₦airaland Forum

BARELY three days after declaring him wanted, the Nigeria Police has apologized to Kassim Afegbua, the spokesman of former military president, Ibrahim Babangida.

Afegbua was on Monday officially declared wanted.

The police through its Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, said he was wanted for wanted for for giving false statement.

On Wednesday Afegbua stormed the Force Headquarters with his lawyer, Kayode Ajulo.

Shortly after his release, Afegbua addressing journalists said, “Incidentally, it became a very fair discussion; the Police said there was a mix up somewhere, to have warranted me been declared wanted and they apologized.

“They said the Police are for the people, in a democracy, it is their responsibility to be there for the people, not to intimidate, not to harass me.

“That they didn’t intend to harass me, they didn’t intend to intimidate me, of course, you know we have a case in court, my lawyers will advise what steps we are going to take.”

Afegbua noted that he has excluded media houses he included in the litigation he filed against the hierarchy of the Police.

He had filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday asking for N1bn as damages.

Those joined as respondents to the suit are the Nigeria Police Force, the IGP, the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Moshood Jimoh, the Nigerian Television Authority and the Channels Televisions Limited.

“I have withdrawn Channels and NTA as respondents to the suit this morning,” he said, maintaining that Idris and Jimoh are the remaining respondents.

THE Nigerian Army has revealed plans to begin a show of force in six states across the country.

Tagged, ‘Exercise Ayem Akpatuma’, HEADLINE understands that the translation for the Tiv language is ‘Operation Cat Race.’

The Chief of Training and Operations, Maj. Gen David Ahmadu, announced this development in Abuja.

He represented the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai.

He said the exercise is billed to commence from February 15 and end on March 31.

The show of force is to tackle the cases of kidnappings, herdsmen/farmers’ clashes among others in Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Niger states.

HERDSMEN in Anambra State are to pay for agricultural produce they damaged last year while aggrieved farmers who killed cows belonging to the herders are to compensate their owners.

This was the decision reached at a meeting between the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle breaders Association (MACBAN), community leaders, leaders of farmers association and government officials in the State.

The herdsmen also earned a two weeks ultimatum to make their payments to the affected farmers.

The ultimatum was handed over to them by the State Governor, Willie Obiano.

The South East zonal chairman of MACBA, Alhaji Idris Sadiq Gidado, confirmed the development in an interview with Vanguard Newspaper.

According to Gidado, they have N137,000 to pay the affected communities, adding that it was only Ufuma community that had outstanding compensation that would be paid in the next five days.

He listed Ezeagu, Mbaukwu, Okija, Omo, Aguleri and Ayamelum as communities who have so far been paid.

Gidado noted that while over hundred (100+) cows belonging to herdsmen were killed by angry farmers, Obiano ordered that seventy-eight (78) of them be paid for.

“Cattle that were killed last year by aggrieved farmers in some communities were more than 100, but governor Willie Obiano asked the communities to pay for 78 cattle whose cost stood at N50, 000 each,” he said.

The leader of the herdsmen disclosed that it was resolved that “if a herdsman destroys farmers crops, the owner of the cattle will pay heavy compensation to the farmers whose crops were destroyed while if a cattle is killed, the community will either produce the killer or pay compensation to the owner of the cattle at the current market value.”

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the naming of President Muhammadu Buhari as African Union (AU) anti-corruption champion as laughable, derisory and eminently qualified as Africa’s joke of the year

The PDP said it was embarrassing that the Presidency, in its desperation to launder its irredeemably dented image, would resort to exporting its deceptive proclivities to the international arena.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan on Monday said leaders of the African Union were not well briefed on happenings in Nigeria, including the series of corrupt activities recorded in the two and a half years of the Buhari’s presidency.

The party said the AU would not have honoured President Buhari if it knew the depth of persecution of opposition figures under the guise of war against corruption, while officials of his government swim head deep in corruption under the overt protection of the Presidency.

