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  • Buhari for Jordan, Dubai events

    president Muhammadu Buhari departed Abuja yesterday for Amman, Jordan, to honour an invitation from King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein to participate in the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa, holding at the Dead Sea, Jordan.

    President Buhari, a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said, would speak an at the opening plenary with King Al-Hussein and United Nations Secretary General António Guterres.

    He will also join world economic leaders in an informal gathering at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre.

    The Prresident will hold meetings with some leaders on the sidelines of the forum.

    Buhari is billed to depart Amman Sunday for Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) to participate in the ninth annual Investment Meeting, April 8-10.

    Invited by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rachid Al Maktoum, UAE’s vice-president and prime minister, Buhari as guest of honour, will deliver the keynote under the theme, “Mapping the Future of Foreign Direct Investment: Enriching World Economies through Digital Globalisation.”

    According to the organisers, the meeting was “the largest gathering of corporate leaders, policy-makers, businessmen, regional and international investors, entrepreneurs, academics and experts showcasing information, strategies and knowledge on attracting FDI.”

    The meeting also seeks to explore investment opportunities in over 140 countries, connect businesses and countries willing to engage in sustainable partnerships with investors.

    President Buhari was accompanied by Governors Abubakar Badaru, Abiola Ajimobi and Yahaya Bello of Jigawa, Oyo and Kogi states.

    Others on the entourage included Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; National Security Adviser Maj. Gen. Mohammed Babagana Monguno (rtd), and other top government officials.

     

  • Kwara election panel to lawyers, parties: be wary of fraudulent agents

    A Kwara State Governorship and State Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Ilorin yesterday cautioned lawyers and parties to be wary of persons who might be parading themselves as agents for fraudulent purposes.

    The tribunal chairman, Justice Bassey Efiong Ikpme, stated this in his address at the inaugural sitting of the tribunal in Ilorin.

    “If any person or group comes to tell you that he or she is our agents for fraudulent purposes, please don’t believe it for we don’t have such agents,” he said.

    Other members of the tribunal include Justices Ngozi Okoaisabor and Mariya Ismail.

    He said: “We shall do our work without any form of bias.”

    He said the assignment was “time specific”, assuring that the tribunal would complete its work on the petition filed before it within the time lag.

    Justice Ikpme urged counsel to be ready to work within the time frame allowed for the tribunal to complete its assignment.

    In another development, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the just concluded governorship election, AbdulRasaq Atunwa, are challenging the qualification of governor-elect AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest the March 9 governorship election

    In an application, counsel to the petitioner, Abdulwahab Bamidele, who held brief for Paul Isokoro (SAN), sought the tribunal’s leave to serve the 1st and 2nd respondents through “substituted means”.

    He asked the tribunal for a leave to enable him serve the respondents with the “petitions and processes on the tribunal’s notice board within the premises of the state high court complex Ilorin, his last known address at No 1 , Abdulkadir Road, GRA, Ilorin and  APC’S Secretariat at Asa Road, GRA ,Ilorin.

    Read also: Kwara election tribunal to lawyers, parties: Be wary of fraudulent agents

    A similar motion was filled by counsel to Action Alliance (AA), who is also challenging the qualification of the governor-elect.

    The tribunal latter rose to observe 10 minutes break after entertaining application by counsel seeking the tribunal’s permission  to serve the 1st and 2nd respondents through “substituted means”.

    In his ruling on the applications, the tribunal’s chairman said the tribunal “acknowledged” that the purpose of the application was to bring to the notices of the respondents the “pendency” of petitions before the tribunal for which they were granted.

    He, therefore, adjourned the sitting till April 15,2019 for hearing.

  • APC will reclaim all ‘stolen’ mandates

    Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Yekini Nabena has said the party will reclaim its stolen mandate in states where the 2019 elections was conducted in fragrant disregard to electoral values.

    Nabena said the rerun elections in Bauchi, Sokoto and Adamawa states, which threw up Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates were marred by massive rigging, violence and vote-buying.

    In Bauchi, PDP’s Bala Mohammed was declared winner. In Adamawa, Fintiri, of PDP won, while in Sokoto, incumbent Aminu Tambuwal was victorious.

    Nabena, who is APC’s deputy national publicity secretary, believed the rerun elections were not conducted in line with the laid down rules of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Speaking with reporters in Abuja, Nabena hoped the party would reclaim its mandate through the tribunals.

    REad also: Alleged certificate forgery: It’ll be futile exercise against AbdulRazaq, says APC

    He said: “Following a review of the …re-run in Bauchi, Sokoto and Adamawa states, it is evident massive rigging, thuggery and vote-buying characterised the exercise.

