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  • Artiste Dammy Krane arraigned in Lagos

    Top star,  Johnson Oyindamola, also known as Dammy Krane, was on Monday arraigned before an Igbosere Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos over alleged threat to life and defamation.

    Oyindamola, 27, was arraigned on a three count charge  bordering on conspiracy,  threat to life, defamation, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace before Chief Magistrate Afolashade Botoku.

    The pop  star was said to have threatened the lives of staff of a betting company, Merrybet Gold Limited, on July 29, 2019, and also released a song in which he accused the firm of breach of contract.

    The prosecutor, Inspector J .I Enang, told the court that the musician threatened a sport betting company, Merrybet Gold Limited, by posting an audio and video, on the internet accusing the company of owing him.

    He said that the defendant attended a game show sponsored by the betting company but lost.

    ‘Dammy Krane’ was said to have, demanded some money for appearing on the show.

    It was said that the firm disagreed, insisting that the sum was only given to winners.

    The musician subsequently went on Cool FM radio where he allegedly accused the betting firm of owing him money and for breached of contractual agreement.

    He was also accused of conspiring with others at large to conduct himself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace.

    Dammy Krane was alleged to have threatened public peace when he posted an audio and video message on Cool FM 96.9.

    Read Also: Five killed, seven injured in Lagos crashes

    According to the charge before the court: “Oyindamola and others at large on July 29, 2019, at Cool FM in Lagos, conspired with others at large to commit felony to wit: Conduct likely to cause breach of peace and threat to life”.

    “Oyindamola and others at large on the same date, time and place, threatened  the life of the staff of Merrybet Gold Limited”.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    His counsel, Mr Adebayo Oniyelu, urged the court to grant him bail in liberal terms as  a first time offender.

    Oniyelu said that he would be produced whenever he is needed in court.

    Responding, the prosecutor, Enang opposed the bail, saying the offence is a national issue.

    When Chief Magistrate Botoku, asked to know the nature of the offence of the defendant, Enang insisted, ‘it is an International issue that is all over the media”.

    The defendant’ s lawyer told the court that the defendant and the complainant had a disagreement over a breach of contract.

    He said, “The defendant performed for the complainant and he was being owed the sum of N1million, and when he demanded for it, the next thing we saw was his arrest”.

    On enquiry by the court, one of the company’s representative, Mr Otemu Anaonye, told the court that the company is not owing the defendant.

    The company’s lawyer,  Mr N. Anachebe, who was also holding watching brief, for the company, said, ” The defendant posted audio and video messages on his Instagram page claiming that the company was owing him. He was asked to pull it down, but he refused.”

    Magistrate Botoku asked, if the crux of the matter was defamation, she said if so, it should be a civil matter.

    Anachebe, responded that  ” A case of defamation can be both criminal and civil”.

    Magistrate Botoku granted him bail in the sum of N50,000, with one surety in like sum.

    The case was adjourned until October 11.

  • Five killed, seven injured in Lagos crashes

    No fewer than five persons were on Monday confirmed dead and seven others injured in three accidents in Lagos, The Nation has learnt.

    The accidents occurred at Chevron Drive, Ijaiye Ogba and Agric bus stops.

    It was gathered that three men including a motorcyclist Michael Idoko, his unnamed passenger and a pedestrian Gbenga Oloruniyi died in the Chevron Drive accident which  around occurred around 11am.

    According to sources, a Mack truck with registration number KSF100XY at top speed lost control and crushed the victims.

    The motorcyclist, it was learnt, had slowed down to give way for the pedestrian only for the speeding truck to crush them.

    It was gathered that the accident halted traffic along the busy Lekki-Epe Expressway for hours until Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Response Unit at Lekki towed the truck off the scene.

    At Ogba several persons sustained serious injuries after a commercial bus rammed into a stationary salon car along Oba Ogunji Road, Pen Cinema Way in the area. It was unclear at press time if there were any casualties.

    The accident was said to have been caused by reckless driving, with the veering off and crashing into the parked car.

    Eyewitnesses claimed two persons died and several others sustained injuries, adding that they were all moved to the hospital before the arrival of emergency workers.

    Blood stains, shattered glass and other debris which were at the scene of the accident were washed off by LASEMA officials.

    Read Also: 17 die in Benue road accident

    Similarly, another truck on Sunday night lost control and killed a motorist and motorcyclist by Agric Bus Stop on Ikorodu Road.

