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2023: Ogene Slams APC For Leaving South East Out of Calculations

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The Source
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Victor Ogene

“PDP Remains Best Option for Ndigbo if left out in power equation”

A former member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, has called on Igbo leaders across political divides to urgently convoke a summit of Ndigbo, if the zone is not to be left outside the power loop for yet another eight years.

“The eight years of the current All Progressives Congress, APC-led federal government – most of which the Igbo spent lamenting its near obliteration from the country’s power calculus – is gradually coming to an end, yet there is neither an indication that the situation would be redressed, nor is there a concerted attempt by Ndigbo to avert a repeat of the status quo,” Hon. Ogene said in statement released today.

A chieftain of the APC, Hon. Ogene who served as Director, Media and Publicity in the Party’s 2021 gubernatorial campaigns in Anambra State, stated that “it was particularly irksome that in the clamour for the rotation of the presidential stool to the South, APC leaders appear to have deliberately refrained from specifically zoning the position to the South East, in the spirit of equity, fairness, good conscience and precedent.

“For those who are wont to hide under a finger, by citing the less than admirable acceptance of the party in the region, providence and precedent offers a simple answer: there once was a President who emerged in spite of electoral rejection by his ward, local government, state and region.

“Now that Ndigbo find themselves in similar situation, why would the rules of engagement change suddenly? Are the power brokers who despite everything else resolved the 1999 quagmire in favour of the preservation of national unity no longer alive to apply the same balm of inclusivity in order to accommodate Ndigbo?

“Today’s APC stands in the gap as the behemoth People’s Democratic Party, PDP at the time it took the largely unpopular but historic decision to support a candidate from the South West to emerge as President. With a country bursting at the seams by feelings of alienation, wouldn’t an affirmative action initiative offer some form of panacea, if not outright healing, for the many disparate agitators who struttle the landscape?

“For every cursory observer of the ferocious politicking currently going on in the APC, however, it would be akin to wanting the sun to stand still, should one crave a Presidential ticket from the party for a South Easterner.

“Speaking realistically, once the position is zoned to the South and a candidate emerges from either the South West or South South, that forecloses the possibility of getting a Vice Presidential slot for Ndigbo. And in the event that the Party triumphs in the 2023 election, its exclusion from the power loop would be stretched by another eight years.

“This, therefore, is a wake-up call on all Igbo leaders of note to gird their loins and seek negotiations and accommodation for the greater political interest of the South East.

“Not too long ago, Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, in a barely disguised pursuit of personal interest, left the PDP for the APC, on the excuse that Ndigbo won’t be available for a Vice Presidential slot under the PDP. Today, with the possibility of getting even that in the APC a mirage, Igbo leaders, including Umahi, may well begin to positively reconsider that offer – unless, of course, if the APC weans itself off it’s seeming anti-Igbo stance and do what is right.

“In deed, let’s face it, the only reason former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are considered serious contenders for the Presidency is their hands-on experience on the top job, as former and sitting Vice Presidents.

“In deed, with the APC almost certainly going South, and the PDP, North, Ndigbo ought to commence an urgent process of political re-engineering – one which would attract greater political capital for the people of the region.

“Only two days ago, in a unique display of brinkmanship, three aspiring presidential candidates of the PDP met and resolved to forge a common front through a consensus agreement. A close look at the dramatis parsonae involved in the consensus talks would easily reveal that besides personal ambition, what is at stake is the greater interest of the entire North.

“With Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal(North west), Bala Mohammed(North east), and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki(North central), leading the charge, anyone with a mere passing interest in Nigerian politics would understand that the presidential train is about leaving the station.

“In deed, I can vouchsafe that the Sokoto State Governor, Tambuwal, widely acknowledged as the ‘Unifier,’ is a true friend of Ndigbo, and would not let people of the area down in the current permutations.

“While 2023 may appear to be a long shot in the presidential quest of the South East, 2031 would certainly not be – especially if it forms part of the demands in the negotiations leading up to the emergence of presidential candidates, and ultimately the country’s next president.”

