Rivers tribunal judgment embarrassing – Mimiko

The Ondo State Governor and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has condemned the judgment of the Rivers State Election Petitions Tribunal, which nullified the victory of Governor Nyesom Wike.
The tribunal, sitting in Abuja, on Saturday, sacked the Wike, who contested the April 11 election on the platform of the PDP and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct fresh election in the state in the next three months.
Mimiko, while speaking with journalists in Akure, the state capital, on Monday, faulted the three-man tribunal on the grounds that its judgment was too hasty as it came less than 48 hours that both parties submitted their written addresses.
He added that the tribunal did not wait for the judgment of the Supreme Court over the issue of its jurisdiction before passing the judgment, noting that the apex court verdict would come up in a few days.
He said, “Our mindset is that tribunal judgment can go either way, but the Rivers own is particularly embarrassing. We all know the circumstances surrounding the Rivers State tribunal. You recall that for unjustifiable cause, that tribunal was not allowed to sit in Port Harcourt, it was taken to Abuja. Somewhere along the line, the chairman of the Tribunal got changed.
“Now, we challenge the jurisdiction of the Tribunal and it has gotten to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court will give judgment in the next few days. The Abuja Tribunal continues to sit. On Thursday, nine written addresses were adopted.
“The adoption of the written addresses were done on 1pm on Thursday. In the course of that trial, the litigants – both plaintiffs and defendants – called more than 100 witnesses, documents that were presented as exhibits were more than 1,000. We are talking of more than 100 witnesses and 1,000 documents were admitted, we are talking of nine written addresses. None of the addresses were less than 40 pages.
“The adoption was on Thursday, around 1pm and Friday around 2pm, barely under 24 hours, notice had been issued that judgment was ready, that judgment was given on Saturday. This sequence and turn of event assault the sensibilities of lawyers that really believe in justice.”
“Remember the issue of jurisdiction, which is fundamental, the Supreme Court is bound to give judgment this week. The question is why could the tribunal not have waited? Wait for the Supreme Court judgment, which would naturally impact on its own outcome. Let the Supreme Court rule that they do not have jurisdiction ab initio.”
Expressing confidence that the PDP would get favourable judgment at the Appeal Court, Mimiko said the party would soon meet to deliberate and take position on the matter.

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Jonathan’s defeat affected Lagos PDP’s rigging plan – APC

 

Former president Goodluck Jonathan

 

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress says   the loss of the presidential election by the Peoples Democratic Party on March 28, 2015 frustrated its plans to take over Lagos State by force.

The APC, while reflecting on the victory of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at the Supreme Court last week, said the PDP would have deployed security agencies and ethnic groups to remove the APC government in Lagos if Nigerians had re-elected former President Goodluck Jonathan.

In a statement issued by the APC spokesman, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, on Sunday, the party commended the resilience of Nigerians during the presidential poll to free themselves from 16 years of oppression of the PDP.

The APC said, “Had the PDP succeeded in stealing the presidency on March 28, 2015, it would have used the army, the police, the Department of State Service to ‘steal’ Lagos by force.

The Supreme Court verdict has proved beyond reasonable doubt that Ambode won the governorship election fair and square, defeating Mr. Jimi Agbaje of the PDP with more than 160, 000 votes.”

While assuring Lagosians that the APC government in Lagos would not lower the bar of leadership, the group said Lagos would continue to be a pacesetter.

The APC said the Supreme Court verdict was another call to duty , adding that Governor Ambode possesses the required skills, training, experience, to consolidate on the gains of the past 16 years.

The statement read, “As a bean counter, he has hit the ground running, restructuring and repositioning critical institutions in Lagos. He has been busy embarking on reforms. The resounding victory at the apex court tells us in no uncertain terms that Lagosians have not forgotten how AD (Alliance for Democracy), AC (Action Congress), ACN (Action Congress of Nigeria) and now APC, transformed Lagos in the last 16 years and made the city the fastest growing cosmopolitan city state in Africa, with a Gross Domestic Product of more than $135 bn.

“Lagosians have not forgotten that the progressive party cleaned up Lagos and made it a habitable city. They have not forgotten how our party made Lagos a haven for business activities to thrive. They have not forgotten how we built the most formidable security architecture in Lagos to protect lives and property of more than 18 million Nigerians residing in the city of Lagos.

“The apex court ruling has put paid to the controversy surrounding the April 11 poll. The victory would spur the Ambode-led administration to implement the party’s people-oriented policies and programmes.”

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Afenifere knocks Kwankwaso for insulting Yoruba elders

 

Afenifere National Publicity Secretary, 

Mr. Yinka Odunakin

 

A pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has denounced the comments credited to a former governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso, during his recent visit to Ibadan describing it as “uncouth, rude and insensitive.”

The ex-governor, now a senator, had during the inauguration of some facilities in Ibadan reportedly asked some Yoruba elders to “shut up.”

According to Afenifere, Kwankwaso’s grouse with the Yoruba leaders was their call for an end to the criminal activities of Fulani herdsmen in the South West at a recent summit in Ibadan. At the summit, the leaders had said they would reconsider the place of the Yoruba nation in Nigeria if the Federal Government could not protect their people from the incessant attacks of the Fulani herdsmen.

