₦airaland Forum

Former Aviation minister, Femi Fani Kayode has aired his views on claims that the legal team of Tinubu/Shettima wrote the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Court which was delivered last Wednesday.

It was also alleged that the President’s legal team received a copy of the judgment before it was formally delivered.

The former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain described the claims as ‘simply absurd.’

According to him, this is surely the most insidious, savage, blatant and vicious attack on the integrity of the country’s judiciary.

Fani-Kayode, also noted that the coordinator of the Tinubu’s legal team, Babatunde Ogala, SAN, has already explained why the inscription and wording that made reference to the President’s lawyers at the top of a copy of the judgement came about.

According to him, those asking various questions and scrutinising the judgement were doing so in an attempt “to provoke anger, disorder, violent protests, anarchy and chaos in the land.”

He said that such people were doing this “in an attempt to engender an Arab spring/EndSARS type of operation in our country, annul the election and justify a military takeover and the formation of an Interim National Government.”

“…Simply put, that is their plan and agenda but they will surely fail,” the former minister wrote on social media platform, X.

The Adamawa State Police Command has arrested four men for alleged robbery in the capital, Yola.

“Another operational strategy introduced by Adamawa State Commissioner of Police, CP Afolabi Babatola, to checkmate the activities of Shilla gangsterism within the state capital yielded a positive result as a syndicate of four were arrested,” the command said in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje.

The statement indicated that the suspects, aged 18 to 23 years, robbed some residents of Demsawo and Nasarawo wards in Jimeta, Yola North Local Government Area.

The suspects as Kabiru Yahaya, 18 years old, and a resident of Kala’a’ Street; Abdulazeez Mohammed, 23 years old and a resident of Wuro Kuturu; Adamu Babayo, 18 years old and a resident of Bauchi Street; and Ibrahim Mohammed, 20 years old and a resident of Nasarawo Borehole, all in Jimeta, Yola North Local Government Area.

They were arrested on Sunday, September 10, by a combined team of policemen and members of the Local Security Support Group (vigilantes).

Dangerous weapons and their operational tricycle were recovered from them.

Nguroje assured that the suspects will be prosecuted in accordance with extant laws.

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Sunday disclosed that Nigeria requires N21 trillion to effectively bridge housing deficit, despite efforts across the three tiers of government.

Shettima stated this in Sokoto at the groundbreaking for the construction of a 500-unit housing estate by the State government.

The VP, who commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for his efforts to address the housing needs of people of his State, noted that the housing deficit in Nigeria remained a huge challenge.

Shettima said, ”Nigeria has a deficit of 28 million houses and we will need N21 trillion to meet our housing needs.

“This step taken by the Governor is highly commendable and worthy of emulation by other State governments.

”The governor has started well by completing the roads and flyovers he inherited.”

Earlier, the Governor explained that the housing estate would be for civil servants and would be sold to them when completed on an owner-occupier basis.

Aliyu said: “This is a project that was initiated by the former Governor of the State, Aliyu Wamakko but was later abandoned by the immediate past administration.

“But, we are determined to complete it for the benefit of our workers and the general public.”

The event, which was to mark the first 100 days in office by the administration, was attended by Senator Aliyu Wamakko, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, among others.

The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara on Saturday announced a N100 million bounty on one Gift David Okpara Okpolowu, a.k.a. 2-Baba and members of his gang over the gruesome murder of a Divisional Police Officer, Bako Angbashim.

.ng recalls that the DPO was killed on Friday night while in an operation with his men in the Odiemudie Community, Ahoada East local government area of the state.

Governor Fubara who announced the bounty in a statement he personally signed, said anyone who gives useful information that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of the suspect, would be rewarded with the N100m.

According to the governor, the prime suspect in the murder of the DPO is responsible for kidnapping and terrorism in some parts of the state.

“First, the prime suspects, Mr. Gift David Okpara Okpolowu (a.k.a. 2-Baba) and all members of his criminal gang are hereby declared wanted.

“Secondly, a bounty of one hundred million (N100,000,000.00) naira is hereby placed on his head for anyone who gives useful information that would lead to his arrest and prosecution.

The governor also announced an indefinite suspension of a monarch, Eze Cassidy Ikegbidi, over alleged complicity in the murder of the DPO.

“Thirdly, His Majesty, Eze Cassidy Ikegbidi Eze Igbu Akoh II, is hereby suspended indefinitely for acts of complicity in ceding control of his territory to the notorious David Gift and his gang to freely operate and carry out their criminal activities”, he said.

