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NDDC: Ogunmola’s Nomination Threatened As Group Demands Substitution, Threatens Unrest In Region

By
Akinwale Kasali
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NDDC Office

By Akinwale Kasali

A Group under the auspices of Ilaje Parapo Forum, IPF, has rejected the nomination of Charles Ogunmola as the Executive Director of Project in Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

The Group said that Charles Ogunmola does not share any connection with Ilaje Local Government, the only oil producing Local Government Area in Ondo State.

IPF said it is at pains as to how he was nominated to the office of the Executive Director of Project of the NDDC Board.

In a Statement signed by IPF President, Foluso Ajimuda and his Secretary, Tayo Enikanselu, the Group said the good people of Ilaje and the gods of their  fathers are against the nomination of Charles Ogunmola because his nomination is a fraud and wickedness that we shall fight with the last drop of our blood.

The Group has, therefore, written a petition to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, calling on the Senate to disregard the nomination, stressing that whosoever that have forwarded  Ogunmola’s name to Mr President for Executive Director of Project of the NDDC Board has only done that to register his hatred and wickedness to the Ilaje nation for its God-given oil resources and by implication inviting the wrath of the gods of their fathers whose people and environment have been put in jeopardy as a result of oil exploration and exploitation in the Area.

The petition against Ogunmola reads; “Sir, recall that some times in 2016 one Mr Ajasin Olatokunbo from Owo Local Government, about 250 kilometers away from the oil bearing and producing Communities of Ilaje Local Government, was nominated to represent Ondo State on the Board of NDDC. Charles Ogunmola who is also nominated to be the Executive Director of Projects is another person from Owo Local Government.

We take solace in the meticulousness of the Senate Committee on NDDC under Your Excellency who saved us from illegally giving a position that is exclusively reserved for an Ilaje person to and Owo man in 2016, will also save us at this critical time.

“On Section 12 (1) of the NDDC Establishment Act, “There shall be for the Commission, a Managing Director, and two Executive Directors who shall be indigenes of oil producing areas starting with the member states of the Commission with the highest production quantum of oil and shall rotate amongst member states in the order of production”.

The Group said it stands firmly on that Constitution, and pleaded with the Senate President to look into the issue as it stated that the Ilaje nation has always been pushed to the wall about issues around its oil resources.

It has threatened to fight using every method within its reach, promising to make the region ungovernable as they swill stage a massive protest that will have an adverse effect on governance.

“We are now like the proverbial goat that is pushed to the wall whose bite could be more venomous than that of a viper.

“On the strength of the above well laid foundation and unassailable premise. We humbly reject the nomination of Mr. Charles Ogunmola as executive director of project and urge the senate to step down his ratification and also call on the president to appoint in his place an indigene of the oil producing area in Ilaje LGA of Ondo State.

“This will go a long way in ensuring the sustainability of the age long bond, cohesion, and understanding between the people and the government and ultimately guarantee full confidence in this government.

“We hope your intervention by not confirming Charles Ogunmola as Executive Director of Projects of NDDC Board will save us from the wickedness and injustice of the oppressors of Ilaje nation”.

It would be recalled that a  lawmaker representing Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency, Kolade Akinjo, has urged the Senate to oppose President Muhammadu Buhari’s nomination of Ogunmola.

According to Akinjo, Ogunmola’s nomination is in violation of the Act that created the commission because he is from the Owo Local Government Area and not any of the Ondo South communities that produce oil, particularly in Ilaje and Ese-Odo local Council Areas.

While rejecting the nomination, Hon. Akinjo stated in a protest letter to the Senate that it is in violation of “the letters of Section 12(1) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) (Establishment etc) Act, 2000 (hereinafter referred to as NDDC Act), which provides that:

“There shall be for the Commission, a Managing Director, and two Executive Directors who shall be indigenes of oil producing areas starting with the member states of the Commission with the highest production quantum of oil and shall rotate amongst member states in the order of production.”

Late Student, Oromoni Still In The Morgue, Father Cries Out; CSOs Lament Delayed Justice

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Sylvester Oromoni - Dowen College

By Akinwale Kasali

One Year after the death of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos, Student, Sylvester Oronomi Jnr. under strange circumstances, his body is still lying in the mortuary.  The burial of the youngster is delayed due to the Coroner inquest aimed at unraveling the cause of his death.

Father of the deceased, Sylvester Oromoni snr. is sad over the delay in the burial of his young and only boy. He blames the Lagos State Government for its alleged lackadaisical  approach to the case.

