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OSPOLY: Governor Adeleke Suspends New School Fees; Students Applaud

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Osun State Polytechnic Iree

By Akinwale Kasali

Students of the Osun State Polytechnic, OSPOLY, Iree, have showered praises on Governor Ademola Adeleke for suspending the New Fee Implementation that would have seen new students paying N112,850, as against the old fee of N67,850, while returning students would pay N97,300 as against N57,300.

A memo signed by the Permanent Secretary, Osun State Ministry of Education, Adelani Aderinola, addressed to the acting Rector of the polytechnic, dated December 15,  indicated that the new fee regime was to take effect from the commencement of the 2023 academic session.

The decision to halt the increment in the School fees has been  applauded by the National Association of University Students, NAUS, Osun Campus Monitoring Committee.

NAUS, in a statement on Saturday, signed by its Chairman and Deputy, Eruobami Ayobami and Oyedele Omowunmi respectively, said that “the tuition fee for fresh students was (earlier) increased from N67,850 to N112,850 for students offering science-related courses while those offering management-related courses were asked to pay N97,300 from the initial N57,300.”

The reversal was approved in a bid to make it clear that the Governor is prioritising the interest of Nigerian students.

“As Nigerian students, we want to commend the efforts of the governor and as well as the Osun State Government on this action, and we further implore you to do more,” the statement added.

Qatar 2022: Gallant Morocco Bows Out, Loses Third Place Playoff To Croatia

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Morocco vs Croatia

By Akinwale Kasali

The Atlas Lion of Morocco ended their 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign in Qatar bowing to the superior firing power of Croatia in their place match at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar.

As expected, both sides were gunning for the Bronze Medal having failed to secure a place in the finals losing to Argentina and France, 3-0 and 2-0 respectively.

As early as the fifth minute, Josko Gvardiol headed-in a powerful shot past Moroccan goalkeeper, Yassine Bono, to give the Croatians the lead.

Interestingly, the lead lasted for only two minutes a set piece cross from Hakim Ziyech found defender Achraf Sari who equalized from close range to give the North Africans the desired equalizer.

It, however, became a cagey affair as both teams became cautious but Bono within the sticks for Morocco denied Luka Modric from giving the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup runners up the lead by stopping a shot from him and a rebound.

With less than two minutes to the end of the first half, Mislav Orsic gave the Croats the lead with a curling strike that Bono was unable to stop.

On resumption for the second half, the Moroccans didn’t rest on their oars in getting the equalizer but Dominik Livakovic in the Croatia goal denied Youssef En-Nesyri and Sofiane Boufal on different occasions.

Though the Moroccans had a penalty shoot at the closing stages of the encounter, it was waved away by the Qatari referee.

A last gasp chance was headed off the bar by the Sevilla Football Club of Spain forward, En-Nesyri, to the disappointment of the players.

With the victory of the Croatians they have secured their second Bronze Medal in the FIFA World Cup. They got their first at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France which was the Croatians debut.

The Croatians defeated the Netherlands in the Third Place Match with goals from the legendary Davor Suker and Pronsinescki.

This could however be the last match for the Croatians mercurial midfielder, Luka Modric for the National team. Through his future with the National side is not yet certain.

The history set by the Moroccans will linger on for a long time till another African country achieve this remarkable feat of getting to the semi finals of the FIFA World Cup.

Atiku and Obi of Onitsha: Media Group Sets Record Straight; It Does Not Add Up, People Say

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Atiku Abubakar - Obi of Onitsha and Soludo

By Charles Igbo

The ripples from the Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential Rally organised in Awka, Anambra State is yet to settle.

The Presidential Candidate of the Party, Atiku Abubakar, and his entourage had paid a courtesy call to the Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, at the Government House, and, in a rather controversial manner met with the Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers, including the revered Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha at same venue.

