A former judge of the Osun State High
Court, who was recently retired by the
National Judicial Council, Justice Olamide
Oloyede, has said she has no regrets
writing the petition against Governor Rauf
Aregbesola and his deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-
Tomori.
The retired judge said this while featuring
on a radio programme, Frank Talk, aired by
Rave FM and monitored by our
correspondent in Osogbo on Monday.
Oloyede, however, apologised to the
governor and the deputy for using certain
words which she ought not to have used in
the petition but stressed that she was
convinced beyond doubt that she did no
wrong by writing the petition where she
asked the members of the House of
Assembly to impeach Aregbesola and
Laoye-Tomori.
She explained that she had no animosity
against the governor, adding that she did
not violate any section of the constitution
for talking about the issues affecting the
people of the state.
Oloyede said, ” I have no regrets writing
that petition, but I think in retrospect I have
come to realise that perhaps, I did employ
some words or language in respect of Mr.
Governor and his deputy, which I ought not
to have and so, today I am tendering an
unreserved apology, public apology for the
choice of certain words which I would not
repeat.
“However, as far as the substance of that
petition is concerned, I remain resolute and
I am convinced that my actions were done
in fidelity to my office and to the
constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigerian , which I swore to uphold and out
of love for my country.
“As we say in law, the fact speaks for itself
and as I said earlier, the petition speaks for
itself. I would rather not go over the
content of the petition, which I believe is in
the public’s possession. My reason for
writing is clearly stated there. I am a
person known for my own conviction and
the only regret I have, I have said it, every
other thing I said I meant it word for word.”
She stated that some believed that the
judiciary should only be seen and not heard
even if the country was collapsing, but
Oloyode said she did not belong to this
class of people.
Monday, 10 October 2016
DSS lied to justify assault on judiciary – Wike
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike,
has said the Department of State Services
resorted to “deliberate misinformation and
concocted stories” to justify its
“unconstitutional” assault on the nation’s
judiciary.
Wike maintained that the DSS lacked the
constitutional powers to be involved in the
legal process to discipline a serving judicial
official, pointing out that a legal process
must be followed.
The DSS had stated that its operatives
swooped on some judges in the country
because there were allegations that they
(judges) were involved in corrupt practices,
adding that various amount of money, in
different denominations, were found in the
judges residences.
Speaking during a special dinner for the
management and players of Rivers United
at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on
Saturday, Wike said the “weak blackmail of
the DSS” would not lessen the crime it had
committed against the Nigerian state by
assaulting the judiciary.
He said, “Their blackmail stories will not
move me. They will concoct all kinds of
stories to justify this undemocratic illegality
perpetrated against the judiciary.
“It is really unfortunate that DSS would
concoct a false defence that $USD2 million,
(that is N900m) was found in the house of
the judge. It is unfortunate that the DSS is
coming up with flimsy excuses.”
However, a Government House statement
by Wike’s aide on Electronic Media, Simeon
Nwakaudu, read, “It will be recalled that the
governor and the DSS operatives had their
encounter outside the gate of a judge’s
residence.
Buhari not yet Nigerian President – Rep
A House of Representatives member for
Orumba North-South in Anambra State,
Mr. Sopuluchukwu Ezeonwuka, has urged
President Muhammadu Buhari to come to
terms with his position as the President
of Nigeria.
Ezeonwuka spoke at Oko, Orumba North
Local Government Area of Anambra State
on Saturday during his reception by the
Okeani General Assembly.
He accused the Buhari administration of
bigotry and lopsidedness in actions.
He said, “The moment you contested an
election and won, you become the President
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not
the President of the North or South.
“Check out the appointments made by
President Muhammadu Buhari, south
easterners were nowhere. In appointments
of 24 persons, you have 21 from the North,
one or two in the South-West, one in the
South-South, and none in the South-East.
“It’s quite unfortunate that Buhari has not
yet assumed the position of the President of
Nigeria. He is like somebody on a specific
mission.”
