₦airaland Forum

The presidency has said the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in London was not to support his 2023 presidential ambition.

The presidency has said the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in London was not to support his 2023 presidential ambition.

The president paid a surprise visit on Tinubu in London last Thursday with several pictures of the visit hitting social media, eliciting lots of reactions.

Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, who appeared on Channels TV’s Politics Today, said Tinubu had been in London at the same time the president was there.

He said there had been lots of reports on social media about Tinubu’s health and that the president’s visit was simply on goodwill basis.

According to Adesina, the president still has two years less three months in his tenure of office and that to start supporting somebody now would just be like jumping the gun which Buhari would never do.

He said before the 2019 elections, people began to campaign for Buhari before INEC blew the whistle for the campaign to start.

Adesina said Buhari was the one who came out to say that he would not jump the gun.

He said the President would dare not jump the gun in terms of supporting one candidate or the other.

Adesina recalled that Buhari had said anybody who wanted to be President after him should go out and work.

He said that meant that the President might not be supporting anybody until maybe a candidate of the party emerged.

Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court, Benin City, Edo State, has ordered the service of a suit seeking the removal of eight lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly following their defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), last October.

Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court, Benin City, Edo State, has ordered the service of a suit seeking the removal of eight lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly following their defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), last October.

Justice Obiozor issued the order while delivering ruling in an exparte application seeking service of the suit through substituted means.

The lawmakers, who include the Speaker of the House, Francis Okiye, Ojiezele Sunday, Onoben Iziegbeya, Okoduwa Ewah, Aluebhosele Ephraim, Asoro Roland, Yekini Idiaye and Nosayaba Okunbor, had left the APC for the PDP few weeks to the governorship election last year.

The Edo State House of Assembly has a total of 10 members.

However, an aggrieved member of the APC, Mr. Emankhu Addeh in a suit sought the removal of the eight lawmakers on the grounds that their defection violated the law.

The plaintiff, in addition to the suit, filed a motion exparte praying the court to order the service of the suit on the defendants through substituted means.

In a short ruling, the judge granted the application and ordered the pasting of the suit at the usual or last known abode of the defendants at the Edo State House of Assembly Quarters.

Justice Obiozor further ordered that a pictorial representation of all such pasted processes is attached to the affidavit in proof of service.

He subsequently adjourned till September 27 for mention of the suit.

The Plaintiff in the Suit marked FHC/B/CS/63/21 asked the court to declare vacant the seats of 8 out of the 10 members of the Edo State House of Assembly for defecting from the party that sponsored their election, the APC, to the PDP.

Some of the questions presented to the court for determination included, “Whether by the construction of Section 109 (1)(g) of the Constitution, the 1st to 8th defendants have automatically vacated their seats in the Edo State House of Assembly, by the fact of their defection from the All Progressive Congress (APC), the political party that sponsored their election to the seats in the House of Assembly, to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) variously on 5/10/2020 and 1/2/2021 on the floor of the Edo State House of Assembly, before the expiration of the lifespan of the House of Assembly for which they were elected into?

Addeh urged the court to make the following declarations if the answers to the questions were in the affirmative:

“A declaration that the 1st to 8th defendants have automatically vacated their seats as members of the House of Assembly of Edo State, having defected to another political party and having left the All Progressives Congress (APC), which sponsored their election to the House of Assembly of Edo State, within the tenure of the House of Assembly of Edo State.

He also wanted the court to direct the 1st to 8th defendants to vacate forthwith, the Edo State House of Assembly seats of: Esan South East Constituency; Esan West Constituency; Esan North East Constituency; Esan North East Constituency 2; Igueben State Constituency 3; Orhionmwon Constituency 2; Akoko Edo Constituency 1; and Orhionmwon Constituency 1, which they occupied respectively.

“An Order of Court directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, (the 10™ Defendant) to immediately conduct bye-elections to fill the vacant seats of Esan South East Constituency; Esan West Constituency; Esan North East Constituency 1; Esan North East Constituency 2; Igueben State Constituency; Orhionmwon Constituency 2; Akoko Edo Constituency 1; Orhionmwon Constituency 1: in Edo State House of Assembly”, and any other order as the Honorable Court may make in the circumstances.

Kingsley Kuku, who was Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs has been arrested in Amsterdam, The Netherlands over child pornography complaints.

According to information available to SaharaReporters, Kuku reportedly circulated child pornography materials in 2018.

The former Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme was arrested on Wednesday at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, while on his way to London, United Kingdom, SaharaReporters learnt on Sunday.

"Kingsley Kuku was arrested in Amsterdam," a top government source privy to the incident told SaharaReporters.

"His warrant was executed over child pornography complaints. He was arrested on his way to London four days ago

"He has been fighting his extradition after his arrest at Schiphol. He was coming from Accra, Ghana with a layover at Schiphol.

"He reportedly circulated child pornography in 2018."

Kuku was elected as member of Ondo State House of Assembly and became the Chairman of the House Committee for a period of four years.

In January 2011, he was appointed Special Adviser to former President Jonathan on the Niger Delta and Chairman, Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme.

Jonathan reappointed him into the same position in July 2011 after the general elections in 2011.

As the Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for ex-agitators in the oil-bearing communities in the Niger Delta, Kuku oversaw the disarmament and demobilisation of 30,000 ex-agitators.

However, the United States Department of Justice alleged that billions of naira stolen from the Presidential Amnesty Programme by Kuku were transferred to bank accounts in the US where they were laundered and used to purchase airplanes to start Air Peace as well as luxury homes and vehicles, a September 2020 report by THEWILL said.

Air Peace, which was launched in 2013, is Nigeria’s largest carrier with a fleet size of about 20 aircraft.

The United States Government described the airlines' CEO, Allen Onyema as Kuku’s business partner, who laundered at least $44 million through US bank accounts.

The Southwestern Nigeria Security Network, popular as Amotekun, in Osun State, has been engulfed in crisis as local hunters pulled out of the security outfit, alleging financial impropriety.

Nurein Hammed, the state Coordinator of the hunters, on the platform of Hunters Group of Nigeria, addressed newsmen in Osogbo on Thursday.

Hammed said its members jointly agreed they were short-changed to the tune of N29 million by Osun Amotekun leadership during and after last year’s lockdown in the state.

While demanding for the outstanding balance, he said the group is committed to ensuring adequate security of lives and property of the state, but cannot operate under the present leadership of Amotekun in the state.

“We are unequivocally committed to working with other security agencies to protect the state against criminals.

