Colleagues strangle FRSC officer to death

An official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) was on Thursday night allegedly strangled to death by two of his colleagues in Onitsha, Anambra state.

The deceased, identified as Emeka Ojei, a Senior Road Marshal Assistant, was reportedly killed for attempting to expose certain corrupt practices against one of his assailants in the office.

The Nation gathered that the deceased was armed with damaging corruption allegation he intended to report at the Corps headquarters in Benin before he was killed.

A staff of the commission who spoke to the Nation on condition of anonymity said the prime suspect had appealed to the deceased not to go ahead with his plans, adding that it was his refusal that necessitated his actions.

He said the officer was struggling with his mobile phone with the deceased when the other colleague joined and held him on the neck until he gave up.

He said, “Emeka is one of the officers privileged to be working on a report on a corruption case to be sent to the headquarters in Benin.

“As he was about going to deliver the report, his oga called him back, insisting he shouldn’t go. But he refused.

“His oga dragged him with his phone while another officer joined him. He was struggling with them over the phone when they strangled him to death.”

The Nation further learnt that the case had been lodged at the Police Area command, while the Unit Commander and his accomplice had been arrested.

The FRSC Public Relations Officer in the state, Pascal Anigbo, confirmed the incident.

“The incident happened around 7pm in the office. I don’t have the full details of the incident now,” he said.

When contacted, the commissioner of Police, Mustapha Dandaura, said he was just coming back from a trip and was yet to be briefed on the matter.

“I’ll get back to you as soon as I get the details from the Area commander,” he said.

Account for N8bn received in three months, AAC tells Cross River govt

An opposition party in Cross River State, African Action Congress, has demanded that the State Government should account for the N8 billion the state received from the Federal Government in the last three months.

A statement signed by the party’s state chairman, Agba Jalingo, said the Federal Ministry of Finance confirmed that the last tranche of Paris Refund was disbursed to states in March 2019.

“The MoF statement did not give details of how much Cross River State got from the refund but sources have informed our party, the African Action Congress, AAC, that the state got over three billion Naira.

“Our party has also confirmed that Cross River State received its share of Value Added Tax for the years 2015 – 2018 totalling N5.4 billion, last Friday, May 31, 2019.

“This brings the total amount to over N8 billion, which accrued to the state between March and May 2019,” the party said.

AAC further stated that “As a registered political party, that is concerned about accountability and judicious application of public resources in Nigeria and Cross River State in particular, we demand the State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade to confirm to Cross Riverians and Nigerians that the State has received its share of Value Added Tax which was paid by individuals and corporate citizens for the years 2015 – 2018 totalling N5.4 billion.

“The party wants the state to confirm that it has received the last tranche of the Paris Club Refund and how much the amount is.

“We demand Mr. Ayade to tell Cross Riverians what he intends to do with the said funds which total over N8 billion as we do not want to believe reports that he has ‘already spent’ such huge amounts barely eight days into his second term.

“It is worrisome the way in which Governor Ayade has handled the Paris Refund since inception till now with almost no statistics and indices made available to the public as one will logically expect from an administration that floats the principle of ‘politics with ethics’.

“As a party, we wish to note that Cross River has moved from being a state where budgets and spending, generated revenues, cash inflows and outflows, are hidden and then made available years after their cycle has elapsed, remain sketchy and devoid of details. This trend must stop!” the party said.

There was no official response from government officials as there is no substantive spokesperson for the government at the moment.

The Governor, who is on a trip to Norway is yet to appoint a Chief Press Secretary after the immediate past one, Christian Ita, was among appointees who were relieved of their jobs at the expiration of the governor’s first term on May 28.

Enugu banker gets N200m bail in fraud allegation

An Enugu State High Court, Friday, granted bail worth N200 Million to Oliver Anidiobi, a banker who was accused of fraud.

Anidiobi is facing trial before the court on 32 count charges of forgery and stealing, slammed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He was earlier arraigned by EFCC on May 7 this year and was remanded in prison custody.

Anidiobi was branch manager of a new generation bank when he allegedly committed the crime.

We  reported that the Bank had earlier cried out over the perceived delay of the EFCC to prosecute him.

Anidiobi was arrested by EFCC last year, following a petition by Olu Omotayo Esq., the company lawyer of Ohha Microfinance Bank Limited.

Instead of arraigning the accused person, the anti-graft agency granted him administrative bail.

He was, however, charged to court, following pressure from the counsel to the microfinance bank.

EFCC accused him of stealing N219 million belonging to Ohha Microfinance Bank Limited while a staff of the new generation bank.

When the matter came up in court, Ogochukwu Onyema, counsel to the accused person urged the court to grant his client bail.

Onyema cited Section 158 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and Section 36 (5) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, stating that an accused person has to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Onyema argued that the offence is ordinarily bailable and not a capital offence.

Responding, Michael Ani, the prosecuting counsel and principal legal officer in EFCC, urged the court to decide the amount involved (N219 Million) if it wants to grant bail.

Ani also pleaded that the EFCC should participate in the verification of the bail bond.

