‘Why I stole 3-day-old baby from hospital’

The suspected baby thief who was arrested by the Plateau state police command after she disguised to steal an infant from Plateau state specialists hospital Jos has said she decided to steal the baby because she is barren.

The suspect is married for seven years and could not conceive to bear a child of her own.

The suspect, Mrs. Leritshimwa Dungjil Diyal who was paraded before newsmen at the police headquarters jos on Thursday also said she had tried to also adopt a child in the past but was not successful.

“I am desperate to have a child, that was why I decided to steal one to cover myself of from shame in the society”

The Command also paraded sixteen other suspects for crimes ranging from culpable homicide, kidnapping, armed robbery and cattle rustling.

Commissioner of Police, Isaac Akinmoyede who paraded the suspects at the Police Command Jos, said they will be arraigned in court after investigation to face the wrath of the law.

On the stolen baby, Akinmoyede said, “Due to the painstaking and diligent investigation coupled with medical reports, the Police discovered that the suspect, Leritshimwa Dungjil Diyal has not given birth as she claimed.”

Akinmoyede said, “When confronted with this obvious and naked realities she broke down and confessed to the commission on the crime. The police are investigating her claim that the crime was committed by herself alone”

The Police boss said, “The principal suspect, Leritshimwa Dungjil Diyal is a 32-year- old married woman who is a student of College of Health Technology Zawan in Jos South LGA. She perfected her plans to steal the child by leveraging on her knowledge of Plateau State Specialist Hospital where she once did her attachment.

“She also faked her kidnapping story thinking it would give her strong alibi. She took the child to Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos with the advice of her mother. The case will be charged to court after investigation.”

The suspect, Leritshimwa, who spoke to Journalists agreed that she committed the crime and regrets her action.

Leritshimwa was weeping profusely, saying “Honestly I regret my action, I wish I am dead. I have been married for seven years with no child, and have sought to adopt a child, but to no avail. Honestly, my husband was not aware of the incident, I was just desperate to have a child I call my own”.

She prayed that the other two suspects in connection with the incident who are also in police custody but were not paraded as the CP said they are still under investigation, be released, as she claimed they are innocent.

However, the Police Commissioner thanked the citizens of the State for their unwavering support and at the same time appreciate the media for the positive publicity the command is enjoying from them.

Check Out Davido’s Response To The Wish Of A Woman Battling Cancer

It seems Nigerian singer and DMW boss, Davido is set to grant the wish of a woman battling cancer.

A video was recorded of the woman making a request for her children to bring the singer whom she referred to as her son stating that she will get healed once he sings for her.

In her words;

“Leave me jor, na today I begin tell you the wish? I don dey tell two of una say make una bring my pikini Davido. Because me I no want designer, I no want Ferrari. But if him sing for my bedside, the cancer go die.“

The singer who got wind of the video was touched as he reposted it on his Instagram page with the words;

“Please find this beautiful woman for me”.

See full post below:

Aisha Buhari Tweets Cryptic Message Condemning President Buhari's Appointments

Aisha Buhari, first lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has lashed out yet again at her husband's administration, this time over appointment of people into his cabinet. 

She posted a video by @Ayourb, a staunch supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari who was calling out the President for appointing those who do not believe in his vision.

He said, "We are not talking about appointment, it's about bringing on board people who do not believe in your agenda, it is different from just appointing anybody but if you have a change manager, that manager will work with a team of people who believe in the vision but when you sideline them and bring in people who fought violently against that agenda and you want them to help you drive your agenda, how will you achieve this?

Aisha M. Buhari

✔@aishambuhari

"You cannot drive an agenda with people who don't believe in that agenda...how will you achieve your purpose If you bring in people who fought against your agenda."

- @Ayourb#APCYouths #MissionandVision #BelieveinBuharisIdeology

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"So let us take it away from the fact that people are angry about appointment. We are saying people you are bringing in to work with you do not believe in your vision and your purpose and your plan."

Tweeting @aishambuhari, the first lady said, "You cannot drive an agenda with people who don't believe in that agenda...how will you achieve your purpose if you bring in people who fought against your agenda."

Atiku vs Buhari: What world leaders are expecting – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairman, Uche Secondus, on Friday said leaders of the international community were expecting the declaration of Atiku Abubakar as president of Nigeria.

The party insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari did not win the 2019 general election.

Secondus spoke at the 86th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party in Abuja.