Not a few Ndigbo were angry over two things. One, that Achebe and the other Monarchs went to the Government House to meet Atiku instead of Atiku going to pay a courtesy call to the Obi in his Palace. They noted that it is the norm in all the States visited so far by Atiku, and other Presidential Candidates and wondered why that of Anambra was different.

Another area of concern was that Igwe Achebe stood up while addressing Atiku. And they said that was disrespectful. No Emir, or Oba, or any other First Class Traditional Ruler will do that.

They also blamed Governor Soludo for allowing the Monarchs to assemble at the Government House to receive Atiku.

But a Group called the Onitsha Media Group has jumped to the defence of Igwe Achebe in a statement it issued on Friday. The Igwe and the Monarchs, they posited, were there for their meetings, which according to the Group holds at Government House at times.

They said the Igwe received Atiku as part of the regular meetings of the Monarchs.

They said that Achebe was not summoned to Awka, as is strongly speculated to receive Atiku in audience, but that the reception was part of their meeting.

However, the Group contradicted itself when it said in the statement it issued that Obi would go to Awka to receive any Presidential Candidate who requests that of him.

It said: “If the PDP Presidential candidate or any other candidate for that matter had requested to be so received, His Majesty would have been duty bound to oblige. This is in line with his customary role as father of all.”

Part of the statement reads:

“His Majesty sits on the throne of Eze Chima, and as the Obi of Onitsha, the Jewel of the Lordly Niger, he traditionally receives Presidents, past and present, Presidential aspirants, foreign dignitaries, notable personalities, the people of Onicha Ado N’Idu at home.

“It would be recalled that the Council had some months ago similarly granted audience to the Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, in the same room in which it met Mr. Atiku yesterday.

“All courtesy calls are paid at the Ime Obi Ezechima Palace, and anything outside the Palace is not considered a courtesy call.

“Agbogidi, the Obi of Onitsha is the Chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council (ASTRC), and in his capacity as Chairman, he regularly hosts meetings of the state’s traditional rulers to discuss issues affecting individual communities, the state and Igbo land at large as well as how to advance the development of Anambra State.

“ASTRC has its headquarters in Awka, and yesterday (Thursday),  as part of its regular meeting, received the former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar as a guest.

“If the PDP Presidential candidate or any other candidate for that matter had requested to be so received, His Majesty would have been duty bound to oblige. This is in line with his customary role as father of all.”

However, the statement has been dismissed as an after thought which failed to address the issue by many people.

Said one reaction: “The Obi made a mistake. He belittled his and  Ndigbo. He should not do it again, even for the President (Muhammadu Buhari). They should go to his Palace and see him.”

Jonathan Felicitates Buhari At 80

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Buhari and Jonathan working secretly with APC

Former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated President Buhari on the occasion of his 80th birthday and prayed for God’s guidance and protection as he pilots the affairs of the nation in the remaining months of his administration.

In a goodwill message he personally signed, Dr. Jonathan noted that President Buhari has had an exceptional opportunity of leading the country twice, both as a military Head of state and civilian President.

The former President stated; “I am delighted to felicitate you on the occasion of your 80th birthday. I join your family , friends and other well-wishers to thank God for the gift of life and the strength to pilot the affairs of this nation for the past seven and a half years.

“As a leader, you are one of the few Nigerians who have been privileged to administer our country at different political eras; both as a military Head of State and civilian president. During these  times, you have offered your best efforts in the pursuit of your aspirations for the nation.

“As you celebrate, I wish you the strength, peace and God’s guidance in the remaining months of your administration and even beyond. On behalf of my family, I wish you a happy birthday.”

The Unforgettable Mrs Dele Adigun

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Betty Akeredolu and Margaret Adigun

By Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu

From December 15-16, 2022, I paid my last respect to a dear friend, Mrs Dele Adigun, the wife of Engineer Adigun (late), Founder and Chairman of popular Sahara Engineers Limited in Ibadan.

She was among the very few people who did not run away from Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) because of the name but rather, identified strongly with my vision in the late 90s when it was very difficult to recruit members.

