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The ruling All Progressives Congress’s (APC) defeat in the just concluded Osun State governorship poll is a big loss to many and not just the incumbent Governor Adegboyega Oyetola who featured on the ballot.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the winner of the election, leaving many party leaders to lick their wounds.

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The Returning Officer for the election and Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, announced that Adeleke got a total of 403,371 votes, defeating Oyetola of the APC, who got 375,027 votes in the election.

According to INEC, the PDP won 17 of the 30 Local Government Areas of the state, while the APC won the remaining 13.

Some of the political leaders who shared in the defeat are:

BOLA TINUBU
If the outcome of the Saturday’s Osun poll is anything to go by, the APC presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has just lost one his strongholds in Southwest, ahead of the 2023 election. However, it is believed that two elections cannot end the same way.

At the APC’s rally in Osogbo, Tinubu was confident that Oyetola would be re-elected as he labelled other parties ‘mushroom groups.’

“PDP and mushroom parties. Like Labour party. They say they are labour, they will labour till death,” Tinubu said in Yoruba.

Tinubu attended the rally alongside Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and several APC Governors, including campaign lead, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.

Other Governors present at the rally include Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Babagana Zulum of Borno State and Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State.

National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu and the party’s Vice Presidential candidate, Kassim Shettima, were also present.

It was believed that Tinubu was in the state on the election day, but had to leave when defeat was staring his candidate in the eye.

He reportedly left Osun to Abuja where he met with House of Assembly Speakers from the party.

BUHARI
The APC’s flag President Muhammadu Buhari handed over to Oyetola, at the State House, on July 6 did not translate to victory. Buhari had expressed confidence in the Party winning the election, fairly and squarely.

But he was wrong as his party was defeated, squarely.

ABDULLAHI ADAMU
Perhaps, this is the party’s major defeat since Senator Abdullahi Adamu emerged as the party’s National Chairman in March this year.

While inaugurating Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Osun Campaign Committee, Adamu said he had zero tolerance for failure.

“I urge you to go there and do whatever is doable within the laws of Nigeria and our electoral laws to win.

“My tolerance level and this national working committee level for failure is really really zero. Most of you have been statesmen in your own right (by the virtue of the) offices you held before today. But for this exercise, take off the big guns, take off the creepy suits wear and go down the trenches to bring that victory we want,” Adamu said.

IYIOLA OMISORE
The APC National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, is another loser in this election. Omisore officially joined the APC from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in February 2021. However, his new relationship with the ruling party started during the Osun governorship rerun of 2018 when he suddenly began a beautiful bride.

In the 2018 governorship election, Omisore as the SDP candidate came a distant third.

But the APC was in a dilemma as the party’s candidate, Oyetola, was narrowly losing to PDP’s Adeleke before a rerun election was declared in seven polling units in four local government areas: Osogbo, Orolu, Ife North and Ife South.

Although Omisore had come a distant third, two of the local government areas for the rerun, Ife North and Ife South, were considered his strongholds and had some of the largest votes.

Delegations from both APC and PDP took turns at Omisore’s house to beg him for support, but he finally backed APC’s candidate who later won the controversial election narrowly.

Omisore was compensated with the APC National secretary position in the last convention held in Abuja. In this election, Omisore could not assert his authority.

BISI AKANDE
Bisi Akande, the pioneer chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Governor in the state, lost in his Ila Local Government Area, to the PDP.

Though he won at his polling unit in ward 04, Isedo area of the ancient Ila-Orangun town, his candidate, Oyetola, lost after the total votes cast were counted at the local government level.

Akande failed to deliver a majority of the polling units in the local government to his party.

DELE ADELEKE
Dele was the PDP Returning Officer during the 2018 governorship election in Osun State. But the table turned when he ran for the party’s ticket against his uncle Ademola Adeleke, who is now the governor-elect.

He later pulled out of the primary, as he allegedly backed his uncle’s opponent in the primary.

Davido mocked his cousin, Dele, after Adeleke clinched the ticket.

Responding to a tweet by Dele Adeleke on his withdrawal from the PDP primary race, Davido wrote: “You’re talking to the one person wey vote you abi, I don’t understand which one be all supporters … cousin Dele, frog jump loading.”

OLUWO OF IWO
The Paramount Ruler of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi

The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, is among those who suffered a major loss in the election. Although monarchs are not supposed to be partisan given their roles in the society, the king made it public that he was supporting Oyetola.

He even boasted that he would deliver over 90,000 votes for the governor but in the end, Oyetola had a marginal lead of 507 over his PDP rival. While the outgoing governor polled 17,421 votes, Adeleke trailed with 16,914.

After casting his vote at Unit 1 Ward 2, in Iwo town Iwo Local Government, said he canvassed votes for Oyetola because of his prompt payment of salaries.

He said, “I am confident of delivering 90,000 votes. It is not easy for the governor to move from the status quo and do what is right. He has been paying full salary. Osun is a civil servant state and the people depend on salaries.

“He has been paying debt inherited and didn’t use the money for frivolities. I have told my people to vote for the APC and they will vote for APC. The governor is doing a great job. I believe the person doing a great job should continue. I want all persons to vote peacefully.”

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Dr Babachir Lawal has declared that God of justice and equity, through the Nigerian voters, will decide the victor between Christians and Bola Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim ticket for APC in the 2023 presidential election.

The elder statesman insisted that Tinubu has proved to be daring and uncaring for the Nigerian Christians in the general election and thereafter.

The former SGF made the declaration on Saturday in a fresh press statement in reaction to the final submission of a Muslim politician by Tinubu as his running mate in the 2023 presidential poll.

The statement obtained by DAILY POST reads in part, “I did say it: those the gods want to destroy they first make mad.

“Tinubu has thrown down the gauntlet. He has submitted Alhaji Kashim Shetima as his nominee. He has stood by his affirmation that he only requires Moslem votes to be President and for all he cares, Christians can all go to hell with their votes.

“This is his position and he has a right to it. I concede to him.

“We have picked up this gauntlet. The God of justice and equity through the Nigerian voters will decide the victor between the Nigerian Christians, Alhaji Tinubu and his party, the APC.

“This is our country and we will not let Alhaji Ahmed Bola Tinubu relegate us, our children and our religion to second class status in our own country.

“For us, this is an existential crises. Our rights to justice and peaceful co-existense with all practitioners of other religions is under threat.

“A northern Nigerian Christian child deserves to be bequeathed a future in which he can aspire to be President or Vice President of Nigeria.

“The Bible supports our position and the Nigerian Constitution supports and even guarantees it.

“Come on Alhaji Tinubu! Come on APC!

“Again, ‘to your tents o Israel.’ The Bible records a time like this in history:

“1 Chronicles 12: 32: ‘From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take,”.

Lawal, who is one of the closest allies of the APC presidential candidate and former Lagos State governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently warned the APC and Tinubu against any attempt to adopt Muslim-Muslim ticket for the coming election.

To demonstrate his vehement opposition, he wrote four personal letters to Tinubu counselling him on the consequences of going for Muslim-Muslim ticket at the expense of the Nigerian Christians in the Northern region.

However, the counseling fell on deaf ears following the final submission of Kashim Shetima, a Muslim and former governor of Borno State by Tinubu to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as his running mate in the next year’s presidential election.

Pple rejecting money being offered to them left n right of the state today … GREAT TO SEE … there is stilll hope for Nigeria

Except the Zamfara State Government steps in to stop it, all is set for the coronation of a notorious terror kingpin, Ada Aleru, as the Sarkin Fulani (the chief of the Fulani) of the Yandoton Daji Emirate on Saturday.