Access Bank Plc: From Burma To Global Brand

By
James Orji
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By Bayo Bernard, Business Editor

Exactly 20 years ago two prolific Nigerian bankers and astute entrepreneurs took their destinies in their own hands after they left the ‘tarmac’ as top executives of a top commercial bank in the country to establish the first Access Bank branch along Burma Road, Apapa.

The pair of very hardworking  Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and Herbert Wigwe, young, enterprising and beaming with lofty ideas had left their former employer, unaware of what the future held for their new firm. The only confidence they had then was the survival instinct that they cannot afford to fail in their new quest to own the biggest bank in the country.

Two decades after taking the humungous risk, the duo who were barely 40 years at the time must be very proud that the financial institution they nursed from infancy has not only become a household name as Nigeria’s biggest bank, but a global brand that can rival any in its class.

From just one branch in 2002, the financial institution has grown to become a financial behemoth with a significant presence in cities across Nigeria and beyond, boasting of assets in excess of N10 trillion, solid customers’ base, and positive rating by top flight global agencies.

The bank has continued to prove its position as Nigeria’s biggest bank by winning various awards such as the Financial Times  “Sustainable Bank of the Year Award” for Africa and Middle East region; CBN Sustainable Bank of the Year; CBN Sustainable Transaction of the Year (Oil and Gas Sector; CBN Sustainable Transaction of the Year (Agriculture)  and CBN Excellence in Women Economic Empowerment.

Last year, the bank was named ‘Best Bank Nigeria’, ‘Best Private Bank Nigeria’, and Pan-African ‘Sustainability Award’ at the 2021 EMEA Finance African Banking Awards.

After dominating the Nigeria financial space for two decades, the bank has notched higher by embarking on major acquisitions in South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, with a strong vigor on the part of the current management to embark on more mergers and acquisitions in the immediate future.

Indeed, by paying close to $60 million to acquire a controlling interest in South Africa’s 74-year-old Grobank in March 2021, Access Bank Plc became the first Nigerian bank to buy a bank in Africa’s most industrialised nation and tap into its huge market.

Before the South African acquisition, the bank had taken over Kenya’s Transnational Bank and Zambia-based Cavmont Bank, a great feat considering that no bank in the country had ever acquired three big banks in just eight months.

Recall that the bank, had in 2011, acquired 75 percent equity in the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, despite the initial ambiguity that it lacked the financial capacity to do so. That acquisition, considered to be the biggest upset in the nation’s financial sector, many say has since transformed the domestic acquisition landscape.

The management of the bank was to create another upset after it took over Diamond bank Plc on April 1, 2019, a deft move that further expanded its tentacles in Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy.

With the successful acquisitions, experts insist that Nigeria’s largest bank by assets, loans and deposits has mastered the art of takeovers, and its recent plans to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, AfCFTA to expand into eight other African countries such as Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Angola, and Ethiopia, within a short period has been well applauded by key industry players.

In spite of the huge milestones, the bank’s chief executive, the very cerebral Herbert Wigwe said the resolve of the management is to turn the financial institution into a global bank despite the challenging business environment, a lofty proposition which key players in the sector said will not be impossible considering that the bank has successfully proved what it means to overcome the ugly stereotype that nothing good can come out of Nigeria by building a strong, reliable, upward-moving global brand that can stand its own among its peers.

Wigwe said his management “want to be the Citibank of Africa. There is no point in waiting for other banks from other continents to come and serve you. You must create your own. We had to shut down a branch in Côte d’Ivoire. But nothing will stop us from creating that global institution that we seek to create”, he said on the bank’s next plan to expand retail banking services to France.

Having dominated the financial market for so long, the bank also recently solidified its position as a global player in the business sector after receiving the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN’s nod to  transform into a holding company that has the capacity to provide top notch services that is now well beyond the banking hall.

Even though the management said it has no immediate plans to abandon the bank’s core revenue generation sources, it has also assured major stakeholders that a holding company structure will enable the bank to generate more revenues from other non-core banking business, such as insurance, Real estate, e-commerce and fintechs, amongst others.

