Wednesday 23 September 2015

Nigerians won't respect bills from Saraki's senate leadership, Ex-minister advice Saraki to step down as senate president to save his political carrier.


Bukola-Saraki
A former Minister of State for Education, Chief Kenneth Gbagi, has called on the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to step down.
He said the trial of the Senate president by the Code of Conduct Tribunal has put a question mark on his integrity to lead the upper legislate chamber.
Gbagi said with what is going on, there was no way Nigerians and the international community would respect motions and bills that would emanate from the Senate under the leadership of Saraki.
The former minister spoke with some journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said the trial of Saraki by the CCT was enough reason for the former governor of Kwara State to step down and allow another person mount the saddle of leadership of the Senate.
He said, “We have a problem in Nigeria where we don’t have people of honor, dignity and integrity as leaders.
“The mere fact that the Senate President is undergoing criminal trial is an indication that he has no business being a Senate president living with tax payers’ money.
“First, Nigerians will not have faith in anything that comes out of his Senate that is chaired or presented by that kind of person.
“Again, the entire international community will not believe in the passage of any Bill or motion under his leadership.
“So if you ask me, that is the end of him. He is gone. And like several other government where you think you get in and it will be business as usual, it is not true.”
He regretted that Saraki would not learn from advanced counties where someone like him, who is undergoing such trial, would have resigned from office.
He said this was one of the reasons why countries like the United State of America is still being respected.

APC cancels Bayelsa governorship primary, to fix another date.

 

The All Progressives Congress on Wednesday announced that it has rescheduled the Bayelsa State governorship primary following reports of irregularities and threat to peace.
National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, confirmed this development via a text message in Abuja,
He said, “The primary has been rescheduled. It had to be called off due to security challenges.”
Earlier, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Timi Frank, told newsmen that there was no primary election in the state.
According to him, one of the aspirants forced his will on the electoral committee, which led to the disruption of the exercise.
One of the aspirants, Timi Alaibe, led 14 out of 19 aspirants to stage a walkout during the primary, citing irregularities.
The chairman of the committee set up by the national body to conduct the primary, Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, also left the Samson Siasia Staduim venue of the event unannounced, following threats of violence.

Project based on destiny's Child finally come on TV/Film.





Mathew Knowles continues to keep hope alive for a Destiny’s Child reunion, and not only a reunion, but Knowles hopes to take the group’s story to film or TV.

In a recent interview with The Huffington Post, Beyonce’s father and former manager revealed he’s in talks with various TV and film companies. Even though the group has now disbanded,
contractually, he’s still the manager of the group and has rights to any project under the name and brand.

“I am extremely hopeful that the ladies will come back with an album and a tour. I’m working on a few Destiny’s Child projects right now,” he said. “I’m talking to the film and TV community right now, regarding a Destiny’s Child movie or TV series of some sort. I’m hopeful that within the next two to three years we’ll see something major come from it.”
It was revealed during last year’s Sony email hack that Knowles has been conversing with Sony about an idea for a biopic. He revealed he even has actors in mind for the biopic but kept that info under wraps.
Earlier this year in January, the group’s co-manager Brian K. Moore revealed he’s also planning on 
doing not one, but TWO biopics based on the girl group that dominated the charts from the late 90s to the early 00s. Moore told Madame Noire that there’s interest in two films, one focusing on the
original members of Girls Tyme/Destiny’s Child as children, and another on Andretta Tillman, an ex-co manager who passed away from lupus, and the adult management of the group.
Could this merely be a race for who can get a Destiny’s Child greenlighted first? In all this haste, let’s hope if one comes to fruition, it’s done right!

Tuesday 22 September 2015

Bayelsa Guber: APC declares sylva winner.


Amid intrigues and bitter in-fighting, former Governor of Bayelsa State,Chief Timipre Sylva Tuesday night emerged flag-bearer of the All Progressive Congress (APC) primary election.
Although Oshiomhole was absent, four members of the electoral panel were present in the election held amidst tight security with AIG Felix Adeniake  in attendance.
Sylva, who was declared winner by a member of the APC electoral Committee, Nelson Alabar, recorded a total number of 726 votes to defeat closest rival, and former member of the House of Representative,Hon. Warman Ogoriba ,who recorded  only 10 votes.
According to result declared at about 8pm, former NDDC Managing Director, Timi Alaibe, was awarded a total of four votes despite his absence during the electoral process.
In his acceptance speech, Sylva described his emergence a proof of the indivisibility of the APC in the state and  at the national level,”I have never been proud in my life.I have belonged to many political parties such as the defunct UNCP,the nearly dead PDP, but I am very proud of the APC with a very clear internal democracy.”
“A few years ago, I was unjustly stopped from contesting a governorship primary by my former party. My former party did that to me. A few days ago, they disqualified a serving senator from contesting.It is shameful. I have, once again, gone through a primary and emerged winner.It is contest like this that makes the difference.It is this contest that makes the difference between the APC and others.There is no doubt that we will win the election.”
Ogoriba,who spoke on behalf of other aspirants, accepted defeat and commended Sylva.
“I am proud of the APC for organising  a credible election with such outcome.It was a fight well fought.”‎

Violence Mars APC primary in Bayelsa.