Sources in the district, who asked not to be named for safety reasons, told PREMIUM TIMES that the decision to make the terrorist a chief was aimed at finding lasting peace in the crisis-ravaged Tsafe and Yandoton Daji emirates and other areas of Zamfara and Katsina states, which are regularly attacked by Mr Aleru and his subordinates.

Yandoton Daji is one of the two new emirates created by the Zamfara government in May. It was carved out from the Tsafe emirate. The emir of Yandoton Daji is Aliyu Marafa .

The decision to make Mr Aleru a chief followed dialogue between elders of the emirate and the terror leader.

PREMIUM TIMES reported in March that during the dialogue, elders of the emirate appealed to Mr Aleru to stop attacking communities in the emirate.

“Aleru has gathered a lot of money and cattle and he knows if this (fight with soldiers) continues, he may end up losing the cattle and his wealth. As the leader of most of the bandits in Yankuzo and Munhaye axis, and to a large extent, Tsafe area, he felt it would be better to reach a truce,” one source, a resident of the area, said.

Another source, a civil servant from Tsafe town, said the decision to give Mr Aleru the title was to show appreciation for the relative peace in the areas.

“There was a meeting in Yandoto two weeks ago and those who were present saw the commitment of Ada Aleru to the peace accord. He did not beg for the title but the emirate believes if he is given the title, it would tie him down,” the source said Thursday.

He added that the bandit observed the Eid prayer with other Muslims in Tsafe on Saturday, which was viewed by many as a sign that he had accepted the peace accord.

“I was at the Eid ground too and I saw when he (Mr Aleru) came with his boys and family members. None of them was holding guns,” the civil servant said.

He also defended the decision to confer the chieftaincy title on Mr Aleru.

“When was the last time we called to tell you that there was an attack on the Tsafe axis? I know that some people would not be happy with this decision, but can the government fight these bandits?”

He added that Mr Aleru is expected to come along with other notorious terrorists like Ali Zakwai, Bello Turji, Danboko, Sanata, Isuhu Yelo, Damina, and Mai Shamuwa.

“We’re certain he (Mr Aleru) will play a key role in making some top bandits’ leaders embrace peace,” said a source at the palace of the emir of the town.

When asked if the state government is involved or had been notified by the emirate council, he said he did not know but he was sure that the ceremony would hold.

Zailani Bappa, the official spokesperson for the Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, and the police spokesperson, Mohammed Shehu, did not respond to calls and SMS sent to them on the issue.

However, the head of protocol (Wakilin Masarauta) of the Yandoton Daji Emirate, Magaji Lawali, told PREMIUM TIMES that the emirate decided to make Mr Aleru a chief as part of efforts to strengthen the ongoing peace accord.

“Yes, I can confirm that he is going to be turbaned. We’re doing it to help strengthen the peace accord because our people are being killed and or abducted on a daily basis,” he told this newspaper on Friday.

The man, Ada Aleru
Ada Aleru was born in Yankuzo village under Tsafe Local Government Area but grew up in the main town.

The 45-year-old leads a group of terrorists that attack communities in Tsafe and Gusau (in Zamfara) and Faskari and Kankara in Katsina State.

Mr Aleru gained notoriety in the area and earned the respect of his fellow criminals for his alleged ruthless execution of his victims.

He was accused of killing the son of the Zamfara State commissioner for security and home affairs, Mamman Tsafe.

Before that attack, Mr Aleru had led a series of attacks on the headquarters of Tsafe Local Government Area.

In 2019, the then Katsina police commissioner, Sanusi Buba, said the command would pay N5 million to anyone who provided information that would lead to the arrest of Mr Aleru.

Mr Aleru is believed to have led the attack on Kadisau Community in Faski Local Government Area, killing 52 residents. That attack was in protest of the arrest of his son, Sulaiman, by the police.

He is also blamed for the abduction of a Nigerian Customs Service officer after which he demanded N10 million as a ransom.

Not the first peace accord
In March, PREMIUM TIMES exclusively reported how a peace meeting between Mr Aleru and some elders in Tsafe Local Government Area led to a ceasefire for some weeks.

But Mr Aleru said he would not spare Magazu and other communities considered too hostile to the Fulanis.

A law enforcement source who asked not to be named because he has no authorisation to speak with the media on the matter told PREMIUM TIMES that leaders of the Magazu community tried to reach a truce with the criminal gangs that operate in the area.

“Five or four days ago, there was a meeting between the bandits’ leaders, especially Ada Aleru and his people on the one side and community leaders on the other where some agreements were made. The community elders sought for a window so that their people could be allowed to work on their farmlands while the bandits demanded a safe route from the community elders,” the source said on Thursday.

The source added that the bandit leader also told residents of Magazu to stop killing innocent Fulani.

Thousands of people have been killed in Zamfara and other states in North-west Nigeria by the terrorists, often called bandits by locals.

The attacks have continued despite repeated assurances of security by the federal government.

The Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, recently asked residents of the state to arm themselves and defend their communities. His stance was, however, condemned by the federal government.

Bandits have attacked members of Ansaru terrorist sect in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Daily Trust gathered that the sect members were “preaching” to locals when bandits opened fire, killing two villagers in the process.

The bandits were said to have stormed Damari village under Kazage Ward in Eastern part of the local government in an attempt to dislodge the terrorists from the village.

Daily Trust had reported how the terrorists have taken over communities in Eastern part of the LGA, guiding villagers against attacks by bandits.

‎Ishaq Usman Kafai Chairman, Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU),‎ who confirmed the incident said the clash between the two groups lasted for an hour.

According to him, the Ansaru members who were also heavily armed overpowered the bandits which made them (bandits)to retreat from the village.‎

“There were damages during the clash; a shop was burnt; two vehicles were burnt; a Private Hospital was burnt. Two locals (labourers) were also killed by the bandits while the bandits were running away into the forest,” he said.

Ishaq said the hospital was accidentally burnt accidentally due to the fire that spread from a burning vehicle.

He said the casualty figure between the armed bandits and the Ansaru members couldn’t be ascertained but said the locals hailed the Ansaru members for defending the town from the bandits attack.

Daily Trust further gathered that hundreds of residents including women and children fled from the town during the attack.

The group said the attack was organized because the bandits knew the Ansaru members were in the town.

He said ‎the Ansaru members continued with their preaching after the fight as they advised the people to acquire arms to defend themselves against enemies as well as fight government in order to establish what they refer to as Islamic State.

‎Contacted the state Police Public Relations Officer in Kaduna, DSP Mohammed Jalige, promised to find out what actually happened from the Police Area Command area before commenting.

The All Progressives Congress has postponed the official unveiling of former Borno State Governor, Kashim Shetima, as its vice presidential candidate for the 2023 general election.

Shetima was meant to have been presented to party members at the APC national Secretariat on Thursday, but the Chairman of the APC Press Corp told reporters the event has been moved forward.

No reason has been given for the decision which comes amid controversy over the choice of a Muslim-Muslim ticket by the party.

Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Lagos, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has dismissed report that he has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Agbaje was earlier reported to have joined APC to support the party’s Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The report has been trending on Facebook and the instant messaging platform, WhatsApp, quoting him to have said he was dumping the opposition party to work for Tinubu.

He has however dismissed the report in response to a text message sent to him by our correspondent.

“No truth to the story,” Agbaje said in his reply.

He has followed up with a post on his verified Twitter handle @jimiagbaje, writing, “Eyin ko lokan (it is not your turn) o. Nigerians Lokan. Jimi Agbade – PDP.”

