Eid-el Fitri: FG declares Tuesday, Wednesday public holiday

The Federal Government has declared July 5 and 6, 2016 as public holiday to mark Eid-el Fitri Celebrations.

The Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.), who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, on Thursday in Abuja, urged  all Muslim faithful and Nigerians in general to extend the spiritual benefits of Ramadan, which are love, peace and justice to their daily living and through this contribute to the development of the nation.
A statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Bassey Akpanyung said   Dambazau also urged Nigerians to use the opportunity of “this spiritual rejuvenation to reflect on the imperative of unity and peaceful co-existence in strengthening the bond of togetherness for a strong, virile nation.”
The minister, while wishing Nigerians a peaceful celebration, urges total support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s avowed determination to bequeath to the nation an enduring political legacy, it added.

Former Senate President David Mark Wins Again

The re-run Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi on Thursday struck out the petition of the All Progressives Congress’ candidate, Daniel Onjeh, against Senator David Mark.


The tribunal held that the petition was filed after the stipulated 21 days, as enshrined in the constitution.

In her ruling, Justice Chinyere Gloria Anulube described the petition as ‘defective and incurably bad’, maintaining that the tribunal lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

Ex-Adamawa Acting Governor Remanded In Prison Over Corruption charges

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered the remand of a former Acting Governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri, in Kuje prison, Abuja, over five counts of money laundering charges involving about N1.9bn preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed made the order after Fintiri pleaded not guilty to all the five counts on Thursday.
The EFCC arraigned Fintiri  along with Mayim Constructions and Properties Limited (the second defendant).
‎Shortly after Fintiri pleaded not guilty to all the charges, the court heard his bail application but adjourned till Friday to deliver its ruling on it.
Justice Mohammed ordered that the former acting governor be remanded in Kuje prison pending when the court would deliver ruling on the bail application on Friday.
‎In the charges numbered FHC/ABJ/CR/131/2016, and filed on June 16, 2016, the EFCC alleged that the accused committed the money laundering offences involving an aggregate sum of about N1.9bn between October 2, 2014 and July 2015.
‎In counts 1 and 2 Fintiri was accused of indirectly disguising the origin of total sum of N220m (N80m and N120m) on October 2, 2014‎.
He was said to have committed the offence in the two counts by transferring the various sums of money from account number 0313000301 with Ecobank Plc and operated by Timeplex Nigeria Limited into the account number 5742019591 domiciled with the same bank and operated by Mayim Construction and Properties Limited.
The prosecution alleged that Fintiri knew the sums of money to be part of proceeds of an unlawful act of “bribery and corruption”, stating that the alleged  offences were contrary to section 15(2), (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2012 and punishable under section 15(3) and (4) of the same law.‎‎
He was also accused of committing similar offence in Count 4 by indirectly concealing the origin of the aggregate sum of N550m on October 9, 2016.
 But in the said count 4, the accused was said to have indirectly disguised the sum of N550m through ‎”a term loan of 12 months” purportedly granted to him by Ecobank Plc “for the acquisition of a tea plantation farm from Nigeria Agricultural Bank in Taraba State”.
The former governor was said to have repaid the loan within three months while he was the acting governor of Adamawa State.
 In count 3, he was accused ‎of making cash payment of N220m, without going through a financial institution, for the purchase of Plot 7, Gana Street, Maitama Abuja, sometimes in July 2015.
 He was said to have made the cash payment to one Hashim Dikko.
This was said to have violated section 1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2012 and punishable under section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.
In count 5,‎ he was accused of retaining in his US Dollars account number 5742019601 domiciled with Ecobank Plc the total sum of $4,830,000 (estimated at N970m at the then N200 to $1 official exchange rate) on June 3, 2014.
The EFCC alleged that the money was part of proceeds of unlawful act of corruption and he thereby committed an offence under section 15(2), (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) and (4) of the same Act.Punch

Forgery Suit: Senate walks out AGF representatives at panel meeting

The Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, on Thursday, walked out the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari, on Prosecution,  Mr. Okoi Obono-Obla, who was in the upper chamber to represent the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami.


Malami was summoned by the red chamber following its resolution that the nation’s chief law officer should be asked to explain the rationale by his office to prosecute the senate presiding officers over the alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Order 2015.

Obviously not satisfied with the decision of the AGF to shun its invitation for the second time,  the senate panel wondered why Malami should send a representative when he was aware that his attention was physically required to defend his actions.

They expressed the fears that  Malami by his action, was threatening the nation’s democracy and that something should be done urgently to save the situation.

Efforts by Obono – Obla, to deliver the message of the AGF, were frustrated by the committee chairman, Senator David Umaru,  who said they were only interested in meeting Malami or no one else.

He explained that the committee would report to the senate-in-plenary on resumption from its current recess and would take the necessary action against Malami.

However,  Obono – Obla, who said he was appointed by Buhari and attached to the Ministry of Justice,  told journalists outside the committee room that the position of the AGF was that the panel lacked justification to open any discussion over the matter.Punch

FREEZING OF FAYOSE’S ACCOUNT, HALLIBURTON SCANDAL AND THE EMERGING STORIES OF TWO AISHA BUHARI

 The governor of Ekiti State His Excellency, Ayodele Fayose is a potpourri of personality who means different things to different people. His disdain for APC and opposition to President Buhari's candidature was already in the public domain. After the 2015 general elections, he took it upon himself and assumed the unofficial, intrepid, loquacious mouth piece of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The ruling APC in turn scornfully see him as a deviant character best described as a gadfly and the stubborn fly which follows corpse to the grave. He has ready-made derisive reactions or aspersions to every policies of the ruling APC. Fayose is an old political war horse with handy weapons at his disposal to haul at opponents. His disposition to the governance of the current administration has become a major source of concern to APC stalwarts. Whichever way the pendulum of public opinion swings on the persona of Ayodele Fayose, he is an enigma and an unforgettable major player who has left a mark in the sand of our democratic experience. No one takes the shine off his beliefs and opinions. You ignore Ayodele Fayose the dogged fighter to your peril. 

The latest umbrage between Fayose and the APC came with the freezing of his Zenith Bank personal account by the EFCC. In a broadcast to the people of Ekiti, the governor who is not new to controversies added another dimension to the saga. In a statement issued by his aides, the governor lampooned President Muhammadu Buhari as being corrupt. “Even the president cannot claim to be an angel. The estate he built in Abuja is known to us. His wife was indicted over the Halliburton Scandal.”  He revealed an alleged sleaze involving the wife of the President Aisha Muhammadu Buhari and former US Congressman William Jefferson who was convicted in the infamous Halliburton scandal. The link containing the Halliburton judgment where Jefferson was convicted and the name of Aisha Buhari mentioned for wiring $170,000.00 to aid bribery is already in circulation on social media.

