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The ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has landed the spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, in the Commission’s cell in Abuja.
Metuh, who was arrested by four operatives of the anti-graft agency from his Abuja home, spent the first night with his interrogators at the headquarters of the EFCC, answering questions on how the sum of N1.4 billion strayed from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser into a company, Destra,  linked to him.

Metuh
Interestingly, it was the suspect, who first hinted that the former President, Goodluck Jonathan, had given him a job to do and that he successfully completed the said job,  but failed to say what it was and how much he was paid for and when.
The revelation by Metuh, according to EFCC officials, prompted the agency to beam its searchlight on cash payments from the ONSA, leading to the discovery that he was one of the major beneficiaries of slush funds, now a subject of investigation and prosecution by the Federal Government.
It was learnt that out of the $2.1 billion arms funds, N400 million was transferred from ONSA to the company on November 24, 2014 which previously had a balance of N6, 676,576.06 only before the major transfer from the ONSA.
A top source in the EFCC said that Metuh was also receiving a monthly pay of N4 million from ONSA.
A top EFCC source said Metuh was likely to spend the night with them given the weight of financial transactions in ONSA traced to him and his company.
The source said: “We arrested Chief Metuh this morning (yesterday) and as we speak he is still being questioned and it is not likely that he will be released today.
“We want to finish the interrogation of Metuh at once, so that we can decide whether to charge him to court or let him to go,” the source said.
Metuh, has, however slammed his arrest by the EFCC, claiming that he was being persecuted.
“I have not done anything unlawful. Whatever I have done in pursuance of my office, I can defend it anywhere, any time,” he said.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/2-1bn-arms-cash-olisa-metuh-spends-first-night-in-efcc-cell-over-n1-4bn-traced-to-coy/

Barely  one week to the rescheduled governorship election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, wife of the immediate past  President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, and his (Jonathan) political associates have moved to stop the re-election of Governor Seriake Dickson by mobilizing support  for Chief Timipre Sylva, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the January 9  poll.
INEC had, on December 5 last year, conducted election  in seven out of eight local government areas of the state, out of which the governor and candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) overwhelmingly won in six while Sylva  took  one.    Both the PDP and APC have shifted the battle to Southern Ijaw. Though Dickson is leading with over 33,000 votes, the APC is bent on upturning the governor’s victory.
Sources close to the former first family confirmed  that Mrs. Jonathan had brokered a peace meeting between Sylva and  a former militant leader, Ateke Tom. The meeting was said to have been  held behind closed doors on new year’s day in the Port Harcourt palatial home of Tom where Jonathan allegedly  persuaded the militant leader to “come to Southern Ijaw and help Sylva.”    Aside the former first lady, key political associates of Jonathan, it was learnt, have renewed their resolve to gang-up against Dickson on January 9.
It will be recalled that while some of Jonathan’s men had defected to the APC to fight Dickson, many of them remained in the PDP to work for the election of the APC candidate, Sylva. Prominent amongst those who defected are Senator Clever Ikisikpo (Bayelsa East), immediate past senator representing the former president; Chief Ikiogha Diekivie,  a  former Chief of Staff Government House and close ally of the president from Yenagoa; a  former Commissioner for Lands and confidant of Jonathan, Surveyor Furoebi Akene; a  former    Commissioner under Jonathan and current FERMA  Director, Finance, Bishop Deggi Eremienyo. The FERMA top official defected to APC just eight days to the December 5 election and worked against Dickson in Nembe.
Others are a  former Chairman of the NDDC and bossom friend of Jonathan, Dr. Tarilla Tabepah, who hails from Kolokuma/Okpokuma; Hon Ayobegha James, Chief Numoipre Wills, a Nembe high chief, who was appointed Executive Secretary, National Boundaries Commission by Jonathan.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/bayelsa-poll-jonathans-men-dump-dickson/

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, linked the trial of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), to the 2019 general elections, saying President Muhammadu Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) are scared Dasuki may be nursing a presidential ambition.
The party said it was unfortunate that Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade has now become a war between the APC and the PDP.
Meanwhile, the APC leadership replied,saying it was not losing sleep about who the PDP plans to pick from the North as its presidential flag bearer in the 2019 elections.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement, said it was appalling that the APC and its leaders, “who gleefully and unjustifiably poured invectives on former President Goodluck Jonathan in the guise of playing the role of an opposition party, would now not want to condone criticisms”.
PDP explained that the trial of Dasuki was a sign that the ruling party felt threatened by  his wide political and security network which he may use should he decide to contest for the presidency in 2019 on the PDP platform.
Buhari, according to the opposition party, appeared to have already pronounced Dasuki and Nnamdi Kanu of Radio Biafra guilty in his last week media chat even before court pronouncements.