    Five others were said to have sustained serious injuries in the accident that kept rescuers on their toes till about midnight.

    It was gathered that a truck carrying an unlatched 40ft container fell on some vehicles and motorcycles while escaping a mob action after causing a minor accident before Agric Bus Stop.

    The Nation gathered that the truck driver had hit a motorcyclist and refused to stop which prompted other motorcyclists to chase him.

    On getting to Agric Bus Stop, the truck swerved in an attempt to avoid a collision with another motorcycle and the container fell on a Toyota Corolla crushing it.

    About five motorcycles and a patrol vehicle belonging to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) were also damaged.

    Director General of LASEMA Dr. Femi Oke-Osayintolu confirmed the accidents, noting that no death was recorded in the Ijaiye Ogba accident.

    He said: “The rate of road traffic accident is alarming and that is why we are warning drivers to ensure their vehicles are in good condition and that they should always drive within recommended speed limits.”

    “We are putting measures in place to ensure that unavoidable deaths are not recorded in the state anymore. LASEMA as the coordinating agency for emergencies has already held meetings with relevant stakeholders especially because we are in ember month.

    “If you look at our statistics right now, you will discover that the major cause of death in Nigeria, Africa and all over the world is road traffic accident.

    “We want Lagos to be safe for all and that is why we are brainstorming on better ways to reduce deaths from road traffic accidents.”

  • RMAFC asks governors for new revenue sharing plan

    THE Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) have requested governors to submit a proposal as the agency begins a review of the revenue allocation formula.

    Chairman of the agency Elias Mbam said the governors are yet to make any plan available despite being in the forefront of those seeking a review of the extant arrangement.

    Mbam said: “No governor has approached me for that (review of formula) either orally or in writing.”

    He added: “Governors should convey their interest to the commission because they don’t have the power to review the formula.”

    One of the governors said on Monday that the position of the states had not changed since a proposal was presented to the Goodluck Jonathan Administration in 2012.

    The governor said: “RMAFC does not need to wait for any presentation or document from us again to review the nation’s revenue allocation because since 2012, we have made our position known to the commission.

    “We raised a six-man committee, headed by ex-Governor Babatunde Fashola which recommended that states should get 42 per cent, the Federal Government 35 per cent;  and Local Governments 23 per cent. That remains the position of the governors.”

    He added: “Other members of the committee were ex-governors Murtala Nyako; Sullivan Chime; Babangida Aliyu; Rotimi Amaechi; and Aliyu Wamakko.

    Read Also: RMAFC inaugurates standing committee

    “RMAFC should continue to work with what we have presented to it and it can serve as a template for all stakeholders.”

    The governor explained further: “We have also set up a committee to monitor RMAFC’s action and further look at our demand when necessary as events unfold.

    “We are aware that the ultimate decision might not reside with RMAFC, it will be the lot of the Federal Government, the states and local governments.

    “Whatever is done by RMAFC, a lot of political consensus is required for any revenue allocation formula to be acceptable.”

    When asked how much pressure the states were putting on the commission to come up with a revenue formula that would give them bigger allocation from the federation account, the RMAFC chairman said: “The commission is not responsible to the governors. It’s an independent institution and the members are made up of men and women of proven integrity so they cannot be pressured or influenced to that.”

    Talks on a sustainable revenue sharing formula from the federation account to the three tiers of government was stalled five years ago.

    But, last month, the commission reopened the issue.

    The subsisting formula of 52.68 per cent for Federal Government, 26.72 per cent for states and 20.60 per cent for local governments came into existence in 2000 through a fiscal circular during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Apart from the votes from the FAAC, 13 per cent of the oil and gas federally collected revenue is shared among the oil and gas producing states and communities as derivation revenue.

    Attempts were made in 2014 under the administration of the Goodluck Jonathan to come up with what the RMAFC called “a consensus and more equitable revenue formula.” Specifically, the RMAFC carried out extensive consultations in 2013 and came up with a new revenue formula in December 2014.

    However, the Jonathan administration could not transmit the revenue formula which Mbam described as “inconclusive” to the National Assembly.

    It was alleged that many powerful individuals were unhappy that the revenue formula designed under Jonathan favoured the states.

    Mbam said a review is necessary because of “prevailing economic realities”.

    The commission, he said, will “pursue the diversification of the nation’s revenue for a more sustainable growth and economic development.”

