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Tag: alleges

  • PDP alleges smear campaign against Atiku

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said that there is a renewed smear campaign against its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. It won’t work against the party’s chances in the 2019 elections, it said yesterday.

    The main opposition was responding making what it described as attempts by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to paint Atiku black in the eyes of the electorate ahead of the elections.

    In a statement by the spokesman of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said “these shenanigans” will be of no avail.

    The party said the “woeful performance” of President Muhammadu Buhari in office will remain the referendum for the 2019 presidential election no matter the attempts to use hirelings to change national discuss.

    “It is instructive for the APC to accept the reality that our candidate, Atiku, enjoys the support of Nigerians across the board for his credibility, forthrightness and capacity to deliver”, the statement added.

    Read also: Atiku not sincere on restructuring, says Osinbajo

    It stated further that it’s shameful that instead of channeling the nation’s resources to productive ventures, the APC and the Presidency have remained fixated on Atiku Abubakar, saying that it has become clear that Nigerians can no longer be deceived by “lies and beguilements”.

    The statement continued, “Also, having failed in the attempt to paint and label Atiku as corrupt, the APC has now started creating seemingly independent groups to commence a fresh attack on the personal image of our candidate.

    “The PDP is aware of how two top officials of the APC, two Presidential aides and two APC governors have been detailed to coordinate this agenda against our candidate.

    “Their strategies include using the procured groups and hirelings to release strings of fabrications against our candidate ahead of the elections.

    “The PDP therefore counsels the APC and the Buhari Presidency to get ready to face an imminent electoral indignation and defeat from Nigerians as rewards for their basket of unfulfilled promises and empty scorecards.

    “These desperate plots to divert attention from manifest failures and incompetence in governance will not work”.

  • My sister hired assassins to kill me, woman alleges

    A 60-year-old woman, Gladys Osaigbovo-Omon, yesterday narrated how suspected assassins allegedly sent by her United Kingdom-based younger sister to kill her, ‘repented’ after she served them food and treated them well.

    The Nation learnt the assassins were allegedly contracted by Gladys’ cousin, Osaro, who the suspect, Augusta Osaigbovo, had asked to kill her sister for N4.5 million.

    Unable to do it, he contacted a friend of his, Lucky Oboh, who got two men and brought them to Osaro, who gave them details of the victim’s address in Benin City, Edo State.

    The victim alleged her problem with her younger sister started last year after the latter took her daughter, Mercy, to the UK.

    She said unknown to them, Augusta wanted Mercy to become a commercial sex worker in that country and pay her returns, an idea the young woman rejected.

    Gladys said: “I trained my younger sister. I took care of her. She is the only one educated in our family. I got married early and allowed my sister to live with me.

    “I showered her with love and care. She was with me until she moved to Europe. I was not the one who sent her there, but I always prayed for her.

    “Sometime ago, she came and said she wanted to take my daughter to Europe. She said that’s one way she could appreciate me for all the things I did for her. I agreed and I was happy that my sister was helping the family by taking my child to Europe.

    “I didn’t know what happened between them in Europe, but I learnt she wanted my daughter to become a commercial sex worker and Mercy refused. They quarrelled and she said Mercy should pay her the money she spent to sponsor her abroad.

    “I think my daughter was giving her money every month from the hair dressing work she did. But for some months, Mercy could not give her money because she sent money home for my treatment.

    “My younger sister became angry and obtained fake documents (permit) for my daughter. She reported her to the police that she had fake documents. When the police arrested my daughter, she was questioned and she told them that it was her auntie who got papers for her.

    “She said she did not know if they were real or fake since she was new in the country. So, the police nabbed my sister and she said my daughter gave her away. She said she would deal with her and that it was her body that would be sent back to Nigeria.

    “I rebuked her and told her I  expected them to live in peace since it was a family matter, but my sister was still not happy. I did not know that she could send people to kill me.

