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Presidency Calls Obasanjo Divisive Element, Says He Hates Buhari’s Government |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The Presidency on Sunday came hard on  former President Olusegun Obasanjo, calling him divisive element, and alleging he hates President Muhammadu Buhari’s Government.

The Presidency was reacting to Obasanjo’s speech on Friday where he said Nigeria, under Buhari had become a basket case, a progressively failing state, and had become very divided.

But the Presidency in  its response implored  Obasanjo  to eschew his hatred towards the Buhari administration, and join it to achieve its aim of making Nigeria a prosperous country.

Obasanjo had, over the previous week, lambasted President Muhammadu Buhari, saying Nigeria was becoming the world capital of poverty and a badly divided country under him.

However, the Presidency, in a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said Obasanjo was not honest in his criticism.

It dismissed the former President as a divisive element, saying his recent criticisms have shown his descent “from the lofty heights of Commander-in-Chief to the lowly level of Divider-in-Chief (to adapt the coinage of Time).”

The Presidency added that while Buhari is working towards uniting the nation, former President Obasanjo is trying to divide it.

The presidency urged him to join forces with the current administration in order to find a lasting solution to the myriad of challenges bedevilling the country.

The Presidency stated: “In his most recent statement former President Olusegun Obasanjo attempts to divide the nation while President Muhammadu Buhari continues to promote nation building and the unity of Nigeria.

“The difference is clear. From the lofty heights of Commander-in-Chief, General Obasanjo has descended to the lowly level of Divider-in-Chief (to adapt the coinage of Time).

“We hope that Chief Obasanjo would once again sheath the sword and rest the pretentiousness about the Messiah that has (mis)led him to pronounce often wrongly, as he disastrously did in the 2019 elections, about the life and death of Nigerian governments.

“As some commentators are already suggesting, Chief Obasanjo should, in accordance with his mantra as a statesman, get involved with problems solving, when and where they exist instead of helping the mushrooming of a poisonous atmosphere of ethnic and religious nationalism”.

It opined that Obasanjo has disappointed his admirers for lending his support to the actions of groups who insist on not being a party to the National Assembly constitutional amendment process.

“Surely, he must have disappointed many of his local and foreign admirers by showering commendations on a few extremist groups who have vowed to shun the invitation to the National Assembly to participate in the process of constitutional amendment.

“No doubt, he must have left those admirers confused in announcing the support for the boycott of a democratic process of changing the constitution, at the same time calling for dialogue and engagement.

“The fact that the process he ushered in under his administration with the dubious intention of amendments that sought tenure elongation failed-as did two other attempts by the successive administration of the same political party- does not in any way justify his dismissal of the exercise by the 9th Assembly as another waste of time and resources.

“To the credit of the All Progressives Congress-led 8th Assembly, the process of constitutional amendment was kick-started and carried through, paving the way for, among other benefits, the financial independence of local government councils, States Houses of Assembly and the country’s Judiciary.

“These changes have already been signed into laws by the President as mandated by the constitution.

“The recent decisions by the administration as they relate to subsidy withdrawal, helping to plug some of the most horrendous notorious holes and release of scarce resources for the more pressing needs of the people has also not escaped the ire of the former president.

“It’s a known fact that the withdrawal of subsidies had been on the wish list of the Obasanjo-led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

“They failed in achieving these measures because; one there was a shared greed. They plundered the treasury as much as anyone could in the name of either subsidy or waiver with reckless impunity.

“Two, is to say it takes courage and rare statesmanship on the part of a leader to do as President Buhari to shun populism and seek the best interest of the people and the state, providing the kind of reform and development that Nigeria urgently needs.

“This President has run an administration focused on infrastructure and development. He has repaired our damaged relations with neighbours and our traditional allies such as the UK, US, China, Russia, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia and the others with lots of benefits to the country.

“It is a pro-business administration that has used diplomacy to unlock bilateral trade and investment.

