₦airaland Forum

Even though over 10 persons have been reported dead after the bombing of the Abuja-Kaduna Train on Monday night, list of injured passengers have been obtained by LEADERSHIP.

In the list, made available to LEADERSHIP, the injured passengers were Haruna Muhammed; Mohammed Modibo; Ibrahim Wakili; Yakubu Nuhu; Abdulahi Yahay; Ismail Saidu; Abdumalik Rasheedat; Umar Mohammed.

Others are, Hadiza Umar; Musa Ishawan; Aisha Yusuf; Mohammed Ameen; Abubakar Hauwau; Aliyu Sulaiman; Olaosebikan Bilikisu and Mrs Leola Abdulbasit.

A former Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Ibrahim Wakkala, has sustained gunshot wounds in Monday’s terrorist attack on a Kaduna-bound train.

The train conveying hundreds of passengers from Abuja to Kaduna was attacked by gunmen suspected to be bandits between Katari and Rijana in Kaduna State.

An aide to the former Deputy Governor told Channels Television that Mr Wakkala who was returning from the APC National Convention which held on Saturday was shot during the cross fire between the terrorists and the military and has been moved to a military hospital in Kaduna for treatment.

The spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, Yusuf Idris also confirmed the incident to Channels Television.

Idris said the former Deputy Governor was initially abducted by the terrorists during the attack and was successfully rescued by the combined forces of DSS and Military

“He was initially abducted but was rescued by the DSS and military, it was during the process he sustain gunshot injury in the leg.”

“He is very okay now, he is receiving treatment at the hospital in Kaduna state.” Idris added.

Report reaching DAILY POST newsdesk has it that bandits, on Saturday, stormed the Kaduna International Airport, stopping an aircraft from taking off.

It was gathered that the aircraft, which was billed to take off at 12.30pm, could not proceed due to the presence of the heavily-armed bandits around the runway of the airport.

It was also gathered that hoodlums, who stormed the runaway, forced officials of the airline and passengers to run for safety.

It was also learnt that bandits killed a staff of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

‘’As I speak to you now, there is already a military presence to beef up security, though most of the staff are scared with the killing of the NAMA staff,” a source said.

As at the time of filing this report, security agencies at the airport were yet to react to the incident.

I first took notice of former Anambra State governor Peter Obi when one of his videos trended on social media earlier this year.

In the video, he described Nigeria as a motionless car with a knocked-out engine. Instead of fitting the immobile car with a new engine, he said, we keep changing the drivers in a forlorn effort to get the car to move.

I thought it was the profoundest metaphor anyone has ever conjured up to explain Nigeria’s problems.

It’s interesting that Obi is now putting himself up as another prospective driver to move a motionless car with a knocked-out engine. Perhaps, he wants to be the driver who’ll tell us that we need to change the engine.

Professor Pat Utomi also told me sometime ago that during a public lecture, Obi was inspired by and cited the widely shared column I wrote on the nexus between political power and brain damage but that Obi wrongly attributed the column to Utomi, as several people have done.

Utomi said he corrected Obi that I was the author of the article titled “How Political Power Damages the Brain—and How to Reverse it,” which was first published in the Nigerian Tribune of July 27, 2019.

That the column inspired Obi, for me, signals that he recognizes the dangers of unchecked political power and sees merit in the article's suggestion that wielders of enormous political power ensconced in the alternate reality it inspires should periodically get out of the bubbles of power to feel the pulse of everyday people and have “toe-holders” in their inner circle who “can tell them uncomfortable truths without fear of consequences.”

This is not, by any means, an endorsement of Obi's presidential bid. It’s simply an acknowledgement that Nigeria has a virile option in him.

Governor Abudulahi Sule of Nasarawa State says the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will be guided by the Electoral Act in the conduct of Saturday’s National Convention.

Mr Sule, who is the chairman of the APC Sub-Committee on Media and Publicity for the National Convention, said this at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja.

He said the conference was to brief the public on the steps taken so far to ensure a peaceful and rancour-free National Convention.

“You can be rest assured that whatever we are going to do is going to be in line with the Electoral Act,” he said.

He said this was because the party was working on consensus candidates for its various elective offices.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that clause 84(9) of the Electoral Act provides that a political party that adopts a consensus candidate shall secure a written consent from all cleared aspirants for the position.

This implies that they must indicate their voluntary withdrawal from the race as well as endorse the consensus candidate.

“Where a political party is unable to secure the written consent of all cleared aspirants for the purpose of a consensus candidate, it shall revert to the choice of direct or indirect primaries.

“This is for the nomination of candidates for elective positions.”

Mr Sule said the APC was a law abiding political party which believed in the rule of law.

“We are a law abiding political party, we will not do anything whatsoever, as a political party that is going to be in violation of the law, because as the ruling party.

“We will not carry out something that is going to be detrimental to our laws, so we do not give bad examples,” he said.

He said that following President Muhammad Buhari’s request, the party leadership might refund money paid by aspirants for the purchase of Expression of Interest and Nomination forms after emergence of consensus candidate.

“This was an appeal made by Buhari to show leadership, he said once we agreed on the consensus, it is only fair that what they paid to purchase the forms be returned to them.

“That is his request, and I am telling you, his request will be honoured, because we know he is doing it sincerely for the benefit of the party.

“It was a request actually made by the president to the leadership of the party and the leadership were there, so, I will say that the leadership of the party also agreed,” Mr Sule said.

He said that only accredited delegates would be allowed into the convention venue.

Mr Sule lauded Mr Buhari, the Progressive Governors and Chairman of APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), for the efforts in advancing the party’s course.

He said the APC had in Mr Buhari, a political leader and a father that was respected by its members.

“We strongly believe that he will not do anything for selfish reasons, greed or for anything that will be against the party’s interest. His interest is to ensure the unity of the party.

“So, he is not doing anything for his personal benefit, that is the kind of leader we have, that is why each time he speaks, everyone listens,” Mr Sule said.

He said that while the party had zoned its national chairmanship to the North-Central, some aspirants outside the zone were still in the race.

He said this was democracy in action as such, aspirants could not be denied since they had already purchased the forms to contest the position.

New national executives are expected to be elected at the party’s national convention to manage its affairs currently being managed by the CECPC led by Governor Mala Buni of Yobe State.

So far, seven aspirants in the chairmanship race had obtained and submitted the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms at the cost of N20 million.

