Oshiomhole Reconciles With Deputy, Recalls Sacked Aides

In a move that is bound to repair the frosty relationship between Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, all aides of the governor sacked or suspended for supporting Odubu, have been recalled.
Odubu contested the primary election of the All Progressives Congress, APC, last month but lost to the perceived candidate of the governor, Godwin Obaseki, who will now fly the party’s flag in the September 10 governorship election of Edo State.

During the primary election campaigns, some aides of Oshiomhole openly showed their support for Odubu while denouncing the choice of Obaseki, a move that earned them disciplinary actions from the governor.
One of such officials was the Executive Director on Poverty Alleviation and Mobilization, Chief (Mrs) Evelyn Igbafe, who was sacked for “dereliction of duty, incompetence and abdication of responsibilities”.
However, the affected political appointees were recalled at a reconciliatory meeting the governor held with his deputy on Tuesday.
Mr. Oshiomhole said the party primaries was to demonstrate internal democracy and distinguished the APC from other political parties.
He noted that the step taken towards reconciliation was in the interest of the party and honesty of purpose on his part.
He said, “The deputy governor and I have worked together, dined together and socialized together. For some time it’s being in the news that the deputy governor and I are not in good term. I believe watchers of Nigeria politics will agree that Pius and I have had an extremely cordial relationship and I have had without any prompting agree that in my working with Pius I found him to be absolutely loyal, dedicated and committed.
“Nobody was able to infiltrate us and nobody ever came to settle a quarrel between the deputy governor and I in the past seven and half years. Some times when we joke we don’t relate as boss and subordinate but as brothers as we have been.
“Pius and I fought many battles, both political battles as well as battles to reposition this government and together we can effortlessly point out what our stewardship accomplished for the benefit of the people of Edo State. I believe all these formed the foundation for the electioneering campaign that is about to begin. Having worked so hard and related so closely, there is no question Pius and I in and outside government will remain friends and comrades.
“The primaries have come and gone. As a governor, I took some decisions some of which clearly affected some of the supporters of my brother, the deputy governor.
“As part of my own atonement and to demonstrate my commitment to our friendship, some of the people who were affected in the cause of this contestation I have decided to reinstate them to their former positions and even to get their remuneration reinstalled.
“I believe that when a leader shows compassion and demonstrate spirit of forgiveness and calls his younger ones, pat them on the back and say return home, it is not a mark of weakness, it simply shows that we are ever conscious that as humans there are times to make mistakes and times to correct them”.
In his response, Odubu reaffirmed his commitment to the APC and victory at all elections.

Billions of looted funds found buried in Abuja farmland-Dogara

Yakubu Dogara, has described as unimaginable, the scale of corruption so far uncovered by anti-graft agencies. At a meeting with newspaper editors in Abuja, on Saturday, the speaker of the House of Reps said he was shocked by the monumental looting of the treasury in the past, citing the discovery of billions of looted fund buried in a farm in Abuja.
He explained that operatives of anti-graft agencies had been busy moving the cash out of the farm.
Dogara said he had never heard of such impunity in which people “stole for the sake of stealing,” decrying the latest antics of suspected looters to bury their loot in farmland.
“But, if I am just arrested, charged to court and maybe some money recovered from me and, at the end of the day, nothing happens, a lot of people may not be deterred in the future from engaging in corrupt practices.
“If you look at the massive looting of the treasury (actually, I have been in government for quite some time), I never could have imagined the scale of corruption that we are witnessing right now, where people took lot of money running into billions and buried them in farms.
“As we are speaking now, they are recovering monies from someone’s farm somewhere around Abuja. It is very unfortunate where people stole money just for the sake of stealing,” he said.
While acknowledging the criticism against the anti-graft agencies on the pace of work, Dogara noted that the agencies appeared overwhelmed by the volume of challenges arising from the current war.
Nonetheless, he said the agencies should do the needful so as to remain on top of its game.
“If you were the one in charge of fighting corruption, you would have even been shocked by the scale of the problem. I guess part of the problem we have is that the scale of the problem far outweighs the anticipation of the agencies. So, if care is not taken, we may not get things right in the process. They will have to keep their heads level to be able to be in charge of the fight and to do it effectively.”
Tribu

Amidst controversy, Paul Okoye of P-Square performs solo in Congo

It is no longer news that Peter Okoye of the famous group, Psquare pulled out of their highly publicized Congo concert which was to hold last weekend.

Information Nigeria reported how he called out his twin brother, Paul and the organizers for using his name even though he had pulled out of the show.
What’s news is that, Paul Okoye, who kept mute on the issue went ahead to perform in Congo as Psquare and shared photos on social media.

