How Oyegun, Two Others Manipulated Ondo APC Primary – Nat’l Vice Chairman

Things appear to be falling apart for the All Progressives Congress (APC) with its handling of the controversial governorship primary in Ondo State last month.
With a former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of APC, Timi Frank and some aggrieved aspirants faulting the role played by the national leadership of the party led by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the Ondo governorship primary is fast proving to be the proverbial storm in the governing party’s tea cup.

Rekindling the controversy that greeted the primary election won by Rotimi Akeredolu, the National Vice Chairman (Southwest) of the APC, Chief Pius Akinyelure has given fresh insight into how the exercise was manipulated.
Akinyelure, in a statement Wednesday, named Chief Odigie-Oyegun, National Secretary Mai Mala Buni and the National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, as the persons behind the act.
The statement, which the APC National Vice Chairman said enjoys the support of six National Working Committee (NWC) members, accused the trio of using National Working Committee meetings to usurp powers and unilaterally take decisions that their offices did not give them the power to take.
It emerged that as many as three delegates’ lists for the election were in circulation at some point after the first list was tampered with.
Izunaso, according to the statement, single-handedly removed, added or substituted names on the initial list circulated to the party’s 24 aspirants, leading to the emergence of a second list that was allegedly altered in favour of Akeredolu.
Mr. Akinyelure, a Tinubu loyalist, said this action enjoyed the support of Oyegun and Buni, even when other members of the NWC opposed it because it contravened party rules.
The statement reads: “The National Organising Secretary confirmed to the NWC meeting of Monday September 19, 2016 that he actually received objections from some of the aspirants as to the delegates’ list. Then he unilaterally made the adjustments as he deemed fit.
“It is emphasised that the National Organising Secretary performed these adjustments without recourse or reference to the NWC. The NWC was not appraised of his actions before the primary. The National Organising Secretary then issued this altered list to the Primary Election Committee for use in the conduct of the election.
“This altered list became available to some of the aspirants in the early hours of the election day (September 3, 2016). When the election process was about to commence, Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and three other aspirants protested and raised objections as to the delegates’ list to the election committee.
“However, the committee members could not address it as it was not within their competence to do so. They went ahead with the conduct of the election.  After the declaration of the results of the election by the election committee, three aspirants petitioned the Election Appeal Committee, alleging discrepancies and the alteration of the delegates’ list provided to them by the election committee and other irregularities.
“Consequent on the above, the NWC of the party received both the Election Committee and the Election Appeal Committee’s reports, which were tabled at the NWC meeting of Monday, September 19, 2016”.
A decision by the NWC to submit the name of an interim substitute to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as place holder until a fresh primary was conducted suffered a setback after Oyegun, Buni and Izunaso “blindsided the other members to submit Akeredolu’s name in spite of a six to five votes in favour of presenting the substitute name”, Akinyelure explained.

PDP Prepares To Challenge Obaseki’s Victory At Election Tribunal

The National Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the Chairmanship of Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, yesterday met with the party’s caucus of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, with a vow to drag the All Progressives Congress, APC to court over the just concluded Edo State gubernatorial election.