    “It should be noted that while APC have over two third of members of the House of Assembly in Bauchi and a majority in Sokoto…  the re-run was rigged and were conducted without regards to laid down rules …”

    When asked if his party would challenge the outcome in the tribunal, he said APC would reclaim the mandate the people freely gave to it.

    “…the outcome …will be challenged … to reclaim our mandates,” Nabena said.

  • Ekiti Assembly confirms 13 commissioner-nominees

    THE Ekiti State House of Assembly has unanimously confirmed 13 commissioner nominees presented by Governor Kayode Fayemi.

    The nominees were confirmed by the House during yesterday’s plenary, presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Adeniran Alagbada.

    The nominees include a former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Bamidele Faparusi; Mrs. Moji Kolade, Mr. Febisola Adewale, Mr. Gbenga Agbeyo, Mr. Michael Awopetu and Mrs. Moji Fafure.

    Others are Alhaji Ayodele Jinodu, Mr. Muyiwa Olumilua, Mr. Sola Adebayo, Dr. Adio Folayan and Mr. Olusoga David, Chief Folorunso Olabode and Mr. Femi Ajayi.

    The Speaker urged them to ensure that they contribute their quota towards the development of the state.

    Read also: Fayemi’s wife, judge declare war against rapists, traffickers in Ekiti

    Speaking to reporters after his confirmation, Faparusi said the new assignment is a call to serve the people.

    “This is a call to serve the people, a call to support the realisation of the vision for development of Governor Fayemi in the state,” he said.

    The house later adjourned sitting till Monday, April 8.

     

  • Iwuanyanwu says Igbo won’t beg for position

    Prominent Igbo leader and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has said that the Southeast region will not beg for the President of the Senate or Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    Iwuanyanwu, who spoke Nation in Owerri,  the Imo State capital, said it is the right of the Southeast to produce the Senate President after the North and the South West have clinched the positions of the President and Vice President respectively.

    According to him, the current arrangement for the sharing of principal offices in the National Assembly by the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC), will further undermine the Igbo as one the three major tribes that make up the country.

    He observed that the Igbo have made great contributions in the development and unity of the nation and should not be treated with levity at all times.

    Read also: Promissory Notes: NASS approved figures sent by Executive for Delta, Taraba States, says Saraki

    Iwuanyanwu said: “The Southeast will not beg for the position of the Senate President or Speaker of the House of Representatives. Igbo are not fools, Igbo have talented people, we have no doubt in our mind that we are being marginalised. Let me tell other parts of Nigeria how the Igbo feel about issues, Igbo feel they are part of the success of Nigeria right from the time this country was founded. The Igbo have done better than most tribes in Nigeria, Igbo have distributed their resources across the nation.

    “Right now, the Igbo are very unhappy, we have been pushed to a point of contempt and ridicule. There are some people in this country who just ridicule,  some even say that the Igbo have been sacked from this country. Take for instance the issue of the railway, none passed through Igboland and this is being financed with a loan that all of us will repay”.

    Iwuanyanwu also disclosed that the Igbo have nothing against President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said: “The Igbo have nothing against Buhari at all but a fundamental mistake was made in 2015 when a son of the Eastern region, Goodluck Jonathan was running for a second term, the Igbo felt he needed a second term but that does not mean that they hated Bubari in anyway”.

     

  • ‘Good times ahead in Rivers’

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council in Rivers State has said there are excellent times ahead in the state with Governor Nyesom Wike’s victory at the polls.

    The Director of Information and Communications, Emma Okah, in a statement yesterday, thanked the people for their support for Wike and other candidates of the party.

    He thanked  God for using the people to work for  Wike’s re-election.

    A thank you message by the Director of Information and Communications, Emma Okah, noted that their resilience, prayers and steadfast support helped to overcome anti-democratic forces.

    Okah was happy with Churches, traditional rulers and leaders of thought, women, youth groups, within and outside the state, for their prayers and support which culminated in Wike’s victory.

    He also underscored the roles played by the security agencies in ensuring that the collation was hitch-free, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for their commitment to concluding the collation exercise despite threats of violence.

    Read also: Politicians filed 736 petitions against 2019 elections

    The publicity secretary also lauded local and international observers, and the media, for being professional in the due discharge of their assignments. He also commiserated with families who were bereaved during the elections. He promised that the killers will not go unpunished, and the government will not forget their sacrifices.

    The Chairman, Felix Obuah, maintained that Wike’s victory was well deserved.

    He said: “I joined the train of well-wishers to congratulate the Governor-elect on his well-deserved victory. The victory has put paid to any doubt about God’s infallibility, especially to those who put absolute trust in Him.

    “The victory is not just for Governor Wike and the PDP, but for all lovers of true democracy and the people. It is a litmus test for our democracy.