The lawmaker, who is a member of the
House Committee on Customs, pointed out
that no person of Igbo origin was
represented in the Customs management.
“The APC government should know that we
are an integral part of this country called
Nigeria. One thing is clear, the
marginalisation of the Igbo will not last
long. If you keep telling some people that
you don’t want them, they can take a
decision,” he said.
‘Tinubu’ and Aregbesola pays Fayose a visit
The All Progressives Congress, APC,
popularity is beginning to be eroded
in South-West.
Feelers from South West also shows
that APC is no longer a favored
party in the region as the People’s
Democratic Party seem to rising in
popularity.
It however came as a surprise when
Tinubu’s henchman, Governor Rauf
Aregbesola of Osun state, visited
Governor Ayodele Fayose in Ado-
Ekiti.
APC has already condemned the
visit labeling it as a contempt for the
party’s leadership in the state.
Aregbesola was in Ado-Ekiti on
Saturday on invitation of Fayose for
the 20th Year Anniversary of Ekiti
State.
At the event, Aregbesola described
Fayose as “omoluabi” and a
hardworking governor who had
turned around the fortunes of Ekiti
State.
Aregbesola also described Governor
Fayose as a “Reliable person” and
that in spite of political differences,
he and Fayose shared many things
in common.
Then Aregbesola said “Sooner than
later, there will be realignment of
forces.”
That was the statement that broke
the camel’s back.
The State publicity secretary of APC,
Taiwo Olatunbosun, said:
“Aregbesola’s visit to Fayose
praising him as ‘omoluabi’ is
embarrassing.
“It is shocking that Aregbesola as a
governor would be visit Ekiti State
without putting the leaders into
confidence.
“More so on a visit to a man who
once wished the President dead.
“Fayose had done unbelievable
things both in Nigeria and abroad to
bring Buhari’s government down.
“Worse still, Aregbesola was praising
the man who will stop at nothing to
bring APC-led Federal Government
down.
“We find it most embarrassing that
one of our leaders would be
planning a re-alignment of forces
with a governor that has made life a
nightmare for our members.
“We also find it spiteful that
Aregbesola would sit with Fayose on
this same program where the latter
berated Buhari to no end.
“Fayose described the President’s
programs as a theory that is
compounding problems for
Nigerians, and Aregbesola said
nothing.
DSS to raid Tinubu’s home on orders from Above
The National Leader of the All
Progressives Congress, APC, party,
Bola Tinubu, has begun mending
relationship with his former
political enemies.
APC’s leadership crisis has turned a
once cordial relationship Tinubu
had with President Buhari into a
sour one.
The crisis began before the 2015
general elections but became full-
blown after Buhari was sworn in as
president.
The feud was largely kept under
cover until the Ondo State
governorship primaries blew off the
lid.
But pro-Tinubu elements within the
party and other sympathizers have
vowed to resist any attempt to
humiliate Tinubu
A chieftain of the party in Osun
State, said, “This is the beginning of
the end of the APC. The party will
shatter into smithereens.
“We know the political leader of the
South-West and that person is
unmistakably Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
“They are envious of Tinubu’s
achievements, but they don’t have
Tinubu’s clout.
“None of those scrambling to wear
Tinubu’s shoes have the clout to do
so.
“They may even send the DSS after
him. Asiwaju knows that they may
come for him,” the source said.
Another reconciliatory move
between Tinubu and the Ondo State
Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko is
ongoing.
Some Yoruba leaders had
volunteered to broker a truce
between Tinubu and Mimiko. Recall
that both of them went for war
during Mimiko’s re-election bid.
Osun State Governor, Rauf
Aregbesola, a staunch Tinubu
loyalist, is said to be the arrowhead
of the move to reconcile Tinubu and
Mimiko.
Another source told this news house
that “Asiwaju has realized that they
are ready to go to war with him so
he is consolidating.
