EFCC Denies Dropping Charges Against Diezani Madueke

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November 27, 2019

By Uche Mbah

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has denied dropping charges against former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke, over issues of corrupt enrichment during her tenure as the Minister of Petroleum.

There has been widespread stories of the Commission dropping the charges against her, with insinuations that they are clearing the way for her joining the all Progressives Congress, APC.

Critics of the government allege that anyone that joins the party will no more be probed for corruption.

The commission has however, described the reports as false and misleading.

” At no time did the Commission withdraw the charge, which is still before Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court, Lagos” the commission said in a release signed by their spokesperson, Wilson Uwajaren.

“The only development was that the Commission took a prosecutorial decision to split the initial 14-count charge to enable separate arraignment of the defendants following a spate of adjournments that prevented the arraignment of the defendants more than one year after the case was listed.

“The charges were first filed on November 28, 2018. Since then, every attempt to arraign the defendants had been frustrated by one excuse or the other. In more than four times that the matter was called for arraignment, it was either that Lanre Adesanya was sick and bedridden in a London Hospital or Nnamdi Okonkwo was hypertensive and on admission in a hospital or Stanley Lawson had had a domestic accident and could not appear in court.

“It was clear that these recurring excuses were ploys to frustrate the arraignment. To get around this, the Commission took a deliberate decision, which was disclosed in open court, to separately prosecute the defendants in different courts. This explains why the four count amended charge brought against Dauda Lawal, a former executive director of First Bank, did not include other defendants, except the two who are at large( Diezani Alison-Madueke and Ben Otti). And the ingredients of the offense stated therein only pertains to Lawal’s involvement in the alleged crime, which is the receipt of $25million from the $153million 2015 Peoples Democratic Party presidential election slush fund.

“The non-inclusion of other defendants in the original charge in the amended four count charge does not mean that have been exonerated by the Commission of any criminal allegation”, an extract of the release said.

Revolution, As Zamfara House Of Assembly Nulluifies N10 million Pension For Ex Governors, Others

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Uche Mbah

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November 27, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

The Zamfara state House of Assembly Tuesday nullified a law that made it compulsory for former governors and their deputies to receive pension and allowances when they leave office in a move that is as surprising as it is revolutionary.

There has been the practice of governors and their deputies whose terms have expired to negotiate for a pension of upwards of N10 million per month. Many of them still end up in the senate and continue to receive more humongous allowances. This has been a source of criticism as many see the national Assembly as their retirement home.

But Zamfara state, in a revolutionary decision, has swiftly abolished the practice.

Speaking to Pressmen after the bill has been passed, the spokesperson for the Speaker of the state house of assembly, Mustapha Jafaru, said that the bill will also affect past speakers and their deputies.

The uproar had started when former governor, Abdulazeez Yari complained that the state government is owing him arrears his N10 million monthly allowance. This is happening in a state the government is finding it difficult to pay salaries.

Yari’s letter was followed two days later with a reminder to the incumbent governor to pay up.

House leader Faruk Dosara, (PDP Maradun), had presented the bill insisting on complete repeal of the law “which provides the jamboree payment for the former political leaders of the state at the detriment of the retired civil servants who have not been paid their entitlements over the years.” Past leaders “are collecting over N700 million annually” which, according to him, the present economy of the state cannot sustain.

The bill has passed all three readings under the supervision of the Speaker, Nasiru Magarya and will be sent to the governor for assent.

With this development, all past political leaders in Zamfara will longer enjoy any entitlements unless those prescribed by the national revenue mobilization allocation and fiscal commission,” Mr Jafaru said.

Breaking: Justice Nwosu-Iheme’s Kidnapper, Arrested

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The Source

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November 26, 2019

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By Gideon Njoku

Reports reaching The Source indicate that the alleged mastermind of the abduction of Appeal Court Judge, Benin Division, Hon. Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, has been arrested.

Described as a notorious kidnap kingpin, his name was given as Stanley Onoriode Ekemeye.

He was arrested early Tuesday morning, according to reports, by operatives of the Directorate of State Security Services, DSS, at Okwuzi, Egbema, in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, Rivers State.

Nwosu-Iheme, Nigeria’s first female Judge to earn a Doctorate Degree, was abducted in Benin city on October 30, when she ran into kidnappers along a bad stretch of road, in the city.

Wearing police uniform, they parked their Hilux, and had kidnapped four people before she ran into them. After smartly saluting her, to which she responded, they rained bullets on her car, instantly killing her Police Orderly of 12 years, Inspector A.I. Momoh, took his AK 47, shattered the Judge’s car back tyres, and made away with her.

The asking price for her release was N1billion. It was reduced to N500m. Her abductors said the FG should pay from Trader-moni.

