File photo used to illustrate story.

Relatives of the abducted persons in the Abuja-Kaduna train attack have warned the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and Nigerian Railway Corporation not to resume services on the Abuja-Kaduna route until their loved ones abducted by bandits are released.
They also lambasted Amaechi for declaring presidential ambition few days after the train attack which claimed more than eight lives and left 26 travellers injured while scores were kidnapped.

File photo used to illustrate story.
According to them, it was most uncharitable that Amaechi under whose nose the attack occurred as a minister was celebrating rather than resigning after the attack.
Chairman of the Concerned Relatives of Abducted Persons, Dr Abdulfatai Jimoh, in a statement said it is inhumane for the NRC to resume operations while the kidnapped victims are still languishing in the forest.
The angry relatives vowed to disrupt train services on the Abuja-Kaduna route if the victims are not rescued before the resumption of train services.
The train attack occurred on March 28, leaving at least seven people dead and over 100 unaccounted for.
On Tuesday, the families had issued a 72-hour ultimatum to ensure the release of their loved ones.
Some of the family members claim they have spoken to the bandits. They claimed the bandits did not make any specific demands.
Jimoh said, “It is true that we gave the Federal Government 72 hour ultimatum which expired yesterday (Thursday) midnight. We are grateful to God that before the expiration of the 72 hours, we heard from the Federal Government after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday through the Minister of Information that the government is already on top of the situation with what has happened.
“We acknowledged it and we appreciate it. But what we want to add is that the government should speed up the process of discussion with them (bandits) so that they can come out to release our people soonest. This is our appeal now.”
“The NRC should not be talking about restarting their services now when our people are in captive because what is the assurance that if they start services now that people that will be board the train are safe; what measure (s) have they put in place to guarantee the security of those that are going to patronise their services. We don’t want the reoccurrence of this.
“The first thing should be to get the captives out and then they can put adequate measures in place and resume service so that this does not happen again in the future.”
Abdulmalik Attah, who said he had his 85-year-old mother and sister in the custody of the bandits, claimed he had been in frequent touch with the bandits.
“I have spoken to the bandits. I was one of the first guys that spoke with them. I’ve spoken with them 11 times. And asides me, I don’t think anybody has done that. And what did they say?
“In the first instance, they said they had their targets on that train, that it weren’t our parents and brothers and sisters that they aimed at, but that these were just necessary evil.
“And what did they tell me? That the governor has been running his mouth; and that’s why they came to his doorstep. And that this is just the beginning; that they will go further than this. I spoke with them, they told me that.”

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Pius Anyim

Former President of the Senate and presidential aspirant, Pius Anyim, has stated that the country would have reaped more benefits of democracy if the administration was not obstructed by the APC in 2015.
Pius blamed the present socio-economic problems besetting Nigeria on those who pulled out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2013 and allegedly deceived Nigerians.

Pius Anyim
This was made known while speaking at a consultative meeting with PDP leaders across the six geo-political zones of the country in Abuja, maintaining that the defectors’ action brought the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he observed, had since plunged the nation into untold hardship.
He warned the main opposition party not to repeat the mistake of that year.
Recall that dissatisfied with events in the party, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and then governors of Adamawa, Kwara, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kano, Rivers and Niger States had walked out of the party’s national convention and later joined forces with the APC.
Anyim, who is one of the 17 individuals seeking the ticket of the former ruling party, said: “In 2015, some of us in PDP, simply decided to pull out of PDP and bring that government down and we were plunged into darkness. That is why we are here.
“Let nobody confuse you. Let nobody mislead you. We were confused and misled in 2015. And that is why we are here. We now have an opportunity to come together and reinvent ourselves.
“Do you agree with me that Nigerians are saying please return us to 2015? If Nigerians are begging us to return them to 2015, do you have any reason not to support me?”
Anyim, who was Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) under former President Goodluck Jonathan, commended him, saying that Nigerians would have reaped more benefits of democracy if that administration was not obstructed by the APC in 2015.
He added, “We were planning that for the second tenure of President Jonathan. We will stretch out these plans and policies to actually deliver maximum results. Unfortunately, that administration was truncated.”
The presidential aspirant called on the party members to support his ambition to return Nigeria to the path of prosperity.
“If you stand by me, if you partner with me, we will return this country, again on the path of peace, growth and prosperity,” he added.

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File photo used to illustrate story.

A traditional ruler in Ondo State, Chief Adinlewa Adeniyi, has been charged with the alleged murder of the former Elemo of Igoba, the late Aladegbaye Johnson.
Adeniyi, who is the ruler of the Igoba community, the Obalogun of Igoba, in Ondo State’s Akure North Local Government Area, was charged alongside Chief Adegbola Omoye and Adegbayi Ayoola. File photo used to illustrate story.

