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Tag: Keyamo

  • It’s pure deceit, says Buhari Campaign spokesman Keyamo

    Spokesman of the Buhari 2019 Campaign organisation Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), dismissed the coalition as “pure deceit and a laughable desperation.”

    He took to his tweeter account last night, saying: “Some political parties made up of just husbands and wives have signed an MOU with the PDP to form a ‘grand coalition’ against PMB in 2019.

    “This is pure deceit. PDP has only succeeded in registering a few more members into its fold.

    “It’s not a ‘grand coalition’. It’s just membership drive.

    “Nobody is deceived: In 2013 four major parties with elected governors and parliamentarians fused into one whole.

    “The comedy we are seeing now is that PDP has sucked in those ‘briefcase’ parties who are going to drop their identities and support a PDP candidate. It’s laughable desperation”

    Faulting the way the coalition came into being, Keyamo said: “Let me remind Nigerians how grand coalitions are formed into one big party.

    “They ought to hold their individual conventions; they have to dissolve their individual executive committees in a national convention. They have to pass a resolution in those national conventions to go into a merger.

    “It’s only the national convention that can approve the merger of all of those 37 or so political parties. It is after the approval of those mergers that they can go into talks with other parties.

    “So, what they have done, what has happened in Abuja today (yesterday) is a non-event. Nothing is going on because at the end of the day, what will happen is that the other parties are being deceived. They will finally field what is called a PDP candidate. There will be no other candidate. Is that what they want? Is that what the other parties want?”

    Coordinator of Buhari Support Group (BSG) Senator Abu Ibrahim, said “no coalition will stop Buhari”

    Senator Ibrahim (Katsina South), a member of the Pro-Buhari’s Parliamentary Support Group (PSP) in the senate, said: “Those who left the party have already made up their minds to leave.

    “It is sad to lose your members but it will not stop APC from winning elections. W

    “Whether they leave or not will not affect Buhari’s chances at the election.

    “While some people are leaving and forming coalition or whatever they call it, others are coming into the party. “Apart from one or two of them, many others who left are inconsequential without political value. President Buhari is on course, no coalition will stop him from winning election.”

  • Buhari names Keyamo, Mustapha, others NDIC board members

    •One REC also

    President Muhammadu Buhari has requested the Senate to confirm Chief Olabode Akeem Mustapha (Ogun) and Mr. Festus E. Keyamo (SAN) (Delta) as chairman and member of the board of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) respectively.

    Other members of the board also listed by President Buhari for confirmation included Alhaji Garba Buba (Bauchi), Bello Garba (Sokoto), Brig-Gen. Josef O.J. Okoloagu (Enugu), Mustapha Adewale Mudashiru(Kwara) and Mr. Adewale W. Adeleke (Ondo).

    This is contained a request for confirmation of appointment of chairman and members of the governing board of the NDIC sent to Senate by President Buhari.

    The letter dated  27 March 2018 was received in the office of the Senate President on 10 the April and read yesterday by Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, yesterday.

    The president said that the request for the confirmation of the nominees was in compliance with Section 5(4) of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation Act 2006.

    President Buhari said that it is his pleasure to to forward to the Distinguished Senate, the underlisted nominees for confirmation as the chairman and members of the Board of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation.

    In the same vain, President Buhari nominated Attahiru Garba Madami for confirmation as a replacement for Resident Electoral Commissioner representing Niger State.

    The president recalled that the Senate had rejected the initial nominee on the ground that he hailed from the same local government area and senatorial district with a serving National Commissioner.

    President Buhari requested for early consideration and approval of the nominees.

     

  • 2019: Keyamo is Buhari campaign organisation’s spokesman

    LAGOS lawyer Festus Keyamo (SAN) has been spokesman/director of Strategic Communications for the President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation (PMBCO).

    In a letter dated April 16, PMBCO Director-General, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, stated that in his new official capacity, Keyamo is to play significant roles in Buhari’s pursuit of the All Progressives Congress’ presidential nomination ticket as well as the subsequent presidential campaigns.