Emilokan (It’s my turn) is the slogan used by supporters of Tinubu after it was popularised by the APC Presidential Candidate in his famous speech in Ogun State prior to the conduct of the presidential primaries.

An Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, stated that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, cannot be allowed to monopolise Osun State as he did with Lagos State.

Olajengbesi made this known in a statement on Wednesday following a comment by Tinubu during the APC rally in Osogbo, the Osun State capital ahead of the Osun governorship poll on July 16.

The PUNCH reports that the former Lagos State governor had stated that members of the Peoples Democratic Party, the Labour Party, and other seemingly smaller parties would “labour till they die”.

“Think about your children and vote accordingly so you can see the future. Come out en masse. Don’t mind PDP and other mushroom parties — parties like Labour; they will labour till they die. God will not make you labourers,” Tinubu remarked during the rally.

Olajengbesi argued that Tinubu’s statement showed that he was not a democrat as his followers portrayed him to be, since his divergent views and the right to aspire to vote and be voted for are some cardinal tenets of democracy anywhere in the world.

“The statement of APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, in Osun State on Tuesday showed that he is not a true democrat as his supporters paint him to be. It is partisanship taken too far.

“Tinubu’s statement is uncharitable and unexpected of an APC National Leader or even a presidential candidate. It goes to show that if elected, Tinubu will strike out other parties into non-existence like he did in Lagos where his party has monopolised for 23 unbroken years now,” Olajengbesi said in the statement.

He also noted that there was a tendency that it would heighten if the APC candidate became the Head of State in 2023.

“Nobody and no registered party by the Independent National Electoral Commission should be disparaged for contesting in an election. The people of Osun should be free to elect whoever they want whether Oyetola, PDP’s Ademola Adeleke, Labour Party’s Lasun Yusuf, or any other candidate of their choice come July 16.

“Tinubu’s statement in Osun is tantamount to voters’ intimidation and the former Lagos governor should apologise for such indecent comment. We are in a democracy, not an autocracy.”

“Going by his statement, the APC presidential candidate might go as far as strangulating the remaining 17 political parties to death if he ever gets into office,” Olajengbesi stressed.

Members of the Ansaru terrorists group are openly preaching in many villages of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State as part of their activities to mark the Eid-el-Kabir festival, people in the affected communities told Daily Trust Tuesday.

They are trying to convince the locals to accept their kind of religion which detests democracy, formal education and respect for constituted authorities.

Unlike what they did during the Eid-el-Fitr festival, a little over two months ago, when they simply went round communities and shared candies and other edibles as Sallah gifts, the terrorists this time around took time to interact with the locals and urged them to acquire arms and launch a rebellion against the government.

They also reassured them of protection against bandits.

In a two-page pamphlet sighted by Daily Trust, the terror group lambasted the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, saying it failed to protect the lives and property of the people and urged them not to fall for the call to effect change through any electoral process.

Witnesses told the Daily Trust that the terrorists had been preaching their anti-government and anti-democracy stance since the Eid el-Kabir Sallah day (Saturday) without caution from anywhere.

The villages they visited in Birnin Gwari LGA on Monday included Damari, Unguwar Gajere, Kakini, Kuyello and Kwasa Kwasa.

“During their propagation, the terrorists, who are mostly young men, moved on dozens of motorcycles decked with flags with Arabic inscriptions,” one of our sources said.

“They tongue-lashed the federal, state and local authorities, arguing that democracy is against the teaching of Islam. They also called out Muslim clerics who call for prayers for democratic leaders.

“But the most dangerous trend this time around is the call by the terrorists for people to source for arms and fight the government.

“They back their claims by wrongly interpreting some verses of the Holy Qur’an and prophetic sayings. They say people would continue to suffer until they forcefully changed their leaders,” the source said.

Daily Trust had, two months ago, reported that the Ansaru terrorists had infested many villages in many LGAs of Kaduna, Katsina and Zamfara states.

They have continued to wax stronger by fighting sundry bandits and, in some cases, using persuasion to bring them to their fold.

Formally known as Jamā’atu An’āril Muslimīna fī Bilādis Sūdān (The Vanguard for the Protection of Muslims in Black Africa), Ansaru broke away from the Abubakar Shekau-led Boko Haram in 2012.

It was learnt that during their visits to many communities in the last three days, they had shared hundreds of leaflets to people who gathered to listen to their preaching.

“They talk to people openly and without any fear. They don’t even cover their faces. They wore military gear and carried high-calibre weapons like AK47 and anti-aircraft missiles.

“They are so confident of themselves that they move in broad daylight,” another source said.

“You will not be wrong if you say they are the landlords here because of fear of the unknown, our people are willing to listen to them any time.

“However, the implication of what is happening is that they are gradually convincing our people and this is dangerous,” he said.

Led by one Abubakar Adam Kambar (deceased), the group following its rebellion against Shekau gradually shifted its base from the North East and established several active and passive cells in parts of the North West and North Central.

Settled marital disputes, others

Our correspondent reports that, besides preaching, the terrorists now settle marital disputes among the people.

“If a husband and wife are having issues, they go to the terrorists’ leaders to settle the matter. The terrorists also adjudicate on matters relating to farms, trade among others.

“The claim that they don’t control territories is unfounded. They control our lives; they jail offenders,” another source said.

No symbol of authority

It was learnt that the Ansaru terrorists and other sundry criminals are having a field day in the communities. They are moving around freely, indoctrinating people because there is no symbol of authority.

“They have sacked all the police posts in the areas where they operate and you don’t even see civil defence, customs or immigration officials; our communities are no man’s land now,” a man from one of the villages said.

“We only see soldiers patrolling the area from time to time and this does not scare the terrorists from doing what they like.

“The situation is worse in Birnin Gwari LGA,” he said.

A security expert, Salihu Bakhari, said what is happening in the North West and parts of the North Central is a replica of what happened in the North East 13 years ago.

“There is no difference at all. The terrorists are on a territorial conquest, and they are quietly attracting the sympathy of the people.

“We have many ungovernable spaces and these miscreants are mischievously taking advantage of civil authority to do what they like. We should checkmate them.

“We can only rescue the people and avert humanitarian crises in the future by taking the war to their fortresses and then massively deploying police, forest guards, immigration and then also involving traditional rulers in what we do,” he said.

Military and police authorities did not respond to requests for comments on this story Tuesday night while the phone number of the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, was switched off.

SENATOR Ben Ayade, the Cross River State governor has been adopted to take over the Senatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the Northern Senatorial District of the state.

The party is scheduled to conduct a primary for his formal adoption on Thursday at the Ogoja, headquartres of the district to handover the ticket to the governor.

In a letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC by the party’s National Chairman Dr Abdulahi Adamu and the National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore , the APC listed three constituencies across the country including Cross River North whose ticket bearers have withdrawn their candidacies to contest the 2023:election on its platform which warrants the conduct of fresh primaries to elect new flag bearers to replace them.

The constituencies are: Cross River North Senatorial district, Isa Sabon Bimi Federal Constituency, Sokoto State and Bauchi Federal Constituency, Bauchi State

“Consequent upon their voluntary withdrawal, we write to notify the Commission that the party will conduct fresh primaries to nominate new candidates for the listed constituencies on Wednesday, 13 July to Friday, 15 July”.

The State party Chairman, Barrister Alphonsus Eba has instructed ward and local government executives along with party leaders to conduct ward congresses in the five local government areas that form the district on Wednesday and elect delegates to vote in the primary on Thursday to formally adopt the governor.

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday urged the electorates in Osun State to vote for the party at Saturday’s governorship election.