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole
The governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State has been marred by violence.
The primary, which took place at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Yenagoa, started on a controversial note with some aspirants calling for the cancellation of the exercise.
As early as 8am, thugs were seen at the entrance of the venue, hurling stones at the delegates who lined up to be screened for the exercise, creating chaos in the process.
However, after a period of panic, the over 1,300 security operatives at the venue eventually restored order after battling belligerent party members.
Most of the delegates were shut out of the exercise and were not allowed access to the venue of the 
primary.

When the accreditation of the delegates started, most persons who presented themselves for the exercise were said to be fake delegates in possession of cloned voter cards.
The Master of Ceremonies announced that some persons with cloned cards had been arrested and handed over to the police.
The rowdiness of the exercise was blamed on the lateness of the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who arrived at the venue around 12pm.
Shortly before the arrival of Oshiomhole, the former Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Timi Alaibe, and other aspirants such as Preye Aganaba and Ebitimi Amgbare briefed the press and called for the cancellation of the exercise.
Alaibe said, “You have seen the rancorous process leading to the primaries. The process is being marred by irregularities, violence, intimidation and complete disrespect for aspirants, agents and party officials.”
But Sylva said he had not received any complaints from his agents. He added that he was hailed by 
the people because of his outstanding credentials.
He urged delegates and the aspirants to conduct themselves peacefully.



Buhari meets Ban-Ki Moon, Obama, others at UN.

President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari will leave Nigeria for New York on Thursday for a series of meetings and interactions with notable world leaders at the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The President is scheduled to hold talks with the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban-Ki Moon, President Barack Obama of the United States, President Francois Hollande of France, Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, President Vladmir Putin of Russia, President Xi Jinping of China, and Prime Minister Narenda Modi of India, among others.
A statement on Tuesday in Abuja by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, said issues to be discussed include domestic developmental issues, bilateral relations, 
the war against terrorism, countering violent extremism, the enhancement of global security, peace-keeping operations, climate change and the adoption of a post-2015 global development agenda.

The statement added that Buhari would be accompanied by governors of Sokoto, Kaduna and Niger states, the National Security Adviser and permanent secretaries in the Federal Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Finance, Health, Industry, Trade and Investment.
It stated that the President would deliver Nigeria’s statement to the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly on September 28.
The statement said, “President Buhari is also scheduled to address the World Leaders Summit on ‘Violent Extremism’ – to which he was personally invited by Mr. Ban-Ki Moon during the Secretary-General’s recent visit to Nigeria.
“Also on the President’s busy schedule in New York are a meeting of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, a high-level roundtable on South-South Cooperation organised by President Xi Jinping of China and the United Nations, and participation in the launching of an updated global health strategy for women and children.”
On Buhari’s schedule too are meetings with former President Bill Clinton of the United States, Bill 
Gates of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which is assisting Nigeria in several areas including polio eradication, and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain, the United Nations Special Envoy on Global Education, who is one of the main drivers of the Safe Schools Initiative.
The President will conclude his visit to New York on September 29 and leave for Abuja on the same day.

