Peter Nwachukwu, the husband of the late popular gospel singer, Osinachi, has been arrested by the police over the death of his wife.

The family of the late “Ekwueme” singer had denied reports that she died of cancer, saying she had a blood clot after being assaulted by her husband.

However, Peter, the alleged wife-beater, has now been arrested by officers of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command over the death of his wife.

The spokesperson for the FCT police command, Josephine Adeh, who confirmed the news to Daily Trust, said, “He is now in our custody. The younger brother of the deceased reported the matter and we have commenced an investigation.”

 

Osinachi, 42, died on Friday after spending days at an undisclosed hospital in Abuja.

Osinachi’s sister, who is the first daughter of the family and was identified as Ms Favor Made, Sunday, said that Osinachi died as a result of a clot of blood in the chest. 

 

She said the late singer suffered from a blood clot after the kicking she received from her husband, Peter.

 

“We heard it was cancer that killed Osinachi. She did not die of cancer. The husband, Mr Peter Nwachukwu hit her with his leg on the chest. All this while, he has been beating her but my sister hides all that she was passing through from us,” she said, according to Daily Post.

 

She said the family had advised Osinachi to leave the marriage but she prayed that God would change her husband.

 

“We told her that they are not divorcing and that it’s just a separation. But she felt that God is against divorce. We told her that separation is not a sin but just for her to stay alive and take care of her children. She will always tell us to relax and that the man will change.

 

“So, when the man kicked her in the chest, she fell down and he took her to the hospital but he did not even tell us,” she said.   

 

It was her friend who lives in Ebonyi State who called her twin sister because Osinachi had a twin sister, to ask, “Did your sister tell you that Peter hit her on the chest?” 

 

The sister then told her no.  

 

“It was the hitting on the chest that killed her. My brother had to ask the doctor what killed her and the doctor said that there were clusters of blood on her chest,” she revealed.

 

Made further stated that the doctor was not aware that Osinachi was kicked in the chest.

 

According to her, Peter had boasted that he was going to separate Osinachi from her twin sister. 

 

She alleged that he had also stopped the siblings from being close or stopped the deceased singer from visiting her village, Isuochi in Abia State.

Her colleagues, via social media, had also accused her husband of beating her.

 

In a live Instagram video, a popular singer, Frank Edwards, alleged that Osinachi’s husband abused her on several occasions.

 

“One time in a studio, this man slapped her just because she wanted to record the song in Igbo against his will. She does not do anything on her own.

 

“She would say, please beg my husband. She was at his mercy. I didn’t know the intensity of what she was going through; I didn’t know how somebody would be jealous of the wife he claimed to love.

 

“There are a lot of stories where people told her this and that, but what I know was that the control was too much. The other time somebody wanted me to get her for an event, and I contacted her, but she said ‘beg my husband’.

 

“She couldn’t even tell people what she was going through. I only got to know because Aunty Joy contacted me to promote her song. That was when I got a glimpse into what was happening,” Edwards said.

Osinachi, who was a lead singer at the Dunamis International Gospel Centre, shot into the limelight in 2017, with the hit song “Ekwueme”, which featured another singer, Prospa Ochimana.

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The Vice-President of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo on Monday officially declared 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 said in a post on his official Twitter.

Osinbajo had hosted All Progressives Congress governors on Sunday in Abuja.

He had hosted the governors for the breaking of Ramadan fast (Iftar) and declared his intention to them.

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. pic.twitter.com/atggfEnF2Q

— Prof Yemi Osinbajo (@ProfOsinbajo) April 11, 2022

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File photo used to illustrate story.

A local court in India has sentenced a 39-year-old Nigerian man to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for smuggling heroin into Mohali in 2018.
 
The court of additional district and sessions judge Harjit Kaur Kaleke last Thursday also slapped a fine of ₹1 lakh (about N41.5 million) on the convict, Saira Kuze Madhubuchi, who will undergo imprisonment for another one year if the fine is not paid, Hindustan Times reports.

File photo used to illustrate story.

According to the case files, in August 2018, the special task force (STF) of Mohali police received a tip-off that a man would be entering Mohali with heroin.
 
An STF team, led by sub-inspector Ram Darshan, under the supervision of assistant inspector general Rajinder Singh Sohal, laid a ‘naka’ (checkpoint) near Dara Studio in Phase 6, where they spotted Madhubuchi and stopped him after looking suspicious.
 
On frisking him, the police team recovered 260 gm of heroin from his possession.

Through further probe, they found that the Nigerian national came to India on a business visa in 2015, and sold readymade garments and cosmetics in Delhi, but started smuggling drugs business after his visa expired in 2017.

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Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, said he was surprised that he spent seven months in Benin prison without any power blackout or running out of water.
 
Igboho said there would have been no reason for agitation in Nigeria if the government had developed the country and protected the lives and property of the citizens the way the government of Benin Republic had done for its people.

Igboho, who spoke during a conversation with the leader of the Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof Banji Akintoye; his deputy, Prof Wale Adeniran, and a few others in the Republic of Benin, said, “What was the cause of my coming out and running around to go demand a better country?
 
“If Nigeria were to be like the Benin Republic of today, what would have made me come out? If our country, Nigeria were like Benin, I would have no reason to agitate because there’s nothing that I want, that God hasn’t given me.
 
“I have been visiting Benin Republic since 1996; at that time, the police were always at checkpoints collecting bribes from motorists, but when the incumbent President got into power, he eradicated the act.
 
“In those days, although numerous police officers were always on the streets, stealing and killings were prevalent, but the new President brought that to a halt, and he made a law that DPOs would be held accountable for the actions of thieves operating within their jurisdictions.
 
“He increased the salary of the police personnel. Benin Republic police officers are paid three times more than Nigerian police officers. There are no more police checkpoints here in Benin, and no matter how far you travel, you’ll not be accosted by thieves on the highway.
 
“Soldiers will not harass you, and no one will bother you. There are no cows and Fulani herdsmen. That’s the kind of government that we want. I spent over seven months in a prison here in Benin.
 
“For those seven months, there was no blackout and we never ran out of water. I was stunned. Foreigners are trooping into the Benin Republic; the government is building infrastructure and the President is investigating the projects.
 
“The people of Benin Republic ought to appreciate God for the kind of leader He has given them. If we have such a government in Nigeria, no one will agitate. Citizens will be happy in a country where the government provides stable power supply, adequate security, and adequate water supply because that is a good government.”
 
Speaking further, he noted, “All praise be to God because one’s journey and deeds in life are in His hands. He is the master planner who plans how everything goes; hence we must be thankful to Him.
 