He said: “The European Union election observation group, the American based National Democratic Institute, NDI, and International Republican Institute, IRI have confirmed the feeling of Nigerians that the election that produced President Muhammadu Buhari was marred by rampant irregularities and therefore fell below credibility standard.

“The report also lampooned the roles of security agencies during the election and noted that the performance of security operatives during the election fell far below the acceptable international best practice.

“From these reports, therefore, it’s now obvious even globally that the will of Nigerian voters freely expressed on 23 February 2019 when they came out in their numbers and voted for our candidate Atiku Abubakar was massively rigged and thwarted. This clearly is the verdict of the World who are also watching us as we proceed at the election tribunal.

“This government in all sincerity cannot take this country to their so-called next level. Maybe as witnessed in the last four years, they will take us to the next level of insecurity, hunger and hopelessness.

“The situation is precarious and it entails that all hands must be on deck to retrieve our stolen mandate and save this country. To do that, we must return to God to ask that the will of Nigerian people freely expressed on February 23, 2019, prevails.”

Recovering stolen funds better than jailing corrupt persons – Sagay

It is more important to recover stolen funds than to jail corrupt persons, a presidential adviser has said.

Itse Sagay, the chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Itse Sagay, also said it could be a waste of efforts trying to jail corrupt persons.

According to Punch newspaper, Mr Sagay, who was represented by Etannibi Alemika, a PACAC member, said this on Wednesday during a workshop organised by the committee in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Jos, Plateau state

He said after an evaluation, he discovered that jailing corrupt people in the country was “a waste of effort” because of the weakness in the judicial process.

Mr Sagay said his committee preferred to place emphasis on recovering stolen assets from people found culpable.

He said while the focus is placed on financial corruption, “the truth is that nepotism is a more serious problem.”

Mr Sagay also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his anti-corruption fight while calling on the public to alert relevant agencies about any acts of corruption.

“Corruption has primarily been fought by the Federal Government in the country. There is too much focus on financial corruption but the truth is that nepotism is a more serious problem,” he said.

“After our evaluation in the fight against corruption, we discovered that jailing people is a desperate and wasteful effort. It is going to be difficult to have convictions because of the weakness in the judicial institution. And that is why we have concentrated more on asset seizure of corrupt people as the way to go.”

NNPC: Why Buhari relieved Baru of GMD

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Thursday threw more light on why President Muhammadu Buhari relieved the present Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru of the responsibility.

The corporation in a statement that the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu issued in Abuja on Friday said that Baru is due for statutorily retire on July 7, 2019, on the ground of attainment of 60 years retirement age.

According to the statement, “A follow-up release on the new appointments by the NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, informed that the new Group Managing Director, Mr. Mele Kolo Kyari, who takes over from a current occupier of the office, Dr. Maikanti Baru, effectively on 8th July 2019, is until his new appointment the Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division of NNPC. Dr. Baru would retire statutorily on July 7, 2019.”

NNPC said that Mr. Kyari doubled, since 13th May, 2018, as Nigeria’s National Representative to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

The NNPC spokesperson said Kyari would be bringing to his new appointment more than 27 years of experience in the various value chains of the Petroleum Industry.

According to him, Roland Onoriode Ewubare who hails from the South-South region of the Country and is appointed Chief Operating Officer, Upstream, was until his new appointment Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investments and Management Services, a Corporate Services (NAPIMS) unit of the corporation headquartered in Lagos. Before his NAPIMS’ appointment, he was Managing Director of the Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL), a seismic data acquisition company of NNPC based in Benin.

The statement noted that Engr. Mustapha Yinusa Yakubu hails from North Central region of the Country and is newly appointed as Chief Operating Officer, Refining and Petrochemicals. Until his new appointment, he was the Managing Director of National Engineering and Technical Company Limited (NETCO).

Continuing, NNPC said that “Engr. Yusuf Usman hails from North East and is Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power. Until his new appointment, Engr. Usman was Senior Technical Assistant to the Group Managing Director of the corporation.

“Ms. Lawrencia Nwadiabuwa Ndupu, from South East, is newly appointed as Chief Operating Officer, Ventures. She, until her new appointment was the Group General Manager, NNPC Oil Field Services, established to provide technical services to players in the Industry.