    He added: “My agenda is to expand the sources of revenue for the federation. I will like to expand the cake that we are sharing so that people will get reasonable quantity. I intend to do this through diversification in areas outside oil and gas, and that includes solid minerals, agriculture and manufacturing.

    “The RMAFC will encourage states and let them know what is available outside oil and gas so they can develop this aspect of the economy to their own benefit.”

    Mbam is advocating financial autonomy for the local government areas to enable the bulk of Nigerians at the grassroots get the best out of democracy.

    He, however, noted that funding could delay the new revenue formula.

    Mbam cautioned that delay in funding can also delay the speed with which the revenue formula review would be completed. According to him, “they are just starting. I don’t want to preempt what they will actually come out with because there are so many other variables that will also be at play and which will determine when it will end.

    “Take for instance funding; there are some aspects that require funds and there are no funds. Delay in funding can also lead to delay in the timely completion of the new revenue formula. I don’t want to give you a date now; let’s progress a little more before I give you a date but we are looking at as early as possible.”

  • Gbajabiamila resolves ABU-Nursing/Midwifery Council rift

    The lingering faceoff between Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria has been resolved.

    The disagreement over the leadership of the Department of Nursing Sciences under the College of Medical Sciences in ABU made the Council to withdraw the accreditation of the course from the university.

    The Council kicked against the renewal of the tenure of Prof. Hayat Gomma (an Egyptian), who it said had been practising illegally in the country for eight years. She headed the department.

    Following this, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, mandated the House Committee on Health Services, headed by Hon. Tanko Sununu, to resolve the rift.

    Speaking yesterday, Sununu said the issue had been amicably resolved after a meeting with both parties, adding that the Council had agreed to restore the accreditation of the department after the appointment of a new Head of Department, Dr. Mohammed Awal Ladan.

    Present at the session were the Provost of the ABU College of Medical Sciences, Prof. Abdullahi Randawa, and Secretary-General of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Faruk Umar Abubakar.

  • Southwest curbs farmer-herder clashes with hunters, others

    Southwest Bureau Chief BISI OLADELE, OSEHEYE OKWUOFU (Ibadan), DAMISI OJO (Akure), ADESOJI ADENIYI (Osun), RAZAQ IBRAHIM (Ado-Ekiti) and ERNEST NWOKOLO (Abeokuta) capture the peace-building approaches employed by five Southwest states in ending the farmer-herder clashes

    It is a battle for survival. Herdsmen need to feed their cows. Farmers must protect their crops. This has been at the heart of the herdsmen-farmer clashes in the Southwest states of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti. The states have come up with different strategies to rein in the gladiators.

    Ekiti

    Aside from engaging stakeholders to build peace, the Ekiti State government recruited members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) and hunters into a joint task force that combs the farms to prevent possible attacks. The state police command also drew a working template to ensure constant dialogue between the two groups.

    Commissioner for Information Muyiwa Olumilua said the existing security networks put in place by Governor Kayode Fayemi strengthened the state security architecture to checkmate herdsmen/farmers’ clashes.

    “At a point in time when herdsmen-farmers clashes were heated up, Governor Fayemi promised to look into the incident. But now, there are no longer cases of such clashes and kidnapping.

    “The security architecture is what has been improved. We have enlisted traditional security outfits like OPC, Vigilante group etc. And they have been working with police and other sister agencies to provide absolute coverage for the citizens of Ekiti state.

    “Even the borders leading to the state are being adequately secured. So the major reason why things are calm is because of the improvement of the security network”, he said.

    Ekiti State Commissioner of Police Asuquo Amba said the command had overhauled the state security architecture to make the state safe for all residents.

    CP Asuquo Amba said the command decisively drew a working template having done some threat analysis of what the major security problem that was confronting the State. This, he said, helped the command to identify some crime waves and the measure needed to take in combating the clash between herdsmen and farmers headlong.

    Amba, who spoke through the PPRO, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, added that the police had increased the visibility policing of the plain-clothed

    intelligence gathering of the joint task force, stressing that the “dreaded sprawling Efon-Iwaraja, Ido-Ipere, Ise-Ikere forest that had become a beehive of activities for the kidnappers are being patrolled regularly…”

    AFAN Secretary Rotimi Kolawole said herdsmen invasion on farmland has reduced in recent times, lauding Governor Fayemi’s tactical approach to stop the clashes.