“As we speak, those receiving accolades as champions of anti corruption have not yet cleared the air on the leaked memo detailing underhand oil contracts to the tune of N9 trillion ($25billion dollars) at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources which are under President Buhari’s direct supervision as minister.

“They are yet to offer any explanation on series of reported fraud in the oil sector including allegation of the use of 18 unregistered companies to lift and divert N1.1trillion worth of crude oil in the last one year to service the All Progressives Congress (APC) interests.

“This is a government which has provided cover for its corrupt officials including former state governors, who were indicted of looting funds belonging to their states to sponsor their Presidential election in 2015 as well as cronies openly indicted for other various sharp practices, including padding of federal budget, secret oil subsidy deals and stealing of funds meant for fight against insurgency and rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

“Perhaps AU leaders need to know that the Presidency has virtually failed to do anything regarding the heinous diversion of N5 billion meant for the IDPs under the Presidential Initiative on the Northeast for which the Senate mounted a stiff investigation, only because officials of APC government was indicted.

“They might also need to be shown the motion by Senator Baba Kaka Garba from Borno Central, who exposed how some individuals, known to have connections with the APC, fraudulently cornered N1.2 billion from the Federal Government under the guise of supplying items to IDPs, only for the money to be diverted for other purposes which are related to APC interests.

“Furthermore, the AU might need to know that the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who was openly indicted by the Senate for stealing funds meant for IDP activities, was only arrested after a public outcry but was quickly released with a pat on the wrist, while opposition members facing similar charges are being detained and persecuted with spurious charges in various courts.

“The truth lies bare that the Buhari administration is not engaging in any fight against corruption but political witch-hunt of opposition, while his government reeks with corruption,” the PDP said.

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FORMER governor of Kano State and senator representing Kano central senatorial district, has suspended his visit to the state.

Both Kwankwaso and Umar Ganduje – the incumbent governor – who have been in disagreement had fixed their rallies for Tuesday.

Kwankwaso was advised by the police to dump his planned visit but he vowed to go ahead with his trip.

Speaking on Monday, the lawmaker through his aide, Rabi’u Sulaiman Bchi, announced the cancellation.

He stated this while addressing journalists at the Kwankwasiyya House, Luggard Avenue, Kano.

He said it was due to series of consultations.

“I have shelved my visit to Kano to avoid political clash in the state following series of advice I have received from well-meaning Nigerians home and abroad.

“In view of this and after lengthy consultations with well-meaning Nigerians home and abroad, we painfully have decided to shelve the scheduled visit at the moment,” he said.

THE upper legislative chamber has stated that nobody can remove its president, Bukola Saraki.

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This is coming from the chamber’s spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.

Senator Isah Misau, representing Bauchi Central Senatorial district had recently alleged that a minister was fronting the removal of Mr. Saraki while they went for the Christmas and New year holiday stating that their reason was that the Senate President may leave the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Reacting, Abdullahi, speaking with reporters at the weekend, noted that any plot to remove Saraki from his position would fail.

“Nobody can remove Saraki. We elected him and we are not ready to remove him yet. From day one, they never wanted Saraki. What we are saying is that the right to choose the Senate President lies with senators and we have chosen our leader.

“From everything he has been doing as chairman of the National Assembly and as President of the Senate, he has provided stability. He has not only brought this to the National Assembly, but the entire country.

“The true face of democracy is the parliament and since Saraki came in, we have not failed this democracy,” Abdullahi said.

Meanwhile, HEADLINE understands that the National Assembly and the Presidency might be in for another showdown over the recent amendments of the Electoral Act which seeks to reorder the schedule of elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has placed the presidential election before the Assembly elections, but the Senate and the House of Representatives are planning to change that.

Lawmakers want the Assembly elections to come first. The thinking is that if the Assembly elections come first, the winners may inspire a “bandwagon” effect, which may swing the presidential election.

In other words, the party with the majority in the National Assembly is likely to carry the day in the presidential election.