Saraki pleads not guilty, trial begins October 21


Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, in Abuja... on Tuesday
THE Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday entered the dock at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja where he was arraigned for false assets declaration charges.
Saraki arrived at the tribunal at 9.20am in company with 50 senators, beating by 40 minutes the 10am deadline the judge had set for the Inspector General of Police to provide the Senate president.
He pleaded not guilty to all the 13 charges slammed on him by the Code of Conduct Bureau and his trial has been scheduled to hold on October 21, 22 and 23.
Saraki appeared at the tribunal after the courts had refused his request that the proceedings at the CCT be stopped.
From the dock on Tuesday, the Senate president said he was hearing about the charges against him for the first time, saying he ought to have been invited and briefed by the CCB as the Senate president.
He said, “I am the Senate President and I have respect for the rule of law. Mr. Chairman, I observed that they have made reference to the good work the Senate has done in the administration of criminal justice. If there is an allegation of false declaration of assets, the Code of Conduct Bureau shall refer the person involved to the tribunal after giving the person an opportunity to explain if the facts are true. But in this case, I was not given the opportunity.
“I thought the CCB should have called me and given me the right to fair hearing. I am hearing about the charges for the first time. We are all here and the whole world is watching when we said we are in new Nigeria. I want to state here that I am not guilty.”
Saraki’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu, SAN, challenged the jurisdiction of the tribunal, saying the CCT was not a court of criminal jurisdiction and as such, the administration of criminal court did not apply.
Citing Section 693, paragraph 18 (1) of the Constitution, Daudu reminded the tribunal of the ruling of a High Court in a case involving a former governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, which held that the CCT did not have jurisdiction over criminal cases and submitted that the tribunal lacked the jurisdiction to try the accused under criminal act where he would be required to be docked.
But the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, opposed the application, saying the tribunal had ruled on jurisdiction last Friday. Jacobs submitted further that Section 2 (1) of the Administration of Justice Act gives the tribunal powers to handle the criminal charges against Saraki.
After listening to the arguments of both parties, Justice Danladi Umar held that the tribunal had the jurisdiction to compel the Senate President to not only appear in person but to also be moved to the dock.
He said, “It is in the view of the tribunal that the trial before it is criminal in nature and it has jurisdiction over criminal matters, the defendant should therefore proceed to the dock.”
While proceedings to the dock, Saraki expressed shock that the tribunal had chosen to be ignorant of the stipulations under which the defendant could be brought to court.
He was however granted bail in self recognition and the warrant the tribunal had issued for his arrest was quashed.
As a governor of his home Kwara State between 2003 and 2011, Saraki was alleged to have make false declaration of his assets, including an alleged anticipatory declaration of asset yet to be acquired.
He is also being accused of owing an American Express credit card account during his tenure as governor. Public officials are forbidden from operating foreign accounts while in office.
But Saraki had earlier shunned the CCT and asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to stop the tribunal’s proceedings against him.
However when he failed to appear before it last Friday, the tribunal chairman had issued a warrant, compelling the IG to arrest the Senate President.
The warrant had spurred Saraki to run to the Appeal Court, asking it to quash the warrant and to stop the procceding of the tribunal.
The two courts on Monday refused his requests.
“To appear before the tribunal is not a death sentence,” Justice Morri Adumein of the Court of Appeal had told Saraki.
The senators that followed Saraki to the tribunal on Tuesday included his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu; Shaaba Lafiaji, Theodore Orji, Mao Ohuabunwa, Samuel Egwu, Ben Murray-Bruce, Aliyu Wamakko, Gilbert Nnaji, Kabiru Gaya, Alasoadura, Samuel Anyawu and Foster Ogola.
Others were Sunny Ogborji, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Isa Hamma Missau, Emmanuel Paulker, Obinna Ogba, Kaura Tijani, Clifford Ordia, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Peter Nwaoboshi, Rose Okoh, Mohammed Ohiare, Gershom Bassey, Olaka Nwogu and Lanre Tejuosho.
Meanwhile, some senators on Tuesday expressed confidence that Nigeria and its democracy would be the ultimate beneficiaries at the end of the trial of the Senate President.
The spokesman for the Senators, Ibrahim Danbaba, said this while reacting on behalf of his colleagues to the arraignment of Saraki at the CCT.
Dambaba said, “We also want to state here, on behalf of our colleagues, that the Senate remains solidly behind Senator Saraki and we express our unalloyed support for his leadership.
“We reiterate the fact that he is our choice for the post of Senate President and no politically motivated, mischievous and vindictive trial will change our opinion of him.”
In a statement after the tribunal proceedings, Saraki said he was being tried because he was the Senate president and that his trial indicated flagrant disregard of due process.
The statement by his spokesman, Yusuph Olaniyonu, read in part, “Today, I appeared before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for the commencement of my trial in a case concerning the asset declaration form I filled in 2003 after I have explored the opportunity to defend my fundamental human rights in other courts.
My appearance in court today once again demonstrates my belief in the rule of law and respect for the judiciary of our country.
As I stated while taking the plea in the case, I reiterate my belief that the only reason while I am going through this trial is because I am Senate President. If I were to be just a Senator, I doubt if anybody will be interested in the asset declaration form I filled over 12 years ago.
“It is my humble opinion that this case is a vivid example that there is still flagrant disregard for due process in our polity. This trial is not only being observed by Nigerians alone, the international community is watching because Nigeria is a key member of this community. So, the executive, legislature and judiciary should do the right thing that will truly demonstrate that we have imbibed the spirit of positive change.”

Tinubu bars pro-Saraki senator from APC caucus meetings.

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu
The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has barred the lawmaker representing Ondo-Central senatorial district, Senator Tayo Alasoadura, from attending South-West caucus meetings, our correspondent has learnt.
It was learnt that the senator was ostracised for allegedly working against the interest of the party’s South-West leadership and for taking sides with Senate President Bukola Saraki.
Alasoadura was also among the senators that followed Saraki to the Code of Conduct Tribunal in solidarity on Tuesday.
A reliable source within the party told our correspondent that Alasoadura had been sidelined from all APC South-West meetings for his disloyalty to Tinubu.
The source said, “Alasoadura was a Commissioner for Finance under the late Dr. Olusegun Agagu for over five years. He later defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Action Congress of Nigeria. Tinubu accepted him and appointed him the Director-General of the Rotimi Akeredolu governorship campaign organisation in 2013.
“Alasoadura was not even supposed to have emerged the senatorial candidate of the APC in the last election but the party favoured him. However, when he got to the Senate, he returned to his PDP family and started working against the party. He also supported Saraki against the interest of the party.
“When Tinubu convened a South-West meeting in Abuja during the height of the National Assembly crisis, Alasoadura came. However, Tinubu walked him out of the meeting and told his orderly to ensure that the senator was escorted off the premises.
“Tinubu also warned senators present to ensure that sensitive issues were not discussed in the presence of Alasoadura as he was an enemy within.”
Two days after the faceoff with Tinubu, however, the Ondo State senator issued a statement wherein he pledged his loyalty to the party and denied supporting Saraki.
Alasoadura said he was only working in the best interest of his constituents.
An APC leader, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, however, said that the fact that Alasoadura accompanied Saraki to the Code of Conduct Tribunal in solidarity on Tuesday, confirmed their suspicions.
He said the party would ensure that he remained irrelevant in the APC.

Bayelsa APC primary ends in a deadlock,Oshiomole escapes.


