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There is tension in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the national convention slated for Saturday in Abuja.

The fear over the Court of Appeal case involving suspended National Chairman Uche Secondus, who has refused all entreaties to withdraw it and the new case at the Kaduna High Court, has sent PDP governors into panic mode.

But Governor Seyi Makinde, who is the Secretary of the Convention Planning Committee, said the date for the convention stands.

The governors have assembled a legal team for advice on how to tackle Secondus at the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt.

It was also learnt that the party may file a counter-application before the appellate court on why it should  not  restrain PDP from holding its convention.

Delegates to the convention were confused last night on whether to proceed to Abuja, the convention venue.

Also, all was not well within the PDP National Convention Committee. Most members have complained of being sidelined.

They alleged that only Governors Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa State), Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Douye Diri (occasionally), are running the show.

The tension  made PDP governors and some leaders to begin  marathon consultations with some senior lawyers.

The consultations, which were still ongoing last night, border on the following issues:

• Can the Court of Appeal abort a process already on course when it is not the final court on issues before it?
• How to prevail on the Court of Appeal to reject the application of Secondus
• Exploring the alternative of going to the Supreme Court before the convention date
• What should the party do if there is any court order?

A top source said: “The PDP governors have been consulting with some top lawyers on how to tackle Secondus at the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt when the case comes up on Tuesday.

“The consultations have been on in the last eight to nine hours on the way forward for the party. They were caught unawares

“Top on the agenda is to convince the appellate court to reject Secondus, application to stop the convention from holding because he has nothing to lose. His tenure has technically ended. There is no way the convention can affect him.

“In fairness, the party is not against him in court; only a member of the party sued him. This means that generally, the party has no axe to grind with him. It is illogical for PDP to suffer for what it is not a party to.

“ As a party, we have spent so much to prepare for this convention. Stopping the exercise will lead to a huge loss in terms of amounts on logistics.

“More importantly, the Court of Appeal is not the final court on this matter before it. We feel the appellate court should not issue an order in favour of any party before it. The matter borders on the internal affairs of the party which should not be the business of the court.”

Read Also: PDP convention: Secondus goes underground to avert pressure

Delegates to the National Convention were confused on whether or not it will hold.

A state chairman from the North said:”The situation is so dicey that we don’t know whether to proceed to Abuja or not.

“ We don’t know if the convention will hold. “

There was a crack in the National Convention Committee as some members claimed that they were in the dark on its activities.

They also alleged that some members of the committee have been biased.

A member said: “ We have not been carried along in the activities of the National Convention Committee. Only our chairman, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, and two other governors, Seyi Makinde and Douye Diri take decisions and brief us.

“Sometimes, for strategic reasons, Governor Diri was not allowed to be privy to sone decisions.

“We are getting along because the survival of PDP is more important than individual interest.”

Responding to a question, the source alleged that some members of the convention committee have become partisan.

“Nearly all the governors in the committee have been trying to fix their loyalists and associates in the National Working Committee. They hide under consensus option to pursue selfish interests in their bid to hijack the party.

“ It is an open secret that Governor Nyesom Wike determines the direction of the party as part of his calculations for 2023 presidential election. Port Harcourt has become a political sanctuary such that even presidential aspirants now lobby him.

“The case of Makinde is peculiar. Beyond the convention committee, he is being accused of trying to be a kingmaker in the South-West by imposing would-be members of the National Working Committee.

“After micro-zoning the Office of the Deputy National Chairman to Osun State in the South-West, Makinde used his influence to take the slot to Oyo State to elevate his man, Taofeek Arapaja from the National Vice Chairman( South-West) to Deputy National Chairman (South). Initially, he had assured ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of the position, but as a kingmaker, he changed it overnight.

“As I talk to you, ex-Governor Ayo Fayose’s group has technically lost out in the micro-zoning of offices in the South-West. Fayose has been caged by Makinde despite the intervention of Wike.

“This open bias by convention committee members was shocking. This is not what PDP founding fathers envisioned. It is frustrating to be a member of this committee.”

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, was yesterday grilled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Anyim’s interrogation was in connection with the ongoing probe of a former Aviation Minister, Senator Stella Oduah.

About N780 million of a lump sum allocated to a rehabilitation project in the ministry under Oduah was allegedly traced to a company linked to Anyim, a one-time president of the Senate.

Anyim was yet to be released as at the time of filing this report at 7.30pm.