    “She contacted my cousin, Osaro, to kill me for N4.5 million. Osaro came to my house with another man, Igbinedion, to greet me on July 17, but I did not know that they came to locate my home so that his accomplice could return and kill me.

    “A few days later, Igbinedion and another man came. I prepared food for them. When they finished eating, I heard them saying I was a good woman and that they could not kill me. They told me later that Osaro contracted them that my sister wanted me dead.”

    Parading the suspects, Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal said the two men contracted to kill the victim were police informants, adding that they leaked the information to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Igando, Taiwo Kasumu,

    Edgal said they were arrested on July 26.

    He described the incident as a case of human trafficking gone awry.

    Edgal hailed Mercy for refusing to be forced into prostitution and urged parents to be careful of those they gave their children to.

    He said: “When the DPO Igando, CSP Kasumu, became aware of the plot to kill Gladys, he planted two agent provocateurs, namely Igbinedion Ogbevon and Success Ehiosun, to play along with the assassins. The gang were assembled and were paid N500,000 by Augusta Osaigbovo as a mobilisation fee. The assassins are Osaro Okonobom and  Lucky Oboh.

    “They went to Benin City in Edo State and identified their target, Gladys Osaigbovo, after which they returned to Lagos and asked Augusta to give them the balance of N4,000,000. It was then that they were arrested.

    “Efforts have begun for the extradition of the principal suspect, Augusta, to answer for the crime of attempted assassination. We are working with the Interpol on this matter and will ensure justice.”

    Osaro told reporters Augusta pressurised him to kill Gladys, saying he succumbed because she promised to do something good for him.

    He said he was convinced to do the job because of the huge amount he would have made if the deal was concluded.

    Osaro said: “When I told Lucky about it, he said he could not do it. Later I contacted Igbinedion, who agreed to kill my aunt for N1.5 million. We planned to give him N1.5 million from the N4.5 million we were to collect from my sister so that we could share the remaining N3 million.”

     

  • Adeyeye alleges supporters attacked

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has accused the loyalists of the Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, of unleashing terror on his (Adeyeye’s) supporters in Ikere-Ekiti.

    Adeyeye, former Minister of State for Works, alleged that suspected thugs loyal to Olusola, led by a legislator, launched attacks on his supporters after last Saturday’s ward congress to elect delegates to vote at the primary.

    He also alleged that his supporters in the town are being coerced to swear to an oath to support Olusola, which he described as “a flagrant violation of their fundamental human rights of association”.

    Adeyeye identified his supporters who were allegedly attacked on Sunday to include the Ikere Local Government Deputy Chairman, Sunday Olorunfemi; and the Ikere PDP Treasurer, Tunde Ajewole.

    Former Ikere Local Government Chairman, Mr. Banji Aluko, and Gbenga Ayeni, were some of the loyalists of Adeyeye also allegedly attacked during the ward congress.

    In a statement by the Director of Media and Publicity, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM), Chief Niyi Ojo, called on the Police and Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the alleged attacks and bring the perpetrators to book.

    Ojo said: “If truly Prof Olusola is popular at his hometown, why resorting to beating people and forcing them to swear to an oath to support his ambition in Ikere.

    “This is a manifest signs of rejection at home and flagrant violation of the fundamental rights of association of these people.”

    But the Director General of Kolapo Olusola Campaign Organisation (KOCO), Chief Bisi Kolawole, denied the allegation that Adeyeye’s supporters were compelled to swear to an oath to switch allegiance to the deputy governor.

    Rather, Kolawole alleged that people suspected to be Adeyeye’s supporters attacked the Commissioner for Local Government, Mr. Ayo Alabi, with masqueraders in Ise-Ekiti (Adeyeye’s hometown), during the congress.

    He said the attack by Adeyeye’s loyalists in his hometown disenfranchised many party members who wanted to vote.

    Kolawole said: “The issue of putting some people under oath to support the deputy governor is not true. Was the oath done with the Bible or traditional means? We challenge them to tell the world.