“This is not a time to hold on to past
wounds and we are glad Yoruba
elders who were critical of Tinubu
before are rallying round him.
“They now understand that this is a
South-West matter. It is beyond our
national leader.
“Don’t forget what Pa Ayo Adebanjo
said; he said any insult to Asiwaju is
an insult to the Yoruba race and
Adebanjo is not known to be
flippant in his choice of words.”
Also, a former leader of Afenifere,
told our correspondent in
confidence that Tinubu had
reconciled with some Yoruba
leaders.
Sunday, 9 October 2016
Good News! Nigerian Customs Lifts Ban on Importation of Rice…See Fresh Details
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Col.
Hameed Ali (rtd), has ordered the removal of
rice from the import restriction list, and also
re-introduced the payment of import duty on
all land borders across the federation.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen in
Abuja, the Public Relations Officer of Nigeria
Customs Service, Wale Adeniyi, disclosed that
the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col.
Hameed Ali (rtd), has ordered the immediate
lifting of the ban on rice importation from
import restriction list and the re-introduction
of import duty payment at land borders.
According to Vanguard, he said the restriction
was only applied at land border stations before
now, adding that the customs boss had lifted
restriction on rice at border stations.
Adeniyi said that all rice imports through land
borders by rice traders would attract the
prevailing import duty of 10 per cent with 60
per cent levy, adding that rice millers
(preferential levy) with valid quota allocation
would also attract duty rate of 10 per cent
with 20 per cent levy on rice importation.
“Over the years importation has been restricted
to the seaports because border authorities
have found it difficult to effectively monitor
and control importation of rice.
“When the decision to ban it (rice) was taken
it was not an effective measure because
smuggling of the product thrives with people
using different means of conveyance including
small trucks, bicycles and even animals –
putting them on donkeys and some actually
carry it on their heads.
“These new measures will be for customs to
re-organize their anti-smuggling operations in
the border areas and ensure that all those
importers through the borders bring their rice
through approved routes and pay their extant
duty,” he said.
Friday, 7 October 2016
Why forgery charges against Saraki, Ekweremadu were withdrawn – FG
The Federal Government on Friday withdrew
the forgery charges it instituted against the
Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, his
deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, and two others.
Lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Aliyu Umar
(SAN), told the trial judge, Justice Yusuf
Halilu of the Jabi Division of the High Court
of the Federal Capital Territory, that the
charges were being withdrawn because of a
pending case related to the charges before
the Federal High Court in Abuja.
He said, “This government respects the rule
of law, and hierarchy of the judiciary. It is
obvious from these two applications (filed
by Saraki and Ekweremadu) and the similar
case before your learned brother, Justice
Kolawole, at the Federal High Court who is
dealing with the issue that we are
withdrawing the charges.
“It is trite that two matters of the same
subject matter cannot be before different
courts of coordinate jurisdiction.
“Therefore, the amended charge dated
October 5, 2016 and also the original dated
June 10, 2016 and filed the same date be
struck out and all the four defendants be
discharged.”
The case before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of
the Federal High Court in Abuja which was
referred to by the prosecutor was a civil
case filed by a serving Senator, Gilbert
Nnaji, to challenge the then ongoing
investigation into the alleged forgery of the
Senate rule by Saraki and others.
The application by Umar for the withdrawal
of the charges was not opposed by the
defence lawyers comprising, Messrs
Ikechukwu Ezechukwu (SAN), Mahmud
Magaji (SAN), Paul Erokoro (SAN) and
Joseph Daudu (SAN).
Justice Halilu subsequently struck out the
case and discharged all the four accused.
APC feud: Fayose condemns attack on Tinubu
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose,
has condemned the attack on Asiwaju Bola
Tinubu, saying the “humiliation of Tinubu is
as good as (the) humiliation of the Yoruba
race.”
The governor said allowing the National
Leader of the All Progressives Congress to
be embarrassed like past Yoruba leaders
would not be in the interest of the race.