In a statement released Wednesday, Oromoni said it saddens him on a daily basis that his Son is lying lifeless in the mortuary, stressing that assuming he had been buried, it would have eased the pain they are going through, but knowing that their late Son is still in the mortuary is a bitter pill to swallow every minute.

The Inquest on the circumstances surrounding his began at the Magistrate Court, Epe, now Magistrate Court 20  sitting on January 21, 2022. But till date, sadly, it is yet to be concluded.

The aggrieved Oromoni said that if the inquest is not concluded before the end of this year, he would be compelled to withdraw from it “in order to take a different legal step to seek justice.”

The statement reads:

“Today, November 30, 2022 makes it a year since the demise of my son and the body is still in the morgue, yet to be buried. This one-year memorial being held today is to tell Nigerians and the entire world about the current position of the inquest and the antics of Dowen College.

“I am equally aware that some civil society organisations and NGOs in Abuja and Lagos are equally observing the one-year memorial today to mark his one-year untimely demise.

“May the soul of Sylvester Oromoni (Jnr.) and all departed souls rest in perfect peace. Amen.

“At this point, I wish to call on the Honourable Coroner to please do the needful by urgently bringing the inquest to an end as Nigerians and the entire world are waiting for the dispensation of justice in this case as justice delayed, is justice denied.

“This struggle is not only about my late son, but my own way of preventing the future occurrence of this tragic incident.

“In the same vein, we equally urge the Lagos State Government, as a matter of urgency to charge Dowen College and all the staff who had earlier been recommended for prosecution in the DPP Advice of 30th day of December, 2021 to court.

“Already, Dowen College has since the commencement of this Coroner put a lot of things in order in the school premises which were not available at the material time.

“You may wish to know that the installation of CCTV cameras and a football pitch have been provided as against the former concrete basketball court which was being used.

“I must state categorically that if this inquest is not concluded before the end of this year, I shall be compelled to withdraw from it in order to take a different legal step to seek justice.”

It would be recalled that the coroner had adjourned proceedings twice after Dowen College failed to produce the two remaining witnesses from the school.

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Men Against Rape Foundation (MARF) and Make A Difference Initiative (MAD) have lamented that family is yet to get closure.

Speaking at ‘a Night of Songs and Poetry’ organised by both organisations, the chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Abuja Council, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche said he was troubled that the case has still not been concluded after one year.\

“This delay is unprecedented. Lagos state is famed for expeditious action in cases like this. But in this instant case of Sylvester Oromoni Jnr they have not used same speed”, Ogbeche noted.

He said the Lagos State Government owed the Oromoni family closure in order for them to commence the healing process.

In his welcome remark, Executive Director of Men Against Rape Foundation, Lemmy Ughegbe likened the delay in the Sylvester case by the Lagos state coroner to “an open sore left untreated.”

“It is disheartening that one year after a sore was inflicted in the soul of the Oromoni family, the wound has remained open and untreated. This is unacceptable. The family deserves that the open sore be treated, so they can begin the healing process”, Ughegbe stated.

“When you leave a sore open and untreated it can generate to a cancerous sore. The death of Sylvester Jnr is an open sore that is become a cancer for the family because the Lagos State Government seem to have put this case in abeyance with nothing heard about the coroner inquest for months”, he lamented.

“This protracted inquest is unusual and protracted as we note that even the Coroner Inquest of the Ikoyi building collapse of 2021 where 52 persons died did and the Ojota Yoruba rally where one Miss Jumoke Oyeleke died never took this long and they havesince been concluded their Inquest”, he noted

Ughegbe said “exactly one year today, the Oromoni family was confronted with the tragedy of losing their son in traumatising circumstances. It is not right that one year after, they do not have closure and therefore the healing process cannot commence.”

“Today November 30, 2022, we are using poetry and songs to tell the sad and depressing story of how 12 year old student of Dowen College, Sylvester Oromoni Jnr died while groaning in excruciating pain allegedly as a result of assault by bullies in his school”, he stated.

He noted that “it is exactly one year today that he died and the Lagos State Government and the coroner seem to have gone to sleep.”

He demand an expedited action by the state and their findings made known urgently, adding that “nothing excuses the case lingering for so long. The family needs to heal.”

“The Oromonis have lived for a full year now with trauma. I appeal to Lagos state Government to expedite action with the coroner inquest so that the family can have closure and begin the process of healing”, he appealed.

