President Muhammadu Buhari has issued a marching order to security chiefs to tackle the challenges of insecurity in the North West. This was disclosed by the Inspector General of Police, Muhammad Adamu when security chiefs paid a visit to the Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello at his palace in Gusau, Zamfara State, on Thursday. He said Buhari dispatched top security chiefs to interface with stakeholders in Zamfara on the lingering security challenges in the North West. Adamu said: “We are sent to Gusau today (Thursday) by President Muhammad Buhari as part of his concern on security challenges in Zamfara…
Author: Emmanuel Anthony
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has said he would always fight back injustice meted on any indigene of the state. Wike said this in reaction to the attempted arrest of the former Managing Director of the NDDC, JoiyNunieh by security operatives at her residence in Old GRA, Port Harcourt. The Governor who described the invasion of the home of Nunieh by security operatives as a disgrace, said the action of the police was a show of shame to Nigeria. Speaking with journalists in Government House, Port Harcourt, Governor Wike said Rivers State was fully out for anyone who is responsible…
The Nigeria Police Force has denied detaining suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu. This was contained in a letter signed by DCP Idowu Owohunwa, Principal Staff Officer to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu. It was addressed to Magu’s counsel, Tosin Ojaomo, in response to his bail application. The police made it clear that Magu was being “held” by the Presidency. “The Inspector-General directs that your attention be drawn to the fact that the Nigeria Police Force is not investigating Ibrahim Magu and he is accordingly not being detained by the police…
More details have emerged about the corruption allegation against the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as the House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Affairs continues to grill officials on budgets of the commission. Between January to May, 2020, the commission spent N122.9 million on condolence-related ceremonies out of the N81.5 billion spent so far within that period. This was revealed during the investigative hearing by the Committee on Wednesday. The committee is charged with investigating the financial misappropriation, the fictitious award of contracts and corruption by the Niger Delta Development Commission. The Chairman of the Committee,…
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, said he has President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval, to go ahead with the plan to recruit 774,000 Nigerians under the Special Public Works Programme (SPW). Keyamo confirmed this to newsmen in Abuja. “I have the instructions of my boss, Mr. President, to proceed unhindered,” he said. The National Assembly had ordered Keyamo to put a halt on the programme. The Minister and lawmakers had been at loggerheads over the implementation of the programme. The lawmakers claimed Keyamo did not seek their inputs, before putting together members of the 20-man States selection…
The House of Representatives has asked the Federal government to reverse its decision on the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) examination. On Tuesday, the green chamber urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the ministry of Education to put in place all the necessary safety measures which will allow the students to participate in the annual examination. The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Nnoli Nnaji on the need to allow students to participate in the 2020 examination which was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nnaji explained that the Minister of State (Education), Emeka Nwajubia announced…
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria on Monday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sack his Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio following allegations of fraudulent practice levelled against him. HURIWA made the call while lamenting the widespread accusations of massive corruption trailing the activities of high profile cabinet-level Ministers and heads of parastatals under Buhari’s administration. A statement by the group’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko also urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to probe the activities of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs under Akpabio’s leadership. According to HURIWA: “We are calling on the EFCC to carry…
The suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, failed to submit the agency’s audited accounts to the National Assembly as required by law. It is believed he took advantage of the non-confirmation of his appointment by the Senate to avoid accountability. By Section 37 of the establishment act, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment, ETC) Act 2004, the commission is required to submit its report, including its audited account to the National Assembly every year. It states: “The Commission shall, not later than 30th September in each year, submit to the National Assembly, a report…
The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has accused the state governor, Godwin Obaseki of bribing his way to emerge as the party’s flag bearer in the upcoming poll. Ize-Iyamu alleged that Obaseki paid the PDP N15 billion to emerge as its governorship candidate. He made the allegation in a statement signed by his campaign Director of Communications, John Mayaki. The APC governorship candidate charged the state governor to explain to people of the state how he came about such a huge fund. He also expressed optimism that he would defeat Obaseki at the poll…
The suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ibrahim Magu, who is currently being probed by the Presidential Investigation Panel over allegations of corruption levelled against him has reportedly shunned the cell of the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) and turned the mosque in the premises of the police headquarters to his abode where he spends his night. As he embarked on the battle of his life, the police management team was said to have abandoned him to his fate to carry his own cross following his refusal to identify with the police hierarchy while his…
The suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has written to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to be released on bail. In a letter dated July 10, 2020, Magu’s legal representative, Oluwatosin Ojaomo, asked Adamu to grant bail to his client on “self-recognizance”. Magu was arrested on Monday and taken to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where he was interrogated by an Ayo Salami-led panel headed by Ayo Salami, a retired president of the Appeal Court. He has been in detention since Monday night, answering questions on embezzled recovered loot and selling of…
Eleven out of the 12 governorship aspirants that participated in the All Progressives Congress (APC) screening have rejected the indirect primaries approved by the party’s National Caretaker Committee. The aspirants on Friday sent a formal letter to the party’s Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee (CEONCPC) in this regard. The party’s primary election comes up on July 20, 2020. As it stands, only the incumbent Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, did not append his signature on the letter submitted to the office of the National Chairman of the party in Abuja. The letter dated 8th July 2020, is titled: “Why indirect primary cannot…
The Federal Government has halted subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit popularly known as petrol. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, announced this on Thursday. He said the decision was in line with the deregulation of the downstream oil sector. Sylva, in a statement, noted that the move would boost the economic growth and development of Nigeria. The minister said that the government cannot continue to subsidise petrol because it had no economic value. He said after a thorough examination of the economics, “the government concluded that it was unrealistic to continue with the burden of subsidising PMS to…
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, says allegations of misappropriation of funds levelled against the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) were unacceptable. He said this on Thursday while declaring open an investigative public hearing on the alleged financial recklessness. Lawal said mismanagement of public funds to the tune of N80 billion prompted the upper chamber to probe the commission. He underscored the need for the prudent application of public funds by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government (MDAs). Lawan stated that the era when public resources are expended anyhow is long gone. “We are in trying…
Edo State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Godwin Obaseki will be defeated at the polls. The governorship election holds on September 19. On Wednesday, Ize-Iyamu said PDP and Obaseki will lose because the party fielded “the man it had roundly condemned as a non-achiever”. The APC flagbearer’s position was contained in a statement by his campaign spokesman, John Mayaki. Ize-Iyamu mocked the PDP for “singing Godwin Obaseki’s praise, claiming he is the almighty, the saint, after parading him as a failure who deceived the courts…
The Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Iroju Ogundeji has been suspended. Ogundeji was suspended alongside another member of the House, Hon. Adewale Williams. The two lawmakers were suspended by the leadership of the House on Wednesday during plenary “for unruly behaviour.” The affected lawmakers were among the nine lawmakers who did not sign the impeachment notice against the embattled Deputy Governor of the state, Agboola Ajayi. Also on Wednesday, Majority Leader of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Jamiu Maito, resigned. His letter of resignation was read by the Clerk of the House, Bode Adeyelu, during…
The impeachment proceeding against the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi has taken a new twist as nine members of the Ondo State House of Assembly refused to be part of the move. The nine lawmakers led by the Deputy Speaker, Iroju Ogundeji and the Majority leader, Jamiu Maito dissociated themselves from the purported impeachment process over what they described as personal convictions. Earlier, 14 lawmakers had signed the impeachment notice against the Deputy Governor accusing him of gross misconduct, financial recklessness, abandonment of office among others. According to the nine members, the 14 members who claimed to have…
Nigerians have continued to share their diverse opinions on the suspension of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu by President Muhammadu Buhari. Magu was suspended on Tuesday by President Buhari after he spent the night in a police cell at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Headquarters in Abuja. This followed a six-hour grilling by a presidential panel, chaired by Justice Ayo Salami, a former president of the Court of Appeal. Buhari set up the panel to probe various allegations levelled against Magu, following a petition by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of…
Some Protesters on Monday took to the US Embassy, Abuja, demanding an investigation into the link between ex-Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Timi Frank and some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains with Raymond Abbas Igbalode, popularly known as Hushpuppi. The group, under the aegis of Concerned Citizens Forum (CCF), seen in their numbers held placards calling for the arrest of Atiku, Melaye and other PDP members linked to the fraudster. Some inscriptions on the placards read: “Say No to fraud, Interpol act now”, Interpol act and arrest Dino Melaye”, “Show me your friend and I will tell you who you are”,…
The Department of State Services (DSS) said it did not arrest the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu. The spokesman, Peter Afunanya, said this in a terse statement on Monday. “The Service has since, today, 6th July, 2020, been inundated with enquiries over the alleged arrest”, it said adding that Magu was not picked up. Despite the rebuttal, it was gathered that DSS blocked Magu in Wuse traffic shortly after he left office. He was then taken to the Presidential Villa. Magu is being reportedly grilled over allegations against him. Diverse reactions have trailed…
