate of the agency to enforce these provisions and the purpose of the enforcement is to protect animal species, especially those that are endangered, to prevent them from going into extinction.

“This is an international criminal offence. There is no excuse in law; the offenders are going to be charged to court.

“We are making effort to ensure that Nigeria is not disgraced before the international community, not only in this particular animal specie, but other endangered species,” he said.

Jacob said that the agency was committed to creating strong awareness on enforcement of regulations.

”We are using the media to create awareness regularly all over the country and this is to ensure effectiveness of the awareness.

“We normally educate people, especially hunters, on the fact that there are some animals that need to be conserved for sustainable development.

“Such animals are going in great extinct; we are not seeing them again; they have been taken away; so they are being conserved,” he said.

Jacob said that a list of endangered animals was always made available during awareness campaigns.

“We ensure that we list such animals to the hunters. And it’s not only animals; even some trees, such as Iroko, Mahogany and others. We call the wildlife species,’’ he said.

The director, however, appreciated the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force and the staffers of National Park Service for making it possible for the seizure of the cub and the arrest of the suspected traffickers.

He said that the agency would continue to work with other relevant agencies to ensure that those engaging in the act were apprehended.

Jacob said that Nigeria was a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

“We have the National Environmental Protection of Endangered Species in International Trade, Regulation 2011 and the Endangered Species Control of International Trade and Traffic, (Amendment) Act, 2016,” he said.

The cub lion had been handed over to the national park service by NESREA.

Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, section of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has raised the alarm that the N621 billion provided by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, for rehabilitation of 21 critical roads across the country has been hijacked by some governors and politicians.

The PTD National Chairman, Comrade Samon Akanni Oladiti, told journalists in Abuja yesterday that over three months after it reached an agreement with NNPC for the rehabilitation of the roads, no work has taken place.

NNPC Group Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari, had in December last year, presented a symbolic N621 billion cheque to the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, to signify the commencement of the roads’ rehabilitation programme.

Oladiti, however, claimed that despite the transfer of the fund to the Ministry, no work had taken place, leaving PTD members in grave danger in the hands of bandits.

He pointed out that its threat to embark on strike action last year was averted after it signed an agreement with the NNPC and other agencies of the Federal Government that the roads would be fixed with the funds provided by the Corporation.

“Unfortunately, and to our greatest shocks, we heard it from very reliable sources that some vultures in the garbs of being State governments, Officials of Ministry of Works and Housing and Politicians are already depleting these funds and misappropriating them on roads and projects not intended in the agreement as approved by the Federal Executive Council.

“This is an open day robbery, but we are assuring all and sundry, that our Union will go to all lengths to expose these unscrupulous individuals.

“Every kobo of the approved fund must be accounted for and we must see and broadcast the pre and post rehabilitation of all the identified 21 federal roads to the whole nation.

“Tax payers’ money must be accounted for.

“We urge every patriotic Nigerians to rise up and join us in this struggle, this is not a fight for NUPENG alone, it is our collective fight.

“Our solidarity remains constant, for the Union makes us strong”, he added.

Oladiti lamented that its members were spending over three weeks on the road transporting petroleum products across the country, saying the situation has become unbearable.

He stressed that Federal Highways in Niger State, Sapele in Delta State and Okene-Auchi in Kogi and Edo state have become death traps for its members, calling for urgent action by the Federal Government.

Attempt to speak with the Special Adviser Communication to the Minister of Works and Housing was unsuccessful as he did not pick his calls.

Officials at the Ministry also declined to comment of the matter when contacted.

Ten Nigerian nationals were marched out of a building they allegedly hijacked four years ago – and straight into police custody – after they were arrested in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

The operation to reclaim the Rosettenville property heralded the culmination of a four-year effort, the South African reports. The owner first approached the High Court of South Africa, where an eviction order was granted and executed in October 2021.

However, the suspects forcefully moved back into the property.