Governor of Edo State, Mr. Adams Oshiomole, was on Tuesday smuggled out of the venue of the Bayelsa State governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress. 
This happened as the much awaited primary of the party ended in a deadlock.
Oshiomole, Chairman, Electoral Committee of the APC primary, was trapped in the Samson Siasia Sports Complex Complex, Yenagoa, venue of the election when youths loyal to former Governor Timipre Sylva stormed the area around 3.30pm.
The loyalists had stormed the area after Sylva had finished complaining to one of the national officers that the election was designed to scheme him out.
He had said the primary was skewed in favour of a particular aspirant by the national leadership of the party.
Sylva, who looked distraught, complained seriously that he would not accept the treatment being meted out to him by the national leadership. 
No sooner had he finished expressing his displeasure than scores of his loyalists took over the area, chanting war songs.
The youth threw caution to the wind and started attacking Oshiomhole and the national leadership of the party.
At that point, the arena had been thrown into pandemonium as aspirants, delegates, journalists and other persons scampered for safety.
Oshiomhole, who was held hostage till about 5pm, could only escape from the venue with the help of operatives of the Department of State Security and soldiers. 
The loyalists of Sylva, who announced to the crowds that accreditation was continuing by 5pm, wanted the Edo Governor to be there with them.
But Oshiomhole was said to have pulled a masterstroke when he told the members of the state Executive Committee of the party, who were bent on continuing the accreditation of delegates, that he was hungry and needed to go and eat.
“That was how Governor Adams Oshiomhole was able to escape from the venue,” one of the security operatives, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said.
As of 5pm, the Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Tiwei Orunimighe, announced that accreditation of delegate would continue.
As of that time, some aspirants, including a major contender, Chief Timi Alaibe, had escaped from the venue for fear of being attacked.

Saraki enter dock, pleads not guilty to charges.


The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has entered the dock at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja.
Saraki is facing a 13-count charge bordering on alleged false declaration of assets.
He entered the dock at exactly 11:25am, after his lawyer failed in his bid, to stop him from taking his pleas at the tribunal.
The Senate President pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The case has been adjourned to October 21 by the presiding judge.

Several trapped in Lagos collapsed building.






























Several trapped in Lagos collapsed building

The scene of the building collapse on Tuesday. 

Many workers at a construction site in Lagos have been reportedly killed after the building caved in Tuesday morning.
The building, located at Osapa London, Agobi in Lekki, Eti-Osa local government area of the state, reportedly collapsed at about 8:40am, with some of the workers trapped underneath.
The Nation gathered that the rural dwellers succeeded in rescuing six persons before the arrival of emergency workers.
Two other persons, our correspondents learnt were recovered unconscious by the emergency services, and they have been rushed to the hospital.
At the time of filing this report, several others were said to be trapped underneath the debris, while rescue efforts were ongoing.
The Nigeria Police Force, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Lagos State Building Control Agency were at the scene of the building collapse.

Kashamu seeks to restrain FG from seizing property.


Kashamu seeks to restrain FG from seizing property
Kashamu
Senator Buruji Kashamu has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to restrain the Federal Government from seizing his property worth N20billion over drug trafficking allegations.
In a fresh application, he sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Attorney-General of the Federation from taking possession of his property.
The application is before Justice Ibrahim Buba, who had restrained the NDLEA from arresting or extraditing Kashamu to the United States, where he is allegedly wanted.
But the NDLEA has asked the judge to disqualify himself from adjudicating the suit.
The agency said since Justice Buba, on June 23, reaffirmed a May 27 order by Justice Okon Abang of the same court stopping Kashamu’s arrest, he may not be fair to all parties in the present case.
The NDLEA lawyer, Mr. J. N. Sunday, claimed the injunction amounted to tying the hands of federal agencies from discharging their constitutional duties.
The agency asked the judge to withdraw from the case on the basis that he may not reach a different conclusion in the fresh case having ruled in Kashamu’s favour previously.
“This court had earlier heard and determined suit No. FHC/L/CS/763/2015. The facts or issues and the parties in the suit are not only the same but are intricately linked and intertwined with this suit.
“Having earlier made findings of facts, it will be difficult, if not impossible for this court to divorce itself from its findings in suit No. FHC/L/CS/763/2015, while considering and writing judgment in this present suit,” Sunday claimed.
According to NDLEA, the case file should be returned to the Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for re-assignment to another judge.
Meanwhile, the AGF, represented by Mr. Oyin Koleosho has filed a preliminary objection to the action.
It said the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit, which it described as a “tortuous act” that does not fall within Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution.

Ameachi sues PDP, others for libel, demands N300bn.