“Mr. Umar Isa Ajiya, from North West region of the Country who holds the new position of Chief Financial Officer, was until his recent appointment, the Managing Director of Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) of NNPC, a Downstream arm of the corporation. Prior to holding the position as the Managing Director of PPMC, he was the corporation’s Group General Manager Corporate Planning and Strategy (CP&S).

“Engr. Adeyemi Adetunji, who is from the South West region of the Country, holding the new appointment of Chief Operating Officer, Downstream, was until his new appointment the Managing Director of NNPC Retail Limited, a Downstream Marketing Company of NNPC. Prior to his position as the MD of the Downstream Marketing Company, he was General Manager, Transformation Department, a Think-thank unit of the corporation.

“Mr. Farouk Garba Said who hails from North West and holds the new position of Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Services, was Group General Manager, Engineering and Technology Division of NNPC. Mr. Said would be taking over from the present occupier of the office who retires statutorily on 28th June, 2019.

“The new appointees have been directed to work with the current occupiers of the various offices by President Buhari till 7th July, 2019 to ensure a smooth transition on 8th July 2019 when their appointments would take effect.”

Ekiti to partner Federal Teaching Hospital for effective grassroots health services

The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has reiterated the commitment of his administration towards ensuring better health care service delivery at the grassroots by creating a synergy with the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti and other relevant institutions.

The Governor stated this while receiving members of management and Governing Council of the hospital on Wednesday.

He expressed his readiness to work out modalities that will enable consultants in the hospital attend to patients at the primary and basic health facilities in the state.

Fayemi commended the giant strides the management and the governing council of the hospital had taken to reposition the hospital, but appealed for more synergy with the host community through recruitment of the local people as workers in the hospital.

Governor Fayemi announced that the Ekiti State University would soon graduate its first set of medical students following the final accreditation of its College of Medicine by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, adding that his government has proposed to employ the students on graduation to fortify the staff strength of state health services.

The Governor, who congratulated the students and their parents over the accreditation, said with strategic collaboration between the government and these institutions, the administration would actualise its dream of bringing health care delivery closer to the people.

The governor said: “I cannot say I am not aware of the strides the CMD has been making since he assumed office at the Federal Teaching Hospital and we are very proud of the work he is doing. As much as we are delighted that we have this institution in Ekiti, we also want it to be of better value to our people in the state.

“I get a lot of feedback from Ido community where the teaching hospital is and one can argue that Oliver Twist will always ask for more and the community feels that the teaching hospital is not doing enough for them.  Particularly by way of recruitment of local people in the teaching hospital. So it’s an area where I want you to put your political weight.

“We are glad that the teaching hospital serves as a training institution for Afe Babalola University, but I think there is an opportunity for cross fertilisation of all of these institutions that are in this area. We are delighted that we too will be graduating our first set of medical students before the end of the year with the recent final accreditation of our medical school, Afe Babalola beat us to it but it is still an Ekiti institution. But we think that is an area we think we can have a lot of input from you.

“The area, which is of utmost importance to me personally and I know that we’ve one or two examples of this before in other federal institutions and it’s something I had cause to discuss with Prof. Isaac Adewole when he was still the Minister, the teaching hospital has an extensive number of consultants, I don’t want to say they are under-utilized, so what I want to plead with you as the CMD and the Board is for us to put them to some use within our community because they can be of assistance to us, we have heavy focus on primary health, I know that their level is higher than that, we are talking about level where Medical Officers can operate and support us but I would want them to see it more as a community service than a duty on their part when we require the need for their expertise, their contribution at the local level.

“We have like 300 Primary Health Centres. We’ve just chosen about 177 of them for our basic health care provision, and we believe that our consultants at the teaching hospital can just put in a little bit of time when they are not busy in the teaching hospital.

“We can work out the structure that will give them the opportunity, maybe we need to discuss with their MD or discuss with the board or you require a formal engagement from us on this. It’s an area I think we should look at because we cannot have these knowledgeable people in a state and yet we do not have enough of it is benefits, its incongruous in my view.”

Earlier, the Chairman of the Governing Board of the institution, Hon. Abubakar Sukababa, solicited the support of the state government to enable it continue to deliver quality health services to the people.

Sukababa said the hospital is in dare need of a well-equipped ambulance and other operational vehicles as well as support for the construction of the road network in the hospital.
Also speaking at the event, the Chief Medical Director of the Institution, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, said the hospital would collaborate with sister institutions in the state to ensure effective and adequate health service delivery to the people.