Going forward, the bank said the new subsidiaries will include Access Bank Group, Access Lendo; Access Insurance, Access Real Estate and E-commerce, to be manned by top brains in the sector, the bank said.

Vintage Wigwe, speaking on the restructuring, said it will not be difficult to attract manpower to the subsidiaries considering Access Bank’s solid reputation in the sector, assuring that the Holdco will take the financial institution to the next level.

He affirmed that the bank has broken the ceiling of providing just retail banking services and will leverage on its experience as Nigeria’s leading bank as it makes gradual but steady inroad to other sectors, noting that subsidiaries will be effectively manned by competent hands in order to achieve proper oversight.

He said, “we believe that we are best positioned to basically do all of that. Our focus is to become an aggregator in Africa and we are building a global payment gateway and providing trade finance support and correspondent banking across the continent. We are focusing on the key markets.

“The approach would always be that in the country we wish to go to, that we have the right skills. We would not just be a drop in the country in which we are present, we would make sure that we have an impactful presence in each of the major countries in which we are present”.

“In doing this”, he explained further, “we are also mindful of the country we are going to so as to make sure that it is of benefit to the bank. As we do this, we are working with our friends and partners.”

The bank’s CEO added that, “we are diversifying our earnings away from volatile markets as well and we are orchestrating our operations from the global payments gateway and ensuring that using Access Bank UK, providing corresponding services from digital platforms, the overall profitability of our franchise.

“We believe that we are best positioned to basically do all of that. Our focus is to become an aggregator in Africa and we are building a global payment gateway and providing trade finance support and correspondent banking across the continent. We are focusing on the key markets.

“The approach would always be that in the country we wish to go to, that we have the right skills. We would not just be a drop in the country in which we are present, we would make sure that we have an impactful presence in each of the major countries in which we are present,” Wigwe said.

Meanwhile, the bank has released its full financial report for the 2021 financial year to the Nigerian Exchange, NGX showing strong performance in key metric areas.

According to the report, the bank recorded gross earnings of N971.9 billion; profit before tax of N176. 7 billion; and profit after tax of N160.2billion from N106.0 billion in 2020.

Obiozor: “They Plan To Burn My House; I Granted No Interview On IPOB” – Nwodo

By
The Source
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Nnia Nwodo

The immediate past President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, has denied granting any interview on the bombing of the country home of his successor, Professor George Obiozor, by hoodlums.

Obiozor, an accomplished diplomat, and a former Nigeria Ambassador to the United States of America, had his country home in his Awo-Omanma community bombed on Saturday in a most callous manner.

The condemnable act was greeted by outrage. The damage was huge. The loss, irreplaceable. A reporter on one social media quoted Nwodo as saying that he will deal with IPOB if they dared burn down his house.

However, Nwodo, in a statement he personally signed, has denied granting any interview in Enugu, as he is currently out of the country.

He said the publication was a deliberate act to put him on a collusion course with IPOB, and a ploy to incite the burning of his home.

Following is the full text of the statement.

“My attention has been drawn to a news item circulating in the social media in Nigeria quoting me as saying that I will deal with gunmen if they try to burn my house.

“The faceless reporter claimed that Nwodo was reacting to the burning of the home of the incumbent President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Imo state.

“Since I left the Ohanaeze Presidency after a successful tenure, I have been deliberately away from media glare for obvious reason of allowing my successor own the media space. I rarely appear in public outing except for where its inevitable. I had also turned down several media approaches for interviews as a result of this principled position.

I have been outside the country for over one week for medical checkup yet the mischief maker(s) chose to put words in my mouth as speaking to newsmen in Enugu.

“There is no doubt in my mind that those behind this cheap blackmail are engaged in devious act to not only dent my image by continuously dragging my name negatively with IPOB but working assiduously to find an alibi to burn down my house and possibly attack my person.

“For the interest of the gullible public, I am presently in United states and did not speak to any media group or individual and has no problem with any group whether IPOB or anybody in whatever name called.

