No regrets writing petition against Aregbesola – Osun judge

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.

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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.

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Rivers Kidnap Update: One of 14 Victims Escapes

The CP, who told our correspondent that
the victims are oil workers, wondered
why the driver carried on even after their
security escorts had stopped to fuel their
vehicles.
He, however, said his men have been on
the trail of the kidnappers and are
currently combing the bushes to
apprehend them.
Gunmen kidnapped 14 local oil workers
and their driver, police confirmed on
Friday.
The incident took place on a road
connecting the towns of Omoku and
Elele, around 50 km from the city of Port
Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, in the
early hours of Friday as the employees of
Nigerian energy company, Nestoil,
traveled to work, police said.
“We have recovered the vehicle they
were traveling in before the incident
occurred. Police are currently combing
bushes around the area in a bid to find
and release the victims,” said, the Police
PRO in the state, Nnamdi Omoni.
“I do not think there was a foreigner
among those kidnapped. Their abductors
have not made any contact and nobody
has been arrested yet,” Nnamdi told
Reuters.

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OAU Shuts Down Mosques Inside Hostel Over Alleged Prostitution & Alien Doctrine Teaching

The Divisional Students Affairs of the Obafemi
Awolowo University management has stated
that it is ready to shut down mosques across
the all hostels in the institution.
According to a statement signed by the Dean
of the Divisional Students Affairs DSA, Dr. G. O
Akinola, the justification for shutting down the
mosque is not far from ranging allegations
levied on the MSSN splinter group.
The splinter group was alleged of harbouring
female students for prostitution and teaching
of an alien doctrine.
Read the statement below:
“The Division of Students Affairs (DSA)
acting upon the Statutes and Regulations of
Obafemi Awolowo University hereby declares
closed until further notice, the two purported
mosques in Awolowo and Fajuyi Halls for the
reasons of peace, free movement of students
and staff within the Halls and the overriding
need for the security of all persons, assets
and installation in the Halls.
The reasons for this closure are as set out
below:
1. On Friday 12th August, 2016 when the
current executive members of the Muslim
Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Obafemi
Awolowo University (OAU), Ife B.ranch were
to be inaugurated at the Central Mosque, the
Division of Students Affairs (DSA) was
invited and was duly represented by the Vice
Dean of the Division. There were issues at
the inauguration when we were told of
another group of Muslim students who
wanted to impose themselves and their
doctrines which are not consistent with the
Constitution of the MSSN members. At that
point the Vice-Dean was asked to interact
with this group with a view to finding out
what their arguments and positions were;
2. After the Vice-Dean’s interaction with the
group (which is yet to give a name to itself,
although they insisted that they should be
called MSSN too), we decided to call
members of the group to a meeting at the
DSA.
They came on Tuesday, 23rd August 2016 at
6.15pm. After several attempts at making
them attend the parley failed, we eventually
held a meeting with them on this 23rd
August. We stressed at the meeting the
point that the DSA is only aware of the
existence of only one MSSN as a registered
Muslim students’ group on the campus of
the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
We impressed it on the group that even the
DSA is also aware that the National body of
the MSSN recognises only one MSSN group
here on campus. We therefore advised the
group to, if they have any issue of
disagreement between them and the
mainstream MSSN, please for sake of peace
on campus and interest of their members
take steps to sort them out with the
Executive of the MSSN on campus.
3. The meeting deliberated extensively on
how to bring this settlement about and at
the end of it, it was agreed that a period of
one (1) week be given to permit the group
interact with the mainstream MSSN and
settle their disagreement amicably failing
which the two ‘mosques’ at Fajuyi and
Awolowo Halls would be closed down for
peace to reign.
Note that this splinter group of the MSSN
had begun to use the two ‘mosques’ in these
Halls as a base for their anti-mainstream
MSSN rhetorics and doctrinal disagreement
on campus, including recruitment of students
for their separate teachings. Note also, that
these two ‘mosques’, converted as such
were originally Cafeteria buildings meant for
the respective halls under the University’s
master plan.
We also agreed at the meeting that if the
DSA found that they were able to make
progress on the reconciliation, even if they
have not completely reached an agreement
on doctrinal or worship issues, the
suggestive closure of the ‘mosque’ would be
suspended to permit for more room for
rapport and deeper reconciliation. We agreed
that we were going to meet again on the
very day that the one-week ultimatum to
reconcile expired, that is Tuesday 30th
August, 2016. Meanwhile, desirous of a way
to convince the DSA that the splinter group
meant well, they invited the DSA to visit the
two ‘mosques’ in Fajuyi and Awolowo Halls
to see that there was nothing sinister in the
activities of the splinter group and that if
anything at all, they have been peaceful and
law-abiding.
4. However, on Thursday 25th August, a
meeting was held with the University
recognized MSSN Executive members. This
same MSSN Executive is also recognised by
the OAU Muslim Community and by the
National body of MSSN in Nigeria. That
meeting was called to hear the complaints
of the splinter MSSN members and their
grievances. The recognized MSSN was
informed of the University’s plan to close the
‘mosques’ in Fajuyi and Awolowo Halls if the
splinter group of the MSSN failed to make
peace with the mainstream MSSN and
reconcile accordingly;
5. On Friday 26th August, the MSSN
National body paid a courtesy visit to the
DSA to discuss the furore over the
recognized MSSN on campus. The visitation
team led by the President of the National
MSSN, Muhammad Jameel Muhammad
came in company of the campus mainstream
MSSN and some of his officials. The thrust
of their visit was to make a passionate
appeal to the DSA on their fear for the
possibility of “emergence on the OAU
campus of an extremist group of Muslim
students in a fashion similar to the current
Boko Haram insurgency besetting Nigeria”.
They expressed some fears and strongly felt
that the splinter MSSN group in OAU and
what they referred to as “their strange
doctrinal principles and procedures” could
lead to the materialization of such fears.
The visitation team pleaded with the
University through the DSA to do all that
was lawful and needful to see that such
fears were allayed. The visitation team also
