₦airaland Forum

The former Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision not to accept the National Leader of the APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, as his running mate in 2015 was not the first time Tinubu would confront serious opposition to his vice-presidential ambition.

The former Osun State governor revealed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had also rejected the former Lagos State governor as running mate.

Akande revealed this in his recently released autobiography, titled: ‘My Participations,’ published by Gaskia Media Limited.

This is coming as Atiku at the weekend faulted Buhari’s development policies.

Akande narrated how Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress (AC) in 2007, was non-committal to the party elders’ decision despite all the pressure from the then Alliance for Democracy (AD) to make Tinubu his running mate.

In 2007, AC fielded the then Vice President Atiku, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as its presidential candidate after his fallout with his boss at the time, President Olusegun Obasanjo, who did not want Atiku to succeed him.

According to Akande, despite the pressure mounted by the leaders of the party, including former Ogun State Governor, Mr. Segun Osoba; ex-Ekiti Governor, Mr. Niyi Adebayo and a one-time governor of Oyo State, the late Lam Adesina, Atiku never gave them his word on the matter until he picked Senator Ben O bi.

“It was the second time Tinubu was tantalisingly close to the VP slot. In 2007, we formed a party, the AC, with Abubakar Atiku. We agreed that Atiku should be our presidential candidate and we had the understanding that he would run with Bola Tinubu.

“I was the chairman of the AC. One day, after we had nominated Atiku as our presidential candidate, one young man came and gave me a form from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“I told him I could not sign a blank form and that I, as the chairman, must know the name that would be filled in it.

“The young man, Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim, must have been the organising right-hand man of Atiku. He was an active person from Kano. The following morning, he came again with Lawan Kaita.

“Kaita begged me and said it was Ben Obi whom Atiku had chosen as his running mate behind our back. So, I signed the form because I believed as the candidate, Atiku had the right to choose his running mate. If I refused to sign, that would create a crisis.”

However, Akande expressed the belief that Atiku should have chosen his running mate from the AD even if he was no longer favourably disposed to Tinubu at the time.

He stressed that with Atiku, the belief was that the party would be strong in the north, but because of the preponderance of PDP in the South-east and the South-south, it would face more resistance in that area.

He added: “Obasanjo was stepping down from the presidency. Therefore, the Yoruba, even the few that benefitted from his arrogant rule, would no longer be obliged to vote for the PDP.

“Segun Osoba, Niyi Adebayo, and Lam Adesina had earlier met Atiku and we proposed to him our choice of Tinubu, and he promised to come back to us. He gave us a date. On that date, we all assembled. Atiku came with Audu Ogbe, Tom Ikimi and Usman Bugaje.

“We proposed that Tinubu should be the running mate, though Tinubu was not at the meeting. Atiku would not give us an immediate answer. He said he wanted to have more consultations.”

According to Akande, Ikimi, Ogbe, and quite some others were all very strong against Tinubu, because they said it would mean a Muslim-Muslim ticket which eventually ended the discussion in a deadlock.

“Atiku never said anything. We left the meeting,” he pointed out.

The former Osun State governor stated that what prompted the pressure to field Tinubu was that anytime there was the need for money,” Atiku would say ‘Bola please help us”.

Furthermore, he wrote: “Bola was the only one spending the money among us. The rest of us were poor. Tinubu also put all his energy and resources into the formation of the AC and we felt he deserved a spot on the ticket.”

He noted that when the matter was discussed with Tinubu, he said they should further discuss the matter with Atiku.

“It was after we were deadlocked that they brought me the blank form. So, Atiku ran with Obi and failed. Only Lagos state from South-west voted for Atiku,” Akande added.

Akande stated that the leaders of the succeeding party tried not to take a similar route with the APC so that the result would be different because the party was facing an opponent that had “become set in its ways and was riding roughshod over everybody.”

According to him, because Nigerians had high expectations of the APC, the party had a sacred duty not to disappoint them.

On how Buhari and Tinubu became close, he said aside from Buhari’s admiration for Tinubu’s business and political acumen, he had some level of trust that the former Lagos State governor will not “poison” him.

“By the time we completed the merger talks, Tinubu and Buhari had become very close. Buhari always stayed at the Eko Hotel anytime he was in Lagos but would prefer to come to Tinubu’s place for dinner or lunch even sometimes for breakfast.

“Tinubu‘s house at Bourdillon Street, Ikoyi, became Buhari’s second home and he felt completely at home there whether Bola was home or not. This became more so after he escaped an assassination attempt in Kaduna.

‘’I prefer to eat where I know I will not be poisoned,’’ Akande quotes Buhari as saying,” stressing that “it appeared they trusted each other”.

Akande further argued that was it not for Tinubu, it would have been almost impossible for Buhari to win the 2015 election.

“Tinubu was a former senator who had also served as the governor of Lagos State for eight years. He was one of the leaders of the opposition NADECO during the military era.

“Without him, the APC miracle would have been more difficult if not impossible. All these made Buhari admire and respect him,” Akande said.

A Cambodia court in Phnom Penh Municipal sentenced two Nigerians to 30 years imprisonment each for selling 1.5 kilogrammes of methamphetamine to an undercover police officer.

The Presiding Judge, Sin Sovannaroath, in his ruling handed the jail term to the two Nigerians, 38-year-old Coteh Abul and 30-year-old Ogadimma Igwelin.

Sovannaroath said they were all charged with “drug possession and trafficking” under article 40 of Laws on Drug Control.

“The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has decided to sentence both the accused to 30 years in prison after they were found guilty of committing the offence and ordered to pay $15,000 (N8,550,000 according to parallel market rate) in fines each to be put in the national budget,” he added.

They were arrested on October 7, 2020 by police from the Anti-Drug Department in the Ministry of Interior at a karaoke bar in Chom Chao III commune, according to Nigeria Abroad, after they were caught red-handed selling drugs to an undercover policeman.

Sovannaroath said the police seized three packages of methamphetamine, known in Nigeria as mkpurummiri, and weighing a total of 1.5 kilogrammes from them.

Sen. Andy Uba, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra Nov.6 governorship election says there are many reasons why his party will win the election.

Candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Andy Uba and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof. Charles Soludo, will today appear before the Anambra State governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Awka.

The duo had filed a motion exparte to enable them to inspect the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) materials for the governorship election.

Secretary of the tribunal, Suraju Gusau, who spoke with Daily Trust said the sitting was for the purpose of inspecting the INEC materials used for the conduct of the 2021 governorship election.

“Uba and Soludo will on Thursday appear before the justices of the tribunal for exparte motion.

“The exparte motion is purposeful to enable them to inspect INEC materials used for the election,” he said.

Our correspondent reports that 13 petitions were filed at the tribunal by aggrieved persons.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has said that he has no reason to resign over the frequent jail breaks across the country in the past one year.

He said this Wednesday while responding to questions from State House reporters after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

There have been calls in some quarters for his resignation.

But the minister, whose ministry oversees the Nigeria Correctional Service which runs the Correctional Centres across the country, said: “As to whether it calls for my resignation, I still don’t see any need for that because it’s not for lack of preparedness that the attacks were successful. No.”

Aregbesola, however, assured that government would step up security around the Correctional Centres in view of the jail breaks in Owerri, Oyo, Kabba and Jos in the last few months.