Mr Tinubu spoke at a rally in Osogbo in support of Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s re-election.

“Come out and vote massively for APC. If you want to vote, remember the future of your children and students, vote because of the better future you want.” Mr Tinubu added.

The former Lagos governor used the opportunity to blow his trumpet, saying he is the most qualified presidential candidate.

He also mocked the Labour Party, calling them “labourers.”

“They are labour party, they called themselves labourers, may you not see anything that will turn you to a labourer. Don’t follow them in whatever they tell you to do.”

He advised the electorate to shun the party and its candidates.

Others who were at the rally include Mr Tinubu’s running mate, Kashim Shettima; Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State; Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State; Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State; Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State; and Babagana Zulum of Borno State.

The APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu; National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore; and other party chieftains were also present at the rally.

In his speech, Mr Oyetola called on the electorate to shun any form of electoral fraud.

“Do not sell your votes to anybody, don’t be deceived by their plans when they come to you, don’t sell your vote.”

The Osun gubernatorial election holds on July 16.

Some governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, stormed Daura, the country home of President Muhammadu Buhari, in what reports say may be in connection with the choice of a former Borno State Governor, Ibrahim Kashim Shettima, as the party’s Vice Prudential candidate for the 2023 general elections.

Some of the governors currently in a close door meeting with Buhari are, Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano, Hope Uzodima of Imo, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, Ahmed El-Rufai of Kaduna and Simon Lanlong of Plateau.

The APC Presidential candidate, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, had on Sunday, in Daura, named Shettima as his running mate for the polls, a decision that had tended to generate controversy as cross sections of Nigerians question the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Former Oyo Governor Sen. Rashidi Ladoja has said there is nothing bad in voting for a Muslim President with a Muslim Vice.

He urged Nigerians to shun religious differences while electing their leaders in 2023, saying what matter most was for the best candidate to lead the nation.

Kano Governor Umar Ganduje has claimed the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to pickel a Muslim as his running mate, eliciting divergent views.

Speaking with journalists at his Bodija residence, the Otun of Ibadanland maintained there is no need for Nigerians to fight over religion, stating Muslims and Christians are one.

He noted though Nigerians are cautious, he said there is nothing wrong with a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

According to him: “Nigerian politicians are just using religion to divide the citizens, religion should not be an issue among the people.”

Prof. Pat Utomi, the Convener, The Big Tent of the Third Force, says the coalition and the Labour Party (LP) plan to deploy at least 15 agents each to polling booths in the country to help safeguard votes in 2023 general elections.

Utomi, the Chairman, National Consultative Front (NCFront) and a leader in the Labour Party, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Lagos on Election Agenda.

According to him, the coalition has worked and made much sacrifice to get Nigeria to move from state capture by aging oligarchs and to make the nation overcome its numerous security and economic challenges.

“The broad coalition of women, youth, professionals and the intellectuals which has adopted the leadership of the Labour Party and Peter Obi is serving notice that in addition to its agents which will number up to 15 in each polling booth in the country, it will use technology to guard the votes of Nigerians in 2023."

He said the organization would in the next week, unveil the details of Mass Polling Booth education programmes and the retreat for the gubernatorial candidates and ideology workshops for all Third Force candidates.

The convener, who expressed delight that Nigerians’ political awareness had continued to rise, said “People have awoken. They want to take back their country”.

He said that the coalition and LP were planning to counter all electoral manipulations and violence in 2023 that could throw up bad leaders.

“The last frontier before liberation for the people is in checkmating the traditional ways and means by which they thwart the will of the people.

“These include Election fraud or rigging, vote buying, manipulating of electronic voting, equipment and voter intimidation, as well as abuse of emotions around ethnicity, religion and region,” Utomi added.

According to him, the coalition will inaugurate Big Tent Think Tank to harmonise the original manifesto of the Labour Movement with the production focused philosophy of its Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi.

He said this would include the production and value chain-based ideas of a competitive economy, based on the latent comparative advantage of the different parts of Nigeria aimed at sustainable manufacturing espoused for years.

Utomi said contrary to claims about the governance capacity, structure, and manifesto of the Big Tent of the Third Force (which has the Labour Party and its Presidential Candidate, Obi as arrow head of a collegial leadership initiative), the coalition was ready to provide needed leadership.

According to him, leadership has networks reaching down to every polling booth through the 36 political commissions of both the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.

Utomi said the structure of the Big Tent had been deepened by the passion with which the people, young and old were motivated to buy into the reform pointed to by Mr Peter Obi.

The Presidency has said that President Muhammadu Buhari would not be deterred from performing his official duties for the country by the activities of the terrorists.

His Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, made this declaration Wednesday while responding to insinuation that the President ought to shelve his journey yesterday to Dakar, Senegal to attend the International Development Association (IDA) for Africa Summit scheduled to hold Thursday.

Adesina, who anchored the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting’s briefing by ministers Wednesday, said: “The president should go (to Senegal) because there’s an international conference meant for heads of states and presidents; he should attend. You should never give in to terrorists. The moment terrorists begin to stop you from doing things, then we might as well throw up our hands in surrender. The President should go ahead. Yes, it’s an international obligation.”

In an earlier release, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shebu, had said that the President would leave on Wednesday Abuja for Dakar to attend the IDA Summit and return Thursday.

Multichoice Nigeria, organisers of Big Brother Naija reality show, has announced that the Season 7 edition of the TV show will begin on Saturday, July 23, 2022.

The Head of content and West Africa channels of Multichoice Nigeria, Busola Tejumola, added that the reality show will premiere with two opening ceremonies on Saturday, July 23 and Sunday, 24.

The organisers also announced slight changes in the voting pattern, saying there will be no SMS voting for this season.

According to her, fans will now be able to vote for their favourite housemates for free on BBNaija’s official website and mobile app as well as on the MyDStv and MyGOtv apps.

While announcing a grand prize for this year’s winner, Ms Tejumola said: “The winner of the reality TV show will take home N50million cash prize with another N50million worth of prizes from the sponsors”.

The show will air from 7pm on DStv channel 198 and GOtv channel 29 with a simulcast on Africa Magic Showcase, Africa Magic Urban, and Africa Magic Family.

This year’s edition of BBNaija will run for 72 days and end on October 2, 2022.

The U. S. Central District Court in California has again postponed the sentencing of a Nigerian Instagram celebrity, Ramon Abass, popularly known as Hushpuppi, for the multi-million-dollar fraud charges he has pleaded guilty to.

Arrested in Dubai, the United Arab Emirate (UAE) in June 2020, and subsequently flown to the U.S., Hushpuppi pleaded guilty to the charges in July 2021 and was ordered to remain in custody pending sentencing.

Judge Otis Wright has fixed September 21 as the new sentencing date.

“At the request of counsel, the Sentencing is CONTINUED to 9/21/2022 at 1:30 PM before Judge Otis D. Wright II, as to Defendant Ramon Olorunwa Abbas,” the court’s announcement made June 24 read.

PREMIUM TIMES just became aware of the announcement.

The sentence hearing was initially moved by Judge Wright from February 14 to July 11 and has now been moved to September 21 at the counsel’s request.

Mr Abass, in July 2021 agreed to plead guilty to the multi-million-dollar fraud charges filed against him by the United States government.

He has been in custody since his arrest in Dubai and rendition to the U. S. in June 2020.

After initially maintaining his innocence, Mr Abass made a volte-face, entering into a plea bargain agreement with the U.S. government in July 2021, in the hope of getting a lighter punishment.

He pleaded guilty to Count Two which is “Conspiracy to Engage in Money Laundering,” an offence that attracts a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment among other punishments including full restitution, his plea agreement with the U.S. government states in part.

