British-Nigerian, Kemi Badenoch, who was among the contestants for the United Kingdom Prime Minister’s seat has lost her bid for the position.

 

Badenoch lost out in the vote on Tuesday. Rishi Sunak had votes from 118 MPs, while Ms Penny Mordaunt beat Ms Liz Truss to second place with 92 votes to 86.

Badenoch was voted out of the race while other contestants including Sunak, Mordaunt and Truss are still in the race.

Chairman of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady disclosed that Badenoch was out of the race and that Sunak was still leading while Truss was getting closer to Mordaunt.

 

 Brady also announced that the last ballot will be read on Wednesday.

According to Brady, Rishi Sunak scored 118 (up 3), Penny Mordaunt – 92 (up 10), Liz Truss – 86 (up 15) and Kemi Badenoch – 59 (up 1).

 

Badenoch’s loss comes less than a week after she described Nigerian politicians as selfish leaders who “use public funds for private Piggy Bank and promise air but pollute not only the air but the whole system.”

 

The former UK Minister of State for Local Government, Faith and Communities and Minister of State for Equalities last week also said that she chose to hone her political career in the UK because the system in the country allows her to do whatever she wants unlike in Nigeria.

 

Meanwhile, Badenoch’s statement was greeted with mixed reactions with many Nigerians including the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, describing it as “nonsense.”

 

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Rev. Fr. Johnmark Cheitnum, one of the two Catholic priests recently kidnapped in Kaduna has been found dead on a farm in a nearby village.

 

Fr. Cheitnum was abducted alongside his colleague, Rev. Fr. Donatus Cleopas from Christ the King Catholic Church in the Lere Local government area of the state last Friday.

The priests were abducted after they arrived for a parish function at the church, according to the Kaduna Diocese.

But a report by TVC News said the security operatives who were on a rescue mission confirmed that they found the lifeless body of a man on a farm in a nearby village. The remains have been deposited at a morgue in Zonkowa.

 

Meanwhile, the security operatives suspect that the cleric might have been killed by his abductors, while they confirmed that the second victim, Fr. Cleopas has regained freedom.

 

Fr. Cleopas, who reportedly regained freedom about 30 minutes after the dead body of his colleague was found, was said to have been taken to the Kafachan Catholic in Jema’a Local Government Area.

 

However, the Kaduna State Police Command has yet to make an official statement on the incident.

 

 

 

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Personnel of the Nigeria Police Force in Bauchi have reportedly arrested some students of the Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi during a protest.

They also allegedly broke the legs of two students.

File Photo

SaharaReporters learnt the students on Tuesday staged a protest at the school after the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of academic and non-academic staff unions announced the commencement of a 12-day warning strike over several issues including nonpayment of staff salaries and delayed promotion.

One of the protesting students told SaharaReporters that the Rector of the school, Suleiman Lame, could not attend to them as he had been away from the school for three months following his pilgrimage to Mecca. He, however, added that the police operatives drafted to quell the protest broke the legs of two students.

 

The source added that the police officers went from house to house to arrest the protesting students, during which many of them were arrested while a lecturer identified as Sanusi Ibrahim from the School of General Studies was injured.

 

The source also alleged that the striking lecturers might have instigated the students to stage the protest.

 

“I saw the two students whose legs the police broke. I saw them myself. I was not told about it. The police officers also went from house to house arresting the students; many of them. I can’t say the exact number of students arrested but they will be almost 100 that were arrested and taken to the station.

 

“They also injured one lecturer, Sanusi Ibrahim from the School of General Studies. I saw him.

 

“When they started going from house to house to arrest the students, some of them were throwing stones at the policemen as they were running. I think the striking lecturers actually instigated the students to protest,” the source said.

 

Meanwhile, SaharaReporters earlier contacted the Bauchi State Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmad Mohammed Wakili who confirmed that police officers were deployed to the school. He, however, said he was not aware of the arrest of students or the injuries allegedly they reportedly sustained.

 

However, the spokesperson for the state police command, Ahmed Wakil, promised to confirm the report and get back to our reporter but had not done so at the time of filing this report.

 

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Mike Ozezhome

The trial of four suspected abductors of the constitutional lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) was on Tuesday stalled at the Federal High Court, Abuja due to the absence of one of the suspects who has spent nine years in custody.

The suspects are facing 13 counts bordering on kidnapping and terrorism and have been in custody since 2013 with poor medical care and limited access to their families.

Mike Ozezhome

They were also accused of kidnapping Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof Hope Eghagha, Attanasius Ugbme and his friend, Emmanuel Maka Omorogbe, and killing five policemen and two prison officials.

The matter which was scheduled for the continuation of trial on Tuesday before Justice Binta Nyako was stalled due to the absence of one of the suspects, Momoh Haruna, who was said to be missing after the attack on Kuje Correctional Centre by terrorists on July 5 where over hundreds of inmates were released.

 

The four suspects, Kelvin Oniarah Eziegbe, Frank Azuekor, Michael Omonigho and Momoh Haruna have been refused bail filed on their behalf by their lawyer, Bala I. Dakum.

