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Tag: ex-President Goodluck Jonathan

  • Jonathan, more of an academic in politics – Mahama

    Former President of Ghana, John Mahama, says ex-President Goodluck Jonathan is more of an academic who found himself in politics.

    He said this at the public presentation and formal launching of a book title “My Transition Hours” by Jonathan that “I was not surprised when Jonathan conceded defeat to President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015”.

    Mahama said Jonathan approached leadership in a relaxed manner and that was why he left a good legacy worthy of emulation by all leaders in Africa.

    The former Military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, said Nigeria was not at war today because of the decision by Jonathan to concede defeat during the 2015 general elections.

    ” We cannot thank you enough for the peace we are having in the country today; for the peaceful transition we had when you freely and voluntarily conceded defeat.

    ” By your decision, you have shown that you love your country more than you love power,” he said.

    The Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, said Nigeria was fortunate to have a selfless leader like the former President.

    He said that the decision of Jonathan to concede defeat in 2015 had helped to consolidate democracy not only in Nigeria but on the African continent.

    Abubakar also said that Nigerians and Africans would continue to remain grateful to Jonathan for upholding national interest at the expense of his personal interest.(NAN)

    The book was authored by the ex-president to recount his last moment of decision to concede power to President Buhari, congratulating him on the victory even when collation of results were still ongoing in 2015 presidential election.

  • Obasanjo, Oshiomhole, Akpabio storm Jonathan’s book launch

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Obong Godswill Akpabio caused a disruption of the public presentation of a book on ex-President  Goodluck Jonathan’s book launch at Transcorp-Hilton, Abuja on Tuesday.

    A very jubilant crowd hailed and clapped as the three eminent Nigerians came in, wading through a thick crowd that includes many eminent citizens, including former leaders, Yakubu Gowon, Abdsalam Abubakar, diplomats and leaders from several African countries.

    The coincidence of their entry completely ‘marred’ the book review being presented by retired Justice Alfa Belgore as the audience’ jubilant exultations drowned out his voice and the giant loudspeakers.

    Oshiomhole stole the show when he walked up to former President Jonathan who rose from his front seat position, shook hands and warmly embraced him.

    The overcapacity audience at the Congress Hall of Transcorp-Hilton hotel, Abuja soaked in adulations of ex-President Jonathan whose 180-page book; “My Transition Hours” was being presented.

    Chief Host of the occasion, Governor Seriake Dickson who stated that his Bayelsa state gave Nigeria two great presents – crude oil and ex-President Jonathan- launched the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation with announcement of a N100m grant, six hectares of land and N5 million monthly support for administrative costs.

    Former President of Ghana, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar, former Aviation minister, Osita Chidoka and others had, in turns, presented highly commendable remarks about Goodluck Jonathan and peaceful disposition that ensured smooth handing over to the current President in spite of other African leaders’ tendency to do otherwise.

     

  • EFCC operatives invade ex-DSS DG’s house

    EFCC operatives invade ex-DSS DG’s house

    Some operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) have invaded the residence of a former Director-General of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), Mr. Ita Ekpenyong to arrest him.

    Ekpenyong is allegedly wanted in connection with the ongoing probe of alleged $2.1billion arms procurement during the administration of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan.

    But moves to arrest the ex-DG was however being resisted by DSS operatives on guard at the residence.

    Details later…

    Read Also: EFCC finds N650m in accounts linked with Maina

  • Here and there

    Here and there

    I am troubled by a lot of things today. I am distressed by the Avengers. I am horror-struck by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s latest excitement about what he represented while in government. I am aghast about a man in Bayelsa who is in police net over his wife’s death. And wow, I am sad that kidnappers killed a Briton in Delta. So, I am going to dash from here to there.

     

    Uncle Jona: Lest we forget

     

    Of recent, ex-President Jonathan has used every available opportunity to rewrite the story of what we went through while he was the landlord at Aso Rock. He has told us what a democrat he was in government. He has literally blocked our ears with how Nigerians had money to spend while he was in government.

