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Breaking: Pat Utomi Alleges Plot By DSS To Elongate Buhari’s Tenure

By
James Orji
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Pat Utomi has described the recent claim by the Department of State Services, DSS, that some persons were trying to impose an Interim National Government, ING, on the country as false. Rather, the human rights activist, and Labour Party,  LP, chieftain alleged that the DSS  is trying to subvert the country’s democracy by raising a false flag.

The secret police had last month disclosed that it has stopped the plan of some powerful forces to impose an ING on the country. It also warned those nursing the plot to desist from it or get punished.

The report came as the country is planning a handover of power on May 29. Incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to handover power of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress,  APC, presidential  candidate who the election on February 25  in two month.

The president has already assured  Nigerians that he has no plan to stay beyond his term, and has set up  a transition committee  to oversee a smooth handover.

Buhari gave his words amidst the call, by some prominent  Nigerians for an ING, even though those calling for it are in the minority.

Speaking on AIT programme Kakaaki on Monday, the professor said the DSS is trying to elongate the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari which has largely failed in all its promise to Nigerians.
According to him, the DSS is playing a game with Nigerians, and acting out a script by some unknown persons in the administration who want Buhari to say in office beyond May 29.

He said the plot is to ensure that the government did not hand over power at the stipulated date, describing the DSS action as a “political scavenging for legitimacy” by those who want to perpetuate the incumbent in power beyond the stipulated time.

The DSS had in a statement signed by its spokesman, Peter Afunanya, last week that it will use all arsenals at its disposal to stop the imposition of an ING.

The statement said in part: The illegality is totally unacceptable in a democracy and to the peace loving Nigerians. This is even more so that the machination is taking place after the peaceful conduct of the elections in most parts of the country.

“The planners, in their many meetings, have weighed various options, which include, among others, to sponsor endless violent mass protests in major cities to warrant a declaration of State of Emergency. Another is to obtain frivolous court injunctions to forestall the inauguration of new executive administrations and legislative houses at the Federal and State levels.

“The DSS supports the President and Commander-in-Chief in his avowed commitment to a hitch-free handover and will assiduously work in this direction. It also supports the Presidential Transition Council and such other related bodies in the States. It will collaborate with them and sister security and law enforcement agencies to ensure seamless inaugurations come 29th May, 2023.”

Bureau Rates NIMASA Performance Level 2

By
James Orji
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The Bureau of Public Service Reforms, BPSR has declared the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, a “Silver Level” Organization classed as Level 2, with a performance level of 74 percent; which implies that the Agency’s performance meets expectations in essential areas of responsibility, resulting in an overall quality of work that is generally good, with most critical organizational goals met.

This was contained in the summary report on the deployment of BPSR Self-Assessment Tool, SAT, presented to NIMASA Management by the Director General of BPSR, Arabi Ibrahim Dasuki. The BPSR boss appreciated Dr. Bashir Jamoh for his exemplary leadership and strong desire for optimal performance and reform to ensure NIMASA’s systems and operations remain strong.

In his words “We are indeed impressed by the openness, professionalism and decorum the staff exhibited throughout the duration of the exercise. It is an assurance that under your watch and guidance, there are rejuvenated change agents who will help you to accomplish and break new grounds as far as your mandate is concerned. I will like to state that the Award accompanying the Report would help to stimulate the insatiable desire to be the best to achieve safe, secure shipping, cleaner oceans and enhanced maritime capacity in line with best global practices towards Nigeria’s Economic Development”.

The key areas of strength for NIMASA as contained in the report of BPSR include Corporate Governance; which ensured the establishment of an anti-corruption policy with an entrenched whistle-blower mechanism for the Agency, strategic planning and operational leadership, robust and accounting policies that comply with Financial Regulations of the Federal Government. This is in addition to a fully functional procurement process, which has keyed into the e-Procurement policy of the Federal Government.

The BPSR also listed operational and service delivery processes of NIMASA, Human Resource Management, partnership and resource mobilization, as key performance management and results, as some areas the Agency has excelled in when compared with some other Agencies of government.

While appreciating the BPSR for diligently assessing the Agency, the NIMASA DG, Dr. Bashir Jamoh assured that Management would ensure the implementation of all recommendations contained in the report, adding that much progress had been made since 2022, when the SAT was deployed.

“We have made much progress in the past one year. Our automation process has advanced much more within the past 12 months. NIMASA has introduced a customer experience center, which has greatly improved our ease of doing business as an organization.
“We have also acquired new vessels for both staff welfare and operational monitoring and enforcement purposes. Just as we accepted the recommendations of IMO Member State Audit Scheme, IMSAS, and worked towards closing all identified gaps, NIMASA will strive to implement recommendations contained in the report submitted to us today”, he said.

