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Citing EFCC’s Letter, London Court, Again, Denies Ekweremadu Bail

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Ike Ekweremadu
Ike Ekweremadu

By Adesina Soyooye

Citing a letter from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on the forfeiture of properties by former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, as one of its reasons, a London Court on Tuesday, again, denied him bail.

Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, were arrested at the Heathrow Airport on arrival from Turkey in June 2022. They were alleged to have trafficked a 21-year old man to London for the sole purpose of harvesting his organ without his consent.

Ekweremadu’s 25-year old daughter, Sonia, who has now, also, been charged to Court is suffering from a life threatening kidney disease, and requires a kidney transplant. But the 21-year old said he was deceived by the Ekweremadus into going to London, without being told it was for organ harvesting.

He reported his predicament  to the Police when the family in whose house he was, pending the organ harvesting, allegedly, began to treat him like a slave, when he refused the procedure.

Since then, Ekweremadu and his wife have been under prosecution in London. While his wife was granted bail after about two months in custody, Ekweremadu remains in jail.

Every application for bail has continued to fail.

On Tuesday, December 20, hopes were high that Ekweremadu would be granted bail. All documents for the expected bail were ready, and presented to the Court. There was a letter from the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, to the Court that Ekweremadu is no flight risk. There was a letter from the Nigeria’s High Commissioner in Britain saying the same thing. There were attestations by highly placed Nigerians which affirmed to Ekweremadu’s good character, until the case at hand. There were documents to show the works he had done for the Nigerian Government, and especially, the National Assembly and internationally. There were letters which attested to the positions he had held. A group of Nigerians have agreed, in a letter, that they would stand as sureties, and  deposit a £500,000 bail bond. There was even the request to tag Ekweremadu electronically to monitor his movement.

But the hopes were dashed. The Judge said he was not convinced that Ekweremadu is not a flight risk during the pre-trial hearing on Tuesday at the Central Criminal Court, London.

Reports  say all the arguments adduced to convince the Court otherwise  fell flat when the Court cited the letter of  assets forfeiture proceedings against Ekweremadu sent to it by the EFCC.

The letter, dated 18th July 2022 by the EFCC signed on behalf of the Executive Chairman, Abdulraheed Bawa, by the Assistant Director Operations, Abdulkarim Chukkoi, referred to the assets forfeiture proceedings against Ekweremadu at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

He, also, said the Senator had two other International Passports, aside from Nigeria’s, and could flee to any of those countries instead of Nigeria.

While refusing the bail application, the Judge said: “I am entirely satisfied there remains a flight risk,” and pointed out  that given Ekweremadu bail would  make no difference “as the trial is just over a month away.”

Ekweremadu, had a couple of weeks ago, accused the EFCC of being responsible for his ordeal in London. The EFCC flatly denied the allegation, saying that as is the norm, it only shared information with sister-agencies.

Ekweremadu’s lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), however, insisted that the EFCC worked against Ekweremadu’s bail application in July.

He accused the EFCC of deceitfully obtaining an interim assets forfeiture order against the lawmaker by withholding vital information from Justice Inyang Ekpo of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

EFCC’s Counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), dismissed the role the letter played as a mere coincidence.

Ekweremadu will spend both Christmas and New Year in jail, as his trial has been scheduled to begin on 31st January 2023.

The Era Of Promises No Fulfillment Is Gone – Obi

By
The Source
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Peter Obi Campaign in Akwa Ibom State

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, on Tuesday told the people of Akwa Ibom and the rest of Nigerians that the era of unfulfilled promises is gone for good with him and Yusuf Ahmad Datti running the Presidency.

Obi told the jubilant organic crowd that came to listen to him that, “When I came here, I was told that the most important thing for the people of Akwa-Ibom is the Deep Sea Port and I promised that when I leave this place, I will go and see the Port so that when  I start as the President, I will put it in place.

“That sea port was  visited in 1983. Senators came here and said it was going to be a Deep sea port, next year will be 40 years. 40 years is what the children of Israel stayed in the wilderness. It is about to work after 40 years”.

The LP flag bearer noted that for the years the Federal Government has not done anything in Akwa-Ibom. All they come here to do is to make promises, promising that that era  has come to an end.

“You cannot drive from here to Calabar or to Umuahia or drive from here to Aba. Everywhere is unsecured, nothing. It has been promise and fail. This is reality now, it will happen now. You know I won’t give fake promises.