reiterated their support for the recognized
MSSN mainstream organization and its
president. In addition, the team gave a copy
of the MSSN Constitution and 5 copies of
the articles of faith of the MSSN titled
“MSSN at a Glance” to the DSA;
6. On the night of 27th August, 2016 reports
came to the Acting Dean, DSA, that the
splinter MSSN group were planning to hold a
religious programme in Awolowo Hall
Cafeteria the following day (i.e. 28th August,
2016), for which they had not sought or
obtained permission. The Acting Dean
reported to the University Chief Security
Officer who immediately sent a group of his
men to see how things would go with a view
to apprehending any illegality or untoward
behaviours and report forthwith. Report
came that the religious programme held and
that the leaders of the splinter MSSN
presided at that programme. The point here
is that the group failed to seek or secure
approval for this religious activity in the
Cafeteria.
7. However, on the night preceding the
expiration of the ultimatum given to the
Splinter MSSN group, to make peace with
the mainstream MSSN and reconcile
accordingly, a text message was sent to the
Vice Dean, DSA, from the Splinter MSSN
group that they had contacted someone who
would help broker the reconciliation talks
and that the person said he would see the
Chief Imam of the Central mosque later. The
DSA quickly apprehended this as delay
tactics as the text could have been sent
earlier. Otherwise, why the night preceding
the expiration of the ultimatum to reconcile?
In any case, on the agreed date when the
ultimatum expired (Tuesday 30th August,
2016), the DSA expected them to come for a
meeting at the DSA’s office, but to our
chagrin they refused to show up.
8. Meanwhile, acting upon the invitation
earlier extended to the DSA by this splinter
MSSN group, the Acting Dean and Vice Dean
at about 10.45am on 31st August, 2016,
visited the Fajuyi and Awolowo Halls with a
view to seeing for themselves samples of the
activities of the splinter MSSN group. We
told them of many irregular and outright
illegal things we have heard them do at the
‘mosques’. We made them realise that they
had been holding unauthorized religious
programmes in these ‘mosques’ and several
other places on campus without approval
from the DSA. They, however, argued that
they had not been violent but law abiding
and that they had never done anything illegal
or irregular in any of their religious meetings.
9. But on this our visit to Awolowo
‘mosque’, we discovered a door leading to
one of the rooms in the ‘mosque’ was
securely locked from inside and the
occuP@nts refused to open. We threatened
to force the door open if they refused any
further, and after much persuasion, the door
was opened and we discovered to our utter
amazement that a group of girls numbering
about a dozen were locked inside the room
either fully or partially veiled. Our
amazement was that the room in which they
were locked or locked themselves was in a
male hall, we wondered to no end why
purported female students would be locked
up in a male hall during lecture hours, no
matter the excuse. Before we could
interrogate them, some escaped through the
backdoor of the room but we were able to
apprehend three of them from whom we
collected their identity cards.
10. At the Fajuyi Hall, we also discovered to
utter shock that a group of girls who
purported themselves to be students were
locked in a room in the ‘mosque’. We
interrogated them and they claimed that
they were kept there by their leaders who
happen to be the leaders of MSSN splinter
group. They, in addition claimed that they
were praying in the room. Our dilemma was
why a group of female students would claim
to be praying during lecture hours in an
exclusive male hall at around 11am! There
was five girls in this room and we collected
the identity cards from four of them. The
fifth one who was fully veiled said she had
not her identity card on her. However, a
male student who vouched for this fully
veiled girl volunteered to stand in for her
until she produced her identity card. We
collected this male student’s identity card.
11. Having observed the seeming obstinacy
of the splinter MSSN group to interact with
the DSA and to fulfill the requirements of the
agreement reached on 23rd August, we again
were forced to send a follow-up invitation to
them stating that they should come to the
DSA for a meeting on Wednesday, 31st
August for a serious interaction at the DSA’s
office. But to our utter dismay they sent a
text message to the DSA that all of them in
the group would be having Continuous
Assessment tests from 10am to 5pm on
31st August, 2016. We replied that text
message that no test of any kind could
possibly last from 10am to 5pm in this
University and that in their own interest they
needed to show up for the meeting on or
before 2.00pm on 31st August to discuss the
issue of reconciliation as agreed in our last
meeting with them.
12. The splinter MSSN group eventually
came in the afternoon of 31st August at
about 1.15pm. We intimated them with our
findings and told them they had to put a
stop to their practice of harbouring girls in
rooms within the ‘mosques’. Their leaders
insisted that they could not abide by that
demand and that they reserved the right to
keep any of their female members in the
rooms in the ‘mosque’! We explained to
them that what they were doing was
contrary to the laws of the University and
the regulations guiding religious worship and
students’ conduct. But they held their
ground that since the ‘mosque’ was a place
of worship they could not abide by the rules
and the need to desist from keeping female
students within its rooms at any time. The
meeting ended in a stalemate.
13. We thereafter pleaded with the Chief
Imam of the University to take full charge of
the ‘mosques’ and prevent forthwith any
breach of the University’s rules within its
walls. He declined flatly and said he would
rather not be held responsible for what ever
happened in those ‘mosques’ as he had
since dissociated himself from the practices
and doctrines of the splinter MSSN who
controlled it.
14. It should be noted that the Federal
Government, of Nigeria of which Obafemi
Awolowo University is an integral part, has
not legalized prostitution in Universities. It is
pertinent to note also that no female should
be camped in a male facility under the guise
of religion, as this is tantamount to running
a brothel which will breed prostitution; and
this is illegal. It is only fit, proper and
responsible that any grossly abused
university facility be closed down.
15. Consequently, acting within its powers to
prevent any breakdown of law and order and
to ensure freedom of movement of persons
within the respective halls of residence,
especially at this time of dire security
concern in the country, the DSA has
therefore acted this 2nd day of September,
2016 to seal off and close down henceforth,
the two ‘mosques’ in Awolowo and Fajuyi
Halls until such a time that orderliness and
the rule of the University would be respected
within its walls.
Signed: Dr. (Mrs.) G. O. Akinola
(Acting Dean, Division of Students’ Affairs)
Stamped!!!