The House of Representatives recently passed its version of the amendment to the Electoral Act and concurred with the Senate to put the Presidential election last.

The Presidency is believed to be unsettled with that arrangement.

The Senate, which last year passed its own version, immediately set up a panel to meet with the House to agree on a joint position.

Abdullahi said the panel set up to reconcile the differences between the versions of the Senate and the House, would meet this week.

“The key issues have been debated and agreed upon. All that is remaining is to bring the two chambers together through the conference committee by next week, as the areas of contention are not much.

“And I believe they will work together to make sure that we have an agreeable component that the Nigerian people will be happy that we are deepening the electoral process,” he said.

Abdullahi expressed optimism that the harmonisation would not exceed two weeks.

A former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Samuel Afolayan (retd.), has alleged that the Nigeria Police knows the sponsors of the dreaded Fulani herdsmen committing atrocities across the country but cannot arrest them.

He said he was pointedly told by the police that the sponsors of the herdsmen though known, could not be arrested when he reported the numerous attacks on his farm to the Kwara State Police command.

He noted that the police said their sponsors were highly placed individuals.

Afolayan stated this in an interview with PUNCH Newspaper.

He said he was told this when he reported the destruction of his farmland to the police.

The ex-naval chief said there has been numerous attacks on his farm by herdsmen but he has been silent on the attacks to avoid escalating the tension in the country but decided to speak out for the first time in January.

He explained that he has had to seize some of the herders’ cows to stall the attacks but they forcefully reclaimed them.

He said the owners of the cows were highly placed persons residing outside the state. According to Afolayan, he told the police to bring one of them in for questioning but was told that it would be difficult.

“I said that is injustice. How do you remand a boy that is of no consequence when the boy had already told you that the owner of the cows is in Zamfara State?

“He gave the number of his employer and I said the police should invite the man who owns the cows and they were telling me that it would be difficult. What is difficult in that? The police can arrest anybody wherever he or she lives in Nigeria.”

Afolayan maintained that the federal government was not doing enough to address the attacks while calling on it to take drastic actions.

THE Benue State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has called on the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, to tender his resignation letter stepping down from his portfolio over his comments on why Fulani herdsmen slaughtered indigenes of the State on New Year day.

The party which made the call in a statement issued on Saturday by the state chairman, Abba Yaro, also described the minister as a disgrace to democracy.

The minister had on Thursday told Nigerians and those who care to listen that the attack on two communities in Benue that led to the death of over 70 innocent people and destruction of properties worth millions of Naira was as a result of the open grazing prohibition law enacted by the State Government.

“I have told you that the remote cause is part of the grazing law,” he told State House Correspondents when asked if he was justifying the killings.

Reacting, Yaro said he should accompany his resignation letter with an unreserved apology to Nigerians.

“By this singular utterance, the Minister of Defence, Col. Muhammad Mansur Dan Ali (rtd) has inarguably displayed incontestable lack of the required sensibility and capacity to serve as Defence Minister in a country of over 180 million people with over 300 ethnic nationalities.

“As an integral part of the country, Nigeria and as a State that gave President Muhammadu Buhari an edge in the 2015 general elections, we demand that Col. Mansur Dan Ali (rtd) resigns his position as Nigeria’s Defence Minister immediately and tender an unreserved apology to the good people of Benue State and the country at large.

“Through his statement, as an insider, Dan-Ali appears to have been contracted by the opposition to work against the APC. Minister Mansur apparently is one of those who are working against the unity of Nigeria and must be stopped now before he and others with such parochial, hateful, divisive and repulsive tendencies plunge the country into deeper crisis.

“In as much as we would not dignify Col. Mansur with obnoxious affronts, we would again want to inform him that he is not just an ingrate, but an unrepentant pathological opportunist who was in his farm working for the PDP when many of us toiled the nooks and crannies of this country to ensure victory for President Muhammadu Buhari in the election that brought him (Buhari) to power through which he (Mansur) is one of the biggest beneficiaries.”

