₦airaland Forum

Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to dismiss the terrorism charges brought against five loyalists of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.

The Judge on Friday declined to terminate the charges as requested by Hon Edison Ehie, the current Chief of Staff to the governor.

The court held that Ehie, who was the factional Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, lacked legal powers to request for dismissal of the charges.

Olajuwon upheld the submission of the counsel to the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Simon Lough, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, that Ehie was not yet competent to make any application until he appears in court to take his plea in the terrorism charges.

Ehie, through his lawyer, Oluwole Aladedoye SAN, had applied that the criminal charges against him and others be dropped on various grounds.

He claimed that the Federal High Court in Abuja has no jurisdiction to entertain the trial because the alleged offences were committed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

He also claimed that he had not been indicted by the police for any offence.

The request was, however, vehemently opposed on the ground that Ehie had not yet appeared before the court to take his plea.

The police lawyer cited Section 396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act ACJA 2015.

In a brief ruling, Olajuwon dismissed the request of the former Speaker and upheld the arguments of the IGP.

The Judge said the charge sheet only indicated that Ehie is at large and not yet listed on the charge as required by law.

He counselled the Chief of Staff to either surrender himself to police or appear in court to take a plea before he could qualify to make any application..

The five defendants on the charge sheet are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod.

In the 7-count charges, the defendants were accused of committing alleged terrorism offences by invading, vandalizing and burning down the Rivers State House of Assembly in the wake of the political crisis that rocked Port Harcourt in October last year.

Fuji maestro, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known by his stage name, K1 De Ultimate, has told President Bola Tinubu that Nigerians are suffering and angry with his government due to the current poor state of the economy.

K1 said this in a video recording that surfaced on Thursday during one of his recent stage performances.

Before K1, his daughter, Dami Ayinde, lent her voice on Wednesday to the current economic situation, which she said wasn’t what the All Progressives Congress promised.

On her Instagram stories, the young lawyer said the APC was not delivering on what it promised Nigerians because the people are suffering.

Meanwhile, the Fuji legend, who is known to be a staunch supporter of the President, delivered his message in Yoruba Language while begging the President to find solutions to the multitude of challenges confronting the masses.

The country’s economic hardship has skyrocketed after former President Muhammadu Buhari left office, ushering in the new administration on May 29, 2023.

On the inauguration day, Tinubu declared that his administration would no longer subsidise fuel, hence calling for the end of the financing because it was beneficial to neighbouring countries.

His decision made the price of the Premium Motor Spirit rise from N185 to over N600.

Also, as part of his government’s reforms in the financial sector, the naira has embarked on a continuous free fall against the dollar after the Central Bank of Nigeria floated the currency to move towards market-determined interest rates.

This action has led to the instability of the naira to the dollar in the market, making it sell for between N1,200 and N1,500.

Meanwhile, both decisions — naira floating and subsidy removal — which are largely the factors determining the growth of the economy are being held spellbound and have sent more Nigerians below the poverty level.

Speaking truth to power, K1 said Nigerians are crying, and he pleaded with the President to find a quick fix to the problems before the opposition ride on that to criticise his administration.

“I plead with you to find a solution to the plight of the masses. The citizens are crying and wailing. We’re suffering amid a lack of adequate power supply. How did things get to this point? I implore you to fix these problems,” K1 sang in the video.

“Listen to the complaints of the masses and treat such complaints with all seriousness.

"We know you to be a philanthropist, but we Nigerians are angry. The people of Nigeria are angry.

“The traders in this country are not happy. Look at what the dollar has become (a reference to the exchange rate),” K1 added.

He also wondered why kidnapping incidents have been on the increase recently and called on the President to deal with the issue promptly.

K1 also appealed to Nigerians to persevere and exercise more patience with Tinubu, assuring them that this government will resolve all the challenges facing the country.

He, however, asked those who are profiting from the suffering of the masses to bury their heads in shame.

K1 has in the past sung the President’s praises in some of his records and was on his campaign trail in the build-up to the 2023 presidential election.

The Nigerian Navy Ship Lugard, Lokoja, has arrested a retired soldier and a civilian with over 400 kilogrammes of substance suspected to be hemp along the Ajaokuta-Lokoja Road in Kogi State.

The two suspects, a retired corporal in the army, Denis Foukorighe, and Paul Obor, along with the illicit substance, were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Friday in Lokoja.