Former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki,rtd
It sympathised with the President and the APC over “their inability to accept, with equanimity, constructive criticisms of their administration”.
“Besides, it is sad and embarrassing that President Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade has now been reduced to a war between the APC and the PDP as declared by the Office of his spokespersons.  Since they have confirmed that this is what the anti-corruption crusade is all about, the APC is obviously seeking to destroy the PDP so that it can push through Buhari’s second tenure in 2019 without opposition from the PDP,” the PDP stated.
“This has also confirmed our concern that this is the reason the Federal Government is persecuting, and not prosecuting, Col. Sambo Dasuki.  The APC and its leaders fear that Dasuki, given his vast political and security network, may be harbouring a presidential ambition, more so that the PDP has zoned its presidential ticket to the north.
“The PDP is conversant with the sinister plan by the APC-led Federal Government to completely decimate our party by raking up all manner of allegations of corruption against the Goodluck Jonathan administration and leaders of the PDP with a view to taking them to court on orchestrated charges.
PDP also said that it is aware that President Buhari has directed security agencies to be more vicious in dealing with our members and has continued to subtly coerce the Judiciary to convict those being charged to court.
“But what gives us joy is that President Buhari is not God and we will not worship him.  Unlike the APC that denigrated the office and person of former President Jonathan by wrongly depicting him as ‘clueless and incompetent’, the PDP remains the most decent, mature and constructive opposition party in our democracy and we have evidenced great respect for the person and exalted office of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“During the Goodluck Jonathan presidency, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, while in the saddle as interim Deputy National Secretary of the APC, in a post on his twitter page, described President Jonathan as ‘lazy, docile, incompetent, clueless, hopeless and useless leader.’  Other APC leaders made raining abuses on Jonathan a past time.
“The PDP is a very responsible opposition party; our leaders are mature; and we have demonstrated so in our critique of the President’s responses during the maiden Presidential Media Chat. We have reviewed President Buhari’s performance and concluded that it was uninspiring”
Replying to the PDP allegations, last night, the APC said it was not losing sleep over who the PDP picks from the North as its presidential candidate in the 2019 elections.
The party’s National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, spoke in a statement, through the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Edegbe Odemwingie, in Abuja.
Oyegun said his party ” will not join issues with the childish and laughable conspiracy theories being bandied by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in relation to the 2019 presidential election.”
It went on,”Whoever the PDP picks as it’s candidate for the 2019 presidential election is not the business of the APC. Relevant laws in the country clearly spells out requirements for persons seeking election into all political office.
“The preoccupation of the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari is to deliver on all the promises made to Nigerians by the party during the 2015 election. Looking back at the last seven months, there are clear indicators showing that the APC and the President Buhari administration is on the right track to delivering on its Change Agenda.
“The PDP speaks of a presidential directive to security agencies and judiciary to “coerce” and “convict” PDP leaders and officials of the immediate-past administration with corruption charges. Clearly such abuse of presidential directives was a concept invented and effectively deployed by the PDP during its defunct 16-year rule. The APC is a law-abiding party and cannot adopt such diabolical concept. The APC believes strongly in the rule of law, as against the kind of impunity Nigeria witnessed under the PDP for 16 years.
“We assure Nigerians that the PDP conspiracy theories will not distract the President Buhari administration, law enforcement and anti-graft agencies from the successful on-going war against corruption being waged on looters of our common wealth. ‎The ongoing war against corruption is not selective. Anybody guilty of corrupt practices will face the law.
“Clearly, the PDP has chosen to blame everyone but itself for the sorry state it finds itself. The PDP should have known that it will pay for its years of impunity, recklessness and shocking mis-management of the country’s commonwealth. PDP members who are genuinely inspired by the APC-led administration are welcome to the APC fold. It is their right to abandon a sinking ship and join one that is smooth-sailing”


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/2019-pdp-apc-in-war-of-words-over-dasuki/

madridguy:
Fayose should atleast keep shut for once. Stop embarrassing yourself for what you know nothing about. This is all about National Security issue not Ponmo, Fish cutting or Amala issue here.

Osama bin laden was never convicted or trial by any court of law, and above all, the navy SEALs captured him alive and still went ahead and killed him and heaven never fall.

Both Dasuki and Kanu will be rock to sleep and nothing will happen. Do anyhow and see anyhow. The Era of lawlessness is over.

Fayose, watch your back.

You talk like someone without scenes for christ sake the whole world know Osama bin laden was a terrorist and has killed thousands of innocent people

Abuja — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  Monday night, arrested a serving colonel in the Nigerian Army over his alleged involvement in the sharing of money from the office of the National Security Adviser under Colonel Sambo Dasuki .
The arrest saw the anti graft agency deploying over two truckloads of  armed security personnel, who cordoned off the the residence of the colonel in the Apo district of the Federal Capital Territory where the operatives had to bring down the fence to gain entrance into the sprawling complex.
Vanguard gathered that the colonel (names withheld) served as a Special Assistant to the former National Security Adviser in charge of liaison with the Nigerian Army.
It was further gathered that upon arrival at the complex, the army officer locked himself up in one of the buildings while the EFCC operatives laid siege until about 10pm when he was moved to the EFCC headquarters for interrogation.
Although the serving army officer had earlier been arrested by the EFCC and questioned, it appeared he was released on bail before he was picked up again and detained by the anti graft agency.
Vanguard gathered that when operatives of the EFCC went back to the house to effect a search on the property, the officer resisted and barricaded the gate, forcing the operatives to bring it down before taking him away again to their facility for detention.
On Wednesday evening, the officer was again taken to his house where a search was reportedly conducted. But when the officer was asked to open one of the safes in the house, he refused to oblige, forcing the operatives to force it open before taking away some vital documents.
A senior official of the commission, who spoke with Vanguard, confirmed the arrest of the army colonel, saying the arrest was in connection with the on-going investigation into arms deal by the former NSA, Sambo Dasuki.
“Yes, we have in our custody a serving army colonel who was a Special Assistant to the former NSA. His name featured in several deals and want to find out his role in the arms funds. He is still in our custody,” the source, who declined to be named, told Vanguard.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/dasukigate-efcc-arrests-serving-colonel/

THE governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State during the 2015 general elections, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, on Thursday said the Peoples Democratic Party in the state would suffer “a political tsunami” in the next 31 days.

