COSON: Real reasons Tony Okoroji's kicking dust (Emails, Letters)

What may have been intended as a PR masterstroke to buy public sympathy for the embattled Tony Okoroji appears to have fatally backfired.

Insiders irked by the brazen attempt to foist falsehood and demonize one of six directors who had moved to halt the rot and protect the funds of right owners from mindless plundering by Okoroji have been forced to break their silence.

A former director who served on the interim board of COSON at inception pleading anonymity, stated how surprised he was that Okoroji didn't move to request that the story be pulled down before it was circulated if by chance he had no fore-knowledge of its publication.

"I'm a bit surprised. I would have thought Okoroji was a more strategic thinker than this. For anyone to go after Efe Omorogbe with stories of loans they neither said were illegally collected nor remained unpaid is more of a move against Okoroji than Omorogbe. You see, the first problem we had during my time on the board was a row over a loan Okoroji collected in 2007 that remained unpaid until 2011. Each attempt to get him to repay the loan was met with unapologetic reluctance that offended and embarrassed the directors who approved the loan. If my memory serves me right, it was the same Efe Omorogbe who led the plea that more time should be given to Okoroji to repay and eventually offered to personally pay off the loan to ease the tension and stabilise the board.

A lot of the attacks Tony Okoroji would later launch against then finance committee members even after their exit from the board stemmed from their insistence that the debt owed by Okoroji must be repaid to COSON and not written off as he had expected."

Another close associate of Efe Omorogbe who was actively involved during the early years of the Association of Music Business Professionals (AM.B-Pro) quipped; "Uzor and his sources have unwittingly initiated a PR suicide for Okoroji. Mr. Integrity? Mr. VERY DISCIPLINED and FOCUSED? For where? Okoroji's debt was almost five years old. N850,000.00 when the naira had far more value. Efe paid N300,000.00 from his pocket to spare Okoroji's blushes and keep the ship on course so that the board can focus on tackling the users instead of endless in-fighting caused by Okoroji's indebtedness and recalcitrance.

Sunny Neji, Charlimo, Onyeka Onwenu, Joel Ajayi, Ben Ofoeze, Laolu Akins, Toju Ejueyitchie, John Uduegbunam, Victor Uwaifo, Obi Asika, none of them can say they didn't know about it. Not one. Anybody that denies knowledge is a blatant liar. Ask them.

In fact, what they may not know was that Efe discontinued paying the loan when he discovered that Okoroji collected a handsome sum of money from COSON for some PSAs, documentary or magazine he produced and insisted on getting paid for even though there was no prior bid, negotiation or approval. After collecting the money, Okoroji refused to service the debt. Not with even N100,000.00. Efe felt his generosity and kindness were being taken for stupidity so he discontinued paying Okoroji's long term, interest-free loan. This was also the genesis of a regular self-awarded contracts and questionable commissions Okoroji would continue to use to plunder the COSON accounts until the ill-fated COSON House contract award and contractor payment fiasco led to his sack as chairman.

These clowns saying their Mr. Integrity has never taken one penny of COSON money should wait until the audit is done. Even dem go shock when dem go see how much of COSON money don enter Okoroji and TOPS account.

Why you think say baba dey dodge forensic audit like SARS bullet? Why is it that it appears he'd rather contend with the regulator and force them to revoke COSON's operating licence than submit to an audit to validate his claim of being above board?" he queried.

The story published by Uzor Chikere's beats-onit.com, the subject of a looming lawsuit against the journalist was mischievously scripted to portray Okoroji as a victim of vicious persecution by Efe Omorogbe because of his (Okoroji's) refusal to allow Efe "turn COSON into his personal piggy bank".

The blog and its sources would go on to claim to have exposed the real motive behind Efe's "desperate bid" for the COSON chairmanship and the reason behind his insincere and self-serving call for forensic audit.

Before news about the letter from Efe's lawyers broke out, Rhiemen Omorogbe, Efe's brother and business partner had posted five questions (which have remained unanswered by Okoroji's cheer leaders as it the time of writing this piece) thus:

1. COSON audited accounts have often had "Other Loans" line item listed suggesting that loans have been granted and duly reported. Have all of these loans been granted to just Efe Omorogbe? If not, who are the others? Did they like Efe, pay back? If yes, within what time frame did they pay back?