But Afenifere in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odunakin, on Monday, said Kwankwaso did not condemn the abduction of a former Minister of Finance, Chief Olu Falae, by the Fulani herdsmen.

He said, “The declaration is not anywhere near the statement of Gen. Yakubu Gowon on August 3, 1966 that “there is no basis for Nigeria unity, which has been so badly rocked, not only once but several times,” or the theme of the North’s revenge coup of July 29,1967 titled, ARABA, an Hausa word meaning “let us divide it.”

“In all his ramblings in Ibadan, Kwankwaso did not condemn the abduction of Chief Olu Falae, the killing of innocent farmers, the raping of women and destruction of crops and farmlands in the course of the grazing activities of Fulani herdsmen. He only tacitly justified their activities by offering excuses for their criminal conducts.”

Afenifere noted that Kwankwaso’s utterance was a replay of the sordid episode of 2,000 when some Arewa leaders stormed the office of the late Oyo State Governor, Alhaji Lam Adesina, on behalf of nomadic cattle rustlers.

“It is another sad day for the clash of civilizations within the Lugard cage when a man who has occupied all the offices Kwankwaso has held, opens his mouth in a people’s domain and all he vomits make listeners to confuse him with a herdsman

“With the uncouth, rude and insensitive remarks of Kwankwaso and his ilk in the North which are like pouring salt on injury, it is coming clear to us that there may be a grand agenda with the activities of the Fulani herdsmen either as an advance party of Boko Haram into our territory or an expansionist project.”

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Jail Rivers electoral offenders – NHRC

Prof. Chidi Odinkalu

The Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has said those who were responsible for electoral offences during the 2015 governorship election in Rivers State should be jailed.
The Rivers State Election Petitions Tribunal upturned the victory of Nyesom Wike as Rivers State Governor on Saturday and ordered a rerun within 90 days.
Odinkalu, however, noted that the tribunal ruling, that a fresh election be conducted, was not enough.
He maintained that those behind the violence at the polls should be unmasked and prosecuted.
The NHRC boss, in a series of tweets on his official Twitter handle, on Sunday, asked the Federal Government to ensure that those that engaged in electoral offences at the governorship poll, face the wrath of the law.
He said, “In May 2015, the NHRC recommended 117 persons for prosecution over crimes of electoral impunity.
“In one week, Nigerian courts have nullified two governorship election results in Akwa Ibom and Rivers states. We must ensure that those responsible go to jail.
“Electoral fraud doesn’t just happen; people do it. Wherever elections are nullified by the courts, someone should be held accountable.”

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Obasanjo, an overgrown child of circumstance – Soyinka

The Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has described former President Olusegun Obasanjo as an overgrown child of circumstance.
Soyinka sharply criticised Obasanjo in his (Nobel laureate’s) new book, titled InterInventions: Between Defective Memory and the Public Lie – A Personal Odyssey in the Republic of Liars, presented in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Saturday.
Although Soyinka conceded that he used to be friendly with Obasanjo and admitted in the book that some stakeholders were making efforts to reconcile them, he said he owed it a responsibility to fundamentally respond to lies that Obasanjo allegedly told against him in his latest biography, titled, My Watch, described in InterInventions as Three-Carat Watch.
Soyinka, who in the book also critically takes on the likes of former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; and veteran critic, Prof. Chinweizu, wrote, quoting a Yoruba proverb, “The child that swears his mother will not sleep must also prepare for a prolonged, sleepless infancy. So, let it be with Okikiola, the overgrown child of circumstance.

”I brainstormed with him over meals both when he was military Head of State – in Dodan Barracks and in his home, Ota – for some time after he left office and early in Aso Rock at his ‘second coming.’ Today, it is a different situation. If he offered to host me, I would wait until he had first swallowed a morsel from the same dish.
“I had fully attuned myself to the fact that our Owu retiree soldier and prolific author is an infliction that those of us who share the same era and nation space must learn to endure. However, it does appear to me that there is no end to this individual’s capacity for infantile mischief, and for needless, mind-boggling provocations, such as his recent ‘literary’ intrusion on my peace.
He added that part of the intervention the elders made was a ‘cordial’ conversation he had with Obasanjo recently.
According to the Nobel laureate, he, during the conversation, commended Obasanjo for the creative way he had developed the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, which Soyinka, however, described as a Presidential Laundromat and a product of executive extortion.
He added that he discussed the possibility of a collaboration with the facility.
But Soyinka, who chronicled the various places his path had met with that of Obasanjo since childhood, insisted that the lies in which the former President allegedly thrived were so unthinkable that he and some other people had started working on another book solely focusing on Obasanjo.
He questioned the godliness to which Obasanjo professed and claimed that the former President indulged in identity theft.
“Our author invokes God tirelessly, without provocation, without necessity and without justification, perhaps preemptively, but does he really believe in such an entity? Does our home-bred Double-O-Seven believe in anything outside his own Omnipotence? Could he possibly have mistaken the Christian exhortation – ‘Watch and Pray’ – for his own private inclination to ‘Watch and Prey? This is a seasoned predator on others’ achievements. He preys on their names, their characters, their motivations, their true lives; preys on gossip and preys on contributions to collective undertakings – even preys on their identities, substituting his own where possible.”
In the book, Soyinka also commented on the controversy over the ownership and leadership of the board of the Centre for Culture and International Understanding, over which he and Oyinlola recently exchanged words.
He and a former Corpa Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Dr. Olu Agunloye, also challenged Major Rasaki Salawu (retd.), who recently claimed that it was he – and not Soyinka – that formed the commission.
At the public presentation of the book, Soyinka said that he was poised to draw blood with it.
The inauguration of the Soyinka Foundation, held at the MKO Abiola Cultural Centre, Kuto, attracted dignitaries that included the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; his Edo State counterpart, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, who came in company with his wife, Lara; former governors of Ekiti, Rivers and Cross River states, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi and Mr. Donald Duke
While the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, also graced the occasion, at the the programme that featured readings and performances were scholars/writers such Profs JP Clark, Biodun Jeyifo and Remi Raji; Odia Ofeimun and Kunle Ajibade.
Amosun commended Soyinka and the organisers of the event for the initiative and promised to support it.
Efforts to get Obasanjo’s reaction failed as one of his aides said the former President had travelled to Ivory Coast to monitor elections.