They include Saliu Mustapha, a former Deputy National Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressives Congress (CPC), George Akume, Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Sani Musa, Tanko Al Makura, Abdullahi Adamu, and former Governor Abudulaziz Yari of Zamfara State.

A soldier attached to the Operation Hadin Kai Joint Taskforce, on Wednesday, allegedly killed three civilians and injured 13 others in Mafa local government area of Borno State.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the victims were killed when the trigger happy soldier (name withheld) recklessly opened fire on people in Mafa town.

An eyewitness said the soldier was reportedly said to be under the influence of psychotropic substances.

He said: “The lifeless bodies of the three persons were laid down flat at Mafa while many people sustained gunshot wounds.”

The eyewitness said the military authorities have already disarmed and arrested the trigger-happy soldier.

Responding to an enquiry made by our correspondent, the spokesman of Operation Hadin Kai Joint Taskforce, Captain Zhakom Samson, said the theatre will issue a formal statement regarding the incident.

The Leader Of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has said the national convention of the All Progressive Congress (APC), coming up on Saturday, 26th Of March in Abuja will end in a surprising manner.

The cleric made this known via a statement released by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin on Wednesday.

He said some people will angrily leave the convention ground due to embarrassment as he foresees the convention coming through in a surprising manner.

‘’The cabal will scale through with their plans in the national convention, let the leaders watch against violence. The convention will come through in a surprising way, there will be a lot of game-changers in the convention and it will end some political characters in the APC.’’

‘’Some will be angry, some will angrily leave the convention ground due to the embarrassment they will witness.’’

Primate Ayodele said ‘cabals’ will still succeed in selecting the national chairman of the party even though it will lead to the extinction of some prominent politicians in the party.

He mentioned that the selection of the national chairman will be defined by aggressiveness and greed while mentioning some aspirants who won’t see the favour of the cabals.

‘’The fact still remains that the cabal will succeed in selecting the national chairman of the APC. The game plan will change at the centre. Some people who want to contest for the 2023 presidency within the party will be affected by the result of the convention. The convention will bring about issues in the party and some bigwigs will be fizzled out in the party as a result of this.’’

‘’The process of picking the new chairman of the party will be defined by aggressiveness and greed. Also, Mallam Saliu Mustapha and Abdulazeez Yari will not see the favour of cabals in the convention as national chairman aspirants.’’

Operatives of the Lagos and Enugu Zonal Commands of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday arrested 33 internet fraud suspects in separate sting operation.

Seventeen of the suspects were arrested in Lagos while 16 others were nabbed at Enugu.

The 17 suspects arrested in Lagos are Adefila Ayobami Ezekiel, Anamene Somtochukwu, Nzeako Kosisochukwu Anthony, Afolabi Ayomide Henry, Olatona Ayodeji Ebenezer, Obioho Ikenna Raphael, Famolayo Femi Hammed, Mintah-Joshua Oluwafemi, Martins Victor Onuoha, Babatunde Haruna Oluwaseyi, Taiwo Bolaji Kehinde, Ibeakolam Goodluck, Onaolapo Iyanu Samuel, Jamiu Damilola Lawal, Adeyanju Fawaz, AdejideSamuel and Obioho Obinna.

They were arrested in an Estate around the Ikota axis of Lagos following credible intelligence received by the Commission on the illegal activities of some individuals allegedly involved in computer fraud.

A statement by EFCC Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said upon their arrest, six exotic vehicles, laptops and mobile devices were recovered from them.

The 16 suspected fraudsters arrested in Enugu were apprehended at Premier Layout axis of Enugu.

The suspects are Ovu Chimezie, Junior Gentle Pepple, Nwoye Paul, Ezeoke Chimelue, Innocent Kenechukwu, Tochukwu Igbonekwu, Chigozie Oguanya,Nwachukwu Daniel and Charles Duru Chibuzor. Others are Anderson D. Ugochukwu , Chinedu Nwasu, Obiora Martin Ugonna, Nwabueze Chidindu, Nwabueze Samuel Nnaemeka, Okechukwu Collins.D and Nwabueze Benjamin Ikenna.

Preliminary investigation links them with suspected impersonation, possession of fraudulent documents and defrauding unsuspecting foreign nationals.

Items recovered from the suspects include one Lexus ES350 with registration number EPE113 HB , a Mercedes Benz E350 with registration number RSH 201 BP , another Mercedes Benz with registration number UWN 338 MP and one Toyota Camry with registration number JRV 944 KL; and several phones and laptops.

Uwujaren said that the suspects would be arraigned as soon as investigations were concluded.

Thirty-five secondary schools have been banned from presenting candidates for the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination, WASSCE over their involvement in examination malpractices in Rivers State.

A new public opinion poll has tipped former Benue State Governor and Minister of Special Duties, Sen. George Akume, as the most suitable candidate to lead the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The poll was undertaken by DBI Analytics Consulting to ascertain the level of citizens awareness towards ongoing socio-political happenings in the country, as well as the forthcoming APC convention.

A statement issued on Sunday by Mr Segun Olajonrin, Associate Director, DBI Analytics Consulting, stated that the public opinion poll was administered between March 14 and 17.

“It involved telephone interviews of a random national sample.

“A total of 1,011 citizens were randomly selected from phone-owning Nigerians, aged 18 years and above; and citizens across the 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were interviewed.

“The sample has a ±5 per cent margin of error and confidence interval of 95 per cent, deemed statistically significant.

“From the poll findings, 51 per cent of respondents said they are aware of the forthcoming National Convention of the APC, while 41 per cent are unaware and 8 per cent simply uninterested to participate in the poll.

“In terms of familiarity with the candidates contesting for the party Chairmanship, 53 per cent, 52 per cent and 50 per cent of respondents said they are familiar with Tanko Al-Makura, Abdullahi Adamu and George Akume respectively,” Olajonrin said.

According to him, 45 per cent said they are familiar with Sen. Sani Musa, while 39 per cent affirmed same for Mustapha Salihu.

He stated that the poll also sought the opinion of citizens regarding which aspirant they believe has the leadership capacity, character and integrity to lead the APC.

“From the findings, Sen. George Akume came tops with 32 per cent as the candidate with the leadership capacity, character and integrity to lead the party.

“Akume was closely followed by Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura with 23 per cent and Senator Abdullahi Adamu with 17 per cent.

“Others are Sen. Sani Musa with 8 per cent and Mustapha Salihu with 6 per cent,” he added.

