₦airaland Forum

Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja

The Nigerian Army on Monday barred a lawyer, Mr. Tope Akinyode, from seeing his client, Lance Corporal Martins Idakpani, despite an order from a Federal High Court compelling the army to grant Akinyode access to the soldier.

Idakpani has been in detention since June for allegedly insulting the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen Tukur Buratai; and the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin in a video which has gone viral on social media.

He was arrested along with his wife, Victoria. While she was released a few days later, Idakpani has remained in custody and denied access to relatives and legal representation.

Justice Anwuli Chikere had about two weeks ago ordered that Idakpani’s lawyer be granted access to him.

The judge also said the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Chief of Army Staff must see to it that the judgment was enforced and obeyed.

However, Akinyode said he had been denied access to his client twice.

The lawyer said it was unfortunate that the army under the leadership of Buratai had decided to disobey a valid court order.
He said it was disheartening that even during civil rule the military had failed to shed its dictatorial tendencies.
Akinyode said he feared that his client may have been tortured or killed hence the decision of the army to deny him access.
The lawyer said, “Buratai’s conduct is a disgrace to the Armed Forces. He is tearing the constitution apart and rendering useless the concept of the rule of law. Buratai is about to become a dictator before our very eyes. There’s fire on the mountain.
“I got to the army headquarters around 2pm today after informing the AGF of my planned visit. Two officers that I met were identified as Lucky B and Genesis J. They denied me access to my client based on the order of Buratai.”

By Omeiza Ajayi The All Progressives Congress, APC, has asked security agencies in the country to halt what it described as plans by the Peoples Democratic Party PDP to rig the September 19 governorship election in Edo State. “Our security services must do everything to stop the PDP’s plan to unleash violence, intimidate voters and buy votes during the election. Come September 19, votes will count and the will of the Edo electorate will prevail”, APC said in a statement by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yekini Nabena. The party noted that the recent communique issued by the PDP Governors’ Forum enjoined the President, INEC and security agencies to “play an impartial role” in the forthcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States.
However, APC said “for a Party whose stock-in-trade remains cloning of Permanent Voters Cards PVCs, stealing card readers, voter intimidation, thuggery and vote-buying as witnessed during the 2019 General Elections, the PDP’s call is dubious and a smokescreen for their real and sinister intentions”. It noted that the real issue is how the Edo State treasury “has been criminally converted to a political slush fund as exposed by the widely reported faceoff between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shuaibu over release of funds for the PDP governorship campaign”. “Again, as chairman of the Edo State PDP governorship Campaign Council, the violence being threatened by the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike ahead of the September 19 Edo governorship election are the real issues. Wike has promised to “make sure that everything needed is done” to foist the PDP governorship candidate on the good people of Edo State. “There are already credible reports of Wike’s plan to import thugs from neighbouring states to achieve their rigging plot. We reiterate that he will not succeed. We stand with the good people of Edo state in calling on our security services not to allow the PDP and Wike turn Edo State into a killing field”, the APC added.

Lermber Vaatyough is the Chairman, Taskforce and Environmental Committee of Peva Market, in the Takum Local Government Government of Taraba State. He tells JUSTIN TYOPUUSU, how men of the Nigeria Army allegedly burnt his house and rendered his family homeless

You were said to be one of the residents whose houses were burnt recently in Peva. How did it happen?

I was sleeping in my house when, suddenly, I heard a knock on my door. But I didn’t open because it was an unusual knock. Few minutes later, at about 3:30am, I heard noises outside and I peeped through the window and saw some people flashing lights at my house. I kept watching the development, but when I noticed they were advancing towards my house, I escaped through the back door. Although I escaped, I didn’t go far. I hid in the nearby bush. The soldiers broke into my house and searched thoroughly. The person who appeared to be the leader of the team placed a call to someone and they burnt my house. That was how my house was burnt in the early hours of Friday, July 17, 2020.

Can you quantify your loss?

The damage is unquantifiable. I built the house in 2018 and I spent over N5m on that house. All my belongings, apart from what I wore that night, were burnt to ashes. My family had gone to the farm in the village and was to return on Saturday evening when the incident happened on Friday morning. So, all their belongings were gone in the flames.

How many occupants have been rendered homeless as a result of the incident?

Seven of us have been rendered homeless and all our clothes and other belongings are gone.

What could have possibly led to this?

I seriously don’t know because when soldiers were deployed in our area, we were told that they were on a mission to deal with criminals in the area. But even my enemy will attest to the fact that I am not a criminal. So, why did they come after me? I gathered that they were after my life. They wanted me killed and because God helped me to escape, they burnt my house. I am sure they would have killed me, if they had found me that night.

I want to tell you that those personnel operating in our area have a very poor intelligence gathering system. There are several instances; that was not the first time they would go after the wrong targets. If your neighbour, who doesn’t like your face tells them that you are a criminal or you have a link with a criminal, without further checks, they will just go after you. Most of the time, they arrest people indiscriminately and take them to their base and beat them up to the point of death. At that point, such victims begin to just say anything to save their lives. They will now come and tell the world that they are acting on intelligence. What kind of intelligence is that? There are so many things these guys have done here, which I will have to keep to myself for now for security reasons.

What do you intend to do now?

If I had my way, I would have provend to the world that I am not a criminal. I want to call on the Federal Government to probe the atrocities of the personnel of the Nigerian Army on Operation Whirl Stroke in the area. I also want my house and that of others destroyed by the personnel rebuilt. We should be compensated. The truth of the matter is that even if you are looking for criminals, you don’t burn other people’s property.

What will you do if your request is not considered?

I will definitely go to court because my life is being threatened by the army and I cannot continue to run for something I know nothing about. For now, I am doing consultation and I will certainly go to court after my consultations.

Yakassai insists rotational presidency will ensure stability, national unity and inclusive politics

Omololu Ogunmade and Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The presidency, last night, said the recent comments by President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew, Mamman Daura, on zoning were his personal opinion and not that of the president. The clarification was in reaction to widespread controversy that followed Daura’s submission last week that the post of Nigerian president should not be attained on rotational basis but predicated on competence.

However, an elder statesman and former presidential liaison officer on National Assembly matters to the late former president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, in the Second Republic, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, insisted that the concept of zoning and rotational presidency were necessary to ensure unity and stability in Nigeria. Yakassai stated this in an exclusive interview with THISDAY.
The elder statesman recommended that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should make rotation and zoning of major political offices part of the conditions for the registration of political parties.

Daura had made his comments last week in an interview granted the BBC Hausa service. But he was heavily criticised by many individuals and groups, who accused him of flying a northern kite ahead of the 2023 presidential poll.

However, presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement titled, “Malam Mamman’s Views Are His Own, and He Has Said So,” noted that the presidency had since the expression of those views been inundated with requests for presidential reaction. Shehu said the opinion of Daura was solely his, and did not in any way reflect the position of the president or his administration.
Shehu said in the statement, “We have received numerous requests for comments on the interview granted by Malam Mamman Daura, President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew, to the BBC Hausa Service.

“It is important that we state from the onset that as mentioned by the interviewee, the views expressed were personal to him and did not, in any way, reflect that of either the president or his administration.
“At age 80, and having served as editor and managing director of one of this country’s most influential newspapers, the New Nigerian, certainly, Malam Mamman qualifies as an elder statesman with a national duty to hold perspectives and disseminate them as guaranteed under our constitution and laws of the land.

