₦airaland Forum

Danish midfielder, Christen Eriksen is alive and well after collapsing on the pitch during a match with Finland on Saturday in the ongoing EURO 2020 competition.

Fans and officials were sent into a panic after Eriksen fell forwards unchallenged and became unresponsive. The team's medical team quickly rushed to the scene and administered CPR until he regained consciousness.

According to beIN sports, Eriksen is alive and stable. beIN presenter, Jamal Jalabi said; "The player [Eriksen] is still alive, and his condition is stable."

UPDATE:

UEFA has confirmed that Eriksen has been stabilised at the hospital. He’s alive and fine. Below is a statement from the football body;


"Following the medical emergency for Eriksen, a crisis meeting has taken place with both teams and match officials and further information will be communicated at 19:45 CET."

"The player has been transferred to the hospital and has been stabilised".

Ex-aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has confirmed that Popular preacher, T.B Joshua is dead.

Joshua died on Saturday evening shortly after finishing a church program. POLITICS NIGERIA earlier reported that Joshua’s death came as a rude shock to many and his remains have since been deposited in a mortuary.

“The passing of my brother TB Joshua saddens me deeply. At 3.00am this morning I was told by one of his daughters that this was fake news & I tweeted as much.”

“Sadly I was misled. 5 minutes ago the same person called me & confirmed the story. @GazetteNGR was right & I am in pain.”

The cause of death is currently unknown but an autopsy has since been scheduled.

Former Presidential Candidate and APC member, Adamu Garba has defended the Nigerian Government's decision to suspend all acitivities of Twitter in Nigeria.

Garba, in an interview on Channels TV monitored by POLITICS NIGERIA on Friday night, expressed happiness that the Federal government suspended the popular social media platform.

He also alleged that the website is an an online machine for proscribed pro-secessionist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

In his words; "Twitter is behind them. I think Twitter is like a kind of IPOB online machine because what they do more is supporting IPOB much more than the government. Every one knows that IPOB is anti-Nigeria, their target is to destroy Nigeria".

"We have the President of the WTO, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is she part of those instigating Twitter? why won't she call them to order when they attacking against Nigeria?. Why is it we didn't get a single tweet from Dr. Ngozi Okonkjo-Iweala about the activities of Twitter? is she supporting IPOB? These are the kind of things we need to investigate," he said.

President Buhari won the historic 2015 presidential election defeating an incumbent in a well-coordinated and funded campaign. Buhari’s message of “Change” was well-accepted by an overwhelming majority of Nigerians which earned him 15 million votes.

Buhari, again, won re-election in 2019 making him the second incumbent to do so since 2003. This victory was against well-funded and prolific opposition propaganda.

In the last six years, how has President Buhari’s media team fared?

I will set a background here. President Buhari, admittedly, is not an orator by his introverted nature. His deputy, Vice President Osinbajo, is a better handler of public communication. In the end, the Presidency is one.

In rating the President’s Media Team, I will use the following metrics: visibility, public engagement, and timeliness.

MINISTER FOR INFORMATION: ALHAJI LAI MUHAMMED

Alhaji Lai Muhammed needs no introduction for those who have been following political developments in the last decade or so. He made himself a household name in the art of party spokesmanship with his brilliant, timely, and needed interventions as APC (previously AC/ACN) image-maker. As an opposition spokesman, no one beats Lai.

His appointment as Minister for Information is a different matter altogether. As Minister, he is barely visible. He is supposed to be the most visible Minister in Buhari’s government, but he appears to be on a long holiday. This appears to be the case with agencies under the Ministry (NOA, NBC etc). His engagement with the media is often below par. But he did an excellent job in tackling CNN over their report on Lekki Toll Gate which led them to backtrack. Apart from this and a few other interventions, Lai is largely absent. He is also not, like many in the Buhari Media Team, on time. Issues are allowed to fester for too long before they react.

SPECIAL ADVISER ON MEDIA AND PUBLICITY: FEMI ADESINA

Many people fondly remember Femi Adesina as a prolific writer, columnist, and Managing Editor at DAILY SUN. His write-ups and call to action are top-notch. His sacrifice working in a hostile environment like DAILY SUN whilst supporting Buhari deserved commendation. Femi is still one of the best writers the country has today. It’s doubtful if anyone can outwrite Femi on his day.

It should be no surprise that Femi was the first appointment Buhari made in 2015. His performance in office is another matter altogether. However, what no one can take away from him is his fervor for the nation and unyielding loyalty to the President.

After Lai, Femi is supposed to be the most visible in the president’s communication team. Apart from dropping STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASES, writing occasional articles, and few media interviews, his impacts in shaping narratives and deliberately magnifying the president’s achievements have often been left to guesses. More often than not, his interventions do not solve the problems. He doesn’t appear confident whenever he speaks to the media which makes one wonder if he is hiding something.

For me, he has the capacity to do more to shield the president from frequent media attacks. In fact, most of the routes to media attacks on the president have been through him and Garba Shehu (I will come to this later).

SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT ON MEDIA: GARBA SHEHU

Like Femi Adesina, Like Garba Shehu. Garba is more of a politician or representing some political interests in the team than actual Buhari’s spokesman. Like Adesina, his engagements are sometimes very insensitive. Garba’s press releases are known to stir more controversies than anyone else in the presidency. In some cases, one wonders if he’s actually writing the president’s thoughts or some political interests.

In a multi-ethnic country like Nigeria, Shehu does a good job affirming a particular diatribe, but it’s impossible not to concede that he is very powerful in the Media Team having survived an open confrontation with the wife and children of the President.

For all his weakness, reporters in the Presidency say Shehu is very friendly.

I think Mr President should call them in for a serious review.

SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT ON MEDIA (OVP): LAOLU AKANDE

An astute reporter with Guardian and former US university lecturer, Laolu Akande has made a name for himself in the profession of journalism. He is said to be the only Nigerian journalist to have interviewed a sitting US president in the White House, according to Wikipedia.

Therefore, his appointment as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media (OVP) did not come as a surprise to many people.