Despite pleading guilty, Mr Abass will not be exempted from paying restitution.

“Defendant understands that the defendant will be required to pay full restitution to the victim(s) of the offence to which the defendant is pleading guilty.

“Defendant agrees that, in return for the USAO’s compliance with its obligations under this agreement, the court may order restitution to persons other than the victim(s) of the offenses to which defendant is pleading guilty and in amounts greater than those alleged in the count to which defendant is pleading guilty,” the plea agreement seen by PREMIUM TIMES in July 2021 read.

The exact sentence to be imposed on Mr Abass remains unknown. However, provided Mr Abass “demonstrates an acceptance of responsibility for the offence up to and including the time of sentencing,” the prosecution said it recommends “a two-level reduction in the applicable Sentencing Guidelines offence level”.

“If necessary,” the prosecution adds, it may “move for an additional one-level reduction if available under that section.”

Not being an American citizen, he will be deported after completing his jail term and paying up the amount to be restituted.

The maximum penalty for the offence which Mr Abass hopes will be reduced at his sentencing include: “20 years’ imprisonment; a 3-year period of supervised release; a fine of $500,000 or twice the gross gain or gross loss resulting from the offense, whichever is greatest; and a mandatory special assessment of $100.”

Earlier in June 2020, the 38-year-old known for flaunting his opulent lifestyle on social media was arrested in Dubai by special agents including the Emerati police officers and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) operatives.

The FBI stated in an affidavit obtained by PREMIUM TIMES that its investigations revealed that Mr Abbas financed this extravagant lifestyle with proceeds of crime.

Details of offence
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California states in the agreement that beginning no later than on or about January 18, 2019, through on or about June 9, 2020, Hushpuppi “knowingly combined, agreed, and conspired with multiple other persons (“co-conspirators”) to conduct financial transactions into, within, and outside the United States involving property that represented the proceeds of wire fraud.”

The co-conspirators, according to USAO, targeted multiple victims and laundered and/or attempted to launder funds fraudulently obtained, and attempted to be fraudulently obtained, through bank cyber-heists, business email compromise (BEC) frauds, and other fraud schemes.

The intended victims of the conspiracy were said to include a foreign financial institution (which was a bank in Malta), the victim’s law firm (located in New York State), and two companies located in the United Kingdom.

Mr Abass was said to have known that “these fraudulent schemes included bank cyber-heists, BEC schemes, and other fraud schemes.”

A top Nigerian police officer, Abba Kyari, was later indicted over his roles in facilitating the crime. He is awaiting court’s ruling on the request for his extradition to face charges in the U. S.

The foreign financial institution (a bank in Malta) was an intended victim of a cyber-heist, while the other victims identified above were victims of BEC schemes.

In some BEC schemes involving victim companies in the United Kingdom, Mr Abass was said to have with one co-conspirator on May 12, 2019, how they anticipated fraudulent payments of approximately £6 million per week.

“Once a victim deposited funds into a bank account, the defendant would coordinate with other co-conspirators to obtain or move the funds, and then to further launder the funds,” the U.S. government said.

In addition to admitting defendant’s involvement in the schemes intending to defraud the victims listed above, Mr Abass was also said to have admitted involvement in a scheme to defraud a victim company in Qatar that was building an international school (the Qatari Victim Company) and the owner of that company.

He was also said to have in December 2019, begun conspiring with a co-conspirator to defraud the owner of the Qatari company “who was seeking a lender to invest $15,000,000 in a project to build an international school”.

Mr Abass’ alleged co-conspirator was said to have already defrauded the victim of funds at the time that the defendant joined the scheme.

“Beginning on or around December 11, 2019, the defendant began to communicate with the Victim Businessperson, fraudulently using the name Malik,” it was stated.

As Malik, the prosecution said further, Huspuppi falsely told the victim that he would open a bank account in the United States where the $15,000,000 loan could initially be deposited.

“In truth, defendant and Coconspirator A did not intend to assist the Victim Businessperson in securing a loan; they were defrauding the Victim Businessperson,” the prosecution alleged.

Chiamaka Okafor is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe.

THE tenure of no fewer than 20 state Resident Electoral Commissioners will start expiring with effect from Wednesday.

Findings by The PUNCH indicate that many of the RECs would retire from the electoral body between July 6 and August as their five-year tenure winds down.

The electoral commissioners were among the 27 officials appointed in 2017 by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

It was learnt that some of them had served their second term and are not eligible for re-appointment.

A REC, who confirmed the development to one of our correspondents, however, said he did not know whether INEC has notified the Presidency about the vacancy.

He said, “The 20 RECs were appointed by the President in 2017. I would be leaving INEC in August. I’m not sure if INEC had notified the Presidency so they can start shopping for nominees. I believe the president and his aides knew what to do.”

Another resident electoral commissioner, who confirmed the development said, “Some RECs are leaving on Wednesday but I’m not one of them. Because there was a delay in our screening by the Senate, some of us would not be going now but four persons are also going in August.”

The Senate is required under section 154 of the 1999 Constitution to screen those nominated to the positions of INEC National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners.

The provision reads, “Except in the case of ex-officio members or where other provisions are made in this Constitution, the Chairman and members of any of the bodies so established shall, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, be appointed by the President and the appointment shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.”

In compliance with the provisions of section 14 (3) (a) of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Buhari had asked the Senate to confirm the 27 nominees in 2017.

Those nominated were subsequently confirmed and appointed by the Senate as resident electoral commissioners.

They include Prof. Godswill Obioma (Abia); Ibrahim Abdullahi (Adamawa); Alhaji Ahmad Makama (Bauchi); James Apam (Benue); Mike Igini (Delta); Dr Nkwachukwu Orji (Ebonyi); Dr Illoh Chuks (Enugu); Hussaini Pai (FCT); Sadiq Musa (Kaduna); Jibrin Zarewa (Kano); and Dr Asmau Maikudi (Katsina).

Others are Dr Mahmuda Isah (Kebbi); Prof. Samuel Egwu (Kogi); Amb Rufus Akeju (Lagos); Prof. Mustapha Zubairu (Niger); Agboke Olaleke (Ogun); Sam Olumekun (Ondo); AbdulGaniyu Taju (Oyo); Prof. Riskuwa Shehu (Sokoto); Kasim Geidam (Yobe); Ahmad Mahmud (Zamfara); Dr Nentawe Yilwatda (Plateau); Umar Ibrahim (Taraba); Prof. Francis Ezeonu (Anambra); Mr Emeka Joseph (Imo); Obo Effanga (Cross River) and Dr Briyai Frankland (Bayelsa).

This newspaper could not confirm if some of the retiring RECs would be re-nominated for another term in office.

It was gathered that some of them were lobbying for re-appointment ahead of the expiration of their tenures.

Some of the affected officials declined to comment when contacted by our correspondents on Monday.

Attempts to get a reaction from the Presidency were unsuccessful as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, could not be reached for comment.

But a presidential aide who spoke on condition of anonymity said the President would write to the National Assembly “at the appropriate time.”

The INEC National Electoral Commissioner for information and Voter Education, Mr Festus Okoye, confirmed the imminent vacancy in the commission.

“Their tenures would expire between now and August. Their tenures expire differentially. If you call me back, I can give you the exact number that is going this week; I need to check my books,” he said on Sunday.

But Okoye could not be reached for further details on Monday, as he was said to be meeting with Osun State stakeholders ahead of the July 16 governorship election in the state.