    But, we sure have not forgotten so many things he represented. While we are not happy that the recession in the country has made life unbearable for millions of Nigerians, it is not enough to make us forget that corruption was at its all-time high when Uncle Jona was in the saddle. And as far as he was concerned, Nigerians who pointed out this fact were just exaggerating. He even remembered his time as a lecturer when he started lecturing us about the difference between corruption and common stealing.

    Hear him: “Over 70 per cent of what are called corruption, even by EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies, is not corruption but common stealing.”

    It took very embarrassing facts for Oga Jona to do away with Ms Stella Oduah as Minister of Aviation. Not a few believe he sacrificed Ms Oduah for his political future, which still ended unceremoniously. He once said he believed Ms Oduah, who is now a Senator, has not forgiven him for sacking her.

    Ms Oduah could not clear herself of allegations of procedural breaches in the purchase of two bulletproof cars for $1.6m — about $1.2m more than the market price.

    We also cannot forget his attitude to declaration of assets publicly. His famous 2012 quote: “The issue of public asset declaration is a matter of personal principle. That is the way I see it, and I don’t give a damn about it, even if you criticise me from heaven.”

    Uncle Jona also told us all to go to hell when he granted presidential pardon to ex-Governor Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha, his former boss, who was convicted of graft charges. He simply gave no damn when he took this action for the Governor-General of the Ijaw nation, who is now late.

    Oga Jona also hurt us with his handling of the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls, over 100 of whom are still in captivity. He simply ruled out the fact that the girls were kidnapped and his wife Patience turned the whole matter to a theatre of the absurd with her ‘Daris God’ exhibitionism. It took Jonathan over 18 days to accept that the girls were truly ferried away by crazy insurgents. Of course, ‘water don pass gari’ by then. And we are yet to recover from his ill-judgment years later. It took Pakistani child rights activist Malala Yousafzai’s visit for Jonathan to even meet the parents of the girls.

    My verdict: President Muhammadu Buhari has certainly not lived to our expectations, but he was a better choice. I wonder where we will be now if Uncle Jona had won.

    Rest, Uncle Jona, rest!

     

    The Avengers are back

     

    The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) is back. Not that they have bombed any major oil installations yet. But they have said we should prepare for resumption of bombings of oil installations in the Niger Delta soon. Their grouse is about perceived lack of seriousness on the part of the Federal Government to end the woes of the people of the oil-rich region. They are also said to be unhappy that a meeting of the Pa Edwin Clark-led Pan-Niger Delta Development Forum (PANDEF) was stopped by security agents.

    They also feel the PANDEF 16-point demand, which include relocation of international oil companies’ (IOCs’) administrative and operational headquarters to the Niger Delta, clean-up of Ogoni land and other communities affected by spill, prompt take-off of the Maritime University and restructuring/funding of NDDC, have not been addressed.

    The co-ordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Brg.-Gen. Paul Boroh, wants the NDA to take the chill pill. He said the planned resumption of hostilities would be devastating to the nation’s economy. Pa Clark and Niger Delta Minister Usani Uguru Usani have also toed a similar lane.

    I join my voice with theirs to say peace is all we need. With peace, a lot of things are possible, especially development of the spirit, body and mind.

    Peace. Peace. And peace, guys!

     

    Lovely murder in Bayelsa

     

    It still baffles me why a man will kill his wife, mother of his children and confidant. How can a woman kill her husband? I just cannot get it. You are your wife and your wife is you. Killing your wife is like killing yourself; and killing your husband, for me, is akin to committing suicide.

    Twenty-Four-year-old man Vincent Edwin is in police net for allegedly killing his wife Joy with a machete. He was said to have committed the offence last Sunday at Boro Camp, Kaiama, Kolokuma/Opukuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

    Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Command, Asinim Butswat, said: “On November 5, 2017, at 8:30 p.m., one Edwin Vincent, a native of Uwheru, in the Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, but residing at Boro Camp, Kaiama, in Bayelsa State, attacked and killed his wife, Joy, 21 years old.”

    Lord have mercy!

     

    And the Briton was killed

     

    He was a missionary sent here to do the work of God. But he has returned to God without accomplishing the task for which he was sent here. Ian Squire was one of four Britons taken by suspected militants on October 13 in Delta.

    The British High Commission and the Federal Government negotiated the release of Alanna Carson, David Donovan and Shirley Donovan.