This magazine cannot confirm how much the family paid, but she was released after two weeks in captivity.

Now, the DSS has cracked the case which shamed the nation, with the arrest of Okwuzi, the alleged mastermind.

Finally, Controversial Conference On Witchcraft Holds At UNN

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Uche Mbah

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November 26, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

The Controversial conference on Witchcraft billed to hold at the University of Nigeria Nsukka is Finally holding today, according to a release by the Institution.

There has been controversies on whether or not the conference will hold, with the University releasing information to the effect that the conference has been cancelled. That information has been superseded by the current one.

Profeesor Egodi Uchendu was piqued that there has been a fake news saying that the conference has been cancelled. She is the convener of the conference.

A press release from the professor reads in part: ” The subject of the Conference is Witchcraft. That is the topic of the academic engagements and not a gathering of Witches.

“Church Pastors discuss Witchcraft regularly and preach against it all the time, drawing from their experience during their trainings and in their ministries. I am sure the information from this conference and the research findings would assist them in their work for the Gospel.

“Surprisingly some persons erroneously concluded that only Witches can discuss Witchcraft. Our conference is a mere Academic discussion where we shall review Journals, information gathered over the years on the subject matter. That is what scholars do and this should not cause alarm.

Several (members) of the organizers of this conference are practicing born again Christians who preach the gospel and live by the gospel. I am personally aware of the stand of the gospel on witchcraft. Since this is not a gathering of witches by witches, we are also allowed as scholars to discuss such topics. Our conference is all about the advancement of Knowledge. The body of Christ Generally including (the Christian Association of Nigeria), CAN, will also benefit from our findings.

The Conference will hold as scheduled at Princess Alexandria Auditorium and Unity Hall, UNN, at 10.00 am on the 26th of November 2019.

She went ahead to invite other members of the public including CAN and (the Penticostal Fellowship of Nigeria,) PFN.

Since the University announced the Conference, all heel was let loose with those for and against the conference throwing darts at each other on the desirability or otherwise of the conference.

Money Laundering: Mompha Remanded, To Return To Court

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The Source

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November 26, 2019

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By Akinwale Kasali

Justice Muslim S. Hassan of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, adjourned the arraignment of Mustapha Ismaila, popularly known as Mompha, his accomplices, Kolade Phillip and Hamza Koudeih to November, 28, 2019.

They are being charged by the EFCC, for alleged money laundering, conspiracy, and cyber- crime.

When the matter was announced at the court, the 2nd defendant’s counsel, Abdulhamid Mohammed, told the court that he was only informed of the arraignment earlier in the day, and had no copy of the charge.

He, however, pleaded with the court for a short adjournment to enable him study the charge and prepare his client before the plea is taken .

“I am not adequately prepared for the plea to be taken in respect of the 2nd defendant, and I humbly urge the court to adjourn this matter to the earliest possible date”.

The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, opposed the application, arguing that the plea relevant to jurisdiction of court was not that of the counsel.

Rotimi, relying on S271(2&3) of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act, stated that the defendant had been served with the charge and, knows what to do with it.

He, therefore, urged the court to discountenance the prayers of the defence and, allow his plea to be taken.

Justice Hassan, however, adjourned the matter until Thursday November 28 for arraignment.

Mustapha, Phillip and Koudeih will be docked on a 24- count charge bordering on conspiracy and money laundering.

Also, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned Mustapha alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investments Limited, before Justice Muhammad Liman of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos on a 14-count charge bordering on cyber fraud and money laundering to the tune of N33 billion (Thirty-three Billion Naira).

The defendant, who is fingered as a major figure in an organised transnational cyber fraud network, allegedly used his company, Ismalob Investment Limited to launder the funds, part of which he used in acquiring properties in Dubai.

The defendant pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.

Mustapha was alleged to have, between 2015 and 2018, procured Ismalob Investment Limited, to retain the aggregate sum of N18,059,353,413 (Eighteen Billion, Fifty-Nine Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Three Thousand, Four Hundred and Thirteen Naira) in its account No. 5260000846 domiciled in a new generation bank.

In another charge, the defendant, between 2015 and 2017, allegedly used Ismalob Global Investment Limited to retain in the same account, the aggregate sum of N14,946,773,393.00 (Fourteen Billion, Nine Hundred and Forty-Six Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Three Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety Three Naira) received from Pitacalize Ltd.

The retention of the monies which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful act, is contrary to Sections 18(c) and 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

Upon his plea, prosecuting counsel, S.I. Suleman, asked the court for a trial date and an order to remand the defendant in a Correctional Centre, pending the determination of the case.

