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Tag: Sylva

  • DSS arrests, releases Sylva over threat to First Lady

    DSS arrests, releases Sylva over threat to First Lady

    Operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) on Friday arrested a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Timipre Sylva, in Abuja for unclear offences.

    Curiously, Sylva was picked up on the day President Goodluck Jonathan with his campaign team was in Bayelsa State for a presidential rally.

    Sylva is the leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state.

    A DSS source, however, said the governor was only invited for questioning and was later released.

    He said the invitation would have been in connection with the series of threats by some youth groups to publicly disgrace the First Lady, Dame Patience at the rally.

    Youth groups under the aegis of the Bayelsa Youth Vanguard (BYV) and Mangrove Boys of Bayelsa (MBB) had threatened on different occasions to deal with Mrs. Jonathan if she accompanied her husband to the rally.

    The both predicated their stance on the meddling of Mrs. Jonathan in Bayelsa politics, undermining and plotting to unseat Governor Seriake Dickson.

    A source from the Aso Rock Villa hinted that the security agencies where working on the theory that the opposition was behind the groups.

    The source who pleaded anonymity said: “They are of the opinion that the real intention of persons behind the threats is to embarrass the President and give the world the impression that even at home Jonathan is not wanted.

  • Jonathan ‘ll struggle to get 25 per cent in Bayelsa, says Sylva

    •President’s friend dumps PDP for APC

    Former Bayelsa State Governor Chief Timpreye Sylva has said President Goodluck Jonathan will struggle to get the mandatory 25 per cent of the votes cast in his home state.

    He hoped the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, would defeat Jonathan in the state.

    He asked Nigerians not to cry more than the bereaved for the President because of the kind of product Jonathan is.

    Sylva gave the update on the presidential election at a news conference at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja where a former Commissioner for Health under President Jonathan as governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Frank Akpoebi dumped the PDP for for the APC.

    Akpoebi cited poor performance, inconsistency and disrespect for Ijaw leaders as some reasons behind his leaving the PDP and the President, who he described as a “very close friend.”

    The former governor, who is aspiring for the Senate asked Nigerians to follow the footsteps of Bayelsans, who have resolved not to vote for Jonathan, saying Nigerians should not cry more than the believed.

    He said: “I am happy today that APC in Bayelsa State is marching on. Chief Frank Akpoebi is a major addition to our party in Bayelsa State. We believe that with his presence in our party, we have made a quantum leap and we are closer to victory in Bayelsa State.

    “Somebody came to me the other day and was asking me why are we doing this? Why are we going to make the President to be looking for 25 per cent now in his state? That is where we are getting to.

    “We are getting to a point where APC presidential candidate will win overwhelmingly in Bayelsa State and President Jonathan might just be looking for 25 per cent in his home state.

    “He is from Bayelsa State and we know that. Of course we also know him more than you, the product that he is, the person that he is. I am only telling Nigerians not to cry more than the bereaved.

    “If we, Bayelsans, have resolved not to vote for President Jonathan, then you must look at us and you must do as we are doing.

    “In the state, we have seen not much of what he has done. He has always said that he has established so many new uniiversities. Go to those states where those universities are supposed to be and tell me what infrastructure are on ground.

    “Are those places designated as sites for those universities what they are very proud about?

    “The one in Bayelsa State is supposed to be in Otuoke, his village. The buildings there that are being used were built by me as governor and since then, nothing has happened even in the university in his village. But he has continued to say that he has established new universities.

    “I don’t believe that the problem of Nigeria is new universities. The problem of Nigeria is to make sure that the universities that have been there are functional. We have universities that are glorified secondary schools and instead of making sure that some universities become real universities, you say you are establishing so many new universities and nothing is being done in those sites.

    “There are 10,000 reasons I can give you why you should not vote for President Jonathan and I am from Bayelsa.

