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House Of Reps To Probe Aregbesola Over N165 Billion Prison Funds

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Rauf Aregbesola and Prison Officials

By Akinwale Kasali

24 hours, after calling out All Progressives Congress, APC, National Leader and Presidential Aspirant, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and former Interim APC National Chairman, Bisi Akande, over the re-election ambition of Governor Gboyega Oyetola, Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, is swimming in troubled waters.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has initiated a probe of Aregbesola over an alleged misappropriation of N165 billion Prison Fund.

During plenary on Wednesday, 16th February, 2022, Members of the House resolved that the former Osun State Governor and Prison Chief, Haliru Nababa, be probed.

Aregbesola and Nababa are alleged to have misappropriated about N165billion funds earmarked for prisons development across the country.

The House resolution came as a result of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Ndudi Elumelu,  the Minority Leader of the House.

Elumelu had said that the House is disturbed that despite this Act and increase in budgetary allocations to the Nigerian Correctional Service to drive its renewed mandate, the tempo and quality of the service have remained the same if not retrogressing.

“The House is worried that the working conditions of staff and inmates’ welfare have deteriorated notwithstanding, the over N165 billion budget allocations to the service in the last two years.”

Following this development, the Lawmakers resolved to have its Committee on Reformatory Institutions investigate the allegations and report to the House within 12 weeks, for further legislative action.

Aregbesola, who has been a strong ally of the former Lagos State Governor for decades, lashed him, saying that Osun State will not condone godfatherism and the imposition of Oyetola on the people of Osun State, saying that Tinubu has turned himself to a god.

N201b for Toxic Fuel: You’re Pushing Nigerians – PDP Cautions Buhari, APC; Demands Sylva’s Sack

By
The Source
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The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has demanded for the sack of the Minister of State for State, Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, over the scandalous toxic fuel importation.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP said it also condemns “the moves by APC interests to further siphon money from the National coffers by seeking to draw a staggering N201 billion under the pretext of cleaning-up the poisonous fuel instead of exposing and  getting them to bear the cost”

The Party alleged that the APC-led Government “is pushing Nigerians to take to the streets in protest against its continued arrogance, corruption, and insensitivity to the feelings of the people.”

The PDP, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the substantive Minister for Petroleum Resources, to sack his Minister of State, Timipre Sylva.

Following is the full text of the PDP strongly-worded statement.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cautions that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration is pushing Nigerians to take to the streets in protest against its continued arrogance, corruption, insensitivity to the feelings of the people as well as alleged shielding of APC leaders behind the importation of toxic fuel into the country.

“Our Party also condemns the moves by APC interests to further siphon money from the national coffers by seeking to draw a staggering N201 billion under the pretext of cleaning-up the poisonous fuel instead of exposing the culprits and getting them to bear the cost.

“Is it not saddening that the APC administration has continued to turn deaf ears to the cries by Nigerians to end its corruption and treasury looting spree and ease the suffering of the people occasioned by its sleaze and manifest incompetence in governance?

“Nigerians were shocked when the news broke out over the weekend that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company is seeking an estimated N201 billion to clean up the adulterated fuel.

“It is clear that this is another ploy by officials of APC administration to continue to pilfer the national treasury to fund APC’s rigging plans ahead of the 2023 elections as well as to finance the wasteful lifestyles of it leaders at the detriment of other Nigerians.

“Such move by the APC to further fleece the nation amounts to pushing the already exasperated citizens to the wall. The APC government would have nobody but itself to blame over the possible consequences of its continued impunity, insensitivity and disregard to the feelings of Nigerians.

“It is instructive to note that the APC has remained unyielding since our Party demanded for an investigation into allegations that APC leaders connived with some foreign interests to import very cheap heavily contaminated fuel laden with methanol in their desperation to corruptly raise billions of naira to fund APC’s plots to rig the 2023 general elections.

“Nigerians can recall that our Party, well-meaning Nigerians and organizations had exposed and challenged APC’s plot to siphon N2.557 trillion padded as fuel subsidy for 2022. Having been so exposed, the APC resorted to fleecing Nigerians through importation of toxic fuel and now seeks to fritter N201 billion under the guise of cleaning up the adulterated fuel.