“He does not need the permission or clearance of anyone to exercise this right.”

The presidential spokesperson, who emphasised that Daura’s interview was granted in Hausa language, alleged that its original content was distorted in the course of transcription. He explained that the interview bordered on how the country could evolve an ideal process of political dialogue that could be more beneficial to average Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds.
He said such discourse was not alien to Nigeria’s evolving and young democracy, adding that what Daura did as a veteran journalist, scholar and statesman, was only to add his voice to the discourse.

Shehu added, “In an attempt to circulate the content of the interview to a wider audience, the English translation clearly did no justice to the interview, which was granted in Hausa, and as a result, the context was mixed up and new meanings were introduced and/or not properly articulated.
“The issues discussed during the interview, centred around themes on how the country could birth an appropriate process of political dialogue, leading to an evaluation, assessment and a democratic outcome that would serve the best interest of the average Nigerian irrespective of where they come from.

“These issues remain at the heart of our evolving and young democracy, and as a veteran journalist, scholar and statesman, Malam Mamman has seen enough to add his voice to those of many other participants.”

But Yakassai traced the origin of zoning in the country to the Second Republic, saying, “Zoning was first introduced into Nigeria’s political lexicon by the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). NPN, as you know, was the first political party that was accepted nationwide in Nigeria as everybody’s party. No individual or a group of Nigerians ever allocated to themselves the ownership of NPN.

“Everybody was a joint owner of National Party of Nigeria. It was because of that that NPN thought of developing the concept and to assure every member and every segment of Nigeria that the exalted office of the president would one day come to their area or zone.

“And this is the reason why all political conferences that took place after NPN, the idea of zoning kept coming up in such conferences and had been adopted by some conferences as a provision in Nigeria constitution.”

Yakassai explained that under the late military ruler, Sani Abacha’s constitutional conference of 1994/1995, it was recommended and the military accepted that zoning should be incorporated into the constitution of Nigeria in a way that would form the basis of registration for political parties. But Abacha died and the reforms died with him, he said.
The former presidential adviser, stated, “Since then, a majority of Nigerians have accepted zoning as a very good strategy that would give everybody in Nigeria a sense of belonging. Those who are able to get the position to their side will be satisfied and acknowledged and those who are yet to get it, are assured that they would get it when the time comes.

“So now, you cannot separate zoning from rotation, because zoning without rotation is meaningless. Whoever adopts zoning automatically adopts rotation. And whoever rejects zoning, automatically rejects rotation.”

Dissecting Daura’s statement on merit and competence, Yakassai stated, “Now, about the argument on merit, there was a time when competent people were not sufficient all over the country. Even today, there are more competent people in certain areas.

“But today, every local government in Nigeria has competent and qualified Nigerians to seek any public office, whether elected or appointed. So, there is no reason why zoning and rotation will not be acceptable by any Nigeria.”

Yakassai said, “Our adoption of human rights, right of citizens of Nigeria to own opinion and express it, means every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to accept zoning or reject it. But the overwhelming majority in Nigeria have agreed that zoning will bring inclusiveness now or in the future.”

He advised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to stick to zoning and rotation of the office of the president, saying, “In the interest of National stability, APC should adhere to the issue of zoning and rotation, which is part of the election promise of the party, when it was formed.

“PDP, which is the main opposition party, has already accepted zoning and rotation as part of its constitution. So, in my opinion, APC should adhere to its principles of zoning and rotation.”

Asked whether zoning should be done with the six geopolitical zones or between North and South, the elder statesman said, “When zoning was advocated by the NPN, we saw it as a situation that will move on a North – South dichotomy. And to that extent, a number of positions in the government or the political party were zoned to certain areas. At the time NPN was formed, there were no six geopolitical zones in the country.

“But you can see that the national chairman of NPN was from the South-west, the presidential candidate and later president, Shehu Shagari, was from the North, North-west for that matter. And Chief Alex Ekuweme, the vice president, was from the South-east.

“So even where there was no clear demarcation of six geopolitical zones, the rotation of key offices was done in this arrangement. It was the decision of those who created the concept of zoning and rotation that the main offices were equitably distributed for national unity and stability.”

Regarding the current six geopolitical zones, Yakassai said, “Yes the presidency should be on the concept of North and South. There are three zones in the South and three in the North. So, when one zone in the North has it in one party, another zone from the other part of the country should be entitled to it.”
He stressed, “But this is not to say that the opposition party, the other party which is also operating on a zoning principle, must tailor its zoning arrangement to suit the zoning arrangement of the other party. It does not mean that opposition party must align with the zoning arrangement of the other party.”

Putting it more succinctly, Yakassai maintained, “I am talking about parties. Zoning arrangement was proposed during Sani Abacha’s era that it should form the condition for the registration of political parties, that they must adopt zoning and rotation in their own constitutions. Once we do that, everything will be settled.”

By Kinsley Omonobi More Revelations from some of the kidnap suspects arrested by the Police Intelligence Response Team emerged on Wednesday night with the Pastor and General Overseer of a church in Shagamu, Adetokunbo Adenopo confessing that his gang demanded the payment of #20million as a ransom for one of their victims. The G.O. of New Life Ministries, Lukosi added that he embarked on the crime of kidnapping and recruited his team in other to fulfil his ambition of expanding the church and carry out charity works.
Other gang members of Pastor Adenopo’s gang which operates an underground detention facility at the New Life Ministry, Lukosi, in Shagamu Area of Ogun State were named as Chigozie Williams 22years, a native of Umuahia North, Abia State, Ugoji Linus 30years, a native of Ezinifite in Imo State and Emmanuel Chris Ani, 27years, a native of Aniri in Enugu State. The Police stated that they are all responsible for the kidnap for ransom of one Jonathan Ekpo 35years from Benue State. “The victim, an employee of a logistic company was kidnapped on 17th July 2020 while on official duty to deliver goods in Shagamu, Ogun State. “The victim was kept in an underground cabin inside the Pastor’s church building in Ogijo town, Ogun State by his abductors who demanded the payment of #20million ransom as a condition for his release. “He was subsequently rescued unhurt nine days after and reunited with his family by the Police. Similarly, the Police disclosed the arrest of a notorious and wanted kingpin with international connections named Udodiri Bright aka Ability 30years old, native of Osuachara Village, Isiala Mbano LGA of Imo state with three others namely Ekwuru Shadrack aka Escobar 26years native of Arondizuogu village in Okigwe LGA of Imo state, Chimerie Igwe aka 4real 30years old, native of Umucheke Village in Orlu LGA of Imo State and Chibuike Sunday, 28years old from Arondizuogu of Imo State. “They were arrested on the 5th of July, 2020 for the abduction and killing of a Nigerian US Soldier, Chuks Okebata who came into Nigeria for holidays in his home town, Okigwe, Imo State in 2017. “The suspects who are one of the foremost kidnapping groups terrorizing the South-Eastern part of the country were arrested 31 months after, following an intensive manhunt by the Police team. “The Police team also arrested a 9-man trans-boundary armed robbery and car snatching syndicate led by one Yakubu Hayatu, 30years from Borno State. “Members of the gang include; Adamu Awalu, 28years from Kano State, Abdulrahman Yakubu, 23years from Zaria, Yusuf Adamu, 22years from Zaria, Kamal Japhet, 22years from Katsina, Abubakar Samaila, 20years from Zaria, Muhammadu Abdulahi, 20years from Zaria, Yahaya Mohammed, 18years from Kaduna State, Ibrahim Abubakar, 21years from Kwara. “Investigations reveal that the syndicate has snatched over 30 exotic cars at gunpoint and killed two Policemen. “They use anti-tracker devices to evade arrest and deliver the vehicles to one Alhaji Garba in Maradi, Niger Republic. “Eighteen vehicles have so far been recovered by the Police team. The team is working with the INTERPOL to apprehend Alhaji Garba and to recover the remaining vehicles. “Exhibits recovered include 4 Ak47 Rifles, 1 FMC rifle, 1 Pump Action Gun, 2 double-barrel guns, 1 Beretta pistol, 4 AK47 Magazine, 6 cartridges, 378 Rounds of live Ammunition, 1 Network Jammer (anti-tracker device), Others. They are part of thirty-five (35) suspects across the country arrested by the IRT for their active involvement and participation in series of kidnapping, armed robbery and other crimes across the country