Powerful photo taken at Black Lives Matter protest goes viral

Ieshia Evans has been hailed after facing a line of heavily-armed cops at a Black Lives Matter protest.
The fearless 28-year-old was pictured coming face-to-face with the officers as she ‘stood up for her young son’s freedom and rights’ at the US-based demonstration.
She was seen standing still in the middle of the road – as two gun -wielding cops ran forward to slap handcuffs on her.
Moments later, she was arrested and taken away after allegedly refusing to leave an area highway during the protest in Baton Rouge, Louisina.

Ieshia was among more than 100 people who were arrested at the demonstration, which was held to protest against recent police killings of black men.Posting the image on his Facebook page, civil rights activist and New York Daily News writer Shaun King wrote: “POWERFUL photo from Baton Rouge.”

The demonstration came just days after dad-of-five Alton was shot dead at point blank range after officers pinned him down amid claims he had a gun.

Sophie Momodu Shares New Photo With her Daughter, Imade

Davido’s babymama, Sophie Momodu is so in love with her little girl, Imade! The little princess made a rare appearance on her mom’s Instagram page recently, and we can’t get over how cute they look together.

Sophie shared the photo with a caption, “The Queen and her princess”.

Sources close to the family say the gorgeous mother of one has been given more access to her daughter as opposed to some months back when the Adeleke’s and Momodu’s didn’t see eye-to-eye.

Omisore Disowns Osun PDP Emissaries To Ooni

Embattled former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has denounced the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Soji Adagunodo, for leading a delegation of party chieftains to beg the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja III) on his behalf.
Adagunodo last Wednesday led some PDP leaders to the palace of the Ooni to beg him to forgive Omisore for failing to pay homage since his enthronement last December.

The delegation also pleaded with the Ife monarch to use his goodwill to assist Omisore to get out of the detention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The Osun PDP chair pledged to personally bring the former deputy governor to the palace upon his release to make his ways straight with Ooni Ogunwusi.

SEE: Omisore: Osun PDP Begs Ooni

Reacting to the visit, a close ally of the detained politician, who doubles as Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, said described the action of Adagunodo as tantamount to mockery and pretense.
Odeyemi, who made this known in a statement on Sunday, said that “When EFCC came after Omisore, it is logical to assume that Adagunodo group will be happy that their ‘enemy’ is now out of the scene and away from their sight.
“It is also likely that the open display of sympathy and latter-day affection may not be genuine. How can we explain the sudden love for a man you so much hate while in freedom? Their actions and utterances may be ‘Oju aye’ (eye service.)”.
The statement added that, “In their attempt to register the group as supportive of the man they despise, they started crying more than the bereaved, running around to nowhere and with no justifiable reasons for their actions and utterances.
“In Omisore’s case, they cannot be a good advocate to defend his course. It is bias and double standard. For Adagunodo, it is a dangerous game. Head or tail, his intention can never stand the test of absolute sincerity.
“Why going from pillar to post over a sensitive matter still under investigation? You can only plead when confronted with evidences of guilt not prior. This is why Adagunodo’s plea to the Ooni of Ife on behalf of Omisore is a strange strategy that can be viewed as a further attempt to nail Omisore by his enemy posing as his friend.
“One may also be right if you call it a ‘back door political coup’ to dent Omisore’s image. It is a mockery visit for a bad mission under pretense”.
Odeyemi noted that although the Ooni did not give the PDP chairman and his followers the normal respect he always accords his valued guests, he stated that the monarch used the opportunity to further vent his anger on Omisore.
“Oba Ogunwusi was presented a veritable opportunity to stylishly vent out his subtle anger on Omisore. Kabiyesi in his wisdom complained of not being visited by Omisore. His prayer for Omisore is loaded and more or less sounded neutrality in his matter. It is normal and expected. Kabiyesi scored a good goal from a loose ball passed to him by Adagunodo’s group”, the Osun PDP spokesman added.

Court strikes out suit challenging authenticity of President Buhari’s WAEC certificate

Justice Adeniyi Ademola has struck out a suit filed by Abuja based legal practitioner, Nnamdi Nwokocha- Ahaaiwe, challenging the authenticity of President Buhari’s WAEC certificate. The case was struck out following a notice of withdrawal filed by the institutor, Nwokocha-Ahaaiwe.
In striking out the case this morning, the presiding judge, Justice Ademola held that by “section 50(2) of the federal high court civil procedure rules the matter is hereby struck out”.

Kuje Prison Chief Removed, Faces Probe Over Jailbreak

Kuije Medium Prisons officer Musa Tanko has been removed from office on the order of Controller-General of Prisons Ahmed Jafa‘aru after two inmates escaped last Friday.