“The failure by the APC administration to set up an Independent Commission of Enquiry on the “APC Toxic Fuel ImportGate”, especially to ascertain the individuals involved in the deal, who undertook the pre-inspection and how much was paid for very cheap contaminated fuel, is fast putting the nation on edge.

“The only way to douse the tension is for the APC administration to heed to demands by Nigerians and expose APC leaders allegedly involved in the importation of the toxic fuel; get them to pay compensation particularly to those whose vehicles and equipment were damaged by the bad fuel as well as bear the cost of the said cleanup.

“The PDP therefore calls for the immediate sack of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva for misleading Nigerians and concealing critical information at the onset of this “APC Toxic Fuel ImportGate” saga, having refused and failed as a public official with duty to Nigerians when he said on national TV that he cannot name persons involved in the fraud.

“The PDP also demands that, having woefully failed, President Buhari should hands-off responsibilities as Minister of Petroleum Resources and allow competent professionals to man the ministry in order to restore sanity in the system.

“This is because the headship of the Petroleum Ministry as presently constituted is peopled with persons with no relevant education, experience and expertise to manage this critical sector that accounts for over 90 percent of the revenue of the nation.”

Nigerians have been battling  with acute petrol shortage, a consequence of the toxic fuel imported into the country which has brought unprecedented suffering to the people. The bad fuel, also, destroyed many vehicles.

A litre of the product is now selling between N700 and N1,000.

The Abba Kyari Story: Another Trash From A Sinking Opposition – Uzodinma

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma

Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, has dismissed, as a piece of trash, the news making the rounds that he asked Imo youths to stand with the embattled suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari. The news alleged that Uzodinma  said this at a  Press Conference in Owerri.

Kyari was busted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, over his alleged involvement with Drug Barons, as well as his attempt to sell the drugs on behalf of  NDLEA operatives.

In a statement signed by Uzodinma’s Spokesman, Oguwike Nwachuku, the Governor said “the source of such baseless and useless piece of nonsense is always known to us – agents of Oppositional politicians.”

Such writers, the Governor said, “have proven time and again that the only way they can play politics in Imo State is to deceive members of the public with imaginary tales around Governor Uzodinma rather than devote their time to constructive criticisms about Government and its programmes”

Uzodinma dismissed the writers as “harebrained  crackpots.”

The full text of the statement reads:

“Our attention has been drawn to a piece of trash trending on social media where Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State was mischievously credited to have advised the Igbo youth to stand with the embattled suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari, currently being investigated by the authorities of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for alleged complicity in drug-related matters.

“The authors of the poorly-scripted report had thought that the best way to deceive their audience was to claim that Governor Uzodimma gave the advice at a media briefing in Owerri without letting the same audience to know the venue and occasion the governor spoke.

“The source of such baseless and useless piece of nonsense is always known to us – agents of opposition politicians.

“The authors have proven time and again that they work for the opposition politicians who think that the only way they can play politics in Imo State is to deceive members of the public with imaginary tales around Governor Uzodimma rather than devote their time to constructive criticisms about government and its programmes.

“At a time Imo people are celebrating the giant strides Governor Uzodimma’s administration has recorded in the area of road infrastructure, medicare, security, agriculture, education, urban renewal, recovery of stolen property, et al, just two years in the saddle, the only thing that appeals to the enemies of progress of Imo State is the recourse to fake news on the embattled Abba Kyari’s matter, using the governor’s name to give semblance of credibility to their mischief.

“Because the authors of the rubbish are simply harebrained crackpots, they think they can dabble into any issue, such as the current ordeal involving Abba Kyari, politicize it, regardless of the weighty legal implications.

“As pedestrian as the authors of the report and their sponsors are in their reasoning, they may not have known that they have disclosed to the relevant authorities investigating Abba Kyari that they too can help them with information at their own disposal to get to the root of the matter.

“We just hope they will not go under or shy away when they are needed by the detectives to throw more light on the matter.