“It was false news that I was sick. I am hale and hearty, and I don’t even look like a person who has been to prison. The President of the Republic of Benin made life easier for me. He didn’t allow me to go through any pain, and I pray that the Benin Republic will never be destroyed.” 
 
 

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Some gunmen have razed the country home of the Imo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Cyprian Akaolisa.

The assailants also burnt the residence of the father of the state justice commissioner located in the Orsu Local Government Area of the state.

SaharaReporters Media

In June 2021, Akaolisa’s country home was also attacked and burnt by some unknown gunmen.

The residence of the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, was also attacked last year.

In a statement on Sunday, Akaolisa confirmed the attacks, saying, “The Igbos are hard-working people who through their years of toils put up structures and leave developmental strides in their communities of Origin maka ‘akụ ruo ụlọ, a mara onye nwe ya’.
 
“Through my many years of struggle, I have managed to put a block on another to build a befitting house for my family. My aged father also has a house he built through his sweats.
 
“Today, both buildings are in rubbles and ashes – our fellow Igbos burnt them. Firstly, last year, these arsonists burnt my country home in Obibi, Awo-Idemili, Orsu LGA of Imo State for no just cause.
 
“This year again, they returned and this time, they perfected the complete burning of even the blocks/bricks.
 
“And last night, to my utter consternation, they levelled my father’s house. This is a house my father built by himself – the life-toil of an aged man.
 
“In other words, I wish to put on record that my family house is completely destroyed. This was after they used a truck to cart all the properties: fridges TVs, bed/foams, generator sets and other household materials.
 
“What are my crimes, who did I offend? And what were my father’s offences? And I dare ask, where is the Igbo spirit? This is a direct affront to the akụ ruo ụlọ spirit. Who will invest in Ala Igbo nay Orsu LGA today under this type of atmosphere?
 
“The above are acts of arson ongoing in my LGA of Orsu. The complete burning of our LGA Secretariat, the house of my colleague – Chief Prince Ford Ozumba, the Hon Commissioner, Imo State Ministry of Labour, Employment and Productivity, the house of Hon. Ekene Nnodumele, the member representing Orsu State Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly. There are also houses of other political leaders which have been razed in my area so far.
 
“Other ungodly acts are the sacking and carting away of all the Police presence & armouries in Orsu LGA, the kidnapping and killing of well-to-do individuals and security operatives. This attendant scare has become a daily phenomenon in my Local Government Area.
 
“Today, these gunmen (Codenamed Ụmụ Ọma, under the guise of freedom fighters) have continued to demand huge sums of money from mourning families who wish to bury their loved ones and the likes. It is now strictly business! These gunmen have almost made a god of themselves, killing and cannibalising at will, in my area but believe me, they will not succeed with our voices up and collaborative efforts.
 
“Where is the Igbo spirit, ụmụnne m? It is unfortunate that the majority of those who foment these troubles are not indigenous to Orsu but have garnered collaborators and enablers among the locals either through fear, persuasion, financial inducements and made to swear to devilish oaths of secrecy.
 
“It is time to synergize and put an end to the siege in Orsu LGA and liberate our people who are worse hit by the economic downturn occasioned by the ravaging insecurity. For the enablers and cheerers, It is time for the needed retrospect, soul-searching to interrogate the process so far by weighing the gains and losses.”

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An investigative report by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has found Mohammed Bello Koko, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), guilty of N829 million fraud in kickbacks and money laundering activities.
 
The EFCC probe report exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters on Sunday revealed that Koko after being investigated was found to have received the N829 million from NPA contractors, and in cash sums from individuals and companies.

The EFCC carried out a “financial profiling” of Koko in August 2021 and found out that the NPA MD worked with an associate, Ali Amin Abubakar and had benefitted from awards of contracts totalling N1,107,654,133 from the Rivers State Government and others.

At the time the report was done, Koko was the acting Managing Director of the NPA. Following the suspension of Hadiza Bala Usman as the Managing Director of NPA by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Presidency announced Koko as her replacement in an acting capacity.
 
Koko was previously the director of finance and administration at NPA. Buhari in February 2022 confirmed Koko as substantive managing director of the NPA.

“Consequently, the foregoing strongly infer the subject’s and associates’ complicity in acts of abuse of office, misappropriation of public funds, fraud and money laundering,” the EFCC report said.
 
In the introduction section, the EFCC probe report said, “The Directorate received information that the acting NPA MD, Koko was involved in receiving kickbacks from NPA contractors and was involved in money laundering activities. Mohammed Koko is the current MD of the NPA.
“From 2005 to 2015, he worked at the Zenith Bank PLC in Port Harcourt, where he rose to the position of Assistant General Manager before being appointed as the NPA’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration.”
 
“During the term of former Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, he was also the designated Zenith Bank account officer for the Rivers State Government. According to reports, Mohammed Koko was brought before a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt by the EFCC in 2009 together with three other top officials of Zenith Bank on charges of fraud totalling N3.6 billion,” the probe report further revealed.

The report noted that his financial profile showed that he had several accounts in five banks.
 
The EFCC went on to analyse Koko’s bank accounts and the amounts of money in inflow and outflow which all confirmed the alleged fraudulent acts of the NPA boss.

In the summary of findings in the report, the EFCC investigation team said, “One, Mohammed Bello Koko received payments in cash and transfers totalling N829 million into his Zenith Bank personal account between 2015 and May 2021.

“Two, he is a director at M.B.K Business consults and Cethes company which Ali Amin Abubakar is also a director in both companies.”

The EFCC in the report recommended the prosecution of Koko for the various fraud and money laundering discoveries alongside his alleged accomplice, Ali Abubakar. 

“It is recommended that the Operations department should investigate the capital expenditure accounts and tenders board minutes of the NPA during Mohammed Koko’s tenure as executive director, finance and administration preparatory to his possible prosecution alongside his suspected accomplice, Ali AMIN Abubakar,” the report concluded.
 
SaharaReporters had on February 15, 2021, reported that President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Mohammed Bello Koko as the substantive Managing Director of the NPA.

Meanwhile, the Pandora Papers in 2021 revealed that Bello Koko was behind two shell companies incorporated in a tax haven to anonymously invest in the United Kingdom property market.

This potentially violates Nigeria’s public service code of conduct laws.

Pandora Papers also disclosed that he and his wife, Agatha Anne Koko, enlisted the services of financial secrecy seller, Cook Worldwide and Alemán, Cordero, Galindo & Lee (Alcogal), an offshore law firm, to register Coulwood Limited (reg. number: 1487897) and Marney Limited (reg. number: 1487944) in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), one of the world’s most commonly used tax havens, in 2008.