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IBB must face probe over $12.4bn oil windfall, says SERAP

A rights advocacy group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, has called on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to reopen the unresolved case of the “missing $12.4bn oil windfall.”

According to the group, the money was spent between 1988 and 1993 by the government of a former military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

SERAP urged Malami to use his office and power under Section 174(1) of the Constitution and sections 104-106 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act to establish the truth about what happened to the money and to prosecute anyone found culpable.

The group made the call in an open letter by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, to the AGF on Sunday.

The letter read, “SERAP, has for many years, sought explanation and official release of the Pius Okigbo panel report, which the government voluntarily established. But successive administration blocked every chance to officially release the Okigbo Report with some even claiming that the report could not be found.

“SERAP’s request is entirely consistent with the established legal principle that in matters relating to crimes, including corruption, time does not run against the state.

“Reopening the case would also send a clear message that cases of high-level official corruption would not go unpunished no matter how long it takes and that suspected perpetrators would be held to account, no matter who is involved.

“SERAP also believes that reopening the unresolved case of missing $12.4bn oil windfall would serve as a litmus test for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari often repeated commitments to transparency, accountability and the fight against corruption in the country.

“Full accountability for the missing public funds would contribute to ending impunity of high-ranking public officials for large-scale corruption and provide effective remedies to victims of corruption.”

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Boko Haram sacks Borno village

Boko Haram insurgents have sacked a village, Shawa, in Askira Local Government Area of Borno State, the leader of the youth vigilance group in the area, Istifanus Apagu told our correspondent on phone.

Apagu said on Monday that the insurgents who rode on bicycles attacked the village on Sunday.

He said they burnt down the entire village and injured many residents.

Apagu, who is the leader of the Civilian JTF in Mussa district, said he visited the scene moments after the attack.

He said nothing was left in Shawa village.

He said: “They (insurgents) came on bicycle around 4am on Sunday morning while people were sleeping and started opening fire on the helpless civilian as the villagers fled into bushes but many were critical injured.”

“No lives were lost but the whole village was set ablaze and nothing was left standing. In fact, they went away with the six bicycles.”

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Court remands Fayose’s ally, Agbele, in prison

One of the bank tellers used in paying money into Fayose's account by his best friend, Abiodun Agbele.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded an associate of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, Mr. Abiodun Agbele, in Kuje Prison, Abuja,till Thursday when it will rule on his application for bail.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba made the order of remand afterAgbele was arraigned on 11 counts of money laundering involving the sum of N1,219,000,000 said to be part of N4,685,723,000 allegedly transferred unlawfully from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Arraigned along with Agbele were three companies, Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, De Privateer Limited and Spotless Investment Limited.

Agbele pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The prosecution, alleged that others involved in the alleged crimes, including former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, were on the run.

Other suspects said to be at large were Lt. A. O Adewale and Olalekan Ogunseye, who was said to be the sole signatory to the account of Sylvan Mcnamara Limited.

The charges preferred against the accused were said to be contrary to section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011(as amended in 2012).

The offences were said to be punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act.

After the arraignment on Wednesday, Agbele’s lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), moved his client’s bail application, urging the judge to grant it in liberal terms.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Johnson Ojogbane, urged the court to dismiss the application.

