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Tag: Ekweremadu

  • Ekweremadu threatens to release video clip of ‘assassination attempt’

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu yesterday threatened to release video clips of how his house was invaded by alleged assassins on Tuesday.

    Ekweremadu said he may be forced to actualise his threat to release the video clip, if the Police fail to withdraw its claim that what happened in his house was a mere case of burglary.

    The Senate resolved to ask the police to do a thorough investigation of the alleged assassination attempt on Ekweremadu, his wife and son in the early hours of Tuesday.

    The upper chamber said the conclusion that the incident was a case of burglary appeared to be hasty.

    Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), who raised the issue, prayed the Senate to condemn the hasty conclusion by the Police that the invasion of Ekweremadu’s residence was a mere burglary case.

    Abaribe lamented that “for the police to quickly without interviewing the very person for whom this incident happened, to come out and determine that it was a burglary, actually burgles the mind. We know in this country that Bola Ige was killed in his home. We know and also it is a fact the former gubernatorial candidate, Funsho Williams was also killed in his home.

    “Our fear today is why the police are engaging in a cover up? Why is the police continually at any time that it concerns people that do not have presidential oversight or cover, they quickly come out and have a report,” the senator queried.

    Ekweremadu said a Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations visited his house with the FCT Police Commissioner on Tuesday afternoon to sympathise with him.

    “I showed them round and of course they were very sympathetic of what happened.”

    He also informed the Senate that he was shocked when he woke up yesterday morning to hear police saying that what happened in his house was “a mere case of burglary”.

    Ekweremadu said: “I am at a loss because as we speak, they have not taken any statement from my son, who was hospitalised; they have not gone to the hospital to find out what exactly happened to my son. They have invited security personnel attached to me, who reported yesterday. Some are still reporting this morning.

    “They (the Police) looked at the CCTV tapes operated by the DSS and a staff of my house; apparently they were not able to figure it out. So, it was easy for them to quickly dismiss what really happened.”

    He noted that he has been able to figure out the correct picture of what happened and added that he now has the video clip.

    “Unfortunately for them, later yesterday evening, a technician came and was able to figure out and was able to produce the CCTV footage, including how they gained entrance into my house and how they got a way into my room and the fight between them, my wife and my son and all the efforts we made to save our lives. I am happy that we have that in our custody, which the police is not aware of.

    He added: “I may now be forced to release those footage to the media, international communities so that Nigerians and ordinary people will judge whether it was a case of burglary or attempt to kill me or whether they just want to come to my house to have a breakfast or have a handshake with me.”

    The House of Representatives also yesterday resolved to constitute an ad hoc Committee to investigate the alleged assassination attempt  on Deputy  Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and members of his family.

    The committee is also mandated to find out the circumstances surrounding the late response of the Police to the emergency.

    The committee is to report back to the House in two weeks for further legislative action.

    The chamber also urged the relevant security agencies to ensure increased security surveillance around the Deputy Senate President as well as other members of the National Assembly.

  • Assassination: Ekweremadu threatens to release video clip

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on Wednesday threatened to release video clips of how his house was invaded by alleged assassins on Tuesday.

    Ekweremadu said that he may be forced to actualize his threat to release the video clip if the Police fail to withdraw its claim that what happened in his house was a mere case of burglary.

    The Senate resolved to ask the Police to do a thorough investigation of the alleged assassination attempt on Ekweremadu, his wife and son in the early hours of Tuesday.

    The upper chamber said that the conclusion that the incident was a case of burglary appeared to be hasty.

    Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), who raised the issue, prayed the Senate to condemn the hasty conclusion by the Police that the invasion of Ekweremadu’s residence was a mere burglary case.

    Abaribe lamented that “For the police to quickly without interviewing the very person for whom this incident happened to, come out and determine that it was a burglary, actually burgles the mind. We know in this country that Bola Ige was killed in his home. We know and also it is a fact the former gubernatorial candidate, Funsho Williams was also killed in his home”

    “Our fear today is why is the Police engaging in a cover up? Why is the police continually at any time that it concerns people that do not have presidential oversight or cover, they quickly come out and have a report” Abaribe queried

    Ekweremadu, in his remarks said that a deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations visited his house with the Commissioner of Police for the FCT on Tuesday afternoon to sympathizie with him.

