Author: The Nation

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in last Saturday’s governorship election in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to review the election results.

Incumbent Governor Dapo Abiodun was declared the winner having polled 276,298 while Adebutu and Biyi Otegbeye of ADC got 262,383 and 94,753 respectively.

But Adebutu argued that the number of votes cancelled by INEC was more than the margin between the APC and the PDP. He said this contravened the margin of lead principle as entrenched in the Electoral Act, adding that the electoral umpire ought to have declared the contest inconclusive.

Adebutu made the claim in a letter to INEC signed by his lead counsel, Chris Uche, SAN.

The letter reads: “We act as Counsel to Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in the governorship election conducted by your Commission in Ogun State on Saturday, 18th March 2023. We also represent the PDP, both hereinafter called our clients, and we write on their instructions.

“At the collation of results at the above-said election, it became clear that the margin of lead between Mr. Adedapo Abiodun, the candidate of the APC and our client was not in excess of the total number of voters who collected their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in polling units where elections did not hold or were voided.

“We enclose the extract of the votes showing that whereas the total number of PVCs in places elections were not held was 33,750, the lead as announced by the Returning Officer between the two candidates was only 13,915.

“In accordance with the Electoral Act 2022 and the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, 2022, the Returning Officer shall and must decline to make a return in the circumstances”.

Uche urged the electoral umpire to review the result rather than wait for an electoral petition.

He said: “We, therefore, apply that your Commission exercises its powers under Section 65(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 to review this wrongful declaration and return within seven days.

“We state that this is a clear case of a declaration made contrary to the provisions of the law, the regulations and the guidelines, and need not wait for an election petition before review.”

A former chairman of the defunct Skye Bank, Tunde Ayeni, has dismissed a report linking him emotionally with his ex-lover Miss Adaobi Alagwu.

Ayeni, who described the report as “mere sensationalism”, said he had moved on beyond Adaobi even though the past linked them together.

 In a statement released by his media office, Ayeni said: “Ordinarily, the recent series of media reports linking my name with a lady, Adaobi Alagwu, should not deserve a response from me since the section of the media that is feasting on the issue seems to be uninterested in fact-finding, but mere sensationalism.

“But, given the possibility of even some discerning readers placing some value on the story, this short clarification and disclaimer become necessary.”

While admitting that he had a relationship with Adaobi in the past, Ayeni said he had put the past behind him.

He added: “I wish to state that, indeed, Ms. Adaobi Alagwu and I had a relationship, which has since ended and, as well-meaning Nigerians can imagine, it was a mistake that has caused my family much pain which I regret and do not wish to continue reliving as a section of the media continues to make me do.”

On the paternity of the Adaobi’s child, the businessman explained that the issue “is being resolved and will be resolved in due course but whichever way it is resolved, will never mean a rekindling of the ended relationship between myself and Ms. Alagwu.”

The United Nigeria Movement for Equity, fairness and Justice in collaboration with Igbo Youths Assembly, Arewa Youths movement and Southwest Youths Assembly have congratulated Nigerians for believing  in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The groups said we must now recommit ourselves to the hard work of making Nigeria work better for the greatest majority, and life more abundant for all of our people.

In a communique by the group’s  convener  and its Secretary, Mazi Ezenwa Ezerimbe and  Aliu Abdulmuluku, the group said President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu made the case early for competence above all other primordial sentiments.

They said the competence that the President-elect seeks would be achieved by ensuring that Senator Orji Kalu is elected as the Senate President of the 10th Assembly.

The communique stated, “We heartily congratulate Nigerians, our great party the APC, our President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima and all our Governors, Senators, House of Representatives and Houses of Assembly members- elect across the country in the just concluded general elections. Nigerians have demonstrated faith with our dear party and the promise of Renewed Hope with our President-elect. We must now recommit ourselves to the hard work of making Nigeria work better for the greatest majority, and life more abundant for all of our people.

“As horse-trading and campaigns for the other nationally strategic offices of government commences in earnest, we want to thank our President-elect, who has made the case early on for ‘Competence’ above all other primordial sentiments. He has also made a promise to give every component parts of Nigeria a sense of belonging. His legacies and track records speak volumes to his nationalistic outlook in public service.

“Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, a successful business mogul and renowned philanthropist, an astute politician and charismatic leader with an unassailable track record of business, political and administrative leadership sagacity, has demonstrated competence in the Nigerian Public space to merit the confidence and trust of our President-elect, Vice President-elect, his fellow Senators and Nigerians in general to be elected as the Senate Presisent of the 10th Senate.

“It is not in doubt that Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu is a competent party man, who is loyal to progressive ideals of fairness, equity, justice and national unity.”

Seven children have been rescued by the Niger State Police Command from an illegal orphanage in the Lugbe area of Abuja.

The facility was said to be  operated by a 49-year-old woman identified as Chinwe Egwu.

Egwu, it was learned, specialises in receiving children who were abducted from their homes by a syndicate run by 20-year-old Saviour Ebuka, and 25-year-old Mary Peter, who are currently in police custody. 

According to Chinwe, three of the children were abducted from different locations in Suleja and Tafa.

Two of them, five-year-old Abdullahi Umar, and three-year-old Rahamat Umar, were reported missing by their parents in October 2022 in Suleja and there was suspicion that they were abducted by the new tenants who moved into the house where the parents of the children live.

The officers of the anti-kidnapping unit of the Niger State Police Command trailed Saviour and Mary to Tunga-Maje in Gwagwalada and apprehended them.

While being interrogated, Saviour confessed that he planned with one Ifeoma and Patience, who are currently at large, to kidnap the children for the sum of N250,000 each but he was yet to be paid while Patience has been paid.

He confessed that Ifeoma, who is currently on the run, also operates an illegal orphanage called ‘Famous Kids Home’ to whom they delivered the children.

He also said that when Ifeoma travelled, she transferred the children to her friend, Chinwe, who also runs an illegal orphanage.

While Abdullahi and Rahamat were reunited with their family, the other five children were handed over to the Social Welfare Department of FCT. 

The Niger State Commissioner of Police,  Ogundele Ayodeji, said that efforts are ongoing to apprehend Ifeoma and Patience, adding that those arrested so far will be prosecuted as soon as the investigation is concluded.

The Niger State Police Command has neutralised two kidnappers during a gunfire exchange between officers, vigilantes and the kidnappers in the Saminaka forest of Lapai Local Government Area of the state.

Two other suspected kidnappers were arrested in Minna, the state capital.

Police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun made this disclosure in Minna.

He said on Sunday that a victim reported that suspected kidnappers attacked his village, Zolegi via Saminaka Lapai, inflicted a machete cut injury on his head and took his wife to an unknown destination.

He explained, “Police tactical team led by DPO Lapai and vigilante members mobilised and stormed Saminaka forest, where the kidnapped victim was suspected to have been kept by the abductors”

“While combing the forest, a gun duel ensued between the team and the hoodlums, and during the gun battle, two of the hoodlums were neutralised, while others escaped into the forest with bullet injuries, and one AK-47 rifle with twenty rounds of live ammunition was recovered”.

Abiodun said that the abducted woman was rescued unhurt, and the injured husband was taken to a nearby medical facility for treatment.

Also, he revealed that based on credible intelligence received, police operatives attached to FIB tactical squad arrested the two suspected kidnappers at Kure-Market Park, Minna during an attempt to board a commercial vehicle to Kebbi.

The suspects include Umar Aliyu 35 of Diri-Ndaji, Kebbi State, Moh’d Abubakar 25 of Peregi, Kogi State

According to him, during interrogation, Umar Aliyu confessed that he participated in kidnapping activities at Sakaba in Kebbi last year and that he recently relocated from there to Angwan-Kuka area of Bosso, Minna as he had been on the run.

“He confessed further that he contacted Moh’d Abubakar from Kogi, a gang member he met at Sakaba to join him in Minna to proceed to Kebbi for a possible kidnap while Moh’d came to Minna with an AK-47 rifle”.

The suspects are under investigation and one AK-47 rifle with thirteen rounds of live ammunition was recovered in the operation.

Operatives of the Ilorin zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arrested a cleric and 27 others suspected to be “Yahoo-Yahoo Boys” in Kwara State.