Ojogbane urged the court to remand the accused in prison throughout the period of the trial and instead of granting him bail, the judge should rather grant an order of accelerated hearing.

Justice Dimgba fixed Thursday for ruling on the bail application

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Osun govt imposes N700 levy on each slaughtered cow

The Osun State Government on Monday announced that butchers in the state would henceforth pay N700 as levy for every cow slaughtered for sale in the state.

The announcement followed a decision reached at a meeting between the state government and Osun Cattle Butchers Association in Osogbo.

Mr Wale Adedoyin, a consultant to the state government, who represented it at the meeting, told newsmen that the levy was introduced to boost internally-generated revenue of the state.

According to him, parties at the meeting agreed that henceforth the establishment of a new slaughter slab will attract payment of N50, 000.

Adedoyin, a former commissioner for agriculture and food security in the state, added that registration of each member of the butchers association would attract N2,500 while annual renewal of registration would cost N1,000.

Adedoyin explained that the levies became necessary in order to improve on the finances of the state, adding that proceeds from the levy would also be used for provision of necessary facilities and the abattoirs.

He stated that levy was not intended to cause hardship or pains to the butchers, and appealed to them to cooperate with the government.

Also speaking, Dr Bukola Aluko, Coordinating Director, Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Youth Engagement in the state, assured butchers that the government would provide facilities and support them to make their operations easier.

In their reaction to the development, Chairman and Patron of the butchers association, Alhaji Sulaiman Adebimpe and Alhaji Tiamiyu Alamu, respectively, expressed gratitude to the state for always involving them in decisions that affect the group.

They assured that their members would strive to comply with the levy directive.

(NAN

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Why we didn’t declare Niger Delta Republic – ABA

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan AFP PHOTO / PIUS UTOMI EKPEI

Niger Delta militant group, Adaka Boro Avengers, has said it cancelled its planned declaration of a Niger Delta Republic after appeals from Ijaw leaders, including ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
A statement issued by the spokesman of the group, Edmos Ayayeibo, reiterated its determination to cripple the nation’s economy until President Muhammadu Buhari showed a sincere desire to dialogue and restructure the country.
ABA, which is also an affiliate of the dreaded Niger Delta Avengers, also warned the federal government against entering dialogue with the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta if the government wants peace in the oil-rich region.
The statement reads in part, “We adhere to the voice of our people, because our struggle is for the Niger Delta people and not for selfish reason. But this is not the end. More has yet to come. Our mission to cripple the economy of the Nigerian nation will not stop until the Nigerian government is ready to sit on a roundtable to dialogue and to restructure the Nigeria.
“We received calls from prominent leaders like Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Mrs. Ankio Briggs, Chief E. K. Clark and especially King Alfred Diete Spiff calling on the freedom fighters to abort their mission to declare Niger Delta Republic.
“Unless that, we will not stop until Nigeria becomes a zero economy. We are also saying this for the benefit of President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerian government to stop wasting their time with those greedy fellows that call themselves MEND because nothing good will come out of them rather than sabotage.
“Everything they are saying, not even one will be accomplished. We will never agree with anything they say and henceforth MEND should watch their back because we have tolerated them for a very long time.
“Enough is enough, since they want to set confusion in the Niger Delta we will start from them.”

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BREAKING: Buhari, Obasanjo in closed door meeting

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting behind closed doors with former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Obasanjo, decked in a blue agbada and cap to match, arrived the Presidential Villa, Abuja for the meeting at about
12.54pm.

He was driven to the forecourt of the President’s office in a black Sports Utility Vehicle marked ABJ425 PY.

The former President was accompanied by one of his daughters.

Details later.

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No regrets about 2015 poll prophecy – Mbaka

The Catholic Priest and Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, on Sunday, said he had no regrets about a message in which he expressed support for President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 presidential election.

In the 2015 message entitled, ‘From good luck to bad luck’, Mbaka had faulted the performance of former President Goodluck Jonathan, predicting that Buhari would win the presidential poll.

 Mbaka, who spoke through his media aide, Maximus Ugwuoke, said he had not regretted the prophecy despite the sufferings Nigerians were currently experiencing under Buhari’s leadership.

Ugwuoke spoke ahead of Mbaka’s 21st priestly anniversary, which is to be celebrated within the week.

 He said, “Some call him controversial priest; some call him fiery priest and all that, they are entitled to their opinion.

“I will tell you something: It is not for us human to judge prophesies; he was the only person who said Buhari would win.

“If it were in the olden days, all those so-called men of God, who castigated him (Mbaka), would have received the wrath of God immediately.”

He described the hardship faced by Nigerians as ‘sufferings of change.’

He added, “Don’t forget that two months before that prophesy, Jonathan’s wife came to the Adoration Ground. That is to tell you that the prophesy came from God, if after such a visit, he (Mbaka) had the courage to reveal such prophesy against them, that tells you that it was much more than what people think.

“Before Buhari took over, the dollar was rising but there was already problem with our economy.

