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Tag: Lokoja

  • Why we arraigned, re-arrested Melaye – Police

    The Nigeria Police Force have explained why Senator Dino Melaye was arraigned and later arrested at the Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja.

    The police explained that the senator was arraigned for criminal conspiracy, causing damage to government property, attempted suicide and escape from lawful custody.

    The Police also said his trial proceeded after he was confirmed fit for trail and discharged by the National hospital management.

    The statement stated that the Senator representing Kogi West senatorial district was also rearrested after his arraignment for offences of Criminal Conspiracy and Unlawful Possession of Prohibited Firearms which was already filed in a Court in Lokoja.

    The police said Melaye will be arraigned for the alleged offences without delay.

    This is contained in a statement in Abuja Tuesday evening by the Force Spokesman,  ACP Jimoh Moshood.

    The statement reads: “Senator Dino Melaye was arraigned in court by the Police today, 2nd May, 2018 at Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse, Abuja for Criminal conspiracy, causing damage to Government property, attempted suicide and escape from lawful custody.

    “His arraignment in Court today was subsequent to his discharge from the National Hospital after he was confirmed fit for trial.

    “It will be recalled that, on the 24th April, 2018, at about 1200Hrs, Sen. Dino Melaye while in lawful custody of the Nigeria Police Force and being taken for arraignment for Conspiracy and Unlawful Possession of Prohibited Firearms in Court in Lokoja, from Abuja, escaped from lawful custody when hoodlums and miscreants in Two (2) Toyota Hilux Vehicles blocked the Police vehicle conveying Senator Dino Melaye around Area 1 Round About, Abuja.

    “In the process, the Senator broke the side glass of the vehicle and jumped out of the Police bus through the window and was rescued from the Police men by hoodlums and miscreants to an unknown destination before he was rearrested at Zankli Hospital in Abuja later in the day on same date.

    “This case was investigated and that is why the Senator was arraigned in court today.”

    The statement further reads: “Meanwhile, the Police Investigation Team re-arrested Senator Dino Melaye today, 2nd May, 2018 after his arraignment at Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse for the pending offences of Criminal Conspiracy and Unlawful Possession of Prohibited Firearms already filed in a Court of competent jurisdiction in Lokoja for which he will be arraigned without further delay.”

  • Melaye botched recall, good lessons for democracy – activist

    Mr Idris Miliki, a Lokoja based Human Rights activist, has described the botched attempt to recall Sen. Dino Melaye, (APC-Kogi West) from the National Assembly as a “good development for democracy.’’

    Miliki, who is the Executive Director, Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution ( CHRCR ), disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Lokoja.

    He said that the recall process itself and the stage it got before the eventual failure also brought some lessons for democracy, rule of law and good governance in the country.

    The activist said that the exercise brought high level enlightenment as it brought awareness to the electorate that they had the power to withdraw their mandate and recall their elected legislators if found wanting.

    The exercise, according to him, also enlightened the citizenry in the procedures and processes to ensure such recall should the need arises rather than fall into the pitfalls of the failed attempt.

    Miliki also cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ), Security Agencies and Civil Society Organisations, to always conduct mapping of electoral violence flashpoints before going into such exercises.

    Read Also:  Melaye’s recall fails as INEC releases result

    He said that when such mappings were done and adequate measures taken, the kind of violence witnessed in Mopa-Muro LGA during the verification exercise would be avoided.

    Miliki urged INEC to ensure that all party agents in their future events wore their name tags and possibly, with pictures.

    The activist also admonished the Civil Society groups to take such exercises seriously and make themselves available.

    He regretted that for an exercise that cut across seven local government areas of the state, not up to 50 civil society observers participated.

    NAN

     

  • Melaye recall process to begin Saturday in 560 polling units

    More trouble appears to be in the offing for the embattled member representing Kogi West at the National Assembly, Senator Dino Melaye, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Wednesday in Lokoja, announced that it will conduct the signature verification exercise for his recall in seven local councils on Saturday.