    “As politicians, we know those working for Adeyeye in Ikere and I want to say that those suffering such fate are double dealers who collect money from Olusola, Adeyeye and Olujimi.

    “Adeyeye should not have taken those raising the allegations serious, if you are for Adeyeye, why do you go to Olusola’s meeting? You came as a spy, why do you double deal?”

  • Abuse of local content Act: Senate panel alleges bribe offer to kill probe

    Abuse of local content Act: Senate panel alleges bribe offer to kill probe

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Solomon Adeola, yesterday said he was offered a vessel to drop a petition seeking investigation of an international oil firm for allegedly flouting the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act.

    He spoke at a Senate hearing on a petition by Indigenous Ships Owners Association of Nigeria on alleged attempt to deny Nigerian shippers the, after being technically and commercially pre-qualified for almost five years.

    The committee invited the oil firm, NNPC, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) and the petitioners to look into the allegation.

    Adeola said the interest of his committee was to investigate the allegation to determine the overall propriety of the oil firm, adding that his committee also wanted to establish if there were interests other than national interest at play.

    The Senator, representing Lagos West, said he is aware that there are forces trying to scuttle the contract validly entered into between the oil firm and members of the Indigenous Vessels Operators Association of Nigeria.

    He said, ‘’They offered me a vessel to abort this Senate Committee of local content’s probe and I refused. We have received ample information to take decision, or resolve this matter, but for the sake of the principle of fair hearing, it is the very reasons we want to hear from the representatives of the oil firm, the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) and other stakeholders involved in this case’’

    The committee directed the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), to give NAPIMS a waiver in order to allow the 10 indigenous vessel owners who bided initially and adjudged pre-qualified to bid again.

    The Committee also directed the resumption of the tendering process for contracts for supply of vessels to the oil firm which was stopped after almost five years of the tendering process.

    The Deputy General Manager, NAPIMS, Roland Ewubare, said there appeared to be a valid reason to alter the contracts. He asked for time to work with the committee, the oil firm and the local contractors to fix whatever is the problem.

    Ewubare said he is aware that the oil firm is the only international oil company that has put mechanism in place to support indigenous vessel owners.

    The Indigenous Vessels Operators Association of Nigeria had asked the Senate Committee to intervene to stop the oil firm from cancelling the bidding contract it entered with the association’s members in 2014.

    It told the committee that it all began in 2014 when the oil firm, a joint venture partner with the Nigerian Government in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry published a tender with reference no. NTD 0001632 for the provision of Platform Support Vessels (PSV) and Terminal Support Vessels (TSV) by Indigenous vessels operators.

  • Kidnap suspect alleges police paid ransom for Sergeant’s release

    Kidnap suspect alleges police paid ransom for Sergeant’s release

    Contrary to their stand on ransom, the police paid N200,000 for the release of a kidnapped sergeant, a suspected kidnapper alleged yesterday.

    Aboy Fekun, who was paraded with two others at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja, claimed that the Ketu Divisional Police Officer (DPO) paid N200,000 of the N300,000 ransom for the release of Sergeant Bola.

    The policewoman’s family, he said, paid the N300,000 balance.

    Sergeant Bola was abducted last month at Omu-Ijebu, a community along the Lagos-Ogun boundary.

    Fekun, 23, Tola Samuel, 26 and Mimo Blessing, 20, were arrested on Sunday by a combined team of Anti-Kidnapping Squad and Mobile Policemen.

    Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni, who paraded the suspects, said four automatic rifles, one locally made gun, N400,000 cash, three speed boats, several cutlasses and cell phones were recovered from them.

    The suspects said they collected N5million ransom from the family of a lawyer, who was kidnapped on his farm at Igbodun in Epe.

    Fekun said the police recovered his N400,000 share of the ransom.