    Oyo

    In Oyo State, a combination of an establishment of a joint security force, farmers/herders forum and police constant engagements with traditional rulers, herders and farmers has helped reduce the crisis. Clashes were recorded in areas, such as Ibadan and Ibarapa. Oke-Ogun is the worst hit.

    At the height of the crisis, the Oyo State Police Command summoned a meeting of all stakeholders to its Eleyele, Ibadan headquarters where they were allowed to express their concerns and how they could be addressed. At the end of the meeting, herders agreed to stop grazing in the evening while farmers also agreed to stop poisoning the streams in their farms. Herders also agreed to report foreigners (non-locals) who intrude on the communities with their cattle to the police and community heads for arrest and appropriate sanctions. The herders were also advised to join hands to establish ranches as a permanent solution to the crisis. Implementation of their agreements was supervised by the police divisions across the state.

    The House of Assembly, has, however, added a new dimension to the peacebuilding by introducing anti-open grazing law. The bill has passed second reading at the House of Assembly and may be passed into law by the end of the year.

    The law, according to the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon. Kazeem Olayanju will protect the herders and farmers as well as all communities in the state against security breaches.

    Olayanju told The Nation that the Assembly recognised that the Fulani in the state have lived together peacefully with indigenes for several decades, adding that the lawmakers are aware that they have fully integrated into the various communities where they live and do their business.

    The Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Oyo State, Olumide Ayinla, praised governors of the Southwest for establishing joint security initiatives that have succeeded in reducing the menace of kidnapping, herdsmen and banditry in the region.

    Osun

    In Osun, the state government has recorded tremendous achievements in halting the spate of violent clashes between farmers and herdsmen.

    Osun is perhaps the only state in the federation securing compensation for the farmers that fall victims of the destruction of their crops by the herdsmen.

    In 2014, the administration of former governor Rauf Aregbesola inaugurated a committee on peaceful coexistence between the Fulani/Bororo and Crop Farmers with a core mandate of ensuring the security of lives and property of residents in the state. The committee, which is headed by Hon. Oguntola Toogun, has achieved huge success.

    Speaking with our correspondent on the telephone, Toogun commended Governor Gboyoga Oyetola for sustaining and supporting the committee to meet its mandate.

    He said the composition of the committee, which comprises members of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) Osun State chapter, the Fulani, the Bororo, Women In Agriculture, state Ministry of Information, the Traditional Institution, covered all stakeholders.

    According to him, the modality of settling issues likely to lead violent clashes was very clear and simple.

    He said: “The victim, who is a complaint, is allowed to negotiate with the herdsmen while the committee only supervises the process. Between 2014 and now, our committee has settled over 7,000 cases amicably. Some of these issues could have resulted in violent clashes like maiming, killing and destruction of valuable property.

    “We even went as far as digging 13 hand pump boreholes in strategic locations across the state to meet the water need of the herdsmen. We are presently working on a multi-national arrangement to get grazing field for the herdsmen.”

    The National President of the Beekeepers’ Association, Dr Dokun Olagunju, who also spoke with our correspondent, disclosed that leaders of farmers are now regularly meeting to sustain the tempo of the peaceful coexistence between farmers and the herdsmen.

    Also, the President of the Osun State chapter of the Small Scale Women Farmers of Nigeria, who is also the National Public Relations Officers of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Chief Mrs. Janet Olaleye, told our correspondent that her members have resorted to researching into leaves to plant around their farms to prevent grazing cows from entering their farms.

    Ondo

    In Ondo State, farmers/herders clashes have notably declined in recent times. This can be attributed to peacebuilding efforts of the state government, police and community leaders.

    The Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO)of the Ondo State Command, Femi Joseph, attributed the decline to the constant engagement of stakeholders.

    According to him, the Commissioner of Police, Undie Adie, has been spending most of the days of the week outside his office, moving around the state to engage stakeholders. This he said has promoted the peace being witnessed between the two parties.

    The Special Assistant to the Governor on Hausa/Fulani matters, Bala Umaru, said the magic behind the peace being witnessed between the two parties is constant dialogue.

    He said: “For the past seven months or so, I have abandoned my office, visiting Hausa/Fulani camps to dialogue with them on peace initiatives. The same way I have been engaging farmers and host communities, especially in Akoko axis where frequent clashes between the two groups are predominant.”

    Ogun

    The approach is the same in Ogun State where several clashes have been recorded in the past.