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ebonyi State council has condemned in totality what it tagged as the unwarranted arrest of its chairman, Tony Nwizi by armed gunmen in police uniform. It was gathered that the said armed squad stormed the residence of Tony Nwizi, who is the state chairman of NUJ on Saturday. The union in a statement signed by the Vice-Chairman, Comrade Benjamin Nworie, in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, demanded the unconditional release of Tony Nwizi. The statement reads: “We received a distress call from the wife of chairman of the council, Mrs. Joy Tony Nwizi, that armed squad…
A COVID-19 patient has given birth in Oyo State. The patient gave birth at the Infectious Disease Centre, Olodo, Ibadan, Oyo state capital. Engineer Seyi Makinde, the state Governor made this declaration in a series of tweets on his Twitter handle on Saturday. Makinde said, “We had our first COVID-19 patient delivery at the Infectious Disease Centre, Olodo. Mother and baby are doing well.” According to the governor, who is also the head of COVID-19 taskforce in the state, the confirmation tests for nineteen suspected cases came back positive. “The cases are from Ibadan South East (3), Ibadan North (3),…
The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has granted a waiver to the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi to allow him to contest the governorship ticket of the party slated for July 22, 2020. The waiver was a sequel to the application sent to the NWC by Ajayi requesting him to participate in the forthcoming PDP primaries. The approval was contained in a letter received by the Deputy Governor on July 2, 2020, which was signed by both the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus and its National Secretary, Senator Umaru Ibrahim Tsauri. According to the…
National Coordinator of Concerned Advocates for Good Governance, Olusegun Bamgbose, has said that he sees the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, returning to the All Progressives Congress ahead of 2023. Bamgbose, a Lagos-based senior lawyer, also declared that the presidential ambition of former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, has hit the rock already. Bamgbose stated this in a chat with newsmen, adding that though this may sound absurd and incredible to many, it will come to pass. In his words, “As we draw closer to 2023 Presidential race and politicians…
The political battle in Edo State is getting intense as Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has slammed Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate. Wike alleged that Ize-Iyamu lost to Governor Godwin Obaseki in the 2016 governorship election in Edo State because the people saw that he ‘would not be a good leader’. Recall that Ize-Iyamu, who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, four years ago was defeated by Obaseki who was the APC candidate then. However, Wike, in a tweet on his official Twitter handle also said that the Edo election is…
Some All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders in Ekiti State under the aegis of Ekiti APC Youth Congress (EAYC) have accused Governor Kayode Fayemi of high-handedness and nepotism. They said his actions might spell doom for the party in the 2022 governorship election. Their position was contained in a statement on Thursday by Tope Ogunkuade and Tunji Adeleye, EAYC Convener and Secretary, respectively. They expressed dismay that despite Fayemi’s closeness to President Muhammadu Buhari, Ekiti has no single nominee among the 41 new ambassadors. “States like Oyo, Kwara and Kano had three; others like Adamawa, Borno and Benue had two”, the group…
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday rejected the bail applications filed by a kidnap kingpin, Hamisu Bala, otherwise known as Wadume, and six others. In the summary of her ruling on the defendants’ applications, Justice Binta Nyako ordered them to be immediately moved from the custody of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the police to prison in Kuje, Abuja. The judge who emphasised that the defendants’ must be moved to the prison on Wednesday, said she saw no reason granting them bail while she was already giving the case an accelerated hearing. She also ordered that the defendants…
President Muhammadu Buhari named Debo Adesina, ex-Minister of State for defence, Ademola Seriki, Dare Sunday Awaoniyi, among others in 41-man non-career and one career ambassadors submitted to the Senate for screening and confirmation on Wednesday. Senate President Ahmed Lawan read the President’s letter of request on the floor at the plenary on Wednesday. Adesina was picked from Oyo State, Seriki from Lagos and Dare Sunday Awoniyi Kogi State.
The Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee (CEONCPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has made new appointments. Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani and Niger Governor, Sani Bello, will chair the APC Reconciliation Committees for Edo and Ondo States, respectively. Yekini Nabena, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, announced this in a statement on Tuesday. He said the development was in line with the process of reconciliation among leaders and members at all levels, announced by the National Caretaker Chairman and Yobe Governor, Mala Buni. See the full list below: Edo State Reconciliation Committee: Sen. Ken Nnamani – ChairmanBabatunde Fashola, SANFetus Keyamo, SANProf.…
Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has expressed confidence that his Edo counterpart, Godwin Obaseki, will be re-elected. Okowa said this on Tuesday in a statement on Obaseki’s birthday. The Edo helmsman clocked 63 on Wednesday, July 1. Okowa noted that Obaseki deserved to be celebrated for providing “purposeful, courageous and result-oriented leadership”. He lauded Obaseki’s ingenuity and untiring spirit which he said the governor had brought to bear in stimulating the industrialisation of his state. Okowa said his colleague has through a dint of hard work, discipline and vision industrialised Edo, won the admiration and respect of his people. “No…