The presidency was irked, jolted and could not take the effrontery any more. An attempt to clear the first lady’s name was short-lived when another Aisha who some media houses reported was the alleged culprit denied knowing the colour of Halliburton or involved that line of business. This Aisha is bitter and is already talking to her lawyers on this attempt to rubbish her personality. The spirit of Halliburton scandal has refused to have eternal rest. Those implicated in US have been convicted since 2009 while it has become a judicial hard nut to crack in Nigeria. The timber and caliber of politicians involved in the over $180,000,000.00 scam have left no stone unturned to ensure the case dies a natural death.
This issue is weighty, should not be trivialised or reduced to ordinary name calling. The first lady took to her twitter handle and called Fayose unprintable names such as a mad dog. The first lady said, “Enough is enough, Fayose is an unchained mad dog. If Buhari is 73 years old, I Aisha am 45 years old, I have more than enough energy to face you.” In a warning letter from Mary Ekpere & Co, Aisha Buhari said Fayose’s action was directly responsible for the publication of the “very wild and unfounded” allegations against her in the media. “Our client has referred to us statement made by you and published on the 20th of June, 2016 (and other subsequent days) concerning and pertaining to her person for necessary action. “The said statement which was caused by you and your agents to be widely circulated and published in various media platforms: print, electronic and online on 20th of June, 2016, contains very wild, unfounded and false allegations and imputations against the person of our client. “Specifically, in the said statement credited to you and signed by your Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, you, inter alia, falsely stated as follows: “Even the president cannot claim to be an angel. The estate he built in Abuja is known to us. His wife was indicted over the Halliburton Scandal. When that American, Jefferson, was being sentenced, the President’s wife was mentioned as having wired $170,000 to Jefferson. Her name was on page 25 of the sentencing of Jefferson. We can serialise the judgement for people to see and read. “Take notice that unless you and your agents meet our humble demands within 5 (five) working days of the receipt of this letter, we shall take all necessary steps within the contemplation of the law to seek redress for our client.” The letter by the first lady to Fayose on this issue was one of the most reasonable official steps taking so far to unravel the real Aisha behind this scandal. The matter is a good case for judicial fireworks. Not because it involved the first lady and the  governor but for the fact that from both individuals the hidden truth of the Halliburton scandal will emerge and those behind it identified for prosecution.

Whatever actions and measures the government in place takes to quarantine corruption in the country is a welcome development. However, the anti-corruption crusade of this administration is blatantly selective. I am entitled to my opinion. The onslaught is majorly focused on the officials of the immediate past administration or perceived enemies of APC. In fact, every politician who decamped from other political parties to the APC is automatically a political saint. But we are all aware that some current public office holders and stalwarts of APC who were indicted by commissions of inquiry are walking freely and even dinning and winning with the president. The fight against corruption must begin earnestly somewhere but it must be all inclusive, fair to all because we are Nigerians despite our party affiliations.

No matter who you are, it is certain that when one bends down to look at someone else’s buttocks another person is definitely looking at his. In the same vein when a child embarks on an inquisition of who owes his father; he will in the course of his investigation find out the person who his father owes. This situation is exactly playing out and it applies to everyone including the President, EFCC and Fayose.  The justice system has been demeaned by over-zealous security and judicial officers working to please those in positions of authority who have some axe to grind with some “political enemies.” We are at the level of our political experience where campaign funds of other parties were “government money” stolen or fraudulently raised to enrich individuals except that of APC. While I am not holding forth for anyone who must have diverted public funds for personal use, the over N40 billion reportedly spent by a former governor from the South- South on the campaign of APC calls for urgent interrogation as well. In fact, Fayose’ sin is an aftermath of his temerity and affront to the government of the day. Needless to say that, the maturity of our democratic experiences is tested by virile and vociferous opposition figures and institutions like Fayose. The ruling APC is a beneficiary of uninhibited opposition politics. Therefore, any spirited attempt to gag the opposition and opposition figures now is a disservice to our democracy and nation.

Sunday Onyemaechi Eze, a Media and Communications Specialist is the publisher of thenewinsightng.blogspot.com. He wrote via sunnyeze02@yahoo.com and can be reached on 08060901201

Court strikes out suit challenging authenticity of President Buhari's WAEC certificate

Justice Adeniyi Ademola has struck out a suit filed by Abuja based legal

practitioner, Nnamdi Nwokocha- Ahaaiwe, challenging the authenticity of
President Buhari's WAEC certificate. The case was struck out following a notice
of withdrawal filed by the institutor, Nwokocha-Ahaaiwe.
In striking out the case this morning, the presiding judge, Justice Ademola held
that by “section 50(2) of the federal high court civil procedure rules the matter
is hereby struck out”.

FG seeks UK’s help to seize Amosu, Adigun’s £3.2m London mansions

The Federal Government has commenced moves to seize two mansions

allegedly belonging to the immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal
Adesola Amosu (retd.); and a former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting in
the Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun.
The PUNCH on Wednesday learnt that the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission had traced two houses in the highbrow areas of London to
Amosu and Adigun.
An impeccable source told our correspondent that Amosu and Adigun, who
are due to be arraigned for alleged N21bn fraud, purchased the houses in
2014.
“We identified a detached house at 93b Shirehall Park, London, NW42QU,
belonging to Adigun. The house was bought at the cost of £875,000
(N333,375,000) while we traced another house to 50 Tenterden Grove,
NW41TH, belonging to Amosu. The house was bought at over £1m
(N381m),” the source added.
However, investigations by our correspondent showed that the value of the
houses had increased.
Our correspondent, who visited Zoopla.co.uk , which real estate agents use
in valuing properties in the UK, showed that both properties were bought in
August 2014.
According to the website, the property which Adigun allegedly bought in
August 2014 at the cost of £875,000 currently goes for £1,046,000
(N398,526,000).
It adds that Amosu’s property, which it said was purchased in November
2014 at £1,850,000, (and not £1m as claimed by the EFCC) is now worth
£2,175,000 (N828, 675, 000).
According to the property website, Amosu’s property has six bedrooms, six
bathrooms and two sitting rooms.
A source at the EFCC told our correspondent that the Federal Government,
through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, would write to
the government of the United Kingdom to assist in seizing the properties,
which were allegedly bought with Nigerian taxpayers’ money.
He said, “What we are seeking is how to seize the properties through
diplomatic means. It is a process known as Mutual Legal Treaty
Assistance.”
According to the UK media, a large number of mansions in the country are
owned by corrupt Nigerians.
In a May 2016 report entitled ‘Palaces of Corruption’, The UK Daily Mail
unveiled the London mansions of deceased former Governor of Bayelsa
State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; another dead ex-governor, Abubakar Audu
of Kogi State, and convicted ex-Governor of Delta State, Mr. James Ibori.
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday granted a N500m
bail to Amosu and 10 others arraigned by the EFCC over alleged N22.8bn
fraud.
Amosu was arraigned by the anti-graft agency alongside Adigun, Air
Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo and eight companies before Justice
Mohammed Idris.
The companies are Delfina Oil and Gas Limited, Mcallan Oil and Gas
Limited, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Limited and Trapezites
BDC Fonds and Pricey Limited.
Others are Deegee Oil and Gas Limited, Timsegg Investment Limited and
Solomon Health Care Limited.
They were charged with 26 counts of stealing, concealing the proceeds of
crime and conversion of funds belonging to the Nigerian Air Force.
After the charges were read to the defendants, they all pleaded not guilty.
Counsel for the 1st and 11th defendants, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN),
informed the court of his motion for bail and sought the leave of the court
to move same, which was granted.
Ayorinde said his client had been cooperating fully with the EFCC since his
arrest in January 2016.
The senior advocate added, “He has remitted colossal sums of money to
the Federal Government, although not in admittance of guilt, but out of
cooperation with security agencies.