The words “breast cancer” scared a lot of people away who ignorantly thought that being a member of BRECAN was like bringing the affliction upon themselves.

That’s was then. That’s part of BRECAN’s story although the story is different in recent times.

Mrs Adigun was kind and forever giving and lived a life of service. She had this air of western lifestyle or “oyiboness” if you like.

Later, I found out that she studied and lived in Germany.

The first time I visited her, she offered me German tea, no, it was German coffee and bread. When I disclosed that I loved the bread, she would from time to time bake German bread and brought to my house in Jericho, Ibadan.

She was a mother of five boys popularly called “THE BIG 5”. And with their 5 wives, that’s a village!

When one of the boys found an Igbo girl as a wife, she excitedly informed me and was eager to know more of the Igbo culture. With such a favourable disposition, I thought she would be a wonderful and caring mother-inlaw.

She was a constant participant of BRECAN jog for life in Ibadan for years until she became immobile. How can we forget her peculiar dance steps that added fun and laughter for all of us, the participants, both the young and old!

She will be sorely missed. May her soul rest in perfect peace.


Anyanwu-Akeredolu is the First Lady of Ondo State, and Founder of BRECAN

How Buhari Saved Fmr. Ekiti State Governor, Fayose, From Disgrace – Presidential Spokesman

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By Ayodele Oni

It has been revealed that former Governor Ayo Fayose’s Media campaigns against President Mohammadu Buhari while in office as Ekiti state helmsman almost caused him his office but for Buhari.

It would have caused him a second disgrace out of office no thanks to some people in the Presidency who were livid over what they termed Fayose’s irresponsible criticisms of the President.

While serving his second term as Governor of Ekiti state, Fayose was in the forefront of attacks on Buhari, while he was away due to health challenges.

The former Ekiti Governor insisted then Buhari was dead in United Kingdom, (UK) and that there was a sort of cover up to hide the facts about his state of health.

Even on his return to the country, Fayose claimed that he had video clips to show Nigerians that Buhari was dead and cloned, saying one Jubrin of Sudan is president.

The Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, in his birthday message to President Buhari on his 80th birthday, revealed that the presidency was uncomfortable with Fayose’s barrage of media attacks on the President.

He, however, said President Muhammad Buhari did not approve the impeachment of the former Ekiti State Governor, from office when he had the power and opportunity to do so.

The President’s Adviser said it is because Buhari has “no malicious bone in his body,” that was why he did not effect Fayose’s impeachment through the Ekiti State House of Assembly, which at the time was largely dominated by members of the All Progressives Congress.

In the article titled ‘Buhari at 80: No Malicious Bone In His Body’, Adesina recalled how Fayose had tackled Buhari in the build up to the 2014 elections and how he had said the president, if elected back then, would not survive his tenure in office.

He said Buhari could have retaliated when he assumed office and could have further ordered the Inspector General of Police to lock down the Ekiti State Assembly, but stated that the President chose peace instead.

He also recalled that instead of violence, Buhari gave Fayose a warm handshake during a Council of State meeting at the Presidential Villa.

Adesina wrote, “How about Ayo Fayose, the Irunmole that eats Jollof rice. The former Ekiti State Governor had taken a stand against Buhari since 2014, during the campaigns.

“There was that infamous advertisement he placed in newspapers, displaying a coffin, and insinuating that if Buhari was elected, he would not last the distance.

“Fayose’s party was beaten black and blue, and entered President Buhari. What would an average, vengeful person have done, if he were in the mould of the man with the teacup and saucer?

“When Buhari came, the Ekiti House of Assembly was largely populated by APC members, whom Fayose had inherited. What to do?

“Just give a directive: remove that Governor within a week, and he directs the Inspector General of Police to lock down the Assembly chamber. But not Buhari. Why? Because he has no malicious bone in his body.”

Recall that during the PDP Government of President Olusegun Obasanjo, Fayose, a PDP Governor, was impeached from office.

