₦airaland Forum

DoctorAyukebot:
Are you not bold and big enough to glue him to one spot. The level of stupeedeety some of you spew on this forum is crazy

Wike, a former governor and a key federal official, was speaking after visiting several polling locations, including in Garki, Karu, Karshi, Wasa, Apo, and Ketti, as part of his oversight of the polls.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he did not impose a curfew across the FCT ahead for Saturday’s area council elections on his own, but acted only with the approval of President Bola Tinubu.

Wike, a former governor and a key federal official, was speaking after visiting several polling locations, including in Garki, Karu, Karshi, Wasa, Apo, and Ketti, as part of his oversight of the polls.

In his remarks, he pushed back against criticisms from the FCT’s representative at the National Assembly, Senator Ireti Kingibe, who had condemned the movement restrictions as undemocratic.

Wike said: “It is unfortunate, I thought as a Senator she should be able to read. I never imposed a curfew on my own. I said with the approval of Mr. President.”

Ahead of the elections, Wike had announced in a broadcast — aired on national television and radio — that Friday would be a work-free day in the capital to prepare for the council polls.

He also declared that movement of people and vehicles across the FCT would be restricted from 8pm on Friday to 6pm on Saturday.

Senator Kingibe had strongly criticised this move, calling it “unacceptable in a democratic society” because, she argued, it was done without adequate consultation with stakeholders and restricted residents’ freedoms.

In response to the senator’s comments, Wike appeared dismissive, saying he did not want to “join issues” with Kingibe.

He added: “When you hear someone’s speech, why not take time to listen to what was said? She has her problem, I don’t want to join issues. At the end of the election, when the results come out, then we will know.”

Wike also commented on the broader conduct of the council elections, noting that some areas experienced low voter turnout, especially in the FCT city centre.

However, he praised voters for their orderly behaviour, as well as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies deployed across the territory.

He expressed gratitude that, according to reports available to him, “no violence has been recorded yet.”

The minister also commended INEC for its use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and urged residents to remain calm and orderly until the election process was fully concluded.

press9jatv:
it's not fake news, check twitter and Facebook now. It is there. Why can't you post your own results.

Obiedun:
Did he vote?
Did he intimidate anyone?
Did he buy vote?
What is your problem about his movement?
Accept defeat and stop complaining

The African Democratic Congress on Saturday condemned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for visiting polling units in Abuja during the Area Council elections, describing his actions as “direct interference” and a potential source of voter intimidation.

In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said Wike’s tour, which followed a curfew imposed on potential voters, represents direct interference in the election.

“The African Democratic Congress strongly condemns the movement of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, around various polling units in Abuja under the guise of monitoring.

“Wike’s monitoring exercise, after unilaterally imposing a curfew on potential voters, represents direct interference in the election,” the statement reads.

The party added that Wike “is not a registered voter in the FCT, and as a known partisan and cabinet minister, he has no constitutional role in the exercise.”

The statement highlighted reports of voter suppression and intimidation, including “alleged collaboration between APC agents and some security personnel,” and urged all ADC party agents and voters to “remain calm but vigilant, and to document all incidents.”

The party also flagged disruptions to the INEC Result Viewing Portal, noting it “has remained inaccessible even as results are being collated,” and called on the electoral commission to “urgently restore full IReV functionality, with a clear public explanation of the disruption.”


ADC described Wike’s presence during active voting as “vexatious and meddlesome” and said it “risks intimidating voters and officials,” while urging citizens to report all irregularities to safeguard the integrity of the elections.

It was earlier reported that videos shared by Wike’s media aide, Olayinka Lere, showed the minister at polling stations in Karu, Karshi, and Garki.

Speaking after monitoring the exercise and interacting with voters, Wike said the elections were peaceful, security personnel had performed well, and turnout was “quite impressive” in satellite towns, though low in the city centre.

garykoeman:
Stale

Atiku, tambuwal amechi T.a orji and co were never invited by Efcc but that does not exempt them from corrupt practices.

garykoeman:
How can a former governor of a state be a private citizen.

Did he return all the funds he looted as anambra governor.

The money kept in his daughter offshore account.

Anambra stolen funds channel to build next supermarket in FCT.