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Wike: PDP summons emergency national caucus meeting

Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja
The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party  has summoned an emergency meeting of the party’s national caucus to discuss the sacking of the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, by the state election petitions tribunal.
The party said it was worried by the loss it had suffered at the tribunals in the last few days.
Apart from Wike, the Election Petitions Tribunal had also ordered the rerun of governorship election in 18 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, is a member of the opposition party, the PDP.
The two oil-rich states are considered important to the funding of the party.
naijatonic had reported exclusively that governors of the party had also scheduled an emergency meeting for Friday as a result of the two judgments.
National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh, in a statement in Abuja on Monday, alleged that the “current onslaught against the party and its candidates in the last
general elections by the Federal Government, necessitated the meeting .
He said the caucus meeting, holding on Thursday, will focus “on the unrelenting schemes by the APC (All Progressives Congress) and its Federal Government to use some unpatriotic elements in the judiciary to advance their plot to take over states won by the PDP, particularly Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Delta, Taraba and Abia states.”
He added that the national caucus meeting “is in furtherance of the decision of the leadership of the party to fully activate its structures in stiff resistance to the manipulation, coercion and threats of the APC-led government, and in line with the unbending determination by the party not to, in any way whatsoever, surrender any mandate freely given it to by the people at any level across the country, no matter the pressure.”

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Compulsory registration of Fulani herdsmen in South West underway’

The leadership of the Fulani community, resident in the South West, has agreed to embark on compulsory registration of all Fulani herdsmen operating in the various states of the geo-political zone including their animals to ensure effective monitoring of their activities by their hosts and guard against unwholesome behaviours.
This was disclosed by Sardauna Yamma and chairman of the Sarkin Hausawas in the 17 Southern states, Alhaji Haruna Maiyasin, after a marathon meeting which lasted over six hours, held at the weekend in his Sasa Palace.
Addressing newsmen on the resolutions, Alhaji Maiyasin, who presided over the deliberations and also double as the Sarkin Sasa of Ibadan land, called for cooperation of the host communities, including the various state and local governments, in supporting the Fulani leadership to effectively implement the proposed registration exercise.
According to him, the meeting also mandated Fulani parents to keep close watch on their children and wards to ensure that they do not engage in anti-social behaviours or consumption of hard drugs.
The Fulani community expressed delight over the proactive measures taken by the security operatives which led to the arrest and subsequent prosecution of the suspected kidnappers of Chief Olu Falae, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, while advocating that severe punishment be meted out on all those incriminated in the kidnapping saga to serve as deterrent.
The community, however, expressed reservations over the secession threat by Afenifere over the Fulani herdsmen controversy saying “the outburst by the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group was least expected of whoever professes to be national leaders, as this could heat up the polity and also create bad blood in the land.”
To this end, the Fulani community charged leaders of the various ethnic groups in the country, notably Afenifere, MASSOB, Arewa Consultative Forum and such others to “be cautious in their utterances and always make patriotic pronouncements that would unite the country and not those that would set the nation ablaze.”

“We should take into cognisance the fact that centuries of co-habitation between the Fulani and Yoruba in the South West had blossomed into inter-marriages between the two ethnic groups, hence, leaders from both sides should always preach peace and not discord,” the resolutions further stated.

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I sell to hunters, others, says 80-year-old woman found with 68 live catridges

An 80-year-old woman has been paraded by the police in Edo State for having in her possession 68 live cartridges.
Police said the woman, Comfort Izedomwen, confessed that she started selling ammunition about six months ago after she suffered a medical condition in her leg.
The state Police commissioner, Mr. Chris Ezike, at a media briefing, on Monday, said Madam Izedomwen was arrested at Ekae, a village close to Benin after her alleged accomplice, one Stella Omobude, was arrested with 32 live cartridges on October 8.
The commissioner, who also paraded 71 other suspected criminals at the Police Headquartres in Benin, noted that Izedomwen did not give details of her family members.
"On October 8, based on credible information, operatives and tactical units of the command raided Ekaen village on the Benin-Auchi expressway and arrested one Stella Omobude, aged 48, a seller of cartridges to suspected armed robbers," Ezike said.
In an interaction with journalists, Madam Izedomwen claimed that she was in the business of selling cartridges to hunters and private security operatives at the cost of N250 each.
"I sell to them at N250, but I don't know what they do with it. That is what I do for a living."