“My application is that bail be granted to the 1st defendant on self-
recognisance. Let those terms be liberal. He has been reporting to the
EFCC, sometimes twice a week. The 1st defendant will make himself
available for trial.”
Also, Mr. Norrison Quakers (SAN), leading Mr. Kemi Balogun (SAN) and
other lawyers for 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th and 8th defendants, urged the court to
grant their clients bail on liberal terms.
He submitted that his client had been cooperative since his arrest, adding
that the accused had health challenge.
“The Commission is aware of it. My humble application is that your
Lordship grant bail on liberal terms. Incidentally, the 2nd defendant is on
administrative bail by the commission. He will be available for trial”, he
submitted.
Counsel for the 3rd, 9th and 10th defendants, Mr. A. Etuokwu, also urged
the court for bail.
The prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, did not oppose the bail
applications but urged the court to give stringent conditions that would
secure the defendants’ attendance in court.
In his ruling, Justice Buba granted them bail to the sum of N500m each.
He remanded the 1st and 3rd defendants in prison while the 2nd defendant
was remanded in the EFCC custody pending the fulfilment of the bail
conditions.
The judge ruled, “Each defendant is granted bail to the sum of N500m with
two sureties with landed properties within the jurisdiction of the court. The
sureties shall deposit their title documents to the registrar of the court
while the EFCC must verify them.”
He added that the sureties must swear to affidavit of means to be verified
by the EFCC while the defendants deposit their passports to the court as
well.
He adjourned trial to July 8.
According to the charge, the defendants on or about March 5, 2014, in
Lagos, “conspired amongst themselves to commit an offence, to wit:
Conversion of the sum of N21.5bn, property of the Nigerian Air Force, which
sum was derived from stealing, and thereby committed an offence contrary
to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act,
2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”
They were also accused of indirectly converting the sum of N3.6bn
belonging to the NAF among others.Punch

Ojo Maduekwe dies at 71

A former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, is dead. He died

in Abuja on Wednesday evening.
The cause of his death was however unknown, but the Chairman of the
Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Walid Jibril, confirmed
his death.
Until his death, Maduekwe was the secretary of the PDP BoT.
He was said to have died at his Ministers’ Estate residence, Abuja.
Sources close to him said he had a health challenge on his way back to
Nigeria from the United States of America.
Jibril, in an emotion-laden voice, told our correspondent that the death of
his secretary came to him as a rude shock.
He said he got the news from Saudi Arabia, where he is currently observing
the Lesser Hajj.
Jibril, who alongside Maduekwe and other members of the Board of the
PDP took over the running of the party following the crisis that engulfed the
PDP after its national convention in Port Harcourt on May 21, said the
party had lost a loyal member.
He said, “He was a worthy man; a very dedicated member of the party,
who operated with an open mind. He was a very resourceful man, a
dependable ally who tried his best for the country, his party, his family and
everyone around him.
“It is a great loss to the nation, the PDP and his family. He was a national
secretary of our party, a former ambassador. In fact, I have lost a friend
and a loyal party man.
“He was one of the best secretaries of the party and a great manager of
men. It will be very difficult to have someone like him. “
Also, a former Minister of Transportation, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, said he
received the news of Maduekwe’s death with shock.
He said it was difficult for him to believe that his colleague in the BoT had
died, saying that “he was a nice man. He was very intellectual in all his
ways.
“He was a plain person, he had no animosity towards anyone. We spoke
about three weeks ago and I never knew that we were speaking for the last
time. “
While serving as the minister of transportation, Maduekwe popularised the
use of bicycle as a means of transportation. This made people to refer to
him as “Ojo oni keke,” which means Ojo, the bicycle man.
Born on May 6, 1945 in Abia State, the deceased was appointed Foreign
Affairs Minister on July 26, 2007 by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua
He left office in March 2010 when the then Acting President Goodluck
Jonathan dissolved his cabinet.Punch

Ex- Air Chief , Amosu, arraigned; gets N500m bail

Former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Ademola Amosu, has been arraigned

by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before a Federal
High Court in Lagos and granted N500 million bail.
The retired Air Marshal who was arraigned alongside Jacob Adigun; an Air
Vice Marshal, and Gbadebo Olugbenga, an Air Commodore on a 26-count of
stealing about N50 billion pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Air Marshall Ademola Amosu (RETD) and the others were granted N500
million bail each.Vanguard

Buhari Escapes Assassination As Boko Haram Infiltrates Presidential Guards, Plants A Spy, Culprit Arrested

Buhari may have been luckily escaped assassination as the dreaded Islamic sect, the Boko Haram reportedly infiltrated Presidential security details as one Corporal Hassan Aminu,
with a powerful link to the leader

of the Ansaru Islamic Sect, Khalid Albarnawi, second in command to
Abubakar Shekau in the hierarchy has been arrested.
The arrest according thas forced the Presidency to
completely overhauled the Presidential security apparatus and personnel
Investigations revealed that security operatives arrested corporal Hassan
Aminu, following a high-level intelligence report, in Abuja, FrontierNews
says.
The suspect, until his arrest was a key member of the Presidential
bodyguard.
He is said to be linked to the leader of the Ansaru Islamic Sect, Khalid
Albarnawi, second in command to Abubakar Shekau in the hierarchy of the
dreaded Boko Haram Sect, .
Albanawi was arrested in April 2016, in Kogi state by a combined effort of
security agencies in the country.
A top security source who spoke to our source, on the condition of
anonymity said “God was just on our side. If he had killed the president
what would we have told Nigerians,” the source who spoke to our
correspondent, on the condition of anonymity said.
The source stated further that “following the arrest, the NSA’s office along
with other security chiefs have taken it as a point of duty to ensure that
security agents serving in the presidential guard are documented in details
to avoid any ugly situation”.
The armed forces, police and the department of state security service
formed the core from which bodyguards to the president were selected.
“It is not just any security agent that will henceforth serve as presidential
body guard. We have taken time to know the family background and social
influence of any security operative serving in the presidential Villa because
you cannot know those who are sympathetic toward the cause of Boko
Haram in the security structure” the source said.
Following the arrest of Aminu, it was learnt that all the security personnel
serving in the Presidential security are been properly documented to guard
against the infiltration of the ranks by any potential terrorists.
As at Monday, the biomentric capture of all the security operatives
comprising personnel of Department of State Security (DSS), police,
military personnels as well as those in other security arms had commenced
in the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

Kaduna’s Oldest Pupil Dies

Late Danjuma (middle) in class with his classmates
A man believed to be the oldest primary school pupil in Kaduna State is dead.
Danjuma Aliyu, also called AbdulMunim, died in his house in Kachia town on
Friday, after complaining of stomachache, his eldest son, Yahaya AbdulMumin,
told Daily Trust by telephone.
“My father complained of stomachache after washing his car on Friday few
minutes after 11am. He was supposed to prepare for afternoon classes which
starts by 12noon and ends by 4pm but was told to stay at home until his
condition improved. He died while lying down after taking some medications.
The funeral prayer was conducted around 3pm after Jumu’at,” Yahaya said.
Danjuma, popularly called Sarkin Lambu enrolled into the Local Education
Authority Primary School 2, Kachia in 2015 after Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i
declared public education free. He said he was not allowed to obtain western
education by his parents when he was of school age and started schooling at
the age of 63 years.
Danjuma was admitted into primary one class where he sat on the bare floor to
take lessons with classmates as young as his grandchildren. He was later
promoted to class two.
The school headmaster, Ahmed Zubair, gave positive remarks about Danjuma
while he was in class one. “He was doing well in his class and participated in
group activities with other pupils,” Zubair had told Daily Trust.
Danjuma was survived by a wife, 12 children and 14 grandchildren.
Source: Daily trust

No End Yet To The War Between The Executive And The Legislature

Aggrieved Senators, through its committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and
Legal Matters, has issued a fresh summons on Attorney General of the
Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
Malami’s invitation is in connection with the forgery case his office instituted
against Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, and two top
management staff of the National Assembly.
The Senate had first summoned Malami last week following a motion moved by
Dino Melaye.
Malami could not honour the invitation of the senators last week Thursday.
The Senate panel, in its fresh summons, dated June 27, and signed by its
Chairman, Senator David Umaru, asked Malami to appear before it this
Thursday by noon.
Part of the letter read:
“Accordingly, the meeting is now scheduled to hold on Thursday, June 30, 2016,
at 12 noon prompt.
“The venue is Senate Meeting Room 31.3, 3rd Floor, New Senate Building,
National Assembly Complex. You are, by this letter, invited to appear before the
mentioned place above.”
AGF Malami had said Saraki and Ekweremadu should go tell their stories in
court, and leave sentiments.