Ruling on the bail application, Justice C.O. Ajah, in the absence of any opposition, admitted the accused person to bail in the sum of N100 million, with two sureties in like sum who must be property owners in Enugu.

Justice Ajah said the two sureties must also swear an affidavit of means.

The judge adjourned the matter to July 19 for trial.

How Okorocha’s son-in-law, Nwosu reacted to court order for INEC to issue ex-governor certificate of return

The Action Alliance, AA, candidate in the recent governorship election in Imo State, Uche Nwosu, has welcomed today’s Federal High Court judgment on the Imo West Senatorial election.

Justice Okon Abang-led Federal High Court had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to issue the immediate past governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha with Certificate of Return for winning the senatorial election.

The judge held that INEC lacks the right under any known law in Nigeria to withhold the Certificate of Return of a candidate after he has been declared as winner.

Reacting to the ruling, Nwosu, who is Okorocha’s son-in-law said the judiciary has proven to be the last hope of the common man.

Addressing journalists in Owerri, the state capital, Nwosu said, “The judiciary has shown that it is the last hope of the common man. The landmark judgment has shown that no matter how hard you try to suppress the truth, justice will always prevail.”

Fayemi proclaims sixth Ekiti Assembly

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has proclaimed the state’s sixth House of Assembly, urging the new legislators to discharge their duties in the interest of the people.

Proclaiming the assembly on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, the governor enjoined them to offer selfless service toward the development of the state.

“I urge you (new legislators) to justify the confidence reposed in you by the people who elected you to represent them.

“While discharging your constitutional responsibilities, including oversight functions, you must carry the interest of the larger Ekiti people at heart,” Fayemi said.

He told them to be committed to the spirit of oneness in the conduct of their legislative duties.

He urged all arms of government to join hands in the restoration of Ekiti values.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mr Funminiyi Afuye, (a member representing Ikere 1) emerged as the new Speaker of the House.

Afuye lauded Fayemi and the people of the state for the opportunity to represent them.

Afuye, who described Fayemi as a “game-changer and master strategist,” promised not to disappoint.

He said the sixth Assembly would ensure no unhealthy rivalry between the Executive and the Legislature because it was the people that would suffer from such dispute.

NAN reports that Alhaji Akeem Jamiu (Irepodun/Ifelodun 2) was also elected as the Deputy Speaker; Chief Gboyega Aribisogan (Ikole 1) emerged as the Majority Leader, while Mrs Bunmi Adelugba (Emure) was elected the Chief Whip.

Dignitaries at the occasion included the wife of Ekiti governor, Mrs Bisi Fayemi, and traditional rulers.

(NAN)

EFCC arraigns lecturer for alleged misappropriation of N19m PhD funds

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Friday, arraigned a lecturer at Nasarawa State University, Keffi for alleged diversion of funds

The suspect, Moses Adoga was arraigned at Nasarawa State High Court, sitting in Lafia, the capital city of Nasarawa State.

According to the statement issued by the spokesperson of EFCC, Makurdi Zonal Office, Mrs Okeanu Nnwanyinma, the suspect was said to have obtained a Tertiary Education Trust Funds to the tune of N19m for his PhD programme in Cellular and Molecular Biology at Bangor University, United Kingdom but diverted the fund to personal use.

Parts of the statement read, “A count charge, that you Moses Peter Adoga sometime in 2011 in Keffi within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court being entrusted with the sum of N19,765,200 (Nineteen Million Seven Hundred and Sixty Five Thousand Two Hundred Naira) from Tertiary Education Trust Fund paid into your United Bank for Africa account through Nassarawa State University Diamond Bank Account for the purpose of Academic staff training and development at Bangor University in the United Kingdom; did dishonestly convert same to your own use and thereby committed a Criminal Breach of Trust contrary to section 311 and punishable under section 312 of Penal Code Laws”.

“He pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charge.

“The prosecution counsel, Mary Onoja prayed for a date for the commencement of trial.”

The counsel also prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody pending the hearing of his bail application.

“However, the defense counsel, S. K. Sheltu orally applied for bail for his client.

“The trial judge, Justice Simon O. Aboki granted the defendant bail in the sum of two million Naira with two sureties in like sum,” the statement concluded.

The court asked the defendant to surrender his international passport to the registrar of the Court.

The case was adjourned till July 10, 2019, for the commencement of trial.

AIT/RayPower: HURIWA calls for sack of DG, Kawu

A leading pro-democracy and Non-governmental organisation, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, on Friday called for the sack of the Director General, National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, Alhaji Modibbo Kawu, and also highlighted reasons the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, suspended the broadcast licence of DAAR Communications, owners of African Independent Television, AIT, and RayPower Fm.

It claimed that AIT and RayPower’s licences were suspended due to a protest staged against NBC’s Director General, Modibbo Kawu by the founder of DAAR Communications Plc, Raymond Dokpesi.

Dokpesi had a few days ago called for the removal of Kawu over his handling of the Commission and his alleged affiliation to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

However, HURIWA described the shutting down of AIT and RayPower as “reckless display of amateurish executive rascality.”