The Commander, NNS Lugard Lokoja, Commodore Ugochukwu Ajulu, while parading the suspects disclosed that the illicit substance was loaded in a Honda Accord saloon car conveying them from Edo State to Garki, Abuja, for commercial purposes.

He added that the suspects, both natives of Benue State, were arrested on Tuesday during the navy’s check operations along the Ajaokuta-Lokoja Road.

Ajulu said, “We are here at NNS Lugard Lokoja to hand over the two culprits and the illicit substances weighing over 400kg including a Honda saloon car to NDLEA officials for onward prosecution in the law court.”

He noted that the naval checkpoints in Kogi had been active in line with the mandate given to them by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.

The officer-in-charge of Strike Force, NDLEA, Kogi State Command, Superintendent of Narcotics, Olorunfemi Abolarinwa, who received the two suspects on behalf of the agency, said they would be investigated thoroughly before facing prosecution to serve as a deterrent to others.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has warned kidnappers and their informants, to either repent from their crime or die at the hands of security agents in the territory.

Wike gave the warning on Saturday on the final leg of his security town hall meetings with stakeholders of the Area Councils, at the Kuje Area Council town hall, in Kuje town.

The minister also enjoined residents of the area to give their support to security agencies by providing relevant information that would lead to the apprehension of kidnappers and criminals in the FCT.

Wike also stated that his administration would fight insecurity head-on, noting that he had directed the council chairman to profile and set up vigilante groups.

He said, “We are going to tackle insecurity head-on. These bandits and criminals, their time is up. I know some of the criminal informants are here listening to me, and if you are an informant, you will die the same way those people you are informing will die.

“You have the opportunity of repenting today or else you are gone. Nobody will pity you. You have seen what the security agencies have been doing in the past few days. That is to show you that it is not as busy as usual.

"Be fully aware that we are ready for you. I told the chairman to make sure that the vigilance groups are empowered and we must do it well. They must be profiled and the security agencies must know them. And to the residents, give us information. You must work with the security agencies and provide them with information.

"Do not be afraid. I have seen this problem before, and I will tackle it. Let me assure you that no amount of blackmail will stop us from carrying out our assignment.”

Wike also expressed shock at the state of roads in the Area Council and promised to revisit the council’s file and ensure the construction of better roads for the community.

"This is my first time coming to Kuje, and I couldn’t believe that the major roads were not constructed. They say God’s time is the best, God’s time has come for you. I will go back and revisit the file. Be assured that you will see changes in this Area Council.

“Today, we will go back and take those projects and complete them for you. It is not that we are doing you any good, you are entitled to it. We are not doing anything extraordinary. It is our job and we will be faithful to it,” he said.

Speaking earlier, the Gomo of Kuje, Alhaji Haruna Jibrin, pleaded with the minister for the establishment of either an Army or Mobile Police barracks in the Kuje village where the kidnappers were active.

He also pledged the support of the traditional rulers and the people of Kuje Area Council in the fight against insecurity.

President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to join hands to fix the country and have a change of mindset towards money.

Tinubu spoke on Monday when he received a delegation of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) led by its president Archbishop Daniel Okoh at the State House in Abuja, asking the body to help in preaching against corruption and related matters.

“We have no other country but Nigeria. If you do not preach the sermon of understanding, tolerance, perseverance, and hope for Nigerians, you are doing damage to the country, and nobody will help us repair it,” Tinubu said according to a statement from his spokesman Ajuri Ngelale.

“Let us dialogue because public condemnation of a nation is not what makes any citizen a good one. We must admonish Nigerians to have a change of mindset and not to make money our god or master. I believe we will get to the Promised Land, and Nigeria will flourish.”

Despite the challenges facing the country on many fronts, Tinubu said his government is unrelenting, promising to be fair to all Nigerians.

"We are here to listen, and if you observe any inadequacies in my government, let us know. I am here today because of your prayers and the will of God Almighty. What I have challenged myself to do each day is to be fair to all Nigerians,” he maintained.

“I have had a number of criticisms, including the rationale behind the size of my cabinet. If you want efficient, mobile, and resourceful people, we have to give people a load they can carry. If you combine too many ministries because you want to save money, you will have a future of non-performance and no results.

"Nigeria needs to turn the corner to grow, and we must give people challenges they can manage, and that is what we are doing”.

Bandits have shot two soldiers and an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) dead in a massive gun-battle at Okokolo community in Agatu Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue.