His appointment proved to have paid off largely. Laolu is a clear departure from Garba Shehu and Femi Adesina. In timeliness, Laolu gets it right often. His writings are never nebulous. His engagement with the media is far more mature than his peers

He has been able to use his Twitter and other social media handles to engage Nigerians on the activities of the Buhari administration, however, Akande needs to try to fill in the gaps left by his seniors and also mend relations with some sections of the print media some of whom he engaged in media warfare just before the 2019 election. He did sustain some injury in those avoidable encounters when he took on Dele Momodu and Festus Adedayo. He should make more friends.

SPECIAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANT: LOUIS ODION

There isn’t much about him other than his time as a flamboyant columnist at The Cable, and editorships in some major newspapers. But there is no significant impact since he was appointed. However being a former information Commissioner and retired editor, much is expected from him perhaps to fill some of the gaps in the President’s Media Team.

SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT ON PUBLIC AFFAIRS: AJURI NGELALE

Ajuri left his mark for his brilliant presentations at CHANNELS TV. He’s known for his ability to fact-check his guests which means he knows his job then thoroughly. This is why his appointment as SSA was hailed by many.

Ajuri at the beginning was about the most engaging presidential spokesman on Radio. His Radio Tours has given many Nigerians insights into the projects and activities of the Buhari administration.

But, it appears Ajuri has soft-pedaled or even disillusioned in recent times. Besides, he has had very limited appearance on major TV stations, significantly reducing his impact -few appearances on NTA, and AIT where he once worked. NTA officials say he was almost prevented from the Station at a point because some ministers felt he was often speaking out of turn on matters of policy. But it’s curious no one has seen his appearance at all on Channels TV, his last employer. If need be he could mend fences and be less arrogant.

SPECIAL ASSISTANT ON NEW MEDIA: TOLU OGUNLESI

Many remember Tolu for his brilliant tweets and write-ups during the #OccupyNigeria protests in 2012. His special media activism is top-notch. Therefore, his appointment in 2015 was largely on the basis of competence.

In his role, he has done his best projecting the activities of the Buhari administration on Twitter. He has used his Twitter handle to engage Nigerians. He was one of the most active during the 2019 presidential election telling Nigerians the projects of the Buhari administration and countering fake news.

Someone like him can be put to better use on the team, he is level-headed and perceived as a professional especially on Social Media.

PERSONAL ASSISTANT ON SOCIAL (NEW) MEDIA: BASHIR AHMED AND LAURETTA ONOCHIE

I have taken these two together because their roles are similar. Both contributed personal resources towards Buhari’s victory in 2019. This, in my estimation, was the basis for their appointments.

Bashir’s engagement is largely posting the president’s pictures and announcing visits to the Presidential Villa. Onochie’s case involves engaging in “take-no-prisoner” conversations on social media.

For me, both have no significant contributions to the Team.

FirstBank Nigeria has denied a viral report on Social Media that all its branches in the South-East have been shutdown over insecurity.

In a statement sent to POLITICS NIGERIA on Wednesday afternoon, the bank denied the report stating that it was fake news. The statement signed by its Group head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Folake Ani-Mumuney, read;

"This is to inform the public that our South East branches are fully open for business. Please disregard any news making the rounds that is contrary to this. "

NDLEA Operatives have captured two young men for attempting to smuggle hard drugs out of the country.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, intercepted a 23-year-old secondary school leaver, Iwuyi Princewill Chukwuka and a Europe based Nigerian, Peter Mkwo as they attempted to export nine kilograms of skunk and methamphetamine through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja to Turkey and Belgium respectively.

Peter Mkwo, 37, was arrested on Friday May 28, 2021 while trying to board an Ethiopian Airline 910 enroute Abuja-Addis Ababa- Brussels, Belgium. When searched, 3kg of methamphetamine was discovered stuffed in the lining of a false bottom of his luggage.

POLITICS NIGERIA learned that under interrogation, Peter claimed he has lived in Belgium for 15 years and worked as a forklift driver in an automobile company, where he earned One Thousand Seven Hundred (1,700) Euro per month. He said he came into Nigeria on 26th April, for the burial of his father who died in August, 2019 but buried on 30th April in Awka, Anambra State.

He said after spending two weeks in Awka, he traveled to Uyo for another week to see his sister and later to Lagos to see his girlfriend. He claimed he Lodged in a hotel at Amuwo Odofin in Lagos where he met two men while hanging at the bar by the hotels swimming pool where they made a proposal to him to carry the drug for onward delivery to Belgium.

He said the bag containing the drug was brought to him in the hotel by the two men on Friday 28th May before he took off to Abuja where he was to take his flight to Brussels. He said he was promised Three Thousand (3,000) Euro on successful delivery to one Ishmael, in Belgium.

He claimed he accepted the offer to deliver the drug to raise some fund to pay back the money he borrowed from friends during the burial of his father.

Crayfish and Golden Morn

In the same vein, Chukwuka, was caught with 6.3kg skunk concealed in cray fish and stuffed inside Golden Morn packs during an outward clearance of Turkish airline flight at the departure hall of the Abuja airport. During interrogation, he claimed he was travelling for a Diploma study in Tourism and Hotel Management at University of Mediterranean, Karpasia, North Cyprus.

In a related development, a 27-year-old graduate of Accountancy, Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Zakaru Baba has been arrested at the local wing of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano with 6kg of cannabis sativa.

The consignment was flown from Lagos to Kano on Saturday, 29th May via Max Air.

The suspect who turned up to claim the packaged drug was arrested and has since confessed ownership of the exhibit. This is the first time the Command has apprehended a suspect via the domestic wing of the Airport, as most arrests and seizures are usually made at the international wing.

In his reaction, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the NAIA Commander, Kabir Sani Tsakuwa, and his MAKIA counterpart, Mohammed Ajiya, as well as the officers and men of the two Commands for their vigilance and commitment to the task of ridding the country of illicit substances. He charged them not to rest on their oars as the Agency intensifies the war against drug abuse and trafficking in Nigeria.

NECO registrar, Godswill Obioma has died of Natural causes, POLITICS NIGERIA can authoritatively confirm.

Contrary to widespread reports of an assassination, Family Sources revealed to this newspaper that Obioma died after a brief illness.

The first son of the deceased, Godswill Obioma II, in a statement to Mustapha K. Abdul, the Director Human Resource Management, NECO, revealed that his father passed on from a health ailment.

“Dear Sir, this is to formally inform you that my father Prof. Godswill Obioma, the Registrar/Chief Executive of NECO passed to eternal glory yesterday 31/5/2021 after a brief illness.”