2.Is there evidence of loan requests from Efe that were turned down by the board or finance committee? Were these alleged repeated requests made privately to Okoroji? Does Tony Okoroji have the sole right to approve and grant loan requests?


3. If a VERY DISCIPLINED and FOCUSED Tony Okoroji repeatedly tolerated and allowed Efe’s “excesses”, what does this say about his touted disciplinary credentials? If the reason for tolerating Efe's excesses is due to Okoroji's soft spot for Efe, how many other directors/members does he have soft spots for and how many did he "spoil" with unilaterally loans from COSON accounts?

4. Efe, whose companies run big projects and service major brands across Nigeria is being accused of desperation to be COSON chair while he is repeadly stating that he'll take a forensic audit over the chairmanship any day;

Okoroji whose personal business, TOPS has been alleged to have operated for years unethically servicing COSON as its major or maybe even sole client (within some financial years), has fought tooth and nail to avoid a forensic audit;

Between these two, whose past, present and future appear dependent on COSON chairmanship?

5. As suspiciously skewed as this "Chikere-leaks" bombshell is, doesn't it make it ABSOLUTELY MANDATORY for the FORENSIC AUDIT to happen right away and expose all of Efe Omorogbe's, and maybe, Tony Okoroji's hanky-panky once and for all?

Click here to view emails and letter exchange.

PDP raises the alarm over Adeleke’s safety

The Peoples Democratic Party, on Thursday, raised the alarm that the life of its Osun State governorship candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, was in danger.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, made the allegation at a press conference in Abuja.

Ologbondiyan claimed that having realised that they could not stop him from retrieving his mandate, some people in the All Progressives Congress were trying to eliminate Adeleke.

The party spokesman asked Nigerians to hold the APC  responsible, if anything happened to Adeleke.

Ologbondiyan said, “Part of the plot is to frame and arrest the principal of Ede Muslim High School, Ede, Mr Kadili Abass, on trump-up charges that Adeleke’s school testimonial was forged, with the aim of using such fabrication as a basis to smear and clamp down on Adeleke.

“Nigerians will recall that the PDP had earlier alerted the public that, having failed in their project to brand Adeleke’s certificate as fake, the APC leaders, particularly those operating from Lagos, were weaving a new fabrication that Adeleke’s school testimonial was forged.

“The PDP had also informed the public about how a former commissioner in Osun State was used by the APC leaders to reach and compromise certain top police officers to use the fabrications to arrest and embarrass Adeleke and the principal of Ede Muslim High School even when they have not committed any crime.”

He claimed that policemen on Wednesday arrested Abass; wife of the school’s registrar, Mrs Rofiyat Oladepo, and her nine months old baby.

Being a Rotarian helps me govern Plateau state – Lalong

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau state has said that being a member of Rotary International has helped him in the governance of the state.

The governor made the statement on Thursday during a District Conference organized by Rotary District 9125 at the Millennium Conference Hall in Jos

He said, “I am very glad to be part of Rotary International’s goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons, who are united in the ideals of a better world.”

“This has also, by and large, helped me in the governance of Plateau State, where in the last four years, I ensured that peace, security and good governance were accorded topmost priority.” He said.

Lalong also urged the leadership of Rotary District 9125 to explore more avenues and to strive hard in eradicating poverty, hunger, diseases and human misery in the contemporary crisis-stricken world for the benefit of society.

Governor Lalong while appreciating the Rotary International for its numerous humanitarian projects that are scattered around Jos and environs, urged members of the club to ensure that the club’s principles of the 4-Way Test: Truth, Fairness, Goodwill and Friendship, remain their guiding compass in the course of all their activities.

“Our doors would remain open to Rotary International for partnership and fostering a good working relationship which would be beneficial to all and sundry.” He said.

Presidential election: How Buhari govt ‘arm-twisted’ INEC into tampering with result – Secondus alleges

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Chairman, Uche Secondus, on Friday alleged that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal government arm-twisted the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, into tampering with the result of the February 23 presidential and National Assembly elections.

He made the claim while addressing a press conference entitled “Do we still have a government?” at the PDP Headquarters in Abuja.

Secondus also stated that there was no evidence that President Buhari was in charge of the country.

Lamenting over what he termed the worsening security situation across Nigeria, Secondus said President Buhari’s handling of the nation’s affairs had caused the country more harm than good.