However, the defence counsel, Gboyega Oyewole, informed the court that an application for bail has been filed and served on the prosecution.

Suleman confirmed the receipt of the application, but told the court that he needed time to review the application and respond.

Justice Liman adjourned the case till November 29, 2019 for hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial.

He ordered that Mustapha should be remanded in prison.

Oyedepo’s Pastor, Allegedly, Stole $90,000, N4.5 Million

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The Source

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November 26, 2019

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By Akinwale Kasali

For this Pastor of the Living Faith Bible Church, known as Winners Chapel, founded by Bishop David Oyedepo, not even the House of God is to sacred to defraud or steal from. For his alleged behaviour Oyedepo’s Church is in the news for shameful reasons.

One of its Pastors, Afolabi Samuel, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at the Ikeja Special Offences Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing $90,000 and N4.5m, property of the Registered Trustees of the Living Faith Bible Church, Canaan land, Ota, Ogun State.

Samuel, the Church accountant, was brought before Justice Mojisola Dada for the offences highlighted above.

The EFCC prosecutor, S. O. Daji, said Samuel committed the alleged offences between September 24 and December 31, 2018, in Lagos.

The EFCC said he, and his accomplice, Blessing Kolawole, a staff of Covenant University (now at large), converted the said sum to their own personal use.

A petition submitted to the EFCC by Chioma Okwuanyi & Co legal practitioners, said: “The duo started carrying out various acts of breach of trust and fraudulent commission of unconscionable economic crime and sabotage, by unlawfully diverting to their private use, the Church’s money in Pastor Samuel’s custody without the permission of the Church.

“The duo continued doing so until sometime in the month of December 2018, when they ran out of luck, and all their secret acts of economic sabotage and financial crime of fraudulently tampering with the Church’s money were revealed.

“When confronted by the Church, Pastor Samuel, who lives around the church at Raji Oba, Lagos admitted committing the act, and even voluntarily made a written confession where he detailed how they have been stealing from the Church”.

Justice Dada remanded him at the Correctional Centre, and adjourned the matter till December 10, 2019, for the hearing of bail application.

Jonathan To Sule Lamido: You Crossed The Red Line; Lied Beneath Contempt

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The Source

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November 26, 2019

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In a strongly worded statement, former President Goodluck Jonathan, has expressed shock at the allegations made against him by former Jigawa state governor, Sule Lamido.

In a statement issued on his behalf by his media aide, Ike Eze, Jonathan said that not only did Lamido lie beneath contempt, he crossed the borderline of decency.

The former President was reacting to a front page interview granted The Sunday Sun by Lamido where he alleged that Jonathan worked against his party, the PDP in the just held Bayelsa Governorship election, in order to save his neck from prosecution by the President Muhammadu Buhari government over the controversial Malabu oil deal.

He alleged that Jonathan succumbed to the APC blackmail, and traded off the state to the APC.

But responding, Jonathan said Lamido fell far below a Statesman he thought he was, and expressed shock that somebody of Lamido’s stature could descent to a level so low as to talk on an issue he had no facts on, but depended on guess work. He dared Lamido to prove the allegations with facts, and disclosed that the Malabo oil deal preceeded his government.

He also regretted that Lamido could, even in his worst nightmare, join the irresponsible orchestra that he, Jonathan, was, in anyway, responsible for the loss of Bayelsa by the PDP.

Following is Jonathan’s response, entitled:

Sule Lamido: How Not to be a Patriot and a Good Party Man

Our attention has been drawn to a Sunday Sun publication of October 25, 2019 in which Alhaji Sule Lamido claimed that former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan traded off the Bayelsa elections in order to escape being investigated over the controversial Malabu oil deal. In an interview granted the newspaper, Lamido was quoted to have said: “The leadership of the APC and the government are blackmailing Jonathan and I think I can say it anywhere that he traded this for his own freedom.”

“Ordinarily we shouldn’t be responding to an interview of this nature because it is obvious that given his amiable nature, former President Jonathan does not consider the idea of joining issues with individuals on the pages of newspapers a decent conduct. We are also well aware of the former President’s belief that truth always has a way of catching up with statements rooted in lies and propaganda, such as this one. Furthermore, we considered that when former President Jonathan was in office Mr. Lamido was one of the governors that worked closely with him.

However, we chose to make this clarification just to set the record straight, especially as a number of the former President’s close associates have been asking questions about the blatant statement credited to Mr. Lamido.