From the charge sheet, the trio were accused of conspiracy, murder and other offences.
The alleged murder was committed on August 4, 2021, at Aleo and Imolumo, Igoba in the Akure Judicial Division after they caused severe beating and fist blowing on the victims: Johnson and Peter Akomolafe.
On conspiracy, the respondents were accused of committing a crime that was punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code of Ondo State, Cap 37 Vol 1 Laws of Ondo State.
On the second count charge, they were alleged to have committed murder, contrary to Section 316 and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code Cap 37, Vol. Laws of Ondo State, 2004.
When docked before Justice Williams Rotimi Olamide of the Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure, the lawyer to the traditional head of Igoba, Barrister Ola Dan Olawale told the court that he had filed a bail application on March 22, 2022, but it was refused by the Prosecution Attorney, T. L. Oluwadare when she was served on the ground that the document was not dated.
The prosecuting attorney, who was present in court, requested that the court give her time to consider the bail application.
The trial judge, Justice Williams Rotimi Olamide, subsequently, adjourned the hearing of the bail application and the substantive case to May 19, 2022.

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The National Hospital in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has said that the report of the autopsy conducted on late gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu, is going only to the police who requested for it.
The hospital who said the autopsy would not be disclosed to the public.

The Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, Abuja, Dr Jeff Momoh, explained that the Nigeria Police Force requested for Osinachi’s postmortem examination.
The postmortem examination was to discover what killed the Ekwueme crooner.
However, Momoh said the hospital would not disclose the report to the public.
“The report is going to the people who made the request, it won’t be disclosed to the public at all,” Momoh told Vanguard.
Osinachi’s death has been widely linked to brutalisation by her husband, Peter Nwachukwu.
Following her death, Osinachi’s family was said to have demanded that an autopsy be carried out to ascertain the cause of death.

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The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has said it won’t support the presidential ambition of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu.
The position of the group was made known by the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Alex Ogbonnia in an interview with Punch.

Ogbonnia urged both Osinbajo and Tinubu to drop their 2023 ambition and back a competent aspirant from the South-East region to emerge the next President of the country
Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007, had in January 2022, declared his intention to fulfill his “lifelong ambition” of becoming a President in 2023 while Osinbajo, on Monday, said he would want to succeed his principal (Buhari) to complete what they both started together.
Ohanaeze said it was not the turn of the South-West to produce the next President but the South-East, adding that both the South-West and the South-South had produced Presidents and Vice-Presidents since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1999.
He said separatist agitations would increase in the South-East if the zone does not produce the next President.
Ohanaeze’s spokesman, Ogbonnia, said, “I had written an open letter to Tinubu before which I’m sure he must have read reminding him that at a point he had been the conscience of the nation with his truthful disposition. But in recent times, because of his ambition, he has chosen not to talk even when things are so bad.
“In the past, Tinubu would talk about equity, justice and fairness but in recent times, Tinubu has chosen to become an entirely different person. I advised him that he should not contest. He should rather stand as an elder statesman in Nigeria. Above all, there is a zoning and rotation principle in Nigeria and it is the turn of the South-East.
“Then on the side of Osinbajo, he has a very tall credential, having occupied the position of the Vice-President, he is supposed to be an elder statesman. His profile is at variance with the decision he has taken to contest for the presidential slot because he knows that it is not the turn of the South-West. He has shown he has the interest of himself more than the interest of the nation.”
According to him, elder statesmen like ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo; Afenifere leader, Ayo Adebanjo, amongst others have been clear that the South-East should produce the next President in the spirit of fairness and equity.
“People like Obasanjo, Bode George and Adebanjo have been clear about it. These are exemplary men and we are asking for more men to support a South-East Presidency,” he added.
Continuing, the spokesman for the South-East group said separatist agitations might increase in the zone if it does not produce the next President.
“What Ohanaeze is saying is that if this Presidency does not come to the South-East, definitely, there would be more restiveness and separatist agitations in the South-East; it would increase insecurity and it is not in the interest of anybody who loves the interest of this country.
“It is the stand of Ohanaeze that Osinbajo and Tinubu should add voice to the Presidency coming to the South-East and not begin to pursue personal interest,” he added.

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Governor David Umahi

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has suspended the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service, Martin Uguru, indefinitely for extortion of civil servants.
The suspension which took effect from April 1, 2022, is contained in a statement issued in Abakaliki on Friday by the Principal Secretary to the governor, Emmanuel Obasi.

Governor David Umahi
Obasi stated that the governor condemned the collection of kickbacks from recently promoted civil servants in which the permanent secretary was found complicit.
“The governor directed the Secretary to the State Government to issue the letter of indefinite suspension to the permanent secretary for his complicity in the scam,” the statement read.
“All heads of administration and persons involved in this exploitation are to forfeit one month’s salary each.
“The concerned heads of administration are hereby directed to fully refund all monies collected from the newly-promoted civil servants.
“The refund should be paid directly to their bank accounts and such officials should submit the bank tellers to the Principal Secretary to the governor within 48 hours.
“Failure to comply with this directive attracts dismissal from the state civil service.”
The statement observed that if there were requirements to process relevant promotion documents as claimed, such requirements should be brought to the notice of the state governor by the Office of the Head of service.
“That is the proper thing to do rather than resorting to exploitation of the newly-promoted civil servants,” the statement read.
Umahi also directed the posting of the Permanent Secretary in charge of the state’s Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) to the Office of Head of Service in acting capacity.
 