Last December, the President nominated five persons for appointment as national INEC commissioners and one person for the position of the resident electoral commissioner to replace INEC Commissioners whose tenures had come to an end.

Out of the five National Commissioners nominated, Mohammed Haruna and May Agbamuche-Mbu were renominated.

An ex-INEC Federal Commissioner, Prof. Lai Olurode, said the RECs and National Commissioners both have five-year tenure but can be reappointed for second term after they must have gone through the necessary screening.

But they can’t serve more than two terms, he explained, adding that a REC who served two terms can be appointed as National Commissioner to serve another two term of five years each.

He said once concerns arose on the integrity of any REC, he or she can be removed to safeguard the process.

He said, “some RECs, for reasons of ethics, the headquarters may have good information that they better not be allowed to stay and do another election. I know of a REC who was changed because reports we received from the state office were not favourable. “

A political scientist, Dr Adekunle Akinola, advised that the tenures of the RECs should be extended to ensure hitch-free elections in 2023.

He, however, said if the president decided to appoint new RECs, they should be those with no political affiliations.

The Chairman of Transition Monitoring Group, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said, “One of the important aspects of having free, fair, transparent and credible election is have non-partisan, competent and honest people with integrity to serve as resident electoral commissioners who will not be card-carrying members of any political parties.

“As the tenure of some RECs is coming to end, it is expected that by now government should have looked for credible and non-card carrying patriotic Nigerians who will not be seen as bias and undermine the electoral process by their conduct and biases.”

The Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, argued that the appointments of RECs would determine if the President is committed to fulfilling his promise of bequeathing a credible electoral process as his legacy.

He said, “The credibility of the 2023 election is hinged on the integrity, competence and capacity of key personnel of INEC such as RECs. In making appointment into INEC, the President needs to consider persons of proven integrity and impeccable character.

The Director Centre for Democracy and Development, Idayat Hassan, recommended the timely appointment of the right calibre of persons into the electoral agency office, especially, people with integrity and capacity.

Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) said accepting to be running mate would lead to the collapse of the party.

But he also said he wants Peter Obi, presidential candidate of Labour Party to be his running mate

Kwankwaso, a former Governor of Kano State, who was in Gombe State to inaugurate the state office of NNPP and meet with elected members of the party stated this in an interview with newsmen.

He said his political profile built over the years and his wealth of experience having served in various capacities in the country had helped in bringing NNPP to limelight within a short time.

He stated that with the fame the NNPP had achieved within the short time, anything short of his presidency under the party would mean the collapse of the NNPP.

Kwankwaso confirmed that his party had been in talks with the Labour Party for possible merger but the main issue that hindered progress was the issue of who becomes the presidential candidate.

“From the discussion with Labour Party, the main issue was who becomes the president if the parties merge.

“At the end of the day, some of our representatives thought that there should be criteria in terms of age, qualification, offices held, performance and so on.

“Of course the other side wouldn’t want that. Most of the people from there believe that presidency has to go there (South East).

“If now I decide to be vice presidential candidate to anybody in this country; NNPP will collapse, because the party is based on what we have built in the last 30 years.

“I served for 17 years as a civil servant; we are talking of 47 years of very serious hard work that is what is rarely holding NNPP now,” he said.

The national leader of the NNPP said he was not against presidency going to any part of the country but it must be done based on “strategy, political calculation and equation.”

According to him, the South East are good in business and are well talented but they should learn politics, “in politics they are at the bottom line.”

He stated that the zone had lost out on the presidential and vice presidential candidates of both All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) but had a chance with the NNPP.

He stated that those saying “even if my friend (Peter Obi) wants to accept vice presidential candidate, some people in the South East will not accept, that is not strategic.”

He said Bola Tinubu was strategic to have supported the APC in 2015 and “today he is the presidential candidate of the APC.”

Kwankwaso said the best option for the South East was for the zone to partner with NNPP, “this is a golden opportunity, if they lose it, it will be a disaster.”

On the choice of his running mate, Kwankwaso said “we have options in the NNPP in the South to pick a good vice president and one of them is the Labour Party man you are talking about.”

On the chances of NNPP in 2023 elections, Kwankwaso said his party had the structure, organisation and population across the country to contest and win elections.

He said if elected president in 2023, his vision would be to create opportunities for the youths of Nigeria to get employed, achieved their dreams and be empowered educationally and economically

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has approached the Federal High Court, Abuja, to challenge the legality of the primary elections conducted by the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Benue.

PDP is asking the court to stop INEC from accepting and publishing the names of the governorship and senatorial candidates of the APC for the 2023 general elections in the state.

In multiple suits filed, the PDP and its governorship and senatorial candidates are challenging the credibility of the APC direct primary election that produced its candidates for the 2023 elections in Benue.

In a suit marked “FHC/ABJ/CS/826/2022’’, the PDP and its governorship candidate, Mr Titus Uba are challenging APC’s primary election that produced Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia as its governorship candidate.

In another suit, marked “FHC/ABJ/CS/ 889/2022’’, Gov. Samuel Ortom, Sen. Gabriel Suswam and Sen. Abba Moro are challenging the direct primary election of the APC that produced its candidates for the three senatorial zones in the state.

Listed as defendants in the multiple suits are INEC, Fr. Alia, Mr Terlumun Ikya, Mr Benard Yisa, Mr Mathias Byuan, Mr Godwin Tyoachimin, Mr Michael Aondokaa (SAN) and Sen. Barnabas Gemade.

Others are Rep. Herman Hembe, Mr Anyom Mlanga, Mr Terwase Orbunde, Mr Stephen Lawani, Mr Sam Ode and Prof. Terhemba Shija.

Also listed as defendants are Mr Emmanuel Udende, Mr Titus Zam, Mr Daniel Onjeh, Mr Samuel Zuga, Mr Torngee Malu, Mr David Awunah, Mr Nelson Alapa, Mr Jacob Ajene, Austin Oleho and retired Maj.-Gen. Joseph Eje.

In the originating summons, the plaintiffs urged the court to compel INEC not to accept, recognise or publish the names of the APC candidates for the various positions being contested in the state.

It was dated June 8 and was filed by some senior lawyers led by Mr Sebastine Hon (SAN).

The plaintiffs held that the APC candidates should not be recognised because the primary elections that produced them as candidates were conducted in breach of relevant electoral laws.

According to the plaintiffs, this is in violation of Constitutional provisions for the conduct of party primaries.

Meanwhile, the judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, has ordered substituted service of the court processes on the defendants after granting the application moved by counsel to the plaintiffs.

He adjourned the matter till Aug. 1 for hearing.

The Oyo State High Court Presided over by Justice Oladiran Akintola has restrained the House of Assembly from further impeachment process against the deputy governor, Engr Raufu Olaniyan.

Justice Akintola ruled that the State Assembly should stop any removal process they may want to initiate until the court decides.

The Assembly is billed to read Olaniyan’s reply to their allegation this morning but has placed a hold on the further process regarding the impeachment.

The court adjourned the matter till Tuesday, July 5 2022 for the continuation of the hearing.

The adjournment was to allow the Assembly to file its reply to that of Olaniyan at the Court.

Director of legal services, Olabanji represented the Assembly, while Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), led Olaniyan’s legal team.

The Action Alliance, (AA) Party, has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja, to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), from including the name of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), and its presidential candidate, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu on the ballot of the 2023 Presidential Election.

The plaintiff in the suit filed by its lawyer, Upkai Ukairo predicated its request on the claim that both the APC and its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu are not qualified to participate in the 2023 presidential election, following the allegation of forgery committed by Tinubu in 1999.