Peterside, who made a veiled reference to his case against the election of the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, told his supporters to get ready for a rerun of the governorship poll in the state.



The APC governorship candidate in the general elections spoke at the state party secretariat during the celebration of his birthday and that of Mr. Honorable Asita, his running mate in the 2015 governorship election.

Peterside pointed out that the days of manipulation of election results were over, maintaining that the people of the state would vote according to their conscience.

Both Peterside and Asita share the same birthday (December 31).

Explaining that he was humbled by the crowd that came to congratulate him and Asita on their birthday, Peterside added that the APC in the state was not afraid of any rerun.

He said, “I am telling you today that we will reclaim our stolen mandate. Believe me, in the next 31 days, a tsunami will visit the Rivers State PDP.

“We are not afraid if there is a rerun today in Rivers State. We look out for the best; we will look out for change in infrastructure development and change in empowerment.

“If you put the candidates of the major political parties and their manifestos side by side, definitely the people will go for a man of character, a reliable candidate that can realise the dream of our founding fathers.

“People will also look out for the make-up of our team; we do not have a team that is populated by militants and killers. The electorate will go for a team that has people with good character, a team that can make Rivers people to be a stakeholder in the governance of the state.”

Peterside later received over 120 defectors from the PDP led by a former governorship aspirant, Bekinbo Soberikon, and urged them to tell their friends to join the APC’s moving train.

Reacting, the state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, said the people of the state would not allow the set of people that brought Rivers to its knees economically back in power.

Nwanosike described Peterside’s claim that a political tsunami would soon hit the PDP as an indication that the APC governorship candidate in the 2015 governorship election was only trying the will of the people, adding that he (Peterside) and his cohorts would be disappointed.


http://www.punchng.com/expect-defeat-soon-peterside-tells-pdp/

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday reversed the judgment of the Taraba State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which had on November 7, 2015 sacked Governor Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party and ordered the All Progressives Congress’ governorship candidate in the state, Aisha Alhassan, to be sworn in in his stead.

In the lead judgment read by the presiding Justice of the five-man bench, Justice Abdul Aboki, the appeal court held that Alhassan and the APC had no legal right to challenge the alleged improper conduct of the primary which produced Ishaku as the PDP’s candidate.



Alhassan and his party had approached the tribunal challenging the declaration of Ishaku of the PDP as the winner of the April 11 poll with 369,318 votes against their 275,984 votes polled by them in the election.

In its judgment on the petition, the Justice Danladi Abubakar-led tribunal had, in its judgment on November 7, sacked Ishaku on the grounds that he was not duly sponsored by his party as required by law and ordered that Alhassan be issued a new Certificate of Return and be sworn in as governor.

The unanimous judgment of the tribunal held that the conduct of the primary which produced Ishaku as the governorship candidate of the party failed to satisfy the provisions of sections 85 and 87 of the Electoral Act 2010.

The tribunal anchored its judgment on, among other grounds, that the PDP’s primary was conducted in Abuja instead of Jalingo, the state capital, without approval by INEC and that the party failed to give the notice for the conduct of the exercise within at least 21 days before the date fixed for it.

But the tribunal had dismissed the other leg of the petition which alleged over-voting and substantial non-compliance of the conduct of the poll with the Electoral Act.



http://www.punchng.com/taraba-a-court-reverses-apc-alhassans-victory/

ABUJA —The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has reversed the judgement of the Taraba State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which sacked governor Darius Ishaku of the People Democratic Party, PDP. In a unanimous judgment this afternoon, the appellate court panel headed by Justice Justice Abdul Aboky, held that the tribunal acted outside its jurisdiction when it invalidated Ishaku’s election on the premise that he was not validly nominated by the PDP.
The appellate court maintained that the issue of nomination of a candidate by a political party “is clearly a pre-election matter which no tribunal has the jurisdiction to entertain”. It stressed that neither the All Progressives Congress, APC, nor its candidate, Senator Aisha Jumai Alhassan, had the locus-standi to query the outcome of the governorship primary election of the PDP.
“There is no dispute whatsoever in this case that the 1st and 2nd respondents have not said that the appellant is not a member of a political party. From the pleadings and facts, it is obvious that the appellant is a member of the PDP”.‎ The court held that under section 87(9) of the Electoral Act, only those that participated in the said PDP primary election has the right to challenge its outcome at the Federal High Court or State High Court.
“The right to complain is severely limited to participants in the primary election. Whether the primary election was done rightly or wrongly cannot be subject of an election petition. “The most important question to be asked here is, was the appellant a member of a political party or sponsored by a party to participate at the election?
“All evidence before the tribunal pointed to the fact that the appellant was duly sponsored by the PDP and INEC duly received his nomination. INEC did not at any time queried his eligibility to participate in the election. “Both oral and documentary evidence before the tribunal clearly showed that the appellate was a member of the PDP and was validly sponsored.
“I hold that the 1st and 2nd respondents have no right to challenge the primary election at which the appellant emerged as none of them is a member of the PDP. “Nomination of a candidate to participate in an election is the sole responsibility of a political party. Issue of nomination of candidate is within the domestic affair of a political party”, the court added.
‎Besides, the court held that the tribunal “grossly misdirected itself”, when it not only nullified governor Ishaku’s election, but went ahead to declare the candidate of the APC, Alhassan, winner. “There is no basis for the finding of the lower tribunal‎”, Justice Aboky held, saying the tribunal had no power whatsoever to declare a person that came second at an election as the winner.
It said the best the tribunal could have done under section 142 of the constitution was to order for a fresh poll. “The judgement of the lower tribunal ‎is hereby set aside. We are of the view that the appellant’s appeal is meritorious and is hereby allowed. “I hereby make the following consequential orders. The order of the tribunal made on November 7 is hereby set-aside. The election and return of the appellant in theApril 11 election is hereby upheld.
“The Certificate of Return ‎issued to the appellant by the 4th respondent in this matter remains valid. I make no order as to cost”, the court held. It will be recalled that the Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar led Tribunal had on November 7, declared Senator Alhassan‎ of the ‎APC as the bona-fide winner of the April 11 governorship poll in the state.
The three-man panel tribunal which conducted its sitting in Abuja, said it was satisfied that governor Ishaku was not validly nominated by the PDP to contest the election.
The tribunal said there was overwhelming evidence that the PDP in Taraba State, sidelined the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010, and the 1999‎ constitution, as amended, when it decided to hold the primaries that produced Ishaku as its candidate in Abuja instead of Jaligo the Taraba State capital.
It held that the purported nomination of Ishaku for the election, without a valid primary election monitored by INEC, was in breach of sections 85, 87 and 138(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010, as well as section 177 of the 1999 constitution, as amended. The tribunal stressed that the governorship primary election PDP held at its National Headquarters in Abuja on December 11, 2014, was not known to the law and was therefore invalid
It held that PDP failed to give cogent and verifiable reason why it decided to hold the said primary election in Abuja without the consent of  INEC. Meantime, judgement is still ongoing in three other appeals that were lodged against the decision of the tribunal. Whereas two of the pending appeals were filed by the PDP and INEC, Senator Alhassan who had since been appointed as a Minister by President Muhammadu Buhari, equally filed a cross-appeal‎.