According to him: “What I can assure Nigerians is this. Yes, as contextual as these attacks and the successes such criminals are having, we are upping our game and we will not allow, we will prevent any such opportunistic attack and even make it impossible. And that is what the state must do.

“We are working with all arms of government particularly the security to make our custodial facilities impregnable. We will not rest until that is achieved. That’s the assurance I want to give Nigerians”.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja Tuesday fixed February 8, 2022 for hearing in a fresh suit instituted against President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 presidential election.

The fresh suit filed by a former presidential candidate, Chief Ambrose Albert Owuru of Hope Democratic Party (HDP) seeking order of court to declare the presidential seat vacant was put off from being heard due to lack of judicial time.

Though the suit was slated for December 7 for hearing, Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo adjourned it to a new date due to the heavy workload of the court.

The Judge while shifting the case to next year for adjudication ordered that fresh hearing notice be issued and served on parties in the matter before the hearing date.

Apart from President Buhari, other defendants in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/480/2021, are the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as first, second and third defendants respectfully.

Owuru dragged President Buhari before the court praying it for an order to declare the presidency vacant on the ground that Buhari was not the winner of the February 16, 2019 presidential election.

He is asking the court to declare Buhari as illegally occupying the presidential seat.

The plaintiff, who stood for the 2019 presidential election on the platform of the Hope Democratic Party, wants the court to declare him as the authentic winner of the poll and another order of the court directing his immediate inauguration to take over from Buhari.

In the suit he instituted on June 16. 2021, Owuru claimed that he won the February 16. 2019 Presidential election and that his suit against Buhari at the Supreme Court was inconclusive due to errors on adjourned date.

He sought a declaration by the Federal High Court that he is entitled to serve out a tenure of four years after his formal inauguration.

The National Headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Congress Committee members on Monday filed a motion before the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal for a stay of execution of an FCT High Court ruling that voided the Kano ward congresses conducted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The state commissioner for information, Malam Muhammad Garba, who stated this in a statement in Abuja also revealed that the APC was contesting the jurisdiction of the court to entertain such case brought before it.

He said the party was seeking an interlocutory injunction that would restrain the respondents from taking steps to give effect to the High Court ruling, pending hearing of the appeal by the appellate court on December 16, 2021.

Malam Garba added that in the motion, the APC submitted that the chairman and the secretary of the congress committee joined in the case were not contacted despite the fact their phone numbers and contact addresses were captured in the case, even as they have never met the said lawyers that represented them and therefore have not been given fair hearing.

The commissioner further explained that similar scenario played out in the case of ward executive committee members who were kept in the dark and could not be afforded fair hearing and access to the said lawyers assigned to represent them.

He said as the national headquarters of the party filed the two motions before the appeal court, it urged party members to exercise patience and restraint and be law abiding as it pursues the legal processes.

MALAM MUHMMAD GARBA
Hon. Commissioner for Information, Kano state

The Supreme Court in Abuja on Monday abruptly adjourned a hearing in the legal battle of former National Chairman of the People Democratic Party PDP, Prince Uche Secondus challenging his removal from office before the expiration of his four years tenure.

The suit slated for hearing today, December 6th by the apex court was shifted by twenty-four hours following the non-appearance in the court of one of the key defendants, Dan Oji Orbih.

When the matter came up, it was discovered that Orbih who is the 8th defendant in the appeal was not personally present in court and was not represented by a counsel.

Rather, his earlier counsel, Chief Godwin Obla SAN wrote the court informing it that Orbih has not briefed him to properly to stand as his counsel at the Supreme Court.

However, counsel to Uche Secondus, Mr Oba Maduabuchi SAN protested the development claiming that Orbih was not sued by his client but that the defendant imposed himself on the excuse of being Zonal Chairman of PDP.

He sought to move a motion for substituted service to enable him serve the defendant with all court processes through the PDP Zonal office.

Justice Mohammed Musa Dattijo who led a 5-man panel Justice of the court fixed tomorrow December 7 for a hearing of all pending applicants in respect of the matter.

Apart from Dan Orbih, other defendants in the appeal are Ibeawuchi Ernest Alex, Dennis Nna Amadi, Emmanuel Stephen, Umezurike Onuoha, Godwin Pepple Manfred, PDP, Senator Suleiman Nazif, Hon Solomon Ejike Ogbonna, Hon Uche Emmanuel Minukwa and Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu.

It will be recalled that the Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt had on October 26 dismissed an application challenging the suspension of Secondus from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

A panel of three justices led by Justice Haruna Tsammani struck out the suit during its sitting in the Rivers State capital.

This prompted Secondus to approach the Supreme Court praying for an order to quash his dispensation and as well restore him to office to complete his four years tenure.

A former governor of Kano State and senator representing Kano Central, Ibrahim Shekarau, has met with the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, in Lagos on Sunday to discuss the recent developments in the party in Kano.

Mr Shekarau is currently the leader of the APC in Kano, following a court judgement that dissolved the Governor Abdullahi Ganduje-led faction of the party.

DAILY NIGERIAN reports that there is repression against opposition elements in the state, culminating in attacks and arsons of properties owned by the governor’s opponents.

The Shekarau-led group had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police Alkali Baba over the development, and the police are expected to summon some key actors in the Ganduje camp for questioning over the arsons.

DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that Mr Tinubu had extended the invitation to Mr Shekarau last week, and sent a private jet to pick up the senator from Abuja.

Prior to the Lagos meeting, sources said Mr Tinubu’s camp was following the unfolding developments in Kano APC with keen interest.

A source in the Tinubu’s camp said on the condition of anonymity that they see Mr Ganduje as a “huge political baggage” who could not win election in any fair contest.

“You know Asiwaju was instrumental to his return for a second term. And you know what happened during the inconclusive election. The election was won fair and square on that very day by the PDP candidate, but because of the interest of the powers at the top, the will of the people was subverted to favour Ganduje.

“But the governor is living in delusion, thinking that he can win election on his own. The saddest part of it is that he thinks Abuja is not aware of this. He is a huge political baggage no one would want to carry,” the source said.

DAILY NIGERIAN learnt that Mr Tinubu is concerned about Kano because of its large delegate haul to the party’s national convention, where a presidential candidate will emerge.

Kano has 44 local government areas, 40 members of State Assembly (35 of them are APC members), 25 members of the House of Resentatives (all are APC members), three senators (All of them APC members) and many former members who all have votes at the presidential primaries.

The foregoing reasons and the fact that Kano gives APC highest number of votes at the general election made the former Lagos governor to be concerned about the Kano APC crisis.

Sources said the general impression from the Asiwaju camp is that the people are with the Shekarau camp.

“What we understand is that the people are with the Shekarau camp. Well at the moment it will be dangerous for Asiwaju to take side with either Ganduje or Shekarau. But Asiwaju’s body language shows he is more at home with Shekarau as the APC leader in Kano,” said a source familiar with the Lagos meeting.

But insiders said the party crisis in Kano was deliberately created to stop Mr Tinubu’s candidacy as some key party leaders are more inclined to fielding a Christian candidate.

According to the anti-Tinubu group, the dilemma of the APC is not just the burden of fielding Mr Tinubu but the burden of choosing his running mate from the North.

“Pairing Tinubu with a Christian minority as vice president will be a political miscalculation as the Northern Muslim voting bloc may not be at home with the arrangement. In Nigeria today, Muslim-Muslim ticket may not fly. If APC makes this mistake, the PDP will capitalize on it to win election,” said an APC apparatchik familiar with the development.