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The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has said it was victim of a hacking attack which resulted in the loss of data belonging to its president, Luis Rubiales.
General Secretary Andreu Camps, also had text and audio data stolen, the RFEF said, and the loss had been reported to the police

.
“It is likely that this personal data, illegally obtained with clear criminal intent, has been offered to various media,” the RFEF said.
It added that it had been told a journalist had been offered the captured material in a phone call and that it could be published shortly.
The federation warned this would be an illegal publication of trade secrets and violate the rights of the people involved.

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Gunmen on Friday allegedly invaded the house of a governorship aspirant in Rivers State, Tonye Princewill.
It was learnt that the intruders who headed straight for what they thought was his room, went away without any valuable except the hard drive of the CCTV recorder.

This was contained in a statement released by Princewill, noting that the attack happened at his Government Reserved Area (GRA) residence in Port Harcourt in the early hours of Friday.
He said, “I can confirm that in the early hours of this morning my house was broken into,” he said.
“The target was clearly me, as the intruders headed straight for what they thought was my room, broke in, and met my absence. Nothing of value was taken, except the hard drive of the CCTV recorder, which leads me to conclude, that they had only one objective – my elimination.
“I want to thank God that the devil is a liar and His children will always be protected. Thankfully I am well and nobody in my household was hurt.”

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File photo used to illustrate story.

Over the past few years, bandits have taken a center stage in Nigeria’s North-West and North-Central regions.
Their activities have posed a major security threat as villagers no longer feel safe in places they once called home, Daily Trust reports.

File photo used to illustrate story.
These armed groups have invaded several villages, farms, correctional centers, dormitories amongst others. Their attacks have led to numerous fatalities and kidnaps for ransom, which has become a common phenomenon in the affected localities.
A family with loved one(s) in captivity will be left with no choice but to sell off all their property in other to secure the release of the victims’ release.
In recent times, these regions have witnessed a spike in deadly assaults and kidnappings by bandits.
Below is a list of some of these attacks recorded in Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger, Sokoto and Katsina states in the past two weeks, as compiled by Daily Trust.
March 26 Airport Attack
On Saturday, March 26 2022, bandits invaded the Kaduna international airport.
Reports said the terrorists stormed the airport through the perimeter fence from a nearby forest at about 1:00p.m on bikes, killing one security official identified as Shehu Na’Allah, at the runway. The attack also prevented a plane from taking off to Lagos around 12:30pm.
Catholic Priest, 44 others abducted
On Sunday, March 27 2022, bandits abducted the Catholic Parish priest of St Mary’s Catholic Church, Sarkin Pawa, the Headquarters of Munya Local Government Area of Niger State, Very Rev Father Leo Raphael Ozigi and 44 other villagers.
Our correspondent learnt that the reverend father was abducted on his way to Gwada from Sarkin Pawa when he ran into bandits operating on the Sarkin Pawa-Gwada road who whisked him away alongside other villagers.
Raids of Unguwar Bulus, Unguwar Gimbiya
On Thursday, March 31 2022, residents of Unguwar Bulus and Unguwar Gimbiya communities in Kaduna State experienced ‘terrible’ attacks as bandits stormed their communities at about 8:00pm.
Residents said they heard gunshots that lasted for hours, forcing many of them to flee.
A resident, whose cousin was killed during the attack, described the experience as terrible.
Ben Maigari said his cousin was shot by the bandits, while his uncle (the boy’s father) was abducted at Unguwar Bulus. He gave the name of his cousin as Lewis Elkana.
Hayin Kanwa village attack
At least 15 villagers were killed when bandits invaded Hayin Kanwa village, Yakawada ward in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on Sunday March 27 2022.
The incident happened three days after about 50 people were reportedly killed across nine villages in the same LGA.
A resident of Giwa, who simply identified himself as Ridwan, told Daily Trust that bandits stormed the village frequently.
He said, “They came into the village shooting sporadically which led to the death of these people. Do you know that the dead bodies couldn’t be evacuated till this morning?”
Farmers, seven travellers abducted
On Wednesday, March 30 2022, bandits abducted two farmers at Unguwar Barde village along Kaduna-Abuja highway.
