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  • Two killed as Adamawa community protests motorcycle ban

    Two people have been allegedly shot dead as they joined hundreds of others in a demonstration in Gurin, a community in Fufore LGA of Adamawa State, against the enforcement of a ban on use of motorcycles.

    The people of Gurin had massed out Thursday morning, protesting the enforcement which the state police command last month placed against the use of motorcycles by anyone throughout the state.

    The police, with support from the state government, had announced the ban with explanation that criminals were using motorcycles to steal and to abduct residents for ransom.

    A resident of Gurin who spoke to our correspondent in confidence Thursday afternoon stressed that two of six demonstrators who were shot by soldiers had died.

    “Yes, two people died as a result of shots by the military people,” the resident said, adding that the people decided on the protest because they could not see the reason for the ban on motorcycles in their area.

    “The people are mostly farmers and need their motorcycles. It is their mode of transportation here,” the resident said.

    The State Police Public Relations Officer, Suleiman Yahya, told our correspondent that there was indeed a protest in Gurin, following which the Commissioner of Police had drafted a team which he said was yet to report on whether people were killed or not.

    Read Also: 16 killed as bandits attack Zamfara communities on Sallah day

    In a reaction to the protest earlier in the day, the state government asked all Adamawa people to take the ban on motorcycles in good faith.

    A press statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information & Strategy, Mr Polycarp Ayuba, said, “The use of motorcycles was banned because it was a major means of transportation used by kidnappers and other misçreants to easily carry out their inhuman and criminal activities.”

    The permanent secretary added that the ban was never intended to inconvenient its law-abiding citizens but to safeguard their lives and properties; and that the ban would be lifted “as soon as the security situation improves.”

  • 16 killed as bandits attack Zamfara communities on Sallah day

    16 people were confirmed killed, 14 injured in suspected bandits attacks in Kanoma community in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara state.

    The Director General Press Affairs to the government house, Yusuf Idris confirmed the incident.

    The District Head of Kansas, Alhaji Yahaya Mohammed said the bandit came in large number and shot indiscriminately at whoever crossed their way which resulted to the death of 16 innocent people while 14 others sustained injuries.

    Among those killed according to a resident of the area who pleaded anonymity were the village oldest man who clocks over a hundred years and his two children.

    Meanwhile, the Zamfara State Governor, Dr Bello Muhammad has paid a condolence visit to people of the area.

    The Governor said he was aggrieved by the news of the attack which resulted in the death of innocent souls with others sustaining various degrees of injury.

    Read Also: Drama, as Zamfara APC factions expel Yari, Marafa, others

    The Governor assured people of the area provision of adequate security measures that will bring an end to armed banditry and other criminal activities in the state.

    His administration according to him is poised to collaborate with all well-meaning citizens of the state to end the security challenges facing the state.

    He called on the locals to provide government with accurate intelligence reports that will assist the security agencies in apprehending the Criminals.

    The Governor also prayed Allah to reward the souls of those who lost their lives with Jannatul firdaus and give their families the fortitude to bear the loss.

    Matawalle also called on the bandits to surrender their arms and embrace peace before it is too late.

    He then directed for the immediate transfer of all the victims that were admitted at Kanoma Hospital to the Federal Medical Centre, Gusau for better medical attention while all medical bills will be shouldered by the state government.

    The Governor also directed the security agencies to move swiftly in order to arrest the perpetrators of the act.

  • Breaking: African Union suspends Sudan over violence against protesters

    The African Union (AU) on Thursday suspended Sudan days after the military launched a crackdown on protesters that killed dozens of people.

    The AU’s Peace and Security Department said in a post on Twitter that Sudan’s participation in all AU activities would be suspended with immediate effect – “until the effective establishment of a civilian-led transitional authority” as the only way to “exit from the current crisis”.

  • Breaking: I’m a target of assassination, Ex Gani Adams PA cries out

    Mr Segun Akani who is the immediate past personal assistant to the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland Otunba Gani Adams, has raised alarm over plans to eliminate him.

