₦airaland Forum

By Bisi Abidoye
A senator assaulted and stripped in public in Abuja over an alleged adultery scandal was set up for humiliation by a political rival, the police have said, almost three years after the incident.

The police said this in response to a letter by PREMIUM TIMES requesting the outcome of investigation into the case.

Godiya Akwashiki, at the time the deputy speaker of Nasarawa State House of Assembly and senator-elect for Nasarawa North, was assaulted on March 1, 2019 by amob for allegedly seducing the wife of another politician from Nasarawa State, Danladi Envulanza.

The incident, which video recording immediately went viral, occurred at the Abuja residence of Mr Envulanza where the mob had taken Mr Akwashik after abducting him near Exclusive Stores, a popular supermarket in Abuja.

Mr Envulanza, a former official of the National Judicial Council (NJC), had run unsuccessfully for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019. He is from the same Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area as Mr Akwashiki and both are members of the APC.

After his assault on March 1, 2019, Mr Akwashiki was taken to the Maitama Divisional Police headquarters in Abuja where Amina Danladi Halilu, the wife of Mr Envalunza, lodged a complaint of seduction against him.

However, following the failure of the police to arraign the senator for the alleged offence, or make any public statement on the issue, PREMIUM TIMES in December wrote a letter to the FCT Commissioner of Police seeking to know the outcome of police investigation of the case.

Following a reminder to the letter, the commissioner, through the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department of the FCT Police Command, Fom Pam Joseph, responded to the request in a letter dated January 12.

According to the police chief, police investigation did not establish the allegation by Mrs Envulanza that she was seduced. To the contrary, the investigation established defamation of character and some criminal offences against her husband.

“After a detailed and extensive investigation, the offence of inciting (seducing) a married woman contrary to section 389 of the Penal Code Law could not be established against Senator Godiya Akwashiki,” Mr Joseph stated in the letter.

The police official further stated: “From investigation and findings available, a prima facie case of criminal conspiracy, abduction, voluntarily causing hurt, assault, defamation of character and wrongful restraint contrary to sections 96, 272, 242, 264, 391 and 254 of the Penal Code Law, respectively were established against Danladi Halilu Envulanza “m”, Jamilu Halilu “m” and Abdullahi Aliyu Ogah “m”.”

On why those indicted by the investigation have not been prosecuted, the police official said the case was dropped at the instance of Mr Akwashiki after the parties reached an out-of-court settlement.

“However, during the pendency of this case, parties indicated their desire to settle out of court and on the strength of which the then Inspector-General of Police availed them the opportunity.

“Parties therefore settled amicably and a letter dated 08/04/2019 requesting for the withdrawal of the case was submitted by the Distinguished Senator Godiya Akwashiki.”

Mr Joseph in his letter provided the trend of events in the case from the first report to the police in Maitama on March 1, 2019.

“The case reported was that of inciting (sic) a married woman, criminal conspiracy, joint act, abduction, voluntarily causing hurt, assault, deformation (sic) of character and wrongful restraint contrary to sections 389, 96, 79, 272, 242, 264, 391 and 254 of the Penal Code Law, respectively. Initially reported at Maitama Divisional Police Headquarters by one Amina Danladi Halilu “f” on 1st March 2019 at about 0130 hrs against the then Senator-Elect Godiya Akwashiki “m”. The case was later transferred from the Division to the Command Criminal Investigation Department.

“The complainant, Amina Danladi Halilu “f” alleged that Senator Godiya Akwashiki “m” had demanded of her the phone number of her husband, Danladi Halilu Envulanza “m” looking for assistance in furtherance of his ambition of seeking the senatorial seat but later decided not to collect the number as the elections were close. That the senator then started making advances at her and she turned it down, but that when he kept on insisting, she informed her husband Danladi Halilu, and her children.

“Upon receipt of the complaint at Maitama Divisional Police Headquarters, the statement of the complainant, Amina Danladi Halilu “f” was recorded. The Senator Godiya Akwashiki “m” gave his voluntary statement under caution and was granted bail on the same day i.e. 1st March, 2019 before the case was transferred to the Command CID where statements were recorded.

“A letter was sent to the Chief Medical Director of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia – Nasarawa State where the Senator Godiya Akwashiki claimed he received treatment following the beatings he received. The response from the hospital confirmed that he was assaulted physically.

“Investigations further revealed that the suspect was lured by the 1st complainant Amina Halilu Danladi “f” to a location at Exclusive Supermarket, Wuse, from where the senator was abducted to the residence of the said Danladi Halilu where they jointly, in furtherance of a common intention, wrongfully restraint and assaulted the Senator, leading also to the loss of his Samsung Phone.”

PREMIUM TIMES on Monday asked Mr Akwashiki for corroboration of the account provided by the police on the matter and why he agreed to an out-of-court settlement of the case.

In a telephone interview, the senator confirmed that he wrote a letter for the withdrawal of the case.

“Following the intervention of our governor, our traditional rulers and the immediate past Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, who is also from Nasarawa State, we agreed to settle the matter amicably,” Mr Akwashiki confirmed.

“After I wrote a letter for the withdrawal of the case, the police invited me and in the presence of the former FCT Police Commissioner, Bala Ciroma, who is now an AIG of Police, I confirmed that we had settled the case.”

Asked whether he obtained a public apology from Mr Envulanza, the senator said he did not.

“I decided to leave everything to God. Our leaders intervened and since I have been absolved of the accusation, I could not see what more can be added to it.

“We are from the same local government area and ethnic group so I decided to accept the well-meaning intervention of our leaders and move on,” Mr Akwashiki said.

Mr Envulanza did not respond to calls and a text message to his known telephone number requesting his comment for this report.

By Musliudeen Adebayo


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Scores of commuters planning to travel from Ibadan to Lagos state are currently in fear of being kidnapped, DAILY POST reports.

Our correspondent gathered that there had been several cases of kidnapping of motorists along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

It was gathered that the major area where the kidnappers had been abducting motorists plying the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is a location after Abule Onigaari.

DAILY POST gathered that Abule Onigaari is one of the locations situated at the boundary between Oyo and Ogun states.

It was learnt that gunmen suspected to be kidnappers, had the penultimate weekend, killed a commercial driver identified as Oluwatosin Aruwajoye.

DAILY POST learnt that the kidnappers on Saturday 8th January abducted five passengers, while another person, Ibrahim Tiamiyu, was shot in the thigh.

The driver’s corpse was thereafter deposited at Adeoyo State Hospital morgue at Ring Road, Ibadan.

DAILY POST learnt that the eight-seater ash coloured Toyota Sienna bus with registration number MUS 493 HH, was heading to Lagos from Ibadan when the kidnappers struck.

The kidnappers were said to have suddenly emerged from the bush and started shooting the bus.

Our correspondent gathered that the case was reported at Toll Gate Police Division.

It was also learnt that an actress, Bimpe Akintunde, and her daughter had also escaped being kidnapped in the same location.

DAILY POST gathered that the kidnappers made an attempt to kidnap more people on Sunday (yesterday) at the same location.

Our correspondent learnt that the kidnappers, numbering about 10, were shooting at oncoming vehicles from Ibadan in an attempt to kidnap travellers on Sunday.

It was also learnt that the abductors were said to be wearing Army uniform.

Our correspondent gathered that an undisclosed number of passengers were allegedly kidnapped at the location on Sunday.

One of the victims was later rushed to Fresh FM Ibadan around 8.pm on Sunday to narrate his ordeal.

The victim, while speaking during the program entitled “Opeyemi” and anchored by ace gospel musician, Yinka Ayefele, explained that the kidnappers attempted to kidnap him and other commuters.

The victim, who alleged that the kidnappers were speaking Fulani language and were in Army uniform, explained that their car was shot severally by the before he managed to escape.

The program, which was aired in Yoruba language, was monitored by DAILY POST correspondent on Sunday.

Some of the motorists who spoke with DAILY POST said that they are afraid to travel from Ibadan to Lagos state.

All efforts made by DAILY POST to get the reaction of the Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, Adewale Osifeso, proved to be abortive.

Calls put through to his mobile phone were not answered while messages sent to him have not been replied to at the time of filing this report on Monday.

But, Oyo state Commandant of Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) also known as Amotekun Corps, Olayinka Olayanju confirmed one of the incidents.

Olayanju, in a telephone conversation with DAILY POST on Monday, confirmed the killing of a driver and abduction of five people which took place on Saturday, 8th January.