“We swore on oath to do that but we cannot work with Amotekun to achieve those objectives.

“During the lockdown that was necessitated by Covid-19 pandemic and the EndSARS protest, we mounted several border patrol, as well as maintain peace across the state.

“Eventually, the state government released N44 million to pay our personnel for the services as Amotekun ad hoc staff. But we only got N15 million.

“The then leader is still within the present leadership and we cannot trust the leadership to work towards the same objective with us because they are not under traditional oath as us,” he said.

Efforts to get a reaction of Amotekun Corps Commandant in the state, Brigadier-General Bashir Adewinmbi, proved abortive.

He neither picked calls to his phone line nor responded to a text message sent to him on the incident.

Jones4190:
What Jonathan can't do for his people buhari is doing it.

God bless professor of language

The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has agreed to pay the N45.9 billion awarded to the Ogoni people of Rivers state as compensation for oil spills in their communities.

While addressing Ahmed Mohammed, judge of a federal high court in Abuja, on Wednesday, A.O Ejelamo, lawyer to Shell, said the company has resolved to pay the monetary compensation awarded in 2010.

THE Federal Government on Wednesday said that the Twitter ban in Nigeria will be lifted soon.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed stated this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the virtual Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the First Lady’s Conference room, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Minister who was asked to give update on the Twitter ban in Nigeria and the interface with the company said, “The end for amicable resolution is very much in sight.

‘We appreciate the patience of Nigerians. I want to assure you that we have made very tremendous progress. We have met with Twitter both physically and in writing. We are actually almost there.

” The engagement of has been extremely positive without any acrimony. We have made it clear what we want from Twitter.”

Alhaji Mohammed stated that some of the conditions made by the Federal Government for Twitter operations to resume in Nigeria include that Twitter should establish legal presence in the country, register as a Nigerian company with an address.

It should also have a Country Representative that will serve as a liaison and must register with relevant regulatory agencies including the NCC.

The government is also demanding that Twitter must commit itself to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS. The government is also proposing an Ombudsman between Twitter and Nigeria.

“They (Twitter) have shown a lot of flexibility, the conversation has not been acrimonious,” Mohammed said.

He, however said that there were about three to four areas the two were yet to reach agreement which include opening of office in Nigeria with staff, adding that Twitter has agreed to open office in the country in 2022.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the national convention of the party will be conducted before the end of October.

The convention was initially meant to be held in December.

Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto state and chairman of the PDP governors forum, made the announcement on Tuesday after a closed-door meeting of the party stakeholders in Abuja.

Commenting on the internal crisis in the party, Tambuwal said the members have agreed to work together.

“We are very happy to announce that we have discussed all matters and we have resolved to continue to work as a united family,” the Sokoto governor said.

Uche Secondus, national chairman of the PDP, has been under increased pressure of late, with demands for his resignation coming from various quarters.

Going by the decision of the party, he will remain chairman until the convention planned for October.

THE MAKE OR MAR MEETING

The joint committees of the party’s board of trustees gathered at the party headquarters for the make or mar meeting on Tuesday.

TheCable had reported that PDP governors and stakeholders of the party met for several hours on Monday, after which they reconvened.

The 13 state governors elected on the platform of the party, members of the national assembly, former ministers, former senate presidents, former governors, and other party stakeholders were present during the talks on Tuesday.

Speaking at the meeting, Wajil Jubrin, chairman, PDP board of trustees, said the presence of the governors is evidence that the party is committed to ending the crisis.

Jubrin advised party stakeholders to put aside personal interest and deliberate on the issues that will benefit the party.

Also speaking, Uche Secondus, national chairman of the PDP, said the party belongs to everyone and can reinvent itself at any point, adding that Nigerians are looking up to the PDP to succeed the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The stakeholders subsequently went into a closed-door session for about an hour — after which the rescheduled convention date was announced.

Senator Ita Enang, Presidential Aide on Niger Delta Affairs has warned that the All Progressives Congress (APC) may risk losing its presidential bid in 2023 if the party fails to sack Mai Mala Buni caretaker led committee.

Enang said that the significance of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State Supreme Court judgment will be very dangerous for the party going forward, stressing that even if the party fills presidential candidate in 2023, under Buni led caretaker committee, it would be disastrous since the party doesn’t have an executive known to law to fill candidates for elections.

The former lawmaker on Arise Television on Tuesday said, “All the seven justices of the Supreme Court on Akeredolu versus Jegede, agreed that the APC as it is today cannot exist as a political party because it doesn’t have democratically elected executives of the party. We had elected officers of the party led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. He resigned and the constitution of the party has provided a succession process. Since Oshiomhole resigned, there is a first, second, third and fourth persons to take over leadership.

He added, “On no account should any officer of the party be ad-hoc or appointed committee. People argue, especially members of the caretaker committee and those who support them that the party can set up a committee. Yes, the party can set up a committee but the party itself cannot become the committee. It can only set up a committee to conduct elections, congresses, conventions, nominate people to investigate particular issues, but it cannot become a committee.

Article 18 of the constitution of APC says, ‘The national executive committee shall have the power to set up a standing committee and where necessary ad-hoc committees and only two standing committees can be set up, committee on finance and publicity committee. The ad-hoc committees that can set up are screening/selection committee at the state, local government and federal levels but it prohibits the party from setting up a committee.’

While calling for the recall of the suspended executives to save the party, Enang said, “We should swallow the bitter pill, recall suspended national executive and give it a month or two to conduct national convention, because if a national convention is conducted by Buni led caretaker committee, it will still be declared illegal because the caretaker committee has no authority to do anything on behalf of the party,” he said.

Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who met on Monday on the leadership crisis in the party failed to reach a conclusion on its resolution.

The meeting, which began about 11 am, lasted for six hours. PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus who joined the meeting by 4:10 pm, left 40 minutes later after an interaction with the governors.

All the 13 PDP governors attended the meeting. Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki who was expected to flag-off the PDP e-registration exercise at the party’s National Secretariat, did not attend. The function was performed by Secondus.

Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who briefed journalists when the governors rose at 5 p.m., said the meetings continued on Tuesday.

Tambuwal, who refused to answer any question, said: “We discussed extensively on matters of the moment concerning our party. And we have collectively resolved to continue to work together in unity.

“This meeting is continuing tomorrow (Tuesday) with other stakeholders. Very soon Nigerians and indeed, all of you will hear our solution. But we are working towards resolving all issues, as a family. And by the grace of God we are going to achieve that.”

