Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, popularly known as Shiites, have demanded the immediate lifting of a travel ban placed on their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and his wife, Zeenat, by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Despite a court acquitting the couple of several charges including disrupting public peace, as brought against them by the government, the regime has continued to hold on to their passports, thereby preventing El-Zakzaky and his wife from seeking urgent medical care abroad.

In a statement by Mubarak Zakariyya on behalf of the Academic Forum of the group, the IMN said that the travel ban on the couple was a violation of their human rights as guaranteed under the constitution.
The statement reads, "We would like to inform the public of the new threat being plotted by the Buhari-led regime to the life of our leader, His Eminence Sheikh Ibraheem Ya'qoub El-Zakzaky. 
"The sheikh and his wife, Malama Zeenah, are suffering from numerous health challenges that cannot be treated in Nigeria. Despite this situation, tyrant Buhari has placed a travel ban on the couple and seized their passports.   
"The public are fully aware of the Zaria massacre executed from December 12 to 14, 2015. It was an 'all-out-war' to eliminate the sheikh and dislodge the Islamic movement under his distinguished tutelage once and for all.
"The Nigerian Army under Buhari’s direct command invaded the Husainiyyah along Sokoto Road, the Dambo-film-village-farmyard-cum-martyrs' graveyard and Sheikh El-Zakzaky's Gyallesu residence, all in Zaria. They killed 1000+ followers of his and set the house ablaze.
"Against all odds, the prime target, his wife and several other family members survived the arson and all that attack. Yet, no sooner had four soldiers 'discovered' the whereabouts of the survivors in a laundry room than they started to rain bullets on them, instantly killing three of his sons, leaving the Sheikh and his wife 'waiting to die' from the lethal gunshot wounds. But the duo are still alive with multiple health complications, very much in need of urgent medical attention.  
"In the aftermath of the Zaria massacre, it was obvious that the army connived with Mr Nasiru El-Rufai to dump all those who were extra-judicially killed and many in their last gasps in various mass graves. The popular one being at Mando, on the outskirts of Kaduna. They used bulldozers to level the remains of the Gyallesu burnt residence and equally demolished structures associated with the sheikh including his mother's house where she is buried at Jushi Zaria. What a huge crime against humanity.
"Ever since the massacre, the sheikh and his wife have been battling with life-threatening health complications. The couple sought their fundamental rights at the High Court of Justice and the court unconditionally discharged and acquitted them with compensation in their favour in December 2016. Again, Buhari did not only make contempt of the court ruling by refusing to release them but also instituted an illegal case using el-Rufai as a proxy. The prosecution filed fabricated charges that involved culpable homicide punishable by death as they aimed to accomplish by court what they could not through the barrel of a gun.
"While in detention awaiting trial, there was also the issue of urgent medical treatment abroad. After incessant calls, protests and counsel arguments, the authorities reluctantly acquiesced to the medical trip to India for the prosecution to continue after the couple’s return to Nigeria. Unfortunately, the Nigerian authorities hijacked the whole process by trying to use doctors in India. Realising that their sinister plan was botched, the regime quickly boarded the couple back and then put the oppressed patients behind bars immediately thereafter.
"Justice was delayed and prolonged for more than five years but at last the court discharged and acquitted the sheikh and his wife in July 2021. Following the court triumph, their immediate preoccupation has been to cater for their medical needs abroad but their passports have been denied for almost nine months running now. Once more, they have to resort to the court but still, the authorities continue to trample on the court procedures, causing unnecessary delay.
"Buhari woefully failed by using the barrel of a gun, and equally through trumped-up charges in the court. However, the Buhari-led regime perseveres in its attempt at pushing the contract to kill Sheikh El-Zakzaky to a success. Thus, the powers that are keep on victimising the sheikh along with his wife as their passports are gratuitously denied so as to deprive them of travelling overseas for proper medication. 
"It is pertinent the public note that the freedom of Sheikh El-Zakzaky and his wife is still being denied. Isn’t it such flagrant abuse of their fundamental rights to life? General Buhari would definitely be held responsible for anything that befalls the couple; and certainly, we cannot afford to sit at home while the rights of our leader are being abused. After patiently waiting for nine months, we have no option but to return to the streets of Abuja to protest this unholy conspiracy. 
"In view of the foregoing, we demand the unconditional removal of the travel ban and release of the couple’s passports."

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Yemi Osinbajo

Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has explained why he is the best candidate to clinch the All Progressive Congress' ticket for the 2023 Presidential elections.   
Osinbajo, while meeting with members and delegates of the APC and Osinbajo Support group, on Friday, said his experience in the last seven years had prepared him to become Nigeria’s next president.