He claimed that Tinubu forged his University of Chicago certificate he submitted in 1999 in aid of his qualification for the 1999 governorship election in Lagos State, which was won by Tinubu therefore he is not qualified for election to the office of President of Nigeria.

The deponent further claimed that the matter of false information by Tinubu was once reported to the Inspector General of Police and the Lagos State House of Assembly, wherein the latter set up a committee, which in its report on page 2 said, “The Governor of Lagos State stated his evidence by admitting full responsibility for some of the needless errors being pinpointed in recent publications, and which formed the basis of the allegations against him”.

The party, therefore, prayed the court to declare that Tinubu’s claim that he attended Government College, Ibadan and University of Chicago on his INEC Form CF 001 in 1999, which he presented to INEC is false.

The party also wants an order of perpetual injunction, restraining INEC from publishing the name of Tinubu as the candidate of the APC in the 2023 presidential election, the AA, prayed for another order of perpetual injunction, restraining INEC from listing the APC as a political party on the ballot for the 2023 presidential poll.

No date has been set for the hearing of the suit.

Joined in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission, the All Progressives Congress and Senator Bola Tinubu, as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectively.

THE Senate yesterday discovered that President Muhammadu Buhari’s nominee as the substantive Director-General of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commision (ICRC), Joe Anekhu Ohiani has no primary School leaving Cerificate as he was said to have stopped in primary five.

Consequently, the Senate asked him to go and supply documentary evidence of his primary school education before his appointment can be confirmed as there was no document to show that he went to a primary school.

The directive of the senate was when Ohaini from Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State appeared before the Senator Adamu Aliero, Kebbi led Senate Committee on Works for screening in line with provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

While the lawmakers were satisfied with other credentials of Ohiani who currently serves in acting capacity, the Senate Committee insisted that he should provide his primary school documents.

Ohiani who is pioneer staff of the agency started working there since it was established in 2009.

Trouble started after Ohiani in his opening statement told the lawmakers that he did not finish his primary school education and that in primary 5, he wrote and passed examination into the secondary school.

Apart from the hurdle of providing evidence of his primary school, Ohiani also had to respond to probing questions from one of the lawmakers on how he had allegedly been forced to compromise a few times against his professional judgements on matters.

The Nominee while responding, denied the allegation explaining to lawmakers the integrity tests businesses must pass through in ICRC before he can attest his signature to them, just as he explained that nothing is cast on stone and that sometimes especially after a client as effected noted corrections, the commission could revert its stance on an earlier decision.

Ohiani is a trained lawyer from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He is also an admirably schooled financial administrator who has served in various Presidential committees.

As a pioneer staff of ICRC, he boasts of cognitive experience to required to steer the ship of the agency.

Nigeria has a huge infrastructure deficit and to make up for the shortfall, the country has expanded its total debts to roughly N51 trillion.

In his remarks, Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Adamu Alierio who noted that ICRC will have to come forward with brilliant strategies for concessioning that can help turn around the economy, said that anything short will plunge the country into more debts.

He said that the Senate has removed all encumbrance for the commission to hit the ground running when it passed the ICRC establishment bill last week.

In his response, Ohiani shared a few insights into what he hopes to achieve if given the job, adding that he has penciled down 53 projects worth $80 billion. The projects include six standard hospitals in each of the geo-political zones which he hopes will drastically reduce medical tourism.

He said that the ICRC under his watch will also create Mobile Medical Units that will take health care treatment to the nooks and crannies of the country, adding that with Lekki Deep Seaport near completion and that of Badagry Seaport coming after, the problem of congestions that have hindered businesses at the Apapa/Tin Can Island ports will be reduced if not completely eliminated.

He shared similar roadmaps on roads, ICT and the needs for Smart Classrooms for students, e-library and in the aviation section he hopes to bring to fruition if appointed.

In the mean time, he has to first present evidence that he attended primary school before he would be cleared.

The House of Representatives has listed for consideration, a bill seeking to extend the retirement age of staff of legislative houses without holding a public hearing on it.

The controversial document which was quietly reintroduced in the 9th House had become invalid following the compulsory retirement of the former Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani Omolori, who successfully had the extension of service approved by the 8th Assembly under Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara as presiding officers.

However, the current exercise on the Bill is allegedly being pushed by the current Clerk, Arc. Amos Olatunde Ojo has not gone through a public hearing which is an important stage of lawmaking in the Parliament.

Former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice, have sued the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and others over the controversy surrounding David Ukpo’s real age.

Others mentioned in the suit are the Comptroller General (C-G), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS); Stanbic-IBTC Bank; United Bank of Africa (UBA) and Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc as 2nd to 5th respondents respectively.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ekweremadu and his wife were, on Thursday, remanded in the UK police custody, after they were arraigned before the  Uxbridge Magistrate Court for alleged conspiracy to facilitate the travel of Ukpo, alleged to be a minor, for organ harvesting.

The couple, however, denied the allegations and the court adjourned till July 7 for hearing.

But in an originating summon marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/984/2022, dated and filed June 27 by their counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, the Ekweremadus prayed the court for an order directing the NIMC to supply them with the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the biodata information of David Nwamini Ukpo.

The applicants said Ukpo’s National Identification Number (NIN):19438077110, which is in the possession of the agency, should be produced for the purpose of facilitating the criminal investigation and tendering same to establish their innocence with respect to Ukpo’s age in the criminal charges against them before the Uxbridge Magistrate Court.

They also sought an order directing the NIS C-G  to supply the applicants with the documents and application form of David Nwamini Ukpo in the possession of the 2nd respondent presented for the issuance of International passport No. BO0569974 for the purpose of assisting criminal investigation and tendering same before the Uxbridge Magistrate Court, UK  until July 7 in the alleged criminal charge brought against the applicants.

They also sought an order of court directing the Stanbic-IBTC Bank to supply the applicants with the Certified True Copy of mandate card and account opening package of account No. 0032551834 maintained by its customer, Ukpo, with Bank Verification Number 22509616391 in the custody of the bank, for the purpose of tendering same to establish the innocence of the applicants with respect to his age in the criminal charges filed against the applicants.

They sought an order of court directing UBA to supply the applicants with the Certified True Copy of mandate card and account opening package of account No. 2195739574 maintained by Ukpo with Bank Verification Number 22509616391 in the custody of the bank, for the purpose of tendering same to establish the innocence of the applicants.

Awomolo said that the application was brought pursuant to Order 3, Rule 1 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2019, Sections 6 and 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

The senior lawyer, who gave 20 grounds why the prayers should be granted, said the 1st applicant (Ike Ekweremadu) is a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, representing Enugu West Senatorial District.

According to him, the 2nd applicant (Beatrice) is a chartered accountant, civil servant and the wife of the 1st applicant.

“The applicants have a daughter named Sonia Ekweremadu, who is suffering from kidney failure and the applicants have been managing it for about five years.

“The said daughter of the applicants urgently needed kidney transplant to save her life.

“David Nwamini Ukpo, offered to donate one of his kidneys for the daughter of the applicants if his kidney is compatible with that of Miss Sonia Ekweremadu.

“David Nwamini Ukpo informed the applicants that he is Twenty One (21) years of age having being born In the year 2000.

“The 1st applicant supported the visa application of David Nwamini Ukpo to the United Kingdom with a letter to the British High Commission in Nigeria, explaining the purpose of the visit i.e to enable him undergo medical examination in the United Kingdom so that the donor and Sonia Ekweremadu get the best of medical attention.

“After conducting various medical tests, the Royal Free Hospital in London decided that the said David Nwamini Ukpo was not a suitable donor because his kidney is not compatible with that of Sonia Ekweremadu,” he said.