    Dr. and Mrs. Donovan, I understand, have lived in Nigeria for the past 14 years, running a charity called New Foundations, which gave aid to remote villages in the Niger Delta.

    “Our thoughts are now with the family and friends of Ian as we come to terms with his sad death,” the family of the four said in a statement.

    For the United Kingdom Foreign Office, “this has been a traumatic time for our loved ones who were kidnapped and for their families and friends here in the UK”.

    The international angle to the kidnap is why I am sad because it has further painted us as barbaric. The Foreign Office has advised Britons against all but essential travel to much of Delta State, saying there is a “high threat of criminal kidnap”.

    Sad. Really sad.

  • Metuh: my request to summon Jonathan not to humiliate him

    Metuh: my request to summon Jonathan not to humiliate him

    FORMER spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Olisa Metuh says he did not intend to humiliate ex-President Goodluck Jonathan by compelling him to testify as defence witness in his trial.

    Metuh said his choice of Jonathan as a witness is for the ex-President to corroborate his argument that he is innocent of the allegations against him in the charges on which he is being tried.

    He denied allegation by a group, Save Ijaw Nation Group, that the subpoena issued on Jonathan was part of a plot to let him (Metuh) off the hook.

    Metuh, in a statement issued yesterday, said he has no reason to connive with anyone to embarrass Jonathan or seek to be let of the hook, because he was not in any hook and was innocent of all allegations against him.

    Goodluck jonathan
    Goodluck Jonathan

    In the statement, Metuh said: “It is, therefore, inconceivable and completely ridiculous for anybody to think that I would for any reason betray or surrender myself to be used against President Goodluck Jonathan, for whom I have immense respect and served diligently, without any apologies, in and out of office.

    “To what end will I conspire with the same set of people, who singled me out to be humiliated and openly handcuffed, while spreading all manner of malicious stories against me, most of which they even denied outright in court while others remain completely unsubstantiated?

    “Ordinarily, the content of the charge against me in the Federal High Court should not breed any worries but for the fact that it now appears that the anti-corruption fight has shifted the burden of proof to a defendant once an allegation is made.

    “On the issue of conniving with the government against former President Goodluck Jonathan, the Save Ijaw Nation Group may be alarmed by successive media reports that he was ordered to be served on Tuesday with an instruction to appear the following day and subsequently given a five-day time limit; setting off a media frenzy as if the former president is needed for reasons more than a mere request by my lawyers for a corroborative evidence in my case.

    “I totally concede that this is not deserving of the status, person and image of the former President, especially with his contribution and sacrifices to national development and sustenance of democracy in our dear country.

    “Without prejudice to all the foregoing, I accept that it was the need for corroboration of lack of mens rea on my part that led my lawyers to request for the evidence of the respected former President to assist them in proving my innocence.

    “However, with all the controversies arising from the reports of the said pronouncements and the attendant concerns thereof, I have instructed my legal team to revisit and review the entire issue of the subpoena.”

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited, before the Federal High Court, Abuja on a seven-count charge of money laundering involving alleged cash transaction of $2 million and fraudulent receipt of N400 million meant for procurement of arms from the Office of the NSA.

    The EFCC alleged that Metuh and his firm used the N400 million for PDP’s campaign activities during the 2015 presidential election.

    Metuh, who is presently conducting his defence in the case, applied to the court to issue subpoena on Jonathan and Dasuki to compel them to testify as his witnesses in the trial.

  • My request for Jonathan as witness not to humiliate him – Metuh

    My request for Jonathan as witness not to humiliate him – Metuh

    Former spokesman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said his request that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan be compelled to testify as defence witness in his trial was not intended to humiliate Jonathan.

    Metuh said his choice of Jonathan as a witness, was for the ex-President to corroborate his argument that he was innocent of all allegations against him in the charges on which he was being tried.

    He denied allegation by a group – Save Ijaw Nation Group – that the subpoena issued on Jonathan was part of a plot to let him (Metuh) off the hook.

    Metuh, in a statement issued Thursday, said he has no reason to connive with anyone to embarrass Jonathan or seek to be let of the hook, because he was not in any hook, and was innocent of all allegations against him.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited, before the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a seven-count charge of money laundering involving alleged cash transaction of $2m and fraudulent receipt of N400m meant for procurement of arms from the Office of the NSA.