According to them, they were optimistic that the PDP would get the victory, just as they said that they have confidence in the judiciary. Makarfi led other members of his team to brief NASS caucus on the decisions taken so far to have lasting peace in the party, especially the move to put in place a twenty- four member team from both sides of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and that of Makarfi.
The Meeting was convened at the instance of the National Caretaker Committee briefed members of the National Assembly on the state of affairs of the Party since after the last National Convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State; especially on the ongoing reconciliation process.
According to the National Chairman, the Meeting was to assist leadership of the Party harvest more ideas and be guided towards achieving the mandate of rebuilding the Party and strategize to return the PDP to power in 2019 not only with majority of states, but also reclaiming the Center, the meeting unanimously endorsed the peace process initiated by the National Caretaker Committee to reconcile all aggrieved members of the Party.
The Party leadership maintained that there is no faction in the PDP, but grievances amongst Party members and that will be resolved soonest. Speaking to Journalists after the meeting, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye who noted that Edo issue was discussed at the meeting, “We discussed it. We know that we were we robbed in Edo State. We believe that we will have our day in court. And by the grace of God, we still have confidence in the judiciary. What happened in Edo State will not stand. ”
Speaking further on the meeting, Adeyeye said, “The members of the National Caretaker Committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi came in here today to brief our National Assembly Caucus. The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives is here, the DSP was also here. We had very good representation at this meeting.
“Basically, it was to brief them on new developments in the party, particularly relating to the peace efforts that we are making in the party. We have to put them into confidence in some of the actions we have taken lately. And ask for their own contribution because after all they are major critical stakeholders. They put us there, we need to consult with them, we need to brief them on developments from time to time. “And I’m happy to say that after the review of what has happened, we have come to the conclusion that the peace efforts already taken by the caretaker committee are in order. And the National Assembly Caucus have given full endorsement to all the efforts made so far by the National Caretaker Committee to reconcile all the aggrieved members of this great party.
On why the other faction was not at the meeting, he said, “We don’t have any faction in PDP. I’ve said some people are aggrieved. And we are trying to make peace with everybody. The PDP is one single body. In every party, you have people who could be aggrieved from time to time. And we are making efforts to reconcile everybody together. ” In his opening remarks, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu who thanked members for taking time out of their busy schedule to attend the Meeting, however expressed appreciation for the recognition accorded them by the National Caretaker Committee for the briefing.
In the same vein, the Minority Leaders of Senate and House of Representatives, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Leo Ogor in their goodwill messages respectively, eulogized the collective responsibility of the leadership style of the National Chairman and his team especially in their pursuit for peace and unity in our Party.

Chibok Girls: How Boko Haram’s Demand For N1.7tr Ransom Frustrated Rescue Efforts

Boko Haram demanded €5billion or N1,706,850,000,000 from the Nigerian Government for the release of 219 Chibok girls, who they have held hostage since April 2014, fresh facts have indicated.
The terrorist group, which has oft-repeated its readiness to swap the Chibok girls for its members in government custody, may have spoken tongue-in-cheek.

According to American author, Prof. John Paden, whenever the Nigerian government moved to facilitate the swap deal with Boko Haram, the terrorist group always back tracked from the original plan, demanding for outrageous sums instead.
Prof. Paden, a teacher of International Studies, revealed these facts in his biography on President Muhammadu Buhari titled “Muhammadu Buhari: The challenges of leadership in Nigeria”.
The book was presented to the public on Monday at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.
The author’s account on the botched negotiation between Boko Haram and the Federal Government provided fresh insights into the plight of the Chibok girls, who have been in captivity for over two years.
Some excerpts from the book are: “An additional issue was the status of the Chibok girls. Secret negotiations had been held regarding an exchange of Boko Haram prisoners for the girls.
“On several occasions, prisoners were taken to Maiduguri to facilitate an exchange. But these negotiations stalled when Boko Haram demanded a ransom of €5billion for the girls.
“The dilemma for the DSS, which was handling the negotiations, was that a military assault to rescue the girls would almost certainly result in their deaths at the hands of their Boko Haram captors.
“But the Nigerian government was not going to accede to Boko Haram’s extra-ordinary demand for a vast sum of money which would no doubt be used to fund future attacks.
“One or two girls were able to escape their captors in May, but the rest remained captive and the impasse continued
“The Chibok girls were not alone in their grim fate. Hundreds if not thousands, of persons had been captured by Boko Haram in the North-East. Buhari would need to continue degrading Boko Haram until he could tighten the noose around its Sambisa hideouts and bring a close end to this painful episode”.

Tinubu Chose Osinbajo for Buhari, Says Ex-General

The claim that Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) was nominated as running mate to then General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) in the run-up to the 2015 general elections, despite pressure against it by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has been described as a distortion of recent history.
A Professor of International Studies, John Paden, had in his recently launched biography on President Muhammadu Buhari, claimed that Osinbajo was picked by Buhari ahead of Tinubu and former Governor, Babatunde Fashola.

