₦airaland Forum

The court has set aside December 23, 2019 to rule on the bail application filed by former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Igbere TV reports.

This followed an appeal by the Senate Chief Whip after his conviction to 12 years imprisonment by a federal high court in Lagos on offences bordering on money laundering.

When the case came up today in court, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) announced appearance for prosecution (EFCC), while Messrs Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) and Awa Kalu (SAN) appeared for Kalu.

Fagbemi then informed the court of a bail application filed on behalf of the convict, seeking to be released on bail on health grounds pending Appeal.

“If there is a right of appeal, then there is a corresponding right of bail pending appeal,” he said.

In arguing the application for bail, he said the health of Kalu was deteriorating, adding that there was the need for him to return to the floor of the Senate to carry out his legislative duty.

He, therefore, urged the court to grant the application as sought.

After entertaining arguments from the prosecuting counsel, the court adjourned the case until December 23 for ruling.

...Says Gov Obaseki lost his ward, senatorial district in the Presidential election

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has reacted to comments by governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and his deputy Philip Shaibu, that he (Oshiomhole) taught them all they are executing today in the state including the fight against godfatherism.

Oshiomhole who reacted in a television programme weekend said he never thought them violence being exhibited today in the state and losing elections because “I have always been a winner”.

According to him, “I have read them several saying that I thought them all they are doing today. This is laughable because I never thought them how to lose elections. As we speak today, the governor (Obaseki) lost his ward, Local Government and senatorial district in the last Presidential election. As we speak, the governor is being represented by the PDP in his Federal constituency and senatorial district. These in my view were early morning signals about need to change tactics., stop threatening people, saying you will crush, who are you crushing?

“But I won my entire senatorial district for Mr President and I am being represented by an APC senator and House of Representatives. Then his Deputy Philip, in Jattu where he comes from, in his polling booth where he and his family voted, Philip Shaibu lost. He lost his booth during his own governorship election in which he was standing as Deputy governorship candidate. So if he learnt from me, he should have learnt well because I never lost election in my village.

“There is nobody in my village who can work against me because when I go home I relate with them, I am an ordinary man. You see when you have power and you don’t use it you are even more powerful. And you must know when to talk tough and when to talk soft. When I am in my village I am just like an ordinary man. I argue and play with my people. The only man that was doing PDP in my village, the youths said how can he be doing PDP but I said no, you have to persuade him to join us.

“And today that young man is one of my PAs. So he (Philip) is one of my very poor students, Kakhi is not a lesson and fighters must be tactful and strategic. No sensible man will fight people who vote for them. Those they are fighting now, some of them delivered 95 per cent of the votes in their units while they lost their own areas” he said.

Regretting that Governor Obaseki and his deputy have unleashed mayhem on APC members in Edo state, Oshiomhole narrated that “Even a professional fighter you choose your fight. The other day when Shaibu led thugs to my village with Okada riders and he said during my court case Okada people were following us. It shows how poorly he can interpret situations. Did we ever use Okada riders to intimidate ACN elements then, never.

“And those Okada riders were not hired by me, they bought into my vision. They have heard of me as President of NLC and on that basis they all voted for me, so when I was rigged out they took the fight to the PDP. The problem is that Philip does not know the difference between family disagreement that can be settled through conversation and political opponents that need to be fought and defeated. But even my language is defeat my opponent and not crush my party members.

“It is only Philip and his boss that talks about crushing APC members. If you become a crushing machine and God enable you to crush your people who will you govern assuming you win. When elections start between us and PDP unleash that energy, you cannot possibly be making electoral sense by using your office or position to attack, brutalize and intimidate and even lie against your party members. And all I have tried to do is to tell him (Obaseki) that you will never have a political party that looks like a golf course.

“A political party is like a forest, in that forest you have many animals. The politician is the guy who goes into this forest, knowing fully well that all the dangerous animals are there but he is going for the antelope or the grass cutter which he wants to use to feed his family. He goes there get his antelope or grass cutter home and feast without being crashed.

“So the minimum requirement of political leadership is to be able to deal with all kinds of characters, use them to get what you want. And I said to him, you have to manage these people because for me as long as they deliver their units on the day of election you have to manage them. In my first term election when I don’t know the politicians too well, I won Oredo, Egor, Ikpoba Okhai, we were only rigged out in Ovia and Orhiomwon in 2007.