According to Secondus: “The apparent incompetence of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the handling of affairs of governance has continued to take a huge toll on the nation. The security situation has been such that prominent Nigerian clerics have been raising serious concern on the issue of leadership, even questioning whether we really have a Commander-in-Chief in this country.

“While the Presidency continues to argue that there exists a government in our country today, what obtains in reality is different. The level of bloodletting occasioned by the barrage of criminalities across the country can only be happening in a country without government.

“Things got even worse as the remaining goodwill of the people on this government vanished after it arm-twisted the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, into tampering with the will of the people in the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly Elections.

“There is no evidence of the presence of government in this country as crimes of all kinds are committed all over the country and Nigerians have never lived in such great fear and trembling for their lives.”

NASS leadership: Northwest group backs Goje

A group, under the aegis of North West Alliance for Danjuma Goje, has called on the incoming and returning Senators to support the candidature of Sen. Danjuma Goje for Senate President.

The leader of the group, Jamilu Ibrahim-Maikarofi made the call while addressing newsmen in Kano on Friday.

According to him, the group had concluded arrangements to mobilise the teeming youths from the North West zone to storm Abuja to solicit the support of the Senators for Goje.

“We believe his election will usher in a more experienced hand at the helm of affairs of the Senate and the Nation will never regret his election as the President of the Senate.

“We are therefore against any attempt by the ruling party to foist somebody who we believe is incomparable to Sen. Goje in terms of political sagacity, experience and intellectual capacity,“ he said.

He reminded all the Senators that they had nothing to fear because Goje had worked tirelessly and religiously to ensure the victory of the President, the governorship candidate and all others who contested under APC in Gombe state.

“This made him the only Senator to defeat an incumbent governor of another party hands down in a free and fair election.

“As chairman of the Senate committee on appropriations, we believe he has garnered enough experience to steer the affairs of the next Senate in the right direction for the overall development of the country,” he said.

He expressed optimism that Goje would also use the experience as a former governor for eight years to ensure smooth relationship with the Executive.

“He will also use the eight year experience he has as a Federal legislator to ensure good understanding and mature relationship among the members of the Red Chamber,” he added.

Adamawa tribunal gives timeframe to deliver judgment in petitions against PDP’s Fintiri

The Governorship Election Tribunal in Adamawa has assured petitioners of fairness and speedy dispensation of Justice.

Speaking at the tribunal inaugural sitting on Friday in Yola, the chairman of the three-member tribunal, Justice A.A Adebara, said only three petitions regarding the governorship election won by Alhaji Ahmadu Fintiri of the PDP were before the tribunal.

NAN quoted Adebara as saying that the tribunal had only 180 days to determine the petitions from date of filling, hence the need for all involved to be fully committed.

“It is therefore our utmost desire that legal practitioners having petition to prosecute or defend before the tribunal should remain committed and be up and doing.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the tribunal will not entertain unnecessary delays as the petition will be treated with utmost dispatch.

“Counsel are therefore reminded to avoid the request for unnecessary adjournments.

“On our part as judicial officers, we are under an oath to administer justice without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.

“The tribunal will afford all parties adequate and equal opportunity within the ambit of the law to present their cases to the best of their ability for adjudication,” Adebara said.

While stating the position of the tribunal on zero tolerance to corruption, the chairman warned against untoward act that might stifle the administration of justice.

“In this regard, any attempt to influence the tribunal in any way or mode should be totally avoided as such attempt shall be severely dealt with according to the law,” he said.

The chairman also tasked the media which he described as “partners in progress” to report the court proceedings correctly for the good of the society.

“You should at all cost eschew sensational cum inaccurate reports concerning the proceedings of the tribunal.

“It is our belief that you all know the consequence of doing otherwise,” Adebara said.

The APC, APP and MRDD were the three political parties challenging the victory of the PDP in the governorship election concluded on March 28.

Clerics proffer solutions to ritual killings, mass migration

The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Adewale Martins, has stressed the need for the three tiers of government to create more jobs for the teeming youths to dissuade them from indulging into ritual killing and other social vices.

The Bishop made the call on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

According to the cleric, the difficulties in securing jobs have made some youths, who did not have the right values, to go into ritual killings, mass migration among other vices.

The religious leader said vices would be curbed when the leaders thought more of the youths than self.