The City of Joburg, empowered by this second breach of the law, sent its top cops into the affected suburb once more, and the lawbreakers were successfully flushed out. All 10 suspects be processed in court, with jail sentences and possible deportations on the cards.

Charges against the Nigerian nationals include trespassing and contempt of court. Their four-year, rent-free stay in Rosettenville has come to a dramatic conclusion, and the City of Joburg confirmed that the owner of the building had his property rightfully returned to him immediately after the arrests were executed:

“Ten suspects – nine males, one female – were arrested this morning at a hijacked property in Rosettenville. The suspects are being detained at Moffatview Police Station. They are expected to appear at the Booysens Magistrates Court tomorrow where they will be charged for trespassing and contempt of court.

“It is alleged that the property was hijacked by a group of Nigerian nationals in 2018. The matter was then reported to the City’s Group Forensic and Investigation Service (GFIS) department for investigation. The property has been secured and handed over to the security personnel hired by the owner of the building.”

Olufemi Olaniyi, Ibadan



The Management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc says the Oyo State Government has illegally sealed off its offices following the disconnection of electricity supply to the State Secretariat which also houses the Governor’s Office.

The electricity distribution company said the state owes it N450 million and it disconnected supply to the State Secretariat over its failure to pay but the company said the state, through its officials, retaliated by sealing its offices over some contrived debts.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Operating Officer, John Ayodele, on Wednesday and made available to our correspondent by the Lead, Media Relations of IBEDC, Busolami Tunwase.

The company said the state government claimed IBEDC is owing revenue bills and personal income hence the action, but Ayodele said this claim is quite suspicious.

Ayodele explained that the company, as part of efforts to get the outstanding paid, initiated several engagements through correspondences and physical meetings, but all these efforts yielded no positive result.

The statement reads, “The management of IBEDC hereby informs its esteemed customers of the retaliatory and illegal action of the Oyo State Government over the issue of its huge indebtedness.

“The Oyo State Government on Wednesday 9 February 2022 commenced the sealing of our offices within the state over some suddenly contrived debts labelled revenue bills and personal income without due notification.

“This issue of revenue bills and personal income arising now is quite suspicious.

“Oyo State Government is owing IBEDC a whooping consumption outstanding of N450 million for over a period of three years.

“No business in this country can run successfully with such a huge outstanding, the power we distribute to customers must be accounted for and paid for, we have no choice but to disconnect the Oyo State Secretariat, so it is worrisome to see that the government has sealed off our offices with this underhand and arm twisting tactics, instead of paying the debt owed.

“This was not done in good faith and it would have a damaging effect on the business and service delivery to our customers.”

Ayodele appealed to the State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to look into the matter in the interest of all concerned as this would further exacerbate the power challenges and pressure on residents and commercial activities within the state.

He said IBEDC engages in essential services to the public, and the effect of this arm twisting tactic can at best be imagined if not quickly arrested.

Nseobong Okon-Ekong writes that Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state may be drowning in a sea of trouble that has beset him on all sides

These are the best of times for Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State. While he may not be new to swimming in troubled waters, the difference, this time around, is that those threatening to drown him are supposed comrades from the same political party, All Progressives Congress (APC). Having served as deputy governor for eight years and now close to his seventh year as the incumbent governor, the challenges confronting Ganduje are largely self-imposed. Political pundits expected the governor to have mastered the intrigues of Kano politics from being an insider for so long, but he has made so many apparent costly mistakes that have taken control of the party out of his hands.

The jostle for control of the party started when the governor unilaterally allotted positions for the 2023 national elections to certain persons without consulting other stakeholders in the party. Some serving members of the National Assembly from Kano State whose offices were traded off by Ganduje were baffled that such weighty decisions could be taken behind them. After several failed efforts to get the Kano governor to rescind his decision, they came together in an alliance now known as the G-7.


