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

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The Source
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APC Lawyers Arrested

By Charles Igbo

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

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

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

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

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

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

Said Maikyau in the statement he personally signed:

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

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

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

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

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

RE-RREST OF LAWYERS HANDLING APC ELECTION PETITION.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Anthony Joshua Revive Career With Win Over Jermaine Franklin

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Jermaine Franklin and Anthony Joshua

By Akinwale Kasali

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The Source
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APC Lawyers Arrested

By Charles Igbo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rivers Election Petition:  APC Lawyers Arrested, Detained By Police As Deadline Approaches

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The Source
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APC Lawyers Arrested

By Charles Igbo

The absurd has, again, happened in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

A team of Lawyers, hired by the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, Rivers State, to file petitions at the Election Petition Tribunal allege they have been whisked away by the Police, and detained.

Reports say the Lawyers were taken away by Policemen attached to Hypercity Supermarket Police Station, Ogbunabali, Port Harcourt.

The Lawyers were arrested at Bayview Hotel, Tombia Road, GRA Phase 2, Porthacourt. All of them are from the Chambers of  Tuduru Ede, SAN, & Co.

They were working in order to beat the deadline in filing election petitions on the  Governorship and State Assembly Elections in the  State.

In a Save Our Soul message the Lawyers alleged that they were swooped upon by the Police operatives while they “were preparing to file election petitions on behalf of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and some of its candidates to challenge the outcome of the 18th March Governorship and State Assembly elections.”

Their distress was made public through a post by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, who  confirmed the ugly development.

The post titled:“DISTRESS ALERT: NIGERIA POLICE ARRESTS LAWYERS PREPARING ELECTION PETITIONS FOR ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS CANDIDATES IN PORT HARCOURT reads:

“Early this morning the 1/4/2023 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force unlawfully and illegally arrested lawyers and support staff of Tuduru Ede SAN &Co,  who were preparing Election Petitions for APC candidates who INEC claimed lost the elections of 18th March 2023 to the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“The arrests were made at Bayview Hotel along Tombia Road,GRA Phase 2, Port Harcourt.

“The lawyers owing to tight timelines to file petitions quartered in the hotel to meet filing periods of 21 days.

“They only had FORMs EC8As and related FORMs issued by INEC and committed no offences for accepting and working their briefs.

“Their clients who are APC and APC candidates have right of access to the Tribunal which the Police in collaboration with PDP are aggressively trying to obstruct by arresting and humiliating lawyers.

“The arrested lawyers include Aondo Jerry, Dr Nelson U.Sobere and Odum C. Eyiba.

“They are currently held at Hypercity Supermarket Police Station at Ogbunabali, Port Harcourt without access to them even upon several efforts of their principal Tuduru Ede SAN and other APC chieftains.”

It will be recalled that the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, had issued an Executive Order, which banned Political Parties from using Hotels and other recreational centres as meeting points labelling any such meeting as an avenue to recruit cultists. But these are Lawyers lodged in the Hotel to do their work.

At the time of filing this report, it could not be confirmed if the Lawyers have been released or not, just as there had been no statements from the Police or the Nigeria Bar Association, Rivers State or the National body.

For the records, in the just concluded elections, Wike, a PDP Governor, freely and publicly worked for two Political Parties – APC and PDP.

In the Presidential election held on the 25th February, 2023, he worked for the Candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu, now the President-elect, against his own Party. But, he was, also, clever enogh to deliver PDP National Assembly Candidates. How he was able to pull off that feat is a story on its own.

And, in the Governorship election held on the 18th March, he worked for the PDP to deliver his chosen Candidate, Sim Fubara of the PDP, and all PDP Candidates of the State House of Assembly.

It is the conduct and outcome of the 18th March Elections that the APC and their candidates in Rivers State are challenging. Sadly for them, they are not likely to get any help from their National Headquarters because Wike helped them to deliver their Presidential Candidate, Tinubu.