DBI Analytics Consulting is a boutique research consulting firm specialising in public opinion polls, election surveys, and perception studies.

The Chairman, Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Committee of the All Progressives Congress, Governor Mai Mala Buni, on Friday, met with the committee’s Secretary, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, dispelling the rumour that the latter had been sacked.

Fresh charges have been slammed on infamous internet fraudster Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas by United States prosecutors, accusing him of committing fraud and laundering over $400,000 while in prison.

On Wednesday, US prosecutors presented documents before the U.S. District Court of California with fresh evidence indicating Mr Abbas committed fraud and money laundering at the U.S Federal correctional facility.

The documents said Mr Abass was involved in the purchase and laundering of Economic Impact Payment debit cards obtained from stolen data of U.S. citizens and residents.

According to prosecutors, inmates are allowed access to phone calls, video calls, the internet, exempt from being monitored to protect their rights to privacy. However, between January 28 and March 4, security officers at the correctional facility observed that Mr Abbas had gone beyond allowed internet use.

In light of the internet-based crimes Mr Abbas was tried for, a warrant to record his activities was obtained and his activities were recorded for a week.

It was found that Mr Abbas had purchased 58 EIP debit cards from an underground cybercriminal marketplace StimulusCard, worth $429,800.

The Economic Impact Payments are financial support offered by the U.S. government to U.S residents according to the CARES Act.

Mr Abass, whose sentencing was postponed to July, pleaded guilty to multimillion-dollar fraud charges as part of a plea bargain he entered with the U.S. authorities.

The 37-year-old had been arrested in Dubai in June 2020 and extradited to the U.S. where he has been facing charges of corruption in Central California.

…Presidential nomination forms to sell at N40m, gov N21m

…Sets up a 27-man committee to decide on zoning

…As Ayu calls for a united front among party leaders


Barring any dramatic twist, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has concluded plans to hold its Presidential convention for the 2023 poll in May.

The convention according to multiple credible sources may hold in May 28 and 29, 2022.

Addressing newsmen at the end of the 95th NEC meeting of the party yesterday, national publicity secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba said sufficient preparations have been made by the party for the 2023 general elections by the PDP.

In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the party approved the sum of N35m and N5m for Presidential Nomination and Expression of Interest forms respectively.

Similarly, governorship Nomination Form is pegged at N20m while the Expression of interest form is fixed for N1m.

Others include State House of Assembly -Expression of Interest -N100,000,

Nomination Form N500,000; House of Representatives- Expression of Interest-N500,000, Nomination Form N2m;

Senate-Expression of Interest -N500,000, Nomination Form- N3m.

NEC also approved the PDP Electoral Guidelines for the conduct of primary elections as well as the timetable and schedule of activities of the PDP for the 2023 general elections.

Meanwhile, NEC approved a 50 per cent reduction in nomination fees for youths aged 25 to 30 years for various elective positions.

NEC also approved the commencement of sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms from Wednesday (today) with the exercise expected to last until April 1.

On zoning, NEC also approved the establishment of a 37-member committee to make recommendations for the zoning of various elective positions for the 2023 general elections including the Presidential ticket. According to Olugunagba, the committee has two weeks to submit its recommendations.

Addressing NEC, PDP national chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu called on party leaders and stakeholders to forge a united front that will enable the party win elections beginning with the Osun and Ekiti states governorship elections.

He said: “The National Working Committee under my leadership is calling on all our leaders and members of our party, not just in Ekiti and Osun, but all the over the country to join us in fighting those elections because they are winnable if we put aside our differences and make sure that we work as a team to win those elections.

“These elections are important for several reasons. First of all for, they will give confidence back to our members.

Secondly, they will signal to Nigerians that the PDP is determined to take power in 2023.

We can take power in 2023 if we loss elections in the state chapters or constituencies.

“It is important we unify the party. If we unify the party, we will win election at the state chapters. If we win elections in the state chapters collectively, we will be able to put those votes together and definitely win Presidential election.

“We are out not just to win Presidential election but to increase our membership in the various Houses of Assembly in the states and the number of governors in the country and take control of the National Assembly.

“That is the only way the President will be comfortable to do his work. We will reunite the country and rebuild it for the wards, through the local governments, states and federal level an restore dignity of Nigeria as a people and respect which we usually enjoy in the international community.”

That said , Ayu enjoined party members to put aside their differences and work collectively for the success of the party.

In his goodwill message, House Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu said the general consensus across the country is that PDP is the party to beat in 2023.

“This is because having exposed the APC; the harbinger of hardship, conceived in deception and lust for power; nurtured in arrogance and impunity; sustained in corruption, violence and suppression, Nigerians have returned to the PDP, a party of selfless and dependable statesmen and women, whose interest is only in the well-being and development of our nation.”

He continued: “Brothers and sisters, my heart bleeds. As I address you today, millions of Nigerian families are mourning. Many more are starving. At every turn are frightening tales of deaths, ritual killings, kidnapping, banditry, missing persons, strange diseases, unemployment, divorces, acute poverty and hardship with citizens now resorting to suicide and slavery mission abroad as options to living under the APC administration.

“The arrogant manner with which APC government treats Nigerians is unbearable and must be stopped. The APC has developed the culture of walking out on Nigerians on issues that border on their welfare and safety.

“This is why the Minister for Education can arrogantly walk out on Nigerian students who went to plead for his intervention in the on-going strike by lecturers in public universities in the country. As we speak, hundreds of Nigerian students are still left behind in war-torn Ukraine. What a heartless administration!

“The recent disablement of a standard gauge train midway from Ibadan to Lagos due to alleged insufficient diesel underscores the carelessness and incompetence of the APC administration to manage critical sectors of our national life.

“Our healthcare system is in shambles. President Buhari, whose administration has wrecked our healthcare institutions, is constantly on medical trips in London with no concern for millions of our compatriots who cannot afford medical treatment abroad.

“The failure of the APC government to address the lingering petrol crisis as well as the fuel challenges in the aviation industry, which is crippling economic and social activities, underscores its insensitivity towards Nigerians. As we speak our nation facing the risk of shut down of airline operations due to horrendous cost of aviation fuel.

“Leaders of our party, Nigerians are asphyxiating under the APC and they look up to the PDP for solution. As we take decisions today and in the coming days, we must jettison all parochial interests and set our eyes on the bigger picture. I urge all aspirants to rein in their supporters and guide their utterances. We must remain united so that Nigerians can march with us to take over governance in 2023.