Vice President Kashim Shettima lamented on Saturday in Maiduguri that the Boko Haram insurgency had inflicted damage worth $9 billion on the Northeast.

According to a statement by Olusola Abiola, the Director of Information at the Office of the Vice President, Shettima stated this while inaugurating the distribution of palliatives in the North East.

He also performed the official groundbreaking for the construction of the 22.5km Jere Bowl road network project, covering Jere and Mafa LGAs in Borno, being undertaken by the North East Development Commission (NEDC).

The event coincided with the 8th meeting of the North East Governors Forum (NEGF).

According to the Vice President, Borno alone had damages worth $6.8 billion.

He said: “Boko Haram insurgency had inflicted damages in the northeast to the tune of $9 billion. There are similar destructions across Adamawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, and Taraba. If the Northeast of Nigeria were to be treated as a nation, we are poorer than Chad, Afghanistan, and Niger.”

Shettima further said: “I want to urge the NEDC board to expand the scope of its intervention to cover more road projects across the northeast region, including Gombe-Bauchi, Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu, and Gujiba-Biu roads, among many others.

“Though these roads are regarded as Trunk A roads, they will eventually be used by Nigerians, particularly the people of the Northeast.”

Shettima commended the NEDC board for its prudent management of resources and lauded the support of political leaders, including legislators from the region, for the commission.

The Vice President also commended the efforts of governors, saying: “The Northeast is a kaleidoscope of colours, made up of different people from different socio-political backgrounds.

“But I want to commend our governors for coalescing these units into a single force, irrespective of the differences in political and other backgrounds.”

On the distribution of palliatives worth N15 billion to beneficiaries in 110 LGAs and 18 senatorial districts across the region, Shettima reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to the welfare of the people.

The items to be distributed to beneficiaries across the zone include mats, a variety of clothing materials for women and children, blankets, rice, and vegetable oil, among others.

Shettima also commended security agencies for the progress made in the ongoing fight against insurgency. He called for an intensification of efforts to eliminate the remnants of fighters hiding in enclaves in the region.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of NEDC, Alhaji Mohammed Alkali, disclosed that the first phase of construction of the Jere Bowl road network was among other infrastructure projects undertaken by the commission across the region.

Alkali said the commission would key into the present administration’s transport initiative by partnering with the states to deploy affordable, energy-efficient electric and CNG-fueled vehicles.

“Indeed, we will factor our activities into the Renewed Hope Agenda initiatives for agricultural value chains, food security, energy, industrialisation, and human capital development,” Alkali said.

In attendance at the NEGF meeting were governors Bala Mohammed, Mai Mala Buni, and Ahmadu Fintiri, respectively, of Bauchi, Yobe, and Adamawa states.

Also present were deputy governors Karim Iliyasu and Manassah Jatau of Taraba and Gombe states, as well as members of the National Assembly, among others.

The Nigerian troops of ‘Operation Hadin Kai’ North East, have killed six Boko Haram terrorists after a raid on their camp in the fringes of Sambisa Forest in Borno State.

It was gathered that the terrorists were eliminated during a fighting patrol by the troops in conjunction with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and HYBRID forces on September 7, 2023, at Garin Ba’aba in Bama Local Government Area of the state.

Bama is located about 70 kilometres from Maiduguri and is also at the centre of the Sambisa forests.

.ng learnt that the terrorists tried to show some resistance, but the troops engaged and neutralised them.

“We entered their village at Garin Ba’abba, which is inside Sambisa forest, we encountered their surveillance team known as “Murabitun” and instantly naturalised four among them.

“The rest of the Boko Haram began screaming Allahu Akhbar, Allahu Akhbar, and started firing from their position. But in the gunbattle that ensued, we gunned down two more terrorists while the rest escaped,” said some soldiers who participated in the raid.

An All Progressives Congress, APC, senator, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, has vowed to challenge the nullification of his election by the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Asaba, Delta State.

The tribunal had in a ruling on Wednesday declared the February 25 National Assembly election for Delta South Senatorial District inconclusive.

The tribunal also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct a supplementary re-run election in the Warri South Local Government Area of the state within 90 days.

Thomas had been declared winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

However, following a petition by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Micheal Diden, the tribunal voided Thomas’ victory, declaring the election inconclusive.

Reacting to the tribunal’s judgement in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Thursday, Thomas said he will appeal the verdict.

“I am aware of the judgement delivered by the National Assembly Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, Delta State.

“Though we are yet to receive the certified true copy of the judgement, preliminary brief suggest sufficient grounds for appeal which will give us victory.