“This continuous attempt to put my name in the black side of IPOB or some Igbo leaders is bound to fail because it’s not standing on truth of a man who has made enormous sacrifice for his people

“Those behind this dangerous act will definitely face the law of the land and of God who detest the destruction of a person’s hard earned reputation unjustly.

“I therefore wish to urge the public to disregard the news item and treat it as one of the minuses of social media.”

IPOB Denies Complicity

IPOB, in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Emma Powerful denied having a hand in the razing of Professor Obiozor’s House.

The statement reads:

BURNING OF PROFESSOR OBIOZOR’S HOUSE, BARBARIC, CONDEMNABLE- IPOB

“We the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU, totally condemn  the burning of the house of Professor George Obiozor, the President General of Ohanaeze. This barbaric act is shameful and disgraceful to Ndigbo.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that criminals behind this cowardly act are those against the liberation of Biafra and the release of our  leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU so as to create the wrong impression that Biafra agitators are violent. Those behind this evil act have nothing to do with IPOB, ESN or Biafra agitation. They are sponsored criminals and must be made to face the consequences of their action.

“We don’t consider Professor Obiozor an enemy of IPOB and Biafra struggle. So, anybody targeting him is treading on a dangerous ground. He has done nothing to deserve such devilish and wicked attack.

*IPOB M.Branch unit will stop at nothing in unraveling those behind this dastardly attack.

“The criminal elements being recruited by evil politicians wrecking havock across our land should stop their murderous activities or brace up for IPOB.

“Wicked politicians must be held responsible for the on-going destruction of IGBO land.

“IPOB is ready to confront these criminals created by politicians in the name of Ebubeagu security outfit which they intended to use to replace ESN.

“Ebubeagu security outfit has turned to unknown gunmen terrorising our people. They are involved in Kidnappings and burning of people’s properties and houses in Imo State and other states.

ESN operatives need the cooperation of the public to deal with the Ebubeagu security outfit because they have been a torn in the flesh of our people and must be stopped.”

However not a few people blame a group they identify as Rogue IPOB for the atrocious act. This group, they allege, are committing a number of atrocities in the name of IPOB.

However, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has put the blame on Politicians.

Ebonyi: PDP Wants Nominees Sworn-in As Governor, Deputy

By
The Source
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Following the landmark judgment by the Honourable Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which sacked Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. Dave Umahi, and his Deputy, Kelechi Igwe from office, and the subsequent striking out, by same Court, of the Stay of Execution Suit filed by both men, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to immediately issue Certificates of Return to their nominees.

Justice Ekwo, in the landmark judgment delivered on March 8, 2022, sacked Umahi and Igwe for defecting from the political party on which they were elected -PDP- to the All Progressives Congress, APC. The Judge held the view that having jettisoned  PDP, both men have also jettisoned the votes cast for them in the Governorship election of 2019 as the votes belong to the political party, not the individuals.

Ekwo ordered Umahi and Igwe to immediately vacate the seats, asked the PDP to nominate new people to occupy the seats, asked INEC to either issue Certificates of Return to them, or organise a fresh Governorship election in the State.

Umahi after throwing tantrums, appealed the judgement, boasting that he had hired 17 Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs, for the appeal.

He also filed a Stay of Execution motion. However, Ekwo threw out the motion on Monday, March 21. Umahi’s lead Counsel, Chukwuma Ma-Chukwu Ume, SAN, had prayed the Court for the withdrawal of the Stay of Execution which he filed, pointing out he wanted to effect some corrections. He was not opposed by Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, PDP’s Counsel.

Following that, however, the PDP, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, has asked INEC to immediately issue the CoR to its nominees,  Hon. Iduma Igariwe and Fred Udogwu as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State respectively.

The Party also asked the Chief Judge of the State, to immediately swear both men in as soon as they present their CoR.

According to the Party, these actions have become necessary to prevent the existence of a vacuum.

The Honourable Judge also sacked 17 members of the Ebonyi House of Assembly, including the Speaker of the House, for the same offence. They, too, have appealed the judgement.