He however informed DAILY POST that Amotekun and other security agencies have been patrolling the area in order to prevent further attacks of innocent people along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

He said, “I am aware of the one you said that they killed the driver and kidnapped five people. I am aware of that one, but that is not in Oyo state.

“They are saying that Onigaari, but where the thing happened is not Onigaari. They just used Onigaari to describe the area. They have passed Onigaari, they have passed the bridge.

“That area is not Oyo state but Ogun state, but the people used Onigaari to describe the place.

“I can tell you that since that incident of last weekend happened, we have been having patrol of security agencies in that place”.

Salihu Lukman, director-general of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), has resigned from his position, TheCable understands.

His resignation is coming on the heels of the controversy surrounding the planned convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Some of the governors of the ruling party had called for his resignation during a meeting at the federal capital territory (FCT) on Sunday night.

By Muideen Olaniyi


President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the military to respond “robustly” to the cases of killings and kidnappings in Niger State and to give effect to the strategic objectives through the use of force.

The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement issued Sunday, said the President gave the directive to the Defence Headquarters.

He said President Buhari as Commander-in-Chief of the nation’s armed forces had set the ball rolling for a major military operation in Niger State which had faced continued attacks on its communities by bandits and remnants of Boko Haram terrorists fleeing theaters of war in the Northwestern and Northeastern parts of the country.

In his message to the government and people of Niger State, President Buhari said, “I would like to express sincere sympathies to the government and people of the State following recent security incidents.”

The President restated that security was a responsibility of every member of the community and only through solidarity and cooperation with law enforcement agencies “can we defeat the problems finally”.

“The Federal Government is willing to strengthen support and cooperation with all the states. I believe that with the full cooperation of the citizens, we will surely overcome this problem,” said the President in the statement titled “President Buhari Sets the Ball Rolling for a Big Military Operation in Niger State”.

Last Tuesday, bandits invaded communities in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger, killing no fewer than 13 people in an attack that took place during the day at Nakundna and Wurukuchi.

Tuesday’s attack came less than two weeks after bandits attacked workers on Zungeru Dam, killing two persons and kidnapping three Chinese expatriates.

The Niger State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, also confirmed that suspected bandits/terrorists attacked some villagers who were harvesting crops on their farm at Nakundna village near Kaure in Shiroro LGA.

Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mary Noel Berje, said the worrisome part of the security challenges was the inability of the farmers to harvest their farm produce, which might likely trigger food scarcity in the state.

The governor said that a coordinated and simultaneous attack on the terrorists by security agents in the affected states would go a long way towards achieving success.

By Mohammed Dahiru

Musa Kamarawa, a close associate of a notorious bandit kingpin, Muhammad Bello, aka Turji, has revealed the names of local informants and collaborators who supply uniforms, food and drugs to the terrorists operating in the Sokoto-Zamfara axis of North West Nigeria.

In a video clip obtained by DAILY NIGERIAN, Mr Kamarawa, 33, revealed that the kidnap kingpin’s armoury is an array of assorted weapons including AK 47 rifles, submachine guns, rocket launchers and anti-aircraft guns.

He said Mr Turji had well-established structure of armed men spread across a vast area of their operation.

“Turji is my bosom friend, we are always in touch and we seek each other’s advice on our operations most of the time,” Mr Kamarawa revealed.

He gave the name of one Dr. Abubakar Hashimu Kamarawa as the supplier of shoes and military uniforms to the bandits.

Mr Kamarawa, a nephew to former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, who revealed that his elder brother Basharu is wanted by the Police for conniving with immigration officials to import arms, gave the names of other collaborators as “Yahaya, Dan Tseka, Gwandi and Summallawa”

He said some of them who studied health-related courses supply the hard drugs taken by the bandits before going on operation.

“Pabro who is one of them, is an Igbo pharmacy owner, while Muntari Ajiya is Hausa,” he noted.

On Mr Turji’s manpower strength, Mr Kamarawa said at least 100 armed men guard his base.

“Turji is surrounded by over 100 gunmen from his main operation base, besides other units.

“The only difference between the Khaki they wear on and those of real soldiers, is dirt. They are always dirty but the real soldiers are cleaner in outlook,” he said.

Speaking on Mr Turji’s commanders, Mr Kamarawa said they include Turji’s sibling called Doso; Sani Duna, Bello Danbuzu, Atarwatse, among others.

He further revealed that Kabiru Maniya, Alhaji Shadari are among Mr Turji’s men who update him about their gruesome exploits by sending him WhatsApp photos.

Mr Kamarawa, who regretted his actions, vowed to cooperate with the Nigerian security operatives in exposing all criminal bandits across the region.

Mr Kamarawa was nabbed in Abuja along with one Bashar Audu, a Nigerien national who was caught with a consignment of Indian hemp for Turji’s men.

DAILY NIGERIAN reports that Mr Turji is a 28-yr-old ruthless bandit leader who is operating in Sokoto and Zamfara State.

He has at various times rejected peace deals with the Zamfara State Government. The only time he said he was open to dialogue was when Kaduna-based Islamic cleric Ahmed Gumi, visited his camp in Zurmi, Zamfara State.

In September 2021, reports emerged that the notorious banditry kingpin has relocated his headquarters from Fakai in Zurmi, Zamfara State, to Isa, east of Sokoto State.

His new headquarters, according to multiple sources including a security one, is situated between Tozai and Suruddubu.

Speaking on the reported relocation of bandits to Sokoto East, the senator representing the zone, Ibrahim Gobir, said majority of the bandits had relocated to Sabon Birni and Isa Local Government Areas as a result of the ongoing military operations in the Zamfara axis.

Speaking on the floor of the senate, Mr Gobir said bandits have now infiltrated the zone due to absence of a major military offensive against them in the area.

Policemen across Lagos are now kidnapping citizens and detaining them in police stations without the knowledge of their families and judiciary.





Policemen in Lagos have been accused of kidnapping citizens and detaining them in cells without the knowledge of their families and judiciary arm of government.

Some lawyers, who volunteered under the Duty Solicitors Network disclosed, this in a statement by their leader, Bayo Akinlade.

They accused the police of breaking the law they swore to uphold.

The statement reads, “When the police start to break the very law they have sworn to uphold, then we know that our citizens are in grave danger.

"Policemen across Lagos are now kidnapping citizens and detaining them in police stations without the knowledge of their families and judiciary.

“Recently, a chief magistrate in Lagos while performing her duties under the Administration of Criminal Justice Law mandating magistrates to visit police detention centers, witnessed a terrifying situation that threatens our safety and completely erodes our trust in the Nigeria Police.

“Lawyers who volunteer under the Duty Solicitors Network were alerted to this extortion scheme going on at the Area C Police Command where they discovered that people arrested around Lagos were secretly detained in cells within the premises.

“We arrived the premises at exactly 2:45pm in company with the chief magistrate and her support staff. The situation we met on ground revealed several anomalies in the system operations at Area C.

“On reaching the cells, we found them mostly empty, contrary to earlier reports of overcrowding. Even the detention board was wiped clean. The magistrate enquired as to the whereabouts of the 19 suspects previously in brief custody as at her last visit on Monday 10th January 2022, as well as eight others in prolonged custody since the 24th December 2021, totaling 27 suspects in all.

“She was told that the suspects in custody had been released, to which she promptly demanded evidence of their release either in a letter, or their respective bail applications, or any other form of release records. Only one bail application covering two inmates was produced in respect of the eight which were detained since the 24th December, which left 25 suspects unaccounted for.

"The shocker was that the Station Officer had no record of these suspects, nor any statements obtained at the time of their arrest, showing that nothing had been done.

“Further previous report from the magistrate on her engagement on Monday, revealed that the arrests were randomly done on suspects of all ages, charged with no particular offence, without being informed of the reason for their arrest, and picked up while going about their normal private lives. Not even their IPOs were known to them.

“After waiting indefinitely for the police records of release which were not forthcoming, our suspicions were raised as to the truth of the suspects’ release. Some of us then quietly conducted a surprise search of the premises and found a room where some of the missing suspects had been hidden.

“The magistrate had to embark on an exercise educating the officers on the need to keep such important, documentary records, and very briefly, gave a template on such guidelines.

"In another room where a female suspect was undergoing interrogation, it was discovered that she had been arrested since November 2021 and had been charged to court as an accused person, yet for inexplicable reasons was still sleeping in the cell as a suspect. This was a mother with children. There were others like herself being held beyond the acceptable time.

