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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.”

2023: Stop Ethicizing Your Campaign, Unite PDP Before Nigeria – South East Group Fires At Atiku

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The Source
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Foremost pan-Igbo sociopolitical pressure organisation, the South East Revival Group (SERG) has called on the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, to stop fanning embers of tribal sentiments during his campaigns, especially with regards to the South East, urging him focus on uniting his party where its five sitting governors have dissociated themselves from the PDP candidate’s presidential ambition.

The group was reacting to the former vice president’s assertion at his campaign visit to Anambra State on Thursday that those who desire the emergence of a president of Nigeria of Igbo extraction should support his presidential bid which he referred to as a stepping stone towards achieving their goal.

Atiku had during the campaign said, “I am going to be a stepping stone to an Igbo president in this country. I have shown it in my action, because this is the third time I am running with an Igbo man. If you really want to produce a president, then, vote Atiku-Okowa ticket.”

But in a statement signed by the President and National Coordinator of the pan-Igbo group, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the SERG said that “Nigerians are in dire need a sincere person as president, not an individual who is swimming in tribalism and always thinking at a pedestrian level.”

According to the group, “It beats imagination that Atiku Abubakar who bluntly told the world recently that an Igbo man is not good enough to be voted for by people in the north, where he comes from, will at the same time be presenting himself as a stepping stone towards the emergence of an Igbo person as president after him.

“That is a sign of deception and  any Nigerian of Igbo extraction who is following the PDP Presidential Candidate is on his or her own as Atiku has already told the world that Igbos cannot be president yet he pretends to care about the Igbos because he needs Igbo votes.

“Individuals like the Anambra State Governor, Charles Chukwuma Soludo, who are positioning themselves for Presidency have been deceived by Atiku’s empty promises. Governor Soludo should realise that he has but one vote and if he continues to get carried away by his ambition, he will have himself to blame sooner than later.

“We advise Atiku Abubakar to stop ethnizing his campaign as it will worsen his imminent defeat in the 2023 presidential election as he has proven on many occasions than one to be unreliable.

“Atiku has been pursuing a selfish presidential ambition since 1992 and have worked against every political party platform he failed to win its primary election.

“For instance, the serial decampee who was a civil servant contested for the office of the Adamawa State Governor in 1990, 1996 and later, in 1998. Olusegun Obasanjo picked him as his running mate during the 1999 presidential election but in 2003 he rose against Obasanjo who was a sitting president running for a second term.

“By the next presidential election, he emerged the presidential candidate of the Action Congress in the 2007 presidential election.

“When he lost, he returned to the PDP to contested the presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2011 and after losing out to incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan he quit the party and joined the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2015 presidential election where he contested the presidential primaries and lost to Muhammadu Buhari in Lagos.

“Having lost, in 2017, he returned again to the Peoples Democratic Party and emerged the party presidential candidate during the 2019 presidential election.

He could have decamped again after losing to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 but knowing that it would be easier to buy his way through in the PDP, he remained and manipulated the presidential primary to his benefit against the PDP zoning arrangement which favoured the South East he now claims to care about.

“It is really a sad narrative that the PDP nominated Atiku Abubakar in 2019 and for 2023 presidential candidate after he had warned Nigerians in Enugu in November 2014, as an APC presidential aspirant, that a vote for the Peoples Democratic Party in 2015 general elections, was a vote for continuation of insurgency, kidnapping, oil bunkering, corruption and unemployment, among other evils.

“He therefore worked against the PDP and when Buhari warn, he quickly returned to the same party he accused of breeding insurgency, kidnapping, oil bunkering, corruption, and unemployment in pursuit of his selfish ambition.

“At the last count, Atiku Abubakar has unsuccessfully contested five times for the Office of the President of Nigeria since 1992/1993 and ahead of the 2023 presidential election, Atiku scuttled PDP zoning arrangement at a time it was the turn of the South East.

“Good enough, Nigerians have decided to make a choice and opted for balance, equity, fairness and justice by finding Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party as worthy successor of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Like a prophet, the SERG had advised all political parties in Nigeria to zone their presidential ticket to the South East, warning of the consequences of doing otherwise, but the PDP and APC failed to heed the clarion call.

“However, having seen the level of marginalization of the South East and the competence of Peter Obi as a prepared leader, Nigerians irrespective of political party affiliation, and across the country’s six geopolitical zones, pitched their tent with Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the interest of justice, peace, equity, and national transformation”, the SERG stated.