@MobilePunch #TarabaElection Tribunal judgment declaring APC/Alhassan winner of the poll is hereby set aside.


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18m18 minutes ago
ADESOMOJU ‏@adeadesomoju
@MobilePunch #TarabaElection Declaring Alhassan/APC winner of the poll by tribunal violates section 140(2) of Electoral Act is null and void


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20m20 minutes ago
ADESOMOJU ‏@adeadesomoju
@MobilePunch #TarabaElection It was a gross misdirection on the part of the tribunal to have declared APC/Alhassan as winner.

The leadership of the All Progressives Congress in Kaduna State on Tuesday upheld the suspension of Senator Shehu Sani, representing the Kaduna Central Senatorial District of the state, from the party.

Sani, the Publicity Secretary of the Kaduna chapter of the APC, Alhaji Salisu Tanko-Wusono, said in a statement, would serve 11 months suspension for various offences against the party.



The Tudun Wada ward, Kaduna, had earlier handed down an 11-month suspension to the senator.

Affirming the suspension on Sani, the state publicity secretary of the party noted that having exhausted all avenues available to caution the senator, the party had no option but to uphold his suspension at the ward level.

Tanko-Wusono added, “We hereby uphold the suspension of Comrade (Senator) Shehu Sani as a member of the party for the period of 11 months.

“By this suspension, he is to desist from all party activities until when the suspension is lifted.

“The party calls on all its members to be law abiding as we move forward to fulfil our campaign promises.”

He noted that the party had, over a period of time, watched the activities of Sani with disdain, adding that all entreaties to the federal lawmaker to appear before the party’s leadership to clarify certain issues had failed.

He accused Sani of “undue criticisms of policies and programmes” of government both at the federal and state levels and heaping “insults and abuses on party leaders through various media platforms.”

Other offences of the senator against the party, according the Tanko-Wusono, range from reckless statement blaming the Nigerian Army over the clash with members of the Shi’ite sect, aimed at inciting the public, to various attempts to factionalise the party in the state among several others.

Meanwhile, the party secretariat along the Ali Akilu road in the heart of the city had been overtaken by the operatives of the state security outfit, codenamed, ‘Operation Yaki.’

A press conference called by the party leadership could not hold as party officials were said to be holding a crucial meeting on the suspension of Sani.

Journalists, who besieged the secretariat by 2pm, waited in vain and ended up collecting a press statement from an official of the party.


http://www.punchng.com/kaduna-apc-upholds-shehu-sanis-suspension/

THE leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and founder of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has expressed regret for referring to President Muhammadu Buhari as a terrorist, evil and a paedophile in his radio broadcasts.

Kanu, who has been charged along with two others by the Federal Government before a Federal High Court in Abuja on six counts of treason and other ancillary offences, said he intended to write a private letter to Buhari to express his apology to the President.



He also apologised to former President Goodluck Jonathan and Igbo elders for “some uncomplimentary things” he said about them.

The 48-year-old pro-Biafran agitation leader, who is, however, unapologetic about his demand for a Republic of Biafra, has been in the custody of the Department of State Services since his arrest in Lagos on October 14, 2015.

He tendered the apology for his comment against Buhari and others in a statement which he made to the DSS on October 23.

The prosecution, in its summary of the case, alleged that in one of the radio broadcasts by Kanu on August 1, 2015, he expressed his resolve to actualise the Republic of Biafra and “cast aspersions on the person and the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

The statement read in part, “Reference to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a terrorist, evil and a paedophile is regrettable and uncalled for and for that, I unreservedly apologise and will be doing so in a private letter to the President.