“We want to make Nigeria to work again. A new Nigeria is possible with you. What is Peter Obi and Datti Ahmed going to do? I want you to listen to me.

“If you check the major parties and their presidential candidates, I am the youngest. Also Datti and I, put together, have the youngest average age compared with other candidates. So we are ready to work. If you add our educational qualification, we are far ahead of others. We have been successful in our businesses, we are entrepreneurs, we have created wealth and we are prepared to create more.

“Our first priority is to secure Nigeria. We will provide the security. We will unite Nigeria. It is only politicians that divide us, we do not have reason to be fighting each other.  We are tired of the division. Everybody will come together, we will provide law and order.

Obi assured the people that under his Presidency, “There will be peace. Police will not be harrasing our youths again. We will make police to be friendly and not turning people to be suspects simply because you are not dressed well.

“Nigerian citizens cannot be suspects in their own country. We will retrain the police, the army and all other paramilitary to show love to the citizens.

On education sector, Obi said that he and Datti will make education work again. You can no longer go for a four year course and you end up spending 7 years. It can happen again. We will sit down with lecturers and discuss.

On Agriculture, the LP standard bearer said that, “Nigeria will feed itself because we have large arable land. For instance, Borno State has large land and it would be used for agriculture. Borno has landmass of over 70,000 square kilometres and Akwa-Ibom has only 7,000, so Borno is ten times Akwa Ibom. Why would they be fighting over resources in the Akwa-Ibom while they have untapped resources in Borno. We ensure that states become productive and develop their resources, use it and develop their states. We will make this country work again and you will be proud of this country.

Addressing the rally also,  the National Chairman of  Labour Party, Bar Julius Abure appreciated  the people of Akwa Ibom  for coming out en-masse to welcome and support our presidential candidate who is their  inlaw.

“Today you have shown that Akwa-Ibom state is for Labour Party. There is no gain saying the fact that Nigeria is in disarray. There is no gainsaying the fact that Nigeria is being mismanaged. There is no gainsaying the fact that the challenges we have in the country, ranging from insecurity, to hunger, to poverty, to mismanagement of the economy, is as a result of failed leadership over the years.

But the LP chair noted that democracy has his best features, of giving the citizens the opportunity to vote and sack those who have not done well. Our people say every day is for the thief, one day is for the owner.

“ 2023 is the time for us to separate the goats from the sheep. And I know that Akwa-Ibom people,  knowing that you are from the South South, you will do the needful.

The National Chairman charged the Akwa Ibomites to come in enmass in February to vote for their in law Peter Obi and Labour Party.

“They have been deceiving us over the years, they bring different excuses, they will bring money, if they bring money collect it and put it in your pocket. So whatever tricks they come with, let us defeat them this time and  teach them a lasting lesson.

We can no longer be fooled. And the only way we can prove it is for us to vote Peter Obi, vote competence, vote capacity, vote pedigree, and vote dignity.

Uzodinma: “I am Undaunted By Political Recklessness”; Presents N475b Budget of ‘Wealth Expansion ’; Says He Has Contract With Imo People

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma Presents Budget 2023

Governor Hope Uzodinma on Tuesday presented a 2023 budget of approximately N475 billion to the Imo State House of Assembly where he reiterated that his administration will continue to vigorously pursue policies and projects that will create wealth for the ordinary people.

After the presentation, members of the House of Assembly unanimously applauded the governor for laying foundations of economic growth that will outlive his administration.

The N474, 466,276,267.00 (Four hundred and seventy four billion, four hundred and sixty six million, two hundred and seventy six thousand, two hundred and sixty seven naira) 2023 Budget of Wealth Expansion, Governor Uzodimma reminded the lawmakers, “is to satisfy the desires of the good of Imo State, promote sustainable economic development of the State, but most importantly, expand wealth and prosperity.”

He said the 2023 budget is aligned with the 3R’s (Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery) Policy, which is to promote shared prosperity in Imo State.

“Government will therefore continue to put the well being of the citizenry at the centre of governance through the ongoing reconstruction of our dilapidated infrastructure both in the urban and rural areas as well as the provision of adequate security to protect the lives and property of our people.”

The 2023 appropriation has a total budgeted revenue of N150, 450,189,428 with the sum of N9, 054,906,110 budgeted as personal cost and representing 94 per cent of the total budget estimate. The overhead cost is N47,670,177,270 as against the sum of N46,335,337,355 provided as overhead cost in 2022, representing 2.8 per cent of the total budget estimate.