THE immediate past governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has dragged the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, its Chairman, Chief Felix Obuah, and two others to an Abuja High Court over allegations that he embezzled funds belonging to the state to the tune of $757 m (N80bn) while in office.
Amaechi said in a statement he signed and issued on Tuesday that he had also sued the state PDP and two others for alleging that he (Amaechi) operated a private foreign account where he lodged the said public funds.
Though, the former governor did not identify the two other persons he joined in his suit, Amaechi said the allegation had done a lot of harm to his person and reputation and demanded N300bn as damages.
Amaechi recalled that the state PDP on August 6, and August 21, 2015, alleged that he stole the sum of N80bn of Rivers money and stashed them in an account in his name in Bancorp Bank in Minnesota, United States of America.
The immediate past governor explained that ever since the said libelous publications by the PDP and Felix Obuah got to the general public, he had been “inundated, bombarded and confronted by several persons who expressed lack of respect, loss of faith in him and who no longer regarded him as trustworthy and now viewed him as a common criminal.”
“That he had been confronted by persons who offer him disrespect arising from the false accusations, even though he denied committing the several heinous offences which the PDP and Felix Obuah falsely and maliciously accuse him of committing.
“The PDP also alleged that Amaechi had embezzled millions of dollars of Rivers State money and stashed the money in other foreign accounts in his name, including in a bank in Switzerland. The PDP claimed that the various Amaechi foreign accounts were revealed and blown open by Christiane Amanpour of America’s Cable News Network (CNN).
“The PDP went further to claim that Bancorp Bank, Minnesota, had written to President Muhammadu Buhari that part of the funds was to purchase a house for Amaechi in America and that they (Bancorp Bank) intend to return the stolen funds to Nigeria.
“However, in this fresh suit filed before an Abuja High Court, FCT, Amaechi stated that each of the said malicious publications by the defendants (PDP, Felix Obuah and two others) are untrue, false, motivated by ill-will and without any foundations in truth whatsoever and further avers that the defendants made the said libelous publications after the PDP failed in the presidential election and with a view to rubbishing him in the eyes of right thinking members of the society and the persons to whom the said libelous publications have been made.”
He added that the PDP had claimed that the US-based bank had revealed to President Muhammadu Buhari that part of the money lodged therein were meant to purchase a house for him (ex-governor).
Amaechi had, however, declared in his statement of claims in the said suit that he did not steal the sum of N80bn belonging to the state and did not stash the said amount of money in Bancorp Bank in the United States of America or Switzerland.
Amaechi further declared, “The Bancorp Bank, Minnesota, United States, did not write and did not communicate with President Muhammadu Buhari over any said sum of $757m allegedly looted by him (Amaechi) that is kept with it and in Switzerland since no such money was ever looted by him.”

Amaechi noted that part of his worry is that the defendant (PDP, Obuah and two others) had further circulated the alleged malicious publications that exposed his person to ridicule, public odium, contempt and disparagement in the eyes of right thinking members of the society.
Describing the allegations against him as wild, Amaechi maintained that he served the state with distinction, initiated and completed numerous public projects and undertook other public infrastructure projects.
He also affirmed that he had never been convicted by any court with either stealing or embezzlement of public funds anywhere in Rivers State or Nigeria or anywhere in the world.

EFCC re-arraigns ex-gov Lamido,sons,Firms for fraud.


A former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido and his two sons – Aminu and Mustapha – were on Tuesday arraigned before Justice Ademola Adeniyi of a Federal High Court in Abuja on a 27 counts, bordering on corruption and money laundering.
Also arraigned with them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission were Aminu Abubakar, Batholomew Agoha and companies through which they perpetrated the alleged fraud.
The companies are Bamaina Holdings Limited, Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited, Bamaina Aluminium Limited and Speeds International Limited.
Lamido and other accused had on July 9, 2015, been arraigned before Justice Evelyn Anyadike of a Federal High Court in Kano, over misappropriation of funds belonging to Jigawa State.
Their case was later transferred to the FHC, Abuja, where a vacation judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, granted them bail and adjourned the matter till September 22, 2015.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday at the Abuja FHC, counsel for the EFCC, Chile Okoroma, presented the court with the amended charge, dated September 15, 2015, which added Agoha, manager of Speeds International Limited, as one of the accused persons.
The case was however, adjourned briefly to allow the registry to assign a new charge number to the amended charge sheet, since the case was originally heard in Kano.
But when the charges were read to them, all the accused pleaded not guilty and the case was thereafter, adjourned till October 21 and 22 for trial.

Monday 21 September 2015

Alex Otti: Court of appeal dismisses PDP appeal.


The Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri has dismissed two separate but similar appeals brought to it by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Alex Otti, and his party. The appeals originated from a decision of the Abia State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Umuahia.
In a unanimous judgment of a five-member panel of Justices,  the Court of Appeal, which earlier, struck out three of the four issues raised by PDP before dismissing the appeal, agreed that the entire appeal was premature because it was based on complaint against a ruling, which the tribunal has not yet delivered.
It further stated that there was no infringement of the right to fair hearing of the appellant as they were rightly heard by the trial tribunal before ruling was adjourned within the 180 days stipulated by the constitution.
Addressing newsmen after the judgment, which lasted for about one hour, counsel to Dr. Otti and APGA, Nwala Chukwudi Oracle, said what the Court of Appeal did was giving effect to, and affirming the sanctity of paragraph 12 (5) of the 1st Schedule to the Electoral Act.
Oracle said the Court of Appeal could not have gone any other way than to confirm that the trial tribunal has powers to take all preliminary motions along with the substantive petition.
“As a matter of fact, paragraph 12 (5) is intended to reflect the sui generis nature of election matters.  The spirit and intendment of that paragraph is to suppress the mischief of delaying the election petition proceeding by ensuring that preliminary objections, whether on jurisdiction or not, raised in the course of the proceedings, did not derail the determination of the merit of a case by undue and unwarranted delays occasioned by preliminary objections.”
Oracle insisted that, “as a matter of fact, the tribunal is under a duty to comply with the provisions of paragraph 12(5), when objections are raised against the hearing of a petition.’’
In its judgment, the Appeal Court, relying on the case of Aregbesola vs Omisore, emphasized that,   “When paragraph 53(5) was in being, paragraph 12(5) came in on October 29, 2010 like a Trojan Horse.  Paragraph 53(5) itself came into effect on  August 20, 2010.  Paragraph 12(5) was undoubtedly enacted for a purpose.  That purpose was to enable election petition tribunals to handle election petitions without undue reliance on technicalities.  Although paragraph 53(5) was not repealed, the law is that the provisions of the later enactment amend the earlier so far as necessary to remove the inconstitency between them.”
The same court  had on September 3, dismissed a similar suit brought before it by Dr. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu against Dr. Alex Otti on the same basis that it lacked merit and was a mere academic exercise.
Meanwhile, the case at the trial tribunal has been adjourned to October 14, 2015 for the adoption of final written addresses of the parties. In a telephone interview, a chieftain of APGA, Chief Inem Nwaka, dedicated the victory to the struggle for “the emancipation of the well-meaning people of Abia State” and thanked God for giving Dr. Otti the enablement to redeem Abians.