Governors Kayode Fayemi and Abubakar Badaru of Ekiti and Jigawa states respectively have addressed Ahmadu Haruna Zago (Danzago) as Kano All Progressives Congress (APC)’s chairman.

Fayemi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, recognised Zago as Kano APC chairman at the public lecture marking the 21st anniversary of the Aminu Kano Centre for democratic studies, Bayero University, Kano.

Our correspondents report that this was the first time the new APC chairman is addressed publicly at a function as the state APC chairman.

Daily Trust reported that a Federal.High Court in Abuja had nullified the congress of the APC in Kano State.

Two factions of the party in the state had conducted parallel congresses on October 18 but the party endorsed the one conducted by the loyalists of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State.

The Shekarau’s faction had elected Danzago as chairman while Ganduje’s camp elected Abdullahi Abbas.

The National Appeal Committee set up by the APC later recognised Abbas as the chairman of the party in the State.

Not satisfied with the decision of the party, the faction led by a former Governor of the state, who is now a Senator, Ibrahim Shekarau, headed to the court, asking for the nullification of the congresses at the ward, local government and state levels conducted by the rival faction and uphold its own.

In his ruling, the judge, Hamza Muazu, granted the requests and upheld the congresses conducted by the Shekarau faction.

The judge also made an order restraining the Ganduje faction from appointing a new Executive.

The crisis raging in the Kano state All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken another dimension with the petition to the Inspector General of Police by a former governor of the state, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau over the setting ablaze of the campaign office of Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North).

The petition dated December 2 and stamped received on Friday, was signed by Shekarau, Barau and four members of the House of Representatives.

The reps are Nasiru Abdua, Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe, Shaaban Sharada and Haruna Isa Dederi.

The lawmakers, who challenged Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s leadership of the party in the state, are known as the G-7.

Shekarau and the federal lawmakers said the attack on Barau’s campaign office was triggered by the November 30 judgement of the FCT High Court which sacked the executives of the APC faction belonging to the state government.

In the petition, the lawmakers fingered Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, chairman of the APC faction loyal to the state governor; Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Murtala Sule Garo; Faizu Alfindiki , chairman Kano Municipal LGA; Khalid Ishaq Diso, Chairman Gwale LGA; Hassan Garban Kauye, Chairman Kumbotso LGA; Auwal Lawan Shuaibu, Chairman Nassarawa LGA and one Gwarmai.

“You will recall that on November 30, an FCT High Court had delivered judgement in a suit concerning the Kano APC congresses and the said judgement did not go down with those who lost in the case.”

“Regrettably, however, instead of fighting their cause through due legal process, these frustrated elements resorted to carrying out the criminal acts mentioned above. We have been reliably informed, which information we verily believe to be true and correct that through the night of December 1 to the early morning of December 2, 2021, Abdullahi Abbas, former chairman of APC and five others together with some other well armed thugs organized and set ablaze the campaign office of Senator Barau and attempted to kill those they met at the scene.

“They also tried to burn our party office located along Zaria Road and kill or inflict bodily harm to its occupants. They also passed by our respective residences with armed thugs chanting war songs in attempt to unleash violence on law abiding citizens,” the petition read.

The lawmakers who urged the Inspector General of Police to probe the matter, added that, “Should anything happen to us and our supporters, the aforementioned people should be held responsible.

“In the circumstances, therefore, we hereby write to request you, sir to use your good offices to thoroughly investigate this matter with a view to bringing everyone involved to book and forestall any further breakdown of law and order as well as prevent reprisal attacks.

“Their hope is to see reprisal attacks from our side so as to turn Kano into a killing field. In spite of the threats and provocations, however, as responsible leaders, we shall continue to be law abiding, hoping that you will address our complaint as appropriate.”

Efforts to get reactions from all those fingered in the petition were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

Calls and text messages sent to Abbas, Sule-Garo and Alfindiki were not responded to while others could not be reached on their known phone numbers.

Kano State government on Friday again sealed off the office premises of Mr. Nureini Jimoh, lawyer representing the Senator Ibrahim Shekarau-led faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a case in Abuja court.

Mr. Jimoh was the counsel when an Abuja federal high court ruled that the faction of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau’s ward congress was the authentic in Kano State

It will be recalled that on Wednesday, the same office was sealed off over allegation of owing ground rent but was later unsealed after public outcry.

The State Government, through the Bureau for Land Management, on Thursday however denied sealing the office premises of the lawyer, saying that the premises was locked due to outstanding ground rent

However, in another twist to the whole development, a source told Tribune Online that the premises was again locked up early on Friday morning.

House of Representatives, Thursday, invited the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Yakub Mahmood, to brief it on the actual cost of monitoring direct primary elections of political parties.

Essentially, Mahmood will be interfacing with the House Committees on Electoral Matters and Appropriation for possible consideration of the cost in the 2022 Appropriation Act, still pending with the National Assembly.

The justification for the meeting was to ensure that the youths, grassroots, and majority of party members will not be shut out from political processes as already envisaged by the new electoral bill awaiting the assent of President Muhammadu Buhari.

It will be recalled that INEC had raised concerns on the financial implications in deploying their staff to monitor the primaries, whenever and wherever they will occur nationwide.

The outcome of the meeting will largely determine the feasibility or otherwise of the new electoral system.

Considering a motion titled “Urgent Need to Invite the INEC Chairman to Brief the House Committees on Electoral Matters and Appropriation on the Actual Cost of Direct Primaries for Possible Consideration in the 2022 Budget”, moved by Leke Abejide at the plenary.

Presenting the motion, Abejide recalled that the Electoral Bill has been passed by both Chambers of the National Assembly, waiting for Presidential assent to become Law.

He said: “The Bill is very critical to the sustainability of our democracy as the aspect of direct primaries will open up the political space for the youths and largely the members of all political parties to participate in all electoral processes starting from primary elections to the general elections.

“Countless complaints of the cost implications of direct primaries but the benefits to my mind outweighed the cost implications.

“However, it is pertinent to give opportunity to Chairman, Independent Electoral Matters Commission (INEC) to interface with both Committees on Electoral Matters and Appropriation in order for the Nation to know what will cost the country through INEC in order to put to rest the insinuations of different figures flying around that is so humongous to undertake direct primaries which may not be correct after all.

“We are all aware of the importance of direct primary and how it will transfer power to the real people, where they will be able to select or elect the people that will represent them from the presidency down to the councillorship.

“And there have been a lot of noise about the cost implications. People have been saying that it will gulp N500bn but this is just a hearsay, as nobody has ever sat down to check the actual cost that it is going to cost the nation.

“It may be something that is within the capacity of the budget of INEC or something that we can even appropriate for in this period that we are still considering this budget.

“So, it is important for us to invite the Chairman of INEC to meet with the Committees on INEC in this hallowed chamber, and that on Appropriations, for him to be able to tell them what is going to cost to do this direct primary.”

The motion, which received the overwhelming support of the House, was later adopted.

Just as Anambra citizens were about to witness a first-ever unchallenged governorship election in the tribunal, 11 political parties among them All Progressives Congress (APC) and Action Democratic Party (ADP) yesterday filed their petitions at the Election Petitions Tribunal in Awka.

It was 48 hours to the statutory 21 days stipulated by the Electoral Act for filing of petitions.

The candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, was declared winner of the election after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) concluded the election on November 9.

APC’s Senator Andy Uba in his petition asked the tribunal to declare that he won a majority of valid votes cast in the said election.

On the other hand, The Action Democratic Party (ADP) and its candidate Prince Adam Ume-Ezeoke in their petition prayed the tribunal to nullify the election on the grounds that the Bi-Modal Accreditation Verification System (BVAS) is not in the Electoral Act and the malfunctioning ultimately disenfranchised over 90 per cent of the registered voters.

Also, the candidate of the Accord Party (AP), Dr Godwin Maduka, and his party called for the nullification of the election on grounds of irregularities.

Other political parties which filed petitions included the United Patriots which called for the nullification of the election on the grounds that it was wrongfully excluded from the ballot of the party’s name from the ballot.

Others are the Green Party and the Action People’s Party (APP) among others.

However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate Mr Valentine Ozigbo and the candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) Sen Ifeanyi Uba who came second and third respectively did not petition the tribunal.

Meanwhile, the three Tribunal Judges are yet to arrive in Anambra State but following the filling of the petitions Secretary of the tribunal Mr Surajo Gusau said the judges are being expected in Awka very soon.

He debunked the fears that the judges would be sitting in Abuja.

In his reaction, the Special Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on Political Matters, Mr Ifeatu Obiokoye, said that APGA is ready for the petitions.

He said in an interview: “we shall take it as it comes and we are not losing sleep over those petitions and do not lose sight of the game plan of a particular party and petitioner by sponsoring some lesser political parties to go to tribunal and later withdraw from the suits and collapse into their benefactors at the end of the day.

“Our party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance won the election and we are prepared to defend our mandate at the tribunal.

Armed thugs in Kano have set the new campaign office of Senator Ibrahim Shekarau-led faction of APC on fire.

DAILY NIGERIAN reports that hundreds of thugs arrived at the Maiduguri Road office of the party, vandalising billboards, furniture and setting part of it on fire.

The State Government on Wednesday sealed up the office of a senior lawyer, Nureini Jimoh, SAN, who secured victory against the Governor Abdullahi Ganduje-led faction of the APC.

The Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC, on Monday, November 29, 2021 secured seven convictions before different Justices of the Federal and State High Courts in Ibadan, Oyo State and Osogbo, Osun State.

The convicts are Akanji Musa Olawale (a.k.a Casey Harris), Oyetunji Habeeb Opeyemi (a.k.a lucy Stewart), Adeboye Abdulazeez Ayodeji,(a.k.a Thomas Ruchie) Agbedi Shola Peter (a.k.a Matthew Duke), Shonubi Oluwafemi Samson (a.k.a Benitadykes), Akinboade Fatai Abiodun and Sodiq Olelekan Saliman.

The convicts were prosecuted on separate charges by the trio of Justices Uche Agomoh of Federal High Court, Ibadan; Bayo Taiwo of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan and Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Oshogbo.

An FCT High Court presided over by Justice Hamza Muazu has sacked the All Nigeria Progressives Congress, APC exco loyal to the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.

Delivering the ruling on Tuesday, the judge granted all the reliefs sought by the Senator Ibrahim Shekarau faction, seeking a declaration that Ganduje-led group did not conduct ward and local government congresses.

The applicants in the suit are Muntaka Bala Sulyman with 17, 980 members of the party, while the defendants are APC as first defendant, Mai- Mala Buni, Caretaker Chairman; Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, National Secretary and; Independent National Electoral Commission, as the fourth defendant.

The applicants were represented by Nuraini Jimoh, SAN, while the defendants were represented by Sule Usman, SAN, M.N. Duru and Mashood Alabelewe.

Recall that parallel congresses were held in Kano, with Abdullahi Abbas emerging chairman of the Ganduje-led group and Ahmadu Haruna Zago emerging chairman of the Shekarau-led group.

Below are the reliefs sought and granted by the judge

DECLARATION THAT the Plaintiffs are the duly, valid, proper, by the defendants authentic and democratically elected and ought to be recognized by the Defendants as the:

27 elected ward executive committee members for each of the 484 Wards in Kano State;

5-elected Ward delegates for or to each of the 44-Local Government Areas; and

5 – elected Ward delegates per ward for or to the State Party Congress of the 1st Defendant party for all the wards and local governments areas in Kano State in the Ward congress election conducted by the 1st – 8th Defendants and supervised by the 9th Defendant on the 31st July, 2021;

DECLARATION THAT the 1st Defendant’s summary result sheets showing the Plaintiffs as:

27 elected ward executive committee members for each of the 484 Wards in Kano State;

5-elected Ward delegates for or to each of the 44-Local Government Areas; and

5 – elected Ward delegates per Ward for or to the State Party Congress of the 1st Defendant;

are the valid, proper, authentic and democratic results of the various Ward congress elections in Kano State to be adopted, recognized and relied upon by the Defendant headquarters in Abuja?

DIRECTING the Defendants to adopt, recognize and rely on the summary result sheet for Ward Congress, elected delegates and State Delegates submitted at the 1st Defendant’s Office in FCT, Abuja consisting of the Plaintiffs’ names as the only valid and authentic delegates qualified to participate in the forthcoming primary elections of the 1st Defendant;

NULLIFYING, voiding and or setting aside any other list of any other report/ directives given by the Defendants on 9th August 2021 or any other date, other than the valid, proper and authentic summary result sheets for Ward Congress, Elected Delegates and State Delegates of Kano State consisting of the Plaintiffs’ names as the duly, valid and democratically elected Ward Executive Committees, Ward Delegates to the Local Government Areas and Ward delegates to the State Party Congress of the 1st Defendant of Kano State;

AN ORDER OF PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the Defendants from receiving, accepting and or acting or purporting to act on, rely on or approving any other list or purported list emanating from other than the duly constituted Ward Congress Committee (WCC) of the 1st Defendant consisting of the names of the Plaintiffs as the:

27 elected ward executive committee members for each of the 484 Wards in Kano State;

5-elected Ward delegates for or to each of the 44-Local Government Areas; and

5 – Elected Ward delegates per Ward for or to the State Party Congress of the 1st defendant

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has run into fresh murky waters as a faction sacks Mai Mala Buni.

The faction has also attacked President Buhari over his supervision of the party.

Buni, Yobe State Governor, is Chairman, APC Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).

On Monday, a unit within the party, Progressive Youth Movement, announced his replacement.

They named Mustapha Audu as National Caretaker Committee Chairman with immediate effect.

Audu said a National Reconciliation Committee will be formed to reconcile aggrieved members before the February 26, 2021 convention.

He further announced a zoning formula for Positions in the new National Working Committee (NWC).

In a reaction, John Akpan Udoedehe, APC National Secretary dismissed the “felonious activities of the purported group”.

The scribe’s statement said they are unknown to the party, its structure or as a registered support group and therefore non-existent.

“However laughable, the criminal attempt of the purported group to usurp the leadership of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC now bothers on treasonable felony.

“Relevant security bodies must now check and address their unscrupulous activities. The attention the purported group seeks will not be given to them by the party.

“We can only advise that the general public completely disregard them. They are not registered members of the APC and are being used by opposition elements and fifth columnists to cause confusion.

“As widely reported, the successful meeting between the APC leadership, Progressive Governors’ Forum and the President produced February 2022 as the timeframe for the National Convention”, Udoedehe noted.

