₦airaland Forum

Dino Melaye, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in the upcoming governorship election in Kogi State, has accused the state governor, Yahaya Bello of seeking a third term.

Melaye alleged that Bello was seeking a third term hiding under the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Ahmed Ododo.

Speaking on Channels Television on Monday, Melaye said Bello was using Ododo to achieve his term because he can’t be on the ballot.

He insisted that Ododo would be a figurehead if elected because the outgoing governor will still be calling the shots.

“Don’t be deceived that Yahaya Bello is not on the ballot. Ododo is physically on the ballot but Yahaya Bello is the one seeking a third term through a proxy.

“I will not want this debate to be about Yahaya Bello, rather I would like to market my political party and market what we have for Kogi State,” Melaye said.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the establishment of the Presidential Council on Industrial Revitalization Roadmap, which will be chaired by President Bola Tinubu and comprise ten subcommittees.

This was disclosed on Monday by the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite.

She spoke at the end of the FEC meeting, explaining that the subcommittees will deliberate on various policies within different ministries and the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment.

According to the Minister, “We have a plethora of policies, frameworks, and guidelines aimed at reinvigorating industries across these diverse ministries and agencies.

“We are mandated to collaborate and devise a unified roadmap for each of these subcommittees, all geared towards fostering a comprehensive resurgence of the national economy in accordance with Mr. President’s eight-point agenda.”

“At the conclusion of this effort, we anticipate an upsurge in investment across various industrial sectors.

“We also expect to witness a surge in job creation, bolstering employment figures and an overall improvement in our indices, particularly our GDP growth rates, projected to escalate from 3.5% to an aspirational 7%, with a GDP base of approximately 1 trillion, aligning with Mr. President’s vision.

“The impetus behind this initiative is our strategy to stimulate industrial growth, with a particular focus on catalysing the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the broader industrial landscape,” she emphasized.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has identified leadership as one of the problems facing Nigeria.

Wike disclosed this while noting that a law establishing a civil service commission for the FCT had been enacted but remained unimplemented.

The minister said he brought the law to Tinubu’s attention, and he approved its initiation.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, Wike said Tinubu’s political will and capacity made him agree to work in the current administration.

He said: “One of the problems in this country is leadership, so many people don’t want to take action. There is no action that you take that everybody will be happy.

“In 2018, the National Assembly passed a bill into law which was assented to by the former Vice-President Osinbajo when he was acting as the president. [The law says] FCT should have a civil service commission. Everybody has been running away.

“Nobody wants to [implement it]. Nobody has the political will to implement it. Everybody is saying ‘it will reduce my power’. No. It is about the institution.

“The minister will come and go, so also the head of service will come and go. If the National Assembly passes a bill into law which is assented to by Mr President, what is wrong in implementing that law?”

The number of the All Progressives Congress, APC Senators in the National Assembly on Thursday increased to 60 following the defection of Ifeanyi Ubah, lawmaker representing Anambra South Senatorial District, who was elected on the platform of the Young Progressives Party, YPP to the ruling party.

Ubah’s defection to APC on the floor of the Red Chamber reduced the number of lawmakers elected on the platforms of minority parties from 50 to 49.

In his letter of defection read by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio before the day’s plenary was suspended in honour of Jelani Danbuga from Sokoto State, a member of the House of Representatives, who died on Wednesday, Ubah cited irreconcilable differences between him and leadership of YPP for his exist from the party.

He explained that his choice of APC as his new political platform, was borne out of the commitment to good governance, economic development and social progress which the ruling party has demonstrated.

The letter reads: “I am willing to formally notify and inform the Distinguished Senate President and our colleagues of inconsiderable differences between me and the leadership of my party (YPP).

“I therefore resolve to move from the Young Progressives Party (YPP) to the most important party in Africa, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“As a dedicated politician and representative of my people, this has become exigent at this period of my political career and public service.

“After thorough evaluation of the political landscape in Nigeria particularly, the good works being done by the All Progressives Congress since the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the president of Nigeria, I have come to realization and conclusion that the All Progressives Congress is better suited to champion the ideals and principles that can move Nigeria forward.

“The APC’s commitment to good governance, economic development and social progress resonate deeply to my own conviction and the alignment of each member on key national issues for achieving the promises of any decent politician and particularly the promises that I made to my constituents to better the lot of all of them.

“I am particularly impressed by the Renewed Hope Initiative of President Bola Tinubu and I have found it necessary to join the trend so as to integrate my senatorial district into the laudable mission of my President.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday said over 5.4 million Nigerians are on the voter register for the Nov. 11 governorship elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states.

This was disclosed in a statement by Sam Olumekun, the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee.