Uzodinma Inaugurates APC Presidential Campaign Council For South-East; Dolls Out Vehicles

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The Source
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Bola Tinubu and Hope Uzodimma

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Coordinator for Southeast has inaugurated the  Presidential Campaign Council for the Southeast, dolling out 27 buses for a start to the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo State to facilitate their operation.

The event took place at the APC South East Presidential Campaign headquarters in Owerri on Thursday, December 15, 2022.

Addressing APC stalwarts from the five States of the Southeast who came for the programme, the Governor advised them to go all out and work for the success of the party at all levels, assuring that there is a reward system for every success recorded.

He encouraged the team not to be afraid of anybody or group, emphasizing that all Southeast will be adequately secured for the elections.

In his words: ‘’We will man the entire Southeast, all Southeast is safe and secured, there is no one man, no none state actor that have more security than Government.’’

He charged them to go out and devote their time to winning the elections for APC, insisting that “nothing should be left to chance.”

Earlier,  the Governor had told Party faithful that the gathering was to bring the members of the Presidential Campaign Council who have been empowered to sell the APC product to the public,  “to have an administrative centre where they can meet and prepare themselves and go into the field.”

Governor Uzodimma reminded them that “having been appointed as members of the PCC by the national secretariat Abuja, it is a mark of recognition of who you are and your immeasurable commitment to the Party.”

He reminded them that their primary function is in the Southeast, and “the implication is that charity begins at home, meaning that APC winnings will start from Imo State to all other States of the Southeast.”

He assured them that the Party will “run a unified campaign, a programme that will involve the Presidential candidate, the Gubernatorial candidates, the Senatorial Candidates, the Federal House of Representatives Candidates and the House of the Assembly Candidates.There will not be discrimination as all the candidates are as important as each other.”

Governor Uzodimma expressed confidence that APC is doing well, hence there is no need joining issues.

He told APC members that they have enough reasons to convince the people to vote for them, noting that their Presidential Candidate, “Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu is a man of character, proven, tested and trusted, and this is time of payback to him.”

He then charged members of the Campaign Council to go to their various polling units and wards and spread the message, strengthen the polling units and convince voters on why they should vote APC.

Finally, he assured he will move to the other four States of the South East to inaugurate the Presidential Campaign Council.

Earlier, Leaders of the Party in the South East spoken on the need for their members to carry the message of winning for APC to the grassroot.

The Deputy National Chairman South, Chief Emma Enukwu and the Minister for State Science and Technology, Hon. Henry Ikoh had emphasized on why the South East must be part of the Centre by delivering their Presidential Candidate, Senator Ahmed Tinubu.

The Chairmen of the five States of the South East pledged their commitment to the project of delivering APC and winning their States for their Presidential Candidate and other candidates of the party.

Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejiocha told the audience that the South East has resolved that never again will they be at the back seat or play regional or religious politics, noting that “what is in vogue now is politics of inclusiveness.”

The Representative of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Presidential Candidate said “APC is at home with the South East,” and that “the best the South East can have as President of Nigeria is in Ahmed Tinubu.”

He, therefore, enjoined all to “partner with Governor Hope Uzodimma as the Leader and Coordinator of APC in the South East to deliver their Presidential Candidate and APC in general.”

The Governor used the occasion to distribute APC campaign buses to the 27 Local Government Councils of Imo State for administrative and operational purposes and promised to work out plans for campaign vehicles for other States of the South East.

Igbo Town Unions In 19 Northern States Pledge To Work For Tinubu; Visit Uzodinma, Seek Meeting With Tinubu

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The Source
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Hope Uzodimma

In a surprise move, the Igbo Town Union General Assembly operating in the 19 Northern States and the FCT Abuja has pledged to work for the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to win the 2023 presidential election.

However, they are also seeking for a meeting with Tinubu to discuss burning issues that concern the Igbo living in the North.

The Group made the pledge when they visited the Governor of Imo State,  Senator Hope Uzodimma in Owerri on Thursday, December, 2022 at Government House.

Addressing the members, Governor Uzodinma commended them for their love of APC and reminded them that they made the right decision.

He reiterated his continued preaching for peace and unity of Nigeria.

“Our people that are agitating for secession or ethnic politics don’t consider what the Igbos in the Northern Nigeria are going through and their investments and businesses,” Governor Uzodinma said.

He emphasized his belief in the unity of Nigeria, saying that the Igbos are better off in the Nigerian project.