By Ozioruva Aliu – Benin City

The campaign between supporters of Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu took a violent dimension as two persons identified as Oguma Ojo and Friday Yaya who are supporters of Ize-Iyamu were shot on Friday night by one Omoloju Atere popularly called Ugogo said to be on the run in Ward II in Igarra, Akoko-Edo local government area. An eye witness said the member representing Akoko-Edo II Hon Emma Agbaje had addressed his supporters where he pledged his support for Ize-Iyamu. Later that night, the assailant was said to have gone to where the victims were sitting with about four other persons and shot at them. A family member of one of the victims said the issue has been reported at the police station in Igarra.
Meanwhile the State deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu was reportedly engaged in a war of words with his boss, Godwin Obaseki at a leadership meeting Thursday following what they described as failure by the governor to release funds for the election. It was gathered that trouble started when the governor commenced the meeting and charged everybody to give the election they’re all but this was said to have been instructed as Shaibu was said to have told the governor that he (Obaseki) is not serious in winning the coming election as he allegedly said the governor has neglected the committees formed two weeks earlier with no funding for their activities. Tension reportedly heightened when he accused the governor of luring him to fight his godfather Oshiomhole and now showing no commitment or seriousness in funding the forthcoming election. “Mr governor I see you don’t understand what this election is all about. You are not serious about it. Do you think is the little boys carrying laptops here that will do it. If you don’t want to fund the election then I have no business being here. I will back out” Shaibu was said to have declared. He further urged the governor to release money for the guber campaign and Obaseki was said to have requested for the budget of each of the committees, six of them in number. But the aides of the two actors; Senior Special Assistant on Media to Shaibu, Benjamin Atu and Crusoe Osagie, Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy to Obaseki, denied the allegation. Atu in a statement quoted Shaibu as saying that “Politics has a way of letting you know the inner recess of the human mind. “My loyalty to Obaseki is sacrosanct and not debatable. No amount of blackmail or propaganda can stop me from serving the interest of Governor Philip Shaibu declared. I will Support Obaseki and make sure he wins the September 19th Governorship election in Edo State” He called on the People of the state to disregard ongoing rumour. “Expect more of this kind of propaganda from these characters that didn’t wish us well
Also, Osagie described the incident as false and that the rumour could only have emanated from the APC. According to him, “The lie that there was a clash between the governor and his deputy should be dismissed in its entirety. Whatever incident they allude to only exists in the imagination of the purveyors. “There was indeed a meeting with key stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which ended with everyone in high spirit. There was a spirit of cordiality and everyone shared their ideas and inputs on how to deliver the party in the September 19 governorship election.”

Fresh off a bout of COVID-19, Brazil’s President, Jair Bolsonaro, said Friday nearly everyone will probably end up catching the new coronavirus, urging Brazilians to “face up to it” and saying there was nothing to fear. The far-right leader’s latest bid to downplay the pandemic came as Brazil closed in on the grim milestone of 100,000 people killed by the virus, the second-highest death toll in the world, after the United States. Brazil’s Bolsonaro, who is just coming off three weeks in quarantine with a case of the coronavirus, pointed to his own case as an example. “I’m in the high-risk group,” the 65-year-old president told journalists during a visit to the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. “I knew I was going to catch it someday, as I think unfortunately nearly everyone here is going to catch it eventually. What are you afraid of? Face up to it,” he said. “I regret the deaths. But people die every day, from lots of things. That’s life.” Bolsonaro has faced criticism for his handling of the pandemic as it has surged in Brazil, the country with the second-highest number of cases and deaths in the world: more than 2.6 million and 92,000, respectively. Bolsonaro, who has compared the virus to a “little flu,” has fought stay-at-home measures to contain it and regularly flouted social distancing guidelines, hitting the streets of Brasilia to exchange handshakes and hugs with supporters.
He tested positive for the virus on July 7 after coming down with a fever, and spent three weeks in isolation at the presidential palace. On Thursday, in his first public event since his illness, he greeted a crowd of supporters in the northeastern state of Piaui, removing his face mask to loud cheers. The same day, the president’s office announced his wife had tested positive for the virus. Bolsonaro later revealed he was again feeling poorly and was taking antibiotics for an infection that he called “moldy lungs” caused by inactivity during his quarantine. Bolsonaro argues stay-at-home measures are needlessly hurting the economy. He is instead pushing the drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for the virus, and took it himself when he was infected, despite numerous studies finding it has no benefit against COVID-19.

A Ugandan man who pleaded guilty to killing a rare silverback gorilla was condemned to 11 years in prison on Thursday. A 25-year-old male gorilla named Rafiki was found dead in June at the Bwindi National Park in Uganda. Rafiki was the dominant male in a family of 17 mountain gorillas. The suspect told investigators that he killed the gorilla in self-defense.
About one thousand mountain gorillas live in protected areas in Congo, Uganda and Rwanda. Tourism in national parks brings critical funds to protect the animals, but since the coronavirus pandemic, the industry has collapsed, and concerns about how to protect vulnerable animals are rising. Mountain gorillas are now critically endangered due to the surge of illegal hunting.

Peter David and Sampson Itode, Port Harcourt

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has described the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, as “a bad product that won’t sell during the Edo governorship election.”
The poll is slated for September 19, 2020.

Wike spoke in his capacity as the Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party Edo State Governorship Campaign Council during an interview with a national television network in the state.

He drew his conclusion from analysis of facts deduced from the previous governorship elections in the state.

According to a statement on Friday, signed by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, the governor said the erstwhile APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, had exposed the true identity of the Edo APC governorship candidate.

Nsirim, quoting Wike added that it was an insult to the Edo people for Oshiomole to reverse his earlier position and ask Edo electorate to accept Ize-Iyamu.

He said, “Adams Oshiomhole told Edo people that Ize-Iyamu was rusticated from school, that he poured acid on a fellow student which destroyed his manhood; that he is an armed robber that cannot be trusted with money. Such a character cannot be accepted by Edo people as governor during the election.

“I respect the Benin tradition and I know that Edo people are educated to know that Oshiomhole cannot play on their intelligence. If he is now retracting what he said about Ize-Iyamu, who is sure that he’s saying the correct thing now?”

