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Category: Politics

  • Ondo Gov Picks Former National Assembly Clerk As Deputy

    Ondo Gov Picks Former National Assembly Clerk As Deputy

    A former Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, Olayide Owolabi Adelami, has been nominated as the new Deputy Governor of Ondo State.

    Adelami’s nomination came shortly after Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa announced the dissolution of members of the State Executive Council in the cabinet, who worked under the late governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.

    An alumnus of Imade College, Adelami obtained his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Lagos before proceeding to get his MBA from Ogun State University.

    He was a deputy clerk at the National Assembly before retiring in April 2018.

    Chief Press Secretary to Aiyedatiwa, Ebenezer Adeniyan, confirmed the nomination of Adelami in a statement on Wednesday.

    Adelami’s nomination is believed to have laid to rest agitations for the appointment of a new deputy governor for the state following the emergence of Aiyedatiwa.

    Aiyedatiwa became the substantive governor of the state after the demise of Akeredolu, who passed on after battling protracted prostrate cancer.

  • BREAKING: Obiano to be arraigned over alleged ₦4bn fraud

    BREAKING: Obiano to be arraigned over alleged ₦4bn fraud

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will arraign the immediate-past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, on Wednesday, January 24, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged money laundering to the tune of N4,008,573,350.

    The ex-governor will be arraigned on nine count charges.

    The development comes over a week after the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede vowed to review all abandoned high-profile cases, especially those involving former Governors and Ministers.

    An impeccable source revealed, “We found that Obiano moved N4,008,573,350 from security votes into different accounts. The money at various times was changed into dollars and returned to Obiano by cash.”

    EFCC’s lead counsel, Slyvanus Tahir, SAN, will lead eight other lawyers in the trial of the former governor

    Some of the charges against Obiano include, “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 – March 2022, sometime between 7th February, 2018 to 18th February, 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N156,800.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Pic into the Fidelity Bank Ple Account No: 6060018819 belonging to C.I. Patty Ventures Nigeria Limited (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.

    “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 — March 2022, sometime between 9th August, 2017 to 4th March, 2020 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N261,268,585.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc into the Fidelity Bank Plc Account No: 5600062873 belonging to Easy Diamond Integrated Link (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

    When contacted by our correspondent on Tuesday, the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale confirmed the development while noting that Obiano will be arraigned on Wednesday.

    “Yes, we’re arraigning Obiano tomorrow,” Oyewale noted.

    The ex-governor was first arrested at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, on March 17, 2022, as he was preparing to board a flight to Houston, the United States of America.

    The arrest took place at about 8.30 pm, hours after he left office as governor and, thus, lost his immunity from arrest and prosecution.

    He had been on the EFCC’s watchlist for some time before he was eventually arrested over corruption allegations.

    “Obiano was arrested for alleged misappropriation of public funds, including, N5 billion Sure-P and N37 billion security vote which was withdrawn in cash. Part of the funds was also allegedly diverted to finance political activities in the state,” EFCC had noted at the time.

  • BREAKING: Ogun State Assembly Speaker, Olakunke Oluomo, impeached

    BREAKING: Ogun State Assembly Speaker, Olakunke Oluomo, impeached

    The Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, has been impeached from his position over alleged gross misconduct.

    In his place, Hon Oludaisi Elemide has been appointed as the new speaker.

    Oluomo was reelected in June 2023 after a week of tension over the seat. He faced a challenge from former deputy Speaker Elemide.

    Both lawmakers are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which holds 17 of the 26 seats in the House, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has the remaining nine members.

  • Bandits Strike In Enugu Community, Kill 1

    Bandits Strike In Enugu Community, Kill 1

    Agu-Amede community near Eha-Amufu in the Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State witnessed another horrifying attack on Sunday, January 21, 2024. 

    Suspected herder bandits targeted Odoba and Isi Agbuhu villages, resulting in the tragic death of Ikechukwu Odomi from Isi Agbuhu.

    Community leader Ephraim Ogbu confirmed the attack, expressing deep concern over the apparent lack of response from security forces despite timely information provided by the locals. 

    Ogbu revealed that a house owned by Chibuike Olinya in Odoba Agu Amede village was also burned down, with Olinya narrowly escaping harm.

    Despite the prolonged nature of the attack, Ogbu lamented that soldiers and other security agencies did not intervene, raising questions about the effectiveness of their presence in the area. 

    Ogbu questioned, “What we don’t know is whether the soldiers are here to protect the bandits?”

    Residents have been grappling with ongoing attacks since late last year, with Fulani bandits reportedly occupying a significant portion of farmland. 

    The assailants enter the community freely, leaving destruction in their wake. Ogbu emphasized, “The bandits come into the community at will, kill and burn houses.”

    The slain Ikechukwu Odomi had been accompanying his in-law when they encountered the bandits on the road. 

    He abandoned his vehicle and fled into the bush, but tragically, the assailants pursued him, setting the bush ablaze and claiming his life.

  • Ten Injured As Explosion Rocks Kaduna Community

    Ten Injured As Explosion Rocks Kaduna Community

    Tension gripped Kidandan Village in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State as 10 children sustained injuries in an explosion on Saturday afternoon.

    The incident occurred while the children were playing with an object found in a nearby bush, suspected to be a bomb, leading to a sudden detonation.

    Disturbing images depict the victims covered in blood, receiving aid from local residents before being urgently transported to Shika Hospital in Zaria for medical attention.

    The Village Head, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Ruka, confirmed the incident, stating that 10 people were injured but thankfully, there were no reported fatalities.

    He mentioned ongoing efforts to compile the victims’ names, as the police had visited the community.

    Councilor Representing Kidandan Ward, Abdullahi Ismail, explained that the children discovered the object while searching for firewood in the bush, resulting in a severe explosion causing significant injuries.