The Governor highlighted that the Igbos have a lot of talents yet to be harnessed, “a determined spirit to succeed anywhere they are,” noting that such ambition could be realised in a broader Nigerian space.

He commended the group for their organisational skills and promised to take the issues they raised in their address seriously.

“Put together the Igbos in the Diaspora are more than the Igbos at home and should be taken seriously in the political equation.”

The Governor thanked the members for the confidence the group has reposed in him and assured that he will not disappoint their expectations.

Furthermore, he reminded them that the unity they are seeking for in the Nigerian project is the reason for the formation of APC and that as commanders outside Igboland they will be veritable tools for mobilizing Igbos in the Diaspora.

The Governor encouraged them not to accept that they are strangers anywhere they are in the country, assuring them that wherever they are the Federal Government, State government and their brothers will be there to protect them.

He also assured them that they will be rewarded for their hard work and positive contributions to the unity of the Nation and success of APC in the forthcoming election.

The Governor accepted their request to be their Grand Patron.

In their address presented by their Leader, Dr. Collins Chibueze Ajali, members of the Group also promised to unanimously use their platform and network to work for the re-election of the Governor in 2023.

“After considering the political situation of today and the forthcoming Presidential election, we have unanimously decided to work for the success of the ruling All Progressive Congress Party (APC) and its Presidential Candidate, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu in the forthcoming Presidential election.”

Dr. Ajali said that the decision was taken because of their conviction that APC has the greatest chances of winning the election.

They enumerated the reasons to include that “APC is not only in government but they are also in power which means they are in control of authority at both the National and most Northern States, including Imo State.”

They also used the opportunity to inform the Governor of their core interest in desiring to work for APC which is “to bring in a government that will finally and permanently terminate the daily threats that the Igbos in the North are being confronted with on daily basis.”

Again, they informed the Governor of their intention to have a Town Hall Meeting with the APC Presidential Candidate in Abuja and   requested the Governor to help facilitate.

They recalled the several gestures of the Governor to the Igbos in the North in the past for which they so much repose their confidence in his leadership, insisting that those past gestures had made them to depend on the Governor for patriotic and selfless guide, defense and lead.

One of such gestures of Governor Uzodinma, they said was in 2017 when the Northern Youth Leaders gave Quit Notice to the Igbos in the North and the role the Governor played in terminating that chaos and catastrophe.

They said as the Governor is the APC South East Leader it means they must respect and follow his leadership.

How Imo Politician Was Murdered, House Torched

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The Source
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Christopher Elehu -LP

By Charles Igbo

The Imo State branch of the Labour Party, LP,  is in shock.

The Party’s  Candidate to the House of Assembly, Christopher Elehu has been murdered by gunmen suspected to be assassins.

Until he was gruesomely murdered, Elehu was the LP Candidate to the State House of Assembly for Onuimo Local Government Area, Imo State.

Elehu was killed in the uncivilized hours of Friday, December 16, 2022. He had gone to bed, and was asleep when the gunmen struck. His body, sprawled on the floor, when people gathered in the morning, was badly matcheted.

The gunmen held him hostage and operated for about two hours, releasing deadly gun shots.  Thereafter, they set his house ablaze, and destroyed properties worth hundreds of Naira, including  a motorcycle. There was no help from anywhere. The villagers were too afraid to intervene, and there were no security agents, even from the local vigilante.

Reports, also, has it that the gunmen went to the houses of other politicians in the area, looking for them, perhaps to be given the same treatment. Luckily for those ones, they were not home. They, apparently, passed the night elsewhere, obviously in Owerri, the capital city.

Elehu is the second Candidate LP would lose in less than two weeks. On the day the  Party launched its Presidential Campaign in Imo State, the House of Assembly Candidate for Okigwe Local Government  Area, Chukwunonye Irouno,  who was billed to anchor the program, suddenly slumped and died.

The Imo State Police Command is yet to issue a statement on Elehu’s murder.

UK Government Descends On Nnamdi Kanu’s IPOB ; De-Registers, Dismisses It As An Organisation 

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The Source
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By Charles Igbo

This is not the best of times for the Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. While he is in custody in Nigeria, being prosecuted in a law Court by the Federal Government over alleged terrorism and treasonable felony, the United Kingdom’s  Government has deregistered the Organisation which he founded.

IPOB, Kanu’s baby, has been dissolved by the UK Government. It was not only dissolved, it has been struck off as a registered Organisation in the United Kingdom.