The BoT has scheduled a meeting with stakeholders on Tuesday to find a solution to the crisis.

A source at the meeting disclosed that the governors were divided on allowing the National Chairman to preside over the December National Convention.

The argument of those who wanted him to go before the end of his tenure was that he might influence the outcome of the convention.

But the counter argument was the crisis any forced removal could cause the PDP this time.

Secondus, who spoke after his meeting with the governors, ruled out the possibility of him resigning his position. He declared: “I can confirm to you that I am not going to resign.”

The source said if both groups refused to shift their positions, they might resort to voting to resolve the matter.

Officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force have taken over the national secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC in what Vanguard learned was part of efforts to stave off violent protests against the caretaker leadership of the party.

As of 11:20am, the policemen in about five hilux vans were strategically positioned along the Blantyre Street of the secretariat which was recently rechristened “Buhari House” is located.

Security sources said intelligence reports indicate that the controversy which had recently trailed the validity of the Gov. Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC of the party could snowball into violent protest, hence the need to take proactive measures to avert such occurrence.

The last may not have been heard of the cloud of uncertainty surrounding the legality of Yobe Governor, Mai Mala Buni, serving as chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) following the resolution of party stakeholders to allow President Muhammadu Buhari decide what becomes of his headship in the party when he returns from his London trip.

Though APC governors, under the umbrella of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), passed vote of confidence in Governor Buni, sources told Daily Sun that they did so, in the interim, to fly a kite and paper the crack within the party while waiting for the President final verdict.

It was learnt that the governors forum and party camps adopted patch-up measures to stabilise the situation until the President returns before taking a final decision on the issue.

It was further gathered that part of the problems which deepened the crisis was the rejection of popular suggestions to throw the congresses open instead of settling for a consensus arrangement, a development which angered stakeholders like Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, who escalated the situation.

“All that has been done to this extent were just measures to tarry awhile for Mr. President to return. The tension and uncertainty surrounding Governor Buni’s future in the party is still a serious concern to many party stakeholders. The initial decision was to discontinue with the rest of the congress activities until Mr. President returns from his trip, but we had to jettison it because such a decision might send the wrong signal.

“The governors and the national leadership of the party may have passed a confidence vote on Governor Buni, but it is not yet uhuru for him, and I can tell you that the last has not been heard of the circumstances surrounding the legal implication of his position in the party.

“The truth is that the leadership went too far in handling the ward congresses wrongly, by ignoring the popular suggestions to throw the contest open at that level. They instead insisted on consensus arrangements, which angered certain persons that escalated the situation to this disturbing extent the party is currently undergoing. Truth be told, whatever we have done now is just an interim measure to paper the crack and control the situation from escalating further while waiting for Mr. President. In fairness to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, he has been able to deploy every legal instrument to douse the tension created by the Supreme Court judgement. The good thing is that he will still be the person to advise Mr. President on the best legal position to take in handling the matter. However, there is no respite for Governor Buni yet until Mr President returns,” the source who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

Aware that Governor Buni’s future still hangs in the balance, the governors had, in a statement signed by the Forum Chairman, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, declared unalloyed loyalty and support to Governor Buni’s continued leadership of the ruling party, insisting that the Supreme Court judgment does not portend any threat to activities and programmes of the party.

We have lost a brother, Adieu Captain Hosa Okunbo

It is with a heavy heart that I mourn the passing of a great son of Edo State, a brother, a distinguished Nigerian, an illustrious businessman and an accomplished philanthropist, Captain Hosa Okunbo.

A man of unparalleled energy and accomplishments, Captain Okunbo saw opportunities in adversity and from an early age in life, carved a niche for himself to become one of Nigeria’s most outstanding businessmen.

A trained pilot, he conquered the air at an early age and set for the waters and land, building enterprises that distinguished him in the business world and embodied the hard work, perseverance, dexterity and acumen that espoused his Edo heritage.

Okunbo was a philanthropist who gave lavishly of himself and his resources; thousands of Edo sons and daughters benefited from his charitable works and benevolence.

As a mortal, Captain Okunbo was not a perfect person just as none of us can claim to be, but he will be remembered for his undying love for Edo people.

His desire for the development and progress of our dear state, the Niger Delta region and Nigeria as well as his invaluable contributions to building bridges of peace across the country will never be forgotten.

I commiserate with the Okunbo family, friends and associates of our departed brother and pray that God will grant all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

The Indigenous People of Biafra has reiterated its poise to push home its Sit-At-Home order, saying this will continue until its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, was unconditionally released from the custody of Department of States Services.

IPOB, had penultimate week, threatened a weekly lockdown of the South-East geopolitical zone from Monday, August 9, 2021, until Kanu is released.

The group’s Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, stated this in a statement on Sunday, a copy of which was made available to The PUNCH.

Kanu was arrested in Kanya and extradited to Nigeria where has been in the custody of the DSS for charges bothering on treasonable felony, since July 2021.

Despite police warnings, IPOB said, “Consequently, there will be no movement throughout Biafra land on Mondays until our leader who is suffering for our freedom is released. This protest is peaceful but firm. Everybody is advised to stay indoors in total compliance.”

The statement read, “We the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra IPOB led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wish to remind all Biafrans and friends of Biafran that the Mondays sit-at-home order is sacrosanct. The entire Biafra land will be locked down every Monday from 6:00am to 6:00pm beginning from tomorrow, August 9, 2021until our leader, Nnamdi Kanu who was abuducted in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria and locked up in DSS dungeon in clear violation of international laws is freed.

“Consequently, there will be no movement throughout Biafra land on Mondays until our leader who is suffering for our freedom is released. This protest is peaceful but firm. Everybody is advised to stay indoors in total compliance.

“All markets, schools, motor parks, airports, and public places in Biafra land should shut down from morning to evening every Monday. We understand the economic implications of this measure but we are constrained to take it so that the world will know that our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not alone in the struggle for Biafra autonomy.

“We want his immediate release and our total freedom, and cannot hesitate to pay any sacrifice needed to achieve this including locking down the entire Biafra land on Mondays.

“All residents and visitors in Biafra land are advised to comply with the order. Nobody should go out to avoid any clash or intimidation by the wicked Nigeria security agents.”

POWER blocs within the All Progressives Congress (APC) have continued to hold to varied interpretations of the Supreme Court judgment on the appropriateness of Yobe state governor and chairman of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni, to hold elective and party positions concurrently.