DAILY POST confirmed that the APC National Secretariat has been under heavy security in recent weeks after intelligence of a planned forceful takeover.

Plateau Attempted Jail Break : 7 Escapees Re-arrested

The Police authorities in Plateau State say they have rearrested 7 inmates that escaped the medium-security custodial centre in Jos,when the facility came under attack by yet to be identified gunmen Sunday evening.

The Commissioner of Police in the State,Bartholomew Onyeka led the reinforcement to the scene upon receiving the reports and directed that the entire centre be cordoned.

A stop and search order was immediately enforced,and in the process 7 escapees were re-arrested by the Police and are in Custody.

One of the escapee has voluntarily surrendered himself to the authority.

The CP reaffirmed that the Police and other Security Agencies are currently on the ground to effectively deprive the attackers from any chance of achieving their intention.

The situation has been brought under control by the swift response of security operatives to the scene.

Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, was placed on a watchlist by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly mismanaging over N17 billion Paris Club refund and security vote, investigations by Saturday PUNCH have revealed.

Our correspondent gathered that the governor who is presently out of the country had been under investigation for carrying out various white elephant, including the Umueri International Airport project which cost was believed to be inflated.

It was learnt that the EFCC had earlier invited some commissioners and principal officers over the alleged mismanagement of the state funds.

The Federal Government had shared N388.3bn among the 36 states and the Federal Capital as part of the reimbursement for the over-deduction on the Paris Club loan in December 2016.

Seven states reportedly got above N14bn, four states got over N13bn, two states received above N11bn and five other states were given amounts above N10bn while the remaining 11 states got less than N10bn each.

Anambra State was said to have received N11.3bn.

The state governments had submitted their claims of over-deductions for external debt service arising between 1995 and 2002 to the Federal Government due to the First Line Charge deductions from Federation Account Allocation Committee allocations.

The debt service deductions concern the Paris Club, London Club and multilateral debts of the Federal Government and the states.

Many of the states reportedly shared their portions with their local governments mostly to settle the backlog of salaries and some of the state debts.

The FG subsequently released the second tranche of the Paris Club refund totalling N243.7bn which was shared to the states and the Federal Capital Territory following the approval of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on May 4, 2017.

Anambra State reportedly got over N6bn from the fund which was said to have been misappropriated.

The state’s loan burden under Obiano was also said to have ballooned to $111.48million. The facility was taken from China, India and other international organisations.

Many citizens of Anambra State were said to have petitioned the EFCC, accusing the governor of allegedly frittering away the huge sums of money left behind by his predecessor, Mr Peter Obi.

They also accused the governor of burdening the state with debts without much to show for it.

The anti-graft agency had in a letter dated November 15, 2021 placed the outgoing governor on its watchlist and directed the Nigeria Immigration Service to stop him from leaving the nation through any of the international airports in the country.

The commission was said to have commenced a discreet investigation of the governor and possibly have intelligence that he plans to escape after he hands over power to his successor, Prof Charles Soludo, in March.

Obi reportedly left billions of naira in the state’s coffers for his predecessor while handing over in 2014.

During a face-off with Obiano, the former People’s Democratic Party Vice Presidential candidate in the 2019 elections claimed he left N2.1bn in First Bank account no. 2018779464 for Oko erosion; N4.9bn in Sure-P Diamond account 0026290200; N1.7bn in Universal Basic Education Commission 1 Diamond account 0023484282; N2.1bn in UBEC 2 Diamond account 0031151473; over N4bn in many MDG accounts one of which was the N3.048bn in Fidelity Bank 5030047097 and over N35bn cash (set aside funds added) in all the banks.

Obiano also reportedly inherited $156 million in Fidelity Bank, $50m in Diamond Bank and another $50m in Access Bank, which sources said was mismanaged.

The Governor was also accused of not developing the state as residents complained of bad roads and the absence of infrastructure.

A source said, “Take the Umueri international airport, which was being built at N16 billion. The state government initially budgeted N6billion for the project in its 2020 budget. In the 2022 budget, it allocated an additional N10bn for the same project which was located in his hometown.

“Investigators believe the project was being used to launder and siphon money from the state coffers. Apart from this, the governor is expected to explain how he utilised the Paris Club funds, the security vote and other allocations when he meets with our investigators because the money he spent doesn’t seem to be commensurate with the projects on the ground.”

But the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Don Adinuba, claimed that the EFCC’s move against his boss was politically motivated by the All Progressives Congress.

Speaking on Politics Today, a current affairs programme on Channels Television on Thursday, he stated, “Nobody invited him (the governor) to interrogate him or hear his side of the story. No petition was presented to him. He did not make any comments. But all of a sudden, the EFCC announced rather secretly…using the media as a third party…to announce that he is being watched. That is very surprising.

“There is absolutely no reason for that. And worse, the EFCC gave the impression that the governor wants to bolt away when he has a whole four months to remain in office.

“It is unimaginable that a governor will abandon a state a whole four months to the end of his tenure. That is surprising. It just does not make sense to anyone simply because the whole exercise is politically motivated.”

The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, declined to comment on Adinuba’s allegations when contacted on Friday. “I don’t comment on such things,” he said on the phone.

Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho is currently under extradition procedure back to Nigeria, The PUNCH has learnt.

The PUNCH had reported that Igboho after a raid on his Ibadan home by operatives of the Department of State Services had escaped to Cotonou in the Benin Republic.

This newspaper had also reported how he was apprehended in the eye of the storm following his arrest by the operatives of the Brigade Criminelle on July 19, 2021, in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

His counsel, Chief Yomi Aliyu, SAN, had filed a suit against the DSS on Igboho’s behalf at the High Court in Ibadan. The court had then ordered the DSS to pay Igboho the sum of N20 billion naira as exemplary damages.

However in a series of court affidavits declared and signed on behalf of the DSS by one of its operatives, Johnson Oluwole, and presented before the High Court in Ibadan on Monday, November 22, 2021, the DSS stated that the Yoruba Nation leader was currently undergoing extradition procedure to bring him back to Nigeria.

The affidavit titled “Applicants affidavit in support of its motion on notice for stay of execution of judgement of this suit No/M/435/2021 and an injunction pending the determination of the pending appeal” partly reads, “That it is a fact that the applicant Chief Sunday Igboho has been declared a fugitive by the Nigerian Police Force sometimes in the month of June 2021.

“That it is a notorious fact that the applicant was arrested on the 19th of July 2021 and is currently in the custody of the Beninese security agents undergoing extradition procedure back to Nigeria.

“That it is fact that the applicant is under investigation by the security agents for treasonable act that is inimical to the cooperate existence of the country.

“That it is a fact that it will be inequitable for this Honorable court to refuse this application for Stay against the background that the applicant is a fugitive undergoing extradition processing in Benin Republic.”

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu on Tuesday begin a reconciliation move between the party stakeholders in Kwara State.

Daily Independent gathered that the national chieftain and the first interim Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande reconciliation moves are beginning to throw spanners in the works of the opposition and unsettling the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

Against the backdrop of the futility of the expected defection of some stakeholders to its fold and the backing of Prince Sunday Fagbemi as Chairman-elect.

Meanwhile, the development is not going down well with the state PDP, who are now on a mission of discrediting the outcome of any peace overtures with the sponsorship of many negative stories through their media hirelings on social media.

