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Tag: Oke

  • We’ve put the past behind us, Akeredolu tells Oke

    We’ve put the past behind us, Akeredolu tells Oke

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) yesterday said his victory in the November 26, 2016 election was an act of God.

    He said the former governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Chief Olusola Oke (SAN), is his closest friend, adding that the past acrimony between them was the handiwork of their detractors.

    The governor enthused that the political face-off had ended as APC, which he called a large family, would give sufficient room for everybody to occupy.

    Akeredolu urged party members to demonstrate love and unity in the interest of the party and the development of the state.

    Oke and other AD leaders, including his running mate, Ganny Dauda, as well as former Transportation Commissioner Otunba Omoniyi Omodara, former state lawmaker Akin Adeniyi, the 2016 governorship candidate of Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), among others, were received into the APC by Acting Chairman Ade Adetimehin with support from Governor Akeredolu.

    Oke, who is former National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), left the APC after the September 3, 2016 primary election.

    He hinged his exit from APC on alleged irregularities in the primary, which produced Akeredolu as the party’s flagbearer.

    But APC’s Acting Chairman Adetimehin said the primary election was free, fair and credible.

    Addressing defectors, Adetimehin said: “Permit me to state categorically here that the historic primary election that returned the incumbent governor of the state as the APC governorship candidate, was free, fair and credible.

    “It was keenly contested and there was no doctored list of delegates to favour the winner, nor was there voting by non-accredited or fictitious delegates, as espoused by some divides of the party after the primaries.

    “The widely publicised and orchestrated rumour of foul play during the exercise was a mere fabrication, distortion of fact and a figment of imagination of some overzealous supporters and agents of destabilisation, who were pursing selfish agenda.”

    The acting chairman noted that the crisis and what he called anti-party activities that followed the primary were the result of “clueless and undisciplined” actions of former leadership of the party.

    He blamed the former leadership of the party for allowing the situation to degenerate into an absurdity.

    According to him, the current party leaders will never allow political reckless to occur in APC again.

    Adetimehin applauded APC’s national leadership for building bridges and filling the gaps to build a strong and virile party in the state.

    Akeredolu said there was enough room for everyone to return to the party, adding that anyone who expresses the willingness to return would be accommodated.

    He said: “Sola is here today; he knows how close we are. He knows me and I know him very well. We should love each other.

    “We are supposed to be united. Nobody can do it alone. The position we are today is by the grace of God. We don’t know how to do it. Don’t let anybody boast; it just pleases God.

    “We should forget about the past because there is no how we will not offend each other, if we are aspiring for the same position. But we have resolved our differences.”

    Oke said he led his followers into the party to reload the APC.

    The lawyer said he was ready to give total loyalty to the party.

    He expressed appreciation to APC’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola for their interest in the progress of the party.

    At the ceremony were APC leaders, including Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi and other top government officials, as well as Speaker Bamidele Oleyelogun, Chief Jamiu Ekungba, Senators Titus Olupitan and Gbenga Ogunniya.

    Also, a chieftain of the APC and senator representing Ondo North, Prof Ajayi Boroffice, lauded the return of Oke and his supporters to the progressives.

    In a statement by his Media Officer, Kayode Fakuyi, the senator expressed delight that his laudable efforts and those of other party leaders to woo politicians from other parties to the APC had started yielding positive results.

  • No going back on arrest of Ekpeyong, Oke, says Magu

    No going back on arrest of Ekpeyong, Oke, says Magu

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Ibrahim Magu says he was not discouraged about Tuesday’s failed attempt to arrest former Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS) Ita Ekpeyong and former Head of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ayo Oke.

    He spoke with State House reporters after he attended the inauguration of the committee on assets recovery by President Muhammadu Buhari at State House, Abuja.

    Stressing that no one is above the law, he said the agency has concrete evidence against the former heads of DSS and NIA.

    He insisted that the law will take its course.