    The EFCC alleged that Metuh and his firm used the N400m for PDP’s campaign activities during the 2015 presidential election.

    N400m was alleged to be “part of the proceeds of an unlawful activities” of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Mohammed Dasuki.

    But, Metuh has consistently denied knowing that the N400m was paid into his account from the office of the NSA. He has insisted that the N400m‎ was paid to his company’s account by Jonathan for a public relations campaign for his (Jonathan’s) government.

    Metuh, who is currently conducting his defence in the case, applied to the court to issue supoena on Jonathan and Dasuki to compel them to testify as his witnesses in the trial.

    The ex-PDP spokesman said his lawyer had written the duo, who allegedly failed to respond to their letters, a development that informed his decision to apply for the issuance of subpoena on the two.

    Based on Metuh’s request, the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang signed the witness summons issued on Jonathan and Dasuki.

    Both men were absent in court on Wednesday. The court found out that Jonathan has not been served with the subpoena and that although, Dasuki was served, the Department of State Services (DSS) failed to produce him in court.

    While adjourning the case on October 25, Justice Abang gave the court’s bailiff five days to efffect personal service on Jonathan, failing which he should be served through substituted means.

    On Dasuki, the judge ordered the EFCC to explore administrative means, to ensure that DSS produce Dasuki on the next date of October 31.

    In his statement issued yesterday, Metuh said: “My attention has been drawn to a release by the Save Ijaw Nation Group wherein they alleged that the order given by the court in my trial was negotiated by me as a means of letting me ‘off the hook.’

    “They also stated that I surrendered myself to be used to drag down former President Goodluck Jonathan and impugn on his character and person.

    “In the light of this and in deference to the former President, I have elected to make these clarifications personally.

    “First of all, I state unequivocally that I am completely innocent of the charge against me and therefore have no reason to negotiate with anybody to let me off a non-existent hook.

    “It is therefore inconceivable and completely ridiculous for anybody to think that I would for any reason betray or surrender myself to be used against President Goodluck Jonathan, for whom I have immense respect and served diligently, without any apologies, in and out of office.

    “To what end will I conspire with the same set of people, who singled me out to be humiliated and openly handcuffed, while spreading all manner of malicious stories against me, most of which they even denied outright in court while others remain completely unsubstantiated?

    “Ordinarily, the content of the charge against me in the Federal High Court should not breed any worries but for the fact that it now appears that the anti-corruption fight has shifted the burden of proof to a defendant once an allegation is made.

    “On the issue of conniving with the government against former President Goodluck Jonathan, the Save Ijaw Nation Group may be alarmed by successive media reports that he was ordered to be served on Tuesday with an instruction to appear the following day and subsequently given a five-day time limit; setting off a media frenzy as if the former president is needed for reasons more than a mere request by my lawyers for a corroborative evidence in my case.

    “I totally concede that this is not deserving of the status, person and image of the former President especially with his contribution and sacrifices to national development and sustenance of democracy in our dear country.

    “Without prejudice to all the foregoing, I accept that it was the need for corroboration of lack of mens rea on my part that led my lawyers to request for the evidence of the respected former President to assist them in proving my innocence.

    “However, with all the controversies arising from the reports of the said pronouncements and the attendant concerns thereof, I have instructed my legal team to revisit and review the entire issue of the subpoena.

    “In the past 20 months I have shouldered my travails personally and without seeking to involve any other individual and/or groups in this unfortunate saga.

    “I habour no ill feeling or malice towards none as I believe that with time, justice will surely be done in my matter,” Metuh said.

  • Alleged fraud: Court rejects Fani-Kayode’s bid to suspend trial

    Alleged fraud: Court rejects Fani-Kayode’s bid to suspend trial

    …Senator Usman granted leave for foreign medical travel

     

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Wednesday denied a motion by a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, to suspend his trial for alleged fraud pending the determination of his request for the case to be transferred to Abuja.

    Justice Rilwan Aikawa, however, granted an application by former Minister of State for Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman, for the release of her international passport so she can travel abroad for a medical appointment.