Yemi Osinbajo
The Vice-President said he had been exposed to everything related to governance at the local and international levels which informed his intention to run for president.
According to him, it is time to reward all politicians and delegates of the party who worked for the success of the party, as he noted that “every politician deserves to be treated well and properly.”
He also added that his administration as president will create a partnership based on trust between the delegates and the political class for the reward of all.
Tribune quoted him as saying, “Let me begin by congratulating all of us on the very successful completion of our convention, the convention of our great partners, the all progressive Congress. I want to thank you for standing firm and strong so that you’re able to hold a peaceful convention. I also want to thank you for your support for President Muhammadu Buhari and our government in Abuja.
“On April 11 2022. I, your son, your brother, your friend, declared my intention to run for president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I declared my intention to run with the greatest humility. I have served in the government of the federal government of Nigeria for the past seven years and in those seven years, I have been involved because the President considered it right to do and in his own generosity and his own and his openness gave me every opportunity to attend very sensitive international assignments.
“As you know, I also acted as president during certain periods when the President was away on medical vacation. Everything that I learned as vice president, and everything that I’ve learned as acting president has prepared me to run as president of our country and to function as president of our country.
“God does not make a mistake. God is deliberate in everything that he does. And by giving me all of those opportunities, I’ve had to see for myself, understand governance for myself at the highest level of our country’s governance, to be exposed to everything local and international at the highest levels of governance in our country.
“All of it was not just so that I will sit down and write my memoirs. No, it was to come in handy one day, and I believe the time has come. I believe that that time has come and I have the responsibility to my country, have the responsibility to you, to all our children. To give all of what I’ve learned, everything I’ve learned, all of the service I’ve given to be able to give it to our country and to serve our country faithfully, honestly and transparently. That is my intention.
“One advantage I will have is that, on day one, I can hit the ground running because I know what it takes for all of our politicians and for our delegates. I’m sure that you will say I haven’t spoken about the very important things that I want to do and I’m not going to talk about the economy. I’m not going to talk about security. There are so many things that we need to address for that task, not for today.
“Today, I just want to speak briefly to our politicians. Every politician is an important nation builder. Everybody who is in politics, everyone is important. There’s a reward for doing that.
“The reason why we’re in politics is to build our communities, to build our local governments, our states or a nation. And our desire is to make Nigeria truly the greatest country on the face of the earth.
“We can achieve it. But every politician deserves to be treated well and properly. When we go into politics, we expect to be rewarded. We expect that we will be rewarded with positions and with opportunities to serve which is why I am saying to you all who are seated here that as far as I’m concerned, you must be the priority.

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A Nigerian man identified only as Victory has died in Malaysia after he allegedly jumped from the 21st floor of a building in the Asian country.
According to reports, Victory, an incident of Agbor in Delta State jumped to his death at Mutiara Ville (21st floor. Block F2) in Cyberjaya on Tuesday, April 19, 2022.

The police have since launched an investigation into the incident. However, there are controversies surrounding his death. There are conflicts about the details of the incident.
Some reports claimed he jumped to his death from the 21st floor of a building, meanwhile family members including one Prophetess Peace Joshua, claimed that Victory was pushed off the building from a 7-storey building.
Joshua wrote on Facebook: “Rest In Peace blood forever in my heart. He was pushed down from 7 story building in Malaysia. Please if you are in Malaysia and you know anything about his death please contact me we the family are looking for answers.”
A Facebook user, Utali Ndi Iro, commented, “The police is still investigating on his death. But a lot of people said that he jumped from 21st floor, not 7 story building. R.I.P to the dead!”

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Between January 28 and July 18, 2021, some top management staff members of Wema Bank Plc fraudulently moved N1.7 billion to account number 0122367964, domiciled in the financial institution and operated by one Isaac Adewole, a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), documents seen by SaharaReporters have revealed.
Some of the Wema Bank staff members fingered in the fraudulent activities are the bank's Executive Director, Wole Akinleye; Head of Cooperate Banking, Emmanuel Edah and Head of Oil and Gas, Kingsley Ananwude.

Multiple sources familiar with the fraud said Adewole, who is also the Managing Director of Shibawells Energy Limited approached the bank in 2018 for a loan to boost his oil trading business using his neighbour’s assets as collateral.
Granting the loan to the pastor, the financial institution opened an account for him where the money was paid.
The account was however used to illegally move N1.7 billion from the bank in 2021 to multiple accounts operated by top staff members and their proxies.
“He used his neighbour’s house for collateral of the loan which was granted to him and promised to return it within six months. But three years after, the man approached him for his house document, that was when he told him of the fraudulent act. He said the bank paid N1.7 billion into the account using different multinational companies like Dana Airlines, Caverton helicopter and two others, one N300 million, one N270 million, one 600 million and like that, it’s only one of the transactions that they didn’t put a name there,” a policeman involved in the case told SaharaReporters.
“Guess what they do after, they now moved that N1.7 billion from Adewole’s accounting into different bank accounts in tranches. Like the one I told you —N600 million, they immediately put it in another account in form of N150 million, 100 million, N100 million, N90 million. The pastor’s account is known as Shibawells Energy Limited. The one for Dana that they moved N160 million to, that was how they did it too, they immediately sent it to another account in smaller units as well.
“So the pastor approached the bank instead of the police. The top management staff involved called him and asked him what he wanted, they now ended with an agreement that the bank would give him an extra loan of N1.5 billion and he agreed. Remember I told you this man is the managing director of Shibawells Energy Limited, a company that does supply aviation fuel. So we realised it was well planned and the names of Dana, Caverton and others were intentionally used to cover up the fraud so people won’t notice. We also realised in our investigation that this money was given to the banks by the CBN and these top officials had to use an account to move it out and use it for something else.
“He has a partner, we called him and realised he wasn’t aware of the transaction. He was shocked, he realised the statement presented to him was forged to hide the fraudulent transaction.”
According to Adewole’s statement of account obtained by SaharaReporters, on January 28 2021, via transaction ID No: M35660, he received the sum of N424,811,000 from Caverton, N160,000,000 from Dana and N630,000,000 from Beam Energy, all with the same transaction number.
On June 18, 2021, via transaction ID No: M104031, the pastor received the sum of N300,000,000 via NIP transfer from an undisclosed account source.
Also on same June 18, 2021, via transaction ID No: M104031, Adewole received the sum of N270,000,000 from Messrs Morrifoil Oil and Gas Ltd., all totalling N1,784,811,000.
When contacted, a source at Dana Air said the airline didn’t do any transaction with Adewole nor his company, Shibawells Energy Limited.
“If I tell you we aren’t aware of this case, then I’m lying, the police some time ago invited us and we were surprised that the company’s name was used for such a fraudulent transaction. It will be wrong for me to share our bank statement with you but such a transaction wasn’t authorised by us,” a source at Dana Air told SaharaReporters.
“We weren’t involved in such a deal, only the bank management can tell you why they use Dana’s name for the transaction. Go to the bank tomorrow and send money to anyone and use Dana as the sender they won’t stop you from doing that. Jokes apart, if we have that kind of amount, my brother, we don’t have any problem.”
A police report exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters also indicted the bank and Adewole.
According to the report signed by the Commander of Area G, Lagos, ACP Ibrahim Zungura, multiple fraudulent transactions were carried out through the account. 
“In order to ascertain the legitimacy of these transactions, each of the entities who are on record in the narration in the statement of account was invited for questioning. Each of them denied having made any of the payments attributed to questioning,” part of the report read.
“Each of them denied having made any of the payments attributed to them. Each of them made statements to deny involvement with some writing to us to dissociate themselves from the transactions.
“To determine whether fraud or money laundering has occurred by these established facts, the account officer of Shibahwells in WEMA Bank PLC., one Kingsley Ananwede 'm' was invited and questioned. It was established that he worked in concert with other staff of WEMA Bank who are at large and the MD/CEO of Shibahwells Energy Limited to carry out the fraudulent activities on the accounts.
“This is shown by the facts that the funds deposited were not removed in that order or the sums deposited but carefully removed in different tranches as it is shown on the account statements. For his own part, Mr Adewole refused to cooperate with the investigations but instead, did everything he could, to assist the Bank in covering up, it was decided that the case be referred to the Lagos State Ministry of Justice for Legal Advice.
“The unavoidable conclusion from the findings is that a peculiar form of bank fraud was being carried out through the account. The pattern of fraud is a high-end type carried out from the top people within the bank and those who have helped them from outside. The account holder did not protest the use of his account in the way it was used. He did not cooperate with Police investigation but tried to hinder it. This is the evidence of conclusion. The money in question could only have been money of the bank being moved by those who should protect the property of the bank.”
In January 2022, a group, Transparency Nigeria Group asked the Central Bank of Nigeria to dismiss the Chief Executive Officer of Wema Bank, Ademola Ademise, over alleged fraud.
The group in a statement by Dahiru Mohammed, its Communications Director, alleged that Ademise had grossly abused his office as CEO of the bank and contravened several extant regulations of the CBN.
According to the group, Wema Bank, under Ademise's watch, covered up a massive fraudulent scheme perpetrated by companies and proxies of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu.
 