“We request that you kindly notify the Board, Management and the entire staff of the Council of this development. We shall keep you duly informed.”, the statement read.

The Delta state command has banned the flying/hoisting of the Biafran flag in any part of the state, adding that there will be penalties.

Delta state police PRO, Bright Edafe made the statement on Sunday. He added that every attempt by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB to cause any disunity in the state will be heavily resisted.

"The Command is aware of the threat of the proscribed Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) and their intention of parading themselves in some parts of the state. The Commissioner of Police Delta State who is determined to maintain peace in the state has urged officers and men of the state command to be on red alert, watchful, and deal decisively with the trouble shooters."

"The CP therefore warns that on no account should anybody be seen carrying or hoisting Biafra flag in whatever guise in the state. The command is more than ever willing and determined to go after any miscreant who might be found wanting."

"The CP is urging members of the public to partner with the police to see that those who try to bring disunity in the state and our dear nation be arrested and brought to book."

"Undercover Police detectives have been deployed across the state for the purpose of arresting any one caught carrying Biafra Flag and to ensure that they are dealt with accordance with the law of the land. The command will not take it lightly with anyone that is against the peace and stability in the state."

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state has reacted to the gruesome murder of Mr. Ahmed Gulak, a former political adviser to Ex-president, Goodluck Jonathan.

POLITICS NIGERIA earlier reported that Gulak was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Ngor-Okpala LGA of Imo state on Saturday evening. Akeredolu described the killing as 'senseless'.

"The news of the death of an APC chieftain and former Special Adviser on Political Matters in the last Administration, Ahmed Gulak, in Owerri, Imo State, this morning, is very shocking and disturbing. The details of the tragic incident remain sketchy. A press statement credited to the Imo State Police Command claimed that some bandits were responsible for the gruesome murder of a man who was a visitor to the State. This is unacceptable."

"This is one murder too many. It is senseless and wicked. The perpetrators of this heinous act are enemies of this country. This contrivance is meant to mislead, confuse and destroy. It bears the unmistakable, despicable imprints of fifth columnists bent on setting the country on the path of conflagration. These criminals must not be allowed to succeed."

"We want to use this medium to express our solidarity with our brother Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma. We admonish him and other Governors in the South Eastern States to brace up, and confront the current security challenge to put an end to the bloodbath in the land.The enemies of the people always employ the weapon of fear to create disaffection in the polity."

He added that the killing was calculated at instigating Nigerians against each other.

"This cowardly act is calculated to instigate Nigerians against each other, particularly Northerners, against the Igbo living outside the South East. We must confront the enemies of the people with a view to neutralizing them. This is definitely not the time for political correctness. Banditry should not be allowed to subvert the legitimacy of the current Government at all levels."

"We call on all security agencies to collaborate with a view to unveiling the criminal elements sponsoring and undertaking terrorist acts. they must be punished, severely."

Politics Nigeria has been furnished with Images from the scene of Ahmed Gulak's assassination.

It will be recalled that Gulak, a former political adviser to Ex-President, Goodluck Jonathan was shot dead in Owerri, Imo state on Saturday evening.

In footage exclusively obtained by this paper, Gulak is seen lifeless in a pool of blood beside a black camry vehicle.

Below are photographs from the scene of the incident [VIEWER's DISCRETION ADVISED];

Former Ogun state Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, says the Nigerian Civil war, also known as Biafran war, started with fake news spread by Agence France-Presse (AFP), an international media organisation headquartered in Paris.

Osoba, who appeared on Arise TV earlier in the week, stated that fake news on AFP that northerners were killed in Portharcourt, Rivers state, triggered the violence that erupted afterwards.

Recall that the Nigerian Civil War which started in 1967 and ended 1970 was an offshoot of the mass movement of Igbos back to Eastern Nigeria to form a new federation, the Republic of Biafra.

“The Nigerian civil war started by a fake news on AFP that northerners were killed in Portharcourt and that led to the massacre of Igbos which they called PROGROM then. That was the beginning of the Civil War in Nigeria. I covered the war, the destruction that happened I don’t want to discuss it,” the former Governor said.

The 1966 anti-Igbo pogrom was a series of massacres committed against Igbo people and other people of southern Nigerian origin living in northern Nigeria starting in May 1966 and reaching a peak after 29 September 1966.

Nearly 30,000 Igbos and easterners were estimated to have been killed after the massacres.Drawing a cue from the past, Chief Osoba said stakeholders must be careful to prevent such occurrence.

“So the thing is that we have to be careful a little statement can trigger a more dangerous development that we cannot handle.”

Speaking on agitations for Oduduwa Republic, the former Governor explained that calls for secession are results of a bottled-up anger and frustration of the youths.

“When you talk of Oduduwa Republic, I must say that we elders across the board agreed that is the frustration that younger ones are facing is what is leading them to the extreme and asking that we should separate.”

“When young men come out of university and they now resort to doing menial jobs. We refuse to develop our technical education, which will give them practical work that they can do. Unemployment.”

“Insecurity is on all of us. Now if I dare go out in the night, my family will be wonder why, what am I doing outside? That was not the Nigeria that we grew up to know.”

“We used to enjoy travelling at night from Lagos to Ilorin, Ilorin to Kano. Nobody would dare do that this day. So, it’s the frustration of the younger ones. For those of us who are elders, you just have to be very careful.”

He, however advised the older generation to listen to the opinion of the younger ones and “only try to persuade them to see the alternatives so that we can reach a consensus that will not lead to Civil War.”

The All Progressives Congress, APC has reacted to a widely publicised meeting of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Early on Saturday, news of Atiku meeting with Tinubu at an airport in Abuja made headlines. However, on Saturday afternoon, in a statement via its official twitter account, the ruling party set the record straight.

The statement read;

"A tweet by one Reno Omokri [@renoomokri], posted on Twitter at 6:24am on May 29th, 2021, with a video captioned: "Tinubu Receives @atiku At Airport As Former VP Returns to Nigeria" has been brought to our attention."

"This is to inform the general public that the information contained in the above-referenced tweet is fake, erroneous, and mischievously contrived by the fake news advocate to mislead Nigerians, chase clout and gain undeserved recognition."

"His Excellency, former Governor of Lagos State and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu [@AsiwajuTinubu], and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar [@atiku] met last night, May 28th, 2021 at the airport by chance!"