 

Kelvin and Frank had been held at the facility of the Department of State Service (DSS) in Aso Drive, Abuja while Micheal and Momoh were being held at Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.

 

Their lawyer, Bala, who spoke to SaharaReporters noted that by the provisions of Section 532 of ( 4 ) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 which state that where the defendant fails to attend court without reasonable explanation, the court shall continue with the trial in his absence and convict unless the court sees reasons otherwise, provided that proceedings in the absence of the defendant shall take place after two adjournments or as the court may deem fit.

 

Though the trial and conviction can proceed in the absence of a defendant who was issued a notice but absconded without reasonable explanation, the court cannot pronounce a sentence in the absence of a Defendant.

 

He added that they would urge the court to exercise its discretion as stipulated in the ACJA to proceed on the next adjourned date, 24th November 2022; if the said Momoh is not in court.

 

On the refusal by the court to admit the suspects to bail, the defence counsel said he has filed another bail application which is pending before the court.

 

The prosecution was expected to call its last witness, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) who is the alleged victim of kidnap today (Tuesday) and close their case after the evidence.

 

The Defence counsel said he had appealed for a short date considering the age of the matter but it was gathered that the Prosecution said the witness Mike Ozekhome had notified the court that he would not be available until November 24, 2022.

 

After the lawyers waited for hours for the arrival of the judge, the court registrar told both parties in the case that the matter would be adjourned to November 24, 2022.

 

The case which started in 2014 has witnessed several delays and adjournments.

 

The suspects were alleged to have compelled Ozekhome to pay N40 million (in US dollars). Eghagha paid N7 million, Ugbome paid N20 million, and Omorogbe paid N3.5 million.

 

The prosecution gave the names of the policemen allegedly killed during the abduction of Ozekhome and Eghagha as Paul Sunday Ajaka, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP); Sunday Ewanshiha (Inspector); Michael Akpada (Inspector); Bakary Kong (Inspector) and Innocent Odoh (Sergeant).

 

 

The prison officials allegedly killed by the accused persons are Lawrence Edore (Inspector) and Oyibo Okoye, Senior Prison Assistant (SPA).

 

But the accused pleaded not guilty.

 

The case was first assigned to Justice Adeniyi Ademola who took about four prosecution witnesses before he was arrested by the State Security Service (SSS), also known as the Department of State Services (DSS). He was suspended and while he was facing trial, the case was assigned to Justice Babatunde Quadri.

However, before Justice Babatunde Quadri could make any progress, Justice Ademola was reinstated and he took over the case but later resigned from the office in a controversial manner after he was accused of corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The case file was later reassigned to Justice Binta Nyako.

 

Meanwhile the father of Kelvin, Mr. Duke Oniarah expressed disappointment over the delay in the case and called on the Nigerian government to grant his son bail.

 

He said it had been very difficult to have access to his son for the past nine years.

 

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The kidnappers of 15 farmers in the Mgbuji-Eha-Amufu community in the Isi-Uzo local government area of Enugu State have demanded a ransom of N30 million for their release.

 

SaharaReporters reported on Monday that gunmen suspected to be Islamic terrorists masquerading as herdsmen invaded Mgbuji community and kidnapped the farmers.

It reported that some of the victims were going to their farms when the terrorists abducted them along Mgbuji-Agu Road near Railway crossing in Mgbuji town while others were picked up on their farms.

 

Mgbuji and other neighbouring communities in Eha-Amufu have experienced constant attacks by bandits since September 2021. Many residents have been killed while hundreds of houses and property worth millions of naira have been destroyed. So many others have been kidnapped for ransom.

 

A relation of one of the victims, Olinya Odo, told SaharaReporters on Tuesday, that the kidnappers called on Monday night to demand a ransom of N30 million to secure the release of the farmers.

 

"They used the phone of my wife who is one of the victims to call us last night. They are demanding N30 million before they will release them. I have told my community leaders. I was also told that they have informed the police and soldiers.

 

"Where will I get N30 million from? If we have N30 million, will we be peasant farmers? We are begging them to release our people. As we speak, both the police and soldiers stationed in Eha-Amufu town haven't visited us. The police Divisional Officer in charge of Nkem police Division asked us to come to his office before he can do anything."

 

Efforts made by SaharaReporters to get the reaction of the state police public relations officer, Daniel Ndukwe, on the recent development were unsuccessful as he didn't answer his calls. He also did not reply to the text message sent to his mobile phone.

 

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Governor Aminu Masari

The Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, has admitted that the All Progressives Congress-led Nigerian government and security agencies have failed Nigerians.

 

Masari, in an interview with BBC Hausa, said it is the responsibility of the government and security officials to provide adequate security for the lives and property of Nigerians, but they have failed in doing that, the evidence of which is seen in the increasing cases of insecurity in the country.

Governor Aminu Masari

Masari is the governor of President Muhammadu Buhari’s home state, Katsina and also one of the APC governors in the Northern region of Nigeria, where terrorism and banditry have thrived. His state is among the worst hit by banditry and terrorism

 

“Security officials and we the government are who the people rely on to protect them, and we have failed in doing so. But if you take a look at the cause of the failure, a lot of security operatives have been killed. Not up to two weeks ago a commissioner of police lost his life; an inspector lost his life; soldiers have been killed; officers have lost their lives in their efforts to tackle insecurity.