Read Also: UPDATED: Ex-NSITF chairman, Olejeme remanded in EFCC’s custody

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The EFCC on Sunday (yesterday) commenced the interrogation of a former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, in a case on public funds.

“Anyim arrived at the headquarters of the anti-graft agency in Jabi, Abuja, at about 3pm.

“The interrogation is tied to suspected money laundering involving former Aviation Minister and serving senator Senator Stella Oduah.”

Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said last night that he was yet to be briefed.

Ekiti State’s Investment Summit held last week is a testament to the government’s determination to get the private sector play a more prominent role in repositioning its economy, writes Simeon Ebulu

In 2018 when the then Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr John Kayode Fayemi, declared interest in the Ekiti State governorship, some persons asked to know what the man forgot in the Government House.

In Nigeria’s political parlance, asking a former occupant of an office what he left behind in office, is another way of saying to such an individual to bury such an ambition. As a subtle response to those who queried the necessity of his ambition, Fayemi described his second coming as a mission to address “the unfinished business of Ekiti”.

It would be recalled that, in 2010, Fayemi had themed his political campaign around the “Collective Rescue Mission”. Undeterred, in 2018, during his second return bid, Fayemi made the rallying cry of his campaign, “Reclaiming Our Land, Restoring Our Values.”

Perhaps, the occasion of the third anniversary of Fayemi’s second term in office offers a fitting opportunity to critically assess the accomplishments of his administration. Has Fayemi truly reclaimed Ekiti land? Has he indeed helped in restoring the pristine values for which Ekiti people were known at home and respected abroad? Is Ekiti now on the path to development and real growth?

The Ekiti Fountain Summit, held on October 14 at the new Civic Centre and attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Godwin Obaseki of Edo and Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna and other eminent Nigerians, allowed the Fayemi administration to present the scorecard of his administration to Ekiti people and indeed Nigeria. Hate him or love him, in just three years, the Fayemi administration has defied the odds of paucity of funds and made significant strides in infrastructure, human development and attraction of investment into the local economy.

Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Akintunde Oyebode, detailed the administration’s achievements while presenting its scorecard to the media via a scorecard podcast designed and shared with Business Editors. The initiative itself more than filled the gaps for reporters who were  unable to attend at the summit, but suffice to say that Oyebode was afforded the chance to reel out all that the Fayemi administration has done from 2018 to date to boost investment, infrastructure development and get feedback from investors for further planning.

The government, he said, “has ensured that land titles are administered appropriately, contracts are enforced, and operations digitalised to encourage investors. Not only that, but we have also reconstructed roads that connect economic clusters and invested in broadband connectivity,” saying the details are captured in Fayemi’s 25-year development vision for Ekiti. As he put it: “The Ekiti we want to see is the one that is not dependent on federally collected revenues to thrive. It’s the one that can keep the unemployment rate at sub-five per cent and grow at between five and seven per cent year-on-year for the next decade.

“Our vision of Ekiti is a fast-growing economy that pulls people in droves and returns revenues to the government for development projects. But, most importantly, for us, is the understanding that private sector participation is what drives economic activity, our role”, Oyebode stated, as the government “is just an enabler and supporter. And, we have walked the talk. We have started to divest from state-owned entities”.

Read Also: Fayemi tasks FCC on national unity, integration

Oyebode said the government, in accordance with its desire to cut its direct engagement in business and demonstrate its seriousness in getting the private sector to be the driver in this regard, has divested from Ikun Dairy Farms, which didn’t produce a litre of milk for over 40 years. “We divested 76 per cent of that farm to Promasidor Nigeria Limited. Promasidor now runs and operate the farm producing 80,000 litres of milk per month. I’m certain that in the next two-to-three months, we will hit the 100,000 litres mark and even beyond,”  he said, adding: “We are also doing something similar with our Clay Brick Company.”

As proof of its sincerity and assurance that there won’t be policy reversal, the state has established the Ekiti State Development and Investment Promotion. It is a one-stop-shop for investors to access anything they need, including connection to the power grid, access roads and payment of  requisite taxes and rates.

In its quest to become a destination of choice for technology companies, Oyebode said the government has equally established the Ekiti Knowledge Zone. It is, as he explained, “a 995-hectare land size, and it is within the academic quadrangle. There is the Afe Babalola University, the Ekiti State University, Bamidele Olumilua University of Science and Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, Federal University, Oye, and a few other colleges.The Knowledge Zone uses all that talent pool and leverages better internet connectivity.