The governor further stated, “Adams Oshiomhole’s sudden U-turn is a great insult to Edo people. This is an opportunity for Edo people both at home and in the Diaspora to use their votes to tell Oshiomhole that they cannot take his lies anymore.”
Reacting, the Chairman, Edo State APC Campaign Council, John Mayaki, said, “The real bad product is the dying PDP and its band of tax-collectors as described by the same man, Governor Nyesom Wike, who alerted the world to how the leaders of his party sold its ticket to Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

“They are stuck with a man they roundly condemned as a failure. The verdict of the PDP on the third anniversary of Obaseki’s administration is available for all to read.

Meanwhile, Obaseki has accused the leadership of the APC in the state of planning violence and importing arms to intimidate and harass his supporters as the September 19 governorship election draws near.

The governor said this while receiving Muslim leaders at Government House in Benin City.

But the Chairman, Edo State APC Campaign Council, Mr John Mayaki, said the governor was confused.

Andrew Ogbeche, a former worker of the slain former Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Edo State, Mr Egbe Ediagbonya, has owned up on the role he played in the kidnap of his boss.

Ogbeche, who worked as a labourer on Ediagbonya’s palm tree farm at Utese village, Okada area of the state, explained that he got N100,000 out of the N1m ransom paid for the victim’s release.
The ex-commissioner was reportedly kidnapped on May 16 and his decomposing body found 19 days after at a bush close to his farm.

Following his murder, men of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team launched a manhunt for the perpetrators, leading to Ogbeche’s arrest early July.

City Round learnt that Ogbeche conspired with one Paul and other accomplices at large to perpetrate the crime.

Police investigation revealed that the kidnappers had on May 3, sent a threat message to the deceased, announcing their intention to abduct him and daring him to involve security agencies.

They made good their threat 13 days after when they ambushed him on his farm and demanded a ransom. After collecting N1m, they were said to have informed his family to pick up his corpse at a location.

“The kidnappers used the deceased’s mobile to demand a ransom and collected N1m. They later sent a text message to the family, asking them to pick his corpse somewhere. It took the family few days to locate the corpse in the bush.

“Through intelligence-led investigation, Andrew Ogbeche, was arrested. He is the deceased’s former worker on his palm tree farm at Utese. The phone he used in sending threat messages to the deceased was recovered from him. Investigation is ongoing to arrest other suspects involved in the kidnapping and murder,” a police source said.

Thirty-five-year-old Ogbeche, who hails from Bewarre village in the Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State, told City Round during the week that he was aware of his ex-boss’ kidnap but did not know about his murder.
He stated that after the news of Ediagbonya’s death broke in the community, he tried to reach Paul on the phone to no avail.Andrew said, “Since I graduated from university, I have been having financial constraints. I used to work with the commissioner as a labourer on his palm tree farm and he paid me N10,000 per month.

“I used to clear the bush and help to pluck palm fruits. I worked with him for two months but he paid me only for one month. He promised to pay me later. While I was working for him, I had no plan to kidnap him. It was my friend, Paul, who visited me on the farm that brought the idea of kidnapping him.

“He told me my boss had a lot of money. I warned him not to try it. He kept visiting and threatened to kill me if I expose his secret. While he was visiting me on the farm, Paul had told my boss that he wanted to work with him. He became close to him and he trusted him.”

Ogbeche, who claimed to be the only child of his mother, said he consented to the crime for fear of throwing his mum into mourning.

He added, “The day they kidnapped the man, Paul told me and I was scared. He gave me N100,000 but that time, I never knew they had killed him. It was later I saw one of my friends who told me that my boss is dead. I was devastated. I felt bad and I regret collecting the money.”

Peter David, Benin

The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has accused the leadership of the All Progressives Congress in the state of planning violence and importing arms to intimidate and harass his supporters as the September 19, 2020 governorship election draws near.

The governor said this while receiving Muslim leaders at the Government House, in Benin City.
Obaseki, who is running on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, expressed his readiness to stand with the people, defend their interests, and develop the state.

He said, “I am not afraid of any man but God. I know the gang up is to provoke me and my supporters but we will not fall for their tricks as God will help us.

“As I speak to you now, you can’t imagine that Police from Abuja are already in the state and have been paid to arrest our supporters. They have been paid by a billionaire to arrest Peoples Democratic Party supporters in the state. This billionaire sponsored the attacks on me and other PDP governors at the Palace. This is to tell you the level of corruption and impunity we face.

“They are planning violence, bringing arms, intimidating our supporters as part of their strategy. They know that if we have a free and fair election, they stand no chance. Their strategy is to continue with their propaganda and lies. They know they don’t have a record of performance; their plan is just to intimidate our supporters and ensure they stay off the polling booth.

“They attacked my supporters and wanted me to react to the attacks. I will not attack them back because as the Chief Security Officer of the state, my responsibility is to maintain peace. We would continue to do that at all costs.”

However, in reaction, the Chairman, Edo State APC Campaign Council, Mr John Mayaki, said the governor was confused.Mayaki said, “Governor Godwin Obaseki is a confused man merely projecting the criminal plans his divided party, the PDP, are perfecting following the dawning realisation that they have been rejected by the people of Edo State.
“The APC is the only party campaigning on its documented manifesto because our sole strategy to win the election is by winning the hearts and goodwill of our people through well-thought-out programs and policies that will bring relief and erase the failures of the past four years.

He is also trying to deflect attention while himself and his party, already renowned for violence, continue to ferry thugs and cultists into the State to rig the election. But he will be resisted. Together with our people, we are going to keep watch and ensure the votes to return Obaseki to where he came from are protected and made to count.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/obaseki-alleges-plot-to-intimidate-arrest-pdp-members/%3famp=1

Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja

Prominent lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), on Tuesday, appeared before the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel to testify against the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, and submitted six exhibits, including two video clips and some documents.

During the session, which lasted about two hours, Ozekhome spoke about the alleged leadership failures of Magu and the investigative deficiencies of the anti-graft agency.
The senior advocate also made recommendations to the panel on the need for the EFCC to be more professional and engage less in “media trial.”

Reacting to the development, however, a lawyer to Magu, Mr Tosin Ojaomo, said he was aware of the senior advocate’s visit to the panel.

Ojaomo said it was unfortunate that Ozekhome, who had publicly lambasted the leadership of the EFCC and Magu, could be invited by the panel, while his client had not been given the opportunity to defend himself.

The lawyer said it seemed the panel was on a “fishing expedition” and was seeking to nail Magu at all cost, hence the decision to invite people, who had grievances with the suspended EFCC boss.

He said, “We are aware of the visit of Chief Ozekhome. His grouse is the freezing of his account in 2017, which was later unfrozen. Unfortunately, it only goes on to show that the panel is on a fishing expedition, because the panel is also inviting people, who have a score to settle with Magu.
This is not how panels are supposed to act. We all remember how the Justice Oputa panel conducted itself professionally many years ago. People, who were invited, were given petitions ahead of time so that they could defend themselves. Till date, Magu has not received any petition. Is this fair?”
Ozekhome, who confirmed his visit to the panel, told The PUNCH that he was invited to make certain recommendations, which he did.
He said his primary aim was not to settle scores with Magu, but to address the deficiencies in the EFCC with a view to helping it to actualise its core mandate.
The senior advocate said he submitted six exhibits to the panel, including two videos as well as a letter he wrote to the then acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on the urgent need for reforms and accountability as regards recovered loot.