However, the Troops of Sector 6, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), successfully repelled the attack on the community.

The OPWS Force Commander, Maj.-Gen. Sunday Igbinomwanhia, told newsmen in Makurdi on Saturday that the troops forced the bandits to run in disarray after a three-hour battle on Thursday.

He, however, said two soldiers and one personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps lost their lives in the encounter while two other soldiers sustained injuries.

The OPWS force commander said those injured were rushed to Air Force Hospital in Makurdi, and were responding to treatment.

He said that the troops rushed to the community when they received intelligence that bandits were heading to the area.

"Upon inquiry, the troops discovered that suspected bandits were advancing towards the town to attack it and they immediately mobilised and proceeded to Okokolo community, about 15 km from their base at Akwu.

"On arrival, the troops encountered the bandits carrying out attack on the community and subsequently engaged the criminals in a gun duel that lasted for three hours.

"The attack was successfully repelled with the terrorists withdrawing in disarray while evacuating their dead and wounded.

"The success achieved was however at a huge cost, with three of the troops paying the supreme sacrifice to prevent the killing of the inhabitants of Okokolo and the intended sacking of the community.

"In addition to the death of the two soldiers and one Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps personnel, two other soldiers were wounded and immediately evacuated to the Air Force Hospital in Makurdi,” he added.

The force commander commended the troops and urged them to put the set back of the loss of their colleagues behind, and remain focused on the mission of ridding the state of all criminal elements.

He assured the troops that the Chief of Defence Staff was strongly behind them as they battle to restore lasting peace in Benue.

Igbinomwanhia appreciated Gov. Hyacinth Alia for his support to OPWS, and pledged that the troops would pursue the criminals to their hideouts.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state Deputy Gov., Mr Sam Ode, and the OPWS commander, had visited the troops of Sector 6 on Friday at their base in Akwu.

The visit was to commiserate with them over the death of their gallant colleagues and encourage them not to give breathing space to the criminals.

Ode who represented the governor, said that the state government would support the treatment of those injured.

President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, assured Nigerians not to be bothered about the mass exodus of skilled workers from the country, assuring the citizens that the Federal Government in collaboration with sub-nationals will train more persons to fill the professional gap now conspicuous in health, tech and other sectors.

The President spoke in Owerri, the Imo State capital, during the second term inauguration of Governor Hope Uzodimma.

Addressing the people of the state shortly after the governor took the oath of office, Tinubu said the education of children and youths is a priority for the administration of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“You see the priority in industrialisation. Healthcare will receive more allocation and more attention.

“Don’t worry about what you are hearing about the Japa syndrome, we will train more people and we will supply them self,” he said.

The President also assured the people of the South-East that “the peace you are enjoying here will be better and we will work more to achieve that peace”.

Japa’, a colloquial for the emigration phenomenon that hit Nigeria hard since the COVID-19 pandemic, has caused unprecedented shortage of skilled manpower in many sectors, especially the health sector which contends with myriad issues like poor pay and welfare package.

The United Kingdom, the United States and Canada are top destinations for Nigerian youths who are relocating in pursuit of better education, employment and security purposes, among other reasons.

With Nigeria’s unemployment rate at a new record high of 33.3 percent, the mass exodus known as the ‘Japa’ phenomenon is in full swing.

President Bola Tinubu on Friday said Nigerians do not have any reason to be poor.

He stated this while receiving governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, asking them to design and implement policies that prioritise all Nigerians and to always consider the national interest above political affiliations.

“We have no reason to be poor. Looking back on where we are coming from, where we have been, why we are facing infrastructural decay, a lack of quality and comprehensive education, as well as a lack of health facilities. We are not a cursed country, but blessed,” the President was quoted in a statement by his media aide, Ajuri Ngelale.

He told the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) that one of the biggest challenges the nation faces was divisiveness, but that the governing party must work towards healing and unifying the country by ensuring a collective national vision, and channelling energy and resources into nation-building.

According to the President, development policies would only find full relevance in people’s lives when there is inclusivity, ownership, and sustainability.

To Tinubu, Nigeria is too blessed with human, natural, and material resources to be struggling with a dearth of quality infrastructure, quality education, and world-class health facilities.

“You can convert people. You can appeal to people to come to your side,” he stated.

He asked the governors to come up with a framework that would implement the school-feeding programme more comprehensive and successful across all states of the federation, taking into consideration the peculiarities of each locality, but working towards having all children in school.

