Home Blog Page 2215

2023: INEC Chair, Yakubu, Reassures Of Credible Election; Says Party Primaries Begins Next Week

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0
INEC Retreat in Lagos

By Akinwale Kasali

As the 2023 General Elections gathers momentum, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has organized a retreat and induction for the new and Old National Commissioners in Lagos. It held  on Monday 28th March to March 30, 2022.

The Retreat is targeted at familiarising the Old and New Commissioners with the Commission’s mandate and sensitize them on the framework of the Commission.

The Retreat had in attendance the former Electoral Commissioner in Ghana, Kwadwo Afari Gyan, who was in the saddle as Ghana Electoral E

Umpire for Six Terms, Former INEC Chairman, Prof Atahiru Jega, representatives of International Foundation for Electoral Systems, IFES and the National Commissioners.

The INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, in his remark reassured Nigerians of the Commission’s commitment to credible polls in 2023 that is free and fair, and in tandem with international standards.

Speaking further, he said the Retreat is important especially coming shortly after the timetable was released and schedule of activities for the 2023 general election in which party Primaries are scheduled to commence next week and end in the first week in June 2022.

He noted that the Commission has identified the challenges associated with Bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) during voter accreditation.

The Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Olusegun Agbaje, in his welcome address said the retreat is to prepare the Commission topmost hierarchy for regular delivery of free,fair,credible and inclusive elections.

He said the retreat will definitely be brain-tasking but as they ruminate over the laws,logistics, ethics,security, technology,and allied matters that shape the electoral process.

He also congratulated the New National Commissioners on their appointment and pray for a very successful tenure for them.

The representative of the international foundation for electoral system (IFES), Nigeria Country Director, Seray Jah said the Retreat is particularly strategic given the recent assent of the electoral act 2022 and the forthcoming 2023 General election in Nigeria which remains a strong basis to deliver a credible election in 2023 elections.

The Chief Technical Adviser to INEC Chairman,  Bolade Eyinla, speaking on the objectives of the Retreat said it was organised to familiarize the National Commissioner with the unique mandate of the Commission, and  designed to promote understanding of the structure and roles and activities of various Departments and Directorates of the Commission.

Ondo South Senatorial Race: Fmr DG, Ajayi, Senator Tofowomo In War Of Words

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Tofowomo and Ajayi

By Ayodele Oni

Former Deputy Governor of Ondo state, Mr Agboola Ajayi, has shown interest to contest the Senatorial seat of Ondo South next year, boasting that he would unseat the incumbent Senator Nicholas Tofowomo during next month’s primary election.

Ajayi, after he resigned as Deputy Governor, dumped the All Progressive Congress, (APC) and contested for the Primary election of People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) which he lost to Eyitayo Jegede.

He left PDP and became flagbearer of the Zenith Labour Party, (ZLP) during the 2020 Governorship election in the State, and came a distant third.

The former Deputy Governor is now back to the PDP where he is eyeing the Senate seat of Ondo South, currently being occupied by Senator Nicholas Tofowomo.

The Primary election which has been scheduled for May, by PDP; is now an issue for altercation between the former Deputy Governor and Senator Tofowomo.

The Senator accused Agboola Ajayi of planning to alter the delegates’ list to be used for the Primary.

Tofowomo, through his Media Aide, Olumide Akinrinlola, accused the former Deputy Governor of single-handedly submitting an Adhoc delegates list to the PDP Organising Secretary.

The Senator said in a statement that “The attention of Tofowomo Campaign Organisation (TCO) has been drawn to a statement made by Agboola Ajayi where he boasted to have singlehandedly written and submitted the list of Adhoc delegates to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Organising Secretary ahead of the Senatorial primary election in May this year.

“Ajayi made this statement while he was boasting about his chances of winning the party’s primary during a political meeting with PDP executives at Fabiyi Hall in Okitipupa town on Saturday, March 26, 2022.

“He boasted at the meeting that he’s working in collaboration with retired Capt. Umar Bature, the National Organising Secretary of the PDP in Abuja to win the PDP Senatorial primary in Ondo South”

In his reaction through his Media Aide, Allen Sowore, the former Deputy Governor faulted Tofowomo’s claim in a statement made available in Akure.

He said Ajayi never made such statement during the meeting held on Saturday 26th March 2022, in Fabiyi Hall, Okitipupa or anywhere else  throughout his consultation tour of the South Senatorial District.