Kanu founded IPOB in 2014, and registered it as a Corporation in the United Kingdom. He is a citizen of both Nigeria and Britain.

The implication is that IPOB can no longer operate in the UK as an Organisation. All its assets have been forfeited to the Crown.

IPOB Organisation as a company was dissolved on September 13, 2022 after a number of warnings.

“The Registrar of Companies give notice that, unless cause is shown to the contrary, the company will be struck off and dissolved not less than 2 months from the date shown above.

“Upon company’s dissolution, all property and rights vested, or held in trust for the company are deemed to be bona vacantia, and will belong to the Crown,”  reads a June 28 , 2022 notice sent to IPOB.

Its dissolution is allegedly a combination of a couple of factors.

The UK Government had, in early 2022,  barred IPOB, the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and other Biafran groups from participating in its asylum programme.

In banning IPOB, the British Government pointed out that IPOB had been proscribed as a terrorist group by the Federal  Government of Nigeria, with the allegation that members of the group and its paramilitary wing – the Eastern Security Network, ESN, have been involved in committing human rights violations.

Persons who commit human rights violations, said the UK Government, should  not be granted asylum.

In March 2021, the UK Visas and Immigration  released new guidelines on how to consider and grant asylum applications to IPOB members.

Titled Country Policy and Information Note Nigeria: Biafran secessionist groups, the UKVI, a division of the Home Office, directed its decision-makers to consider if a person “who actively and openly supports IPOB is likely to be at risk of arrest and detention, and ill-treatment which is likely to amount to persecution.’’

But  in an update on its website on May 3, titled, ‘Country policy and information note: Separatist groups in the South-East, Nigeria,’ the UKVI said, “IPOB is proscribed as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government, and members of the group and its paramilitary wing – the Eastern Security Network (created in December 2020) – have reportedly committed human rights violations in Nigeria and various media articles.

“MASSOB has been banned but is not a proscribed terrorist group in Nigeria. It too has reportedly been involved in violent clashes with the authorities.”

But the British High Commission in Abuja  denied labelling IPOB a terrorist group in a statement it issued.

Said the statement: “We are aware of inaccurate reporting circulating in the media and online that the UK Government has added the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to the UK’s list of terrorist groups or organisations banned under UK law.”

“These reports are untrue. The ‘Indigenous People of Biafra’ (IPOB) is not a proscribed organisation in the UK.

“The inaccurate reporting relates to the 13 April 2022 publication by the UK Government of a revised Country Policy and Information note (CPIN) on separatist groups in SE Nigeria, including the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). CPINs provide country of origin information (COI) and analysis of COI for use by UK Government decision-makers handling particular types of protection and human rights claims.

“All asylum and human rights claims made in the UK are considered on their individual facts in accordance with our obligations under the UN Refugee Convention.”

It is not yet known if IPOB will appeal the deregistration. But about a week ago, IPOB had lamented that the UK Government was on the verge of deporting Kanu’s Cook to Nigeria. They said he is likely to be arrested on arrival, and appealed to the British Government to reconsider its decision.

Kanu’s wife and children live in the United Kingdom.

In June 2021, Kanu was extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria from Kenya, and has been in custody since then. He is being prosecuted by an Abuja Federal High Court.

But in October 2022, a three man Panel of the Court of Appeal, slammed the Federal Government for the illegal manner Kanu was brought back to Nigeria. It discharged and acquitted Kanu of all charges against him, and ordered his release from custody.

However, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, appealed the judgement, insisting that Kanu was discharged, and not acquitted, as he has other pending charges against him. Kanu’s legal team  appealed to the Supreme Court after the Court of Appeal granted the FG’s request of denying Kanu an immediate release from custody.

Nigeria Army Council Elevates 122 Senior Officers

By
Ayodele Oni
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Nigerian Army

By Ayodele Oni

There is jubilation within Nigeria’s military as the Army Council approved the promotion of senior officers to the ranks of Major General and Brigadier General.

Among the beneficiaries is immediate past Chief of Staff, department of Army public relations, Nigeria Army Headquarters, Abuja, Colonel Ezindu Idimah promoted to the next rank of Brigadier General.

Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director Army Public Relations in a press statement, explained that the gesture is

“in recognition of their meritorious service to the nation.

“The Army Council has on Thursday 15 December 2022, approved the promotion of senior officers to the ranks of Major General and Brigadier General.

