₦airaland Forum

Governors of the All progressives congress (APC) met with its National working committee late last night in Abuja to discuss certain issues/crisis plaguing the party.

Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-rufai said that the governors had restated their support for Buhari, adding that his state of health had no issue with politics.

Quoting him;

"We are not worried about the development, it is not compulsory for the president to preside over every Federal Executive Council (FEC), that is why our constitution makes available the place of the Vice President”

El-rufai's statements are coming after Buhari's absence at the FEC meeting held on Wednesday. This was the 3rd time in a row that the president did not attend such an important meeting thus fueling rumors that his health was in a bad shape.

The petite Kaduna governor further stated;

"Mr. President is 74 years old; at that age, it is possible to have one ailment or the other, even I, at 57 take medication for one ailment or the other. Our prayer is that the president gets better but the reason he has a Vice President is because of a time like this, it may not be as a result of sickness that he did not attend FEC, he may have had other pressing issues to attend to."

"I have not had to chair every State Executive Council in Kaduna state because the deputy governor is there if I have other issues of greater priority to attend to. Muhammadu Buhari “We are not worried yet or have any reason to be worried but I call on every Nigerian to join all of us to pray for the improved health of the President. It has improved in the last few weeks since he came back and we will continue to pray for his improved health."
Speaking on matters discussed at the meeting, Elrufai said;

"We have committed to providing the NWC all the support that they need. We will also engage in fundraising from our donors, sympathizers of the APC to ensure that the national headquarters of the party and indeed all organs of the party have the wherewithal to continue with the difficult work they have been doing within the party.” “The joint meeting between the NWC and the governors also resolved that at our next meeting, we are going to look at the arrangements for the midterm convention and put in place the resources necessary to ensure that the convention

“The joint meeting between the NWC and the governors also resolved that at our next meeting, we are going to look at the arrangements for the midterm convention and put in place the resources necessary to ensure that the convention holds as required by our party. “The governors restate their loyalty to Mr. President, the Vice President and all leaders of our party; we enjoin Nigerians to continue to pray for the improved health of the President."

Some Governors boycotted the meeting

Politics Nigeria discovered that governors loyal to the National leader of the party, Bola Tinubu were absent at the meeting. The governors include; Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos, Godwin Obaseki of Edo state and Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state. Another governor missing at the meeting was Jibrilla Bindow of Adamawa state, a loyalist of party chieftain, Atiku Abubakar.

The Nigerian police has successfully effected the arrest of a Notorious Niger Delta Avenger Militant and Kidnapper, Anthony Pepple AKA “Urban Gorrilla” and other members of his Kidnapping syndicate, known for targeting Medical Doctors and Pharmacists in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state.

After several reported cases of kidnapping in Port Harcourt, IGP Ibrahim K Idris instructed the Intelligence Response Team IRT to bring an end to the menace of this syndicate.

On 01/04/17 at about 1500hrs, after diligent and painstaking Intelligence gathering and analysis and Technical support from TIU, Operatives of IGP- Intelligence Response Team IRT deployed to Port-Harcourt arrested one Saheed Adekunle aka ‘Black Devil’ 27yrs ‘M’ of Ede south L.G.A of Osun State.

'Black Devil' who resides in Port-Harcourt confessed to be introduced into Kidnapping by one Tony in 2016 and gave valuable information that led to the arrest of the Overall Gang leader Anthony Pepple aka ‘Urban Gorilla’ 42yrs ‘M’ of Bonny LGA of Rivers state, a very educated former staff of SAIPEM, a Multinational Oil Servicing Company,

He worked with the Company both in Nigeria and Abu-Dabi UAE. Upon his arrest, Anthony Pepple confessed to being a key member of the Niger Delta Avengers. He revealed to the police that he was actively involved in blowing pipelines and responsible for masterminding the cold-blooded murder of one Soboma George a militant commander in 2009. He also confessed to being the Kingpin of a kidnap Syndicate that was known for targeting Medical Doctors and Pharmacist amongst other unsuspecting innocent members of the public in Port-Harcourt since 2015 collecting his ransoms in tens of millions of Naira.