The statement read in part, “The Commission held its regular meeting today, Tuesday, October 10, 2023, and, among other issues, reviewed preparations for the off-cycle Governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States.

“For the forthcoming elections, there are 1,056 862 registered voters in Bayelsa State; 2,419,922 in Imo State; and 1,932,654 in Kogi State, making a combined total of 5,409,438 registered voters for the three states.

“As provided in the timetable and schedule of activities, soft copies of the complete register of voters for each state will be presented to the political parties participating in the elections. For emphasis, 16 political parties are sponsoring candidates in Bayelsa State, 17 in Imo State and all the 18 parties in Kogi State.

“State Chairmen of political parties or their designated representatives are invited to attend the event which will take place at the Collation Centres in the State Headquarters of the Commission in Lokoja, Owerri and Yenagoa on Thursday, October 12, 2023, at 10.00am”.

“The exercise will take place simultaneously in the three States on Saturday 14th October 2023 from 8.30am to 2.30pm.

“Once again, the Commission appeals to registered voters in the selected polling units to turn up with their Permanent Voters Cards PVCs for the exercise.”

The Federal High Court in Abuja has disqualified the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva, from contesting the November 11 election in Bayelsa State.

The ruling was delivered on Monday by Justice Donatus Okorowo.

Okorowo ruled that Sylva, having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as governor of the state, would breach the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to contest again.

The judge stated that Sylva was not qualified to run in the forthcoming November poll because he would have spent more than eight years in office as governor of the state if he wins and is sworn in.

While citing the case of Marwa vs Nyako at the Supreme Court, Okorowo maintained that the drafters of the country’s constitution stated that nobody should be voted for as governor more than two times and that the parties to the suit agreed that Sylva was voted into office two times.

According to the judge, the Supreme Court has also ruled in the case of Marwa vs Nyako that nobody can expand the constitution or its scope.

It held that if Sylva was allowed to contest the next election, it meant a person could contest as many times as he wanted.

Operatives of the Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested six suspected internet fraudsters along Calabar-Itu road in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The acting head of media and publicity of EFCC, Dele Oyewale disclosed this in a statement obtained by our correspondent in Uyo on Monday.

Oyewala revealed that the suspects were arrested at the early morning sting operation on Thursday, October 5, 2023, following intelligence linking them with suspected internet-related activities.

He mentioned them to include; Udenze Benjamin, Godwin Atike, Emmanuel Francis, Adebe Oluwademilade, Anietie Brownson and Sabastin Obioma.

The statement noted that some items were recovered from them such as phones and laptops noting that they would be charged to court at the end of the investigations.

The statement in parts, “Operatives of the EFCC, have arrested six suspected internet fraudsters along Calabar-Itu road in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State following intelligence. Some items recovered from them include phones and laptops.

“They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”

The Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State, has convicted and sentenced one Kolawole Erinle, Managing Director of Rinde-Remdex Nigeria Limited, to 12 years imprisonment for defrauding Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, (KCUMB), United States, of about $1.4 million.

This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Acting Head, Media and Publicity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Dele Oyewale.

The statement revealed that Erinle was convicted by Justice R.A Oshodi on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct and obtaining money under false pretence.

According to the statement, two of the charges read, “Kolawole Adedayo Erinle and Edward Dada (still at large), sometime in 2019, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to falsely represent yourselves as J.E. Dunn, a local construction company in America, with intent to gain monetary advantage in the sum of $1,410,000 (One Million Four-Hundred and Ten Thousand United States Dollars) by creating a fake domain name jedunn.org and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No 14, 2006.

“Kolawole Adedayo Erinle, Rinde-Remdex Nigeria Limited and Edward Dada (still at large) on or about the 3rd day of May 2019, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, retain the control of $1,410,000 (One Million Four-Hundred and Ten Thousand United States Dollars) in your Access Bank account, which sum you knew to be proceeds of various internet and cybercrime.”

In the course of the trial, prosecution counsel, T.J. Banjo, presented evidence to prove that Erinle was an ex-convict in the US for bank fraud.

Erinle earlier pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, although he admitted that he was indeed an ex-convict in the US, and spent 23 months in prison.

He also expressed a readiness to pay restitution to his victim, saying, “I am sorry.”

Delivering judgment, Justice Oshodi declared the defendant and his company guilty as charged, and also held that the prosecution effectively proved the case against them beyond every reasonable doubt.

Justice Oshodi held that, as argued by the prosecution, Erinle, “spoofed the email address of the financial controller of J.E. Dunn, by faking the domain name of jedunn.com to jedunn.org“, an act which was “premeditated”, so that “when KCUMB was about to pay J.E. Dunn, you provided Bank of America details in the name of E. Dada Autos, and after the wire transfer of $1,412,509.40 into it, in March 2019, you caused the money to be transferred in tranches of $850,000 and $460,000 into the second convict’s account, which you also control”.