    “Governor Wike’s victory is unprecedented in the annals of Rivers State, as it could only take God’s intervention to survive the gang-up and the evil conspiracy by enemies of the state. This victory has shown that our God is a miracle worker. God has clearly shown that the fervent and heartfelt prayers being offered by Rivers people are not in vain. Truly, He has disappointed all the counsel of Ahithophel, including all the people who arrogate the place of God to themselves.”

  • CDHR urges Ambode to decongest prisons

    The Lagos State chapter of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has urged Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to decongest prisons before he leaves office on May 29.

    Speaking yesterday during a peaceful march to the Alausa seat of the government, as part of the activities to mark the 30th anniversary of the group, the Chairman, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, said a visit to Ikoyi and Kirikiri Maximum/Medium Prisons during the week showed that they were congested.

    He advised the government to intervene.

    He said most of the inmates were those who committed minor offences and whose cases were being delayed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who he said, had little time to go through the files.

    Omotehinse condemned the spate of extrajudicial killings by the police, citing the killing of Kolade Johnson by the police at Onipetesi, Ikeja on Sunday.

    “Today is the Day 5 of our 30th anniversary. CDHR was formed in 1989 when a unionist, now a lawyer, Mr. Femi Aborishade, was detained under Decree 2 by the then government of Ibrahim Babangida.

    “We have visited the prisons and we saw the deplorable conditions under which the inmates are being kept.

    “Part of our discovery is that one of the prisons had 3000 inmates over its capacity. Many of the inmates are victims of circumstances.

    “We are challenging the police to respect human dignity. We want them to respect human rights. If they want to take people to court, they should do so.

    “For instance, they take someone that commits capital offence to a magistrates’ court that does not have jurisdiction and then the file will be taken to the DPP that will not attend to it for eight or even nine months.

    “We are not encouraging building of more prisons. We want the government to decongest the prisons in Badagry, Kirikiri, Ikoyi and others.

    “We have a lot of cases pending there. A file that is not up to 30 pages will be pending with the DPP for months,” he said.

    On extrajudicial killings, Omotehinse said this should be condemned by right thinking persons.

    He recalled that he led a protest when three people were killed at Makoko last year.

    “Police officers who killed people were allowed to go scot-free in the past. But I am impressed that this time, the police commissioner has paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family.

    “It is only a court of competent jurisdiction that can sentence people to death.

    “Some of the people in the prisons were made to sign their statements under duress.

    “We appeal to Governor Ambode to decongest the prisons. The Attorney-General should also be up and doing,” Omotehinse said.

    The activists were later addressed by the Special Adviser to the Governor (SSA) on Civic Engagement, Taiwo Aiyedun, who hailed them for their courage and for fighting for the common man. “The government identifies with your agitations,” he said.

    Omotehinse presented a letter and a gift to Aiyedun for transmission to the governor, who he praised for his developmental projects across the state.

     

  • Supreme Court to hear APC primaries appeals on April 8 and 11

    The Supreme Court yesterday adjourned hearing of four appeals on the Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election till April 8 and 11.

    The court adjourned hearing in the matter for various reasons, but mainly for the absence of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) lawyer.

    The appeals are those of Senator Magnus Abe against INEC and others; Tonye Cole against Abe; APC against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the APC seeking for consolidation on all the pending appeals.

    Abe is praying the court to make a pronouncement on the authenticity of the direct and indirect primaries on the nomination of candidates.

    He specifically wants the court to determine which of the two appeals is known to law and to be recognised by INEC.

    However, when the matter came up, Abe’s lawyer, Henry Bello, told the court of his motion seeking to amend his appeal. But the matter was stalled due to the absence of INEC’s lawyer who was the first respondent.

    Bello sought for an order to stand down the matter to enable the arrival of INEC’s lawyer, but the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mohammed Bello declined.

    Read also: Politicians filed 736 petitions against 2019 elections

    Justice Bello, who presided over the matter, ruled that the apex court does not stand down matters for anybody or group.

    This, therefore, prompted the CJN to adjourn hearing till April 8 for the parties to present their cases.

    In the two other appeals by Tonye Cole, a factional governorship candidate and APC, Justice Bello adjourned hearing till April 11 to enable parties to file and exchange their processes.

    The acting CJN, who led a seven-man panel, also abridged time for the parties to file and exchange papers since pre-election matters are time bound.

    In the fourth appeal by the APC seeking a consolidation of all existing appeals relating to the primary election, the court adjourned hearing indefinitely for the party to regularise their processes.

  • Army trains NSCDC, NIS, others on military operations

    Sixtty-seven security operatives from the Nigerian Army (NA), Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been trained on how to plan and execute

    Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW).