“Before PMB (President Muhammadu Buhari) there was the administration of Goodluck Jonathan. I also said uncomplimentary things about him and Igbo elders as well, which I now recognise should not have happened because it is un-African to be rude or insolent to elders.

“All I was trying to do is to draw attention to the problems afflicting society and something done about them.”

Kanu, who described himself as a Nigerian and a British citizen, justified his agitation for a Biafra Republic.

He said IPOB’s secessionist agenda was informed by the “incessant hardship, lack of holistic development in the socio-economic landscape of Nigeria, lack of youth employment, corruption in high offices and economic regression.”

He added that the agitation by IPOB, which, according to him, was founded in London in 2012 by a group of people from the South-South and South-East regions of the country, was in line with the United Nations Charter on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ratified by African countries, including Nigeria.

In contrast to the counts of managing and assisting in the management of an unlawful society preferred against Kanu and two others, the Radio Biafra founder stated that IPOB, which the prosecution described as unlawful, was registered with the UN to pursue the rights of the people of Biafra.

He stated, “I can confirm that I, Nnamdi Kanu, is the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra worldwide as a legitimately and duly registered body at the United Nations pursuing the rights of a specific indigenous people, in this case, Biafra, to seek self determination according to the said charter.

“The reason for the formation of the Indigenous People of Biafra is to avail those referring to themselves as Biafrans the opportunity made available as a result of the United Nations declaration to seek the peaceful rebirth of Biafra in line with international law.”

Kanu, who is a son of a traditional ruler in Abia State, Sir I.O. Kanu, said he operated Radio Biafra, whose programmes “are designed to wake up the public from its slumber and address the issues of the time” because of his belief in free speech and freedom of expression.

He explained that the intended Biafra Republic comprised Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Imo, Anambra, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states as well the Igbanke part of Edo State; Igala part of Kogi State and Idoma/Igede part of Edo State.

Apart from Kanu, one of the two other defendants in the six counts filed by the Federal Government is a Field Maintenance Engineer, David Nwawuisi, charged with the responsibility of maintaining MTN masts in Enugu State.

The other defendant, Benjamin Madubugwu, was said to be living in the Ubilisiuzo, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, where he allegedly received custody of a container, housing transmitters, from Kanu.

On December 23 during the accused persons’ appearance in court for their scheduled arraignment, Kanu refused to take his plea due to what he called his lack of confidence in the presiding judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed.

The judge promptly returned the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for reassignment to another judge and the three accused persons were returned to the custody of the Department of State Services.

The fresh charges were filed against the three men barely 24 hours after Justice Adeniyi Ademola, in a ruling on Kanu’s bail application on December 17, ordered his unconditional release from DSS custody having been detained for about two months without any valid charges filed against him.

The PUNCH had reported that the Federal Government had alleged that transmitters for Radio Biafra, spreading secessionist agenda for carving out Biafra region from Nigeria, were found to be installed on MTN masts in Enugu and Anambra states between April and May 2015.

No new date has been fixed for the arraignment of the accused persons.


http://www.punchng.com/biafra-kanu-apologises-to-buhari-jonathan-igbo-elders/

The Chairman of Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State, Mr Francis Maku, has described the Appeal Court judgment in favour of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as a victory for democracy and the rule of law.

INAUGURATION: Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (left) subscribing to the relevant Oaths as Governor of Delta State presided over by the Chief Judge of Delta State, Hon. Justice Marshal Umukoro (right) during the inauguration ceremony in Asaba yesterday.
Maku, at Koko, headquarters of the local government area, when some Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, faithful paid him a courtesy visit over the governor’s victory at the appellate court, said the judgment had reaffirmed the massive votes by Deltans for Okowa during the last governorship election, adding that the Nigerian judiciary has again demonstrated that it was the last hope of the common man and the oppressed.
He expressed thanks to God Almighty who made it possible for the victory and the Nigerian judiciary, which stood for fairness and equity as the hallmark of Nigeria’s nascent democracy.
Maku said that the high level of jubilation in the state was a clear demonstration that Governor Okowa is the man of the people.
He urged the PDP faithful to see the victory as part of their gate to gate campaigns which they did to market the political credentials of the governor.
He urged them not to relent in their prayers for the country and the state to enable her overcome the current economic downturn resulting from the fall in oil prices.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/12/maku-hails-okowas-appeal-court-victory/