It would be recalled that Prince Fagbemi had visited Asiwaju Tinubu in Abuja and Chief Akande at his country home in Ila Orangun on the way forward towards enhancing the unity of the party in Kwara ahead of his official inauguration as Chairman of APC in Kwara.

Miss Dabira Adeyinka, one of the survivors of the Lekki Tollgate shootings on October 20, last year, who testified before the Lagos State probe panel, the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS-Related Abuses and Other Matters, has received a threat that says “You’re next”.

Dabira, had yesterday, taken another survivor that testified, before the panel, Ibe Kamsi, to the hospital safety that unknown men attacked with machetes last night.

Dabira told Vanguard that when Kamsi reached out to her, she and other survivors rushed to the island to take her to the hospital.

Dabira who spoke to Vanguard, said “Kamsi was butchered. Her bones were showing.

“As soon as the doctor finished with her, we came outside.

“One of us saw an envelope on the car.

“When we opened it, we saw a paper with my image without the head.

“Then they wrote ‘You’re next. Game on’.

“It was an image of me at the Lagos panel when I went to give my testimony.

This is coming just as the coalition of Civil Societies and New Nigeria Network in conjunction with #EndSARS United, a Coalition of #EndSARS Groups held a joint world press conference to demand the full implementation of the report of the panel that was handed over to the Lagos State government last week Monday.

The group condemned the attack on the attack on Kamsi Chukwu Ibe.

Also speaking at the conference, Mr Tonywise Ajayi, from the take it back movement said the attack on Kamsi Ibe, is one out of the many attacks.

He said, I want to also let you know that there has been a lot of reports on hoodlums , there is a need for us to be calling their names, for those we know, who have been threatening us since the Lekki massacre.

’’The fear the Nigerian ruling class, has and the Lagos State government especially has is that we were able to come to the panel to say that we are the ones who organized the ENDSARS, and we have the right to do that and we are doing that as peaceful as possible.’’

“For some of us who could remember on February 14, 2021, when we had the occupy Lekki Toll gate, we had a very popular debate at the front of Lekki Toll Gate , I debated alongside one A.A O, of the Defend Lagos Coalition, I want all of us to put it on records, all the ENDSARS protesters all over the world should put it on record most of these attacks are being coordinated by the Defend Lagos coalition.

Ajayi said “When we were to have occupied Lekki Toll Gate, and we had a debate, they threatened me, sent threat we put it on Twitter everywhere, these people the Defend Lagos people that day promised that they were going to cause trouble at the occupy Lekki toll gate, while we were going there to march but when we got to the place we didn’t the Defend Lagos, we saw the Police officers led by Hakeem Odumosu, which also means, that he knows constantly about what the Defend Lagos people are saying they are in the press, they have held press conferences and they threatened openly”, he said.

The group is demanding the following, the immediate release of all young Nigerians arrested and dumped in various prisons all over the country in the course of the #ENDSARS Struggle with adequate compensation and rehabilitation of these illegally arrested persons. For access of independent team of lawyers alongside human rights activists and international organizations to be allowed to visit all the prisons where protesters are being held to ascertain their conditions and work for their immediate release.

“Immediate resignation of the incumbent President and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, General Muhammadu Buhari over his role in the Lekki Massacre.

Immediate resignation of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu as Governor of Lagos State over his role in the Lekki Massacre.

“Immediate recall of General Buratai (Retired), Former Chief of Army Staff and current Nigerian Ambassador to Republic of Benin and his prosecution for his role in the Lekki Massacre.

Immediate resignation of Alhaji Lai Muhammed, the Minister for Information for his role in spreading lies and false information about the Lekki Massacre.

“Immediate dismissal, arrest and prosecution of Lt. Col. S.O. Bello and Major General Godwin Umelo for their role in the Lekki Massacre as senior military officers

Immediate dismissal, arrest, and prosecution of all other officers, (excluding Major General Omata, who halted the mindless carnage) and men of the Nigerian Army that were deployed to the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020.

“Immediate dismissal, arrest and prosecution of Divisional Police Officer of Maroko Police Station, CSP Raji along with policemen deployed from Maroko Police Station on the 20th and 21st of October 2020 should be prosecuted for arbitrary and indiscriminate shooting and killing of protesters.

“Immediate renaming of Lekki Toll Plaza as a Memorial site for ENDSARS Protest to “ENDSARS TOLLGATE”

Immediate declaration of 20th October 20th of every year as #EndSARS Holiday for remembrance of our fallen youth.

“Immediate cancellation of the Lekki Toll Gates, Erection of Memorial Monument at the Lekki Toll Gate with the names inscribed on the Monument, Payment of compensation to the victims in cases emanating from the Lekki Incident of 20th October 2020 and a Special trust fund for compensation of Victims of the Lekki Toll Gate Incident of October 20, 2020 and other established and proven human rights abuses.

“Comprehensive compensation for the families of those shot dead by the army and police operatives all over the country, during the protests, Set up of a Standing Human Rights Committee or Tribunal to treat unresolved cases of Police Brutality by the Panel and other arising fresh cases and release of Reports of Panels of Inquiry in all the other 27 states where they were set up to the Public”

Kano State collected more money as Value Added Tax (VAT) than the entire South East zone in the first eight months of 2021, an exclusive data obtained by Daily Trust show.

Records of VAT receipts from Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) seen by Daily Trust indicate that the state collected N24.4bn, ahead of the five south-eastern states with accumulated collection of N20bn.

The data further revealed that Kaduna State with N19bn accrual also did better than Akwa Ibom (N9.3bn), Bayelsa (N13bn), Delta (N13bn), Edo (N9bn), and Ogun (N11bn).

For instance, Kaduna’s N19.8bn is higher than the combined collection of Abia, Cross River, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo and Imo.

Abia, according to the chart, collected N2.2bn representing 0.22%; Cross River collected N1.9bn or 0.19%; Osun collected N2.07bn or 0.20; Ekiti made N6.2bn or 0.62; Ondo collected N4.8bn or 0.48, while Imo collected 1.01bn or 0.10 %.

Yobe in the North East collected N9.3bn rubbing shoulders with Akwa Ibom (N9.3bn), Edo (N9bn), Ebonyi (N7.2bn) and Ekiti (N6.2bn).

Lagos and the FCT, combined, contribute 65.22% of the total, while all the remaining 35 states contribute 34.78 percent of the total.

This revelation is coming amidst VAT row between the federal government and some states, and allegations that some states, majorly in the North, benefit more than what they contribute to the central pool.

The statics show that Lagos is on top of the chart with 41.5 percent of the total VAT amounting to N421.2bn while Zamfara collected the least recording, N762.5m or 0.08 percent of the total sum.

Lagos is followed by the FCT which collected N241bn or 23.74 %; Rivers collected N92.3bn or 9.09 % while Oyo followed with N61bn representing 6.01%.

Other top performers in the chart are Kano with N24.4bn or 2.40% and Kaduna with N19.8bn or 1.95%.

However, in spite of Zamfara, a state in the North West recording the least performance, more northern States performed better than the southern states as the figure indicated.

Despite the crisis in some of the North East states, the region collected a total of N27.7bn compared to N21bn collected by the south-eastern region of the country.

Exclusive of Lagos, the other South West states collected a total of N85.8bn only while the North East and North West, which have been heavily bedevilled by insurgency and other security challenges, have collected N86.5bn within the same period.