In the statement titled “Re: Agboola Ajayi Boasted To Have Submitted Adhoc Delegate List To PDP Organising Secretary”, Ajayi said, “For the purpose of clarity and to disabuse the minds of the unsuspecting members the general public,  the former Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi never made such statement.

“Luckily, prominent leaders and members of our party, who can bear witness attended all the meetings held across the four local government areas of Ondo South District including the first  meeting held on Friday 25th March, 2022, in the Idepe Town Hall, Okitipupa where the former Deputy Governor declared his interest to run for the South Senatorial District seat.

“We are not surprised that Senator Nicholas Tofowomo who’s already jittery of the imminent defeat staring  him in the coming election can go this low to authorise his Media Director to spill this gibberish and unfounded allegation against the person of the former Deputy Governor of the state,  member of the National Working Committee of our great party and most importantly a leading aspirant in South Senatorial District seat.

“Senator Nicholas Tofowomo should tell the people his achievements in the last three years; the justification for his  reelection bid, instead of this campaign of calumny he embarked on against the former Deputy.”

Abba Kyari Remanded In Prison Custody

By
The Source
-
0
Abba Kyari and Co in Court

By Gideon Njoku

Suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, has been ordered by a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, to be remanded in Prison Custody.

Sharing the same fate with him are his co-accused Police Officers.

This followed the refusal of their bail application by the Court.

The Honourable Justice Emeka Nwite, on Monday, March 28, 2022, ruled that there is sufficient evidence before the Court to warrant the refusal of bail to them. He opted for an accelerated hearing of the case. Thereafter, he ordered that they be transferred from the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, where they have been since their arrest in February 2022, to the Kuje Correctional Centre, a situation they were afraid of.

Abba Kyari and Co. are being prosecuted by the NDLEA on Drug charges. They were accused of being, allegedly, members of a Drug cartel.

No Relief As Court Throws Out Abba Kyari’s Bail Application

By
Uche Mbah
-
0
Abba Kyari in Court

By Uche Mbah

A Federal High Court in Abuja, Monday, ruled on the bail application filed by suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, and an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sunday J. Ubua. Both were  refused bail, as the Court  opted  for accelerated hearing.

The two other Police Inspectors arraigned with them were also denied bail.

The battle has been on for bail for the former super cop with the Court reserving ruling for Monday, 28 march 2022.

Kyari and his five co- accused are being prosecuted by the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for drug related offences. Kyari is seeking bail on health grounds.

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling Monday, insisted that the prosecution has sufficient evidence before the Court that negates tbe granting of bail to the defendants.

Justice Nwite, therefore, opted for an accelerated hearing of the case.

Kyari, a former revered Commander of the Police Intelligence Response Team, IRT, was suspended by the Police Service Commission, PSC, after he was indicted by America’s FBI  over his alleged entanglement with international internet fraudster, Hushpuppi, who has already been found guilty in the USA, and awaiting sentencing.

The FBI requested for Kyari’s extradition to the US to face charges. While the case was still on, Kyari, inexplicably, got entangled with Drug Barons. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA,  publicly, accused him and four other Police Officers of being neck deep into a Drug network. Kyari was also accused of trying to bribe an NDLEA operative  to the tune of $61,000 to sell  five kilograms of Cocaine out of the 25 kilograms  two Drug Couriers arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on behalf of NDLEA operatives.

He and the others have since been under the NDLEA custody since their arrest.

At the last Court hearing for bail, Kyari’s wife, who was present in Court,  collapsed when the Judge adjourned ruling on the bail request to Monday, March 28, 2022.

The request has, finally, been rejected.

Obiano Suffering From A Semi-Deadly Condition – His Lawyer

By
The Source
-
0
Governor Willy Obiano of Anambra State

By Charles Igbo

Not a few people wondered why former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, tried to leave Nigeria for the United States of America the same day his tenure as Governor expired.

Obiano was on his way out of Nigeria on March 17, 2022, after handing over power to his successor, Professor Charles Soludo.

But he was intercepted, and arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 8.30pm by Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

He was, thereafter, flown to the EFCC Headquarters in Abuja, detained for five days, before he was granted an administrative bail.