In a media statement signed by the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director, Miss Zainab Yusuf, the Right group described as cowardly, the “behaviour of the ethically challenged DG who took the illegal action against AIT just because the ex-chairman of the media house led a street protest against his atrocious and politically biased headship/leadership since the advent of the Muhammadu Buhari’s regime in 2015.”

HURIWA asked President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to, “sack forthwith the unqualified Director General of the troubled media regulatory Agency (NBC) Alhaji Modibbo Kawu (who ran to be governorship candidate of APC at the last primary and lost woefully) who has shown crass incompetence and a total lack of objectivity and professionalism because of his entrenched loyalty to a political party.

“Modibbo Kawu Sees himself as an APC propagandist who is on a mission to intimidate and harass all independent-minded broadcasting outfits. The Courts of law must rapidly save media freedoms from being emasculated by Buhari through his foot soldier in NBC Alhaji Modibbo Kawu of APC”.

The rights group stressed that the head of such an independent body like the broadcasting media regulatory authority must never be such a “a rabid fanatical member of one of the over 90 registered political parties.”

HURIWA consequently called for the “dismissal of the DG of NBC Modibbo Kawu because he is not a fit and proper person to head such an illustrious body of media regulators given his open partisanship.”

“The illegal ban of African Independent Television must be overturned forthwith because the Independent African Television is about the only truly privately independent television that the APC led administration has been unable to financially induced to stop featuring human rights activists and advocates with independent bent.

“We also asked all credible non governmental bodies and lovers of democracy and press freedoms to pour out on the streets all over the country in protest to compel President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to re-open AIT and sack Modibbo Kawu of APC who in any event is facing a criminal trial over alleged misapplication of N2.5 billion Digital Signal Operations Fund which he allegedly paid to a private communication firm who had paid an initial licencing fee before been accredited as one of the two national DSO signal operators.

“The matter it would be recalled is before a high court of competent jurisdiction,” HURIWA said.

In 2018, I spent 124 days in police custody – Dino Melaye

He also said the day hoodlums invaded the Senate will remain a sad one for him.

Mr Melaye said this when he spoke during the Senate’s valedictory session.

The senator started by praising the doggedness of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who has been his close ally since the beginning of the 8th Senate.

He also recalled how he spent over 100 days in police custody in 2018.

“I want to thank God Almighty who is the Supreme controller for making me alive to be here today,” he said. “You will recall severally Mr President, I address you as the irremovable President of the Nigerian Senate when the seat of power took you to Code of Conduct Bureau when the state petitioned you and took you to court and established a case of forgery against you. Today, you are not just completing your term but you have a glorious exit against the imagination of some demons.

“When the Governor of Kogi State and his allies planned a recall exercise on me, I was in police custody when the recall failed woefully. I am here to thank God. Because in 2017, I was arrested eight times. In 2018, I was arrested 18 times and out of 365 days in 2018, I spent 124 days in police custody.

“I campaigned only four days to the election. I have every cause to glorify God. Last year, I was arraigned in different courts, Federal Government versus Dino Melaye, but here am I, standing, and returned undisputedly as the senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

For him, the day Mr Saraki emerged as Senate President “would be recorded on the high while he’ll remember the day the chamber was invaded as a sad one”.

“I have two historical days I will never forget in the history of the 8th Senate. One is a day of joy and merriment and the other is a day of sorrow. The day of joy is the day Bukola Saraki became the President of the Nigerian Senate and Ike Ekweremadu became the Deputy Senate President.

“My day of sadness and weeping was the day my colleague, Ovie Omo-Agege missed it. It was the day precedence turned and desecrated the chamber of the Nigerian Senate. The day he laid trail to move the symbol of democracy and authority, out of the sacred chamber of the Nigerian Senate and the day, just as the Bible, Jesus wept. That day, Mr President, I wept.”

Mr Melaye also vowed to work against ‘presidential’ and ‘party’ orders against the interest of the country.

“Nigeria will continue to be ahead of any political permutations. Nigeria shall come first before anything selfish interest. I will ensure that and that we stand by that. Enough of presidential orders and party directives. Any order that is contrary to the progress, unity and prosperity of Nigeria should not be entertained on the floor of the Senate.”

‘Why we specialised in robbing only women’

It was the end of road for three suspected members of a robbery gang, which specialised in snatching exotic vehicles from women in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

The suspected robbers were arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team(IRT).

The trio , identified as Ego Ike, Obinna Igwe and Adamu Nuhu, were  arrested at their hideout in Abuja and Kaduna State, after they robbed a female staff of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)of her vehicle, while she was returning home from work.

The suspects were said to have taken the vehicle, a 2016 Toyota Corolla, to Katsina State, before it was smuggled into Niger Republic.

Nigerien policemen, however, accosted the gang and impounded the vehicle, while a member of the gang identified simply as Yellow, was arrested as Ike, Igwe and Nuhu, escaped back into the country.

The owner of the car was said to have reported to the police, following which the Inspector General of Police asked the IRT to fish out the bandits for diligent prosecution.