 

“Insecurity has not just affected Katsina state only, it has affected almost every state in Nigeria and also some of our neighbours like Niger, Mali are also battling this issue,” Daily Trust report quoted Masari as saying.

 

“There has been improvement unlike before, but we haven’t reached where we want to and we are praying to God,” he added.

 

The governor expressed optimism that Nigeria under President Buhari will overcome and tackle the issue of insecurity before it hands over to the next administration in 2023.

 

 

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Suspected terrorists have kidnapped a young lawyer, identified as Shamwilu Abdullahi on his farm at Gidan Ango in the Magami District of Gusau local government area of Zamfara State.

SaharaReporters learnt that he was kidnapped last Thursday.

It was gathered that the terrorists have contacted his family and demanded a ransom of N30 million for his release.

“But after several negotiations between his father, Sheikh Abdullahi Dalla Dallaglio Gusau and the terrorists, the ransom was reduced to N15 million,” a source close to the family told SaharaReporters.

All efforts to get the reaction of the Nigeria Police Force, Zamfara State Command, were unsuccessful. The spokesperson for the state police command, Muhammed Shehu, told SaharaReporters that he would get back but never did. Subsequent efforts to reach him on his mobile phone were not successful as he did not answer the calls and also did not reply to the text message sent to him.

Last Sunday, SaharaReporters also reported that gunmen suspected to be terrorists killed 16 persons in the Dangulbi community, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Dangulbi is about 100km away from Gusau, the Zamfara state capital.

The deceased persons were killed by the gunmen said to be loyal to a notorious bandit kingpin, Damina while working on their farms.

The terrorists came to the village on Sunday afternoon and began to shoot at people.

Some farmers whose number could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report were also abducted.

Deadly attacks have raged across Zamfara state where banditry has thrived.

 

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The Lagos State Chairman of the Action Congress Chairman, Adekunle Oluseyi Ajayi has resigned from his position.

 

Ajayi disclosed this in a letter to the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee of the party.

He thanked the leadership of the party for giving him the opportunity to lead the party in the former nation’s capital.

 

The letter read, “It has been so wonderful working as the Chair of the Lagos State branch of our great party the African Action Congress (AAC). In my over three years of being Chair, I have great development as a human and a political figure. Passing through many hurdles and having to battle against legal and political attacks, one has grown more strengths and experience.

 

“I was elected in a Congress alongside very wonderful comrades. We have worked so much so far. We have laid a fine party foundation with robust radical culture setting examples as the directional guide for party building. It's no wonder that in the Revolutionary interventions of the party, we have been the pacesetters; thus we effectively intervened in the EndSARS movements in Lagos when it broke out, and have been in the lead for its sustenance all through #OccupyLekkiTollGate to the sound victory at the EndSARS Panel Reports which finally exposed the evil killings by the Nigerian government of protesters at the Lekki Barricades.

 

“Our leadership has also helped to guide the party on a sound ideological footing with clear-cut Marxist revolutionary ideas and convictions. Our members have become well-groomed in understanding the political economy as well as political philosophies. Our internal democratic engagements have made us very attractive to all, as we have seriously promoted and practised a party where every member can ask questions as well as have the effrontery to proffer solutions and initiatives.

 

“Most of our challenges are caused by the state attacks we have had this far, as well as the enormity of the heavy works we have had to do. History has put on us the weight of works that should be done in decades, just in three years. We have decided not to lament but to do our bests. Whether we have done the same so satisfactorily is best known to history, the party, and posterity.

 

“The tasks are still plenty. We need to be more fervent with internal democracy and building alliances and networking. We also need to be structural with political education. Just as we as well need to do what Che Guevara and Castro had to do; Educating The Masses. It's rigorous. But we are condemned to do same!

 

“Nigeria is caught between revolution and war. In all of the permutations of the ruling class, war is the way. But even we can be victorious either at the ballot come 2023, we still have to wage a revolution. The ruling class will fight back even if we win at the polls. This is why we must mobilize for the elections as if we are mobilizing for #RevolutionNow.

 

“This will help to dot all the I's and cross the T's of our projects. I will continue to be on hand to play my roles no matter how little. I will like to thank the NWC for giving me the chance to lead this far. I will also thank the NEC for standing strong so far. With this letter, I will be handing over all party properties in my care.”

 

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Gani Adams

The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, says South-West Security Stakeholders’ Group (SWSSG), comprising the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) and 10 other security groups, under his leadership, will do everything possible to resist any form of attack capable of threatening the region.

 

Adams made the vow when he visited the Olowo of Owo Kingdom, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, at his palace in Owo, Ondo State.

Gani Adams

He warned terrorists or any group that may be planning to attack any part of Yorubaland to have a rethink, noting that the people have the capacity and the will to defend themselves.

 

SaharaReporters had reported that Islamic terrorists on Sunday, June 5, 2022, invaded St. Francis Catholic Church Owa-Iuwa, Owo, Ondo State and killed 40 worshippers and injured over 120 others. Owo is the hometown of the Ondo state governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu.