    Ekpeyong is being investigated for offences bordering on alleged theft and diversion of public funds in the arms deal saga involving a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) and other service chiefs, who have since been arraigned.

    Oke, who was recently sacked by President Buhari for allegedly stashing away N13 billion in the Ikoyi apartment, is reported to have refused not to honour invitations for over three weeks.

    But senior lawyers and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) yesterday condemned the action of the security officials attached to Ekpeyong and Oke for obstructing their arrest.

    They described  the “face-off between the EFCC officials and the security officials of the two other security agencies as counter-productive to the fight against corruption.

    The senior lawyers who spoke on the issue include Sebastine Hon (SAN), Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), Seyi Sowemimo (SAN) and Babatunde Fashanu (SAN).

    They urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently instruct the leadership of the SSS and NIA to allow anti-corruption agencies to carry out their mandate without any interference whatsoever.

    Hon said: “The officials of the DSS and the NIA have no right, moral or legal, to prevent the EFCC from performing its statutory functions. Their action amounts to a breach of their oaths of office and their avowed allegiance to the Constitution and the rule of law.

    “Officials of the security agencies involved in this ugly saga bear arms; and supposing the EFCC officials attempted to force their way into the residences of the indicted persons, what would have been the result?”

    Owonikoko described the situation as “a matter of grave security implication”.

    He condemned the unhealthy inter-agency rivalry between DSS and EFCC, which, he said, started with the damning security report against confirmation of Magu as a substantive chair of EFCC by the Senate.

    According to Sowemimo, “It sends a terrible message that the anti-corruption war is failing. Some people are above the law. Impunity is still manifests in Nigeria.”

    Fashanu said what transpired was a total disregard for rule of law and court order since the EFCC officials were trying to effect a court order.

    SERAP, in a statement issued yesterday by its deputy director, Timothy Adewale, said the face-off was contrary to Nigerian law and international standards.

    The organisation added: “Nothing more fundamentally undermines public confidence in the fight against grand corruption and trust in government than to see state security agencies paid for by public funds apparently aiding and abetting those suspected of engaging in corruption to escape justice.”

    “Buhari must wade in to end this face-off if his government is to successfully stop the spread of corruption in the country and protect the integrity and authority of anti-corruption agencies.”

  • Buhari hands over Lawal, Oke to anti-graft agencies

    Buhari hands over Lawal, Oke to anti-graft agencies

    Sacked Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir David Lawal and National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Director-General Ayo Oke are to be quizzed by the anti-graft agencies.

    After the Presidency announced the officers’ sack yesterday, there were calls that they be handed over to the anti-graft agencies.

    A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said President Muhammadu Buhari’s position “is that investigation agencies which have already commenced the investigation of the two officers removed from office will go on with their work of investigation without any interference or hindrance”.

    “The President, who is fully conversant with the provisions of the constitution will not stop the investigation of anyone because he has no such power under our laws. This is a decision of the Supreme Court,” Shehu said, adding: “The President under our laws can, through the Attorney General, enter a nolle prosequi to stop an ongoing trial. He may, upon conviction, order a pardon.

    “Beyond these, the President cannot order investigation agencies to not investigate anyone and does not intend to do in this, or any other circumstance.

    “Based on his wish and desire for a strict observance of the law, the President expects the EFCC, ICPC and such agencies to proceed with ongoing investigations..

    “When and where they have reasonable grounds to charge former or serving officers to court\

    Lawal  was suspended on April 19, following allegation of misappropriation of fund meant for development of the Northeast .

    The President based his decision on the report of the three- man panel headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo which probed corruption allegations against the two officials.

    Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina who announced the decision, said Buhari accepted the recommendation of the Osinbajo panel to terminate Lawal’s appointment.

    The President appointed Boss Mustapha as Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

    The appointment, according to the statement, takes immediate effect.

    President Buhari also approved the recommendation to terminate the appointment of Ambassador Oke and the setting up of a three-member panel to, among other things, look into the operational, technical and administrative structure of the Agency and make appropriate recommendations. The names of the members of the panel were not given.