    Governor Dapo Abiodun attributed the success of peace between farmers and herders to periodic meetings with the two groups to douse tension.

    Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, Abiodun identified the Ogun State Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) as one of the approaches to sustain the peace between the two groups which his administration inherited.

    He said: “Ogun State has what we call Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) that builds the capacity of herdsmen on new technologies of rearing livestock without destroying farm produce. We hold periodic stakeholders meetings on farmers and herders’ conflict to reduce tension.”

    The Ogun State Police Command said it created a line of understanding between farmers and herders.

    Speaking through its Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said police discovered that those causing the problem are “migrant or transitory herders” with no attachment with the people. The “transitory herders,” Abimbola said, were the ones who often perpetuate the clashes and disappear afterwards only resurface later.

  • Why NLC should resist the VAT increment

    SIR: When this administration came on board in 2015, it came with the change mantra, so we expected the government to do things differently and obey the constitution to the letter. The last wage increase was done in 2010 during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration whereas the Nigerian constitution stipulates that every five years the minimum wage should be reviewed. The first assignment that the President Buhari-led government should have embarked upon when it came on board would have been to review workers’ wages, since 2015 was five years after the last review. Even if the wage increase was just symbolic, from N18,000- N21,000, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) would have welcomed it; they would have said’’ since this is his first assignment, it means he has the workers interest at heart, hence let’s understand’’.

    But nothing of such happened; instead in 2016 there was 50% devaluation of the naira due to low revenue from crude oil sales, which further impoverished the Nigerian workers and triggered a recession.  Most states could not even pay the initial N18,000 minimum wage.

    Now, with expansion of tax net, aggressive cost cutting, reduction of corruption via contracts awards and elimination of  ghost workers, most states can make N2- N4billion  internally generated income monthly and could have comfortably paid the initial N18,000, and possibly N30,000 minimum wage.

    NLC should resist the proposed 50% VAT increment which according to federal government is meant to meet the minimum wage of workers. Must government impoverish the workers before they pay them the wage they deserve? N30,000 is even not a deserving wage; just a miserly $83. This act is akin to robbing Peter to pay Peter. The proposed 2.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) increase may induce commodity prices in the market to increase by another 8-10% and this will further impoverish the people. Increasing VAT from 5% to 7.5% to establish the electricity  generation or refinery refurbishment fund could have made more sense, but not to use it to pay workers new minimum wage.

    There is money in the system if federal government can  look inward, cut costs (what are we doing with 43 ministers, over 400 government agencies and embassies in up to 100 countries), and reduce corruption via contract award. Early this year, the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu advised federal government not to toy with VAT increase idea. Does federal government not respect the ideas of its party leaders? In order climes, the party and its ideology is supreme, but here in Nigeria the reverse is the case as the President has the final say. But ironically, without the party, President Buhari would not have been elected president.

     

    • David Atta,

    Abuja.

  • Bayelsa poll: Okoko chides defectors

    Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Bayelsa State, Mr. Keniebi Okoko chided politicians defecting to other parties after losing elections.

    He said the practice of jumping ship, which became rife in Bayelsa, following the governorship primary, was killing democracy in the country.

    Okoko, who came third in the PDP primary that produced Senator Douye Diri as the candidate for the November 16 governorship election urged politicians and their followers to begin to play value-based politics.

    He maintained that destroying a political platform because an aspirant lost an election was not in the best interest of the state.

    He called for ethical politics, adding that selfish interests must be discarded by politicians fond of feeling that if they failed to get a leadership position, the occupant should be destroyed and stopped from the position.

    The PDP chieftain advised party loyalists and other stakehokders threatening to leave the PDP because the primary did not favour a particular aspirant to have a rethink.

    He said: “The grass is not always greener on the other side. We must sit back and fix what is wrong with our party instead of running away from it. If you read a history of how the biggest democracies work, you will find out that focus and persistence will make a difference in the long run. Not jumping ship anytime a decision doesn’t favour this or that candidate”.

    “Leaving a party and coming back to it and leaving it and coming back to it is not a good example for our youths? Is it okay to act that way? For me, I believe that when a situation is not going the way you expect it, we should come together and repair it and not abandon it.

    Okoko added: “Many people are not happy with a lot going on in the party, but do we abandon it just like that? Who then will correct it and make the needed difference? I’m saying this because I strongly believe that we all have a role to play in changing this country and our state. We can’t keep complaining and when the plain truth is said we get offended. We should be able to say the truth without hiding behind the guise of politics.