    When contacted yesterday, Keyamo confirmed his appointment but requested for an hour or two to issue an official statement.

    The appointment letter titled: “Appointment as Director, Strategic Communications and signed by Amaechi, said: “I am pleased to convey to you, the decision of the President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation to appoint you as Director, Strategic Communications in respect of the forthcoming campaign for the 2019 presidential elections.

    “As you are aware, President Muhammadu Buhari is seeking the nomination of our party, the All Progressives Congress, as the candidate for the said election.

    “Your appointment is to aid in getting that nomination and to ensure the success of the subsequent campaigns for the 2019 presidential elections.

    “In your capacity, you are to be the spokesperson for the campaigns during the nomination process and also at the subsequent campaigns for the 2019 presidential elections.

  • Keyamo: give evidence

    Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN) said “It is now left for Gen Danjuma to assist the military, the high command because this is a military that is very dear to his heart.

    “What he needs to do is that the evidence he has of collusion – because he must not have spoken out without evidence – he must surrender them to the military or Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to show that this was why he spoke in that vein. So, we expect him to do that in the next few days.

    “When he supplies the evidence, the elements he is talking about must be dealt with.”

    Nevertheless, Keyamo wondered how a multi-ethnic establishment like the Nigerian military could become susceptible to such collusion.

    He said: “The army is made up of all colours and tribes: Fulani, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba. Most of these killings are ethnic killings. Is he saying that the Igbo or Yoruba soldiers in the army are colluding with the Fulani herdsmen? Or that soldiers from the Middle Belt e.g. Benue or Kogi, or Taraba are colluding in the killings against their own people? This is the only curiosity I find in the statement.”

  • Malami queries Magu over CCT chair

    Malami queries Magu over CCT chair

    •Lawyer: I’ve responded

    Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN) has sought clarification from the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Festus Keyamo, in relation to the charge they filed against the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar.

    The clarification, which was contained in a query, dated February 16 and signed by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Mr. Dayo Apata, was made available to reporters yesterday in Abuja.

    Apata said the EFCC Acting Chairman had up to today to advance his response to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

    The query asked Magu to explain what informed the filing of corruption charges against the tribunal chairman, having been cleared of corruption allegation two times by the same EFCC.

    One of the letters titled: “FRN VS Danladi Umar (CR/109/18) request for briefing,” reads in part: “The attention of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation was drawn to news report that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed charges of corruption against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Hon. Justice Umar, before Chief Justice Ishaq Bello of the FCT High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja.

    “I am directed by the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation to seek clarification from you as to whether the charges were filed on your instruction or directive and if in the affirmative, what is the compelling basis for doing so. This clarification becomes imperative in view of the following background facts.

    “The commission’s investigation report dated March 5, 2015 addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation stated as follows: “The facts as they are now against Justice Umar raised a mere suspicion and will therefore not be sufficient to successfully prosecute for the defence.

    “The commission’s position in paragraph 2(a) above was also maintained and sustained by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation while appearing before the House of Representatives’ Investigative Committee sometimes in 2015 to the effect that report of investigations showed that the allegations against Hon. Justice Danladi Umar were based on mere suspicions.

    “In view of the foregoing, the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation requests for your prompt briefing as to the existence of new facts, which are contrary to the position in your attached investigation report, sufficient evidence or other developments upon which the prosecution of Hon. Justice Danladi can be successfully based.

    “Kindly accord this letter top priority while your prompt response within 48 hours from the receipt of same is required in the circumstances.”

    A separate letter to Keyamo, who was purportedly engaged as a private lawyer by Magu to prosecute the CCT boss, also requested him to confirm who authorised him to file the corruption charge against Umar.

    Like Magu, the senior lawyer was given till today to furnish the Office of the AGF in writing detail of who engaged or issued him with authority to file the corruption charges.

    The letter to Keyamo was also dated February 16 and signed by the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary.

    It reads in part: “The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation hereby requests that you kindly furnish this office with the details of the instruction or authorisation upon which you instituted the case under reference. Kindly accord this letter top priority while your prompt response on or before Tuesday, February 20, 2018 is solicited in this regard.”