Kema Chikwe Distances Self From Husband’s Alleged Defection To LP; Says She Remains Solidly PDP

By
The Source
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0

By Charles Igbo

Former Aviation Minister, Dr Kema Chikwe, has distanced self from her husband’s reception of Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi at their country home.

On Monday, the story had made the rounds that her husband, Nze Herbert Chikwe, and their son, Andy Chikwe, have both dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the Labour Party, LP. Among those who received them, it was alleged, were Onyewuchi and the Chairman of Imo State Chapter of the LP.

The Chikwes have always been a PDP family. Dr Chikwe, a former Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland, is a founding member of the PDP. Under the Party, she had also been Chairman of the National Universities Commission, NUC, and the National Women Leader. Currently, she is a member of the Board of Trustees.

The Imo State Chapter of the PDP was shaken over the news that her husband and son have decamped to the LP, and dumped the PDP. Not a few people thought it was a prelude to her imminent move to the LP, especially, coming on the heels of her criticism at the PDP National Headquarters, Abuja, of the leadership of the Imo State Chapter of the  Party, and former Governor Emeka Ihedioha. She had, allegedly, asked, among other things, for the dissolution of the State Working Committee.

Based on that, Dr Chikwe and a couple of other high profile stakeholders of the Party in the State, on same page with her,  had come under heavy media attack by, mostly, supporters of Ihedioha who is eyeing the Governorship seat of the State after the Supreme Court aborted his tenure in office.

But Dr Chikwe has dismissed the speculations that her husband and son are the Biblical John the Baptist, preparing her entry to the LP as rubbish. In a statement which she personally signed, she said nothing could be further from the truth. She said she remains a staunch PDP member, and that her husband’s and son’s reception of Senator Onyewuchi, does not, in anyway, change the status quo.

She said that her husband, not being a mainstream politician, is entitled to his relationship with Politicians across other Political parties, and that it, in no way, affects her being a staunch member of the PDP or their relationship as a family. The Chikwe family, she assured, remains PDP.

Dr Chikwe: “My attention has been drawn to the news being circulated that my husband has joined the Labour Party.

“May be it was his way of welcoming  Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi, Senatorial candidate for Labour Party. This does not, in anyway, shake my firm belief and membership of the People’s Democratic Party of which I am a founding member.

“My husband is entitled to his choice. This does not in anyway affect our normal lives as a family. I know he has good friends in other political parties.

“He is known for his hospitality and receiving a Labour Party candidate in his home is more of his expression of support for Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi.

“He responds favorably to his friends, regardless of  political party affiliations because he is not a mainstream politician.

“My family has been PDP, and remains so, in spite of the hype.

“I am a mainstream politician, and I am committed to the People’s Democratic Party. I have no plan to change my Party.”

Her traducers in the Imo PDP, have, however, dismissed her statement as an after thought.

Onyewuchi, the Senator, representing Imo East, dumped PDP after he was defeated at the Party’s Primary by Barrister Uche Onyeagucha, the Secretary to the Government under Ihedioha.

Dr Chikwe backed Onyewuchi at the Primary.

PDP Flags Off South West Campaign In Ondo, As Atiku Assures Of Better Life

By
Ayodele Oni
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Titi And Atiku Abubakar

By Ayodele Oni

Wife of the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Titi Abubakar said on Wednesday that victory for her husband during next year’s election will afford a Yoruba woman to become first lady.

Titi, who went down memory lane, explained that since the return of democracy in 1999, no woman from Yoruba race has become wife of the president.

Addressing a rally in Akure, Ondo state capital, she said “No Yoruba has ever been a First Lady and if we vote Atiku, it’s a vote for Yoruba.

“There is hunger in the land, don’t let the opposition deceive you, vote all PDP candidates during election.”

Titi Atiku, a native of iloko in Osun state, promised the Ondo people that her husband will defeat Boko Haram and provide scholarships to students.

“My people I, your daughter standing in your presence to tell you that my husband has done it before. The last election was won by my husband but we were robbed.

‘My husband indeed is a Fulani but he is not a killer and we have been together. I taught him our culture and tradition, and he Is part of us. During Obasanjo, it was Atiku that brought the likes of El rufai, Ngozi Okonjo-iweala and others who did well for Nigeria. Atiku will defeat Boko Haram and provide you with scholarships.

Earlier, Atiku Abubakar promised to provide enough funds for education, praying that Nigerians will never witness a repeat of APC government beyond 2023, which he said brought untold hardship on Nigeria.