Many thought the hurry with which he tried to leave the country was untidy. And considering that he was aware that the EFCC had placed him under its watch- list since November 2021, they thought he was trying to escape from the country.

But his Lawyer, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, says perish such thoughts.

In an exclusive interview with Premium Times, Ikwueto disclosed that Obiano had an already scheduled medical appointment with his doctors at the Spring Creek Urologist Specialist, LLC, Houston, Texas, USA. He described Obiano’s condition as “semi-fatal.” He, also, said that Obiano, aware that he had been placed on the EFCC watch- list, had reached out to “authorities”, before his aborted trip, to explain his condition, and assured that that he would be back to the country to face any allegations against him by the EFCC, as soon as he is through with his doctors.

He got assurances of an intervention with the EFCC, the Lawyer said, but was shocked that his medical trip was aborted after the assurances.

Premium Times quoted Ikwueto as saying: “He was not running away. Why would he run away when his family is here and he has a lot to do here? The fact is that he (Obiano) has a medical condition for which he had a prior appointment to see his Specialist Doctor for treatment at Spring Creek Urology Specialists LLC, Houston, Texas, USA.

“By the nature of the ailment, he has been undergoing treatment at the said Specialist Hospital  since June 2021, and had an appointment earlier scheduled for the final stage of Specialist Radiology for eight weeks – which will take place immediately upon his arrival at the facility in Houston, Texas, USA, and, thereafter, after four days. Subsequent treatments are scheduled everyday for a period of eight weeks.”

According to Ikwueto, Obiano has been receiving treatment in same hospital every three months.

Said he: “The last time he was there was December 2021, and became due for another round of treatment this March, shortly before he handed over to Soludo.”

It is not known yet when his travel documents will be released to enable him travel. Until he became Governor, Obiano was resident in Houston, Texas.

GTCO: Countdown To Food and Drink Festival Begins

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
-
0

By Tosin Olatokunbo

For the fifth time, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc GTCO Plc is bringing Africans of all ages and creed together to enjoy the best cuisines and entertainment that can be found anywhere in the world.

The yearly event, according to the Group Managing Director, GMD of the upward moving financial behemoth, Segun Agbaje will present its numerous customers the opportunity connect.

The bank has hosted the event for five successful years and many customers and other lovers of good foods around the world, told the magazine that they are looking forward to enjoy themselves again during this year’s event.

For Agbaje, the essence of the signature event is to provide entertainment and showcase Africa as highly diversified people with rich cultural heritage.

“Africa’s history and rich cultural heritage is beautifully reflected in its cuisines. The primary objective of the GTCO Food and Drink Festival is to showcase our diversity and industry as a people whilst delivering a sumptuous culinary experience to food enthusiasts across the continent,” Agbaje said.

According to him, “As our contribution to the development of local SMEs, we want to see our retail customers who also own small businesses thrive by giving them more opportunities to connect with consumers from around the world.”

“At GTCO Plc, we are committed to offering our customers and communities great experiences with every interaction and will continue to promote viable enterprises particularly in the food and fashion industries, given the massive capabilities and countless multiplier effects inherent in these critical industry segments.”

The company said the event will hold from Sunday, May 01 to Tuesday, May 03, 2022, at the GTCentre, Plot 1 Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Lagos.

The GTCO Food and drink festival brings together the biggest chefs and food lovers from ALL OVER the world in a celebration of all things delicious with family and friends.

Over the years, the Food and Drink festival has hosted millions of people and featured enlightening and engaging masterclasses by world-renowned chefs and food business experts.

This year, the free to attend three-day festival will feature cooking masterclasses of cuisines chosen from all around the world and over 140 free retail stalls showcasing everything from the best of Nigeria’s street food to bite-sized gourmet treats and fresh farm produce from the farmers’ market.

The well-fitted play area is designed to add another layer of excitement for children and keep them meaningfully engaged.

Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc is a leading financial services company providing banking and non-banking services including Payments, Wealth Management, and Pension Fund Management, with a presence across eleven countries spanning West and East Africa as well as the United Kingdom.

The Group operates a diversified, Proudly African franchise and is renowned for its innovative approach to customer service and stakeholder engagement which has endeared the brand to millions of people across Africa and beyond.

Over the years, many customers have benefited from its unique loan products including the Food Industry Credit and Fashion Industry Credit designed specifically for businesses in the food and fashion industry.