    Usman, the judge said, was permitted to travel for three weeks between July and August to the United States but must surrender her passport to the court not later than August 31, 2017.

    The court also allowed the prosecution to call its first witness, Olusegun Idowu, who testified against the defendants.

    Usman, Fani-Kayode, one Danjuma Yusuf and a firm, Joint Trust Dimensions Limited were brought last June 28, before Justice Muslim Hassan by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    They were arraigned on a seven-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful retention of proceeds of theft and laundering of N4.9billion.

    Fani-Kayode, who was the Director of Publicity of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential campaign organisation for the 2015 election, was accused of conspiring with the others to directly and indirectly retain various sums, which the EFCC claimed they ought to have reasonably known were proceeds of crime.

    The four were also accused of indirectly retaining N300m, N400m and N800m, all proceeds of corruption, according to the EFCC.

    The agency said they allegedly committed the offence between January 8 and March 25, 2015 ahead of the 2015 general elections.

    But Fani-Kayode objected to being tried before Justice Hassan and the defendants were re-arraigned before Justice Aikawa on May 15, on a similar charge.

    They pleaded not guilty and the judge adjourned till Wednesday for a hearing of Usman’s application for the release of her travel documents and commencement of trial.

    However, upon commencement of proceedings Wednesday, Fani-Kayode’s counsel Norrison Quakers SAN informed the court that it was yet to rule on a pending application for the case to be moved to the Abuja division of the court.

    Although Justice Aikawa said the application was not in the court’s file, Quakers insisted that the application was filed on the day of the defendants’ re-arraignment and had been received and acknowledged by the EFCC.

    The application, Quakers said, was jurisdictional in scope and should be determined before trial could commence.

    Quakers said: “Practice direction is clear on this matter. This is what the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, in his wisdom, has formulated. The rule is recognized by Section 490(d) of the Administration of Criminal Justice LAW (2015). Rules of court are meant to be obeyed.

    “There is a practice direction that guides the Federal High Court in situations like this. The direction says the court will not commence trial until the defendant’s application is taken, one way or another. It is trite that jurisdiction is the life of any adjudication. The second defendant (Fani-Kayode) has not said he does not want to be tried, he is saying he does not want to be tried in Lagos.

    “Your Lordship is bound by Rules of Court, the ACJL and judicial pronouncements on the issue to determine it one way or another.”

    He argued among others that the CJ’s power to make the practice rules flowed from Section 490 of the ACJL pursuant to Section 254 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    But Oyedepo, relying on Section 396 of the ACJL, argued, among others, that Quakers’ position was not correct in law.

    He said: “I submit that it would amount to turning the law upside down to say that the substantive issue, which is the allegation as contained in the charge, cannot be taken without determining the application. Section 396 of the ACJL is higher in hierarchy and takes precedence over the practice direction.

    “This application is challenging the competence of this charge in Lagos. What the defendant did was just to lift the same application decided before Justice Hassan and re-filed it here. This application, apart from being a gross abuse of court processes, cannot constitute a stay.”

    Ruling, Justice Aikawa upheld the prosecution’s argument.

    He said: “I have listened to the erudite argument of counsel. In my opinion, practice directions, although having the force of subsidiary legislation, are meant to guide the court in criminal trials. Departure from it in some circumstances will not render proceedings fatal if done in the interest of justice and speedy conclusion of trial.”

    The court then allowed the prosecution to begin its examine its witness, Idowu.

    The witness, who identified himself as a media consultant, said he got two contracts of N24million and N6million from Fani-Kayode through an intermediary, one Olubode Oke.

    However, at the prosecution’s request, the court adjourned trial till Friday to enable the witness bring originals of invoices and receipts of the alleged transactions.

     

     

  • Makarfi to Sheriff: Let us resign

    Makarfi to Sheriff: Let us resign

     

    …Sheriff declines, says Makarfi scheming for presidential ticket

     

     

    The Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi has offered to resign his position and called on the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff to also resign.

    Makarfi said he was ready to resign, in line with the directive by former President Goodluck Jonathan asking him and Sheriff to step aside to allow the ongoing reconciliation efforts achieve results.

    But Sheriff has declined, insisting that he would go ahead to conduct the party’s planned national convention, tentatively fixed for June 30 by a reconciliation committee headed by the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson.