“A further search of the various floors of the facility revealed the other female suspects, one of whom was still a minor.

"It was also discovered in the process that some cases which the officers claimed had been charged to court were in fact charged to a court without a sitting magistrate.

"Several other suspects were also discovered, having been transferred from Ikorodu, and still being held beyond time.

"We were, however, able to gather the names and particulars of all the suspects we found in the Area C facility for immediate action on their cases.

“In the end, and after several interrogations, we were able to come to the conclusion that all these anomalies result from the directives of the CP, who gave orders for the suspects not to be released or formally charged to court and who is fully aware of the consequent situation, and that the officers at Area C Command are only following orders.

“Hopefully, the DSN can look into and remedy this situation with the CP, even as we follow up on the respective cases at the facility.

"It is important to note that if not for the provisions of the ACJL and the Police Duty Solicitors Scheme, we wouldn't have been able to discover these horrible activities perpetrated by the Nigeria Police.”

By Saxone Akhaine,
Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on Nigerians to come out with convincing evidence that national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, is not fit to contest the Presidency in 2023 on health ground.

The Arewa leaders said without such evidence, Tinubu should be allowed to vie for the office.

Spokesman of ACF, Emmanuel Yawe, stated this, yesterday, against the backdrop of the APC stalwart’s declaration that he would run for the country’s top job.

According to the group, Nigeria must be saved the agony of having any President with health challenge to run the country.

“If people have issues or evidence about his (Tinubu) health, let them come out and speak. Let them provide evidence that he is not strong enough to contest for the Presidency or hold the office.

“The people, who have the evidence that Tinubu is not strong enough for the office of Presidency, should save us the agony of having a sick President in office. They should speak out,” ACF stated.

It cited the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who was sick and died in office, leaving the country in constitutional crisis.

“So, if we know that somebody is sick, we should not allow him to take over that office. It is a serious office that will determine the future of millions of citizens. In a complex country like Nigeria, we should not allow somebody that is not medically fit to occupy such office and mess all of us up.

“President Muhammadu Buhari is always travelling abroad for medical attention, and Nigerians would be organising demonstrations to force him back home. It was really embarrassing. We should not allow such things to happen again,” Yawe added.

Pandemonium broke out in Otu-Jeremi Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State on Wednesday following the killing of a 29-year-old man, identified as Tuwere Shipiode by his friend, Paul Ogilo.

An eyewitness told DAILY INDEPENDENT that trouble started when the deceased caught his killer, Ogilo using his fingers on his little daughter’s private part probably in a bid to have canal knowledge of her.

Irked by the act, the deceased, Shipiode was said to have started questioning Ogilo on why he was trying to defile his daughter, and that it was in the process of the argument that Ogilo took a kitchen knife and stabbed him.

The eyewitness stated further that the deceased tried his best to get help but collapse and died before help could come, while the killer, Ogilo, injured those that tried to dispossess him of the knife, boasting that he will kill anyone that comes his way before policemen from the Otu-Jeremi Division came and arrested him.

When contacted, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, stated that the incident occurred at about 9 pm when the Divisional Police Officer, Otu-Jeremi Division received a distressed call that a man was shot to death at Otu-jeremi community in Ughelli South Local Government Area.

DSP Edafe stated, “The DPO mobilized and led police patrol teams to the scene. At the scene, the corpse of the deceased was seen in a pool of blood and the house has been deserted.

“The Police operatives embarked on an intelligence-led investigation which revealed that there was an argument between the deceased named Tuwere Shipiode, aged 29 and one Paul Ogilo, age 26.

“Acting on further intelligence gathered, the suspect was trailed to an uncompleted building in Otu-Jeremi where he was seen with the kitchen knife suspected to have been used in committing the alleged crime and he was immediately arrested.

“Upon interrogation, the suspect admitted committing the said crime. He also stated that a fight ensued between him and the deceased during which he used the kitchen knife to stab and kill the deceased,” he added.

Oscar Onyema, the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc was dragged to a federal court in the United States for his involvement in the alleged rape and psychological manipulation of the wife of a Nigerian businessman Kevin Ajenifuja with the intention of stealing his trade secrets, documents obtained by Peoples Gazette has said.

In a lawsuit filed by Mr Ajenifuja on August 2, 2019, he alleged that Mr Onyema, drugged his 22-weeks pregnant wife, Anita, and made arrangements on how young men sexually took advantage of her, all with the intention of stealing his trade secrets.

The businessman told the United States District Court for the District of Columbia that he had developed the technique and process of a sector exchange-traded funds for Africa in June 2004, after over 10 years of research.

But he alleged that the NGX boss precisely on February 8, 2010, connived with some World Bank Group employees and Nigeria’s business magnate Aliko Dangote to invite Ms Anita to a meeting at a Catholic mission in Washington, D.C., where she was allegedly given illicit drugs.

Ms Anita was also given opioid medications on a regular basis, which she became addicted to. She subsequently engaged in extramarital affairs with young men near Washington, and the troubling situation was used to blackmail her into turning against her husband until she handed over his trade secrets to Mr Onyema and his associates.

The businessman only confirmed the theft of his trade secrets in December 2016 after several investigations.

“Defendants Dangote, Onyema, NSE and WBG, directly and indirectly, including through other intermediaries, orchestrated an elaborate scheme to blackmail Anita Koepcke and coerced her to steal Plaintiffs trade secrets from their Washington, DC home. Plaintiff confirmed the theft of his trade secrets on or about December 2016,” the document said.

It was learnt that Mr Onyema’s “extreme and outrageous” conduct caused the plaintiff emotional distress, as these resulted in issues between Mr Ajenifuja and his wife.

In his lawsuit, Mr Ajenifuja said it was around December 20, 2014, that he searched for the missing copies of the trade secrets and suspected that they had been stolen by Mr Onyema and his associates via Ms Anita.

The businessman alleged that the trade secrets were sold to Vetiva Funds Managers Limited, Lagos.

Vetiva Sector Series Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) comprising the Vetiva Banking ETF, Vetiva Consumer Goods ETF, and Vetiva Industrial ETF was announced on July 7, 2015.

“Defendants Dangote, Onyema, NSE and WBG have intentionally interfered with Plaintiffs business relationships with potential investors, and business associates, and partners by spreading false, damaging and misleading information about the Plaintiff,” the document said.

A spokesman for Vetiva did not return requests seeking comments. Mr Onyema referred The Gazette to lawyers at NGX, saying they will clarify all allegations in the court filings. But the lawyers failed to respond to the allegations for several weeks, even after initially promising to respond urgently after we sent the court documents to them. The lawyers were also silent after several reminders were sent to them.

The court also heard how Mr Onyema and his associates caused distress for the plaintiff by “defaming and sabotaging Plaintiff’s ability to find a decent job and make a decent living, endangering the well-being and welfare of Plaintiff s children, and making Anita Koepcke opioids dependent.”

The businessman said the affairs caused “severe emotional suffering because his home was foreclosed by the mortgage company as a result of loss of income,” the documents said.

Mr Ajenifuja had also demanded $1 billion as the least compensatory damages against Mr Onyema and others for the alleged theft of his trade secrets.

But in their separate motions, Messrs Onyema, Dangote and others named in the charges sought to dismiss the case on the grounds that it was statute-barred.

The court, however, closed the case for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction, prompting Mr Ajenifuja to inform his lawyers about filing the case in another court that could assert jurisdiction.

By Abdul Seye


The declaration by Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the 2023 presidential election has halted all momentum in Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s camp, DAILY POST gathered.

Tinubu, the national leader of the APC and godfather of the Vice President, on Monday, declared his intention to run after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a press briefing after the meeting, Tinubu said the ambition to be the president of Nigeria has been a lifelong ambition.

Sources in Osinbajo’s camp told DAILY POST that the move by Tinubu has temporarily halted the underground mobilization that is ongoing.

“Once baba had indicated interest, there is no need to contemplate running for the office,” the source told DAILY POST.

Before the announcement by Tinubu, Osinbajo was in a strong momentum. In December, former military president, Ibrahim Babangida had given some sort of endorsement. “I want you to tell him to stay on cause,” IBB had said.

It would be recalled that the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Dr Umar Farouk Umar, also had glowing remarks about the Vice President during the turbaning of Yusuf Buhari in Daura.