The sum of N15,743,247,101 increase is provided in the budget as Consolidated Revenue Fund Charges (CRFC).

The total Recurrent Revenue for 2023 budget is N150,450,189,428 while that of 2022 was N142,855,407,202, representing 5.1 per cent increase in revenue projection.

In the 2023 budget, the Recurrent Expenditure is N100, 904,085,427.73 as against the sum of N96, 746,349,775 in the 2022 approved budget and an increase of 4.1per cent.

The beauty of the 2023 appropriation is that the Capital Expenditure also increased substantially from what it was in the 2022 budget.

Thus, in the 2023 Budget, the Capital Expenditure is N373,562,190,839 compared to the sum of N284,416,597,902 in the 2022 approved budget, showing 23 per cent increase and representing 78.7 per cent of the total budget size.

Governor Uzodimma reminded the lawmakers of the need to get the lighting at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport to function as well as the dredging of the Oguta Lake to Urashi river, all of which are capital intensive, but have the capacity to change the economic fortune of the State when they are completed like the road signature projects (Owerri-Orlu and phase I of Owerri-Okigwe roads) and the ongoing ones (Owerri-Mbaise-Umuahia and Orlu-Akokwa-Mgbee-Uga roads) across the state.

The governor who gave a synopsis of the Sector’s performances of the 2022 budget in the face of challenging times reminded the lawmakers that efforts would be intensified to generate enough resources through fiscal discipline and accountability that have become the hallmark of his administration.

He recalled that the gains recorded in the implementation of the budget of the fading year are already obvious in the new edifice that is today the Imo State Assembly Complex, the completed signature road projects and the ongoing ones, the investment in youth empowerment, among numerous other people-oriented programmes associated with the Shared Prosperity Government.

Governor UIzodimma said: “The Hallowed Chambers in which we are all comfortably seated today is not only befitting for this Honourable house but indeed any legislative house anywhere in the world. Not only is it modern and beautiful, it also provides an expansive luscious ambiance that enhances legislative capacity. And this is one of the proud products of our shared prosperity administration in less than three years. This is something previous administrations could not do for nearly 10 years.”

“Never again will you make laws for Imo people in excruciating discomfort. Welcome to the shared prosperity world where the dignity of the three arms of government; The Executive, The Legislature and The Judiciary, will never be compromised.

“So, Mr. Speaker, Honourable members, permit me to use this wonderful edifice, delivered by our 3R government, which you are part of, as the point of contact of our achievements in the fiscal year 2022, to declare that we have done exceptionally well indeed. I shall return to this subject shortly.

“As you will recall, on each occasion that I have presented budget estimates to Honourable members, I had always emphasized that the new Imo State of our vision is anchored on freedom, security, and shared prosperity manifested in practical good governance that all can see. On each, occasion I have also assured you that despite the huge infrastructure deficit we inherited, coupled with the paucity of funds and the sorry state of the socio-economic facilities we met on assumption of office, we will not be daunted from making spirited efforts to turn things around for the better.  You will agree with me that we have walked that talk and we have kept faith with the good people of Imo State.

“Almost three years down the line, even the most chronic cynics or critics will agree that Imo State has witnessed a breathtaking transformation that has permanently changed both her landscape and fortunes for good. There is no doubt that as I have repeatedly promised, good governance, shared prosperity, equity, justice and the rule of law have been the defining hallmarks of this administration.

“Even in the face of daunting challenges, including the unrelenting onslaught of contrived banditry from those who have vowed to make the State ungovernable for me, we have remained tenaciously focused on the goal of delivering the dividend of democracy to our people. From the world – class dualized highways of Owerri – Orlu, Owerri – Okigwe and ongoing Owerri – Umuahia and Orlu – Mgbee – Uga roads, it is clear that we are determined to open up the infrastructure space for an unprecedented economic boom in trade, commerce  and tourism for our people.

“Distinguished Honourable members, it is against this background of sustained prosperity driven policies for our people, which has also seen us make audacious inroads into Industrial policy formulation, digital economy and e – government, and massive wealth creation, through unprecedented youth empowerment programmes and Skill up Imo digital agenda, that I present the 2023 budget estimates which I have rightly christened Budget of Wealth Expansion. This is a step further than the 2022 budget rightly christened Budget of Wealth Consolidation and Recovery.

“While in the outgoing 2022 fiscal year, we concentrated on wealth consolidation part of which saw to the recovery of the looted patrimony of Imo people, our fiscal focus next year is to expand the wealth created and touch the lives of every Imo household.