“We really do not know why Mr. Lamido, chose to speak like he did, especially with such hostility, contempt and lies against former President Jonathan. However, one thing is clear: In his anger and apparent bile-filled disposition, Mr. Lamido, an otherwise astute and erudite politician, obviously dropped the ball by electing not to speak responsibly like a statesman. “He actually came off the interview sounding like a sulking skunk, to whom logic or reason meant nothing. It didn’t matter to him that, as a well respected member of the society, he shouldn’t make such weighty claims against a former President if he was only guessing, like he admitted. Hear him: “And the issue of Malabo, I think, played a key role.” So hugely pathetic!

Apparently seized by some inexplicable resentment, Lamido held on to the lie currently being pushed by few mischief-makers to the effect that former President Jonathan helped the All Progressive Congress (APC) to win the last gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State. Unfortunately, the former Governor jumped into this convenient bandwagon of grovellers without first thinking of the burden of substantiating his claim. What to do? Orchestrate a raft of incongruent drivel of cheap lies to confuse the readers. In one breathe, Lamido alleged that Jonathan worked against his party “because he was very, very angry with (Governor) Dickson,” in another he claimed that it was “because he (Jonathan) sure knows his problem with Buhari and his government. And the issue of Malabu, I think, played a key role.”

“This absurd claim definitely would have gained more traction in the public space if it really made any sense. But it didn’t. What, if we may ask Mr. Lamido, is the correlation between Jonathan supporting APC because he was angry with Governor Dickson and Jonathan supporting APC to avoid prosecution over Malabu?

Where was Lamido and his ‘Malabu problem’ when Jonathan campaigned vigorously and helped PDP to win Bayelsa governorship election in 2015, under the same President Buhari?

“It is important to establish at this point that Mr. Lamido probably knows very little about the Malabu case, for which he was not supposed to have commented blindly. In the first place, the Malabu oil block was not given out by Jonathan. It was a deal that was sealed during the time of late head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha. We feel that Mr. Lamido is in a position to know that the business of oil exploration has an international dimension, as such, it is clear that it is not only the Nigerian Government that is looking into the Malabu case. If that is the case, he should also have known that there are atleast three other countries outside Africa that are investigating the matter. Assuming without conceding that the former President Jonathan is culpable as Lamido alleged, would a trade off deal with the Nigerian Government also free him from blame in other countries like Italy, United Kingdom and the United States?

His Excellency Goodluck “Jonathan is convinced that Mr. Lamido’s awkward intervention in this matter was deliberately designed as a form of blackmail. Having tried many other ways to discredit the former President to no avail, Mr. Lamido is now scheming to project Malabo as Jonathan’s Achilles heel. Here again he has failed because the true story of Malabo is already very well known to Nigerians.

“Mr Lamido, we believe, is too smart not to realise that when the pot conveniently calls the kettle black, it is a grand design to confuse, deceive and cover up the truth. Lamido served as Governor of Jigawa State for two terms under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after which the ruling APC took over his state. Is he then telling Nigerians that he cut a deal with APC, helped the ruling party to procure victory at the polls and take over his state?

“The fact is that it is not only in Bayelsa State that the country had experienced such a situation where PDP or even APC had lost elections to another party. Holding Jonathan responsible for PDP’s loss in Bayelsa without first investigating the issues that determined the fate suffered by the party in the state is not only disingenuous but also detrimental to the image and aspirations of the party.

“It is true that Jonathan who is a former deputy Governor and Governor of Bayelsa States as well as former Vice President and President of this country is well loved and respected by his people. However, it will be tantamount to playing God for anybody to expect that the former President should command a vice-like grip on every Bayelsan in all the local government councils in his state.

“Rather than cast aspersions and throw shades because of pre-existing animosities and prejudices against the former president, what is expected of party leaders like Mr. Lamido is to seek to interrogate whatever went wrong in Bayelsa, to avert a repeat in another state.

We believe that further interrogation of Lamido’s other weird claims is not necessary in this space, lest it gives the unfortunate interview more attention than it deserves. “However, we feel that it is important to reiterate, as we have always done, that former President Jonathan did nothing wrong as far as the Malabu deal is concerned. He therefore doesn’t need to cut a deal with anybody within or outside Nigeria.

For the umpteenth time, we restate the following facts to proclaim Dr. Jonathan’s innocence:

“Former President Goodluck Jonathan did not ask for or collect any bribes over the Malabu deal, neither has he been charged for asking or collecting bribes, neither will he ever be charged with asking for or collecting bribes, because such never happened.

“The fact remains that as recent national events continue to vindicate former President Jonathan, and as the world continues to celebrate him, those who are insecure will feed such propaganda to their media agents to serve their narrow interests.

“We have always made it clear that beyond this wave of conjecture, former President Jonathan was not linked, indicted or charged for collecting any monies as kickbacks or bribes by any law enforcement body the world over.