According to Awomolo,i Ukpo was then asked to return to Nigeria but rather than do so, he approached the authorities in the United Kingdom for protection from being returned to Nigeria.

“David Nwamini Ukpo told the United Kingdom police that he is fifteen years of age contrary to the information supplied to the applicants by the same David Nwamini Ukpo.

“The applicants verily believe that  Ukpo was actually 21 or more having regards to the public records in the custody of the respondents.

“The applicants were arrested by the Metropolitan Police in the United Kingdom on June 21 for the allegation that they brought a 15-year-old child (a minor) to the UK to harvest his organs.

“The applicants were charged before the Uxbridge Magistrate Court, United Kingdom on the 23rd of June 2022 for offences of conspiracy to arrange/facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.

‘”The court denied them bail and they are presently in the custody of UK authorities.

“The applicants require documents from the respondents to assist in the fair criminal investigation and as facts In their defence to establish their innocence of the allegation In the charge and to prove that David Nwamini Ukpo is not a minor and Indeed consented to the medical examination in the United Kingdom.

“The said David Nwamini Ukpo is presently in care in the custody of British Authorities and he cannot be accessed by the applicants.

“The documents being sought to be handed over to the applicants will support the applicants in their defence and establish their innocence of the charges brought against them.,” he said, among others

The lawyer said the application was made in the interest of justice.

Also, Bright Ekweremadu, the elder brother of the lawmaker, in the affidavit deposed to, said Ukpo informed the couple that he was 21 years old, having being born in the year 2000 and was ready to help Sonia.

Justice Ekwo fixed July 1 for hearing of the matter.

THERE is confusion over the leadership of Nigeria’s judiciary following reports that Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Tanko Muhammad has resigned.

According to Channels Television, sources disclosed that the CJN resigned on Sunday night.

Ill-health was cited as the reason for the decision.

Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the next most senior justice of the Supreme Court, is set to be sworn-in as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, according to sources.

It was gathered that arrangements are being made for Justice Ariwoola’s inauguration.

Sources in the Supreme Court said a formal announcement will be made soon.

CJN’s spokesman says he’s not aware of the resignation

However, the spokesman of the CJN Isa Ahuraka told The ICIR on Monday morning that he was not aware of Muhammad’s resignation.

As reports of the resignation made the rounds on June 27, The ICIR contacted the CJN’s spokesman for confirmation.

“I am not aware that he has resigned,” Ahuraka said.

President Muhammadu Buhari nominated Muhammad as substantive CJN on July 11, 2019, following the recommendation of the National Judicial Council.

Muhammad had previously served as Chief Magistrate of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Judge at the Bauchi State Sharia Court of Appeal and Justice of the Court of Appeal.

He was appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2006 but was sworn in on 7 January 2007.

Clash with 14 Supreme Court justices

The CJN’s reported resignation is coming on the heels of his clash with 14 Justices of the Supreme Court, who recently addressed a protest to him to protest against several issues in the apex court and the judiciary.

They accused the CJN of corruption, claiming he has been depriving them of their entitlements.

According to them, their annual foreign training, meant to enhance capacity of the judicial officers, had been blocked by the CJN.

Other issues raised by the 14 Supreme Court justices in the protest letter include non-replacement of poor vehicles, accommodation problem, lack of drugs at the apex court clinic, poor electricity supply in the court, hike of electricity tariff, lack of internet services to residences and chambers and non-provision of allowances for diesel.

The CJN replied the apex court justices in a statement issued by Ahuraka.

Although he offered explanations for the issues raised by the judicial officers, the CJN noted that the justices are meant to be seen and not heard.

“Judges in all climes are to be seen and not heard, and that informed why the CJN refrained from joining issues until a letter, said to be personal, is spreading across the length and breadth of the society. This was akin to dancing naked at the market square by us with the ripple effect of the said letter,” the CJN said in the statement released by Ahuraka on June 21.

Just like the sham scenario that played out in Yobe State and Akwa Ibom State, a repeat performance may play out in Ogun State, barring any unforeseeable circumstance.

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, who contested and lost out in the presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress had asked Bashir Machina, the winner of the National Assembly primary in Yobe North Senatorial District, which he (Lawan) represents in the Senate, to step down for him in order to retain his seat. Machina had refused, insisting he was going ahead to contest in the 2023 general election.

Miffed at being rebuffed, party leaders simply swapped his name for that of Lawan in the list submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Similarly in Akwa Ibom State where Godswill Akpabio, the erstwhile minister of Niger Delta Affairs who contested but stepped down for Bola Ahmed Tinubu to emerge the APC presidential flagbearer, had his name submitted to INEC as the representative of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District rather than that of the actual winner, a former Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Udom Ekpoudom.

The same scenario is about to play out in Ogun State as Afolabi Salisu, the Chief of Staff to Governor Dapo Abiodun is being pressured to hand over the Ogun Central Senatorial ticket to Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who did not indicate any interest to return to the Senate but was gunning for the presidency and later stepped down for Tinubu.

Salisu won the ticket during the APC primary election organised by Abiodun’s faction of the party.

Senator Amosun’s camp did not hold a parallel primary election leaving Abiodun’s men to take all the APC tickets to elective positions in Ogun State.

Although the request of the former governor was rebuffed, he has however ordered his men to maintain peace while he worked out a solution at the national level of the party.

Amosun is alleged to be leveraging his support for a ‘Tinubu presidency’ and other influences he has within the APC and the presidency to negotiate sharing tickets of elective positions to his loyalists, as well as retaining his senatorial seat.

Stakeholders are allegedly fashioning out how to make the arrangement work while taking into consideration the sentiments of other groups like the Gbenga Daniel and Olusegun Osoba groups in a bid to make the party stronger in the state ahead of the 2023 general election.

Both Amosun and Abiodun factions have been at war over who controls the party structure in Ogun.

The former governor leveraged his closeness to the presidency to corner all federal appointments allocated to Ogun since 2019 for his loyalists and has remained ahead in the fight for control of the APC in the state.

The governor however lost the opportunity of a thorough win by siding with the ‘wrong’ presidential aspirant, giving Amosun who teamed up with Tinubu, the perfect foothold for a comeback.

Will Amosun succeed in returning to the Senate with his so-called connections? That remains to be seen.

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has disclosed that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not be able to win 25 percent votes in the state.

Chief Emeka Beke, chairman of the APC in Rivers State, said this, noting that the leadership of the state’s opposition party was working round the clock to ensure that it delivered the state for its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the 2023 general elections not minding the outcome of the last presidential primaries in which Tinubu beat his co-contenders including the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who came second in the race.

The state APC chairman stated this during an interview with our correspondent in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

“What we are doing now is that we are going round the wards, units, everywhere to campaign and make our people understand the importance of good governance in the state.

“If you want to win elections you need to mobilize your people. So first, the people should go and get their PVCs. That is the most important thing.

“Then make them understand why they need to change from the present PDP government to the APC-led administration in the state come 2023 because Governor Nyesom Wike has failed Rivers people.

“Unemployment is very high in the state. The crime rate in the state is also high. And for investors to come and invest in Rivers State, the enabling environment has to be provided by the government.

“Many youths don’t have jobs. Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, as governor then, built the Songhai farms that employed over ten thousand Rivers people. There was a fish farm in Buguma town that also employed people. Where are all of these projects today? They are gone.

“In the last seven years, no civil servant has been promoted in the state and you know that. Most of our retirees are crying for their pension arrears and gratuity to be paid and nobody is listening to them,” Beke alleged.