The incident happened while the villagers were cleaning the farm in preparation for farming season. The two victims were identified as Wada and Idi, both married with children.
On Tuesday, March 29, seven passengers on board Benue State-owned transport vehicle known as Benue Links were kidnapped, one week after six other passengers travelling to Lagos on board Benue Links were abducted in Ochadamu in Kogi. The abductors reproetdly collected about N5 million ransom before the victims were released.
Bandits invade Kaduna-Abuja highway
There was pandemonium along Kaduna-Abuja highway on Thursday, March 31 2022 when bandits, in their numbers, reportedly blocked the ever-busy road. The bandits headed towards western part of the main road shooting sporadically.
It was gathered that the gunshots forced motorists to make emergency U-turn around 3:pm, even though there was no report of abductions.
Sources along the highway told Daily Trust that the bandits passed through a community called Kwari village near
However, the state government through its Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, clarified that bandits did not operate on the highway.
Broad daylight murder in Zamfara
Bandits on Friday, April 1 2022 invaded four villages in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The invasion reportedly led to the gruesome murder of at least 17 villagers in broad daylight.
Residents said the armed men invaded Kadaddaba community in the afternoon, firing at them. They said there was no any provocation on the part of the residents that warranted the attacks.
Bandits in ‘military uniform’ kill four
Bandits in the wee hours of April 4, 2022 invaded Tsafe town, the headquarters of Tsafe LGA of Zamfara State, killing four persons including the son of the state’s Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs, retired DIG Ibrahim Mamman Tsafe.
Residents told Daily Trust that the criminals, wearing military uniforms, stormed Shiyar Namada area close to the commissioner’s residence and opened fire on people.
Terrorists raid Daza, Rumache-Madalla
On Thursday, April 7 2022, at about 5:00pm, bandits freelyoperated in Daza community in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State.
Witnesses, who confirmed this to Daily trust, said many residents have fled their homes for safety.
A resident of the community, Nurudeen Isyaku Daza, said the bandits have been operating unchallenged.
On the same day, three persons were killed while several others sustained injuries in an attack on Rumache-Madalla community in Bassa/Kukoki Ward, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State while many others were abducted.
Sani Abubakar Yusuf Kokki, Co-convener, Concerned Shiroro Youths Of Niger State, told Daily Trust that the bandits attacked the community with sophisticated weapons.
Correctional Service’s farm invasion
In the wee hours of Monday April 11 2022, bandits stormed a farm belonging to the Nigerian Correctional Service in Kujama town, headquarters of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing one person and rustling unspecified number of cows.
Many other animals were reportedly stolen during the attack.
A community leader in Kujama, who didn’t want to be named, described the incident as worrisome.
“Yes, the bandits came to the farm in the wee hours of Monday and rustled virtually all the cows and sheep at the farm belonging to Nigerian Correctional Service. One person was also killed on the farm,” he said.
23 killed, many abducted in Giwa
On Tuesday, bandits again killed 23 people and injured many in two villages of Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State. It was said to be the fourth attack in a row by bandits within a week in villages across the local government area.
Villages attacked by the gunmen included Anguwar Maiwa and Anguwar Kanwa. An eyewitness said the bandits attacked the villages around 1:00 am on Tuesday, adding that 22 dead bodies had been discovered with the help of security operatives out of 23.
Jabiri Quarters abduction
A housewife and her three stepchildren were abducted by terrorists in Jabiri Quarters, Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State. The gunmen invaded one of the residences of one Shamsudeen Muhammad Kalgo in the early hours of Tuesday and whisked away his wife, Malama Badiyya Shamsu and his children, Almustapha Shamsu,12, Zainab, 9, and Halima Siyama Shamsu, 6.
Confirming the unfortunate incident, Shamsudeen’s elder brother who pleaded anonymity said his younger brother was with his first wife at another residence when the incident happened.
Zamfara college kidnap
Some female students at Zamfara College of Health Technology, Tsafe, were also abducted on Wednesday. A lecturer at the institution, who spoke off the record, said the kidnappers abducted the students from their hostel, which is outside the school campus.
It is unclear the actual number of students kidnapped, but a source told Daily Trust that the gunmen whisked away five persons.