In a minority judgment by the apex court on the petition filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the governorship election in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN challenging the eligibility of Governor Buni to sign the nomination form of Rotimi Akeredolu, the trio of Justices Mary Peter-Odili, Ejembi Eko and Ibrahim Saulawa declared that Akeredolu’s election should have been nullified, while the appellants, (PDP and Jegede) declared winner of the election. Justice Eko further maintained that Buni violated the 1999 Constitution, when as a sitting governor he still acted as chairman of the APC by submitting Akeredolu’s name to INEC for purposes of the governorship poll.

Sunday Tribune investigation during the week revealed that the position canvassed by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami SAN, at the meeting called by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has since gained currency among majority of the APC governors, the Presidency and chieftains of the party who belonged to the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). Malami at the meeting held on the eve of the nationwide APC ward congress advised the CECPC led by Governor Buni to proceed with the election of substantive officers at the ward level.

The source said Malami argued that Article 18 of the APC Constitution (as amended) vests the National Executive Committee (NEC) with the power to create a standing ad-hoc committee, which was what happened with the creation of the CECPC, following the emergency meeting of NEC after the sack of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee last year. The Minister of Justice further argued that the Buniled caretaker has neither breached the party’s constitution nor violated the 1999 Constitution.

Professor Osinbajo, at the meeting, however, maintained that the ward congress already conducted should be aborted against the backdrop of the Supreme Court judgment which, he noted, frowned at the eligibility of Buni to combine party and elective offices.

A party source, who spoke to Sunday Tribune, disclosed that Osinbajo still maintained his stance when he met with a serving governor from the North-West on Thursday at the Presidential Villa.

While the governor congratulated Professor Osinbajo over the judgment which favoured Akeredolu, his host, however, told him there is danger ahead if the CECPC is not dissolved or its membership reviewed to remove serving governors.

A member of the APC CECPC, who spoke with Sunday Tribune, in confidence at the weekend, however, maintained that the interim leadership was on firm ground and was not losing sleep over the minority judgment delivered by three Justices of the Supreme Court.

Asked if he was not worried that President Muhammadu Buhari could defer to the legal advice of the vice president, who appears to be in the minority but holds a contrary position on the interpretation of the judgment, the member of the Caretaker Committee countered that Osinbajo is not the only Senior Advocate of Nigeria in Buhari’s cabinet.

“The Vice President is not the Chief Law Officer of the country. The Ministry of Justice has an array of legal experts who look at judgments, take a position and convey their advice to the president. That’s how it works.

“Don’t also forget that within the cabinet, Osinbajo isn’t only the SAN that President Buhari listens to for legal opinion. Babatunde Fashola is there; he is also a SAN. You want to believe that a president will ignore the legal opinion of his AGF and say what his VP told him is the true interpretation of the judgment and position of law?” Abdullahi Dauda, spokesman of a group within the party, the Concerned APC stakeholders, told Sunday Tribune that what is paramount to the ordinary party faithful is the continuation of the process that would lead to conduct of the national convention to elect national officers for the party. He expressed dissatisfaction over the multiple interpretations being given to the judgment.

“The Supreme Court is the highest court in Nigeria; if it gives a judgment, you can only appeal to God. For us, we have no quarrel with the court, we can only say that any system where justice is sacrificed, there will be no peace.

“What we are saying is that those who laboured and sacrificed to build this party should not be treated badly because the party still needs us.

“We will continue to call on the leaders to do justice because it is strange that the people of Yobe State voted for a governor and the governor has abandoned that state and is always in Abuja doing the work of a chairman of our party.

“All we are saying is that we should have our convention and let us elected new NWC members for proper politics to start,” he said.

More facts emerged on Friday about how the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, and the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, clashed at the party’s Board of Trustees meeting held on Thursday in Abuja.

The meeting was summoned by the BoT to find an amicable solution to the crisis rocking the party as a result of Wike’s antagonism to Secondus as the PDP’s national chairman.

The crisis rocking the opposition deepens as political bigwigs in the party jostle for shares of its structure ahead of the 2023 polls.

The PUNCH, on Thursday, reported that Secondus was battling to retain his chairmanship position as Wike spearheaded moves to ensure his removal before the party’s national convention.

Secondus’ opponents were said to have anticipated that he would install his loyalists as members of the convention committee, thus paving the way for his re-election.

It was also alleged that Tuesday’s resignation of seven members of the PDP National Executive Council was part of the moves to oust Secondus and set up a caretaker committee, which would organise the next national convention.

The seven national officers of the party who resigned included the Deputy National Financial Secretary, the Deputy Legal Adviser, the Deputy National Auditor, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, the Deputy Women Leader and the Deputy Organising Secretary.

However, the PDP BoT members, at a meeting on Thursday presided over by its Chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, insisted that Secondus should be allowed to complete his tenure, which would soon end.

The board members, according to sources, faulted what they termed as uncomplimentary remarks by some party leaders, including Wike, against the National Working Committee, while condemning the way the NWC handled crises in some state chapters of the party.

Incidentally, both the Rivers governor and the PDP national chairman are from the same State.

Wike was also a major backer of Secondus when he was elected as the party’s national chairman less than four years ago.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that Wike, a major financier of the party, attended the meeting as a BoT member.

His arrival at the meeting was said to have taken attendees by surprise as he was not a regular attendee at any of the party’s functions, apart from the PDP Governors’ Forum.

The Governor was also accused by some people of being behind the resignation of some of the national officers of the party.

“His presence, which was not expected, despite his being a PDP BoT member, came as a surprise to many, but not to those of us who are followers of events in the party,” a member of the party’s NWC said.

The source, who is also a member of the BoT, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Wike, in his remarks, was angry at some unnamed members of the party, who he said labelled him the party’s “Father Christmas.”

The source said, “Holding a magazine where he (the Governor) said he was described as a Father Christmas, he said when he single-handedly paid the legal fees and other matters in the case that removed Ali Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman of the party and rescued it from him, nobody called him such a name.

“He said he had been paying the rent for the Legacy Building (PDP Presidential Campaign office in Abuja), yet nobody described him using such language. He said if he was not a party man, he could probably have used such money to also marry four wives. He also said he had not told anyone that he wanted to be the presidential candidate of the party in 2023 as insinuated in some quarters. ”

Wike was also said to have paid the salaries of some of the staff members of the party, while other governors and influential members felt unconcerned.

The source disclosed that Wike also accused Secondus of polarising the PDP Governors’ Forum as some of its members were behind the National Chairman, while others were with the Governor.