Nigeria’s Sovereignty Is Negotiable – Soyinka

Respected Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has lent his voice to calls for the
restructuring of the Nigerian federation, saying the sovereignty of the nation
should be and is negotiable.
"We had better understand it too that when people are saying ‘let’s
restructure’, they have better things to do. It’s not an idle cry; it is a
perennial demand."
Speaking during a visit to Punch headquarters on Tuesday, Soyinka said
decentralisation of the nation would ensure healthy rivalry among the
component units.
He insisted that it was wrong for previous administrations in the country to say
that Nigeria’s sovereignty was non-negotiable, submitting that the position was
antithetical to development.
Soyinka added, “I am on the side of those who say we must do everything to
avoid disintegration. That language I understand. I don’t understand (ex-
President Olusegun) Obasanjo’s language. I don’t understand (President
Muhammadu) Buhari’s language and all their predecessors, saying the
sovereignty of this nation is non-negotiable.
" It’s bloody well negotiable and we had better negotiate it. We better negotiate
it, not even at meetings, not at conferences, but everyday in our conduct
towards one another .
“The Pro-National Conference Organisation was about restructuring when this
same Obasanjo said it was an act of treason for people to come together to
fashion a new constitution. Those were fighting words; that you’re saying, ‘I
commit treason because I want to sit with my fellow citizens and negotiate the
structures of staying together’ and ask the police to go and break it up and
arrest us.
“I remember that policeman, who said if we met, that would be treason. I
wasn’t a member of PRONACO at the time. That’s when I joined PRONACO. If
you’re saying to me, ‘I am a second-class citizen; I cannot sit down and
discuss the articles, the protocols of staying together’ and you’re trying to bully
me, I won’t accept.”
He stressed that Nigeria could not continue with a centralisation policy, which
encouraged what he described as “monkey dey work, baboon dey chop”
mentality.

Boko Haram Members Have Graduated From Land to Cyberspace- Chief of Army Staff says

Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, has said that members of the Boko
Haram terrorist group have moved their war from Land where they have been
defeated to Cyberspace. Buratai said this while addressing newsmen in Abuja
yesterday June 28th.
"We have already defeated the insurgents and the terrorists on the land.
Now they have migrated to cyberspace. They have migrated to the
internet and other print electronic media but I want to assure you that
the terrorists and the Boko Haram members who have migrated to the
cyberspace, we will follow them to that cyberspace and equally defeat
them" he said

Wike Demolishes Cultists' Hide Out

In a bid to rid Rivers State of rampaging cultist destroying lives and properties in the state, Governor Nyesom Wike has personally embarked on the supervision of identified structures providing cover for these miscreants.


The governor, Tuesday was  at Rumuolumini in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area where structures believed to belong to cultists were reduced to rubbles.This is a warning signal to those who want to make Rivers State ungovernable that government is equal to the task and has everything it takes to end cultism in the state.

Court Summons EFCC Over Fayose's Account, Zenith Bank

The Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti has ordered the Economic and

Financial Crimes Commission and the Zenith Bank plc to show cause
why an Order Exparte to defreeze Governor Ayodele Fayose's accounts,
filed yesterday to the court by the governor's legal team, should not be
granted. The judge gave Monday July 4 for the anti-graft agency and
Zenith bank Plc to appear in court with the said evidence.
Mr Mike Ozekhome (SAN), had through an exparte order deposed to on the 24th
of June, 2016 by Bimpe Olatemiju sought a mandatory order de-freezing the
accounts belonging and operated by him pending the determination of his
interlocutory application. Joined in the suit are the EFCC (1st defendant) and
Zenith bank (2nd defendant). The order was supported by 18-paragraph
affidavit , a lone Exhibit, which was a letter issued to Governor Fayose by Zenith
bank confirming that the EFCC actually placed a restriction order on the
accounts and a written address .
He also sought the leave of the court for the service of the originating summons
on the defendants in their various addresses outside the jurisdiction of the court
as contained on the order papers, supported by 17-paragraph affidavit.
Ozekhome said the order was brought pursuant to order 26 rule 8(1) of the
Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rule 2009 and Section 44(1) of the 1999
constitution which gives the court the discretionary powers to adjudicate on
such matter.
Citing the case of Abdulaziz Nyako Vs EFCC to buttress his position that the
anti-graft agency has no power to freeze Fayose’s account without valid court
order, Ozekhome added the action was a flagrant negation of the Section 308 of
the constitution, which conferred absolute immunity on the government against
civil and criminal procedure.
He said it was appalling that the EFCC could play ostrich to these valid
constitutional requirements and took cognizance of the African Charters on
Human and People’s Rights before taking the punitive stand against Fayose,
adding that these infractions had rendered the action unconstitutional, wrongful
, null and void .
Delivering his ruling, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, said that he quite understood that
the applicant (Fayose) enjoys immunity and that the court can adjudicate on
this matter as canvassed by the counsel to the plaintiff, but he pointed out that
the relief he basically sought was a mandatory order of the court.
“I quite agree that the applicant has immunity pursuant to provisions of
the constitution, but it is glaring that the application he is requesting for
is a mandatory order to undo what had already been done and the court
can’t abdicate its duty under this circumstance. I am of the opinion that
this mandatory order is better granted with the interlocutory order being
sought through an application pending before the court , because the
applicant has filed all papers to this effect.
“I hereby ordered the 1st and 2nd respondents to appear before this
honourable court on July 4, 2016 and show cause why the order should
be refused. “This is not a refusal of the order, I have not refused it, but I
only put it in abeyance which I said without prejudice to what will be the
position of the respondents . “But a leave is granted for the service of the
defendants with the originating summons in their respective addresses as
contained on the order papers”, the Judge ruled. Describing the presiding
judge as very at home with the law and a highly experience lawyer,
Ozekhome said told newsmen that: "our motion was an exparte for the
de-freezing and removal of restriction placed on citizen Ayodele Fayose
's two accounts with the Zenith Bank Plc.

“The bank claimed through a letter made available to our client that it
acted on the instructions of the EFCC and we are here by way of
originating summons to say that the EFCC has no powers, whether under
the EFCC Act, money laundering Act, under the constitution or any other
known law to freeze the accounts of a sitting governor who enjoys
immunity under section 308 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of
Nigeria, 1999as altered because that section makes it clear that for the
time that person is in that office, the President, Vice-President, Governor
and Deputy-Governor he enjoys absolute immunity from any civil or
criminal procedure and that no court process can issue against such
person. “So, EFCC could not have obtained an order Exparte to freeze his
account, if they did that, it is illegal, null and void. It could also not have
frozen his accounts without having an order Exparte, " he said.
Asked what would be the the legal team's next step should the EFCC fails to
honour the court's order on Monday, July 4, Ozekhome said the government
agency cannot dare a Federal High Court's order. In a related development, the
same court today, vacated an Order of Exparte sought by the factional Ekiti
State chapter of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) allegedly loyal to Senator
Buruji Kashamu restricting the executives of the party in Ekiti, loyal to governor
Fayose, from parading themselves as authentic Excos of the party.

Kuje prison break: Minister of Interior Lt.Gen. Dambazau orders immediate security beef up

Following the escape of two inmates from Kuje prison last week, the Minister of
Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdurahaman Dambazau (rtd) on Monday, June 27, ordered
immediate security beef up at the Kuje Medium prisons and all other prisons
across the country. Dambazau gave the order in Abuja shortly after an on-the-
spot assessment of the Kuje prisons in Abuja. The two inmates standing trial
for murder were said to have escaped from the prison on Friday and are still at
large.
The minister, who was taken round the prison facility by the Comptroller General
of the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS), Ahmed Jafaru and other prison officials,
expressed shock at the incident, adding that he had ordered for detailed
investigation into the matter and vowed to get to the root of the matter, while
the hunt for the escaped inmates continues. He noted the poor state of the
prison and recalled that he had observed some security lapses around the
prison on his last visit.
"The last time I was here I noticed some security gap in the prison, I made my
observation then with the former CG with the present controller prison and I
notice the security gap and I told them precisely what to do but unfortunately
this has occurred," He expressed worry on some of the security lapses around
the prison facility.
"Two prisoners escaped and especially these are prisoners who are awaiting
trial for murder. So, this is a very serious issue that I cannot be happy about,’"
he added.
He assured that the current administration is working towards the rehabilitation
of Nigerian Prisons in order to make it a true rehabilitation centres for inmates
like those in developed countries.
Source: The Nation

CAN accuses President Buhari of Lopsided appointment

CAN accuses President Buhari of Lopsided appointment The Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) have faulted the appointments made so far by the President Buhari led government, stating that it has been lopsided. In a statement released to newsmen in Jos, Plateau state yesterday June 27th, the group said men and women of honor and integrity abound in all parts of Nigeria and that more appointments should be drawn from there The appointment of key federal positions is clearly skewed to favour either a particular religion or region. We believe this does not reflect the unity of Nigeria, equity, fairness or federal character principles. Men and women of honour and integrity abound in every religion, tribe or region capable of handling important government positions.”the statement read in part...