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A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari's administration should free all prisoners, who have been jailed for stealing and related offences. 
Falana made the call while speaking as a guest lecturer at an event organised to celebrate one year remembrance of the late Yinka Odumakin and the launch of the Yinka Odumakin Foundation at Sheraton Lagos Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

The Council of State on Thursday granted a state pardon to former governors of Plateau and Taraba states, Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame respectively, who were jailed for corruption. 
The former governors, along with 157 others, will be released from prison after the Council of State approved a proposal by President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to grant them a state pardon.
Dariye and Nyame were imprisoned for stealing public funds to the tune of N1.16 billion and N1.6 billion respectively. 
Nyame and Dariye were governors of their respective states from 1999 to 2007.
Dariye’s prison term was later reduced to 10 years by the Court of Appeal in Abuja but his conviction was affirmed by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court in February 2020 upheld the conviction and 12-year jail term given to Nyame, for misappropriation of funds while he was governor of Taraba State.
Dariye was sentenced to 14 years in prison. 
Dariye’s prison term was later reduced to 10 years by the Court of Appeal in Abuja but his conviction was affirmed by the Supreme Court.
 
Falana insisted that it was stated in section 17 of the 1999 constitution that citizens were entitled to equal rights and opportunities and so the state pardon has to be extended to all prisoners serving terms for stealing. 
Speaking about the restructuring of the country, Falana said that the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be referred to as Decree 24 of 1999 as it was not duly signed.
He added that the constitution should be seen as a decree, which is fraudulent, adding that it was a legal document and not a legitimate document.
He added, “What the National Assembly has continued to do is to amend the illegality.
“The so-called 1999 constitution is really decree 24 of 1999. When you see the so-called constitution, you will not see the signature of the man who signed the law, that's the fraud.
“When you see a law, the name of the person who signed it will be set out with the date.
“Decree 24 of 1999 was promulgated by General Abdulsalami Abubakar on the 5th of May, 1999 but today you will not see his name on it and the date that he appended his signature to the document. It is a fraudulent document in every material particular. 
“The decree was imposed on us by the last set of military dictators in Nigeria headed by General Abubakar and because that document is okay for members of the ruling class, regardless of their political parties, ethnic, regional or religious inclination, they are all comfortable with the document so they can’t do anything about it including all those who are campaigning today to be President.
“They want to retain the status quo and perhaps adjust it here and there, that is the only thing they are saying. So, those who are contesting, particularly on the platform of the ruling party are saying we are going to continue the programme of the Buhari administration that has put our country in a serious crisis.
“Nigeria has become a huge joke in the comity of nations and so for any set of people to say they want to package this rickety vehicle and begin to panelbeat it, it's not going to move.
“When they are talking of continuity, it can only be continuity of disaster, continuity of injustice, continuity of insecurity and continuity of corruption.
“They are pardoning themselves right now. The same man who said he came to fight corruption has been granting pardons to people who were convicted of stealing billions of naira.
“My reaction is that all thieves and other criminals in our prisons should be released.
“Under section 17 of their constitution, it says there shall be equal rights for all citizens and section 42 says there shall be no discrimination on the basis of class, gender, whatever, so you cannot take out two people and leave the rest there. In particular, the government has been prohibited from conferring advantages on any group of citizens to the exclusion of others in the same category. 
“If the government doesn’t release others, I am going to suggest to lawyers whose clients are likely to be left in prison to go to court and challenge the discriminatory treatment meted out to them as what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander  
“If you want to pardon your friends, you must also extend the presidential pardon to all thieves because if the big thieves are being asked to walk away, we must also extend it to others including the petty thieves jailed for stealing spaghetti and noodles to feed themselves. 
“If we are still changing decrees to Act, the National Assembly members have not shown any readiness to review the constitution with a view to restoring the federal status of the country.”
He urged state governments to set up panels of lawyers to challenge the Federal Government over issues that affect the effective running of their affairs, which the government had taken over.
However, Falana said that the greatest tribute that can be paid to Odumakin is to keep up the battle for horizontal and vertical restructuring so that the powers devolved from the centre will be democratised and exercised by the masses of our people. 
Odumakin was a Nigerian human rights activist and politician. 
Until his death in April 2021, he was the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, a Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group.

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Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel

Bank documents have shown how Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State authorised the transfer of N110 million from the state treasury to the personal account of one Obong Akpabong Moffat UdoEkpo, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Oruk Anam Local Government Area of the state.
The bank documents showing the transactions from Zenith Bank, which were obtained by SaharaReporters revealed that the money was paid in tranches between 05/02/2019 and 22/03/2019 to the personal account of UdoEkpo.

Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel
About N80 million of the fund was transferred to the PDP chieftain a few days before the March 9, 2019 governorship election in the state, following which Emmanuel secured a second term in office. 
UdoEkpo was a grassroots mobiliser and a strong supporter of the governor’s second term bid.
Before the election, he was said to have organised different rallies and parties for Udom’s re-election bid.
UdoEkpo is also contesting to represent the Oruk Anam constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
Efforts to reach the state information commissioner, Ini Ememobong, for clarification were not successful as he did not answer calls to his mobile line nor reply to a text message sent to him. 

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Some unknown gunmen have attacked a police observation point in Anambra, injuring three policemen. 
SaharaReporters learnt the incident occurred late on Thursday along Ekwulobia Expressway. 

It was gathered that the gunmen engaged the policemen in a gun duel, during which three officers sustained gunshot injuries. 
The spokesperson for the state police command, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, informed SaharaReporters through a text message that the house of Governor Charles Soludo was not attacked as being speculated.  
"Soludo’s house was not attacked. To set the records straight, Police observation point along Ekwulobia expressway came under attack late hours of yesterday 14/4/2022. 
"The Mobile personnel posted at the point, gallantly repelled the attack but unfortunately three of them sustained gun shot injuries during the gun battle with the hoodlums.
"Following the quick deployment of operatives in the area by the command, calm has since returned in the area.
"Meanwhile Operation is still ongoing. Further details shall be communicated," he said. 

The recent attack followed an attack on Nteje Divisional Police Headquarters in Oyi Local Government Area of the state. 
The attack happened around 3am on Thursday. One person was said to have been killed in the attack. 
Meanwhile, Thursday's attack occurred after four police officers were reportedly killed by gunmen at another police facility in the state, Atani Divisional Police Divisional Headquarters, on Wednesday.

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Posters describing the Vice-President of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, as a betrayer, was on Friday sighted in some parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The poster which carried the photo of the VP looking away from the camera with two fingers across his cheek described him as “the Judas who betrayed his master” urging him to repent as Jesus was coming soon.
This may not be unconnected to the Vice President's recent declaration to contest the 2023 presidential election.