    Until yesterday, Mustapha, a lawyer and politician, was the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

    Lawal was alleged to have engaged in misappropriation of funds and lack of due process in the Presidential Initiative North East (PINE) which focuses on the redevelopment and humanitarian crisis caused largely by the Boko Haram menace in that region.

     

  • Mixed reactions trail Fed Govt’s sack of Lawal, Oke

    Mixed reactions trail Fed Govt’s sack of Lawal, Oke

    Has the Federal Government acted right by sacking ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, and ex-National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Director-General Ayo Oke? Opinions are divided, report GBADE OGUNWALE, OSAGIE OTABOR and TONY AKOWE

    What should happen next after yesterday’s sack of ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, and ex-National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Director-General Ayo Oke?

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the prosecution of the duo.  The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) feels President Muhammadu Buhari has done what is expected of him. But like the PDP, activists believe the duo should be properly investigated and prosecuted.

     

    PDP: go the whole hog

     

    A statement yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, accused Buhari of double standard in the anti-corruption war by shielding his aides and associates from prosecution while haunting opposition figure over alleged corruption.

    Describing the sacking of Babachir and Oke as a slap on the faces of Nigerians, the PDP insisted that they be handed over to the existing anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution.

    The PDP said: “It is an insult on the-collective intelligence of our people who have waited patiently for the President’s reaction on the humongous act of corruption by two of his principal aides and this is totally unacceptable.

    “First and foremost, we had disagreed with the President last year when he decided to setup the panel headed by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo to investigate the matter because we thought that was the wrong course of action to take.

    “Ordinarily, cases of corruption or alleged cases of misappropriation of funds are supposed to be referred to institutions that are saddled with the responsibility to investigate and prosecute such matters, which is the ICPC and the EFCC if there is any prima facie case against them.

    “But it appears not all animals are equal under the Buhari APC administration. Some people are treated with kid gloves while others, particularly those in opposition are subjected to all manner of harrowing experiences.

    “One of the senators of the APC, Senator Shehu Sani of Kaduna State, succinctly put the matter when he said that this administration uses deodorant to fight corruption when it comes to some APC members and President Buhari’s kitchen cabinet, but uses insecticides when it involves members of the opposition and those in the National Assembly”.

    The opposition party wondered why it took the President almost one year to attend to the two cases while the culprits were having a field day at home and enjoying themselves.

    “Whereas, in the case of the opposition, especially PDP members, even when the evidence is flimsy, they will be visited with multiple harassment and intimidation for months and weeks without proper trial.

    “We cite the case of Sambo Dasuki who has been in detention for over two years even when many courts in Nigeria and the ECOWAS Court have ordered his release, the President has fragrantly disobeyed these court orders which again are a violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “This is an impeachable offence. So the President cannot just sack Ayo Oke and Babachir Lawal and expects us to be clapping for him.

    “We believe that we are operating under a democracy and a Constitution that governs our affairs. To have subjected these people to different sets of rule and treatment is totally unacceptable.

    “Nigerians are the same under the law and Babachir Lawal and Ayo Oke should not be tried by the Presidency while others are hounded by the EFCC and ICPC.

    “These actions of Mr. President are therefore a breach of his oath of office, which he swore to defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to be fair and just to all Nigerians without any discrimination whatsoever.

    “The action of the President is a gross violation of his constitutional oath and therefore constitutes a veritable ground for impeachment Using and applying different laws to different people in the country is a direct assault on the constitution and the rule of law .

    “Consequently, we call on the National Assembly to begin processes to impeach the President for breach of the Constitution and fragrance disobedience to the laws of Nigeria.

    “We totally reject these actions and the law should follow its full course on the issues of these officers. In other words, their case should be referred to the EFCC for proper investigation and trial, more so when the President has not told us what the report of the findings was,” the statement added.