The party however declared its support for Governor Samuel Ortom, and reiterated its commitment towards making “the open grazing prohibition law our number one priority in the State.”

Meanwhile, Ortom also stated that the statement credited to the Minister was tantamount to dancing on the blood and graves of the innocent pregnant women, children and the elderly killed in the new year attacks on the state by herdsmen that claimed over 73 lives.

THE Niger Delta Avengers has stated its readiness to resume another violent campaign on oil multinational companies residing on the offshore of the region.

It said the commencement of the yet-to-begin attacks will be the most deadly, promising to target deep sea operations of the multinationals which include Bonga Platform, Agbami, EA Field, Britania-U Field, Akpo Field, among others.

About 17 attacks carried out in 2016 by the Avengers and other militant groups in the oil-rich Niger Delta were partly responsible for a slump in Nigeria’s oil output, which in turn plunged the country into a recession.



The group had threatened to launch “Operation Red Economy” on oil facilities in November 2017 but was dissuaded by the leadership of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), set up last year to chart a way forward with the Nigerian government.

“On the 3rd of November 2017 we promised to reactivate “operation red economy” but as usual some overzealous and over patriotic elders intervened and appealed as they have done twice before then for us to avail them some more time to attend to the demands of the Niger Delta as championed by the Niger Delta Avengers.

“That we have not achieved any meaningful results despite the opportunities we have availed the Niger Delta elders means that they are either irresponsible or the Nigerian government is not sincere with them as it is their trade in stock.

“Because of the above, we have resolved not to listen to the Niger Delta elders as we unravel our New year package to the failed Nigerian state this time around.”

While resource control has been at the heart of the agitations of many militant groups in the Niger Delta, the NDA, is this time around demanding for the country’s restructuring.

“While promising a brutal outpour of our wrath, which shall shake the coffers of the failed Nigerian nation, our demand unambiguously is for the government to restructure this country,” it said in the statement signed by its spokesperson Murdoch Agbinibo and posted on its website.

The group also insisted on the control of “our resources and directly use them to better our lot instead of being enslaved and made to beg before crumbs are released in a dress rehearsal-like manner to intervention agencies that are ineffective at addressing our challenges. While 1 Billion Dollars from the excess crude account is been released to fight a Boko Haram in the North; successive government acts blind to the very bold array of challenges our region from which this wealth is generated is facing; as they (the Nigerian Government) derives pleasure in sending their unprofessional and weak military to invade our communities and subject our already sick and suffering people to more hardship and poverty.”

It also demanded the immediate release of all Niger Deltans Activists and Freedom Fighters that are held captive by the Nigeria Armed Forces citing the recent release of 244 members of Boko Haram terrorists as reason behind the demand, accusing the government of insincerity at handling issues that concern the region.

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sarrki:
Life t every state make there own law on the grazing issue

If I don't have land to give you

You can't force me

OHANAEZE Ndigbo, the Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, has urged the people of the South East region to reject the proposed grazing colonies by the federal government.

The Enugu State chapter of the organisation in a statement issued by its president Chief Chiedozie Ogbonnia in Enugu, on Tuesday, urged “governors of all Southeast states, our senators, members of House of Representatives, members of the state Houses of Assembly in the Southeast, the traditional Institutions and other major stakeholders and indeed the entire Igbo nation to rise up against any form of internal colonization under any guise.”

It advised the Federal Government to instead initiate urgent processes towards the restructuring of Nigeria along the lines of true fiscal federalism rather than toying with the bizarre idea of grazing colonies.

It also said that any attempt by the Federal Government to carry out the policy would amount to usurpation of the people’s right to existence and would thus be vehemently resisted by Ndigbo.

“We hereby state without fear of contradiction that establishment of grazing colonies is not the answer to restructuring Nigeria, an option which Ohanaeze is committed and disposed to.