    Akanni also posted a video of how he was attacked at Mobil Filling Station at Gbagada on Wednesday by certain elements suspected to be members of the Oodua Peoples Congress, (OPC) a pan Yoruba ethnic/cultural organisation which was co-founded by the late Dr Fredrick Fasheun and Otunba Adams in the late 90s.

    His statement ‘My life is in danger!!!’ which he posted on his Facebook page at the wee hour of Thursday, is currently generating reactions from friends and loved ones especially those who knew his activities in OPC where he was initially a personal assistant to Adams’ who is OPC National Coordinator and later as aide, to the office of the Aare Ona Kakanfo, following Adams’ appointment as the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land by the Alaafin of Oyo in January last year.

    However, Adams absolved himself of the allegation, saying Akani is suffering from irrelevance after being sacked from the group.

    Speaking with The Nation early Thursday, Akani said he had gone to meet an old friend at the Mobil Filling Station in Gbagada when some hoodlums suddenly emerged from nowhere and attacked him.

    “I have a strong feeling some people are after my life. I do not know what I did to them,” Akanni told The Nation

    ”I have fixed an appointment with an old friend at Mobil Filling Station in Gbagada. Unfortunately, my car was not in good condition but I had to manage it there.

    ”On getting to the place, I met this old friend and after exchanging pleasantries, we were both examining the car I brought because I complained to my friend how the wheels of the car were unstable. Suddenly, a group of men emerged from nowhere. They started calling me ole! Ole!! (thief), ‘traitor’ They started chasing me all around. One of them brought out a tyre and wanted to set me ablaze. I had to run across the express to the police station in the opposite direction. It was the policemen on duty that eventually rescued me and led me back to the filling station to pick my car.

    “Ever since I left oga (referring to Adams), I have moved on with my life, so I do not know why I should be a target of elimination by certain elements.’

    Read Also: Leadership is Nigeria’s problem, says Gani Adams

    Akanni recalled how he relinquished his role in December following some allegations levelled against him; which he described as untrue. Nonetheless, he added that both he and his former boss parted ways in peace while he took his fate philosophically.

    Nonetheless, Adams challenged Akani to take his case to the police for investigation.

    He said: “Since he (Akani) knows those who attacked him, why can’t he inform the same police that rescued him to arrest and investigate those who attacked him?”

    “Why should I attack him? I’ve watched the video several times over. The attack took place in Gbagada, I live in Omole here. To get to Gbagada from here is no child’s play.”

    “We are a peace-loving people. I remember Some of our members left us in 2005, and 2007, did we victimise or attack them? Although I sacked him because he committed some misdemeanours, I have since moved on. I think he is suffering from irrelevance since he’s no longer with us. Therefore, he should not lump OPC to what we are not answerable to.”

  • Installing of 75 Obas by Amosun is pure madness- kingmaker

    Front line politician and Egba businessman, High Chief Alani Bankole, has broken his silence on the installation of 75 Obas in one swoop by the outgone administration of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, describing the action as “pure madness.”

    Chief Bankole who is a traditional kingmaker in Egbaland, said a governor is not elected to disrupt the social and cultural system of a people, lamenting that even in a community where the residents were less than 200, Amosun, allegedly, appointed an Oba there, wondering the rationale behind such decision.

    The father of former Speaker Dimeji Bankole, who spoke with reporters at his residence in Oluwo area of Abeokuta, the state capital, on Wednesday evening, said as a Kingmaker, he has a duty to promote, protect and defend the sanctity and sacredness of the culture and traditions of Egba people.

    The Seriki Jagunmolu of Egbaland added that the traditional precept is that if a community begins to experience growth in population, the Baale in such community is usually recommended for upgrading to an Oba by the Alake to further drive development and enhance maintenance of peace, but noted that in the present circumstance, some of the people appointed as coronet Obas, were never Baales.

    The Oluwo of Iporo Ake also cited the recent experience of Ogun state as a reason he would not support any call for restructuring that could confer enormous power to the States and Local Governments in the country, saying should that happened, nobody would be able to tame or hold state Governors and Local Government Chairmen accountable.