He bemoaned the state of education in the country, which he specifically blamed the ruling APC for what he described as poor policy which he vowed Nigerians would never witness a repeat beyond 2023 if he is voted for.

Delta state governor and Vice Presidential Candidate of the PDP, Ifeanyi Okowa thanked the party leaders and youths present at the rally.

“In the past eight months the youths were at home and that shouldn’t be the case.

“Atiku has made provisions to ensure no University goes on strike as special attention would be placed on the youths of the country as well as set aside funds to support youths who would want to go into entrepreneurship.

“As long as you vote Atiku, hunger and unemployment will be a thing of the past. Remain focused, go from school to school, house to house and campaign for Atiku.”

In his address, the PDP Chairman, Iyorcha Ayu pleaded support from the people the Ondo urging them not to make a mistake but do the right thing by voting Atiku in the coming election.

“Ondo is a PDP state. You are educated and enlightened people and that is why you always vote the PDP. We must work together to ensure victory. Ondo should give the PDP the highest votes in southwest.

“The country is in a bad shape, you need an experience leader to fix the country. Atiku and Obasanjo fixed the economy in 1999 and Atiku is coming back to fix the mess APC has created. He will unify the country, there will be jobs and security.”

Chairman President campaign council, Sokoto state Governor,  Aminu Tambuwal also thanked the people of Ondo for the 2019 support and the warm reception.

“We are kicking off our southwest campaign in Ondo for obvious reasons. We were robbed in 2019, but we must thank you for giving us mandate.

“Atiku Abubakar is the most qualified candidate who has all the credentials to deliver and so we urge you to come out and vote massively for us.”

Obi Says Oil We Have Left Will Be Refined In Nigeria; Expounds Consumption To Production Theory

By
The Source
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Peter Obi

The Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, in reaction to  the enthusiasm of Nigerians on his Consumption to Production theory has gone further to explain  and defend why it’s the only option to take the country’s economy out of the wood.

In a series of tweets, the LP candidate said it’s a three-tracked plan aimed at achieving Goal 12 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), by ensuring sustainable consumption and production pattern.

The thrust of the Obi-Datti presidency if hired by Nigerians will be on agriculture and production-centered growth for food security and export, with more emphasis on exporting finished products instead of commodities and raw materials.

Explaining the concept further, Obi  disclosed that Nigeria has over 84 million hectares of arable land with only 40% of it cultivated,  pointing out that ‘ Nigeria’s arable land is her new oil and gold’.

In pursuit  to Goal 9 of the SDGs, Obi explained that if elected the administration will from its inception, continue to encourage investment in infrastructure – energy, transport, irrigation, and telecoms—to grow these and other sectors.

“We will enforce the legal framework protecting foreign investors and their indigenous partners. This is the only way to temper monopoly and capital flight.”

According to Obi, they will also close the infrastructure gap between now and 2030, with a view to expanding the frontiers of financial inclusion to ensure that SMEs have greater access to credit for their  growth.

“We will work with financial institutions to improve their ability to identify credit worthy borrowers; and support inventory financing, which will help to unlock finance for SMEs dealing with high account receivables”

He explained further that the concept of migrating from consumption to production  is to ensure that, as a nation, Nigeria must look beyond oil. “We therefore, intend to leapfrog Nigeria from oil to the Fourth Industrial Revolution by expanding physical infrastructure through market-driven reforms that will unleash growth-enabling entrepreneurship. and market-creating innovations.

Obi also said that the concept entails that the country ensures sustainability and resilience, and stop borrowing for consumption and channel all loans to be invested in regenerative projects. “We shall pursue a drastic reduction in cost of governance and corruption,

improve ease of doing business to attract Foreign Direct Investment to jumpstart industrialization and when borrowing is unavoidable, it will be strictly for production.

“It is also imperative that henceforth, we should strive to operate within available resources and strive for a balanced national budget as cost saving measures”

Finally, on oil the LP flag-bearer posits thus:

“Whatever oil we still have will be refined domestically. These measures along with ending the leakages, including the subsidy regime and improving our tax regime should do the magic of moving Nigeria from consumption to production.

2023: INEC Chairman Tells Nigerians To Ignore Court Order On Continuous Registration; Laments Attacks On Facilities

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has lamented the series of attacks on the Commission’s facilities in last four months.