“We are not unmindful of the palpable fears in many quarters, within and outside Nigeria, that there is a grand plot to impose a certain faith upon our people. Much as we will continue to work for and believe in the unity of Nigeria, our people will resist any move aimed at sacrificing us at the altar of that unity.

“Government should, therefore, refrain from initiatives that would tend to give credence to the alleged agenda of faith imposition,” Ogbonnia said.

“God Himself frowns at this kind of policy. According to the law of God, ‘If anyone grazes their livestock in a field or vineyard and lets those animals stray and graze in someone else’s field, the offender must make restitution from the best of his own field or vineyard,” he added while quoting Exodus 22:5 as saying.

Giving reasons for the Ohanaeze action, the state president said: “That the initiative is merely a more monstrous reincarnation of the dubious National Grazing Reserve Bill, which seeks to establish a National Grazing Reserve Commission that will acquire, hold, lease or dispose of any property, moveable or immovable for the purpose of carrying out its function.

“That this initiative amounts to internal colonisation of our political space basically because we cannot even challenge such unilateral acquisition in any law court in Nigeria without obtaining a leave or consent of the Attorney General of the Federation.

“That grazing colonies simply means a forceful takeover of people’s ancestral lands and assigning same to Fulani herdsmen who shall use the land for grazing purposes.

“That this initiative amounts to a deliberate attempt by the government to take over our lands and hand over to Fulani herdsmen whose economy is anchored on cattle rearing.

“That Igbo economy, especially in terms of agriculture and other forms of development, is at risk on account of this initiative.

“That this amounts also to enacting a law that would be preferential and advantageous to one ethnic group at the expense and detriment of other component parts of Nigeria, especially Ndigbo.

“That the reasons given by the Federal Government to justify this action are vague, preposterous and, therefore, totally unacceptable to the good people of Enugu State and Ndigbo in general,” the statement read.

Ogbonnia also urged the Enugu State government, the state House of Assembly and other institutions in the state “to resist in the strongest terms the concession of any part of Enugu State for the purpose of creating grazing colonies for the Fulani herdsmen.”

YOUTHS numbering in their hundreds in Jos, the Plateau State Capital thwarted an attempt by the State Security Service (SSS) to arrest the General Overseer of the Evangelical Outreach Ministries international, Prophet Isa El-Buba on Monday night.

The security outfit is also self-styled as the Department of State Services (DSS).

HEADLINE recalls that the cleric had criticised President Muhammadu Buhari’s handling of the herdsmen violence and called on his congregation to be ready to vote against the president in 2019.



The security agents were said to have laid siege to the church till 11.30pm on Monday, but were prevented from arresting the cleric by the youths, according to Northern City News.

The incident happened on Kassim Ibrahim Street in Jos city centre.

El-Buba, in an interview with journalists, confirmed the aborted arrest.

He said he was preparing for a midnight service when the DSS stormed his fellowship headquarters.

He also he refused to honour the invitation because, ”the invitaton was not authorised in writing.”



“What transpired was that the DSS (operatives) invaded my house and my church premises and wanted to have me on Monday night. They came in their number, including a Deputy Director to arrest me in connection with the cross-over night (New Year Eve) broadcast I made to Nigerians.

“I demanded for a letter of invitation and was not given, so I became suspicious of their mission in the night to my office,” he said.

The cleric also said as far as he was concerned, he had done nothing wrong to warrant his arrest. He insisted that he would continue to preach good governance at all levels of government no matter the threats from security agencies.

“I stand by my words. I am neither scared nor intimidated by their invasion. Why should I be scared when I am saying the truth? Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin brings reproach. I said in my broadcast that the unrighteousness in Nigeria will not do any one of us any good and I stand by it.

“This is because our generation and generations yet unborn will suffer if we refuse to do the right thing. Nigeria is a great nation, but we must uphold righteousness to be able to stand among great nations. So, I have just said that the right thing should be done in our nation, and I do not have anything against anyone.”