“As I consult the leadership of our party and my legal team, be rest assured that, we will appeal this judgement and we will do everything within our God given grace to defend our mandate.”

He urged his supporters and members of the APC in Delta South Senatorial District to remain calm.

“Be rest assured that, by God’s grace, the mandate you gave to me at the polls will be defended and I will remain your Senator now and for the next four years.”

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State have engaged in a war of words over what could be the outcome of the petition filed by Ladi Adebutu against the election of Governor Dapo Abiodun.

.ng reported that the Hamidu Kunaza-led tribunal had on September 4 reserved judgment in the petition, saying the ruling would be delivered on a date to be communicated to all the parties.

But, as the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal struck out the petitions filed by the PDP, the Labour Party and the Allied People’s Movement against the election of President Bola Tinubu, the Publicity Secretary of the APC in Ogun State, Tunde Oladunjoye, said the same fate was awaiting Adebutu’s petition in Ogun.

Oladunjoye, in a post he titled, ‘Failure foretold’, told members of the PDP that if they did not know “that PDP/Ladi Adebutu’s petition against APC/Governor Abiodun in Ogun has gone into the dustbin, then it means you didn’t understand or you did not follow the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal delivered yesterday.”

The APC spokesperson stated that he had in the past written that “Adebutu’s lawyers merely wanted to ‘chop’ Adebutu’s free betting money, but I was abused. They felt, wrongly though, that I was merely playing politics.”

Oladunjoye predicted that “the two legs that Adebutu’s case stood on has(sic) been ruptured by the Judgement of the court yesterday.”

But in a swift reaction, the PDP Publicity Secretary, Akinloye Bankole claimed that the PDP was able to prove its case before the tribunal by calling over 90 witnesses and tendering thousands of evidence.

“Even the Presidential Tribunal which Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye is presently gloating about cannot be said to have the same ways and means and content as the Ogun State Governorship tribunal case. Oladunjoye knows this. He just opted to embark on a deliberate voyage of self-consolation,” the PDP spokesman noted.

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to include families of wounded and fallen soldiers in the national social register and its poverty alleviation programmes.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu made this known during a meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa on Monday in Abuja.

Edu expressed the need to support the military families.

”We want to expand our social register to accommodate military personnel that have either been wounded or affected by war, even soldiers that left their families behind.

“We need this data from the military so that we can have them captured under the social register,” she said.

The minister said she was at the defence headquarters to solicit the support of the Nigerian military to tackle humanitarian crises across the country.

“Alleviating humanitarian crises and poverty is top most on President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

”Our preference is to discuss humanitarian crises across the nation and the need to collaborate with the military to prevent more persons coming under the humanitarian bracket.

”We also should be able to reach out effectively to those who are affected by humanitarian crises wherever they are,” she said.

Responding, Gen. Musa, assured the minister of the commitment of the Nigerian military to support her towards achieving the mandate of the ministry.

Musa acknowledged the link between military operations and humanitarian aid.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the agenda of the engagement was to forge a formidable alliance between humanitarian efforts and the military.

Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) on Operation Hakorin Damisa IV have reportedly arrested 54 suspects in connection with kidnapping, farm destruction, and armed robbery.

A statement by Capt. Oya James, Information Officer, OPSH, said the troops, in conjunction with the Nigeria Police and local hunters, neutralised five suspected kidnappers in Tahuwa community and recovered three AK-47 rifles, one SMG rifle, and 105 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

The statement said that troops also carried out a sting operation across Plateau and Kaduna states, during which three kidnappers were arrested and a suspected bandit, Dauda Tahiru, was also arrested in connection with the last attack at Heipang village in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.

Also, troops tracked down and arrested a notorious gunrunner, Da Nyam, and one other at Kwang and Kafanchan communities of Jos South and Jama’a LGAs of Plateau and Kaduna states.

During the operation, according to the statement, troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, 55 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, a DICON-graded AK-47 rifle with registration number 563706042, and a magazine.

He said that the suspects are currently undergoing interrogation.

The statement also affirmed that troops conducted clearance operations at Alaghom village in Maijuju forest, Anguware hills, and Fofur general areas in Mangu LGA and recovered one motorcycle and one AK-47 rifle loaded with rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

OPSH said it also handed over suspects and a truckload of vandalised railway slippers to the Plateau State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for further action.

The Adamawa State Police Command on Monday paraded 32 robbery and kidnapping suspects.

