The Nation Newspaper

Tag: alleges

  • Group alleges plot to smear ACN spokesperson’s name

    A group, Kwara Change Initiative, yesterday said it has uncovered plans by some people to sponsor posters carrying the photographs of the National Publicity Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and his wife as governorship and senatorial aspirants for 2015.

    In a statement in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, the group’s Organizing Secretary Adewale Adefila said: “This is the latest in the serial campaign of calumny against the person of the National Publicity Secretary of the ACN, whose soaring profile has become a source of worry to them. They struggled in vain with their principal to control the soul of his party as a lever to display their wares as they continue in the business of money making, especially as we are close to another round of elections.

    “We are aware that the evil group currently in our midst will be exposed soonest and the exposure will form the basis of their exit from the party. We will not for the first time take their ranting for that of a drunkard in a beer joint.

    “We are aware that members of the group are in constant touch with some political parties within and outside the state.

    “The wife of one of the members of the sinister group, who doubles as the breadwinner of their family, is currently supervising the doctoral thesis of a governor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). While the Ifelodun politician replied, we are coming back.

    “Kwara Change Initiative, in the days ahead, will expose the contacts of the evil group within and outside the state in our effort to end their campaign of calumny and send them packing as political jobbers.”

    Also, a stalwart of ACN in Kwara State, Mr. Atolagbe Ayansola, promised members’ support and loyalty to the party.

    Ayansola, a lawyer and member of the group, said: “As a group, we vote and support the party’s structure at all levels as well as its leadership. We also believe in due process, fairness and equity in running the affairs of the party.”

  • UNIABUJA lecturer alleges threat to his life

    A lecturer in the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), Dr. Abubakar Olarewaju Sulaiman, has written to the Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, alleging threats to his life for speaking out on the rot in the university.

    He said a Special Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor on Friday accosted him at the parking lot in front of the Senate Building and vowed to deal with him.

    The Assistant-Inspector-General of Police, Zone 7, Mr. Abba Suleiman, has invited the lecturer for interaction as part of the ongoing probe of the petition.

    The university has been shut down since November last year following a protest by students over declining standard and non-accreditation of some courses.

    Sulaiman, who is a member of the Media Committee of the university’s branch of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), appeared on television to talk on the crisis in the university.

    But the way he is promoting ASUU’s views was said to have angered some forces within the system.

    The affected forces do not want the implementation of the White Paper on UNIABUJA crisis by the Federal Government.

    One of the forces was a Special Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor, who assaulted the lecturer at the parking lot in front of the Senate Building on Friday.

    The lecturer’s petition reads in part: “I write to formally notify you of threat to my life by a Special Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja .

    “In the morning of Friday, 18th January, 2013 at about 10.30am, I visited the Information Unit of the university, located at the Main Campus along Airport Road, on the way to my office in the Department of Political Science located at the Mini-Campus of the university in Gwagwalada.

    “At about 10.45am, I was returning to my car when the said aide to the Vice-Chancellor accosted me at the parking lot in front of the Senate Building of the university in the company of a young man, who was the driver of a green colour car with registration number FG 1 Z50.

    “The Special Assistant alighted from the car while it was on slow motion and confronted me with a barrage of insults and threat to my life. He said and I quote: ‘You are Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman, we heard what you said on television and I will deal with you.’

    “I ignored him and moved towards my car. He closed in on me and almost prevented me from entering my car. Even when I managed to enter my car, my assailant slammed the door on the driver side and continued with his threats.

    “I am drawing the attention of the authority of your esteem office to this executive recklessness against the background of the current upheavals in the University of Abuja which has resulted into a face-off between the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. J.S.A. Adelabu and ASUU.

    The physical assault and threat to my life is the highpoint of the false allegations and name-calling that I have suffered since the current upheavals began.

    “In the light of this obvious insecurity of the lives of academic staff and the specific threat to my life as a committed member of ASUU, I humbly request you to use the authority of your good offices to intervene in this matter and put in place necessary machinery to ensure security of lives in and around the campus.”

  • Enugu group alleges neglect in federal appointments

    A pressure group, Enugu North Patriots, yesterday decried the alleged marginalisation of the senatorial district in federal appointments.

    The group called for a balancing of the political equation for the good of all.

    President of the group, Ben Uroko, spoke in Abuja.

    He said: “Since 1999, Enugu East produced seven ministers and ambassadors; Enugu West produced four ministers and ambassadors; Enugu North, with 48 per cent population and 52 per cent of registered voters in Enugu State, did not produce any minister but only two ambassadors.

    “Dubem Onyia was the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs from 1999 to 2003. He hails from Udi Local Government in Enugu West.