“It is those Benin votes and the small we got from Edo North that we used to defend my mandate in court. Look at the way they humiliated Ogbemudia’s daughter for refusing to abuse me, the woman only said I cannot abuse Comrade rather as a mother I will join hands to settle the dispute between you people. But they said they don’t want settlement they want to crush. Three days later they crushed the woman by suspending her as chairman of Egor Local Government.

“So it is a pity that they don’t know the difference between internal contestation and internal mechanism for resolving them and fighting the opposition. Killing is out of the kind of politics we practice, maiming is out of it. Now I told him Mr governor, with all the reservation people, were raising, talking about history, we convinced them to support you and it worked for you and you got elected, even if the margin of defeat was not as much as my own, but they worked for you.

“Then why do you now want to distort the system by creating so-called new political structure, is there a structural defect? He said he will retire all the politicians but I said to him will you retire somebody you did not hire. Most of these politicians I met them in the business. I have to go to their houses to convince them I want their support and when they give me that support I work hard to appreciate them. So if this is being foolish I want to remain foolish. As long as they work for me and Edo remain the only state in the South South that we have APC.

“The only thing I invested in defeating PDP in Edo state is my integrity and my capacity to persuade and mobilize. Politics is a leveler, people who are detained by their ego can’t make it in politics. And I do not know any political party where you don’t have disagreement but as leaders, all you need to do is to call them and explain yourself. If it happens they are right and you are wrong, you apologize. For me this remains the way to go calling everybody together. Not the clapping society where you selected those who praise you to high heaven” he stated.

Contrary to the widespread rumour that former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida is dead, Igbere TV has confirmed that he is alive, hale and hearty.

Babangida, who is fondly called IBB by Nigerians, said he is alive contrary to reports that he had passed on.

An online Media (NOT IGBERE TV) had published that the former President passed on Sunday.

Igbere TV, however, gathered that General Babangida is hail and hearty and still bubbling with life.

An impeccable source told our Correspondent that he met with General Babangida along with his close friends and associates immediately the news broke out.

A statement made available to Igbere TV on Sunday signed by Prince Kassim Afegbua, spokesman to Babangida, collaborated the statement.

“It has become consistent fake news for quite some time now wishing our own IBB, the one we easily refer to as "the last don" of Nigeria politics, dead. The "fake news bill" would be a suitable response to this category of fake news carrier. IBB is very much alive and bubbling. He just started attending to friends and associates who came to see him today, Sunday, 15th December, 2019 right here at his Minna Hilltop mansion. He is full of life and in his characteristic bubbling mood.

“May Allah forgive those who wish IBB dead. God is the giver and taker of life, not humans. Death, as the irrevocable end of all creation, will surely come to everyone some day and at the appointed time and hour, but to deliberately spread fake news and wish someone dead, is to take humanity to another bizarre level. May Allah forgive them. IBB, by the special grace of Allah, the omniscient and omnipotent One, shall live to fulfill his journey and destiny in life, to the consternation of those who are always wishing him dead. This is about the third time this year.

“We wish to thank those who took time to reach out to us, home and abroad, to find out the truth. We thank you all for your love, care and concern. May Allah grant us all good health, sound mind and long life. Amin,” the statement read.

By Ogochukwu Isioma, Abuja

Management of Sun Publishing Limited, publishers of Daily Sun newspaper, has reacted to the sealing of its Lagos office by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Armed policemen and officials of the EFCC had on Saturday stormed the office located at 2, Coscharis street, Kikikiri Industrial Layout, Apapa, Lagos, marking the building "EFCC, keep off".

The EFCC had in a statement issued after the operation, attributed their actions to the recent judgement delivered against Slok Nigeria Limited by the Lagos state High Court.

But reacting in a statement sent to Igbere TV in Abuja, the Sun Publishing said its newspaper was not a party to the case of EFCC vs. Orji Kalu & 2 others, wondering why its premises should then be marked.

It, however, said that Slok and Senator Orji Kalu had filed an appeal against the High Court judgement and a hearing date given, wondering why the EFCC would not wait until the matter has been dispensed with at the Supreme Court.