On telecoms, Oyebode said two leading communications companies are laying fibre in Ekiti at the moment, saying: “That’s because we reduced the charges on the right of way for laying fibre optic cables from N4, 500 per linear meter to N145 per linear meter. That’s why I can take this call right now because when we started work in 2018, it would have been difficult to connect because our connectivity was weak.  We are strengthening that to ensure that technology companies can come and operate from here. We’ve recently just gotten a grant of $250,000 from the African Development Bank (AfDB) with which we are building a full business case for this Knowledge Zone.”

But that’s not all of the government aims to attain in its technology adoption and security infrastructure architecture. Oyebode speaks furthers: “Our GIS infrastructure has just been completed and our architecture in this regard has now just started. We’ve got an Emergency Communication Centre that improved the security situation of the state.  We have eyes in the sky, on the ground and we support the security agencies to ensure that Ekiti is not just open for business; you can do business safely and securely.”

The government has also made remarkable progress on ease of doing business, giving out title documents within 45 days of paying relevant fees and submitting all necessary documents. Indeed, Ekiti State was first in terms of availability of labour and technical proficiency of labour in a recent Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PEBEC survey.

He said the Fayemi administration has also not neglected human development as it is investing heavily in technical and vocational training. According to Oyebode, “our College of Agriculture and Technology in Ishan was specifically set up to train skilled workers for the agro-allied and agri-business sector. We’ve just kicked off Rural-Agric Access to Market Projects in partnership with the World Bank. We’ve also done extensive work on rehabilitating our dams. One of the biggest challenges with farming in southern Nigeria is irrigation. By providing irrigation opportunities to farmers, we are significantly going to increase the yield of our farming clusters.”

He said the COVID-19 pandemic struck out of the blues last year, and Ekiti had to provide for adversely affected citizens. But before the pandemic and in his first term, Fayemi had a well-acknowledged social security scheme for the people, focusing on the elderly.  During his first term, Fayemi introduced a social security scheme for the aged, referred to in local parlance as, ‘Owo Arugbo’, which saw over 20,000 elderly people get N5,000 monthly, free medical care and also established village kitchens to feed them.

While the elderly has continued to receive attention, the youth have also been embraced into the safety net. “We are now with our enterprise development and microfinance agencies running programmes to support young entrepreneurs in the state,” Oyebode said.

To ensure that the state continues to provide more academics for which it is renowned, the Fayemi administration prioritises investment in education. Oyebode explained the focus. “Human capital development is at the heart of growing the economy. This is why we have renovated over 800 primary schools since we came into office and will do more. We are building new model colleges in the state; one was inaugurated during this third anniversary, and three last year. We just started another one because investment in education is not just a social investment; it is an economic investment. The government’s free and compulsory education up to senior secondary school level is a long-term investment in the most important asset any sub-national has: its people.”

Oyebode also spoke on how the government has been funding its projects with a revenue of N11 billion and recurrent expenditure of N12 billion. He said: “We are fortunate to have a governor who is very keen on working with development partners. We have a special office of cabinet rank, Office for Development Partnerships, so we can tap into the development finance space to support many projects.

“Our water sector reform project is now completed. It can deliver potable water to 10 local governments and was funded by the World Bank, as is our Erosion and Watershed Management Project. We have other projects that we have donor funding for. But we have also had to tighten our belts. There has been some cost control. It is not the most popular thing, but it is the right thing to do.”

Oyebode said the governor aims to borrow a leaf from other previous political leaders who left their footprints in the sand of time, like Mustapha Ataturk of Turkey, Franklin Roosevelt of the United States and the famed Obafemi Awolowo.

The Federal Government has asked the Court of Appeal in Abuja to set aside the September 29, 2021 judgment of the Federal High Court, prohibiting it from retrying a former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzoh Kalu and his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited over alleged N7.1billion fraud.

The Fed Govt, acting through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), also wants the appellate court to order Kalu and Slok to submit themselves for retrial in line with the order of the Supreme Court in its May 8, 2020 judgment voiding the earlier trial and conviction of Kalu and two others, and ordering a retrial.

The request are contained in two notices of appeal filed by lawyer to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) against the two judgments delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Fereral High Court, Abuja on September 29.

Justice Ekwo had, in the judgments on applications for judicial review filed by Kalu and Slok, upheld among others, thier argument that a retrial would subject them to double jeopardy having earlier been tried, convicted and sentenced on the same case.

Kalu was charged and tried with Slok and Udeogu for their alleged complicity in diverting the N7.1b from Abia State’s coffers.