As soon as he ended his speech, Wike was said to have made an attempt to leave the meeting, but Secondus, according to the source, said it would be wrong for the Governor to leave without hearing from him.

“If you attack me, I will attack you!” Wike was said to have fired back at Secondus. This remark was said to have made attendees to laugh hilariously.

However, sources said Secondus challenged Wike on claims that he was seeking another term.

“He told the Governor to name anyone he had informed that he was running for a second term. He also said that the party would determine who would be the next National Chairman of the party and that the party was bigger than himself. He said the Governor should play the role of a father,” the source added.

After Wike ended his speech, Senator Abdul Ningi was said to have been the first to speak. He told the Governor that the rift in the party would be settled and that there was no need to quarrel, proposing that a committee should be set up to look into the issues raised by aggrieved members.

In his contribution, a former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, was said to have told Wike that it was the first time the Governor would be speaking to the board on any issue like those mentioned.

A former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, was said to have expanded the list of those suggested by both Makarfi and Ningi to be in the committee to look into the crisis rocking the party and advise the party on the way forward.

“He suggested that the committee must consist of seven members of the BoT, all the Governors elected on the party’s platform, three former governors, three former ministers and the entire membership of the NWC,” the source said.

Following the mass resignation of NWC members four days ago, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Diran Odeyemi, withdrew his resignation.

Investigations by one of our correspondents showed that the Deputy National legal adviser and the deputy national organising secretary were also planning to withdraw their letters of resignation.

“Barring any last-minute changes, the two men will be back at their desks on Monday,” a secretariat staff member of the party said.

Meanwhile, further investigations showed that the initial plan was for four key members of the NWC to resign, namely the Deputy National Chairman (North), National Secretary, Youth Leader and the National Auditor.

“If they had resigned with those who initially resigned, then the aggrieved Governor would have taken the matter to the Governors’ Forum meeting on Monday and canvassed the total dissolution of the entire NWC on account of a crisis of confidence,” another source added.

The source said the party’s leadership, including the caucuses, was of the opinion that members of the NWC, especially the National Chairman, should be allowed to serve their tenure and seek re-election if they so desired.

He said, “Presidents and Governors produced by our party seek re-election and they are even given priority. Also, members of the National Assembly even seek re-election more than twice. Why would we be forcing our National Officers out?”

In the history of the party, none of its National Chairman has served four years, as constitutionally allowed by the constitution.

The late Dr Alex Ekwueme, who was the first elected vice president of Nigeria, was the First Chairman of the party in 1998.

He left to take part in the party’s presidential primaries, which he lost to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He was succeeded by a former governor of Plateau State, Chief Solomon Lar, who was in office between 1998 and 1999.

Senator Barnabas Gemade took over from Lar and was in office from 1999 to 2001, after which Chief Audu Ogbeh assumed office as the party’s national chairman.

Like those before him, Ogbeh also failed to complete his tenure as he was forced out of office due to the Anambra State party crisis, which former president Olusegun Obasanjo believed was not well-handled by the party chairman.

The first Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Senator Ahmadu Ali, succeeded Ogbeh and was in office between 2005 and 2008. A former National Secretary of the party, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, was elected as the national chairman in 2008, but was forced to resign in 2010.

A former governor of Enugu State, Dr Okwesileze Nwodo, was barely in office for one year in 2010 as the party national chairman when he was sacked and succeeded by Dr Haliru Mohammed, who also did not last one year before he was succeed by Alhaji Kawu Baraje, a former national secretary of the party from Kwara State.

Baraje was in office between 2011 and 2014, but Dr Bamanga Tukur, who took over from him, presided over the affairs of the party between 2012 and 2014 before he was also forced to resign due to a crisis that engulfed the party as a result of a gale of defections by some governors to the All Progressives Congress, which was in its formative years then.

A former governor of Bauchi State, Adamu Mu’azu, was in the saddle of the party for just a year between 2014 and 2015, during which the party lost the presidential election for the first time since 1999.

There were speculations that he worked for the APC; although he denied the allegation, he is now a member of the party he denied working for then.

Also, Ali Modu Sheriff, a former governor of Borno State, was installed as the national chairman in 2015. His reign was characterised by litigation and accusations that he was planted by the APC to derail the former ruling party.

Sheriff, who was sacked by the Supreme Court in 2016, is also now a member of the APC. Makarfi, who midwifed the convention that ushered in Secondus as the national chairman in 2017, succeeded Sheriff.

I did not collect money to resign – Odeyemi

Meanwhile, Odeyemi has denied rumours that he collected money from a sitting governor to resign.

The PDP’s deputy publicity secretary told Saturday PUNCH that he and others resigned because they felt sidelined by the party’s national leadership.

Odeyemi, who is abroad, said the aggrieved deputies turned in their resignation letters as a protest and to send a signal to the incoming party leadership to scrap the positions of deputies since they were not part of decision-making in the party.

He said, “I have been away from Nigeria for more than two weeks. Did I collect the N25m while away or what? Now that I have withdrawn the letter, will the man said to have given the money not look for me to collect whatever they alleged he had given me? There is no truth in the allegation.”

In his reaction, Dr Umar Ardo, a former aide to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, said those fighting the party had lost out.

Ardo, a governorship aspirant of the party in Adamawa State, said the party must also “allow its national officers to go for a second term because we need stability at the party level more than anything.”

BoT, govs, NWC others meet in Abuja Tuesday

Meanwhile, the 28 ‘wise’ elders set up at the BoT meeting are meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

The meeting is expected to resolve what a source described as ‘contentious issues’ threatening the peaceful co-existence of members of the party. A source, who is a member of the committee, said the BoT decided to have an enlarged meeting to avoid each caucus involved in the party from having different opinions.

BoT chair, Walid Jibrin, who confirmed the holding of the meeting in an interview with one of our correspondents, said preparations were on top gear to enable them have what he described as a peaceful meeting.

“We are meeting on Tuesday in Abuja. We would be able to tell ourselves the real truth about the party. We have to sit up and take decisive decisions. Nobody should be allowed to bully us,” the BoT chairman said.

A new Chief Registrar, Hajo Sarki-Bello, has been appointed for the Supreme Court following the coming retirement of the incumbent, Hajia Hadiza Uwani Mustapha, this weekend.

The new Chief Registrar’s appointment has just been ratified by the Federal Judicial Service Commission.

She is to replace Mrs Mustapha, whose tenure ends on Sunday, August 8, 2021.