Calling for his immediate removal, TNG said, “In doing this, Mr Ademise failed in his fiduciary duties and allowed a powerful politician to use Wema Bank as a clearing house for laundered funds.”
 
The group referred to a story dated November 23, 2020, by Peoples Gazette where bank records showed that Ocean Trust Limited, a company linked to Tinubu, shuffled billions of naira between its accounts with Wema Bank.
 
The newspaper documented the transaction between January and June 2019 on how Ocean Trust summarily moved N16.4 billion from its operations accounts into a fixed deposit account all domiciled in Wema Bank.
 
This was after the court case involving Dayo Apara, a former Managing Director of Alpha Beta, a company partially owned by Tinubu.
 
Ocean Trust was specifically mentioned in Apara’s court documents as one of the firms allegedly used to siphon funds from Alpha-Beta, the controversial Lagos tax contractor.
 
According to the report, Alpha Beta has received billions of naira from the Lagos treasury since Tinubu was governor. 
 
Apara claimed the firm received N150 billion in the past 15 years from Lagos.
When contacted for comments and clarifications, the spokesperson for the bank, Funmi Falola said she was in a meeting but promised to get back to our reporter. She also promised to send her email to receive details about the story but failed to do so at the time of filing this report.

















 

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ex-President Goodluck Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday reacted to calls that he should run for the 2023 Presidency.
Jonathan said he could not tell if he would run for presidency in 2023, Daily Post reports.

ex-President Goodluck Jonathan CNN
He disclosed this while addressing some supporters who besieged his office in Abuja, asking him to run for the Presidency in 2023.
Jonathan was quoted as saying, “I cannot tell if I’m contesting.”
Hundreds of supporters, including women and youth groups, had stormed his office, asking him to contest for President in 2023.
The supporters arrived at the office with a musical band around 8:50am.
They lamented that hunger, insecurity, and unemployment, among others, had become the order of the day since he left office.
The supporters said that both men and women had turned to beggars because of the unfavourable policies of the present administration.

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The Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association (SKCLA) has inaugurated a four-man committee for a prayer summit against insecurity in the state.
 
The Chairman, Apostle Emmanuel Nuhu Kure, while inaugurating the committee explained that the peace summit would seek divine intervention towards the restoration of peaceful coexistence in the area.
 
He appealed to the committee members to prayerfully seek the leadership of the Holy Spirit towards ensuring the success of the programme, stressing that the land needed peace and tranquility for the people to go about their legitimate businesses.
 
He said, “This year’s Southern Kaduna prayer summit is crucial, prayers will be offered for the restoration and emancipation of the land.”
 
The chairman thanked the outgoing leadership of the association for the sacrifices they made during their time and solicited the support of members for the new leadership to succeed in the mandate given to them.
 
He urged the members and new executives to rededicate themselves to the cause for the spiritual growth and development of the state.
 
According to him, the committee’s major term of reference is to ensure proper planning of the prayer summit which is billed to hold on the 28th of May, 2022.

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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has said it is suing President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration over its failure to stop the ongoing strike action of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
SERAP, in a tweet on Friday, argued that it is suing because the strike action violates the right of the poor students to get access to quality education.