    When contacted yesterday, Keyamo acknowledged receiving a letter from the Federal Ministry of Justice on the CCT Chairman’s issue.

    Keyamo said he found nothing unusual about the letter. He said it was a private letter sent to him for enquiry and to which he has since responded.

    He declined to dwell on the content of the letter.

    Keyamo said: “I received a letter from the Ministry of Justice. It is not a query. It’s an enquiry and I have responded to it.

    “It was a private letter, and I don’t have to make the content of a private letter public. Yes, I received a letter and I have responded to it.”

    The EFCC had written two separate letters to the Federal Government in 2015 and 2016 through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

    They cleared Umar of any wrongdoing in the alleged N10 million bribery allegations made against him by a defendant, Rasheed Taiwo Owolabi, who was standing trial before him on false asset declaration.

    Upon receipt of the petition from Owolabi, the EFCC had investigated the petition and sent its report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) dated March 5, 2015 and personally signed by the then EFCC Executive Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde.

    The letter exonerated the CCT boss of the bribery allegation.

    The EFCC report said: “The facts as they are against Justice Umar raised a mere suspicion and will, therefore, not be sufficient to successfully prosecute for the offence.”

    Other EFCC’s documents showed that in 2016, a fresh investigation was conducted into the same N10 million bribery allegation and the same anti-graft agency, in its second report, again absolved Umar of any wrongdoing.

    Findings revealed that the action of Magu in instituting criminal charges against Umar had caused serious confusion and embarrassment to the Federal Government because the EFCC reports had made clear that the CCT boss had no case to answer.

    The AGF was said to have been thoroughly embarrassed with the corruption charges because he had already informed the National Assembly that Umar had no corruption case to answer based on the two reports of EFCC to the Federal Government.

    The commission had on February 2, brought a two-count charge against the CCT Chairman bordering on alleged receipt of the N10 million bribe from Taiwo. The charge was signed by Keyamo as a private prosecuting counsel and one Offem Uket, an official of EFCC.

    Umar was accused of receiving N1.8 million through his personal assistant, Gambo Abdullahi.

    March 15 has been fixed for arraignment of the CCT boss at the High Court of FCT, Abuja.

     

  • Melaye: Olanipekun, Keyamo back suspension of recall by INEC

    Melaye: Olanipekun, Keyamo back suspension of recall by INEC

    A SENIOR advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Ola Olanipekun and a human rights lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN have backed the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to put on hold the process initiated by electorate of Kogi State to recall one of its senators, Mr. Dino Melaye.

    INEC suspended the recall process after Melaye filed a suit at the Appeal Court challenging the verdict of a lower court validating INEC’s process.

    Saying INEC hands were tied, Olanipekun said: “Since an appeal process has been activated, it’s a judicial intervention. If INEC should go ahead while the appeal process is ongoing, its decision would be ridiculed.

    “The source of this problem is the unnecessary judicial intervention in the discharge of INEC’s statutory function. Once statues give an individual or an organisation a duty to take certain steps, the courts are not supposed to restrain such person or entity from taking such steps until they have performed the functions and the process infringes on somebody’s rights.”

    He said it was wrong for the High Court to have stopped INEC, adding that the recall process is time bound.

    Olanipekun added: “It is clearly stated in the constitution when it must be completed; that is within 90 days. The injunction to stop INEC would never have been given in the first place.

    “The court wouldn’t have granted the injunction. It would have considered the balance of convenience. If the court had done so, it would have seen that it would have been more convenient to allow the process to run its course as stipulated by relevant laws.

    “It would have allowed INEC to proceed with the recall since it was time out. After all, it can still set aside the outcome of the exercise if it was found to have been in breach of the operating law.”

    Keyamo said: “Normally, the law is that once a person is complaining about the decision of the court below at an Appeal Court, the law enjoins us to stay put.

    “It means all parties should stay actions and not to foist a situation of a fait accompli on the court. So, if INEC goes ahead with the recall and Dino wins at the Court of Appeal, what happens? The only thing is the Appeal Court should be fast in handling such cases that are time-bound.”