“He leads a government that has liberalised the investment climate and market access by achieving reforms that have placed the country in the list of the world’s top reforming economies.

“Nigeria, which other nations had mocked and ridiculed for so many things that were wrong is today progressing at a pace reflecting its size and potential.

“With so much to show and many more coming, it is little surprise that President Buhari would be the object of envy and harsh unfair challenges by politicians who failed to deliver but continue to nurse ambitions of delighting the audience long after their curtain has been drawn.”

For the records, Obasanjo worked very hard to secure victory for Buhari in 2015, after three unsuccessful runs.

Ekiti Relaxes COVID-19 Measures; Resumes Full Academic Session |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, says Nigeria is not yet out of the global COVID-19 pandemic, hence the need to continue to observe all necessary protocols.

In a broadcast Sunday evening in Ado Ekiti, Fayemi announced a review of the COVID-19 measures under which religious worship centres in the state can now hold services on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays as against previous  arrangements.

Also, more classes in public and private schools are to resume academic activities as from September 21.

Affected classes are SS two, JSS three, and primary six, September 24; SS one,JSS two,  primaries four and five, September, 28; JSS one, primaries one to three, October 19 while kindergarten and nursery classes will join them on November 2.

The Governor directed tertiary Institutions in the state to put in place necessary facilities and liase with the COVID-19 committee to confirm their readiness to resume as from October 2.

He pointed out that since the SSS 111 students were allowed to resume last month to enable them sit for their final examinations, there was no recorded case of the pandemic among the students.

However, the Governor explained that the increase in the number of recorded cases in the state in the last one month was due to a rise in the number of tests that were carried out.

He put the number recorded in the state  from August 20 till date at 147, while it was 152 cases from March to August 20.

Owners of Events Centres can now put their facilities into use but on the condition that they must not accommodate more than 50 people to enable them maintain the social distance order.

The Governor called on security agencies in the state to redouble their efforts at enforcing the use of face masks, saying “until vaccines are discovered for its cure, Covid 19 will still be with us.”

Fayemi reiterated the commitment of his administration to ensure that more people in the state benefit from COVID-19 Palliatives from the Federal Government .

According to him, 200 businesses have so far benefitted from COVID-19 loan by the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN).

Ocean Surge Ravages Two Communities In Ondo |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ondo State Occan Surge

By Ayodele Oni, Akure

A viral video has shown how two communities in the coastal area of Ondo state were washed away by ocean surge.

The affected communities, Awoye and Mese, in Ilaje Local Government Area, were completely submerged, with residents counting their woes and losses.

Sea incursion and ocean surge have been an annual occurrence in the coastal area of Ondo state, with successive administration abandoning the people to their fate.

Residents of another community in the area, Ayetoro, had long fled, following total submerge of the town by ocean surge.

Attempts by the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) and the Ondo State Oil Producing Commission, (OSOPADEC) to address the problem have not been yeilding result.

Both agencies have for long been entangled with cases of unresolved fraud and financial misappropriation.

Contracts for the construction of embarkment and dredging of waterways in the affected communities are either abandoned halfway or left, unexecuted, after contractors were mobilized to sites.

The Chairman of Ugboland Central Working Committee (UCWC),  Mr Addjugba Ogundere, in the video, explained that sea incursion has rendered several people homeless with many properties destroyed.

According to him,  pleas to the present administration in the state to come to the aid of the affected communities have met a brick wall.

Health Workers Down Tools As Negotiation With FG Collapses |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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Biobelemoye Josiah

By Ayodele Oni

Following the inability to reach agreement with the Federal Government, the Joint Health Sector Unions, an umbrella body of health workers in Nigeria, has declared a nationwide strike.

The strike is expected to kick-start as from midnight, according to JOHESU, which, in a statement has asked its members to withdraw services.

Titled ‘Notice of 15-day ultimatum/outcome of JOHESU expanded NEC meeting’ the statement explained that the strike remains the only way to press home members’ demands.