They were convicted and, while Kalu and Udeogu were imprisoned for 12 and 10 years, Slok was wound up.

But, upon an appeal by Udeogu, the Supreme Court set aside their trial and conviction in a judgment on May 8, 2020 on the grounds that the trial judge, having been elevated, ought not to have continued to hear the case.

In the judgment given in an appeal, marked: SC/62C/2019 filed by Udeogu, the Supreme Court ordered a retrial in the case.

Although Kalu and his firm were not appellants in the appeal in respect of which the Supreme Court gave its judgment, they later tendered the judgment before the Federal High Court Lagos and the court applied the judgment to them and set them free.

In the nine-ground notice of appeal filed in relation to Kalu, the EFCC argued that Justice Ekwo erred in law when he, on one hand agreed that the earlier trial, conviction and sentencing of Kalu was duly voided, but turned around to old that a retrial would subject the ex-governor (now a serving Senator) to double jeopardy.

It argued that the trial judge was was wrong to have held “that the plea of autrefois acquit and autrefois convict (previously acquitted and previously convicted) and the principle of jeopardy availed the first respondent (Kalu) and that the re-trial of the respondent would amount to the violation of the provisions of Section 36 (9) and (10) of Constitution Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Section 238 of the Administrator of Criminal  Justice Act, 2015. ”

The EFCC noted that Justice Ekwo’s decision was to the effect that the Supreme Court has declared the proceedings conducted by the Federal High Court presided over by  Justice M.B Idris that led to Kalu’s conviction a nullity and one made without jurisdiction.

Read Also: Kalu: I’ve no presidential ambition in 2023 but…

“Having found that the conviction the first respondent (Kalu) was delivered by a court without competent jurisdiction, it is absurd for the lower court to depart from the express provisions of section 36 (9) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 238 of the ACJA, 2015 and then apply the principles of double jeopardy and autrefois convict.

“The lower court failed to consider the decisions of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal cited before it to the effect that the doctrine of double jeopardy or autrefois convict is only applicable to a decision delivered by a court of competent jurisdiction.”

The EFCC also faulted Justice Ekwo for making an order prohibiting the Fedral Government and its agencies from retrying Kalu and is company on the same case.

“The evidence before the lower court was that the Supreme Court, in appeal No: SC.622C/2019 between Ude Jones Udeogu v. FRN had nullified the proceedings conducted by Hon. Justice M.B Idris that led to the convictions and sentence of all the respondents in this appeal.

“However, it was only Ude Jones Udeogu that was the appellant. Since it was a joint trial of all the respondents, the first respondent, by his motion filed on 15th May, 2020 prayed the Federal High Court presided over by Justice A. M. Liman that the proceedings that led to his conviction be nullified on the ground that Hon. Justice M.B Idris, JCA lacks jurisdiction to deliver the judgment in line with the decision of the Supreme Court.”

The EFCC also faulted the trial court for holding that Kalu could not be tried again by the Federal High Court on te grounds that the Supreme Court did not order his re-trial.

It noted that although it was based on the appeal filed by Udeogu that the Supreme Court acted it voiding te proceedings leading to their convicting and sentence, Kalu tendered the Supreme Court judgment before another judge of the Federal High Court (Justice Liman) who applied the judgment to him and ordered is release from prison on that basis of the judgment.

“The pronouncement of the Supreme Court as to the competence of the trial conducted by Hon. Justice MB ldris and the re-trial order in appeal No: SC.622C/2019 was limited to the said second respondent herein (Udeogu).

“The first respondent took advantage of the decision of the Supreme Court in appeal No: SC.622C/2019 and filed a motion before Hon. Justice A. M. Liman that since he was tried jointly with the other respondents and in view of the decision of the Supreme Court, that his conviction and sentence should also be declared a nullity.

“The lower court permitted the first respondent to rely on the decision of the Supreme Court in appeal No: SC.622C/2019 to take benefit of the order of nullity made by the Supreme Court on the judgment of Hon. Justice M. B. Idris and to avoid the burden of a retrial order made by the Supreme Court.

“The law will not permit the first respondent to approbate and reprobate at the same time,” it said.

The EFCC further faulted the trial court for holding among othersn that “the appellant (EFCC) was merely appealing to the sentiments for the retrial of the first respondent and that the entire proceedings in exhibit RJ3 and RJ4 have no bearing with the proceedings of the court in this case.”