 

The Kakanfo of Yorubaland, in a statement issued through his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Kehinde Aderemi, said the visit was part of the fresh move to secure the South-West and forestall a repeat of the Owo attack in the region, Daily Sun reported.

 

Adams said, “My visit is to show my sympathy to your royal majesty and the Owo people over the attack that led to the death of over 40 worshippers.

 

“Immediately after the attack, I did a statement condoling Kabiyesi and the people of Owo. I was one of the earlier callers and I spoke with the Kabiyesi, assuring him of my support for the palace and the people of the town in making the town safe for the people.

 

“Also, about four weeks ago, I wrote a letter informing the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Antonio Guterres, on the need to prevent the further calamity that is capable of destroying the entire country like what happened in Bosnia.

 

“The letter was addressed to all international communities and the State Security Departments across the world.

 

“The reports and the feedback we are getting have been great. However, I consider it imperative to visit Olowo and the people of the town to formally express my sympathy, even as efforts are on to strengthen the security situation in the town.

 

“This time around, Yoruba are more united and we are not cowards. In Yorubaland, we have not lost any war. Therefore, we are not going to relent or relax until we get rid of terrorists across the South West.”

 

Responding, the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ogunoye, who appreciated Adams for keeping faith with the struggle to defend the region, blamed the prolonged security challenges across the country on the failing federal system arrangements.

 

Oba Ogunoye said there was an urgent need for state police arrangements as a panacea for effective security in the country.

 

He said Owo people would continue to protect their kingdom with whatever they have, adding that the people of the town are prepared to defend themselves against any external aggressors.

 

“When they attacked us, Aare was among the earliest callers. He gave us his words with prayers and put in place continuous security surveillance arrangements with the Ondo State chapter of the Oodua People’s Congress. This is a good initiative that could enhance the security situation in the town.

 

“I am also happy that the Yoruba are even more united in the struggle to defend their territory. I can see their determination and it is a positive sign of unity against terrorism.”

 

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The Nigerian Army has allegedly dismissed no fewer than 80 soldiers from service over 'disobedience to a standing order.'

 

The dismissed soldiers were part of the personnel deployed to the 159 Battalion at Baga in Borno State.

One of the affected soldiers who confirmed the dismissal to SaharaReporters said they were dismissed for withdrawing from the war front after running out of ammunition during a fight with Boko Haram terrorists but without an order telling them to do so.

 

He, however, described the punishment meted out to him and his colleagues as not right, arguing that they left the battlefield when their commander was taken off.

 

The soldier denied the claim by the army authorities that the soldiers abandoned their duties and ran away. According to him, sufficient arms and ammunition were not provided for them to fight terrorists; therefore, they soon ran out of ammunition.

 

He asserted that the secret of the fight against Boko Haram terrorists in North-East Nigeria can only be told by soldiers fighting there or those who have fought there before, and not the high-ranking officers, whom he said have been given the government wrong intel.

According to him, soldiers in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, sleep in fear but are afraid to speak out while in service for fear of being tried by court-martial.

 

He said, "We were posted to an operation in Maiduguri from our different barracks, where we were deployed to 159 Operation Battalion in Baga. From Baga, we were taken to Kukawa.

 

"We are 300 in number, in Kukawa we were divided into two parts. One hundred and fifty soldiers advanced to Gudunbale while the other 150 remained at Kukawa as a defence team.

 

"In advance team, another group was created for reserve, which was to respond when the power was much.

 

“Entering Kukawa after three days on the road, the terrorists in the town sighted us and ran away. So we met empty ground there. On the second day, around 6 am they came back in large numbers and we started the fight that lasted for two to three hours.

 

“At around 10 am, we started experiencing a shortage of ammunition, and we immediately started communicating our challenges. By then we pinned them down, such that they could not move forward and we could not go there either, we called them (Operation headquarters) for backup but they didn't answer us.

 

“We fought for almost three hours while being pinned down. Even in our presence, the Commander, Col A.O. Bello called the air components several times for re-enforcement of air control but there was no response.

 

“When there were no arms available again and the terrorists, who were loaded with sophisticated weapons were coming towards us, for prevention, we had to withdraw.

 

“Before we withdrew, the Commander, gunners and drivers had already taken off and gone to MJTF (Multinational Joint Task Force) while we lost over 70 soldiers before the rest of us withdrew.

 

"When we got to the gate, they gave an order that the gate should be closed, that they should not allow us to enter because our withdrawal should follow an order. But in a situation where we didn't have ammunition again and our commander had taken off already, what should we do?

 

"Col. Bello was initially also locked outside but later allowed in with his boys, while we faced sanctions for not holding the terrorists down till the arrival of re-enforcement.”

 

"The real secret of North-East fight against Boko Haram can only be told by any soldier who is fighting there or who has fought there before but not what the high-ranking officers are telling the government.

 

"Every soldier in Maiduguri sleeps with fear and we are afraid to speak out while in service for fear of being tried by court-martial," he added.

 

 

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Osun State governor-elect, Ademola Adeleke, is yet to receive his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), according to Nigerian singer, David Adeleke, popularly called Davido.