Ozekhome stated, “I have not even said anything about the seizure of my funds by the EFCC and I am surprised that Ojaomo, a lawyer, can talk about something he didn’t witness. My N75m was seized by Magu and his goons despite the fact that it was my legal fees. I went to court and defeated them; so, I have nothing to prove.
All I did at the panel was to tender some documents and some CDs, which contained videos. One of them is a video where I was given a standing ovation at an event where I advised Magu on how to fight corruption. It was about telling them not to do a one-sided anti-graft war, where you arrest activists and leave those in government.

“I also tendered a letter dated May 2017, which I wrote to the then acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. In the letter, I raised 12 questions as to where the recovered loot and property were and if the property had been sold, to who and for how much. Tell Ojaomo to relax and that I have not yet started.”

By Soni Daniel – Abuja Minister of Information, Lai Mohamed has flayed the People’s Democratic Party for accusing the Buhari administration of graft after it promoted corruption as a creed. The minister also slammed the opposition for trying to frustrate the probe of the looting at the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, after the party swallowed the funds of the agency through dubious jobs.
The minister spoke at a news conference in Abuja and said the anti-graft being waged by the present administration does not recognise party, tribe or group but aimed at fishing out corrupt elements who looted the nation dry. “Our fight against corruption is alive and well,” Mohammed said.

By Ibrahim HassanWuyo For the first time, the person considered as the most prominent figure in the Buhari administration, Malam Mamman Daura, has broken his silence, saying he had never imposed his decision on the President. He spoke in a brief interview with the BBC Hausa service monitored in Kaduna on Tuesday. When asked about his relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari, he said the President is his uncle. ” My father was their mother’s firstborn. Buhari is the last born,” he said. When reminded that people had said he and Buhari grew up together and had always been together, he said ” yes…..it’s true
On whether he had been meeting Buhari and advising him on issues, he answered: “Yes, I do visit him to greet him. I do give him advice, but if he asked…I advise him. But I don’t go there on my own and insist I must do this or that.No.You don’t do that to the government.” Commenting on the clamor for power shift, he said its high time the country unite and go for the most competent. “This turn by turn, it was done once, it was done twice, it was done trice… It is better for this country to be one…it should be for the most competent and not for someone who comes from somewhere,” he said.

Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja

Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, Bode George, has called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to reopen the investigation into the murder of the PDP governorship candidate in the 2003 election in Lagos State, Funsho Williams.

George said this in an advertorial on Monday in commemoration of the 14th year of Williams’ death.
He wrote, “We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to re-open the investigation of the brutal murder of Funsho Williams. The President has done the right thing by re-opening the investigation of the murder of Chief Bola Ige.

“He will be greatly enhanced in historical reckoning and signification if his administration is attested as being the one that finally nailed the evil characters hiding in plain sight who murdered Funsho Williams.”

The PDP leader said Williams, who was in a position to win the 2007 governorship election in Lagos State, was murdered in his home in Dolphin Estate on July 27, 2006.

The former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP said Williams was his friend at the University of Lagos where they both studied Engineering
He said the deceased had achieved so much before his death at the age of 58
George fondly remembered, “I am particularly passionate about Funsho who many of his acolytes adorably called captain. Funsho was my junior at the University of Lagos. We were both Engineering students but sprung from different departments. While he was in Civil Engineering, I was in the Electrical Engineering Department.”

He said Williams may have died but his dream to rescue his people was still very much alive.
“Those who killed Funsho Williams might have killed a man but not his dream of rescuing and salvaging our society. We continue where he stopped,” George added.

Six people had been arrested and prosecuted for the murder of Williams.

However, a Lagos High Court, Igbosere, presided by Justice Ebenezer Adebajo in 2014, discharged and acquitted them, stating that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against any of the accused persons.

The Federal Government has lifted the ban placed on a private airline, Executive Air Services Limited, which flew musician, Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley, to Abuja to attend a concert mid-June.

The airline had acted in contravention of the restriction on interstate movement and closure of airports in existence at the time.
The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had announced the suspension of the airline, saying, “The person on that flight conducted a concert. We approved a flight, certainly not for a musician. The flight was approved to convey Honourable Justice Adefope Okogie from Lagos to Abuja and then back to Lagos for an official assignment.

“The operation is a clear violation of our approval which we take very seriously. It seems this is becoming a norm. This is the second time. So, Executive Jet Services is hereby suspended indefinitely and they will face the law.”

Subsequently, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Sam Iwuajoku, had said he gave the approval for the flight thinking the passenger was the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola not knowing they were “a bunch of useless people
But giving an update on the development during a Presidential Task Force briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja on Monday, Sirika said, “Today (Monday), we lifted the ban on Executive Air Services Limited. They have complied substantially with all of our imposed sanctions; they’ve paid part of the fines, and they brought up premium plan. So, we have lifted the ban today, so, they continue to do their business.

“These sanctions are not punitive, they are things to make our industry work better and keep all of you safe.”

The minister also said the report of the Very Important Personalities being probed for flouting Covid-19 protocol at the country’s airports would be made public “hopefully this week”.

Saka is weighing up his options at international level after scoring four goals and making 11 assists in 38 games during his breakthrough season; Watch Arsenal vs Watford on Sky Sports Premier League from 3pm on Sunday; Kick-off 4pm
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka admits it will be challenging to choose between England or Nigeria, should his impressive Premier League form be rewarded with international selection.

In a wide ranging interview with Sky Sports News the teenager discussed a memorable few years rising through the ranks at Arsenal, including:

His reasons behind accepting Arsenal's No 7 shirt
How a visit from Thierry Henry inspired him
Watching Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as a supporter
Why Europe's top clubs are turning to teenagers
Saka is yet to receive a call-up from either England or Nigeria but he's attracting admiring glances from both associations.

For the modest but confident 18-year-old it is a decision that will require careful consideration with family members at the right time.

"It's a tough choice," Saka revealed.

"I'm happy to have represented England at youth level but I'm also proud of my Nigerian heritage from my parents.

By Bashir Bello KANO – A Twenty-Five-year-old man identified as Ashiru Musa Danrimi has allegedly stabbed himself to death with a knife in Kano State as his fiancee jilted him by settling down for marriage with another man. It was gathered that the incident leading to the death of the member of a Neighborhood watch, Musa, occurred on Thursday in Danrimi, Kadawa ward, Ungogo local government area of Kano state. Sources in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity said Musa took his own life after his relationship with his fiancee, Umi Muhammad failed to workout after financial investments and commitments. They said the relationship between late Musa and Umi was a popular one within the neighborhood, and that not expected by many to end in a tragedy.
When contacted, the Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa confirmed the incidence to newsmen saying the Commissioner of Police, CP Habu Sani has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the tragic incident. “We took the man to the Murtala hospital and he was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. The Commissioner of Police has ordered an investigation on circumstances surrounding the tragic incident,” DSP Haruna however said.

Azeez Hanafi

The Nigeria Police Force has said that the two other persons involved in the dehumanising treatment of a 25-year-old lady videotaped alongside a suspected robber arrested in Ibadan, Oyo State, are now in custody.