The 2022 GTCO Food and Drink Festival promises to be an experience of a lifetime. If you have been keen to try all the local street food and would like to go on exhilarating culture-filled culinary adventures, this is your chance!

RCCG Pastor Dumps Priesthood For Traditional Stool In Ogbomoso

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
-
0

By Tosin Olatokunbo

All is now set for the Oyo state government to announce Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG to become the 21st Soun of Ogbomoso.

The clergy man resigned from the Pastor Enoch Adeboye-led RCCG recently to contest for the traditional position, and has now been elected by his people to lead them.

It was learnt that the kingmakers in the ancient town had recently arranged for a meeting with all the contestants to the throne, where they sued for a rancour -free selection of a successor to the occupier of the stool wo joined his ancestors last year.

“All the contestants from the ruling house were allowed to cast their votes for one of them to emerge. It was during the process that the pastor emerged among the pack of six other contestants,” a kingmaker privy to the meeting told The Source magazine on Monday.

The insider said it was the turn of a new family among the ruling houses in the town to produce the next Soun following the demise of the last traditional.

Pastor Olaoyo will now succeed the late Soun of Ogbomoso, Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, who died last year and has since been buried in December 2021, subject to the approval of the Governor Seyi Makinde’s government in the state.

Before he dumped his assignment in the vineyard of God, the Soun-Elect was Lead Pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church.

He’s quite popular in the Pentecostal mission and is know to be one of the confidante of respected Pastor Adeboye, even though it could not be confirmed yet whether he sought the approval of the RCCG Leader to mount the throne of his forebearers.

This is so because RCCG, one of the biggest Pentecostal churches in the country abhors rituals in any form, because of the belief that the traditional rulership system encourages ritual and sacrifice, which clearly contradicts biblical and doctrinal teachings of the church.

For instance, one of the reasons why a pastor could be sacked from the church, without appeal is when such is caught with charms or involvement in diabolical things. Many Nigerians are watching how Pastor Olaoye will be able to combine his Christian faith with his traditional role as Soun of Ogbomoso.

SEC Worried As More Investors Abandon Dividends

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
-
0

By Tosin Olatokunbo

The Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC says it’s worried over the rate of unclaimed dividend in the capital market. The commission has therefore appealed to investors to do everything on their part to claim their dividends.

The commission made the appeal after reports that the federal government is planning to borrow the unclaimed dividends to fund selected infrastructure in the country.

The 2020 Finance Act empowers the federal government to borrow a certain percentage from unclaimed dividends which owners have not claimed for at least six years.

But the civil society have kicked against the plan, insisting that the owners of such dividend will be robbed of their investments and made poorer.

For instance, SERAP a civil society has sued the federal government over the plan to tap into unclaimed dividends for developmental purposes.

The value of unclaimed dividends, the magazine learnt has risen to close to N 1 trillion in the last few years.

According to a statement by the Commission in Abuja on Sunday, Lamido Yuguda, the Director-General of SEC, expressed regret over abandoned dividends when Prof. Kabiru Bala, Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria paid him a visit.

Yuguda said “People have not come forward to claim their dividends and this has led to huge unclaimed dividends.

“The Commission has been educating and enlightening the public on how they can get their dividends. People do not need to wait for the broker to send the dividend warrants through the registrars.

“The dividends can be paid directly into their bank accounts through e-dividend payments,’’ he said.

The Companies and Allied Matters Act provides that unclaimed after 12 years should be included in the profits that should be distributed to the other shareholders of the company.

In a suit filed against the federal government in March 14, 2021, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP the group urged a Federal High Court in Abuja to restrain and stop President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government from borrowing about N895 billion of Nigerians’ money in the form of their unclaimed dividends and balances in dormant accounts.

SERAP described the Finance Act which gave the government such powers unlawful, unconstitutional and discriminatory.

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/31/2021, SERAP prayed for, “An order of perpetual injunction restraining and stopping President Buhari from demanding, taking over, borrowing, and collecting Nigerians’ money in the form of their unclaimed dividends and funds in dormant accounts or transferring and moving the money into a trust fund known as ‘Unclaimed Funds Trust Fund.’

“The Federal Government should not be allowed to borrow Nigerians’ money. Borrowing unclaimed dividends and funds in dormant accounts owned by ordinary Nigerians would negatively affect their right to an adequate standard of living, and access to clean water, quality healthcare and education,” SERAP said.