"Both statesmen arrived at the airport at about the same time and exchanged courtesies before continuing on their separate journeys. The brief 'meeting' was not pre-planned neither was Asiwaju Tinubu part of any entourage to welcome the former Vice President back to Nigeria."

"We appeal to Nigerians to disregard and discountenance the petty, baloney, and clout-chasing tweet manufactured by the dubious character named Reno Omokri a.k.a Wendell Smith Thank you."

As I concluded this essay, it occurred to me that it corresponds with the sixth year anniversary of Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari. He will leave office on May 29, 2023, after completing two four-year terms approved by the constitution. Curiously, in recent weeks, his government has issued direct and indirect alerts about "plans" by yet-to-be-disclosed persons to oust the retired General, from Katsina State, through undemocratic means.

The presidency notified the public that some highly-placed members of the society were working against the President and pushing for his unceremonious exit. "Disgruntled religious and past political leaders" were accused of plotting to throw the country into crisis to compel a forceful and undemocratic change of leadership.

In 2021 alone, Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, and presidential spokespersons Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu have signed statements that partly or entirely suggest something is brewing. It's not a coincidence. Of course a cross section of the populace believe the alarm and have advised all Nigerians and the international community to take note.

On May 3, in a response to Prof. Robert Clarke's call for military takeover, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Defence Information, proclaimed the Armed Forces' commitment to democracy. The spokesman pledged loyalty to the President, the constitution, and told officers and men "it is treasonable to contemplate illegality". Personnel colluding with people having "agenda" will face the law, he vowed.

On May 2, the Department of State Services (DSS) said it would no longer tolerate individuals and groups pursuing anarchy. Peter Afunanya, the Public Relations Officer directed the warning to secessionists and politicians. The secret agency hinted of "deliberate machinations by subversive and hostile groups serving the interests of their sponsors". The DSS reaffirmed its unambiguous support to a united Nigeria and the constitution.

There is a saying that goes, "There is no smoke without fire". The presidency must have been briefed about mutiny; the military might have noticed a romance between its personnel and influential civilians; the DSS probably intercepted calls and scheme of treasonable acts. The question: Is there truly a clandestine plot for another coup, war in Nigeria?

Africa's most populous state has had its share of misfortune and sadly, the adversity is far from over. At a discourse on Nigeria’s national and human security challenges, Prof. Ufo Okeke-Uzodike, the Director of African Heritage Institution regretted that “after over six decades since independence, Nigeria is struggling to achieve basic human security needs of its people."

After gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria was dragged into multiple coup d'etat. In December 1983, Buhari, then a Major General, was part of the leaders that overthrew the elected government of Shehu Shagari, Second Republic. He became Head of State and was evicted in August 1985 when officers led by Ibrahim Babangida rebelled. Not many will argue that the years of uncertainty and shuttle between military and civilian rule affected our progress.

Since the return to democracy in 1999, the country has had uninterrupted autonomous leadership. But the fear of a military intrusion has never been this rife in the last 22 years. Many cite the tension across the nation over farmers-herders crisis, break up vociferation, the spate of terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, killings and the events in Chad and Mali. Again: Are there coup plotters targeting the President?

There are speculations that Buhari refused to replace the former Service Chiefs appointed in July 2015 because he believes certain elements are after him. In January 2021, the President finally let them go - Former Defence Chief, General Abayomi Olonisakin; ex-Army Chief, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; ex-Navy Chief, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas, and ex-Air Chief, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.

Buhari appointed General Leo Irabor - Chief of Defence Staff; late Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru - Chief of Army Staff; Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo - Chief of Naval Staff, and Air Marshal Isiaka Amao - Chief of Air Staff, bowing to Nigerians who, for several months, demanded their exit. Incidentally, exactly one year ago, I authored '5 years as President - Memo to Buhari on Service Chiefs'.

Although citizens are incrementally emphatic in their declaration of opposition to the Buhari administration, I strongly believe that a forcible regime change is not the solution. Headlines around the world announcing a coup in Nigeria in year 2021 are better imagined. The people must avoid actions that will confirm the perceptions in some quarters that we have refused to break a generational curse.

The elite must allow democracy work. It is sheer lunacy to take a few steps forward and many backward in a race. The big men at odds with the incumbent authority should put it on its toes, step up constructive criticisms and condemn accordingly. While they have the right to demand for better leadership, any plan to dethrone the government illegally must be jettisoned.

Most of those joining the masses to wail, and possibly among adherents of a putsch, toiled day and night to ensure the installation of Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC). They should bury their heads in shame for failing to envision all that is happening. We are in greater debt yet borrowing, ministries and agencies are being indicted for corruption, unemployment rate remains high, the number of displaced persons increasing, while citizens strive to cope in a struggling economy amid scant welfare.

To the federal government, while the intelligence community figure out conspirators, it should be accountable, fight graft, block loopholes, reduce cost of governance, and fast track policies to boost the economy. The problems fueling insecurity must be tackled. Things cannot go wrong and you expect the people to keep quiet. Rather the threats, continuous dialogue and stakeholder engagement should be deployed to calm frayed nerves.

I believe some recommendations of the National Conference organized by the Goodluck Jonathan administration should be implemented. The President should raise a team of administrators, statesmen, academics, and sectoral leaders - in business, communities, politics, religions - to pick out areas that address the current challenges. Buhari need not like the entire report of that convention, but to snub completely is not good judgement.

The government must handle secession calls wisely. While some have declared no going back on their agitation, others have listed demands to be met before they soft pedal. The authorities should extract the workable requests and go into action. Most Nigerians are tired of extant nepotism and injustice. At a meeting Northern leaders held with Buhari after his election in 2015, Maitama Sule, late ex-diplomat and éminence grise, advised the President to make "justice" his watchword. He mentioned the word several times in his speech. Did Buhari take heed of Sule's counsel?

Nigerians should think deep and be wise. Some advocates of coup and war have the resources to fly out family members before a major unrest breaks out. If you decide to join them to destroy the country, you and loved ones will be consumed. I often refer to the 1993 violence that trailed the annulment of Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola's victory because I was a witness. It was a terrible experience. Coup/war is not stage play; the current apprehension must be de-escalated.