The Bureau of Public Service Reforms is the lead Agency and ‘Engine Room’ for integrated reform initiative, implementation, coordination and harmonization established in 2004. The Bureau introduced the institutional Self-Assessment Tool, SAT, as a practical approach to support the Federal Government in its vision to transform the Nigerian Public Service into a virile, well performing, professional and customer oriented institution.

It is worthy of note that following the marching order by the President for the Bureau to deploy the SAT in all Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency was one of the few destinations that readily accepted to undergo the assessment.

Oyedepo Denies Promising Obi South West, Christians’ Votes

By
James Orji
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David Oyedepo, Presiding Bishop of Faith Tabernacle also known as Winners Chapel has denied campaigning for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the February 18 election.

An online medium had published a leaked audio where the popular Bishop reportedly had a telephone conversation with the politician on how to get his church support for him to win the election.
The LP candidate was also said to have appealed to the Bishop to assist him to appeal to voters in the south west region.

“Daddy, I need you to speak to your people in the South-West and Kwara, the Christians in the South-West and Kwara. This is a religious war. Like I keep saying: if this works, you people will never regret the support,” Obi reportedly said in the audio.

Obi, a former governor of Anambra State eventually lost the election to the All Progressives Congress, APC candidate in the election, Bola Ahmed Tinubu after coming a distant third with over six million votes to his credit.

The LP candidate is now in court to challenge the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, that Tinubu won the keenly contested election.

Reacting to the report during a Sunday service at the headquarters of the church in Ota Ogun State, Oyedepo said he never had any conversation with Obi.

He said Obi, like other politicians came to him for prayers which he gladly obliged, adding that a religious leader all he had to do is to advise anyone who came to him for advice.

Oyedepo said “Nobody had ever told me what to say in this world. No. I have never campaigned for anybody or speak on anybody’s behalf and I will not do that till I go to heaven.

“There is no (political) party in this country that didn’t come to me for prayers and advice. I advised them, some, they didn’t take. Those who chose to take it, they see results; those who said no, they are going about it (laughs). If you still come again, I will still tell you, it doesn’t change.”

Obi received massive supoort from Christian leaders across the country during the election after the ruling APC chose a Muslim/ Muslim ticket, condemned by now a few as a plot to Islamise the country.
His loss has also been blamed on his failure to win the supoort of the predominantly Muslim north.

Drug War: NDLEA Declares Prophetess, Two Others, Wanted

By
Ayodele Oni
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Prophetess Declared Wanted by NDLEA

By Ayodele Oni

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), has declared three persons wanted in continuation of war against illicit drugs in the country.

They are a Port Harcourt, Rivers state-based popular prophetess and founder of Christ Power Adoration Ministries, Faith Ugochi, a celebrity couple; Igho Ubiribo and Danielle Simba Allen.

They are also being wanted for recruiting teenage girls into drug trafficking, while they serve as the arrowheads of an international syndicate operating from Los Angeles, USA.

This was contained in a statement signed by the agency’s spokesman Femi Babafemi on Sunday.

Babafemi explained that the cartel was exposed when NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos intercepted a consignment of 32.70 kilograms of Loud, a strong variant of cannabis concealed in cartons of used wears on Wednesday 16th November 2022.

A freight agent, Ukoh Ifeanyi Oguguo was immediately arrested while further investigations led to the arrest of four more suspects: Chikodi Favour; Obiyom Shalom Chiamaka; Nnochiri Chidinma Promise and Edward Omatseye (aka Montana).

The 15-year-old Favour was the first sales girl to be arrested at a fuel station in Ajah area of Lagos.

The statement stated that “A letter of invitation sent to Prophetess Faith Ugochi of Christ Adoration Ministries, No. 27 Anozie Street, Mile 2, Diobu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on 28th November 2022 was received and acknowledged by her mother, with whom she runs the Church. The letter was followed with a reminder on 9th January, 2023 after a long wait.

“In the same vein, letters of invitation were also extended to Igho Ubiribo and Danielle Simba Allen.

“A reminder was also sent when the couple didn’t show any readiness to respond to the first invitation. While Prophetess Ugochi fled her home and went into hiding but continued her prophetic ministration on Facebook, the duo of Igho and Danielle initially sent a legal representation to ask for another time to honour the invitation, they have since gone incommunicado.

“Curiously, they hurriedly moved all funds traced to their company Lasgidi Backwood Ltd where all proceeds from the sales of illicit drugs were deposited into a private account of one Victor Imagoro.