    “I showed them round and of course they were very sympathetic of what happened”

    He also informed Senate that he was shocked “when I wake up this morning to hear Police saying that what happened in my house is a mere case of burglary. I am at a loss because as we speak, they have not taken any statement from my son who was hospitialised, they have not gone to the hospital to find out what exactly happened to my son. They have invited security personnel attached to me who reported yesterday some are still reporting this morning.

    “They (the Police) looked at the CCTV tapes operated by the DSS and a staff of my house, apparently they were not able to figure it out. So it was easy for them to quickly dismiss what really happened”

    Ekweremadu noted that he has been able to figure out the correct picture of what happened and disclosed that he now has the video clip.

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    “Unfortunately for them, later yesterday evening a technician came and was able to figure out and was able to produce the CCTV footage, including how they gained entrance into my house and how they got a way into my room and the fight between them my wife and my son and all the efforts we made to save our lives. I am happy that we have that in our custody which the police is not aware of. I am sure that Nigeria will be shocked on what transpired and all the efforts made to save our lives. Now that the police appears to have concluded the case, unless they withdraw the statement that it is a mere case of burglary, I may now be forced to release those footage to the media, international communities so that Nigerians and ordinary people judge whether it was a case of burglary or attempt to kill me or whether they just want to come to my house to have a breakfast or have a handshake with me.”

    Ekweremadu added, “It appears to me that the man who said it was a mere case of burglary does not know what burglary is about. He doesn’t need any teaching he just needs to go into the internet and find out what burglary is really about. He can compare if it is the same with what happened in my house.”

    He also said he might be forced to accept offers by some concerned Nigerians who wanted to offer free security in his house.

    “I also want to appreciate those who said they want to come to my house and provide security service for me with their machetes and Dane guns if the police have failed to do that. If they fail to withdraw so I have to accept those offers but I don’t want that to be our portion”

    Senator Dino Melaye, in his contribution said,

    “The police adopted a very myopic, porous and intellectually stagnant approach to a very serious matter. To start with, burglary is not mere. Anyone who is engaged in burglary has satanic intention. It is burglary that leads to assassination.

    “To come out and say its mere burglary shows that the Nigeria Police has identified some individuals that no matter what happen, we will not get their service.

    If this has happened to one of the faithfuls of Mr President, this will not be the reaction of the Inspector-General of Police. If this has happened to one of the close friends of the villa, this will not be the reaction of the IGP.” he added.

  • Ekweremadu: Police investigate alleged assassination attempt

    The Nigeria Police Force said it had commenced investigation on the alleged assassination attempt on Deputy President of the Senate Ike Ekweremadu.

    Ekweremadu, his wife and son, allegedly escaped assassination attempt at their Apo residence in Abuja in the early hours of Tuesday.

    NAN also report that Ekweremadu had narrowly escaped an alleged attempt on his life in Abuja on Nov. 17, 2015.

    Acting DCP Jimoh Moshood, the Force Public Relations Officer disclosed this while addressing newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Moshood explained that the incidence was a burglary and not an assassination attempt.

    The spokesman said that similar incident also took place at the residence of Haliru Adamu, a neighbour of the deputy president.

    “Investigation so far carried out in the incident does not have any link to assignation attempt,” he said.

    He said that one of the suspects, Mohammed Yusuf who was arrested by the police was in police custody and had made useful statements.

    “The suspect has been assisting the police in the investigation into the matter. We have intensified efforts to arrest other suspects who escaped from the crime scene,” he said.

    He said that Ekweremadu and Adamu have made statements to the police in respect of the incident.

    Moshood said that Adamu lost his cell phones and jewelries to the thieves while nothing was reportedly stolen from Ekweremadu’s house.

    In a related development, the Police have arrested 20 suspects in connection with cattle rustling, kidnapping, armed robbery and forgery around Katsina state.