Reacting to the portion of the book by Prof. Paden titled “Muhammadu Buhari: Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria”, a retired general, Iliyasu Ibrahim, said it was wrong.
Ibrahim, in a statement yesterday, expressed fears that some fifth columnists are trying to distort recent history and urged Nigerians not to pay heed to them.
The statement reads: “I became disturbed about this falsification of recent history. Why would the author say this and have it published when many of us know the truth? The truth is that Tinubu singlehandedly chose Yemi Osinbajo and sent the name to President Buhari. There was no pressure. Tinubu is Osinbajo’s political mentor. The latter was his attorney-general and commissioner for Justice in Lagos and both have a close relationship.
“My worry stretched further when I recall the recent piece by Femi Fani Kayode on Tinubu and his huge contributions to the APC and how he is now being short-changed. Though I do not agree with all the claims made by Femi Fani-Kayode, I am convinced he made some reasonable arguments and his summation about Tinubu’s role in the current political dispensation can hardly be faulted. In some areas, he went overboard and you could see him gloating, the PDP apologist that he is. Also, the mention of Governor Ajimobi as one of the governors working against Tinubu is a fallacy and here he got his facts wrong. Ajimobi has remained consistently behind Tinubu and that is easily verifiable.
“But back to the emergence of Osinbajo as Vice Presidential candidate. I was there the night before the final decision and subsequent announcement. I was there at the Lagos Lodge Annex in Asokoro, Abuja at Tinubu’s place. On the night in reference, Asiwaju insisted that three names would not be sent for the VP slot. He maintained that only one name would be sent. Eventually, the name of Osinbajo was sent to President Buhari. There was no issue of pressure.
“Osinbajo was Tinubu’s man and that was the only person Tinubu was willing to accept to cede the VP slot. Shortly after Governor Amosun came around to the Lagos lodge. He came in and we greeted. Now, it seems clear that some fifth columnists are trying to distort recent history and we should not let them. This history is too recent to be mutilated”.

Ex VC; University Of Ibadan, Bamiro, Shot

Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Femi Bamiro, was shot on Tuesday night in Ibadan by unknown gunmen.

Details about the incident are still sketchy, but our correspondent gathered that Bamiro was attacked around his house and shot in the leg.
He was rushed to the University College Hospital, Ibadan, where he is said to be responding to treatment.
Bamiro was the 10^th vice-chancellor of UI and a predecessor to the immediate past VC, Isaac Adewole, who is now the Minister of Health.
The school’s Director of Communication, Olatunji Oladejo, confirmed the incident to our correspondent, adding that the institution’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Gbemisola Oke, and the Registrar, Olujinmi Olukoya, had visited him at the UCH.
He said, “I can confirm to you that our former vice-chancellor, Prof. Gbemiro, was shot on Tuesday night. There is no detail of the shooting for now.
“The school’s DVC, Academic and Registrar have visited him at UCH on behalf of the school.
“What I can say further is that we are thankful to God that he is responding to treatment. We are in touch with the hospital management whom we trust to offer the best treatment to the former VC.”

Germany To Build Military Base In Niger

Germany will build a military base in Niger to support the UN mission fighting jihadists in neighbouring Mali, Berlin’s ambassador to Niamey said Wednesday. Bernd von Munchow-Pohl also announced in a speech to mark the anniversary of Germany’s reunification seen by AFP that German Chancellor Angela Merkel would visit Niger in the next few days. “With the establishment of a German military airbase in Niamey in support of the MINUSMA mission in Mali, which Niger has supported since the beginning, a new chapter in our cooperation has begun,” he said, using the acronym for the UN mission in Mali.
“(Germany) is ready to engage more in the Sahel region (and) assume even more responsibility,” he said. “Niger is a central partner for us in this respect (and) a key country in the fight against terrorism and illegal migration” from West Africa. The US and France already operate bases in Niger as part of the battle against jihadists in the Sahel region — principally in Libya and Mali. They have also deployed drones to Niamey and Agadez in the north to monitor jihadist movements.
Experts say Niger, the poorest country in the Sahel, is becoming “a crucial base” for Western powers in the fight against jihadists.