The electoral umpire said that the Commission has lost 1992 Ballot Boxes, 385 Polling Cubicles, 22 Electric Power Generators and thousands of Permanent Voters Card, PVCs. He said they were destroyed and/or carted away by unknown men who had attacked the INEC Facilities in Ebonyi State and other States.

Yakubu said that the Commission will recover from the attack as it has just 86 days to the 2023 General Elections, stressing that the destroyed equipment and facilities are being replaced, despite the limited resources.

He, however, added that the electorate and Nigerians as a whole should discountenance any debate about a Court Judgement or ruling that called for the extension of Voters Registration, and also the false information being peddled by mischief makers that without Permanent Voters Card, PVCs, one can vote.

The INEC Boss made these remarks at the Induction of 19 News Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, in different States of the Federation held at Four Points By Sheraton, Lagos.

Yakubu said that the Induction was necessary as it was an avenue to review the performance of previous elections and how to make it better by leveraging on the successes of the Ekiti and Osun Governorship Election held recently.

The United Nations Development Programmes, UNDP, Technical Director, Darren Flitz said that it was an opportunity to brainstorm on how to have an efficient, successful, free, fair and peaceful elections in 2023.

Flitz added that it was necessary for the RECs to create a bond, strategize and understand the rudiments of electioneering, in which teamwork, peace, justice and restitution is prioritized.

The Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Olusegun Agbaje, said that it is an opportunity for him and his colleagues to learn the rudiments of electoral processes and management.

Agbaje said that the induction is coming at a critical  time for the betterment of the RECs as they will be better equipped with improved electoral practices.

He added that Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BIVAS, as made identity theft impossible which is a big boost to electioneering in the country, stressing that all hands are on deck in Lagos for a better election.

CJN Ariwoola In Trouble, Police Step-in, Anger Boils

By
The Source
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0

By Gideon Njoku

But for the intervention of the Police, the Supreme Court could have been invaded by angry groups of the Civil Society Organisations

In their hundreds, members, under the aegis of Coalition of Civil Societies of Nigeria, on Tuesday, November 29, assembled in Abuja, and took to the streets in protest against the continued stay in office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola.

They assembled at the Unity Fountain, and were headed to the Supreme Court, when their mission was cut-short by a detachment of Police personnel, led by Chief Superintendent of Police, Altine, Daniel, which dispersed them by deploying tear gas.

They are asking for the resignation of the CJN within seven days, or they would embark on a nationwide protest.

Ariwoola entered into trouble over his utterances on a visit to Rivers State recently to commission buildings (Judicial) construted by the State Government.

At a banquet held in his honour by Governor Nyesom Wike, where the Governor of his home State, Oyo, Seyi Makinde, was present, Ariwoola was said to have, allegedly, not only heaped praises on Wike, but said he was happy that Makinde is a member of the PDP five Governors, who are at loggerheads with the PDP National Leadership and the Presidential candidate of the Party, Atiku Abubakar.

Wike is the leader of the “rebellious” group known as G5, but recently renamed, Integrity Group.

The alleged statement by the CJN has been condemned  by different groups, including Atiku’s Media Office, and the PDP Presidential Campaign Council.

They accuse the CJN of dabbling into politics, and said he can no longer be trusted to remain impartial in office, especially with the 2023 General Elections around the corner. They want him out of office.

On Tuesday, the Coalition of Civil Societies joined the fray. They referred to the CJN as a “Judicial politician”, and submitted that the time has come to get rid of all “Judicial Politicians.”

Just before the disruption of the protest by the Police, the Spokesperson of the Coalition, Olayinka Dada,  addressed Journalists.

He said: “We are out today to save our hard fought democracy. Seeing the hard fought democracy under threat as we are witnessing now I’d nonetheless, a misnomer  Nigerians will resist this affront with all legitimacy of their convictions.

“A few days ago, Nigerians woke up to the reckless partisan interference of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tajudeen Olukayode Ariwoola, in political dispute capable of making Nigerians distrust the electoral processes leading to the 2023 General elections.

“The Chief Justice of Nigeria, in an unholy visitation to Rivers State, alleged to be a commissioning exercise, made reckless statements, in favour of his new found political friend, Nyesom Wike.

“The Coalition of Civil Societies of Nigeria has since analysed his statement at the commissioning, and came to the conclusion that democracy is, indeed, in danger.

“How do we explain that the man saddled with the impartial role of dispensing justice is now on the side of a particular group in a political dispute?