    “I believe that we have changed politics to just a game of zero values and integrity. I’m not in agreement with a lot going on but we should stay to make the needed change”.

    He urged politicians to borrow a leaf from former President Goodluck Jonathan, who conceded defeat election to his opponent, President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He added: “It must not always be about ourselves and  our vision . It cannot be . The country or this state cannot move forward if we continue that way. We must always look at the big picture.”

    “What if President Goodluck Jonathan had decided at that time that he was not going to concede after the election. Do you know how many souls could have been lost or if after that, he abandoned PDP for the APC. How would it look. By now Nigeria would be a one-party state.

    “We must be able to do what is right for our people. When people tell me , you are young in politics, I say no. Values don’t change. You are who you are. What you are expressing is what and who you are. The way my father brought me up is the way I am today. I am not going to betray my people because of my own selfish interest” .

    Okoko explained that he visited to congratulate his fellow contestant, Senator Douye Diri, because he was convinced that it was in the best interest of the people of Bayelsa to do so.

    He said: “It’s the love for Bayelsa state that made me go and visit Douye Diri. The same urge to move my state forward , has made me go and listen to governor Seriake Dickson and to support the party because I believe that collectively, we can make a change. Not one governor can change a state. We need collective effort and if your governor is doing something that you don’t like, you don’t run away from the party, you confront him.

    “Today, if I am on the seat with governor Dickson, I can tell him , your excellency, this thing you are doing is wrong sir. We should try and unify the party and not divide it. We need the kind of people who will tell them the truth , rather than lying to him because of personal ambition. We need to say the truth”.

    END.

  • EFCC Quizzes Real Estate Mogul, Kelechukwu Mbagwu over fraud 

    One of the big names in Real Estate Industry of Nigeria, Mr. Kelechukwu Mbagwu is currently swimming in the water of trouble and the wind of petitions slammed against him may dent his image and the integrity that he had illustriously built for close to three decades if not curtailed.

     

    Mbawgu, the Chief Executive Officer of CMB Building Maintenance and Investment Company Limited, we gathered has been having it raw for over two months with investigators at the Ikoyi, Lagos office of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over fraudulent transactions with Wema Bank PLC.

     

    The successful House Builder who is the current President of Nigerian Rugby Federation is also answering questions from the anti-graft agency for fraudulently using some already sold out properties situated in Pearl Garden and Peal Nuga Estates built by CMB at Sangotedo, along Lekki-Epe express way, Lagos State to obtain bank loans.

     

    A reliable source at EFCC told our correspondent that the loans, totalling at about #250million has not been paid by Mbagwu’s firm, prompting Wema Bank to approach a Lagos division of Federal High Court presided over by Justice Olayinka Faji to seek for an order to take over the properties, a 7-unit detached duplexes 3 blocks located at Pearl Nuga Estate valued at #324million used as collateral for the loans pending the conclusion of substantial suit.

     

    The leadership of Pearl Nuga and Pearl Garden Estates had in a petition sent to EFCC, a copy of which has been obtained by our correspondent alleged that affected home owners namely; Bridget Eko, Osagie, Ainiehnoho Jude, Mr. Akinola Alabi, Mrs Oluwadara Alabi, Nosakhare Igbinobi, Mr and Mrs Micheal Bassey, Mr Oyeleke Jegede, Mr Larry Amaraibi and Amos Gaga had paid Mbagwu and his company 100% for their houses and had taken possession years ago.

     

    They alleged in their petition that Mbagwu fraudulently withheld the title deeds of the houses from the affected owners so that he could continuously be using them to carry out illegal bank transactions.

     

    The House Owners according to the petition said they got a wind of the matter when CMB started having issues with Wema Bank, prompting them to carry out due diligence investigation which revealed that all the properties inside the two estates paid for by them actually belong to Kelechukwu Mbagwu in the face of law.

     

    “Some of us have been here for one decade; Mbagwu has refused to give us the title of our properties. He has been using our properties to seek for bank loans unknown to us. The Last one that he has been unable to pay to Wema Bank is the one that opened our eyes to the fact that all the buildings inside the two estates built by us actually belong to Mbagwu’s company because the title belong to him as we speak”, the house owners stated in their fresh petition.

     

    Our correspondent confirmed that he sighted two weeks ago at EFCC office in Ikoyi looking distrust, gloomy and dejected.