The suspects were apprehended in Mandate area of the Ilorin metropolis.

The suspects include twin brothers, six students of tertiary institutions, mining operator and others.

The names are.Toheeb Albarka, cleric; Lambe Kehinde and Lambe Taye, twin brothers; Francis Stephen, Olabode Yusuf and Musbaudeen Akorede, who sell dogs; Moshood Okunola, Kayode Aderemi, Ayobami Olorunfemi, Paul Ayomide, Agboola Marvellous and Adebisi Olatunde, all undergraduates.

Others are Olaleye Solomon (miner); Akinade Samuel, computer technician; Damilola Shagaya (real estate developer); Muhammed Awal, graphic designer; Adam Mubarak (anti-money laundering analyst); Ogundiran Nathaniel (tiler); Jamiu Ishola (printer); Dauda Tunde (plumber); Abdullahi Sikiru (Bet Naija agent); Kasali Afeez Adegoke (website developer); Jordan Adeyinka (clothes/shoe dealer) and a driver, Ojeniyi Boluwatife.

 Others, according to the EFCC source, are Adedamola Samson, Olarewaju Adisa Taofeek, Adewale Oloro and Omogbolahan Ibrahim

Items recovered from the suspects include 10 exotic cars, different brands of laptops and cell phones, and printer, among others, the source added.

The suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

On May 26 last year, during the International Communication Association (ICA) annual conference held in Paris, France, Port Harcourt, Nigeria was selected as one of the few locations around the globe to host a regional hub.

The 2022 Port Harcourt regional hub was hosted by the University of Port Harcourt; one of Nigeria’s foremost universities and was rated one of the most successful regional hubs.

Little may have been known about the ICA among some communication scholars in faculties of communication in Nigerian universities, but the huge success recorded at the rather experimental regional hub event was enough to send bookmakers on a wild goose chase.

The factors responsible for the positive response and massive turnout to the event are numerous.

First was the enthusiasm of the participants who attended the occasion and a commendable number who participated virtually as though they had been praying for such an international forum, especially at a time when the universities’ teachers were on industrial action.

However, the success story of the regional hub will be incomplete without special mention of the efforts of the regional hub organiser, Ekaete George, and her team.

Ms Ekaete George, a PhD student at the University of Port Harcourt, displayed great organising and mobilisation skills and left no stone unturned to ensure that the regional hub was successful.

Consequently, the ICA President, Noshir Contractor has formally expressed their deep gratitude to Ekaete George and the University of Port Harcourt for their efforts that accounted for the successful Port Harcourt regional hub.

But more than this, there is a greater cause to celebrate. Approval has been given by the ICA for the creation of the ICA Nigerian regional chapter.

This, according to the ICA, is to sustain an all–year–round presence worldwide.

These regional chapters, according to the ICA President, will have ICA branding and will organise locally or regionally recruit members and organise events that will help support and build community among undergraduate and graduate students and faculties of communication in their respective locations globally.

This is true, a case of ‘one good turn deserving another’ as the approval of the ICA Nigeria chapter -as one of only six sites worldwide outside the United  States of America, is a result of the impressive performance of hosting the regional hub in Port Harcourt in 2022.

Therefore, the inauguration of the ICA–Nigeria regional chapter has been scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt today as a kick-off event for the ICA internationalisation initiative.

This is true, a welcome development, especially for communication scholars in Nigeria, including graduate and undergraduate students of communication studies and related disciplines, as well as media professionals who stand to have their voices heard on the global platform of ICA.

The United Nations recognised body affiliation is described by the Lead Organiser and Chair of the ICA Nigeria chapter, Ekaete George as a huge opportunity.

According to her, as the only one of only two chapters in Africa, the ICA Nigeria chapter will serve as an additional global platform for members to make their voices and research impactful in the global knowledge arena.

Ms George described ICA Nigeria as a multidisciplinary, academic membership association for scholars in the study, teaching, and application of all aspects of mediated communication; and a knowledge hub for communication scholars and media practitioners in Nigeria.

ICA Nigeria is poised to mobilise a tremendously large following.