“We can only continue to tell people that in the end, crime does not pay; engaging in ritual activities or other vices makes a person sell his or her soul to the devil.

“So we must constantly tell youths that values of faith in God, values of integrity and honesty, hard work and labour supersede the short term gains of rituals and scamming,’’ he said.

The Director of Project, Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Mr Jubri Abdullahi, also urged the leaders to provide good infrastructure and conducive working environment for youths to curb migration.

Abdullahi said: “Youths are the future of this country; they should be equipped with employment or empowered

“Nigerians are faced with multiple of challenges, what is paramount is how to ensure that there is infrastructure in place that works for people.

“Power is very important, training is also important, especially functional education, which teaches people what to do and how to do it; what is important for people is to earn a living.

“Migration is a human phenomenon, people have been migrating for long; however, mass migration will have negative effect on our nation.

According to him, if mass migration is not controlled, a lot of people with skilled labour will continue to migrate and the development will have implication on the nation’s economy.

“What the government needs to do is to provide a better working environment for youths to be able to contribute their quota to the development of the country.“ (NAN)

Osun APC in panic mode, jittery over appeal court outcome – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State has slammed the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, over a statement credited to Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, the spokesman of the ruling party.

It said allegation of incitement of violence made against his party by Oyatomi, “clearly indicated that APC is jittery, confused and afraid of the imminent loss of power in no distant future in the state”.

According to a statement signed by the Chairman of the party in the state, Hon. Soji Adagunodo, and sent to DAILY POST in Osogbo, the Osun State capital on Thursday, the main opposition party berated the APC spokesperson for referring to the party as being violent, saying such statement is a disgrace to the party.

“It is unfortunate that a ruling political party could be careless to the extent of threatening to descend on members of the opposition party who resorted to legal means and not violence to resolve the political logjam in the state.

“Rather than employing the constitutional means of making their defense in the court, APC has been boasting about, promising their scanty followers in Osun that they would use the law enforcement agencies.

“APC was the political party that disrupted the electoral process with violence, but now turns around, accusing the victims of having penchant for violence even when perpetrators of the violence have been caught on camera in the Government House gloating over it”.

PDP further slammed the ruling APC for defending the alarm raised by some civil society organisations over the inclusion of Justice Oyewole in the appeal court panel sitting on Osun election.

The party however added that the former governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola came into the political landscape of Osun State with violence on the platform of Action Congress, in 2005 under a brand name ‘ORANMIYAN’.

“Throughout the three and a half years of the legal battle to reclaim his mandate, APC (ACN as it was called then ) displayed total penchant for violence and departure from peaceful resolution of dispute. The full nature of violent tradition of the ACN and its candidate was unabated for eight years.

“I want to put it straight to Mr. Oyatomi that the peace being enjoyed in Osun State today is not unconnected with the peaceful tradition of the main opposition party, the PDP.

“Osun State PDP will not condone any act that is capable of inciting violence through reckless unguided and indiscriminate statements that are inimical to the peace that PDP has allowed Oyatomi and his political party’s sojourners to enjoy in our deanr state for eight unbroken years.

“On a final note, I will like to reiterate that in PDP we have absolute confidence in the ability of the judiciary to bring succour to the weak and helpless and I must let it be known to all that it is the APC that has been boasting about that they have the control of Appeal court judges in their kitty”, the statement read.

No plan to dissolve federal cabinet — Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said that there is no plan to dissolve the federal cabinet.

President Muhammadu Buhari had last week asked ministers to submit a comprehensive “status reports on policies, programmes and projects” from their respective ministries, departments and agencies.

He asked them to make the submissions to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.

The announcement led to speculations that the president was planning to dissolve his cabinet ahead of his inauguration on May 29 for a second time.

Addressing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council on Thursday, Mr Mohammed said “the cabinet is still intact, and we are going to have a valedictory service on 22nd of May”.

The meeting was chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Arson: Ondo youths protest police arrest of residents

Protesting youths in Okitipupa, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Thursday took to the streets in protest at what they called indiscriminate arrest of residents over an arson incident.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the residents of Igbodigo in Ayeka Okitipupa woke up on Tuesday morning to the horrible sight of nine family members burnt in their home.

NAN learnt that the arsonist, who was believed to be a jilted suitor of one the family members, came to the house around 2:00 a.m while family members were sleeping and burnt their residence.