That was not the first time the Emir of Daura would be paying glowing remarks on Osinbajo. In 2018, the monarch said, “I can assure you that our son has enormous trust in you, I want you to continue to justify that confidence he reposed in you.”

Equally, despite the romance between Tinubu and Governor Umar Guanduje of Kano State, Kawu Hafiz, a member of the House of Representatives from Kano State also openly endorsed the aspiration of Osinbajo.

The Osibanjo Grassroot Organization had been moving around the country to solicit support for the former Attorney General of Lagos State.

In one fell swoop, this momentum is under threat because of the relationship with Tinubu.


Long years of loyalty to Tinubu

In 1999, Tinubu appointed Osinbajo as his Attorney General, a cabinet position that Osinbajo served in for 8years. After the administration, Osinbajo remained part of that set of politicians like Rauf Aregbasola, Babatunde Fashola, Muiz Banire, Lai Mohammed and others.

From being commissioners, all these politicians have all been elevated to different positions and remained loyal to Tinubu. Aregbesola who was Commissioner for Works became governor of Osun State and now the Minister of Interior. Babatunde Fashola who was Chief of Staff later became Governor of Lagos State and now Minister of Works and Housing. Lai Mohammed also served as Chief of Staff and currently is the Minister of Information and Culture.

After a failed bid to join Buhari’s ticket as running mate as stated in the book by Bisi Akande, ‘My Participation’, Tinubu nominated Osinbajo as running mate to Buhari.

In 2016, speaking on who nominated him, Osinbajo had said, “An APC national leader whom I had served when he was governor was interested in putting me forward as the running mate of President Muhammadu Buhari in consensus with other national leaders of the party.”


6 years of Loyalty to Buhari

In 2019, during the 59th Independence Day, in the “This is Nigeria” magazine, Osinbajo had in a message titled “Uncompromised Loyalty” pledged his loyalty to Buhari

“He is the best boss and I find it thrilling to serve Nigeria under him. It is only responsible of me to give my unwavering loyalty to President Buhari,” the VP wrote.

The level of loyalty that exists between the two was further amplified by Buhari after his death rumour

“Poor Professor Yemi Osinbajo, even he had to deal with the rumours. Some people reached out to him to consider them to be his vice-president because they assumed I was dead. That embarrassed him a lot; we discussed it when he visited me while I was convalescing,” he said.

In 2018, when the President was in London for medical attention, the men of the Department of State Services (DSS) laid siege at the entrance of the National Assembly. Following the uproar, Osinbajo as the Acting President fired the once-powerful Lawal Daura.

Hence, when the President declared that he has a preferred candidate, but he will not mention the person, many believed it could be Osinbajo. In the aftermath of the declaration, Mr Tinubu notified Buhari of his intention to run despite claiming that he is still consulting.

On Tuesday, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi also went to Buhari to inform him that he is running.

Chief Segun Okunloye, a Chieftain of the APC, told DAILY POST that the campaign is all about timing and momentum. “The President’s declaration of having a favourite has sped up the process.

“The race to succeed Buhari is going to be about decisiveness because the APC is the biggest party currently, you can see the difficulty in even picking a date for the convention. So, politicians will have to be fast, else, you are out.”


Proxies battling it out…….

During the declaration, Mr Tinubu declined to talk about individuals, rather focused on selling himself; while Osinbajo is yet to make any comment on the issue, however, proxies have been talking.

On Tuesday, the Director-General of Bola Tinubu Support Group Council and former member of the House of Representatives, Abdulmummin Jubrin was on Arise TV. During the interview, he said even though both Osinbajo and Tinubu are qualified, only Tinubu can clinch the ticket and also win the general election.

According to him, Osinbajo’s aspiration is coming at the wrong time.

DAILY POST also monitored the appearance of Oluwagbemi Michael, the Trustee Osinbajo Grassroots Organisation on Leadership TV. In the course of the interview, Micheal denied the existence of Tinubu’s political family

“I am not seeing registration of any organization called Asiwaju political dynasty. Asiwaju Tinubu himself is a product of long years of mentorship. He was a Senator standing many feet behind the then Presidential candidate, MKO Abiola, he then rose to become the governor Lagos State, one state out of 37. Every man is destined to take his own path. The path the Vice President had been destined to go through Asiwaju. As I mentioned, someone who is married to the granddaughter of the scion of the Yoruba dynasty, Obafemi Awolowo, already has a proud political heritage.

“Is he a member of the Bola Onagoruwa family, is he a member of the Awolowo family– it is still very impossible to match the Awolowo political legacy in Yoruba land or Nigeria today. Or maybe you want to call him a member of Tinubu’s family,” he stated.

While this is ongoing, Nigerians are waiting to hear from both politicians.

The Nigerian Government has deactivated biometric identification of human rights activist and former Presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.

The documents deactivated include the activist’s national identity card, permanent voter card, international passport and driver license.

As a result of this, Sowore will not be able to use any of the national documents to carry out any transaction within and outside the country as the cards cannot be read biometrically.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime is yet to give any explanation for the move.

The latest attack on the activist by the Nigerian Government came two days after SaharaReporters published an exclusive story revealing how a hacker had broken into the server of the National Identification Management Commission to steal personal information of over three million citizens.

It also comes weeks after the government attempted to freeze Sowore’s bank account domiciled with Guaranty Trust Bank – a development officials of the financial institution confirmed.

Recall that the activist’s account had first been frozen in August 2019 by the Department of State Services, Nigeria’s secret police notorious for violating rights of citizens, after the agency claimed he received huge funds from United Arab Emirates to overthrow the Buhari regime.

The allegation was later dropped when the DSS realised Sowore had never been to the United Arab Emirate.

In December 2021, the activist scored a landmark victory against the DSS over the seizure of his mobile phones and was awarded monetary damages of N2million.

However, the DSS has since refused to obey the court ruling, instead devising different tactics to eliminate Sowore, who has become a thorn in the flesh of the President Buhari administration.

Despite accusing him of planning to overthrow Buhari’s government by calling for a revolution, the Nigerian Government has failed to prove its case against the activist in court.

The government has adopted different means to keep the former presidential contestant out of circulation by confining him to Abuja through a court ruling and constantly harassing him.

Sowore was first arrested by the DSS on August 3, 2019 for calling on Nigerians to take to the streets to protest against bad governance in the country.

He was briefly released on bail on December 5 but rearrested a few hours later on December 6 by DSS operatives while appearing for his trial in a case brought against him by the Nigerian Government.

He is being accused of insulting President Muhammadu Buhari and planning to bring down his regime.

In all, Sowore spent over four months in detention despite two court orders directing his release on bail during that period.

Observers around the world including leading legal practitioners have described the charges against the activist as frivolous and laughable.

By Salim Umar Ibrahim

[img]Popular Kano twin brothers and Hausa sensation known in the Hausa hip-pop music scene as ‘Tagwayen Asali’ have taken the matrimonial vow in a grand style to Katsina born twins, Hassana and Hussaina in Kano.

The identical twin brothers who got married to the look-alike twin sisters wowed their fans with the marriage thereby taking the Northern entertainment industry by storm.

Known for their unified mode of dressing and genre of music style, the duo haven’t ceased to amaze their fans as they have been together as a musical group for years as well as working in the same federal government establishment.

According to the grooms, they have been praying and fasting fervently to have identical twin sisters to get married to, adding that God has answered their prayer by giving them identical twins to get married to from Katsina.

“Getting married to identical twins is one wish we have been seeking all our lives and to God be the glory we have achieved that”, said one of the twin grooms.

In solidarity, the wedding ceremony was attended by many sets of twins who are friends of the groom’s and brides. Similarly, famous Hausa music crooner Hamisu Breaker entertained guests during the wedding.

From Lateef Dada, Osogbo

There is a serious dispute among the Osun State Police Command, Department of State Security (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).

It was gathered that the security agencies have been at loggerheads over superiority, thus causing disharmony among them and their officers. The recent parade of suspects by the Commissioner of Police in Osun, Olawale Olokode, where a suspect accused the NSCDC and DSS of connivance in kidnapping, was said to have compounded the matter.

A suspect, Akeem Ogunibi, who was paraded by the police for alleged kidnapping, was said to have fingered NSCDC personnel and DSS operatives in the kidnap of a bureau de change operator, Mallam Bala. A security source told our correspondent that the police commissioner arrested and detained the accused officers without informing the sister agencies.