"We have children of school age who are out of school. The way to promote education is to get all governors, including the opposition governors, involved in the school-feeding programme. Please, take it seriously.

“We should not measure the children as statistics. We should measure their return to classrooms as our achievement. We should see economic growth in terms of value and empowerment. We should set up a committee to look into the methods. I am ready to invest in school feeding,” the President said.

The President said the school-feeding programme would encourage more investments in agriculture, particularly in livestock farming and dairy, adding that the former Kano State Governor and APC Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, had already worked on a proposal that would be shared for input and implementation. President Tinubu equally congratulated the Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, for restoring irrigation systems that provide water for year-long cultivation of crops.

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, says the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, should resign for “betraying the confidence reposed in her”.

Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), in a statement on Sunday, urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to speed up the ongoing investigation of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and charged all indicted persons to court.

The senior lawyer described as an “extremely embarrassing drama”, the circumstances surrounding Edu’s alleged involvement in the approval of N585,198,500.00 to be disbursed into a personal account.

In a letter allegedly signed by the minister, Edu allegedly instructed the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer the sum to the account of one Oniyelu Bridget as grant for vulnerable groups in four states.

However, Madein explained that although her office received a request from the humanitarian ministry to make certain payments, her office did not act on it.

The minister subsequently said there were plans to tarnish her image, adding that she won’t embezzle government funds.

However, Falana said the minister should stop insulting Nigerians, adding that she failed to deny that she gave approval for the funds to be paid to a private account instead of direct transfer to the beneficiaries’ accounts from the ministry’s.

He said, “It is interesting to note that the minister has not denied that she gave approval for the payment of the over half a billion Naira to a private account in contravention of the extant Public Service Rules as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Act and the Penal Code applicable in the Federal Capital Territory.

"Instead of apologising to the Federal Government and people of Nigeria and calling it quits for betraying the confidence reposed in her, the Minister has arrogantly said that the N585.18 million fraud allegation is a mere fabrication by her detractors and an alleged attempt by mischief makers to undermine her ministry’s effort in fighting corruption and uplifting the needy.

“However, notwithstanding that the Accountant-General of the Federation has successfully frustrated the criminal diversion of the said sum of N585.18 million from public treasury, it is crystal clear from the leaked memorandum of the Minister that the offence of an attempt to commit a felony has already been completed.

"There can be no legal justification for the criminal diversion of the said sum of N585.18 million for disbursement to vulnerable people in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos and Ogun States since the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has collated the individual bank accounts of all the vulnerable people.”

Rasheed Zubair, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, says the disbursed N585,189,500.00 into a personal account is legal and in line with extant civil service rules.

Edu in a viral document personally signed by her and directed to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, instructed the disbursement of the funds to one Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola.

The document also showed that the payment of the N585.198 million grant, meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos states, was made into Oniyelu’s account.

This has elicited mixed reactions from Nigerians on social media, with many calling for the minister’s sacking.

But reacting to the leaked document, Zubair in a statement on Friday, said the payment for the vulnerable group followed due process.

According to Zubair, the payment of the grant to the account of Bridget was because the fellow currently serves as the Project Accountant of Grants for Vulnerable Groups.

He said, “It is glaring that the same sponsored disgruntled elements in the past few days have been trying to smear the Honourable Minister, Dr Betta Edu, and stain her integrity because she alerted the Federal Government attention to the ongoing N44.8 Billion Fraud in NSIPA.

“These elements have been trying to link her to a phantom fraud and are behind this latest misadventure. However, this latest vile effort of theirs is another infantile blackmail doomed for evisceration.

“For the avoidance, the said N585m was approved, and it is meant to implement grants to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states.

"We must note that GVG was first launched in Kogi State, where recipients testified. Akwa Ibom and Cross River were launched in December 2023. Kogi already happened in November, and others will be launched in the coming weeks.

“The general public is invited to note that the Renewed Hope Grant for Vulnerable Groups is one of the social intervention schemes of the Federal Government, which the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation is implementing.

"Oniyelu Bridget is the Project Accountant for GVG from the Department of Finance, and it is legal in civil service for a staff, the project accountant, to be paid and use the same funds legally and retire the same with all receipts and evidence after the project or programme is completed.”

A Kabusa Grade I Area Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the remand of a tenant, Chris Okoye, 44, for beating his landlord.