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Nigeria, others lost $4bn to shady oil deals – GLOBAL WITNESS

International transparency group, Global Witness, yester-day, stated that Nigeria, Angola, Republic of Congo and the Democra-tic Republic of Congo lost about $4 billion (N800 billion) in shady oil and mining deals.
Global Witness, in a recently released report, disclosed that anonymous companies facilitated the loss of national wealth on an epic scale, while it questioned the role of international oil companies that facilitate such deals.
The report revealed how oil and mining assets worth $4 billion have been allocated to companies whose ownership is obscure.
According to the report, in Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola, lucrative oil and mining licences were awarded to companies with hidden owners, diverting vast resource revenues to unknown private pockets.
It added that in the Republic of Congo, a company whose beneficiaries remain uncertain – and which has historical connections to high ranking public officials — has recently received lucrative stakes in several oil fields.
Specifically, Global Witness put Nigeria’s loss at $1.1 billion, which, according to the report, was the price agreed with an anonymous company for the OPL 245 oil block, of which Italian prosecutors claim $533 million was fingered to pay bribes.
The report put the loss to Democratic Republic of Congo at $1.36 billion, which was the value lost from just five mining deals and which was almost twice the DRC’s annual spending on health and education combined.
Angola lost $1.3 billion which was the value of part of an oil field interest sold back to the state by a company secretly owned by top officials, while the Republic of Congo lost $20 million, being the estimated value of an oil field interest won by a company previously exposed for payments to offshore companies owned on trust for the ruling elite.

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LUTH consultant’s death: Police arrest widower

Dr Femi Thomas, widower of late Consultant Paediatrician at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Dr. Hestianna Thomas, was yesterday transferred to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, SCIID, Yaba, over alleged involvement in his wife’s death.
Dr. Thomas as reliably gathered, submitted himself to policemen at Ajao estate division immediately his wife was certified dead at the LUTH last week.
However during interrogation, he reportedly told policemen that his wife could have committed suicide, maintaining that he knew nothing about her death.
As at yesterday, policemen at the Homicide section of SCIID had reportedly swung into action in their bid to unravel the cause of the late Consultant Paediatrician’s death and subsequently bring her assailants to book. Sources at the SCIID hinted that until the contrary was proved, Dr Thomas would have to remain their guest.
Sources explained that although Dr Thomas was the complainant “ but with the marks of violence on the body of the deceased, it leaves us with no option than to detain him until the contrary is proved”.
Confirming his arrest, spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Mr Joe Offor, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP said “ Yes, Dr Thomas has been transferred to the SCIID. He said that he found the body of his wife outside their room that fateful morning and rushed her to LUTH where doctors confirmed her dead. The man submitted himself to the Police at Ajao division .
“ We do not know the cause of her death yet. But there were marks of violence on her body. Investigation is however still on. The corpse has been deposited at the LUTH morgue”.
However, Management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi Araba, Lagos, has urged the public including to refrain from speculations about the cause of death of one of its consultants.
In a statement signed by the Chief Medical Director, LUTH, Prof Chris Bode, he appealed to members of the public to wait for the result of the Coroner’s inquest into the death of the late Consultant before jumping into conclusion.
The statement read: “On Tuesday, 14th October 2015, Dr (Mrs) Hestia Idiodi-Thomas, a young Consultant Paediatric Surgeon and staff of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital was brought to the LUTH Accidents and Emergency Department following  injuries sustained in  tragic circumstances within her home environment.
“ All efforts at resuscitating her failed and she was pronounced dead. The untimely death of this mother of two was a rude shock to her colleagues and the entirety of the LUTH community.
“The police were promptly informed and a Coroner’s inquest into the case is almost completed.
“Dr Heista Idiodi-Thomas was beloved by her colleagues, patients and all members of LUTH community who admired her dedication to duty, her gentle ever-smiling mien and humility to all. We shall all miss her.
“While we pray for the repose of her soul, we appeal to all to refrain from any speculations about the cause of death until the coroner’s verdict has been pronounced.
“We therefore implore the press and the general public to please respect the memory of this rare gem and leave the family to mourn as they should during this difficult period”.
Meanwhile when contacted on the release of the autopsy report, the Deputy Secretary , Nigerian Medical Association, NMA Lagos branch, Dr Peters Ogunubi, he assured that it would be ready by weekend.
According to him, “we cannot confirm if he (Dr Thomas) has been arrested by the police. But we can only tell you that the result of the autopsy will be out before weekend. And that will rest the controversy.”