“They need to be reminded that the era of writing thoughtless scripts and posting same on social media in the name of politics is gone and that nothing will be spared to fish out the perpetrators even if they choose to hibernate in their mother’s wombs.

“If they did it in the past and thought they got away with it, the story may not be the same today because the time to diagnose them of this Kyarimania sickness has come.

“Governor Uzodimma is enjoying the overwhelming support of Imo people and the love he gets from them because of the good work he is doing in the state will embolden him the more to continue to render selfless service to them, hence no iota of distraction will make him lose track.”

Akpoti, Kogi Governorship Candidate, Set To Marry Uduaghan’s Cousin, Oritsejolomi

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Natasha Akpoti, the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Governorship Candidate in the last Kogi State Governorship election is set to tie the nuptial knot with Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, a cousin to former two-term Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan.

Akpoti, a single mother of three, is a Kogi State Princess. She has been in a relationship with the Alema of Warri Kingdom, an Engineer turned-lawyer and will officially marry Natasha in a traditional marriage ceremony on March 5, 2022.

It was gathered that the traditional marriage ceremony will take place at Apoti’s late father’s residence in Obeiba-Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State on the scheduled date.

Having contested for the Governorship seat alongside incumbent Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, which she lost, the 42-Year Old Akpoti went ahead to contest at the last Kogi Central Senatorial election on the platform of SDP in 2019 and lost the election to Senator Yakubu Oseni of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Oritsejolomi is a business mogul and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Webster Group of Companies. He recently bought Natasha a Rolls-Royce Phantom Tempus car worth  $750,000 (equivalent to N311,745,000.00) in what seems to be a Valentine gift.

But, as it stands, the Rolls-Royce Phantom Tempus gift looks more of a marriage proposal gift.

Akpoti’s marriage ceremony invitation card has been making the waves all over social media, most especially Facebook.

The marriage ceremony may turn out to be the talk of town in the coming days say observers.

Ekiti 2022: Segun Oni Defects To SDP; Joins Forces With Aggrieved PDP, APC Members

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Segun Oni

By Akinwale Kasali

Having lost the People’s Democratic Party’s, PDP’s Ekiti State Governorship Primary, former Ekiti State Governor, Segun Oni has joined the Social Democratic Party, SDP.

And, he is set to hoist the SDP’s flag at the Ekiti State Governorship Election.

The former APC National Deputy Chairman (South) says  his newly found political Party’s working with some aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress and The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to take over the reins of power in Ekiti State.

Making this disclosure while featuring on VoiceFM Socio-political program, “Setting the Agenda,” on Wednesday, 16th, February, 2022, he stressed that four of those who contested in last month APC primary in the State had joined forces with him to form a grand coalition that would loosen the grip of the ruling party on the state.

He also affirmed that he was in talks with some popular political pressure groups to solidify his Governorship intentions and ensure that power is returned to the people in June 18, 2022.

He further maintained that irrespective of the political wits and financial might that would be wielded by the popular parties, the SDP  alongside the grand coalition would sensitize the people aggressively against selling their votes.

Oni, a former one-term Governor under the PDP, had decamped to the APC, then back to PDP, and now, SDP.

Nnamdi Kanu May Go Blind In Custody – Ozekhome

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Lead Counsel to the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mike Ozekhome, has lamented the deteriorating state of  Nnamdi Kanu’s eyes.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, raised the alarm that his client’s eye sight has deteriorated and if not attended to in earnest medically, he may go blind.

Ozekhome, told the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, that Kanu, who is currently in custody of the Department of State Service, DSS, on the order of the Court, may go blind if nothing is urgently done to restore his sight.

Ozekhome who took over the defence team of the embattled IPOB leader, from Ifeanyi Ejiofor, decried that his client’s eye glasses was confiscated in 2015, when he was initially arrested by DSS operatives, following his return to Nigeria from the United Kingdom.

He equally told the Court that a new eyeglasses that Kanu bought was also seized from him during his extraordinary rendition from Kenya.

Ozekhome bemoaned that despite an express order of the Court, the DSS declined to allow the IPOB to have a change of clothes.