They were identified as Corporal Aiyedun Akeem and one Tope Owoeye popularly known as Wyclef.

An Assistant Superintendent of Police, Tijani Olatunji, and Inspector Gboyega Oyeniyi had earlier been arrested for their involvement in the act which drew the ire of many Nigerians on the social media.

The video, which went viral on Wednesday, revealed how the policemen made sexist remarks against the lady said to be a girlfriend of the suspect who was trailed to Ibadan from Lagos.

Following the outrage, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, ordered an investigation into the video and two of the policemen complicit in the act were arrested on Thursday.

In a statement on Friday titled, ‘Further update on viral video – all four persons implicated arrested,’ the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, confirmed the arrest of two other suspects.

He said, “The Nigeria Police have arrested the remaining two persons involved in the dehumanising treatment of a female citizen in a viral video making the rounds since Wednesday, July 22, 2020, bringing the total number of persons now in police custody to four.

“The two additional persons arrested are CPL Aiyedun Akeem and one Tope Owoeye – the civilian accomplice popularly known as ‘Wyclef’. Recall that ASP Tijani Olatunji and Inspr Gboyega (Oyeniyi) were earlier arrested for their involvement in the case.

Kayode Oyero

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has asked the National Broadcasting Commission to halt the transmission of TV reality show, Big Brother Naija.

The minister said the need to stop the reality show, which entered its fifth season on July 20, became imperative due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On Wednesday, Acting Director-General of the NBC, Armstrong Idachaba, told senior management members of the commission at a meeting that he had been directed by the minister to shut down the show, according to TheCable.

Mohammed reportedly wanted the letter shutting down the show to come from the NBC because of the general opinion that he is bent on sending MultiChoice Ltd, producers of the show, out of Nigeria.

A director had told the meeting that the NBC had on July 1 sought an explanation from Multichoice Ltd on a possible violation of COVID-19 protocol with the airing of the show.

MultiChoice Ltd had subsequently replied the NBC stating the measures taken to forestall any violation of the Covid-19 protocol advised by the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, adding that the Lagos State Safety Commission gave approval for the show.

The organisers also said housemates went through mandatory two-week isolation before the commencement of the show and that the BBN House had been disinfected and rearranged to ensure physical distancing, in addition to the elimination of live audience.
Idachaba, was, however, yet to convey the minister’s directive to the organisers of the show.

Efforts by The PUNCH to reach Idachaba proved abortive and a director in the Public Affairs Department of NBC when contacted by our correspondent said he was not permitted to speak on the matter.

Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), says the probe of the leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is a plus for the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
Malami said this on NTA’s ‘One-on-One’ programme on Friday night while reacting to questions from the host, Cyril Stober.
The AGF stated that the probe of the suspended EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, was evidence that no one was above the law.

Responding to a question on whether the probe was to settle personal scores, the Minister of Justice said he wasn’t the one probing the EFCC rather it was the Presidency that set up a panel to investigate the commission.

On whether the probe of the EFCC wasn’t a blow to the anti-corruption war, Malami said, “I wouldn’t like to be pre-emptive of the panel put in place by the President relating to an agency but within the context of the first leg of the question as to whether setting up a panel to look into the activities of an anti-corruption agency is a blow or a plus, I think to my mind, it is indeed a plus.

“It goes on to establish the tradition which this government is known for; a tradition of no fear or favour as far as investigating corruption cases or allegations are concerned. So, to my mind, it is indeed a plus that reinforces and re-establishes a tradition by which the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is known, re-established to the effect that no allegation of corruption can be swept under the carpet. So, it is indeed a plus and not a blow.”

The Presidency had suspended Magu and about 11 other top officials of the EFCC including the Secretary to the Commission, Ola Olukoyede.

The EFCC under Magu is alleged to have been unable to account for the interest accrued to recovered loot of N550bn.
Magu, who was detained for about 10 days by the police before his release, has, however, denied all the allegations levelled against him.

Attempts by the suspended EFCC boss to defend himself before the panel have, however, proved futile.

This post is clearly posted by messi fans, what is the almighty immobile doing when he was leading ronaldo by 6 goals until they tie, and ronaldo has not even played his own game. Haters

John Alechenu, Abuja

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus has expressed sadness that Nigeria has become a nation whose citizens are without a government.
The opposition leader said this at a media briefing at the party’s National Secretariat, Abuja on Friday.
At the press briefing tagged, ‘Nigeria a free fall as corruption, Insecurity engulfs our nation,’ the PDP chairman said it was now evident that the Buhari government has run out of propaganda with regards to the worsening security situation in Nigeria.
Secondus said the monumental fraud in the NDDC and other agencies of government under the watch of the current regime gives credence to the Transparency International report listing Nigeria among the most corrupt nations of the world

A trader, Kehinde Omotosho, who was arrested for an offence allegedly committed by his nephew, Kabiru Rasaq, has died in the custody of the police in Oyo State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that policemen from the State Criminal Investigation Department and Agugu Police Station stormed the residence of the deceased on Ifedapo Street in the Alajameta area of Ibadan on July 16, 2020.
The officers claimed that they were looking for the victim’s nephew, who was alleged to have been involved in a fracas.

Upon discovering that the suspect was not around, the cops reportedly arrested Omotosho and the suspect’s younger brother, Jelili Rasaq.

They were taken to the Agugu Police Station and later transferred to the State CID office at Iyaganku.

Seven days after the arrest, Kehinde reportedly died in detention, as efforts by his family to see him were frustrated by the police.

Jelili, who was released on Wednesday, told PUNCH Metro that more than 100 suspects were locked up with them in the cell.

He said, “The police invaded our street last Thursday around 1am and started shooting continuously, which created panic because we thought that they were armed robbers.

“When they got to our doorstep and asked us to open the door, we were scared. But when they said they were policemen, we opened. They rushed in and asked where Kabiru was. We told them that he was not around. They searched everywhere and when they did not see him, they took us away.

“They went round to arrest some other people in their houses and took all of us to the Agugu Police Station. They later transferred us to the state CID that night.
“Our family members did not know our whereabouts. We were taken to see the Officer-in-Charge on Monday. He asked us if we knew Kabiru and the deceased told them that he would produce him. The OC took us to another senior officer and told him that the deceased said he would produce Kabiru. The senior officer ordered that our bail should be prepared and that our family members should be contacted.

“When we got back to our cell, I noticed that the deceased became incoherent and was not breathing well. I notified the police, but he died before he was rushed to the hospital.

“He was not sick before we got into the cell. There were over 100 people in the cell with us; I think he could not cope with the condition of the place.”