“I recall that on January 31, this year, he said clearly that Nigerians should brace for hard times, he said a lot of hardship was under way; this suffering Nigerians are passing through is process of change.”

He equally defended the Buhari administration, blaming Jonathan for the economic downturn in the country.

“This is a government that has unearthed a whole lot of things. The other government had oil boom, which they squandered, they handed over oil doom to this government,” he said.

The media aide also dismissed insinuations that Mbaka received money from Buhari.

He said, “There was also these claims of meeting with the APC chieftains before the election; he (Mbaka) never held any such meeting.”

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Assembly begins Yari’s impeachment as DSS arrests Speaker, others

Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Governor Abdulaziz Yari

Operatives of the Department of State Services have arrested the Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Sanusi Rikiji, in connection with an alleged plot to impeach the state Governor, Abdulaziz Yari.

Rikiji and other principal officers of the Assembly, who were picked up on Tuesday in Gusau, the state capital, are said to be currently detained in Abuja.

Those said to be detained along with him are the Deputy Speaker, Muhammad Gumi; the Majority Leader, Isah Abdulmumini; and the Chief Whip, Abdullahi Dansadau.

The House of Assembly, however, on Wednesday, listed six impeachable offences against Yari, in an apparent move to begin an impeachment process against the governor.

A statement issued in Gusau by the Chairman, Zamfara State House of Assembly’s Committee on Information, Alhaji Mannir Gidan-Jaja, accused the governor of misappropriating billions of naira from the state coffers.

It listed the money allegedly misappropriated to include N11bn bailout, N1bn agricultural loan released to the state by the Central Bank of Nigeria and “corrupt abuse of local government funds.”

The Assembly also accused the governor of failing to remit funds deducted for pensions and gratuities to pension fund administrators, as provided by law.

According to the statement, the governor had also ignored a resolution of the Assembly not to appoint Alhaji Murtala Jangebe as the Chairman of the state Universal Basic Education Board.

It said that the Assembly had passed a vote of no confidence on Jangebe, after he was allegedly found to have misappropriated over N1bn belonging to the board in 2014.

The statement accused the governor of frequent foreign trips which, the lawmakers argued, had negative impact on the day-to-day running of the government, apart from imposing financial burden on the state.

The lawmakers condemned the arrest of the Speaker, his deputy, Majority Whip and supporting staff of the assembly by the DSS.

The lawmakers described the arrest as a clear interference in the functions of the legislature.

The statement urged President Muhammadu Buhari to caution the DSS against further interference in the matter.

“We are also demanding the unconditional release of our principal officers, who are currently under detention with the DSS in Abuja,’’ the lawmakers said.

The state Assembly also alleged that the governor did not release monthly cash allocation to the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including the state Assembly. They also questioned the usage of funds meant for local governments for state purposes.

Furthermore, the legislature expressed its distaste for the appointment of the Chairman of SUBEB, who it said should not occupy public office.

Responding, Yari described as wild all allegations levelled against him by the state assembly.

Yari, who spoke through one of his Special Advisers to the governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Dosara, faulted the six-point grudge against the governor, who he claimed the President had publicly acknowledged and praised for being one of the best performing governors in the country.

On the allegation of low budgetary release, Dosara said, “A checklist of all the states in the federation shows that there is virtually a blanket paucity of funds nationwide and Zamfara State cannot be an exception from this national setback.”

On the allegation against the SUBEB’s chairman appointment in spite of alleged corruption levelled against him by the lawmakers, Dosara said Jangebe had yet to be found guilty by any court of law of competent jurisdiction.

He added, “Suffice it to say that most, if not all the claims in the legislators grievances, are baseless, unfounded and self-seeking, with the aim of inciting the general public against the governor for reasons best known to them.”

He said the governor also challenged the legislative members to provide any evidence or proof of his use of state funds on his numerous trips outside the state or the country.

On the demand for the release of the principal officers currently answering questions with the security agencies, he said it was  incomprehensible to accuse the governor or even ask him to secure the release of their people because the governor has no hand in their plight.

“He is neither the DG, SSS nor the IG of Police,” he said.

Dosara wondered why the lawmakers were calling on Buhari to intervene in the crisis with Yari after “they collectively disrespected the President by boycotting all his activities when he visited the state last week.”

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Omisore welcomes FG’s move to reopen Ige’s killing

Senator Iyiola Omisore

A former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has described the plan by the  Federal Government to revisit the killing of a former Governor of old Oyo State, Chief Bola Ige, as a welcome development.

Omisore, who spoke in a statement made available to our correspondent in Osogbo on Tuesday by his Media Director, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, however, advised the FG to revisit the killing of Funso Williams and Odunayo Olagbaju, who was a member of the Osun State House of Assembly.

Omisore said he was  in support of the calls for the case to be revisited but added that other high-profile killings should be revisited to show that the move was not targeted at political opponents.

The statement partly read, “The decision of the Federal Government to revisit the killing of the former Minister of Justice and a political icon, the late Chief Bola Ige and Chief Dokubo is good and a welcome development.

“I am particularly happy that a fresh investigation will further exonerate me and others who were wrongfully framed up and suffered untold hardship before we were finally acquitted and discharged by the court.