“In the promotion signed and released by the Military Secretary (Army), a total of 122 senior officers of the ranks of Brigadier General and Colonels were elevated to the next higher rank.

“While a total of 52 Brigadier Generals were meritoriously promoted to the rank of Major General, 70 colonels were also elevated to the rank of Brigadier General.

“Amongst those promoted to the rank of Major General are Brigadier Generals AA Ayanuga of the Department of Army Transformation and Innovation, EH Akpan of Theatre Command Operation HADIN KAI, NM Jega of the Defence Headquarters, JO Ugwuoke of the Department of Army Logistics.

“Others include PAO Okoye of the Department of Army Operations, EF Oyinlola of the Department of Special Services and Programmes, AA Adekeye of 21 Special Armoured Brigade, AE Edet of Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, AB Mohammed of Army Headquarters Operations Monitoring Team, and MT Usman of the Headquarters Guards Brigade.

“Other beneficiaries are Brigadier Generals IM Abdullahi of Headquarters 35 Brigade,  AO Agboola of the Department of Army Training, EE Emekah of Nigerian Defence Academy, HE Nzan of Department of Army Standards and Evaluation, LA Lebo of Department of Army Training, UT Otaru of Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport and AU Obiwulu of 1 Base Workshop, amongst others.

“Some of the Colonels elevated to the rank of Brigadier General are, Colonels AO Ajagbe, JO Ogbobe, MG Hammawa, SS Bello, SOG Aremu, NG Mohammed, OI Odigie, CA Osuagwu, MO Eteng  and ED Idima amongst others.

“The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya congratulates all the promoted officers and their families.

“He has also charged them to remain focused, selfless and loyal in their service to the nation to justify the confidence and trust reposed in them by the Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Mohammadu Buhari, the Nigerian Army and indeed all Nigerians.”

NDDC: Gov. Akeredolu Lauds Senators For Rejecting Ogunmola, Nominee From Ondo

By
Ayodele Oni
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Charles Ogunmola

By Ayodele Oni

Who nominated Charles Ogunmola for the membership of the Niger/Delta Development Commission (NDDC) representing Ondo state and whose interest does he want to represent at the intervention Commission?

These are some riddles that remain unresolved as nominee Ogunmola continues to be rejected even by his home government.

Three senators representing Ondo State and the Red Chamber were United, despite party differences on his rejection, which they said is against the Act establishing NDDC.

And now, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has denied him too. He says Ogunmola is on his own as he has no hand in his nomination and unaware of how his name was smuggled into the list, which emanated from the Presidency.

Governor Akeredolu, in a statement by the commissioner for information, Mrs Bamidele Ademola- Olateju, commended the stand of the senators for blocking the nominee’s clearance by the national assembly.

The government statement reads : “We receive with pleasure, that the Distinguished Senators representing the three Senatorial Districts of Ondo State have demonstrated unalloyed team spirit, in their joint insistence that the contents of the Act establishing the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) be strictly adhered to.

“Our Senators have taken the step of courage and have refused to accept arbitrariness, when it is evident that it is the path of least resistance.

“Instead, they have done the right thing by their fearless, selfless and rightful rejection of any infraction on legal authorities, including that, in reference, with regards to the nomination of anyone outside what the NDDC Act stipulates.

“Their resolve, can only strengthen our oneness and peculiar status as the only oil-producing State in the Southwest, for now. This is one shrewd bipartisan political collaboration worthy of huge commendations.

“If feelers at our disposal are anything to rely upon, it is heart-warming to note, that, on the strength of the resistance and joint rejection by our Senators, the Senate Committee on Niger Delta has rejected the nomination of Mr Charles Ogunmola as nominee for the position of Executive Director, Projects of the NDDC.

“Going by the provisions of the NDDC Act, 2000, and with specific reference to the position of the Managing Director, it is the turn of Ondo State to produce the next Chief Executive of the Commission.

“We have done what is required by Law overtime, to pursue this worthy cause. We shall continue to reactivate all efforts even beyond today, to achieve this aim for our State.

“Notwithstanding, we urge our Distinguished Senators to sustain this courageous pursuit, for it to berth successfully. We count on them to zealously guide and guard their conscionably displayed passion for the people of the oil-producing areas of Ondo State.

“We are in congruence with them, as they monitor events between now and the next plenary session, where their report is most likely to be submitted and debated.

“However, the next collective battle is for all hands to be on deck to achieve what is most desirable in the immediate. Put simply, we must all work together to ensure that Ondo State is not short-changed under the flimsy guise of our ‘rejection of an earlier opportunity’.