A tweet from SERAP reads, “We're suing the Buhari administration over its failure to end the strike action by ASUU, which is a violation of the legal obligation to provide access to higher education without discrimination.
“We're suing the Buhari administration because its failure to end the strike action by ASUU and allow Nigerian children get back to school violates: the right of poor children to higher education; equality and non-discrimination; human dignity, and; penalises poor parents.”
Members of the union had embarked on strike over the failure of the Federal Government to honour the various agreements reached with them.
Some of ASUU’s demands include the release of revitalisation funds for universities, renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, release of earned allowances for university lecturers, and deployment of the UTAS payment platform for the payment of salaries and allowances of university lecturers.
Following the expiration of the initial four-week warning strike, the union had gone ahead to declare additional eight weeks of industrial action, saying that it was giving the government more time to attend to its needs.

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FRSC Boss, Boboye Oyeyemi

Following recent promotion of senior officers of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), the Corps Marshal, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, has approved redeployment of 46 deputy corps marshals, assistant corps marshals, corps commanders, deputy corps commanders and intermediate ranks.
A statement by FRSC spokesman, Bisi Kazeem on Friday described the redeployment as a routine exercise intended to bolster the system for better performance and efficiency.

FRSC Boss, Boboye Oyeyemi
He said all senior officers affected are expected to report to their new Commands on or before Monday, May 2, 2022.
The redeployed officers are; Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM) Chidi B Nkwonta fwc, former Zonal commanding officer RS6HQ Port Harcourt to take over as the Commandant Federal Road Safety Corps Command and Staff College (FCSC), Udi, Enugu State, ACM Chukwuma N. Njoku, formally Corps Commander Personnel under Admin and Human Resource Department at the national headquarters, to now head Manpower Development unit under Training Department.
“Also, National Headquarters, Ocheja I Ameh fsi, former Sector Commander Ekiti, now posted to become the Zonal Commanding Officer Enugu, ACM UI Ojeamiren, former Deputy Commandant FRSC Academy Udi, now Zonal Commanding Officer Osogbo, while ACM Jonathan Aderole Owoade, the erstwhile Sector Commander Kwara, now heads Port Harcourt Zonal Command.
“Ten states will now have new Sector Commanders as follows; Corps Commander (CC) Kaugama M. Kabo, former Sector Commander Sokoto now Sector Commander Yobe, while CC DY Dio fsi is to proceed from Yobe to take over as Adamawa State Sector Commander.
“In the same vein, CC YK Nadabo is to hand over the helm of affairs as CC LGA Station Office at the Operations department of the National headquarters and assume duty as the Sector Commander Sokoto state; while Borno state gets CC IU Boyi as the new Sector Commander.
“Erstwhile Delta State Sector Commander, CC I Abubakar is now Benue state Sector Commander while CC Ubi Ushiet is to replace him as Delta State Sector Commander. Meanwhile, CC OE Joseph is to assume duty as the Sector Commander Ekiti State as CC FA Ogidan becomes Kwara State Sector Commander and CC SE Dawulung takes over the helm of affairs as Plateau State Sector Commander. FN Theman mnarc now becomes the Sector Commander Gombe State.”
Arising from the need to keep the redeployed officers on their toes, the Corps Marshal implored the officers to remain steadfast in their commitment and dedication to duties and to share in the FRSC vision of making Nigerian roads safer for all motorists.
Oyeyemi further enjoined them to play pivotal roles to ensure that they contribute their quota in enhancing the safety of lives and properties of all road users.

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Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has directed all political appointees and other public servants aspiring for elective positions in 2023 to resign.
 
The directive was contained in a circular dated April 14 by the state Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, who hinged the decision on the provision of the Electoral Act 2022.

The circular, which was copied to all stakeholders, was titled: “Resignation of political appointees and all other public servants who may wish to seek elective offices.”
 
It read, “It is hereby notified for general information, in line with the recently amended Electoral Act and Provisions of Rule: 040524 of the Lagos State Public Service Rules (2015), that Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State, has approved the release of all political appointees who are delegates to state House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, Governorship and Presidential Primaries Election.
 
“It includes those who are holdings positions in the party as well as public servants who may wish to engage in partisan political activities or may seek elective offices. Accordingly, all persons seeking elective offices are required to put in their letters of resignation.
 
“In this regard, all letters of resignation by State Executive Council Members, which should be submitted not later than April 19, 2022, should be addressed to Secretary to the State Government, SSG, while letters of resignation of all other categories of political appointees and public servants should be submitted to the Head of Service, office Alausa, Ikeja, on the same date stated above.
 
“Further to the above, civil servants are required to comply with the standard procedure as provided in the Public Service Rules, (2015).”

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Retired boxing legend, Mike Tyson, 55, was involved in an in-flight altercation Wednesday with an "aggressive" fellow passenger who he claims was harassing him on a JetBlue flight out of San Francisco International Airport.
 
"Unfortunately, Mr. Tyson had an incident on a flight with an aggressive passenger who began harassing him and threw a water bottle at him while he was in his seat," a rep for Tyson tells PEOPLE in a statement.
 
In footage obtained by TMZ, Tyson can be seen repeatedly punching the man, who later received medical attention and went to the police. The outlet reports that the boxer walked off the still-grounded plane seconds after the altercation.
 
The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) tells PEOPLE that the victim "provided minimal details of the incident and refused to cooperate further with the police investigation," and both men were released pending further investigation.
 
 
A source with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) tells PEOPLE that they have not received a report of any unruly passengers on that flight, but they "[look] into all airline reports of passenger disturbances."
A rep for JetBlue did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
 
At the time of the incident, Tyson was headed to the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Miami, where he was listed as a keynote speaker after he launched his cannabis brand Tyson 2.0 last year.
 