A High Court in Ukwa Judicial Division at Aba and presided by Justice C. H Ahuchaogu has issued an order of interim injunction restraining the All Progressive Congress (APC), the Ward congress committee chairman, Rt. Hon Sunny Goli, the Chairman of the Caretaker Executive Committee of the party in Abia State, Hon Donatus Nwankpa and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), by themselves, agents and privies from receiving, accepting and acting on the purported list of successful candidate for the APC ward Congresses in Abia from the Party’s National Electoral committee on Abia ward congress.

This followed an exparte motion in a suit filed by two chieftains of the APC from Abia State, Davies Jumbo and Engr. John Nnah which sought the order of the court to restrain the APC National Caretaker Committee from the National Electoral committee on Abia ward congress.

The applicants are representing all the successful ward chairmanship candidates of the party in the 184 electoral wards in Abia state as well as all the successful Local Government and State delegates of the All Progressives, Abia State chapter.

The Respondents are, APC, Mai Mala Buni-led National Caretaker Executive Committee, the Independent National Electoral Commission( INEC) and the The Abia Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the party, Hon Donatus Nwankpa.

The Court also restrained the respondents from conducting the local government and state Congresses in Abia state pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

Justice Ahuchaogu equally granted an order restraining the APC and the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee, Governor Mai Mala Buni from dissolving and tampering with the duly constituted party structure in Abia state from the wards, local government and state led by the defendant, Hon Donatus Nwankpa, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

According to a copy of the High Court order signed by the Assistant Chief Registrar, Celestina Ukaforo and issued to newsmen on Thursday, “That leave is Herby granted to the applicants to serve the defendants in the suit by substituted means, to wit: by publishing same in a reputable national daily newspaper.

“That when this order is complied with, it shall be deemed good, proper and sufficient in the circumstance.”

The case was adjourned to 18th day of August, 2021 for report of service.

Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress have started arriving in Abuja for a meeting on the state of the party.

The meeting, which barring last-minute changes is due to hold on Thursday (today), is aimed at finding a political solution to the challenge posed by the Supreme Court judgment on the Ondo State governorship election.

Some senior party members have argued that a part of the judgment calls to question the continued stay in office of Buni, a serving governor, as Chairman of the Caretaker/ National Convention Planning Committee of the party.

It was gathered that the governors would be discussing how best to give their colleagues “a soft-landing” in a way that would preserve the party’s reputation as well as ensure that the governors would not leave with a feeling that they were used and dumped.

Although neither governors nor members of the Federal Executive Council who are senior lawyers have reached a consensus on the issue, multiple party sources who spoke to our correspondent in confidence tilted towards “saving the party first.”

A high ranking party source told The PUNCH, “There are as many views as there are lawyers in the cabinet and in the party. Just like the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN) argues that the party should halt further activities and effect changes in leadership, people like the Attorney General of the Federation and our party’s lead counsel in the Ondo case, Niyi Akintola (SAN), maintain the view that the party leadership has no reason to nurse any fear because no law has been breached.”

As of Wednesday, the governors who had arrived Abuja for the meeting included Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Sani Bello (Niger), Ondo, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe) and Abubakar Bagudu (Kebbi).

Attempts to get an official response to enquiries about the meeting from the Director General of the Progressives Governors Forum, Dr. Salihu Lukman were futile. Calls to his mobile telephone number were neither picked nor returned as at 9:14 pm

Recall that The PUNCH had on Wednesday reported that after a meeting attended by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the APC state governors and other stakeholders on Friday night, the party leaders started considering the removal of Buni as caretaker committee chairman and other governors, who are members of the panel.

Apart from Buni, who is the Governor of Yobe State, other governors, who are members of the committee, are Sani Bello of Niger State, who is representing the North-Central and his Osun State counterpart, Isiaka Oyetola, who represents the South-West.

Prince Uche Secondus, embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has raised an alarm over the alleged plot to hijack the party.

The opposition party is currently experiencing one of its worst crisis.

Senator Joy Emordi, a board of trustees member of the party, also defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement Ike Abonyi, his spokesman, issued on his behalf, Secondus said the structure of the party is about to be hijacked.

“The media office of the National Chairman is privy to intelligence that the strong party chieftain bent on hijacking the party structure for destruction is still on the loose with the main agenda of denting the image of Prince Uche Secondus the National Chairman.”

“Reports reaching this office shows clearly that this character is deploying all devious means to try and diminish the person and character of the National Chairman with a view to having his way of ultimately hijacking the structure for his disproportionately large ambition.

“We, therefore, wish to alert the general public particularly media houses and party stakeholders to look out for strange deployment of luring gifts from this destructive ‘Father Christmas’ all aimed at having a grip on the soul of our party by having a caretaker Committee.

“What continues to shock many party observers is the real reason behind the desperation of this man to get at the National Chairman and the quantum of public funds being expended to achieve this illicit goal a few months to the National Convention.
“Few months to National Convention anybody who means well for this party and who is a true democrat should respect the constitution of the party and approach issues dispassionately.

“Prince Secondus through the media office however wishes to assure all critical stakeholders of our great party that every reasonable step is being taken to ensure that the image and status of the party are not injured by all these needless noise and scheming by desperadoes.”

Jega's outbursts on APC wrong, untenable

Our attention has been drawn to an uncontrolled, wrong and untenable political outburst by a former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega in which he lumped the All Progressives Congress (APC), together with the failed People's Democratic Party (PDP).

While the PDP failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians as a government and oppositon party, the APC is thriving, healthy and assiduously cleaning the massive mess left behind by the PDP which failed to deliver democratic dividends to the people of Nigeria after being in charge of the country for 16 years.

While Professor Jega is right about the PDP, a party under which he served as the Chairman of the nation's election management body, we reject his comparison of the APC with the PDP.

Professor Jega got his facts wrong and mixed up in his baseless comparison of the PDP with the APC.

While we do not intend to join issues with Professor Jega, we encourage him to engage in genuine scholarly research and come up with evidence-based conclusions on the progessive orientation of the APC.

It is however instructive to note that having recently abandoned his academic pursuit and blindly plunged into the arena of PDP's brand of politics, the erstwhile electoral umpire as a politician can make such political statements occassionally while trying to launch his political career in a mushroom political party.

The APC is a strong, united, popular and focused political unit. Hence, the Professor should note the political lesson that maligning the APC would not provide him a springboard to achieve his desires. Nigerians are wiser and remain the ultimate judges.