With the exception of Lagos (N421.2bn), Rivers (92.3bn), Oyo (N61bn), Kano (N24bn) and Kaduna (19bn) most states have posted an average performance lower than N10bn.

How VAT pitched southern, northern states

A verdict by a Federal High Court in Rivers on August 9, 2021, on who has the power to collect VAT favoured the state government; a development seen as a victory for those clamouring for decentralised collection.

Daily Trust reports that both Rivers and Lagos had sued the federal government over the continued collection of VAT by the FIRS.

The controversy spiked after a meeting of the Southern Governors Forum (SGF) endorsed the position of Lagos and Rivers and insisted on allowing every state to collect its VAT revenue individually.

Members of the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) shot back at their southern counterparts, saying the southern governors were confusing the value-added tax (VAT) with sales tax.

The Governors noted that the reason Lagos would account for 50 percent of VAT collection was that most telecommunication companies, banks, manufacturing and other trading activities had their headquarters in the state.

“VAT is being confused by these state governments as a sales tax. If every state enacted its own VAT Law, multiple taxations will result in increases in prices of goods and services and collapse in interstate trade. VAT is not a production tax like excise, but terminal tax which is paid by the ultimate consumer,” chairman of the forum, Governor Simon Lalong had said.

‘Claim VAT sharing benefits northern states more than the southern erroneous’

An economist and a former presidential candidate, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, said those who have “managed the information about the VAT wars have created the impression that the present distribution benefits the northern states more than the southern states.

“They try to make it look like the VAT is part of the ‘hegemonic domination’ of the North. Many commentators hardly look at the data before they hit their keyboards online. Many swallowed hook line and sinker very obvious lies.”

Olawepo-Hashim argued that apart from Lagos, Rivers and the FCT who benefit from the fact that they host the headquarters of major economic, political and oil-related institutions, most states apart from Oyo are doing badly in VAT generation and a lot of southern states are woeful.

“Most states, whether they are in the North or South are doing badly in production of goods and services except for Lagos, Rivers, Oyo, Kano and Kaduna states. The present centrally collected VAT which is then distributed subsidizes everybody,” he noted.

He maintained that in comparison to eastern states, Kaduna, Kano and Katsina are doing better than Abia, Anambra, Imo, and Enugu, adding that based on available data in the past eight months, total VAT generated in Abia was N2.290b, Anambra -N5.938b, Imo -N1.941 compared to Kaduna -N18.262b and Kano -N24.492b.

“Conversely, when it came to distribution, Abia State got N20.020b for generating N2billion. Abia got 10 times what it contributed whereas Kaduna and Kano did not get as much as twice what they contributed. Lagos, Rivers and Oyo got lower.

Similarly, President of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Alhaji Yerima Shettima in a chat with Daily Trust said he was not surprised with the figure, insisting the North is not doing badly as it is being portrayed in the VAT war.

He said, “We are not good at talking too much. We are more real and more practical. If there is any region who believes more in Nigeria is the Northern part of this country that believes we must work together.

“When Wike started the issue, some of us were shocked. The man who believes he wants to be a national leader, a nationalist, came up with that idea, making it as if he is fighting the North. Some of us took his pronouncements at that time very personal because the way he presented it was funny.

“The truth of the matter is that we must try as much as possible to discourage what will disunite us. Let us promote things that would unite us. Together, we can do better.

“There is no region in this country that has nothing to bring to the table. But because you have a system that encourages people to only eye the oil and as a result of this out of 1001 things we have on the ground in terms of mineral resources, today we are receiving a lot of abuses and insults from people. We could have done better if we were running a regional system of government where all regions will go back and harness their resources, then pay 13 percent to the centre. These arrogances and abuses on our sensibilities as a nation would not come to play anymore,” he said.

States will bear the brunt of decentralised collection – Experts

Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader at the PriceWaterCoopers (PwC), Taiwo Oyedele said if the right to collect VAT is given to states, “the biggest losers will be the states except for Lagos. A few states like Kano, Rivers, Oyo, Kaduna, Delta and Katsina may experience minimal impact, while at least 30 states, which account for less than 20 percent of VAT collection will suffer significant revenue decline.

“The Federal Government may be better off given that FCT generates the second-highest VAT (after Lagos) in addition to import and non-import foreign VAT,” he said.

Commenting, Ogbeide E. Benjamin, a tax expert and former chairman, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Abuja Chapter, said, “The impact of this judgment on the finances of the states will be enormous.”

According to him, “VAT is consumption-based and on several items, some of which are outlawed in some states. I believe the country stands to profit by allowing states to administer VAT. By this, states will be further encouraged to scale up their economic drive to attract more foreign direct investments and local investments since they will be the ones to get the VAT benefits.”

Governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC on Sunday night met in Abuja to deliberate in the way forward for the party, especially with regards to its planned national convention.

The meeting which started around 8pm took place behind closed doors at the Kebbi state Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro.

Although the agenda for the meeting was kept to their chest as of the time of filing this report, it was gathered that the focus was on zoning of party offices ahead of the national convention.

The party is currently divided on the issue of the convention as some stakeholders want it held before Christmas while others are pushing for the second quarter of next year.

As of 8.30pm, at least 17 of the governors had already seated for the meeting.

Those in attendance included the host and Kebbi governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, his counterparts from Kogi, Nasarawa, Katsina, Plateau, Ekiti, Jigawa, Kano, Kwara, Imo, Borno, Ebonyi, Lagos, Zamfara, Niger, Ogun and Cross River. The Governors of Osun, Yobe, Gombe and Kaduna States were still being expected.

A lecturer identified as Ahmed Saheed and an undergraduate student of Michael Otedola College of Primary Health Education (MOCPED) in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State have been murdered.

The lecturer was said to have been killed around Poka town in Epe, while the student identified as Razak Bakare was shot dead on campus.

Gunmen attack Aregbesola’s campaign office
Kidnapping: Police seek help in Ogun

A police source told our correspondent that both incidents, which he described as unfortunate, occurred within 48 hours interval.

The deaths of the lecturer and the student were confirmed by lawmakers and traditional rulers of the communities.

They said while the student was trailed and killed on Wednesday, the lecturer was shot dead on Friday.

Presently, there is uneasy in the academic community of Poka, according to the Aladeshoyin of Odo-Noforija, in Epe Division.

Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja, the traditional ruler of the community, has expressed sadness over the incidents.

He said the peaceful nature of Noforija town had been shattered by the unfortunate killings.

He, therefore, called on the management of the institution to install Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras within and around the school premises.

Ogunlaja also appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, to deploy more security personnel in the community.

He asked the Lagos State Government to reconstruct the collapsed fence of the institution.

The Alara of Ilara Kingdom, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, also condemned the incidents and urged the law enforcement agencies to fish out the perpetrators

He, however, pledged that the traditional institution would ensure that all efforts were taken to fight against such an ugly trends in the community.

A former governor of Lagos State and a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, on Saturday visited the Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Kalu, in his Abuja residence.

Mr Tinubu, believed to be nursing a presidential ambition in 2023 arrived Mr Kalu’s residence at 4:25 p.m. and left at about 6:45 p.m.

He said that his meeting with the former governor of Abia “centred on the development of the country”.

“We discussed the way forward for the country and this country is important and greater than any one’s personal ambition.