Insecurity: Nigerian governors meet in Abuja

Members of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum are meeting in Abuja now with the Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi presiding. It is the first meeting of the governors after the 2019 elections.

Issues of security are expected to dominate discussions.

The inaugural meeting is coming ahead of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for Thursday.

The meeting is expected to discuss and arrived at an agreement on issues to be discussed at the first NEC meeting in the new political dispensation.

NEC, which consist of the 36 Governors, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria is the highest economic advisory body in the land and is presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, The Nation reports.

The meeting commenced at exactly 8.00pm with 22 states represented.

At the meeting were governors of Lagos, Borno, Osun, Kano, Sokoto, Ekiti, Ondo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kaduna, Kogi, Plateau, Ebonyi, Kastina (D), Gombe, Niger, Bayelsa, Oyo, Zamfara (D), Enugu (D), Cross Rivers (D), Imo (D), Nasarawa, Ogun.

The meeting, according to the agenda, will be reviewing Feedback on Governors’ Meeting with Mr. President on Security Review of NEC .

The meeting will also take update on NFIU Guidelines on Local Government Funds.

Other issues listed for discussion include the planned one day Workshop on World Bank’s Engagement with States; one day IGR Retreat for Governors and Chairmen of State Boards of Internal Revenue.

There will also be an update on Governors Meeting with Leadership of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, update on PHCOUR and other health related matters.

The meeting will also take briefing from the Director-General of the forum.

There will also be a presentation of Book of State on Sub-national Investment Promotion by Ms. Yewande Sadiku, Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC).

Fayemi is expected to also unveil his agenda to his colleagues.

HOW MIKE IGINI-led INEC IN AKWAIBOM CONSPIRED AGAINST AKPABIO

Mike Igini-led INEC in Akwa Ibom State in its display of voters register at the Tribunal today claimed that Senator Akpabio never voted, because the column of his name was not ticked as sign of accreditation.

So Akpabio never voted? Here are the pictures below to proof that Senator Akpabio and his wife Unoma voted during the presidential and National Assembly Elections.

DPR, NSCDC arrest five illegal cooking gas dealers

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in conjunction with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Wednesday arrested five illegal dealers of the Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) also known as cooking gas in Abuja.

The suspects, however, refused to reveal their names to the security agents and journalists as the DPR went out to rid the FCT and environs of the illegal activities of LPG (cooking gas) retailers and skid operators.

The team went to Galadimawa, Lokogoma axis particularly Sunny Vale estate and other suburbs within the city raised the alarm on sighting the precarious situation in which the dealers were vending the cooking gas without any safety measure.

Speaking, the DPR Head of Gas Engr. Umar Gwandu said at an illegal outlet in Galadimawa during the inspection: “This place can easily explode if there is any spark, even with a very tiny leakage, once there is a spark (this place is gone). We have come here severally as you can see from our seal. These people are not ready to comply. If there is any spark here this place can go up in flames in seconds. Look at the immediate environment with gas.”

He said basic/standard minimum requirements like fire extinguishers/detectors, water sprinkler, temperature gauge, pressure and volume gauge among others were not present in other illegal facilities.

The Zonal Operations Controller DPR Abuja zonal office Engr. Buba Abubakar said in an interview after the inspection.

“We visited about 16 retail plants. We were able to seal about 14 that were operating illegally.

The reason we went out today was to make sure everybody has permit to operate. If you don’t have permit you should come to the office and with the necessary requirements, you will get your permit. We are looking at the safety of the people, their lives and property. By the time you come to the office we will be able to tell you the things you need to have a retail outlet.

But the way it is now, somebody just wakes up one day and before you know it, he has a retail outlet which is not acceptable. We are here to help every Nigerian. If you really want to have a retail outlet or LPG plant, you come to the office, we will tell you all the necessary requirement in terms of documentation and safety and by the time you get these things done, we will process them for you before you are allowed to run a legal outlet.

When asked what the requirements are and how much is required to set up, he said:

“I can’t tell you how much is required to set up but the requirements are that you have to have your company papers, the site must meet our requirement. You can’t go to a government land and mount your vessel there and start selling. We will tell you the size of the land, measurement from vessel to the fence and whether it is residential, school or mosque.”

When asked whether the clampdown was in line with the federal government’s policy to encourage LPG penetration, he said: “Yes, we want this gas to be everywhere but let it be done legally. And in line with the federal government’s ease of doing business, that’s why we tell them to come to the office, we are ready to assist any marketer that wants to establish any facility for LPG or retail outlet to assist and make sure they get their permit very fast.

