NJC forms fresh panel over Onnoghen, Mohammed

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has constituted a new investigative panel to further deliberate on the preliminary assessment of an earlier panel in the petitions against the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen and the acting CJN, Justice Tanko Mohammed.

The NJC yesterday received the recommendation of the initial panel constituted to look into the responses of Justice Onnoghen and Mohammed. It, however, decided to probe further into the allegations against the two most senior justices.

In a statement signed by the Director of Information, Soji Oye, the NJC agreed that “the petitions were worthy of further investigation and should not be terminated under Rule 17 of the Judicial Discipline Regulations of the Council.”

“Consequently, the council constituted a five-member Investigation Committee pursuant to Rule 20 (1) of the Judicial Discipline Regulations under the Chairmanship of Hon. Mr. Justice S. A. Akintan, CON, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”

The NJC also said it received a fresh petition from the All Peoples Party (APP) against Justice Mohammed, and directed him to reply within seven working days.

“Council directed the Investigation Committee to work expeditiously, determine all the petitions and responses   and report to Council for a final decision,” the statement read.

Appeal court adjourns Onnoghen’s appeal

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has again adjourned the appeals filed by the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen to February 20 for hearing.

A three-member panel of justices presided by Justice Abdul Aboki adjourned the matter to enable a new counsel to handle the matter on behalf of the Federal Government.

The matter, which came up yesterday after it was adjourned for lack of quorum on Tuesday, could not proceed as the counsel from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Oyin Koleoso informed the court that all matters relating to the CJN are now being handled by Aliyu Umar (SAN), who is also prosecuting the criminal trial at the CCT.

But counsel to Justice Onnoghen, Chris Uche (SAN) opposed the adjournment, arguing that Koleoso was the one who prepared the brief for the Federal Government. He added that the CCT is a lower court to the Court of Appeal.

Elections: More trouble for Akeredolu, Ondo APC as AA dumps Governor’s anointed candidates for PDP

With about 48 hours to Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly’s elections, Action Alliance, AA, has directed its members across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State to shun its candidates and vote for candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.

In a statement signed by the South West National Vice Chairman of the party, Hon. Joshua Adewole, as well as the party’s chairman in the state, Engr. Williams Ogunleye, the decision became expedient following the adoption of the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar by the national body of AA.

Recall that the Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu had reportedly been discreetly urging his followers to campaign for the Ondo North as well as Ondo South Senatorial candidates of the AA, Tunji Abayomi and Olatunji Felder after the duo who were projected as the governor’s anointed candidates failed to secure the senatorial tickets following the indirect and direct primary conundrum of the Ondo chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, primary.

According to the statement, the party also stated that AA is not having any candidate in the state as regards the 2019 general elections, emphasising that no primaries were held in the state.

The statement reads: “It has become necessary and expedient to bring to public awareness that we the leadership of action alliance in Ondo state, after weighing all options, had decided to reject all the claimants of the AA tickets across Ondo State.

“We hereby resolve to throw our support for all the candidates of the PDP across the 18 LGAs of Ondo state.

“Our decision is in tandem with the directive of the national chairman of our party, Barr Kenneth Udeze, who, on behalf of the National executive council of our AA endorsed the candidacy of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and other candidates of the PDP across Nigeria.

“Besides this directive, it must be pointed out that the AA in Ondo State did not conduct any party primary election and as such did not field any candidates across the state.

“This position is further attested with the fact that INEC never observed any primary election of AA as required by law.

“We hereby dissociate ourselves as a political party with integrity which believes in the doctrine of leadership-follwership , from all the claimants and purported candidates of our party (AA) in Ondo state.

“We wish to accordingly direct all our teeming members and supporters across the state to vote all the candidates of the PDP ahead of Saturday election,” the statement read.

Buhari engages in caricature anti-corruption fight, Gbenga Daniel

The former governor of Ogun State and Director General, Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCO), Otunba Gbenga Daniel stated that the present administration under the leadership of Mohammadu Buhari has no regard for human lives.

He made this known in his State of the Nation address when he said that '…we have witnessed an unimaginable level of blatant disregard for the wellbeing of Nigerians by a government that places more emphasis on a caricature anti-corruption war that continues to enrich friends and families of those in the Presidency without recourse to the pains of the people'.

He said;

Few hours ago, insurgents believed to be members of the terrorist organization, Boko Haram, attacked the convoy of the Governor of Borno State and my very good friend, Alhaji Kashim Shettima. Alhaji Shettima is just one of the thousands across the country whose lives have been threatened and in most cases taken away by terrorists who the federal government boldly said have been defeated few months ago. Children, wives, fathers, mothers, infants and several loved ones have had their lives cut short by bandits in the North Western part of the country while our brothers and sisters in the middle belt continue the unceremonious burial of family members, loved ones, children and parents in shallow graves as a result of the unchecked bloodthirst of herdsmen across the region. This is the state of Nigeria today!