“It bears repeating that the documents relating to the transactions and decisions of the Federal Government on the Malabo issue, during the Jonathan administration, are in the relevant Government offices, where they are accessible.

“We would like to point out that all the actions taken by the Jonathan administration in relation to activities in the oil industry were legally conducted by relevant Nigerian Government officials and were carried out in the best interest of the country

We call on anyone, including Mr. Sule Lamido, who has any shred of evidence linking former President Jonathan to any wrongdoing in the case of the Malabu incident to waste no time in publishing such evidence or forever remain silent.

“While we wait for such an impossible task to be undertaken by Mr. Lamido and his co-travellers, we would also want to draw their attention to the following fact:

Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as an elder statesman, is a father figure to all Nigerians. His door is open to all who wish to pay him courtesy visits or seek his counsel. That should not mean that he automatically subscribes to whatever political agenda his visitors subscribe to.

“While he was president, former President Jonathan had the largeness of heart to receive then members of the All Progressive Congress at Aso Rock Presidential villa, including Muhammadu Buhari, who he conferred an award on in 2014. Ahead of the last governorship election, most of the gubernatorial aspirants and candidates from different political parties in Bayelsa state visited Jonathan as a father of the state and that is a role the former President will continue to play.

“We wish to state categorically, that Dr. Jonathan remains a faithful member of the PDP and had no reason to have worked against his political party in the last election. That the PDP lost in the gubernatorial election to APC is unfortunate, but attributing the defeat to the former President is to be gratuitously obsessed with blackmail and red herring.

Finally, Dr. Jonathan would want to counsel Mr. Lamido and others in his shoes to look at their national passports. They would see that their citizenship is Nigeria. We are first Nigerians before we are members of any political party or social organisation. If Mr. Lamido does not know that, then it is a pity. A big pity indeed.”

Ikechukwu Eze

Media Adviser to His Excellency Dr Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR GCON

Stop Begging Me For Money, I Am No Longer A Senator – Babafemi Ojudu

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The Source

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November 25, 2019

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By Gideon Njoku

A former National Assembly Member, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, has sent a Save Our Soul message to his constituents.

Ojudu, an Editor of The News magazine before he dabbled into politics, is now an aide to President Muhammadu Buhari.

On dabbling into politics, the Ekiti born journalist-turned politician, won a seat in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, and became a Senator. He served for only one term, which ended in 2015. Having not been lucky in subsequent political desires, including a governorship bid, he was lucky to be appointed a Presidenial Aide, a position he still holds till date.

But once a Senator, always a Senator. So, because he still goes by that title, not a few people think he is still at the NASS and, as is common in Nigeria, they pester him for one thing or the other.

Perhaps, in droves, they still besiege his residence, even before he wakes up, seeking for favours – School fees, marriage and burial and hospital and birthday “levies”. Not excluded is “We have no food to eat”. Big burden!

But exasperated, and no longer able to bear the pressure, Senator Ojudu has cried out to them: “Stop begging me for money, I am no longer a Senator”.

He told them he stopped being one five years ago.

He also told them some of the things he has been through, and why he decided to “stay how he is staying”.

He did not forget to tell them that using the title still entitles him to some privileges, like the protocol lounge, and some respects here and there, but that’s where it ends. No extra money. All dried up!

Following, are excerpts from Senator Ojudu’s SOS, appeal, and well, his political ordeals.

Blunt. Emotional. Enlightening. And plenty of food for thoughts.

Enjoy!

Let me make myself clear from the onset. I am not concerned here about buyers but readers. So, readers, beware!

What brought about my asking readers to beware? It is my gentle call on readers to note the change in my status. It does appear that, going to five years since I left the Senate, many still assume that I am still in the upper chamber with the allowance, warts and all.

Yes, it’s true I was a Senator. I stopped being one since 2015. Yes, 2015! We are in 2019, marching on to 2020. It is four years now since I stopped being a senator. When you stop being a senator, your salary and allowances cease. What is left is the title which the creators of that position graciously leaves you with, to massage your ego for the rest of your life.

Yes, sometimes, the ego needs massaging. The title gives you access to protocol or VIP lounges at the airport; a few benefits and respect here and there. It also looks good as a handle to your name on your call card. Yes, it is good to do with some of these.

Often times, it also doesn’t help. It could act as one of those privileges that far remove you from reality, from real people and real situations that define life.

You enter into the economy class in a plane and everyone begins to look at you as if you have missed your road. That look of “what is he doing here” with all the money he earns or he has stolen. You are suspended in the cloud; your feet never touching the ground. It gives that attitude of, if rice is expensive, why can’t they eat noodles?

Like our governors who move around in chartered planes and do not know the roads in their states are no longer passable, you are shielded from the majority, and imprisoned with the minority who continue to lose touch and inhabit the dizzying height.