    Addressing media in Lokoja, during the “Stakeholders Meeting on the Process of the Recall (Verification) of the Senator Representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Kogi State”, the INEC National Commissioner Supervising Kogi, Kwara and Nassarawa states, Mohammed Haruna, assured that the electoral body has no interest in the process, other than to ensure that the process is followed through as spelt out by the law.

    “INEC has absolutely no interest in who wins or loses”, he explained.

    He urged all concerned to adhere strictly with the laid down process as spelt out by the laws guiding the process.

    Highlighting the process so far undertaken, the Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. James Apam, explained that more than 50 percent of the constituents of the senatorial district, “plus at least one person”, must affirm that their signature or thumbprint must be verified by INEC national n the 560 polling units in the Kogi West Senatorial district.

    According to him, the process will be undertaken across the 560 wards of Kogi West, between 8am and 2pm on Saturday.

    He said that the Card Reader Machine will be employed for the exercise, adding that those who did not append the recall petition in the first instance, cannot partake, while polling units where malfunction is experienced, will be cancelled and/or redone, if the number involved will substantially affect the outcome.

    “All I want to tell you is that we are ready to commence on April 28, from 8am-2pm, in the seven LGAs of the senatorial district. What we are doing is in compliance with what the law says”, he explained.

    He added that applications from local observers will be entertained in Lokoja, the state capital, till Friday, April 27, 2018.

    Outcome of the signature verification exercise is expected to be made public on the following day (Sunday, April 29, 2018).

    Read Also: Police stop Melaye from travelling out of the country

  • NiMet predicts cloudy skies, rain showers on Wednesday

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted cloudy weather conditions over the central states of the country on Wednesday morning with chances of localised rain showers over Abuja, Minna, Bida, Ilorin, Lokoja, Mambilla and Jalingo axis.

    NiMet’s Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Tuesday also predicted day and night temperatures in the range of 33 to 41 and 25 to 28 degrees Celsius respectively.

    It added that places like Yola, Jos, Kaduna and Makurdi axis were expected to be under the influence of localised thunderstorms during afternoon and evening hours.

    The agency predicted that the southern States would experience cloudy conditions with chances of isolated thunderstorms over Ogoja, Ikom, Obudu and environs in the morning hours.

    It also predicted isolated thunderstorms over the southwest and coastal axis during the afternoon and evening hours with day and night temperatures of 32 to 35 and 21 to 26 degrees Celsius respectively.

    According to NiMet, Northern States will experience partly cloudy to cloudy conditions in the morning hours with chances of localised thunderstorm over Maiduguri and Kebbi axis.

    “Northern States are expected to have day and night temperatures in the range of 43 to 43 and 26 to 30 degrees Celsius respectively.

    “With moisture as far as the extreme north, thunderstorms are probable across the country within the next 24 hours,” NiMet predicts.

    NAN

     

  • Breaking: Melaye jumps out of SARS vehicle, injured

    Senator Dino Melaye injured himself after he reportedly jumped out of a Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) vehicle conveying him to Lokoja, Kogi State capital, on Tuesday.

    Melaye surrendered himself to the police on Tuesday morning.

    Melaye

    Read Also: Police fail to parade Melaye

    He was being taken  to the Kogi State Police Command headquarters for questioning when the incident happened.

    Details later…

  • Kogi sets up panel to probe violence in three communities

    Kogi Government has set up a 13-member Judicial Panel of Inquiry into the recent bloody civil disturbances in Ognae-Nigwu, Ojuwo -Ajimadi and Agbenema-Ife communities in the state.

    Members of the panel were inaugurated on Tuesday in Lokoja by the state Deputy governor, Mr Simon Achuba.

    Justice Josiah Mejabi is the Chairman of the panel, while Mr Ayo Fasoba of the state Ministry of Justice will serve as Secretary.