    The two factions traded accusations at separate media briefings in Abuja on Monday.

    Spokesman of the Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye said Makarfi and Sheriff’s resignation would create a level playing field for the party to build trust and confidence in the members.

    Adeyeye said, “We accepted President Goodluck Jonathan and the Governors’ comprehensive political solution. It called for the resignation of Senator Sheriff and the so called NWC and also the National Caretaker Committee to create a level playing field for all, and to build trust among all members.

    “We in the caretaker committee have agreed to resign as directed by former President Jonathan and the governors, but Sheriff has refused.

    “The agreement is then to be submitted to the Supreme Court as the judgment of the Court. This would have provided both political and legal solution to the logjam.

    “But Senator Sheriff rejected it and has continued to insist that he would conduct a national convention even when he does not enjoy the trust and confidence of the vast majority of party members.

    “It is therefore very clear who has a personal or hidden agenda. And I dare say, it is Senator Sheriff and not the National Caretaker Committee.

    “The Caretaker Committee has stated severally that it will go anytime that it is asked to do so by the organs of the party. We have no personal agenda or interest and we will not stay a day longer than permitted by the critical organs of the party”.

    Rebuffing the call for resignation, Sheriff, who spoke through his deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, accused Makarfi of scheming to get the party’s presidential ticket for the 2019 election.

    Ojougboh said it’s Makarfi’s presidential ambition that is stalling reconciliation efforts in the party, adding that it’s for the same reason the former Kaduna State Governor has opposed the planned convention under Sheriff.

    He said, “Makarfi wants a situation where he will tailor-make the convention to suit his interest because he has come out to say that he will be contesting for the presidency of the country.

    “We are very mindful that we are not going to tie our party around any individual. That is why Sheriff said he would throw everything open. That is why we are studying the position of the reconciliation committee and that is good enough to advance our party.

    “The reason why the caretaker committee is protesting is that they have seen that the table is now crumbling fast under their feet. All the organs of the party are cueing into the reconciliation plan and when the reconciliation pulls through, they are out.

    “After that, Senator Makarfi can only come as a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT)”.

    Ojougboh further alleged that Makarfi’s opposition to the planned convention stemmed from a N50 million monthly subvention the caretaker committee has been collecting from the party’s governors.

    “They know that the N50 million monthly subventions Makarfi gets from the governors will stop after the reconciliation and convention. They know that as soon as the ongoing reconciliation pulls through they will no longer exist”, Ojougboh said.

    But Adeyeye described Ojougboh’s allegation as blackmail that is too cheap and too simplistic.

    “This is a lie from the pit of hell and a very cheap and unintelligent attempt at blackmail. It is a known fact by all critical stakeholders of the party and even the staff that the National Caretaker Committee have from inception been hamstrung by inadequate finance.

    “So much so that simple secretariat duties have been a struggle while we have been unable to pay staff salaries of just N18 Million a month. Members of the National Caretaker Committee do not enjoy any remuneration.

    “It is a selfless service. It is therefore a figment of his imagination to say that the governors give the National Caretaker Committee N50 million monthly.

    “The Governors are all alive and are free to come forward and declare publicly their level of contributions to the National Caretaker Committee since May 21, 2016”, Adeyeye retorted.

    According to him, it’s normal for organs of the party to freely make contributions towards the running of the party, stressing that there is nothing illegal about in receiving contributions from party members.

    “Our only regret is that these contributions have not been forthcoming as expected, given the heavy weight of responsibilities placed before us and especially the burden of having to deal with distractions caused by Senator Sheriff and his cohorts.

    “Nevertheless, no matter how little, it is better to be funded by our party members than by the All Progressive Congress (APC) as is the case with Senator Sheriff and his cohorts.

    “Dr. Cairo Ojougboh should tell us which APC Governor, Minister or official bought Jeeps for them? Governor Fayose has also made a public allegation that Senator Sheriff had received the sum of $1 million from the APC to organize a new convention. Senator Sheriff is yet to publicly refute the allegation”.
    “The only thing that matters to Dr. ojougboh is his own selfish and personal interest to be Deputy National Chairman at all cost. If he is offered that position today by the party, he would not think twice to abandon Sheriff. He has no locus to speak or act on behalf of the party”.