General Buratai's Dubai Houses: Falana, Others Demand Probe

Some prominent Nigerians and groups have urged the Federal Government,
particularly the EFCC to launch an investigation into the finances of the Chief of
Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, over the purchase of $1.5m properties in
Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
The Chief Of Army Staff and his two wives were reported last week by an online
medium to have owned two properties in Dubai said to be worth $1.5m.
Buratai said he's ready for investigation as he bought them with his earnings
and business money.
The National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, in an interview
with Punch, said Buratai should be probed over the allegation of the Dubai
property scandal.
He stated, “The defence the army put up for him is so silly to be believed
outside the barracks. All the earnings of Buratai since he joined the army, if all
were saved, cannot buy a house in Dubai, let alone two.
“The army also exposed itself as a lying institution when it said Buratai was
never in charge of procurement in writing. The investigation should make Buratai
to let the country know that he did other businesses to buy the property in
question so that the integrity of the anti-corruption war can be intact.
“The house could only come legitimately through other businesses outside his
pay. The savings from the salaries of any army officer in Nigeria cannot buy a
house in Dubai.”
Also, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has slammed the Nigeria Army
for defending Buratai over the Dubai properties.
Falana said it was not the business of the Army to speak for Buratai on the
allegations.
He said since public offices require public trust, Buratai should submit himself
to Code of Conduct Bureau and the anti-graft agencies to clear his name.
He said, “Buratai should willingly invite the CCB, the EFCC, the ICPC to look into
the matter. If Buratai was alleged to have unjustly purchased the houses, he
has to come out to defend himself. He must show how the money used to
purchase the houses was transferred.”
But the Ministry of Defence had dismissed the controversies being generated by
an online media report over the ownership of two properties by Buratai’s family
in Dubai.

Married Female Gospel Singer Died In My Hotel Room | Pastor Psalm Okpe opens up on what happened

This is one very unfortunate story that immediately went viral after
OluFamous.Com posted the reaction of the late woman's husband who said he
and his people had watched the CCTV footage at the hotel and it was obvious
that his wife slept in the hotel room with the pastor the previous night.
Since April 8, 2016, when the married female gospel singer, Yvonne
Omoarebokhae, died in a hotel room in Benin, the man in the middle of the
storm, Apostle Psalm Okpe, who is the General Overseer of Fresh Oil Ministries,
Lagos, has opened up on what transpired between the lady and himself.
The saga is confusing and shocking. Read the full details below...
After two months in detention, the Benue State-born pastor was released on
June 2, 2016, pending the file from the DPP on how police will proceed with the
case. He told Daily Sun what happened:
“It so happened that of rumours were flying about and people have not taken
time to ask for my own side of the story. So, I want to use this opportunity to
address the issue. On March 18, 2016 at about 7am, I got a message inbox in
my Facebook because of the previous posts I made regarding the crusades I
wanted to take to all the universities.
So, a lot of musicians across the country were sending inboxes; they wanted to
join me to minister at the conferences. Of course, those who follow me on
Facebook know that I give a lot of young people platform to excel; I have
exposed a lot of musicians around the world. And in this country, I have taken a
lot of pastors around the world.
“So, on March 18, this year, this lady, Yvonne, sent me a message, saying she
wanted to join the conference. I asked her if we had met before and she no, but
that she was one of my fans on Facebook . I asked her where she was based
and she said Benin. I told her I was in Benin few weeks earlier and she said
that anytime I come to Benin I should let her know so she can join the
conference. I told her I was coming to Sapele for a conference and when I
eventually came, she offered to pick me from the airport. So, she came with a
taxi driver and she was even the person who took me to the hotel where I paid.
We moved straight away to Sapele. Sapele conference was in the morning.
Having come back from the Sapele conference, everybody parted ways.”
THIS IS WHERE THE PROBLEM STARTED:
“The following morning, on April 8, she came at about 7am to pick me to buy
some things and pick up my luggage. We came back to the hotel with the heavy
bags and some people helped to carry the bags into my room. Then a friend
called me and said that he wanted to see me because he had just finished his
church cathedral. He wanted me to witness what God had done and in
excitement, I told her that I wanted to introduce her to my friend so that she
could minister in his church the following Sunday. But she said that she wanted
to go home and, perhaps, bring food for me in the evening. I rejected her offer,
telling her that I would eat in the hotel in the afternoon. She said that she
wanted to charge her phone for a few minutes because her battery was going
down. Finally, I left and I told her to drop the key at the reception when
leaving .”
The man of God said that he got the shock of his life when he returned from
the outing.
Hear him: “I came back after five hours and asked the receptionist for my key.
The receptionist looked for the key but couldn’t find it. They asked if I left
anybody in the room and I told them that the person I left there should have
gone. I went up and knocked on the door but there was no response. I came
back to the reception and a waiter went up with me. We opened the door and
saw lady neatly dressed and lying down on the bed. I never slept on that bed
that day. If it were to be in America where they do finger prints and all that, I
think I wouldn’t have passed through this storm the way it happened.
Coming in, I was on the phone on a very long international call that lasted for
about 55 minutes because they were planning for a conference in Louisiana,
USA. So, the pastor was talking to me regarding how to send my tickets among
other things. Eventually, I started looking into her eyes because I was expecting
that with the way I was talking on top of my voice, she would have some
movement or something like that but there was no such. So, I was the one that
went to her shook her leg and hit her hand but she did not respond . So, I raised
the alarm; I called the hotel management and they called the police. We called
the ambulance and the police and I took her to the hospital. When we got there,
the doctor pronounced her dead.
“It was a very traumatic moment for me. One, she was a total stranger I never
met anywhere. We were just trying to build father-daughter relationship
spiritually. Unfortunately, that was what happened. We took her to the
mortuary; it was very traumatic. I really felt so bad; it was like my whole world
was collapsing. We couldn’t open her phone because it was pass-worded;
nobody could call with it. I suggested to the police officers to remove the sim
card and one of them put it inside his phone and later called one honourable
that linked us to the husband. As at that time, I was already in detention.”
Relief came the way of the preacher when an autopsy report indicated that she
died of heart failure.
He said: “One of the best pathology in Nigeria did the autopsy. I was not at the
scene; my younger brother represented the family. At the end of the day, they
found out that the woman died of heart failure. It was also shown that she had
no poison in her body. After their investigation, the commissioner of police
called both of us. For the first time, I got convinced that the police are really
working because they stood on the ground of justice and it was vividly clear. I
want to use this opportunity to thank the Nigeria Police; I am really proud of
them . I did not meet the commissioner of police until the day both families were
called together and given the news about the cause of death. The documents
are with the family of the deceased.
“I am deeply sorry for the death of this young lady; it was never meant to be. I
am so shocked that she died. She could have died anywhere. What if she had
died in her house? What if I was the one that slumped and died in the hotel
when she came to visit me?
"I am so sure in my conscience as a preacher who will stand before God where
time shall no longer be that I am fully innocent of her death. I have no hand in
it; I have never killed a chicken before, not to talk about a human being. They
have the right to bring their own doctor and conduct any text they like. She was
a daughter, a friend; somebody that I wished well. If she had died somewhere
else and they called me for assistance, I would have sponsored the burial if I
were not even connected to her in anywhere. It is unfortunate that people went
around stating that I poisoned her or killed her to do ritual. I have never been to
any shrine in my life. My father was a pastor; I grew up in a very strict ministry
background. I have been preaching since when I was 15; this is my 26 years of
preaching. I am too exposed to go into diabolical things . I feel the loss and
pain of her family. I sympathise with them. “I have learnt so much from this –
never to be too free with strangers or be too relaxed with people you don’t
know.”
An unforgettable experience
On the lesson he learnt from the incident, Apostle Okpe said: “My experience in
detention was really funny because I got to meet the kind of people that I never
thought I would stay together with. I slept of the floor for the first time for over
50 days and ate in an atmosphere that was not conducive for me. It was very
pathetic in the cell where I heard cases of people who were robbers and
kidnappers. I was not beaten; nobody touched me.
"Some of them said they used to watch me on television and they asked me to
pray for them. I started preaching in detention. As a matter of fact, I was able
to lead over 90 people to Christ in the cell. I turned the cell into church. I was
preaching everyday, doing vigils. It was a wonderful experience. For me, the cell
was a church; I never saw it as a lion’s den.”
Encounter with the family of the woman
“As expected, the husband of the deceased and the family were not really
friendly; the husband was hostile to me. He felt I killed his wife, but I want to
use this opportunity to let him know that I was not responsible for the death of
his wife . I did not and can never kill anybody for any reason. I don’t need to do
that. Every man you meet is a door leading somewhere. However, it depends on
where you are going. Although they told me categorically that they didn’t need
anything from me, personally I wish I could be a blessing in other ways.
Something like taking responsibility for the schooling of child she left behind or
whatever. If possible, I even want to become friend to the family because the
person who died is not my enemy. The person who died was a friend and a
daughter. Then if she is truly a friend, we should honour her even in death.
"It is so pathetic that they blew it out of proportion and I feel so bad. And I feel
that wherever she is now, she may not be happy with the family. They look at it
that they are crying for justice, but actually it was embarrassing. To the best of
my ability, if the husband calms down from his anger, I could be his friend. God
forbid, what if he is driving and he hits somebody and the person dies? What if
somebody dies in his car? People can die anywhere .
“Sometime ago, I was flying to Frankfurt and the man sitting in the plane with
me died. I was sleeping while the old man was eating. And before I knew it, the
old man slumped and died inside the aircraft . So, who do you blame for the
man’s death? So, if he could let the storm roll over and feel that we could talk,
I could be his friend. I didn’t lure his wife to anything.
"It is not every time that people go to hotel do evil. People go to hotel to sign
contracts; people go to hotel to exchange contacts, to meet people and for
diverse reasons. It is only in Nigeria and Africa that people think that when you
go to hotel, it is evil you go to perpetrate there. That is not the idea. The idea
is that hotel is a transit point. I don’t live there. I don’t have an office there, so
you don’t expect me to begin to look for people’s offices to assist me because I
want to talk to somebody.”
For the records: “I was arrested on April 8, 2016 and released on June 2, 2016
after thorough investigations. I was there for about two months. The file has
been sent to DPP by the police for advice.”