On restructuring, the APC committee on the issue submitted its report containing several suggestions in January 2018. Nothing has been said or heard since then as though it is worthless. Was the ruling party serious about restructuring ab initio or they only used as an additional prop to attract voters ahead of the 2019 general elections? Also, anyone else noticed the 'Change' mantra has subsided?

Wale Odunsi tweets from @WaleOdunsi; email: wodunsi@yahoo.com

Fresh Court documents have shown how the husband of the surety who announced readiness to stand in for Abidemi Rufai’s release in the United States was indicted for fraud in 2014.

Mr Rufai, is currently in detention for his involvement in a $350,000 fraud.

He reportedly used the identities of more than 100 Washington residents to steal more than $350,000 in unemployment benefits from the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) during the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

POLITICS NIGERIA reported that the U.S. government earlier disclosed that it was dangerous to release Mr Rufai on bail to Nekpen Soyemi, his surety because she “is a suspect in an investigation into an email impersonation scheme.”

Court documents obtained by this newspaper showed that the surety’s husband, Idris Soyemi, was convicted for wire fraud in 2014. Like Mr Rufai, Mr Soyemi utilised the e-mail address, ketay01@yahoo.com to carry out several fraudulent activities in the U.S.

He was arrested by undercover agents in 2013 and tried at the United States District Court in New Hampshire where he was indicted a year after, findings by POLITICS NIGERIA exposed.

Guilty Plea

Interestingly, Mr Soyemi pleaded guilty to the fraud charges levied against him in court then. Our correspondent gathered that the latest findings led to the refusal of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma, to release Mr Rufai on bail last Wednesday.

The U.S. government argued in court that Mr Rufai cannot be released on bail to the Soyemi family because they are not appropriate persons to perform that role.

POLITICS NIGERIA is in possession of the court documents, view below;

With accusations of nepotism and cronyism levelled against his administration, President Muhammadu Buhari has again made an appointment that questions his commitment to Federal Character.

Appointments into key offices are believed to favour the Northern regions of the country, where the President hails from. This has again come to play with his latest appointment in the military.

Buhari, on Thursday, approved the appointment of Sokoto-born Major General Farouk Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff, replacing Lt General Ibrahim Attahiru. Recall that Attahiru and ten others including top military officers died last Friday in an ill-fated air crash in Kaduna.

The late army chief replaced Tukur Buratai, a retired lieutenant general from Borno, a North-eastern state. Although the appointment of the COAS is usually political as it may not respect the hierarchical order of the military, it is expected that the President would consider Attahiru’s successor from South-east, one of the marginalised regions in terms of appointments.

Going by history, checks by POLITICS NIGERIA shows that the South-east has only produced an Army Chief since the civil war ended in 1970. Appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan, Azubuike Ihejirika, who hails from Abia state, served as the army chief between October 2010 and January 2014.

However, observers and sources in the military expected that the President would have considered Anambra-born Major General Ben Ahanotu, who is not only a course mate of Attahiru but his second-in- command.

Ahanotu, who is currently serving as the Chief of Policy and Plan of the Nigerian Army, was the commander of the military operation that captured Mohammed Yusuf, the founder of notorious terror group, Boko Haram.

Ahanotu disarmed Yusuf and some of his followers after raiding their hideout in Maiduguri in 2009.Critics argued that the appointment of Yahaya negates the federal character which posits that the composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies shall be carried out in a manner that reflects the federal character of Nigeria.

This, according to section 14 of the 1999 constitution is to promote national unity, command national loyalty and allay fears of predominance of persons from a few states or a few ethnic groups.

Reacting to this, the Board Chairman of World Igbo Peoples Assembly (WIPAS), Mazi Chuks Ibegbu, said the President’s recent appointment clearly shows that he has something against the Igbos.

“The Constitution is very clear. He is enthroning a dangerous legacy. He has refused to run an inclusive nation in the past six years. He has the right to appoint whomever that pleases him but with the mood of the nation, I had thought he would have tried to correct some of his nepotistic posture but he has continued in a culture that tends to sideline a section of the country,” his statement read.

Also, the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), a socio-cultural group berated Buhari accusing him of fueling ethnic distrust.

In a communiqué issued after its meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Thursday, the National President of the association, Justice Demola Bakre (rtd) and the Secretary General, Dr. Kunle Olajide, took exception to the recent appointments made by President Buhari.

Fueling secession threats

A Lagos-based lawyer, Demola Williams, said the President could have doused the tension resulting from agitations of secession across the country.

In the past weeks, agitations for secessionist groups like Oodua Republic, Yoruba Nation and Biafra state have been heightened with protests staged across the different regions.

But Williams pointed out that President Buhari ‘blew’ his chance of curtailing the agitations.

“Rather than douse the tension, with this action, it will be worsened. You don’t govern a multi-cultural society this way. Those calling for a breakaway now have something to latch on. The President has not done well at all,” the lawyer told POLITICS NIGERIA.

He however urged Nigerians to make their grievances known at the public hearing for constitution review held across the country.

While the Senate concluded the public hearing for constitutional amendments across the six geopolitical zones on Thursday, the House of Representatives’ version will start on June 1.

Following allegations by the United States Department of Justice that the surety provided by Mr. Abidemi Rufai is a suspected fraudster, the court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma, on Wednesday, gave an order that Mr Rufai should remain in detention.

He is accused of being involved in $350,000 COVID-19 unemployment fraud in the United States. He was supposed to he released on Wednesday but the court granted a motion by the US government for "a stay of the release order."

The order was granted by U.S. District Judge, Benjamin Settle.

"The release order is STAYED, and the defendant shall remain in custody pending this Court’s decision on the government’s motion for review," Mr Settle was quoted to have said. POLITICS NIGERIA reported that Mr Rufai was arrested at the airport on May 14 when he was try to sneak out of the country to Amsterdam.

The U.S. said he used the identities of more than 100 Washington residents to steal more than $350,000 in unemployment benefits from the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) during the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

Although his lawyer, Michael Barrows, said Mr Rufai denied “involvement in these transactions" but Governor Abiodun has suspended him.

Mr Rufai's first appearance in court was last week Wednesday.

He was denied bail because his brother, Alaba Rufai, who is listed in court records, could not post the $300,000 surety bond for his bail. He got a nurse, Nekpen Soyemi, to stand in for him as surety but the U.S. government said Ms Soyemi is a suspected fraudster and could not be allowed to stand surety for Mr Rufai.