“The Federal Government and the Inspector-General of Police should widen the scope of their investigations to all areas  rather than limiting themselves to a particular area or section.

The Federal Government should extend its search towards unraveling the killers of the late Funso Williams and Odunayo Olagbaju just to mention a few. The Federal Government and the IG should widen the scope of their investigations to all areas  rather than limiting themselves to a particular area or section.”

He however prayed to God to expose all the people and whoever was connected to all the killings under investigation while wishing the new IG the best of luck in the task.

Ige was assassinated at his Bodija residence in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on December 23, 2001 by some gunmen.

Ige’s son, Muyiwa, had said in 2015 that the case would be revisited.

He said, “We know the killers, they are still out there walking, but sooner or later the killers will be found. Once we have a sensible government in power we will fish out the (Bola Ige’s) killers.

“I thank God that come May 29, a sensible government will take over. When we have the government that believes in the rule of law, we are going to push for the case to be reopened. Right now, the prime suspect has no power base any longer.

“They are never made governors, they are not senators. We are going to re-open the case and hopefully justice will prevail.”

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HOW AGBELE BOUGHT N1.3bn HOUSES FOR FAYOSE-EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission says it has made a
breakthrough in the alleged corruption case
against Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti
State and his associate, Mr. Abiodun Agbele.
Agbele, who is currently in EFCC custody,
was said to have received N1.219bn from a
former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu
Obanikoro, on behalf of Fayose during the
build-up to the Ekiti governorship election in
June 2014.
However, EFCC detectives alleged that
Fayose used a large portion of the N1.219bn
along with some money from the Ekiti State
coffers to buy houses in Lagos and Abuja
which have since been seized by the anti-
graft agency.

An investigator told our correspondent that
Fayose used Agbele to buy the houses in a
way that would make the source of the
money look legitimate.
He explained that the two houses in Abuja
were bought with bank loans from Skye Bank
and Zenith Bank on the surface. However,
the stolen money was used in offsetting the
bank loans.
The detective said, “From the Dasuki funds,
they had about N300m stashed in one
account. However, when they were going to
buy the N270m property located on
Yedseram Street, they did not use the
N300m from the stolen funds. Rather, they
obtained a loan of N120m in the name of
Spotless Hotel from Zenith Bank to deposit
for the house.
“They then took about N150m out of the
Dasuki money to pay the balance on the
house and then used the same Dasuki funds
to offset the loan. They went through all this
stress to cover their tracks and make it look
as if it was a bank loan they used in buying
the property.
“Why did they take a loan that would be
gathering interest when they had more than
enough money to buy the house?”
The investigator said when it was time to buy
the four duplexes in Lagos, Fayose and
Agbele allegedly overpaid the seller of the
houses and then told the seller to use the
balance which was N200m, to pay for
another house in Abuja.
The source said, “The worth of the four
duplexes in Lagos is N1.1bn which was sold
by Still Earth Nigeria Ltd. However, Fayose
and Agbele paid Still Earth N1.3bn in cash
and then told the company to transfer the
balance of N200m to Skye Bank. It was that
N200m that was used in purchasing the
building at 44 Osun River Crescent, Abuja.
This was done so that no one would be able
to trace the fund to them.”
Meanwhile, the anti-graft agency has also
traced about N60m to an account belonging
to Agbele.
The account titled, BYKD Consultant Limited,
which is domiciled in Diamond Bank received
some funds from Ekiti State local
governments under the heading, Millennium
Development Goals.
A copy of the statement of account sighted
by our correspondent showed that on
February 18, 2015, about N18, 159, 050 was
paid into the account. On the same day,
about N15, 319, 650 was paid into the same
account while about N11, 238, 500 was
deposited into the account on the same day
among other transactions.
The transaction history showed that Agbele
paid about N40m and N15m into the account
of Affordable Motors.
“This is a new discovery and we want to
know why such funds would be released by
local governments because so far there is no
evidence of any contract between the local
government and Agbele,” the source said.

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PROTECT ME FROM MELAYE-TINUBU BEG IG

The lawmaker representing Lagos-Central
senatorial district, Senator Oluremi Tinubu,
has written a petition against her Kogi-West
counterpart, Senator Dino Melaye.
In the petition which was addressed to the
acting Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim
Idris, and dated July 18, 2016, the senator,
who is the wife of the National Leader of the
All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola
Tinubu, said Melaye threatened her life on
the floor of the Senate last week.
She said Melaye had a penchant for violence
as he had engaged in fisticuffs with his
colleagues when he was in the House of
Representatives between 2007 and 2011.
The complainant alleged that a particular
lawmaker had even died after being beaten
up by Melaye.
She, therefore, urged the IG to protect her
from harm.
The petition with reference number SOT/
Vol.2/135, read in part, “I am Senator
Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos-Central
senatorial district of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria.
“During the proceedings of the Senate on
Tuesday July 14, 2016, I had cause to
contribute to a matter of national importance.
Apparently dissatisfied with my contributions,
Senator Dino Melaye threw caution to the
wind, resorted to vulgar abuse of my person
and wanted to assault me.
“It was the timely intervention of a number of
my colleagues which prevented Senator
Melaye from unleashing physical attack on
me. However, as the leadership of the Senate
did not call him to order (sic) in the
circumstance, he proceeded to threaten my
life without any provocation whatsoever.
“In view of Senator Melaye’s antecedent,
particularly in the House of Representatives,
where a brawl led by him had led to the
untimely death of a member, I have decided
not to ignore this threat to my life. Therefore,
I am compelled to urge you to use your good
office to provide me with adequate security.”