Tyson has previously faced legal action for instances of violence, including serving three years in prison after he was convicted of raping 18-year-old Desiree Washington in 1992. He has since maintained that their sexual encounter was consensual.
The former heavyweight champion served another nine months in prison in 1999 after assaulting two motorists following a traffic accident. He was arrested again in 2009 after an altercation with a photographer at Los Angeles International Airport, although no charges were filed.
 
Tyson is perhaps most notorious for biting a piece of Evander Holyfield's right ear off during their 1997 rematch, for which he was subsequently disqualified and temporarily banned from boxing, in addition to facing a $3 million fine.

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Ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries to choose its candidates for the forthcoming 2023 general elections, the party is said to have been torn apart following the alleged hijacking and doctoring of the ad-hoc delegates list by some party officials and local government chairmen of the party across the state.
Chairman of Isoko South PDP, Godspower Obaro, a loyalist of Askia Ogieh, Managing Director, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, and PDP aspirant for Isoko Federal Constituency in the 2023 general elections, had allegedly doctored wards ad-hoc delegates list to favour his principal.

He was also alleged to have torn a list from the Enwhe Ward 09 not favourable to his principal.
Also, at Isoko North Local Government Area of the state, the party chairman, Godwin Ogorugba, was alleged to have forced the names of his loyalists on party leaders and ward chairpersons as the delegates.
This, SaharaReporters learnt, was done against the collective list.
Lamenting the attitude of the Isoko North local government party chairman, a ward chairman who spoke on condition of anonymity, for fear of being sanctioned, alleged that "Ogorugba is working for the House of Representatives candidate and the state commissioner for power, Jonathan Ukodhiko”.
“Because Ukodhiko bought him a car and a house in Asaba and built another house for him, he has vowed to force on us his loyalists across the wards in the local government as ad-hoc delegates whether we like it or not.
"He gave three names of his loyalists in each ward in the local government as ad-hoc delegates. Some of us battled him seriously. In some wards, he succeeded 100 percent while in some wards, he succeeded with 40, 50 and 60 percent as the case may be.
“Ogorugba has continued to ignore and abuse party leaders with his actions. He unilaterally takes decisions in the party without any atom of respect for party leaders in the local government. Ogorugba is operating the party as his personal busy and like a sole administrator."
The story is the same in Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Bomadi, Oshimili South, Oshimili North, Ndokwa West, Ndokwa East, Ethiope East and basically other local government areas of the state.
Speaking with our correspondent, a member of the state executive of the party, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said some members of the state executive of the party led by the chairman, Kingsley Esiso were allegedly supporting the actions of the local government party chairmen in hijacking and doctoring the ad-hoc delegates list.
He lamented that this was going on despite warnings and directives given by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa that leaders, ward chairmen and local government chairmen should work together to produce the ad-hoc delegates list.
"The state party executive is rejecting petitions from some quarters challenging and complaining about the way and manner the local government party chairmen are hijacking and doctoring the ad-hoc delegates list in their own favour and in favour of their preferred candidates in the 2023 general elections.
“Especially the state organising secretary of the party, Sunday Onoriode, has rejected several petitions against some of the local government party chairmen hijacking and doctoring the ad-hoc delegates list," one of the sources said.
When contacted for comments on the issue, the state PDP publicity secretary, Ifeanyi Osuoza, did not answer calls on his mobile phone and had not replied to messages sent to him at the time of filing this report.

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The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Friday declared 12 persons wanted for different crimes in Anambra State.
The suspects are accused of conspiracy, murder, armed robbery, terrorism, kidnapping, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.

Others are burglary, malicious damage, and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace in Isu-Aniocha, Awka North Local Government Area.
The names of those wanted include Edward Okoye (aka Stone); Donatus Okeke; Onyemazi Ngini; Onyebuchi Nwekeizu Okoye; Nonso Eboh; Chukwuka Onyibor.
The rest are, Chukwujekwu Anaekeokwu; Chuka Ilodigwe; Chinedu Nwoye Okoye; Nonso Awusionwu Obinna; Cosmos Okonkwo and Chukwujekwu Okoye.
In the release obtained by SaharaReporters, the police said, “The Nigeria Police Force hereby declare wanted the following twelve (12) persons in connection with a case of conspiracy, murder, armed robbery, act of terrorism, kidnapping, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms, housebreaking, burglary, malicious damage, and conduct likely to cause breach of public peace in Isu-Aniocha, Awka North LGA of Anambra State, Nigeria;
“i. Edward Okoye (aka Stone)
vii. Donatus Okeke
ii. Onyemazi Ngini
viii. Onyebuchi Nwekeizu Okoye
iii. Nonso Eboh
ix. Chukwuka Onyibor
iv. Chukwujekwu Anaekeokwu
x. Chuka Ilodigwe
v. Chinedu Nwoye Okoye
xi. Nonso Awusionwu Obinna
vi. Cosmos Okonkwo
xii. Chukwujekwu Okoye
“The Police had earlier secured a court order to declare wanted the suspects, all male of Igbo extraction with ages ranging from 25 years to 55 years old, natives of Isu-Aniocha, Awka North LGA of Anambra State with heights between 1.5m to 1.7m.
“Edward Okoye (aka Stone), had in conjunction with others shot two men dead – one Ifeanyi Anazoba (aka Ichafu) and one Chukwuebuka Amodo (aka Mutum) at a burial function in Umuzuocha Town Hall, Awka South of Anambra State on 19th January, 2019, beheaded them and burnt their bodies beyond recognition; kidnapped two others, and vandalized two properties valued at over 1.2 billion Naira. The suspects equally attacked and brutalized some mobile police officers detailed to restore calm to the community.
“The Nigeria Police Force therefore urges all well-meaning members of the general public to assist the police with useful information which would facilitate their arrest and ensure they are brought to justice. This can be done through 08036012082. It further assures that justice would not just be done in the matter, but would be seen by all parties in the matter, to have been done as the police will leave no stone unturned in unravelling the ugly and criminal incident.”
Attachments area

Insecurity Terrorism Breaking News News AddThis :  Original Author :  SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORK Disable advertisements : 

I was invited by the Venezuelan Embassy in Abuja, along with some diplomats, civil society activists and journalists on Thursday, April 14, 2022, to watch a documentary on the aborted military coup 20 years ago. The documentary centred on the bloody coup and how the populace in their millions marched on the coup plotters holed up in the Miraflores Presidential Palace.