    “Today, Chief Frank Akpoebi, a great son of Bayelsa is joining our party and I want to also inform you that in a lot of senior Bayelsans are going to be defecting to the APC because they are completely dissatisfied with what is happening in the PDP and in the government of President Jonathan.

    “This is only the second in the series. We are going to have a lot of senior Bayelsans talking to you and crossing over to the APC before February 14. I want to assure you that the APC is marching on and that nobody can stop anybody whose idea has come. The victory of the APC is assured”.

    Speaking on the defection of Akpoebi, the ex-governor said:  “I know that Chief Frank Akpoebi is a very close friend of President Jonathan. I know that for a fact. The details of what they have together, I will not know. But I know that they were very good friends. So, he is in a position to know a lot of these things that he has just mentioned.

    “I know that in 1999, Chief Akpoebi was instrumental to the formation of the PDP in Bayelsa State and the appointment of Dr Goodluck Jonathan then as deputy governor and after that, they remained very close friends. I also know that when he became governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Frank Akpoebi was in his cabinet as commissioner for Health. So, I know that they have had a lot in common and he is in a position to say some of the things he has said”.

    Speaking earlier, Akpoebi said President Jonathan has failed to deliver on his promises to Nigerians and the people of Bayelsa State.

    He also said Jonathan was not offering good governance and listed six areas in which the President had failed the nation.

    These are insecurity, corruption, unemployment, poverty, power (electricity) and the economy (Naira devaluation).

    He added: “Above all, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has brought the politics of religion, tribe, North/South dichotomy and hate”.

  • Sylva woos former aides, Bayelsa leaders for Buhari

    Sylva woos former aides, Bayelsa leaders for Buhari

    Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, is wooing his former aides and key members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to the All Progressive Congress and its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    Already, the moves by Sylva had yielded positive results as two founding members of PDP, Amb.Felix Oboro and Chief Frank Akpoebi, joined the APC and promised to deliver the state to Buhari at the poll.

    It was also gathered on Sunday that Sylva led large entourage of APC to plead with his former Special Adviser on Security and leader of the defunct new PDP, Chief Richard Kpodo, to return to APC.

    The Nation gathered that the state APC Chairman, Chief Tiwei Orunimingha and over 500 party loyalists including candidates of the party, accompanied Sylva to meet with Kpodo in Yenagoa.

    One of the party members who attended the fence-mending meeting said Sylva urged Kpodo to return to APC and work to ensure Buhari’s victory at the presidential poll.

    The source who pleaded anonymity said the visit was to convince Sylva’s former aides to join APC and work for the party’s success in the February election.

    Kpodo, who is said to have over one million supporters in the Niger Delta region, was the Chairman of the defunct new PDP.

    When contacted Kpodo confirmed the development and said he was considering the proposal of the APC.

    “My former boss visited me with his supporters and party candidates. He wants me to come back to give support to his party. I am seriously considering the proposal and I have told my supporters to get their Permanent Voters Cards (APCs) and wait for my directive,” he said.

     

  • Buhari, others attend Sylva’s uncle’s funeral Mike Odiegwu

    Buhari, others attend Sylva’s uncle’s funeral Mike Odiegwu

    Former Head of State and All Progressives Congress’ (APC) presidential aspirant, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, was among the dignitaries that attended the funeral of the uncle to former Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Timipre Sylva.

    The remains of the 87-year-old Pa Benson Adigio-Eseni was buried at his hometown in Okpoma, Brass Local Government Area, last Saturday.

    Others, who attended were Sylva’s political associates and friends, including some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The solemn ceremony brought back memories of the sad circumstances that led to the death of the octogenarian, who died in his kidnappers’ den and was buried in a shallow grave at the entrance of Kula community, a border town between Rivers and Bayelsa State.