It noted that while exhibit RJ3 is the motion on notice Kalu filed to set aside the proceedings conducted by Justice Idris, and exhibit RJ4 is the order by Justice Liman, made on  June 30, 2020 which set aside the judgment or the proceedings conducted by Justice Idris after his elevation to the Court of Appeal.

“It was pursuant to exhibits RJ3 and RJ4 that the first espondent was released from the prison on the grounds that the judgment delivered by Hcn. Justice M. B. Idrs JCA was a nullity.

“It is shocking that the order of competent jurisdiction made by Hon. Justice A.M. Liman was declared by the lower court as irrelevant to the proceedings.

“There is no appeal against the decision and order of Hon. Justice A. M. Liman pending before  E. I. Ekwo, J.

“Ekwo, J. sat on appeal against the order of Hon. Justice A.M Liman, setting aside the judgment delivered on the 5th December, 2019 after the elevation of on Justice M. B. Idris  ground of jurisdiction.

“The lower court excluded the most relevant evidence before it so as to shield the first respondent from criminal prosecution.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has interrogated a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, in connection with the ongoing probe of a former Aviation Minister, Sen. Stella Oduah.

It was learnt the interrogation was based on N780million out of a lump sum allocated to a rehabilitation project in Oduah’s ministry allegedly traced to a company in which Senator Anyim has interest.

Anyim was yet to be released as at the time of filing this report.

Read Also: Anyim, Emir blame poor leadership for rising insecurity

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The EFCC on Sunday commenced the interrogation of a former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim in a case of corruption and diversion of public funds.

” Anyim who arrived the headquarters of the anti-graft agency in Jabi, Abuja around 3pm, was currently being grilled by a team of operatives.

” The interrogation is tied to the corruption and money laundering case involving former Aviation Minister and serving senator, Senator Stella Oduah.

” Part of the rehabilitation funds to the tune of N780 million were allegedly traced to a company in which Senator Anyim has interest.”

Contacted, the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said he has not been briefed on the matter.

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Monday depart for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to participate in the investment conference organized by the Future Investment Initiative Institute.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President will be joined at the 5th edition of the flagship investment event by business executives from Nigeria, bankers, captains of industry and energy experts to discuss issues on the future of investments across the globe.

The three-day event with the theme Investment in humanity, which will host global executives and asset managers, will deliberate on progress and prosperity with energy; true final frontiers in investments; science in action; and impact of climate change on communities among others.

Read Also: 36 Speakers to Buhari: declare bandits terrorists

President Buhari will perform the lesser Hajj in Madina & Makka before returning to the country on Friday.

The President will be accompanied on the trip by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb Zubairu Dada; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva; National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen Babagana Monguno (Rtd); Director General of National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; Managing Director of Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, Uche Orji; and Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

Some participants from the private sector include: Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Tope Shonubi, Wale Tinubu, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, Hassan Usman, Omoboyode Olusanya, Abubakar Suleiman, Herbert Wigwe and Leo Stan Ekeh.

No fewer than thirteen inmates who escaped from Abolongo Custodial Centre of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Oyo State on Friday night have been arrested by the police in Osun State communities, The Nation has learnt.

It was gathered that the police, with the help of residents, arrested the fleeing inmates in the communities in the Ejigbo Local Government Area of Osun State on Saturday night.

Read Also: Two dead, 575 inmates at large, after attack on Oyo prison

Osun police spokesperson, SP Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the arrested.

“Our men have rearrested inmates who escaped from the Abolongo Custodial Center.

Opalola noted that the inmates will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Osogbo for proper handing over.

Details shortly…

Three policemen were feared killed in a Sunday morning attack by gunmen on a Police Divisional headquarters at Unwana, Afikpo North local government area of Ebonyi State.

The gunmen were said to have attacked the Division around 2am and killed one Police constable and two Inspectors.

A source from the area noted that the gunmen wore masks.

The source said one of the gunmen was killed by the police who repelled the attack.

He said:“They killed three policemen – one constable and two inspectors and the police killed one of the gunmen.

READ ALSO: Ebubeagu versus Ebonyi locals?

“Nobody knows the identity of the gunman and police have taken the remains away.

“The incident happened around 2am, nobody knows the route they came from, all we hard were gunshots for about 10 minutes.

“At the moment there is no information to know if they destroyed or stole anything from the police station.

“The men were masked but the one killed had his face unveiled by the police to ascertain his identity. He also had red cloth tied around his waist believing it was a charm.”

Police spokesperson, Loveth Odah, could not be reached for confirmation or otherwise of the incident as at the time of this report.

Details shortly..