The leadership of the health workers had on Friday met with the Federal Government on the industrial action

During the meeting, the unions demanded to consult its members on the agreements reached with the federal government and report back to the Ministry of Labour by Saturday, September 12.

But in the statement on Sunday, the health workers said the strike would hold as planned, noting that it was necessitated by the inability of the Federal Government to meet its demands.

The national leader of JOHESU, Biobelemoye Josiah, also confirmed the commencement of the industrial action.

According to the statement, leaders of various health unions in the sector unanimously reached the decision at the end of their expanded National Executive Council.

“In the light of the above, the meeting of our expanded NEC was held Saturday 12 September, 2020. And at the end of the meeting, which was held both physically and virtually, it was unanimously agreed that since nothing concrete was achieved at the said meeting with the Federal Government, that the strike notice is still germane and alive.

“Therefore, the 15-day ultimatum still subsists and with effect from midnight of Sunday, 13th September, 2020 our members shall withdraw their services due to Federal Government’s inability to meet their demands,” the statement added.

The health workers had issued a 15-day strike notice to the Federal Government to press home their demands.

Nigerian Boxer, Sadiq Umar Hospitalized After Defeat To Russian |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Sadiq Umar

By Akinwale Kasali

After suffering a defeat courtesy of a technical knockout from Russian Pugilist, Fyodor Chudinov, Nigeria born boxer, Sadiq Umar has been hospitalized.

The British-Nigerian boxer fought the Russian in Khimki, near the Russian Capital, Moscow, and fell ill after receiving series of punches from the highest Russian fighter.

According to reports emanating from Russia, Sadiq was reported to have began to cough up blood after his defeat by technical knockout. He, also, needed an oxygen mask after the fight.

The 32-year-old super middleweight was disorientated following his defeat and was given immediate medical assistance by doctors, according to TASS.

The Russian publication says an ambulance was  called after he fell ill during routine doping control.

“Umar was hospitalized,” a source was quoted as saying, with the report adding that the boxer began to “cough up blood”.

No further details on his medical condition were made available.

The Ilford boxer, who was born in Nigeria, counts six knockouts among his 10 professional wins, and has been gearing up for a shot at the British title against Lerrone Richards.

FG Set To Ban Alcoholic Drinks On Satchets, Nylon Over Health Issues |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

The Federal Government has indicated plans to completely phase out high concentration of alcohol in sachet and small Polyethylene Terephthalate and glass bottles following its hazards on human health.

The move by the FG was contained in a statement by the Director-General of the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, on Saturday titled: ‘NAFDAC cautions on alcohol abuse.’

She said: “NAFDAC under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Health, once again, wishes to bring to the attention of the general public, concerns relating to the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in sachets, small volume glass and PET bottles.

“These concerns relate to negative effects of irresponsible alcohol consumption on public health and on the safety and security of the public, alcohol being a toxic and psychoactive substance with dependence producing properties.

“Uncontrolled access and availability of high concentration alcohol in sachet and small volume PET or glass bottles has been put forward as a factor contributing to substance and alcohol abuse in Nigeria with its negative impact on the society.

“The World Health Organisation reports that alcohol consumption contributes to three million deaths each year globally as well as to the disabilities and poor health of millions of people.

“NAFDAC with full support of the Federal Ministry of Health has continued to exercise its regulatory responsibilities by ensuring that all alcoholic beverages and other regulated products approved by the agency meet set standards of quality, safety and wholesomeness.

“The Federal Ministry of Health is concerned about the high incidence of substance and alcohol abuse in the country and NAFDAC, being the competent authority and working with relevant stakeholders, is increasing efforts to stem this.

“With regard to alcohol, major stakeholders have been engaged at the highest level and are already sensitised to the issue. To this end, several interventions jointly agreed upon by major stakeholders are being undertaken and as a first step, no new products in sachet and small volume PET or glass bottles above 30 per cent ABV will be registered by NAFDAC.