Davido whose uncle is Adeleke made this known in a tweet on Tuesday.

INEC on Sunday declared Adeleke as the winner of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun.

 

Adeleke beat Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the ruling All Progressives Congress with 403,371 votes to 375,027 votes.

 

Adeleke won in 17 local government areas including Olorunda, Ede South, Orolu, Osogbo, Odo Otin, Ifelodun, Atakumosa, and Ila,

 

Meanwhile, Governor Oyetola won in 13 local government areas including Iwo, Ayedaade, Ife South and Ife East.

 

The 2022 Osun governorship election took place in all the 30 local government areas of the state with 3,763 polling units and 332 registration areas.

 

Davido in his post on Tuesday said no one should tamper with the will of the Osun people.

He urged the electoral body, Independent National Electoral Commission to issue the certificate to Adeleke as required by law.

 

He wrote; “48hrs after our @AAdeleke_01 victory at the Osun Gubernatorial elections, we are yet to receive our certificate. @inecnigeria should we send you fuel money? LOL,” Davido tweeted.

 

“Please no one should tamper with the will of the Osun People! Issue the certificate as required by Law!”

 

 

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Dana Air says its Boeing 737 aircraft with registration number: 5N DNA made an emergency landing on approaching Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airpost in Abuja after one of its engines developed a fault.

 

The airline stated this in a statement posted on its Twitter handle, @DanaAir on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the incident happened at about 2:52 pm on Tuesday with 100 passengers on board safely disembarked.

 

“Our Abuja-bound Boeing 737 aircraft with registration number (5N DNA) embarked on an emergency landing today, July 19, 2022, due to an indication on one of its engines.

 

“The pilot in command briefed the passengers on the incident and landed the aircraft safely at the Abuja International Airport at about 2:52 pm.

Press statement on aircraft incident pic.twitter.com/LSBVPJ4gfZ

— Dana Air (@DanaAir) July 19, 2022

“All 100 passengers disembarked safely and the aircraft has been grounded for immediate attention by our team of engineers.

 

“The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has also been briefed on the incident.”

 

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Fresh evidence has emerged in the ongoing legal battle involving Akan Okon vs Peoples Democratic Party, Umo Eno and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the Federal High Court, Uyo regarding forged documents. 

 

Mr Okon, a contestant in the May 25 governorship primary election of the PDP in Akwa Ibom is dragging Umo Eno, the winner of the said election to court on the allegations that Eno is parading forged West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate in his bid to actualise the governorship ambition.

In a joint statement of defence, Eno and PDP, who are the defendants, have withdrawn the ‘Confirmation of Result’ earlier tendered to the court in defence of the certificate forgery allegation. 

 

It could be recalled that while responding to Mr Okon’s earlier statement of claim to the Federal High Court, Eno had in his first statement of defence attached a copy of ‘Confirmation of Result’.

 

SaharaReporters had exclusively reported how WAEC confirmed that the governorship candidate’s certificate does not exist in its records. See Also Exclusive EXCLUSIVE : Forgery Case: WAEC Confirms School Certificate Of Akwa Ibom Governor’s Stooge, Umo Eno ‘Does Not Exist In Records’ 0 Comments 2 Weeks Ago

 

In a letter dated April 8, 2022, and signed by T. A. Ademola, WAEC Exams and Records, the examination body stated that it could not certify the certificate because it did not issue it.

 

“This is to notify you that certificate No. PO 275878 A for candidate No. 15725119 of December 1983 submitted for certification by you does not exist in our records hence we cannot certify what we did not issue,” the letter had read.

 

However, in the joint statement of defence, Eno has withdrawn the said ‘Confirmation of Result’ and replaced it with a ‘Leaving Certificate and Testimonial’.

But a thorough examination of the school testimonial reveals more discrepancies. 

 

The testimonial, which is not in the list of documents submitted to INEC, was issued by Victory High School II, Ikeja, as against the ‘Confirmation of Result’ which carried Victory High School I, Ikeja, and WAEC results bearing Victory High School, Ikeja. 

 

According to the testimonial dated 10th July 1981, Umo Eno offered ‘Bible Knowledge’ as one of the subjects in the examination, but his WAEC result of June 1981 records ‘Religious Knowledge’ as one of the subjects. 

 

Again, the testimonial indicates that the Akwa Ibom Governor’s stooge offered eight (8) subjects but his WAEC result records four (4) subjects while the withdrawn ‘Confirmation of Result’ recorded a total of six (6) subjects with four (4) passes and two (2) failures.

 

Insider source confirmed to SaharaReporters that Eno's legal team decided to withdraw the ‘Confirmation of Result’ having discovered that it was a very poor forgery job, adding that the defendant has ordered the arrest of the two persons who signed the document. 

“Umo Eno's lawyers discovered that the confirmation of result was a very bad job, very bad so they decided to withdraw it from the court. As I speak, the two people who signed the forged confirmation of result have been arrested,” the source said.

 

The source further revealed that Eno's legal team agreed that withdrawing the confirmation of the result will enable them to deny the existence of the document. 

 

However, a lawyer told SaharaReporters that the withdrawal of the said confirmation of result does not take away the fact that the document is in existence and has been admitted in court, and can be relied on by the Judge in the course of the trial. 