How Soboma George was killed

Pepple told investigators that he had a score to settle with Soboma over the death of his uncle. "Sobomo killed my uncle'' he said. Narrating the series of events that occurred on the day of George's murder, he said;

"On Saturday, while he was playing football, we were at the field and monitored him. I had an earpiece with me, which was connected to my phone. It made it easier for me to communicate with Ayi and Blackee. Luckily, Soboma picked up an injury and was carried out of the pitch. His girlfriend, younger brother and four of his boys were with him.

They came to where I was standing; I called Ayi and told him that Soboma was out of the pitch. I told them to strike. His girlfriend said she wanted to eat banana with groundnut. They stopped in front of a woman selling it.

The groundnut seller sighted the car trailing Soboma and told him but he said his boys were inside the car. I pretended as if I was urinating; I called Ayi and told him that the woman selling banana was about spoiling the show. I told them to act fast. “They drove to where Soboma was; the first person to come out with a gun was Ayi.

When Soboma saw him, he tried to run, but the men opened fire on him and his girlfriend. The groundnut seller sustained bullet wounds. The girlfriend’s brother jumped into the gutter, while four of his boys, who were his guards, fled. I took a motorcycle and left the scene. “Ayi and Blackee didn’t wear face masks, so everyone saw their faces.

After the operation, they called and told me they were leaving Rivers State for Lagos. I started working on how to get my papers to travel overseas. While in Lagos, they called me again. They said Lagos wasn’t safe for them.

They left for Ondo State, where they were eventually arrested. I met Ayi when he came to Port Harcourt. I was also processing my papers to travel overseas to work. After a short while, my uncle’s wife fell ill and died."


NPF Arrests more members

IGP-Intelligence Response Team IRT in a mop-up operation that lasted about 72hours, seven (7) More members of the Notorious syndicate where arrested and they all confessed to being part of the kidnap syndicate and the roles they played.

Other Confirmed members arrested include,

1) Hillary Wogu ‘m’ 41yrs of Etche L.G.A of Rivers State confessed to taking part in some of the operation.

2)Ogbungbada Chima ‘m’ 36yrs of Rumualogu village in Obio-Akpor L.G.A of Rivers State has maintained a steady communication with a member of the syndicate in Port-Harcourt maximum prison, organizing operations.

3) Chief Aghara Emmanuel Lobito ‘m’ 31yrs was Coronated in December 2014 by His Royal Highness Chukwuemeka Consider Nwafor of Awka Anambra State but resident in Woji Town Port-Harcourt as Chief Eze Lobito Emmanuel Aghara Alusi of Nwanne Di-Namba Port-Harcourt branch, the Chief provided the Nissan Pathfinder And the Nissan Xterra that was used for some of the syndicate operations.

4) Lucky Gospel Marako ‘m’ 36yrs of Tombia community Degema L.G.A of Rivers State confessed to have taken part in many of the syndicate’s operations.

5) Igbiki Sokari ‘m’ 38yrs of Tombia community Degema L.G.A of Rivers State confessed to have taken part in four Kidnappings,

6) Dokubo Victor Ipalibo ‘m’ 28yrs of Kula community in Akuku Toru L.G.A of Rivers State confessed that himself and Tony started the Kidnapping business and he introduced four members of the gang to the group but Resigned.

7) Okwudili Pascal ‘m’ 41yrs of Ezira in Orumba South LGA of Anambra State is a plumber with a shop along East-West road by Akpajo Port-Harcourt, his role is to bring information to Kidnappers on any of his client that he did a plumbing job for and feels that his client has money so that they will be Kidnap.

Candy Ndubisi Nwankwo ‘m’ 30yrs of Obokwe Community in Ngor Kpala LGA Imo state was the syndicate’s armourer, when he sense that his gang members are being picked by the IRT Operatives he ran to Ngor-Okpalla in Imo state where he was traced and on sighting operatives of the IRT, he opened fire thereafter Operatives Returned fire and fatally wounded the Kidnapper.