    He said: “I was recruited into the gang three months ago by Tallest. I knew him from our village in Ondo State. It was Tallest who invited me to Lagos. I arrived in Lagos in January and I was picked up by two members of the gang. They took me in a boat to their camp at Molajoye, in Epe.

    “My first operation was the one involving a female sergeant. On that fateful day, we came out from the creek in two speed boats. We laid ambush at the Molajoye bridge. While we were waiting, we saw a vehicle carrying five persons. We pounced on them immediately they got to the bridge. We took all the occupants of the vehicle into our boats. They were three women and two men. We headed to our camp. We kept them for five days. It was while we were at the camp that we discovered that a policewoman was among the five persons we abducted.

    “We separated her from the others. We later called the DPO in charge of Ketu that we have abducted one of his policemen. We demanded for the sum of N5 million as ransom from the DPO. We also contacted the family of the policewoman and demanded N5 million from them. But the DPO said he won’t be able to pay N5 million. At the end we collected N200,000 from him and collected an additional N300,000 from the woman’s family.”

    Fekun said they kidnaped the lawyer because of his fellow farmers’ protest to the Government House.

    He added: “We also took the lawyer to our camp. Initially we demanded N20 milllion from his family members but at the end we settled for N5 million. His family paid the agreed sum. Tallest gave me N400,000 as my own share of the ransom. It is the money the police found on me on the day we were arrested. We were arrested at Epe while on our way to Ijebu, Ogun State. Other gang members fled when they learnt of our arrest.”

    Samuel denied being a kidnapper, insisting that he was contracted by Fekun and Mimo to take them to Ijebu.

    He said: “They contracted me to take them to Ijebu. I don’t know what they do. I am not their member.”

    Corroborating his claim, Fekun said: “We had scheduled to go to Ijebu last Saturday, but he declined; insisting that it was too late. We agreed that he should pick us up around 4:30am on Sunday. As agreed, he arrived on time and we were already on our way when some policemen accosted us. They discovered the money and some phones inside the bag I was carrying.”

     

  • Fayose alleges plan to invade Ekiti

    Fayose alleges plan to invade Ekiti

    Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose yesterday urged Nigerians to brace for hard times next year.

    Besides, he alleged that a plan to “invade” the state was in the offing.

    Speaking on the Kogi State governorship election, the governor said Abiodun Faleke was fighting for his right.

    The governor urged the people of Ekiti to prepare for the local government election, adding that the poll can only be postponed by the court.

    Fayose, who spoke with reporters in Lagos on the military panel set up to review the activities of soldiers in last year’s Ekiti and Osun state elections, warned against what he described as “the planned invasion” of Ekiti. He said the move would be resisted.

    He said: “I have 16 predictions. Next year, there will be disobedience to court rules by the Federal Government.

    “There will be the removal of fuel subsidy in the second quarter and growth in corruption and poverty.

    “Power generation will be at its lowest. Our earnings will be worse and there will be mass sack. I will talk to the press on these issues later.”

    Warning that democracy may be endangered by the political class, Fayose described the recent elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states as worrisome, adding that Nigeria may graduate from “inconclusive elections to inconclusive governments”.

    The governor said: “I praise Faleke for standing out in the midst of darkness.

    “I’m not saying that he won or that he should be declared governor. But, he is rendering a vital service to democracy. Look at what happened in Bayelsa State. I have warned about dictatorship. The consequence of dictatorship is the fall of the dictator.”

    Fayose said the setting up of the military panel was meant to dent the image of the credible elections, despite the judgment of the foreign observers and the international community.

    He added: “They set up a military panel. If you wake up and you start indicting your own men, you are on your own.

    “They want to say that the military rigged election so that the report on the election can be reviewed and they will now approach the Supreme Court for the review of the Ekiti election. It is not known to law. They want to subvert democracy.

    “They are after me. I am prepared for them. Any attempt to invade my state will be resisted. They want to use the military panel to upturn the judgment of the Supreme Court. It cannot happen. After the judgment of the Supreme Court, they can only appeal to God.”