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Senate vows to recover N44bn Stallion, Olam debt

Two foreign rice importing firms, Stallion Group and Olam International are owing Nigeria N44 billion as import duties on rice they imported since May 2014.
To this end, the Senate Ad hoc Committee on Rice Waivers, which revealed this during its sitting yesterday, has vowed to recover the money from the companies.
The committee, which is investigating alleged abuse of rice waivers’ policy in the country, insisted that the country must recover the amount from the two firms.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Adamu Aliero, who spoke when top representatives of the companies appeared before his committee, said: “There is no way the government will ignore this kind of money.
“We have to ensure that this money is collected and deposited into the federation account.
“The companies imported rice into the country without paying waivers, off-loaded it into their warehouses only to refuse to pay required duties when asked by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS.”
He said when NCS demanded the money from Stallion Group, the company opted to drag NCS to court.

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30 Boko Haram insurgents killed in Adamawa

No fewer than 30 members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect were killed in a gun duel with Nigerian troops assisted by the local vigilantes in the early hours of yesterday at the border villages between Adamawa and Borno states.

Boko Haram

This came as Boko Haram members on Sunday invaded Gwoza local government area of Borno State, killing nine people and destroying houses.
On the Adamaa incident, Nigerian troops had laid an ambush on the insurgents between the border villages of Kirchinga and Imirsa, which had come under attacks of Boko Haram insurgents in recent times, leading to the death of innocent residents.
A local vigilante operative who participated in the campaign, told Vanguard that following intelligence report about the movement of the Boko Haram insurgents, an ambush was laid for them which resulted in the killing of many of the insurgents.
“Following information about the movements of the Boko Haram insurgents we got, we decided to lay an ambush in the wee hours of Monday.
“Our efforts yielded results as we succeeded in killing over 30 of the insurgents after a fierce gun duel.
“We confiscated many weapons from the invading terrorists, including AK 47 assault rifles, bows and arrows and other dangerous weapons,” the source said.
The onslaught against the insurgents followed increased attacks on parts of Madagali local government area, leading to the death of three soldiers and abduction of one senior military officer alongside his operational vehicle.
A vigilante operative had told Vanguard that Boko Haram insurgents had disguised as local vigilante operatives and in the process, killed unsuspecting residents and soldiers.
“The insurgents who disguised as local vigilante mounted road blocks across the highway and pretended to be carrying out routine checks.
“The soldiers were lured into the booby trap of the insurgents who immediately swooped on them and killed three soldiers and abducted one of the soldiers,” the source said.
In a similar vein, reports from Kirchinga village in Madagali local government area of Adamawa State indicated that a fierce gun duel was taking place between Nigerian troops and Boko Haram insurgents who launched attack on the village weekend.
Confirming the incident, member representing Madagali/Michika Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Adamu Kamale, called on the federal government to deploy more troops to safeguard lives and properties.
Meanwhile, suspected group of Boko Haram sect on Sunday invaded Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, killing nine persons and destroying houses.
Sources said, however, that scores of the insurgents met their Waterloo as military operatives in Gwoza town repelled the attack much later.
The terrorists, according to another source, also wounded many people after looting their foodstuff, including livestock, and fled without confrontation from the armless villagers.
Sunday is a market day where a few persons from surrounding villages of Limankara and other communities patronize the town for businesses.
Gwoza was declared as an Islamic Caliphate by the group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau last year when his fighters seized the town which is south and about 150kms drive from Maiduguri, the state capital.
After the deadly attacks and taken over of Gwoza by the terrorists last year, including Limankara village, no fewer than 40 policemen undergoing training at the Limankara Mobile Training Camp were declared missing.
A few of them were reported to have been located and rescued, with over 30 still missing at the time of this report.
Reliable sources told Vanguard that with the liberation of Gwoza by military troops early this year, many fleeing residents returned to the town and other surrounding villages to pick up their pieces, before another group of terrorists launched fresh attacks on the town, killing nine and injuring scores.
The source added that just last week, there was a failed attempt by insurgents on Gwoza town, but they were repelled by the military, living unspecified number of the terrorists dead and recovery of their arms and ammunition.
On the recent attacks on Gwoza, another source who was on his way to Gwoza from Maiduguri at the time of the attack had to spend the night at Limankara, stating that he was compelled to do so because the military had blocked the only existing Madagali- Limankaa- Gwoza road.
The source said he was on his way to Gwoza with a truck of cement and other building materials for sale, following relative peace witnessed recently in the town, but had no option than to spent the night at Limankara before moving back to Madagali town of Adamawa.
All effort to get confirmation from the Police Commissioner, Mr. Aderemi Opadokun did not yield positive result as his phone lines were not reachable at press time.