Delta 2023: Deputy Governor, Otuaro Indicates Governorship Interest, Picks Nomination Form

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0
Kingsley Burutu Otuaro

By Akinwale Kasali

Barrister Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, Delta State Deputy Governor has thrown his hat in the ring for the 2023 Gubernatorial Race in the State.

Otuaro picked the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms, signaling his preparedness to contest the State Gubernatorial election for his Party.

The interest shown by Otuaro has further put his principal, Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa in a fix.

Speculations are rife that Governor Okowa is set to anoint Olorogun David Edevebie, but with Otuaro indicating interest in the Delta Governorship seat, the Governor is in a dilemma.

Otuaro, who is politically known as KBO, stated that he was prepared to take over the Delta State seat of power after picking the 2023 Governorship Form for Delta State at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja, which was agog as Party faithful, staunch believers and stakeholders of the KBO Campaign organisation were on ground chanting songs of praise to receive the Gubernatorial Aspirant whom they said has all it takes to govern the State.

Otuaro promised Deltans that he was set to consolidate on the achievements of the Okowa administration.

According to him, “This signals a very significant milestone in my readiness to contest the gubernatorial election and win for our party. I am happy and thankful for the overwhelming supports I am getting from Deltans.

“As part of the Senator Ifeanyi Okowa led government, you know i am an integral part of it. People oriented programmes, policies and reforms of course have been made by the present administration, my focus is to ensure that these reforms translate to improved Socio economic lives of the people.

‘It is going to be a swell time for Deltans as they can not wait to have us come on board as quickly as possible” Otuaro noted.

Shortly after picking his Forms, the frontline gubernatorial aspirant visited Elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark, former President of Nigeria Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori at Abuja to receive their prayers and blessings for his Gubernatorial ambition.

Gospel Singer, Chinedu Nwadike Dies Of Blood Cancer, Senator Ubah Mourns

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0
Chinedu Nwadike

By Akinwale Kasali

Few days to his medical trip to India, Popular Nigeria Gospel Singer, Chinedu Nwadike has died of Blood Cancer also known as Leukamia.

The ‘God of Vengeance’ crooner has been battling the disease for a long time, before succumbing to the cold hands of death in Abuja, the nation’s Capital Sunday afternoon.

The 39-year-old was reported to have recovered from kidney disease and was expected to be transferred to India for treatment of the blood cancer.

Before his death, the “Oku Gbajie Aka” crooner had pleaded for financial help from prominent Nigerians and others.

This caught the attention of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, the Senator representing Anambra South in the National Assembly, who had indicated interest in funding the medical trip of the late Gospel Musician to India.

Expressing sadness over the demise of the talented young man, Senator Ubah said the musical evangelist, Chinedu Nwadike was a huge loss.

In a post on his Facebook page on Sunday, Ubah said Nwadike had perfected plans to travel to India for treatment before death came knocking.

The Nnewi-born Senator, who shared a picture with the deceased on a sick bed, said “I am deeply grieved and saddened by the death of my good friend and brother; Evang. Chinedu Nwadike who until his demise was a renowned musical Evangelist and Minister of the Gospel who devoted his life to the propagation of the message of Jesus Christ through his music.

“Until his untimely demise, Evang. Chinedu Nwadike positively impacted the lives of many Nigerians and millions of people across the world. We thank God for the thousands of lives who were delivered from spiritual and evil bondages through his ministrations.

“The last time I visited him in the hospital, Evang. Chinedu was scheduled to travel to India in the coming weeks for medical treatment on my sponsorship. Now, called to Glory by God, his life and service will be celebrated and remembered for having deepened the faith of millions around the world.

“Undoubtedly, he fought a good fight, finished his course and kept the faith. May his soul rest in peace and perpetual light of God shine on him. While mourning his departure, we are much more comforted by the good news that he is now resting with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ the King whose death and glorious resurrection has secured eternal life for all who believe in him.

“On behalf of my family and the good people of Anambra South, I send my profound condolences to his family, friends and followers across the world. May God grant us all the peace and strength to cope with this irreplaceable loss.”

He is survived by wife, Dorah, and three children – two daughters and a Son.

1...2,2142,2152,216...3,059Page 2,215 of 3,059