BY Victoria Ojeme
Director General of West African Health Organisation Prof . Stanley Okolo has disclosed that Nigeria and four other countries are responsible for 80 % of COVID-19 cases in West Africa. Prof. Okolo, made this disclosure while making presentation to Parliament. As at July 16, the five countries recorded 84,118 cases out of the 96,936 cases in the region. Okolo said “five countries contributed almost 80 per cent of the COVID-19 cases in the region, namely: Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Guinea. “What is important is to note the case fatality rate: how many people died because of COVID-19. Prof Okolo added that if the number of active cases were to be considered, then Guinea Bissau with over 1,000 active cases would be added to the list of highest contributors.
He said that the case fatality rate for the region was currently at a median of about 2.16 per cent and an average of 1.6 per cent. “But the range of people dying after COVID-19 diagnosis is about 0.57 per cent in Ghana to about six per cent in Niger. “If you look at our active cases, it is common where we have a higher population density. “We are not able to get all the figures from some districts in Mali and Niger due to insecurity.” ‘Young people are affected most’ He re-echoed the disclaimer about the peculiarity or not of COVID-19 among certain age groups, sexes or class. He, however, noted that the younger people accounted for more of the cases, adding that the age-group contributed to the highest number of those who are nonchalant about precautions. He explained that “COVID-19 does not respect age or sex. “Yes, diagnosis is common in men than women, but when you look at the age distribution, you will find that from the youngest to the oldest, COVID-19 tends to cut across all ages but commonest in the young age group.

Gunmen on Thursday attacked a convoy of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) and freed six inmates at the premises of the state High Court in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau. ASC Martha Banda, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Plateau Command of NCS, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Jos.
Banda listed the names of the prisoners who escaped as Umar Adamu, Yusuf Adamu, Musa Abdulkasim, Mohammed Ibrahim, Bashir Mohammed and Shua’ibu Ado According to her, the incident occurred at about 10 a.m., adding that the inmates were at the court for trials. She narrated that immediately the officials of the service arrived at the court premises with the inmates, armed men started shooting sporadically, aiding the escape of the six prisoners “Today at about 10 a.m. at the High Court, Barkin Ladi, some gunmen attacked the court with sporadic gunshots and aided the escape of six inmates out of ten brought from Jos Prison for trials. “Findings revealed that the inmates who were brought in a prison van and escorted by five of our armed personnel arrived at the court premises at about 9: 55 a.m. “The gate was immediately opened and as soon as they entered the court premises the gate was locked. “In the process of unhandcuffing them, the attackers opened fire and six of the prisoners whose handcuffs were already removed, escaped, while the remaining four with the handcuffs were apprehended by troops of Special Military Task Force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH),” the PRO said. She said those arrested were handed over to the police, adding that a combined team of security personnel had commenced the search for the escapees She, however, said that no casualty was recorded during the incident.

By Dirisu Yakubu – Abuja The Arewa Youths for Peace and Security, AYPS, has stated that no amount of efforts put in by anyone can stop the emergence of All Progressives Congress, APC, national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as Nigeria’s next President “if it destined by God because only him gives power”. The group also condemned what they see as unfair attack on the former Lagos State governor by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige when the latter appeared before a House of Representatives adhoc committee earlier in the week. Ngige, a former governor of Anambra state had while fielding questions from the committee on alleged breach of Presidential directive in his suspension of the management of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, argued with Hon. James Faleke, reminding the latter that he was at the same level with his mentor and former governor of Lagos state, Bola Tinubu. Reacting to the development, however, President of the association, Alhaji Salisu Magaji chided Ngige for his outing saying “the clownish and uncivilized attitudes of some top government officials of the Buhari administration that obviously exhibit unpreparedness for the nitty-gritty and challenges of governance,” is becoming worrisome. The group, therefore, urged the minister to immediately apologize to the former Lagos state governor without further delay. Magaji accused the minister of condescending too low “by appearing at the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly only to exhibit traits comparable to those coming from a disoriented class
The Arewa youths in the statement quoted copiously Ngige’s words before the committee as saying in his argument with Faleke, a member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency: “I am a Lagos boy. You are just a small boy in Lagos. Look at this boy. Mushin boy is talking to VI (Victoria Island) boy. I live in Victoria Island. Look at Mushin boy from Kogi o. You are Ogbologbo. Just go. I no get time for you. Kilonshe e? (Meaning what is wrong with you in Yoruba). They further quoted Ngige as saying “Faleke they say is up to 60. I don’t know if you are near my age but I am at least seven years older than you. I’m sure. I am at the same age with your mentor in Lagos, Asiwaju, and I was governor with him at the same time. He was a Senator. I was a Senator. I am a two time Minister. He is not a (two time) Minister.” Magaji condemned the tendency by officials of “the present government” to often attack Tinubu since his purported presidential aspiration became public knowledge despite his denial of such ambition. “The body language of this government is that it detest Tinubu becoming the next President of Nigeria and are ready to stop him and the question is what are they afraid of?” the statement continued. They further advised those working against the purported aspiration to talk about issues instead of resorting to attack personalities who risked their lives fighting for the survival of democracy in the country.

By Ozioruva Aliu Former Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Festus Ebea, on Tuesday, called on the people of Edo Central Senatorial District to vote for All Progressives Congress, APC, and its candidate in the September 19 governorship election, saying contrary to promises being made by Governor Godwin Obaseki, his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu, is actually plotting to ensure he takes over from his boss in 2024. He said the best bet for Edo Central to have a shot at the governorship seat is to vote for Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. In a chat with Vanguard, Ebea alleged that if Obaseki wins his second term, he would hand over to Shaibu in their third year and then proceed to the Senate and pave the way for Shaibu to begin a fresh term in 2024.
Ebea said: “I remember in 2012 when we were celebrating the victory of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s second term re-election. We, as colleagues, we were just so joyous and out of excitement he (Shaibu) said after Comrade, the next person that will take over from him will certainly hand over to him. “And when you see the events playing out, especially within the executive sphere of Edo State, you will find out that the relationship that now exists between the Governor and Deputy Governor, is not borne out of anything other than to respect the wish of Philip Shaibu. “First, the crisis that bedevilled the APC was brought about the inordinate ambition of Philip Shaibu.” However, countering Ebea, the Senior Special Assistant to Shiabu on Media, Benjamin Atu, dispelled the allegation saying the destiny of Shaibu is in the hands of God. He described Ebea’s comments on the 2024 governorship election as sickening and unacceptable. Atu quoted Shaibu as saying: “My destiny is in the hands of God and it is only God that can determine the future. I don’t know the next position that God is taking me. “I am not like Ebea that brags on his ability. I brag on God’s ability, which is my driving force. He should speak about himself. He should not speak for me.”