 

The Supreme Court in UZODINMA V. IZUNASO 2012 VOL. 211 PG. 153 L.R.C.N AT PAGE 213 PARAGRAPH 33, held; “It is to be noted, however, that a Statement of Claim or Defence which has been amended with leave of Court does not cease to exist. It is still part of the proceedings and can properly be looked at or referred to by the trial Judge in his Judgment.”

 

Responding to Okon's allegation that he submitted a voter card with a false date of birth to the PDP screening committee and INEC, Eno said that he provided his correct date of birth to INEC officials during the nationwide voters' registration exercise in 2014, but was surprised to see his date of birth wrongly recorded when he received his voter card.

 

He stated that upon noticing the error on his voter card, he ‘promptly’ informed INEC and based on INEC's advice, he swore an affidavit of correction of date of birth on April 10, 2015.

 

The governor’s stooge further revealed that during the ongoing 2022 voters' registration exercise conducted by the electoral body, he visited INEC's registration centre in his community on 14 June 2022 to request for the rectification of his date of birth on his voter card.

 

But from our investigations, Eno’s request for rectification only came after Okon had made the allegations of falsification of date of birth.

 

Further investigations reveal that Eno has never provided the said affidavit before in any documentation including his credentials to INEC for the 2023 governorship election despite continuously using the same voter card with a false date of birth. 

 

SaharaReporters had earlier reported that Umo Eno was mulling a plan to acquire a backdated affidavit to counter the allegations against him.

 

All his documents previously submitted to the PDP screening committee and INEC did not include the affidavit.

 

The case, which was called for mention on Monday, July 18, 2022, before Justice Agatha A. Okeke of the Federal High Court, Uyo, was adjourned to Thursday.

 

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Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio and other politicians who obtained more than one nomination form had committed an electoral offence and were liable to two years’ imprisonment under the Electoral Act, 2022.
This was disclosed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, Mike Igini, on Tuesday.

He stated this while featuring on Channels TV, quoting Section 115 (D) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Igini said, “A person who signs a nomination paper or result form as a candidate in more than one constituency at the same election (commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum term of imprisonment for two years).”
Igini said by “constituency,” the electoral term refers to a separate election whether it is presidential, governorship, senatorial, the House of Representatives or that of state assembly.
He said any candidate who runs afoul of this law is liable to be jailed for two years, and that Section 115 (3) even states that an attempt to obtain multiple forms is an offence.
“Section 115 (D) of the 2022 Electoral Act stipulates that no person shall sign, obtain more than one form as a candidate for different elections.
“And the offence for that under subsection K, beyond the financial, he will go to two years’ imprisonment. Some people are claiming that they participated in one election, that they filled two forms; it’s ignorance of the law and it’s not an excuse.
“We are preventing them from being candidates for prison and they are calling our names everywhere,” the commissioner said.
He insisted that INEC did not monitor the primaries that produced Akpabio as the senatorial candidate for Akwa-Ibom North-West.
Akpabio had contested the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but he withdrew from the race on June 7, and asked his supporters to back Bola Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor who eventually emerged APC presidential candidate.
Prior to the presidential primary, on May 27, Udom Ekpoudom, a former Deputy Inspector-General of Police, had won the primary election for the Akwa Ibom North-west senatorial ticket.
A parallel primary election was conducted and won by Ekperikpe Ekpo. However, it was later cancelled over irregularities, while a rerun was conducted on June 8, with Akpabio declared as winner of the exercise.
Lawan after losing the APC presidential ticket reportedly asked Bashir Machina, winner of the Yobe North Senatorial primary, to relinquish the ticket.
This implies that the senate president and Akpabio might have secretly obtained the nomination form for the senatorial seat of their respective districts while also seeking a presidential ticket.
By Igini's submission, other politicians who might have violated the electoral act include Governors Ben Ayade of Cross River State, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.

 

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The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has called for the immediate disbanding of Ebube Agu Security outfit in Imo State over what it called an atrocious murder committed by them under the watch of Governor Hope Uzodinma.
While condemning the killing of 14 defenceless youths from Otulu town who were returning from a traditional marriage, MASSOB said the Ebube Agu operatives had not engaged marauding terrorists and herdsmen who had sacked so many villages and settlements but they were instead killing innocent youths.

MASSOB in a statement issued by Uchenna Madu, on Tuesday, said the killings in Otulu community were one of the several secret killings of "our people by Governor Hope Uzodinma-backed Ebubeagu.” 
The statement partly read, "They are primarily established as a witch-hunting outfit to fight political enemies and non-violent pro-Biafra agitators. MASSOB described Ebube Agu security outfit as a dracula evil and agents of death established by the Imo State Government.
"MASSOB warns Governor Hope Uzodinma to immediately disband his Ebubeagu security outfit now or we shall see their activities in Biafra land as a declaration of internal war. The so-called Ebubeagu security outfit must cease their operation in Imo State now."

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President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, to end the five-month strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and three other university-based unions.

Buhari gave this directive on Tuesday after he received briefings from the relevant government Ministries, Agencies and Departments involved in resolving the face-off with the university unions.