All Nigerian Universities Warned to Return Monies Collected for Post-UTME

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu has directed all tertiary institutions
that have conducted money for Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination
(post-UTME) to immediately refund same.
"Those who have already advertised for the conduct of the Post-UTME
under any guise should stop the exercise immediately as any university
caught conducting Post-UTME will face appropriate sanctions.
"If any tertiary Institution has already conducted Post-UTME, such an
exercise stands annulled and money taken from such candidates must be
refunded immediately."
In a statement issued by Deputy Director Press and Public Relations of the
Ministry of Education, Ben Bem Goong, Minister Adamu declared that post-
UTME examinations already taken are null and void.
The ban is with immediate effect, and under no circumstance should any
institution violate the directive.
This is coming weeks after the Federal government scrapped the Post-UTME
saying that it has confidence “in what JAMB is doing”.

Breaking News: Court sacks Abia Gov, Ikpeazu

                                    Okezie Ikpeazu, Governor Abia

Federal High Court sitting in Abuja annuls the election of Gov. Okezie
Ikpeazu of Abia, orders INEC to issue a certificate of return to Dr.
Samson Oga. The court also ordered Ikpeazu to vacate office
immediately
The court also ordered Ikpeazu to vacate office immediately Ikpeazu
The order was based on the allegation that Ikpeazu submitted false
information to his party, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, for the
party’s governorship primary in December 2014. In his ruling, Justice
Okon Abang ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission,
INEC, to immediately issue a certificate of return to the complainant,
Uche Ogah. More details soon
Culled from: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/court-sacks-abia-
gov-ikpeazu/

BREAKING: Court Rules Saraki, Ekweremadu To Provide Sureties For Bail

A  judge in a federal capital territory high court, Justice Yusuf Haliru, has granted

Senate President Bukola Saraki and three other defendants arraigned Monday,
June 27, 2016 by the federal government on forgery charges conditional bail.
Justice Haliru ordered that Saraki, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu,
and the other two defendants are to provide two reasonable sureties who must
be Nigerians and who must own property in Abuja, the failure of which they
would be remanded in Kuje Maximum Prison, Abuja.
The other two accused persons are Salisu Maikasuwa, former clerk of the
national assembly, and Benedict Efeturi, deputy clerk of the legislature.
The judge held that the essence of bail was to enable an accused person to
stand trial.
He also said that accused persons had not been proved guilty, hence the need
to release them on bail.
Paul Erokoro, Saraki’s counsel, had asked the court to grant his client bail on
self-recognition.
He said that Saraki, being senate president, was “too big” to run away from
trial.
“The entire proof of service did not mention the third defendant (Saraki) in this
case. The police never investigated the third defendant,” he said.
“It is a notorious fact that the third defendant has been standing trial at the
Code of Conduct Tribunal, (CCT) so it is ridiculous to say he will run away.
“He is the president of the senate, where will he run to? He is too big to hide. I
urge your lordship to grant him bail on self-recognition.”
Making his submission, Joseph Daodu, counsel to Ekweremadu, also prayed the
court to grant his client bail on self-recognition.
“The third and fourth (Ekweremadu) defendants are number one and two
citizens of the legislature. It is shameful we are denting our democracy this
way,” he said.
“We are ready for trial even today, so we urge your lordship to grant the fourth
defendant bail.”
Also, Ikechukwu Ezechukwu, counsel to Maikasuwa, asked the court to grant his
client bail, saying that he was ready to stand trial.
“The essence of bail is to secure the attendance of the defendant. Throughout
the period of investigation the defendant was never detained,” he said.
“Attendance to court is the primary objective of bail. We urge the court to grant
the application.”
On his own part, Mahmud Magagi, counsel to Efeturi, asked the court to grant
him bail on liberal terms.
”This application is seeking an order admitting the second defendant to bail
pending the determination of the case,” he said.
“We urge your lordship to grant the second accused person bail on liberal
terms.”
But Muhammadu Diri, counsel to the federal government, the prosecution, said
that the court could go ahead to grant Saraki bail.
He, however, “vehemently” opposed the bail applications of the other accused
persons.
”The prosecution don’t want to oppose the bail application of Bukola Saraki
because he is the senate president — we don’t want to create a vacuum in the
legislature,” he said.
“But we vehemently oppose the bail applications of the fourth (Ekweremadu),
first (Maikasuwa) and second (Efeturi) defendants. The three defendants
evaded the process of service. The three defendants if granted bail may evade
trial.”
The judge adjourned to July 11 for trial.