Insists Boko Haram has been technically defeated
LAGOS — THE Federal Government, yesterday, explained how it would fund the N5,000 monthly welfare payment to vulnerable Nigerians just as it reaffirmed that the Boko Haram insurgency had been technically suppressed.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed
Mohammed, who was accompanied by his Special Assistant, Mr. Segun Adeyemi, was received by Vanguard’s Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye and Acting Editor, Mr. Eze Anaba, said beneficiaries of the N5,000 monthly payment would be required to meet conditions, including enrolment into the country’s development agenda.
The minister also disclosed that the insurgents had been restricted into two local government areas of the 30 local government areas they controlled at the onset of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Funding of N5,000 welfare scheme
On how the funding of the N5,000 welfare scheme would be achieved, Mohammed said: “What we want to achieve by our social intervention of which the conditional transfer is just one part, is to move out millions of Nigerians from poverty. That is why we have this half a trillion naira social intervention.
“Part of what we intend to do with the half a trillion naira is to train market women, artisans and unemployed graduates in the art of management and also give them loans to start their own businesses. Part of our social intervention also includes the transfer of N5,000 to the most vulnerable people.
“And we are being partnered in this by the World Bank and other multilateral organisations. It has been done in many countries before and we believe that it can be done here. Many people have written ridiculously about N5,000 and claimed that it is not up to what they spend on recharge cards. And we said yes, those who are writing such things are not the average Nigerians we are seeking to help.
“If you look at the lady who is selling water melon or pawpaw, she does not have up to N5,000 capital. People don’t know that N5,000 can be meaningful for many Nigerians because they are too comfortable in their corners. They do not know that N5,000 can make the difference between life and death for many Nigerians.
“Many people have died because they cannot afford transportation to the health centres. We are grappling with the reality on ground and we know that this conditional cash transfer is working in some states and it is being piloted by DIFID. In Jigawa, Yobe, and Kano, a British group is tying the conditional N5,000 transfer on a pilot scheme.
“When we say conditional transfer, it means that you must show evidence that you have enrolled your children in school and immunised them. It is not just that we are giving you money free, you must also show evidence that you have complied with some obligations. We know it works because it has increased school enrolment, led to a drop in mortality rate and decline in stunted growth.
“Apart from blockages and savings, there are many government institutions today, who ought to be returning money to the treasury but they are not doing so. We know that some organisations made over N20 billion last year but returned less than N100 million to the treasury.
“This is why the idea of the Treasury Single Account is so important to us. We are going back to the basics. We believe that the money for this project will come from savings, budget and prudent management. Also we are going to have support from multilateral organisations, especially in the area of cash transfer. Again some of these projects are not just recurrent, they are also capital in a way.”


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/12/how-well-fund-n5000-welfare-scheme-lai-mohammed/

Lagos— Further details emerging from the recently presented 2016 budget have shown that the executive arm of the government would spend the lion share of N5.87 trillion, or about 96.5 per cent of the total N6.1 trillion about N205 billion or 3.5 per cent to the other arms of government, with the Legislature and the Judiciary, spending N115 billion and N90 billion respectively.
The breakdown of the budget also indicates that the government intends to spend N39 billion in running the Office of the President with major allocations going to car purchase at N3.9 billion and another N189 million to change tyres for some specified vehicles in the Presidency.

Buhari presents N6.08trn 2016 budget to NASS
Some details provided indicate that the vehicles that will gulp the budgeted sum for tyres include Mercedes Benz bullet proof and plain, Toyota cars, trucks Land Cruiser SUV, Prado SUV, Hilux, Peugeot 607 and 406, BMW trucks, ambulances as well as utility and operational vehicles.
Also, the Presidency will spend about N1.4 billion on travels during the fiscal year, according to the budgetary provisions.
The budget breakdown shows that some super ministries could be identified by the relative amounts allocated to them with Ministry of Finance taking the lion share of N1.5 trillion followed by Budget and National Planning with N1.15 trillion.
Buhari to spend more than Jonathan on Presidential Villa
In 2014, Jonathan spent N12.2 billion on the State House, while in 2015, the government spent N6.6 billion for the presidential office, amid dwindling revenue occasioned by sliding oil prices.
The costs cover the State House headquarters, the president’s office and the office of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. They also cover the budgets of the State House medical centre and the Lagos Liaison office.
One of the most outstanding State House spendings in 2016 will be the purchase of BMW saloon cars at N3.63 billion. It is not clear yet what purpose the cars would serve.
The State House budget also contains a repeat of projects the Jonathan administration repeatedly allocated funds for. An example is the purchase of computers, which has featured in budgets of previous government each year.
In 2016, the State House will spend N27. 5 million on computers, while N268.9 will finance computer software acquisition.
Aso Rock will spend N764.7 million on recreational activities.
The installation of electrical lighting and fittings, which received substantial allocations in 2014 and 2015, will gulp N618.6 million next year.
The budgets are subject to the approval of the National Assembly.
Presidential food.
Other big spenders are Ministry of Interior with N498.5 billion, Education ministry is to spend N483.7 billion while the amalgamated Ministry of Works, Power and Housing is to spend N467.6 billion.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/12/2016-budget-fg-to-spend-n4-1bn-on-cars-2/

Osogbo – Minority Leader of  the Osun State House of Assembly, Oladejo Makinde is dead.
The lawmaker who represents Ife Central Constituency died, Sunday afternoon, in a hospital in Ekiti state.
Makinde, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in the state was said to have died after a brief illness.
Late Makinde, popularly called ‘Igwe’ was a former chairman, Ife Central Local Government Area of the state.
His corpse was said to have been deposited at the mortuary of Ekiti State Teaching Hospital.
The Chairman, Osun Assembly Committee on Information and Strategy, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye confirmed his death to our correspondent on the telephone.
He expressed shock at the demise of his colleague.
Also confirming his death, the chairman of PDP in the state, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa said he dies following health complication.
Meanwhile, the house has described the death of one of its members as painful and unfortunate.
A statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye said the death of the lawmaker came to the Assembly as a great shock.
The Assembly noted that though the late lawmaker was battling with illness, but his response to medical attention gave them the confidence that he would soon be back on his feet and join the legislative business in the house.
The late lawmaker candour and relationship with other members of the Assembly, inspite his political partisanship, according to the parliament, would be greatly missed.
“It is shocking that late Honourable Makinde died at this critical period that he is needed in his immediate and political family most.
“In Osun Assembly, we are really saddened to hear of the death of one of us. We will mourn deeply his passing due to his valuable contributions to deliberations in the Assembly.
“Politics apart, his oppositional engagement as a minority leader on the floor of the house has assisted the 6th Assembly to arrive at reasonable conclusions on several issues.
“Though, he is a member of opposition in the Assembly, but he was not being taken as one when it comes to issues relating to the development of the state, hence, we will miss him dearly”, the Assembly stressed.
It sympathised with the immediate and political family of the late lawmaker, consoling them to take solace in the fact that he live a worthy life.
The Assembly also prayed that God almighty should grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable lost.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/12/breaking-osun-assembly-minority-leader-is-dead/