A Suicide bomber has lost his life after attempting to attack a primary school in Afikpo local Government area of Ebonyi state on Tuesday.

According to eyewitness reports, the bomber attempted to enter Amaizu/ Amangballa Primary School but was turned back by the school’s security after failing to justify his reason for visiting.

“He immediately started running inside a nearby bush before a big bang was heard,” an eyewitness said.

POLITICS NIGERIA learned that residents immediately scampered to safety on hearing a loud explosion before reconvening at the scene only to see the dismembered corpse of the bomber.

The eyewitness disclosed that incident also happened close to the popular Eke Afikpo Market which is said to be the biggest market in the area This has caused panic in the area.

Commissioner for Internal Security, Stanley Okoro has confirmed the incident.

The Presidency has berated the ban on open grazing resolved by the Southern Governors. It said the Southern Governors attempted to place a ban on open grazing to demonstrate their power.

This was contained in a statement issued by Garba Shehu, a senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, on Monday. Mr Shehu said President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed a strong resolve to address the conflicts of herders as well as the associated problem of the gun-wielding “killer herdsmen.”

According to him, the "President had approved a number of specific measures to bring a permanent end to the frequent skirmishes as recommended by Alhaji Sabo Nanono, the Minister of Agriculture in a report he submitted and the President signed off on it back in April, well before the actions of the Southern Governors Forum which attempts to place a ban on open grazing and other acts of politicking intended by its signatories to demonstrate their power."

"It is very clear that there was no solution offered from their resolutions to the herder-farmer clashes that have been continuing in our country for generations."

"But the citizens of the southern states – indeed citizens of all states of Nigeria - have a right to expect their elected leaders and representatives to find answers to challenges of governance and rights, and not to wash their hands off hard choices by, instead, issuing bans that say: “not in my state.”

Mr Shehu said it is equally true that their announcement is of questionable legality.

He cited the constitutional right of all Nigerians to enjoy the same rights and freedoms within every one of our 36 states (and FCT) -regardless of the state of their birth or residence.

"Fortunately, this declaration has been preempted, for whatever it is intended to achieve and Mr. President, who has rightly been worried about these problems more than any other citizen in consultation with farmers and herders alike, commissioned and approved an actionable plan of rehabilitating grazing reserves in the states, starting with those that are truly committed to the solution and compliant with stated requirements.

With veterinary clinics, water points for animals, and facilities for herders and their families including schooling - through these rehabilitated reserves, the Federal Government is making far-reaching and practical changes allowing for different communities to co-exist side-by-side: supporting farmers to till their fields, herders to rear their livestock and Nigerians everywhere to be safe."

"The entire country is acutely aware of the strain the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on public finances, for both Federal and States. Still, given the pressing urgency of addressing the perennial challenges, the federal funding for the project that has been delayed is now being partly unlocked. Actual work for the full actualization of the modern reserve system in a few of the consenting states should take off in June."

POLITICS NIGERIA recalls that two weeks ago seventeen Governors from the southern region of the country met in Asaba, Delta state.

One of the resolutions of the state Governors include a ban on open-grazing of cattle and the need for ranching. The Governors also spoke on the dire need for restructuring for equal opportunities with other regions.

However, the communique of the of the meeting has elicited debates on the legality or otherwise of the ban.

In the early hours of Thursday, May 20th, a young man known as Osagie shot dead two people, including a widow, around Efehi Street off college road, Aduwawa in Benin City, Edo state.

Osagie, popularly addressed as 'Stone' stormed the neighbourhood in company of his friend, Charles Oseghale on the fateful day, eyewitnesses told POLITICS NIGERIA. The two were smoking marijuana while drinking assorted alcoholic substances when Osagie ordered his friend to go fetch his gun from home.

According to eyewitness accounts, Oseghale boarded a tricycle owned by one Nuru to fetch Osagie's Double Barrel Gun. "Upon Oseghale's arrival, he(Osagie) quickly dispatched him and the said tricycle Rider whose name was identified as (Nuru) to go get him a packet of bullets and this was delivered to him without wasting time, he then told his accomplices that he wants to warm the area,".

No one knew the "warming" Osagie was referring to is testing the gun. He went ahead to load the gun with ammunition with the help of his friend, after which he fired a shot at a nearby shop. In the process, he killed Lucy Nwaorie, a widow and mother of seven, and Tony Bassey, a customer whose wife gave birth three months ago.

"Stone raised the gun backing my mom's shop and laid it on his shoulder, then he fired a shot that hit my mother And Her customer ( Bassey Imo). Immediately my mom shouted that she had been shot at and they were both bleeding profusely, Stone called the same tricycle rider (Nuru) to whisk him away with his gun," Christopher Nwaorie, the eldest son of the widow narrated.

He said it was neighbours and passers-by who rushed the victims of the bullet injuries to a nearby hospital, Our Clinic Hospital. While Bassey died on the way to the hospital, Mrs Nwaorie died hours after.

"On getting to Our Clinic Hospital, my mother was rushed in while Tony's Corpse was taking to the embalming section of the hospital, after running checks on my mother, the doctor on duty referred us to the Specialist Hospital where upon arrival, doctors confirmed my Bundle of Joy Dead and she was conveyed back to Aduwawa Police Division where a case file have been initially established and the Police hierarchy, there assigned another Police Officer who went with us to deposit her Corpse at Our Clinic Embalming Section where both Corpse are currently been deposited," Mr Nwaorie told POLITICS NIGERIA.

Although Osagie has been arrested by the police, Oseghale and the tricycle rider are still at large, this newspaper gathered.

Suspected murder

Speaking further, Mr Nwaorie believes that his mother was murdered as against speculation of accidental discharge. "For so many years, that guy has never set his foot in our area for so many years. The report I gathered was that he was in the area on Wednesday to spy."

He also said that he suspects a cover-up by the police but could not substantiate this when probed by our reporter. "The last time they (police) called me, I went there. The information I gathered is that the guy has been in their good books. The guy is an informant. He works directly with them. They are trying to cover him up."

He, however, called on the Edo state police and necessary authorities, seeking justice for his late mother and Bassey.