“I am today, with utmost humility formally declaring my intention to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of APC,” he had said in a post on his official Twitter page on Monday.
This elicited reactions of Nigerians who called Osinbajo as former governor of Lagos state and APC national leader, Bola Tinubu had indicated his interest to contest in the election.
 Osinbajo and Tinubu have a history as political associates.
Tinubu, as Lagos governor, had in 1999 appointed Osinbajo as Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the state, a position the law professor held till 2007.
Osinbajo was a chieftain of the Lagos APC with his polling unit at Code 33, Unit 2 Victoria Garden City, Lagos.
Tinubu, on Monday, dismissed the declaration of his hitherto political godson, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, to contest for the 2023 presidential election, stressing that he did not have any son old enough to make such declaration.
Also, a chieftain of the APC Joe Igbokwe, advised presidential candidates in the party, including Osinbajo to “show respect and withdraw from the 2023 presidential race.”
Igbokwe, a former spokesperson for the APC in Lagos, in a post on his Facebook page on Sunday, advised politicians who are also members of the party who had been helped by the former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, to withdraw from the race.
Meanwhile, Osinbajo's Chief Media Aide, Laolu Akande, announced that his principal is no longer a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos State.

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Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina has taken a swipe at former President Olusegun Obasanjo over the latter's alleged plot to unsettle President Muhammadu Buhari.
 
Adesina, in an article on Friday, alleged that Obasanjo and other critics of Buhari are hiding under the umbrella of insecurity to prove their hatred for the current President.

Though he gave a veiled reference, Adesina said there had been a report that the ex-president rallied all living former leaders to pass a vote of no confidence on Buhari and had waited for Obasanjo to debunk the story but that has not been done.

He recalled that the former Nigerian leader wrote Buhari an open letter asking the President not to seek a second term in office.

Obasanjo had, in an open letter ahead of the 2019 presidential election, told Buhari to jettison his second term ambition over the failure of his administration to tackle the nation’s challenges.

On July 15, 2019, Obasanjo wrote Buhari another letter saying the world, especially Western countries, has been warning Nigeria against descending into a state of violence because any outbreak would be difficult to contain.
 
He urged Buhari to stop “the embers of hatred, disaffection and violence.”

Adesina in his article, wrote, “There was a story that made the rounds over the weekend. A former military leader, who also became a democratically elected President for two terms, has been reportedly mobilizing all living former leaders to pass a vote of no confidence in President Buhari, due to the county’s security challenges. It was reported that only Gen Yakubu Gowon baulked at the idea, and opted out.
 
“I have been waiting for the story to be debunked, but it hasn’t happened. Let’s then assume that it is true. The agent provocateur has been known as an antagonist of Buhari for a number of years.
 
“In fact, he publicly wrote a letter in 2018, commanding the President to “dismount from the horse,” and allow another rider to mount. The incumbent demurred. Is it not democracy? Let’s test our strength at the polls.
 
 
“The former leader mobilized against Buhari, publicly endorsing his former deputy in office, whom he had earlier destroyed and treated like something the cat dragged in.
 
“The election came, and they were all beaten black and blue. How does he then think Nigerians will accept his constant haranguing of government as something actuated by positive motives? It is sour grapes, pure and simple.
 
“Do we have security problems? We do, just as many other countries of the world. How then do we solve the problems? That is what we expect to hear, and not playing of petty politics under the umbrella of insecurity.
 
“Some of the issues are historical, transcending almost every administration we have had.. They are almost as old as the country.
 
“Some others are relatively new; insurgency, banditry, kidnappings for ransom, and have the imprint of foreign backing, particularly in some parts of the North. What is the way out?
 
 
“For the internecine ones, it is crystal clear that no government can legislate peace. The people themselves must resolve to live together, and accommodate one another.
 
“No group can wish the other away under indigene versus settler sentiments. We must resolve for peace. They must not only seek peace but also pursue it.
 
“As for insurgency, banditry and kidnappings, the government is rising to the challenges. Yes, there are successes and reversals at times, but there’s no doubt that the necessary efforts are being made.
 
“It is, therefore, unconscionable to make it appear as if nothing is being done. It is a power struggle. A class struggle. An economic struggle. But at last, Nigeria shall win.
 
 
“It is the sacred duty of the government to provide security of lives and property. Our Constitution says it in black and white. No leader will be happy to see his citizens killed. That is why more than any government before it, the Buhari administration has funded our security agencies, trained, equipped and motivated them.
 
“They are out there, fighting to keep us safe. The least we can do is pray for them, encourage them, not engaging in petty power play, which amounts to dancing on the graves of the dead.”

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Fatimah Abdullahi, ex-wife of the recently elected chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Adamu has declared interest to contest the Nasarawa governorship elections.
 
The 43-year-old public health practitioner hails from the Doma Local Government Area of the state.

Her declaration comes weeks after Adamu was elected as APC national chairman at the convention of the party held on March 26.
 
In her manifesto, the medical practitioner cum politician vowed to accord priority to health, education and jobs creation and human capital development if elected as governor in 2023 amid other Socio-Economic, security challenges.
 
She will be contending with the current governor of the state, Abdullahi Sule for the ticket of the APC.

Sule was elected the Governor of Nasarawa State in the 2019 governorship election under the platform of the APC.