Both companies were registered on the same day, June 19, 2008.

Though a public servant, Bello Koko is also a director of the two companies, in violation of Nigeria’s Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act (Sections 5 and 6).

Pandora Papers project is led by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned 40-year-old Jehu Kwasu for allegedly impersonating a former Primate of the Anglican Communion, Nicholas Okoh. 

Okoh was arraigned alongside three others.

The accused persons were charged to the Federal Capital Territory High Court 32, Apo, Abuja, for allegedly defrauding some prominent and influential Nigerians of N30.4 million.

Other members of the cybercrime syndicate include Etubi Aliyu, Abdulrahman Muazu, and Usman Abdulaziz.

In the charge brought before Justice C. Oba, the ICPC accused the quartet of impersonating Okoh by faking his Facebook account bearing his picture and name; and using the same account to defraud unsuspecting members of the public. 

The accused persons dubiously raised funds by telling their targets to enable them to bring home the corpse of the former Primate’s deceased brother.

The court was also informed of how the accused persons used their bank accounts and the accounts of some of their friends to perpetuate the fraud.

According to a statement on Sunday by the ICPC spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, titled, ‘ICPC arraigns impersonator of ex-Primate of Anglican Communion, others over N30.4m fraud’, the accused were alleged to have also used some of their accomplices as fronts to withdraw part of the N30.4 million paid into their accounts as well as transfer some money to other accounts specifically opened for their illicit transaction.

It said, “The defendants were also accused of using falsified National Identity cards to open numerous fraudulent bank accounts with fake names of individuals to carry out their criminal acts.

“The commission, in a 17-count charge preferred against the first and second defendants; and eight and ninth-count against the third and fourth defendants respectively averred that their action of obtaining by pretence was contrary to section 1(1) and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2010.”  

The accused persons reportedly pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.

Counsel for the first defendant, Sadiq Lawal, and the second, third, and fourth defendants, Abdulrazak Jibril respectively, prayed the court to grant their clients bail, which was not opposed by the ICPC counsel, Sulaiman Abdulkareem.

The judge admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of N20 million each and two sureties each in like sum. The sureties must have fully developed properties in the FCT.

However, owing to their inability to fulfil the bail conditions, they were remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre.

The case has been adjourned till May 18 and 19, 2022, for the commencement of the hearing.

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The family of the late “Ekwueme” singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu, has denied reports that she died of cancer.  

SaharaReporters had reported that Osinachi’s death was announced on Friday night.

Some reports had said the singer died in the hospital after suffering from domestic violence from her husband.

Osinachi’s sister, who is the first daughter of the family and was identified as Ms Favor Made, confirmed the reports on Sunday, saying that Osinachi died as a result of a cluster of blood in the chest. 

She said the late suffered from a blood clot after the kicking she received from her husband, Peter Nwachukwu.

“We heard it was cancer that killed Osinachi. She did not die of cancer. The husband, Mr Peter Nwachukwu hit her with his leg on the chest. All this while, he has been beating her but my sister hides all that she was passing through from us,” she said, according to Daily Post.

She said the family had advised Osinachi to leave the marriage but she prayed that God would change her husband.

“We told her that they are not divorcing and that it’s just a separation. But she felt that God is against divorce. We told her that separation is not a sin but just for her to stay alive and take care of her children. She will always tell us to relax and that the man will change.

“So when the man kicked her in the chest, she fell down and he took her to the hospital but he did not even tell us,” he said.   

It was her friend who lives in Ebonyi State who called her twin sister because Osinachi had a twin sister, to ask, “Did your sister tell you that Peter hit her on the chest?” 

The sister then told her no.  

“It was the hitting on the chest that killed her. My brother had to ask the doctor what killed her and the doctor said that there were clusters of blood on her chest,” she revealed.

Made further stated that the doctor was not aware that Osinachi was kicked in the chest.

According to her, Peter had boasted that he was going to separate Osinachi and her twin sister. 

She alleged that he had also stopped the siblings from being close or stopped the deceased Osinachi from visiting her village, Isuochi in Abia State.

She added that Peter had not been arrested as alleged in some quarters.  

She also confirmed that he beat her sister severely and was fond of collecting her money while she was left with nothing.

Made added that Peter did not immediately contact their family when Osinachi died until 8 pm when he casually informed their mother of the death.

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An alleged kingpin, notorious for mobilising hoodlums to attack perceived opponents of the President Muhammadu Buhari regime, has been identified as Sunday Bright Attah.

SaharaReporters learnt that Attah was also allegedly used by a former lawmaker, Ned Nwoko, to bribe court officials who manipulated justice during the arrest and illegal detention of human rights lawyer, Abubakar Marshal.

Also, Attah allegedly led a gang of hoodlums to attack human rights activist and presidential aspirant, Omoyele Sowore, during his court trials, leading to the infliction of injuries on several supporters of the activist.

SaharaReporters gathered that Attah and his hoodlums had also been used by the secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS) to attack supporters of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, during several court sessions of the IPOB leader.

Not done, Attah, it was learnt, was also allegedly instrumental in attacking popular Kayanmata (aphrodisiac) seller, Hauwa Muhammed, aka Jaruma and her supporters during her trial and case with Ned Nwoko.

Sources told SaharaReporters on Sunday that Attah, who hides under OneNigeria group, now has a squad of hoodlums to undertake pro-government public assaults.

“He was the person Ned Nwoko sent to bribe court officials against Marshal Abubakar. He also made arrangements for people to attack Sowore during his arraignment by the police on Ned’s matter but that day, he did not show up.

“He led the team the DSS arranged to attack Sowore and Nnamdi Kanu’s supporters during the court sittings,” one of the sources said.

“He was the person that mobilised hoodlums to attack Jaruma and her supporters during her trial by Ned Nwoko. In fact, he has a killer squad in Abuja assembled to carry out hits with DSS and police backing,” another source confirmed.

“On February 28, 2022, he sent some university boys to the Area Court in Zuba. His usual style is to send these boys under the guise of protest and after his fake protesters had dispersed, he plants thugs to attack the personality targeted,” another source revealed.

“He reportedly has a killer squad in Abuja assembled to carry out hits with DSS and police backing,” one of the sources said.

In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, Attah is seen leading a group of persons said to have been sponsored, in a protest staged against Sowore and Sahara Reporters.

Attah and his band of protesters were chanting and singing in the video, with a cacophony of drums and trumpet sounds filling the air. Displaying banners and placards strictly condemning Sowore and SaharaReporters, the protesters chanted ‘Solidarity forever, we shall always fight for our rights’.