For me, Babafemi Ojudu, this title is becoming an albatross. It seems no one wants to believe that that innocent reporter who went on adventure to the Senate is no longer a member of the Red Chambers.

Everyone I deal with, from the mechanic who repairs my car, to the laundry man, the one who want to help carry my bag at the airport, friends and acquaintances on social media, relations, the ubiquitous local politician, all still want to take that pound of flesh for having, as they say “made much money from the Senate”.

Yes I have a lot of flesh left in my body, thanks to the culinary indiscipline of the past, but the flesh has since left my bank account. If you don’t believe, ask my bank manager and I’m willing to supply my BVN, the three-letter albatross of the covetous.

Now I am pleading, when you offer me services, please charge me as you will people who never bear that title – “senator”. Look at me more like that reporter or editor of yesteryears who you take pity on. I am back on the beat.

In stores, on the streets where I want to buy roast corn or plantain, at mama put, at Iya Oyo, the amala joint, or Ojuelegba in Gwarinpa, the one issuing me a boarding pass at the airport, security men, messengers at offices, colleagues, drivers, the gatemen in their homes, farm workers I have had to hire, work men carrying out repairs in my home – I mean the electricians, plumbers and sundry others, area boys and girls, everyone I encounter and have to deal with one way or the other, think wrongly that this income I last earned many years ago is still very much there and they must take their own share by hook or crook. I beg your pardon!

Accept a request on social media, innocuously wish someone a happy birthday and then the torrents of requests; my house rent is due, mum is in the hospital and could not pay bills, school fees is due, wedding requirements not yet complete for lack of funds, visa in the kitty but no money to buy traveling ticket, daddy is dead and in the mortuary and no money yet for funeral expenses, fibroid surgery recommended but no money, children have not returned to school for lack of money to pay fees. All of these, for me who Baba Buhari only pays a survival wage for giving advice now? Haba! E s’aanu mi. E de b’eru Olorun!

I have had to instruct my wife to resort to her maiden name, when engaging in any transaction. Many at times, she has had to be surcharged for bearing my name. The pressure on my adult daughters who still carry around my name with pride is enormous and one almost broke down crying, relating her experiences to me.

For my son, who is into music, I have admonished him to pick his own identity. He made a mistake thinking that by being the son of a senator, things will get easier for him and doors will be opened. Na lie, as we say in pidgin. Who sai!

Virtually everyone he has had to deal with him tried to skin him on account of his being a senator’s son, albeit a former one.

For those who may still not believe me after going to this length to make this caveat, let me inform that yes, there was much money made in the course of the four years in the Senate, I won’t deny that, sugbon, bo se wa lo se lo.

As we received, so did we give back to the constituents who sent us there via their constant and unending demands and pressures. If the pressure could be this much, five years after, imagine what it was when one served.

Saying, “e je ka je lara yin, e je ka na ninu owo yin” now is like a child wanting to suck milk from the breast of a woman who stopped lactating three decades ago. Ara mi ti gbe!

Where, dear reader, did you think all of those money spent on buying trailer loads of rice to share at Christmas came from?

Where do you think the money with which rams and cows were bought at Sallah for Muslim faithful came from?

What of the one with which boreholes were sunk? Transformers procured? The money you requested to buy roofing material for your house, where did you think it was sourced? All of the ones my personal assistants transferred to your accounts daily, where do you think it was sourced from?

What of the musicians I have had to ‘spray’ at your function? Impressing you and impressing your musician without which they would compose songs to deride me, calling me stingy and all manners of deprecation…

Inheritance from my parents? All of those school fees we were made to pay, hospital fees, the weekend feast and jollifications in lawmakers’ homes and the transport fare after quaffing many bottles of beer and wine and you still sneaked one into your bag, where do you think it all came from? The proceeds of an investment? Owo Abu, la fi nse Abu l’alejo.

You take all of this, blackmail me to do more so that I can return for a second term and yet you still return home and accuse me of being corrupt, getting paid more than any other lawmaker in any other part of the world.

Many who have served or still serving at state or national level have a tale such as this to tell but they couldn’t because with your vote, they believe you could punish them and deprive them the benefit of returning. You blackmailed them and they too blackmailed themselves.

The other day, a constituent in the diaspora reported me to a relation that I came to address a meeting in London and I didn’t share money . Even you? You live in such a place and you didn’t know this is not part of why a lawmaker is elected, not his function. Just imagine an American or a British parliamentarian visiting Nigeria and Americans living here want him to bring a truckload of dollars to share.