Wickedfact:
We will criticise and drag Obi as long a we please. We can criticise Tinubu, criticise Atiku but when he comes to Obi, you Ibo Obidients will be crying that we shouldn't criticise him.

Obi's ideas are unintelligent and outdated. He is inferior in thinking and his thoughts can't stand the tests of commonsense and sanity.

garykoeman:
But the same man refused to conduct lga election in Anambra state.


What a shame.

Exousiang01:
You mean Obi was jumping around all for nothing?
He is still laboring in vain after leaving the Labour Party

Franklyspeakin:
Benjamin Kalu's candidate becomes vice chancellor of Abia federal universities the headline should read. 2027 election go rugged. What God Cannot Do Does not exist.

Melezenawii:
Nigerians Rush To Sell Off Dollars Read more: https://www.legit.ng/business-economy/money/1697944-nigerians-rush-sell-dollars-naira-hit-exchange-rate/

ImoleNaija:
Your worst mantra is never ending.

Even in 10 years, you will still call whosoever is the IGP the worst, as long as he's not who you want or not working with the govt you want.

Elusive001:
Okay, but he paid PMS subsidy, kerosene subsidy, NEPA subsidy, etc. Import duties were far more lower than it is now. Naira had more value then.

What subsidy is Tinubu paying now?

BATified2023:
I pity those who will vote this Dr mo, he's so arrogant n entitled.

I remember when I met him in abuja, he was talking as if the youths should go out n kill all elected officers for him.

As in, I was so angry listening to him. He did same on Twitter space too.


With the way he talks n acts, he will b worse than wike

Why Benjamin Kalu’s Law Licence Is Under Fire: NYSC–Law School Overlap Petition Rocks Deputy Speaker

A fresh legal controversy has erupted around the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, following a petition challenging the legality of his enrolment as a legal practitioner and the authenticity of his participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

According to a report by thenigerialawyer.com, a former First Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. John Aikpokpo-Martins, has formally petitioned the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), alleging what he described as “fraudulent enrolment” on the Roll of Legal Practitioners maintained at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

At the centre of the petition is an alleged overlap between Kalu’s NYSC service year and his attendance at the Nigerian Law School, Enugu Campus.

The petitioner contends that Kalu was mobilised for NYSC from March 9, 2010 to March 8, 2011, while simultaneously attending the Nigerian Law School between April 23, 2010 and July 1, 2011.

Aikpokpo-Martins argues that such dual participation would contravene Section 2(3) of the NYSC Act, which mandates a continuous one-year national service. He maintains that it is “statutorily impossible” for a corps member to lawfully undertake full-time academic training during the subsistence of the service year.

The petition further references what is described as a strict policy of the Nigerian Law School and the Council of Legal Education prohibiting students from serving in the NYSC during their period of study.

In an affidavit deposed before the LPDC, the petitioner alleges that Kalu—who reportedly enrolled at the Law School under the name Benjamin Okezie Osisiogu before subsequent changes of name—made a formal declaration on April 23, 2010, affirming that he was not and would not engage in employment or serve in the NYSC during his course of study.

However, documentary evidence attached to the petition, including NYSC Certificate of National Service No. A001773067 allegedly issued on March 8, 2011, is said to indicate continuous participation in the scheme within the same timeframe.

The petitioner asserts that this raises fundamental questions as to whether the Deputy Speaker satisfied the mandatory 70 percent attendance requirement at the Nigerian Law School—a prerequisite for certification by the Council of Legal Education and subsequent Call to Bar.

Kalu was called to the Nigerian Bar on September 6, 2011, and enrolled at the Supreme Court with enrolment number SCN/078630.

The petition invokes several provisions of the NYSC Act, including Sections 13(1)(b), 13(3), and 13(4), which prescribe penalties for failure to serve continuously, aiding contraventions, or making false statements in connection with the scheme.

Under Section 11(1)(c) of the Legal Practitioners Act, the LPDC is empowered to discipline any legal practitioner found guilty of infamous conduct in a professional respect.

Aikpokpo-Martins has also written to the Director-General of the NYSC, urging the withdrawal of the alleged Certificate of National Service and calling for prosecution if breaches are established.