 

On hand to welcome guests was the Venezuelan Ambassador David Vasquez Caraballo who was part of the history and featured in the documentary. On April 11, 2002, when the coup was executed, he was the leader of the Communist youth and was one of the active mobilisers who organised the populace to storm the Presidential Palace which served as the base of the coup plotters.

 

Coup d’état, the sudden and forceful seizure of power by illegal means, is often bloody. When on July 17, 1936, the military led by General Francisco Franco seized power in Spain, thousands of people were killed. In the three-year period ending March 28, 1939, when there was active resistance to the coup, over 500,000 people were killed. In the September 11, 1973 coup in Chile organised by the American Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, thousands of civilians were murdered. However, when the CIA organised a similar coup in Venezuela on April 11, 2002, it met more than its match in the ordinary people who despite being shot in the streets by the police and military, marched on the Presidential Palace and military barracks.

 

In an executive briefing to the Bush administration on April 6, 2002, that is five days before the coup, the CIA reported that “disgruntled senior officers and a group of radical junior officers are stepping up efforts to organise a coup against President Chávez, possibly as early as this month.” The brief also said that the coup plotters would “exploit unrest stemming from opposition demonstrations slated for later this month” or from planned workers’ strikes.

 

The coup was executed by the National Federation of Trade Unions, CTV, the Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Fedecámaras, the military hierarchy, the private mass media and the church. Their grouse was that the democratically elected President Hugo Chávez and the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela, PSUV, were spreading the country’s oil and gas wealth across the populace by heavily engaging in social projects, including mass housing, education, health and mass access to food.

 

The coup followed the exact programme the CIA had reported to Washington. It began slowly on April 9, 2002, with a general strike. The Chavez government assumed this was a mere industrial action, unaware it was the agreed trigger for the coup. Then the employers and opposition backed the strike by calling a mass anti-government rally on April 11. The Chavez supporters called a counter rally at the Presidential Palace.

 

As both rallies gathered momentum, the anti-government rally marched on the head office of the state oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela SA, PDVSA, in the east of Caracas; then its leaders on cue, re-directed the rally towards the Presidential Palace, to attack the pro-government rally. As both tidal waves got closer, the military moved in-between to separate them.

 

Then snipers emerged around the Llaguno Overpass and started taking down the pro-government demonstrators, while some of the latter, produced pistols shooting in the direction of the snipers and also the approaching anti-government demonstrators.

 

Nineteen demonstrators from both sides were killed and 100 injured. As planned, the private mass media without investigation or proof, announced that the Chavez administration was responsible for the deaths. Then the military High Command came on air to say with the killings, it would no longer take orders from the government.

 

Then, soldiers surrounded the Presidential Palace and ordered President Chavez to resign or have the palace bombed. Later, the military chiefs with their men entered the palace. Chavez agreed to surrender as ‘President Prisoner’ but refused to resign. He was then taken away and the Chambers of Commerce President Pedro Carmona was sworn in by the coup plotters as interim president.

 

Then Carmona and the military hierarchy led by Generals Lucas Rinco, Efraín Vásquez Velasco, Roman Fuemayor and Vice-Admiral Hector Ramirez Perez made a great blunder; they announced the dissolution of not only the executive but also the National Assembly, state governments, the Supreme Court as well as the abrogation of the 1999 Constitution.

 

While the opposition agreed that the Chavez government be toppled, they did not agree on the dissolution of other structures as the opposition-held lots of seats in the Assembly and controlled a number of states. This led to a split in their ranks. The attempt to roll back the Chavez social programmes further enraged the populace who poured into the streets.

 

Then word went out that while President Chavez had been seized and taken into detention, he had contrary to the claims of the military junta, not resigned.

 

So, he remained the legitimate President of the country. The populace then marched on the palace which housed the interim government, and various military formations. The military saw Venezuelans in their millions and decided they could not shoot their fellow citizens; the coup had begun to collapse as one commander after the other refused to give the order to shoot.

 

With this, the Presidential guards without firing a shot, retook the presidential palace, seized the leaders of the interim government and announced they were sending paratroopers to locate and bring back President Chavez.

 

Amidst the ensuing confusion, Ministers of the Chavez administration began to find their way into the palace to try to put together some government and restore order. Then the Assembly Speaker appeared which gave some legitimacy as constitutionally, in the absence of the President and Vice President, he could be the Acting President.

 

Then within hours, Vice President Diosdado Cabello who was rumoured to have taken refuge in the Cuban Embassy found his way into the palace and was immediately sworn in as the Acting President. With that, the order was restored and a functional government was put in place.

 

That early morning of April 13, 2002, the lights of an approaching helicopter illuminated the palace grounds and the crowds went into a frenzy. They were right, President Hugo Chavez had been found, rescued and returned to the Presidency. In 47 hours, the coup had collapsed and the usurpers, including the military chiefs, were on the run.

 

The next heard of some of them, they were asking for asylum in the United States. Today, 20 years later, the Chavez movement remains the popularly elected government of Venezuela. In the country, the people mark this victory with the Spanish slogan: “¡El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido!” (The people, united, can never be defeated.)

