₦airaland Forum

Justice DC Maidoh of a Delta State High Court, Kwale Division has granted an order restraining the Board of Central Bank of Nigeria and Independent National Electoral Commission from stopping the CBN governor, Godwin Emiefele from seeking an elective post.

The application was filed on May 5, 2022, and the judgement was granted on Thursday, May 12, SaharaReporters learnt.

Armed with the court papers, Emefiele gleefully took them to President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday after which he stated that Nigerians will die of a heart attack.

Reacting to his controversial presidential ambition which has seen many groups and notable Nigerians call for his resignation to preserve the sanctity of the treasury and national economy on Thursday, Emefiele boasted that he was having fun and cared less about what people had to say.

He met with State House Correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Reacting to a report that the President had asked him to resign after the purchase of the presidential nomination and expression of interest forms of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Emefiele said, “There is no news now, but there will be news. You heard me, I said there is no news but there will be news.”

But when told that Nigerians were anxious about his position, he said: “Let them have a heart attack. It’s good to have a heart attack. I am having a lot of fun.”

SaharaReporters gathered that Emiefele had through a proxy, Augustine Eddiego approached the court asking, “An order restraining the defendants from treating the provision of section 9 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 as amended as a bar on the Governor and Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria from seeking political offices pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice herein in this suit which borders on the interpretation and supremacy of the 1999 CFRN.”

Section 9 of the CBN Act provides that “the Governor and the Deputy Governors shall devote the whole of their time to the service of the Bank and while holding office shall not engage in any full or part-time employment or vocation whether remunerated or not, except such personal or charitable causes as may be determined by the Board and which do not conflict with or detract from their full-time duties.”

Justice Maidoh in a judgement secretly delivered on May 5 granted the order and adjourned the case to May 25.

“In the circumstances, in line with order 39 rule 3 of our rules, this motion is hereby granted. The motion on notice is accordingly adjourned to 25/5/2022 for hearing,” the judge said.

“The applicant is to enter an undertaking if the order sought ought not to have been made.”

Court documents obtained by SaharaReporters say, “The court upon reading through the Motion papers and hearing C.N. Ofiah Esq. for the claimants/applicants ordered as follows: I have read the processes in this suit, the applicant has complied with order 39 of our rules.

“Applicants also deposed to an affidavit of urgency. From the processes before this court, I find that the said application at this stage has merit pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice. In the circumstances, in line with order 39 rule 3 of our rules, this motion is hereby granted. The motion on notice is accordingly adjourned to 25/5/2022 for hearing. The applicant is to enter undertaking if the order sought ought not to have been made.”

Last week, a group of supporters said they had purchased the APC presidential form for the CBN boss.

That move ended months of speculation that Emefiele was interested in Nigeria’s exalted position.

Following the development, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, argued Emefiele is not qualified to run for the office.

He hinged his argument on the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

Falana in a statement he issued on Monday, maintained that “while Mr. Emefiele is awaiting divine intervention it is pertinent to point out that by virtue of the combined effect of section 9 of the CBN Act and Section 18 of the Banks and Financial institutions Act 2020 it is the Board of the CBN that is competent to permit him to engage in politics or any other vocation.

“So far, the Board of the CBN has not authorised him to participate in the primary election of the ruling party. To that extent, he is disqualified from seeking any elective position in the primary election of any political party or in the general election.”

Reports alleging that the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has resigned have been debunked by a source close to the former River state Governor.

Recall Some online media (not vanguard) had reported that the Minister has resigned yesterday but the source close to Amaechi dismissed the reports describing them as unfounded and baseless.

There is palpable tension across the country even as People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has shifted it’s National Executive Committee meeting to 8pm on Wednesday to decide zoning arrangement ahead of 2023 general elections.

The decision was reached at the national caucus meeting which also postponed it’s meeting to 4pm. While the Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting will hold by 7pm.