    He lamented that in the last four or more years, the immediate past administration of Governor Amosun spent the state’s resources only on two Local Governments – apparently referring to Abeokuta North and Abeokuta South Local Government Areas (LGAs) respectively, to the grim neglect of the 18 other LGAs.

    According to him, while these anomalies lasted, nobody could rein – in the hands of the Governor because he neither listens to others’ advice nor was there anybody known that could persuade him to adopt options different from his.

    The 79 year old Bankole recalled that he was an ardent critics of Otunba Gbenga Daniel and his administration between 2003 and 2011, believing that he was the worst Governor to happen to the Gateway State, but said given the experience of the citizens in the last four years, “Daniel has turned out to be an angel in comparison with Amosun.”

    Read Also: Reversals: Ogun Assembly not after Amosun – Speaker

    The former Chairman of West African Aluminum Products(WAAP) expressed fears over what he considered as an emerging pattern in Ogun state where the incumbent end up worse than the predecessor at the exit gate, praying that Governor Adedapo Abiodun could learn from the history of his predecessors and “change the curve.”

    “Can you imagine somebody upgrading and installing 75 Obas, Is that not madness? For instance, there is an Oba in my local government called the Oluga of Oluga, the population of that place is less than 200 and he installed an Oba there and we are talking about development.

    “What we agreed in Egbaland was that, whenever we have a town developing and the Baale can no more effectively control them, then we would recommend that such baale be upgraded to an Oba.

    “But the question again is that, Were many of these Oba-elect baales before they were installed as Obas?. In fact, so many of them do not live in the town, all they are interested in is to sell the lands in the communities to foreigners and farmers from other parts of the country. That is one of the abnormalities the politicians brought to the system,” Bankole said.

    He, however, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to return the country to the parliamentary system of government if he meant business with his anti-corruption crusade, saying the Presidential system being practised today in the country has not only reversed the nation’s gains from the previous Parliamentary system but also choking since it is prone to an endemic corruption and wastage of resources.
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  • N5bn libel suit: Magu closes case against Sun newspaper

    The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, has closed his case in the N5 billion libel suit he filed against the publishers of the Sun newspaper.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that during Thursday’s proceedings, Magu’s counsel, Mr E. O. Omoijaede, informed the court that the claimant (Magu) had presented two witnesses and would want to close his case.

    “This case was adjourned for continuation of trial. However, we will be applying that my lord closes the case for the claimant.

    “We will be requesting for a date for the defendants to open their case,” Omoijaede said.

    Mr Charles Ewelunta, counsel to the respondents, expressed dissatisfaction at the development.

    “The claimant’s counsel should have closed the case instead of wasting everyone’s time. I am supposed to be out of town at an election petition tribunal.

    “I have been sitting here just for them to say they are closing their case. I will be asking for a cost of N50,000,” Ewelunta said.

    Read Also: EFCC: beware of 5th columnists, Okorocha replies Magu

    Responding, Omojiade said that the publishers of the Sun newspaper should save time by opening their case immediately.

    “From our end, we are even helping the defendant by closing our case especially as they are in a hurry to open their case.

    “We have already called two witnesses. If their own witnesses are in court, they should open their case,” he said.

    Justice Doris Okuwobi, refused Omoijaede’s request for N50,000 cost against Magu’s legal team, saying that the suit which was filed in 2017, had not suffered any delay caused by the team.

    “This case is adjourned till Sept. 17 for further hearing,” she said.

    NAN reports that Magu sued the publishers of the Sun, claiming N5 billion in damages over a publication that alleged that the Department of State Security uncovered two houses in Maitama, Abuja, which were traced to his wife.

    The EFCC boss is also demanding that the newspaper should publish an apology and retract the alleged libelous publication.

    Magu and Mr Usman Zakari, the Head of Intelligence and Special Operations Unit of the EFCC, gave evidence for the claimant.