Among the paraded suspects was Mustapha Mohammed who was linked to the abduction of Zainab Abbas, the wife of an Adamawa State High Court judge who was abducted from her residence in Nyibango, a residential district in the Yola North LGA early in June.

Police Public Relations Officer SP Suleiman Nguroje, who addressed newsmen in the course of parading the suspects, listed the items recovered from them to include 13 AK-47 rifles, five locally made pistols, four pump-action guns and a cash sum of N1,689,000, among other items.

Nguroje later led journalists to the office of the state Commissioner of Police, Afolabi Babatola, who presented merit plaques to 11 police officers and four hunters whom he said were behind the success of the arrests.

The police operatives recognised were mostly from the Crack Squad of the state command.

The leadership crisis bedevilling the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, has taken a new twist as the new leadership of the party under Dr Agbo Gilbert Major on Sunday resolved to conduct a probe into the mismanagement of over N1 billion raised from the sale of forms to aspirants during the 2023 general elections.

The new leadership also called for written complaints from aggrieved candidates who were shortchanged after making payments for forms into the party’s account while disclosing that it has resolved to overhaul its structures across all levels nationwide in the coming days and weeks.

This resolution was contained in a statement issued by the Acting National Publicity Secretary, Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq, following a maiden meeting at the Abuja National Secretariat on Sunday and made available to PM NEWS.

The party also questioned the rationale for the location of the Situation Room to the presidential candidate’s personal residence, resolving to set up a committee to launch a probe into it.

The statement alleged that the location created room for massive corruption and manipulation, leading to the imposition of candidates.

Abdulrasaq added that the party also confirmed its withdrawal from the Memorandum Of Understanding, MoU, signed by it with the Kwankwasiya Movement and The National Movement, TNM, insisting that the principles of those two groups did not aline with the party’s policies of openness and inclusivity.

According to Abdulrasaq, the party resolved to query the rationale behind the denial of other presidential aspirants the right to purchase forms and participate in the primary election that it said illegally produced Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, insisting that it was against the spirit of fairness and equity the party preaches.

He further called on the party’s numerous members and supporters to remain calm in the face of what it described as “brazen assault of the Kwankwasiya movement” whose members were erroneously made to believe the party was sold to them.

“The new leadership of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) under Dr Agbo Gilbert Major today had its maiden meeting at the Abuja National Secretariat and after a review of the situation resulting from the gross mismanagement of the party in the past one year came out with the following resolutions:

“To conduct a thorough probe into the mismanagement of well over one billion naira (N1b) raised from the sale of forms to aspirants between March 2022 and today. The meeting resolved to invite relevant security agencies to properly examine the accounts of the party with a view to demanding explanations from the party’s presidential candidate, the party’s chairman who left in March 2023, the sacked acting chairman and the National Secretary. This is to restore confidence of party members/candidates who came forward with their hard earned money to purchase forms,” part of the statement read.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, FCT Command says it has arrested three suspected vandals and cable thieves.

This was contained in a statement, on Sunday, by the FCT NSCDC Corps Public Relations Officer, ASC1, Okomanyi Comfort.

According to the statement, the suspects, Peter Kile, 27, Akanuge Sammel 27 and Justin Tundu, 31, were caught with unlawful possession of the cables by a patrol team around House on the Rock Church Junction, Airport road in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to the reports, the arrest was made following an intelligence report that some criminals disguised as engineers with the aim of vandalising and carting away cables.

It said the FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu expressed disgust at the level of vandalism and destruction of infrastructure in the FCT, and vowed to launch a more intensified onslaught against criminals and vandals defacing the capital territory.

According to him, “we are going to flush vandals out of FCT. Thank God you are beginning to see the results of our reactivated patrol teams.

“We will intensify our efforts to fish out all of them, and more arrests would be made in due course.

“We shall deal decisively with them according to the extant laws to serve as deterrent to others.”

The statement noted that the Command was working in synergy with other security agencies within the FCT, adding that they will sanitise the Federal Capital Territory by restoring peace and ensuring adequate security.

He commended the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike for his policy directions on security and general development of the FCT, which the NSCDC has keyed into for better service delivery to all residents.

He warned vandals, hoodlums, scavengers and other criminals to find their way out of Abuja “because there is no place to hide anymore”.

He said the suspects would be handed over to the police for prosecution after undergoing thorough investigation.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Yobe State Command, have rearrested a suspected drug dealer, Abubakar Usman, who has been wanted since 2022.

The Command’s Principal Staff Officer, Media and Advocacy, Ramatu SB, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday and made available to newsmen in Damaturu.