“I believe that 2023 is the year we should expand our wealth creation drive to reach all the nook and crannies of the 27 Local Government Areas in Imo State. This is what defines the 2023 budget estimates. At this juncture, let me now take you through the major achievements we recorded in this year which gives an insight into the performance of the 2022 budget.”

Governor Uzodimma recalled that one solid legacy his administration has brought into governance is inclusiveness and accountability.

His words: “I say so because never in the history of Imo State has any administration gone all out, as we have done, to ensure that the people are part and parcel of the government.

“We initiated the quarterly stakeholders meeting through which we regularly give account of our stewardship to Stakeholders. So far, we have held six stakeholders meetings. The seventh is scheduled to hold in a few days.

“I also inaugurated an Elders Council which is a standing consultative committee that interfaces regularly with government.  The Council is made up of Elder Statesmen, Religious leaders, Business icons and bureaucrats. They meet regularly to appraise government activities and to offer needful advice.

“It is also on record that we introduced the peoples budget regime, wherein through organized interactions with stakeholders at the grassroots, the people are allowed to make inputs into the budget. This way, the budget we come up with each fiscal year is naturally people – driven.

“In addition, we usually go the extra mile to make the content of the budget and its implementation public, by publishing them on the government website, both in English and Igbo. This ensures that we are not only accountable to the people but transparent as well. Little wonder we have won many cash – backed awards from the World Bank sponsored States Fiscal Transparency Accountability System (SFTAS), for consistency in accountable and transparent management of our budgetary protocol.

“Worthy of mention also is the fact that we initiated a platform through which every Imo person can interact directly with the Governor through a live phone – in radio programme that involves all the private radio stations in Imo State. During the programme, all the radio stations are connected on line and Imo people anywhere in the world can phone – in to ask the Governor any question – uncensored.

“With all these people – driven policies and programmes, you will agree with me that we mean what we say and say what we mean when we say that we have come to serve Imo people in utmost honesty and with the fear of God.

“Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, there can be no better opportunity to extend my appreciation to all of you for your undying support and commitment to the ideals of my shared prosperity administration. You have always been there to offer legislative co-operation when ever needed. Without a doubt, you have been worthy partners in the faithful implementation of our vision of a prosperous and peaceful Imo State. I thank you all immensely, and I remain proud of you all.

“As you can deduce from the budget estimates which I am laying before you today, my administration is ever committed to the wellbeing of every Imo person; Child, Boy, Girl, Man and Woman, including the aged and the disabled. We will continue to vigorously pursue those policies and projects that will create wealth for the ordinary Imo people, provide enabling environment for investors and ensure the security of the lives and property of Imo indigenes and residents. This is the social contract which I entered into with the good people of Imo State, and by the grace of God, I shall keep it with every energy at my behest.

“It is also in the spirit of this social contract that I am glad to inform my esteemed Imo people that my administration has taken necessary legislative measures to ensure that henceforth, those who loot, or looted, the common wealth of Imo people are promptly brought to book. Last May, I signed into law, a bill by this August Assembly known as IMO STATE PUBLIC COMPLAINTS, FINANCIAL CRIMES AND ANTI CORRUPTION COMMISSION, otherwise, known as law No 2 of 2022.

“By the provisions of this law, those who defrauded or defraud Imo people, either by embezzling public funds or looting public treasury or siphoning money for contacts not done or and all sundry corrupt practices, will now have to face the full wrath of the law.  So let all and sundry take notice therefore that the days of business as usual are legally over.”

Earlier during a Special Plenary for the Budget presentation, the Speaker, Emeka Nduka welcomed the governor and his entourage and reeled out the numerous people-oriented programmes of the Uzodimma administration with the submission that Imo State is getting better under his regime.

He commended the governor for his achievements in the State, particularly his life changing projects and promised that the legislature will continue to partner the executive to serve the people well through oversight functions.

Other lawmakers who spoke after the governor’s presentation – the deputy speaker, Amara Iwuanyanwu (Nwangele), Eddy Obinna (Aboh Mbaise), Uju Onwudiwe (Njaba), Philip Ejiogu (Owerri North), Michael Onyemaechi Njoku (Ihitte Uboma), Ngozi Obiefule (Isu) and Johnson Duru (Ideato South) poured encomiums on the Governor’s leadership style that has impacted positively on the people of their constituents.