Some victims of the gang provided information that aided the operatives in apprehending three members of the gang, leaving behind the ring leader, identified simply as Linus, who is still at large.

On interrogation, the suspects explained that they targeted women because women can’t put up stiff resistance like  men.  The suspects also disclosed that most of the vehicles they robbed were mainly Toyota products because of the huge demand for it in the market.

Ike, 30, was quoted as saying that he took to crime because he lost all his life savings  to gambling.

He said: “ I am  a native of Anambra State and I  went into crime because I  lost the N6 million I was using to run my  clothing business to gambling. I am a primary school dropout. I was formerly a spare parts  dealer at the Ladipo market, Lagos, but I  moved to Abuja in search of  greener pasture and when I couldn’t find my bearing, I pressured my father to sell his  only land in the village and he sent me to Istanbul Turkey, with the money.  I stayed in Istanbul for three years; I worked and saved  close to N6 million. Then I started importing clothes into Nigeria.  I was supplying several shops around Abuja and Lagos State, but in 2016, one of my friends introduced me to a sport betting game and I lost all my money.

‘’My resident permits in Istanbul expired and I had no money to renew it. I became frustrated and I met Linus in one of my brother’s houses in Jai area of Abuja and we became friends. He introduced me to an armed robbery gang  which had Obinna and Yellow as members and we stole a Toyota RAV4 Sport Utility Vehicle from a woman who was driving into her house in Shafar Road, Abuja,and we took the car to Kaduna.

‘’We gave the car to Nuhu, and he offered to pay N200,000. We also accosted another woman in Buhari area of Abuja. Another woman driving a Toyota Matrix and stopped in front of a shop to buy something; we approached her, snatched the car from her and  took it to Kaduna.

‘’We were paid N270,000 for the car. We didn’t know that the woman who owned the Toyota Matrix works with the Federal Road Safety Corps. The third car we stole was also from a woman who was driving a Toyota Corolla car at Kado Estate in Abuja. We used Yellow’s car to collect the woman’s car. We blocked the woman’s car with Yellow’s car and collected it from the woman. We took the car that night to Niger Republic, but at the Katsina border, Linus and I came down from the car, took a bike and crossed into the country, while Yellow and a man, who I don’t know, took the car into Niger Republic but the Nigerien police stopped them and arrested them.  We targeted women because we don’t use guns and women are an easy catch and most of them are not security conscious. We target Toyota cars because they are easy to sell and the demand for it is on the high side.”

Confessing, Nuhu, 19, a native of Kaduna State, said: “I attended only primary education. I was 17-year-old when I started stealingvcars. There is this man known as ‘MD’, who I met when I was selling phones in Kaduna State.  ’MD’ is one of my customers who normally buys phones from me and there was this time 2017, when I was attacked by armed robbers and all my phones were stolen and I was stranded.

‘’I approached ‘MD’ to assist me because he was always having money and ‘MD’ told me that since I know how to drive, I will be useful to his company. He did not tell me what his company does, rather, ‘MD’ started giving me cars to deliver for him to several states and he was paying between N30,000 to N40,000.

‘’He (‘MD’) gave me a master key and showed me how to use it. The first car I stole with the master key was a Toyota Carina and I sold the car in a market in Tuniga Maji, along Kaduna Abuja Expressway. I took the car to Kaduna and gave it to one Mohammed Garuba and he bought it from me for N120, 000. Later, ‘MD’ called me and asked me to meet one Yellow and asked me to collect a vehicle from him, but the vehicle had an engine problem then and we contacted Garuba who  bought it for N180,000.

He added: ‘’Then I stole three other Toyota Camry cars from the market at Tuniga Maji area along the Kaduna Abuja Expressway and  sold the three Toyota Camry cars for N420,000 to one Alhaji in Sokoto State.

‘MD’ also gave me four Toyota Corolla cars to deliver to one Abdul, who is a middle man between car thieves in Nigeria and receivers in Niger Republicepublic. Later in September 2018, Yellow introduced me to his own gang members, who were operating mainly in Abuja with guns, and one of them known as Linus, though he is yet to be arrested, called me and said he was coming with some of his brothers from Benue State who were armed with AK47 rifles and they wanted to carry out a robbery operation in that state but they didn’t know the terrain.

‘’I asked Ego, who was also their gang member, to call me, while I was waiting for them, the police showed up and I was arrested.”

Speakership: Go to court – lawyers dare Gbajabiamila

A group of lawyers has challenged Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, immediate past Majority Leader, House of Representatives, to go to court over criminal allegation levelled against him by some group ahead of the National Assembly speakership election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Director-General of the Femi Gbajabiamila/Ahmed Wase Campaign Organisation, Rep. Abdulmumin Jibrin, had on Wednesday threatened to sue leaders of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP).

According to Jibrin, the decision to sue CUPP leadership followed its criminal allegations against Gbajabiamila which were untrue.

Jibrin had insisted that Gbajabiamila had never been convicted nor served any court document hence he would participate in the Speakership election on June 11 in spite the campaign of calumny.