The caucus meeting held at the Benue state governors lodge in Abuja. The postponement of the meeting was announced by PDP national chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu.

Even though he didn’t give details for why the meeting was postponed, it was learnt that they couldn’t reach an agreement on the contentious zoning yet as well as other issues surrounding the committees for the May 28 primaries.

The caucus and NEC meetings are meant to take a position on whether or not the party should throw its presidential ticket open.

Recall that the issue of zoning has been contentious.

Some party leaders at the Caucus meeting include, national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu and other National Working Committee (NWC) members; Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin and other BoT members including, former vice president, Namadi Sambo; former Senate president David Mark; state governors of the party.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki Tuesday declared the controversial Ebonyi Cybercrimes Law No 12 of 2021 unconstitutional, null and void.

The Court ruling followed a suit by one Pascal Etu who had sued the State Governor, David Umahi over the controversial law.

The Engr. David Umahi-led administration had in September 2021 enacted the controversial law in equally controversial circumstances.

Apart from the House of Assembly members, no Journalist was present when the law was enacted even as there was no proof of the law going through public hearing before being passed into law.

The entire process was quickly and secretly accented to by the state Governor, David Umahi almost immediately.

The public only became aware of the existence of the law when in October, a social critic, Godfrey Chikwere was arrested by the Police for allegedly flouting some sections of the law.

The Police were about to charge him to court, when he suddenly slumped and was rushed to the hospital.

Earlier this year, Mr Etu was arrested for allegedly flouting the law, so also was the Spokesperson of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) in the State, Chika Nwoba.

Both were remanded in prison by the State Magistrate Court pending the determination of the allegations against them.

Mr Nwoba was later granted bail by the court, following outcry and condemnations that greeted his arrest.

But Etu was not so lucky as he is still in prison custody till date with his matter suffering several adjournments.

While the case against Mr Etu was on at the State High Court, he instituted the matter against the state government and four others at the Federal High Court in Abakaliki challenging the constitutionality of the law.

In the suit FCAI/CS/6/2022, Mr Etu through his Lawyers prayed the court to declare that the Ebonyi State House of Assembly has no powers to make such laws.

He also argued that the law is unconstitutional, null and void as it runs contrary to the Cybercrimes Act passed by the National Assembly.

The respondents in the mater include Governor of Ebonyi state, Ebonyi State House of Assembly and the Attorney General of the Ebonyi state as first, second and third respondents respectively.

Others are Commissioner of Police Ebonyi State and Department of State Security Services as fourth and fifth defendants.

In his ruling, The Presiding Judge, Justice Fatun Riman granted all the prayers of the plaintiff.

The Judge while declaring the Ebonyi Cybercrimes Law 2021 unconstitutional, null and void also issued an order of injunction restraining the Ebonyi State government from continuing to enforce the law.

Justice Riman further held that the Ebonyi State House of Assembly had no constitutional powers to make such laws because the National Assembly had enacted the Cybercrimes Act in 2015 which is applicable in all the states of the federation.

The court also held that by virtue of cybercrimes being an item in the exclusive legislative list only the National Assembly can enact laws on it.

The court also set aside all steps, actions, proceedings howsoever taken by the Ebonyi State Government in furtherance of or in the implementation of the said Ebonyi Cybercrimes Law 2021.

Reacting, Mr Etu’s Lawyer, Mike Odo said that the Court, through the judgement has reaffirmed the constitutional right to fair hearing and freedom of expression of every individual.

He noted that people have the right to say what they want to say and push information to the general public within the ambit of the law.

He expressed confidence that with the judgement the State High Court will free his client at the next adjourned date for the matter.

“This judgment of today is for the masses. People are now free to express them. The law that was declared unconstitutional was draconian.”

POLICE ARRESTS SUSPECTED MOTORCYCLE ROBBERS IN IKOYI.

⁃Recover one Motorcycle.

Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) on May 8, 2022 arrested two Motorcycle robbers and recovered a motorcycle in Park View Estate, Ikoyi.