Dear compatriots, tell me, how many American congressmen and women hired caterers to feed constituents every day he visits his constituency? How many are responsible for the hotel accommodation of his political leaders when they visit the capital? How many rent offices for their party and pay the staff employed therein? Did constituents in America request money for transportation to attend party meetings? Where else in the world are party members paid, fed, clothed and transported to attend party functions? Yet, you talk of corruption. What is the meaning of this corruption? Is it not corruption to demand to be paid before you vote? Don’t you think whoever paid you to vote for him will recoup his investment?

You rail against them on TV discussion programs and abuse them on social media, and you don’t find it contradictory sending messages the following day to send you money to solve your personal problem? When they do, where do you think the money comes from. You don’t know it is from the pay you tabulate and share daily on WhatsApp to show that they are gluttons who are taking more than their share of the national cake? Are you not putting on them more than their share of national responsibility? Don’t you know it pains when you take from them and still go ahead to call them thieves? Don’t you know the person who steals another man’s barrel of palm oil from the granary and the one who helps to bring it down are both thieves?

Many have slumped and died as a result of your pressure and insatiable demands.

They left behind young and innocent children. Many are treating chronic heart diseases because, in trying to satisfy your greed, they pace ministries and agencies looking for contracts and have become OVERSIGHT rats.

The last time I read the constitution, I didn’t see all of the things you mindlessly demand as part of their functions.

Just imagine Mr Voter, Madam Woman Leader, Sister Supporter and Brother State Boy, Area Chief, ah baba of them all, The Godather, that if all of these money spent is put in a trust for the education of your children, wouldn’t it have been more meaningful than the rice and cow you collected and you have since cast out as waste? No, you never want what can be of good for you at the long run. It is always instant gratification and you come into this with a sense of entitlement, an arrogance I have never seen or read of in any other democracy.

I chose life, rather than death, and refused your bait of giving me a second term. Please, know that what is left of me is this title. If you want, I may drop it and go back to live my normal life.

Just beware and spare me the continuous penance. Will you?

2022 National Sports Festival: Ihedioha names Ngere, Obi, Amiesiemeka, Kanu in a 29-Man Bid Committee

By

The Source

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November 25, 2019

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By Akinwale Kasali

In line with his administration’s ongoing reforms in fast tracking sports and youth development in the Eastern Heartland State, Governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State has constituted a strong 29-man committee to bid for the 2022 National Sports Festival.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Chibuike Onyeukwu, said in a statement that the Governor was determined to reform the state in all aspects. To actualize this lofty bid, he has constituted a committee that will elaborately bid for the hosting of the 2022 National Sports Festival.

The approved committee by the Governor Ihedioha will be inaugurated on Thursday, 28th November, 2019 at Sam Mbakwe Hall, Concord Hotel, Owerri by 10am.

The list of committee members headed by Dan Ngerem, former President, Athletics Federation of Nigeria, as the Chairman, with other notable sports administrators, icons and notable Nigerians that have carved a niche for themselves in their respective fields in the country as members, include: Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, former President, Nigeria Football Federation and Adokiye Amiesemeka, former Green Eagles player and seasoned football administrator.

Dame Comfort Obi, Publisher, The Source, and a two-time Commissioner, Police Service Commission, PSC, is also a member of the committee, alongside former Heartland Football Club Chairman, Fan Ndubuoke, Hon. Uche Ogbuagu, Hon. Bukola Olopade, Mike Itemuaghor, Hon. Tunji Adeyinka, Hon. Jones Onyeriri, Hon. Amara Chyna Iwuayanwu, Mr. Clement Nwankpa, Mr. Okwun Omeaku and Hon. Ichie Ken Agbim.

Others are; Dr. Sunny Ogunlewe, Mr. Johnbosco Okeahialam, Mr. Reginald Ihebuzor, Comrade Dan Nwanyanwu, Mr. Chris Emeka Okeke, Mr. Leonard Ugboaja, Ms. Adaora Onyechere, Chief Damian Ezeagu, Chinemerem Enweremadu, Chief Charity Opara Asonze, Dr. Ken Onyeati-Ikpe, Nze Elvis Agukwe and Mr. Okey Onyegbule.

Atlanta 1996 Olympic Gold Medalists and ex-Super Eagles captain and legend, Kanu Nwankwo and ACP Chioma Ajunwa, who got Nigeria its first ever Gold medal in the Olympic Long Jump event are also member of the committee, alongside sports presenter, Dr. Mitchel Obi, and all State Directors of Sports.

The National Sports Festival is a big do in Nigeria.

Abia: Alex Otti, Born To Lose

By

Bayo Bernard

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November 25, 2019

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Why Abians Rejected Him

By Tosin Olatokunbo

Alex otti, the candidate of APGA in the April governorship election in Abia state is a consummate businessman and banker who believes he can get whatever he wants.