SERAP Challenges NBC Over N5 Million Fine Imposed On Channels Television

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari

By Akinwale Kasali

Civil Rights Group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has slammed the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, for the N5 Million fine imposed on Channels TV over a recent interview with the Vice Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Datti Baba-Ahmed.

SERAP said that the fine levied on Channels Television is unacceptable, biased and negates the freedom of expression. It, also, said that the fine amounted to the gagging of the Media.

It however said it would sue the President Muhammadu Buhari Government for silencing and witch hunting the media.

SERAP in a tweet on its Twitter handle on Saturday, said: “We’re suing the Buhari administration and NBC over the arbitrary and unlawful fine of N5 million imposed on Channels TV for a recent interview with Datti Baba-Ahmed, vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP).”

It would be recalled that on March 27, NBC, in a letter addressed to Channels Chief Executive Officer said the television station violated broadcasting code.

In a Statement Titled “Broadcast of an Inciting Interview, A Sanction”, the letter was signed by Balarabe Ilelah, the Commission’s Director-General.

It read in part:

“The NBC monitored the broadcast of a live interview of the running mate of the Labour Party Vice presidential candidate, Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed, by the anchor of Politics Today, Seun Okinbaloye, on Wednesday, March 22.

“Dr Baba-Ahmed said it will be unconstitutional to swear in an elected president on May 29, 2023, because of election irregularities,” Ilelah said in the letter.

He noted that the broadcast was volatile and capable of inciting public disorder and, therefore, violated some sections of the broadcasting code.

This, according to him, includes the section that said no broadcast shall encourage, or incite, be repugnant to public feelings or contain offensive reference to any person or organisation, alive or dead or generally be disrespectful to human dignity.

“Consequently, on the following infractions, Channels Television is hereby sanctioned and shall pay a penalty of N5,000,000 (five million naira) only in the first instance,” he said.

Arewa Consultative Forum Urges FG To Prosecute Those Plotting Interim Government For Treason

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

Following the disclosure of the Department of State Security, DSS, that some people are plotting for an Interim Government, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has called on the Federal Government to prosecute, for treason, those agitating for it.

The Chairman of the ACF, Kwara State Chapter, Mohammed Ghali-Alaaya, said it is the height of unpatriotism for some people to be agitating for Interim National Government when there is a duly elected President in the person of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

At the annual Weekend Ramadan Lecture of Kwara State Television Authority, which was held in Ilorin, Saturday, April 1st, 2023, Ghali-Ghali-Alaaya, while addressing the Media, insisted that Nigerians chose their preferred candidate among the array of Presidential flag-bearers during the General Elections.

He said he is perturbed that some elements would be canvassing for an Interim National Government and noted that they were yet to come to terms with the reality of that choice.

He explained that it was the resolve of stakeholders in the North, particularly Governors from the Region, for power to shift to the South, since President Muhammadu Buhari, who is from the North, is rounding off his second term of office.

The ACF Chairman observed that the call for power shift gathered momentum to allay the fear that the country was on the brink of breaking up, should the Northern region continue to hold on to power.

Ghali-Alaaya remarked, “The Northern Governors, when they spoke, they did so, bearing in mind that the trouble and expectation of this country is so clear that governance must shift from the North to the South. That is not far-fetched. There have been insinuations that Nigeria will break up and everybody is afraid in the country.

“That decision (power shift) was made purely on a very good platform. They (governors) had a very good intention and everybody fell in love with that decision. We have seen that since 2019, and you can see the preparation of the people, including those in the diaspora. Every stakeholder in this country wanted the governance to shift from the North to the South, so that, this country will remain.

“It is very fortunate that in the beginning of the elections, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu won in the primary. It is marvellous and a clean slate which was unexpected. I think everybody should be convinced that when the real election came, this man (Tinubu) won convincingly, and most of the votes he garnered were even from the North.