However, the chant – solidarity forever – which has become synonymous with protests demanding human rights and good governance was not in consonance with the condemnation of Sowore, which was the only message on the banners and placards.

But speaking with SaharaReporters, Attah denied the allegations, adding that he was not against Kanu, Sowore, the publisher of SaharaReporters or any other Nigerian but against agitations for secession and uprising, which he and others in the OneNigeria group fight against.

He said, “My father is not a DSS person and none of my relatives is DSS. I am a journalist like you and a media consultant. I don’t know what they are talking about. Those are lies. We as a group don’t witch-hunt anybody. Our interest is to promote peace and unity and harmony among Nigerians. We have no country other than Nigeria. 

“We cannot give in to separatism. We are over 200 million Nigerians – no country would accept us. It is not about any individual; it is not about Nnamdi Kanu, Sowore or Sunday Igboho. If you talking to me today say that you want Nigeria divided, we will speak against it.

“Am I Nnamdi Kanu or Sowore or Igboho’s enemy? No. But my duty as a Nigerian who has nowhere to run to if Nigeria is in a crisis is to speak positively. I have never been to a programme where I fought. I am not a violent person. All I know how to do is to write and speak. So those that say I am a tool in the hands of whoever, it is in their imagination.”

SaharaReporters had on March 6 reported that sources said the judge who ruled that Abubakar Marshal should be remanded was ferried from Kuje in a vehicle with a covered licence plate, arranged by Nwoko through Attah, also said to be one of his personal assistants.

It was also gathered that Nwoko had sent Attah to ensure his wish was carried out regarding how the proceedings should go, which was to ensure the judge did not grant bail to the lawyer.

The source had said, “A team led by Pelumi Olajegbensi visited Marshal Abubakar today and he’s in high spirit. He also said that while he was being transferred to Keffi prison, they told him Ned Nwoko had paid the police hierarchy to detain him (the lawyer) and Sowore because he (Nwoko) already paid for it.”

According to another source, “the Grade 1 area court judge that detained him was ferried by Ned Nwoko from Kuje.

“And to be sure this will be carried out, Ned sent one of his personal assistants, Attah Bright Sunday to keep tabs on the judge to ensure he didn’t grant Marshal bail.

“Attah was seen in court bribing court officials before arranging for the judge to leave in a black Mercedes Benz with the police prosecutor.

“The licence plate of the SUV was covered to avoid detection.”

Meanwhile, SaharaReporters also learnt from sources that the businessman, Nwoko, with the help of some of his allies, established a fake group called Niger Delta Peace Agitators when he could not achieve his goal of jailing Sowore.

The group had threatened to stage a protest in Abuja if Sowore was not arrested.

It accused Sowore of planning to eliminate Nwoko, saying it would resist any attempt to kill the businessman.

The group, through its spokesperson, Mr. Kenule Nwiya Jr, had also given the Nigeria police 48 hours to arrest Sowore or it would mobilise its members for the protest.

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The candidates of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State have won in all the 21 Local Government Council elections conducted on Saturday in the state.

 

The PDP candidates also swept all the 226 Councillorship seats contested during Saturday's election.

The chairman of Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission (ADSIEC), Isa Shettima gave the results on Sunday in Yola, the state capital.

 

Only APC and PDP contested the chairmanship elections, except in Toungo LGA where African Democratic Congress (ADC) participated and garnered 321 votes.

 

Chairmanship results are as follows:

 

1. Demsa LGA - APC 10807, PDP 31509

 

2. Fufore LGA - APC 6654, PDP 29687

 

3. Ganye LGA - APC 9650, PDP 16566

 

4. Girei LGA - APC 2176, PDP 21886

 

5. Gombi LGA - APC 5954, PDP 26840

 

6. Guyuk LGA - APC 1672, PDP 34118

 

7. Hong LGA - APC 2356, PDP 27305

 

8. Jada LGA - APC 11084, PDP 25913

 

9. Lamurde LGA - APC 7560, PDP 13423

 

10. Madagali LGA - APC 4205, PDP 27500

 

11. Maiha LGA - APC 1517, PDP 22858

 

12. Mayobelwa LGA - APC 11687, PDP 28884

 

13. Michika LGA - APC 8445, PDP 27911

 

14. Mubi North LGA - APC 6808, 31105

 

15. Mubi South LGA - APC 8084, PDP 36649

 

16. Numan LGA - APC 9906, PDP 18313

 

17. Shelleng LGA - APC 1305

 

18. Song LGA - APC 2632, PDP 33404

 

19. Toungo LGA - ADC 321, APC 787, PDP 16271

 

20. Yola North LGA - APC 3300, PDP 8437

 

21. Yola South LGA - APC 6810, PDP 15181

 

 

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Bruce Fein, the international counsel and spokesman for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has petitioned the United Nations Security Council over the treatment of his client.

The petition dated April 9, 2022, and jointly signed by Fein and the wife of the IPOB leader, Uche Kanu, is asking the UN Security Council to investigate the complicity of the Nigerian and Kenyan governments in the abduction, torture and rendition of Kanu from Kenya in June 2021.

Kanu was renditioned to Nigeria from Kenya last June under questionable circumstances. Since his arrival, he has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS), the secret police of Africa’s most populous nation.

Addressed to Honorable Barbara Woodward, UK Ambassador to the United Nations and President of the UN Security Council, the letter is titled, “Petition to the United Nations Security Council to establish an independent Commission to investigate the complicity of Nigerian and Kenyan government officials or their agents in the criminal kidnapping, torture, extraordinary rendition, and indefinite arbitrary detention of United Kingdom citizen Nnamdi Kanu from Nairobi to Abuja and for the establishment of a Special Tribunal outside either Nigeria or Kenya to prosecute the suspects identified by the Commission.”

It reads, “We, the undersigned respectfully petition the United Nations Security Council, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, to pass a resolution establishing an international independent investigation Commission to establish criminal responsibility for Nnamdi Kanu’s kidnapping, torture, and extraordinary rendition from Nairobi, Kenya to Abuja, Nigeria on or about June 2021, and indefinite, ongoing, arbitrary detention in solitary confinement thereafter by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The resolution should also establish a Special Tribunal to prosecute persons the Commission finds have been responsible for Nnamdi Kanu’s kidnapping, torture, extraordinary rendition, and arbitrary detention.

“Convincing evidence in the public domain, direct and circumstantial, implicate Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerian Attorney General Abubakar Malami, and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, among others, in the above-referenced crimes against Nnamdi Kanu.

“The governments of Nigeria and Kenya cannot be trusted to investigate or prosecute themselves. The universal legal principle that a person cannot be a judge in his own case applies here.