When asked what would happen to the people arrested, he said “We are going to prosecute them. The NSCDC will do that.”

When asked how they (illegal operators get their products), he said “They have gas marketers that they get these things from. That is why we sensitise even the major players that they should not just be selling gas to anyhow retailer because he has to present his permit before you sell gas because gas is very volatile than PMS.”

FG vs Shell: What happened in Court on Wednesday

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday adjourned until September 30 for continuation of trial in a debt recovery suit by the Federal Government against Shell Western Supply & Trading Ltd.

In the suit numbered FHC/L/CS/336/16 and filed by its counsel, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu SAN, the government seeks to recover $406.7 million allegedly deprived it through non-declaration or under-declaration in crude oil shipment.

The suit pending before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun has as defendants, Shell Petroleum Development Company Nig. Ltd. and its subsidiary, Shell Western Supply & Trading Ltd.

When the case was called on Wednesday, Mr Ituah Imahnze, appearing for the plaintiff, reminded the court that the case was for continuation of trial.

Olatoregun, however, noted that the case which started in 2016 had taken too long.

She blamed the situation on counsel.

She said she would adjourn the case until Sept. 30, adding that it would be the only case before the court on that day.

In the suit, the Federal Government is claiming 406.7 million dollars from the defendants, representing shortfall of money they paid into the Federal Government’s account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

The money was said to be for crude oil lifted in 2013 and 2014.

In a supporting affidavit, the government accused the Anglo-Dutch company of not declaring or under-declaring crude oil shipments during the period.

It said that the suit followed a forensic analysis of bills of laden and shipping documents.

The government alleged that Shell cheated the country of deserved revenue.

According to the plaintiff, the consortium of experts tracked the global movements of the country’s hydro-carbons, including crude oil and gas.

It said that the experts identified the companies engaged in the practices that led to missing revenues from crude oil and gas export to different parts of the world.

The government said that the analysis also revealed discrepancies in the export records from Nigeria with the import records at U.S. ports.

The plaintiff averred that the undeclared shipments between January 2013 and December 2014 brought the total value of the entire shortfall to 406.75 million dollars.

It claimed that the defendants failed to respond to its letter through its legal representative, seeking clarification regarding the discrepancies.

The government, therefore, seeks a court order to compel the two companies to pay 406.7 million dollars, being total value of alleged missing revenue and interest payable at 21 per cent per annum.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the government has also taken similar actions against Chevron and Total.

It asked for a total of $12.7 billion over alleged non-declaration of 57 million barrels of crude shipped to the U.S. between 2011 and 2014.

The oil companies are among 15 oil majors targeted by the government for the recovery of over $17 billion in deprived revenue.

EFCC arrests seven ‘Yahoo boys’ in Ilorin

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ilorin Zonal Office, on Tuesday arrested seven persons for offences bordering on internet fraud and other fraud-related crimes.

The first four among the suspects, namely: Kayode Obanewo a.k.a Samantha James, Muhammed Ademola a.ka Catherine Smith, Yusuf Rasheed a.k.a Rebecca Moore and Apata Oluwakayode a.k.a Hanna Cole, were arrested on June 11, 2019 at Mandate Estate Phase 2, behind Irewolede area of Ilorin following intelligence reports.

Obanewo, during interrogation from officers of the Commission, confessed to engaging in ‘Yahoo’.

According to him, “I was arrested at Mandate Estate Phase 2, but before the day of my arrest, I met a friend who introduced me to internet fraud. He gave me a laptop which was the reason behind my arrest. I saw one email address on the laptop and started using it to chat with some people at night when I come back from work.”

The Commission also arrested three other persons for similar offences in Agric Estate, Ilorin.

They are: Olorunwa Okikiola, Olurunfemi Olamide, and Ogungbemi Sogo.

Items recovered from the suspects include: laptops, phones and sim cards of different network providers among others.

The anti-graft agency stated that the suspects will soon be charged to court.

BREAKING: Otedola confirms sale of Forte Oil

Billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, has announced the sale of Forte Oil Plc.

Otedola, who was chairman of the oil firm, had announced plans to sell off his 75 per cent stake in the company to “maximise the opportunities in refining”.

In a message he posted on Instagram on Wednesday, he confirmed that the process is now complete.