The protesters, who blocked the Okitipupa-Igbokoda expressway, also locked down commercial activities in the area, vowing that they would resist further police arrest of innocent residents over the incident.

They also said that all residents arrested must be released unconditionally, alleging that 30,000 was being demanded from each of the eight said to have been arrested so far by officers of the Okitipupa Police Division.

Mr Bayonle Akinsanya, one of the protesters who spoke with NAN, said that the police were arresting innocent residents who knew nothing about the matter.

“They have arrested no fewer than eight residents who do not know anything about the matter and collecting N30,000 each from them.

“We will continue this protest until they stop the unlawful arrest and also release all arrested residents unconditionally,” he said.

All efforts to speak with the Okitipupa Divisional Police Officer (DPO), DSP Olubukola Abe, on the matter proved abortive as he was unable to be reached on his phone.

SP Femi Joseph, the State Police Public Relations Officer, however, told NAN that he was not aware of the incident.

He stressed that anyone who has any concrete evidence against police officers over the allegations, should forward a written petition to the police headquarters in Akure for prompt action.

“I am not aware of the matter; but anyone with evidence against our men should put it in writing to our headquarters and we will act on it,” Joseph said. (NAN)

Senate demands special security cover for foreign workers, tourists

The Senate on Thursday urged the security agencies to give special security cover to foreign workers and tourists in view of the killing of a Briton, Ms Faye Mooney, in Kaduna on Friday.

Senators also urged government to set up inter-agency task force to tackle cases of banditry and kidnapping in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Niger states.

Members of the Red Chamber urged security agencies to intensify the search for the perpetrators of the attack n Kajuru Castle, which led to the killing of Mooney.

They equally resolved to invite the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu Abubakar to brief them on the actions taken against kidnappings and banditry so far.

Adopting a motion by Sen Shehu Sani (PRP, Kaduna) and over 100 others, the Senate urged security agencies to immediately deploy the use of drones and interceptors in tracking kidnappers asking for ransom.

The Senate said the various telecommunications companies in the country should provide security agencies with information in areas where there are kidnappings, noting that community leaders, traditional rulers and all stakeholders should cooperate with security agencies.

While observing a minute of silence in honour of Ms Mooney and a Nigerian killed, Senators resolved to send a delegation to the British High Commission in Nigeria and condole with the British Government.

Breaking: Buhari jets off to the UK

President Muhammadu Buhari has proceeded to the United Kingdom for a private visit — The federal government announced on Thursday morning.

This will be after he has commissioned “developmental projects especially in the sectors of education, healthcare and roads”, in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The details of the impromptu visit were not given but according to presidential spokesperson Femi Adesina, Buhari will be back in the country on May 5.

Kogi govt shuts schools for not participating in annual census

The Kogi State Government has directed the closure of all schools that refused to participate in the 2019 Annual School Census (ASC), the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Rosemary Osikoya, has said.

Osikoya told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lokoja, that all schools, both public and private, that intentionally refused to participate in the just-concluded 2019 ASC would be closed down as from April 25.

NAN reports that the 2019 school census started in Kogi on April 15 and was concluded on April 24.

Osikoya said that any school that intentionally refused to submit its data as at April 24 would be deemed not to operate within the provisions of the law.

”By Thursday April 25, we will seal the premises of all schools that refused to participate in the 2019 school census.

”This closure will take immediate effect from today. We will seal the schools until we are satisfied that they are okay to operate,” Osikoya said.

The commissioner disclosed that the reports received at the end of the census showed that some schools intentionally failed to participate in the census.

According to her, the erring schools are presumed not to be under any form of supervision and having their own system that operates outside the provision of the state and federal government education policies.

”It means they must not be seen operating in Kogi. If you operate within our domain, you will have to comply with the state laws and policy that have been put in place.”

Osikoya further stated that the law provides that there are statutory records that must be kept and required for the purpose of administrative planning and intervention.

”The government will seal the premises of those erring schools until their management come back to the ministry to re-verify that they have the right approval to operate.”

The commissioner blamed the erring schools for holding back the state level performance appraisal in education, warning that ”we will start shutting them down.”

She, however, commended the stakeholders, particularly the enumerators, evaluators and others for the success recorded during the census.