     

    A reliable source at EFCC said Mbagwu has been reporting three times weekly at the Ikoyi office of the anti-graft agency since June this year. He stated that he has not been arraigned in court because some powerful people are begging on his behalf.

     

    “We may arraign him soon. He has been making moves to ensure that he is not arraigned in court so as to save his image but luck may soon ran out of him because we have established a strong case against him. He is still having his way because of some powerful people that are pleading on his behalf” a source at EFCC who doesn’t want his name mentioned because he’s not permitted to speak on the matter told our correspondent.

     

    Read Also: Man accused of hiring assassin

     

    Meanwhile, CMB in a statement signed by a Lawyer, Ifeoma Ogoh denied any allegation of wrongdoing against the aggrieved homeowners.

     

    Ogoh said: “The mission of the House Owners is to oust our client from continuing to serve as facility managers of the estates in question; a role that our client has played competently and effectively from inception.”

     

    She claimed that they also push their agenda by latching on to anything that will drive their faulty narrative, adding that the group of individuals behind the publication is already embroiled in scandal involving embezzlement and misappropriation of funds.

     

    “Allegations by this faceless group are false and unsubstantiated. It is instructive that they had approached the courts of law thrice and each time, the cases were struck out.

     

    “The false allegations appear to be an attempt to malign Mr. Mbagwu in the court of public opinion having constituted themselves prosecutor and judge, in the absence of a case in the court of law,” the firm claimed.

     

    Ogoh further stated that there is no possession order whatsoever on any of the company’s properties anywhere in Nigeria.

     

  • Where are Sowore, Ohimai, Dadiyata?

    SIR: Democracy is freedom; freedom to exist and to exercise the full catalogue of natural rights. The quality of democracy in an ordered system is assessed by the quantity and level of freedom the citizens enjoy.

    Any type of government – military, fascist or totalitarian – can deliver services of material nature to its citizens; building hospitals, schools, roads and providing other social amenities. But not all types of government can allow citizens be citizens — not subjects or minions. This is where democracy stands out.

    The office of the citizen is a critical one in a real democracy as legitimacy resides with the people, and they accord it to whichever government that deserves it.

    Also, the government exists because of the people. When citizens live in fear and are wary of raising their voice against the establishment democracy is in manacles.

    Joseph Stalin was a brutal Soviet dictator. Though he transformed the defunct USSR from an agrarian state to an industrial hub and even strengthened the military might of the country, making it a rival superpower to the US; he is most remembered for being an executioner and violator.

    People will remember more how you treated them than what you did for them. It is true that the late Sani Abacha, through the Petroleum Trust Fund, invested in building roads and other infrastructure across the country, but today, the memory of him is that sorrow, tears and blood.

    When citizens in their homes are abducted in the dead of night and thrown into the pits of silence by security agencies for raising their voice and for doing their bounden duty of holding the government to account, totalitarianism reigns.

    Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation, said last Thursday that ‘’there cannot be real democracy without the freedom of the press’’.  But I doubt if he understood the weight of his statement, considering how the actions of the administration he serves run antithetical to this aphorism.

    No one is spared. Journalists are hounded and intimidated. Activists are pursued and imprisoned. Citizens are threatened and attacked.

    Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Saharareporters  currently languishes in jail.

    The secret police say he “planned to violently overthrow the government through a protest; he planned to join forces with the Shiite group to bring down the government; he planned to mislead the public to overthrow the government, and that he formed an alliance with Nnamdi Kanu to launch attacks on Nigeria and topple the government”.

    It is enervating that we are at this curve. It is now the norm for security agencies to arrest citizens and rustle-up farcical charges to keep them silenced. “Threat to national security” is the defence, however vacuous, for this violation.

    No matter how long it takes, some Nigerians will not glide by until Sowore is released unconditionally.

    Ohimai Amaize (Mr Fix Nigeria), anchor and creator of Kakaaki Social; a popular, novel programme on AIT now suspended, had to flee the country after potent threats to his life by agents of the state for only doing his job. He now lives in exile.

    Abubakar Idris, better known as Dadiyata, was abducted in his home by men suspected to be security agents, and since this incident, there has been no word of his whereabouts.

    Why is the government resolute in creating fear and breaking citizens to become mutes – if they cannot be its mouthpiece?

    Why does the government harass and arrest journalists, activists, citizens, but pardon, and beg bandits with monetary inducements?  Is violence the only pidgin the government understands?