Some of the notorious syndicate’s antecedents include the Kidnapping of Dr. Silas Nwachukwu a Surgeon and a Director of Capino Pharmacy at Rumuomasi Kidnap August 2015.

Pharmacist Mrs. Joy Enuvie Akpokobje ‘f’ 63yrs Director Tejod Pharmacy No.115 Uniport road Choba Kidnap on 8/11/2016 along NTA Uniport road.

Pharmacist Onomake Monday‘m’ 52yrs Director of Larmack Pharmacy No.166 Uniport road Choba Kidnap on 23/2/2015 at his Pharmacy also along NTA Uniport road.

Dr. Patience Iduh ‘f’ 48yrs a Lab Scientist with N.N.P.C Port-Harcourt kidnapped on 13/1/2017 in Elelewon,

Professor Rosemund Dienye Green Osahogulu, former Vice Chancellor of Ignatuis Ajuru University of Education Port-Harcourt Iwofe, She was Kidnapped while driving along Iwofe road on 18/6/2015 amongst other numerous kidnapping mention by the suspects.

Exhibits recovered from the syndicate are one AK47 rifle with bridge No. 4398 and three(3) vehicles; two(2) SUV’s and a Volkswagen golf used for their kidnapping operations. Serious Effort is still ongoing to recover more arms and ammunition.

Popular lawyer and human rights activist, Mr Festus Keyamo has applauded the recent increase in whistleblowing activities all around the country.

Keyamo lauded the Buhari-led administration’s whistleblowing policy adding that the war against corruption was gradually being won. Speaking to the News agency of Nigeria, Keyamo stated that the recent discoveries of hidden looted funds were a positive effect of whistleblowing.

In his words;

"People are now ready to blow whistle, the populace now has confidence in assisting the government in fighting corruption through whistleblowing. The war against corruption which seemed to be lost is now turning back to a win situation and revival for the country. The only warning is that we are not yet there but we have taken a huge step forward.

“Whistleblowing is very good and everybody is now a watchdog. I commend the policy, a situation whereby everybody can raise alarm and also alert the Economic Financial and Crime Commission (EFCC). We are gradually winning but we are not there yet as there are many things to be done in this regard.”

Keyamo also advised that there must be a diligent investigation before trial in court in order to forestall loss of corruption cases.

Quoting him;

“The second part of the anti-corruption fight is that we must strengthen the arm of prosecution if we don’t want corruption cases as an exercise in futility.The investigative part of the alleged crime must be diligent so that by the time people are taken to court, the case is solid enough and it will be easy for the prosecution to do the job".

The Nigerian Senate has commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for responding to the motion moved during a plenary session by Senator Kabiru Marafa, chairman, Committee on Petroleum Downstream Sector, on the theft of petroleum products kept in the farm tanks of two oil companies and urged the corporation to take more radical measures to avoid recurrence.

In a statement obtained by Politics Nigeria, signed by the spokesman of the senate, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the legislative chamber advised that NNPC should go beyond the sacking and redeployment of a few officials but initiate a comprehensive restructuring of its operations which presently allow officials and other firms to appropriate national resources for their personal use, thereby contributing to the suffering of the people.

“The Senate is appalled that NNPC is not contemplating on doing something about the involvement of officials of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) which actually played key roles in the missing products case.

“It is instructive that NNPC did not do anything on the case until the matter was raised on the floor of the Senate and the press picked the matter up from the motion.”

“The unauthorised sale of 132 million litres of fuel kept in the storage tanks of MRS and Capital Oil designated as strategic reserves is a grave occurrence. This probably is not the first time it is happening and NNPC must review its operations. It should, in fact, carry out a shake-up in the PPMC,” Abdullahi stated.

It will be recalled that following the Senate debate on the motion on the theft of the fuel, the NNPC sacked two senior officials and redeployed a few others. Its spokesman, Ndu Ughamadu said the sack and deployment were in line with the on-going reforms the corporation initiated to cleanse it of corruption.