“We submit that Security Council Resolution 1595, which established an independent Commission to investigate the assassins of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Harari, and

Security Council Resolution 1757, which established a Special Tribunal for the prosecution of the responsible parties found by the independent Commission, should be considered as templates for the corresponding resolutions we are requesting for investigation and prosecution of the crimes against Nnamdi Kanu by Nigerian and Kenyan government officials or their agents.

“We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you or your staff in person or over the internet to further elaborate on this petition.”

Last Friday, a Federal High Court in Abuja struck out eight out of the amended 15 counts bordering on treasonable felony and other related charges filed against Kanu by the Nigerian government.

The judge, Binta Nyako struck out counts 6,7,9,10,11,12,13 and 14.

Kanu is now to stand trial on counts 1,2,3,4,5,8 and 15.

“In this instant preliminary objection application, I have read the counts and counts 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 14 have not disclosed any offence,” the judge held.

“Count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 15 shows some allegations. The court shall proceed to try the defendant on those counts.”

Mike Ozekhome, Kanu’s lead counsel, described the charges as “defective and baseless”.

He said his application seeks the “quashing, striking out and dismissing of the 15-count amended charge” for being “incompetent and denying the court of jurisdiction to entertain the suit”.

“You are accusing Kanu of making some broadcast. You didn’t say where these broadcasts were made. Were they made in the spirit world, made in the air or under the ground?” Ozekhome asked.

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Aloy Ejimakor, a special counsel for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has described the new 'Practice Directions On Trial of Terrorism Cases' as unconstitutional. 

By the new directive, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, last week noted that “the distance and size of perimeters to be secured for the trial shall be determined based on the recommendation of security agencies on a case-by-case basis.”

It means terrorism trials including the ongoing trial of Nnamdi Kanu and other related ones will be done secretly, even without journalists, except the judge rules otherwise. 

Kanu’s trial by the Nigerian government which continued last Friday, April 8, was the first casualty of the new directive.

Ejimakor in a statement on Sunday said the new Practice Directions on Terrorism Trials "recently issued by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court are unconstitutional by the clear provisions of two subsections of Section 36 of the Constitution, which requires all trials to be in public".

The first, according to him, is subsection (3) of Section 36 of the Constitution, which states that “The proceedings of a court or the proceedings of any tribunal relating to the matters mentioned in subsection (1) of this section (including the announcement of the decisions of the court or tribunal) shall be held in public”.

The second, he further noted, is subsection (4) of Section 36 of the Constitution which states that “Whenever any person is charged with a criminal offence, he shall unless the charge is withdrawn, be entitled to a fair hearing in public within a reasonable time by a court or tribunal”.

He said the only restrictions the Constitution allow are on a case-by-case basis and it "must be narrowly tailored by the particular court or tribunal before whom the suspect is being tried, not by an omnibus Practice Directions that seeks to envelop every case in one fell swoop".

The statement read in part, "The first narrowly-tailored exception can be found in Section 36, subsection 4(a) of the Constitution which states that 'A court or such a tribunal may exclude from its proceedings persons other than the parties thereto or their legal practitioners in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality, the welfare of persons who have not attained the age of eighteen years, the protection of the private lives of the parties or to such extent as it may consider necessary by reason of special circumstances in which publicity would be contrary to the interests of justice'.

"The second narrow exception is contained in Section 36(4)(b) of the Constitution, which states that 'If in any proceedings before a court or such a tribunal, a Minister of the Government of the Federation or a commissioner of the government of a state satisfies the court or tribunal that it would not be in the public interest for any matter to be publicly disclosed, the court or tribunal shall make arrangements for evidence relating to that matter to be heard in private and shall take such other action as may be necessary or expedient to prevent the disclosure of the matter'. 

"Thus, other than in the circumstances of the narrowly-tailored exceptions permitted by the Constitution, the new Practice Directions are ultra vires the Constitution. And it cannot be justified by a Terrorism Prevention Act that is unarguably subservient to the Constitution."

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Sunday, said it intercepted no fewer than 101 parcels of cocaine concealed in eight children’s duvets at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State.

 

This was contained in a statement signed by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, and titled, ‘NDLEA intercepts 101 parcels of Cocaine in Children duvets at Lagos airport’.

Spring Board Recovery

The spokesman for the anti-corruption agency said the illicit drug was brought into the country by a 52-year-old Brazilian returnee, Akudirinwa Hilary Uchenna, who hails from Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State.

 

Babafemi said the suspect was arrested on Saturday, April 9 at the D-Arrival Hall of the Lagos airport upon his return from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Doha aboard a Qatar Airways flight.

 

According to him, 101 parcels of the class A drug with a gross weight of 13.2 kilogrammes were recovered from his only check-in bag.

 

The statement read, “During a preliminary interview, Uchenna who claimed to be a carpenter confessed that he was to be paid N5 million for trafficking the drug after successfully delivering the consignment in Lagos.”

 

It added, “In a related development, big pellets of skunk concealed in detergent containers have been intercepted at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, AIIA, Enugu. A 37-year-old South African returnee, Ezekwesili Afamefune brought in the consignment weighing 730g aboard an Ethiopian Airline flight from Johannesburg, South Africa via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Ezekwesili is from Awka south local government area of Anambra State.

 

“In Edo State, a 24-year-old drug dealer Christian John was arrested by NDLEA operatives in Egbeta, Ovia North East LGA for selling assorted illicit drugs which include sachets of drugged Milo beverage, cannabis sativa, swinol and tramadol tablets, while in Zamfara State, one Chibuzor Uba, 30, was arrested on Friday, 8th April with 1,955 ampules of pentazocine at Kaura Namoda area of Zamfara state.

 

“A cross-border drug trafficker, Stanley Chibuzor, 21, was on Friday, 8th April arrested by officers of the Marine Unit of NDLEA stationed at Oron beach, Oron, Akwa Ibom state. The suspect who hails from Ihiala, Anambra state was nabbed with 11,190 tablets of Tramadol during the outward clearance of passengers travelling to Cameroon.

 

“In Ondo State, a drug dealer who produces and sells skuchies, Oluwaseun Agboola, 25, was arrested on Thursday, 7th April, at his Igoba, Second Gate, Akure residence where 73 bottles of skuchies weighing 77kg stocked in his kitchen were recovered. Skuchies are usually a mixture of Tramadol, Cannabis sativa, Codeine, Black Currant (popularly called Zobo) and water.

 

“In Lagos, an early morning raid in the notorious Akala, Mushin area of the state on Saturday, 9th April led to the seizure of 746.25 kilogrammes of cannabis.”

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Terrorists have invaded Gwagwalada Area Council of Abuja and shot dead the chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in the council, Adamu Aliyu.