“The Agency has since blocked the sum of Eighty Million Naira (N80,000,000) traced to the account and obtained a court order to seize all properties including a fuel station linked to the suspects in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

“The NDLEA has further sought and obtained an order of the Federal High Court Lagos to declare wanted the celebrity couple: Ubiribo Igho and Danielle Allen, as the

arrowheads of the illicit trade as well as Prophetess Faith Ugochi, who recruits teenage girls as sales representatives for the duo.”

Gunmen Kidnap Two Female Varsity Students In Zamfara

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Two female students of the Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara State were allegedly abducted Sunday morning by yet to be identified gunmen.

Narrating how the incident happened, Zamfara State Police Command spokesman, Mohammed Shehu stated that they students were whisked away when armed bandits stormed a private hostel at Sabon Gida village in Bungudu local government area early Sunday morning.

Confirming the incident in a statement the spokesman stated that “The Commissioner of Police Zamfara State Police Command, CP Kolo Yusuf psc, has reassured the general Public especially families and the management of Federal University Gusau that, efforts are ongoing to rescue the two (2) students of the university abducted by yet to be identified hoodlums in the early hours of sunday.

“Police Tactical Operatives have intensified search and rescue operation.

“Information received by the Command indicated that, On 2nd April, 2023 at about 0100am, Armed bandits stormed sabon gida village in Bungudu LGA and broke into a rented female hostel of the university where they locked up the two (2) civilian guards.

“They dispossessed them of their handsets and later abducted two (2) female students of Microbiology Department of the university.

“On receipt of the report, the Police Tactical team moved to the scene, but the hoodlums had already fled with the victims to an unknown destination.

“The Commissioner of Police has further deployed reinforcement to complement the ongoing rescue operation to rescue the hostages hale and hearty, arrest the perpetrators and charge them to court for prosecution.

“The Commissioner of Police therefore appeals for continuous support from members of the public to enable the Police to succeed in the rescue mission.”

Ekiti Police Command, Amotekun Joint Operation Burst Criminals’ Hideout, Five Arrested

By
Ayodele Oni
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Nigeria Police Force

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Police Command has announced the arrest of five suspected armed robbers, indian hemp dealers with firearms and ammunition recovered from them.

In a statement, on Sunday, the public Relations officer of the command, Mr Sunday Abutu explained that the Command Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in collaboration with the State Amotekun personnel rounded up the suspects.

They were on stop and search operation along Uso road, Ise-Ekiti, during which one Monday Reuben who was in possession of one locally made pistol and two live cartridges was arrested.

He explained that during interrogation, the suspect confessed that he is an Indian hemp dealer that engages in cultivation of the weeds at Ise-Ekiti forest reserve.

According to Mr Abutu, the suspect mentioned four others as his criminal allies and led the police team to the hideouts at Ise-Ekiti forest where one ThankGod Samuel, Ogenetega Lucky Friday, Wisdom David and Samuel Imeh were arrested.

He said the suspects would be arraigned in court at the end of investigation and reiterated the Command’s commitment to puncturing the activities of criminal elements in the State which are mostly caused by heavy intake of narcotics and other illicit drugs.

The police spokesman equally implored residents to always volunteer useful information that could assist the Police to apprehend criminal suspects in the State.

Items recovered from them are one locally made single barrel gun, four cartridges, large quantity of seeds and weeds suspected to be indian hemp.

APC’s Endless Subterfuge Must Stop – Obi

By
The Source
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Peter Obi

“We don’t  expect those who ran election on forged credentials and even fake Bishops to stop faking.”

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has decried the lies, propaganda, distortion of stories embarked upon by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to discredit him.

In a statement signed by Diran Onifade, Head, Obi-Datti Media, urged the APC to stop what he described as its “Endless Subterfuge.”

His reaction stemmed from a conversation he had with Bishop Oyedepo of the Winners Chapel, which was completely doctored in order to give it a sinister meaning, and now circulating on the Social Media.

The statement dismissed it as fake and asked Nigerians to focus on the task to take back “the mandate we know was freely given to Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed through legitimate means.

It reads:

“It appears the All Progressives Congress’ desperation to grab and retain power by foul means has refused to go away more than a month after they have grabbed the election as they planned.

While we are toeing the constitutional path to retrieve our mandate, those who have truncated the wishes of the majority of Nigerians have recoursed to mischief and endless subterfuge to continue to hold on to what they know does not belong to them.

From the show of shame in Portharcourt to the drama in the Ibom Air aircraft, both of which they contrived, they have now moved to the circulation of a deep fake audio file aimed at promoting religious tension in the country.