He alleged that the Security Agency refused to allow Kanu to receive new clothes that were brought to him by his younger brother, Emmanuel.

“My Lord will still see the defendant in the same uniform which my Lord warned against in the last proceedings.

“It will be recalled that they had, on that day, alleged that he said that he preferred to wear the same cloth because it is designers.

“However, since that time, the younger brother of the defendant, his lawyer and sister have gone three times with materials for him to change but they refused collecting them.

“So bad was it that Ejiofor had to call the Director of Legal Services and complained to him. the Director told him that he would do something about it, that he would contact the Director of Operations to ensure that the order was carried out.

“But since then, nothing has been done. They have not allowed him to change his clothes”.

On the issue of Kanu’s eye sight, Ozekhome, said: “My Lord, since 2015, his glasses were taken from him.

“The one he wore before his extraordinary rendition from Kenya was also taken from him.

“Till now, he does not have glasses to wear and his eye sight is deteriorating.

“My Lord we do not want the defendant to go blind, that is why we have decided to bring it to the attention of the court”.

Justice Binta Nyako in her response to Ozekhome s claim on the state of the sight of his Client said that she would look into the matter.

However reports said Nyako asked Kanu not to wear the traditional Igbo dress, isi -agu to the Court.

Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial: Justice Nyako Bans Kanu From Wearing Isi-Agu Cloth To Court, Nigerians React

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Reactions have trailed the ban placed  by Justice Binta Nyako on the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu from wearing Isi-Agu  to her Court.

Isi-agu is a popular Igbo traditional dress. Kanu is being prosecuted in Nyako’s Court by the Federal Government on sundry offences, including alleged terrorism and  treasonable felony.

Nyako said this on Wednesday during  Kanu’s appearance before Nyako’s Court.

The Director of Legal, DSS told the court that family members of Kanu brought a cloth with a lion’s heart, which “offends the standard operating procedures of the service.

The DSS was responding to the Court’s ’s question on why Kanu still wore his white Fendi designer cloth to Court.

Ozekhome had complained that despite the Court’s ’s order, the DSS had refused Kanu  change of cloths.

However, Justice Nyako asked the defendant; “Mr Kanu, what type of cloth do you want to wear”?

“I want to wear the clothes of my people, ‘Isi Agu’”, Kanu replied.

Responding swiftly, the Judge said ‘that kind of cloth cannot be worn in my court’.

Nyako, however, fixed April 8, for ruling on the preliminary objection filed by Kanu challenging the validity of the 15-count amended charge preferred against him by the Federal Government.

Nyako fixed the date after Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN, Kanu’s Counsel, and Shuaibu Labaran, the prosecution Counsel,  adopted arguments for, and against the defendant’s preliminary objection.

In a short adumbration, Ozekhome pleaded with the court to acquit his client and dismiss all the charges filed against Kanu by the Federal Government.

Ozekhome argued that the 15-count amended charge was ‘defective and baseless’.

Specifically, Ozekhome informed the Court that his application seeks the ‘quashing, striking out and dismissing of the 15-count amended charge’ against Kanu for being ‘incompetent and denying the court of jurisdiction’ to entertain charge.

Attack On Ondo Indigenes In Bayelsa: Akeredolu Calls For Calm

By
Ayodele Oni
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Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State
Rotimi Akeredolu

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has received the situation reports of the incident in Bayelsa State’s Brass area which involved the people of Ilaje living in the coastal area.

It was gathered that some Ilaje nationals that have been resident in the Brass area of Bayelsa State were attacked by some Ijaws with their fishing boats destroyed.

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Richard Olatunde, said in a statement that the State Government is in control of the situation.

“Governor Akeredolu, after receiving the full brief, spoke extensively on phone with his brother-Governor in Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, who assured him that the situation was under control.

“The Governor, who stressed his administration’s commitment to the protection of lives and property of indigenes of the State, irrespective of where they are, noted that the Bayelsa State Governor has assured him of the security of the people of Ilaje in Bayelsa.

“We are aware of the situation in Bayelsa State involving our people from Ilaje in Ondo State. I  immediately reached out to the Governor of Bayelsa State. We have spoken extensively and I have his assurances.