Opinion AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  Owei Lakemfa Disable advertisements : 

A Nigerian man, Shitta Shakiru has pleaded with the First City Monument Bank and the Central Bank of Nigeria to unfreeze his bank accounts and remove him from their blacklist.
 
Shakiru said his bank account was credited with N330, 000 instead of N3, 300 on August 8, 2019. He said he withdrew the money at the time to meet a need.

According to him, he spent 75 percent of the total amount after which he observed that his Bank Verification Number had been blacklisted. By January 6, 2020, Shakiru said he had repaid all the money. He thereafter wrote a letter to the bank to remove the restriction on his account, a request which was not granted.
 
Shakiru said he has been unable to carry out banking transactions and unable to travel outside the country. According to him, he has also found it difficult to pay for his mother's medical bills.
 
A mail he wrote to the bank in 2020 reads, “Sometime ago I got an over credit of #330,000 instead #3,300 from GTBank to FCMB account.
 
“I withdrew the money from the account due to some financial issue I have then which I plead to the bank that I will refund the money back. I paid 75% out of the said amount leaving 25% due amount. But due to some delay in the payment, my BVN was (put on) watchlist.
 
“And as at January 16, 2020. I refunded all the amount, paid in cash to the bank. I wrote a letter to the bank on the removal of the restriction on my BVN and was told it will be done in a few days’ time. But it has been 4 months after the letter was summited and still nothing has been done regarding the issue.
 
“I have been to my branch several times on this issue with several calls to their contact centre. I was told every documented document for removal of restriction on my BVN had been forwarded to CBN.
 
“Please I have been a ghost ever since my BVN was watchlisted, I can't make any transaction on my accounts, I can't fill any transaction form, I can't travel, most importantly what gets me so concerned is that I can't pay for my mum's medical bill.
 
“Please I'm begging the Central Bank of Nigeria to please kindly look into this urgent matter. To enable me to pay my mum's medical bills because it has become an emergency issue. I hope for a positive response soon."
 
In a ‘save my soul’ request written to media houses, Shakiru said he had concluded that his BVN would not be delisted as he threatened to commit suicide.
 
He wrote, “With all the numerous emails messages and written letters summited to FCMB and Central Bank of Nigeria, I have come to understand that my BVN will not be delisted from the watchlist. From 2019 to date, I have paid all my outstanding obligations as at January 2019 and up till now, nothing has been done.
 
“I pleaded, wrote an apology letter to the bank to consider how this has been affecting my entire life. I have been living a life of ghost ever since my BVN is on the watchlist. I have some savings amount kept in my other bank so I can continue with my livelihood.
 
“I have been barred from getting access to my money even when my sick mother was in bed and needed the money for her treatment. I have not been able to secure a job because of this.
 
“I cannot fill any transaction form or a transaction of a third payment. This system is bad because of N120,000 owe to the bank (FCMB) which was not documented on any agreement for a loan. But the money was paid back in full a week after the blacklisting.
 
“Prominent people who owe millions of naira were not castigated like this. It has been a bad stigma for my entire life. I'm officially writing a suicide letter to whoever reading because I cannot continue to live a lifeless life anymore.
 
“I'm depressed because my so-called country has failed me and I think taking my life will be the best option now. Thank you for your time to read. We meet in the afterlife."

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Rivers Governor Wike

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has said nothing will stop him from contesting the presidential primary election of the party.
 
During an interview with BBC pidgin in Port Harcourt, the governor said he will not step down for any consensus candidate of the party.

Rivers Governor Wike

He said only death will make him quit his ambition to become the President of Nigeria.
 
“The only thing that will make me to quit is death; if I’m alive, we will finish it on 28/29 of May,” he said.
 
Wike, who spoke in pidgin English, said “I have been a local government chairman which is the grassroot, I have been a minister and now a governor. How many of the aspirants have such experience?”
 
He stated this as he took a swipe at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, noting that the latter had only been a vice president, not a minister or even governor.
 
“If they put me and other aspirants side by side, the delegates will choose me, because I have been the one going from state to state, telling them to vote for me.
 
“Why would I step down for anybody? If you want to do consensus, you will do it with equity and fairness.
 
“If the consensus you want to do is to gang up against one or two people, why will I join in that type of consensus? The people talking about consensus, are their hands clean? Their hands are not clean,” he added.
 

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

File photo used to illustrate story.

An unconfirmed number of farmers has been reportedly killed by suspected herdsmen in the Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
 
It was learnt that the attack took place on Thursday night in Waya, Jato-Aka, Turan.

File photo used to illustrate story. Guardian Nigeria

As many as ten corpses of victims of the attack have been recovered so far while many more are still missing, a member of the community told The Nation.
 
Their corpses were said to have been deposited at the Jato-Aka mortuary.

The resident, Lawrence Akerigba, said many people were still missing.
 
He identified those killed as Gbaeren Orsoo, Terdoo Tsega, Bemdoo Tsega, Abacha Tsega, Terkaa Tsega, Aôndoaseer Tyov, Iorhen Atim and Aôndowase Igba.

Confirming the incident, the chairperson of Kwande Local Government Area, Mrs. Tartor Chianson, said eight bodies had been recovered which have been deposited at the mortuary.
 
She noted that it was difficult to determine the exact number of casualties as the area was under siege.

She added that men of Operation Whilestroke and Civil Defence were assisting in securing the community.
 

Insecurity News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan is currently in a meeting over a possible presidential ambition in the 2023 general elections.
 
There had been speculations that Jonathan might dump the Peoples Democratic Party to actualise his ambition on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Though tipped to be among those interested in vying for the top office, the former President has refused to make any commitment to it publicly.
 
Some of the supporters of the former president stormed his residence in Abuja on Friday, calling on him to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
 
They wielded placards and banners with inscriptions saying ‘Goodluck Jonathan must run for president 2023′, “Jonathan is our candidate’, among others.
 