Mr. Tanko will be investigated by officers from the Federal Capital Territory Command of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) over the escape, according to Punch Newspaper.
The escapees, Maxwell Ajukwu and Solomon Amodu, were standing trial for murder, but managed to escape by scaling the fence enclosing the prison. At the time of publication, the two remain at large.
According to one source, “For now, only the officer in charge [Mr. Tanko] has been transferred out of the prisons, but we don’t know if other senior officers like the yard master and the officer on duty would also be redeployed out of Kuje prisons. For now, everyone is waiting with bated breath to see the next line of action by the authorities.”
If Mr. Tanko and others are indicted for the escape, they will face more serious sanctions than redeployment, according to NPS Public Relations Officer Francis Enobore.
“The management of the prisons service is taking the matter seriously, and any indicted officer will be severely punished, so transfer cannot be the punishment for the escape of inmates,” Mr. Enobore said.
He added that the investigations are ongoing and that appropriate sanctions would not be imposed until Minister of Interior Abdurahaman Dambazzau reviews the investigators’ report on the matter.
Soiurce: SaharaReporters

Final Year Student Shot Dead For Arguing With Robbers During Bank Operation In Bayelsa

An armed robbery attack which happened on Tuesday along the Sani Abacha Expressway, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, reportedly left one person dead.
The armed robbers were said to have stormed the premises of a new generational bank in the area and held customers hostage, dispossessing them of their cash, mobile phones and other valuables.

The deceased, Obele Wilson, a final year engineering undergraduate student of Bayelsa State-owned Niger Delta University, Amasoma, was in the bank premises when the gang broke in.
Wilson, according to the Punch, was helping admission seekers to process ND screening forms for a fee inside the bank.
However, when the bandits stormed the place and started dispossessing people of their cash and other valuables, the deceased, an indigene of Ogbia Local Government Area of the state, allegedly argued with them.
They became furious and gunned him down.
Some sympathisers were said to have rushed Wilson to a hospital but he died on the way.
The deceased was the immediate past Vice-President of the National Union of Bayelsa State Students and a leader of the Ogbia students’ union.
Confirming the incident on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Asinim Butswat, said efforts were on to apprehend the robbers.
“One Wilson Obele was shot dead during the operation,” he said.

Ikpeazu Defies Court, INEC, Refuses To Quit As Abia Governor

A defiant Okezie Ikpeazu on Thursday urged residents of Abia State to disregard claims of his removal from office as governor.

Mr. Ikpeazu said the residents should continue their normal business activities, saying there was no legal backing for such claims to manifest.
Mr. Ikpeazu’s appeal for calm followed the withdrawal of his certificate of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission which issued same to his challenger in his party’s gubernatorial primaries in 2014.
Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, the spokesman for INEC, said the electoral umpire issued certificate of return to Uche Ogah after Mr. Ikpeazu failed to send notice of appeal against the ruling of a Federal High Court on Monday.
Abang Okon, who handed down the ruling, said Mr. Ikpeazu presented fraudulent tax documents to run for governor as allegedly by Mr. Ogah before the court. Consequently, Mr. Okon ordered Mr. Ikpeazu to vacate office immediately.
But in a statement he issued shortly after news circulated that Mr. Ogah had been issued certificate of return by INEC, Mr. Ikpeazu said it was wrong for the electoral body to have proceeded with such action since he had appealed the ruling.
“I have received with concern report of the purported issuance of Certificate of Return to Mr. Uche Ogah by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as governor of Abia State, despite dependency of a notice of appeal and motion for stay of the orders made by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
“Our laws are clear on this matter. No one may be issued with a certificate of return let alone be sworn in as governor, when there is a subsisting appeal and application for stay.
“I want to appeal to Abians to remain calm and law abiding in the face of this provocation, unless and until the appellant courts have conclusively resolve the appeal, the status remains, I am still the Governor of Abia State,” Mr. Ikpeazu said.
But a source in Mr. Ikpeazu’s office told PREMIUM TIMES the governor’s legal team may have made “terrible mistake,” by failing to serve INEC the notice of appeal.
“To be honest with you, we have no proof of serving INEC the court notice that we’ve appealed the Monday ruling,” the source said. “We placed too much confidence in the legal team and I just pray they have not let us down.”

Suspect Burnt To Death For Molesting Sales Girl To Coma

Pandemonium struck at the Ekuigbo community of Ughelli-North Local Government Area of Delta State on Wednesday after a suspected defiler was set ablaze.
The suspect was reportedly among the hoodlums who attacked a 22-year-old sales girl where she sold fish feed and gang defiled her to coma on Monday.

Recall that the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Celestina Kalu, had confirmed the incident to DAILY POST, saying investigation into the case has begun. The PPRO had said the victim was receiving treatment at the Accident and Emergency, A&E, Unit of the Central Hospital.

However, all efforts to get through to the PPRO on the new development as at press time were abortive.
DAILY POST gathered that the unnamed victim has died and residents consequently apprehended one of the suspects and burnt him to death while onlookers gathered to behold the gory sight, including men in police uniform.