He further disclosed plans to apply for subpoenas compelling the production of official records from both the NYSC and the Nigerian Law School, including call-up letters, attendance registers, allowance payment records, and discharge documentation.

The petitioner insists that the matter transcends politics and strikes at the core of professional ethics and institutional integrity.

“The exalted position he presently occupies must showcase the highest standards of integrity, transparency and adherence to the law,” he stated.

Senior lawyers who spoke on the development emphasised that the LPDC possesses jurisdiction to investigate allegations of professional misconduct, including fraudulent enrolment, where properly substantiated. However, they cautioned that the claims remain allegations pending formal inquiry and evidentiary scrutiny.

As of press time, there has been no official response from Hon. Kalu regarding the petitions. Neither the NYSC nor the LPDC has publicly confirmed whether investigations have commenced.

The unfolding controversy places renewed focus on statutory compliance, professional standards, and the expectations of integrity for holders of high public office.

American woman, 64, breaks down as U.S. consulars mock, deny visa to 27-year-old Nigerian ‘fiancé’

The American lady said the consular officer repeatedly mentioned her age, which she believes was an attempt to throw her fiancé off-balance.

An American woman in her sixties is traumatised after saying U.S. consular officers mocked her romantic relationship with her 27-year-old Nigerian fiancé and denied his K-1 visa application to visit her in her country.

The U.S. citizen, who identified herself as only Deborah, called immigration lawyer Jim Hacking on his live show, where he usually gives candid advice to people seeking immigration solutions. She barraged him with questions about why her fiancé was issued a 221(g) refusal form after his interview at the U.S. Embassy.

“Information provided in the case or interview indicated that the beneficiary does not meet the qualifications for the visa class,” she said, reading the content of the form to Mr Hacking on Wednesday.

Mr Hacking said consular officers issued the 221(g) form if they were unsure of the legitimacy of the relationship. The lawyer suggested that the man might have been married in Nigeria, but Ms Deborah said she was “positive” her fiancé had never been married, let alone had children.

Ms Deborah had called a week earlier, affirming her age to be 64 and that of her Nigerian fiancé to be 27. According to the lady, her fiancé’s interview was going well until the consular officer asked for her age and exclaimed in shock upon learning of the couple’s 37-year age gap.

“When it came to the age difference, he said my age, then she (the interviewer) said, ‘Oh! She’s this age!’” Ms Deborah recounted, describing her fiancé’s experience at the embassy.

She said the consular officer repeatedly mentioned her age, which she believes was an attempt to throw her fiancé off-balance.

“So this is my thought. Because we have an age gap, the lady (interviewer) was trying to mess with him,” she told the podcaster.

She said her Nigerian fiancé presented about 20 documents, including pictures and chats, to prove their relationship was genuine to the consular officer, who dismissed the files as unnecessary at that stage.

Ms Deborah said the consular officer temporarily excused herself from the interview and walked up to another colleague ostensibly to disclose the peculiarity of her relationship. She said both colleagues burst into laughter in the hallway as her fiancé looked on.

“And then she went back to her colleague. They were both White, and then they were laughing,” Ms Deborah said on the live show.

She explained that the consular officer returned to her fiancé with a visa refusal form.

Ms Deborah sought Mr Hacking’s advice on the next line of action, asserting the visa denial dealt a huge blow to their nearly two-year-old relationship, as the couple had both been looking forward to spending time together in America.

Having visited Nigeria two times, she said she would like her fiancé to come to the U.S. for a change.

Mr Hacking advised her to consider marrying her fiancé before engaging legal representation, stating that a fiancé petition in such circumstances was “DOA” (dead on arrival).

“Oh my God!” Ms Deborah sighed in frustration upon hearing that, even after marriage, the process could take up to two more years before her husband could join her in the U.S.

“There’s no way to make him come sooner? Oh my God! That’s terrible,” the 64-year-old said.

The immigration lawyer insisted that there was no way Ms Deborah could fast-track the process, eliciting what sounded like a sob from the 64-year-old.

“That’s like the worst news I’ve heard all day,” she said.

Peoples Gazette could not immediately reach the U.S. for comments.