Bayelsa poll: Jonathan dump Dickson,funds Alaibe's campaign organisation.


Barely two weeks after former president Goodluck Jonathan and wife, Dame Patience formally endorsed the re-election bid of Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, indications have emerged that the former president may have withdrawn his support for the incumbent chief executive of the oil-rich state.

On September 8 when Governor Dickson declared for a second term, the former president openly endorsed him in a mega-rally at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, the state capital.
But on Sunday, September 20, Daily Sun reliably gathered from a major stakeholder in Bayelsa PDP that Dr. Jonathan and his wife are now secretly sup- porting Chief Timi Alaibe, one of the 18 guber aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The APC governorship primary comes up today in Yenagoa.

It was gathered that Jonathan’s volte-face came as politicians upped the ante with a wave of complex in- trigues enveloping the state ahead of the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa.
Daily Sun learnt that Jonathan’s dumping of Dick- son is not unconnected with his fears that the governor may be uncontrollable and that his re-election may spell doom for the former first family’s quest to, at least, control the politics of the state.

The former first lady, it was learnt, is particularly angry that Dickson may not do their bidding, hence the support for Alaibe who is widely believed to have the disposition to play ball.
Our source claimed that Jonathan’s endorsement of Alaibe was a fall back strategy by the former president and his wife to forestall any possible persecution and to remain politically relevant in case the APC upstages the PDP in the election.

Daily Sun gathered that the truce was reportedly brokered by ex-militant leader and one of the major beneficiaries of the Jonathan government, Government Tompolo. He was said to have held a lengthy meeting with Jonathan and his wife at their Otuoke countryhome last week before facilitating the meeting between Jonathan, wife and Alaibe on Sunday.

Our source said at the meeting, Tombolo laid out the strategic issues of the forthcoming election and the need to protect Jonathan’s interest in case the APC wins.
He said that as such, the idea of having a Plan B which will hedge against possible persecution and loss of political relevance was tabled which invariably led to the suggestion that the former president should also support Alaibe, an ally of Tompolo and long standing business partner.
It was further learnt that as a mark of his seriousness, Jonathan donated an undisclosed whopping sum of money as his own contribution towards the funding of Alaibe’s aspiration, to clinch the governorship flag of his party.
The source claimed that Jonathan had earlier ex- pressed fears of persecution should APC take over the state.
Daily Sun learnt that with that understanding and following pressure from Tompolo, Alaibe have agreed to work with Jonathan, assuring all parties to the arrangement that upon his possible 
emergence as governor in February next year, he will respect Dame Patience, protect Jonathan’s interest and even go a step further to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari not to witch hunt him.
“That is the nature of politics. There’s no permanent enemy but permanent interest. What is unfolding is baffling but it is true Jonathan is hobnobbing with Alaibe for strategic political reasons. I can tell you categorically that Tomoplo as the go-between had a meeting with him and his wife and Alaibe in Otuoke and all the issues were well discussed. It does not mean he has totally abandoned Dickson but based on the pressure from Tompolo, he wants to have a Plan B and it should interest you that he actually donated some dollars to fund Alaibe’s campaign to get the ticket. That’s the situation but let’s wait and see”, the source said.
Meanwhile, it was also gathered that as part of his deft moves to clinch the APC governorship ticket, Alaibe has temporarily stopped to relate with the Sen- ate President, Bukola Saraki for fear of hurting the presidency and the national leadership of the APC, who are believed to be behind Saraki’s travails. Saraki is a strong backer of the former Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) boss.Baye

Federal government declares Thursday,Friday public holidays.


Fed Govt declares Thursday, Friday public holidays
The Federal Government has declared Thursday and Friday as public holidays to mark this year’s El-el-Kabir celebration.
Ministry of Interior’s Permanent Secretary  Abubakar Magaji, in a statement yesterday, urged muslim faithful and Nigerians to extend love, peace, empathy and tolerance for the overall development of the nation.

Lagos assembly gets Gov Ambode's commissioner nominees.