Debo Ologunagba - PDP Publicity Secretary
Debo Ologunagba, PDP National Publicity Secretary

Following is the full text of PDP’s statement:

Ebonyi: Issue Certificates of Return to Igariwe, Udogwu Now, PDP Charges INEC

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) charges the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately and without any further delay, issue Certificates of Return to Hon. Iduma Igariwe and Fred Udogwu as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State respectively.

“This is in furtherance of the Order of the Federal High Court issued in Abuja today, Monday, March 21, 2022 refusing to grant Stay of Execution to the former Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Nweze Umahi and his Deputy, Kelechi Igwe over their removal from office by the Court.

“INEC, pursuant to the provision of Section 287(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which provides that “the decisions of the Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, a High Court and of all other courts established by this Constitution shall be enforced in any part of the Federation by all authorities and persons, and by other courts of law with subordinate jurisdiction to that of the Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, a High Court and those other courts, respectively” is bound to issue Certificates of Return immediately to Hon. Iduma Igariwe and Fred Udogwu as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State respectively.

“In this regard, the PDP also demands that the Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, upon the issuance of Certificates of Return by INEC proceed to swear in Hon. Iduma Igariwe and Fred Udogwu as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State respectively.

“This is absolutely necessary to prevent the existence of vacuum in the government and governance of Ebonyi State as Messers Umahi and Igwe can no longer exercise the functions of the office of Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State pursuant to the Order of the Federal High Court which removed them from office on March 8, 2022 and the subsequent Order of the Federal High Court today, which refused their application for Stay of Execution.

“The PDP commends the judiciary for its courage in defending the Constitution as well as the will of the people of Ebonyi State as expressed in their votes for the PDP in the 2019 governorship election.

“Our Party also congratulates the people of Ebonyi State for the restoration of their mandate and urged them to remain united under the PDP as we forge ahead in our mission to Rescue and Rebuild our country from the rudderless APC administration.”

Qatar 2022: Super Eagles Players Arrive For Crucial Match Against Ghana; As Injury, Ill-health Hit Ghana

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Super Eagles

By Akinwale Kasali

The crucial double header between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Black Stars of Ghana for the qualification ticket for Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup is just days away. Invited Super Eagles players have started arriving camp for the match.

William Troost Ekong, Leon Balogun, Calvin Bassey, Olaoluwa Aina, Ahmed Musa, Odion Jude Ighalo, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi and Frank Onyeka were early birds at the Abuja camp of the team.

The other players are expected to hit camp for the make or mar match between Monday and Tuesday as the team is expected to jet out on chartered flight to Kumasi, Ghana for the first leg of the encounter on Friday, 25th March, 2022.

The early arrival of players for the must-win Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup match against the Black Stars of Ghana highlights the importance the players attach to the match.

As at time of filing this report, the Ghana Football Association, GFA, is yet to release the list of players that will prosecute the encounter against the Three Time African Cup of Nations Champions.

It was gathered from the Ghanaian media the players are hit with sickness and injuries that may have forced the technical crew to make some last-minute changes.

Crystal Palace Football Club of England Striker, Jordan Ayew and debutant, Bristol City Football Club of England forward, Antoine Semenyo are major doubts for the 2022 World Cup play-off after encountering setbacks this past weekend.

Ayew, whose senior brother Andre Ayew is ruled out due to suspension, has contracted coronavirus and it’s likely that he would be replaced in the squad.

The Crystal Palace striker was not even named on the bench on Sunday morning as the Eagles thrashed Everton 4-0 to advance to the FA Cup semi-finals.

Ayew is a key player and his potential absence could affect the team’s chances of eliminating Nigeria.

For Semenyo, he suffered a knee injury while in action for Bristol City in the English Championship against Oluwasemilogo Ajayi’s Club side, West Bromwich Albion.

The attacker who has been handed his debut call-up for the crucial tie was substituted after just six minutes, and according to Bristol manager Nigel Pearson, the player is upset.