    Reflecting on the probe of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), Fayose said previous administrations from 1999 to date should be investigated in the spirit of the fight against corruption.

    He alleged that the Federal Government was fighting the ant-graft war with a lip service.

    Fayose fired salvos at former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who, he said, is fond of visiting Aso Villa, the seat of the Federal Government.

    “What is Obasanjo looking for in Aso Rock? For  eight years, Buhari did not visit Aso Rock to see him. He didn’t even attend the Council of State meeting. What is he going there for? He is bringing shame to Yorubaland.”

    However, Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Chief Jide Awe, faulted the governor’s claim.

    According to him, the military is only probing to determine the involvement of its men in untoward acts during the elections.

     

     

  • PDP alleges plot by Sylva to launch documentary against Dickson

    PDP alleges plot by Sylva to launch documentary against Dickson

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State said yesterday that it had uncovered a plot by the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) candidate, Timipre Sylva, to air a documentary denouncing the performance of Governor Seriake Dickson ahead of the December 5 election.

    The Director of Publicity of the Restoration Campaign Organisation, Jonathan Obuebite, in a statement, said the 30-minute documentary was contracted to a Swiss filmmaker at two million dollars and would be aired a few days to the election to portray the government in a bad light.

    He said the documentary was uncovered through the party’s intelligence network, which, he added, showed a misleading comparison between the quality of infrastructure in the state and that of Switzerland, a move he described as untenable.

    Obeibite said the impression created in the documentary was that of a state of broken roads and heaps of refuse dumps, especially in the capital, Yenagoa.

    He said the documentary suggested it was Sylva who could upgrade the standard of roads to that of Switzerland, adding that the international standard projected was an illusion because the two environments were different and as such the APC candidate’s characterisation was a misleading self-promotion.

    “The question to ask Sylva is why he could not replicate the Switzerland model when he was the governor for five years? Why can’t he now use his legacy as a former governor, if he has good ideas and worthy legacy, to campaign?” Obeibite queried.

    He urged the people not to be deceived by Sylva’s antics which, he said, was a desperate move to tarnish the image of the PDP candidate for political reasons.

    Obeibite drew the public’s attention to the roads and bridges as well as empowerment programmes executed by the Dickson administration since 2012, which he noted were hailed by the people.

    He said: “The documentary and other dirty schemes by Sylva show the desperation of the APC to get power by hook or crook. But we are confident that the APC candidate is a bad product, who cannot win the election. Sylva has been rejected by the majority of Bayelsans and the gods of the land.”

  • Kogi APC group alleges intra-party plot to stop Audu

    A pressure group within the Kogi State All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm on an alleged plot by party members from a section of the state to sabotage the chances of the party’s candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu, in the impending governorship election.

    The group, Kogi East APC Youth Front (KEAYF), in a press statement issued in Lokoja by its president, Dr Abimaje Ocheni, and Secretary, Miss Grace Ebune, alleged that some party leaders from Kogi Central District were among the aggrieved blaming Prince Audu for the defeat of Ebira candidates at the party’s primaries and have covertly decided to work against the party.

    “There is very disturbing evidence that a section of our party members acting an ethnic script are trying to pull back a moving train. Regrettably, this section, specifically the Ebira of the Central Senatorial District, is deviously scheming under a diverse agenda to reverse all the advantages of our great party in the state.

    “Ever since the resounding victory of Prince Abubakar Audu, the Adoja      Attah-Igala, at our party’s primary election, members of the APC family from Kogi Central have not been at ease.

    “First it was alleged that the sudden realisation that the combined votes of their candidates who were the first, second and third runner-up surpassed that of Adoja ignited a fresh sense of micro nationalism propelled more by regret than reason.”

    KEAYF, which is an Igala forum supporting Prince Audu’s candidature, lamented that the plot was now so pervasive that the Central Senatorial APC rally was largely boycotted by members from the area.