“This portents great danger to the smooth dispensation of justice in case of electoral  dispute before, during and after the 2023 General Elections.

“Nigerians will not watch this overbearing suggestion by the CJN to Rob off on the citizens on the good governance which they have suffered in the last eight years.

“Governor Makinde is a renowned  ally of Governor Wike and others in the camp. What is the business of the CJN,  advocating for them outside the Courts?

“As responsible citizens of this Country, and the voice of the voiceless, we demand the immediate sack of the CJN, especially now. The CJN’s position is nonetheless an invitation to anarchy and we condemn his political romance with political actors in all ramifications.

“In the coming days, should the CJN refuse to resign, our Coalition will press for all legitimate means through Citizens’ revolt fir him to vacate the exalted, impartial and independent office if the  Chief Justice of Nigeria.”

In its statement signed by Senator Dino Melaye, PDP Presidential Campaign Council, berated the CJN, for his alleged utterances in Rivers State, and asked him to quit office, immediately, both as the Chairman of the National Judicial Council, NJC, and the CJN

The statement reads in part:

“With the scandalous conduct of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, it has become expedient and a matter of honour that he resigns from the exalted office that he has demonstrably abused.

“If he chooses to prolong his stay in office, to continue to serve the interest of his political friends, he may choose to recuse himself as Chairman of the National Judicial Council, turn himself in as a suspect, proceed on leave, and allow for a thorough evaluation of his conduct in line with the provisions of Section 5 of the Code of Conduct for judicial officers.

“The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who has just demonstrated his familiarity with the workings of G5 Governors has by seeking to recruit members into that group turned himself into a suspect, who only can not be trusted with a fair dispensation of justice in Nigeria, but a Chief Judicial Officer who has become tainted and unfit to superintend over the administration of Justice in Nigeria.

“Graver still, the descent of the Chief Justice of the Federation into the political arena is a gross and indefensible violation of the provisions of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, section 5 of which states as follows:

“Right to freedom of expression (5.) A judge, like any other citizen, is entitled to freedom of expression, belief, association and assembly; but in exercising such rights, a judge shall always conduct himself in such manner as to preserve the dignity of the judicial office and the impartiality and independence of the judiciary.

“Accordingly, a Judge shall act with such restraint as is necessary to: (a.) maintain public confidence in the impartiality and independence of the judiciary; (b.) avoid involvement in public discussion or discourse if his or her involvement could reasonably undermine confidence in his or her impartiality; (c.) avoid such occasions and circumstances where such involvement may unnecessarily expose the Judge to political attacks or be inconsistent with the dignity of a Judicial officer; and/or (d.) adhere strictly to political silence.

“Flowing from the above, the first thing that jumps out in 5(d) is the indiscretion of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola to fail to adhere to political silence. Rather he chose to be a recruiting agent for a distinct and unmistakable political group.

“The Chief Justice of Nigeria has by his pronouncement desecrated the dignity of the Judiciary, demonstrated partiality, eroded public confidence, exposed the judiciary to political attacks and acted in a manner that is inconsistent with the character, colour, and calling of his exalted office. In fact, he broke all the rules in this section. This represents a sad irony. It is a case of the gatekeeper carting away the goods in his custody.

“We are worried by this development, as this has confirmed the suspicion in certain circles that the judiciary has compromised its independence and is now dependent on certain interests, particularly in the executive branch.

“One can imagine a scenario in which the group the Chief Justice of Nigeria has patronised so openly appears before him with another party in a dispute. Where he presides bias can not be ruled out and where he does not preside his influence on other judges can not be discounted.

“Hon Justice Olukayode Ariwoola has a duty to save the Judiciary, himself, and Nigeria’s democracy.”

But in a rebuttal of the allegations against the CJN, days after publications, his spokesperson, Dr Festus Akande said in a statement:

“We can’t really pinpoint where such barefaced falsehood is coming from, and certainly, we don’t also know at what point the CJN said he was happy that Governor Seyi was of Oyo State was a member of the now christened “Integrity Group” or “G-5 Governors.

“Everyone knows that the CJN, Hon Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, is a Judicial officer and not a politician, as such, would never directly or remotely make such comments or innuendoes.

“We wish to set the record straight by making it clear that the CJN and other senior Judicial Officers drawn from different parts of the country were in Port Harcourt on Thursday and Friday, being the 24th and 25th of November, 2022, to commission the two buildings to accommodate the Federal Judicial Service Commission’s South-South Liaison Office and the Hon Justice Mary Peter-Odili Judicial Institute, that were conceptualized and constructed by the Rivers State Government.