Probe All Other Ex-First Ladies Or Let Patience Go

An Abuja-based anti-corruption movement, The Integrity Group, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to probe Nigeria’s former first ladies or stop the “seeming witch-hunt” of the country’s immediate-past first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. Warning that the continued ‘media trial’ of the ex-president’s wife could trigger off more violent reactions in the Niger Delta, the group said the onus is on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC to prove its case rather than asking Mrs Jonathan to explain the source of her wealth.

At a news conference addressed by its Executive Director, Livingstone Wechie, the group contended that; “No Nigerian under any law, including Patience Jonathan is under any obligation to explain how he/she made his/her money. If the EFCC thinks anybody stole money, they should by evidence show how and wherefrom the money was stolen. “The cumulative value of the monies in the Skye Bank account that Mrs Jonathan claims is less than $10 million. The report credited to the EFCC that the monies were in excess of $30 million is completely false, malicious and misleading and this is deliberate. The EFCC is challenged to provide public evidence of its claim of $31 million lodged in Skye Bank”. The group added that, “this attack on Patience and Goodluck Jonathan may spark up avoidable security problems in the old Eastern Nigeria and we are willing to support Mr President in averting same.
“As such, our message is, arrest and prosecute all former first families including their aides and seize all their assets and money or leave Goodluck and Patience Jonathan alone and restore all their seized assets”.

Boko Haram: Nigerian Air Force Launches Operation Forest Storm In N/East

The Nigerian Air Force on Tuesday opened a new vista in the fight against Boko Haram with the launch of a new operation code-named “Operation Forest Storm” in the North-East.
The operation is aimed at curtailing the outflow of Boko Haram insurgents from the northern parts of Borno to the South.

Briefing newsmen at the NAF base in Yola, Adamwa state, the Chief of Training and Operations at the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, Abuja, Air Vice Marshal Ahmed Abdullahi Iya, said the special operation is expected to last for about seven days.
He said as part of the Operation of the NAF in Lafiya Dole, air surveillance conducted over the entire theater of Operations in the Northeast revealed some insurgents in the southern part of the Area of Operation and Forest Storm is specifically designed to take care of them.
Iya: “As part of our campaign against insurgency in the North Eastern part of the country, we have been focusing more on the north, nevertheless we conducted surveillance all over the Theater of Operations and we started noticing some insurgents in the south that is why we have launched a special operation to take care of that.
“The name of the operation is Operation Forest Storm and it is just for a few days, we are focusing mainly on interdiction, we have identified a specific target to take out through interdiction. From our calculations, it is not going to take more than three days but we are planning for seven days to take care of what we have seen”.
AVM Iya noted that since the campaign began, security has greatly improved in the northeast and the military operations have been able to degrade the ranks of the insurgents.
“We know things have improved from the nature of attacks, you no longer see them attacking in large convoys, most of them use motorcycles now”.
He assured that civilians have nothing to fear about the operation as the Air Force will ensure there is no collateral damage.
“We have conducted surveillance, selected our targets and analyzed very well before we decide on the attack, the mode and the type of weapon to use. All these are carefully planned and we do not foresee any collateral damage so there is no cause for alarm”, Iya said.

Money Laundering: Ex-Air Chief, Amosu, Others In Plea Deal With EFCC

Immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd.), has told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos that he is ready to plead guilty to charges of laundering N21billion.
Amosu and 10 others said yesterday that they were negotiating a plea deal with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which proffered the charges against them.

EFCC arraigned Amosu along with a former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting at the Nigeria Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun and a former Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo.
Companies arraigned with them are Delfina Oil and Gas Limited, Mcallan Oil And Gas Limited, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Limited, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Limited, Deegee Oil and Gas Limited, Timsegg Investment Limited and Solomon Health Care Limited.
They were accused by the anti-graft agency of converting the sum of N21billion from the NAF around March 2014 in Lagos.
They were also accused of concealing “proceeds of crime”, an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 17(a).
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the defendants kicked against a bid by EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, to begin their trial.
They sought for more time to conclude the plea bargain with EFCC.
It would be recalled that after he was first arraigned in June this year, counsel to Amosu, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), argued that the former Air Chief had returned “collossal sums”.
“He (Amosu) has remitted colossal sums of money to the Federal Government, although not in admittance of guilt, but out of cooperation with security agencies”, the Senior Advocate said.