SIGNED:
Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe Ph.D
National Secretary
Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC)
All Progressives Congress (APC)

August 2, 2021

Press Statement

PDP to Jega: APC and Buhari Failed Nigerians, Not PDP
…Says Comparison A Provocative Disservice to Nigerians

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cautions former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, not to further infuriate Nigerians by trying to dry-clean the rudderless, inept and debauched All Progressives Congress (APC), despite the unbearable devastation the APC has brought to our nation in a space of six years.

The PDP asserts that trying to compare the incompetent and decadent APC to the highly productive and development-oriented PDP is an unpardonable disservice to our nation and calls to question the sense of judgment of Profession Jega.

The PDP further holds as worrisome that Prof. Jega, who only recently and rightly so, described the APC and the Buhari administration as a failure, is now attempting an image laundering with such a warped comparison, just a few weeks after he was offered a juicy appointment as Chairman of Governing Council of University of Jos by President Buhari.

It is indeed unfortunate that Prof. Jega, as a professor of political science, could portray an ignorance of the manifest contrasts between the robust fortunes of our nation under the PDP and the wasteland she has become under the APC.

Perhaps the Professor needs to be reminded of how the PDP worked hard to revamp our nation’s economy, paid off our huge foreign debts and went ahead to grow the economy to become the largest investment hub in Africa as well as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, with Fitch B+ rating; only for the APC to wreck the economy and turned our nation into the world poverty capital and a debtor country in a space of six years.

Prof. Jega must also be reminded how the PDP reinvigorated the private sector with new businesses and employments springing up in critical sectors of telecoms, aviation, agriculture, manufacturing, oil and gas, education, retailing, hospitality, healthcare and banking among others.

Today, under the APC and Buhari, these gains have been wrecked with massive closure of businesses, which saw over 60 million Nigerians losing their means of livelihood, with alarming 33.3 percent unemployment rate and over 82.9 million more and about 25 million families not being able to afford their daily meals as our country ranks 98th out of 107 in Global Hunger Index, due to the obnoxious policies of the APC and President Buhari.

Perhaps the former INEC chairman has forgotten how the PDP stabilized our fiscal economy and handed over our naira to the APC at N160 to a dollar only for the APC to wreck our currency to a dismal N510 to a dollar.

He may have also forgotten how the PDP handed over the cost of fuel at N87 per liter and how the APC has hiked it to N165 per liter with attendant pressure on our economy.

We invite Professor Jega to note how the PDP ran an all-inclusive and transparent administration that guaranteed freedom of speech, equity, fairness as well as free and fair elections, which he attested to; and how the APC, had been running a massively corrupt, insensitive, divisive and exclusionist administration that has destroyed our national cohesion and turned our nation into a battle field.

As professor of political science, Prof. Jega ought to know that while the PDP is an ideologically based political party, the APC is just a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) operated on the basis of deception and that is why it has failed in all ramification and now fizzled in the eyes of the law.

Nigerians are already confronting the fact of the failures of the APC as well as President Buhari and would therefore not require a manipulative tendency of any individual seeking political relevance ahead of 2023.

After all, the roles which Prof Jega played in bringing this failed party and administration into office are still fresh in the hearts of Nigerians.

Signed:

Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary

THE Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has thrown the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Akoka, Yaba, Lagos into darkness over unpaid debt of about N200 million it billed the university for electricity consumption.

The university authorities, however, told Sunday Tribune that the institution has dutifully never failed to settle its electricity bill on a monthly basis, claiming it has paid up to June 2021. According to the authorities, the university, which has now resorted to generators to power some areas, rationing the supply between the administrative area and staff quarters, has paid a total of N1.123 billion in electricity tariff to EKEDC in the last 17 months from January last year.

Confirming this development to Sunday Tribune in an interview, the university’s spokesperson, Mrs Nonye Oguama, lamented that the electricity bill being served each month on the university by EKEDC, keeps rising each day.

She said the university could not just cope meeting up with the exorbitant monthly bill because of its other financial obligations as a social service and not commercial purpose institution. She argued that EKEDC ought to have factored in this position in billing the university, declaring that she could not categorically say for now when the university would be able to resolve the matter as there is no money.

Also speaking with Sunday Tribune, vice chancellor of the university, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, confirmed that the university from January 2020 to June 2021 had paid N1.123 billion in electricity tariff. Ogundipe said the whopping sum, which could not be disconnected from the high electricity tariff in the country and estimated billings, was paid from the institution’s internally generated revenues on a monthly basis, adding that it was draining the purse of the university.

Giving a breakdown of electricity bill paid by the university in the last 17 months, Professor Ogundipe said the “N51 million was paid in January 2020; N50 million in February: N58 million in March and N62 million in April,” of same year.

The amount, he said, dropped to N26 million in May 2020 during the general lock-down due to COVID-19 pandemic and further dropped to N21 million in June, but went up to N24 million in July; N25 million in August and N26 million in September.

“So, in October, when activities started coming up again, we had N56 million bill and it dropped again in November to N29 million before it skyrocketed to N81 million in December when the electricity tariff was increased generally in the country by the power distribution company.

“Since then, [EKEDC] has been bringing huge bill every month; N84 million in January; N79 million in February and it rose to N85 million in March when our students started coming back to hostels; N88 million in April and jumped up to as high as N181 million in May and came down again to N118 million in June,” he said.

“So, in the period covering 17 months, we paid a sum of N1.123 billion on electricity and the amount is just too high for the university to cope with,” Ogundipe stressed, adding that the bills are just too high for the university to maintain.

“Even companies that are making profit cannot find it easy to be coughing up such a huge amount of money for electricity every month”

There is apprehension in Imo as a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has stopped the All Progressives Congress (APC) from going ahead with Saturday’s congresses in Imo State pending a hearing of a suit brought before the court by the applicant, Okey Anyikwa.

Already, delegates for the congresses have arrived in the State and had been addressed by Governor Hope Uzodimma.

Anyikwa, who is the APC chairman of Ideato South Local Government Area, had approached the Court for an injunction restraining the APC from going ahead with the Saturday’s congresses because of the judgment of the Appeal Court that upheld the tenure of the State Exco elected in 2018.

Presiding Justice, Valentine Oriji, also threatened to invalidate the outcome of congresses if the party disregards the position of the Court.

The presiding judge had, after proceeding on Friday, ordered that all activities regarding the APC congresses in the State should be stayed, pending the hearing of the application slated for August 10.