But the lawyers, under the auspices of Coalition of Public Interest Lawyers and Advocates (COPA), in a statement Friday, stressed that Gbajabiamila would have to first of all clear himself of the allegation before seeking to contest for the Speaker position.

The statement quoted Mr Pelumi Olajengbesi, leader of the group, as welcoming the lawmaker’s threat of going to court, noting that Nigerians would have the opportunity of knowing whether the allegation against him was true or false.

“We make bold to state that it is crystal clear that Femi Gbajabiamila lacks the moral mettle and sincerity to lead the House of Representatives as its Speaker.

“This is because the context of the press conference held on his behalf failed to address the substantive issue against him, and rather than express remorse, countered with baseless threats against the Nigerian people.

“COPA states categorically that it is in possession of all documents and evidences that establishes a clear case of fraudulent dishonesty and abuse of trust against Femi Gbajabiamila.

“The facts against Gbajiamila are, in fact, readily available to the public as they were established in a Court of Record with same being accessible to the public, and are attached herein for the avoidance of doubt.

“We have established correspondence with the Supreme Court of Georgia and we have documents of Disciplinary Case No. S06Y0829 and the family of the victim of Gbajiamila’s fraud, Hadyatou Barry and also Vesta with P. O. Box 23410 Nashville TN, 31202, the insurance company that paid the claim misappropriated by Femi Gbajabiamila.

“The entire defense raised in Femi Gbajabiamila’s behalf in the said press statement relied on a book whose thorough, unbiased reading ironically actually proves his guilt as the book acknowledges all the material facts establishing his guilt in fraudulently appropriating to himself money meant for the victim of a car accident,” the statement quoted Olajengbesi as saying.

The statement also quoted Olajengbesi as saying that no amount of half-truths and misdirection would stop them from getting to the root of the matter.

Why Buhari govt shut down AIT, RayPower FM – Ex-APC chieftain

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, on Friday, claimed that the suspension of the broadcast licences of the Africa Independent Television (AIT) and RayPower FM by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) was an attempt by the Buhari government to muzzle the media.

Frank, in a statement in Abuja, said the use of armed soldiers to seal the offices of the organisation located in Paduma Hills, Asokoro, was the height of impunity, tyranny and molestation against the Nigerian media which was the pastime of past military juntas in the country.

“This represents an unfortunate and lamentable oppression of the media and direct suppression of Press Freedom in the country by the General Muhammadu Buhari regime which must not be allowed to stand,” he declared.

He stated that having performed “woefully” in office in the last four years, the Buhari regime has increasingly turned predatory, exploitative, vindictive and rapacious against its citizens out of frustration.

“The ongoing pacification, intimidation and emasculation of the Nigerian Media to confer totalitarian powers on the General Muhammadu Buhari’s regime and enable it to ride roughshod over Nigerians without censure or criticism,” he lamented.

He wondered why a government that has not been able to solve five per cent of the humongous unemployed situation in the country would embark on acts that can directly kill a business concern and render all its employees jobless.

“This unfortunate action, I dare say, marks the beginning of the #NextLevel policy of intimidation and persecution of the Nigerian media by the General Buhari’s regime.

“Make no mistakes, this closure is meant to serve as a lesson to other media houses and forcefully stop them from exposing Buhari’s ineptness and cluelessness in governance to members of the public,” he stated.

Frank warned the media to brace up for more ferocious attacks by the present regime, saying that any media organisation that considers the ongoing effort to kill AIT and RayPower FM as an isolated incident should have a rethink.

“In January this year, armed soldiers invaded and occupied the offices of Media Trust Limited – Publishers of the Daily Trust Newspapers – in Maiduguri and Abuja, seized their laptops, computers, arrested and detained its top reporters and editors.

“We must not also forget the illegal detention of a Premium Times journalist, Samuel Ogundipe, for three days for publishing a story from a report on the invasion of the Senate authored by the immediate past IGP, Ibrahim Idris, to the President.”

He also recalled how the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested and illegally detained Jones Abiri – publisher of Weekly Source newspaper, based in Bayelsa state for over two years without trial.

He urged Nigerians to resist what he termed a “deliberate and systematic ploy to gag and tame the Nigerian Press by Buhari.”

He said: “Freedom of the press remains one of the indispensable indices of any genuine democratic governance. Those who trample on press freedom have invariably trampled on democracy and the inalienable rights and freedom of the people.”

“Where in the world would can you ask private broadcast outfits – without public power supply – to renew their licenses with N500million annually and yet expect them to meet their running cost, pay salaries and keep afloat in an already comatose economy?”

He stated that the action of the NBC’s boss, Mallam Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, is not only targeted at killing AIT and RayPower but to run the founder and Chairman Emeritus of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi – a chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – aground economically.

He called on Kawu to immediately reverse his directives and refrain from trading in the AIT and Raypower to stop his trial over charges of alleged fraudulent diversion of a N2.5 billion seed grant for television Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme of the Federal Government, dropped.

He also called on the military to remain professional by concentrating on their constitutional mandate which is to defend the territorial integrity of the country.

Akinwunmi Ambode: Et tu Tunji Bello?