The trial judge further hels: “The evidence shows that you transferred the proceeds of your crime to your nominees, including your mother, and your wife, and also acquired vehicles and other properties captured in exhibit P to P1.

“I have considered the prosecution’s submissions that you have a prior conviction for bank fraud in the United States of America, US.

“I have considered the fact that notwithstanding your prison term, which you have confirmed to me as sentencing for 23 months, you have not changed.”

Thereafter, Justice Oshodi sentenced Erinle to five years on count two, and 12 years on count three.

The sentences are to run concurrently from February 10, 2023, when he was remanded by the court.


The company, Rinde-Remdex Nigeria Limited, was fined N50 million, and also ordered to be wound up by the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, with the proceeds forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The convicts were also ordered to make restitution to the victim.

The judge further ordered that all the properties and vehicles recovered from them by the EFCC be sold and applied as restitution to the victim through the FBI.

The funds standing to his credit as recovered by the EFCC, and the company, the court added, “shall be applied as restitution for the victim by the FBI; this is without prejudice for the prosecution and the victim to secure a full restitution”.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, visited the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he sought collaboration in the planned setting up of a directorate of women affairs in FCT.

The minister, who was accompanied by the minister of state for FCT, Mariya Mahmood, said the collaboration was necessary “in view of the fact that there is no directorate for women affairs in the FCT.”

“We want to collaborate with her on how to take care of women, and work with her to ensure that the Renewed hope agenda is achieved. The FCT wants to play its own role in that agenda.”

The minister, while seeking other areas of collaboration, expressed readiness of his administration to partner with the office of the First Lady towards the drive to actualize the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Applauding the minister for placing premium on women inclusion, the First Lady said the efforts by the FCT administration to also develop agriculture, one of the priority areas for the Renewed Hope Initiative, was a cheering development with a lot of prospects to be exploited.

“Just this morning, I saw a newsflash that the FCT Minister is collaborating with Israel on agriculture and I said I would love to discuss agriculture with the honorable minister.

“Although women and children is what we do, but it is not just women. We went as far as Belarus to study what they are doing. They have so much to offer in different areas and they are willing to assist, going as far as offering us scholarships at the Renewed Hope Initiative.

“What you have done today has really brought a lot of ease to our work because once you have the directorate there, we would know how to reach them. That is why I think that God has a hand in what we are doing. You have really lightened my burden.”

Senator Tinubu stressed that a broad based implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of “must not only include strategic development of the agricultural sector, but must also recognize the role of women and create an atmosphere that empowers them.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHir7LJ8LIw


The Department of State Security, DSS, has allegedly arrested 23-year-old Fildausi Musa Ahamadu after she threatened to commit suicide and kill all those “responsible for the victory of the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in Kano, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna.

A source, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the arrest of Ahamadu.

The suspect had claimed to be fighting for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the NNPP in a viral video clip circulated in the city.

In the viral clip, Fildausi was overheard attacking the lead judge in the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, warning that anywhere she sees her, she won’t mind holding her with a bomb.

In the same vein, Ahamadu, who was wearing a red cap, warned Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna the APC governorship candidate that, “you dare not indicate your location, otherwise, I don’t mind striking you with bomb vest to commit duicide”.

She also attacked Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, blaming him for the court predicament of the NNPP in Kano.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Monday said it neutralized several Boko Haram/Islamic States of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in air strikes in the Tumbuns on the fringes of Lake Chad in Borno.

The Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Gabkwet said the air strikes obliterated the terrorists’ hideouts, destroyed their structures and strategic logistics’ base in the region.

He said that Tumbun Fulani and Tumbun Shitu were struck between Sept. 27 and Sept. 30 after confirmation of the terrorists’ activities which constituted a threat to military formations and law-abiding Nigerians residing within the locations.

At Tumbun Fulani, terrorists were observed loading jerricans in two guntrucks concealed under shrubs.

Subsequently, NAF aircraft were scrambled to interdict the location, believed to be a major logistics base.

According to him, after the strike, Battle Damage Assessment revealed several terrorists were neutralised and the guntrucks destroyed.

He said that similar strikes were also undertaken at Tumbun Shitu after structures believed to be terrorists’ hideout were observed tucked under thick foliage.

NAF spokesman said that three gun trucks with terrorists were sighted moving into the location, adding that the need to strike the location thus became imperative.

He said the aftermath of the air strike revealed that several terrorists were neutralised and the trucks destroyed.

“The determination of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to significantly limit the activities of terrorists in the Northeast and indeed other parts of Nigeria remains on course.

“Operational gains by the AFN are indicative of improved synergy and cooperation by all security agencies as well as the unwavering support of all Nigerians,” he said.