Saraki, Ekweremadu's Forrgery Trial Begins Today

Strong indications emerged on Sunday that Saraki might not enjoy the physical presence of most of his colleagues at the court on Monday (today) when his trial over an alleged case of forgery preferred against him and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, begins. Investigations among senators who are loyal to Saraki and Ekweremadu by one of our correspondents revealed that they had not received any message asking them to be present in court, unlike the usual practice during the early period of the Senate President’s trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal. Although, most of the senators contacted declined to speak on the issue

because doing so, according to them, would be prejudice, they however said they had not been contacted to be in the court for the trial. But the senator representing Enugu North, Godfrey Utazi, said the Presidency was crying more than the bereaved over the matter because the case, which was initially taken to court as a civil matter by some senators
last year, had been quashed by an FCT Federal High Court. He said, “The members of the Senate Unity Forum, who dragged Senator Ekweremadu and others to court, lost the case and they never appealed against it, how come the Presidency suddenly woke up one year after, and reopened the case.” Meanwhile, despite his rejection of the mode of the service of the fresh forgery charges on him and others through substituted means, Saraki will still appear before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Jabi, Abuja, today (Monday) for his scheduled arraignment, his lawyer, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), has said. Raji, in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents on Sunday, said it was better for the Senate President to attend the proceedings. This is despite a motion filed by Saraki, through Raji, challenging the competence of the charges and the mode of service of the court summons on him. In the said application, Saraki also asked the court to dispense with his presence in court pending the hearing of the application. He asked the court to either quash the forgery charges or adjourn the case indefinitely till after the conclusion of his trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.  But his lawyer, speaking with one of our correspondents on the telephone on Sunday, said Saraki would attend Monday (today’s) proceedings and see how the case would go. “He will be there. It is better for him to appear in person, then we will see how everything goes,” Raji said.

PDP crisis: INEC decide on Makarfi, Sheriff’s factions next week

The Independent National Electoral Commission will next week decide on

which factions of the Peoples Democratic Party it will recognise.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, gave this
indication in an electronic mail sent to one of our correspondents in
response to an enquiry on Sunday.
He insisted that that the commission had not recognised any faction of the
PDP, adding that INEC’s position would be based on the judgment of a
Federal High Court in Port Harcourt to be delivered on July 4.
“INEC has not yet recognised any of the PDP factions. There is a pending
case in court on this contentious issue, which is likely to be decided on
July 4. INEC’s position on the matter will depend on the anticipated court
judgment,” Oyekanmi said.
He said that although INEC monitored the primary organised in Edo State
by the Ahmed Makarfi faction, he said the action of the commission was
based on the order of the court in Port Harcourt.
He added that the Ali-Modu Sheriff faction later went to court to vacate
the order, which the commission based its action on.
The CPS stated, “INEC did monitor the Makarfi group’s primary election in
Edo State, based on the Port Harcourt High Court order, which gave
recognition to his group. Now, the Modu Sheriff group has also gone to
court to vacate that order, and the court will deliver judgment on the matter
on July 4. To that extent, INEC will not monitor the Modu Sheriff’s planned
primary election.”
Justice Makhmud Liman of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt will on
July 4, rule on the PDP National Convention held last month on May 21.
While Modu-Sheriff, convened the Port Harcourt convention, the party’s
elders organised the Abuja meeting.
But the conventions ended in a deadlock. Instead of electing new officers,
the convention produced a caretaker committee headed by Markafi.
Sheriff is insisting that he remains the acting chairman of the party.
Makarfi had approached the court on May 23 to seek an order of interim
injunction restraining Sheriff from parading himself as the national
chairman of the PDP.
Meanwhile, the PDP Reform Group has urged organs of the party to
suspend Sheriff and former National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo and
others before they destroy the party.
The Convener of the group, Mr. Ariyo-Dare Atoye, made the plea in Abuja,
on Sunday.
He advised the party hierarchy to immediately convene an emergency
meeting to suspend the former chairman and members of the dissolved
National Working Committee.
According to him, the group which is made up of many youth
organisations is worried by the enormous space allowed Sheriff and “some
misguided” members of the former NWC.
He accused the Sheriff-led group of working hard to undermine the image
of the party and endanger the forthcoming Edo State governorship election.
The convener also observed that the Sheriff-led group had thrown caution
to the winds and would stop at nothing to bring down the party as such
they must not be allowed to succeed.
Atoye said, “As a concerned coalition of young party members, we are
compelled to ask the party leaders, governors and stakeholders to urgently
convey an emergency National Executive Council meeting to address this
matter without delay.
“And without prejudice to anyone in particular, we are calling on the PDP
NEC to immediately suspend the major actors in this show of shame and
commence a firm disciplinary action on them and finally take the most
appropriate decision afterwards as a deterrent to others.
“They have become belligerent interlopers working with enemies without, to
bring the PDP into disrepute and undermine it future.
“They have jettisoned the path of peace and currently aligning with fifth
columnists to ensure that the PDP loses the Edo governorship election as a
payback.”
 The group noted that the National Convention of a party was the highest
and final decision-making body “and as such, any uniform decision taken
at that level is legally binding on every genuine member of the party
irrespective of feelings and or interests.”
Source: http://punchng.com/pdp-crisis-inec-decide-on-makarfi-sheriffs-factions-next-week/

Man abandons son for bag of rice in Kano

A middle-aged man, identified as Mallam Yusuf Bala, on Sunday at Singer
Market, Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State forfeited his five-year-
old son for a bag of rice.
According to an eyewitness account, Bala approached the rice dealer, Alhaji
Suleiman Bagudu, to buy a bag of rice, which he carried home but left his
son, with a promise to rush home to bring the money for the foodstuff.
This, he said, was because the money on him was not enough to pay for
the bag of rice, selling for N14,000 per 50kg bag.
However, six hours after, the said man failed to show up as promised to
settle the rice dealer and collect his son.
According to the source, the rice dealer became suspicious, following the
Bala’s prolonged absence, a situation that prompted the trader to
interrogate the toddler he left behind.
On interrogation, the five-year-old boy innocently led the rice dealer to their
home, located at the abattoir area of Koki in Dala Local Government Area of
the state.
Despite expressing embarrassment when the rice dealer arrived his home,
alongside his child, Bala openly confessed that he was financially
handicapped, hence his unbecoming conduct by abandoning his son as a
last resort.
Shortly after listening to Bala’s explanation, the rice dealer donated the bag
of rice to him and handed over the boy to his father.
When contacted by our correspondent, the Police Public Relations Officer,
Kano State Police Command, DSP Musa Magaji Majia, said the incident
had not been reported to him, promising to brief the press as soon as the
aggrieved party reported the incident. But as of the time of filing this
report, Majia had not called our correspondent.
Source:http://punchng.com/man-abandons-son-for-bag-of-rice-in-kano/