The Sun insisted that it is a corporate limited liability company and its shares owned by various individuals distinct from Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, saying the court judgement should therefore not bind on them.

The Newspaper, therefore, called on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to urgently intervene in the matter and advise the EFCC appropriately on the legal consequences of its actions.

Full Statement,

“EFCC VISIT TO THE SUN OFFICE WITH ARMED POLICEMEN: OUR STAND

“Three officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with four heavily armed policemen on Saturday, December 15, 2019 at about 10.00 am arrived the corporate headquarters of The Sun Publishing Limited at 2, Coscharis Street, Kirikiri Industrial Layout, Apapa, Lagos and put up a notice for staff and the general public to keep off the premises. The EFCC officials, who came in a white Toyota bus with registration number, ABUJA BWR-644GA, wrote on The Sun's fence, "EFCC, keep off." They also advised our staff to collect their personal belongings from the office as they will come back to seal the premises completely.

“We do not understand the legal basis for this EFCC action. It is on record that there is a pending appeal at the Supreme Court with Suit No: SC/546/2018 wherein The Sun Publishing Limited appealed against the Judgement delivered by the Court of Appeal on the interim forfeiture order made against it by a Federal High Court in 2007 based on ex parte proceeding. The Notice of Appeal and Motion for Stay of Execution were duly served on EFCC by the bailiffs of the Court.

“It is also pertinent to state that EFCC vide a letter written by Counsel to The Sun Publishing Limited, dated 22nd May, 2018 and duly received by one Caleb Peter on behalf of Rotimi Jacobs & Co. was further put on notice of the pending appeal at the Supreme Court and advised to stay action in the matter pending the hearing of the Motion for Stay of execution and the appeal.

“Again, it is instructive to state that The Sun Publishing Limited was not a party to the case of EFCC vs. Orji Uzor Kalu & 2 Others, so we do not see why the Judgment in that case should lead to attempt to seal The Sun Publishing Limited premises.

“Further more, we are aware that both Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Slok Nig Limited have since appealed the Judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Idris and a hearing date given.

“We wish to reiterate that The Sun Publishing Limited is an ongoing corporate limited liability company and its shares are owned by various individuals distinct from Senator Orji Uzor Kalu. Therefore, the recent Judgment against Senator Orji Uzor Kalu should not be used to disturb the operations of the company and the proprietary rights of its innocent shareholders until the matters are dispensed with at the Supreme Court.

“In view of the foregoing, we call and appeal to the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice to urgently intervene and advise EFCC appropriately on the legal consequences of its actions.”

Evergreen4:
Op, you deserve a ban. How can you post and still occupy FTC. That's selfishness

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday returned to the nation’s capital, Abuja, after a three-day visit to Egypt for ASWAN Forum on Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa.

Igbere TV reports that the President's Presidential jet NAF-001 touched ground moments ago at the Presidential Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja.

The President was accompanied on the visit on Tuesday by Governors Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, Godwin Obaseki of Edo and Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State.

Others are: Minister of Defence, Gen. Bashir Magashi (Rtd); Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Amb. Zubairu Dada; National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen Babagana Monguno (Rtd); and the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

Igbere TV reports that the ASWAN Forum which held from 11-12 December, is an initiative to address the interconnections between peace and development in Africa while promoting Africa-led solutions through strengthening policies and practices.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday December 10, 2019, announced the sack of Mr. Muiz Banire as Chairman of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), appointing Edward Adamu as replacement.

This comes barely 24 hours after the President, in a similar move, sacked Mr. Tunde Fowler as Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), announcing one Muhammad Nami as successor, reports Igbere TV.

While the renewable first tenure of Fowler expired on Monday, Banire was only appointed last year. Both men are from Southwest, and allies of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, national leader of the ruling party.

The move by President Buhari has been criticized by Nigerians, with many calling out the president for appointing yet another Northerners in his administration that is said to be renowned for lopsided appointments.

Here are few things to know about the new AMCON chairman, Adamu, a Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). *Igbere TV

1. Mr Edward Lametek Adamu was born on 22 June 1959 in Kaltungo Local Government Area of Gombe State.

2. He joined the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN in June 1992.

3. Between 1992 and 2003, he served in several offices of the Engineering Services Department of the Bank handling Project Conception, Evaluation, Contract Documentation, Cost Planning & Control, Project Implementation and Closure of several projects of the Bank including the current CBN Head Office Abuja.
He rose from the position of a Manager to an Assistant Director.