“All these are meant to serve no other purpose than egregious  mischief aimed at demarketing Peter Obi.  If the goal is to create a credibility problem, the ploy has failed woefully. Peter Obi has long been on record as the only presidential candidate who has urged the Nigerians electorate not to vote for him on the basis of religion or tribe .

“We will therefore

like to advice our beloved Nigerian people to remain focused on the task to take back  the mandate we know was freely given to Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed through legitimate means.

That is more important than to expect  those who ran election on forged credentials and even fake Bishops to stop faking. They cannot stop being fraudulent because that is who they are.”

Rivers Police Command Defends Arrest Of Lawyers; NBA Spits Fire; IGP Orders Release

By
The Source
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APC Lawyers Arrested

By Charles Igbo

The Rivers State Police Command which, inexplicably, arrested five Lawyers hired by the All Progressives Congress, APC, and their Governorship Candidate, Tonye Cole, to file its Petition at the  Election Petition Tribunal against the Peoples Democratic Party and its Candidate, Sim Fubara, now Governor-elect, has defended its action.

In a statement issued by its Spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the Command said it acted on information.

It said it received information on 31st March that “some lodgers occupying three rooms in a popular hotel, were seen carrying packages in and out of the rooms and printing what seems LIKE INEC documents (including results) A video recording of the activities in one of the rooms was forwarded by the informant to the Police Commissioner.”

The Lawyers, all from the Chambers of Tuduru Ede, SAN, were arrested, alongside three support staff from the APC, at Bayview Hotel, Tombia Road, GRA Phase 2, Port Harcourt where they lodged.

They were arrested, without investigation on Friday night and detained till Saturday night before they were released, on the orders of the Inspector General of Police, based on a report to him by the President of the Nigeria Bar Association,   Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, who also issued a statement.

In the statement, the NBA condemned, strongly, the unwarranted arrest of the Lawyers and described it as unfortunate and disturbing. It also hinted it would take action against all involved in the embarrassing incident, and wants them punished.

Said Maikyau in the statement he personally signed:

“The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) strongly condemns such unwarranted harassment of lawyers in the lawful performance of their professional duties to their clients.

“Situations where the instrumentality of the Police is apparently being used to harass and intimidate lawyers, is a direct affront to the rule of law and a threat to our democracy; it is an invitation to anarchy and chaos, as people would rather resort to self-help than approach the civil and constitutional means provided for the resolution of disputes.”

He said he had spoken with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba and the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, and, “I have been assured of the release of our colleagues.

“We shall also take up the matter to ensure that any person(s) including Police officers, who may be found complicit in the events leading to the arrest of our colleagues, is sanctioned for any possible abuse of office.”

But, the Rivers State Police Command while justifying its handling of the incident said in a statement:

RE-RREST OF LAWYERS HANDLING APC ELECTION PETITION.

“The attention of Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to the news of the arrest of lawyers handling APC election matters. It is important to inform the public of what really happened.

“On 31/3/23 at about 11.20am information was received that some lodgers occupying three* (3) rooms in a popular hotel, were seen carrying packages in and out of the rooms, and printing what seems like INEC documents (including results). A video recording of the activities in one of the rooms was forwarded by the informant to the Police Commissioner.

“The information neither disclosed the identity of the lodgers nor who they were working for.

“As a responsible law enforcement agency, the Police needed to act on the intelligence. Thus, on the basis of the report, the Police approached the court to obtain a search warrant. The warrant was dutifully executed on 1/4/23 at about 7.02am. In the course of the search,  eight (8) persons were arrested, and several documents, laptops and printers recovered.

“The arrested persons and exhibits were taken to the Surveillance Centre and later transferred to the State CID. An Assistant Commissioner of Police was tasked to lead the investigation team. It was in the process of profiling them that it was revealed that three(3) of the arrested persons were lawyers. The APC State Chairman and the party Gubernatorial candidate in the last election showed up at the station to inform the Police that the lawyers were actually hired by the party to prepare their papers for filling at the election tribunal.

“Subsequently, the NBA President and General Secretary called the Commissioner of Police, who assured them that the lawyers would be released when they had finished making their statements. Accordingly, the lawyers were promptly released on self recognizance, while the other five(5) persons were released to a reliable surety.

“Meanwhile, since the investigating team lacked the technical competence to establish the veracity of the suspected printed fake INEC documents, the State REC was requested to send the Commission’s ICT personnel to inspect and identify the documents.The Police Command wishes to assure that once that is done, the most appropriate and professional thing will be done.

“The Command enjoins members of the public to continue to furnish the Police with information and report every suspicious movements around them; as the  effectiveness of Community Policing is predicated on collaboration and information sharing.”