It was gathered that the commandant of the NSCDC and the state director of DSS made extra efforts, only to discover that their officers were locked up and their mobile phones seized by the police.

A security source said the refusal of the commissioner of police to inform sister agencies infuriated the NSCDC and DSS and they perceived the action of the police as deliberate.

The source said the police have always been in haste to parade suspects without conducting any investigation on the allegations against them.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that Bala, who was said to have been kidnapped, was arrested by the security men over a business transaction.

Daily Sun gathered that the suspect, Ogunibi, was a customer who had gone to challenge Bala for undermining his brother who sold a gold chain to him.

Ogunibi was said to have invited the security agencies to arrest Bala, an allegation purportedly turned to kidnapping. It was gathered that Bala has revealed how he was arrested at Sabo Market, Osogbo, contrary to the report that he was kidnapped.

Sources quoted Bala as saying, “When the security men, one of them in NSCDC uniform, came to Sabo, they said ‘you are under arrest’.”

Efforts to speak with Bala proved futile as he was said to have left the state, having discovered that the matter had caused crisis between the security agencies. His mobile phone has been switched off.

When contacted, the commandant of the NSCDC, Emmanuel Ocheja, refused to comment on the incident, saying, “necessary step is being taken.”

Though it was gathered that the officers detained have been released, Ogunibi was yet to meet with the bail condition.

While a report said that the purported arrest of Bala happened on December 28, another report said it was December 30, 2021. The operatives of the DSS also refused to speak on the matter and efforts to see the director were futile.

But the Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, said the police informed NSCDC and DSS and their bosses came to the command’s office.

She said, “There is no way their bosses would have known if we didn’t inform them. When a suspect is first arrested, you may not know the person he/she is because it is not written on the head and the person is not in uniform. When a person is arrested and he didn’t wear uniform to where he went to commit the offence, nobody will know who they are. It is during investigation that they will know them.”

“Also, when a person is arrested for an offence, he may want to hide his identity. They may not contact their office at that time. So, nobody can allege the police on that because police can take anybody.”

Members of APC Rebirth Group, a mobilisation movement under the ruling All Progressives Congress, on Tuesday tackled each other over N250million allegedly given to them by some state governors to campaign against the Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee of the ruling party led by Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni.

During a meeting at the Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Centre in Abuja to disburse the funds, crisis broke out as some youth accused the leadership of the group of trying to sideline them and pocket all the money.

The aggrieved members said that they were yet to get their cut from of the largesse despite working tirelessly to carry out the plot.

A member of the group, Danielson Momoh, alleged that Director-General of the Progressive Governors Forum, Salihu Lukman, was among persons causing crisis within the party.

Momoh accused Aliyu Audu, Convener of the group, of working against the interest of other members.

He said, "We want change but we are not ready. We cannot continue to operate the same way as our leaders.

"We are aware that Audu received N250m. We are not happy. He threw punches at me. I was civil."

Other members of the APC Rebirth Group later staged a walkout from venue of the meeting in protest of the disagreement that broke out.

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the APC had been enmeshed in various crisis with fears rising that this could jeorpadise the chances of the party to retain power at the centre next year.

Last week, some aggrieved members of the APC dragged the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee before a Federal High Court in Abuja over plans to hold a national convention in February.

The applicants prayed the court to restrain the committee from going ahead with the convention because state congresses were yet to be completed in all 36 states of the federation.

In a bid to put out the raging fire within the party, state governors elected on the platform of the APC last weekend held an emergency meeting in Abuja to discuss issues surrounding the national convention and grievances of members calling for its postponement.

Worried that the internal wranglings within the APC could cause bigger problems, President Muhammadu Buhari last Thursday said that the party risked losing control of power at the national level in Nigeria if it failed to resolve all crisis within its fold.

Eromosele Abiodun

The battle by INTELS Nigeria Limited to retain its service boat contract in the pilotage district of Lagos, Warri, Bonny, Port-Harcourt and Calabar, which expired on August 8, 2020, has met a dead end with President Muhammadu Buhari’s cancellation of the January 2021 directive to restore the contract.

THISDAY reliably gathered that the president took the decision following advice from the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Director General Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), and Acting Director-General, Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC), that unanimously advised the president against the restoration of the contract.


The development was seen as major victory for the suspended Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman whose alleged sin was failing to honour a presidential directive on the said contract.

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi had listed failure to honour a presidential directive on the restoration of INTELS pilotage contract as terms of reference for the panel of enquiry set up to probe the NPA.

This was despite Bala-Usman’s explanation that the president had withdrawn the directive pending further advice from the Attorney- General of the Federation and the Bureau of Public Procurement(BPP).

The terms of reference read: “Examine and investigate issues leading to the termination of pilotage other contracts of NPA and confirm compliance with the terms of the respective contracts, court ruling and presidential directive.”

However, in a letter addressed to the AGF and the Minister of Transportation, with reference number: SH/COS/23/A/229, dated January 7, 2022, and singed by the Chief of Staff (COS) to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, seen by THISDAY, the president directed that the procurement process initiated by the procuring entity, NPA, that was submitted to the Federal Ministry of Transportation be forwarded immediately to the BPP for action.

The COS in the letter stated: “The president has also directed that upon receipt of the No-objection approval from the BPP, a memorandum be presented by the Ministry of Transportation to the Federal Executive Council for consideration, that the Ministry of Transportation should ensure that the process is concluded within 60 days of the president’s directive to avoid further loss of revenue by the federal government.

“That NPA should ensure that the sanctity of the agreements with respect to Onne 4 (Berths 9, 10 & 11) be maintained, as there is no subsisting contract with INTELS for their utilisation.”

Buhari also directed the AGF to ensure quick determination of the cases in court in view of their economic importance, stressing that the above set of directives prior approval dated January 22, 2021 granted on the matter.

THISDAY learnt that Buhari decided to act after reading the submissions of both the AGF and BPP who expressly warned of the danger of further litigations if the pilotage contract is restored.

The AGF had two months ago written to the president after a review of submissions by the NPA and INTELS.

In the letter dated November 18, 2021, with reference MJ/DSD/23/VII, seen by THISDAY, the AGF had stated that the NPA neither suspended nor terminated any of its contracts with INTELS, “which therefore obviates the need for any restoration.

According to him, “There is certainty in the duration of the contract and the position of the law remains clear that a written contract freely entered into by the parties is binding on them. “Accordingly, the contract for Managing Agent awarded to Messrs INTELS in 2007 validly came to an end and extinguished pursuant to the terms of agreement between the parties, which specified an end date of August 2020. The agreement did not provide for any further extension of the contract in favour of INTELS.

“It is also to be noted that NPA pursuant to the expiration of the contract, kick-started the procurement process to appoint another managing agent in order to forestall any break in the service being rendered.

“NPA submitted that it concluded the tender/bidding process and forwarded the result to the Minister of Transportation for same to be presented for FEC’s approval.”

INTELS, the AGF added, resorted to litigation to frustrate the conclusion of the procurement process based on its grievance on a different subject-matter.

The development, the AGF added, had created a vacuum in the provision of this critical service in the maritime sector with its attendant loss of revenue from service boat operation to the federal government.

The AGF also stressed that the approval granted by the president in January last year, which Bala-Usman was said to have disobeyed, was based on insufficient information at the time.

The purported termination, he concluded, could not have occurred since the contract came to an end in 2020 based on the agreement by the parties.

In the same vein, the BPP denounced claims by the Ministry of Transportation and urged the president not to restore the contract to avoid further litigation.

The BPP in a letter addressed to the COS to the president, with reference, BPP/DG/2021/007, dated March 9, 2021, had stated that the decision by the NPA to initiate a procurement process in anticipation of the expiration of the contract for boat operation managing agent was in order.

The BPP in the letter signed by its Director General, Mamman Ahmadu, concluded that, “There is a compelling need to ensure that contractors and service providers do not take undue advantage of government agencies and do not obtain contracts from government agencies through the court rooms.

“The correct procedure is that contracts should be won through a proper procurement process that complies with the provisions of the PPA, 2007. Furthermore, there is need to avoid the kind of monopoly currently enjoyed by Messrs INTELS which has cascaded into entitlement mentality being demonstrated by the firm.

“Also, monopoly will inevitably result in charging a higher price to the consumer/client than what is obtainable from a competitive market, thereby eroding value for money.”

The NPA and INTELS have since 2020 disagreed over the renewal of the pilotage or boat service contract.