They commended the governor for giving capital expenditure another lion share in the 2023 budget, saying it shows he has come to work for the people.

The lawmakers unanimously promised to give the budget accelerated attention to ensure it is passed on time so that the governor can start implementation immediately in the interest of the people of Imo State.

Okupe Steps Aside As DG Of Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Council

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Convicted Director General of Pete Obi candidate of the Labour Party, (LP), Doyin Okupe has  stepped down from the Presidential Campaign Council.

He made this announcement on Tuesday in a statement he personally signed.

Okupe, former Spokesman of former President Olusegun Obasanjo was convicted on Monday by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The Court, however, gave him an option of fine, which he met and was not taken to the correctional centre.

According to him, he will be stepping down as the DG of the campaign Council pending the time the appeal court deliver its verdict.

A press statement signed by him states that “You will recall that I briefed you yesterday about my personal travails in seeking justice and clearing my name using the Nigerian Legal System to pursue same.

”I have invested too much in your campaign to allow my personal travails to become a source of distraction.

“In the circumstances, I have opted to step aside and plead that you appoint a new Campaign DG who can continue the assignment with zero distractions. God bless you and family.”

Prelate Mbang To Obi, ‘God Will Use You To Deliver Nigeria’

By
The Source
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His Eminence Sunday Mbang and Peter Obi

The former Prelate of the Methodist Church, His Eminence Sunday Mbang, has described the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, as the man God will use to deliver Nigeria.

Mbang spoke on Tuesday while receiving Obi who paid him a courtesy call at his home in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital.

The 86-year-old clergy who bemoaned the state of the Nation noted that the country has never been this bad  since he was born.

“I think ever since I was born in Nigeria, this country this time had been the worst. I was watching Arise TV this morning. And they said within few years, this Government has already brought many people into poverty, but this 2022, about 5 million Nigerians have gone into poverty.

“Now, unfortunately, the administration is now taking the largest loan I know in the world. When Obasanjo came here, he decided to wipe off all the loan. Now, we are indebted to the world, only God knows who will pay for it.”

The former Prelate said he was happy when he heard Obi was coming into national politics. “I don’t know whether God will choose you or not. But I strongly believe God has a reason for bringing you into politics. And I know that it is God’s wish that all these recycling of people we already know, God would not allow them.

He said that he strongly believe, “If God wants the change in this country, you will be the one that God will choose. I’m not saying that I have ordained you to be but the God I worship and I worship him sincerely. I know that the God I worship would not allow Nigeria to continue to suffer, and I know he will do what is best for her.

“All this wayo they have  done in the past, I’m telling you, I believe strongly that anybody who wants to Wayo Nigeria in the election, God will deal with him in a way he will live to regret and I say this in the name of the Father, and of the Son of the Holy Spirit.

“This country must get a free breath of fresh air and do what is right Father, what I’m telling you, if Peter Obi is the one you have chosen to change Nigeria, let it be so, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Thank you.”

The LP Presidential flag bearer who went with the leadership of his party to seek blessing pleaded with the revered cleric to “Please continue to pray for Nigeria. Your Eminence, Don’t keep quiet, if you do, it is no longer you. God didn’t make you to keep quiet. Things are not moving well in Nigeria.

Obi recalled how Mbang as the incumbent Prelate of the Methodist Church went to Obasanjo to tell him to allow me be the governor because I won the election.“ I was in court I won the election and everybody here knew I won the election. Your eminence went to President Olusegun Obasanjo to say, “they say this man won the election, let him be governor.”

Obi told the former Prelate that what we are going through today in this country with insecurity and other malaise are all a cumulative effect of leadership failure over the years.

The LP candidate said that while Obasanjo left office with no debt as noted by the great cleric,  “Today, we are owing over $100 billion dollars, without anything to show for it. When we have somebody who had cleared over  $30 billion in 2007. 15 years after we are owing three times more than.”

Obi is in Akwa Ibom as part of his nationwide campaign tour of the country.

Ondo: Local Government Workers Sealed Assembly Over Council Autonomy

By
The Source
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NULGE at Ondo State House of Assembly Complex

By Ayodele Oni

Agitation over autonomy for local governments in Nigeria took another dimension in Ondo state on Tuesday, as council workers under the aegis of National Union of Local Government Employees, (NULGE) locked up the state House of Assembly Complex.

Lawmakers in the state were billed to debate the issue, but there are reports that the state government had reached out to them not to pass the bill.