    The party argued that Nigerians have the right to know the findings of the Osinbajo panel that investigated Lawal and Oke and insisted that the report should be made public.

    “The President has by his actions taken Nigeria to the level of a banana republic. We are not in a banana republic. This is the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Three successive governments of the PDP did not act in the manner President Buhari is acting.

    “There is no doubt that the sudden sack of the SGF and the DG of NIA is just a consequence of the backlash on the Abdulrasheed Maina saga.

    “Up till now, there’s no answer to the pertinent questions we have asked on the Maina saga. The government cares less about the feelings and opinions of Nigerians. This kind of arrogance is unprecedented in the history of this county.

    “We again call for the arrest and investigation of the two Ministers involved in the return of Maina into the civil service, that is, the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau and Abubakar Mallami , the Attorney General of the Federation & Minister of Justice,” the party said.

     

    APC: we’re vindicated

     

    The APC said yesterday that the sack of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation has vindicated the party.

    The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said: “Few days ago when the President directed the dismissal of Abdulrasheed Maina, some people say that is right but what about the suspended SGF, BD Lawal but we as a party said ‘look, the President is the only person who has all the information. All of us can only have one side of the story or the other’.

    “But the President by the virtue of the position he occupies is the only one who has all the information and he would do what is necessary at the right time; now we have been vindicated and it shows that the President has not in any way waivered  in his commitment not to tolerate corruption at any level no matter who is involved.”

     

    Babachir ‘s sack long

    overdue, says Sagay

     

    The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti Corruption, Prof Itse Sagay, said the sack of the suspended SGF was long.

    Sagay said “I think there has been a consensus on this and that was overdue. There has been too much delay. Although I will like to put a caveat that government usually has a lot more information than the rest of us as the delay might have been discretionary due to the information they had. I was patient and I definitely endorse the final decision that has been taken.

    “Boss Mustapha has a very long history of political activities and my impression on him is that, apart from being a lawyer with a very good reputation in terms of integrity, he has always been a consistent person in whatever course he pursues. So, I think that we should okay at it as a positive development.”

     

    SERAP asks Buhari to handover Lawal, Oke to EFCC, ICPC

     

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has welcomed the decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the suspended Secretary to Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mr Ayodele Oke.

    The organisation also called on Buhari to “urgently handover Lawal and Oke to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for further investigation, and if there is relevant and sufficient admissible evidence, for them to face prosecution.”

    In a statement today by SERAP deputy director Timothy Adewale, the organisation said: “This is a positive development in the fight against grand corruption, although this decision is coming rather late. Buhari now has to go a step further by making sure that both Lawal and Oke are promptly brought to justice in fair trials.”

    The statement reads: “Buhari also has to move swiftly to publish report of investigation into the secret reinstatement of fugitive former civil servant, Abdulrasheed Maina, and without delay identify and bring to justice anyone suspected to be involved.”

    “This government now has a real opportunity to reassure a lot of Nigerians who may be worried about the direction of travel of the president’s anti-corruption agenda that there will be no sacred cow as far as the fight against corruption is concerned.”

    “What the government needs at this time is a revolutionary approach to the fight against corruption if Buhari is to show his commitment to ‘kill’ corruption before corruption ‘kills’ Nigeria.”

    “Without effective prosecution of high-ranking public officials charged with corruption, this government’s fight against corruption may sadly turn out to be all motion and no movement, and this will eventually undermine the legitimacy of the anticorruption efforts.”

    In a brief statement today the presidency said that President Muhammadu Buhari has studied the report of the panel headed by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), which investigated allegations against the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and the Director General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke.

    The statement noted that the president accepted the recommendation of the panel to terminate the appointment of Mr. Lawal, and has appointed Boss Mustapha as the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

     

    HURIWA seeks the

    arrest of Lawal, Oke

     

    The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) yesterday called on Buhari to order the arrest of Lawal and Oke.