ASUU embarked on a one-month warning strike on February 14, 2022 and later extended it after the government failed to meet its demands at the end of the month. The university lecturers’ union later declared an indefinite strike.

The lecturers’ union has since been joined by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Educational Institutions (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists, (NAAT).

The meeting was summoned by President Buhari to get a briefing from the government team on why the strike had lasted for so long.

Sources told Daily Sun that President Buhari directed the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige to be in all of the meetings to resolve the crisis.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF), Boss Mustapha was also mandated to be part of the team to interface with the striking unions.

Those at the meeting were the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr. Zainab Ahmed; Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Ngige; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami; Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan; Chairman of National Salaries Income and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta and Director-General Budget Office, Ben Akabueze.

SaharaReporters earlier reported that the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has asked Nigerian students affected by the strike action and their parents to join the protest action declared by the Nigerian Labour Congress.

Sowore has also knocked Buhari for waiting till the moment a nationwide protest was planned by the Labour Union and other stakeholders before showing some concern about the strike.

"#EndASUUStrike: ‘@MBuhari in Consultation with Ministers and other Govt Officials over Lingering ASUU Strike in Aso Rock.’

“Me: The moment you speak the language Muhammadu Buhari understands, he will act. Yeye People! #WeCantContinueLikeThis," he tweeted on Tuesday afternoon.

 

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The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has debunked a viral report that its General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye met with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu to endorse the latter and discuss other issues regarding the forthcoming general elections.

One of such issues allegedly discussed is the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC. 

Tinubu, a Muslim, had announced a fellow Muslim, Kashim Shettima, a former Borno governor as his running mate. This has been condemned by many Christians and some Muslims. 
Daily Post, Thisday and some other media platforms had reported that Bola Tinubu met with the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Adeboye on Sunday at the Redemption Camp, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Tinubu’s meeting with Adeboye was said to have been centred around his decision to settle for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

It was also reported that Tinubu’s wife, Senator Oluremi, who is a deputy pastor with RCCG, among others, was part of the meeting. 

“He met Adeboye on Sunday. The meeting was very fruitful. Adeboye is not against Muslim-Muslim ticket,” Thisday had quoted a source as saying. 


But in the statement made available to SaharaReporters, RCCG described the news as fake, urging the general public to disregard it.  

The statement reads: "It has come to our notice that some news outlets are reporting that a meeting Between Pastor E.A. Adeboye: The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Worldwide and the former Governor of Lagos State Mr Bola Ahmed Tinubu was held few days back at the Redemption Camp where our esteemed father in the Lord was said to have supported the preferred candidature of the Party the Former Governor is a member of.

"This is to inform the general public that 1) Pastor E.A. Adeboye is under the authority of God, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), and as such will not speak on behalf of Christians on issues regarding policies.

"2) Pastor E.A. Adeboye and the RCCG have not and will not endorse any candidate for the 2023 General elections in Nigeria.

"3) The news reported by Daily Post is false. Daily Post and other News Outlets should desist from spreading false information about Pastor E.A. Adeboye and the RCCG as it defeats the code and ethics of Journalism and the full weight of the law will be employed if such happens in future.

"God bless you." 
 

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As reactions continue to trail the gruesome killing of 14 youths who were attending a wedding in Imo State on Sunday, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), has condemned Governor Hope Uzodinma’s administration, saying over 800 defenceless civilians have been killed in only 20 months.

Intersociety said 80 communities were attacked with over 900 homes burnt or destroyed by the Nigerian security agencies.

SaharaReporters had on Monday reported that the 14 deceased were returning from a traditional marriage in Awo-Omamma to their community in Otulu in Oru East Council Area of the state when they were allegedly killed by operatives of the Ebubeagu Security outfit.

It reported that the people of Otulu community on Monday protested against the unprovoked massacre of their youths, demanding justice.

However, on Tuesday morning, Governor Hope Uzodimma, while briefing journalists in Owerri, the state capital had said the killings were carried out by Nigeria secret police Department of State Services (DSS) while absorbing Ebubeagu of responsibility.

The governor also labelled the victims as criminal unknown gunmen.

However, Intersociety in statement issued on Tuesday signed by its Board Chair, Emeka Umeagbalasi and other principal officers, faulted the governor's position.

In the statement, the rights group disclosed how the Ebubeagu which they described as Nigerian Army allied trained militias carried out the massacre and abducted others during traditional marriage ceremony.

Intersociety said, "We strongly condemn the 18th July 2022 massacre of 14 natives and friends of Otulu Community in Oru West Local Government Area of Imo State by Nigerian Army-allied/trained militia Ebubeagu Government Militia, controlled and funded by the Hope Uzodinma-led Government of Imo State.

"From preliminary findings obtained by Intersociety, the 14 unarmed and defenceless citizens were shot at close range and massacred in neighbouring Awo-Mama Community in Oru East Local Government Area of the state when they were attending a traditional marriage in Awo-Mama Village, called Okwuoji.