“Furthermore, to reduce availability and curb abuse, effective January 31 2021, producers of alcohol in sachets and small volume PET and glass bottles are to reduce production by 50 per cent of capacity prior to January 2021. The overall goal is a complete phase out of high concentration alcohol in sachets and small PET and glass bottles in line with the agreed roadmap or earlier.

Bakers Lament Cost Of Production, Price Of Bread To Go Up |The Source

By
Uche Mbah
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Bakers Association

By Uche Mbah

Bakers in Lagos are lamented the high cost of baking materials and has threatening to increase the price of bread again.

The price could go up as much as 50 % if the government does nothing about their plight.

In the wake of the pandemic, the cost of bread went up due to the increased cost of production. There is, also,  a 5% tariff on wheat imports.

In a press statement, two bakers’ union, the Premium Bread Makers Association of Nigeria (PBAN) and the Association of Master Bakers & Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN) lamented the high cost of purchasing baking ingredients in Nigeria, saying it is akin to the attempts to wipe out the bread making industry in the country.

The cost of bread production ingredients have been steadily rising at a time when the government has increased electricity tariff and price of petroleum products, thereby fuelling insinuations by the opposition that the the Federal Government is on   a mission to annihilate the poor and vulnerable in the country.

The group  called on the FG to come to their rescue by  looking into the increase in the prices of the essential material.

While addressing journalists at the press conference on Thursday, The president of PBAN, Tosan Jemide, said that bread has become a major staple food  for most Nigerian households, irrespective  of social standing and any hindrance towards  its production could affect the country’s economy adversely.

“Although we have been experiencing difficulties for a while, the period between March 2020 and August 2020, the price of flour which is our major ingredient has increased from N10,500 per 50kg bag to N13,500 per bag. Sugar increased from N13,500 per bag, went as high as N29,000 and down to N19,000 per bag in the corresponding period.

“Margarine, from N5,800 is almost N11,000. A 25 liter can of Vegetable oil which was about N13,000 thousand now sells for N16,000 while Milk which was hitherto N29,000, now goes for N52,000. Preservative (Calcium Propionate) increased from N25,000 to N34,500, with the possibility of further price increases not ruled out,” he said.

According to  Jemide, members of the association have been enduring the price hike in the past six months without a corresponding increase in the prices of bread. He added that bakers could no longer continue to subsidize the cost of bread without jeopardizing their profit.

COVID-19: LASG Announces September, 21, Schools Resumption Date; Excludes Pre-Primary Classes |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

Lagos State Government has announced that Schools, both Public and Private, can  resume on September 21, 2020.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Folasade Adefisayo, who announced this, however exempted pre-Primary from re-opening.

Schools across the state were in March, 2020, shutdown in a bid to curb the further spread of the ravaging coronavirus disease.

The Head, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Kayode Abayomi, in a statement on Sunday said the state would adopt a phased approach in opening public and private schools to meet with COVID-19 social distance rules and safety protocols.

“This phased approach to opening will enable public schools meet COVID-19 social distance rules and safety protocols, and will help us watch the behaviour of the pandemic as we gradually open up our schools.

“The present JSS 3 and SSS 2 students in public schools in the State are to resume classes from Monday, 21st of September, 2020.

“The resumption will permit the present JSS 3 students who are already in an exit class to revise and get adequately prepared for their forthcoming Basic Education Certificate Examination organised by the Lagos State Examination Board and scheduled between Tuesday, 6th, and Monday, 12th of October, 2020.

“The resumption will also afford the present SSS 2 students an opportunity to prepare effectively for their transition to SSS 3. The scheduled dates and venues for Entrance Examination into Lagos State Model Colleges will soon be announced by the State Examination Board.

“We assure parents that announcements for opening the other classes will occur as soon as we are certain of their safety. In the meantime, the unopened classes in public schools will continue their lessons on our various distance learning platforms (Online platform, radio, television and WhatsApp) while the next phase for physical resumption will be announced in due course,” the statement read.