By Victor Ojelabi

The very short title of this article, Et tu Tunj Bello is an allusion to one of the greatest political literary works in the world. Originally from the famous question, Et tu, Brute? a Latin phrase literally meaning “and you, Brutus?” or “also you, Brutus?” and often translated as “You as well, Brutus?” or “Even you, Brutus?,” is notable for its occurrence in William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, where it is spoken by the Roman dictator Julius Caesar to his friend Marcus Junius Brutus at the moment of Caesar’s assassination.

Caesar utters these words in Act III, scene 1, as he is being stabbed to death, having recognized his friend and protégé Brutus as one of the assassins. However, there is no evidence that the historical Caesar spoke these words.

Though different scenarios, former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s exit from the Lagos State house and the incidents that led to it has some similarities to that of Caesar’s. Caesar’s betrayal by Brutus was more painful than that of others because of the closeness and perhaps the position the latter occupied in ‘his’ government.

Most recently, the former Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello who served under Ambode had said the government of his former boss, Akinwunmi Ambode, failed over what he described as lack of emotional intelligence, among other issues he supposedly raised with colleagues in what was described as a farewell message not intended for public consumption outside a platform.

Bello’s assessment of the administration in which he was the third most powerful person, after the governor and the deputy governor, has been seen as a further betrayal of a Governor that has suffered other forms of betrayal from party members and officials at Alausa, part of the reasons that made him fail to get the endorsement of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), for a second term. He became the first Lagos State governor to serve one term since 1999.

Among other things, Bello was quoted by the Punch Newspaper to have said the following on the Ambode led government: “Our main drawback is our government’s inability to apply enough emotional intelligence in the administration of the state. Emotional intelligence includes interpersonal skills, interpersonal relationship, humility, respect for the well-established mores of governance, disregard for the accomplishments of others.

“…We undertook gigantic projects without the soul. We were too self-opinionated and narrow in our approach to governance. It is a big drawback which prevented the administration from returning because it was punished for its lack of inclusiveness in a democratic setting. In leadership, emotional intelligence is 70 per cent of application while individual brilliance is only 30 per cent. Successful leadership across the world in history have thrived on this fact.

“Besides and apart from lack of enough camaraderie compared to previous administrations, our cabinet has been less rigorous, less fulfilled, less engaged and less accomplished. And for the first time since the time of Governor Lateef Jakande, this cabinet departs unappreciated and disenchanted.”

No doubt many have hailed Bello’s assessment as dispassionate, objective and straight to the point. Some others have even hailed him as been brave to stand up to Ambode without fear or fervour. I have refrained from talking on this issue to observe others’ reactions to it. I must say some people have managed to surprise me all the same, hence my take on the issue. To me, Bello’s statement showed the calibre of people Ambode worked with as a governor. Like Caesar, he was surrounded by enemies who could only gather and collectively stab him in the back when the opportunity presented itself. The former SSG’s statement, coming at the end of Ambode’s tenure is a demonstration of lack of discipline and responsibility. If you have been part of a government for four years and you think such a thing is happening and you are not man enough to walk out of that government or speak out while in service, it clearly questions the man in you. Such a person lacks self-dignity and respect.

I for one see no honour there. I see the much touted objectivity and dispassionate analysis of Ambode’s government as a cowardly attempt at disparaging Ambode’s efforts in the last couple of years. As one of Ambode’s aides anonymously noted albeit, correctly, Ambode should praise him for doing that much, knowing that he was surrounded by people who from the beginning were out to sabotage him. “It was clear that so many of his aides were against him. We should commend him for staying on for four years. So many of his aides deserted him at the dying minute and these were the people who hailed him for four years.”

The aide added, “Rather than bring Ambode down, they are only disgracing themselves. If because this man wanted to be a governor twice and he did not make it, should that be enough to disgrace a man who gave you a chance to be SSG? They know that he fought tooth and nail to achieve what he achieved despite the opposition. I am one of his aides and I can tell you that the man put in his best. He does not sleep. He is on the streets at 2 am, 3 am. The new governor should watch his aides. He should not trust anyone because obviously governance in Lagos State has been bastardised.”

Perhaps, Bello is currying favour from the new Sanwolu’s government or merely carrying out a ‘suppressed or hidden vendetta’. Many are of the opinion that the Fifty eight year old Lawyer, Journalist and Publisher has not been a happy man for long as he bemoans the fate that has made Lagos House slipped off his hands, yet again. Recall that Bello oversaw the media unit of the Babajide Olushola Sanwoolu Campaign Organization BOSCO even though Comrade Sesan Daini is the face of the unit. Daini is however rumoured to be a mere tool in the hands of Bello who controls the budget and purse of the unit which ran into hundreds of millions of naira.

To add to that, it was believed that Bello, a native of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital laboured alongside other pro-democracy activists for the actualisation of the June 12 mandate, made no pretence about his desire to become Lagos State helmsman. He was among the team detailed to set up Vintage Press Limited publishers of The Nation newspaper. He was drafted in public service as the Managing Director of Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency LASSA and he later served as Commissioner for Environment in the Babatunde Raji Fashola administration before his appointment as the Secretary to State Government by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode a position he held till the end of his tenure. It will not be out of place to say that Bello’s recent statement has a direct connection to Bello’s ‘frustrated’ political ambition which is to become the Executive Governor of Lagos State.