“The recent court judgement that removed the governor, deputy governor and 17 members of the Ebonyi House of Assembly reinforces the fact that the PDP is intact. On the other hand, the APC has become factionalized and their members can leave because the prescribed requirements for defecting as provided in S68(1)(g) are present in the APC,” he added.

Ahead of the 2023 election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is to commence the sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination forms on Thursday, March 17.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, who disclosed this at the end of the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, on Wednesday in Abuja, said the party also approved the party’s timetable and schedule of activities for the election

On zoning, he said the NEC gave express approval for the setting up of a zoning committee.

The Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, has said that the current power situation in the country is caused mainly by shortage of gas.

Abubakar briefed State House correspondents after a hybrid meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The minister said that efforts were being made to address the situation, adding that Nigeria had the capacity of 8,000Mw on the grid, embedded and captive.

“The issue we are currently facing now was not only as a result of the level of water, which most of you captured in your reports; that is part of it; but it is not much from that angle.

“The more reason we are facing the situation now is as a result of the shortage of gas and some of the generators have to go into maintenance.

“It is a scheduled maintenance and it is supposed to be scheduled outage but we had not envisaged that we will have issues around vandalism of pipelines.

”Which the NNPC has addressed as you can see evidently everywhere, aviation fuel, and petrol in the filling stations; it is a combination of many factors.

“That compounded the problem we are having on the grid.’’

“The generators are not supplying because of lack of gas; so, I know some of you are aware; just two days ago, I summoned an emergency meeting which was unprecedented’’, the minister said.

He said that for the first time, he brought in all the sector players—from NNPC, Agip, Shell to the regulator, NERC, the GENCOS like the Niger-Delta Power Company, the TCN and the ministry.

Abubakar said that the meeting, which involved the adviser to the president on infrastructure, lasted for the whole day trying to proffer a solution.

“I challenged all of them; I said this is like a war situation; we need to find solutions; we need to come out with answers—quick ones, emergency solutions because the power on the grid has dropped due to those things that affected it—lack of gas, the maintenance that some of the generators are undergoing.

“So, you know technology, it is not up to you, that drop in the supply; the collapse of the grid, it triggered some response; some started to trip down and also caused the whole system to go down.

“We had the day before yesterday, we recovered it, we are on top of it; we have recovered it now; the grid is back; we are trying to get more megawatts to push on to the grid through the aforementioned meeting; everybody now is contributing to that meeting.

“Those things you have mentioned about bickering is no longer the cause because I have told them that we are one; nobody should blame anybody; because if you go on the blame game, how do you solve the problem? ’’

Abubakar said that committees had been set up all geared towards getting more mega watts to put on the grid as basically, the problem was around gas.

According to him, there is need to have gas contract between generating companies and gas supplies– some are form contracts, some are not.

He said that all the variables were being looked into and some solutions had been proffered which would come into fruition soon.

“We have capacity of 8,000 mega watts – the one on the grid, embedded and captive.

“If you combine all of them, what is happening now is as a result of all these problems that we are encountering and we are on top of it; very soon, we will come out of it.’’

The minister said that his ministry had received an approval of N5 billion from FEC for compensation to project affected persons in the expansion of the Lagos/Ogun line with six sub-stations.

Ahead of the national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) slated for March 26, former governor of Zamfara state, Abdulaziz Yari, has jettisoned the zoning arrangement put in place by the party.

The leadership of the APC had zoned national chairmanship position to the North-central but former governor Yari who hails from Zamfara state North-west has paid N20 millions nomination form to contest the position.

Our correspondent who was at the national secretariat of the APC saw Yari’s men branded in a pink T-shirt with face-cap to march.

Speaking on behalf of the pro-Yari’s group after obtaining the form, Senator Tijani Yahaya Kaura told newsmen that the former governor is a party man and that the national chairmanship position is zoned to the Northern region.

When reminded that the position is zoned to the North-central, Senator Kaura said his group was not aware of that, adding that the issue of zoning was yet to totally resolved.

Former Governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Almakura, may be eligible for a discount of 50 percent of the twenty million naira prescribed as the cost of All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairmanship form, POLITICS NIGERIA reports.

According to a schedule of the APC’s national convention obtained by this medium, the governing party fixed twenty million naira for those running for the office of the Chairman.

Those aspiring for the office of the deputy national chairman are expected to purchase the form for the sum of ten million naira while aspirants for other offices will purchase theirs for five million naira.

Meanwhile, the APC provided a caveat, announcing a 50 percent slash for female aspirants and the physically challenged.

If he so decides to tender his status, Almakura, a Chairmanship aspirant, may benefit from the discount as he is suffering from hearing impairment.

Rather than paying the 20 million naira, Almakura will pay the sum of ten million naira on account of disability.

Recall that Al-Makura first disclosed his disability status in 2017, when he was still occupying the governorship office.

He told participants at an international conference on Lassa fever in Abuja how he contracted the disease in 1990 that made him deaf for 20 years before he had a cochlear implant.

The governor said he lost his first son to Lassa fever nine years after marriage, the second son survived but with the burden of the side effects of the virus, neurological problems, especially hearing loss.

Al-Makura said he got infected when he was bitten on his finger while trying to prevent his then sick son from biting his tongue. He said he later fell sick with severe headache, seizures, cough, stomachache and erratic breathing.

Also in February, Almakura’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Segun Tomori, confirmed that his principal has hearing impairment.

Tomori explained that the former governor belongs to the disability community and will at all times protect the interest of the disability community in the party.

It should be noted that the window period for the purchase of the form which began on Monday closes on Friday.

Those gunning for the top spot in the race include; Kwara-born politician, Saliu Mustapha; former Nasarawa Governor, Abdullahi Adamu and Senator Sani Musa, who is representing Niger East in the National Assembly.

It is expected that any of these will emerge the winner at the national convention of the party scheduled for March 26.

Disagreement between two lawyers, on Tuesday, stalled an application by the All Progressives Congress (APC), to vacate an order of the court stopping the party from going ahead with its March 26 national convention.

Justice Bello Kawu of a High Court of of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), had ordered the party not to go ahead with the planned national convention.

During the proceedings on Tuesday, two lawyers, Shuaibu Aruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Michael Adoyi from the Chambers of Musa Yakubu, SAN and Co, announced appearance for both the party and the chairman, Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State.