 

Adamu Aliyu was said to have been killed alongside four others near Daku village in Dobi ward of the council on Thursday.

The Secretary of MACBAN, Mohammed Usman, who confirmed the incident to Daily Trust on Sunday, said three persons were abducted, while three others who sustained gunshot wounds were receiving treatment at the University of Teaching Hospital in Gwagwalada.

 

He said the incident happened last Thursday, around 5 pm, when the late MACBAN chairman alongside others was returning from Izom market in Niger State in a Dyna truck. According to him, the bandits suddenly emerged from the bush and opened fire on the truck.

 

According to him, the bandits shattered the windscreen of the truck, which was conveying the late MACBAN chairman and some passengers.

 

“They were returning from Izom market in Niger State where they went to sell cows, until just one kilometre to Daku village when the bandits suddenly emerged from the bush and opened fire on the truck, killing the MACBAN chairman and four others,” he said.

 

He gave the names of those killed as Saleh, Aliyu, Muhammadu and Saidu, saying the deceased’s corpses had been buried according to Islamic rites.

 

It was gathered that a combined team of security agents comprising soldiers, civil defence corps, mobile police and vigilantes led by the Gwagwalada police area commander were at Daku village before the remains of the deceased were buried.

 

The chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Alhaji Adamu Mustapha, confirmed the incident on the telephone but declined to speak further, saying he was in a meeting and would call back later.

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The Nigerian government has made fresh submissions before the London Commercial Court, where Nigeria is suing JP Morgan Chase Bank and established that former Attorney-General, Mohammed Bello Adoke, was complicit in the controversial sale of the OPL 245 oil bloc licence to Shell and Eni, despite the firm having no formal connection to the deal.

 

The new submissions were made before the High Court of Justice of England and Wales. 

 

It was between the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the Claimant and JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. as the defendant before Justice Mrs Justice Cockerill. 

 

The Malabu scandal involved the transfer of about $1.1 billion by Shell and ENI through the Nigerian government to accounts controlled by a former Nigerian Petroleum Minister, Dan Etete.

 

From accounts controlled by Etete, about half the money ($520 million) went to accounts of companies controlled by Aliyu Abubakar, popularly known in Nigeria as the owner of AA oil.

 

Anti-corruption investigators and activists suspect he fronted for top officials of the Goodluck Jonathan administration as well as officials of Shell and ENI.

 

The transaction was authorised in 2011 by ex-president Jonathan through some of his cabinet ministers and the money was payment for OPL 245, one of Nigeria’s richest oil blocs.

 

The oil resources of the OPL 245 license have remained undeveloped since the controversies began.

 

One of those being prosecuted by the Nigerian government is Adoke.

 

He is facing trial over the alleged role he played in the “fraudulent” transfer of ownership of an oil bloc, OPL 245, regarded as one of the biggest in Africa.

 

Other defendants include Abubakar, Rasky Gbinigie and four companies- Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited, Shell Nigeria Ultra Deep Limited and Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited.

 

According to court documents obtained by SaharaReporters on Sunday, the court said the claims of the Nigerian government should be allowed based on the new submissions and fresh evidence presented before it.

 

“For all of the above reasons, the FRN’s claims should be allowed. JPM breached its Quincecare Duty in making the 2011 Payments and the 2013 Payments. It was

grossly negligent in doing so. The quantum of the FRN’s loss is simply the sum of money that was paid away by those payments being $875,740,000.03, and the FRN is entitled to and claims that sum in damages. The FRN will make submissions as to interest and any other consequential matters in light of the court’s judgment,” the court said.

 

The court document further said, “These are the written closing submissions of the FRN. This document supplements, rather than replaces the FRN’s written opening (“FRN Opening”)1 and oral opening, and should be read alongside them. The FRN maintains its submissions in the opening.

“Extracts from FRN Closing Statement, FRN vs JP Morgan Chase; C4. The 2011 Resolution Agreements and Payments: Adoke’s corruption; 114. The evidence of Mr Adoke’s corruption is set out in detail in the FRN’s written opening. In brief summary, the points are 114.1. Mr Adoke accepted in The Burden of Service, that Abubakar Aliyu was a long-standing friend of his. Moreover, one of Aliyu Abubakar’s companies – A Group Properties – received $157 million out of the total $400 million that was paid to Malabu’s First Bank account - and notably, Mr Adoke used the A Group Properties email address during the 2011 transaction – sending the Resolution Agreements to JPM from this email address, at a time when he was out of office; and on another occasion, copying A Group Properties in on another email. This strongly suggests that there was a connection between not just Mr Adoke and Abubakar Aliyu, but between Mr Adoke and A Group Properties: and that Mr Adoke was intended to be the recipient of all or a substantial part of the $157 million that was paid to A Group Properties.

 

“114.2. The purchase and sale of Plot 3271 represent a further corrupt benefit to Mr Adoke. Abubakar Aliyu sold the Plot to Mr Adoke at a loss just weeks after acquiring it; Mr Adoke funded the purchase via a bank loan, which ran up extraordinary interest (far in excess of his Ministerial salary) until it was paid off, in 2013. The manner in which the loan was paid off was extraordinary: it was done by Mr Adoke, personally handing a bag containing over $2 million in cash to bank and bureau de change employees. The plot then apparently reverted to Abubakar Aliyu and was sold for around eight times the price Mr Adoke had paid for it, at a profit of around $20 million.

 

“114.3. Mr Adoke was (as he admits in his autobiography The Burden of Service) fully aware of Etete’s interest in Malabu, along with Mohammed Abacha’s, and the corrupt self-grant in 1998. There was no bona fide reason for him to agree to a deal that would pay Etete over $1 billion for an asset he had stolen, when he could instead have had Malabu’s title declared void and/or revoked it for non-payment of the signature bonus.

 

“114.4. Mr Adoke demonstrably lied in The Burden of Service: he said that he only became aware of EVP’s role in the transaction in August 2011 (when in fact he had personally sought to broker a deal over EVP’s fees in December 2010), and that he only became aware of Mohammed Abacha’s claim in May 2011 (when in fact he had proposed the solution to this issue in December 2010, thereby defying the stated wishes of the Nigerian Court). It also does not acknowledge (let alone attempt to explain) the fact that Mr Adoke handed over a bag containing over $2 million in cash to bank and bureau de change employees – instead falsely asserting that the loan was paid off by Abubakar Aliyu without Mr Adoke having any involvement or any knowledge of how this was done.

 

“114.5. Mr Adoke gave a remarkable interview to an Italian journalist, Carla Maria Rumor, in which he said that the money paid out of the Depository Account by JPM went to “some other officials here in Nigeria, not only to Etete”, and appeared to offer some of that money to the journalist.