The suspects, Ayo Taiwo ‘m’ aged 25, Jude Prince Ovat, ‘m’ aged 21 and Daniel Chibuike, ‘m’ who is still at large, were arrested at about 2300hrs after they dispossessed a motorcycle rider of his motorcycle.

Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspects Prince Ovat and Chibuike Daniel boarded the motorcycle from Obalande to Parkview Estate, Ikoyi where Ayo Taiwo was waiting for them.

On arriving the destination, Chibuike Daniel hit the rider on the head with a wheel spanner and dispossessed him of his motorcycle.

People around the area who witnessed the rather quick incident raised the alarm which drew the attention of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) officers on patrol in the area.

The suspects who confessed to have stolen several motorcycles in similar manner disclosed that they sold each stolen motorcycle for One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N150,000).

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alabi, fdc, mnim, psc has directed the Commander RRS, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi to transfer the suspects and exhibit to the CP’s Special
Squad for further investigation that would lead to the arrest of the fleeing gang member, their possible criminal receiver(s); and eventually prosecution.

SP BENJAMIN HUNDEYIN, anipr, mipra
Police Public Relations Officer,
Lagos State Command,
Ikeja-Lagos.

May 10, 2022.

The City of Miami Police Department in the United States filed criminal charges against Dapo Abiodun in 1986, according to newly-released police files seen by Peoples Gazette.

Mr Abiodun, now 61 and governor of Ogun, violently resisted a police officer and a Secret Service agent as they tried to execute an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The warrant was issued after Mr Abiodun failed to appear in court for a previously instituted case of credit card fraud, records show.

The document said Mr Abiodun, on November 6, 1986, at about 8:20 p.m., resisted being handcuffed by a police officer from the Miami Dade Department and an Agent of the U.S. Secret Service. Both were detailed to produce the then 26-year-old Mr Abiodun in court for being at large over an ongoing criminal case.

The decades-old casefile was obtained by the Coalition of Ogun State Students and Youths (COSSY), a political action think-tank sympathetic to Abiodun Akinlade, Mr Abiodun’s challenger in the upcoming APC primaries for the 2023 gubernatorial election in Ogun.

A spokesman for Mr Abiodun did not immediately return a request seeking comments about the discovery Monday evening.

Mr Abiodun’s charges in the United States have raised concerns about his rectitude to continue as governor of a major Nigerian state like Ogun. He was first charged in early 1986 for forgery and credit card theft, among other criminal activities.

Following initial reports about his criminal past last month, the ruling All Progressives Congress asked Mr Abiodun to address allegations in a petition compiled by COSSY. Whereas the governor, through his lawyers, admitted his arrest in the U.S., he insisted he was never convicted.

Mr Abiodun’s lawyers said the matters ended at investigations, which are not sufficient to disqualify him from getting his party’s ticket for a second term. They also argued that the matter was already status-barred since it occurred more than three decades ago.

Indeed, the Nigerian Constitution allows a maximum of 10 years for a criminal convict to be excluded from seeking an elective office. Even if Mr Abiodun had been convicted in 1986, 33 years had passed as of 2019 when he was first elected governor.

Revelations about Mr Abiodun’s criminal history emerged months after one of his closest aides, Abiodun Rufai, was arrested in New York for stealing Americans’ identities to defraud the U.S. government. He pleaded guilty earlier this month to several counts of information and will be sentenced in August.

2023 Presidency : Zoning And Support For Ahmad Lawan

I congratulate my friend, former roommate and boss , Senator Ahmad Lawan as he picks form to run for President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under our great party , All Progressives Congress (APC) . I am most glad because he is from the North East , the only zone alongside South East that is yet to produce President of Nigeria.

I have always maintained an unambiguous stand that for justice , equity and fairness in our country, the next president of Nigeria after President Muhammadu Buhari should come from the South East or the North East .