While Aruwa claimed that he had been briefed by the party to take over the matter from Musa Yakubu, Adoyi, who appeared from the same chambers said his principal has not been debriefed.

Mr Aruwa said, “My Lord, it appears there is a conflict of representation as regards the 1st and 2nd respondents in this matter. We have a copy of a letter of instruction to us in this matter.

”After we were briefed, we filed a notice of change of counsel and we informed counsel in court of the changes and there was no complaint.”

In his response, Adoyi said his chambers has not been debriefed. According to him the case file was still with him.

”We were not served with the hearing notice of this matter today and we did not receive any letter debriefing us. The case file is still with me.

“Mai Mala Buni told my principal that the brief is still extant. We are still in this matter representing the 1st and 2nd respondents,” Adoyi said.

Justice Kawu in his ruling said it was obvious the case won’t go on because of the disagreement over legal representation.

”Having heard from counsels, it appears there is disagreement over who the counsel representing the 1st and 2nd respondents will be.

”I, therefore, order the 1st and 2nd respondents to write to the court who their counsel is. This matter is hereby adjourned to March 17, 2022,” the judge ruled.

Recall that the plaintiff in the matter, Hon. Salisu Umoru, had dragged the party, Governor Buni and INEC before the court to challenge the planned national convention of the ruling party.

In the case with suit number: FCT/HC/CV/2958/2021 and motion number FCT/HC/M/9655/21, the plaintiff prayed the court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the 1st and 2nd defedants, allies, agents, representatives, associates or whoever from organising, holding or conducting a national convention of the All Progressives Congress in January and February or at any other date either before or after pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

After listening to counsel in the matter, Justice Kawu granted the order and restrained the party from going ahead with the convention and also warned that the subject matter of the case is now subjudice and must not be tampered with.

The claimant informed the court that the mere inauguration of sub-committees for the March 26 National Convention when the order of the honourable court is in force was a demonstration of disdain for the rule of law in the country.

Recall that the electoral umpire, INEC had last week wrote to the APC, insisting that the commission did not recognise Governor Abu Bello’s leadership of the paerty, and also informed the APC that it has not performed one of the requisite requirements for a valid NEC meeting or National Convention.

A new faction in the All Progressives Congress (APC) has initiated moves to compromise the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the rejection of Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State as the Chairman of Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the party by the electoral body, multiple sources told SaharaReporters.

INEC had rejected a letter inviting it to an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee of the governing party where Bello’s chairmanship, among other things, was to be ratified.
INEC’s position had been contained in a letter dated March 9, 2022, signed by the Secretary to INEC, Rose Anthony, titled, “Re: Invitation to the emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee.”
The letter was addressed to the National Chairman, APC CECPC.
The commission informed the CECPC that the letter of invitation was not signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the CECPC, Mai Mala Buni and Dr John Akpanudoedehe, respectively.
It said this was contrary to the provision of Article 1.1.3 of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Party Operations (2018).

It, therefore, urged the APC to note the issues raised and ensure immediate compliance.

A new group in the party led by Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, had announced Bello as the party’s CECPC Chairman, claiming that President Muhammadu Buhari directed them to take the step.
Speaking to SaharaReporters, a source said the rejection of Bello had dashed the prospect of the party’s national convention scheduled for March 26.

He added that members of the new cabal in the APC had initiated moves against the electoral body in the hope of forcing it to change its position.

“A serving governor in one of the Northern states and self-anointed Vice Presidential candidate ahead of 2023 has dispatched an emissary to compromise INEC,” the source add.

“The other governors still supporting Buni are also doing everything to make sure INEC doesn’t recognise Bello. One of them told me this morning that they (pro-Buni governors) were aware that their colleagues were doing everything possible to undermine the neutrality expected of INEC.

“He claimed the pro-Bello governors are threatening the leadership of the electoral body, but he doesn’t think it is something that threats or inducement can achieve for them.

“Political parties have had crises in the past but how INEC sticks to the rules in this APC matter will determine the sustainability of democracy in Nigeria. A situation where a small gang of office holders will dictate how a statutory body does its work would spell doom for the country. INEC must stand its ground and do the right thing.”

Another source also revealed that INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, warned all National Commissioners to steer clear of politicians who might want to compromise them for the benefit of any individual political party.

The source, an INEC staff who craved anonymity because he wasn’t allowed to talk said, “They have been in touch with the Chairman through a governor that conversed with him in Hausa over the phone. The tone of the conversation suggests there were threats involved.
“The pressure is really on INEC to reverse itself and recognize the changes that the party made without recourse to the laws guiding electioneering and administration of political parties.

“But even if INEC looked the other way as they are demanding then everything will become a matter for the courts to decide. They are not looking at that the commission has experience with this kind of controversial leadership, and I think the consensus is that we should comply with the letters of the law to avoid the distraction of court cases.
“Professor Yakubu had said INEC will obey every court order and guidelines stipulated in the Electoral Act.”

basty:
Empty brain spotted

ZAMFARA STATE GOVT HOUSE

(PRESS RELEASE)

GOV MATAWALLE CAUTIONS COLLEAGUES ON WASHING DIRTY LINENS IN PUBLIC

Governor Bello Mohammed (Matawallen Maradun, Barden Hausa, Shattiman Sakkwato) has cautioned his colleagues against washing dirty linens in public.

Governor Matawalle spoke against the backdrop of recent happenings within the All Progressives Congress (APC) where the Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu is reported to have referred to some of his colleagues with very harsh words as a result of their roles in the recent efforts at reshaping the fortunes of the party.

"It is not right for us to wash our dirty linens in the media especially at this critical time of the Party's transformation as we move towards a decisive period in 2023", Governor Matawalle observed.

"I believe that each of us has been trying his best in his own way to move the interest of our great Party forward. His Excellency, Bukar Mai Mala Buni has, no doubt, contributed immensely to the promotion of the Party's fortunes, and indeed all other Governors who disagreed with one another".

"However, we all disagree to agree. That is the beauty of democracy. There is no point in promoting disharmony among ourselves after disagreements are settled nor is it wise to drag the name of His Excellency, Mr President into taking sides on issues that are ordinarily a normal political misunderstanding common to every collective of interests", Governor Matawalle further observed.

"Now, more than ever before, the Party needs the strength and unity to face the challenges ahead as we move towards the critical period of elections of which the Party must maintain its supremacy at all levels" Matawalle advised.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for always being a father to all as well as all his colleagues for their various contributions to the success of the Party and opined that "together as one, we shall continue to conquer and prosper".