     

    • Fredrick Nwabufo,

    <fredricknwabufo@yahoo.com>

  • Group slams Speaker Gbajabiamila over unguarded utterances against Buhari’s govt

    The National Democratic Front (NDF) has warned Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, to stop playing politics with issues of national security and quit making utterances to derail President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

     

    This caution trails Mr Gbajabiamila’s statement on Friday where he appeared to have berated the Service Chiefs for failing to honour invitation to the lower chamber.

     

    In a statement signed by Secretary General, Dr. Abdukakadir Bolaji, the NDF said it is appalled by the “careless utterances of the Speaker” who also vowed to report the Foreign Affairs Minister to the President over the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

     

    According to the group, there is a   grand plot to discredit the administration of President Buhari and Mr Gbajabiamila appears to be in forefront.

     

    However, The National Democratic Front advised the Speaker not to return to the era where instead of parliamentary functions, the legislature issued summons to heads of critical agencies as bait for extortion.

     

    The NDF, therefore, urged Mr Gbajabiamila to retrace his steps and not bow to any pressure to derail the country’s democracy.

     

    Read full statement below:

     

    We welcome you all to the Press Conference that has become inevitable due to the flamboyance and overreaching disposition of some elected political office holders in the country whose actions and inactions are buoyed by the need to make headlines in the national dailies at all cost, not minding the effect on the overall interest of the country.

     

    As you all may be aware, the National Democratic Front (NDF) has been on the front burner on issues such as good governance and accountability on the part of political office holders in Nigeria.

     

    Consequently, our attention has been drawn to statements credited to the Honourable Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila wherein he berated the refusal of the Service Chiefs to attend a meeting with him over killings in the country.

     

    In another vein, Mr. Speaker also threatened to report the Foreign Affairs Minister to the President over the Xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

     

    The National Democratic Front is appalled by the careless utterances of the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, which by and large presents a despicable picture to members of the unsuspecting general public on how some political office holders though holding sensitive positions of authority, but not in tune with the realities on the ground in the country.

     

    The statements by the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives gives a picture of one that is deluded by the paraphernalia of the Office of the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives to think that the Federal House of Representatives is a parallel government in Nigeria.

     

    The carelessness, as well as the recklessness in the statements credited to the Speaker, is indicative of a grand plot by some unscrupulous elements within and outside government circles to discredit the efforts of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria, as well as the securing the lives and properties of Nigerians in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.

     

    This is given the undeniable fact that the security of lives and properties is the primary responsibility of government and the Muhammadu Buhari led administration has been tackling the various issues with all the seriousness that it deserves.

     

    It is indeed ironic that the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives has chosen the dishonourable path of displaying arrogance and blind ambition to play to the gallery on issues of national interest to the detriment of over 180 million Nigerians.

     

    The National Democratic Front (NDF) views with bewilderment that the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives either by omission or commission is not aware of the various efforts of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in addressing the issues in South Africa.

     

    In the same vein, Mr. Speaker must quickly come to the realization that the Service Chiefs were appointed by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and as such, they are not subject to his whims and caprices, and neither are the Service Chiefs at his beck and call.

     

    The National Democratic Front is of the opinion that that Mr. Speaker should be aware of the electrifying schedule of the Service Chiefs and come to the realisation that they cannot abandon the business of National Security for summons and meetings at the slightest of calls.

     

    Mr. Speaker must also realize that the business of national security is not rhetoric. It requires a high level of strategic thinking, which has been the case since 2015 when President Muhammadu Buhari assumed leadership of this country, and Mr. Speaker must not be seen as working against this intererst by virtue of the position he occupies.

     

    The National Democratic Front is however convinced that the utterances by Mr. Speaker are not products of substance abuse or insanity as some would want us to believe or even the baggage of dishonesty being bandied around about his criminal conviction in the United States of America.

     

    The National Democratic Front wishes to advise Mr. Speaker not to succumb to the pressure of returning to the era where members of parliament turned oversight functions and summon to heads of critical agencies as bait for extortion because that era is Gone with the Wind and any attempt to reintroduce it might come with its attendant consequences.

     

    Whatever the case, The National Democratic Front candidly advises Mr. Speaker to retrace his steps and not bow to any pressure to derail our democracy for this is not the time to play to the gallery for the task at hand requires all hands to be on deck.