I have also told Nigerians that I would only run for president if the two major political parties (APC and PDP) zone their tickets to the South East . That is why I was disappointed with our southern brothers who are talking about fairness and equity but has zero tolerance for the same fairness and equity in the South .

In the absence of a South Easterner being president of Nigeria in 2023 , I have my full support for a North Easterner . This is because it would be the closest to the equity , fairness and Justice everyone is talking about . It further means that the justice is on its way to the South East .

I thank those who said they have picked presidential form for me because they meant well for Nigerians .

However, since there is no zoning and the contest is open to all Nigerians , I officially withdraw from presidential contest in 2023. I have also picked ticket to run for Abia North Senatorial zone and to complete the good work I started in Abia North .

I urge all my friends , allies and supporters in the APC to toe the line of justice by supporting Senator Ahmad Lawan , a North Easterner for the presidential ticket of the APC

Signed

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu
Chief Whip of the 9th Senate
Federal Republic of Nigeria

Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, the National Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC) has advised Nigerians to be security conscious, adding that “security is everybody’s business.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has released nine guidelines for the conduct of presidential, governorship and parliamentary aspirants ahead of primaries.

The contenders have been barred from going to court without first exhausting avenues for redress and ventilation of grievances.

The aspirants are also expected to sign undertakings to accept the outcomes of the shadow polls and support whoever emerges as a candidate for the general election.

The ruling party also directed them to take oaths not to engage in thuggery, anti-party activities, factionalisation or the creation of parallel congresses and party organs at any level.

These conditions are contained on page 17 of the nomination form given to the aspirants.

But of the nine conditions, most of the aspirants, especially presidential heavyweights, are uncomfortable with the “voluntary letter of withdrawal”, which they are expected to sign before a Commissioner for Oaths or a Notary Public.

They alleged that the withdrawal clause may lead to either imposition of a presidential candidate or abuse of the consensus clause in the Electoral Act 2022.

It was learnt that most presidential aspirants have been seeking legal advice on Page 18 of the nomination form, which they considered a booby trap.

A copy of the nomination form revealed the tough terms for aspirants who have paid humongous sums to participate in the primaries.

Although APC leadership claimed that the conditions were in line with Article 21. 2 (i — xii) of the APC Constitution, many aspirants faulted the conditions as inconsistent with fundamental human rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

The conditions are: “Abide to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the APC and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Abide by the Primary election guidelines of APC and Nigerian Electoral Act.

“Abide to place APC above selfish interests,

“I, my primary campaign organisation and my supporters undertake to accept the outcome of the primary and support whoever emerges as APC candidate for the general election.

“Abide not to engage in dishonest practices, thuggery, being absent from meetings to which he/she is invited without reasonable cause; carrying out anti-party activities which tend to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient organisation of the party or which are inconsistent with the aims and objectives of the party.

“Abide not to give wrong information to any organ of the party or unauthorised publicity of a party dispute without exhausting all avenues or settlement or redress within the party.

“Abide not to file any action in a court of law against the party or any of its officers on any matters relating to the discharge of the duties of the party without first exhausting all avenues for redress provided.

“Abide to always follow the path of justice, honesty and unity amongst fellow contestants and party members. So help me God.

“Abide not to factionalise or create a parallel congress, election, or party organ at any level.”

The aspirants, especially presidential contenders, have picked holes in Page 18 of the nomination form bordering on signing a voluntary letter of withdrawal before participating in the forthcoming exercise.

The letter, titled: Letter of Voluntary Withdrawal, says: “I…of the above address…vying for…hereby voluntarily withdraw my candidacy from the contest…scheduled to hold on…2023. My withdrawal is in the best interest of our great party, the APC.”

Apart from addressing the letter to the National Chairman of APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, each aspirant is expected to endorse the letter before a Commissioner for Oaths or Notary Public.

It was learnt that most aspirants were shocked by the attachment to the party’s nomination form.