    The suspects are : Labe Wada, Lawal Wada, Labaran Ilyasu, Haruna Idris, Lawal Suberu, Ilyasu Ibrahim, Jamila Aliyu, Usman Abdullahi, Sada Bala, Osuji Stephen, Abdulkadir Ilya among others.

    The force spokesman, DCP Jimoh Moshood disclosed that items recovered from the suspects included: four Ak 47, one Ak 49, one locally-made revolver, four Ak 47 magazines, one unregistered motorcycle, ammunition and three forged cheques.

    Moshood said that all the suspects who were arrested by the IGP Special Strike Force, have confessed to the various roles they played in the commission of the crimes.

    The spokesman said that the suspects would be arraigned in court on completion of investigation into the matter.

    He said that IGP Ibrahim Idris has directed all Assistant Inspectors General of police to beef up security in their areas of responsibilities. (NAN)

  • Deputy Senate President escapes assassination

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu in the early hours of Tuesday escaped assassination attempt alongside his wife and one of his sons.

    But one of the assassins was overpowered and arrested.

    The suspect has been handed over to Apo Police Station for investigation.

    The incident was confirmed in a statement by Uche Anichukwu, who is the Special Adviser on Media to Ekweremadu.

    The statement said: “The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, his wife, and son escaped an assassination attempt at about 4am on Tuesday.

    “The armed men discreetly evaded the security at Ekweremadu’s Apo Quarters residence, to gain entry into his house.

    ” The attackers, who could not immediately shoot in order not to attract the attention of the security personnel on duty, took hold of his son, and commanded him to lead them to the Senator’s bedroom.

    ” It was in the ensuing struggle in the Senator’s bedroom that security was alerted, leading to the arrest of one of the assailants with dangerous weapons and housebreaking devices, while the rest managed to escape.

    “The arrested member of the gang has, however, refused to divulge any information on the operation and has been handed over to the police.

    “Ekweremadu, his wife, and one of his sons were in the house at the time of the attack.

    “It could be recalled that the lawmaker narrowly escaped an attempt on his life in Abuja on November 17, 2015.

    “Although the 2015 incident was reported to the security agencies, nothing has been heard about the matter till date.”

  • Ekweremadu, Umahi mourn Anenih

    Deputy President of the Senate Ike Ekweremadu has expressed grief over the demise of former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih.

    Ekweremadu in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Uche Anichukwu described Anenih, who died at 85, as a pan-Nigerian and patriot.

    He said: “Chief Anineh contributed so much to deepening our democracy and setting the nation on the path of progress at the end of many decades of military rule.

    “He was a humble leader, fine public administrator, political kingmaker, a colossus, master strategist, and a political oracle, who was very vast in political engineering.

    “Iyasele was a courageous man, and a man of few words, who meant whatever he said and said only what he meant. He will be sorely missed.”

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    Similarly, the Chairman South East Governors Forum, Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi, expressed sadness over the death of Anenih.

    Umahi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor described Anenih as not just a patriot but a political encyclopedia, a man who contributed immensely to the development of democracy in Nigeria.

    He said Nigeria has lost a great icon and a foremost politician, whose love and contribution towards the sustenance of democracy was total and unequalled.

    Umahi added that Nigeria, Edo state and the PDP have lost a great icon.

  • Ekweremadu insists on inclusiveness in PDP

    DEPUTY Senate President Ike Ekweremadu yesterday debunked reports of his planned defection from People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Ekweremadu also underscored the need for inclusiveness as well as social and political environment, where everybody and every section count.

    He was emphatic that every decision bereft of inclusiveness and consultation cannot stand.

    This is contained in a statement on his Facebook page, @iamekweremadu yesterday.

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    Ekweremadu added: “I am presently out of the country on a prescheduled engagement.”.

    The statement said “The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has debunked reports that he was headed to the ruling All Progressives Congress, noting that he remained a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    “In the past 24 hours, I have been inundated with calls from friends and political associates seeking clarification on the rumours of my departure from the PDP, which has dominated the media.

    “Let it be known that my path in politics is in the hands of the Almighty God, who has indeed been very faithful and gracious to me. I’m very grateful to God for this.”