As at 10pm Saturday, the documents and laptops  seized from the Lawyers were still with the Police.

Anthony Joshua Revive Career With Win Over Jermaine Franklin

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Jermaine Franklin and Anthony Joshua

By Akinwale Kasali

The dwindling career of British-born Nigerian pugilist, Anthony Joshua got a huge boost when he defeated American boxer, Jermaine Franklin to get back into the Heavyweight Champion reckoning.

The two-time Heavyweight Champion registered the victory at the O2 Arena, the same venue where he made his professional debut 10 years ago. The Briton secured the victory he needed to revive his world title prospects, controlling the contest over 12 rounds to seal a unanimous decision win.

A relatively clean fight turned sour after the final bell when security men were forced to step in because both teams involved in a brief melee inside the ring and at ringside.

Coming off the back of two successive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, a defeat in London on Saturday night would have been unthinkable.

Fighting in his first non-title contest since 2015, the 33-year-old has faced questions over whether his star power is on the wane with promoter Eddie Hearn describing the fight as a ‘final roll of the dice’ for the two-time world champion.

While there are greater tests ahead, victory back in the capital sets him back on course for some huge fights this summer.

Franklin, 29, was making his second appearance at the O2 in six months, having travelled to the capital to take on Dillian Whyte last November. While he suffered the first defeat of his career that night, he gave the British heavyweight problems and considered himself extremely unlucky to have lost on the Judges’ scorecards.

Joshua, who weighed in at his career-heaviest on Friday, was given a similar examination by the skilled  American before finally breaking his resistance.

During fight week, Hearn teased the possibility of Joshua vs Tyson Fury once again, insisting the fight that collapsed for a second time in three years last October can be revived this summer.

A rematch against Whyte remains another compelling option, as does a long-awaited meeting with Deontay Wilder in a fight, even without world titles on the line, would promise to be one of the biggest in recent heavyweight history.

Update On Lawyers’ Arrest in PH: Cole Vows Not To Leave Police Station Until Release; This Is Unheard Of – SAN

By
The Source
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0
APC Lawyers Arrested

By Charles Igbo

The Arrest, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, of a team of Lawyers, hired by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to file its suit challenging the process and outcome of the Governorship Election held on 18th March, 2023, has sent shock waves across the State and beyond.

The Lawyers from the Chambers of Tuduru Ede, SAN, were arrested by the Police at the Bayview Hotel, Tombia Road, GRA Phase 2, Port Harcourt, Friday night. Also arrested were two support staff of the APC.

They lodged there, and were preparing their briefs when the Police swooped on them, arrested, detained them, and confiscated all their work documents, including papers ready for filing in Court.

While Tonye Cole, the Governorship Candidate of the APC expressed shock and vowed not to leave the Police Station where they were detained until they are released, their Principal, Tuduru Ede, SAN, said he had never seen such a situation before. He expressed disbelief and accused the Hotel Staff of compromising their stay in the hotel to, perhaps, the State Government.

“This is a rude awakening”, Cole said, when he spoke to Reporters Saturday morning.

He said: “I was woken up this morning with a frantic call, about 7.00am, that our Lawyers and support staff have been arrested and taken away from the hotel where they were lodged.

“By the time I rushed down to the hotel, they were already gone.

“I was told they were taken to the intelligence and Surveillance Unit in Ogbunabali.

“I, and the Party Agent and our lead Counsel went there, and we were kept for over an hour. We didn’t see them, only to be told that they’ve been transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department.

“I have never heard of Lawyers preparing a petition that is time-bound, being arrested. More worrying is that all our evidence was taken away.

“Now, can we trust that evidence when we get it back. The Lawyers were writing their brief before they were taken away. Now, the opposition knows exactly what we want to argue. I am in shock.

“The arrest won’t stand. I am not leaving this place today until they are released.

“These are Lawyers legitimately preparing their petitions. We cannot go to the Tribunal and tell them we didn’t meet the date because our Lawyers were arrested.

“The Police cannot continue being used. I feel the Police are being used to scuttle us. We already have evidence of the Police being used in the hijack of electoral materials on election day. The Inspector General of Police must call them to order.

APC’s lead Counsel,  Ede, SAN, whose three Lawyers were arrested described what happened as “unheard of. How can Police allow themselves to be used this way”, he asked.

He said the Police action was “A way of scuttling the petitions. They took away all the EC8 papers and copies of election results we have collated from the agents.

“We are asking that all the arrested persons be released. We believe our stay there was compromised by the staff of the hotel.”

At the time of filing Cole’s and Ede’s reaction, neither the Police nor the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, has issued any statement.

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