It is rumoured that from inception of the Ambode administration, he continually bombarded Bourdillon residence of the national leader with alleged tales of “official recklessness and abuse of office” on the part of Governor Ambode, threatening to resign at a point. He complained that Ambode gave out “juicy assignments” meant for his office to the commissioners. He was so unruly that it was alleged that Tinubu had to caution him to control his emotions, promising that he will call Ambode to order. Tinubu had to wade in by directing Ambode to recall the “juicy assignments” back to Bello’s office.

Perhaps, Bello’s pain which many understood, is the fact that, not only was he bye-passed and Ambode chosen, he was also bye-passed for Babajide Sanwoolu, though he was considered but his ill health in 2014 for closed his choice back then, even as the Deputy Governor. He had a mild stroke hence he was not anointed as the Deputy Governor. Ambode in his characteristic manner refused to join issues with him and others who took it upon themselves to report the activities of his government to Tinubu, with the absolute believe that his performance will suffice at the end.

In an article by Public Affairs analyst, Tunde Okikioposu which is titled ‘Dirty couple of Lagos power house the story of the Tunji Bellos’ it was noted that currently, Bello is responsible for the negative press Governor Ambode got from The Nation newspaper. He was said to have acted in partnership with Mr. Dele Alake and Mr. Wale Edun the Chairman of Vintage Press.

It further quoted, “Unknown to many Bello was among the saboteurs of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative of the Ambode administration. He had a recycling company that bided for the recycling arm of the business, but lost to others. He used his contacts from his days as Commissioner for Environment to sabotage Visionscape Sanitation Services, instigating these firms not to cooperate with Visionscape. Bello was allotted 28 waste evacuation detail contract in Lagos; but he deployed only one truck, to cover these details, yet collects 28 truck payments from Lagos State Waste Management Agency LAWMA. He is indeed a greedy fellow.

“He had serious altercations with Fashola who accused him pointedly to stop scheming, he was among the cabal that occasioned the media blackout of Fashola’s post tenure book launch. He was stunned alongside his clique when President Muhammadu Buhari name Fashola as the federal cabinet appointee for Lagos State,” the article noted.

The new Sanwo-Olu’s administration has just started. It is only wise that the sitting Governor learns from the mistake of his predecessor. Learning from the experiences of others, sometime is far better than learning from personal experience. Like the elders are wont to say, “The cane with which the first wife was beaten is always available for the second. This advice will not be necessary if the current administration watches out for ‘Brutuses’ like Bello who will only be too glad to drive the knife at the back without an iota of remorse.

Fmr COS accuses Aare Onakakanfo of attempted assassination

The Global Forum for Human Rights and Sustainable Development has alerted the public of a clandestine attempt by the incumbent Aare Ona Kakanfo, Aare Gani Adams to instigate some members of the Oodua Peoples Congress OPC, to begin a manhunt with the aim to assassinate its Executive Director, Prince Akanni Segun Olalekan and that of his family members.

In a press statement made available to newsmen and signed by the Director of Media and Publicity of the Non-Governmental, Non Profit-making Organisation, Dr. Stephen Ayankunle, Akanni who had been on the horns of dilemma moment after his disengagement from the service of the Yoruba generalissimo, Adams, December 2018, escaped yet another assassination attempt Wednesday night in a arranged mob attack, suspected to have been masterminded by the OPC boss.

Ayankunle said Akanni, the former Chief of Staff to Aare Gani Adams and the Chairman of The Prince Genesis Concept Nig Ltd, was again attacked yesterday at the Mobil Filling Station in Gbagada, Lagos by some OPC members on the instruction of Aare Gani Adams.

Akanni was attacked yesterday evening by over ten men of the OPC when he was at Gbagada to visit a friend, Alhaji Hakeem Keshinro.

The attack, we learnt, was masterminded by two of Aare Gani Adams’ men, Musa Yusuff, popularly known as Baba Alirat and Ade Bariga, ostensibly on the instruction of the boss.

Akanni has heard about their plans over a month ago. He had already called a popular monarch in Ondo State to inform him that Aare was telling some people that ”OPC are just taking their time before necessary action would be taken against him.

Meanwhile, the monarch assured Akanni that he would step in and that nothing would happen to him.

But yesterday’s attack was so deadly as it was carefully arranged to eliminate our boss, leaving an impression that he died in a mob attack if he had not foreseen the plot and took necessary precaution by taking to his heels to escape being lynched by the rampaging daredevil mob who chased him and was shouting: ‘thief’ thief’, when it was becoming obvious they could not catch up with him.

In the ensuing melee, Akanni had to defy fast speeding vehicles to cross the highway in a blind race before he was rescued by a police patrol team who later took him back to the scene of the incident to recover his car.

Akanni worked with the National Coordinator of the OPC, Adams, for 17 years as his Personal Assistant.