  • Ugwuanyi, Ekweremadu for Adoration Ministry anniversary

    Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and some other distinguished Nigerians are billed to attend the 18th anniversary of Okunerere Adoration Ministry at Adoration Ground, Nsukka, Enugu State.

    The theme of the anniversary is ‘From maturity to adulthood’, and it will hold on Sunday. Activities to mark the event include a high mass on Adoration Ground.

    A statement by the Spiritual Director of the group, Rev. Father Dr. Paul Obayi, said: “Our celebration is solely dedicated to God. Attaining 18 years means you have become an adult; it is an age of discernment, when a human being is expected to take responsibility for his or her actions. I give God all the glory for taking us this far, for making us attain the age of adulthood. Some people did not grow to be adults.”

    Recalling how the group started in October 2000, Fr. Obayi said it could only be the grace of God that has sustained the body and because of this, the celebrations would be hinged on a High Mass in thankfulness to God who made everything possible.

    The High Mass will be celebrated by the host Bishop, the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka, Rev. Prof. Godfrey Onah.

  • Assets declaration failure: Fed Govt charges Ekweremadu, Akpan to court

    •Courts fix October 22, Nov 19 for arraignment

    THE Federal Government has filed two charges against Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and Senator Albert Bassey Akpan (Akwa Ibom North-East) for allegedly failing to declare some of their assets.

    The charges were filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja on behalf of the Federal Government by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP).

    The charge against Ekweremadu has been assigned to Justice Binta Nyako. The one against Akpan is assigned to Justice John Tsoho.

    Both judges yesterday granted leave to the prosecution to serve the charges and other accompanying court documents on the defendants through the National Assembly Clerk.

    The order for substituted service was granted by both judges after listening to prosecution lawyer, Celsus Ukpong, who complained of difficulty in effecting personal service on the defendants.

    Justice Nyako adjourned to October 22 for arraignment and Justice Tsoho adjourned to November 19.

    The two count-charge against Ekweremadu reads:

    “That you, Ike Ekweremadu ‘M’ ‘on or about 28th day of March, 2018, being a public officer with the National Assembly, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, committed an offence to wit: refuse to declare your assets without reasonable excuse and upon the notice to declare your assets in the manner prescribed by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property contrary and punishable under Section 3 (3)(1)a of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions) Act 2004.

    “That you, Ike Ekweremadu ‘M’ on or about 28th day of March, 2018, being a public officer with the National Assembly Abuja within the jurisdiction of this court, committed an offence to wit: neglect to declare your assets without. reasonable excuse and upon the notice to declare your assets in the manner prescribed by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, contrary and punishable under Section 3(3)(1)3 of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions) Act 2004.”

    The charge against Akpan reads:

    “That you, Senator Albert Bassey Akpan ‘M’ on or about 12th day of April, 2018, being public officers with the National Assembly within the jurisdiction of this honourable court ,committed an offence to wit; refusal to declare your assets without reasonable excuse and upon notice to declare your assets before the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Abuja, contrary to and punishable under Section 3 (3) (1) (a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision) Act 2004.

    “That you, Senator Albert Bassey Akpan ‘M’ on or about 12th  day of April, 2018 being public officers with the National Assembly within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, committed an offence to wit: neglect to declare your assets without reasonable excuse and upon notice to declare your assets before the Special presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Abuja contrary to and punishable under Section 3(3)(1)(a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision) Act 2004.”

     

    Action laughable, says Deputy Senate President

    DEPUTY Senate President Ike Ekweremadu said yesterday his attention has been drawn to an attempt by the Chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), Mr. Ofem Obono-Obla, to smear his name in midst of the present political activities.

    Ekweremadu described the suit filed against him by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation on behalf of the SPIP over his refusal to declare his assets to the panel as laughable and malicious.

    He said: “Let me re-affirm to Nigerians and my supporters that I have no assets declaration case to answer. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria requires public office holders to declare their assets every four years, a requirement which I fulfilled. The panel requested and obtained copies of my Assets Declaration Form from the Code of Conduct Bureau, where everything is stated in black and white.

    “For emphasis, all my assets were fully and comprehensively declared to the Code of Conduct Bureau.