According to the statement, the 30-year-old suspect was apprehended at Sabon Sara village in Fune Local Government of Yobe State, following tireless efforts by the Command’s surveillance team.

“Upon his arrest, Usman was found to be in possession of approximately 6.8kg of dried weeds suspected to be cannabis.

“This seizure serves as a major blow to the illicit drug trade in the State and highlights the commitment of the NDLEA in eradicating drug-related activities”, it said.

The anti-narcotic agency added that further investigations will be conducted to determine the true extent of Usman’s involvement in the illegal drug trade.

NDLEA also called on the public to continue to provide information that can assist in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse to create a drug-free society and ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens.

Tragedy struck in Mgbemena, Coal Camp, Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State as a building which collapsed on Friday claimed the lives of four siblings.

The chairman of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Agency (ECTDA), Hon. Uche Anya, who visited the scene of the incident, expressed his condolences.

Anya described the loss of innocent children in the tragedy as heartbreaking.

He disclosed that the structure was originally approved for animal husbandry but was converted into a residential building, expressing concern over the unsuitability of the collapsed building for human habitation.

“We immediately responded to the incident upon receiving the information. Unfortunately, four children lost their lives in this tragic event.

“The construction of this building was irresponsible. It was never meant to be occupied by humans. I urge you to visit the site and witness it for yourselves,” he said.

The ECTDA chairman further emphasized the agency’s commitment to raising public awareness about the importance of living in safe and conducive environments to prevent future incidents like this.

A bridge that links some towns and villages in Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State has collapsed following a heavy downpour on Sunday.

Reports indicated that the bridge collapsed on Sunday around 1pm while motorists were on it.

A resident of Shendam, Aliyu Baga, who confirmed the development to the Daily Trust said the collapse of the bridge had inflicted more hardship on the people of the area although no life was lost.

He stated that the bridge was constructed around 1970.

“The people of the LGA have to look for alternate roads to go into the town and other local government councils. The incident has indeed added another hardship. The bridge is linking many places, including hospitals, and markets among others.

“It is the only bridge that eases the movement of farm inputs and all other important economic and social activities in the LG. We appeal to relevant authorities to come to the rescue of the people of the council,” he said

Men of the Ogun State Police Command, at the weekend, arrested 116 suspected cult members in the Ifo area of the state.

The cultists, 70 males and 46 females, who are members of the Aye Confraternity, were arrested by the command’s Anti-Cultism Squad at Galaxy Hotel, Ibogun Road.

They were picked up at about 0142hrs.

According to a statement by the command, the police had a security report on the activities of the cultists in the area, and that they would be having their initiation and anniversary ceremonies.

Following the report, the Anti-Cultism Squad was drafted to the scene, leading to the arrest of the suspects.

Items recovered from them include four axes, seven cutlasses, anniversary invitation cards, banners, axes, illicit drugs, and cannabis.

The statement said: “on 26/08/23 at about 0105hrs, based on intelligence received on the celebration of the 20th anniversary of , a.k.a Aye Confraternity, Ifo Forum, the Commissioner of Police directed the Tactical Unit and men from Ota Area Command to the scene.

“Surveillance was mounted and over 300 cult members were sighted. These included female invitees gathered for the celebration to mark Aye Day in Ogun State.

“On sighting the team of policemen who had already cordoned off the scene, they fled in different directions and 116 suspects were arrested, including 70 males and 46 females.

“Exhibits recovered from the scene during operation include four axes, representing the symbol of their confraternity, weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, cultist anniversary banner among other recoveries.”

The suspects have been taken to the Eleweran police command headquarters and are currently undergoing interrogation.

The state Police Commissioner, Mr Abiodun Alamutu warned that cultists and other criminal elements should stay clear of the state.

He said the police command under him will not tolerate any criminality in whatever guise, adding that all formations in the state have the mandate to comb all dark spots to rid the state of criminals.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu over the ban of 25 media outfits from Aso Rock.

Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP Deputy Director, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

SERAP was reacting to the withdrawal of 25 journalists’ accreditation from covering the activities of the President.

According to the group, the ban include those from the Vanguard, Galaxy TV, Ben TV, MITV, ITV Abuja, PromptNews, ONTV, and Liberty.

SERAP urged Tinubu to publicly instruct officials at the Presidential Villa to reverse the ban.

It stated that media freedom is the cornerstone of Nigeria’s democracy.

SERAP said the ban on the media must be lifted for public interest and accountability.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 48 hours of the receipt and/or publication of this letter.

“If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest,” it said.