In the last four years, we have witnessed an unimaginable level of blatant disregard for the wellbeing of Nigerians by a government that places more emphasis on a caricature anti-corruption war that continues to enrich friends and families of those in the Presidency without recourse to the pains of the people. In the full glare of us all we witnessed as cronies and friends of the President caught red handed in illicit funds were patted in the back while individuals in the opposition party and even independent institutions were clamped down with rigour and alacrity alien to this government.

According to the release, Daniel also noted with bitterness how an average Nigerian family lives in penury due to policy summersault and impractical Buharinomic, which has been responsible for flight in foreign investment.

Our nation today is one that has made it nearly impossible for an average Nigerian to feed a simple family of five. Workers and civil servants toil day and night for salaries and wages that can not afford them and their families a three square meal. The prices of food items in the market have skyrocketed to an unimaginable state while basic bills such as school fees, house rents among others have become a luxury affordable easily only to those who cut corners.

Fellow countrymen and women, I feel this pain as well. Not just as a Nigerian but also as a businessman with hundreds of people on my salary schedule. I have watched many breakdown as a result of these hardship and I have seen many businesses and corporate organizations close shops as a result of bad government policies.
And this is why this election is not about political parties or just an individual. It is about us as a people. Nigerians who live in Nigeria and are the direct victims of this lack of direction and knowledge of how to run the country by those in power today.

OGD, as he is fondly called, therefore encouraged Nigerians to vote out a government responsible for more deaths in the history of this country aside from war and return the country to normalcy.

Make no mistake, Nigeria can not continue on this path for another four years. Nigeria can not survive another four years of this misdirection and maladministration.
To those who are still unclear of the choices before us. It is a choice between a man who has created thousands of Jobs, employed over 50,000 across the country and another man whose only source of job creation is rearing of 150 cattle. We need the former to solve our reoccurring unemployment problem across the country and the latter to go back home and face his flocks.

He, however, advised that as Nigerians head to the polls, they should bear in mind to shun ethnicity, religion bias and regional difference as for a true Nigeria of our dreams needed those factors deleted from our subconsciousness.

It is a choice between a detribalized Nigerian who doesn't see ethnic, religion or regional difference but Nigerian. A man who married across all the regions of the country, love and treat all equally and a man who sees us as a nation of 95% and 5%. A man who sees us as a divided nation that must be conquered with divide and rule. Again, we need the former to repair our fragile unity and focus us all on the path of collective development.
It is a choice between an healthy and sound minded Nigerian who has the capacity to carry out the duties of the office of the President of the Federal Republic without annexation of same to some group of individuals named cabals and a man who is better left to take a long rest and attend properly to his health concern without holding us all to ransom and having those who are neither elected or appointed dictate and share the duties of the office of the President without accountability.

It is a choice between a man who understands what is required for this country to grow with a sound business mind and technological exposure needed to refocus our nation to the emerging innovations and new age generation not just for us but our children and grand children. A digital system devoid of analog mentality.

Otunba Gbenga Daniel then appealed that for a better Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is the only candidate that has what it takes to truly make Nigeria work again among all contestants for the 2019 presidency.

Atiku Abubakar is the choice before us. He is our ticket to development and advancement. He is our hope to jobs, good healthcare, better security and most importantly, good life.Fellow Nigerians, I enjoin you to save Nigeria from the disaster of another four years of this administration. I implore you to answer this clarion call and help end the looming catastrophe.

Remember, all that is needed for evil to prevail is for good men and women to do nothing. All that is needed for this looming doom to occur is for us to sit down and refuse to make the right choice.

The former Ogun State governor finally advised the people to go out and vote his party, Peoples Democratic Party, stand by their votes for the future of the country to be truly secured.

EFCC arraigns suspected fraudster in Yobe

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Tuesday arraigned one Mohammed Baba Isah before Justice Ibrahim Jauro of court 3, Yobe state High Court on a three-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation and forgery.

The offences are contrary to and punishable under penal code laws of the state.

On January 18, 2019, EFCC had received a petition against the accused person, Mohammed Baba Isah dated January 18, 2017, alleging that the accused defrauded what the court termed as nominal complaint the sum of about N16.5 million through a forged documents and stamp of some financial institutions in the state.

Investigation conducted into the case revealed a prima facie evidence that the accused person was the manager of the Nominal Complainant’s company named MBC Synergy Concept Limited into which N25 million was invested for the purpose of doing business in telecommunication.

After hearing the three count charge read before him and the court by the bailiff, the defended pleaded guilty that sometimes in 2017, he converted to his personal use the sum of N16. 463 million being proceeds from the N25 million invested in the account of the MBC Synergy Concept Limited for the purpose of telecommunication business.