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PDP crisis: No agreement with Makarfi yet, says Sheriff

Factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, has said that he has yet to reach an agreement with the Chairman of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi.
His position came barely three days after the party said it had zoned the office of the national chairman to the southern part of the country.
The caretaker committee also announced that the party’s next national convention where national officers are to be elected, would hold in Port Harcourt on August 17.

At its expanded national caucus meeting held on Thursday in Abuja, the party said that the presence of Sen. Buruji Kashamu, a strong supporter of Sheriff at the meeting, was an evidence that its reconciliation effort was yielding results.
But on Saturday, Sheriff emphasised that his faction was still pursuing its cases in court, but said that he would address the nation on the state of the party, on Monday.
Speaking through his factional deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, Sheriff said, “I have the express permission of Sheriff to inform our teeming supporters and PDP faithful nationwide that he has not reached agreement with anybody, neither has he permitted anybody to conclude on any processes on his behalf.
“We are continuing with our cases in court, we respect the rule of law. Sheriff will address a press conference on Monday on the state of our party, PDP. Our goal remains to return the party to the people and stamp out impunity.”
It was gathered that few days ago, some leaders of the party had met with Sheriff to find a lasting solution to the crisis bedevelling the party.
Apart from Makarfi, it was gathered that the Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu and the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, were at the reconciliatory meeting.
Our correspondent gathered that supporters of Buruji in Sheriff camp may also abandon the former governor of Borno State and support Makarfi.

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Its non of our business if oil production crippled

One of the militant groups that has emerged since renewed militancy in the Niger Delta began, the Ultimate Warriors of Niger Delta, has told the Federal Government that they (militants) have nothing to lose should oil production in the country is crippled.
The militant group which is one of the affiliate body of the rampaging Niger Delta Avengers described the double speak manner of the federal government on dialoguing with the people of the region as worrisome and inciting.
The spokesman of the Ultimate Warrior , Sibiri Taiowoh, said in a statement, “We have said it before that we have nothing to lose on the bombing of oil pipelines because our mission is to ground the oil economy if our demands are not met.
“We have said we are doing what we are doing to prod the government to renegotiate the control of our oil resources and other related matters. What we are doing now is the only way to this kind of agitation.”
It stressed that the government would not be able to withstand the whirlwind destruction of oil installations when the widow of negotiation and dialogue they had given elapsed.
“ We have watch with chagrin the recent utterance by the President and his Vice and all we are seeing is them tacitly playing double standard and lips services to the demand of the groups as it concerns the Niger Delta question and that is why all of our Units and affiliates have not fully heeded to our ceasefire.
“Today the President will say something, tomorrow his Vice and some of their dishonest and selfish lieutenants will contradict him and that only shows how confused and unserious the government is about the problems and how to deal with them.”

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Tribunal dismisses Wada’s petition, affirms Kogi gov’s election

The Kogi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Tuesday dismissed the petition by the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate in last year’s governorship election in the state, Idris Wada, challenging the election of Governor Yahaya Bello.

The Justice Halima Mohammed-led three-man panel held in its judgment that the petition jointly filed by Wada, his running mate, Sunday Awoniyi, and their party, the PDP, lacked merit.

The tribunal had earlier in the judgment struck out the petition while upholding the notice of preliminary objection raised by Bello, his party, the All Progressives Congress, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, against the petition, but still went ahead to determine it on its merit.

It held in its pronouncement on the respondents’ preliminary objection that the petitioners lacked the locus standi to challenge the nomination of Bello as the APC candidate in the election.

The tribunal held that even if it was wrong to strike out the petition at the preliminary stage, there was no merit in the entire petition supporting its grounds and the prayers sought.

The tribunal had similarly on Monday dismissed the petition by the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, James Faleke, who had contended that he, and not Bello, was the valid substitute for the original governorship candidate of the party, the late Prince Abubakar Audu.

Faleke had sought in his own petition that Audu had already won the  first leg of the election held on November 21, 2015 and that there was no need for the supplementary election.

Though the petition was dismissed on Monday, Faleke had asked for an order declaring that he, as Audu’s running mate in the November 21 poll, ought to have been declared as the elected governor of the state following Audu’s death.

The tribunal ruled on Monday and affirmed on Tuesday that the situation that could warrant Faleke to step into Audu’s shoes as envisaged under section 181 of the constitution had not arisen since the governor-elect and the deputy governor-elect had not been declared by INEC at the end of the November 21 poll.

Audu was already coasting to victory with 240,857 votes as against Wada’s 199,514 votes when he suddenly died after the November 21 poll was declared as inconclusive by INEC.