Emergence of the G-7

The group includes Senator Barau Jibril, representing Kano North, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, representing Kano Central, Bashir Dalhatu of Buhari Support Organization, Sha’aban Sharadda, memberof the House of Representatives, representing Kano Municipal, Tijjani Jobe, member of the House of Representatives from Dawakin Tofa, Rumin Gado and Tofa, Nasiru Auduwa Gabasawa, representing Gabasawa and Gezawa and Ahmad Haruna Danzago Kano State Chairman of APC.

There was clearly no need for Ganduje to allow the birth of G-7. He was supposed to sit them down and identify those who could go for higher appointments in Abuja or those to be nominated for gubernatorial or other appointments within the G-7, but he chose to abide by the advice of the chairman of the party produced by his faction, Abdullahi Abbass.

What could have been managed by the governor with the political sagacity that he was credited with was allowed to become a full-blown crisis. Once the case went to court, the line of differences was clearly drawn and there appears to be no going back; not when the matter has gone all the way to the Supreme Court, which decided in favour of the G-7. The Kano Governor lost the court battle at every stage. The Supreme Court has handed over the leadership of the party to Shekarau, while Ganduje is left with Abass, the factional chairman of the party, but the court has ruled that Danzago is officially the chairman of the party at the state level. Effectively, the structure of the APC in Kano is in the hands of Shekarau, a former governor of the state and a serving Senator.

Although the APC Reconciliation Committee has made many public and secret efforts to make peace between the G-7 and Ganduje, it looks like the ship has left the harbour. What is noticeable everywhere in Kano, at the moment, is that the G-7 is in charge of the party. The people on the streets have turned their back against Ganduje, who has committed so many blunders that portray him as one without good advisers. On the other hand, it could be that the governor opted to act independently and refused to listen to anyone else. Whether he acted alone or in cahoots with others behind the curtain, he should have seen what was coming at him. As things stand today, the problem has become hydra-headed and too big to be solved in one day or one week. It is no comfort to Governor Ganduje that the selection process of the political parties for their flag-bearers in the 2023 national elections is around the corner.

From feelers in Kano political assemblies, members of the G-7 were incensed by the Kano governor’s thoughtless actions after they spent their monies, time and reputation to side with him in his various trying times. Whatever came up against Ganduje, they made sure those problems were solved at their own level. They joined forces and resources, with their intellectuality to make sure Ganduje emerged as a governor, a second time. Having done so much to support his person and administration, the least they expected from him was appreciation. Rather, what they got was a stab in the back and a blunt refusal by Governor Ganduje to reach an understanding with them when the opportunity was open, before they headed for the courts.

What further irked the G-7 was the effrontery of the governor’s wife to publicly state that Hon. Murtala Sule Garo, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs would succeed her husband. Expectedly this created negative reactions in the state. The First Family of Kano was forced to by overwhelming public opinion to backtrack, but the governor’s body language disclosed something else. The apology did not quite seem to come from the heart.

Perhaps, if Ganduje had chosen a better candidate and carried the G-7 along, the people of Kano may have agreed to his choice. Rather than use his vast knowledge of politics in the state to cement relationships, Ganduje thought he could use the carrot and stick approach, unmindful of the fact that members of the G-7 individually and collectively command so much respect and are financially comfortable.

From the G-7 fold, Senator Barau Jibril has a lot going for him. Since Shekarau can’t be governor again, the lot may fall on Jibril, whose political machinery in Kano is so strong that even if he were to contest against a sitting governor, he will come tops. He is powerful and the people of Kano are with him. Along with his compatriots in the G-7, they made so many covert efforts and used their money to buy copies of the videos that were supposed to be published to embarrass the Kano Governor. They covered his shame when it mattered.


Window for a Truce?