FOLLOWING the manhunt launched by the Oyo State Police Command to apprehend the culprits in connection with killings at the Akinyele axis of the state, the suspected serial killer of the innocent victims have confessed on how he was able to catch on his targets. While parading the suspected criminals at the police headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan on Friday, one of the suspects, Sunday Sodipe (19 years), disclosed that a certain herbalist who he worked for, Adedokun Yinusa Ajani (50 years), was the one sending him on such assignments. He explained that anytime he wanted to go for the operation, the herbalist would instruct him to kneel down in front of him and he (Ajani) would make some incantations and then put something on his tongue three times. The suspected serial killer said whenever he located his victims, he would hit them with a shovel and when they laid in a pool of their blood, he would make some incantations and move around the body three times and then back it. Sunday said he would back the body for about five minutes with his eyes closed before leaving the scene. When asked if he was not afraid that anybody could come around while backing the body, the suspected serial killer said the herbalist had told him that nobody would come around during the period. He said after the operation, he would return to the herbalist, who would make some incantations again. He confessed that he had carried out five of such operations and anytime he returned to the herbalist, the 50-year-old would have bought food for him and would give him N500. When asked for the reasons for the killings, Sunday said he didn’t know as it was the herbalist who was just sending him on such errands. In his reaction, while speaking with a journalist, the herbalist, whom Sodipe said usually send him on the killing spree, denied ever knowing him (Sodipe). The herbalist said Sunday’s mother brought him to his house some time ago that he was a wayward child and he did some spiritual work for him. He, however, said that after two months, she returned with the boy, asking him to learn how to become a herbalist. “He had only spent six days with me when I told him to leave because I was not satisfied with his behaviour and it was not long after that that I was arrested by the police,” Ajani stated. Earlier, the state Commissioner of Police, Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu, had narrated how the police achieved the feat by arresting the suspects. Enwonwu said the crimes coincided with the period he assumed office as the commissioner of police in the state and he immediately swung into action in a bid to bring the perpetrators to justice. The police commissioner said the mobile phone of one of the victims was recovered from one Shehu Usman by the police,” and upon interrogation, the suspect denied his involvement in the crime but gave useful information which subsequently led to the arrest of Sodipe and Ajani.” Enwonwu said the suspects were responsible for the killings of Wasilat Adeola, Barakat Bello, Grace Oshiagwu, Mojeed Tirimisiyu, who was just five years old, and the attack on Adeola Azeez and her daughter, Dolapo Oyeyemi, who both survived. Recovered from the suspects are a hand shovel, a Techno mobile phone, an iPhone Xs Max and one itel phone. Four other suspected ritualists were also arrested at Akinyele Local Government Area. The main suspect, Abiodun Oladejo (35), was allegedly responsible for the killing of a woman, Oluwasayo Fagbemi, who was killed in front of her house at Sasa area on June 24, while washing plates at about 5:40 a.m. Three other suspects were also arrested in connection with the killing and another attempted murder case. While speaking, Olasoji confessed how he killed his victim with a stick and wiped her blood with a handkerchief for ritual purposes. Also, among those paraded by the police was a suspected rapist, Idowu Ajayi, who allegedly raped a 42-year-old physically-challenged woman, Kemi Adeniji, with three other suspects who are still at large. The suspect, however, denied participating in the criminal act, as he claimed he was in his shop when the incident occurred.

By Perez Brisibe Police in Orogun, Ughelli North local government area of Delta State, have reportedly embarked on a door-to-door search of houses in flashpoint areas in the area to recover an AK47 rifle and 30 rounds of live ammunition, reportedly taken away by hoodlums that invaded the station last Monday. It was gathered that a male constable, who was in possession of the arm and ammunition, when the hoodlums invaded the Delta police station, narrowly escaped death as he was reportedly beaten comatose. Though a senior police officer in the division, confirmed the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Onome Onowakpoyeya, promised to get details of the incident when contacted, but she was yet to do so as at the time of this report. The security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that all the police personnel who were supposed to be on duty on the night of the incident, have all been defaulted by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the division.
Giving details of the incident, the source said: “The constable and inspector on duty that day had gone to arrest a suspect, but the suspect’s mother locked up her son, who later escaped arrest. “However, the mother was arrested and taken to the police station where she was being held, but the other children of the woman mobilized to the police station and threatened to deal with the policemen for arresting their mother. “In the night, the constable was alone in the police station sleeping after the Inspector and Criminal Record Officer had gone home when the hoodlums pounced on him and carted away his arm and ammunition.”

MASSILIA Motors, the sole distributor of Mitsubishi Motors, is set to host the live premiere of the new generation Pajero Sport, a first of its kind in Nigeria. The launch, slated for Friday, July 31, 2020, will be a unique experience for attendees to witness a virtual unveiling of the new SUV and an immersive 360-degree virtual tour. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures, the brand opted for an innovative digital solution with a Livestream of the anticipated SUV launch. The aim is to keep hope alive with entertainment during these difficult times. Redesigned with the theme ‘Elevate your Journey’ the new generation Pajero Sport was crafted to meet drivers’ desires for a perfect blend of comfort and functionality, while also possessing the off-road capability, reliability, and durability of the Pajero series, in a mid-size SUV.
The launch event will start with a digital press conference after which guests will be invited to take an intimate look at the Pajero Sport via a 360° virtual tour, followed by a Livestream music event and special guest appearances. Speaking about the event, the Managing Director/Country Delegate CFAO Nigeria, Thomas Pelletier, highlighted that the company had to adapt rapidly to the new realities faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, putting in place measures to ensure the safety of customers and staff. He stated: “The new Pajero Sport is tailored to suit the evolving needs of customers who desire advanced technology, more stylish and comfortable off-road SUVs. This virtual launch will be an exciting way to unveil the new model and above all, ensure all our guests are safe.” Massilia Motors is also offering customers new value-added packages, with the introduction of service plans to ensure lower cost of ownership of vehicles and fleet solutions for businesses. To be a part of this innovative experience in Nigeria, visit https://www.mitsubishi-motors.com.ng/ to register. Massilia Motors is the joint venture of the CFAO Group and the Chanrai Group uniting forces to deliver customer satisfaction. The Nigerian Line-up includes: ASX, Eclipse Cross, Outlander, Pajero, Pajero Sport, and the award winning L200 pick-up.

Ahead of the September 19, 2020 governorship election in Edo State, the Labour Party has said that voters in the state are interested in only candidates with the pedigree, character and antecedent that can sustain and improve on the present level of development in Edo State, noting that the people will resist the antics of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu in the forthcoming poll.

In a statement, the party said it is paradoxical that the APC can present to Edo voters, Ize-Iyamu, a man being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for N700 million fraud, adding that politics ought to be a game for decent men and women as well as people of integrity and honour. The statement was jointly signed by the state party chairman, Comrade Oghalol K.S.E; National Secretary, Barrister Abure Julius and the party’s governorship candidate, Dr Isaiah Osifo, PhD, JP. The party noted: “In our previous engagement with the public through a press conference, we insisted that the APC was taking Edo State voters for granted by blowing hot and cold at the same time. The man you are prosecuting for stealing public funds is the same person you are presenting to Edo people to be voted as governor. “In the upcoming campaign for the number one seat in Edo State, Edo people will watch out for the messenger and the message itself. In other words, the credibility, dignity, legacies of the campaigners are as important as the campaign promises.” Describing the appointment of Abdullahi Ganduje, the Governor of Kano State as the Chairman of APC Campaign Committee for Edo State as a minus and disservice to the APC, the Labour Party said: “It is already evident that the APC is not interested in good governance, the rule of law, equity, good conscience and development of our state but to capture power for the benefit of the few. “Edo State, unfortunately for the APC, has a history of fighting corrupt leaders and politicians. Edo people have high regards for their traditional institutions and revere their Obas and Kings. Edo people have fought political battles and will resist the antics of the APC in Edo State in the 2020 poll.” The statement further reads: “The insults and empty rhetorics of Osagie Ize-lyamu and his campaign workers against the candidate of the Labour Party have not addressed the mess of the APC and did not solve the obvious disability of the candidacy of Osagie Ize-Iyamu. APC has no facts, no logic and is unwilling to present the character and antecedents of its governorship candidate for public scrutiny. “Edo State is a decent society and we are a decent people and we should in entirety reject APC and its governorship candidate. We call on Edo people to remain resolute and firm in their resolve to do away with the APC and its candidate on the 19th of September 2020. Edo people must vote for a candidate with the pedigree and capacity to reposition the state for service delivery.