The Judge, Malam Abubakar Sadiq, gave the order after listening to the plea of the defendant.

The defendant who lives at 2A Niger avenue villa nova, Apo is charged with criminal conspiracy, intimidation, force, assault and causing hurt.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

The prosecutor, O.S. Osho had earlier told the court that the landlord, Mr Ochengele Isaac, reported the matter at the Apo Police Station on Jan. 3.

He said that the defendant, his two children and Gideon now at large beat up the landlord inflicted injuries on him.
Osho said the defendant’s two children and Gideon were now at large.

Sadiq adjourned the case until Jan. 16 for hearing.

Detectives from Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, have arrested five armed robbery suspects, including two policemen, for their alleged involvement in several robbery operations in Lagos and Ogun states.

The policemen, identified as Inspector Sunday Adetoye and Inspector Ogunleye Stephen, had allegedly gone with their robbery gang to a private residence in Obada-Oko in Ogun State where they reportedly robbed their victims.

One Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Ajaiyi Victor, who allegedly led the operation fled, leaving others behind.

It was gathered that the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command comprising Lagos and Ogun states, AIG Ari Muhammed Ali, had ordered the dismissal of both policemen.

The three other accomplices are said to be members of a vigilante group in the area.

The Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, SP Umma Tunni Ayuba, who confirmed the arrest, gave the identities of the two policemen as AP. No. 279495 Inspector Sunday Adetoye and AP. No. 223521 Inspector Ogunleye Stephen.

He added that they were attached to the Zonal Command Headquarters in Onikan.

Ayuba said, “The erring officers, who were at the time facing trial for a similar offence, on November 23, 2023, at about 10pm, went in the company of three others; two members of Vigilante Group, one Semiu Afisu’M’, one Abidoye Femi ‘M’, and one Charles John ‘(the driver), to the residence of one Taiwo Monsuru, and one Akintola Sunday, at Obada-Oko in Ogun State; armed with two SMG rifles and live ammunition, conducted a search without a warrant where they allegedly made away with 5 iPhones, one Samsung smartphone, one Tecno smartphone, and two laptop computers.

"Police officers attached to Ifo Division mounted a roadblock after other residents of the apartment informed them of the incident with the description of the vehicle, which led to the apprehension of the occupants of the vehicle

“One ASP Ajayi Victor allegedly led the illegal operation and fled. He is currently at large.

“The AIG has directed that the dismissed officers be charged to court alongside the civilians involved, while he urges all officers and men of the force to remain professional in the discharge of their duties in accordance with the law, as anyone found wanting will be accountable for his/her action or inaction.

"He further emphasizes that the current management of the Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, will not tolerate any form of unprofessional and corrupt practice, while he implores members of the public to always report unprofessional conduct of officers and men, as the Police is always there for the protection of all.”

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Daniel Bwala, on Tuesday, said opposition political parties will come together to form a strong coalition that will wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.

Bwala, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, said without a coalition of opposition parties, President Bola Tinubu will spend eight years in office as Nigeria’s President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

“Without a coalition of political parties, Tinubu is going to spend the next eight years. That one is for sure,” Bwala said.

“The truth of the matter is that there will be a coalition of political parties that will be very strong. This is a fact that I know. The coalition that is coming will swallow some of the elements that are creating the problems in the various political parties,” he said.

During the programme, Bwala accused Tinubu of instigating crises in opposition parties, citing the problems that confronted the Labour Party and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) as instances.

‘Fubara Entered A Trap’

The PDP chieftain also weighed in on the crisis in oil-rich Rivers State, following a purported fallout between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who now serves as minister in the APC-led Federal Government.

A few weeks ago, 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike dumped the PDP for the APC, with the opposition party demanding their resignation as lawmakers.

As part of the means to resolve the impasse, President Tinubu met with stakeholders from Rivers State at the Presidential Villa that had Fubara, Wike, and former governor Peter Odili among others in attendance. Part of the recommendations was for the cross-carpeting lawmakers to retain their positions in the House of Assembly.

Reacting, Bwala predicted that the governor would be removed from office, adding that he already stepped into the trap set for him. Though he didn’t indicate who set trap for Fubara, Bwala called for prayers for the governor.

He said, “As for Rivers, you only need to pray for that governor. The governor does not know what is even happening. Only time will tell what is happening.

“But if he (Fubara) says that is the path he has chosen, you can only wish him well.”