Zailani Bappa
Special Adviser
Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications.
11/03/2022

The Lagos State Government has been watching closely events in the National Union of Road Transport Workers Union (NURTW). There have been claims and counter claims over the control of the union.

The Government has a duty to ensure the safety of lives and property of all Lagosians and visitors. Therefore, there is an urgent need to douse the unnecessary tension generated by the leadership tussle in the NURTW and protect the citizenry from the likely fallout of the situation.

After considering the provisions of the law, the Government hereby suspends the activities of NURTW, which must cease to operate in all parks and garages in Lagos State. The Government will set up a Committee to immediately take control of the parks and garages. Members of the committee will be key stakeholders

The National Industrial Court in Abuja has ordered the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to reinstate its two top directors sacked last year for initiating investigations against Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu.

Faulting their dismissal in her judgement delivered on March 3, 2022, a copy of which PREMIUM TIMES saw on Thursday, the judge, Rakiya Haastrup, described it as arbitrary and unlawful.

The judge pointed out series of breach of due process and a violation of the two officials’ right to fair hearing in the process leading to their dismissal in June last year.

After declaring the dismissal unlawful, null and void, the judge ordered the NFIU and its executive director Moddibo Mamman-Tukur to “issue a letter recalling and re-instating them into the service of NFIU and restoring all the privileges, entitlements and positions held by the claimants before their purported dismissal by the defendants.”

Ms Haastrup, the judge, also ordered them to pay “the claimants’ salaries, allowances and all their entitlements from the period of their purported dismissal to the period of re-instatement.”

Suit, judgement

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how the financial intelligence agency earlier suspended Mohammed Mustapha, its associate director, Intelligence and Investigation, and Fehintola Salisu, associate director, Compliance and Analysis, in August 2020.

The agency’s executive director, Mr Hamman-Tukur, had accused the duo of various forms breaches, principal among which was that they wrote memos without authorisation to local and foreign authorities in an effort to initiate investigations against Messrs Abubakar (Atiku) and Tinubu.

Both Mr Abubakar, a former Nigeria’s vice president and top member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Mr Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State and national leader of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), are known to be aspiring to contest the 2023 presidential election.

This newspaper reported in June last year how the NFIU dismissed Mr Mustapha and Ms Salisu following a recommendation by the Appointments, Promotions, and Discipline Committee (APDC) constituted by the executive director of the agency to investigate the various allegations levelled against them.

The two officials subsequently sued the agency and its executive director at the National Industrial Court in Abuja, to challenge their dismissal. They defended their actions in their suit filed on December 7, 2021, saying they only responded to foreign partner’s request when Mr Hamman-Tukur was absent.

They argued that their dismissal was single-handedly carried out by Mr Hamman-Tukur in contravention of the law.

In their defence, the defendants urged the court to dismiss the suit for being allegedly academic and hypothetical, premature and for failing to disclose reasonable cause of action against them.

They also added that the claimants, having allegedly not been duly employed by the NFIU after they were inherited from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which used to oversee the agency, they lacked the legal right to institute the suit.

In her judgement, the judge upheld the claimants’ case and granted all their seven prayers, including ordering their reinstatement. This was after the judge identified a gamut of violations in the NFIU’s disciplinary process against them.

‘Punishment for offences not contained in query’

Among NFIU’s procedural violations, the judge said, included the NFIU’s disciplinary committee (APDC) finding the claimants guilty of breaches not contained in the queries issued to them.

The disciplinary committee, according to the judge, found the claimants guilty of negligence, dereliction of duty, and insubordination “different” from the allegations levelled against them in the queries issued to them.

She added that the queries failed to specify which provisions of the NFIU Act or the Public Service Rules (PSR) of the federal government were allegedly breached by the claimants.

“The action of the defendants (NFIU and its executive director) in this regard is, to say the least, unconscionable, unlawful an does not accord with the principles of natural justice and I so hold,” the judge ruled.

‘Punishment not commensurate with punishment’

She also ruled that the punishment of dismissal meted out to the claimants was not commensurate with the allegations of negligence, dereliction of duty and insubordination they were said to be guilty of.

Such offences, the judge said, “fall under conducts amounting to misconduct and not serious or gross misconduct as put by the defendants”.

“This is in addition to the fact that the punishment for same is termination or even retirement and not dismissal as meted out to the claimants,” the judge also held.

‘Failure to refer disciplinary complaints to FCSC’

The judge also held that since NFIU did not have any condition of service in existence, “then it is the provision of the Public Service Rules (PSR) that is applicable in the discipline of the claimants.”

She noted that under the PSR it was the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) that could take a disciplinary action against claimants, while the executive director of the agency only had the power to initiate the process.

She ruled that “it was the FCSC that should have constituted the APDC”. “This will forestall a situation of bias in any disciplinary proceedings against any employee.”

‘Unlawful 10 months investigation’

Also faulting the length of time it took the APDC to complete its investigation, the judge said: “it is thus my finding that the exercise of the disciplinary action by the defendants which took 10 months which is well over the 60 days’ timeline stipulated was done in flagrant disregard of the guiding law and I so hold”.

But the judge dismissed the plaintiffs’ claim that their right to fair hearing was breached because the disciplinary committee’s letter of invitation failed to specify the reasons for a meeting scheduled with them.

The judge said it was needless for the invitation letters to specify the reason for the scheduled meeting since they had been earlier queried and they had sent their responses.

APC presidential ticket is likely to go to the South-South and the advantage Godwin Emefiele & Rotimi Amaechi both have is that they are considered to be Igbo men. South West will not get it according to many sources in APC. The Tinubu and Osinbajo camp will weep and cry and you heard it here first.

They are going to show Tinubu pepper � in APC.

blancsn1:
Igbos lying to their father so train break down cos of lack of fuel n no single soul on the plan as a phone to record n publish this occurance.

Ebonyi Governor David Umahi and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe have appealed the High Court ruling, which ordered for their sack from office.

The duo according to the notice of appeal in suit no: FHC/ABJ/CS/920/2021 filed at the Abuja Judicial Division of the Appellate Court, disagreed with entire judgement of the lower court which ordered their sack for defecting to the All Progressive Congress (APC) from the People’s Democratic Party(PDP).

They listed eight grounds of appeal against the lower court’s judgment.