    While giving evidence on April 18, Zakari said that he had worked closely with Magu but started to view him from a different perspective after reading the allegedly damaging publication.

    “I work with him closely, I know him very well. The claimant is an asset to the EFCC, he is a man of honour and integrity. Due to this publication, I don’t hold him in as high regard as before.

    “The claimant does not have any property out of the country. He has a house in Karo, a farmhouse in Karshi area of Abuja, and a family house in Maiduguri.

    “I have visited those three property; he does not have any property outside Nigeria; that publication falsely mentioned he owned two property in the high brow area of Maitama, Abuja,” Zakari said.

    In his evidence on Dec. 17, 2018, Magu denied owning two houses in Maitama, Abuja.

    He said:“The publication is totally false. Even if I have the money, I wouldn’t buy houses in Maitama.

    “They said the houses are located in the Darrubbe and Missouri, Maitama and that they belong to my wife.

    “My wife, Fatima Yakaka Magu, is a civil servant and cannot afford to buy houses in Maitama.

    “I am an international man and the publication has damaged my reputation. The name Magu does not end with me.

    “The publication caused a whole lot of trauma for my lineage.”

  • Breaking: CAF president Ahmad arrested in France

    President of Confederation of African Football (CAF) Ahmad Ahmad has been arrested in Paris, capital of France.

    According to a @jeune_afrique, the CAF president was arrested on Thursday morning at a hotel in Paris, where he was staying to attend the FIFA Congress.

    It’s unclear why the the Magdagalsy was taken away by police but the last few days have been very controversial for the African football body he is in charge of.

    Less than 24 hours ago CAF’s executive committee decided to order for a replay of the 2nd leg of the CAF Champions league final which ended prematurely last Friday in Tunis.

    The decision to replay the final has not gone down well with Esperance followers and many across the continent included some top followers of Mr Ahmad.

    Read Also: CAF orders rematch as Esperance are stripped of Champions’ League title

    It’s unclear whether his arrest is directly linked to the Esperance Versus Wydad case but earlier this year there were issues of corruption and sexual harassment raised against the Football don especially by former CAF employees.

    The next edition of the biggest football jamboree in the continent starts in 15 days in Egypt and will need the football supremo of the continent for a smooth football festival.

    NFF spokesman, Ademola Olajire, confirmed the development.

    He said: “Yes. He is in the Central Office of the fight against corruption. It is said that it has to do with CAF unilaterally breaking contract with PUMA to engage a company owned by Ahmad’s friend, Tactical Steel for purchase of equipment for 2018 CHAN.”

  • APC moves to reconcile aggrieved members in S/East

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has begun moves to reconcile its aggrieved members across the five states of the South East geo-political zone of the country.

    Dr Emeka Wogu, Chairman of its Reconciliation, Peace, Strengthening and Repositioning Committee said in Enugu on Thursday that the move was to strengthen and reposition the party in the zone.

    Wogu made this known after the inaugural sitting of the 13-member committee on Thursday.

    “The APC South-East zone gave us the mandate to reconcile and make peace with a view of strengthening and repositioning the party in the whole of South-East.

    “Taking into consideration that certain members of our party felt so dissatisfied with the process of congresses, primaries and the main elections, they felt aggrieved and that is the reason why this committee was set-up,’’ he said.

    According to him, the committee will speak to authority and speak truth to leaders of the party on the need to reconcile and ensure that APC remains `one-big-family’ just as its logo the broom depicts.

    “We have agreed that every state should come with its peculiarities or what led to the disorganisation and lack of peace in their states.

    “And at the end of the day, we will distill issues and visit all the states.

    “We will also visit our leaders in the states and speak truth to them and find a way of repositioning the party in the South-East to face the evolving realities of political dialectics of our party and of our country.

    Read Also: PDP’s victory in Zamfara is God’s decision, says APC

    “So that by 2023, we will be in a position to win the elections that we couldn’t win because of internal wrangling, which led to certain sabotages against our party.