 

“114.6. Mr Adoke previously asserted that his 21 June email to Mr Osolake (from the email address ‘agroupproperties@yahoo.com’), and the interview with Ms Rumor, were forgeries. He has since asserted that he did not telephone Mr Osolake on 20 June. That is demonstrably a lie and is contrary to both Mr Osolake’s contemporaneous email and his evidence in these proceedings.

 

“115. JPM had little to say about many of these points. Indeed in relation to the obvious falsehoods in The Burden of Service, Ms Phelps QC said “I’m not going to say anything about the autobiography”.

 

“116. There are four points that arise in light of the openings and events since then. 117. First, Mr Adoke’s baseless allegations about the veracity of the A Group Properties email, and the interview with Ms Rumor, have been repeated, and have had consequences which have taken some time to unwind. As noted at FRN Opening §159,248 a 5 February 2021 letter from Mr Adoke’s solicitors to the Inspector General of Police alleged that those documents were forged. The reasons given do not stand up to scrutiny and are inconsistent with JPM’s own evidence in this case. In addition to the inconsistency of Mr Adoke’s account with the 20 June 2011 telephone call to Mr Osolake (noted at §114.6 above) there are three further points:

 

“117.1. In relation to the A Group Properties email, what Mr Adoke cannot explain (and does not attempt to) is how the author of the email would have been able to attach copies of the Resolution Agreements, if the author was a forger rather than Mr Adoke himself. No motive has been identified for the forgery, nor has any culprit.

 

“117.2. As to the interview with Ms Rumor, the Court should note that Ms Rumor wrote to the Italian prosecutor (on RAI letterhead) confirming that the interview did take place, on 5 November 2015.249 Fabricating such an interview would also be a time-consuming endeavour. Again the culprits have not been identified, and nor has any motivation for their going to this trouble.

 

“117.3. Further as to that interview, in oral opening JPM’s counsel suggested that the Italian Court had rejected the interview as inadmissible. While that was stated in the original set of charges which Mr Adoke caused to be laid against Mr Suraju (as to which see below), it does not appear to be correct. The FRN is not aware of any ruling to that effect in the Italian proceedings. Although the judgment of the Milan Court acquitting the Shell and Eni defendants does not refer to the interview, it is referred to in the judgment of Judge Barbara in the fast-track proceedings against Messrs Obi and Di Nardo.

 

“118. Unfortunately, Mr Adoke’s letter led to the prosecution of a Mr Suraju, of an NGO called Human and Environmental Development Agenda (“HEDA”). The charges were in essence that Mr Suraju had circulated the A Group Properties email and the Carla Maria Rumor interview while knowing them to be false. It appears that the police and prosecutors were not aware of the evidence in the present proceedings that discredits Mr Adoke’s complaint and shows these to be true documents.

 

“119. The charges against Mr Suraju in respect of the A Group Properties email were withdrawn at a hearing on 18 February 2022.253 While the charges concerning the Carla Maria Rumor interview were not withdrawn at that hearing, it is understood that they will also be withdrawn. The complaint by Mr Adoke that led to this prosecution is, the FRN submits, a colourable device on the part of Mr Adoke, to attempt to distance himself from documents that he rightly recognises are damning (particularly in circumstances where he is subject to ongoing prosecutions).”

 

Furthermore, the court documents stated that Adoke had now repeated the same false points in a letter to the Court – again denying telephoning Osolake on 20 June 2011, “when it is clear from the contemporaneous documents and Mr Osolake’s evidence that the telephone call did indeed take place – is perhaps the final nail in the coffin of his credibility: it is a desperate manoeuvre and a brazen lie told to this Court.”

 

The document states further, “121. Second, in relation to the Plot 3271 transaction, one of the FRN’s points in opening was that the size of the Plot and the buildings on it were far in excess of anything Mr Adoke could have needed. That sits ill with his account, in The Burden of Service, that he had acquired it to live in on the advice of his security detail. In oral opening the FRN took the Court a document, {C3/124}, which shows just how extravagant Plot 3271 actually was. The document relates to Plot 3271B only – i.e. only one of the two sub-plots into which Plot 3271 was subdivided before it was sold to the Central Bank of Nigeria (at a vast profit). Mr Adoke, of course, had the whole plot. As the document shows, Plot 3271B (alone) contained, among other things: a house containing five en-suite bedrooms; a further three-bedroom guest chalet, and still further two rooms of “Boys Quarters”; its own water treatment plant and generator; parking for 20 cars; and an “Olympic size swimming pool”.

 

“122. Third, JPM makes an odd point about the many Shell internal documents cited at FRN Opening §163, which set out Shell’s understanding that at least part of the money to be paid to Malabu would be used to pay bribes to then-current Nigerian officials. The point JPM makes is that most of these documents do not refer specifically to the payment of bribes to Mr Adoke individually, but are “simply generic”. It is hard to see how this assists JPM. The fact that Shell, who were very closely involved in the transaction, understood that bribes would be paid to Nigerian officials, clearly supports the FRN’s case that the Resolution Agreements are illegitimate and corrupt. It directly supports the case on fraud. It indirectly supports the case that Mr Adoke received bribes because he is (i) a Nigerian official; and (ii) the official most closely involved in the Resolution Agreements.”

 

“361. As noted above, Mr Adoke has claimed that he did not speak to Mr Osolake on 20 June, or send the email from the A Group Properties address on 21 June, and would not have done so because he was on holiday and was not in Ministerial office. This is relevant because it goes to Mr Adoke’s character in circumstances in which the Court is being asked to find that he participated in a fraud.

 

“362. Mr Adoke is lying. His claim is contradicted by Mr Osolake’s evidence and the emails Mr Osolake received. Mr Osolake was asked to confirm whether he accepted, as inevitably followed from his own evidence, that Mr Adoke was lying. Tellingly, as the transcript shows, Mr Osolake was reluctant to agree that Mr Adoke had lied, for fear of reprisals in Nigeria, not withstanding that Mr Adoke left office in 2015. Once Mr Osolake had suggested there could be repercussions for him, the point was not pressed further, and Mr Osolake is not to be faulted for his reluctance to answer the question. However, the exchange spoke volumes as to Mr Osolake’s assessment of Mr Adoke’s character and the influence the former Attorney General still wields.”

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One of the private radio stations in Ibadan, Fresh FM, came under attack from armed robbers in the early hours of Sunday.

The radio station was on a live broadcast when the hoodlums struck and stole laptop computers, phones, and personal belongings of members of staff around.