“Even at the State Banquet organized as part of the events, the CJN made it clear in his brief remarks, that he (CJN) was not in Port Harcourt for the State Banquet but simply to commission the two projects as a mark of honour for the Judiciary and Hon Justice Mary Peter-Odili, retd, and later go back to Abuja, thereafter.

“Similarly, he said he was surprised to see the (“G-5 Governors”), just as he equally expressed the same surprise when he saw them in Ibadan, Oyo State, during the reception organized in his honour by his State Government in October, 2022.”

Former Ekiti First Lady, Bisi Fayemi Petitions Police, Alleges Cyber Harassment

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Former First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, has appealed to the State Police Command to safe her from continued blackmailing by a female social media handler.

The former first lady demanded an investigation of a woman, Mrs Abimbola Olajumoke Olawumi, whom she accused of cyber bullying, cyber stalking, criminal, incessant and unabated social media attacks against her person.

Erelu Fayemi, in the petition dated November 14, 2022 and addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command,  through her lawyer, Mr. Luke Ekene Mbam, demanded a thorough investigation of Abimbola’s infractions, infringements and invasion of her privacy through nefarious, criminal, malicious and calculated posts capable of damaging her reputation.

The former First Lady, who is invoking the provisions of Cyber Crimes Act 2015, stressed that Abimbola, in spreading malicious falsehood against her, had so far failed to come out with any proof or evidence.

Erelu Fayemi maintained that Abimbola’s unprovoked attacks through the social media particularly her Facebook account are in clear violation of the provisions of Section 24 of CYBERCRIMES (PROHIBITION, PREVENTION, ETC) ACT 2015.

Abimbola, had in several posts on her Facebook accused Erelu Fayemi of shielding “family members” from arrest and prosecution for alleged sexual offences.

She also accused the former First Lady of money laundering to the tune of N500 million in Dubai and stealing a total sum of N710 million few weeks after the inauguration of her husband, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, as the Governor of Ekiti State in 2018.

The former First Lady urged the Police to save her from further cyber attacks by the culprit and ensure that justice is done in the matter.

While asserting her innocence and defending her integrity, Erelu Fayemi said: “I have never had any personal dealings with this woman (Abimbola Olajumoke Olawumi). She has never been employed by my husband or myself and she is not a political associate of mine.

“I have had two meetings with her, once in 2018 when she came to introduce herself to me in Isan and last year when she came to seek my help when she wanted to become Chair of her local government.

“I have been told by several people that she should be ignored because she is mentally unstable. I have no medical qualifications to determine the mental state of anyone, this is why I have written a petition to the law enforcement officers.

“She has said many terrible things about my husband and I over the past four years. She has however decided to focus attention on me right now because of my connection with Mr Demola Obanise, the husband of my niece who is like a daughter to me.

“If Abimbola has facts at her disposal to back up all her allegations,  she should not be afraid to present them to the relevant authorities.

“I have never written a petition against anyone in my life. I have never sued anyone. There is a first time for everything. After supporting my husband to serve Ekiti State for two terms, the least I can expect is peace of mind as a private citizen. She should come out of hiding and prove her dreadful allegations.”

Erelu Fayemi further stressed that deliberate criminal acts of tarnishing and causing annoyance, inconvenience danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety against her person by the Culprit has misled the general public to doubt her integrity and character.

The petition reads: “Our Client (Erelu Fayemi) further informed us that as a result of the above and several other malicious, provocative, myopic, untrue, and ungodly reckless postings of this culprit against her person, she has been inundated with various calls from family and friends who are disappointed that she could soil her hands and regards her as a woman of injustice and a fraudulent person who siphoned public fund at the detriment of the people of Nigeria particularly Ekiti State citizens.

“Our Client further informed us that the said malicious post was read and viewed on her mobile phone and her laptop computer particularly.

“That most of her friends in and around Ekiti and other states in Nigeria and even outside the country have had reason(s) to point her attention to this mindless posts of the culprit against her person.

“In the light of the above, we have Our Clients’ clear instruction to make a clarion call to the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command to use his good office to bring this culprit to justice by investigating her infractions, infringements and invasion of our Client’s privacy and save her and the society at large from the Culprit nefarious, criminal, malicious and calculated mischievous posts.”