    “So in 2023, we will do well and then, we will look at all positions available in this country, not limited to only National Assembly and Governorship but including the big one (presidency), we need to go for it, negotiate for it and become relevant,’’ he said.

    Wogu, former Minister of Labour and Productivity, noted that the assignment of the committee was enormous.

    But he said that with the caliber of its members, it would work hard and deliver on its mandate unbiased and without fear or favour.

    The chairman said that the committee was congratulating President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on their successful swearing-in, adding that the committee would continue to give full support to their people-oriented administration.

    “The party must be united and strong here in the South-East to support the tireless efforts of President Buhari meant to reposition the party as well as continue to deliver on his monumental development strides.

    “We are resolute in supporting President Buhari and assisting him to achieve his positive desires by ensuring that South-East APC is peaceful to take over the whole political positions in the zone,’’ he said.

  • Kashamu’s extradition suit: Court awards N50,000 each to DSS, NDLEA

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday, awarded N50,000 each in favour of the Director-General, State Security Service (DSS) and the National Drug law Enforcement Agency NDLEA, in a suit instituted by Sen. Buruji Kashamu.

    Kashamu is seeking to stop his extradition to the United States, to face drug-related charges.

    Kashamu, who is Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, had in his suit labelled FHC/L/CS/930/2018, joined the following as respondents:

    The Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police, Lagos Police Command, Director General, State Security Service (DSS), National Drug law Enforcement Agency NDLEA, and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF)

    He is urging the court to restrain the respondents and their agents from arresting or detaining him, in any manner whatsoever, or interfering with his right to personal liberty and freedom of movement.

    In a ruling, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, gave the order, following the absence of the Kashamu’s lawyer, Mrs Ifeoma Esom.

    Justice Aneke asked Mr O.Bajela who appeared and J.N. Sunday who appeared for the DSS and NDLEA if they had seen a letter from the plaintiff counsel, seeking adjournment over another case she had at the Court of Appeal.

    Responding, they expressed dissatisfaction over the frequent adjournment, on the grounds that the case had been adjourned severally at the instance of plaintiff.

    He added that it was the case of the plaintiff and they ought to exhibit diligence.

    Read Also: Ijebu monarchs: Kashamu is our beloved son

    Consequently, the third defence counsel urged the court to award a cost of N100,000 in its favour against the plaintiff.

    In the same vein, fourth defence counsel, also asked for a cost of N200,000 against the plaintiff.

    Justice Aneke awarded a cost of N50,000 each in favour of third and fourth defendants and adjourned the case until Oct. 31 for hearing..

    NAN reports that Aneke had taken arguments in the suit from respective parties and had reserved his judgment until April 29.

    On April 29, judgment could not be delivered in the suit as the period fell within the Easter vacation, and the court did not sit.

    The matter was consequently, adjourned until May 10.

    On May 10, the case was set down for hearing on June 6.

    In a supporting affidavit, the applicant averred that by a newspaper publication, the Attorney General of the Federation was reported to have said that the U.S. Government had been told to make fresh request for his extradition, after the former proceedings were dismissed.

    He averred that, in a proceeding instituted in England by the U.S. authorities between 2002 and 2003, it was established that he was not the one implicated in the alleged narcotics offence committed in the U.S. in 1994.

    He said that consequently, he was not the person sought after by the U.S. authorities.

    Kashamu, is, therefore, urging the court to restrain the respondents and their agents from arresting or detaining him in any manner whatsoever, or interfering with the applicants’ right to personal liberty and freedom of movement

    Meanwhile, in a preliminary objection, deposed to by one Kareem Olayinka, the NDLEA averred that authorities of the United States are currently seeking to extradite the applicant to their country, to answer charges relating to Heroine trafficking.

    He said that the U.S. government then made a request to the Nigerian government, for the applicant to be extradited sometime in May 2015.

    The Agency said that since Kashamu got wind of the extradition request, he has filed multiplicity of lawsuits relating to the issue.

    He averred that in all these actions the basic relief sought, is a restraining order against the NDLEA, from arresting and extraditing him to the U.S.