“I don’t know [the extent of the injury] at the moment but obviously he [Antoine Semenyo] is upset at the moment because he’s been called up for the Ghana squad and he’s jarred his knee so we’ll have to see how he is. I can’t give you any more than that at the moment,” Bristol manager Nigel Pearson had said.

These two players could be replaced as the Black Stars technical team prepares to address the nation on Monday morning.

Meanwhile, Black Stars interim coach Otto Addo is expecting a full house by the close of the day as the team prepares for the crucial World Cup playoff against Nigeria.

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey who is expected to lead the team in the absence of Andre Ayew is expected to arrive in the country later Monday.

According to the GFA, the Black Stars will travel to Kumasi on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, to continue with preparations for the game.

The Super Eagles are expected to arrive in Ghana on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, with a chartered flight.

Nigeria will be missing the services of Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and Kenneth Omeruo due to injury.

Coach Augustine Eguavoen is expected to make changes to his squad to replace the injured players.

Ghana and Nigeria will be battling it out for one of the five tickets to represent Africa at the World Cup to be staged in Qatar.

Defection Saga: Court Sacks 20 Cross Rivers Lawmakers

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Court
The Law

By Akinwale Kasali

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sacked 20 members of the Cross River State House of Assembly for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressive Congress, APC.

In a judgement delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo on Monday, 21st March, 2022, it held that the lawmakers needed to vacate their seats since they had abandoned the party which brought them to power.

The judgement followed a suit filed by the PDP marked FHC/ABJ/CS/975/2021.

The case was filed in August 2021 by the PDP, the court however held that “The action of the 5th to the 25th Defendants is feeble and constitutes an attempt to pull a wool in the eyes of the court.

Their counter affidavit is manifestly defective” Justice Taiwo held.

Consequently, the court granted all the reliefs sought by the PDP, warning politicians to know that power belongs to the citizens.

The development is coming barely two weeks after Governor David Umahi, his deputy and 17 lawmakers of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly were sacked for defecting to the APC from PDP.

Details Later…..

No Portion Of Land Will Be Ceded To Herdsmen; Edo Assembly Assures

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Edo State House of Assembly has doused mounting tension caused by a bill on anti grazing before it forwarded by the state Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki.

Groups and Civil Society Organizations, (CSO) have tasked the Governor on the bill accusing him of trying to cede lands to Herdsmen.

The assembly received some CSOs on Monday and assured them that the house was still in the process of considering the anti open Grazing bill for the betterment of the people and has not ceded any percentage of land to any group.

The speaker, of the Assembly, Marcus Onobun disclosed that the anti open Grazing bill before the house is still in the process of consideration and not passed yet.

Onobun who in company of some legislators, received three civil society groups, that protested to the house over the rumours making the rounds on the alleged ceeding of 20 percent of arable Land to Herdsmen.

The speaker pointed out that the various processes of law making include deliberations by the committee of the whole house where each clause is deliberated upon for the benefit of the people.

Onobun stated that the bill, when passed, will be a great asset to all. “Edo State House of Assembly will not make laws that we will be victims of or that will haunt us”

The speaker said the state government was concerned  about peace and security of the people of the State.

He further stated that the bill would empower a regulatory committee to be set up by the State government to monitor and take charge of the setting up of ranches.

The Civil society groups received include Edo civil society organization led by Bishop Osadolor Ochie, Network of civil society of Nigeria led by Comrade Ogbidi and Edo state civil society organization led by Kola Edokpayi.

They in their presentations, requested to know if any percentage of land had been ceded by the house.

Sack: Court Throws Out Umahi’s Plea For Stay Of Execution

By
Uche Mbah
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By Uche Mbah

A Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, in Abuja, Monday, threw out the motion filed by ex Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state, which sought a stay of execution of the judgement delivered by his court on March 8, 2022.

News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that Justice Inyang Ekwo struck out the motion after Chukwuma Ma-Chukwu Ume, SAN, counsel for Umahi and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, prayed the Court for the withdrawal of the motion, and the Peoples Democratic Party’s lawyer, Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, did not oppose the application.