President Mohammadu Buhari had last week accused state governors of tampering with local governments funds, but Governor Akeredolu was quick to respond that there was nothing like that in Ondo.

Workers and members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ondo State branch led by the state President, Comrade Bola Taiwo protested to the assembly complex over mounted pressure on the Ondo lawmakers to vote against the Local Government Autonomy in the new constitution being reviewed by the National Assembly.

The protesting workers, who shutdown the state House of Assembly complex  in Akure, however, vowed that “No autonomy, no election in Ondo state in the forthcoming general election.

The National Vice President, NULGE, Abimbola Babalola, said system of the local government must be autonomous and urged the lawmakers in the state to do the needful by passing the autonomy bill into law.

The lawmakers, sending trouble did not report at the assembly complex despite that they were billed to sit by 1.00 pm.

Only two out of 26 lawmakers were seen at the Assembly complex as others stayed away from the plenary

Senate Clears Buhari’s Aide, Lauretta Onochie As NDDC Chairman, Other Nominees

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of the president’s Special Assistant on New Media, Lauretta Ifeanyi-Onochie, as the substantive Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission Board, (NDDC).

The Senate, at the plenary also confirmed 12 others except two who didn’t attend the screening conducted last Friday at the National Assembly complex.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Wednesday, last week, asked the Senate to confirm the appointment of his Special Assistant on New Media, Lauretta Ifeanyi-Onochie as the substantive chairman of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

Ifeanyi-Onochie, from Delta state, had earlier been rejected by the Senate when her name was forwarded as a commissioner in Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).

Buhari had also named 14 others in the letter as Managing Director, Executive Directors, and members of the Board.

They included Samuel Ogbokwu, from Bayelsa State, as the Managing Director, who would serve for two years to complete the term of his predecessor in office.

Other members are Dimgba Erugba, representing Abia State, Dr. Emem Willcox Wills ( Akwa Ibom), Denyanbofa Dimaro (Bayelsa State), Hon. Orok Duke (Cross River) and Dr. Pius Odudu ( Edo State).

Others included Engineer Anthony Ekenne (Imo State), Hon. Gbenga Edema (Ondo State), Elekwachi Dimkpa (Rivers State), Alhaji Mohammed Kabir Abubakar ( Nasarawa State, representing North-Cenral zone), Alhaji Sadiq Sami Sule – Ikoh ( Kebbi State, North-West) and Prof. Tahir Mamman SAN, (Adamawa State, North-East).

The President also nominated Major-General Charles Airhiavbere (retd) from Edo State as the (Executive Director, Finance) and Charles Ogunmola, from Ondo State, as the Executive Director, Projects.

The Senate has refused to screen Ogunmola as three senators from Ondo state kicked that he is not from oil producing area of the state.

The state government too had disowned him on that basis, with Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu saying that he knew nothin about his nomination.

2023: Falana, INEC Boss Raise Alarm Over Plot To Truncate Election

By
James Orji
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Femi Falana, a lawyer and human rights activist has accused some vested interests in the country of plot to truncate the 2023 general election.

President Muhammadu Buhari is set to leave office next year May 29, 2023 after eight years allowed by the constitution. Governorship elections and parliamentary elections are also expected to be conducted to usher in new administrations across the country.

To this effect, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said the Electoral body has put everything in place to ensure a hitch-free exercise.

But Falana, a senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, said despite the readiness of the Electoral body the election could be truncated by undemocratic forces.

The senior advocate in a statement, on Monday, said he raised the alarm following series of attacks on the offices of INEC across the country.

The statement came on the heels of Prof. Yakubu earlier comment yesterday that the commsioning is being frustrated by the attacks, saying the problem could derail its plan to conduct a free, fair and credible election.

No fewer than 50 attacks on INEC facilities have been recorded in 15 states across the country in the last four years.

According to data obtained by the magazine, Imo State recorded the highest number of attacks on with 11 incidents followed by Osun, Akwa-Ibom, Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross River, Abia, Anambra, Taraba, Borno, Ogun, Lagos, Bayelsa, Ondo and Kaduna States.

Falana said the situation must not be allowed to continue, called on the security agencies to step up their efforts and arrest those attacking INEC offices.
He dismissed claims by security forces that INEC facilities are well protected, noting the the commission will not be able to conduct the election if those destroying its property are not apprehended.