    A community leader, choosing to remain anonymous, shared the grim details, noting one victim had visible injuries to their intestines, while others suffered broken limbs.

    The State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, is yet to comment on the incident.

  • Nasarawa Governor Speaks On Contesting Presidency In 2027

    Nasarawa Governor Speaks On Contesting Presidency In 2027

    Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has confirmed that he has no aspirations beyond his current role after securing a second term following the Supreme Court’s affirmation of his electoral win. 

    The 64-year-old leader expressed satisfaction with the resolution of the election litigation, emphasizing his commitment to his gubernatorial responsibilities.

    Sule, elected in 2019, assured his rival, David Ombugadu, that he harbours no ambitions for higher political positions. 
    “I came in only to be a governor. I did not come in to be a chairman, a senator or a member of the House of Representatives. I don’t have any dreams for those offices,” he stated.

    “I have no dream of becoming even president. I have no dreams of that. I can tell you categorically that Abdullahi Sule would not go for Senate after leaving office. By the time I finish my eight years I can do whatever I want to do.

    “You can take it from me confidently that I have no intention to run for the office of a senator. You can keep this tape and play it one day.”

    He also expressed his joy that the election litigation is over.

  • Abba Yusuf  Sacks Eight Directors At Internal Revenue Service

    Abba Yusuf  Sacks Eight Directors At Internal Revenue Service

    In a significant move to enhance its revenue-generating capabilities, the Kano State Government has terminated the services of eight directors from its Internal Revenue Service (KIRS).

    Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, recently affirmed by the Supreme Court, sanctioned the dismissals in alignment with the government’s ongoing efforts to achieve its objectives.

    This is  according to a KIRS circular signed by Chairman Sani Abdulkadir Dambo.

    The sacked directors include the Director of Assessment, Muhammad Kabir Umar; Director of Human Resources, Kabiru Magaji; Director of Government Business, Ibrahim Sammani; Aminu Umar Kawu, Director of Road and Other Taxes, and Muhd Auwal Abdullahi, Director of Tax Audit, Investigation and Debt Management.

    Others affected are Abubakar Garba Yusuf, Director of ICT, Hamisu Ado Magaji, Director of PAYE, and Bashir Yusuf Madobi, Director of Legal and Enforcement.

  • “Your protests won’t change anything” — Nasarawa Gov reacts to Supreme Court Judgment

    “Your protests won’t change anything” — Nasarawa Gov reacts to Supreme Court Judgment

    The Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has said that protests against his victory at the Supreme Court will not change anything.

    The governor said that the Supreme Court is the ultimate and final court in the country, adding that those who appreciate democracy should accept its verdict in good faith.

    Governor Sule said this during a visit to President Bola Tinubu at the State House on Friday.

    The governor was accompanied by  the immediate past national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Abdullahi Adamu and the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Tanko Almakura.

    His words: “Nasarawa is a state where we had over 600,000 votes, and we won with over 340,000 votes, so you will know that over 200,000 people did not vote for us. So if out of these 200,000 people who did not vote for us and other sets of 1,000 people are protesting somewhere, then you will know because it’s a day that not everybody will be happy.

    “In every state where the Supreme Court passed judgment in every one of these states, you will find some people happy and some other people not happy.

    “But I think people who understand what democracy is all about will understand that the Supreme Court is the ultimate and is the final, and those who appreciate or respect democracy should leave it right there because protests or no protest will not change anything; the Supreme Court has already passed its judgement.

    “So in our case, when we lost at the tribunal, we told everybody that nobody should protest, and that’s why nobody protested, but that is the level of maturity that you will see from one political party or the other.

    “We are a very mature political party; we’re the ruling party in the country; we’re the ruling party in the state; and we’re showing a good example, so that’s why we will not protest.”

  • Abuja Kidnappers: We Have Arrested Informants– Wike

    Abuja Kidnappers: We Have Arrested Informants– Wike

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revealed that informants working for the kidnappers in the nation’s capital have been apprehended.

    The Minister shared the news during a town hall meeting with stakeholders and residents in Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT on Friday.

    According to him, the end has come for kidnappers, bandits and their informants in the FCT.

    Wike said, “The President has asked me to assure you that he will not abandon you. So, all these criminals, be ready. Your time is up. If I say I will do something, I will do it. And now that I am here today, if you know you are an informant or even one of the criminals, the end has come for you. Security agencies and I will follow up so you won’t enter Gwagwalada again.

    “Some of the people giving them information, we have arrested them. If they haven’t arrested you, it doesn’t mean we won’t arrest you tomorrow or even before we leave this place.”

    The development is coming amidst the upsurge of kidnapping and insecurity, which has been plaguing communities in the FCT.

    Tension has gripped most communities after kidnappers killed three of 10 abducted victims over the delay in the payment of over N700 million ransom.

  • Police Burst Identity of Abuja Notorious Kidnapper

    Police Burst Identity of Abuja Notorious Kidnapper

    The identity of the notorious Abuja kidnapper arrested by police operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command has been revealed.

    In a statement on Friday, the FCT Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Josephine Adeh, said the name of the suspected kidnapper is Chinaza Phillip.

    She said Philip was arrested on Thursday, January 18, 2024, for his involvement in the recent kidnappings and killings in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Adeh added that the suspect was handed over to the FCT Police Command on Friday and is currently in police custody.

    The statement reads: “The FCT Police Command wishes to confirm the arrest of one Chinaza Phillip, a notorious Abuja kidnapper by police operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command on Thursday 18th January 2024.

    “The suspect has been handed over to FCT police Command today being Friday 19th January, 2024, and currently in police custody.

    “More details will be communicated soon….”