However, the Commissioner said Private Primary and Secondary Schools in the State are permitted to resume from Monday, 21st of September, 2020.

She said the State Government strongly recommends and encourages school owners to put safety first and open in phases similar to the plans for public schools.

“Phased opening also includes strategies for staggered resumption in the mornings, classes on alternate days during the week and teaching through various distance learning methods.

“Schools must also comply with safety protocols and hygiene guidelines as instructed by the State Government through the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA). The Office of Education Quality Assurance will continue to monitor and evaluate Schools’ preparedness.

“Please note that pre-primary classes and schools in both public and private schools will remain closed until further announcements are made,” the statement concluded.

2023: Tinubu’s Campaign Kicks Off; Lagos APC Chairman Says He Is Best Man For The Job |The Source

By
The Source
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Bola Tinubu Campaign Poster

By Gideon Njoku

The campaign for a possible shot at the Presidential seat, in 2023, by the Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has kicked off. It got a boost a couple of days ago, when the Chairman of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress, Chief Henry Ajomole,  told the Media that : “In 2023, Tinubu is the best man for the job.”

Before this, a couple of other people, including, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, a known Tinubu acolyte, said Tinubu will be good good for the seat.

This magazine was not able to confirm if  Chairman Ajomole was speaking on behalf of the Lagos State APC, but he  said there is no other person more suited to succeed President Muhammadu  Buhari in 2023 than Tinubu.

There have been strong speculations that Tinubu is desirous of the Presidential seat in 2023, but Tinubu has neither denied,  nor confirmed his aspiration.

But he has, also, not asked his foot soldiers, who are seriously mobilising for him against 2023, to stop.

Tinubu’s speculated aspiration has divided both the APC, and the South-west zone where he comes from.

It has particularly, divided the APC Governor’s Forum.

Many of  the Governors, reportedly, want one of their members to succeed Buhari. A combination of  Ekiti State Govermor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai  has been strongly touted.

More than a year ago, many had thought that el-Rufai was interested in occupying the number one seat. But he recently rubbished such thoughts by denying any interest in the Presidency. Instead, he backed a shift in power to the South, saying, “morally, it is the right thing to do”

His stand fuelled  more, the speculation that he might run as Fayemi’s running mate.

None of them has said anything about such a combination, but this magazine can confirm that some APC intellectuals and technocrats, members of the Party’s brain box, are already thinking along that line, and working on, and for its possible success.

But this other day, on a visit to Tinubu, with a number of Traditional Rulers from his state, Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, said that a victory for the APC in the October 10 Governorship election, would show how serious the Yoruba is with their aspiration to the Presidency in 2023.

While this magazine cannot confirm if the Governor made the statement as a support for Tinubu’s speculated aspiration, or he was just talking to cement Tinubu’s absolute support for his re-election, it is instructive that he found it convenient to do so during a visit to Tinubu and, in the presence of Traditional Rulers

However, Chief Ajomale,  a  firm suppoter in Tinubu’s aspiration in 2023,  believes that the APC leader has the capacity to turn Nigeria around.

Ajomale: ” I am in support of the fact that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is the best man to succeed Buhari in 2023. I will support that without any hesitation because Asiwaju Tinubu has traversed the whole country. He knows where the problems of each constituent are, and he has the solution to it. These problems are diverse because the problem they have in Ondo is not the same as the one in Kano.”

Citing Tinubu’s tenure in Lagos as a two-term Governor as a pointer to his  capacity, Ajomale said: “Tinubu was a Governor, and we know the role he played in the development of Lagos which makes it an envy to other States. If a man can develop the monthly IGR from N600m to billions of Naira, and even when Obasanjo stopped the monthly allocations to Lagos, he was still running Lagos seamlessly.

“I believe if given the opportunity, he will turn Nigeria around for better.”

Flaunting Tinubu’s seeming pan-Nigerian acceptance, the Lagos APC Chairman said:

“If people like Babachir Lawal from Adamawa, and Tanko Yakassai are rooting for Asiwaju, it goes to show that the man is a pan-Nigerian.