"Scores of others were also injured. As if the above dastardly act was not enough, it was further reported that hours later, not less than 20 young men were abducted when the same Army-allied/trained militia invaded a popular Betting Shop in Okwudor Community, Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State. The abducted victims were labeled “Unknown Gunmen”, blindfolded and taken away to unknown destinations till now."

It added, "The Awo-Mama massacre of 14 and Okwudor abduction of 20 had taken place less than 24hours after the release of our International Documentary that took place in USA and United Kingdom.

"The documentary had found that “in past 20 months - Oct 2020 to June 2022, soldiers of the Nigerian Military and their allied/trained Ebubeagu Government Militia and other security agencies and agents including various police crack squads attacked 150 Communities in Eastern Nigeria.

"They killed 1,360 defenceless citizens, burnt or destroyed 1,450 civilian homes, disappeared hundreds without traces, rendered 51,000 homeless and forced them out of their ancestral homes, burnt or destroyed or looted properties worth not less than N57billion and caused the loss of N600billion worth of trade and investments following the Eastern Military siege and atrocities."

The group further stated that Imo State people were the biggest causality, adding that between October 2020 and June 2022, over 800 people had been killed in the state.

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The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of academic and non-academic staff unions in Bauchi State on Tuesday commenced a 12-day warning strike over several issues including nonpayment of staff salaries, delayed promotion, amongst others.

The committee in a circular dated July 19, 2022 and signed by its Chairman, Abubakar Mohammed, noted that based on the warning strike, all academic and non-academic activities would be shut down across all the state-owned polytechnics and colleges of education.

The circular was sent to the staff and students of Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi; Adamu Tafawa Balewa College of Education, Kangere; A. D. Rufa’I College of Education, Legal and General Studies, Misau; Bauchi State College of Agriculture, Bauchi and Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare.

The circular titled ‘Notice of Total and Comprehensive Strike’ read, “Following the unfolding development in the JAC struggle to regain our members’ entitlements from the Bauchi State Government, and as widely communicated to appropriate stakeholders in the state, the JAC formally extends this notice to you. The warning strike begins Tuesday 19th to Saturday 30th July, 2022.

“Note that all academic and non-academic activities will be shut down till further notice. This includes both primary and secondary assignment, including the consultancy services, staff schools, undergraduate programmes, administrative activities and what have you.

“We urged you to maximally comply to this struggle until our demands are made insha Allah. May Allah (SWT) come to our aid.

“Thanks as the JAC anticipates your cooperation and continuous prayers for success.”

But students of Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic staged a protest against the industrial action, saying that it would be a complete disruption of their academic activities, especially their second semester examinations that were supposed to start on July 26th.

A source in the school who did not want his identity revealed told SahararReporters that the protesting students blocked the entrance of the school, demanding an immediate end to the strike to enable them complete the semester which started on March 14, this year.

According to the source, no official of the school has attended to the protesters as the Rector, Suleiman Lame, has been out of the school for the past three months since he travelled to Mecca. The Deputy Rector according to the source could not attend to the protesting students for whatever reason unknown.

The source said that operatives of the Nigerian police have barricaded the school, arrested some of the students and broke two students’ legs.

When contacted, the Bauchi State Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmad Mohammed Wakili confirmed the protest and said that he was aware that the Commissioner of Police deployed the Anti-riot squad to the school but that was not aware of the arrest or injuring the students.

Wakili, who promised to confirm the report and revert, said, “In the actual sense I cannot confirm to you since I’m there but I will get back to you, let me confirm from the people that went for the operation.

“I know that there is a protest and the Commissioner of Police directed the Area Commander to go there, and you know that protection of lives and property is the sure business of the police, and the students have the right to protest, but they should do it in a way that will not violate the rules.

“I know that the Commissioner of Police has dispatched the anti-rioters police officers there to quench the situation but I may not have the fact of what you are alleging but whenever I got the information of that, I will keep you posted.”

 

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Omoyele Sowore during #EndSARS protest in Abuja.

The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has asked Nigerian students affected by the strike action of the Academic Staff Union of Universities and their parents to join the protest action declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress.

Sowore took to his Twitter page to advise the affected students to troop out en mass and join the protest.

Omoyele Sowore during #EndSARS protest in Abuja.

‪He tweeted, “#EndASUUStrike Join the action, all students must troop out, all parents must join in! Life is hard! Didn’t you see they’ve also increased petrol price to make life harder for you all?”‬

ASUU and the Nigerian government have been at loggerheads over the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, a platform which the government said all lecturers must be registered on or they would not be paid salary.

However, ASUU opposed the introduction of IPPIS as the payment platform, claiming that it did not take care of their peculiarities and insisted that they would rather use the University Transparency and Accountability Solution.

The disagreement between both parties has led to the closure of all government universities for the last five months.

NLC in a circular last week declared a two-day nationwide protest in solidarity with the striking lecturers.

The circular dated July 15, was signed by the National President of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, and issued to all the state chairmen of the union.

According to the circular, the protest would be held on “Tuesday, July 26, 2022, and Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in all the states of the Federation and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

“Take-off point is the NLC State Secretariats and the Labour House, Abuja. You are requested to immediately convene the meetings of your SAC to disseminate this information and to fully mobilise workers in the states for this very important protest for good governance,” it added.

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