The effectiveness of a national security organization is determined by the accuracy of its reports. By the time the FBI breaks into any premises, it had gathered sufficient and reliable information to violate the fundamental rights of the occupants. Scotland Yard would never arrest first, on spurious charges, and later run around for evidence. That is standard operating procedure in any democracy.
The Department of State Services, DSS, in Nigeria, especially since May 29, 2015, still cannot understand that this is a democracy and there is a constitution and there are laws that must be obeyed by all – including the DSS. Its leaders seem to operate under the mistaken belief that since a former military Head of State is back in office, they have impunity. I have bad news for them. There had been a major change since May 29, 1999. We have been trying our best to practice democracy. We don’t want anybody to take us back to draconian governance. And that is why I think the DSS is misleading the President.
They have done it at least four times in the last seven months by arresting various individuals, detaining them, making false or exaggerated claims about alleged crimes those individuals were said to have committed. They have followed this up, each and every time, by going to court to oppose bail for offences that allow bail to the accused persons and refusing to release them when granted bail. The first question to ask is: in whose interests is the DSS acting?
That said let me list the four major assaults on individuals and buildings which have now become the subject of front page news nationwide – while creating tension everywhere.  The first was the invasion of the Akwa Ibom State Governor’s Lodge. After which a spokesman for the DSS made an announcement that, acting on reliable information, they invaded the premises and discovered arms and ammunition, as well as stacks of money in foreign currency. The arms we were even told were in such quantities as to threaten national security. More than five months after, nobody had been charged to court and the matter died a natural death. Why? The answer is simple: it was a lie. If not the DSS should come out and prove its charges.
 “I disapprove of what you say, but, I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Francois Voltaire, 1694-1778. VBQ, p 218.
The second is the on-going drama about Biafra and the detention of the leaders of the agitation for self-determination. Personally, I think the agitation for Biafra is misguided and will not solve the Igbo problem. But, all my adult life had been spent insisting on the fundamental human rights of people. That includes the right to self-determination. It will be sad if Igbo people leave Nigeria, but, like the Israelites leaving Egypt, Pakistanis departing India and Southern Cameroun bidding Nigeria good-bye, it will not be the end of the world. If the majority of Igbos still want to go, after a referendum, Nigeria should let them…
RIGHT OF REPLY FROM OGUN STATE.
“The Ogun State Government noted with interest your article entitled ‘Bleak Christmas Ahead – Bankruptcy fear hits states’ in your Sunday edition of Vanguard, 13 December 2015. While we commend your efforts to address this issue, we believe there is an important omission which renders the presentation of Ogun State’s position incomplete.
We think this story would be accurate if you were to include a footnote stating that Ogun State opted for a repayment schedule of 10 years as opposed to the standard 20 years offered by the Federal Government and was indeed the only state to in the Federation to do so. If Ogun State conformed to the 20-year repayment plan, our monthly deductions would be reduced by in excess of N400m.More importantly, we expect this decision to take a shorter tenure to save the people of Ogun State over N800m in debt service costs over the period of the loan. We also have the option of making lump sum repayments of principal whenever we have the capacity to do so, which gives us scope to save even more on debt service costs over the period.
Despite the apparent squeeze that this incremental repayment places on our finances in the short term, we think it is the best decision for the people of Ogun State to have a much lower cost of debt overall, to allow financial resources to instead be directed towards the further development of our State. The administration will make every effort to repay these funds in full by May 2019. We took this decision because we are confident that the efforts we have made to date to diversify our revenue sources and strengthen our IGR base will continue to bear fruit as we proceed through our second term. Indeed, it is the fruit of these efforts that has enabled Ogun State to continue to pay salaries and pensions as and when due, despite notable reduction of funds from the Federation Account.
With regards
Ms Adenrele Adesina
Honourable Commissioner for Budget & Planning.
Ogun State.
JONATHAN SHOULD AVOID THE UK — 1
“UK court blames Jonathan for $1.1bn oil scandal.”
According to the report, Justice Edis said: “…Fortunato was implicated [in the scandal] and I am told that this was a reference in code (not subtle) to the former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan.”
If GEJ steps into Britain any time soon, he will join Diezani by being placed under house arrest pending the outcome of the case…

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/12/is-the-dss-misleading-buhari-and-leading-nigeria-into-political-crisis/

Hope people nor block road o cause they will not hesitate to fire at everybody.

Eledan:
Rivers is in the bag already for APC, next is Akwa Ibom.

you must be a joker akwa ibom and rivers can never be in the hands of apc. Apc will do better in rivers but will surely lose, but in akwa ibom they will beat them hands down again!!!!

OnankpaBa:

what else are you expecting from PDP.?


THEY ENTER THROUGH BACK DOOR.

Please shut up there. It's APC that enters from front door??

Lies lies!! All this are lies. Wike is still gonna win the re-run anyway u will all be put to shame.