According to Otedola, he is now prepared to focus on his investment in the power sector.

“A few years ago, my team and I embarked on an arduous task of transforming a moribund petroleum marketing business, African Petroleum Plc (formerly British Petroleum) into Forte Oil Plc; a leading integrated solutions provider with solid footprints in downstream petroleum marketing, Upstream Services and Power Generation and one in which we built intrinsic value to the benefits of our shareholders.

“In line with my principle of business focus, we have divested from our marketing and upstream businesses and shall from now on focus and consolidate on the gains of our power generation business, Geregu Power Plc. We wish our successors the very best and urge them to build on our legacies which have been established since 1964,” he wrote.

Femi Kuti to perform at the African Cup of Nations opening ceremony on Friday

Femi Anikulapo-Kuti, Nigeria’s Afrobeat singer, will alongside Hakim and Dobet Gnahoré, Egyptian and Ivorian stars, perform at the African Cup of Nations opening ceremony on Friday.

The three African music icons will sing “Metgamaeen” (We Are Together) produced by Synergy together on stage in Cairo, Egypt.

The son of late Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti will sing the song in English, Hakim in Arabic and Gnahore in French.

This was made known by the African Football Community in a tweet via its  official handle: “The AFCON Organizing Committee has chosen three international singers to perform the #AFCON2019 official song in the opening ceremony :
  “Hakim” (Arabic)
  “Femi Kuti” (English)
  “Dobet Gnahoré” (French)
#AFC

NASS: Court told to withdraw Gbajabiamila’s speakership, order arrest of lawmaker

The Speakership position of Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has come under intense threat as members of Global Integrity Crusade Network, GICN under the auspices of Coalition of Civil Society Organization for Justice and Equity, CCSO-JE, have asked the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to order the Independent National Electoral Commission to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Gbajabiamila as member representing Surulere I Federal Constituency of Lagos State.

Incorporated Trustees of the Network, in a public interest suit, sought for Gbajabiamila’s seat in the House of Representative to be declared vacant on account of him purportedly not being qualified to contest in the 2019 election, having allegedly lied under oath for purposes of contesting the 2011 election that he was not in the last ten years before then convicted and sentenced for an offence involving dishonesty.

This group stated that Gbajabiamila’s claim flies in the face of the judgment of the Supreme Court of the State of Georgia, USA led by Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears showing that he was truly convicted on 26th February, 2007 for fraud involving the sum of $25,000 which the Speaker was said to have collected as personal injury claims from an insurance company due to one Ms. Hadyatou Barry but failed to disburse to her in the year 2003 in USA, where he was practising as an attorney.

In its Originating Summons filed pursuant to Order 3 Rules 6, 7 and 9 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, GICN also asked the court to compel the Nigeria Police Force to arrest and prosecute Gbajabiamila for the offence of perjury having allegedly lied under oath in EXHIBIT GICN 10, which he submitted to INEC for purposes of contesting the 2011 General Elections that he was not in the last ten years before then convicted and sentenced for an offence involving dishonesty.

Aside Gbajabiamila, who is the first defendant in the suit, other defendants are the House of Representatives, Clerk to the National Assembly, the All Progressives Congress, APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Nigeria Police Force, who are the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth respondents, respectively.

Meanwhile, the case which came up for mention on Monday, 17th June, 2019 before Honourable Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court 6, saw Edward Omaga, Esq. leading Abiodun Sodiq Babalola, Esq. and Joseph Chinelo Nwaegbu, Esq. announcing appearance for the Plaintiff who was represented in court by their Secretary, Board of Trustees, John Obor, Esq.

When Omaga sought to move Motion Exparte seeking abridgement of time, amongst other reliefs, one Barr. Adedeji with Barr. Ope Adeyemi from Lagos entered appearance for Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila being the 1st Defendant. They applied to receive service of all the originating processes on his behalf, thus necessitating withdrawal of Prayer 2 on the motion paper seeking to serve Hon. Gbajabiamila by substituted means vide Leadership and Daily Trust newspapers. Meanwhile, as a way of erring on the side of surplusage the Plaintiff has mobilized bailiff of court to serve all parties with both the originating processes and Enrolled Order for abridgement of time.

The Court, whilst adjourning the suit to Monday, 1st July, 2019 for further mention, ordered the Plaintiff to serve parties within seven days to enable them to respond within the abridged period of fourteen days instead of the thirty days allowed by the rules.