“I am not saying he is a Saint, or he is perfect. There is nobody who is perfect, except God. You may not like his face, but you should like the idea and experience he had to make Nigeria better. He is a financial expert, so there is nothing the Minister for Finance will tell him that he doesn’t know.”

Former APC Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, and his sympathisers believe he was sacked from office to checkmate Tinubu’s chances in the race for Buhari’s replacement in 2023.

In 2015, according to knowledgeable sources, Tinubu was billed to be President Buhari’s running mate, but a number of people, including forner Senate Presdent, Dr Bukola Saraki, stood against it because they felt a Muslim-Muslim ticket was unsellable to Nigerians. Tinubu said it was Buhari who made the offer to him.

According to Saraki, Tinubu never forgave him for scuttling the ticket.

In Tinubu’s stead, now Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was given the nod to run with Buhari.

Armed Robbery Incident: MKO Abiola’s Family Tells Full Story, Slams Sons, Says They Were Unruly, Rude To Police |The Source

By
The Source
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0

By Adesina Soyooye

48 hours after it became public that two biological sons of the late Chief MKO Abiola were arrested over the shocking armed robbery incident at the Abiola Crescent, Ikeja residence of the Abiolas, the family is telling the story of the robbery, and the circumstances under which the two sons of the late presumed winner of the June 12 1993 Presidential election were arrested,  and clamped into detention.

Armed hoodlums had, on September 2, invaded the residence, specifically, the apartment of Abiola’s most senior surviving wife, Adebisi, held her hostage with her daughter, and carted away cash and personal effects worth millions of Naira.

Not a few Nigerians were shocked when it became public that Kassim and his brother, Aliyu, were arrested, along with seven others, and have been in the custody of the SARS since that September 2, 2020.

It became public when the two brothers retained the services of the Chambers of Mike Ozekhome, SAN, to sue the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, to the tune of N100 million for, alleged, humiliation and unlawful arrest. They, also,  asked for a public apology from the Police.

Kassim and Aliyu hold their step mother, the victim of the robbery, Mrs Adebisi Abiola, responsible for their arrest and detention till date. They said she picked on them because they are not her biological children. They accused her of discrimination, otherwise, they posited: Why were her own children and aides, who were also in the premises at the time of robbery, not arrested?

But members of the Abiola family are telling a different story of their shock and ordeal.  They say Mrs Abiola had nothing to do with the arrest, and wrote no petition against the two.

She never reported them, the family says. On the contrary, the statement, say, she had been making frantic efforts, in conjunction with the family lawyer, to secure their release on bail.

After initial refusals by the Police because they, (the Police), insisted on unfettered investigation, given the embarrassment the robbery caused, they gave in, and agreed to release them, only for the law suit to be slammed on the Police, and truncated the process.

The family says the two sons of Abiola are responsible for their fate, having comported themselves in a very suspicious manner before the Police.

According to the statement, naturally, immediately after the incident, the Police came for investigation.  Part of it was to talk with every resident in the compound.

But when it for to the turn of Kassim he, allegedly, was not only very uncoperative, he became unruly, asking the Policemen what they came to his father’s house to do. Kassim,  allegedly, supported by his younger brother, Aliyu, threatened to deal with an officer, describing the make and colour of the Police officer’s car. Their alleged rude, and unruly behaviour, raised suspicion, and were the reasons why they were arrested.

On Friday, the Vacation Judge, before whom they went, asking to be released on bail, adjourned the case to October 15, and ordered the Court Registrar, to take back the case file so that it would be re-assigned to a non-vacation Judge.

Following is the family’s story, and position, in a Press Release, signed on their behalf by a group of Lawyers from the:

MARITIME, COMMERCIAI, AND IMMIGRATION LAW CHAMBERS

Barristers, Solicitors, Maritime  & Commercirl Law Consultants, Maritime Arbitrators & Mediators and Immigration Consultants. Gbadebo Ajibola Adeleke Esq.