If the calculation does not work out well for Ganduje, he may go with his tail between his legs to beg for a soft landing. Recently, his acolytes who used to abuse former governor Rabiu Kwankwaso on radio have indicated that if the opportunity presents itself, they are ready to apologise to the Kwankwasiyya leader. Ganduje has recently paid condolence visits to Kwankwaso on the death of his brother. Watchers of the political scene in Kano were also surprised when all the feuding Kano politicians gathered and exchanged pleasantries at the wedding of Shekarau’s daughter. These were not likely to happen in the past when there was no love lost between these politicians. Governor Ganduje has recently been going everywhere with Abdulsalam Abdulkarim Zaura, a wealthy businessman and politician, who is a known ally of APC National Leader, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose presidential ambition is openly supported by the Kano Governor. However, many are quick to point to the fact that the late former governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi’s daughter is married to Ganduje’s son. Tinubu was Ajimobi’s political godfather. Zaura is believed to have the money to match Jibril if they have to fight for the APC governorship ticket in Kano.

But power play is largely about interest, not family ties. So, where there are threats to expose the Kano governor’s dirty deals, he may be pressurized to consider the skeletons in his cupboard than who his son is married to.

QUOTE

Whether he acted alone or cahoots with others behind the curtain, he should have seen what was coming at him. As things stand today, the problem has become hydra-headed and too big to be solved in one day or one week. It is no comfort to Governor Ganduje that the selection process of the political parties for their flag-bearers in the 2023 national elections is around the corner.

The married lady had wrestled the side lover to the ground while the sick man could be seen trying to separate both women.

A video has captured the moment a woman and her husband's side chick were engaged in a scuffle after they met at the hospital where the man is being treated for an undisclosed ailment.

According to GHBase, the man had been admitted to the hospital, and his spouse had paid him a visit when the side chick, ignorant that the wife was still in the hospital, decided to pay him a visit.

After realizing she was the side chick, the married lady engaged her in a nasty brawl soon after she entered.

The married lady had wrestled the side lover to the ground while the sick man could be seen trying to separate both women.

Stephen Angbulu, Abuja


The Presidency has rebuked the Financial Times’ Africa Editor, David Pilling, over an article on the Buhari regime published on January 31, 2021.

In an open letter to The Editor, Financial Times, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said, “The caricature of a government sleepwalking into disaster (What is Nigeria’s government for? January 31, 2022) is predictable from a correspondent who jets briefly in and out of Nigeria on the same British Airways flight he so criticises.

“He highlights rising banditry in my country as proof of such slumber.

“What he leaves out are the security gains made over two Presidential terms.”

According to Shehu, the terror organisation Boko Haram used to administer an area the size of Belgium at inauguration; now, they control no territory.

He continues “The first comprehensive plan to deal with decades-old clashes between nomadic herders and sedentary farmers–experienced across the width of the Sahel–has been introduced: pilot ranches are reducing the competition for water and land that drove past tensions.

“Banditry grew out of such clashes. Criminal gangs took advantage of the instability, flush with guns that flooded the region following the Western-triggered implosion of Libya.

“The situation is grave. Yet as with other challenges, it is one that the government will face down.”

In his article titled ‘What is Nigeria For?’ Pilling had written:

“On the British Airways flight between London and Nigeria’s administrative capital of Abuja, one of the airline’s most profitable routes, nearly all the space is taken up with flatbeds. The unfortunate few making their way to a crunched economy section at the back must trudge through row after row of business class.

“Evidently, there is plenty of money to be made in Abuja’s corridors of power. Nigeria’s economy may be flat on its back, but the political elite flying to and from London will spend the flight flat on theirs, too.

“Next year, many of the members of government will change, though not necessarily the bureaucracy behind it. Campaigning has already begun for presidential elections that in February 2023 will draw the curtain on eight years of the administration of Muhammadu Buhari, on whose somnolent watch Nigeria has sleepwalked closer to disaster.

“Buhari has overseen two terms of economic slump, rising debt and a calamitous increase in kidnapping and banditry—the one thing you might have thought a former general could control. Familiar candidates to replace him, mostly recycled old men, are already counting their money ahead of a costly electoral marathon. It takes an estimated $2bn to get a president elected. Those who pay will expect to be paid back.