The statement read in part: “In spite of the fact that the facilities are said to be well guarded, the criminal elements involved in the nefarious activities generally operate without any challenge from security forces. If the dangerous trend continues on a larger scale, INEC will not be in a position to conduct elections in the affected areas. It is, therefore, curious to note that the few suspected arsonists have not been charged before any court,” he said in a statement sent to Channels Television.

“The state of insecurity in Nigeria has also constituted a serious threat to the conduct of credible elections. It has been confirmed that elections cannot take place in the over 40 local government areas in different parts of the country which are firmly under the control of various armed gangs, including bandits, terrorists, and known and unknown gunmen. The territories seized by the criminal gangs are in Borno, Kaduna Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Zamfara, Abia, and Imo States.

“Unless the security forces are prepared to deal with the anti-democratic forces that are currently disrupting the democratic process, the 2023 general elections may be sabotaged to the detriment of democracy and political stability in the country.”

CBN: Emefiele Escapes Arrest, Plot To Sack Him Thickens

By
James Orji
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0

Godwin Emefiele, the Central Bank of Nigria, CBN, has survived a plot to remove him from office.
The embattled CBN governor has been in the eye of the storm for sometime over his decision to tighten the country’s monetary policy, he further put himself in the firing line of those who want him out of office recently after the bank announced the redesigning of the naira, and the limitations on cash withdrwal effective January 31, 2023.

According to the Cable, the CBN governor, who just returned from a trip abroad with President Muhammadu Buhari, survived the first move to get him out of his plum job after a federal high court in Abuja, rejected a suit filed by the Department of State Services, DSS to arrest him.

According to the online newspaper, the DSS had secretly filed a suit before the court to get its approval to arrest the CBN governor on allegation of terrorism financing.

The alleged plot to arrest the apex bank Governor comes on the back of suggestions that Emefiele has stepped on the toes of some top politicians in the country, following the cash restriction policy recently introduced by the government bank.

By tightening the noose on cash withdrwal, watchers of the polity said the CBN has effectively taken a solid step to discourage the monetisation of next year’s general election.

The decision, watchers of the CBN said, obviously did not go down well with some political players in the country who are employing every means to get him out of office.

“It’s not impossible for these unnamed politicians to use some pliant government agencies to frustrate the CBN. It’s an issue of strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter,” a CBN source said on Tuesday.

The source futher stated that some powerful Nigerians contesting or supporting politicians contesting the 2023 election consider the cash restriction policy as a plot by the CBN to stop thme from buying votes from voters.

Rejecting the suit filed by the DSS, Justice JT Tsoho was said to have declined the request on the grounds that Emefiele was not in the country when the suit was filed, and that the secret police did not give enough evidence to substantiate the allegation of terrorism financing against the apex bank govrnor.
Sources at the high court told TheCable that the judge said he should have been taken into confidence if there was any evidence to back the allegations in the application, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2255/2022.

“The honourable judge also wondered why the name of the respondent was given simply as ‘Godwin Emefiele’ without a material disclosure that he is the same person as the CBN governor, a highly ranking public official who occupies an extremely sensitive position,” the source said.

The court futher stated that such an application should have been accompanied with the presidential approval because of the grave implications for the Nigerian economy if the CBN governor is arrested and detained.

In a swift reaction to the issue, the DSS has warned the public not to try to undermine its job.
In a statement issued on Monday, Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesperson, said the service will not be distracted by those seeking to use “propaganda” to undermine its lawful investigations.

The DSS said it has continued to discharge its services in the overall interest of Nigerians and would not be deterred by the effort of some persons to throw mud at the Service for selfish interest.

The statement said, “As such, the Service will continue to disseminate actionable intelligence to the relevant authorities devoid of any sentiment,” the statement reads.

“While professionally discharging its mandate, the DSS pledges to remain focused and unbiased. It will not, by any means, succumb to propaganda, intimidation and the desperation of hirelings to undermine it.

“It will also not give room to the use of falsehood and deceit to misdirect public understanding and perceptions of issues of national importance.

“Given not to join issues, the Service warns those on a wild goose chase to be mindful of their actions. Similarly, it urges members of the public to disregard the vituperations and rantings of misguided elements and not allow themselves to be used as instruments of destabilisation.

“Notably, these elements should remember the famous axiom that ‘you will only deceive some people, some of the time, but not all people, all the time’

“To put it succinctly, the Service will not be distracted by persons and/or groups from carrying out its duties to the Nation, citizens, and, President and Commander-in-Chief.”

Meanwhile, a massive protest rented Abuja, the nation’s capital on Monday from groups supporting the CBN governor.