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Police mediate in Akure monarch, Eze Ndigbo feud

Akure—ONDO State Police Command is mediating the feud between the paramount ruler of Akureland, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo and the Eze Ndigbo, Mr. Gregory Iloehika.
Also the Akure Council of Chiefs has appealed to all indigenes and residents of the town to go about their lawful duties just as they advised traders to open their shops and market their wares.
The Oba and the Eze Ndigbo have been at daggers drawn over an alleged uncomplimentary remark by the Eze Ndigbo to the Oba.
Commissioner of Police, Mike Ogbodu, invited Igbo, led by the Eze Ndigbo, to a meeting yesterday. The Akure Council of Chiefs, led by the Asamo of Akure, High Chief Rotimi Olusanya, have also met with the police top hierarchy.
The Police Command’s spokesman, Peter Joseph, promised to speak on the issue when briefed.
The Akure Council of Chiefs had reported the Eze Ndigbo to the state government and police over alleged dis-respect to the stool of the Deji of Akureland.
The Eze was invited by Deji of Akureland over leadership tussle between the Igbo and Yoruba in Mojere market in Akure metropolis and the beating of some chiefs sent by the Oba to mediate in the crisis.
The Eze Ndigbo was said to have made some uncomplimentary remarks while addressing the Deji and was allegedly walked out of the palace.
Consequently, the Igbo, in support of their leaders, were said to have closed their shops for three days.
At press time, a meeting of the Akure Council of Chief was still on.

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N400m scam: Nigerian ‘lover-boy’ bags 12 years imprisonment

A Vietnamese court has sentenced a Nigerian, Mr. Oshanugor James Anyasi, 35, to 12 years in prison for allegedly conniving with three others to dupe 10 women, many who are Vietnamese of N400 million after promising them fake love and business.  Anyasi was found guilty of a two count charges of fraud and cyber crime by a Hanoi Court.

N400M love scam: suspect, Oshanugor James Anyasi

According to the report, Anyasi and three others had hooked up with the women online sometimes in September 2012, pretending to be their lovers and business associates and then promising them expensive gifts, while faking phone calls and e-mails from customs and shipping agencies to ask them to transfer shipping fees to certain accounts.

Investigations revealed that the gang had defrauded the ten women of some huge amounts of money in separate interactions before they realized they had been duped. Of the money stolen from the women, Anyasi got 15 per cent by playing the role of an English businessman and chatting with the women, while their female accomplice got 10 per cent, and the other two, who are reportedly based in Malaysia, got 75 per cent.

One of the victims who lives in Nha Trang, Central Vietnam, ignorantly paid a fee of VND 100 million with the hope of receiving in return, VND 10 billion which Anyasi had promised he was transferring to Vietnam to buy a land in the resort town but failed to deliver.

Another victim, a Ho Chi Minh City woman was promised an iPhone, a wedding ring and 10,000 pounds but was asked to first pay VND12 million which she ignorantly did.

Also, a Southern Vietnames woman who was equally duped was asked by the gang to pay a shipping fee of 21 million Vietnam dong for the shipment of some goods to her. She later discovered that she had been duped when, after paying the purported shipment fee, she got another e-mail requesting her to pay another VND46 million.

Meanwhile, the reports equally stated that Anyasi had in February 2012 arrested in while he was waiting to board a flight to Cambodia over a fraud case in which he stole $12,000 by hacking into the e-mails of some staff of a Vietnames company and asking them to transfer the money.

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Not again! Emmanuel Emenike announces his retirement from Super Eagles

Super Eagles player, Emmanuel Emenike took to his instagram page an hour ago to announce he is quitting the national team. What he wrote after the cut...

"No more Eagles career! "After 5 great years, I am happy to announce that I have put full-stop to my Nationa team career for the sake of national peace. Its a pleasure for me to have played for this great country. I never regretted it and I think its the best time to end it. Millions thanks to all the fans who have been very supportive during the good and bad times. I am very proud of my performance, I am proud of my team mates and I am very proud of the nation called 'Nigeria'. My AFCON gold medal is a sign of great achievement, My AFCON topscorer award speaks a lot about my commitment and dedication to the team. Super Eagles is a camp not a family house, and it shouldn't be a threat zone for any individual. I have done according to our national anthem. "All my dreams came true in the national team, I dreamt to win Nations Cup for Nigeria after 20-years, I dreamt to played at the World Cup as well as to make a name for myself... In the space of five years, I got them. I'm a winner! "For every dissapointing fans, maybe due to my inability to re-establish my goal scoring instinct for Super Eagles, I will like to say I'm sorry but the ones I had scored counted well for the team. As long as Nigeria remains, you and I will always remember the name 'Emenike'. "Finally, I am happy to make a bow and continue supporting the team everytime. Up Eagles, God Bless Nigeria!

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Report on petitions received against Amaechi's nomination ready- Committee chairman on Ethics says

Chairman of the senate committee on Ethics, privileges and public petitions, Senator Sam Anyanwu, says the report on all the petitions the senate received against the ministerial nomination of former Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, is ready and will be presented to the senate during plenary tomorrow. The senate will deliberate on the committee's recommendation and determine whether or not to go ahead with Amaechi's screening. Amaechi couldn't be screened on October 13th & October 14th as the report on the petitions against him could not be submitted by the committee.

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Photo: Policeman allegedly breaks student's head in Ogun

A police officer identified as Emmanuel Ogunlesi, attached to Adigbe Police Station in Ogun State, has been accused of allegedly smashing the head of Peter Taiwo pictured above, a 25 year old Moshood Abiola Polytechnic undergraduate.