PRESS RELEASE

The attention of the entire members of Late Moshood Kashimawo Abiola and in particular Chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola have been drawn to the press and social media stories concerning the Fundamental Rights Suits allegedly filed

by Mr. Kazeem Abiola and Mr. Aliu Abiola on Friday 11th September, 2020 captioned Robbery lncident: Abiola’s sons sue Lagos State Commissioner of police over detention by SARS”.

The Family had meticulously, painstakingly and carefully perused the said publications and are completely taken aback by the unsavoury, untruth, careless and malicious innuendos raised in the said online publications.

First and foremost, we consider it pertinent to call the attention of the public and indeed the press to the honour and integrity of late Moshood Kashimawo Abiola and his selfless cum monumental sacrifice he made for the nation during his lifetime. lnfact in the course of fighting for an egalitarian society coupled with his principle in eradicating poverty in Nigeria, he paid the supreme price in sacrificing his life for Nigeria.

We remember vividly that a one-time senior citizen of this country once described Late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola as not only being an icon but the “best president Nigeria never had”.

It is on the above premises that the entire members of the Abiola family hereby plead passionately with the public particularly the press to be wary and cautious of any publication regarding the Late Chief MKO Abiola’s family so as not to dishonour and disrespect the memory of the Late sage.

Having gone through the said publications, the family have decided to present the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth regarding the unfortunate armed robbery incident that occurred at Late MKO Abiola’s residence.

* Adeleke G.A

B.A (l{ons) Ifc, LL.B (ltoas) BL. BVC. PNM. NIM.

* Dr. Okechukwu T.I. Umahi

Bsc. Msc. LLB BL. LLM. PhD.

* Oyetunde Bamidele Ogundijo

Bd (Hons) Ife, LLB (Hon$ BL, PNM.

* Prof. Adeleke F.A.R

LL.B (Hon$ lfe, B.L. LLM. LLD.

* Dn Wada Bahir

LLB  M Ed. Acct Dip. PhD

* Mohammed Sambo ldris

LLB.  BL,

* Prof. lysa Ade Bello

LL.B (Hons) MA, Ph.d Law

* Abubakar A. Musa

LLB (Hon$ Lasu, BL. DRS

* L.A. Opawoye

LLB (Hons)lfe, BL. LLM,ACTI,

* Ebuka Nwaeze

LL.B (Hons) BL. LLM,

* Benson T. Akeredolu

LLB (Hons)BL,ACIS. PGMLA, MILD.

* Onyebuna ThankGod

LLB (Hon$ ESLft, BL. NIM.

On the 2nd September, 2020 at about 6:00 am. Some hoodlums suspected to be armed robbers broke into the residence of Late Chief MKO Abiola. The criminals broke into the bedroom of Late MKO Abiola’s wife, in person of Chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola and carted away valuables running into millions of naira.

The victim, Chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola and her daughter were subsequently Iocked up in her room with a threat by the armed robbers that she and her daughter will be eliminated if they raise an alarm.

As expected, Chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola was so petrified, bemused and stupefied by the unfortunate armed robbery incident that she could not raise an alarm even after the robbers had escaped with their loots running into millions of naira.

Mrs. Abiola was eventually freed by other members of the family who had apparently called the police upon which she and her daughter and other members of the family were interviewed by the police led by the indefatigable and dutiful Lagos State Commissioner of Police in person of Mr. Hakeem Odu mosu.

It is on record that while the police men were interviewing the family members, Mr. Kassim Abiola conducted himself in a very rude,

ungentlemanly, provocative, embarrassing and suspicious manner and all efforts by other members of the family to make him act in a responsible manner failed.

lt is further on record that Mr. Kassim Abiola did not only throw tantrums at the police, but equally threatened to deal ruthlessly with one of the Senior police officers whom he (Kassim) claimed to know personally to the extent of describing the said senior police officer’s car and the location where he will deal with him.