“The next EDP of the NDDC is still for the mandate areas of Ondo State to produce. We shall give whatever it takes to achieve this. For this reason, we will ensure a more robust, holistic stakeholders engagement, in a matter of days.

“We thank all stakeholders who stood firm and unwavering in their individual and collective stance against the breach of the NDDC Act in light of the recent nominations.”

Police Reveals ‘Biggest’ IPOB Bomb Factory

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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A bomb factory allegedly belonging to the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, has been uncovered in Ebonyi state, the state police command has said.

The police said it has also seized several arms following a raid on a bomb factory, describing the discovery as the biggest in the south east region, so far.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by Chris Anyanwu, the state police spokesperson, the bomb factory was uncovered following intelligence reports from those living around the community.

Narrating the incident, the police spokesperson, said the militants engaged the police in a gun duel leading to the death of two IPOB members. Some policemen also sustained injuries during the fight and are now receiving treatment, the police said.

Anyanwu said weapons recovered from the bomb factory include 30 pieces of IEDs, a non-electric initiator/detonator, 63 wraps of superpower, 90mm gelatin, and two solar prime 90mm gelatin.

Other arms are 16 danger 90 gelatin, 20 ideal power 90 gelatin 50mm, 239 pieces of plain non-electric detonators, 14 pieces of primed novels, 99 pieces of one-inch safety fuses, and one complete roll of safety fuse

The statement said, “The invasion of the criminals’ den was necessitated by an earlier encounter between operatives of the Command’s Tactical Teams sequel to credible information gathered that the hoodlums were operating/wreaking havoc in the state with a Toyota Sienna space bus which they robbed at gunpoint from the owner within Ishielu axis.

“A quick trail and joint effort with a team of detectives attached to Ohaukwu Division led to the arrest of Sunday Ubah a.k.a Bongo, the state commander of the IPOB/ESN in Ebonyi state.

“The miscreant who gave revealing pieces of information about the activities and modus operandi of the criminals, initially claimed that he is their PRO and native of Umunnochi in Isuikwuato LGA, Abia state.

“However, a scrupulous investigation aided by his antecedents/profile with the police command proved that he is a native of Obegu, Onicha LGA of Ebonyi state and indeed the factional commander of the outfit in Obegu.

“The police bomb expert in the command described it as a complete bomb factory – the biggest in the south-east and that each of the hand grenades (first of its kind) is capable of causing colossal damage to buildings and mass killing of humans.”

Rivers: Appeal Court Reinstates Cole As APC Candidate

By
James Orji
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Tonye Cole, the APC governorship candidate in Rivers state has been reinstated by the Court of Appeal.

The court judgment delivered on Thursday nullified the ruling of the federal high court which disqualified all the candidates of the party in the state.

Cole, a former executive director of Sahara Group, had won the party’s governorship ticket during the primary in May and had received the approval of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to contest the 2023 governorship election.

But one of the governorship aspirants, George Orlu, and four others later filed a case before a federal high court in the state seeking a nullification of the party’s primaries claiming they were wrongly excluded from the primary.

In a judgment delivered in October, Justice E.A. Obile of the high court, agreed with the plaintiffs that they were wrongly excluded, and went ahead to nullify the exercise.

The judge ruled that those whose names have been submitted as having been elected from the primaries should not be recognised as validly-elected candidates of the APC in the state.

Delivering judgment on Thursday, a three-member panel of the appellate court led by Muhammed Lawal-Shaibu said the respondents did not exhaust the internal party mechanism before instituting the suit.

Shaibu held that the respondents failed to participate in the congress of the APC and therefore lacked the locus standi to go to court.

The panel said the trial judge erred by refusing to join some candidates of APC who were interested parties in the suit.

The panel also said the nomination of delegates and political parties was purely internal party affairs, and that the high court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit in the first place.

The appeals by the APC, Cole, and assembly candidates were found meritorious.

Consequently, the appellate court set aside the judgment against APC and awarded the sum of N500,000 each for the three cases as cost against the appeal respondents, in favour of APC.

Meanwhile, there was jubilation in the camp of Rotimi Amaechi, a former Minister of Transportation following the judgment on Thursday.

Sources close to him told the magazine that yesterday’s ruling is a respite for the former minister who is currently facing the battle of relevance in his party.

Ameachi is Cole’s political leader and sponsor.

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