The development has drawn wide condemnation from human rights activists and other observers who believe that the cleric’s rights to freedom of expression were being trampled upon by the DSS.

This is certainly corruption fighting back

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has dismissed report in some quarter that it was probing the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff (COS), Mr. Abba Kyari.

The were reports that the anti-graft commission had invaded the home of Kyari in a bid to get him arrested.

Reacting, the EFCC said yesterday that it was not investigating Kyari, adding that it did not deploy its operatives in his Defence House quarters.



The alleged invasion was said to have been hatched by some forces and targeted at provoking President Muhammadu Buhari to sack Magu.

“Ordinarily, we would have ignored the report and allow it to end up in the dustbin of history, for that is where it actually belongs, but for the fact that it is a follow–up to an earlier similar report also titled: EFCC’s attempt to arrest Abba Kyari sparks panic in Aso Rock, which we considered an attempt to silence the commission from carrying on with its constitutional duties of fighting corruption; we have considered it necessary to clarify issues in relation thereof.

“For the purpose of clarification, the modus operandi of the EFCC does not accommodate the alleged invasion as the modus operandi of the commission has always been to scrutinise petitions upon receipt, look at the petition on the face value, if it has merit and to carry out preliminary investigation to establish a prima facie case.

“Once all these requirements are satisfied, the suspect(s) is (are) invited for questioning and interrogation and his (their) statement(s) taken under caution.

“All these are prelude to arraignment in a competent court of jurisdiction and a suspect who is being invited for interrogation is formally sent an invitation letter to that effect.

“The so-called invasion is entirely alien to the established mode of operations of the EFCC, established over the last one-and-a-half decades in line with international best practices.

“Firstly, the commission will like to state that it is not investigating Mr. Kyari nor is it aware of any petition against him.

“Secondly, EFCC does not ‘invade’ the homes or offices of anyone the commission wishes to interact with in furtherance of the discharge of its mandate.

“The commission will properly notify and invite any person it wants to assist it in the resolution of any matter under examination.

“Thirdly, EFCC does not go to carry out invitations or arrests in the middle of the night. As a transparent organisation the commission carries out all its operations in broad daylight.

“These and other standard operational procedures are what guide the activities of the commission and which have earned it worldwide acclaim over the years.

“The commission was therefore taken aback when an online medium went public with the story of a purported “impending arrest”. EFCC does not do speculative investigations or arrests. Therefore, the action of those behind the false reports could best be described as shouting wolf where none exists.

“It must be underscored that EFCC makes it a point of duty and professional responsibility to act within the ambit of the law. The commission cannot be intimated and crying wolf by anyone cannot stop the commission from carrying out its constitutional responsibility,” the commission’s acting Head of Media and Publicity, Samie Amaddin said yesterday.

THE Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has been given 14 days ultimatum to fish out the perpetrators of the killings in Benue State.

The Senate issued the ultimatum on Tuesday rising from over six hours consideration of the worsening security situation in the country.

It also asked its presiding officers to convey the resolutions to President Muhammadu Buhari for immediate implementation.



“We took almost six hours to deliberate. It shows that it is goes beyond religion and ethnicity. It shows that there is breakdown of law and order. If we fail to act, it will be an indictment. We want immediate action. One of the issues is justice. Without justice, there can be no peace.

“I think that we owe to the President to tell him what we have discussed. This is a wake- up call on the President and on all of us. We must be seen to be doing something.

“The President must act. Those responsible must be held accountable. Military all the time cannot be the solution. The military is being over stretched. That is not good for us. Most importantly action must begin to happen to show Nigerians that we are not just talking. We need to ensure that this never happens again. We need to restore hope,” Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said.

He added that the IGP must act on the resolution while the Benue State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice must be prepared to prosecute the masterminds of the mayhem.

Also, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, urged the Senate to prevail on President Buhari to the declare a nationwide state of emergency to safe the country from drifting into anarchy.

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