4. In 2008, he was seconded for two years to the Gombe State Government to set-up and run a strategic framework for best practices in procurement

5. In 2010, he served as Programme Director (Head of the Projects Planning and Implementation Division) handling multi-dimensional large scale projects for the CBN.

6. He was appointed Director of the Strategy Management Department in 2012.

7. Together with Messrs Palladium Consultants, Adamu was part of the team that developed the first Strategy Execution Framework in the CBN in 2012.

8. In 2016, he was appointed Director, Human Resources Department of the Bank to give effect to the Human Resources Transformation program initiated during his role as Director Strategy Management Department.

9. He has Engineering degree (Quantity Surveying), Second Class Upper from the Faculty of Engineering at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors.

10. Postgraduate Professional Certifications in Corporate Strategy Development and Execution, Performance Management, Programme & Project Management and Knowledge Management.

11. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Credit Administration of Nigeria.

12. He acquired skill-sets in Strategic Leadership, Central Banking, Finance, Human Resources, Organisational Transformation, Risk Management Budgeting & Cost Management, Construction Management, Records Management, Communications & Relationship Management, Coaching & Mentoring and Procurement through a variety of Wharton School USA, INSEAD France, Chicago Booth & IMD Switzerland courses and practical.

President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked Mr. Muiz Banire as Chairman of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

Igbere TV reports that Buhari has approved the appointment of one Edward Adamu as new Chairman of the AMCON.

This comes barely 24 hours after the President announced replacement for FIRS’s Fowler with a northerner, a move criticized by many Nigerians.

President Buhari has, however, written to the Senate seeking for the screening and confirmation of the new AMCON chairman.

The letter which was read at Tuesday's plenary by Senate President, Dr. Ahamd Lawan, is reproduced below by our National Assembly correspondent;

“In accordance with Section 10(1) of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) Act, 2010, I hereby present Mr. Edward Lametek Adamu for confirmation as Chairman of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria by the Distinguished Senate.

“While hoping that this request will receive the usual expeditious consideration of the Senate, please accept, Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

Igbere TV reports that Banire, who was appointed in 2018, is an ally of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu just like the immediate past FIRS chairman, Fowler.

It has emerged that the immediate past Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Babatunde Fowler, sought renewal of his appointment a day before its expiration.

Fowler, whose term of office expired on Monday, 9th December, 2019, was replaced by “a renowned tax consultant”, Muhammad M. Nami, reports Igbere TV.

The appointment, however, raised eyebrows with many criticizing the President for appointing yet another “Northerner” in his administration.

Others sought to know why the President could not consider Fowler for reappointment, with few suggesting that the FIRS boss term was probably non-renewable.

But a leaked letter by the former FIRS boss obtained by Igbere TV on Tuesday, showed that Fowler indeed sought reappointment from President Muhammadu Buhari.

The letter which was addressed to Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said the move was in consistent with Provisions of the FIRS Establishment Act 2007.

But with the appointment of Mr. Nami as replacement, it may be safe to say Fowler, an ally of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was probably snubbed.

PRESIDENT BUHARI PARTICIPATES IN PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT FORUM IN EGYPT

President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja Tuesday for Aswan, Egypt to attend the Aswan Forum designed to set “An Agenda for Sustainable Peace and Development in Africa.”

The Forum which holds December 11-12, 2019, is an initiative to address the interconnections between peace and development in Africa while promoting Africa-led solutions through strengthening policies and practices.

The initiative is being launched by the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in his capacity as the Chairman of the African Union (AU) and as an advocate of Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development in Africa – a recurring theme of his tenure as the AU Chairman. It is also grounded in the AU’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, and the search for African solutions to African problems.

The gathering is expected to bring together heads of state and government, leaders from regional and international organisations, financial institutions, private sector and civil societies as well as scholars, visionaries and prominent experts for action-oriented discussions on the threats, challenges and opportunities. It is also expected to end with a Declaration on the theme of the Forum and become an annual event.