”This is the first time in the history of the state that we are having a holistic coverage of all schools in the state. The data the ministry has, in term of the total number of schools in the state is 100 per cent accurate.“

NYSC speaks on Buhari govt ‘increasing’ corps members’ allowance to N31,800

The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has reacted to reports that the allowance of corps members have been increased to N31,800 following President Muhammadu Buhari’s signing of the new minimum wage bill into law.

It stated that the Federal Government was yet to inform the scheme of such increment.

Speaking with Vanguard on Wednesday, NYSC’s Deputy Director, Eddy Megwa insisted that there was no new development yet on corps members’ allowance.

Megwa said the NYSC does not pay corps members directly, and that any new development will be duly communicated.

He said: “The NYSC does not pay corps members any sum of money directly as stipends but the federal government does.

“Until the government is ready to implement the N30,000 minimum wage, we cannot say what corps members will earn for their service to the nation.

“Disregard any figure you find making the rounds on social media. When the federal government is ready, it will inform NYSC and we will announce it to corps members through official channels.”

Appeal Court reserves judgment on Osun governorship election

The Court of Appeal on Wednesday in Abuja reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, challenging the declaration of Ademola Adeleke as the duly elected governor by the state election petition tribunal.

The appellate court also reserved judgment in the two other appeals filed by Mr Oyetola’s All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), challenging the same judgment of the tribunal.

The tribunal gave its judgement declaring Mr Adeleke winner of the election on March 22.

A five-member panel of the appeal court led by Jummai Sankey announced that the judgments were reserved after the parties had adopted their final briefs of argument.

Mr Adeleke contested the governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). INEC declared Mr Oyetola winner after a supplementary poll but the tribunal said Mr Oyetola won the election at the first ballot.

During the court session on Wednesday, in his appeal argued by Wole Olanipekun, Mr Oyetola pleaded with the court to void the judgement for the tribunal.

Mr Olanipekun said the tribunal’s decision violated the Electoral Act 2010 and judicial precedence of the Supreme Court.

Specifically, he faulted the judgment as unknown to the law because Justice Peter Obiorah who prepared and read the lead judgement did not participate fully during the hearing of the petition.

Mr Oyetola whose appeal was first heard by the court of appeal drew the attention of the court to the February 6 proceedings in which Mr Obiorah was absent at the tribunal and did not sign the proceeding of that day.

The appellant contended that what Mr Obiorah did amounted to judicial hear-say because the proceedings of February 6 when he was not in court was copiously copied in his lead judgement.

Insisting that judicial hear-say has no place in law, Mr Oyetola asked the appeal court to quash the judgement, allow the appeal and uphold the governorship election

Arguing on his part, counsel to APC, Akin Olujinmi, also faulted the judgment of the tribunal led by Ibrahim Sirajo, on the ground that the petition was based on the rerun election of September 27.

Mr Olujimi added that the petition was incompetent and should be dismissed.

INEC in its own appeal argued by Yusuf Ali informed the appeal court that the findings of the tribunal were wrong because they were based on uncertified form documents dumped on the tribunal by Mr Adeleke and the PDP.

Responding, counsel to Mr Adeleke and the PDP, Onyechi Ikpeazu, asked the court to dismiss the three appeals.

Mr Ikpeazu told the court that going by the record of the tribunal for February 6, there were indications that Mr Obiorah was at the tribunal.

Mr lkpeazu argued that the three appellants did not complain of a miscarriage of justice.

He added that the effect of the judgement should be considered by the court.

Mr Ikpeazu further said apart from February 6, Mr Obiorah was in attendance throughout and that on that day only two witnesses testified, whereas over 100 witnesses testified during the hearing of the petition.

After taking arguments from parties in the appeals, Ms Sankey reserved judgment. She said the judgment date for the three appeals will be made public as soon as they are ready.

Fulani group gives FG, Governors condition for peace between herdsmen, farmers

In a bid to avert crisis in the 2019 farming season, a Fulan group, Kullen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has appealed to the Federal Government and the 36 state governors to hurriedly assist towards preserving the existing grazing reserves and cattle routes from encroachment or total blockage by farmers.

National President of the association, Khalil Mohammed Bello made the appeal in Damaturu on Wednesday in a statement released and made available to us.

He said the appeal was necessitated due to the fact that it is only through protecting grazing reserves and cattle routes as well as developing them for pastoral use that permanent peace and stability can be achieved between herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria.