The Nigerian Ports Authority insisted that the 10 years contract with INTELS expired on August 8, 2020, after which it initiated procurement processes for the contract.

The NPA thereafter submitted the outcome of the procurement process, which the Authority says INTELS participated in, to the Minister who, rather than forward same to BPP, sought the approval of the President to restore the contract to INTELS. This situation has brought the boat pilotage service operations to a standstill for about 16 months, with attendant revenue losses to the nation.

Kamar Yusuf, a serving Major-General in the Nigerian Army and Chairman of Western Sun Hotels, has been accused of ordering armed soldiers and hoodlums to demolish an ongoing building in Ede, Osun state.

The police in Osun said the general manager of the hotel, Samuel Towolawi, was arrested for attempted land grabbing, assault, and malicious damage to property, after he led hoodlums and armed soldiers to demolish the building construction on the orders of Mr Yusuf.

Hoodlums had also chased workers away on the site situated behind the hotel, according to the builder on site, Mutiu Tijani.

According to the builder, the gang also beat up the workers and threatened the men never to return to the site, claiming that the general recently bought over the property from Ede North Local Government.

“While bricklayers were working on the site, to my surprise, General Manager of Western Sun Hotels, Samuel Towolawi, asked the workers to leave the site on the order of Gen. Yusuf.

“In fact, they demolished all works we have done and wasted the materials – bricks, sand, cement, we had to run for our dear lives,” the builder said in his statement at Oke Iresi Police Division, Ede.

The police, it was learnt, also invited the incumbent chairman of Ede North Local Government, Adeyemi Elliot, for questioning to explain his role in “assisting” the general in the land scandal.

When contacted about the incident, Osun police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed that a report of malicious damage was reported at Police Division Ede.

Meanwhile, Adeyemi Giwa, counsel to the owner of the property, Akinwale Ojetimi, has vowed to press further charges against the serving general, his agents, and some council officials over their roles in the illegality.

According to him, the land in question is a local government scheme that was legitimately allocated by the council to Mr Ojetimi in 2004.

Mr Giwa had in a December 7, 2021 petition, asked the council to warn General Yusuf, Western Hotels, and his agents against trespassing on the property.

(NAN)

By Abdul Babajide

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has advised those residing in southwest states to consider killing chickens for ceremonies instead of cows in order to prevent capital flight.

According to the governor, the region has been losing nothing less than N2.5 billion daily to the consumption of cows.

Akeredolu stated this while addressing some stakeholders in the education sector in Akure, the state capital.

The governor, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Agriculture and Agric-business, Akin Olotu, said the consumption of chickens for ceremonies was not only healthy but will also boost the economy in the southwest region.

He added that the development had been one of the factors contributing to the poverty rate in the region.

“The President said grow what you eat and eat what you grow. I have been a serious advocate and I am reemphasising it, please let us use chicken for our ceremonies.

“Yes, I meant broilers. They are cheaper. I met with the traditional rulers and I told them that those before you have to encourage that.

“Why am I saying this? There is a N2.5 billion beef market in the southwest every day. It means every day in the southwest, we send
N2.5 billion out of the southwest. That is the bedrock of poverty in the region.

“We have a region that is not retaining money. Don’t let any politician tell you any abracadabra, if we don’t reverse that trend, we will continue to remain on the same spot.”

Security agencies are probing a former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Mohammed Dauda, for allegedly leaking secret files of the agency to the media and groups.

The ex-intelligence chief is also under investigation in connection with some petitions allegedly undermining the NIA and alleged attempt to implicate some of its directors.

Some of the leaks, according to claims, were aimed at stopping the reappointment of the present NIA DG, Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

There were indications yesterday that the agencies might seek the extradition of the ex-NIA boss because some of the leaks allegedly traced to him fell into the hands of foreign intelligence agencies.

Dauda, who served as DG of NIA for a month between 2017 and 2018, has relocated to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on self-exile pending the resolution of his case in court.

He got a judgment in 2020 from the National Industrial Court (NIC) directing the Presidency to reinstate him.

Although the Federal Government has filed an appeal against the judgment, security agencies are said to be uncomfortable with Dauda’s alleged covert activities in Dubai.

But Dauda, who spoke with our correspondent, dismissed the allegations against him as baseless and frivolous.

Security agencies claim that Dauda is still in possession of some “classified information” which he has allegedly been releasing to “hurt” Nigeria’s security system.

It was learnt that in 2018, a Special Management Staff Disciplinary Committee alleged that Dauda was culpable of the same offences under investigation.

These include “breach of confidentiality, violation of oath of secrecy/allegiance, misapplication of agency funds, unlawful petition, disobedience of lawful orders, falsehood and prevarication, injurious rumour peddling and violation of Section 108 on unauthorised publication in the media.”

A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Security agencies are investigating ex-NIA boss for alleged acts capable of undermining the nation’s intelligence.

“Apart from leaking some official secrets to cause disaffection in NIA, Dauda has been on the radar for spreading falsehood and propaganda against this agency with a low profile mandate.

“Since 2018, NIA has been under attacks from its former helmsman. He appeared in February 2018 before the House of Representatives where he divulged classified security issues which later gained traction in the media.

“International security agencies were afraid to collaborate with their Nigerian counterparts because of such leaks. And the ex-NIA boss has not relented from his exile base in Dubai.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “From the look of things, Nigeria will have no choice but to seek the extradition of Dauda from Dubai.

“It is against diplomatic norm for a former intelligence chief to use the UAE to launch attacks on his former office.

“This ex-NIA DG has breached diplomatic and intelligence protocols. Such unethical attitude is unacceptable anywhere in the world.

“In and out of office, a secret service official is expected to be anonymous for life. Otherwise, these infractions attract sanctions.

It was learnt that Dauda was suspected of intensifying his game as part of the plot to stop the reappointment of the NIA DG, Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, for a second term.

An intelligence officer said: “You know Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar came on board in January 2018 and his tenure is due for renewal for second term.

“We suspect that the ongoing rubbish from Dauda and others was part of moves to stop President Muhammadu Buhari from giving a second term to the NIA DG.

“This is why they attempted to sell a dummy to the public that NIA Directors petitioned the President. This is false; there was no letter sent to the President by the directors.

“They have failed in their bid to cause internal disaffection in NIA.”

When contacted, Dauda described the allegations against him as baseless and sheer falsehood.

He said: “Leaking information? It is a complete lie; I have nothing to do with it. They used to come up with spurious allegations anytime they come under pressure. When they have nothing to say, they will start blaming me. I am always the scapegoat.

“I have been outside the country for four years, where will I get information to leak? Where will I get documents against my country or NIA?

“I don’t have anything to do with undermining the security of Nigeria or subversive activities. How can I or why should I undermine Nigeria’s security? If they have evidence against me, let them show it.

“When I took NIA to court over my sack, it took them years of foot-dragging at the High Court but I won the case. The court ordered that I should be reinstated as the DG of NIA.

“Now, they have gone to the Court of Appeal and instead of making their case, they are dragging their feet at the appellate court again.

“All these attacks were because of the victory I secured at the High Court. They know I did my best and I had a good record in office and my sack was unjustified.”

In case NICN/ABJ/136/2018, Dauda had faulted his dismissal and asked the National Industrial Court to determine whether the procedure adopted was in compliance with Article 8(1) and (2) of the National Securities Agency Act (CAPS 278) 1986.

The ex-NIA boss, through his lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN), also asked the court to declare the purported letter of his dismissal of March 6, 2018, unlawful, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

He urged the court to reinstate him as director and order for the payment of his salaries and other entitlements from the date of his unlawful dismissal to the date of his reinstatement.

The Presiding judge, Justice Olufunke Anuwe granted all the reliefs sought by the claimant. The judge declared Dauda’s dismissal illegal, null and void, and ordered his immediate reinstatement.

Former Governor of Niger State, Dr Babangida Aliyu has said that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has agreed to re-zone the presidency to the northern region despite its agreement that any candidate can contest the election.

Dr Babangida Aliyu disclosed this on Friday when the Atiku Support Organisation visited him in Minna, adding that he is confident of the success of the group.

He also assured them of his support.

“In our zoning agreement, we have agreed to re-zone the North as requested by others but we have agreed written openly as a result of what has happened that any candidate from any part of the country can now contest this election,” Aliyu said.

He added that the group has done wonderfully well by going round nooks and crannies of the country to ensure that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerges as the party flag bearer and is elected President of Nigeria come 2023.