  • Fears over safety of Sylva’s abducted uncle

    Fears over safety of Sylva’s abducted uncle

    FEARS have continued to mount over the safety and whereabouts of Pa Benson Adigio-Eseni, the 86-year-old abducted uncle of the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva. The fears heightened on Friday after the kidnappers refused to release their victim despite receiving N5million ransom. A member of the victim’s family told our correspondent that the kidnappers were paid N5million ransom last Sunday to set their father free. “They requested for N5million and we paid them last week. Since then, we have not seen our father. We have not heard from the kidnappers either. Even their telephone number is no longer connecting,” the source, who pleaded anonymity, said. The source added: “We have handed over our father’s matter to God. We don’t want to think negative.” The development, it was learnt, had thrown the family members of the octogenarian into confusion, raising suspicion about the real motives of the kidnappers. It will be recalled that Adigio-Eseni, an octogenarian uncle of Sylva, was seized and whisked away at about 2am on July 28 in Okpoama, Brass Local Government Area, by gunmen who rode in a speedboat. The hoodlums were said to have shot sporadically before abducting their victim. The kidnappers failed to contact their victim’s family two weeks after abducting him, raising fears about the safety of Adigio-Eseni. Little respite came the way of the family when the kidnappers reportedly called, demanded N45million ransom and allowed their victim to speak to one of the family members. It was learnt that the kidnappers negotiated with the family members and agreed to collect N5million ransom. A family member, who identified himself simply as Fabo, had said the attitude of the kidnappers was beyond their estimation. with his phone.” The 70-year-old wife of Adigio-Eseni begged the kidnappers to let her husband go. “I miss my husband. Until l see him, l won’t be at rest. I am begging the kidnappers to set him free for me. They should at least consider his old age. Since they took him away from me, my life has not been the same again,” she said. In a similar development, the negotiator handling the case of the abducted mother of the Rivers Commissioner for Transport, Mr, George Tolofari, has been detained by the kidnappers. The negotiator, it was learnt, was appointed by some ex-militant leaders to deliver N5million ransom to the kidnappers in the creeks to enable them release the woman. An ex-militant leader and Chairman of the Leadership for Peace and Cultural Development Initiative (LPCDI) Pastor Reuben Wilson, confirmed that the negotiator was being detained by the kidnappers. The commissioner’s mother was reportedly abducted from her Victoria Street, Port Harcourt, residence about three weeks ago by gunmen. “One of the kidnappers called me and told me they won’t harm the negotiator, but that they were not satisfied with N5million ransom. “He asked me to tell the commissioner to bring N150million out of the N200million released by the government to secure the freedom of the woman. He threatened to kill the woman if the money was not paid,” he said. He also suspected that their father would have been abducted for political reasons. According to him, the political enemies to Sylva could have carried out the criminal act to get at the former governor who is now a leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state. Apart from being his uncle, Sylva, according to Fabo, was very close to their father. Fabo disclosed that their dad was suffering from High Blood Pressure (HBP) and was on drugs before the incident happened, adding that the octogenarian was abducted without his drugs and his mobile phone. He said: “My dad was down with high blood pressure. He was only being sustained by his drugs. They didn’t go with the drug neither did they go

  • Anxiety heightens over Sylva’s uncle’s safety

    Anxiety heightens over Sylva’s uncle’s safety

    •Kidnappers keep mum

    •Family: our father is hypertensive 

    There ia fear over the wellbeing of the   abducted uncle of former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva.

    Pa Benson Adigio-Eseni’s whereabouts have remained unknown.

    It was learnt yesterday that the kidnappers were yet to establish contact with the octogenarian’s family two weeks after abducting him. He  is 86.

    The development, it was gathered, had thrown the family into confusion, raising suspicion about the real motives of the kidnappers.

    Adigio-Eseni was kidnapped on July 28 at about 2am at Okpoama in Brass Local Government by gunmen who came in a speedboat.

    The hoodlums were said to have shot sporadically before abducting their victim.

    One of his sons, Fabo, said the silence of the kidnappers two weeks after the incident had affected the family.

    “The abductors are yet to establish contact with us two weeks after our father was kidnapped,” he added.