According to Vanguard, Peter who is currently lying critically ill at an undisclosed hospital in Abeokuta, was attacked by Ogunlesi and his colleagues during their visited to Olatidoye Street in the Oluwo area which is a student populated area.

Eyewitnesses say the police officers had accosted two female students and after an argument, began beating the girls. They allegedly used their baton to hit them on their buttocks and breast. The girls managed to escape the assault and the police officer allegedly turned to Peter who he pursued into his hostel, caught up with him, beat him and allegedly broke his head. And left him unconscious and in the pool of his blood.

 Confirming the incident, the Acting Police Public Relations Officer for the Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the accused police officer has been summoned for questioning.

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EFCC arrests Akpabio, ex-Akwa Ibom governor

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I won’t resign because of Boko Haram —Buhari

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has revealed how he plans to rescue the over 200 schoolgirls abducted in April last year in Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram.

He has also vowed that he would not resign if by December his government is unable to defeat Boko Haram.

Buhari told the Doha-based Aljazeera television in an interview aired on Friday evening that he would negotiate with Boko Haram to bring back the Chibok girls.

It has been 18 months since more than 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped by Boko Haram from the remote town of Chibok in Borno State. President Buhari has pledged to defeat the armed group by December and is willing to negotiate to secure the girls’ release.

“[Boko Haram has] to prove to us that they are alive, they are well, and then we can…negotiate with them.”

“We said it and we meant it. If we are satisfied that the girls are alive,” the president adds.

On what the Nigerian government is willing to offer the armed group, Buhari says “it will depend on the leadership of Boko Haram”.

When asked whether he would offer financial payments, or a prisoner release, to Boko Haram in return for the girls, Buhari did not rule out either option. “Well it depends on the negotiations with the leadership of Boko Haram.”

The president pledged to defeat Boko Haram by the end of 2015 and told Aljazeera: “As soon as the rainy season ends, which is by the end of the year […] Boko Haram will virtually be out of their main stronghold and that will be the end of it [….] Attacks by Boko Haram on townships, on military installations, will certainly stop.”

If Boko Haram isn’t defeated by December, however, Buhari said he “will not resign”.

“I will be determined to stay and fight it out.”





The president claimed not to have seen the Amnesty International report from June 2015,‘Nigeria: Stars on their shoulders: Blood on their hands’, in which the human-rights group documented abuses, torture and unlawful killings by the Nigerian armed forces and urged the government to prosecute a group of officers and senior commanders. “I haven’t received that report personally,” said Buhari. “If I get those documents… I assure you that I will take action as Commander in Chief.”

In the past, Buhari has been quoted as saying he supports “the total implementation of the sharia in the country” but he told Aljazeera that “Nigerian law does not allow for” so-called sharia punishments, such as stonings and amputations, adding: “I cannot change it. I haven’t been voted by [a] majority of Nigerians to change Nigerian constitution.”


Asked about his record as a military dictator in the mid-1980s, and the alleged human-rights abuses which occurred on his watch, Buhari said: “If there is any injustice that can be proved against me when I was there, I will gladly apologize.” The president refused, however, to concede that his now-notorious ‘war against indiscipline’ in the 1980s featured any such “injustice”.

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presume me innocent until the contrary is proved-amaechi

A former governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi has pleaded with the Senate not to stop his screening as a minister-nominee.

In three separate letters written by his solicitor, Edward E. Pepple to the Senate president, Senator Bukola Saraki and Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Amaechi gave reasons why the Senate should not stop his screening as a minister-nominee declaring that the allegations against him were not only false and made mala fide but were also subjudice.






While insisting that the allegations were with the intent to “solely irritate, embarrass and tarnish his hard-earned reputation” Amaechi reminded the Senate that he should be presumed innocent until the contrary is proved.

While telling the Senate that since there were pending cases at the Federal High Court, Abuja and the Court of Appeal on the matter he told the Senate that any action on the allegations by the Senate would be subjudice just as he asked the Senate to preserve its Standing Order which bars it from dabbling in any matter pending before a court.

Amaechi, in the letters, asked the Senate to “discard” the petition against him by the Integrity Group and the report of the Justice G. G. Omereji’s Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

“Just as the general principle of law is that commentaries and other forms or outside-the-courtroom discussions should not be encouraged or engaged in relation to the subject matter of any judicial litigation, so as not to prejudice and prejudge a matter before a court, we have also realised that this Distinguished Senate has not only adopted this principle of law, but has also made it a written code in its Rules and Standing Orders, which is the compass for the proceedings of the Senate.

“The Senate by so doing has debarred Distinguished Senators from considering matters which are rightly or wrongly subjudice for the sake of ensuring the much desired separation of powers and preventing possible loop holes that may exist or be created in an attempt at short-circuiting the process of justice and circumventing the stringent application of the laws of our land.

“Mr. President, needless to emphasise that it is one of the cardinal pillars of fair hearing that an accused person is presumed innocent until the contrary is proved. Again, this position is strengthened and reinforced by section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended) (hereafter simply referred as the Constitution).

“As our client has indicated, the allegations are not only false, they are also made mala fide with the intent to solely irritate, embarrass and tarnish the hard-earned reputation of our client and maliciously represent him as a person not fit and proper to occupy public office.