Speaking through his Special Assistant on
Public Communications and New Media,
Lere Olayinka, Fayose said, “Even though I
am not a member of APC and I will never
be, I have elected to stand in defence of the
Yoruba nation once again by saying no to
the continuous dishonourable treatment
being meted to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, having
paid his dues.
“If Tinubu is allowed to be embarrassed
and disgraced just the way our past leaders
were humiliated by these same elements,
the Yoruba nation would have been made
to suffer for uprightness.”
The governor condemned the Tuesday
sponsored protest against the APC leader
at the party’s national secretariat.
Some youth groups had protested in Abuja
to condemn Tinubu for demanding the
resignation of the APC National Chairman,
John Odigie-Oyegun, over his role in the
Ondo Governorship primaries that produced
former Nigerian Bar Association President,
Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).
Oyegun reportedly overruled the majority
decision of the National Working Committee
of the APC that voted for cancellation of the
primaries.
Fayose said, “It is unfortunate that Tinubu
is now being vilified in a party he invested
heavily in; and his fellow kinsmen that he
brought up politically are part of this
conspiracy.
“In their desperation, they have even tried
to set him against the Vice-President, Prof.
Yemi Osinbajo, by insinuating that he tried
to prevent his (Osinbajo) emergence as
President Mohammadu Buhari’s running
mate. This is sad!
“When other tribes protect their own, it is
becoming historically common among the
Yoruba to allow themselves to be used
against their leaders just for momentary
political gains at the expense of the
collective interests of the Yoruba nation.
“It should be noted that late Chief Obafemi
Awolowo was sent to jail by the conspiracy
and collaboration of some Yoruba with the
external aggressors.”
Fayose argued that Tinubu is a prominent
stakeholder and people should not watch
while those he used his own sweat to make
conspire with others to humiliate him.
“Most importantly, it is my position that
irrespective of political affiliation, no leader
of the Yoruba nation must be vilified
unduly, especially by the same people who
humiliated our past leaders such
as Obafemi Awolowo, Adekunle Ajasin, Bola
Ige, Bisi Onabanjo, Lateef Jakande, and
others.
“To me, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu should not be
seen just as an APC leader, but
acknowledged as a major stakeholder in the
Yoruba nation that we must all protect
beyond politics.
”It should be recalled that these were
among the issues that I raised when I
visited Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun
State a few months ago on the need to
work together beyond party affiliations.
“Here in Yorubaland, it is said that if a
household is at peace, it is because the
bastard child of the family is yet to attain
the age of maturity and those people that
Asiwaju Tinubu made, but are now being
used against him, should watch it.
“I therefore condemn this conspiracy
against Asiwaju Tinubu and I admonish
those that are hoping to make political
benefits from it to have a rethink.”
The governor, who called for greater unity
among the Yoruba, added, “We are first
Yoruba before becoming members of
political parties. It is my opinion that our
leaders must be defended and protected,
not-minding the personal gains of today.”
Arsenal star injured during international break
the international break. The time when clubs
send their highly paid players off to represent
their countries and then sit at home biting their
fingernails and hoping none of them get injured.
But they often do.
Spanish newspaper Marca report on Friday that
Arsenal may have an injury to be at least a little
worried about. Hector Bellerin has been away
with Spain’s U21 side, and playing against San
Marino (which somehow makes it all the more
annoying) he received a ‘nasty tackle’ to his
right ankle.
Nobody wants a nasty San Marino tackle to their
right ankle, and Bellerin was hurt. Marca say the
player is now awaiting the results of relevant
medical tests to determine the ‘extent of his
injury’.
The Spanish newspaper say that Bellerin didn’t
train yesterday with Spain but that was ‘as a
precaution’. It doesn’t sound ultra serious,
there’s no talk of a possible long lay-off, but it’ll
be a worry nonetheless.
With all due respect to San Marino, Wenger’s
face will be a picture when he hears Bellerin may
be out injured because he was tackled by a
trainee dentist, or similar.