The NNPC lost 130 million litres through a breach in its throughput transactions with MRS and Capital Oil. However, MRS had returned the product it sold from the stock but Capital Oil is yet to refund the 82 million litres it sold. The Missing fuel sold by Capital Oil is valued at N11 billion.

While Capital Oil insisted that NNPC owed it on past business transactions, the corporation vowed to recover the products, investigate the breach and set up new modalities to guide its engagements of throughput partners.

Suspended senator, Ali Ndume has maintained his stance of not apologising to the senate president Bukola Saraki. Ndume, who represents Borno south, openly stated that he will not apologise to the senate president because he did not offend anyone in the upper legislative chamber.

Ndume was slammed with a six-month suspension after he called for an investigation into allegations brought against Saraki and Dino Melaye, a lawmaker representing the Kogi west senatorial district.

The senate president was accused of owning a bulletproof SUV that was imported with fake documents, while Melaye was said to have forged his degree certificate.Both men denied the allegations and were subsequently cleared by the senate committee on ethics and privileges.

Speaking to his constituents on Sunday, Ndume said he preferred to be isolated in the upper chamber than betraying Nigerians.

Mr Ndume who embarked on a visiting tour of some parts of his constituency where he was welcomed by supporters who declared support for him, informed a gathering at the palace of the Emir of Biu that he does not regret the actions that led to his earlier removal as Senate leader and his recent suspension. He said if his suspension was based on corruption or abuse of office, he would not have been well received by his people.

Ndume said though he is on suspension, he would continue to work for his constituents especially in the area of constituency projects execution. He also distributed poverty alleviation items worth millions of naira to his constituents.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, April 6, 2016, arraigned Patrick Shanchi Nwokike, Managing Director of a wonder bank, ‘Let’s Partner With You’ alongside his wife, Rosemary Ifeoma Nwokike, before Justice Dugbo Aghoghorie of the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu, Enugu State on a 10-count charge bordering on Advanced Fee Fraud and carrying out banking business without valid License.


The offence runs contrary to the provisions of Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud-related offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act. It also breaches Section 2(1) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act.


Nwokike and his wife’s journey to the dock followed series of petitions from Nigerians across religious, gender, ethnic, economic and social strata alleging that their company, ‘Let’s Partner With You’, had over the past five years solicited and obtained deposits of more than N4billion from the general public with promises of mouth-watering interest in return.


An investigation revealed that the company had no license to solicit and manage funds for the public nor was it registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, or the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC.
‘Let’s Partner With You’ was found to have over six accounts in about four banks with Nwokike and his wife being the only signatories to the accounts.


Further investigations revealed that the company had, for some time, paid a 10% (ten percent) interest on invested capital but suddenly stopped and efforts by depositors to have at least their initial investments were futile.


One of the counts reads:
“That you, LET’S PARTNER WITH YOU LTD, Patrick Shanchi Nwokike (Managing Director/CEO of LET’S PARTNER WITH YOU LTD) and Rosemary Ifeoma Nwokike (Director of LET’S PARTNER WITH YOU LTD) sometime between January and April, 2016 at Enugu within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N8,000,000:00 (Eight Million Naira) from Nwagbolu Emeka Onyekwelu under the false pretence of paying him 10% interest monthly on the said sum which representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”


When the charge was read to them, the defendants pleaded not guilty.


In view of their plea, counsel to EFCC, Marshall Umukoro Onome prayed the court to remand the accused persons and fix a date for trial.


Peter Eze and A. I. Ani, SAN, representing the first and second defendants respectively, urged the court to admit their clients to bail, which was vehemently opposed by Onome.


Justice Oghoghorie, however, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N5million each with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be a civil servant not below grade level 12 and resident in Enugu State. He/She must produce a letter of first appointment and letter of last promotion. The second surety must be a landowner and shall produce his Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).


The case has been adjourned to June 27, 2017, for a trial.