This is one of the charges were Ex-Nsa indicted PDP chieftain MR.Tony Anehih(Mr. Fix It)....

I kept on telling you guys that pdp will win but some dummies were saying it's gona be apc. Same to all the apc supporters. UP PDP!!!!!

Tunjasko:
YENAGOA
Ward 5, unit 20: APC 63, PDP 100
Ward 2 unit 1: APC 19, PDP 14
Ward 2 unit 2: APC 27, PDP 23
Ward 4 unit 8: APC 250, PDP 144
Ward 7 unit 12: APC 81, PDP 41
Ward 4 unit 10: APC 250, PDP 154
Ward 5 unit 2: APC 135 PDP 136
Ward 4 unit 11: APC 115, PDP 98
Ward 4 unit 12 APC 343, PDP 78
Ward 5 unit 3: APC 81, PDP 136

Ward 1 Unit, APC 109, PDP 45
KOLOKUMA/OPOKUMA
Ward 3 unit 3 APC 50 PDP 34
Ward 10 unit 10 APC 102 PDP 58
Ward 10 unit 8 APC 85 PDP 65
Ward 10 unit 6 APC 58 PDP 41
Ward 3 unit 2 APC 13 PDP 12
BRASS
Ward 2 unit 6 APC 118 PDP 8
Ward 1 unit 3 APC 160 PDP 15
Ward 2 unit 15 APC 220 PDP 15
Ward 1 unit 15 APC 375 PDP 18
Ward 1 unit 10 APC 138 PDP 20
Ward I unit 12 APC 123 PDP 8
Ward 4 Unit 3 APC 285 PDP 2
Ward 3 unit 2 APC 298 PDP 12
Ward 3 unit 3 APC 210 PDP 3
Ward 2 unit 8 254 PDP 4
NEMBE
Ward 3 unit 8 APC 49 PDP 102
Ward 5 unit 2 APC 13 PDP 2
Ward 2 unit 9 APC 24 PDP 22
Ward 3 unit 6 APC 21 PDP 65
Ward 5 unit 1 APC 89 PDP 6
Ward 5 unit 7 APC 80 PDP 26
Ward 5 unit 8 APC 49 PDP 13
Ward 5 unit 9 APC 57 PDP 12
Ward 8 unit 25 APC 17 PDP 16
WARD 8 UNIT 20 APC 19 PDP 39
EKEREMOR
Ward 8 unit 31 APC 140 PDP 41
Ward 8 unit 32 APC 84 PDP 37
Ward 12 unit 10 APC 70 PDP 109
OGBIA
Ward 11 unit 6 APC 25 PDP 60
Ward 11 unit 1 APC 23 PDP 89
Ward 11 unit 11 APC 10 PDP 5
Ward 8 unit 8 APC 101 PDP 99
Ward 8 unit 9 APC 50 PDP 55
Ward 10 unit 1 APC 28 PDP 20
Ward 10 unit 2 APC 57 PDP 33
Ward 10 unit 3 APC 29 PDP 15
Ward 10 unit 4 APC 43 PDP 32
Ward 10 unit 5 APC 38 PDP 22
Ward 10 unit 6 APC 40 PDP 19
Ward 10 unit 7 APC 5 PDP 50
Ward 10 unit 8 APC 40 PDP 29
Ward 10 unit 9 APC 28 PDP 16
Ward 10 unit 10 APC 30 PDP 10
Ward 6 unit 3 APC 82 PDP 59
Ward 8 unit 18 APC 102 PDP 47
Ward 8 unit 11 APC 70 PDP 45
Ward 8 unit 7 APC 98 PDP 71
Ward 8 unit 16 APC 33 DPD 30

You don come back with all these your fake result

kcmichael:
Pdp e-rats on nairaland giving themselves false hope to avoid acute cardiac arrest
,APC has won already

Keep dreaming mike

Kenny4lyfe:

Confirm!!! Pdp all d way

NgeneUkwenu:
More result

The fakes news I've ever seen

jaybee:


... and the wailing continues.

Call it wailing or anything you want it's the fact.

I just pity for dull kogi people voting for backwardness Audu there are going to regret this what a shame!!!!!!!

chukel:
Next is bayelsa. APC's victory today will weaken the morale of pdp in bayelsa

Even in a million years to come APC can never win bayelsa

Ogori/Mangogo Okibo unit 1: PDP 57, APC 9; Unit 2: PDP 56, APC 13. Okesi ward unit 01: PDP 118, APC 13, PPA 2
Lokoja LGA_Ward A.
SUBEB POLLING UNIT: APC 193, PDP 129. As declared by INEC.
Mopamuro unit 04 ward 8: PDP 128, APC 26.
Ogori/Mangogo Okibo unit 1: PDP 57, APC 9; Unit 2: PDP 56, APC 13. Okesi ward unit 01: PDP 118, APC 13, PPA 2
Lokoja LGA_Ward A.
SUBEB POLLING UNIT: APC 193, PDP 129. As declared by INEC.
Ankpa ojoku ward bangele unit 1:PDP 346, APC 40; Kabba/Bunu St Barnabas Unit,
Odolu Ward: APC 206 PDP 95; Ijumu Ayere unit 03: APC 101 PDP 58; AyegunleGdede/ Iluhafon ward: APC 167, PDP 41,
Oja Otun Iyara: APC 146 PDP 36;
Demonstration Kabba Okekoko ward: APC 171, PDP 70; Akefe unit: PDP 138, APC 117