“We have been together and concerned about the stability, progress, development and security of the country.

“The future of our youth is more critically important than selfish and personal intentions,’’ he said.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently urged the Court of Appeal, Abuja to nullify the Federal High Court ruling that stopped the retrial of Mr Kalu, over a N7 billion fraud case.

This was contained in a notice of appeal filed by EFCC against the September 29, 2021 judgment of Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja prohibiting the commission from retrying Mr Kalu.

The commission similarly filed a separate notice of appeal in respect of Mr Kalu’s firm, Slok Nigeria Limited, which Mr Ekwo also shielded from retrial.

Previously convicted of the charges, Mr Kalu, a serving senator representing Abia North, was already serving a 12-year jail term for the offences when the Supreme Court, on May 8, 2020, nullified the proceedings leading to his and his co-defendants’ conviction.

The Supreme Court’s judgment delivered on an appeal by Mr Kalu’s co-defendant, Ude Udeogu, also ordered a retrial.

The apex court anchored its decision on the grounds that the trial, the previous trial was unconstitutional because the trial judge, Mohammed Idris, lacked the jurisdiction to conduct the proceedings and deliver judgement after he had been elevated to the Court of Appeal.

Mr Kalu, the incumbent Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate, got out of prison on the apex court’s judgment by citing it in an application he filed before A.M Liman of the Federal High Court in Lagos, who promptly quashed his conviction and ordered his release.

But as soon as EFCC made a move to enforce the apex court’s order for a retrial, Mr Kalu and his firm quickly filed separate applications before Mr Ekwo, to whom the criminal case was reassigned, to stop their retrial.

Ruling on the separate applications filed by Mr Kalu and his firm, Mr Ekwo held on September 29, that the applicants cannot be prosecuted afresh in the absence of any specific order directed at them.

State governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) under the aegis of Progressive Governors Forum are scheduled to meet tomorrow.

Sources within the party told our correspondent that the major item for deliberation at the meeting is the issue of zoning of party offices across the six geo-political zones as well as the 36 states of the country including Abuja.

In the past three weeks, there had been uneasy calm among party faithful, with many stakeholders lobbying the governors for party positions in the coming convention slated for next month.

One of the sources who is a chieftain of the party told LEADERSHIP Weekend that there is the likelihood that the North would produce the national chairman since members from the southern part of the country have held the position since the party was formed in 2013.

The source who did not want his name in print also hinted that the APC governors were considering giving a major party office to the South East at the forthcoming national convention.

The move, according to him, might not be unconnected with the bid to correct the injustices meted out to the region since the inception of the party in 2013.

He stated: “Recall that the South West produced the interim national chairman and deputy national chairman, South, Chief Bisi Akande and Segun Oni and the late Abiola Ajimobi between 2013 and 2020.

“Also, the South South has produced two national chairmen and a national secretary to date, Chief John Oyegun, Comrade Oshiomole and Sen. John Akpan Udoedehe respectively.

“The South East is yet to produce major offices of the party since inception, a development many consider as having negatively affected the fortune of the APC in the region. The worry is that the region has held key offices such as the national chairman, deputy national chairman, South, and national secretary till date. The current state of affairs is skewed against the South East in both the NWC and political offices.”

The father of the former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere’s and Traditional Ruler of Ezi – Mbieri Autonomous Community in Mbaitoli local government area of Imo State has been kidnapped.

He was reportedly abducted by some hoodlums around Iho Community in Ikeduru local government area of the State after sporadic shootings on Friday, November 19, 2021 at about 10 am.

The unfortunate incident has generated a lot of anxiety in the two neighbouring local governments of Mbaitoli and Ikeduru.

His son, Prince Madumere, the former Deputy Governor of the state, when contacted confirmed the incident and also disclosed that his father’s abductors have contacted the family for ransom

HRH, Eze Madumere was a renowned businessman, Contractor and a member of Nigerian Independence Choir.

Meanwhile the Police Command and other security agencies say they are already on the top of the situation to apprehend the suspects

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE WANTED BY THE EFCC FOR OFFENCES BORDERING OF FRAUD.
.
.
ANYONE WITH USEFUL INFORMATION AS TO THEIR WHEREABOUTS SHOULD PLEASE CONTACT THE COMMISSION IN ANY OF IT'S OFFICES SITUATED IN ABUJA, BENIN, LAGOS, ENUGU, IBADAN, ILORIN, KADUNA, KANO, MAIDUGURI, ILORIN, MAKURDI, PORT HARCOURT, SOKOTO AND UYO OR THROUGH THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS;
08093322644 (0809 EFCC NIG), 08069575775, 07081811717 AND 07030240633.

THE COMMISSION CAN ALSO BE CONTACTED THROUGH, info@efccnigeria.org OR THE NEAREST POLICE STATION.

Dozens of armed policemen in four patrol vans have taken over the entry and exit points on Blantyre Street where the All Progressives Congress National Secretariat is located in Abuja.

It was gathered on Wednesday that the policemen who were complimented by officers of the Department of State Service, are at the location to forestall a possible breakdown of law and order.

Our correspondent learnt that the security officials mobilised in response to security reports about a planned protest by members of the APC against the party’s leadership over the conduct of the recently conducted Ward, local government and state congresses.

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday slated for November 30 judgment in the suit challenging the qualification of Anambra State governor-elect, Prof. Charles Soludo; and Deputy governor-elect, Onyeka Ibezim, to contest the last governorship election in the state.

The PUNCH reported that Justice Taiwo Taiwo fixed the date after lawyers to parties made their final submissions.

The plaintiffs – Adindu Valentine and Egwudike Chukwuebuka – are contending that Soludo provided false information in the affidavit (Form EC9) that he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission and should be deem unqualified to stand for election.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/711/2021, the plaintiffs claimed that Soludo indicated in the affidavit that he was contesting the Aguata 2 Constituency seat when, in fact, he was contesting the Anambra governorship seat.

Defendants in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Soludo and Ibezim.

In their final submission, plaintiffs’ lawyers, A. O. Ijeri and Kelvin Okoko, argued that having indicated the wrong seat he was contesting, Soludo supplied INEC with false information, violated extant legal provisions and ought to be disqualified.

“The constitution has made a state a constituency in relation to the governorship election, but in this case, the third defendant (Soludo) named Aguata 2 as the constituency he is contesting,” Ijeri said.

As against the contention by lawyers to the second to fourth defendants, Ijeri argued that his clients have established that there was a cause of action and that the court has jurisdiction to determine the case.

“The cause of action in a pre-election matter, by the provision of Section 285(9) of the Constitution, is determined by the date of the occurrence of the event, a decision or action complained about in the suit by the plaintiff.

“There is evidence that INEC received the submitted Form EC9 on July 6th 2021,” Ijeri said.

He then prayed the court to find merit in the case and grant the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs.

Lawyer for APGA and Soludo, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), argued that the suit was without merit and that the court lacked jurisdiction.

Ikpeazu contended that error in an affidavit cannot be a basis to disqualify a candidate from election, noting that the false information contemplated in Section 31 of the Electoral Act was criminal in nature.

Lawyer to Ibezim, C. Mbaeri, argued in similar vein and prayed the court to uphold his objection and dismiss the suit.

Lawyer to INEC, Bashir Abubakar, said his client did not file any process in the case and has elected to leave the decision at the discretion of the court.