On keeping the ICA Nigeria afloat, mindful that the ICA is not funding regional chapters as they are expected to be self-sustaining through dues and local fundraising, Ms George remains optimistic about recording even greater successes.

She credited the progress made so far to the commitment of the ICA community of like minds that she has been organising since 2022.

She said: “I am aware that funding can be an issue.

But I also know that any challenge can succumb to an unyielding resolve to succeed. So, even though we need funds, the most important thing for me and the team is to deliver a positive impact.

“We will keep our focus on the latter while seeking partnership and support from those who want to better our communications community in terms of sponsorship, access to academic resources, and other opportunities that will allow us to be locally impactful and globally relevant.

“George, who is enthusiastic about a vista of opportunities for members, enjoined her colleagues to remain passionate about the ICA Nigeria chapter, to maximise their access to cutting-edge research in communication, access to the best leaders, thinkers and teachers across the world,  the impact of which will far outweigh any challenges that lie ahead.”

She also praised the role of the University of Port Harcourt, an affiliate institution of the ICA, and particularly the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Owunari Georgewill for all their encouragement and support, especially when seeking affiliation with the ICA at the commencement stage through the 2022 Annual Conference Regional Hub.

In what looks like a prophecy come true, Prof. Owunari in his welcome address during the 72nd ICA Conference Port Harcourt Regional Hub described the event as being in tandem with the philosophy of the university to give the institution, its lecturers and students the necessary international exposure for balanced knowledge.

On account of the successful hosting of the 2022 ICA Port Harcourt Regional Hub, the international body has approved and recognised the Port Harcourt Hub as a Nigeria chapter with the unique UNIPORT as an affiliate institution.

As the inauguration of the ICA Nigeria chapter gets underway today at the Emerald Energy Institute Auditorium, University of Port Harcourt, George said that all is set for the milestone event.

She added that the ICA Executive Committee is committed to formally handing over the regional chapter baton to the Nigeria chapter.

Ms George added: “We are also, as part of the inaugural event, holding our maiden quarterly seminar series which will feature national and global scholars as speakers.

“Our community which is increasing by the day is ready for take-off.

“We will take time out to dance and enjoy ourselves for the commitment that we have shown. Today, at the University of Port Harcourt or via zoom: link:https://bit.ly/3L2ruDt passcode: 346142, we will be hosting a global audience. We expect to be an exciting first page to many more years and occasions for the Nigeria chapter of ICA.”

Troops in the Northeast and Northwest of the country have killed 45 Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters/Boko Haram terrorists between March 9 and March 23, 2023.

They also rescued 119 kidnapped victims during several operations across the country within the period.

Director, Defence Media Operations Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadamai said yesterday during the bi-weekly briefing at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, that troops also arrested 34 terrorists and kidnappers within the period.

According to the defence spokesman, troops arrested two suspected kidnappers while attempting to collect ransom for a kidnapped victim at Gegu-Beki village in Kogi Local Government Area of Kogi state.

Gen. Danmadamai said a total of 1,506 terrorists and members of their families comprising 154 males, 514 females and 838 children, have also surrendered to troops at different fronlines.

He said: “On 12 March 2023, troops while on fighting patrol intercepted a vehicle and arrested six Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorist logistics suppliers at Kalari Abdul village in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.

“Troops recovered 1 vehicle, 8 mobile phones, the sum of N2,226,450.00 only amongst other items.

“Cumulatively, troops in the North East zone recovered 16 AK47 rifles, 1 x 60mm mortar bomb, 10 dane guns, 12 dummy rifles, 1 pump action gun, 1 PKT gun, 280 rounds of 7.62mm special, 118 rounds of 7.62 x 50mm NATO and 13 rounds of 5.56mm ammo.

“Others include 10 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm NATO ammo, 1 round of 12.7mm NATO, 17 AK47 magazines, 1 firing pin, 1 mechanic tools box, 2 knives, 6 motorcycles, 24 mobile phones, 41 live stocks, assorted food items, 1 vehicle, 4 sim and other sundry items as well as the cash sum of N2,234,820.00 only.”

General Danmadamai said all recovered items, rescued civilians, and apprehended suspects have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action, while surrendered terrorists and members of their families are being profiled for further action.