However, Uzodimma, speaking at a pre-Congress luncheon for critical APC stakeholders in the State, urged them to conduct a peaceful congress.

“I have seen the amount of interest and commitment by many of our members towards the ward congress.

“If you don’t love the party, that expression of interest will not be there. Therefore, our job is to ensure that this huge goodwill is used maximally for the building and strengthening of our great party and metamorphose into an electoral force.

“I have seen the scramble and struggle for who will control structure and who will not control structure.

“This can only happen if the man presiding over has no political experience in Imo State.

“We are going to use a transparent guideline – which is an open contest. If you have a list of names you have written, please drop it.

“The people will say who will guide them. The guideline tells it all.

“I can go into a room and write a list for you, but I can’t because I want transparency.

“So, if I didn’t do it, please don’t do it. Let transparency rule us,” he added.

Everywhere you turn in #Nigeria, a street had been named after a thief, a boulevard for a coward, an army barrack bequeathed to a murderer, an airport for a Génocidaire, a magnificent building for a judge who perverted justice...When are we toppling these statutes? #Revolutionnow

There are strong indications that Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, may be deported to Nigeria.

Upon his deportation, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force would arrest him, a security source confided in our correspondent.

However, the activist’s lawyers have kicked against the move, saying that it was against international law.

Sources in Benin Republic told our correspondent on Thursday that Benin Republic was not ready to engage in diplomatic crisis with Nigeria.

One of the sources, who work with Benin’s INTERPOL National Central Bureau, told The PUNCH that charges against Igboho were punishable by deportation, fine or imprisonment.

The security officer revealed that “our intelligence gathering showed that it is unhealthy to jail Igboho here (Benin Republic).”

The senior NCB officer added, “Yes, he was detained for fresh charges. While he was initially with Brigade Criminelle facility, he made useful confessions. His lawyers also know that he is guilty of irregular migration.”

Another official said: “The least punishment Igboho can be given is to be deported to the country he came from (Nigeria) if found guilty. The Nigerian authorities can take over from there if they wish.”

An official of the Department of State Services confirmed to our correspondent that “Yes, he is wanted. We have the mandate to arrest him if he steps into Nigeria. That is not hidden.”

When contacted, counsel for Igboho warned Benin Republic against deporting the activist, stating that was dangerous and against international law.

One of the activist’s lawyers said he was aware that the FG is putting pressure on Benin Republic “through the backdoor to deport Igboho at a time that will only be known between the security operatives of the two countries.”

When contacted, Pelumi Olajengbesi, a Nigerian-based counsel for Igboho, said the plan would fail.

He said, “I am aware that the Federal Government through the former Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai is making effort to get him deported. We can say that clearly.

“So, far the facts available before the court have nothing to do with Nigeria government.

“We have nothing to worry about because the Benin Republic government has shown that it will operate within the precinct of the law. For us, we believe that Igboho is a criminal of conscience who has taken effort to liberate his people.”

Also, Olasupo Ojo, the Coordinating counsel for Igboho, warned that deporting Igboho for Nigeria to arrest him was against international law.

“It is illegal under international law to send back somebody who escaped to save his life. You cannot send him to the country where there is ample evidence that his life is at stake, endangered. It will bounce back heavily on Benin Republic if they do that,” he said.

The Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says there is no cause for alarm over the supreme court decision on Ondo gubernatorial poll.

On Wednesday, the apex court affirmed the election of Rotimi Akeredolu as Ondo state governor. Akeredolu won by a narrow split decision of 4:3 in the seven-man panel of justices.

Eyitayo Jegede, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had queried the validity of Akeredolu’s nomination by the national caretaker committee of the APC headed by Mai Mala Buni, Yobe governor.

Festus Keyamo, minister of state for labour and employment, asked the party to sack Buni and anyone holding any executive position on the committee and immediately suspend the planned congresses.

Keyamo argued that the measure is to avoid legal battles, since the competence of Buni to hold the position has chairman has been questioned by the supreme court.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, John Akpanudoedehe, national secretary of the APC caretaker committee, said apex court’s verdict on Ondo gubernatorial poll has “no bearing on the CECPC’s status and its membership”.

“The clarification is against the backdrop of personal opinions being expressed by some individuals on the status of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and its capacity to conduct the Congresses,” Akpanudoedehe said.

“While it is not our intention to join issues with these commentators, the Supreme Court’s Wednesday judgement affirming the Election victory of the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu SAN had no bearing on the CECPC’s status and its membership.

“Party members and aspirants should therefore come out enmasse and peacefully to participate in the ward Congresses, come Saturday.”

TheCable had reported how Buni is not qualified to be the caretaker chairman of the party.

The Secretary of the Lagos chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Muiz Shodipe, is dead.

Spokesman for the party in Lagos, Taofik Gani, announced in a statement that Mr Shodipe died in the early hours of Wednesday.

He noted that the sudden loss of Mr Shodipe to the cold hands of death was one death too much for the party, as it might slow down the re-engineering of the party in the state.

Mr Gani said: “The party fears that the death of the dogged Secretary at this time is a big blow which may slow the re-engineering of the Party in the state.

“It, however, submits to the will of God just as it prays for the soul of the departed to enjoy the bosom of the Lord.”

He prayed for the family to have the fortitude to bear the monumental loss.

The spokesman said that the party had directed all her flags all over the state to be flown at half mast and special prayers be held for the departed at all her meetings statewide.

The Zamfara State House of Assembly has given the Deputy Governor, Barrister Aliyu Gusau, a 48-hour ultimatum to appear before it over allegations of official misconduct levelled against him.

He is to appear before the House over a political rally conducted on July 10, amid banditry attacks on Maradun communities within the same period under review.

This is coming barely a month after the deputy governor refused to join the All Progressive Congress (APC) with Governor Bello Matawalle who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on June 29.

Following his refusal to defect to the APC, Matawalle warned that he will not tolerate a disrespectful attitude from Gusau.

The Federal High Court, Abuja on July 19 restrained the Zamfara House of Assembly and the Chief Judge of the state from taking steps to impeach him.

Tuesday’s extension followed a motion moved by the Deputy Leader, Nasiru Bello Bungudu to explain why he held a political rally in the recent wake of killings in the state.

The deputy leader moved the motion under matters of personal explanation and prayers of the House and seconded by Hon Shafi’u Dama Wanke representing Gusau II constituency.

In his prayers, the Deputy Leader drew the attention of Speaker and his colleagues on the House resolution of July 14 where the House resolved to invite the Deputy Governor to appear in person.