“Sir, this intention is borne out clearly from the conduct and restless activities of the petitioner, who has expressly stated in his petition to the Senate that he had written same petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), the two foremost institutions in the country vested with the authority to prosecute financial and corrupt practices related offences. Except to speculate that the petitioner has no confidence in both the EFCC and ICPC, one would have thought that the petitioner should have awaited the outcome of the investigation of his allegations by these institutions. He did not do so because he has one goal, one mission: to malign and discredit the person of our client before the Nigerian people.

“Mr. President, we wish to resist the temptation of delving into the subject matter so as not to fall foul of the law and prejudice the case before the court.

“ In the circumstances, we most respectfully urge the Senate to invoke its powers and the Rules and Standing Orders to protect our client from commenting on the subject matter of the petition and any issues relating to or arising from the Judicial Commission of Injury and/or the purported White Paper issued thereto, “ he said.

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Asset declaration: Appeal Court to decide Saraki's suit against FG on Monday

The Court of Appeal, Abuja division, will on Monday, October 19, deliver judgment in an appeal brought before it by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, against the Federal Government.

Saraki is challenging the legality of his arraignment at the Code of Conduct Tribunal by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) over allegation of false declaration of his assets.

The appellate court fixed the date, on Friday, after taking final brief of arguments from parties in the matter.

Justice Moore Adumein, who led two other justices of the Court of Appeal to hear the matter, announced that judgment in the matter would be delivered by 2.00 p.m. on Monday.

Lead counsel to the Senate President, Joseph Daudu, while moving his case, raised five issues for determination of the court, one of which is the call for the determination of the legality of the trial of Senator Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

Daudu argued that the tribunal erred in law by proceeding with the trial with two members instead of mandatory three as provided by the constitution, adding also that the composition of the tribunal during Saraki's trial violated paragraphs 15(1) of the 1999 Constitution by sitting with two members instead of three and asked the court to nullify the CCT proceedings of last month for not forming a quorum.

The appellant's counsel disagreed with the arguments of Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), counsel to the Federal Government that the Interpretation Act can be used to resolve the constitutional logjam since the constitution was silent on the quorum for the tribunal's membership.

Daudu insisted that the Interpretation Act could not override the constitution being the supreme law and the act being inferior to the constitution.

“To ask that the Act of Interpretation be used to override constitutional provision is wrong and unheard of. That itself will amount to product of mis-interpretation because the constitution is the supreme law and not an act, he said.”

He also argued that the tribunal was wrong in assuming criminal jurisdiction against the Senate President when it was not a superior court of record and added that the tribunal cannot assume concurrent jurisdiction with the federal high court as the Code of Conduct Tribunal was, by law, inferior to the federal high court.

Daudu, therefore, urged the appeal court to nullify the proceedings of the tribunal against Saraki and to also set aside the criminal charges filed against him by the Federal Government on account of being illegal and unlawful.

Opposing the submissions of Saraki’s counsel, the Federal Government, through its counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, asked that the appeal case be dismissed for lacking merit.

Jacobs told the appeal court panel that the constitution was silent on the quorum of the tribunal memberships and urged the court to invoke the Interpretation Act to resolve the issue in favour of the respondent.

The respondent'S counsel also submitted that the tribunal had criminal jurisdiction because of the use of words like 'guilty' and 'punishment' in the law that established the tribunal.

Justice Adumein struck out an application by Saraki praying for a stay of further proceedings at the tribunal on the ground that event has overtaken the application with the hearing of the substantive matter and then fixed judgment for next Monday

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Tribunal upholds Ebonyi governor's election

The Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on Friday, upheld te election of Governor Dave Umahi in the April 11 gubernatorial elections.

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Obalufe, second in command to Ooni of Ife, is dead

The Obalufe of Iremo, who also doubles as the prime minister of Ile-Ife, Oba Solomon Folorunso Omisakin, is dead.



By the virtue of his traditional position in the ancient town, he was the head of Ife kingmakers and next in rank to any Ooni of Ife.



Naijatonic Online gathered that Oba Omisakin, who was aged 83, slumped on Thursday morning and was subsequently rushed to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile-Ife, where he eventually died.



Sources told naijatonic Online that he had been battling with an undisclosed ailment even before the death of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, in July.



According to the source, "he even underwent a surgery before the death of Oba Sijuwade. He was just recuperating when the Ooni died. After the surgery, he was okay, though he looked frail but he had been managing his health since then. As an old man, I think his ailment had to do with his old age."



However, a top palace source in Ile-Ife told naijatonic Online that the death of Obalufe might prolonged the process for the selection of new Ooni based on the important role Obalufe has to play on who occupies the vacant stool.



The source hinted that "traditionally, the Obalufe of Iremo is saddled with the responsibility of pronouncing the new Ooni and also presenting him to the people of Ile-Ife and Osun State government."



Confirming the death of Oba Omisakin, the chairman, Eleyele Landlords' Association in Ile-Ife, where Obalufe built his house, Chief Elijah Adeyele, said "it is true, Obalufe passed on this morning. I am just coming from his house to condole with his family."

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