"I appeal to the Inspector General Of Police, Governor Godwin Enogheghase Obaseki, Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 5, Edo State Police Commissioner, the Judiciary and the good men of Edo State Police Command, Civil Society Groups and all well meaning Nigerians to assist us in getting Justice for our breadwinner (Mrs Lucy Nwaorie) and Tony Bassey Imo whose purposes in life have been cut short."

"We the families are tendering this passionate appeal because we don't want this crime to be swept under the carpet, " he said.

The spokesperson of the police in Edo, Kontongs Bello, said the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department(SCID) of the force.

"Investigation is still ongoing to know why he carried that act out, whether it is intentional or is a mistake. For now, that is the situation of things," he told our reporter on Monday.

The Department of State Security Services, DSS has announced that there is no recruitment exercise currently ongoing at the agency.

This was conveyed in a disclaimer issued on Monday, signed by the agency's Spokesman, Peter Afunanya (Phd.). The disclaimer read;

"This is to inform the public about the fraudulent activities of one Jesustofunmi Nifemi ALABI who has created a Facebook group, SSS/DSS Recruitment 2019/2020 to deceive gullible job hunters. ALABI is the CEO/Chairman of Tunrok & Son Nigeria Limited and uses phone number 08112597703."

"The Service is not recruiting and does not own a Facebook account or operate other social media platforms. Job seekers are enjoined to make recruitment enquiries from the Service’s Headquarters, Abuja, its formations nationwide or official website, www.dss.gov.ng."

The black box and Flight data recorder of Nigerian Air Force Beechcraft 350 jet which crashed on Friday near the Kaduna International Airport has been found.

This was announced by Aviation minister, Hadi Sirika via his social media page on Saturday night. It will be recalled that Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru along with 10 other military personnel were killed in the crash.

According to Sirika, the Accident Investigation Bureau is in possession of both devices which will be vital in finding out the circumstances that led to the crash. He also revealed that a full scale investigation has been launched into the incident.

The AIB only probes civil aviation accidents and incidents in Nigeria and not military accidents or incidents but in this case, the Nigerian Airforce mandated the bureau to investigate.

"With heavy heart we in Civil Aviation commiserate with the Nation & the C-in-C on the NAF air crash. Investigation has commenced today in accordance with our recent MOU with the military. We pray Allah grant mercy to their souls & may the outcome prevent future occurrence."

"The Flight Data Recorder and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (Black Box) are both found and in the custody of our Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB). These recorders are critical to the investigation and will make things easier and faster.", the minister wrote.

POLITICSNIGERIA.COM

Earlier in the week, the Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, declared Ayuba Wabba, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President and his colleagues wanted for the strike action in the state and also placed a bounty on them. The protest, now suspended after the federal government’s intervention was a move by the workers against the mass sack of Kaduna workers announced by the state government in April.

“KADUNA UPDATE: Ayuba Wabba & others of @NLCHeadquarters declared wanted for economic sabotage & attacks on public infrastructure under Miscellaneous Offences Act. Anyone that knows where he is hiding should send a message to @MOJKaduna. KDSG. There will be a handsome reward!,” Mr El-Rufai wrote on Twitter Tuesday.

Although Mr Wabba in his response dared the Governor to arrest him for leading a protest, the question of the legality or otherwise of Mr El-Rufai’s declaration continues to raise concerns.

However, checks by POLITICS NIGERIA into extant laws and interviews with legal experts revealed that the Governor, who is an executive member, has no such power to declare anyone wanted.

Miscellaneous Offence Act

The alleged crime, committed by Mr Wabba and his colleagues, is hinged on the Miscellaneous Offence act first promulgated in 1983. According to the law, any person who commits an offence under this Act shall be arrested without warrant by a police officer or customs officer, as the case may be.

Meanwhile, the administration of criminal justice Act 2015 dwells extensively on arrest of suspects. For instance, section 23 of the ACJA stipulates that a private individual can arrest a suspect damaging public property but immediately hand such over to the nearest police station.

How can a person be declared ‘Wanted’

When a suspect is at large, only the judiciary has the powers to issue a public summons, which shall be issued after a suspect fails to honour the warrant of arrest earlier issued by a court.

“Where a court has reason to believe, whether after evidence or not, that a suspect, against whom a warrant of arrest has been issued by itself or by any court or Justice of the Peace, has absconded or is concealing himself so that the warrant cannot be executed, the court may publish a public summons in writing requiring that person to appear at a specific place and a specific time not less than 30 days from the date of publishing the public summons.” section 41 of the ACJA says.

While the state government claimed there was a warrant of arrest against Mr Wabba dating back to 2017 when a similar protest was staged in Kaduna, the police spokesperson in the state could not confirm such.

“I’m not aware of the arrest warrant,” Mohammed Jalige said, directing our reporter to the state officials. Also, the state’s Commissioner for Internal Security, Samuel Aruwan, and Mr El-Rufai’s media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, have yet to respond to this newspaper’s enquiries on further details of the arrest warrant and the court that issued it.

They neither picked their calls nor replied to text messages.

As a result, POLITICS NIGERIA cannot confirm if any warrant of arrest or public summons has been issued in the case of Mr Wabba in the past. Such could not have been done recently since the judiciary has been on strike for over 5 weeks.

El-Rufai’s action illegal, Lawyers say

Human rights activist and senior lawyer, Femi Falana, also stated that Mr El-Rufai lacked the powers to make such a declaration. According to Mr Falana, the order of the Governor cannot be enforced because of the unions’ right to participate in peaceful protest amongst other reasons.

“The Miscellaneous Offences Act is not a state statute but a federal enactment. To that extent, if Governor El Rufai has evidence that Comrade Wabba and other labour leaders have contravened any provisions of the Act he is required to lodge a complaint in any of the police stations in Kaduna State.The Governor lacks the power to declare any alleged offender wanted under the Act or any other law whatsoever.

Furthermore, since Comrade Wabba and other labour leaders are entitled to the fundamental right of fair hearing including presumption of innocence,” he said. Citing a previous case, Mr Falana said: “In Benedict Peters v. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission & Anor. (Suit No: FCT/HC/BW/CV/23/2021) of 22nd March, 2018 even though the EFCC had obtained a warrant for the arrest of the Plaintiff the Court held that “But neither the said warrant nor any of those statutes, including the Police Act and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act provide that the 1st Respondent can declare any person who is suspected to have committed an offence, but is evading warrant of arrest as a wanted person, without an order of court first had and obtained.”