The National Coordinator of the group, Dr Victor Moses, thanked the former governor for his continued support for Atiku Abubakar even as 2023 approaches.

Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, has said that his boss was persuaded and pressured by Nigerians to run for the position before the 2015 general election.

Shehu was reacting to some comments delivered by the President on his plans for the 2023 presidential election.

Buhari had said on Thursday during an interview on NTA disclosed that he was looking forward to when he would be less busy after leaving office in 2023

The President said, “About my age, I see my colleagues, they are now resting, and I assure you that I look forward to the next 17 months when I too will be less busy

“The age is telling on me, working now for six, seven to eight hours per day in the office is no joke — there are questions of executive council, memos from as many states as possible to be considered virtually every week. Really, it’s a lot of hard work, but as I’ve said, I asked for it and I cannot complain.

“I have been a governor, I have been a minister, and I’m in my second term as president. So, I’ve gone through all the systems and really, what else can I do for this country? I have given my best.”

Meanwhile, Shehu in his reaction said the President was right to have said he had given his best to the country.

He said, “The President can be very casual sometimes in speaking and jovial and jocularly; I think this is what people fail to understand of him. They need to understand how he was persuaded and pressured to even run in the first instance.

“He had served as governor, minister and military Head of State and that’s the highest it could get. He had retired home and Nigerians came and said you are the right person for this moment, we need you. It took some persuasion.

“So, yes, it is right for the person to say he has given his best and when the time is up, some other person will take over.”

By Dalhatu Liman


The Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff & Cattle Dealers of Nigeria Wednesday expressed its readiness to stop the transportation of livestock and foodstuffs to the South East.

The union was responding to a statement on Monday by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) banning the singing of the national anthem in schools and directing the people of the zone to stop consuming beef of imported cattle from the north.

In an interview with the BBC, Muhammad Tahir, the chairman of the union, described the directive as empty propaganda, saying “we’re tired of such rhetoric.”

He said: “We want a united Nigeria – one nation and one people; but if they (IPOB) deem it otherwise, then we’re okay for that.

“We’re not supplying impoverishment to them, rather we take delivery of our affluence to their region. We supply them with foodstuffs, not toxic substances.”

He said the southern population could not withstand even a day of food or meat blockage from the north.

By Abdulkareem Mojeed



President Muhammadu Buhari has restated his administration’s commitment to bringing back cattle grazing routes as a way of resolving clashes between herders and farmers.

Mr Buhari said this in an interview with Channels Television aired on Wednesday.

He said he has had personal discussions with the agriculture minister to bring back the cattle grazing routes in place during the First Republic, mainly in Northern Nigeria.

Many Nigerians have criticised that policy, saying herders should instead be made to raise their cattle in ranches.

Hundreds of people are killed yearly across Nigeria in violence between herders and farming communities.

Since coming to office in 2015, Mr Buhari has maintained the view that the restoration of grazing routes is the only way to solve the problem. He repeated the argument in his latest interview.

“The ministers of agriculture from Audu Ogbe to Mahmud now, one of the issues I discussed with them is to go and get the gazettes of the past republic,” Mr Buhari said.

“There are cattle routes and grazing grounds and cattle rearers are confined to those areas.Those that go outside those areas are arrested and farmers are asked to come make their claims. If they don’t have the money their cattle are sold and farmers are settled.

“So we have to go back to that again and make sure that we prepare those grazing areas and put the veterinary in place. We are working towards achieving that,” he added.

Mr Buhari said while his administration cannot do much about weather fluctuations that may affect food production, it has taken steps to deal with insecurity and “we are seeing the results”.

President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed how he told Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde to deploy local solutions to the farmer-herder clashes.

Buhari said two Governors had visited him in Aso Rock, over the clashes, but he had advised to address the break down in communication between the local leadership and the herders which had disrupted peaceful coexistence between the farmers and herders.

The President didn’t mention the second governor, but Daily Trust recalls that Ondo and Ogun States equally recorded herder-farmer clashes last year which led loss of lives and property.

Governor Dapo Abiodun also visited Buhari in February over the clashes in Yewaland.

In January 2021, Makinde visited Buhari following the crisis in Ibarapa Local Government Area of Oyo.

It was during the ethnic clashes in Ibarapaland, the self acclaimed Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho had stormed the Igangan residence of the Seriki Fulani, Saliu Abdul-Kadri, saying the Yorubas could no more bear being killed in their land.

AbdulKadir was later evicted with his settlement set ablaze by some locals believed to be loyal to Igboho.

Igboho equally stormed Ogun, Osun and Ondo States, issuing eviction notice to Fulanis to relocate from South West.

The crisis also threw up argument for and against the need to establish state police.

Amid rising tension in the region, Makinde had visited Buhari to seek his support to nip the crisis in the bud.

In an exclusive interview with Channels Television, Buhari noted that herders and farmers have been co-existing in Nigeria for generations, but wondered what went wrong.

He said he had told Makinde and the unnamed governor to “go and ask the local leadership what has gone wrong, why the break in communication between the local leadership and the herders.”

The President also said traditional rulers must play a huge role in bringing peace to communities.

He also advocated for more dialogue in solving the farmer-herder clashes recorded across the country.

“For example, there were two Governors that came to see me about problems – Oyo state and one other state – because the herders were in their forests but the animals were going into the neighbouring farms, and eating the crops; I said, as far as I know, the farmers and herders have been co-existing in Nigeria for generations. Let them go and ask the local leadership what has gone wrong, why the break in communication between the local leadership and the herders,” he said.

On the role of the monarchs, he said “The role of traditional rulers must not be undermined, because in their areas they know who is who, even by families, not to even talk of individuals.

“So, we have to revert to that system for us to have effective security in the localities.”

Two members of the house of representatives have called for the investigation of Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), over his alleged involvement in the planned demolition of Magodo estate phase two.

There had been an earlier threat of demolition of houses in the estate, with police and bulldozers moved to the area on December 21.

Residents of the area had protested the move, and the police had withdrawn from the estate after the state intervened.

According to the Lagos government, the case dates back to the demolition of properties at Shangisha village between 1984 and 1985, after which a supreme court verdict ordered the state to give the Shangisha landlords 549 plots of land as a “matter of first priority”.

The state had, however, said by the court verdict, the Shangisha landlords cannot lay claim to land at the Magodo estate as the matter only relates to “allocation” and not “possession”.

In a motion on Tuesday signed by Ademorin Kuye of Somolu federal constituency and Rotimi Agunsoye representing Kosofe federal constituency, the lawmakers said Malami’s alleged involvement, as well as that of the inspector-general of police, should be probed.

“Cognizant that several attempts have been made by the Lagos state government from 2012-2015, to settle the matter amicably making different engagements with the judgment creditors presenting a proposal for reallocation in the Magotho Residential Scheme within the Badagry area of the state which some of them accepted,” the motion reads.

“Informed that the Lagos state government again in 2016 initiated a settlement to reallocate Ibeju Lekki Coastal Scheme located in the Ibeju Lekki Area but this was rejected by the lead plaintiff, Chief Adebayo Adeyiga, as government continue to dialogue with majority of the judgment creditors to reach a concession towards implementing the judgment

“Worried that despite the ongoing settlement efforts and the pendency of an interlocutory injunction dated Dec 1st 2020 before the court of appeal seeking an order restraining him and his agents, Chief Adeyiga purportedly encouraged by the attorney-general of the federation and the inspector-general of police stormed the estate with unknown bailiffs and armed security operatives to execute a judgment that was purportedly delivered by Lagos high court.

“Worried that the execution being presently executed through the office of the AGF with the connivance of the IGP is illegal as only the Lagos state Deputy Sheriff can execute same and not thugs aided by policemen.

“More worried that the highhandedness and reckless show of force on the 5th of December, 2021 and the 4th day of January, 2022, in Magodo by Chief Adeyiga and his cohorts in blatant disregard to Order 8 Rule 17 of the Supreme Court Rules 2014 and Section 37 of the Enforcement of Judgment and Order Part III of the Sherriff and Civil Process Act, LFN 2004 can lead to loss of lives and properties and ultimately breakdown of law and order.

“Most Worried the Attorney General of the Federation is destabilising Lagos State by using his office to back this illegality as a meddlesome interloper and the instrumentality of state – the Nigeria Police Force and their illegal Court Bailiffs – to scuttle ongoing settlement between the Lagos state government, Magodo GRA 2 residents and the judgement creditors.”