    In a statement signed by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss. Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA also criticised the President for failing to use the sacking of the erstwhile SGF to balance the ‘clear lopsidedness’ in the composition of his cabinet.

    The group said: “Let all the credible Non-governmental bodies come together as a coalition of patriots to set up effective monitoring mechanisms to ensure that all the relevant law enforcement institutions are compelled to do the needful in this instance and not be allowed to deliberately undermine or destroy the prosecution of these two powerful former presidency officials.

    “The erstwhile SGF is alleged to be very close to the acting chairman of EFCC because the EFCC acting Chairman has been sighted in the Maitama residence of the now sacked SGF Babachir Lawa.”

     

    Oshiomhole hails

    appointment of SGF

     

    Former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has described the newly appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, as one of the engine rooms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2015 presidential election.

    Oshiomhole said the appointment of Mustapha came at a time when the APC and government were making efforts to re-tool the system for enhanced service delivery to the people.

    He said: “Mr. Boss Mustapha saw the entire processes of the formation of the party, electioneering and management of all the factors that led to the victory of the party at the 2015 General elections.

    “He is not just a seasoned party man who understands the dynamics of party management but also very much abreast with governmental administration and responsibilities.

    “As a calm, collected and silent organiser, he is very much at home with all the critical elements of the party and knows how to coordinate effortlessly without carrying any air around himself. His appointment would no doubt rekindle the strong determination of the present APC government in delivering the dividends of democracy for the good of all.

    “Mr. Boss Mustapha is coming into this job with a lot of experience in administration and management. He will no doubt be a huge resource and engine room for the APC-led Federal Government. I wish to record my congratulations on this appointment which I consider as a square peg in a square hole.”

  • Lawal, Oke to face security agencies- Presidency

    Lawal, Oke to face security agencies- Presidency

    The Presidency on Monday night said President Muhammadu Buhari has taken the necessary administrative action against the allegations leveled against the sacked Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal and the Director General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke.
     It added that all other actions will be taken by the relevant government agencies.
    This was contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu.
    He said “The position of the President therefore is that investigation agencies which have already commenced the investigation of the two officers removed from office will go on with their work of investigation without any interference or hindrance.
    “The President who is fully conversant with the provisions of the constitution will not stop the investigation of anyone because he has no such power under our laws. This is a decision of the Supreme Court.
    “The President under our laws can, through the Attorney General enter a nolle prosequi to stop an on-going trial. He may upon conviction, order a pardon.
    ” Beyond these, the president cannot order investigation agencies to not investigate anyone and does not intend to do in this, or any other circumstance.
    “Based on his wish and desire for a strict observance of the law, the President expects the EFCC, ICPC and such agencies to proceed with ongoing investigations..
    “When and where they have reasonable grounds to charge former or serving officers to court under our laws, they do not require the permission of the President to do so, ” he stated
  • How Oke won $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature

    How Oke won $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature

    The Prof Ernest Emenyonu-led four-man panel of judges – Dr Razinatu Mohammed, Tade Ipadeola and Prof Abena Busia – has disclosed why it recommended Ikeogu Oke’s The Heresaid, as winner of this year’s The Nigeria Prize for Literature. Last Monday, Oke was announced winner of the $100,000 prize, Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports. 

    This year’s Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Literary Prize attracted 184 poetry collections. Of these, 101 entries were disqualified at the initial weeding carried out by the board of assessors.

    But, at the final phase, the panel examined the strengths of each of the three books: Ogaga Ifowodo’s A Good Mourning, Tanure Ojaide’s Songs of Myself: Quartet and Ikeogu Oke’s The Heresaid.

    To choose the winner was not come easy for the panel. According to the panel, the decision was made after diligent considerations and objective application of the guidelines and criteria. The decision, the panel said, is based on “its apt topicality, relevance, artistic heft and the pursuit of artistic provenance. In a world increasingly threatened by encroaching totalitarianism and even bare-faced tyranny and intolerance, the wit, wisdom and message of the The Heresaid are infinitely crucial.