Messrs Umahi and Igwe in ground one argued that the lower court erred in law and misdirected itself when it held that “I have not seen any authority which propounds that where a Governor or deputy Governor defects his political party on which platform he was elected into office, he cannot be sued by that political party to reclaim its mandate…Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution did not envisage such a situation”.

They argued that Hon trial court was virtually setting aside the Supreme court of Nigeria’s decision in AG Federation v. Atiku Abubakar & 3 ORS (2007) LCN/3799(SC)to the effect that there is no constitutional provisions prohibiting President or vice and invariably the Governor and or deputy Governor from defecting to another Political Party.

“The provisions of section 308 are specific Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Constitution, but subject to subsection (2) of this section, no civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against 3rd and 4th Appellants during their mandate in office as Governor and Deputy Governor respectively”.

“There is no provision of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) that provides for the removal of 3rd and 4th Appellants as sitting Governor and Deputy Governor respectively of Ebonyi State for reason of defection”, they argued.

The appellants also averred that the trial court erred in law and misdirected itself when it relied on Sections 68 and 109 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(as amended) in holding that the Appellants having defected from the PDP to the APC offended the provisions of the Constitution and must vacate their offices as Governor and Deputy Governor respectively.

While section 68 deals with grounds for vacation of seats by National Assembly lawmakers (Senate and House of Representatives), section 109 lists grounds for vacation of seats of State Lawmakers.

The appellants thus argued that ‘there is no specific mention of Governor and deputy Governor in the provisions of section 68 and 109 respectively of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“By relying on sections 68 and 109 of the Constitution the Hon. trial court assumed the role of the legislator and arrogated to itself the powers of amendment of the Constitution”

They further submitted that there is no provision in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which states that Governor or deputy Governor will vacate his office if he defects from his political party to another political party.

The appellants in ground 3 argued that the lower court erred in law and overruled the decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria when it held that ownership of votes cast during the Governorship Election of 2019 belongs to the 1st Respondent and not the.

“The Hon trial court relied on AMAECHI v. INEC and FALEKE v. INEC when same are no longer the law on the ownership of votes cast in an election Ngige v. Akunyile (2012) 15 NWLR Pt.1323-343 (CA) the court held: “the above provisions show that a political party canvasses for votes on behalf of the candidate. In other words a political party is nothing more than agent of the candidate in gathering votes to an election”

“In INEC vs. Action Congress (2009) 2 NWLR Pt. 1126 – 524 (CA) the Court held: “…the participation of a political party does not exceed campaigning for the candidate….”, they argued.

On ground four, the appellants avvered that the lower court erred in law when it held that the Appellants are deemed to have been resigned from their Offices as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State upon their defection to another party

They argued that section 180(1)( c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999( as amended) never contemplated, implied resignation but resignation signed by the Appellants and tendered to the Speaker of the House of Assembly of Ebonyi State

“The trial court had no evidence before it of Appellants’ resigning from their Offices”, they further submitted

The governor and his deputy further argued that the lower court erred when it ruled that the duo are nit covered by the immunity clause in the matter.

“the Hon trial court erred in law when it held that the provision of the Public Officers Protection Act cannot avail the Appellants”.

They argued that there is no constitutional breach committed by the Appellants as to deny the Appellants of the provisions of the Public Officers Protection Act

“The reliefs sought by the 1st Respondent are grounded on decisions taken by the Appellants while in their respective Offices as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State”, the argued.

The appellants further submitted that the Hon trial court erred in law when it restrained the Appellants from carrying on the duties in their offices as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State on the basis that the Appellants offended the provisions of sections 177(c) and 221 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)

They argued that “Section 221 of the Constitution is not to the effect that votes cast during the Governorship election of March 9, 2019 belonged to the 1st Respondent but rather to the Appellants”.

“Section 177 of the Constitution is all about qualification for a candidate to the Governorship election and has anything to do with punishment for defection”, they argued

On grounds seven, the appellants argued that the trial Court erred in law when it ordered Appellants to vacate their respective offices as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State.

They also averred that the court was wrong to order 1st Respondent(PDP) to submit to 2nd Respondent(INEC) names of its candidates to replace Appellants as Governors and Deputy Governors of Ebonyi State.

They argued that the law bars the court from declaring anybody who did not take part in all stages of the election as wine of the said election.

“Section. 141 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) states that: An election tribunal or court shall not under any circumstance declare any person a winner at an election in which such a person has not fully participated in all the stages of the said election.”

“Section. 285(13) of the Constitution, reinstated: An election tribunal or court shall not declare any person a winner at an election in which such a person has not fully participated in all stages of the elections.”, the quoted.

The appellants further argued that the trial court erred in law when it not only refused to be persuaded by but rather overruled the decisions of an Ebonyi state high court and a Federal High Court Gusau, Zamfara State on similar matters.

The apellants prayed the court to set aside the judgement of the High Court delivered by the Hon Justice Inyang Ekwo on 8th March 2022 and all orders made therein by the Hon. trial court.

Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Cross River State, Venatius Ikem has expressed the belief that the sack of Governor Ben Ayade by the court is also very imminent.

Yesterday, an Abuja High Court, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo declared in its judgment that Governor David Umahi can no longer be the Governor of Ebonyi State having decamped from the PDP to the APC, maintaining that the votes which gave him the governorship victory belonged to the PDP.

The court directed the PDP to immediately nominate two persons to take over power in Ebonyi State immediately as governor and deputy or INEC should conduct a byelection.

The same scenario played out in Cross River State as Ben Ayade won the 2019 election as governor when he was still in PDP. He left the party to APC on 20th May, 2021.

Ikem said: “We have been in Court for several months on the same claims like those of the PDP in Ebonyi State and we are being represented by the same lawyers, too.

“Indeed, the matter has been set for hearing.

“So, it is not a matter of if we are ‘thinking in that direction’, it is a matter of when our own judgment will be delivered.”

On the National Judicial Council (NJC) which Umahi has ran to for protection and review of the judgment, Ikem said NJC does not have such power.

“The NJC is not a Court. It doesn’t and has no power to review judgments of courts. Only the appropriate Superior Courts have jurisdiction to review judgements of inferior or lower courts,” he said.

The PDP chairman maintained that political cases of this nature take priority over all other cases, adding that there are legislated timelines for the courts to commence and conclude actions before them.

He was hopeful that there will not be delays.

“On the contrary, there will be expeditious dispensation of justice,” he noted.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the immediate evacuation of all impounded, accidented and unregistered exhibit vehicles from Police Stations nationwide.