These unguarded vituperations and violent conducts by Mr. Kassim infuriated the police and he was subsequently invited for further interrogation for demanding for the reason for the presence of the police men in his father’s house.

lt is equally noteworthy to mention here that his junior brother, AIiu Abiola joined him in his tirade of abuse against the police men who were only trying to interview them and all other persons at the residence with a view to investigating the crime. The police subsequently arrested Mr. Kassim Abiola, Mr. Aliu Abiola and seven others for further questioning regarding the investigation of the robbery incident which the police suspected to have been carried out through the active connivance of a member of the family or staff considering the ease with which such an ugly armed robbery incident was carried out.

Thus, it is highly inconceivable, preposterous, ridiculous, absurd and malicious to claim that Chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola was instrumental to the arrest of Kassim and Aliu Abiola simply because they are her “step sons”.

As at the time of the incident and during the interview, Chief Mrs. Abiola and her daughter who are the victims of the crime were visibly disoriented, petrified and disillusioned.

The duo was completely oblivious of the identity and numerical strength of the people invited by the Nigeria police from the late Abiola’s household as at the time of arrest.

It is a fact which is equally known to some members of the family that as soon as Chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola became aware of the arrest of her step sons and one Mr. Popoola who has been a loyal, tested and trusted personal staff of well over twenty (20) years, she started making frantic efforts for them to be admitted into administrative bail by the Nigeria police but the police insisted to be allowed to investigate the crime and not interfere in their investigation.

To corroborate the above assertion, Chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola contacted the family lawyer in person of Barrister Debo Adeleke, a Human Right lawyer and the Principal Partner of MCI Law Chambers to liaise with the Nigeria police in other to facilitate the release of her two step sons and her personal staff.

Consequent upon the above, Barrister Debo Adeleke discussed with the Lagos State Commissioner of Police who understandably consented to release them and efforts to release and admit the three men into an administrative bail were concluded on Frid ay 11th September,2020.

However, to the family’s chagrin and constatation, while one of the lawyers in Barr. Debo Adeleke’s chambers in company of Engr. Rahmon Abiola, a younger brother to late Chief MKO Abiola who is also the family secretary of the Abiola family were making final efforts to perfect the bail of the trio i.e. Kassim and Aliu Abiola and Mr. Popoola, a lawyer from the law firm of Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN in company of a woman stormed the Lagos state Police Command and informed the police of the Suit filed in court for the enforcement of the fundamental rights of Messrs. Kassim and Aliu Abiola.

Becauce of the above, the police could not go ahead with the planned release of the three men as “rtii”t scheduled for Friday, 11th September,

2024.

This unfortunate turn of event hangered chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola and other members of the family and they were thoroughly embarrassed’

Although Kassim and Aliu Abiola have inalienable and constitution rights for the enforcement of their rights and fight for freedom but before a third party could embark on such an exercise] such an action ought to have been brought to the notice and attention of other members of the family who were makinng frantic efforts to get them release on bail’

Now that Mr. Kassim and Aliu Abiola’s fundamental rights suits have been adjourned till the15th October,2O2O a period of over 30 days’ all efforts by the family especially chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola and the family lawyer in

company of other Abiola family secretary have been thwarted.

ln the words of our elders of the shortest way home is not always the

quickest”.

However, despite the wrong and ill-advised move by a third party who is not a known member of the famity in titing a fundamental human right enforcement suit for the release of Kassim and Aliu Abiola, the family and, in particular, Chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola, through her lawyer, in person of Barr. Debo Adeleke, will continue unabated to seek for the release of Mr. Kassim and Aliu Abiola from the police by admitting them to administrative bail pending investigation’

We thank You all.

Signed

Debo Adeleke

Tel: 08036467095

There has been no peace in the late Chief MKO Abiola’s Family since his unfortunate death, due to family squabbles over property, and who are, or not are legal wives and biological children.

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