    “It is our hope and goal that the kind of vibrancy which we have found in the collections of poetry submitted is a vital evidence that NLNG is making unprecedented difference in the intellectual development of Nigeria and Nigerian today,” it added.

    International consultant Abena P. A. Busia, in his report, said: “This has been a surprisingly difficult decision as each collection has very strong merits to recommend it for this prestigious prize. The three volumes, though very different, are the work of three extremely accomplished poets who, in fact, have significant aspects in common. I single out as the most salient of these traits a firm belief in the place of poetry in the service of social justice, and the desire, shared by each of them, to forge a poetic form that can contain the often difficult subject matter of the worlds they interrogate, within their structures. I discuss them here in alphabetical order by author.”

    On Oke, he said: “This is a bold and wonderful experiment whose great strength also could have been its great weakness. That Oke manages to create a poem that keeps quite strictly over 100 pages to the lyric pentameter and still holds the attention of the reader is a singular achievement. The experiment in lesser hands could have led to a deadening of the senses. The volume itself is structured on a great conceit; a bold venture in defence of the art of poetry itself. The narrator is a griot narrating a great battle between supporters and detractors in defence of the humanities, and has succeeded in creating a modern epic. The mastery of form is a tour de force exemplary of the dedication to the craft the poem is inscribed to defend. It would have been wonderful if this work had not only been published in print, but had been released with an audio version because, indeed, its singular achievement is its sustaining of narrative that displays the arguments of the contending parties, and yet at the same time keeps so clear the voice of the griot. And we can indeed hear the musicality in the rigor of the lines, and the absoluteness of the rhyming scheme of heroic couplets sustained throughout the work.  In the end, if there must be a choice, my selection goes with this collection for the technical feat it performs. The deciding factor was the inclusion of the music, which I attempted playing and in doing that it brought home to me how very carefully the performativity of this work has been thought through; Oke has made ancient forms new again.”

    The other finalists are Ifowodo and  Ojaide.

    The Nigeria Prize for Literature has since 2004 rewarded eminent writers, such as Gabriel Okara (co-winner, 2005, poetry), Prof Ezenwa Ohaeto (co-winner, 2005, poetry); Ahmed Yerima (2006, drama) for his classic, Hard Ground;  Mabel Segun (co-winner, 2007, children’s literature) for her collection of short plays Reader’s Theatre; Prof. Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo (co-winner, 2007, children’s literature) with her book, My Cousin Sammy; Kaine Agary (2008, prose); Esiaba Irobi (2010, drama) who clinched the prize posthumously with his book Cemetery Road; Adeleke Adeyemi (2011, children’s literature) with his book The Missing Clock; Chika Unigwe (2012 – prose), with her novel, On Black Sister’s Street; Tade Ipadeola (2013; Poetry) with his collection of poems, Sahara Testaments; Sam Ukala (2014; drama) with Iredi War; and Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (2016, Prose) with Season of Crimson Blossoms.

    The Nigeria Prize for Literature rotates yearly among four literary genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • $43m Ikoyi cash: Reps summon Emefiele, Magu, Monguno, Oke

    THE House of Representatives may be on a collision course with some key agencies of the Federal Government over its plan to probe the $43 million cash belonging to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Ikoyi, Lagos.

    For three times, top officials of the government invited to appear before the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence refused to show up.

    At yesterday’s hearing, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele informed the lawmakers through a letter that the CBN would not be able to appear before the committee because the National Security Agency Act identifies information coming from the agency under scrutiny as classified.

    However, he said the provisions quoted by the lawmakers in their letter dated May 10, 2017 has merit.

    Emefiele added that the National Security Agency Act also refers to Section 9 of the Official Secrets Act, hence the CBN will not be able to appear to give insight into the issue.

    He added that the issue is delicate and that it had been investigated by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo’s panel.