    Makarfi accused Sheriff of dodging service from the Supreme Court, as he has continued to avoid being served with cross appeal documents from the apex court.

    He urged the party chair to make himself available to be served the court papers if he believed in the merit of his case.

    “Finally, we want to ask why Senator Sheriff is running away from justice by avoiding service from the Supreme Court.

    “This is very unfair from a man who has been using the court to further his own selfish ends. He should accept service and face his case squarely if he believes in the merit of his cause”.

    Makarfi had approached the Supreme Court, challenging the February 17 judgment of the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal that affirmed Sheriff as chairman of the PDP.

     

  • Jonathan’s ex-aide bought Abuja house with N650m – witness

    A Federal High Court in Abuja heard Friday how former Principal Secretary to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan facilitated the purchase of a property in Maitama, Abuja with N650million paid from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    Samuel Babatunji Adeniyi and Kabiru Yaro, who testified as 3rd and 4th prosecution witnesses in the trial of Jonathan’s cousin, Robert Azibaola, his wife, Stella and their company, One Plus Holdings Limited, gave details of how the property located at 15 Rio Negro Street was bought.

    Yaro and Adeniyi gave the name of the ex-Jonathan’s aide as Ambassador Hassan Tukur.

    They told the court that they did not know the defendants in person and have never related with them until they met them in court Friday. Both witnesses were led in evidence by prosecution lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir.

    Yaro , who described Tukur as his childhood friend, said the  property is located next to Jonathan’s house.

    “Sometime in October 2014, Nuuman Barau Dambatta, approached me that he had some debts in the bank and he wanted sell his two properties, one in Kano and one in Maitama, Abuja.

    “I told him I was not interested and he requested that the house in Maitama was a neighbour to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “He asked me if I could speak to Ambassador Tukur to see if he (Tukur) could buy the property. I called the ambassador and I told him that Barau was interested in selling the property and if he could assist.

    “I arranged, and Nuuman went to meet the ambassador (Tukur). Later Nuuman called me and asked for the Certificate of Occupancy and gave it to the ambassador.

    “Later Nuuman called me and said a valuation had been made on the property and that the valuation on the property was N650m, which the ambassador said he had got a buyer for, but he didn’t tell us who it was.

    “Later sometime in December 2014, the money was paid to Alhaji Nuuman Baraua’s estate agent.

    “Nuuman called me to say the payment he received came from the Central Bank of Nigeria, and I told him he sound call and ask the ambassador (Tukur) why the money came from there.

    “I said I didn’t know and that whatever name to he (Nuuman) saw was the one who had bought the property. After he signed the document, he gave them to me to take back to Ambassador Hassan Tukur.

    “That day he asked me to sign the original C of O. I collected it from him and signed it. From that time, the handing over is between him and the property buyers and I don’t know what else transpired until this matter came up,” Yaro said.

    Adeniyi, an estate surveyor and valuer, said he signed the sale documents, prepared in the name of One Plus Holdings, as a witness of the property seller.

    “Later our client (Nuuman) now told me that it’s like that and they (Tukur and his agents) are serious now. And he asked me to text our company’s account number to him.

    “Of course, I texted the account number details to him, I mean our account to him, I mean our account number at Wema Bank.

    “Suddenly on December 9, 2014, I got an alert of N650m from Wema Bank which tallied with the figure he had agreed with the prospective buyers.

    “Immediately I contacted him. I forwarded the text of the bank alert him that same night of December 9, 2014.

    “The details of the source of payment was ‘NEFT ONSA’ was the narration of the test that I got on the alert which I forwarded to our client.”

    He said the sale document was later prepared by a legal firm, M.B. Shehu & Co. which he said he signed as a witness.

    “The assignor is Alhaji Nuuman Barau Dambatta and the buyer was One Plus Holding.”

    Defence lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN), while cross-examining Adeniyi, tendered his (Adeniyi’s) statement which he made to the EFCC.

    Although Tahir objected to the admission of the statement, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba overruled his objection to admit the statement.

    Justice Dimgba later adjourned to January 30 for continuation of trial.