2023: N50m Cash Gift, SUVs Divide APC NWC

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Senator Abdullahi Adamu

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, is embroiled in a fresh crisis over the sharing of N50 million to each members of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, involved in the party’s Presidential Campaign Council, PCC.

Those believed to have received the car and cash gifts are the Deputy National Women Leader, Zainab Abubakar Ibrahim, Deputy National Women Secretary, Festus Fuanter, Deputy National Financial Secretary, Hamma-Adama Ali Kumo, Deputy National Organizing Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, and Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yakubu Murtala Ajaka.

Apart from the N50 million allegedly shared to the select NWC members, they were also said to have received a Lexus 570 SUVs after being drafted to the PCC.

Apparently, the development did not go down well with other members of the NWC who did not make the membership of PCC.

Those now spoiling for war for alleged marginalisation include Bolaji Alabi Edu, deputy national legal adviser; Olufemi Akpedeyi, deputy national auditor; Jamalu Kabir, deputy national youth leader; Omorede Osifo-Marshall, deputy national treasurer; and Christopher Akpan, deputy national welfare secretary.

The angry NWC members, according to a complaint lodged with the party leadership expressed their unhappiness with the manner they have been marginalised since the current NWC was inaugurated in February this year.

Meanwhile, sources in the party in Abuja told the magazine that the largesse was for members of the PCC and not all the NWC members. 

“But don’t worry, the issues will be resolved in line with the peaceful resolution mechanism of the party,” one of the sources said.

Opinion: Flashback: A BAT From Hell And The Asiwaju Of Blood

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By Femi Fani-Kayode

My dear Asiwaju Tinubu,

Even if the whole country is cowed and mesmerised by you and applauds your callousness, vanity, evil, subterfuge, deceit, ruthlessness, obsessive ambitions, lack of fear of God and doubkespeak I FFK, the Voice of the Voiceless, the Servant of Truth, the Lover of God, the Beloved of the Lord, the Otunba of Jogaland, the Sadaukin Shinkafi, the Odum Agu and the Odugwu Eze will not.

Your spell cannot silence, bind or blind me like it has done to others. I see you for what you are and your vain and boastful words here have confirmed it. To think I once loved and admired you gives me sleepless nights and goose pimples. How could I have been so blind?

When Baba Fasoranti’s daughter was murdered by Fulani herdsmen you made mockery of it, went to his house and asked “where are the cows?”

This was insensitive, callous and painful and all the more so because when the murderers of this much-loved and reverred lady were eventually apprehended they were indeed Fulani herdsmen even though their cows were not arrested with them.

The latest episode in your catalogue of atrocities is that children that were protesting peacefully and asking for #EndSARS and an end to police brutality were slaughtered at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos under your watch as National Leader of the APC.

Sadly instead of exhibiting any remorse or displaying any regret for this abominable atrocity, with a sheepish smile and a sneering and jocular tone, you had the sheer nerve and effontry to say nothing other than that you are “still the Asiwaju of Lagos and the Jagaban?”

What was even worse and what shocked and astounded all right-thinking people all the more was that you had the temerity to go even further to say that the “casualties at the Lekki shooting have some questions to answer!”

You then asked, “how are they there?”, “how long were they there?” and “what kind of characters were they?”

How cruel can you be? Not a word of condolence or expression of commiseration to the families of the dead but instead you offered stupid questions and baseless accusations against their wards and children who were butchered in the most brutal circumstances and heartless manner.

You have no honor. You have no shame. You have no dignity. You have no self-respect. You have no decency. Children were murdered in our streets and this is all you have to say?

You are attempting to blame them for being shot to death and blown to pieces by a bunch of genocidal maniacs in uniform who subjected them to crimes against humanity, genocide and mass murder?

You seek to cover up these horrendous crimes and you are attempting to dishonor and denigrate the dead and desecrate and mock the great sacrifice of these courageous young martyrs for democracy who were murdered in cold blood on the front lines in the field of battle.

Let me tell you this: your dastardly strategy and evil diversionary plan will not work! This matter will not go away!