    “Frank Nweke Junior, was Minister for Special Duties, 2003–2005; he is from Nkanu East Local Government, Enugu East Senatorial District;

    “Mrs Akuabata Njeze, Minister of State for Defence, 2007–2009, Udi, Enugu West; Mrs Akuabata Njeze, Minister of Aviation, 2009–2011, Udi, Enugu West; Prof. Barth Nnaji, Minister for Power, 2011–2012, Nkanu East, Enugu East; Amb. Goddy Agbo, Japan, 2003–2007, Enugu South, Enugu East; Amb. Goddy Agbo, Japan, 2007–2011, Enugu South, Enugu East; Amb. Kingsley Ebenyi, Spain, 2007–2011, Isi–Uzo, Enugu East; Amb. Fidel Ayogu, Uganda, 2007–2011, Igbo-Eze North, Enugu North; Amb. Akuabata Njeze, Switzerland, 2011–till date, Udi, Enugu West; Amb. Goddy Agbo, Japan, 2011 – till date, Enugu East.”

    Uroko said Emma Eze, from Udenu in Enugu North Senatorial District, served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Zambia and Tanzania.

    Eze was the only ambassador the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appointed, the group’s leader said.

    He added that Amb. Fidel Ayogu was appointed in the quota to the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

  • Imo ALGON secretary alleges threat to life

    The Secretary of the Imo State chapter of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Enyinnaya Onuegbu, has alleged that some of bandits have attempted to kill him.

    He accused members of the Imo State Security Network of being behind the alleged plot.

    The embattled council chief has been involved in a legal battle between the government and disengaged council chairmen.

    Onuegbu alleged that suspected members of the state’s security outfit stormed his home in Owerri, the state capital, with the intent to abduct him.

    He said: “When they arrived, I was outside the state for an official assignment. I was lucky to be away from that place. But they harassed my security man until a neighbour’s guard came to his rescue.

    “They threatened my life. They told my security man that I was lucky yet again and that I must die because of my recent interview on Africa Independent Television (AIT), which was critical of the Rochas Okorocha administration.”

    The ALGON chief said he was ready to appear before any relevant authority to answer the allegation the government levelled against him.

    Onuegbu said: “But the private soldiers of Okorocha, which came to my premises, had a sinister motive. They did not leave any invitation or names.

    “I am calling for the attention of the security agencies, journalists and the public to this threat to kill me through extrajudicial method.”

    The Commander of the Imo Security Network, Mr. Angus Oguike, denied knowledge of the incident.

    He said: “I did not post anybody there. Tell the man to name the unit that came for that operation.”

    Police spokesman Vitalis Onugu said he was not aware of the incident.

    He said: “I believe Onuegbu is a lawyer and knows the necessary steps to take.”

    The Commissioner of Information, Mr. Chinedu Offor, described Onuegbu as a joker seeking cheap popularity.

  • Diplomat alleges threat to life

    A retired diplomat, Dr. Olarotimi Ajayi, yesterday alleged that assassins were on his trail since he petitioned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the alleged fraud in the Nigerian Embassy , Caracas in Venezuela.
    Ajayi, who retired a few months ago, told reporters in Lagos that his retirement entitlements were not paid because he was perceived as a whistle-blower by ministry officials.
    The former diplomat said he would be in court today to protest the allegation that he was involved in fraud and drug peddling during his time in Venezuela.
    He said: “I will tell the court how embassy money was kept in personal accounts. I will confirm the passport racketeering before the judge. I will reveal the details of many diplomatic falsehood.”
    The former diplomat urged President Goodluck Jonathan, the anti-graft agencies, police and State Security Services (SSS) to beam a searchlight on the activities of the embassy in Caracas.
    “The Presidency, Inspector-General of Police, and SSS should, please, protect me from assault, assassination and instigated arrest for being a whistle blower.”

  • Osun ACN alleges politicisation of employment scheme

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Osun State has alleged that the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has been politicised.

    In a statement at the weekend, ACN Acting Chairman Elder Adelowo Adebiyi said information available to the party showed that the Federal Government scheme, financed by the Subsidy Re-Investment Programme (SURE-P), has been restricted to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters.

    The statement reads: “We are reliably informed that the current allocation of 3,000 slots to Osun State has been shared among PDP members across the 30 local government areas.

    “This arrangement is a gross misuse of a federal institution for political patronage and the abuse of federal power against Nigerians, who belong to political parties other than the PDP.

    “The SURE-P scheme is designed for all Nigerians and not exclusively for PDP supporters. The proceeds from the fuel subsidy removal were saved to help the jobless and should be distributed nationwide by a federal institution, such as the NDE, to benefit all Nigerians, regardless of their political affiliation.

    “For the NDE in Osun to handover the 3,000 allocations meant for the state to the PDP is irresponsible, illegal and at variance with the constitutional responsibility of the Federal Government to be there for all Nigerians and not supporters of the ruling party alone.

    “It is not clear if this is a direct order from the minister of Finance as well as Labour and Productivity counterpart or both, or whether it is a conspiracy between the NDE and PDP in the state to corner the SURE-P allocations meant for Osun State indigenes and give it exclusively to members of the PDP.

    “ACN rejects the action and calls on the Federal Government to compel the NDE to do its job fairly to cover all Osun citizens, no matter their political affiliation.

    “We urge the NDE and the Ministries of Finance and Labour and Productivity to ensure that the proper thing is done. Unnecessary politicisation would not facilitate a united Nigeria, where national consciousness is very necessary.”