    The participants comprising 58 from the Army, two each from NIS, DSS and NCS and three from NSCDC were of the ranks of Major and Lieutenants and drawn from Lagos and Ogun States.

    They underwent a five-day intensive training at the instance of the 81 Division Nigerian Army, aimed at improving operations estimate planning and skills, military decision-making process, interagency cooperation and himan rights obligations for counterterrorism operations.

    Commending the participants for the efforts they put in their submissions, Commandant Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC)  Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Abubakar-Sadick Liman said he was optimistic they have acquired beneficial knowledge that would spur them for better performance.

    Read also: Army seeks exemption from budget envelope allocation system

    Liman who was the Special Guest at the event noted that the officers’ knowledge was broadened on intelligence gathering as a tool for successful conduct of military operations, logistics planning in MOOTW and social media, among others.

    “I am therefore convinced that these topics were carefully selected for the cadre, in fulfillment of the Army Headquarters’ and the Division’s Training Directives. This is bearing in mind the Chief of Army Staff’s (COAS’) vision.

    “Let me also quickly point out here that as middle/junior commanders and staff officers, this cadre experience will come handy in your various courses, either in your service/organisation or courses at Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC). It will equally be beneficial in command and staff roles while carrying out your professional military duties,” he said.

    Speaking to reporters after the event, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division Maj.-Gen. Musa Yusuf said the training was a directive from the COAS Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai and held simultaneously across all army divisions.

    “Training like this is done in order to improve the professional efficiency of our officers and soldiers. It is to make our officers better professionals in the discharge of their duty, be it in peace time or in operational areas.”

    Asked why the police were not part of the training, the GOC said an invitation was extended to the police.

    “All security agencies were invited because the MOOTW is internal operation and we are all aware that the police is the lead agency in internal security operations. We all have our respective roles to play.

    “But in the next training, we will ensure that we get across to them aside sending letter so that they can be present. The training is supposed to be every quarter by the directive from Army headquarters but at the division’s level, we are trying to do it more than once a quarter,” he said.

     

  • Northwest group endorses Gbajabiamila for Speaker

    A group, the Northwest Democratic Front, has endorsed Femi Gbajabiamila’s bid to become the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 9th Assembly.

    Making the endorsement known in a statement by its Chairman, Abubakar Ainu, a former Sokoto State chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the group said Gbajabiamila would also need the support of a strong deputy.

    It said in line with the commitment of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership to rewarding loyalty and integrity, Gbajabiamila would make a great Speaker and the House would be dynamic, if he is backed by loyal, strong and experienced member, Alhaji Musa Sarkin Adar.

    According to the statement, “On behalf of the people of the North-west, we hereby endorse the declaration of Femi Gbajabiamila to run for office of the Speaker of the 9th Assembly.

    “Our endorsement is in line with the spirit of members of the House which was displayed when Gbajabiamila, the House Leader and five time legislator, (APC-Lagos), made his formal declaration on the 31st of March and was accompanied during his official press release by returning and new members, who were over 100 in number.

    “We are also convinced by Gbajabiamila’s pledge to mentor the next generation and unite the nation which informs our recommendation for Sarkin Adar, another strong nationalist to be made Deputy Speaker.” The group said.

    While commending the stand of the APC on rewarding loyalty, the group said Gbajabiamila and Sarkin Adar are not only core party loyalists, but competent, tested representatives of proven integrity, honesty and experience as well.

    Shedding light on their choice of Sarkin Adar as deputy, the group said he is one of the unapologetic believers in the grand ideals of President Buhari, who has not for once contemplated any distrustful act nor played against party principles, objectives and standpoint on any issue.

    The group noted that Musa Sarkin Adar who represents Goronyo/Gada Federal Constituency of Sokoto state would make a competent deputy for Mr Gbajabiamila who is eminently favoured by the APC for the speakership.

    Read also: Speaker: Dogara fingered in plot against Gbajabiamila

    Recounting some of the qualities that inform their preference for Sarkin Adar, the group said, prior to his becoming a member of the federal legislature, he has made commendable mark as Director in the Governor’s Office, Sokoto state and at the Nigerian Ports Authority where he was Personnel Manager.

    “In the 2007 elections, he contested for the House of Representatives seat and won and got re-elected in 2011,” the Group said and pointed out that he spearheaded the historic move against the imposition of a Speaker in 2011 by the then ruling party.

    “He also made the nomination for Emeka Ihedioha as the deputy speaker on the floor of the house and the nomination was seconded by Hon Kumo.

    “In the 2015 elections, he re-contested on the platform of the APC and won,” the Group said, adding that he was Chairman, House Committee on Electoral Matters in the 6th Assembly and Chairman House Committee on Land Transport in the 7th Assembly.