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The Nigerian government has opened a channel of discussion with the terrorists who abducted many passengers of a Kaduna-bound train over two weeks ago, according to relatives of the victims, Daily Trust reports.
 
At least eight people were killed and many others abducted when terrorists planted explosives along the Abuja-Kaduna corridor, forcing the targeted train to derail.
 
The terrorists had then opened fire on the train before abducting scores of passengers on the evening of March 28, 2022.
 
However, nine days after the attack, the terrorists released the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Alwan Hassan, after collecting a ransom of N100 million from his family.
 
Speaking with journalists in Kaduna, the relatives and friends of the abducted passengers on Friday said they have been assured by the Nigerian government that a channel of discussions with the terrorists has been opened.
 
“After the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, we heard from the Federal Government through the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed that the government is in dialogue. That government is already discussing with the abductors of our relatives,” said Dr Jimoh Fatai, who has been designated as chairman of the group pressing for the release of their loved ones.
 
“We are happy about it, we note it, we acknowledge it and we appreciate the efforts of the government in that regard. What we are now appealing for is that government should speed up the process,” he added.
 
The news comes at the expiration of a 72-hour ultimatum issued by the relatives to the Nigerian government to open discussions that will see to the release of the captives.

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The Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lambasted the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, saying he was rewarded by President Muhammadu Buhari for carrying out illegality to save President Muhammadu Buhari.
The party linked the senator representing Delta Central senatorial district to the “shameful and brazen invasion of the Senate chambers by unknown hoodlums, which led to the ‘Mace-grabbing’ saga on the very day that a debate was slated and signatories were even supposed to be taken, to commence impeachment proceedings on the President”.

“All accusing fingers of complicity pointed at the Delta Central Senator, as the mastermind of the sordid Senate invasion and Mace grabbing episode,” the PDP said.
The Senate could not sit without the mace.
The incident occurred in the 8th Senate and was captured on TV.
The state chapter of the PDP while reacting to the Thursday's governorship declaration speech of Omo-Agege, noted that it watched in “utter amazement and tasteless disgust, as the Deputy Senate President of the Nigerian Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, in what he described as a declaration speech for the 2023 Governorship of Delta State, under his party, APC, on Thursday, April 14, 2022, reeled out lies upon lies, one after the other, with deceitful political cunning before Deltans and the world."
 
 
The party in a statement titled, "Omo-Agege And His Catalogue Of Lies, Deceit; Has Nothing To Offer Deltans", and signed by its state publicity, Ifeanyi Osuoza, dismissed the governorship declaration speech of the deputy senate president.
It said, "A catalogue of lies and deceits. The Orogun politician is an unserious pretender with nothing to offer Deltans, except to tell them to continue praising President Muhammadu Buhari for his own political good fortune in becoming Deputy Senate President.”
"As for Senator Omo-Agege's brazen lies that the Okowa administration has not created jobs for the youths or done projects in Delta, we would have loved to inform Senator Omo-Agege that in the last six years of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa's administration, more than 200,000 youths, including over 4,000 from Omo-Agege's own LGA, have been trained and empowered and are now proud independent entrepreneurs and job creators.
“More will be created before the end of the tenure. We would also like to inform Senator Omo-Agege that legacy projects have been delivered in the area of education where he slammed the Isoko people, by flippantly describing their newly upgraded University and pride of Isokoland, as 'glorified secondary school.’”
It noted that after the mace saga, the Senator was elevated to the position of Deputy Senate President in the next dispensation, “allegedly in recognition of the incident on that fateful day when the Senate chambers were invaded, the Mace was carted away in bandit-like style and impeachment proceedings against the President, as well as other matters, could not be tabled”.
It further read, “Of course, without prejudice to the final declaration of the court, Nigerians and indeed Deltans have not forgotten and will never forget the shame and disgrace of that gory and gang-style affront on our democracy still hangs over us and the association with the moniker "Mace grabber", will always be the first impression and perception, rightly or wrongly glued and attached to any Deltan from that shameful episode, who aspires to become Governor of our great and nationally respected state.
 
"We watched aghast, as Omo-Agege literally brought great dishonour and unpardonable disrepute upon the hallowed reverence and integrity of the Senate as the citadel of our democracy, where he superintends as number two man, as he dropped lie upon lie from his mouth and with a straight face, to the shame of many Deltans watching and the chagrin of discerning Nigerians, who observed this shallow brand of politics that impugned harshly on our intelligence and sensibilities.
“Now, unless we are missing something, or maybe Omo-Agege is living in a different time zone, how exactly is he going to do that, when Governor Ifeanyi Okowa's tenure will end in 2023? Or perhaps is there going to be another similar "Mace-grabbing" invasion of Osadebe House before May 29, 2023? Nothing is beyond these desperate people at all.
 
"On a final note, Senator Omo-Agege needs to be reminded, as a matter of serious consideration, that he has already committed his first irredeemable mistake by vowing and ranting that "he will chase away the Okowa-led PDP administration in Delta State". In any case, however, let us sound it loud and clear that the PDP is very ready and prepared to meet whoever the opposition throws up as their candidate in the Delta 2023 Governorship election.”
The statement described the PDP and Delta State as one.
 