You will not brush it under the carpet, you will not play it down, you and your puppet Sanwoolu will not escape responsibility for failing to protect our people from the beastly savages that slaughtered them and God will punish you for your scurrilous attempt to muddy the waters, cover up the truth and pervert the course of justice.

The bitter truth is that you have no conscience and no compassion. You lack the milk of human kindness. You bear no love for humanity or for human beings and you place no value or reverence on human life.

You only harbour love, which borders on obsession, for your vain and lofty ambition to rule Nigeria and trust me when I tell you that this will never happen.

You are heartless, you are cold-blooded, you are wicked, you lack empathy for the suffering and you are a sociopath. Your spell may work on others but it does not work on me.

I see you for what you are: pure evil. You are the darkness that seeks the darkness. The monster that betrayed his own people and put a tyrant and blood-sucking demon in power just to further his own fading ambition and feed his psychotic obsession for power.

Permit me to end with the following.

I urge you to find out what happened to a character called Icarus in Ancient Greek mythology when he flew too close to the sun because that is precisely what is happening to you.

As they say pride comes before a fall and hubris always leads to nemesis. Your hubris is here and your nemesis is coming.

To add to that the Holy Bible says “the Lord resists the proud and exalts the humble”.

It also says “who art thou O man? Thou art as the flower that fadeth! Thou art as the grass that withers! A man that is born of woman, that is today and tomorrow is no more!”

I counsel and urge you to ponder and meditate deeply on these words. I advise you to humble yourself before God, get to know Him, learn to fear Him and seek justice and truth before it is too late!

Remember that you will NOT be Asiwaju and Jagaban for ever and, like all mortals, one day you will answer the great call, go the way of all flesh, come face to face with your maker and account for your horrendous crimes against the Nigerian people!

Fani-Kayode, a former Minister is a spokesman for the Tinubu/ Shetima Presidential Campaign Council

Anambra PDP Rally: Anger In Igboland Over Soludo, Obi of Onitsha

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Atiku Abubakar - Obi of Onitsha and Soludo

By Charles Igbo

“Soludo and Obi of Onitsha goofed. Why would Soludo invite the revered Igwe Achebe to come to Awka to see Atiku.He  has belittled Ndigbo. Why did Atiku not pay a courtesy call to the Obi in his Palace? He has been doing so in other States. Why would the Obi of Onitsha stand up to address Atiku? Which First Class Monarch in the North, South-west, or South-south would do that? The Igwe and Soludo should have known better. Ndigbo have, again, been insulted.”

The flag-off of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential Campaign Rally  in Anambra State on Thursday, December 15, has triggered anger in Igboland.

Though the occasion was very successful, especially, when one considers that one of the three front runners, Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, is a son of the State. Obi was also a Governor of the State for eight years.

Successful as the Rally was, it has sparked off anger in the South-east. The anger is not directed at the PDP Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, even though quite a number of the Igbo said they felt insulted by a part of his speech. The part which upset them was where Atiku said his Presidency is the shortest cut for the Igbo to get to the plum office.

The meaning is that the Igbo should wait for the end of  his tenure, if he does win, before they take their turn. They reason that the slot Atiku is occupying now ought to have been the Igbo slot.

Yet, that is not what irks them most.

The Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, and the most respected Monarch in the Zone, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, are the source of their anger. They are of the view that both men insulted  the Igbo during Atiku’s visit. They are of the view that both men belittled the throne of the Obi of Onitsha.

Their anger against Soludo is that he dared invite the Council of Traditional Rulers, including the revered Obi of Onitsha, the most respected Monarch in Igboland, to Government House to meet with Atiku and his entourage. They say it should have been the opposite.