The lawmakers are praying the house of representatives to “mandate the house committees on justice, public petition and Police to investigate the involvement of the attorney-general of the federation and the inspector-general of police in the attempt to destabilise the peace of Lagos state, scuttle the ongoing settlement process and enforce an illegality”.

The also asked the house to “recommend appropriate sanction for any officer found culpable in the illegal enforcement and break down of law and order”.

The motion, however, is yet to be presented before the floor of the house.

Despite the worsening crime rate and deterioration of societal values, information minister Lai Mohammed says Nigerians have better values than people in the Western world.

He claimed the Western nations recorded more rapes, incest and other crimes.

“It is those core values that will make the difference between a brute and decent man. That explains why you find that when we talk about rape, incest, and all kinds of crime, it is (sic) even more prevalent in the Western world because, here, there are certain values that are important to us that we must not let go of,” Mr Mohammed counselled. “You must bring up your children every time to understand that there are values which they must keep.”

The Nigerian minister stated this at the cast of ‘Death and the King’s Horseman’, produced by Bolanle Austen-Peters, on Monday in Lagos.

Mr Mohammed added that “we probably cannot” go back to living in caves.

Though acknowledging the role of technology, he stated that “we must take it together with our core values,” insisting “those core values that are very important.”

He also urged organisations and individuals to support the creative industry through donations to create job opportunities.

“So, we need to support through donations, sponsorships because this production would not have been possible without the sponsors,” the minister stated.

According to him, the creative industry employs the largest number of people, especially youths and women, apart from the agricultural sector.

“You can imagine when they were introducing the cast and the crew and staff, imagine how many people earn their livelihoods from Austen-Peters productions,” Mr Mohammed pointed out. “That is why we must continue to encourage creative industry, the arts the film industry, music industry, fashion, makeup, whatever makes up the craziness because after agriculture today, it employs the largest number of people and especially the young and women.”

The Police Command in Katsina State said that it recovered no less than 109 Anti-Aircraft Ammunition, AA, and other items from bandits between January and December 2021 in the state.

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The Command’s Spokesperson, SP Gambo Isa, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Katsina.

He said that 999 suspects were arrested across the state, while 109 anti-aircraft ammunition and four GPMG were recovered during the period under review.

“Also, 44 AK-47 rifles, one LAR rifle, one G3 rifle, 20 locally-made guns and 689 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition used by AK-47 rifle, 1,243 domestic animals which consist of 867 cows, 352 sheep, 24 goats and one donkey were equally recovered from hoodlums.

“A total of 999 suspects were arrested in connection with 608 reported cases, out of which 874 arrested suspects are undergoing prosecution in various competent Courts of Law in the state.

“Also, a total of 157 suspected armed robbers were arrested, 145 suspects charged to court while 12 suspects are undergoing investigation.

“Equally, 65 suspected kidnappers were arrested, 63 charged to court while two are still under investigation.

“We succeeded in arresting 244 suspected cattle rustlers, of which 230 suspects had been charged to court while 14 are under investigation,” he said.

Isa noted that in the course of the campaign, 38 bandits were neutralised in various gun battles while five police officers lost their lives.

According to him, 246 suspects were arrested in 195 reported cases of rape and unnatural offences, with 63 victims rescued in four reported cases of human trafficking and transferred to NAPTIP office in Kano State.

The spokesperson explained that the command rescued 215 kidnapped victims while 20 suspected stolen vehicles and 18 stolen/bandits’ motorcycles were recovered during the period under review.

The Presidency has disclosed that all visitors to the Presidential Villa in Abuja will henceforth take a rapid COVID-19 test before being allowed entry.

According to the Nation, the new regulation applied to those visiting the President including the governors or those visiting any other official in the Aso Rock.

This was made known by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, stressing that every visitor would be required to compulsorily take the test free of charge at the entrance gates of the Villa.

He explained that some exceptions had been made for a few leaders coming from outside, though such persons were still encouraged to still take the test for safety reasons.

“Yes, a new regime of Covid-19 regulation has been put in place for all visitors to the Villa, not for Governors alone. Every visitor to the Villa, not just those seeing the President, is now required to do a rapid test at the gate.

“The kits are freely issued so no one is required to make payment. This is purely temporary in view of the recent spike in cases, and will be removed any moment the situation abates. It’s a growing practice in government offices in many countries.

“Although some exceptions have been made for a few leaders in government coming from outside the Villa, they too are encouraged to do those tests.

“This policy has rightfully been justified following the discovery of Covid positivity in some of those tested since the last few days of the practice,” he explained.

Presidential aides and some other officials had recently tested positive to Covid-19.

Those affected had included the permanent secretary in the State House, Tijani Umar; the President’s Aide-de-camp (ADC), Yusuf Dodo; his chief security officer (CSO), Aliyu Musa, and his senior special assistant (media and publicity), Garba Shehu.

Reports had also claimed that the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, was also down with the virus, although he later denied it.

Doubleoh7:
Truth will still come out, that I know for sure. Imagine Nigerian police commissioner said he was held at a gate for 30mins, people that slight delay in traffic, their untrained, ill mannered officers have already jumped down and be harassing road users to leave the road for them to pass now wants us to believe he was kept at a gate for 30mins b4 he was forced to come down and arrest the guy at the gate. Na who no know how una dey act

Alhaji Bashir Tofa, one of the leading candidates in the 1993 Presidential election, which was adjudged the freest and fairest in the country, is dead.

Details of his death are still sketchy but the elder statesman was said to have been ill for a while.

One of Tofa’s daughters, who had debunked the rumors of his death when it trended on social media three days ago, confirmed his demise on Monday morning.

Until his death, Tofa was known for speaking up for the country and suggesting ideas through which some of the crisis affecting Nigeria could be tackled.

Tofa, candidate of the National Republican Convention (NRC) in the 1993 election, ran against the late MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

By Iniabasi Umo


An All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain, Mr Otu Inyang, has been shot dead by unknown gunmen in Ikot Udoma village in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, shortly after the Crossover service heralding the new year.

It was gathered that the victim was trailed and shot dead a few minutes into the new year while on his way home after attending the Crossover service at Qua Iboe Church, Ikot Udoma village, Eket.

It was learnt that the deceased said the closing prayers in the Church to end the Crossover service, and was a few metres to his residence when he was waylaid and shot severally on his head.

Some unsuspecting worshippers returning home after the service said they did not know that the sound they had were that of gunshots as many sounds from fireworks thrown by excited youths to herald the new year rented the air.

Unconfirmed sources alleged that the deceased was involved in a land dispute, however, the President of Ekid Peoples Union and a former governorship candidate on the platform of defunct All Nigeria People Party (ANPP), Dr Samuel Udonsek, described the deceased as a formidable politician and community leader.

He said, “I received this news with great discomfort and sadness. I must say that this model of conflict resolution is uncommon in Ekid land.

“I knew Elder Otu Inyang very well, back in our days of ANPP, 2000 – 2003 when he helped us build a formidable opposition party.

“Late Prof Etuk Nssien Etuk, of blessed memory, regarded him rightly then, as a formidable pillar of his strong and resilient political empire and structure.

“When we attended his thanksgiving service after his retirement, I got to know first hand, how devoted he was to his native Ikot Udoma and the Qua Iboe Church. And, also how his people regarded and respected him.

“On assuming the leadership of the Ekid People’s Union, we noted that his APC members were a bit distant from the Union, so he was one of those we consulted on how to make the Union more inclusive for all, irrespective of political party affiliations. Sadly, he has died before this crucial task has been accomplished.

“For me, and indeed the generality of the remnants of our old ANPP structure, a great friend and loyalist has departed.

“May God in his infinite mercies forgive whatever his human frailties were and accept his soul to eternal rest in paradise,” he stated.

Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer in the state command, SP Odiko Macdon, described the occurrence as unfortunate and vowed to investigate and bring the culprits to book.

Mcdon said the Commissioner of Police, Andrew Amiengheme, had ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police to carry out a discreet investigation on the matter.

“Yes, it is true that the man was shot dead on his way back home after the Crossover service in his church.

“The son reported to the police the following morning that the father and his mother were returning from church on 31st December and was attacked by two heavy gunmen who shot the father in the head before he died.

“The Commissioner of Police, Amiengheme Andrew, has ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police to investigate the matter and bring the culprits to book,” he stated.