    According to the NDLEA, this suit does not disclose any cause of action against the respondent, adding that the multiplicity of the action by the applicant against the NDLEA is intended to divert its energy and attention from discharging its mandate to the nation.

    He, avers therefore, that the NDLEA needs the protection of the court to stop this trend, as the applicant is only engaged in shopping for a forum that will grant his desired reliefs.

    The Agency is therefore, asking the court to dismiss the suit.

  • Alleged N20.1m fraud: Court grants ex-NBA officers bail

    Justice Mojisola Dada of an Ikeja Special Offences Court on Thursday granted bail to three former executives of the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), accused of defrauding the association of N20.1 million.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dada in a ruling granted former chairmen – Adesina Ogunlana, Yinka Farounbi (first and second defendants) and former treasurer Aderinola Kappo (third defendant) bail in the sum of N500, 000 each with two sureties in like sum.

    The judge noted that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to provide proof that the defendants, especially the first defendant (Ogunlana) tampered with prosecution witnesses.

    She also noted that the anti-graft agency did not provide proof that the defendants jumped administrative bail or that the third defendant (Kappo) provided a fake address to the EFCC.

    She said: “The allegation that the three defendants jumped administrative bail was not proven; although the first and third defendants said they were not around on the last Friday they were supposed to appear before the EFCC.

    “They, however, presented themselves the next Monday for arraignment, despite not being served by the EFCC.

    “There is no evidence that shows that the EFCC investigated the claims of the third defendant that she was in a hospital in Badagry on that Friday.

    “The EFCC also failed to produce the second defendant (Farounbi) in court for arraignment, despite being in EFCC custody up until then.

    “Failure to appear on the last Friday should not be sufficient reason to deny them bail but they will not be granted bail on self-recognition.

    “The defendants are granted bail in the sum of N500, 000 and two sureties in like sum, one of whom must own a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

    “The defendants shall remain on temporary bail, pending the perfection of their bail within two weeks, failure of which they will be remanded in prison.”

    Following the ruling, Dada adjourned the case until July 3, 9 and 10 for commencement of trial.

    NAN reports that Farounbi served as NBA Ikeja Branch Chairman from 2014 to 2016 with Kappo serving as Treasurer during Farounbi’s tenure while Ogunlana served as NBA Ikeja Branch Chairman from 2016 to 2018.

    The trio are jointly charged with conspiracy to steal.

    Ogunlana is charged with 15-counts of stealing and a count of money laundering while Farounbi and Kappo are jointly charged with 13-counts of stealing.

    They, however, plead not guilty to the 30-count charge.

    The former NBA Ikeja Branch officers were accused by the EFCC of conniving and stealing N20.1 million, belonging to the body of lawyers.

    According to Mr S. O. Daji, the EFCC Prosecutor, Farounbi and Kappo, allegedly committed the offences from June 15, 2016 to April 9, 2018 in Lagos.

    Ogunlana is alleged by the anti-graft body to have committed the offences from July 18, 2016 to April 10, 2018.

    “Farounbi and Kappo on 13 occasions without authorisation and in order to facilitate the stealing of N20 million belonging to the Ikeja Branch of the NBA issued cheques to Ogunlana.

    Read Also: Court adjourns FG’s $406.7m debt recovery suit against Shell until June 19

    “The cheques were paid into Ogunlana’s personal bank account No. 2004528818 with First Bank Plc during his tenure as Chairman of NBA Ikeja Branch.

    “He dishonestly converted the money to his personal use,” Daji said.

    Shedding light on the money laundering charge, the prosecutor said: “Sometime in 2017, Ogunlana converted to his own use, one million naira out of N2.8 million purportedly paid to Brand in Demand Ltd., for the NBA Ikeja Branch.

    “In order to disguise the legal origin of the money, he informed Adegoke Dairo of Brand in Demand Ltd., to issue him an invoice/receipt No. 82871 as purported payment for the NBA Ikeja Branch,” the prosecutor said.

    The offences contravene Sections 278, 285(1), 330 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2011.