In view of the foregoing, we call on the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to ignore the illegal statement credited to Governor El Rufai. In Eperokun v. University of Lagos (1986) 4 NWLR (PT 34) 162 at 172 the Supreme Court held that “…constitutionally entrenched provisions, particularly those safeguarding individual rights, should not, save in a fascist system, be lightly trampled upon.”

These were also corroborated by Festus Ogun and Garba Abubakar, two legal experts who spoke to this newspaper. Mr Ogun described the action of the Governor as preposterous, saying the NLC President was not in any way out of reach if the state wanted to arrest him.

“The leadership of the NLC is in Kaduna as we speak. He is not a rogue that has been at large. He was at the protest today. If they want to arrest him, there are constitutional channels.

“For Mr Abubakar, the Governor cannot “jump the gun” by proceeding to declare anyone wanted in the media.”

“When there is an allegation, a complaint has to be made. They have to lodge a complaint first. They can lodge it directly – to the Police or indirectly— to the court,” he said.

Recent Findings have exposed the long history of Abidemi Rufai, an appointtee of Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, who was recently arrested for his involvement in a $350,000 COVID-19 unemployment fraud in the United States of America.

The U.S. government in a letter exclusively seen by POLITICS NIGERIA told the United States Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of New York, Ramon Reyes, that Mr Rufai's illegality is beyond his recent fraud case.

The United States Department of Justice told the court that Mr Rufai has no ties in the states and may likely not return if granted bail except if he did not find his way to Nigeria. According to Acting U.S. Attorney, Tessa Gorma, Mr Rufai has a long history of using stolen private information of people to submit fraudulent “imposter” claims worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the government.

"Since at least 2017, Rufai has participated in a variety of fraud schemes, including the submission of fraudulent FEMA disaster relief claims and Fake submissions to the IRS"

"He has on several occasions been questioned by law enforcement agents but he denied any participation in the fraud," parts of the letter seen by this newspaper explained.

Ms. Gorma told the Magistrate that the governor's aide has a bad history and characteristics that weigh heavily in favor of detention.

"First, Rufai’s history and characteristics weigh heavily in favor of detention, particularly his extensive ties to his home country of Nigeria. In a post-arrest interview with federal law enforcement officers, Rufai acknowledged he holds a government position in Nigeria."

"Moreover, according to his statements to the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services (Pretrial Services), the defendant has a wife, two children, 15 siblings, and parents—all of whom reside in Nigeria except one brother.

"Second, by contrast, Rufai has no known contacts to the Western District of Washington—apart from using the stolen identities of its residents to rob the state’s coffers. His only known connection with the United States is his brother (one of 15 siblings) who resides in New York."

As part of his dubious efforts to escape justice, Mr Rufai lied that his total assets consists of $6,000 in the United States and $10,000 in a Nigerian bank account. However, investigations revealed that a single U.S. bank account in Mr Rufai’s name received $288,825 before he was arrested, POLITICS NIGERIA learnt.

"On October 18, 2018, Mr Rufai emailed support@secondeyesolution.com and inquired, “what i mean is that can  you do a master card which i will provide the details and u send me the picture front and back just like you do for drivers license.” Rufai’s email account also contains dozens of order confirmations from the same email address, showing payments in bitcoin," documents seen by this newspaper explained.

Governor appoints fraudster as aide

POLITICS NIGERIA findings show that Governor Abiodun did not do a thorough research into the character of Mr Rufai before he was appointed as an aide and sworn in.The development further adds credibility to reports that screenings done by the state House of Assembly are 'questionable'.

This paper learned that he was grilled during screening but no lawmaker could find his lavish lifestyle suspicious.  A scrutiny of his online activities revealed Mr Rufai is more active on Instagram, posting pictures of himself and other Ogun government officials. He shared photos of his candidacy for the House of Representatives in 2019. His slogans read: “Ready and Committed to Serve with Trust and Ethics.”

The suspect owns also owns a sports betting organisation named Ecobet, and he is popularly described as “a young business turk,” “a philanthropist of note” and a “gregarious and enterprising dude” among his clicks.

Busted fraud

Mr Rufai was arrested by officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), while attempting to leave the U.S. around 7:45 p.m. on May 14. He allegedly bypassed security systems at the Employment Security Department using a simple feature of Google’s free Gmail service.

Mr Rufai's lawyer, Michael Barrows of Garden City, New York, said his client denied “involvement in these transactions.”

However, Ogun state Governor, Dapo Abiodun has since suspended him from office.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has called on President Muhammadu Buhari, VP Yemi Osinbajo and other notable personalities in the country to avoid flying private jets pending the outcome of a thorough investigation into an airforce plane crash that occurred on Friday claiming the lives of Nigeria's Chief of Army, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and several others.

The group in a statement sent to POLITICS NIGERIA on Saturday, signed by its secretary-general, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, disclosed that the airforce plan crash was 'suspicious' and had signs of a 'possible Sabotage'.

"Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide consoles with President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerian Army over the demise of Lt- General Ibrahim Attahiru and ten others in the air force plane crash in Kaduna on Friday 21/5/21. This is perceived as a result of sabotage that should be investigated and the late Army chief with others had paid the Supreme prices for peace to return to Northern Nigeria."

"Ohanaeze queries if the era of plane crashes as phenomenal occurrences for supreme prizes for patriotic Nigerians had returned?"

"President Buhari, V.P Osibanjo and others should avoid flying Private Jets until the investigations of the NAF ill fated flight that crashed at kaduna are concluded and made open to Nigerians." the statement read.

Former Aviation Minister and opposition figure, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has reacted to a tragic airforce plane crash that occurred on Friday killing Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff, Lt. gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and several other top military brass.

FFK, in a series of tweets called for an investigation into the matter asking if the incident was truly an accident or an 'inside Job'. He tweeted;

"Lord have mercy! May the souls of Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru & all our other warriors that went down with him rest in peace. We DEMAND to know what really happened! Was it an accident or was the plane brought down? If it was brought down, who by? Was it BH or an inside job?"

"..If it was an accident what caused it? Weather, engine failure, pilot error? So many questions!"

"No cover-ups this time! We have a right to know the truth and to be told under what circumstances our COAS & his officers were killed. Accident Investigation Bureau over to you!"