    Fabo said the abductors’ attitude had raised fears over their father’s safety.

    The third son in the family said he suspected that their father was abducted for political reasons.

    According to him, the political enemies of Sylva could have carried out the criminal act to get at the former governor, who is now a leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

    Besides being his uncle, Fabo said Sylva was very close to their father.

    “We are suspecting that it is political because of his relationship with former Governor Sylva. Maybe some persons kidnapped him to get at Sylva. We know our dad is not a politician and he has been ill for some time.

    “He has been in the house and he hardly goes out, even to the church. But he is very close to Sylva. Any time he (Sylva) comes to the village, his first port of call is my father’s place,” he said.

    Fabo said the silence of the kidnappers had increased grief in the family, adding that his step mother was the worst hit.

    He said she had been in shock since the incident occurred, adding that her condition had created fears in the family.

    “We are down and my step mum is the worst hit. She is shocked. She is depressed. She doesn’t know what to do. She has not uttered a word since then. We are even afraid. Everybody is downcast. There is nothing we can do because the old man is the pillar of the family,” Fabo added.

    He said their father was hypertensive and was on drugs before the incident happened.

    “They didn’t allow him to go with his drugs and his mobile phone.

    “We appeal to them to release him unconditionally so that he can reunite with his family.”

    On how their father was kidnapped, Fabo said: “They pushed and slapped the old man. They also tore his clothes before taking him away.”

  • Jonathan’s handling of security embarrassing, poor – Sylva

    Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, on Thursday frowned at President Goodluck Jonathan’s handling of security situation in Nigeria.

    Sylva lambasted President Jonathan, describing his approach to security issues as poor, embarrassing and partisan.

    The former governor, who is also a leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Mr. Duofie Buokoribo, condemned the bloody attack on the convoy of the APC National Leader and former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    Sylva described “the apparent assassination attempt on Buhari” as “a spineless assault on the voice of conscience in Nigeria by bigoted terrorists and their political sponsors seeking evil attention.”

    Noting that Nigerians, by their traditions and religions, are naturally peaceful people, Sylva said persons promoting “this campaign of death and destruction” would surely be punished by God and men.

    He insisted that Nigerians were frustrated with the way the Federal Government was handling the menace of insurgency.

    He said: “The terrorists appear to have been left to ride roughshod on the country and its citizens by a federal government that chooses extreme partisanship over proactive measures to secure life and property.

    “We are embarrassed by President Jonathan’s poor handling of the security problem and a situation where the government has allowed its sense of partisanship to overshadow the needed political, economic, and social will to tackle the insurgency.”

    According to Sylva, in civilised societies, opposition leaders enjoy more protection from the government than even those in government.

    “Murder is the worst form of censorship and this government has become increasingly notorious for attempting to permanently silence voices of opposition,” he lamented.

     

  • EFCC urges new judge to proceed with Sylva’s trial

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to reject a request by former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva, not to proceed with his trial pending the outcome of his appeal against the case.

    Lawyer to the EFCC, John Ainetor, argued on Tuesday that Sylva’s request was misplaced because his request was capable of setting wrong signal and defeating the course of justice.

    “Sylva since only filed a notice of appeal and an application for stay of proceedings, but failed to take the necessary steps to compile records and ensure that the appeal is entered, he deemed to have abandoned his appeal and cannot, on the basis of an abandoned appeal, seek a stay of proceedings,” Ainetor argued.

    The lawyer, who relied on section 18 of the Court of Appeal Rules (which state that a notice of appeal shall not act as ground for stay of proceedings) and the Practice Direction of the Federal High Court (which  directs expeditious hearing for criminal cases), urged the court to proceed with Sylva’s trial.

    “It is trite law that interlocutory stay of proceedings capable of defeating the course of justice should not be allowed. Very significant is the fact that there is no order from the Court of Appeal urging this court to stay proceedings,” he stated.