“It is very surprising that anybody will contest elections and win in other regions other than his own, to that extent, so comfortably.

“Nigerians have spoken, and we have done so loudly. It is so sad for anybody now to say that anyway, anybody, however highly placed found advocating or supporting any interim government in any guise will be met with very stiff opposition. Anybody who does that should be arrested and prosecuted for treason because this is the height of unpatrotism for the country,” the ACF leader advised.

APC: Lauretta Onochie Falls Out Of Favour, Suspended

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Laureta Onochie

By Adesina Soyooye

The very fiery Lauretta Onochie, Chairman of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has fallen out of favour with the Executive Members of his Party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in her Ward.

Her Ward accused her of anti-party activities, and has, therefore, suspended her.

The main accusation against her, among others, which earned her the suspension, is that she worked for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against her own Party during  the General elections in her home State, Delta.

The APC lost in Delta in both the Presidential and Governorship elections in the State.

Onochie, said to be quite close to President Muhammadu Buhari and is his die-hard loyalist, was accused of working for PDP’s Atiku Abubakar and Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, who is Atiku’s running mate, during the Presidential Election, and for Okowa’s candidate during the Governorship election.

While not a few people doubt the allegations against her, the APC executives in her Onicha-Olona Ward 4 of Delta State, think otherwise.

In the suspension letter which was  addressed to the  Delta State Chairman of the APC,  Onochie’s Ward Executives insisted they  investigated her and found out that she worked in the interest of the PDP during the General Elections against the APC.

Her suspension letter was signed by 27 members of her Ward Executive members in Aniocha North Local Government Area, including the Chairman, Ogbolu Peter Nduka, Vice Chairman, Osemeke Mokwunye and Secretary, Justina Amagor Akaeze.

The letter dated March 20, which stated that Onochie’s suspension is with immediate effect reads in part:

“We have painstakingly reviewed the conduct of the just concluded general elections at all levels and have noted, with dismay, that Lauretta Onochie, who is one of the leaders of our great party, worked against the success of the party in Onicha-Olona Ward 4, and beyond.

“Information available to us show very clearly that she was openly campigning for the Candidates of opposition Parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party, in the run-up to the Presidential and National Assembly, as well as the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Election. It was also observed that all her allies and supporters were working for the PDP in the state.

“The evidence of this could be seen in the fact that the party lost in her polling unit (Unit 8, Ward 4) in the Presidential, Senatorial, House of Representatives, Governorship and State Assembly Elections.

“We also note that she has failed to fulfill her financial obligations to the party and has never attended any Ward and LGA meetings or other party engagements.

“In the light of the grievous infractions discovered in her as stated in Article 21,2 (I) (II), we have lost confidence in her membership of the party and hereby suspend her from the party with immediate effect.”

Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, lost in the Governorship election to Sheriff Oborevwori, incumbent Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, while Peter Obi of the Labour Party beat Bola Tinubu of the APC, now the President-elect, in the Presidential election of 25th February, 2023.

But many people have doubts that Onochie was engaged in anti-party activities. Said a source: “She is too much of a Buharist to do that. What has she to gain by supporting the PDP against the APC when she already occupies a plum office given to her by a PDP Federal Government?”

Before her appointment to the Chair of the NDDC, Onochie was Buhari’s Special Adviser on New Media. While in that position, Buhari nominated her as a National Commissioner to the Board of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The Senate did not approve of her because of her roles in both the APC and the Presidency. Buhari compensated her by offering her the NDDC job.

For the records, Onochie is still in Court with Atiku who sued her for alleged libel and defamation of character.

Said another source: “She must have fallen out of favour with her Ward Executives, perhaps, for not funding the Ward and taking care of members the way they expected, given her plum job which everybody sees as Politicians’ ATM.”

Onochie was yet to react to her suspension at the time of filing this report.