    But chairman of the committee, Aminu Sani Jaji, said all public officials are bound to appear before lawmakers because Sections 88 and 89 of the constitution as amended empower them to investigate anyone, ministry, department or agency.

    The lawmakers consequently rejected the CBN governor’s letter and ordered Emefiele, the suspended Director General of the NIA Mr. Ayo Oke, National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno and Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu  to appear on May 23 at 2pm.

  • Lawal and Oke as glamour news

    These indeed, are interesting times. They are also good times for news hunters. These days, the whole place is saturated with news in different moulds and dimensions. There is plenty of news in circulation every day to the extent that it takes an editor with good news judgement to decide what the lead story of his paper would be from the plethora of news items available to pick from.
    While the ink with which a particular breaking news item is written is still dripping, several other news items of compelling nature keep tumbling in, in quick succession. They come in different shapes and sizes, from the sublime to the ridiculous. Surprisingly, most of the news items usually emanate from the corridors of power and government agencies.
    Last week was particularly busy for the media. Work had just started after the Easter holiday when, suddenly, there was bedlam in the presidency following the directive by the president that Babachir David Lawal, the all-powerful Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF and Ayodele Oke, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, be suspended. Both of them had been respectively accused of legal and due process violations as well as the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in a private, residential apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos.
    The suspension order on the two principal officers of government came as a rude shock to the public. For instance, the SGF had, few months back, when the controversy surrounding his handling of the grass-cutting contract awarded for the northeast, been given a clean bill of health by the presidency. This caused uproar in both the National Assembly where he was allegedly indicted and the public who viewed the government action as tantamount to condoning corruption. In the case of the DG NIA, the discovery of a whooping N13b stashed away in a private apartment by the EFCC has become a subject of discussion all over the country and beyond.
    Investigations revealed that the total money collected by this agency was in the neighbourhood of N56b. In that case, the N13b found hidden in the Ikoyi apartment could have been the balance of the money that was left in the kitty after all expenses suspected to have been made during the 2015 general elections.
    However, Lawal opened a Pandora’s Box when, shortly after the news of the suspension filtered into the media, he was confronted by news hunters who sought to know his reaction to the order. As the news of the suspension order by the presidency was broken to him, an apparently bewildered SGF, had retorted: who is the presidency? That question has, in itself, generated another debate as to who really is the presidency? The questions now agitating the minds of the people are: Is the presidency Buhari? Or is the presidency being referred to here, the cabals or scavengers around the corridors of power who have become so powerful that they wield awesome powers?
    The questions are germane because it appears that Lawal was quite aware that President Buhari had withdrawn from the public as a result of his illness which recently kept him in London for about 50 days. Besides, in the last two weeks, he had been absent from some official functions including the weekly National Executive Council meetings, only appearing briefly at the Friday Juma’at service in the confines of the Villa. At any rate, Lawal must have been in the know of the power-play in the Villa of which he could have been a major player himself. This was probably why he sought explanation for who was the presidency that issued his suspension order.
    It may take many months, if not years or even eternity, to arrive at an appropriate answer to that question. The fact is that activities around the president in Nigeria have, for long, been shrouded in secrecy. Like it is obtainable elsewhere, there is always a coterie of influence-wielding people who cluster around the corridors of power and assume the role of de facto presidents all over the place. They could be friends of the incumbent president, his relations, a group of ministers or advisers who constitute themselves into what is called the kitchen cabinet.
    Sometimes, these cabals could have the wives and or concubines of the sitting president as their arrow-head. We saw it in Turai the late President Yar’Adua’s wife; the late Stella, wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo; and quite recently, in Patience, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife, including some primitive and not-too-exposed Ijaw boys and women of easy virtues, who suddenly assumed prominence in the corridors of power under the Jonathan administration.
    For Lawal, he was largely known to the public as a very arrogant person. Many times, he was quoted as telling whoever cared to listen that he could have been better off if he was allowed to operate outside the government and corner contracts from all the states of the federation rather than being pigeon-holed in the government office.
    As for Oke, those who have come across him, easily credit him as a quite humble, respectful and easy going gentleman. Agreed. But how do you reconcile that with the quantum of money allegedly discovered to have been stashed away in a private house under his watch. Remember, William Shakespeare once said: “There is no art to find the mind’s construction in the face.”
    It was learnt that other security agencies got heavy allocations in the rundown to the 2015 elections. What this invariably means is that this money may have been set aside to influence the outcome of the 2015 elections. Therefore, it might just be necessary to widen the scope of the investigation to include other security agencies who might have been used as conduits to ferry out money for rigging the elections.
    At any rate, all eyes are now on the Osinbajo-led three-man panel which has been constituted to investigate the allegations levelled against Lawal and Oke. The panel comprising the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo himself, the Attorney General and Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami, as well as the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd.), has 14 days to summit its report. From the suspended SGF’s question of who the presidency really is, it is left to be seen how the white paper of the probe panel will turn out to be. Maybe by the time the result comes out, Nigerians would have, indeed, found an answer to Lawal’s question.
    From the reports making the rounds, it is understood that but for the insistence of Osinbajo on the need to clear the air on these two principal officers, majority of the people in the presidency had suggested that the matter concerning both officers be treated as a security issue. And some of these people might be part of those (if not the people) who would sit with the president and take a decision on the issues.
    For a long time, it has become increasingly clear that whereas Buhari is committed to the anti-corruption war which is one of the cardinal programmes of the party in power, the All Progressives’ Congress, APC, it is doubtful if his co-travellers in government are so committed to the anti-corruption war. That is the reason Nigerians are very sceptical about the likely outcome of the panel’s enquiry at the end of the day. God help Nigeria!