    On the argument by defence lawyer, Israel Olorundare (SAN) that it would amount to judicial impertinence for the court to proceed with the case on being aware of the existence of a notice of appeal filed by his client, the prosecution lawyer argued that the issue of impertinence does not arise if there was no order of stay by the appellate court which the trial judge refused to obey.

    Earlier, Olorundare urged the court to stay proceedings on the basis of the notice of appeal filed by his client against the ruling of the former trial judge, Justice Adamu Bello, who held that he (Sylva) has a case to enter in relation to the six-count charge of money laundering brought against him by the EFCC.

     

  • Alleged money laundering: Sylva queries EFCC’s powers to try him

    Alleged money laundering: Sylva queries EFCC’s powers to try him

    Former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva has faulted a fresh move by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to re-arraign him before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a new charge.

    He challenged the legitimacy of the fresh 42 counts and urged the court to quash it.

    Sylva, in a preliminary objection, argued that based on the offences alleged, the EFCC could not prosecute him and the six others.

    He added they could also not be tried before a Federal High Court in Abuja since the alleged money they were accused of laundering belonged to Bayelsa State and not the Federal Government.

    The ex-governor contended that it was only the Bayelsa State government or its agent that could prosecute them, if necessary, and in Bayelsa, where the alleged offences were purportedly committed.

    The EFCC arraigned Sylva before the court on a six-count of money laundering. While the earlier charge is still pending, proceedings stalled owing to the retirement of Justice Adamu Bello, the EFCC filed the fresh charge accusing the ex-governor and others of laundering about N19.2 billion.

    Charged with Sylva are: Francis Okuburo, Gbenga S. Balogun, Samuel Ogbuku, Marlin Maritime Ltd, Eat Catering Services Ltd and Haloween Blue Construction and Logistics Ltd.

    Balogun also filed a motion, seeking among others, the disqualification of the lead prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs, from the case. He accused Jacobs of hiding material facts from the court and allegedly acting in an unprofessional manner.

    Balogun, in a supporting affidavit, averred that the EFCC, in a motion ex-parte seeking an order of interim attachment and forfeiture of some property purportedly owned by Sylva, included that on Plot 1181, Thaba Tseka Crescent, Wuse II Abuja, which was already a subject of litigation.

    “That I know of a fact that the property which the complainant, through their counsel, seeks their attachment and forfeiture in their new application of March 10, 2014 with suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/188/14, are the same property which are the subject of pending appeal at the Court of Appeal,” Balogun said.

    He claimed that he was aware material facts had been suppressed by Jacobs and the EFCC in an alleged attempt to deceive the court to making an interim order of forfeiture of the property owned by Marlin Maritime Ltd (the fifth accused) on Plot 1181, Thaba Tseka Crescent, Wuse II Abuja.

    Balogun said the “EFCC is being misdirected by the desperate act of their counsel in the prosecution of the charge.”

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed could not hear the applications by Sylva and Balogun on the grounds that they were not ripe for hearing.

    He adjourned till May 16.

  • Court grants Sylva permission to travel abroad

    Court grants Sylva permission to travel abroad

    Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja has granted permission to the former Bayelsa State governor Timipriye Sylva to travel to South Africa for medical attention.

    He gave the permission yesterday while ruling on an application by the ex-governor for the release of his international passport to enable him travel.

    The judge had refused two similar applications filed by Sylva on the grounds that they were not supported by sufficient facts.

    Sylva is being tried on a six-count charge bordering on alleged financial impropriety.

    He is, among others, accused of conniving with state officials to defraud Bayelsa State of N2 billion while in office.

    Justice Bello held yesterday that since hearing in a new charge pending against Sylva has been set for January 23, he has an opportunity to travel for his medical treatment and return before the date.

    “I have given the applicant-accused a benefit of doubt that he needs a medical treatment in South Africa.”

    The judge gave the ex-governor 28 days, starting from December 7, to make the trip and return on or before January 5.