    At the inauguration, Achuba charged members of the panel to take the assignment seriously, saying that government was determined to get to the roots of the crises.

    He said that government would provide a conducive environment for the panel to carry out the assignment.

    He gave the committee six weeks to carry out the assignment and submit its report.

    According to the deputy governor, the terms of reference of the panel include: determining the immediate and remote causes of the bloody clashes in which 17 people were killed and property worth millions of Naira destroyed.

    He said that individuals or group of persons directly responsible for the mayhem should also to be identified by
    the panel.

    Achuba charged the panel members to identity and assess damage done to lives and property during the crises.

    “It should also make recommendations that would help to restore peace and avoid re-occurrence of such crises,” he said.

    Read Also: Kogi caretaker committees’ tenure extended

    Mejabi promised that members of the panel would live up to expectations by doing a thorough job within the specified time.

    He thanked the government for finding them worthy to serve as members of the panel.

    Other members of the panel are: the Director -General, Bureau of Information Services and Grassroots Sensitisation, Mr Abdulkarim Abdulmalik and Mr Sumaila Abbas.

    Others are: Mr Ibrahim Atadoga; Mr Samuel Onimisi; Mr Adamu Isakoto; Mr Jatto Dan Bello; Miss Abimbola Agbogun; Mr Ahmed Atta; Major Tijani Sheu; Navy Capt. Isaac Udoudoh; Mr Yahaya Atoto and ACP Lenox Taylor.

    NAN

  • Kogi sets up panel to probe violence in three communities

    Kogi Government has set up a 13-member Judicial Panel of Inquiry into the recent bloody civil disturbances in Ognae-Nigwu, Ojuwo -Ajimadi and Agbenema-Ife communities in the state.

    Members of the panel were inaugurated on Tuesday in Lokoja by the state Deputy governor, Mr Simon Achuba.

    Justice Josiah Mejabi is the Chairman of the panel, while Mr Ayo Fasoba of the state Ministry of Justice will serve as Secretary.

    At the inauguration, Achuba charged members of the panel to take the assignment seriously , saying that government was determined to get to the roots of the crises.

    He said that government would provide a conducive environment for the panel to carry out the assignment.

    He gave the committee six weeks to carry out the assignment and submit its report.

    According to the deputy governor, the terms of reference of the panel include: determining the immediate and remote causes of the bloody clashes in which 17 people were killed and property worth millions of Naira destroyed.

    He said that individuals or group of persons directly responsible for the mayhem should also to be identified by
    the panel.

    Achuba charged the panel members to identity and assess damage done to lives and property during the crises.

    “ It should also make recommendations that would help to restore peace and avoid reoccurrence of such crises,” he said.

    Mejabi promised that members of the panel would live up to expectations by doing a thorough job within the specified time.

    He thanked the government for finding them worthy to serve as members of the panel.

    Other members of the panel are: the Director -General, Bureau of Information Services and Grassroots Sensitisation, Mr Abdulkarim Abdulmalik and Mr Sumaila Abbas.

    Others are: Mr Ibrahim Atadoga; Mr Samuel Onimisi; Mr Adamu Isakoto; Mr Jatto Dan Bello; Miss Abimbola Agbogun; Mr Ahmed Atta; Major Tijani Sheu; Navy Capt. Isaac Udoudoh; Mr Yahaya Atoto and ACP Lenox Taylor.

  • INEC swears in seven new RECs

    Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has sworn in seven new Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) bringing the total number of serving RECs in the commission to 33.

    Performing the ceremony on Tuesday in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, expressed confidence that the new RECs would contribute to the commission’s determination to make 2019 general elections the best in the country.

    He said “with the track records of service in the academia, public service and private sector, it is gratifying to note that the new RECs made positive contributions to the society in various ways.

    “I am equally delighted to note that some of you have managed elections at national level as RECs.