    “What is at issue here is that the SPIP had forwarded fresh assets declaration forms to me to fill contrary to the position of the 1999 Constitution, a demand I refused to oblige because it is clearly unconstitutional. It is this refusal to disobey the Constitution that I am now being charged for.

    “I am aware that the Panel chairman wrote the same letter to some serving Honourable Judges of the Federal High Court, who also declined to fill them.

    “I am also aware that the affected judges petitioned the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mallam Abubakar Malami, who immediately withdrew the provocative letters and fresh asset declaration forms with apologies.

    “I am further aware that the Office of the AGF had also intervened in a similar case involving the Obla Panel at the Federal High Court, Lagos and I believe all these culminated in Obono-Obla’s suspension in November 2017 before his recall.

    “It is, therefore, left to Nigerians to see the politics of the so-called charges in my case. The Office of the AGF should not allow itself to be used in filing malevolent and unconstitutional charges that destroy our democracy and make mockery of our judicial system.”

  • FG charges Ekweremadu, other with non-declaration of assets

    *Courts fix October 22, Nov 19 for arraignment

    *Okay substituted service of charges on them

    The Federal Government has filed two charges against the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and Senator Albert Bassey Akpan (Akwa Ibom North-East) for allegedly failing to declare some of their assets.

    The charges marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/62/2018 (for Ekweremadu) and FHC/ABJ/CR/88/2018 (for Akpan) were filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja on behalf of the Federal Government by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP).

    The charge against Ekweremadu has been assigned to Justice Binta Nyako, while the one against Akpan is assigned to Justice John Tsoho.
    Both judges, on Wednesday, granted leave to the prosecution to serve the charges and other accompanying court documents on the defendants through the Clerk of the National Assembly.

    The order for substituted service was granted by both judges after listening to prosecution lawyer, Celsus Ukpong, who complained of difficulty in effecting personal service on the defendants.

    Justice Nyako adjourned to October 22 for arraignment, while Justice Tsoho adjourned to November 19 for arraignment.

    The two count-charge against Ekweremadu reads:

    ” That you, Ike Ekweremadu ‘M’ ‘on or about 28th day of March, 2018 being a public officer with the National Assembly Abuja within the jurisdisction of this honourable court, committed an offence to wit: refuse to declare your assets without reasonable excuse and upon the notice to declare your assets in the manner prescribed by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property contrary and punishable under Section 3 (3)(1)a of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions) Act 2004.

    “That you, Ike Ekweremadu ‘M’ on or about 28th day of March, 2018 being a public officer with the National Assembly Abuja within the jurisdiction of this court, committed an offence to wit: neglect to declare your assets without. reasonable excuse and upon the notice to declare your assets in the manner prescribed by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property contrary and punishable under Section 3(3)(1)3 of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions) Act 2004.”

    The charge against Akpan reads:

    “That you, Senator Albert Bassey Akpan ‘M’ on or about 12th day of April, 2018 being public officers with the National Assembly within the jurisdiction of this honourable court ,committed an offence to wit; refusal to declare your assets without reasonable excuse and upon notice to declare your assets before the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Abuja contrary to and punishable under Section 3 (3) (1) (a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision) Act 2004.

    “That you, Senator Albert Bassey Akpan ‘M’ on or about 12th day of April, 2018 being public officers with the National Assembly within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, committed an offence to wit: neglect to declare your assets without reasonable excuse and upon notice to declare your assets before the Special presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Abuja contrary to and punishable under Section 3(3)(1)(a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision) Act 2004.”

  • Ekweremadu wins PDP senatorial ticket for Enugu West

    Deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu has picked the PDP Enugu West senatorial ‎ticket for 2019 elections.

    He beat four other contenders with 690 votes. The four others include Uche Onyekwelu, 22 votes; Oscar Egwuonwu, 5 votes, Isaac O. 84 votes and OAU Onyema 61 votes. ‎

    The Deputy Senate President is going for his 5th term.

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    Also Senator Chuka Utazi was elected for the Enugu North senatorial zone. He had no challenger.

    The Enugu East senatorial zone primary was inconclusive.