“Because, if grazing reserves and cattle routes are encroached or totally blocked by farmers or whoever else, more especially in the Northern parts of the Country, where they exist for several years, it would be very difficult for our animals to move freely on their way to reach water points or for grazing.

“As a result of which some time they entered into the farmers’ farms and destroyed crops which in many occasions led to the avoidable clashes or conflicts”, he added.

Bello described KACRAN as an association that is registered to bring peace and unity between cattle rearers and farmers.

“In this regard, if action is taken timely on the appeal under reference, intermittent or perennial conflicts between the two parties will be reduced minimally or even to an end in totally,” Bello declared.

Buhari to Ambode: Your performance is satisfactory

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday; he gave the Lagos State governor, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode a pass mark for the audacious projects he has delivered to the people and congratulated him for his giant strides in the state.

He said: “The Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has performed satisfactorily in delivering governance to the people of Lagos and we should all congratulate him for working for the good people of Lagos State.”

He spoke at the Oshodi Interchange, where he had come to commission the project and flagged off the Bus Reform Initiative with 820 medium and large capacity buses at the Oshodi.

President Buhari had earlier commissioned the Institute of Maternal and Child Health, (Ayinke House), and the Lagos Theatre project at Oregun, in the Ojota area of the state, and the 10-lane Airport Road, all of which began in 2017.

Buhari singled out Lagos as the only state he would be visiting twice within two years, having come to the state March 29 last year when he commissioned the Ikeja Bus Terminal.

He said: “I also came here in February during our campaign and I am very grateful to all of you for voting our government back into office and pledge my total commitment to taking our country to the peak of our development and growth.

Buhari was accompanied to Lagos by Governor Ibikunle Amosun, (Ogun), Senator Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Alhaji Bindo Jibrilla (Adamawa), Mr Philip Shaibu, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, and the Governor-elect of Lagos State Mr Babajide Sanwoolu and his deputy Dr Obafemi Kadiri Amzat.

Also on the president’s entourage are the Minister of Communications Dr Adebayo Shittu, and the Special Adviser to the President on Media Mr. Femi Adesina among others.

Buhari said he is happy that Ambode is leaving impressive legacies that would have a huge impact on the people of the state.

He said the terminals when fully operational will ensure that commuters are made more comfortable as they wait for more comfortable buses that will move them faster, better and cheaper.

Highlighting the contributions of the Federal Government to the state’s infrastructure, Buhari said recently the Federal Government approved the repair of Oworonsoki-Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, which was last touched in the past 40 years, while the Lagos-Ibaan standard gauge rail line is almost at the completion stage.

When completed, the rail line would complement efforts to improve intermodal transportation as more passengers and cargo movement will be moved by rail.

He said it is worthy of note that both the Federal and the Lagos State governments are delivering on high impact infrastructure that would take care of more people at the same time.

Speaking earlier, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said all the projects being inaugurated by the President are product of the tremendous support the state has obtained from the Federal Government.

He said while the first Paris Club disbursement was used as seed fund for the 820 buses, the second Paris Club disbursement went into the construction of the Oshodi Interchange.

“Lagos State has never had this measure of support from the Federal Government and we are grateful to Mr. President for this gesture.

All these projects are our modest contributions to the growth and development of our state and our dear country.

He said all the projects opened by the President are ready for full operation, adding that while the 10-lane expressway, including the U-turn Bridge at 7&8 Bus Stop can be used immediately after the opening, the two flyover bridges on the road would be opened for use within two weeks.

For the Oshodi Ambode said while Terminal 3 will begin full operation by May 1, Terminals 1 and 2 would come on stream by end of May.

He said the Interchange will change the travel pattern and public transportation infrastructure.

In his short brief of the Oshodi Interchange, the Managing Director of Planet Projects Mr. Biodun Otunola said the project; the first in Africa will change the skyline of Oshodi and Nigeria.

According to Otunola, Oshodi before was home to crime and violence, adding that with the interchange the face of Oshodi is changing and soon, it would be the most beautiful place in the state.

He said whereas anywhere you have huge crowd are the most beautiful, in Nigeria and indeed Lagos, the most crowded places are the dirtiest, a narrative he said the interchange will change.

Otunola said the interchange’s skywalk of 157 metres, is the longest in the world and everything is being delivered within 24 months.