Open Letter To Bayo Onanuga

By
The Source
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Richard Akinnola and Bayo Onanuga

My dear Bayo

I hope you are now happy and satisfied, that the National Broadcasting Commission(NBC) has sanctioned CHANNELS with a N5 million fine, following your petition over the Datti Ahmed’s interview on CHANNELS.

Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Dr Olu Onagoruwa ( both of blessed memories) were the best of friends for several years but that friendship was truncated when the latter decided to join the Abacha junta as the Attorney-General, churning out despicable Decrees. Their relationship ended and Gani publicly upbraided his erstwhile friend.

You and l have been friends for several years, fought many battles together against the military, particularly against their onslaught on the free press. I therefore feel terribly pained that l have to publicly upbraid you for your recent public statements, particularly your petition against CHANNELS tv, to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). Et tu, Bayo? I’m still trying to wrap my heads round your sudden 360 degrees against all you fought for under the military. You are yet to be in government and you have started exhibiting intolerance against the independent media, the same thing you fought for all your years, like Dr Onagoruwa did. I’m sure your principal, who has been a lover of free press, would be embarrassed by your position.

I watched the interview under reference and l must say, you are VERY UNFAIR to Seun Okinbaloye, the anchor man who repeatedly cautioned Datti Ahmed for making some seemingly inciting comments, to the anger and discomfiture of Datti Ahmed. So, in all conscience, what then is the basis of your petition to the NBC? Can you compare that to your recent incendiary post against an ethnic group? Why are you making enemies for your principal, instead of friends, in a country so polarized? While your principal is preaching unity and healing, you are busy trying to make more enemies for him. Yesterday, it was ARISE, today, it is CHANNELS. Is that a foretaste of what to experience in the incoming government? So, we should be fixated on NTA and TVC, isn’t that what you are trying to tell proverbially? To say that I’m totally embarrassed by your silly conduct, would be stating it mildly.

For eight years, despite all vitriolic attacks on the President, Femi Adesina, as Special Adviser, Media to the President, did not petition against any medium  but you wey never enter, don dey censor the media. What a shame! I can expect the disaster that awaits us if you become the presidential spokesperson. Do l subscribe to unfettered press freedom? No. I believe every freedom comes with responsibility. However, when you create a perception that the incoming government would be intolerant of the free press, we need to sound the alarm bell.

My dear Bayo, it is often said that until a man tastes power or has access to money, you can’t judge his character. That may not be totally true because one of our mutual friends, Tunji Bello, has tasted both but has been his normal self that l have known for over three decades. His decent character has not changed, in and out of government. So, could it be that your real character is just unfolding?

Just because you are now at the periphery of power, you are ready to obliterate all the values and principles you held all these years. What a shame!

TAKE NOTICE that we would fight this your planned “insurrection” against the independent media the way we, including you, fought Abacha’s dictatorship against the media.

RICHARD AKINNOLA

Postscriptum: Before l wrote this open letter, l had informed some of our mutual friends, so that they won’t feel embarrassed.

Controversy Over Olowu Spare Part Fire Incident

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Olowu Spare Market Fire

By Akinwale Kasali

There is controversy over the fire incident which engulfed the Olowu Spare Parts Market, Ikeja.

The sprawling Market was engulfed by tongues of fire Thursday morning which caused extensive loss to the tune of hundreds of millions  of Naira.

Given the ethnic tension in Lagos between the Yoruba and the Igbo, a consequence of the 2023 General Elections, speculations were strong that some people deliberate set the market on fire.

Traders in the market are mainly of Igbo extraction. The reasoning, therefore, is that the market was set on fire to hurt the Igbo for the defeat in Lagos, of Presidential-elect, Bola Tinubu, by Peter Obi, an Igbo, and the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, LP.

This has, however, been debunked by eyewitnesses and traders at the market. They blamed the fire incident on negligence by some Shop owners.

The fire, they said, started from a shop that contained Air Conditioners, vehicle parts and motorcycles.