Assembly gets Ambodeā€™s  commissioner-nominees
Ambode
•Six ex-exco members, three ex-lawmakers make list
Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday presented the list of would-be executive council members to the House of Assembly for screening.
The governor’s list, made up of top technocrats, politicians and strategists, was read at plenary yesterday by the Clerk of the House, Ganiyu Abiru.
There were 36 names, made up of 23 commissioners and 13 special advisers.
Included are six former executive council members from the Babatunde Fashola administration and three  lawmakers in the Seventh Assembly.
Some of the nominees include Ganiyu Okanlomo Sanni, Lola Akande, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, Adebimpe Akinsola, Agboola Dabiri and Mrs. Yetunde Onabule.
Others are Kehinde Joseph, Femi Onanuga, Dr. Mustapha Akinkunmi, Ganiyu Johnson and Gbolahan Lawal.
Also nominated were Steve Ayorinde, Dr. Jide Idris, Dayo Mobereola, Seye Oladejo, Kehinde Bamigbetan and Babatunde Humpe.
We also have Wasiu Anifowoshe, Benson Akinlola, Femi Odebiyi, Femi Onanuga, Fela Bank-Olemo and Benjamin Labinjo.
The governor also proposed Tunde Durosinmi-Etti, Toyin Suarat and Abdulateef Abdulakeem.
The six former executive council members are former commissioner for Agriculture, Gbolahan Lawal, former Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, former Special Adviser, Central Business District, Folarin Coker, former Special Adviser Commerce and Industry, Seye Oladejo, former Special Adviser Works and Infrastructure, Ganiyu Johnson and former Special Adviser Rural Development, Babatunde Hunpe.
The governor named a relatively young exco with the likes of Mrs. Yetunde Onabolu, Fela Bank-Olemoh, Akinyemi Ashade, a partner in KPMG, former Managing Director, National Mirror, Steve Ayorinde, Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, a pharmacist, Kehinde Joseph and Prof. Ademola Abass, a professor of Law, whose ages range between 39 and 47 years.
Others include Akintola Benson, former Special Adviser Political and Legislative Powers Bureau, Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef, Mohammed Akinkunmi, former member, House of Representatives, Babatunde Adejare, Femi Onanuga,  Dayo Mobereola, Ade Akinsanya, Wasiu Anifowoshe, former member of the House of Assembly, Mrs. Lola Akande, Agboola Dabiri, Ganiu Okanlomo Sanni, Anofi Elegushi, Rotimi Ogunleye, Mrs. Adebimpe Akinsola, Femi Odubiyi, Musiliu Folami, Adeniji Kazeem, Adeyemi Labinjo, Toyin Suarau, Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, Deji Tinubu, Mrs. Mudirat Giwanson and former Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Kehinde Bamigbetan and Wale Oluwo.
The screening is expected to begin after the Sallah holidays.
Ambode also submitted the names of Kabir Ahmed Abdullah as the Executive Secretary of the Water Regulatory Commission and Fuad Alade Oki as the director-general and chief executive officer of the State Safety Commission for confirmation.

Falae's abductors demand N100m


Falaeā€™s abductors demand N100m
It was a bad 77th  birthday yesterday for one-time Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Chief Olu Falae. He was abducted on his farm by yet unknown men.
Falae is the traditional ruler (Olu) of Ilu Abo, a village in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.
His farm in Ilado village, also in Akure North, is about 15 kilometres to his home on Oba Ile Road in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
His abductors, who attacked the over 200 workers on his farm, contacted his wife, Rachael, demanding N100million “within the next 24 hours”.
The police said the 1999 presidential candidate of the All Peoples Party (APP) had been having a running battle with Fulani herdsmen on his farm before yesterday’s incident.
It was learnt that Falae, an economist and technocrat, received a call that herdsmen had again invaded his farm.
He reportedly rushed to the farm where he was attacked and whisked away.
Inner room reporters were barred from speaking with his wife.
Ondo police spokesman Wole Ogodo said the police had deployed 50 riot policemen, led by the Deputy Commissioner (Operations), Mr. Ishola Abdulahi, to Falae’s farm.
He said: “For now, I cannot conclusively say whether it is kidnapping or not. But what we learnt from his Chief Security Officer (CSO) is that the Fulani herdsmen came to attack them on the farm.
“But before now, they have been having a running battle over the grazing on his farm. There was a time he reported them and two of them were arrested and brought to the Police Command where they made an undertaking.
“So they came today and launched an attack. Two of the workers were injured. Others fled into the bush and we were told that “baba” was whisked away.
“Immediately we were alerted, 50 policemen were deployed,” he said.
The state government described the abduction as “unfortunate”, saying the security of the country had deteriorated to the level of abducting a personality of Falae’s status.
Commissioner for Information Kayode Akinmade, said an urgent security meeting had been summoned.
He assured the family members that the government will do everything possible to ensure Falae is rescued alive.
The Asamo of Akure, High Chief Rotimi Olusanya, said: “We are surprised. I don’t really know what the old man has done?
“He does not have money. He is an old man. We are shocked. The Deji of Akure, Oba Aladesulu Aladetoyinbo, has made efforts to contact the state government. We appeal to the security agencies to do something about it urgently.
“I am hearing that Chief Falae has issues with the Fulani herdsmen for the first time. Anyway, we’ve not received details of the kidnapping. But if that is the case, it is just unfortunate.”
The Director of Administration and Publicity of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Yemi Olayiwola, described the incident as “unfortunate”. Falae is the national chairman of the party.
Another SDP chieftain in Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde, called for Falae’s unconditional release.
He described the septuagenarian as a statesman who has dedicated his life to ensuring good life and social justice of all Nigerians.
In October 2013, Falae’s son, Deji, a commissioner in the Olusegun Mimiko administration died in a plane crash while on a delegation taking the body of the late Governor Olusegun Agagu from Lagos to Akure.
The state has recently witnessed a series of kidnappings.
In July, the Regent of Akungba-Akoko, Mrs. Toyin Omosowon, was kidnapped on her way to Akungba after attending a programme at Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).
She spent two weeks in the kidnappers’ den before being rescued by security agents.
In August, Mrs. Omogbene Adeborile, the mother-in-law of the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom in Ilaje Local Government Area, Oba Frederick Akinruntan was abducted at Igbotako in Okitipupa Local Government Area. She was released after one week in captivity.