A source said: “Most of the aspirants see it as a death warrant. The party can invoke the letter to disengage an aspirant from participating in any strand of the primaries.

“Also, it gives the party the liberty to impose a candidate at any level under the guise of abiding by the consensus clause in the Electoral Act 2022. With the letter, the conditions for consensus will easily be met.

“Technically, many aspirants see the letter as leaving their fate to the party. Other conditions have also boxed them into a tight corner. We have never had these draconian guidelines.”

It was learnt that some aspirants have opted for legal advice on whether or not to sign the letter of withdrawal.

An aide to a presidential aspirant said: “Our legal team, like those of others, is studying the implications of the letter.

“I am aware that presidential aspirants have been comparing notes on the letter, which is unacceptable to them.

“Although the party said the signing of the letter is optional, an aspirant will be submitting an incomplete nomination form without completing the letter. Such an aspirant can be disqualified. It is a tight situation.

“None of the presidential aspirants has been able to submit his or her nomination form because of this letter of withdrawal.

“Though the aspirants have up till May 11 to submit the form, they are making representation to the party leadership to have a rethink.”

Rotimi Amaechi, a presidential hopeful on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says choosing him as the party’s flagbearer will not be a waste of votes.

Amaechi said this on Sunday while addressing delegates in Edo state.

He urged the delegates to be focused on voting for a credible aspirant like him to fly the party’s flag.

“Politicians will come to ask for your votes, but please, as south-south people, as politicians, as good people of Nigeria, don’t waste your votes,” he said.

“The problem with politicians is you. The elites have shown you that they are here to chop money and you allow them. They will bring money here and say you should vote for them, and nobody will care to ask ‘What was he before now?’ What is his performance?’ ‘The economy they want to come and manage, how have they performed?’

“The electability of a candidate is essential for you. If not, the APC will lose the election. For now, I think I’m the most electable. I’m tried, tested and trusted.

“If they ask me, I have huge evidence, — model primary schools, secondary schools, primary healthcare centres, hospitals, roads, 750 megawatts of power in Rivers state; children were sent overseas to study; 13,200 teachers were employed, and other achievements as governor.

“As minister of transportation, I finished the Kaduna-Abuja rail, and Lagos-Ibadan is running. For those of you who say, ‘what has he done in the south-south?’ There’s a Warri-Itakpe rail line; only two communities are in Kogi, and the rest are in Edo and Delta states.

“We have started the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail, and we will start the Lagos-Calabar rail. So, when they say ‘he has not done anything in the south-south,’ are they saying Delta and Edo are not part of the Niger Delta?

“I have evidence of what my contributions are to APC and to Nigeria. I can account for the period I have been in office. So, if they bring money, you take it, but let us rise, vote right and defend our votes.”

On his part, Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, commended Amaechi on the rail projects, but urged him to improve security on railways.

On Amaechi’s ambition, the monarch described the throne as “non-partisan, adding that “we endeavour to follow our ancestors’ directives to guide and pray”.

Another member of the House of Representatives from Kano State, Kabiru Alhassan, has resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mr Alhassan’s resignation followed that of his colleague, Abdulkadir Jobe, member representing Dawakin-Tofa/Rimin Gado/Tofa Federal Constituency, who resigned due to an internal crisis in the Kano State chapter of the party.

Mr Alhassan represents Rano/Bunkure/ Kibiya Federal Constituency at the National Assembly.

The lawmaker, who is vying for the governorship seat of the state, accused the state chapter of the party of preferential treatment.

Mr Alhassan, who is also a former Speaker, Kano House of Assembly, confirmed his resignation to Solacebase, a Kano-based online platform.

He said he would soon announce the political party he is moving to.

Mr Alhassan from Kano South Senatorial District was reportedly endorsed by political stakeholders from the district to succeed the governor Abdullahi Ganduje in 2023.

Other aspirants under the APC are: Barau Jibrin, senator for Kano North and Sha’aban Sharada, member representing Kano Municipal.