“There are some promising candidates. If Yemi Osinbajo, the technocratic vice-president, were miraculously to make it through the campaign thicket and emerge as president, the hearts of Nigerian optimists would beat a little faster.

“But that may be to underestimate the depth of Nigeria’s quagmire. The problem is not so much who leads the government as the nature of government itself.

“Nigeria’s administration is fuelled by oil — though not its economy; more than 90 per cent of output is generated from non-oil activities. But for decades, the business of government — whether military or, since 1999, democratic — has been to control access to oil revenues and earn patronage by spreading petrol-dollars to federal and state supplicants.

“Outside oil, government raises a petty amount of revenue, proportionally much less than other African states. Since the provision of services is so dire, no one who can afford to pay taxes is willing to do so. Nigerians with money opt out of the system. They send their kids to private school, attend private hospitals, employ their own private security and generate their own power. The state borrows ever more heavily to fund what little capital expenditure there is and service mounting debts. Like a giant leech at the top of the body politic, government is essentially there to fund itself.

“This thwarts the aspirations of millions of highly capable Nigerians. Officials extract “rent” by controlling access to business opportunities. The objective thus becomes to slow down investment not speed it up.

“Almost all the energy, drive and wealth creation in Nigeria happens outside government. New unregulated businesses in the booming tech sector, fashion, design and the creative arts are flourishing. Every day, tens of millions of Nigerians somehow get by, despite the efforts of those supposedly looking out for them.

“As is said of India, Nigeria grows at night while the government sleeps — hardly surprising that some libertarian tech entrepreneurs want the government to withdraw and leave the private sector in charge.

“In reality, the government is not too big. It is too small. The federal budget — not counting money transferred to states — is about $30bn, derisory for a population of more than 200m people. Only trust in government — and a willingness to pay taxes — can redress this balance.

“Nigeria desperately needs an administration whose energies go not into preserving its own privilege but into providing public goods — basic education and health, rule of law, security, power, roads and digital infrastructure. It must remove distortions and subsidies that direct entrepreneurial activity from production to arbitrage.

“The chances of a corrupt system reforming itself are slim. But if Nigeria’s ruling class cannot manage it, any remaining faith Nigerians have in their system of government will evaporate. That way lies disaster.

A twenty-two-year-old girl has been allegedly killed by her boyfriend in Mgbakwu, Awka North Local government area of Anambra State.

According to an eye witness, Mrs Ngozi Nwude,  the suspect Ikenna Oraekie had been in the habit of beating the girl despite caution from neighbours.

She said, the deceased had been living with the suspect and recently gave birth about six months ago even though the bride price was yet to be paid.

“She has been living with the suspect since.

“She is from Enugwu Agidi, in Njikoka LGA of the state, but her mother is from Mgbakwu.

“The suspect Ikenna Oraekie, was allegedly beating the girl before she suddenly collapsed and was rushed to the hospital where the doctor confirmed to him that she was dead.

“Some angry youths upon seeing the corpse, descended on the suspect, beating him to stupor.

They tried to set him ablaze before Vigilante operatives waded in and whisked him away to their office from where police authorities were contacted.

It gathered that as of the time of filing this report that the corpse of the young girl was still laying inside her room while youths besieged the Vigilante office demanding that the suspect be released so they set him ablaze.

Further investigation reveals that the community had agreed that anyone that kills in the town must be killed and his house set ablaze.

This resolution followed a similar incident that occurred in the town when a young man who killed a woman was also set ablaze and his house burnt by a mob.

HILLARY ESSIEN


The Police Service Commission (PSC) has emphasised immediate dismissal and prosecution of besmirched officer Abba Kyari over his involvement in the international online fraud syndicate led by Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas, Peoples Gazette has learnt.