    “I am confident that you will bring to bear on your new assignments, the experience of the recent past that will contribute to our determination to make the 2019 general elections our best elections in Nigeria.”

    Yakubu advised the new commissioners to maintain openness and consultations, as well as be firm and courageous in carrying out their new assignments.

    The chairman disclosed that in addition to the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, the commission would be conducting four bye-elections this year to fill vacancies.

    These, according to him, include Takum state constituency in Taraba, Lokoja/Koton-Karfe Federal Constituency in c, Bauchi South Senatorial District, and Kastina North Senatorial District in Kastina State.

    The INEC boss reassured newly registered voters in the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration ( CVR ) of getting their Permanent Voter Cards ( PVCs ) before the 2019 general elections.

    He added that “we have consistently reassured the public that for those who registered in 2017, their PVCs would be available for collection in the first week of May 2018.

    “Those who registered in the first quarter of this year, that is between January and March, as well as those who are registering right now in the second quarter of this year, would collect their cards thereafter.”

    Yakubu also reassured the public and those who applied for replacement of their PVCs that their cards would be available for collection before the 2019 general elections.

    Read Also: Wanted: An ‘independent’ INEC

    “For those who registered in Ekiti and Osun in 2017 and 2018, priority attention was given to the production of their PVCs, such that all the cards would be available ahead of the July 14 and Sept. 22 governorship elections,’’ he said.

    Responding on behalf of the new RECs, Mr Segun Agbaje, representing Ekiti State, pledged the new commissioner’s readiness to justify the confidence reposed in them.

    He said “by the grace of God, we shall finish well.”

    He expressed confidence in the leadership of Yakubu, saying “with your style of leadership, we would
    not be surprised if 2019 elections turned out to be the best elections in the country.”

    The new RECs are: Mr Baba Yusuf and Mr Segun Agbaje, representing Borno and Ekiti states for second term.

    Others are Dr Uthman Ajidagba, Kwara;  Yahaya Bello, Nasarawa State; Dr Emmanuel Hart, Rivers; Mohammed Ibrahim, Gombe and Dr Cyril Omorogbe, Edo.

    NAN

  • Jibril: Kogi lost a worthy son – Deputy Governor

    The Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Elder Simon Achuba has described the late member representing Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Buba Umar Jibril as a worthy son of the state.

    He described the late lawmaker as a hardworking politician who impacted positively on the lives of his people.

    Achuba who stated this on Thursday in Lokoja, during the eight-day prayer of the late Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, said the lawmaker made his mark as the representative of the people both at state and the national assembly levels.

    He said his contributions at the floor of the House of Representatives would be missed greatly, and called on other political office holders to see their positions as a call to service.

    In attendance was the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, running mate to late Prince Abubakar Audu, Hon. James Faleke, former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Idris Wada, former Deputy Governor, Yomi Awoniyi and several other members of House of Representatives.

     

  • Melaye assassination attempt: Court orders prosecutor to appear with case file 

    Melaye assassination attempt: Court orders prosecutor to appear with case file 

    Justice Fola Ajayi of the Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja, has ordered the prosecutor in the case of assassination attempt on Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) to appear with the case file at the next adjournment.

    Ajayi Monday at the resumed hearing of the case brought against the chairman of Ijumu LGA, Alhaji Taufiq Isa and four others for the alleged Assassination attempt frowned at the continuous absence of the prosecutor, Lough Simon and his team, saying that he has a limited time to conclude the case, being a criminal case that “require us starting afresh”.

    He urged the prosecuting counsel to appear physically with the case file at the next hearing, before granting an adjournment to 22nd March, 2018.

    The death of the former judge handling the case, Justice Arome Akogwu, last year December, cause the reassignment of the case to Justice Atayi.

    Since the reassignment, the prosecution counsel and his team have failed to appear in court for the second time running.

    Read Also: Assassination attempt: Dino Melaye arraigned, granted bail