The order is predicated on the incessant embarrassing and unprofessional manner in which these vehicles are stacked within police facilities causing nuisance and disgusting sight at Police Stations.

The IGP frowns at the practice of stockpiling vehicles recovered from crime scenes or vehicles which their ownership is being contested or in doubt, in police premises with stringent requirements and cumbersome processes for the rightful owners to reclaim them; stressing that such an act would no longer be tolerated as it is tantamount to gross abuse of administrative and judicial processes.

The IGP further emphasizes that heads of police stations and formations should embark on due process to carry out the needful evaluation and release such vehicles in these categories, on bond, to their owners.

The IGP reiterates that the directive is part of efforts being put in place by his administration to ensure conducive working environment for its personnel in order to set in motion such required strategies to combat crime and criminality in the country. The IGP further assures that decongesting the Police Stations and facilities nationwide would be of great operational advantage to the Force in effectively dispensing its policing responsibilities and giving succour to the owners of such exhibit vehicles.

The Inspector-General of Police equally urges all concerned members of the public to approach various Police stations/formations for the recovery and claims of their vehicles, with valid proof of ownership and proper means of identification.

A group of South West elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have declared that they would not recognise Niger Governor Abubakar Bello as the party’s Acting National Chairman.

The party elders belonging to the APC Elders’ Council (South West), in a statement on Tuesday, categorically declared that Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State still remained the Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the party.

A former House of Representatives Member from Oyo State, Lateef Ali, who signed the statement, also warned that any other person laying claim to Gov. Buni’s position was an usurper, who would be challenged in a court of law with the prospect of being disgraced.

He stated: ‘The All Progressive Congress (APC) Elders’ Council (South West) is compelled to make its intervention known to the world on the lingering issues in the party and categorically declare that His Excellency, Mai Mala Buni, Governor of Yobe State remains the chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the APC.

‘Our assertion became imperative to forestall further confusion as to who the chairman of the CECPC is, which requires that we responsibly play our role as elders who must not allow things to go irretrievably bad before speaking out.

‘We advise that the circumstances that saw His Excellency, Abubakar Sani Bello, Governor of Niger State preside over a CECPC meeting must be properly situated and viewed from the right context. The facts have been sufficiently proven that Governor Bello only stood in for Governor Buni in the absence of any other senior member of the committee to do so.

‘The APC Elders’ Council is mindful of the news report that said President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the removal of Buni and his replacement with Governor Bello, which we consider speculative as there has been nothing to prove that president Buhari ordered such an illegal swap.

‘While we have nothing against Governor Buni ceasing to be the CECPC Chairman, we however insist that due process must be followed in removing him or any member of the committee from office or dissolving the committee.

‘We urge those that are hellbent on removing the CECPC chairman to carefully ruminate over the consequences of such an ill-advised move at a time when the APC can barely meet up with the timelines of electoral activities announced by INEC.

‘It is, therefore, crucial to warn at this stage that for us in the APC Elders Council (South-West), Governor Buni remains the Chairman of the CECPC and that any other person laying claim to his position is a usurper, who would be challenged in a court of law with the prospect of being disgraced.

‘We appeal to APC stakeholders to allow reason to prevail at this very sensitive stage in the months before the General Election so that the party does not end up becoming a victim of “own goal” given the war some members are waging against the party’s leadership in their selfish bid to remove Governor Buni as CECPC chairman.’

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been hit by a leadership crisis over an alleged statement by President Muhammadu Buhari that the chairman of the party’s Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni has to step down.

Following the statement, there was uncertainty about who was actually in charge of the party’s affairs, as there were reports that the president had ordered the Niger State governor, Abubakar Sani Bello to take over the party’s affairs.

On Monday, the police authorities moved in and cordoned off the street in Abuja where the national secretariat of the APC is located, and stationed its personnel around the secretariat.

It is still unclear who called in the police.

The suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Abba Kyari, who is facing a drug trafficking charge, on Monday, begged the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja not to remand him in prison custody.

Kyari, through his lawyer, Mr Kanu Agabi, SAN, prayed the court to allow him to remain in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, pending the hearing and determination of his fresh application for bail.

The embattled DCP, who hitherto headed the Police Intelligence Response Team, IRT, made the request after he pleaded not guilty to an eight-count charge the NDLEA preferred against him and six others.

He was docked before trial Justice Emeka Nwike, alongside four other police officers- ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu, as well as two alleged drug traffickers that were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne.

Whereas Kyari, dressed in blue native attire, and his police Co-Defendants, pleaded not guilty to the charge, the 6th and 7th Defendants, Umeibe and Ezenwanne, pleaded guilty to allegations against them.

Meanwhile, shortly after the Defendants entered their plea, the NDLEA, through its Director, Prosecution & Legal Services, Mr Joseph Sunday, applied for a trial date and for review of facts in respect of the Defendants that pleaded guilty to the charge.

The NDLEA equally told the court that it filed a counter-affidavit to oppose the release of Kyari and the other four former members of the Police IRT, on bail.

However, Agabi, SAN, while arguing that the charge against the Defendants contained bailable offences, he urged the court not to accede to request for facts in respect of Umeibe and Ezenwanne.

Agabi, SAN, contended that it will be prejudicial to his client for facts of the case to be reviewed and a decision reached on it, while the trial is still subsisting.

He further made reference to cases where Defendants, out of ignorance, pleaded guilty to a charge against them.

“It is not in the interest of justice for the facts to be reviewed while the trial is still ongoing”, he added.

He noted that both Umeibe and Ezenwanne were also mentioned in some counts in the charge that involved Kyari and the others.

On his part, the Prosecution counsel, Mr. Sunday, maintained that reviewing the facts of the case would not prejudice DCP Kyari and the others.

“My lord, this sort of application by the Defence is to undermine the capacity of this court.

“This case is to be considered on the basis of the evidence before the court. I do not see how the 1st to 5th Defendants will be prejudiced since we are going to confront them with evidence against them”

“The most proper thing is to dispose of the case against the 6th and 7th Defendants.

“It will be unjust and unfair to keep the two Defendants in custody while waiting for the conclusion of the trial of the others.

“It is better for them to be convicted to enable them to start serving their sentence”, the Prosecution added.

After he had listened to oral arguments from both sides, trial Justice Nwite said he would want the parties to formally address the court on the issue next Monday.