The accused person, Mohammed Baba Isah, according to the investigation, was said to be able to do that through forged documents and stamp of First Bank Plc and Access Bank Plc in Damaturu, the Yobe state capital.

The court sitting presided over by Justice Ibrahim Jauro made it clear to the defendant that his offences are contrary to and punishable under section 308 and 309 as well as 368 of the penal code law of Yobe state.

The prosecution counsel, Khalid Sanusi said “the accused will be sentenced having pleaded guilty of the offences”. However, that of the defendant declined comment.

The sitting was adjourned to the 19th February, 2019 for the passage of judgement, while the accused person asked to refund the money.

Buhari, Atiku, others sign second 2019 National Peace Accord

President Muhammadu Buhari and the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar on Wednesday joined other candidates to sign the second 2019 National Peace Accord in Abuja.

The Presidential election comes up on Saturday 16th of February, 2019.

Buhari and Atiku urged for free, fair and non-violent elections.

While stressing that the Independent National Electoral Commission and the security agencies have given their words in readiness to conduct free and fair elections, he urged the youths not to allow themselves to be used for violence.

Noting that there is fear towards the election just like any other elections, he urged Nigerians to pray for Nigeria as it goes into the elections.

The President also said that the only real party is Nigeria and that elections are only important to the extent to which they make Nigeria strong.

Atiku again appealed to INEC and the security agencies to ensure free, fair elections.

He recalled the words of former President Goodluck Jonathan where he said that his ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian.

Atiku said that the Nigerian democracy should emerge stronger than the 2015 general elections that was adjudged the freest and fairest in the country.

The former Vice President specifically appealed to President Buhari for everyone who casts his or her vote to have confidence that the votes will count.

“We must abide by the will of the people.” he stated

FG says it has uncovered plans by PDP to cause chaos ahead of elections

The Federal Government has said that it has uncovered plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to cause chaos ahead of the elections.

According to Vanguard, this was made known by the minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, in Abuja.

According to the minister, the PDP is planning to hold a world press conference where it will give false narratives about the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Buhari.

He also said that another conference will be held on Thursday, February 14, 2019, to accused the APC of working with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the polls.

”As electioneering campaign winds down, the PDP has realised that it cannot possibly win a free, fair and credible polls. It has thus resorted to engaging in red herring, hauling insults and abuses at federal government and ruling party officials and making outlandish allegations with a view to creating a sense of panic and crisis.

 ”The truth is that President Muhammadu Buhari, a man respected globally for his integrity, has continuously assured that the elections will be free, fair, credible and peaceful. He has warmly welcomed observers, both local and foreign., because he has nothing to hide, and because he is sure that the achievements of his Administration will win him re-election.

 ”We are therefore calling on all Nigerians and the international community to disregard any attempt to scuttle or discredit the polls. We urge observers to keep an open mind. There is no cause for alarm, except in the warped imagination of the PDP, which has entered the panic mode and is already ruing the loss of another general election even before it has been held,”Mohammed added.

PDP sues Buhari

Meanwhile, the PDP has filed a suit against Buhari at the Federal High Court in Abuja for allowing two Governors from Niger Republic attend his presidential rally in Kano state.

The party also accused the APC of sponsoring the burning of INEC offices across the country.

WE CAN HAVE A VIOLENCE FREE ELECTION WITH THE YOUTHS LEADING THE BAND WAGON, Frank “Papas” Okamigbo.

Mr. Frank Okamigbo, the CEO, Papas Group has joined his voice to the voices of the noble men and women of the great nation calling for a peaceful, free, fair and a violence free election.

Speaking with newsmen in his office, the UN Youth Ambassador for Peace expressed an immeasurable concern on how deep violence has eaten into the electoral process of this nation and youths being in the center of these violence breaks his heart more. He further said “We cannot all belong to the same political parties just as we cannot all come from the same families and it is very normal if we have different preferences of political candidates but we don’t have to kill ourselves”.

On the issues of youths participation in the electoral processes and being the tools for election violence he said, “Young people are the leaders of today and constitute a majority of voters in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large. It will be very wrong to think of preventing them from participating in the election process but we must encourage and guide them to channel their raw energy towards significant and productive endeavors rather than ungodly activities. “it is a sad irony that young people who should have the most incentives to envision the long term and interest in the future are the mostly likely to be manipulated to sacrifices their own long term interests and sometimes their live for the sake of the older generation in power.” He then added.

Frank who is a successful businessman and a Master’s Degree holder in Philosophy from the University of Lagos advised the different political candidate contesting for electoral seats to allow the supremacy of development ideals, peace, love and unity be the focus and cease from endangering and destroying the bright and brilliant future of this great nation by reducing our youths to mere political thugs and tools of vendetta against their political opponents and enemies.

He then admonished the general public to go get their permanent voters card (PVC), come out on the day of the elections and vote wisely to save the future of our children, our youth and the future of our beloved nation, Nigeria.