The station is owned by musician-turned-broadcaster, Yinka Ayefele, and is a household name in the Oyo State capital.

A member of staff of the radio station said the robbers invaded the station located in the Challenge area of Ibadan at around 6:30am.

“No fatality. No one was injured, they just took away valuables,” he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, Adewale Osifeso, could not be reached to comment on the incident as of the time of filing this report.

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The Nigerian military has said it is working on the process of declaring leaders of bandit and terrorist groups, and the Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists wanted. 

The Senate on February 21, 2022, had urged the Nigerian Government to urgently declare all known leaders of terrorist groups wanted.

Asked why the military had yet to declare such leaders of bandit and terrorist groups wanted and make their names and images public, as done in the case of Abubakar Shekau and other Boko Haram fighters, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Benard Onyeuko, said the process was being reviewed. He added that their names and pictures would be released to the public soon.

He said, “We are working on it. The process is being reviewed. Some of them are being taken out. Very soon, you will see new posters.”

On the troops, he said the military would step up its operations to prevent this.

He said, “We are aware that IEDs are being used, this is not the first time. We are on top of it. We are working against this and we are stepping up our operations.”  

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Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has said he is not afraid of key actors jostling for the 2023 presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress.

 

The Kogi governor, whose state is ravaged by insecurity, with civil servants groaning over months of unpaid salaries, added that he was not afraid of the ex-Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu, as his being a founding member of APC would not give him an edge.

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

Bello, who spoke in Abuja on Saturday while responding to a question at the second GYB annual seminar, said he was not afraid of the national leader of the APC, Tinubu, despite being a founding member of the ruling party.

 

He said, “To answer your question; whether I am scared of other contestants for the presidency. You mentioned Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and others. I will say no; I am not scared of anybody in the contest for the APC presidential ticket.

 

“Tinubu and others are the founding members of the APC, but the foundation is not enough. I will defeat all the other aspirants because I have all it takes to be a champion. My performance in Kogi State will speak for me.”

 

The governor said all indicators pointed to him as standing in the best position to win the 2023 presidential election for the APC.

 

Bello said he was confident of being the party’s candidate, stressing that he had over 16 million Nigerians who had obtained their PVCs registered in Yahaya Bello support groups to have him elected.

 

Among the frontliners in the discussion around the 2023 presidency were Tinubu, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi, and a former governor of Abia, Senator Orji Kalu.

 

 

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Malami

The Kebbi State government has partnered with a non-governmental organisation to procure about 65,000 bags of foodstuffs worth N580 million for distribution as Ramadan gifts to the needy.

The distribution is being handled by the NGO, Khadimiyya for Justice and Development, founded by the Attorney-General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. 

Malami

The Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Muhammad Shalla, made the disclosure in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday at the flag-off of the distribution, according to Peoples Gazette.

Though he has denied it officially, Malami is said to be nursing a governorship ambition in the state and is only waiting for a good time to make his declaration after having consulted his principals and cabals in the All Progressives Congress.

“As part of our efforts to cushion the difficulties and challenges faced by the people, especially in the rural areas, the state government procured 65,000 bags of foodstuffs worth N580million for distribution across the state,” Shalla said.

Malami’s NGO has so far distributed more than 17,000 bags of parboiled rice to 21 local government areas of the state for onward distribution to the less privileged.

The AGF said the gesture was to complement the federal and state governments’ efforts to assist the people of Kebbi during Ramadan.

In his remarks, Secretary to the State Government, Babale Umar-Yauri, who represented Governor Atiku Bagudu, said, “More than 30,000 bags of assorted food items have been procured by the state government for distribution to people as part of efforts to bring down prices of food items in the state.

“The state government has also paid gratuity fully to retired civil servants for the years 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 and those who retired in 2021 will be paid soon.”

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An anti-corruption and accountability civil society organisation, the Human & Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), has condemned the recent appointment of Mr. Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo, as the chairman of the newly constituted Lagos Parks and Garages Management Committee. 

MC Oluomo was appointed by the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to manage and oversee the commercial motor parks and garages in the state.

The appointment of Oluomo was contained in a statement delivered by the state's Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso.

The group in a statement signed by its Directors said the appointment was illegal on the ground that there is currently no known law in Lagos State backing the appointment. 

It also noted that based on the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the management of all parks, garages and bus stops within the state falls under the purview of the local government councils, and not the state government.

The groups referred to Section 1(e) of the Fourth Schedule to the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as altered) which provides thus: “The main functions of the local government council are as follows: (e)Establish maintenance and Regulation of slaughterhouses, slaughter slabs, Markets, 'Motor Parks' and Public conveniences (emphasizes ours)."

Oluomo who was the Chairman of NURTW (Lagos chapter) was sacked by the national body of NURTW last week for not showing remorse after his initial suspension for insubordination, abuse of office and incitements.

Others appointed by the state government along with MC Oluomo as members of the committee include Alhaji Sulyman Ojora; former AIG of Police, Mr Hakeem Odumosu and Taiwo Olufemi Salaam. They are to report to the state ministry of transportation.

Though the groups commended the motive behind the setting up of the committee by the state government “To ensure that activities and events of NURTW do not/are not allowed to threaten the law and order in the state, however, the civil society organisations pointed that the Lagos State Parking Authority Law provides for a Chairman and a six (6) members only, of the Authority; therefore, constituting a 25 - member committee contradicts the State Parking Authority Law".

It added, “The state Parking Authority Law is clear, Section 2 (a & b) spelt it unambiguously about the composition of the Authority. More so, the position of liaison officer is unknown to the law.

“However, section 12 (1&2) of the Parking Authority law provides for a general manager who shall be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and who shall be in charge of the general administration of the Authority and transaction of its day-to-day business.”

HEDA had written to the state lawmakers recently, asking them to repeal the same law on the ground that the role of managing parks, garages and bus stops falls exclusively on the shoulders of local government councils as enshrined in Section 1 (e) of the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 constitution Federal Republic of Nigeria (as altered).

"It's on these grounds that our groups make a prayer to the Lagos State government to rethink its decision and follow the rule of law as it's appropriate in the interest of peace and order he (Mr. governor) has promised the people.

"We also demand a probe into the collection of multiple taxes and levies imposed on buses, tricycles and motorcycles in Lagos State. It has been estimated that N123 billion is being collected per annum. It is likely to have increased as the levies collected daily are as follows:

"Big Bus - named "LT" b/w N14,000 & N15,000; Small Bus - named "Danfo" b/w N8,500 & N9,000; Tricycle named "Keke" b/w N1,400 & N1700; Motorcycle named "Okada" b/w N800 & N1,200.

"We expect the state governor to expedite actions in this matter," the group said. 

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