  • Activist alleges threat to his life over Benue poll

    An activist and Chairman of Benue Network of Non-Governmental Organisations (BENGONET), Justin Gbagi, has alleged a threat to his life over last Saturday’s local government election.

    Gbagi addressed reporters yesterday in Makurdi, the state capital, on his organisation’s assessment of the poll.

    He said someone called him with a strange number at 11am and warned him not to divulge what he observed during the election.

    According to him, the caller said it would be at the risk of his life to publicise what he saw during the poll.

    The activist said some youths from Buruku Local Government tore his clothes and seized his phones and camera during the election.

    Gbagi noted that the local election was a sham because it was marred by several irregularities.

    He listed the malpractices as snatching of ballot boxes, massive thumb-printing of ballot papers, voter apathy and use of thugs to intimidate voters.

    The activist alleged that in Gboko Local Government Area, the election did not take place because thugs snatched ballot boxes.

    Gbagi alleged that in Kwande, a former council chairman and the Special Adviser to the Governor were seen hijacking ballot papers and chasing away the state Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) officials from the polling units.

     

  • Party group alleges Mimiko operates secret accounts

    Party group alleges Mimiko operates secret accounts

    THREE secret accounts, allegedly opened and operated by the Governor Olusegun Mimiko administration, have been discovered by a political group within the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    The group, Independent Campaign Network (ICN), yesterday alleged that the bank accounts were opened between 2009 and 2010 to siphon public funds.

    Speaking at a press conference at the group’s secretariat in Akure, ICN’s Director of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Bosun Oladimeji, challenged Governor Mimiko to respond to the allegation.

    According to him, “we have relevant documents to substantiate our allegation.”

    Oladimeji alleged that the accounts were clandestinely operated by the government in three banks.

    He said: “Mimiko in his first broadcast introduced secret account into the lexicon of Ondo State politics when he accused former governor, Olusegun Agagu and the late Obolo, a Special Assistant to Agagu on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) projects of operating a secret account.

    “No sooner he came on board than he opened the accounts secretly to indulge in the same act he accused his predecessor of.

    “The accounts were operated between February 2009 and January 2010. Through these accounts, recurrent expenditure and security votes were carried out. N100 million was withdrawn from a bank by a Government House official on the eve of the public declaration of Mimiko for a second term, held on July 25.”

    According to the ICN spokesman, a source provided the information with enough documents.

    He added: “Before the advent of the Mimiko administration, the immediate past government operated an Intercontinental Bank account for capital projects, but immediately Mimiko came on board, a new account was opened with the influence of an accounting officer.

    “The account is used for the collecting of the monthly VAT from the Federation Account. The monthly VAT accruable in the account is in excess of N15 billion as deposit. The monthly VAT accruable in the account is in excess of N653 million.

    “The former Intercontinental Bank account is being used for the draw-down of the N50 billion secret bond secured from the capital market.

    “As at now, N7 billion has been released to the state government, while another N10 billion was also released to the Ministry of Works. Yet no road has been inaugurated by the government since 2009.”

    Oladimeji also revealed the alleged fraud behind the Direct Labour Agency introduced to the state by the Mimiko administration.

    He alleged that a senior special assistant to Mimiko has mismanaged over N75 million on the two abandoned road projects.

    The projects, he said, had no bill of quantity, architectural drawing and approval.

    “Mimiko claimed that he renovated Odopetu, Okelisa and Isolo markets, built during Agagu’s administration, with N100 million. You can check the 2010 and 2011 budgets published by the Ministry of Budget and Planning,” he said.

    Oladimeji alleged that the N400 million budgeted for the revitalisation of the Arigidi Tomatoe Company was embezzled by some political appointees.

    He urged the electorate to vote out the Mimiko administration to save the state from financial recklessness.

  • Mimiko budgets N10b to buy votes, PDP alleges

    THE Director-General of the Olusola Oke Campaign Organisation (OOCO), Dr. Dare Bada, yesterday alleged that Governor Olusegun Mimiko has set aside N10 billion to buy votes from the electorate during Saturday’s poll.

    But Bada insisted that the PDP candidate, Olusola Oke, would defeat Mimiko in the election.

    He said the PDP standard bearer would defeat Mimiko because he has not performed.

    Bada said the party relies on the people who in the last two months have expressed their willingness to vote for the PDP candidate in the October 20 poll.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • LP brings in thugs, ACO alleges

    LP brings in thugs, ACO alleges

    The Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) has alleged that a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) on Sunday night brought thugs to Akure and lodged them in two popular hotels in the town (names withheld).

    The Director, Media and Publicity of the organisation, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, alleged

    that the thugs were brought into Akure in batches in a green CRV Sport Utility Vehicle with registration number MM 22 ABJ.

    He alleged that the hoodlums, numbering over 300, were brought in to rig the October 20 poll.

    Ajanaku said: “ACO urges the Commissioner of Police and other security agents to take note and investigate the matter because Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) members will not allow themselves to be molested by the thugs brought in by a chieftain of the LP from the eastern part of the country.

    “Ondo people have a reputation of repressing oppression. Not even the late General Sani Abacha could cow them and their leader, the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin, who led the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).”