A former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, barring any last minute change in permutations is set to pick the presidential ticket of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in next year’s election. Atiku, the PDP’s candidate in 2019 election is one of the 15 aspirants cleared by Senator David Markled presidential screening committee last week, has succeded in dividing the party’s govs who were hitherto working together.

The former vice president is from the North despite growing agitation by Southern and North-central socio-political groups for the party to cede its ticket to the South as the eight year tenure of incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to lapse in May next year. PDP has scheduled its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for Wednesday next week to consider the report of Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue-led 37-member zoning committee.

Though several issues have been lined up, the major contentious one expected to raise tension as the leaders of the party will discuss at the meeting will be that of zoning A party source told Saturday Telegraph that the contest for the PDP’s ticket is between Atiku, his running mate in 2019 and former Anambra State governor Mr. Peter Obi and the incumbent Rivers State governor, Chief Nyesom Wike. Of the two, Obi remains the Adamawa born politician’s major challenger for the party’s ticket at the forthcoming national convention as others are reported to be mulling the possibility of taking shots at other political offices within the party.

A source within the party, who spoke with our correspondent, stated that “In a free and fair contest, Obi is the most acceptable candidate. He enjoys nationwide acceptance, even across party lines. His sound economic management and proven integrity is working in his favour.

“But the problem is that he doesn’t have the money to give delegates. He is not even ready to give even if he has the money. “And you also know that the ‘kingmakers’ will not be comfortable with his austere nature. Obi is not ready to share money. Anybody who is not going to share money will not be in their good books.”

The source said what is going for Atiku is his network of contacts which have worked perfectly well for him as a source who pleaded anonymity said, “He is an experienced politician. As you can see, he has divided the PDP governors. “Before now the gov ernors were working together, to ensure that one of them becomes PDP candidate. But what do you see now? Four of them are in the race. So there is no way all of them will work together again,” the source added. Out of the 13 PDP governors, at least four of the governors are working for Atiku and sources listed them to include his home state governor, Ahmadu Umaru Finitiri, the governor of the neighbouring state of Taraba, Chief Dirus Ishaku, as well their Delta and Edo State counterparts, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

The former vice president is likely going to sway delegates’ votes from non- PDP controlled northern states to his side owing to the vast war chest in his arsenal to battle the governors for delegates’ votes in PDP controlled states. “He did it in Port Harcourt in 2018 and it is possible he is likely to repeat the same in this year’s national convention,” a source said. According to him (the source) “Atiku is a clever politician; he refused to join (Bukola) Saraki and others who are campaigning for consensus. He knows it is not going to work, have you seen how it ended?” The former vice president participated in a similar exercise in 2011 where he was chosen ahead of Bukola Saraki by former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, as preferred candidate of the North.

He however lost to former President Goodluck Jonathan at the party primaries. The source asserted that division among consensus promoters will be an advantage to Atiku. According to him, “It is more likely that Bauchi delegates will vote for Atiku, because Governor Bala Mohammed will be more interested in returning as governor than the presidential ticket. “It is the turn of Saraki to pay for the failed consensus. He is seen as too ambitious. The rejection by the Northern Elders Forum says a lot. The other candidate that is expected to give Atiku a run for his money is Governor Wike who is hoping to deploy huge resources to match him for delegates’ votes but the major snag is that many party members are not too comfortable with his style of governance. “The VAT issue won more enemies than friends, for him in the north,” the party source who spoke to our correspondent added. PDP National Chairman Dr. Iyorchia Ayu however assured of level playing ground for all the aspirants. Iyorchia told Sokoto State governor Aminu Tambuwal that the party has not had a controversial presidential primary before, adding that the National Working Committee (NWC), is working to maintain the standard.

I just got my expression of interest and Presidential nomination forms. I appreciate my friends and associates for doing me this honour. I assure you that I am a representation of all tribes and regions. A true Nigerian candidate.

Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani picks Expression of Interest and Nomination forms