Responding to them, Jonathan asked Nigerian youths to show greater interest in the nation’s political process.
 
The former President said it was time for youths to take advantage of the ‘Not Too Young To Run Act’ to participate actively in the electoral process.
 
He said he was aware that they were “here to ask me to declare,” but noted, “I cannot declare because some processes are still ongoing.”
 
“Yes, you are calling me to come and declare for the next election, I cannot tell I’m declaring. The political process is ongoing, just watch out. The key role you must play is that Nigeria must get somebody that will carry young people along.”

SaharaReporters had recently reported how Jonathan rejected some of the conditions given to him by members of the Aso Rock (Presidency) cabal to get the 2023 presidential automatic ticket of the ruling APC.
 
One of the conditions was that the former President must officially defect to the APC with some PDP governors in the South-South and South-East regions.
 
Sources however told SaharaReporters that he rejected the conditions and told the cabal he didn’t have interest in the 2023 presidency again.
 
His response, it was gathered, embarrassed the cabal members who described the former President as a traitor.
Jonathan became Acting President in 2010 when President Umaru Yar’Adua died. He contested in 2011 and won the election to become President.

He again contested in 2015 for a second term in office but was defeated by Muhammadu Buhari, the incumbent President.

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A yet-to-be-identified lawless police officer has assaulted an activist, Ella John Elaigwu for allegedly not allowing a police vehicle to overtake him on a highway.
 
The incident happened around Goshen city, Living Faith Church along Keffi-Abuja Expressway on Thursday.

In a video posted on his Facebook page, Elaigwu said his inability to immediately give way for the police vehicle with plate number, PF 1813 – SPY angered the officer leading to the assault.
 
He accused the officer of damaging his car and phone.
 
“My ordeal with an unprofessional police officer on my way back to Abuja from Benue state,” he posted on Facebook.
 
“The hilux try (sic) to over take me blowing sirens it was tight for me to give him way and immediately there was space I break (sic) for him to overtake the next thing I know is the driver tried to push me off the road hitting my bumper and tried to escape, it would have been a fatal accident but God came through, I step (sic) on it and catch (sic) up with him around Goshen city Keffi Abuja express way.
 
“I walk to him for an explanation why he drove that way and trying (sic) to cause us accident the man pull out the gun crack it and point it at me, and begin to harass me. He broke my phone and when he realized I captured his face he took off.”

Police News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

Mwai Kibaki, one of the biggest names in Kenyan politics and the nation's third president, has died, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced.
Kibaki was 90.

His political career spanned decades, including serving as vice president to Daniel arap Moi, the man he replaced as president of the East African nation in 2002.
Kibaki, an economist and passionate golf player, left behind a complicated legacy when he stepped down after his second presidential term ended in 2013. He not only oversaw a new constitution that brought hope for change, CNN reports, he led Kenya during a period of robust economic growth and major infrastructure developments.
But he was also at the helm during the country's most violent election in its history when more than 1,200 people died in bloody ethnic battles after disputed 2007 polls.
Kibaki's death was confirmed in a statement issued by Kenyatta, who said the country would observe a period of national mourning from Friday until his burial.
Kenyatta paid tribute to Kibaki as "a quintessential patriot" and recalled "his dignity, his diligence, candor, and concern for the well-being of all Kenyans."
 

Kenya Breaking News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

 Operatives of the Imo State Police Command have arrested and paraded one Simeon Onigbo, who is suspected to be a bomb manufacturer for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militant wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN).
 
This was contained in a statement issued by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Micheal Abattam.

According to the statement, police operative raided the bomb manufacturing camp at Uba Umuaka in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, following a tip-off.
 
Upon arrest, the suspect confessed to manufacturing bombs used to attack police stations and government facilities in the state.
 
Onigbo was said to have listed names of other suspects in the bomb manufacturing within and outside the states.
 
The statement reads, “Sequel to the modified and invigorated strategies emplaced by the Command’s management team under the watch of the Commissioner of Police, Imo Command, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, psc on the assumption of office, with a view to checkmate violent crimes and criminality in the State.
 
“In line with the Commissioner of Police strategy in stemming crime, the Command’s Tactical Teams following credible intelligence received on 20/4/2022 at about 1700hours, revealed the hideout of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB/Eastern Security Network (ESN), its militia wing, where they are manufacturing Improvised Explosive Devices used in attacking Police Stations and Government facilities in the state.
 
“The Police Operatives immediately mobilised to the hideout of the terror group located at Uba Umuaka in Njaba LGA of Imo State and raided the camp.
 
“In the course of the raid, one Simeon Onigbo ‘male’ age 50 years was arrested.
 
“On the spot interrogation, the suspect admitted being the manufacturer of most of the Improvised Explosive Devices (I.E.Ds) used in attacking police stations in the State and outside the State.
 
“On searching the criminal hideouts items recovered include the following: One already prepared Improvised Explosive Devices, Fifty-eight pieces of Cannon Steel Pipe, Two Chisels, One Monday Hammer one and a half bag of Potassium Nitrate, thirty Pounds Weight of Sulphur, Forty Pounds Weight of dry Sand, Ten Fifty-eighth of Red Sand, Thirty Pounds Weight of Gun Powder, Half Bag of Charcoal, Thirty Electronic Motorcycle Batteries and Seven Lengths of Forty meters Iron Rods.
 
“Meanwhile, the Command’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit (EOD) has taken over the recovered bomb for technical analysis and subsequently for possible detonation millimetres, the investigation is ongoing, the suspect has made useful statements and mentioned members of his gangs outside the State who patronise him. Operatives of the Command are not relenting and all efforts are on top gear to arrest the other suspects."

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