How Shema Instructed Me To Disburse N680.2m 2015 Election Security Vote – Ex-Gov’s ADC

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Shehu Koko, the Aide-de-camp (ADC) to immediate past governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema, on Tuesday, explained to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry how he disbursed N680.2 million to security agents in the state during the 2015 general elections.
Mr. Koko told the Commission in Katsina that the funds were disbursed in cash.

The ADC said it was his former boss, Mr. Shema, who asked him to summon a security meeting on March 26, 2015.
“The money was disbursed as logistics and allowances to various security personnel during the Presidential and Gubernatorial Elections in 2015.
“I invited the then Deputy Commissioner of Police who stands for the CP, the then Commanding Officer of the 35 battalion, Nigerian Army, the Director, Department of State Security (DSS) and the Deputy Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC)”, he said.
He explained that the money was provided by the then Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sani Makana, on March 27, 2015.
According to him, the SSS was given N158 million, Nigerian Army; N68.2 million, Customs; N8 million, Immigration; N10 million, and Prisons Service: N8 million.
Others were Federal Road Safety Corps, N8 million; NSCDC, N24 million; the present Commissioner of Police who was in the state for election duties got N10 million, former Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), N4 million and DCP operations; N3.5 million.
The ADC said each of the three police area commanders received N4 million, while N95 million was disbursed to the 34 Divisional Police Officers, where each DPO got N2.5 million, among others.
He added that the present ADC to Gov. Bello Masari collected for himself and on behalf of the Non-Commissioned Officers serving in the state.
Mr. Koko submitted documents on the disbursement which were registered and marked as evidences.
The Chairman of the Commission, Justice Muhammad Surajo, adjourned sitting until October 26 for adoption of addresses by the counsel.
The current state Governor, Bello Masari, had constituted a commission of inquiry to investigate how funds were allegedly diverted during the tenure of Ibrahim Shema and advise government on what steps to take.
(NAN)

Saraki Disowns Lawyer Who Filed Suit against Resumption Of Trial At CCT

Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday dissociated himself from a suit initiated by Timipa Jenkins Okponipare at the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking to quash his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
Mr. Okponipare had filed an enforcement of fundamental human rights suit before Justice Gabriel Kolawole on behalf of the Senate president, declaring that the plan to resume Saraki’s trial at the CCT is a breach of his fundamental right to fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He also prayed for an order of the court compelling the CCT and Attorney General of the Federation to suspend indefinitely, any plan to resume the trial at the CCT.
However, a statement by Mahmud Magaji (SAN), lawyer to Saraki, said the number three citizen never instructed Okponipare to institute such a suit on his behalf.

RELATED POST: Saraki Files Fresh Suit To Stop Resumed Trial At CCT

The statement reads: “We do not know the complainant in the purported case. Dr. Saraki has not instructed any lawyer to file a suit in the Federal High Court, Abuja, or any other court, wherein a purported issue of fundamental human rights to challenge the case before the CCT was filed. We hope the reported case is not arranged to target the decision which the CCT is billed to deliver tomorrow (today) concerning the competence of the Tribunal chairman, Mr. Danladi Umar, to continue presiding over the Saraki case.
“We call on members of the public to know that Dr. Saraki will explore all legitimate avenues to prove his innocence of the charges filed against him before the CCT but he will not be a party to abuse of the court process in whatever manner”.
Meanwhile, the application filed by the Senate president concerning the competence of the CCT chairman was dismissed earlier today.
In a ruling on the application, Justice Umar said he would have disqualified himself “but for the constraints placed on the Chairman by the Constitution of Nigeria that established the Code of Conduct Tribunal”.
He said the application to recuse the Chairman has not been contemplated at the conception of the Constitution.
Mr. Umar further pointed out that for the president to even remove the Chairman or a member of the Tribunal, he must transmit a written address to the National Assembly and obtain a two-third consent from both chambers of the legislature.
The Chairman ruled that “the allegation of the applicant is based on mere conjecture of the media”.
“The application of the defendant is not well founded and it is hereby refused”, he ruled.