    Besides, the group alleged that a politician had mounted and sustained a crusade to snatch Prince Audu’s ticket even when it was obvious that it was a fruitless mission.

    “Then a politician picked up the gauntlet in trying to reverse the victory of Adoja even when a change of candidate is now statute barred.

    “All the propaganda of Adoja stealing N11 billion and promising to return it can be traced to this fellow obviously working with the enemies of the candidate.

    “It was this same fellow who is behind the party’s appeal committee’s recommendation asking for the disqualification of Adoja on the ground of corruption even when he has not been convicted of anything.

    “Even while it is clear that this fellow cannot get anywhere, he is unrelenting. It is therefore open to conclusion that he is playing the same ethnic card against Adoja.”

  • Imoke alleges blackmail

    Imoke alleges blackmail

    Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke has alleged a grand plot by the opposition  to embark on a smear campaign against his person in a bid to discredit the outcome of the presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Imoke, Mr Christian Ita, in a statement in Calabar, said allegations of manipulation of the elections against Imoke are ludicrous.

    “This is just one in a litany of lies against the governor by a desperate opposition. It has now become the pastime of the opposition to tar the governor, all in a bid to score cheap political points.”

    He said Cross River is a completely PDP state and as such, neither the governor nor the PDP has any need to manipulate elections in the state?.

    According to the statement, “the latest allegations are the antics of a drowning opposition desperate to stay afloat by hanging on straws. This is falsehood taken to the level of absurdity.”

    He said the outcome of the elections in the state reflects the wishes of the electorate and therefore, advised the opposition to either accept the result or go to court.

    “It has become imperative at this point to advise the misguided opposition that rather than impugn the integrity of innocent people, it should exercise its rights? by going to the Election Petitions Tribunal if they think they have a case.

    “They should also stop fanning the embers of violence through false claims and hate campaigns. Election is about the people and it is won on the ground and not on facebook or bulk sms,” the statement further stated.

  • Wike gives First Lady $1m monthly, Amaechi alleges

    Wike gives First Lady $1m monthly, Amaechi alleges

    Rivers State Governor and Director-General of the All Progressives Congress party (APC) presidential campaign Rotimi Amaechi has alleged that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Chief Nyesom Wike gives  Mrs Patience Jonathan $1 million monthly—an allegation Wike has denied.

    Amaechi  spoke at a Praise-and-Worship session, organised by the Ikwerre Youth Movement (IYM) and Ikwerre Women Forum (IWF) at Isiokpo, headquarters of Ikwerre Local Government Area.

    The governor said: “Do you know that the PDP candidate, Nyesom Wike, has been giving one million dollars monthly to the wife of the President, Mrs Patience Jonathan? He has been doing this to gain political favour in the Presidency and to retain the favour…  For eight years, our Okrika brother (Senator George Sekibo) has been occupying the Senate (Rivers East) seat and now it is the turn of an Ikwerre son, but Nyesom Wike has gone ahead to accept another four years for George Thompson Sekibo.  This is not acceptable, Chief Andrew Uchendu will take over this time, one man called Nyesom Wike cannot sell Ikwerre’s birthright.”

    The Ikwerre Youth Movement (IYM) and the Ikwerre Women Forum (IWF) have issued a communiqué endorsing the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and the APC governorship standard bearer, Dr Dakuku Adol-Peterside as president and governor.

    The groups said they had over one million card carrying members across the four Ikwerre councils.

    The groups condemned violence and killings in remote parts of the state, blaming Wike for political intolerance.

    Peterside hailed the two groups and thanked the Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers in Ikwerreland and other groups.

    He said he was determined to promote women and youth empowerment.

    President-General, Ikwerre Youth Movement Azubuike Wanjoku assured the people that the group would work for equity and justice in the  elections.

    He said: “Nyesom Wike formed Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) …  This battle is between God and Ogboni.  Nyesom Wike is on the side of the devil, he will fail.  And that is why we are here today to put our trust in God to win the elections.”