  • NSA knew about $43.4m, NIA boss Oke tells panel

    NSA knew about $43.4m, NIA boss Oke tells panel

    EFCC defers action on Ikoyi cash haul investigation

    Members of the Presidential Investigative Committee probing the recovery of $43.4million at Osborne Towers in Ikoyi, Lagos sat yesterday for more than 11 hours.
    They examined documents and interrogated some officials at the marathon session.
    Grilled were the suspended Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Amb. Ayo Oke, and some top officials of the agency.
    One of the highlights of the session was when the suspended NIA DG told the panel that he wrote a memo to the National Security Adviser (NSA) on the custody of the $43.4million for covert operations.
    A source said the DG maintained his stand that he informed the NSA, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, who is a member of the committee, about the money.
    Oke was said to have told the committee about the covert operations and projects executed by the agency.
    Responding to a question, the source, who pleaded not to be named, added: “Oke gave a spirited defence of his career and said there was no ill-motive behind the cash.”
    “At the end of it all, Oke was heard saying ‘I did my best before the committee. I have left the rest to God.”
    But there were indications that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may have deferred further action on the interrogation of some suspects for the Osinbajo Committee to conclude its assignment.
    The committee, which began sitting at about 10am, had not called it a day as at 9.37pm.
    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “What the committee did was to sieve through heaps of documents submitted by the EFCC and the NIA on the $43.4million.
    “Some of the documents include findings at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on some companies engaged by the intelligence agency.
    “After analysing these documents, the committee started interacting with some top officials of NIA.  Thereafter at about 5.40pm, the interaction with Oke then started.
    “Oke took longer time because he brought the list of projects being executed, the designs, contract papers and mode of payment.”
    A multinational company is said to be handling most NIA projects.
    The committee decided to work round the clock to meet its two weeks deadline, the source said, adding: “The  members  actually started sitting at about 10am and the only time they had respite was each time the National Security Adviser, Gen. Babagana Monguno and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, went to observe Islamic prayers.
    On why the EFCC has deferred the interrogation of some suspects, the source said: “Since a panel is in place, the EFCC has stayed action on the invitation  of some suspects to avoid duplication of efforts.
    “The recommendation of the panel will determine the next step by the anti-graft commission.”