Senators Say They Are Ready for Battle with President Buhari

There are indications that the National Assembly is on the war path with
President Muhammadu Buhari over the prosecution of the Senate President, Dr.
Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, for alleged forgery of
the Senate Standing Rules 2015.
According to Punch, although some of the legislators were uncomfortable with
the anti-corruption war of the President, the relationship between the two arms
of government came to a head with the senate forgery rules suit filed by the
Federal Government.
It was learnt that many National Assembly members had concluded
plans to frustrate any request by the President because of his anti-graft
war.
Besides the senate president, who is standing trial at the Code of Conduct
Tribunal, eight senators, including the Chairman of the Senate Committee on
Appropriation, Senator Danjuma Goje, and a former Plateau State Governor,
Senator Joshua Dariye, are being prosecuted for corruption related offences.
Goje is standing trial at a Federal High Court, Jos, for allegedly awarding
contract for the purchase of N1bn dictionaries without due process, while Dariye
is being prosecuted by the EFCC on a 23-count charge bordering on money
laundering and diversion of the state’s ecological fund.
It was gathered that among the plans of the anti-Buhari senators, consisting of
members of the Peoples Democratic Party caucus and their others colleagues in
the All Progressives Congress sympathetic to Saraki, was to delay approval for
Buhari’s appointments.
Investigations by Punch showed that those who could be affected by the hard
stand of the National Assembly included the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr.
Ibrahim Magu, whose appointment had not been confirmed by the Senate.
Others in this category, it was learnt, included ambassadors, who would mainly
be politicians. An APC senator, who is sympathetic to Saraki, confided in Punch
that the National Assembly would be strict in its oversight functions.
He said, “As part of the measures to reveal to Nigerians that there is corruption
in the executive too, we will be strict in screening appointees and in our
oversight functions.”
Following the frosty relationship, it was learnt that the lawmakers had vowed to
ensure that the principle of separation of powers was enforced between the two
arms of government.
One of the Like Mind senators, who preferred anonymity, alleged that the
Presidency, in collaboration with some APC leaders, had made up their minds to
get Saraki and Ekweremadu out at all costs.
Like Mind senators, consisting of the PDP members and their colleagues that
are supporting Saraki, were instrumental to his emergence as senate president
last year.
The senator, who spoke with Punch, said, “When the Presidency and some of
these party leaders discovered that they could not remove Saraki and
Ekweremadu on the floor of the chamber, they are now trying to carry out their
agenda using the court.

“Their intention is to ensure that both Saraki and Ekweremadu are arraigned in
court on Monday and make sure they are remanded in prison afterwards so that
we would be forced to change our leadership.”
The senator from the North Central geopolitical zone vowed that all legal and
constitutional means would be explored by his colleagues to ensure that the
Presidency was paid back in its coin.
Reacting, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi
Adesina, said:
“The anti-corruption war will not be slowed down for any reason whatsoever.
Let me refer you to what the President said on Wednesday while addressing
Presidency staffers. The war on corruption will never be slowed down.”
Source:http://www.olufamous.com/2016/06/senators-say-they-are-ready-for-battle.html?m=1

SHOCKING | I'm A Policeman In The Day & Robber At Night – Arrested Policeman Confesses

In a shocking revelations, an armed robbery suspect, Chris Oboko, a corporal
attached to the C4I unit of the Nigeria Police in Rivers State, has revealed how
an informant 'lured' him into a gang of car snatchers.
35-year-old Oboko, who has now been dismissed from the force, was recently
arrested in Port Harcourt, during a mop-up of criminal elements responsible for
incessant robberies and carjacking in the state by the Inspector-General of
Police Special Intelligence Response Team.
For him, the lure of armed robbery loot was something he could not simply
resist...
According to him, the turning point for him was when he encountered two
members of a robbery and kidnapping gang, who were in the process of selling
the cars they got from one of their victims.
Investigators in the case said Oboko’s arrest seems to validate the shade of
opinion that ‘bad eggs’ in the force are responsible for the bad conduct of some
policemen.
Oboko, who joined the force in 2003 said he was living at the police barracks
on Iche Street, Borokiri, Port Harcourt, while ‘moonlighting’ as a robber.
According to Punch, he first served at the Boroki Police Division, before being
transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad. He told journalists that he
became a member of the C4I unit after that.
But in 2015, Oboko decided to join the ranks of the men of the underworld
whom he had sworn to protect the society against.
He said in his statement, “In 2015, I met Johnpaul Amandi, one of our
informants when he took two vehicles he stole from one of his kidnapping
victims to one Victor Nwogu to sell. I met them while they were negotiating the
price and I told them I would join their operation.
“After I became a member, I always found a way to get the members of the
gang released whenever they were arrested by the police. I am even the
resident Pastor of Battle Axe Assembly Church at Chuba Allo in Port Harcourt. I
know this business is evil and shouldn’t have joined but I could not resist the
temptation.”
Oboko, who chronicled his crime spree with the gang, admitted that he led three
other members of the gang to snatch a Toyota Camry at D-line area of Port
Harcourt few months ago, which his gang sold for N200,000. Out of the
proceeds, he said he got N70,000.
The suspect said on their second operation, three of them stole three Toyota
Camry cars from the D-line motor park in Port Harcourt in a single day.
He said, “Victor Nwogu in Owerri is the one that helped sell off the vehicles. He
gave us N360, 000 after selling the cars and I got N150, 000 as my share. I
remember that we also snatched a Toyota Corolla from Elelanwo area of Port
Harcourt.
“I pointed a gun at the driver and he ran out of his vehicle. We sold that one for
N250,000 out of which I got a share of N80,000. There was a Toyota Spider we
also snatched at gunpoint around GRA in Port Harcourt. We hid it somewhere at
Borokiri Sand Field. But before we arrived there in the morning, the car had
been removed.”
Through the confessions of other members of the gang, Saturday PUNCH learnt
that Oboko was also the armourer of his gang. Apart from that, he allegedly
used his police identity to give the members of the gang safe passage anytime
they stole or snatched a vehicle.
A police source said in one of the robbery cases Oboko investigated as a
policeman, he took two pistols away from the suspect, and rather than file them
as exhibits, he converted the guns to the use of his gang.

He was also said to have perfected the process of producing fake vehicle
documents for each vehicle that his gang members snatched.
"Apart from this, each time they snatched or stole a vehicle, the suspect would
alter the vehicle engine and chassis numbers before transporting it to the
buyer,” the source said.
The arrest of Oboko came after weeks of tracking by IRT operatives, following
information given by Amandi who had earlier been apprehended.
27-year-old Amandi, a Bayelsa State indigene, said he was a commercial bus
driver before he ventured into armed robbery specialising in car snatching.
He said his gang was so good at snatching and stealing cars that on one single
night, his second operation after joining the robbery gang, they got five cars.
Explaining how he met Oboko, he said, “Two friends of mine kidnapped a former
local government chairman in Bayelsa State and brought two cars taken from
the man to me to sell in Port Harcourt. When I was checking the cars in Nembe
Waterside, Corporal Oboko and one of his colleagues confronted us and took the
cars away from us. Instead of taking the vehicles to their station, they made it
theirs.
“Three months after that, he saw me on the road and asked me to forgive him
and said that he would like me to work with him. He took me to his boss at
C4I and he told him that I was highly resourceful and I could become an
informant giving the police information about armed robbers in the state.
“His boss told me that if I could assist with information, I would be rewarded
well and I accepted. I even gave them information that led to the arrest of big
armed robbers in Port Harcourt from whom they recovered arms and
ammunition.
“After one month of being an informant, Corporal Oboko said one of the cars he
took from me was giving him trouble and he needed another car. He said he
needed a brand new car. I told him that I had stopped stealing cars since I had
started working with the car snatching gang, but he insisted. He then said I
should not worry and said that he would follow me to wherever I wanted to
steal the car.
“On our first outing together, we stole a Honda ‘End of Discussion’. He gave his
father the first car and started using the new one. He then encouraged that we
should go for more robberies because he had seen how easy the first operation
was. He also arranged with Victor in Owerri, who received and sold the vehicles
for us.”
Amandi said he did many operations in the night with Oboko but that whenever
he was arrested, the policeman always came to his rescue by simply telling
whoever had arrested him that he was an informant working for the C4I.
But it seemed car snatching in the night was not enough for Oboko.
Amadi said he told him one day that he was tired of operating in the dead of
the night and said they needed to graduate to car snatching at gunpoint in
broad daylight.
He said, “I thought Corporal Oboko was joking but few days after, he brought
two pistols to me. He said he bought the guns. We snatched many cars around
Port Harcourt, but even though we used to share the proceeds equally in the
past, it got to a time that he started to cheat me.
“He would sometimes refuse to give me my own share and sometimes, he
would not involve me in an operation. He started bypassing me to work with
other boys I introduced to him. Not long after that, I was arrested and told the
police about him .”
Oboko would be charged with armed robbery. Police is on a manhunt for other
members of the gang.
Source:www.olufamous.com/2016/06/shocking-im-policeman-in-day-robber-at.html?m=1