Atiku, they argued, ought to have gone to the Palace of the Obi of Onitsha to pay the Monarch a courtesy visit. For inviting the Obi to Government House Awka to meet with Atiku, they argue angrily, that Soludo did not only disrespect Igwe Achebe, but Ndigbo in general. They also say that none of the Monarchs had any business going to meet with Atiku. A few of them, they posit, should have gone to the Palace of the Obi and waited for Atiku to visit the Obi. “Soludo belittled our revered Igwe before Atiku”, an upset Onitsha indigenes said.

On the part of the Obi of Onitsha, they said Obi has reduced himself to the rank of an ordinary Local Chief by going to Awka to wait and meet with Atiku. “He should have said no, and advised and guided Soludo accordingly,” said an Anambra indigene.

The unconfirmed story going round that Atiku gave each of the Monarchs the sum of N300 thousand, has not helped matters. However, not a few people insist that the Obi, a very wealthy man by all standards, would never touch the said N300 thousand.

They cited the visit of Atiku to other States. In each State, they noted that Atiku went to the Palace of the Emir to pay a courtesy call.

However, another version which has, also, made the rounds, is that Soludo ambushed the Monarchs; that he  did not tell the  Monarchs they were coming to see Atiku. This version insists that Soludo told the Monarchs they were coming for an end if year party.

But this version falls flat in the face of the fact that the PDP made the itinery of its Presidential Candidate public before the visit, and had said Atiku would have a meeting with the Monarchs at the Government House, Awka, after paying a courtesy call on the Governor.

What irked them most was that Igwe Achebe even stood up while addressing Atiku. And they ask: “Would the Ooni of Ife, Olubadan of Ibadan, Alafin of Oyo,  Oba of Lagos, Oba of Benin, Emir of Kano, Sultan of Sokoto, Lamido of Atiku’s Adamawa, Obong of Calabar, or any other First Class Monarch keep upstanding while addressing Atiku? Even while addressing a seating President, they don’t stand.”

Concluded one of them: “Somebody should tell His Majesty that he and Soludo goofed. This should never happen again.”

Alleged N7.1b Fraud: We Are Still After Orji Kalu; He Was Neither Discharged Nor Acquitted – Bawa, EFCC Chairman

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By Charles Igbo

Former Governor of Abia State and currently, Senate Majority Leader, Orji Uzor Kalu, is not free from the alleged N7.1bn fraud, for which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arrested, prosecuted and jailed him.

The EFCC had, successfully, prosecuted Kalu and sent him to jail, for 12 years in December,  2019. But Kalu was released on May 8, 2020 after serving about five months in jail on what people say was on technical grounds.

Jones Udeogu, a former Director of Finance at the Government House, Umuahia, with whom Kalu was prosecuted and jailed went to Court to challenge the jurisdiction of the Judge, Honourable Justice Liman. When Liman delivered the judgement, he had already been elevated to the Appeal Court.

The Supreme Court said Liman was wrong to have gone back to a lower Court to deliver the judgement, even though he was the trial Judge. The Apex Court, therefore, ordered a retrial of the case at the Federal High Court.

The judgement, even though   it was for Udeogu who initiated it, also affected Kalu since it was the same Judge who delivered the judgement, same day, same case.

But Kalu went to a Federal High Court, after his release,  and got a judgement that the retrial order by the Supreme Court, did not include him as a party, that it was meant for Udeogu.

In excluding him, the Court said Kalu cannot be tried again for a case he had been tried before and convicted.

But speaking on Thursday at the 62nd State House Ministerial briefing which was organized by the Presidential Communications Team, EFCC Executive Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, said the Commission is still after Kalu on the case. It is being pursued.

Bawa: “The prosecution lasted for 12 years or so, and he was convicted by the Court. He went to the Supreme Court, and the Court said yes, because the Judge who convicted him had been elevated to the Court of Appeal, he cannot come back to the lower Court and that he should be retried in Lagos.

“So, we wanted to arraign him, almost, immediately in Lagos for the prosecution to start all over again, and then  he went to Court, challenging that he has been discharged and acquitted, and nobody and nobody discharged and acquitted him, and we are still pursuing the matters here on Abuja. So, the. matter is still on going.”