Led by Tochukwu Ohazuruike, the coalition made up of different groups claimed there was a plot to frame Emefiele for terrorism. They said the CBN helmsman is not a terrorist, warning that he should not be forcefully removed from office.

Ohazuruike said: “We have firmly in our custody, genuine hardcore evidence of a plot by the DSS to frame the Governor of CBN, Emefiele for terrorism financing, abduct him and keep him away for at least 60 days in solitary confinement, which will pave way for the forceful removal of the CBN Governor from office and destabilize the President Buhari backed CBN economic stability and reform efforts, especially the new currency redesign and cash withdrawal limit policies which in the immediate will help achieve President Buhari’s promise of a credible election in 2023.

“It has taken us some time, diligent and careful monitoring and resources to discover that on the said December 7, 2022, a motion was filed in the FCT High Court, with the major target of getting the CBN Governor out of office. The motion had suit number M/294/2022.

“On December 7, 2022, another ex-parte application was secretly filed at a Federal High Court, Abuja this time directly by the DSS. The suit is between the DSS v Godwin Emefiele. Our intelligence which discovered this shocking development showed the suit was filed at the court without disclosing the full identity of Mr. Emefiele to the court and working on the premise that the court would grant an order for the Service to arrest and detain Mr. Emefiele for a minimum of 60 days hiding under section 66 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.”

Emefiele may have survived the latest plot to remove him, analyst say, those who desperately want him out of the bank will not stop until they achieve their aim before the 2023 election. His traducers only need the buy-in of President Buhari, who has not shown any sign of dumping the apex bank governor, analysts said.

Okupe Freed, Home; Wife Says  He Made A Mistake; Former Governor Testifies To Good Character; May Lose LP’s Top Job

By
Adesina Soyooye
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By Adesina Soyooye

Convicted Presidential  Aide to two former Presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, currently the Director General of Labour Party’s Presidential Campaign Council, Dr Doyin Okupe, is free. He is home. And did not spend a second in jail after his conviction by an Abuja Federal High Court.

Okupe was convicted on Monday by the Honourable Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, and was sentenced to a two year jail on each of the 26 count charges he was found guilty of, to run concurrently.

But Okupe escaped serving jail term at Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.

Here’s why.

The Judge gave him an option of fine to the tune of N13m, and set a time limit of 4.30pm for him to pay the fine, or be thrown into  jail. He, expectedly, chose the fine option, and was able to pay before 4.30pm.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had taken Dr Okupe to Court, and preferred a 56-count charge against him.

But he was found guilty of only 26 of charges, and jailed for breaching the Money Laundering Act.

Before he was sentenced, two members of his family wife Omolola, and son, Adesunkanni, testified to his character, and pleaded for leniency. And so did two prominent Nigerian citizens, former Anambra State Governor, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, and Dr Idi Farouk, a former Director General of the National Orientation Agency.

Said his wife: “I got married to him on the 1st of May, 1991. My husband is a very good person. He has been a role model to myself and children with sound Christian values.

“I have never found him in any allegation of this before. I will like to appeal to the Court for leniency.

“My husband has dedicated his life to serve the Nation and he is not here today because he is found guilty of the offence, but because of his mistake.

“I ask the Court to consider his health and age which is 70 years. He has run his family effectively my lord.

Son, Adesunkanmi, in his plea for leniency,  said : “I have known him for 31 years.He is a man of honesty and integrity with great character..

“I have the privilege of being mentored by him throughout my life time. He had imparted in me high value of perseverance and hard work that greatness comes by following God, unbending faith and diligence.

“This among many others is what I have learnt about Okupe.”

Both Ezeife and Idi Farouk, urged the court to temper justice with mercy.

While sentencing  him, the Judge posited that Okupe is guilty of contravening Sections 16(1)&(2) of the Money Laundering Act, for accepting cash payments without going through financial institution, in excess of the threshold allowed under the Act.

He had collected the sum of N240 million in cash from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retired).

Okupe’s conviction has destabilised, to an extent, the LP Presidential Campaign, and is likely to trigger a reorganisation. He may lose the top job.

Even though he is not serving time in jail, many are of the opinion that he should  stand down as the DG of the Presidential Campaign.

Said one analyst: “That he paid the fine does not detract from the fact that he is, now, an ex-convict. He should not be seen to be in charge of  Peter Obi’s Campaign.

He should step aside, and not give Obi’s political competitors a weapon to fight him.”

Not a few people agree with him.

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