 

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The Accident Investigation Bureau has confirmed the Azman aircraft incident, saying it happened at Jeddah Airport in Saudi Arabia on Thursday night and not in Kano as reported by some media platforms.
 
The AIB disclosed that the incident was due to an alleged fire incident while the aircraft was taxing to take off.

The spokesman for the bureau, Tunji Oketumbi, said that though Nigerian authorities were yet to get a documented report from the Saudi Arabian authorities on full details of the incident, the report was expected to be submitted within 24 hours after such an occurrence, as established by local and international laws.
 
Oketumbi said as soon as the bureau got the details of the incident, it would update the public on the matter.
 
Also reacting to the incident, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria said the aircraft was not gutted by fire as reported on social media.
 
A Twitter user whose family was part of the air passengers expected to arrive at Kano International Airport from Saudi had posted a video on his handle showing passengers rushing out of the Azman aircraft and thanking “Allah” in the Hausa language for saving them from the incident.
 
Azman Air management is yet to react to the air incident.

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Some suspected political thugs Thursday numbering over 30, disrupted proceedings in the hearing of a suit into the disputed ward, local government and state congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Bayelsa State High Court.
 
The claimant, Alex Blackson and his brother, Osom Blackson, were injured during the stampede in the courtroom, while the presiding Judge, Justice Nayai Aganaba, was stoned.
 
The Judge was later whisked to safety by his police orderly.
 
Most of the lawyers were chased out, while those who came with the claimant were brutalised.
 
The hoodlums were said to have been provoked by the alleged insistence of Justice Aganaba to hear the suit filed by Alex Blackson, seeking an order setting aside the disputed congresses of the APC held in 2021.
 
 
Meanwhile, the state police command has arrested suspects in connection with the invasion of the court.
 
A statement by the police said the duo of Promise Ogilogi (male) and Azibabin Adiki (male) were arrested on April 13, 2022.
 
“The Bayelsa State Police Command has remanded two suspects in prison custody for their involvement in the invasion of the Bayelsa State High court and attack on High court judge. The suspects; one Promise Ogilogi 'm' and Azibabin Adiki 'm' were arrested on 13 April 2022.
 
“The Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, CP Ben Nebolisa Okolo, fdc has charged police operatives to intensify efforts to arrest the fleeing suspects and warn unequivocally, that the command is poised to deal decisively with anyone or group of persons who hide under any guise to disrupt the peace in the state.
 
“The Command hereby assures members of the public, particularly the Judiciary that adequate security measures have been put in place to ensure the safety and sanctity of the courtroom and to forestall future occurrence,”

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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has disassociated itself from the attack by unknown gunmen on officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Imo State.
On Thursday, gunmen attacked INEC officials who were carrying out registration in the Ihite Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State, resulting in the death of one person while two others have been declared missing.

Subsequently, the commission suspended the Continuous Voter Registration Exercise (CVR) in the area.
 
A video was released by the gunmen who were in black attire and screaming, ‘We don't want elections’. Many had attributed the attack to the secessionist group, IPOB.
 
Reacting in a statement on Friday obtained by SaharaReporters, the spokesperson for the group, Emma Powerful, says it is not responsible for the attack.
The group, therefore, promises to fish out the perpetrators of the attacks in the South-East region.
 
The group alleged that the criminals who carried out the attacks were sponsored by politicians and the Nigerian government so as to dent the image of IPOB.
 
The statement reads, “We the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the command and leadership of our great leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU, strongly condemn the attack on INEC staff at Ihite Uboma LGA of Imo State. 
 
“We are also warning these traitors and enemies of Biafra behind these barbaric attacks to stop or be ready to reap the reward of their atrocities.
 
“IPOB cannot afford to allow them to continue to terrorise our people or demonise our peaceful organisation as some uninformed people appoint accusing fingers at us.
 
“IPOB is not happy with these criminal activities going on in our region because we don't want this to continue and we are going to expose those behind this evil in the region.
 
“Anybody involved in this act will regret it. We totally disassociate from this act of criminality.  IPOB volunteers and ESN have no hand in this criminal act that criminals randomly carry out against our people.
 
“We have made it clear to the public several times that IPOB members are not unknown gunmen and we cannot be because we have an objective which is to restore Biafra as a free, Independent and Sovereign Nation.
 
“Anybody who is involved in this evil act on INEC officers at Ihite Uboma LGA will pay dearly.  The masterminds are being sponsored by unfortunate politicians thinking they can jeopardise our decision to make Biafra freedom a reality.
 
“We want to make it publicly known that IPOB and its security units did not attack INEC officers in Imo State. We are aware that Nigeria Government and their collaborators are sponsoring these criminal groups to attack our people in the name of IPOB to instigate a crisis so people can disassociate themselves from IPOB activities and the entire world will see IPOB as a terror group but they will fail and will not raise their ugly heads again. We promise them so.
 
“IPOB will not relent in discovering those behind these devilish activities and expose them.”
  

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