As the Managing Director of now defunct Diamond Bank, he was believed to have achieved milestones in his capacity as the chief executive.

But that’s all to it.

Since he retired from the bank, the Abia born businessman has been trying to make something out of politics.

But after entering the murky waters of politics by contesting for the governorship of his state, he must have realised that politics is not his calling.

So far, he has been unsuccessful in two consecutive attempts, he took a shot at the Abia government house.

Last week, his hope of ruling the state was further dashed by a court of Appeal in Owerri, Imo state, which threw out his appeal against Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, the Imo state capital, headed by Justice R.A Adah, struck his appeal and validated Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s election.

A three-man panel sitting in Umuahia, the Abia state capital, led by Justice A.L. Ogumoye, had earlier dismissed the petition filed by Otti.

The tribunal ruled that the petitioner failed to prove the case of over voting, non-compliance to the INEC election guideline and electoral act.

The petitioner had prayed the tribunal to cancel fifteen out of the seventeen local government areas election results in Abia State.

Otti claimed that the respondents, PDP, and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of PDP, perpetrated excessive malpractice in those LGAs.

Not satisfied with the tribunal judgment which threw out his petition, Otti approached the appellate court asking it to quash the tribunal ruling and declare him winner.

Meanwhile, Otti appears not ready to accept the judgment of the appellate court.

He has vowed to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.

“On Saturday, the 17th of November 2019, a Governorship Appeal Court panel sitting in Owerri, Imo State, upheld the very controversial and questionable election of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as governor of Abia State,” Otti said.

On his part, Governor Ikpeazu said his opponent should accept the verdict as the will of God for the people of the state.

But whatever next line of action the APGA candidate chose to take, the magazine learnt that he’s not likely achieve his aim of having the victory of Governor Ikpeazu reversed.

According to various sources who spoke with the magazine, the former banker has continued to delude himself thinking that he’s still very popular among Abia people.

Meanwhile, his popularity has waned, drastically among the Abians since he first contested the governorship in 2015.

Those who know in the state informed the magazine that the First Class, Economics graduate from the University of Port Harcourt does not have what it takes to be a successful politician.

A member of APGA in the state told the magazine that Otti does not know how to manage people to achieve for himself a successful political career.

The politician disclosed that “as long as he continued to carry on like he knows everything he will never achieve what he wants in politics.”

The source further explained that “ the opportunity he had in 2015 was that the PDP candidate was being foisted on the people and Abians voted against him to protest their dis approval with the idea of lording a particular candidate on the people of the state.”

Most Abians, the magazine also learnt believe that the former boss of Diamond Bank has not always made himself available except during election time.

“He’s among those we described as Lagos politicians. The only time you see them is when they want to ask for our votes.

How many times did you see him in the state after the Supreme Court reversed the verdict of the court of appeal that he did not win the election that Governor Ikpeazu was the one Abians voted for?”

“Nothing works that way,” said Chigozie Godswill, a businessman in Aba, adding that “Abians will no longer vote for strangers whose interest for joining politics, is to work for themselves and not for the people.”

It was further learnt that the politician had committed to some philanthropic activities in the state, ahead his entrance into politics before 2015 general election.

But after the election ended much had not been heard about his support for those projects, the magazine was told.

“Most people in the state believe that he deceived them. But after they found out who really was, that he’s like any other politician, they withdrew their support for him. Once beaten twice shy. You can see that the number of votes he got reduced drastically compared to 2015. Our people are now wiser,” said Chinyere Orji, a trader in Umuahia, the state’s capital.

Otti’s reputation among his staff is nothing to write home about.

Some of his staff in Lagos said the man is not what he preaches to be.

According to hints from his office in Lekki where he now operates a consultancy business, The Source was told by some of his staff that he’s not kind and that. They also accused him of highhandedness.

One of his employees, who spoke in confidence, said “his human relation is not very impressive. Some of us that work for him are only doing so for our daily bread.”

A member of his campaign team disclosed that they are working under severe condition. ”He will promise to make fund available for projects, but those promises are hardly met.

In fact working for him is extremely difficult because of the perception that his team is not managing him well and that we are responsible for his governorship failure.

But the truth is that we cannot work with our teeth. He doesn’t make funds available. Politics is an extremely difficult profession: you need to be able to commit your money and time,” one of his aides said.

Close watchers of Abia politics told the magazine that the columnist cum politician cannot win election in the state, more so when his party is no longer popular.

Thus after losing twice to the incumbent, his future in politics, analysts insist appears very bleak.

Efforts to get Otti’s response to the issues through calls and text messages made to his telephone lines were unsuccessful.