  • AAU alumni fetes Keyamo

    AmbroseAlli University(AAU)alumni association,  Ekpoma, has congratulated the  Lagos lawyer and  social activist, Mr. Festus Keyamo, on his elevation to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN).

    At a well attended reception in Lagos,  organised by Festus Keyamo Chambers for friends and well wishers last  weekend , AAU Alumni President (worldwide),  Prof. Omi Ujuanbi, who led a strong delegation of other distinguished alumni of the university, said the association was proud of Keyamo for his achievements as a human  rights lawyer and a crusader for justice and egalitarian society.

    He noted that Keyamo, who graduated from the university with a degree in law in 1992, has done his alma mater proud with this elevation to the peak of the legal practice in Nigeria. Acknowledging Keyamo’s tenacity,  Ujuanbi, who is a professor of Geo-Physics said:”The honour done you is testimony to your unequalled appetite for hard work and uncommon achievements within a seemingly short period of your law practice. We have been waiting with much enthusiasm for this long- overdue honour to come, considering the efforts you have put into practice, especially in defending the defenseless.”

    He presented a plaque to Keyamo  on behalf  of the association and urged him to partner the association to seek ways to give back to the university, which built the foundation for every alumnus and what they are today.

    Keyamo’s Class (Law’92) also honoured him at the event, which was attended by many legal luminaries, traditional rulers, captains of industry, politicians and media gurus, including Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Senator Daisy Danjuma, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), former Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Aderemi  Ikufuruji,  APC’s former governorship candidate in Delta State, Mr. Otega Emerhor, among others.

  • PSquare: Peter asks lawyer to dissolve group

    PSquare: Peter asks lawyer to dissolve group

    …Alleges threats from brothers

     

    Nigerian Hip-hop twins, Peter and Paul Okoye of the popular PSquare group, appear to be splitting up, finally.

    Peter, on Monday, gave credence to the purported tales of separation of the musical group.

    In a letter written to their lawyer, Festus Keyamo, Peter is seeking to dissociate himself from the group, citing threat to life, disregard for his family and failure to honour past agreements as some of the reasons he cannot continue with the musical group.

    He said although the decision to quit was a tough one, Peter noted that he has tried and exhausted all options to work things out, but that Paul is not willing to cooperate.

    “For example, he canceled our U.S. tour without discussing it with me. Unknown to me, he canceled each show as we were being booked. He has also been accusing and threatening my wife and family of unimaginable lies via social media outlets. Me and my wife have been getting different threatening messages. I fear for my life and the life of my family. I cannot continue with PSquare in conditions like this that will jeopardize my wellbeing,” he stated.

    He also recalls an incident where the group’s manager and their elder brother Jude threatened to kill him and shoot his wife in the presence of Paul and Mrs. Imoke (former First Lady of Cross River State).

    “He repeated it several times in front of you and other individuals. Last year at your office, he threatened me to come with my coffin whenever he sees me around his house. He stood up and hit me in front of you and the other lawyers. I have documented video of when this moment occurred and I have played it for you. One thing for sure, we are family first before PSquare,” he said.

    Peter recalls how last year, they put aside their differences to appease the fans, even though there were still unresolved issues on ground and the other parties failed to honour their own end of the deal.

    “I wish Jude and Paul the best in their careers. I love them and their families, but my family too is important and I cannot betray my wife and kids. My family comes first. There have been so many threats against me and my family and it’s in the best interest of me and my family to remove myself from this contract,” he said.

    While many thought that the rift between the brothers had been finally put to rest, the news of their separation went viral on the Social media recently after Peter posted a Snapchat video revealing that he is in Philadelphia on his own for a solo show – without his twin brother, Paul.

    “My name is Mr P,” Peter said “As from today, guess what? It’s show time, I’m about to go on stage.”

    This post came days after his brother, Paul wrote on Instagram saying; “Only a woman can come where there’s peace and destroy it”.