Access Holdings Obtains France Nod For Hydrogen, A Payment Service Firm

By
James Orji
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0

Access Holdings Plc has obtained approval license to commence operation in France, the group managing director of the company, Herbert Wigwe has said.

The financial services provider has made some acquisitions in some African countries lately in its quest to become one of the top five in the continent.

The bank’s quest to further expand to Europe, financial experts say is a welcome development and proof that the Wigwe-led conglomerate is focused on making the company one of the top financial services providers in the world.

Speaking on the expansion to France, Wigwe said the corporation is set to launch a new firm Hydrogen in the European economic powerhouse.

The GMD who spoke at the bank’s Statutory Meeting of the shareholders of Access Holdings in Lagos noted that the holding company is focused on its bid to become Africa’s gateway to the world.

According to Wigwe, Hydrogen as a subsidiary of Access Holdings would be supporting intra-Africa trade, in partnership with some Development Financial Institutions, DFIs, for payment across the continent.

The GMD said with Hydrogen on board, Access Bank will be used as a settlement platform for over 30 percent of intra-African trade.

He also assured the shareholders of the company that Hydrogen is not an investment risk, adding that all has been done to “ensure that operational risks will be significantly mitigated.”

He reiterated the bank’s quest for diversification, adding that serious efforts are underway to establish insurance brokerage lending platforms that target young people.

Wigwe said, “We share the fact with you that we wanted to be known as Africa’s gateway to the world and what that meant was that we are going to be responsible for payments across the entire continent, irrespective of where you are and where you’re transferring money from. We are going to support intra-African trade, which is a big problem today.”

“The bank cannot do this alone because these are very specialist skills and it will allow us to be able to ensure that there are settlements even in countries where we don’t have a physical presence. The idea is that wherever you are in the world, if you’re making a transfer to anybody across the continent, one out of every three transactions that come into the continent will be settled on Access Bank’s platform.

“They do have operational risk, obviously, but we do have strong compliance process and technology platform, which we will enhance to ensure that operational risks will be significantly mitigated.

“We will continue to spread across Europe to make sure that at the end of the day, perhaps ten years from now, we would have created a very strong diversified entity, not just relying on Nigeria or Africa but also having a broad diversified income base with good quality earnings coming from countries where the inflation rates are less than that of the country, thereby making us much stronger franchise than any other financial institution in the continent,” Wigwe said.

Obi Will Debate With One Of My Spokespersons, Not Me – Tinubu

By
The Source
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0
Bola Tinubu
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

By Gideon Njoku

Those waiting to see the day the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, would have a debate, on issues, with the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, should perish the thought. They will wait forever because it would never happen.

Tinubu said he would never debate with Obi. He said that one of his Spokespersons would, instead, debate with Obi. And even then, it would be if, and when, Obi meets certain conditions.

This was contained in a statement issued Tuesday, November 29, 2022, by the Spokesperson for the Presidential Campaign Council of the APC, Festus Keyamo, SAN.

Among the conditions Keyamo listed is that Obi must release his manifesto. Others include that Obi must disclose what role he played during the Military regime to return democracy to Nigeria, as well as name of any political party he founded, or partnered, and stayed in till date.

The statement also added as one of the conditions that Obi must name his achievements during his two-term tenure as the Governor of Anambra State.

Nigerians have been accusing Tinubu of “dodging” a public debate with other Presidential candidates, including Obi. He has managed to escape being on the same stage with them, and also avoided honoring invitations from a couple of electronic media for a lone interview.

Not a few people attribute that to the many gaffes by Tinubu at every Presidential rally he had addressed in the past couple of weeks. Rhey allege, that he is afraid of being interrogated on different issues, including personal ones.

But Keyamo thinks differently. In shielding Tinubu from a debate with Obi, he said: “They have no manifesto, so what are we debating? What documents are we comparing? He said Nigerians should depend on what is in his brain, not on documents.

“Before Obi can stand shoulder to shoulder with Asiwaju to debate, he should first release a manifesto for scrutiny. Then, he should list his tangible achievements as Governor of Anambra State compared to the tangible achievements of Asiwaju as Governor of Lagos State.

“Then, he should list those he has mentored in politics from the days of his being a Governor who are still with him now. Then, he should tell us any political party he has either formed or partnered to form and which he belongs to today.

“Then, he should list his democratic credentials, that is what he did to contribute to the return of democracy from Military rule and what he has since done better than Asiwaju to sustain democracy.

“After all these, we shall send one of our Spokespersons to debate with him.”

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