Recall that the Speaker of Egypt’s House of Representatives, Ali Abdel Aal had
delivered President el-Sisi’s message to President Buhari in Abuja on October 28,
2019 inviting him to the inaugural Aswan Forum.

The President will be accompanied by Governors Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, Godwin Obaseki of Edo and Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State.

Others are: Minister of Defence, Gen. Bashir Magashi (Rtd); Minister of State,
Foreign Affairs, Amb. Zubairu Dada; National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen Babagana Monguno (Rtd); and the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

President Buhari is expected back in Abuja on Friday.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
December 9, 2019.

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
PRESS RELEASE

FOR THE RECORDS:
VP OSINBAJO'S LETTER YESTERDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2019 TO ORGANISERS OF THE 2019 ANTI-CORRUPTION DEFENDER AWARD

"I am extremely grateful for the recognition and award of the “Integrity Specialty of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism’s Anti-corruption Defender Award of 2019” to me.

“The award, I note, is for our Justice reform efforts in Lagos State. I had accepted the award with pride on behalf of the excellent Justice Sector team we had.

“However, two reasons explain my absence. First is that I am currently in Abu Dhabi for an international meeting under the auspices of the government of the UAE where I am the keynote speaker.

“Second, in view of the developments on Friday in the Sowore case, I think it would be insensitive and inappropriate to attend the ceremony.

“Please accept my heartfelt apologies and extend the same to the other members of the organizing team. God bless you."

Released by:

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
9th December, 2019

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to Thursday’s ‘ill-advised conviction‘ of former Governor of Abia and Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, by a Lagos State High Court.

Chairman of the APC in Abia, Chief Donatus Nwankpa, said in an interview with journalists that he was disappointed and angry with the “arranged court judgment”, Igbere TV reports.

Nwankpa, who was a member of the Abia State House of Assembly when Sen. Kalu was governor, said that the judgment was not fair.

“The party will meet to take a position on the judgment but as an individual, I am very saddened by the judgment.

“I am not convinced that judgment was given,” he said, adding that the court’s verdict sustained his doubts about the integrity and objectivity of the nation’s judiciary.

Chief Nwankpa said that he never had the confidence that Sen. Kalu would get judgment, “considering the utterances of the judge.”

“I’m highly convinced that something went wrong. The judgment is not fair,” he insisted.

On his part, Maduka Okoro, the South-East Media Aide to Kalu, told newsmen that Sen. Kalu would appeal the judgment “to allow other judges and a higher court take another look at the case.”

Okoro said that Kalu was not bothered by the judgment but considered it as one of the travails that every leader must experience “before becoming what God wants him to be.”

He expressed optimism that the judgment would be reversed by a higher court, adding that Sen. Kalu would be acquitted at last.

He said that as governor, Sen. Orji Kalu administered Abia transparently and never defrauded the state.

Kalu was Abia governor from 1999 to 2007 and won election to the Senate in the 2019 election under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Following the ‘ill-advised conviction’ of former Governor of Abia and Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, of alleged N7.65bn fraud, a legal practitioner has declared that there was no cause for alarm.

Speaking with Igbere TV in a telephone interview shortly after the court ruling on Thursday afternoon, Victor Otie, Esq., faulted the judgement, insisting that it was unknown to law and cannot stand.

“This is just a temporal distraction from his (Kalu’s) legislative duty, we are challenging it. We are sure of victory just like the Tribunal case. The ruling cannot stand.

“How can you say a company (Slok) that has been in existence before he became governor should be wind up? Does it make sense?.”

Asked if the judgement has direct legal implications on his (Kalu’s) seat as senator and office as Chief Whip, Barr. Otie said the positions would not be affected.

“Kalu remains a Senator and Senate Chief Whip, the position and office as Senator are not affected”, he said.

On whether the court ruling would be appealed, the legal practitioner said the judgement will be appealed from the Appeal Court up to the Supreme Court, insisting that there was no cause for alarm.

More details shortly...

Senator Smart Adeyemi has been sworn in as Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the ninth National Assembly.

Igbere TV reports that Adeyemi of the Progressives Congress (APC), was sworn in on Wednesday at Plenary by Clerk of the Senate, Nelson Ayewoh.

His swearing-in comes three days after he defeated Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the rerun election held Saturday.