Earlier in his statement, Akanni had narrated how Aare Gani Adams levelled many frivolous and baseless allegations against him. He explained that his former boss lied against him that he was revealing his information and secrets to a frontline political leader in Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as instigating his wife against him.

Akanni was further alleged to have collected a sum of two hundred millions from Asiwaju Bola Tinubu alongside a popular Lagos based media practitioner, Chief Femi Davies.

Aare also alleged that Asiwaju Tinubu bought apartments for both Akanni and Davies in Nigeria and abroad.

The National Coordinator of OPC, Aare Gani Adams was also alleged to have accused Akanni of betraying him by conniving with some people who broke away from the OPC some years ago.

But Akanni, who is also the Publisher of The Drum Online, had denied all the allegations.

In his statement, Akanni had stated that the crisis started last year December 3rd, 2018, when he was edged out unceremoniously by Aare Gani Adams over trumped up offences after a seventeen years of painstaking working relationship with him and about twenty years in the Oodua People’s Congress as an active and committed member.

Chronicling Akanni’s experience since he was ousted by Adams, Ayankunle stated:

‘’Four days after he was edged out, precisely December 7th, 2018, he went out to see a friend in Ikeja. To his surprise, he met his house being scattered and ransacked by some unknown assailants. Luckily, his son, Ayomide Akanni, has gone out to lesson as at when the assailants came around while his younger brother was not also at home. His door was forcefully opened,’’ he stated.

‘’Akanni went to report the matter at Ibafo police station area of Ogun state, where he was advised not to go back home. The three of them had to stay away from his Magboro house and travelled to Osun State to seek refuge. A day after the ordeal, Akanni started receiving strange calls with unknown numbers – threatening to get rid of him, his son and his younger brothers living with him’’.

Narrating the ordeal further, he stated: that Akanni was in Osun State for some weeks, hoping that the matter when he returned to Lagos. But on January 4th, he suspected some strange movements of people on three motorcycles trailing him. He stopped his car at a petrol filling station to properly study the situation of things and decided to drive on some minutes after.

He put a call across to his son to open the gate of his house. And as he was approaching the gate, four men in Oodua People’s Congress’ white vests accosted his car , he was dragged out of the car as they descended on him. He was rough handled, threatening to behead him if they see him moving around again. His son had opportunity of taking their pictures.

The following morning, Akanni went to report the matter again in Ibafo police station. The officer in the police station promised to get them arrested through their investigation but all their efforts proved abortive.

Some days after, they started uploading Akanni’s pictures on Facebook – writing negative and fabricated stories against him on different social media platforms while also sending threatening messages into his Facebook inbox’.

From all indications, we are now more than certain that there is a deliberate and calculated plan to smear the character of our leader, Prince Akanni over trumped up allegations as leeway for a plan for to eliminating him.

It is based on this firm believe that we are sending a strong warning out that we know where to trace any untoward thing that happen to Prince Akanni to, as we pledge that we shall stop at nothing to keep being ahead of their evil plans while exposing them the more in their chosen desperate bid to terminate a innocent soul.

We are therefore calling on all the security apparatus in Nigeria to pick interest in this case to save the precious soul of Prince Akanni Segun Olalekan. Already, we have written to some international organizations, such as United Nations, Africa Union, Europe Union, to pick interest in the matter while we also call on our traditional rulers, Yoruba leaders, and all international media organizations to take note of these dastardly acts and do the needful.

However, the Deputy coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress(OPC) in Bariga Local Council Development Area,(LCDA), Adegoke Joseph, has refuted the report as untrue and accused the former COS of crying wolf, and looking for public sympathy.

Joseph, who said he had since last Thursday traveled to Asipa, his hometown in Ife, Osun state, for Eid-Fitri celebration, by the time the incident happened, said it was a ploy by Akanni to attract public sympathy since December when he was relieved of his position as Chief of staff to Aare Gani Adams, as a result of his various atrocities both within and outside the organisation.

According to Joseph, in his reaction said:

“Though, the police is investigating the matter,there is need for him to clear the air on the issue because of the personality involved”

He explained that report reaching him about the alleged attack was that Akanni had issues with a mechanic at Gbagada Filling station, where he went to fix his damaged car, but got into trouble with the mechanic over flimsy issue.

“I was surprised by the accusation linking me to the attack. I wouldn’t want to react to the allegation against my person, but for the name of Aareonakakanfo being dragged into the issue, I need to speak up because the issue has nothing to do with Aare Gani Adams.

“From what transpired in the video he sent that went viral, there was a rift between Akanni and the mechanic at the workshop, and the guy drove him out of the workshop. The mechanic chased him out of the workshop, with nothing in his hand. So how does that relate to an attempt to one’s life? The entire story was a ploy and attempt to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it. ”

Joseph stressed that there is need for the police to investigate the matter properly, saying the video clip that went viral in the social media and sent by the former aide to the media was doctored, arguing that in this age of social media, how can an assailant recorded an assassination attempt on his telephone, if it wasn’t preempted attack. This is far from the truth”.