     

  • Osinbajo’s brother, Keyamo, Oke, 27 others are SANs

    Osinbajo’s brother, Keyamo, Oke, 27 others are SANs

    FORMER Ogun State Attorney General and younger brother to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, Akinlolu Oluyinka Osinbajo, rights activist Festus Egwarewa Keyamo, senior official of the Federal Ministry of Justice Chiezonu Igbojamuike Okpoko and Ondo State Alliance for Democracy (AD) governorship candidate Olusola Alex Oke, were among 30 lawyers conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) yesterday.

    The conferring authority, the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), took the decision at its 127th General Meeting in Abuja yesterday.

    Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary to the LPPC, Hadizatu Uwani Mustapha, announced this at a news conference in Abuja yesterday.

    She said the 30 SANs will be conferred with the rank at a ceremony slated for September 18, this year.

    This year’s 30 raises the number lawyer so far awarded the rank since 1975 to 481.

    Other lawyers on the list announced yesterday include: Kwara State Attorney General Kamorudeen Adeyemi Ajibade, Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Prof Adedeji Olusegun Adekunle and former Ogun State Commissioner for Education Science John Olusegun Odubela.

    Also named are: Oluwatoyin Ajoke Bashorun (the only female on the list and from Lagos), Chibuike Adindu Nwokeukwu, Johnnie Nnaemeka Egwuonwu, Bert Chukwuneta Igwilo, Sylvester Emenike Elema, Wilcox Achace Abereton, Francis Forum Egele, Prof. Enefiok Effiong Essien, Prof. Saiq S. Shikyl, Prof. Adebambo Anthony Adewopo and  Nasser Abdu Dangiri.

    Also on the list are: Emeka Peter Okpoko, Sani Hussani Garun-Gabbas, Abdul Atadoga Ibrahim, Gboyega Sanni Oyewole, Joshua Yusuf Musa, Ibrahim Sani Mohammed, Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, Oyetola Oshobi, Sulaiman Usman and Kehinde Olamide Ogunwumijo.

    The LLPC Secretary said 156 lawyers, including four females, applied this year, from among which 77 were short-listed and 30 eventually successful.

  • Keyamo, Osinbajo’s brother, Oke, 27 others become SANs

    Keyamo, Osinbajo’s brother, Oke, 27 others become SANs

    A former Attorney- General of Ogun State and younger brother of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, Akinlolu Oluyinka Osinbajo, rights activist, Festus Egwarewa Keyamo, senior official of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Chiezonu Igbojamuike Okpoko and Alliance for Democracy (AD) governorship candidate in Ondo State, Olusola Alex Oke were among 30 lawyers conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on Thursday.

    The conferring authority, the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) took the decision at its 127th General Meeting held in Abuja.

    The Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary to the LPPC, Hadizatu Uwani Mustapha, announced this at a press conference in Abuja.

    She said the 30 SAN-designates would be conferred with the rank at a on September 18.

    This year’s figure raises the number of lawyer so far decorated with SAN since 1975 to 481.

    Other lawyers listed for the honour are – the Attorney General of Kwara State, Kamorudeen Adeyemi Ajibade, Director -General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Prof Adedeji Olusegun Adekunle and former Commissioner for Education in Ogun State, John Olusegun Odubela.

    Also are – Oluwatoyin Ajoke Bashorun (the only female on the list and from Lagos), Chibuike Adindu Nwokeukwu, Johnnie Nnaemeka Egwuonwu, Bert Chukwuneta Igwilo, Sylvester Emenike Elema, Wilcox Achace Abereton, Francis Forum Egele, Prof Enefiok Effiong Essien, Prof Saiq S. Shikyl, Prof Adebambo Anthony Adewopo and Nasser Abdu Dangiri.

    Emeka Peter Okpoko, Sani Hussani Garun-Gabbas, Abdul Atadoga Ibrahim, Gboyega Sanni Oyewole, Joshua Yusuf Musa, Ibrahim Sani Mohammed, Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, Oyetola Oshobi, Sulaiman Usman and Kehinde Olamide Ogunwumijo completed the list.