The motion for stay of execution was marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/920/21, between PDP Vs. INEC and three others.

Justice Inyang Ekwo had, on March 8, in a judgment, ordered Umahi; his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, and 16 lawmakers to vacate their office and seats, following their defection from the PDP to All Progressives Congress.

The Judge also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to immediately receive from the PDP, the names of its candidates to replace them, among others.

NAN, however, reported that on March 10, Governor Umahi and others had sought an order of the FHC Abuja, staying the execution of its judgment directing them to vacate their offices over their defection to another political party.

In a motion on notice filed by Ume, the applicants also prayed the court to stay the execution of its order directing INEC to receive other names in their place or hold a governorship election in accordance with Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal dated and filed on March 9 by the appellants, among others.

NAN reports that Ume also sought a withdrawal of the stay of execution motion filed on behalf of the lawmakers marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1041 between PDP Vs. INEC and 20 others.

At the resumed hearing, Ume informed the court of his intention to withdraw the two motions for stay of execution dated March 9 on the grounds that an appeal had been entered at the Court of Appeal on the matter.

Counsel for the PDP,  Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, did not oppose the application.

In a short ruling, Justice Ekwo struck out the matter.

NAN reports that Ume had, on Wednesday, approached the court to withdraw the stay of execution motion filed on Umahi’s behalf due to a mistake in the application.

Former Gov Obiano Now On Bail – EFCC

By
Ayodele Oni
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Governor Willy Obiano of Anambra State

By Ayodele Oni

Immediate past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, has been released on bail.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)  Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, disclosed this on Monday in an interview with journalists in Abuja on the sideline of 5th Annual General Assembly (AGA) of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIMA).

Bawa, however, said the former governor is yet to perfect his bail conditions and as such, he is still in the custody of the commission.

Obiano, was nabbed on Thursday at about 8:30pm by the anti-graft agency at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos  when he was reportedly on his way to the United States of America.

He was subsequently transferred to the headquarters of the commission, where he was quizzed for days over alleged mismanagement of N42bn and inflated contract.

It is not known when the bail was granted him, but a 12-second video of the former Governor which was leaked and went viral, sparked outrage. He was wearing a red-coloured shorts and a t-shirt, drinking a bottle of water, and sitting with a visitor.

The video was seen to be in bad fate and a deliberate humiliation of Obiano as no other high profile detainee has been so treated.

Details of his bail are yet to be made public.

Osun: Oluwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Is A Sexual Predator

By
James Orji
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By James Orji

Barely one week after the Oluwo of Iwo Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi married a new wife, his former wife has described him as a chronic sex predator.

Chanel Chin, the ex-wife of the very controversial monarch who left him after accusing the traditional ruler of sleeping with a 13 years old daughter of a pepper seller, said Oba Akande lifestyle is to sleep with minors.

The traditional ruler who once described himself as the only emir in Yorubaland married Firdau, a Kano princess last week, describing his new bride as his soul mate.

After the quiet marriage ceremony in Kano, Oluwo gushed about his new bride that “we belong together and it starts now with my soul mate that I finally found.”

The new queen is the daughter of the late ‘Madakin Kano’, Abdullahi Sarki Sani Yola, and a granddaughter of late Emir Ado Bayero.

But Chin in a cryptic post she shared about abusers said it is impossible for the monarch to repent as a sex abuser.

“Abusers don’t change. They only change victims” Chanel commented on a quote which reads “Men don’t get counseling. They get a new woman that don’t know how they be lying,” she said.

Chanel, is the daughter of Jamaican reggae star, Ludlow Chin popularly known as Bobo Zaro.

Recall that the Oluwo divorced Chanel in 2019, after what the monarch described as their irreconcilable differences.

The dispute got worse after the ex-queen released a video of the monarch rolling up at a joint to smoke, she also granted an interview where she accused Oluwo of other numerous vices including allegedly sleeping with a 13-year-old maid and daughter of woman selling pepper very close to the oba’s palace.

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