This gave rise to a supplementary election held on December 5, 2015 in which the APC substituted the late Audu with Bello as its governorship candidate.

Wada had asked the tribunal to hold that he (Wada) polled the highest lawful votes in the November 21 election and the December 5, 2015 supplementary election and should thus be returned as the elected governor of the state.

Wada and the PDP contended that Bello only polled 6,885 votes in the December 5 supplementary election and could not possibly inherit the 240,857 votes polled by Audu in the November 21 poll.

The petitioners also contended that Bello was not qualified to contest the election on the grounds that he went into the race without a running mate as the deputy governorship candidate, who ran with Audu (Faleke), had allegedly withdrawn his candidacy before the supplementary poll held.

They also contended that the election was marred by irregularities in some parts of the states.

They, therefore, asked the tribunal to hold that having polled a total of 204,867 votes in the November 21 and the December 5 supplementary poll as against the 6,885 votes polled by Bello in just the supplementary poll, Wada was the validly elected governor of the state.

But the tribunal ruled on the respondents’ preliminary objection and also affirmed in the judgment on the merit of the petition that the nomination and sponsorship of Bello as the governorship candidate of the APC was a domestic affair of the party.

It ruled that none of the petitioners, the tribunal or any other person who did not participate in the primary of the party had the legal capacity to question the nomination of the party’s candidate.

It ruled that Audu’s substitution with Bello was valid as the latter had participated in the August 29, 2015 primary and came out as the runner-up.

Justice Mohammed also ruled that the votes recorded in the November 21 election belonged to the various political parties “in view of the various authorities of the Supreme Court on who owns votes.”

It added that contrary to the petitioners’ contention, the votes polled in the November 21 election were not rendered unlawful or invalid by Audu’s death.

It added that INEC was right to have collated the 240,857 votes polled by the APC “through the instrumentality of its candidate,” the late Audu, and merged them with the 6,885 votes recorded by the party in the supplementary poll.

The merger of the results brought the total votes recorded by the APC to 247,752.

“It is, therefore, a fact that the 240,857 votes recorded by Prince Abubakar Audu belonged to the APC, ‘adding that’ the first respondent (Bello) is entitled to benefit from the votes acquired by his party.”

On the issue of Bello’s non-qualification to contest the election because he allegedly had no running mate, the tribunal held that such an issue was not part of the conditions for qualification of a candidate to contest as governor under section 177 of the constitution.

It held that the issue was also not part of the conditions for disqualifying a candidate to contest such an election under section 182 of the constitution.

It, in fact, held that Faleke remained the deputy governorship candidate of the APC in the supplementary election as he failed to withdraw his candidacy as spelt out under section 35 of the Electoral Act which required him to give a 45-day notice to his party before the election.

It held that the letter he wrote to INEC withdrawing his candidacy as Bello’s running mate was of no effect.

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Niger Delta Avengers reject FG ceasefire, blow up Chevron oil well,

File photo of pipeline explosion

Barely twenty-four hours after the federal government issued a two-week ceasefire talks with the violent Niger Delta Avengers, the militant group has blown up another Chevron oil well, saying they were not ready to dialogue with the federal government.

The facility identified as Dibi Flow Station, is operated by Chevron around Usor village in Warri North local government area of Delta State.

Local residents told our correspondent that the incident occurred about 1:00am on Wednesday.

A prominent activist from the area, Comrade Graham Abulu, confirmed the incident when contacted. He said very loud explosions were heard, a situation that caused panic among residents of the area.

Another source from the area who did not want his name mentioned, told our correspondent that the flow station went up in flames immediately following the attack.

A senior military officer also confirmed the development. The source said a technical team has already been dispatched to the spot of the incident to assess the damage.

He could not however confirm the claim that the facility had been on fire.

The Niger Delta Avengers, which claimed responsibility for the previous attacks, also claimed responsibility on their twitter handle, @NDAvengers.

When contacted, Assistant Director, Public Relations, 4 Brigade Command of the Nigerian Army, Benin, Captain Jonah Unuakhalu, said he was not aware of the incident but promised to confirm and get back to our correspondent.

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OAU SSANU, NASU protest appointment of new VC

Protest at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, against the appointment of the new vice chancellor. Photo: Femi Makinde.

Femi Makinde, Osogbo

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union, at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, are now protesting  the appointment of Prof. Ayobami Salami as the new vice chancellor of the university.

Salami is the deputy vice chancellor (academics) and his name was announced as successor of the outgoing VC, Prof. Bamitale Omole, on Monday evening.

Omole is vacating the seat of vice chancellor before the of end of June.

The chairmen of SSANU and NASU,  Mr. Ademola Oketunde and Wole Odewumi, respectively led hundreds of their members to stage a protest against Salami’s appointment in front of the Senate Building of the university as early as 8am.

Oketunde said despite the court order stopping the process of appointing a new VC, the governing council went ahead and announced Salami as Omole’s successor.

The protesters accused Omole of financial recklessness, saying the outgoing VC insisted on installing his DVC to cover his alleged illegal acts.

Details later…

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