Saraki loses bid to stop trial,faces tribunal today.

Senate President Bukola Saraki
THE Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Monday said he would appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Tuesday (today) to face a 13-count charge of false asset declaration levelled against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau.
Saraki’s promise to appear before the CCT as a “law-abiding citizen” followed failed judicial battle on Monday to stop his arrest and trial by the tribunal.
“I will be there, I have nothing to hide. One was exercising his own right both at the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. So, I will appear before the tribunal. The most important thing is that I believe in the process and I will ensure that I am there tomorrow morning,” he told journalists covering the Senate in Abuja.
Moments later, a statement by the Senate president’s spokesman, Yusuph Olaniyonu, reinforced the promise by Saraki to finally appear before the CCT.
Olaniyonu’s statement partly read, “Following the adjournment for the determination of the motion on notice and the substantive suit before the Federal High Court to 30th of September and the appeal pending before the Court of Appeal adjourned to the 29th of September 2015, the Senate President has decided, as a law abiding citizen, to appear before the Tribunal in the interim.
“Dr. Saraki has taken the decision to attend the Tribunal sitting to demonstrate his respect for the rule of law in spite of his personal reservation on the process of his trial and the purpose it may be intended to serve.
“Dr. Saraki wishes to assure Nigerians of his absolute belief in the judicial process and is therefore confident that the course of justice would be served at the end of this matter.”
Courts refuse to stop trial
Earlier in the day, both the Court of Appeal and a Federal High Court in Abuja had refused the Senate President’s ex-parte applications to halt his arrest and trial respectively.
Saraki had asked the FHC to stop the CCB and the CCT from prosecuting him while demanding from the Appeal Court an order to stay the execution of the order of arrest made by the Justice Danladi Umar of the CCT as well as the proceedings of the tribunal.
At the FHC, Saraki’s lawyer, Adebayo Adelodu (SAN), had asked the court to make his prayers that the tribunal be stopped from proceeding with the trial in the ex-parte application absolute.
But Justice Ahmed Mohammed, who presided, refused the application and ordered that the respondents be put on notice.
He held that in view of the fact that the respondents had joined issues with the plaintiffs, coupled with fundamental, constitutional and radical nature of the preliminary objection, which borders on the 
jurisdiction of the court and supervisory powers of the tribunal, the court would not dissipate energy 
and time on interlocutory matters.
The court therefore dismissed the application and ordered that the applicant to put the respondents on notice. The judge later adjourned the case till September 30 for hearing of the substantive suit.
At the Court of Appeal where Saraki’scounsel prayed the court to set aside the order of arrest on Saraki and also stay the proceedings at the tribunal, Justice Morri Adumein, in his ruling, held that the respondents should also be put on notice.
According to him, Section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act 2004 (as amended) gives the court the general power to make interim orders.
He further stressed that for the court to exercise such powers, the application for the interim order should be in writing.
“It is for this reason that the court will refuse this application for interim injunction. It would better serve the interest of justice for the respondents to be put on notice. Consequently, the motion is hereby refused and struck out,” the judge stated.
He however adjourned the case till September 29 for hearing of the motion on notice.
After the ruling, Adelodun prayed the court to make a preservative order to preserve the RES of the case so as to maintain status quo.
In his response, Justice Adumein, said that it was not in the interest of the court to interfere in the affairs of lower courts.
“To appear before the tribunal is not a death sentence, we can come in at any point,” he stated.
CCT renews arrest order
The CCT on Monday renewed its order of arrest on Saraki by the Inspector-General of Police.
The tribunal’s Justice Danladi Umar again ordered the IG, Solomon Arase, to arrest and produce the Senate president at the tribunal on Tuesday (today) to take his plea in the 13-count charge slammed on him.
The CCT had earlier on Friday ordered Saraki’s arrest by the IG with a mandate to produce him on Monday (yesterday).
The lead counsel to Saraki and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Joseph Daudu 
(SAN), had on Friday given an undertaking to produce the Senate president in court on Monday.

However at the resumed trial on Monday, Daudu informed the CCT that the accused had filed an appeal before the appellate court to challenge the tribunal’s earlier ruling.
He prayed the tribunal to stay proceedings, pending the determination the appeal.
The prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), opposed the application, arguing that Section 305 and 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (2015), did not allow a stay of proceeding in any criminal matter any longer.
Jacobs further informed the CCT that because of the undertaking made by Daudu on Friday that he would produce Saraki in court, he (Jacobs) had advised the Federal Government not to execute the arrest as a mark of honour to the senior lawyer.
He said that he was surprised that despite the undertaking by Daudu, the accused person was still not in court.
Jacobs therefore prayed the tribunal to make an order that will produce the accused person in court.
Delivering his ruling on the absence of Saraki in court, Justice Umar said, “We have taken note of the observations made by counsel for the accused on the pending matter at the FHC, but it is worthy of note that the order of the FHC did not suspend the sitting of the tribunal.
“We also disagree on the argument of the accused that applicability of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act did not affect this tribunal; this tribunal is duty bound to apply the new law because it affects the tribunal. This tribunal has to take a position that in the interest of justice, the position of the tribunal is that the accused must be compelled to appear before this tribunal tomorrow (today).
“In this wise, we re-affirm that the bench warrant of last Friday must be executed for the Inspector-General of Police or other security agencies to arrest and produce the accused before this tribunal tomorrow (today) by 10:00 am.