“After meetings have been held with Ilaje leaders at his behest, I have every reason to believe that he is, indeed, handling the situation.

“I have stressed the importance of the security of our people no matter where they are.

“I want to urge our people to remain calm, forgive and forget. With the assurances of the Governor, I can assure our people that they can go about their normal duties without fear.”

The statement added that Governor Akeredolu appealed to the people to allow reasons to prevail and not take laws into their hands, while assuring them that the situation is being closely monitored.

Abba Kyari: How We Operate With Drug Couriers; These Ones Were Greedy, They Wanted 50%

By
Ayodele Oni
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Abba Kyari - DCP

By Ayodele Oni

Suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, who is in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for his involvement with Drug Barons, as well as trying to bribe an NDLEA operative had before his arrest, talked like a parrot on how he and his team conniving with the Barons.

He did not know he was having the conversation with an undercover agent.

Spokesman for the Agency, Femi Babafemi, revealed this in a statement where he corrected the impression that NDLEA operatives were the ones who intercepted the Drug Carriers at the Enugu Airport. He, also, assured Nigerians that nobody, no matter how high, will be spared in the Abba Kyari Drug scandal.

Babafemi said that Abba Kyari  told  the undercover agent the informants over which he got into trouble  were greedy. They insisted  on a 50 per cent cut and rejected the 40 per cent they were offered.

Babafemi quoting from Kyari’s statement:

“In his own recorded conversation with our undercover officer, Abba Kyari also said the following: They are greedy, seriously greedy (referring to his informants).

“We tried to have them accept 40% but they refused, except 50%, they know the rudiment of the deal very well, they are the ones that do the packing.

“From Brazil, one of the informants accompanied it to Ethiopia. You understand; one of the informants accompanied the goods to Ethiopia, one of the informants that give us information. He is the boy of the big baron.

“Addis, from Addis it will be given to those to proceed further with it, he will get their snapshots without their knowledge.

“Yes, he will reveal those that are conveying it further, get snapshots of theirs without their knowledge and send to us (Abba Kyaris team).

“So we already know the goods, picture and the cloths they are wearing, hope you understand, we know your name, he will give us everything.

“So, automatically my team will just be waiting, they will just see you and arrest you.

“Responding to our officers question on whether his boys are usually stationed inside or outside the airport, Abba Kyari said, Yes, yes, some are outside while some are inside.

“They will just allow you to finish arrival formalities and arrest you the moment you come out.

“The above no doubt establishes who the cartel was relating with and their modus operandi. Again, this is to correct inaccuracies in some reports and assure that the Agency will not deviate from an evidence-based investigation that will spare nobody found complicit.”

Abba Kyari is still in the custody of the NDLEA facing interrogation.

Senate Confirms Nomination For Three Agencies

By
Uche Mbah
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By Uche Mbah

The Senate has confirmed Presidential nominees for three Agencies. The Agencies are: Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), National Population Commission (NPC) and the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).

President Buhari had sent names of his choice nominees to the Senate for confirmation. The names were then referred by Senate President, Ahmed Lawan,  to the relevant Senate Committees.

At the close of deliberations, using voice votes, the Senate in Plenary confirmed four nominees for NERC, five nominees for NPC and one for the NDIC.

For NERC, the Senate confirmed Yusuf Ali (north-central); Chidi Ike (south-east), Nathan Rogers Shatti (north-east), and Dafe Akpeneye (south-south) as commissioners.

Benedict Ukpong Effiong (Akwa Ibom), Gloria Fateya Izonfo (Bayelsa), Kupchi Patricia Ori Iyanya (Benue), Haliru Bala (Kebbi), and Eyitayo Oyekunle Oyetunji (Oyo) were confirmed as commissioners for the National population commission.

For the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Company, NDIC, Emily Chidinma was confirmed by the senate as an Executive Director.

According to Uba Sani, Chairman of the Senate Committee on banking, the position of Executive Director (Corporate Services) has been vacant for a while.

“The office of the Executive Director (Corporate Services) of the Corporation remains vacant following the end of the tenure of the previous occupant,” Sani said.

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