It was gathered that an electrical malfunctioning led to the fire outbreak that affected other shops close- by. It escalated and affected a storey building which housed many other shops.

Goods worth millions of Naira were lost in the inferno.

Chijioke Orji, one of the traders whose shop was affected stated that the fire was not politically motivated as it was  triggered by an electrical fault.

“The intervention of the men of the Lagos State Fire Service and Security Operatives salvaged the situation which could have been worse than it was, and would have affected more shops on the street.

“I was at the shop when it happened. My neighbour raised alarm that there was fire at the other shop leading to pandemonium. It however took the intervention of some other traders to rescue some goods from the shop.

“We thank God that no body died, we only lost some of our goods, but we give glory to God”.

Another eyewitness, Lawrence Agoche, told this reporter that if not that it happened in the morning and not late in the night it would have been disastrous.

Agoche said that there was nothing political about it as they have put the election behind them as it has come and gone.

“Election is over, we are back to our businesses, nothing like anything political about all this things, it is a natural disaster which has to do with negligence. We don’t want any trouble and people should stop spreading rumour”.

It would be recalled that just before the Governorship election, the popular Akere Spare Parts Market on Kirikiri Road, Olodi Apapa in Ajegunle, which traders are mainly Igbo, was set on fire by unknown persons who shot to death a Security guard. Goods and properties worth hundreds of millions of Naira werelost in the inferno.

It was also speculated that it was politically orchestrated.

Efforts to reach the Olowu Spare Part Market Chairman and the Public Relations Officer proved abortive before filing this story.

Anumudu: Family Sets Record Straight; Says No Controversy On Cause Of Death

By
The Source
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0
Barrister Humphrey Anumudu

By Charles Igbo

The family of Barrister Humphrey Anumudu, a Governorship Aspirant under the Labour Party, LP, Imo State, has set the record straight concerning his manner of death.

Anumudu, lawyer, accomplished business man, politician, who had contested for the Governorship seat of Imo State a couple of times, died on Friday, 24th March, 2023. As soon as his passing was made public, all kinds of stories and speculations followed.

As usual, foul play was suspected, and was played up.

The first story was that he went to a meeting for all Imo LP Governorship Aspirants in Abuja, and on return to his house in Lagos, slumped and died before help could come. Conclusion: Somebody poisoned him in Abuja over his Governorship  aspiration.

The second story was similar to the first one, almost. He went to bed, and did not wake up. Conclusion: Same as the first conclusion.

The third one emanated from Imo State, his home State, where Politics is at its most hateful. Some people dared put it at the feet of Governor Hope Uzodinma because “Humphrey was a threat to his re-election for a second term in office, come November.” The question is: How?

But on Friday, the Anumudu family put a stop to all the speculations. In a  statement through which his death was announced, the family put a lie to the irresponsible speculations.

The Anumudu family explained that their beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, neither slumped and died, nor died in his sleep. Uzodinma was not after him too.

They said he died after a protracted illness. It also turned out he did not die in his house in Lagos. He died in a hospital. He did not, also, die lonely. He was surrounded, on his death bed, by his loved ones until he gave up.

The public announcement reads:

“We, the family of Barr. Humphrey Anumudu are deeply saddened to announce the death of our husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle.

“Subsequent to a protracted battle with an illness, his heavenly transition took place on Friday, the 24th of March, 2023, at a specialist hospital in Lagos where he was surrounded by family. He is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren.

“Barr. Humphrey Anumudu lived an extraordinary life, having positively impacted most of the people he encountered. He was an unshakeable pillar of his community and lived to see Imo State and its people rise to their full potential.

“We are deeply comforted by the immense outpouring of condolence received from loved ones near and far. We ask that you continue to pray for the repose of his dearly departed soul.”

Humphrey Anumudu was the younger brother of Willy Anumudu, founder of Globe Motors who died in 2020.

They were from a successful family in Obilubi, Obazu, Mbieri, Imo State.

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