Two sources and internal memos outlined how the police regulatory body placed the interest of the Nigeria Police Force as an institution over Mr Kyari’s career trajectory and medals, saying his fate, if not appropriately and firmly decided, could leave an enduring blight on the country’s law enforcement.

“Allowing somebody who has embarrassed the country to keep a high-ranking position in the police could further compound our problems as a nation,” a top official told The Gazette under anonymity because he was not authorised to provide details of ongoing deliberation to journalists. “This position has been clearly conveyed to the inspector-general.”

The position of panellists at PSC led to the return of Inspector-General Alkali Baba Usman’s report last week. The police chief was given two weeks to come up with a better report or the PSC would be forced to act, The Gazette learnt.

“The IGP recommended demotion of Abba Kyari from DCP [deputy police commissioner] to ACP [assistant police commissioner] and this led to the anger of the PSC,” another source at the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department told The Gazette.

The source said Mr Usman was warned that presenting such a report to the PSC could attract adverse consequences, “but he didn’t listen to us.”

Mr Usman had said in his report that Mr Kyari, 46, should be given another chance to redeem himself because he had “won many medals”, “positively projected the image of the NPF” and “performed well above his coursemates,” according to an internal police memo seen by The Gazette.

The PSC panellists acknowledged Mr Kyari’s strides when he was in active service, but said his infractions as to Hushpuppi’s criminal activities were too weighty to be forgiven, two officials familiar with the deliberation informed The Gazette.

“His crimes could have serious implications for the country,” an official said. “The United States could sever collaboration with Nigeria in security areas, especially FBI training of our officers.”

Mr Usman was also asked specifically about whether or not it was established that Mr Kyari collected money and the overall criminal conspiracy shade of his action.

“Nothing short of his dismissal and prosecution will be acceptable to the commission,” an official said. “The IG has been asked to go and do the right thing by recommending his dismissal and prosecution or everything will be forced on him.”

“The PSC has powers to fire Abba Kyari and recommend his prosecution, but still decided to give the IG another chance to do the right thing,” our source added.

Spokesmen for the Force Headquarters and PSC did not return requests seeking comments about Mr Kyari’s fate. Mr Kyari did not answer calls seeking comments, but he had, previously, strongly denied wrongdoing, saying transactions linked to him from Hushpuppi were for tailoring services and not to influence his work as a law enforcement top shot.

The celebrated officer was suspended from office on August 1, 2021, three days after he was indicted by the FBI for conniving with Hushpuppi to defraud a Qatari businessman. Mr Kyari was accused of collecting cash from Hushpuppi to arrest and detain another member of the syndicate for several weeks in order to aid an ongoing scheme.

Mr Kyari’s connection to the syndicate was uncovered after Hushpuppi was arrested in Dubai and moved to the U.S. to stand trial. The Nigerian fraudster and Instagram sensation pleaded guilty to multimillion-dollar fraud in August 2021 and has been scheduled for sentencing on July 11.

Singer and activist Charles Oputa aka Charly Boy has urged ladies to resist offering only sex in relationships.

The former PMAN president said that ladies must be able to support their men in other areas of life.

Oputa noted that relationships are cut short nowadays because many ladies only have sex to offer in their relationships and nothing more

He said: “A lot of girls complain that guys walk away from them simply because they refused giving them Sex. Some have even turned into intimacy gadgets just to keep their man. Let me be very open here, sex might not be the reason these guys walk away.

“Remove sex from a relationship and see that most girls don’t have anything else to offer their man. Aside sex, what do you have to offer to a man. Can you support him spiritually? Can you support him physically/financially? How about mentally?

“All you do is demand money for bags, shoes, phones, clothes, and outings. Making him spend unnecessarily. What are you even bringing to the table. Have you ever sat him down and helped him plan about his future. Try to be a Woman that a man will always regret losing for the rest of his life.

“Be that woman that your man can never afford to lose to another man. Build your man to your taste and stop looking for a ready-made husband when you are not a ready-made wife”.