The Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi has said that any Nigerian who is thinking of Nigeria breaking up is wasting his time.

The governor, who spoke to news men shortly after a consultative meeting with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo in the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, said: “it has been unanimously that the unity of this country is sacrosanct, is non-negotiable and we have all agreed to work together to educate people.

“Any time you have agitation, usually there will be poverty, there will be unemployment, there will be hardship, so we should address fundamentally these areas of poverty,  unemployment and hardship.

“Nigerians are by nature a united people, nobody cares whether you are from the north, south or the east.

“There unity must be there and we cannot play with the unity of this country. The consensus has been that there must be unity.

“The message is for Nigerians to work more together and collaborate. We have more to gain when we are united. We cannot afford to break, and anybody is thinking of that he is wasting his time and we will not allow it, not in this country. All of us are unanimous about that.

“To you, the media, look for what unites us and not sensations news. If we fight everybody will lose, have you ever seen a country that fought civil war and remain the same? we don’t  want to be another Rwanda and Somalia and all these places. The government is doing its best.” [myad]

Minister of State in the ministry of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), under President Goodluck Jonathan, Ms Jumoke Akinjide, has turned in to save from emaraasing detention, a Federal House of Representatives, Aliyu Ahman Pategi who stood as surety upon which she was released.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), today, Tuesday, withdrew the detention order on Aliyu Pategi when the former minister turned herself in at the Ikoyi office of the Commission in Lagos.

The Federal lawmaker, representing Edu/Moro/Patigi Federal Constituency of Kwara State was on Friday remanded in EFCC custody by a Lagos State Magistrate Court, Igbosere for failing to produce the suspect when needed by investigators and her failure to appear before a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan for three proceedings.

Ms Jumoke, who has been evading arraignment in the Federal High Court Ibadan, presided by Justice Ayo Emmanuel, is facing a 24 count charge of Money Laundering in Suit No.FHC/1B/26C/2017.

The court had threatened to dismiss the matter if the prosecution could not produce her in court at the next adjourned date, 22nd June 2017. This prompted the prosecution to drag the surety before the Lagos State Magistrate Court to show cause why the N650 million bond will not be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Pategi, however regained his freedom as information reached the court through his counsel that Ms Akinjide had presented herself to the EFCC. This was confirmed by EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo.

“I have just confirmed from operatives of the EFCC that Oloye Jumoke Akinjide has turned herself in at the Ikoyi Office. Since it was inability of the 2nd respondent to produce her that triggered our application, we would therefore in the interest of justice, apply that the suit be struck out in view of success of 2nd respondent to secure the appearance of 1st respondent”, Oyedepo said.

Upon submissions of both parties, presiding Chief Magistrate Afolashade Botoku struck out the EFCC application.

Jumoke Akinjide, alongside Oyo State PDP Chairman Yinka Taiwo are being accused by EFCC of fraudulently receiving the sum of N650 million from former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke out of the $115 million doled out by the former minister, allegedly to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.

The said sum was alleged to be gratification received by Mrs. Alison-Madueke from various oil marketers such as Northern Belt Oil and Gas Company, Actus Integrated Investment Limited, Midwestern Oil and Gas Company Limited and Adesanya Leno Olaitab.

Based on evidence of her alleged involvement in the crime, Ms. Akinjide was invited to the EFCC office in Lagos on 9 August, 2016 and wrote a statement after which Mr. Pategi entered a bail bond of N650million to be forfeited should Ms. Akinjide jumps administrative bail.

The suspect, who presented herself to the Commission today after months of hide and seek, is currently cooling her heels in EFCC custody pursuant to arraignment on June 22. [myad]

The indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB), a group agitating for the creation of the Republic of Biafra, under the leadership of Nnamdi Kanu, has lamented what it called a mess into which Nigeria has been thrown by leaders who, it said, lacked mental capacity.

The group, in a statement, remarked that for the acting President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, to have said that Biafra agitators are violating the provisions of “the General Abdulsalami Abubakar 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, confirms the widely held view that African leaders lack the mental capacity and discipline to operate a constitutional democracy in a modern world.”

The group insisted that its members are exercising their God given and inalienable right to self determination, adding that if the corrupt ruling class in Nigeria cannot distinguish between those rights that are sacrosanct, “such as freedom of association and freedom of expression under which IPOB operates, then the entire political edifice in Nigeria is a monumental mess.

“It is very shameful that a professor of law cannot situate the Nigeria constitution within the context and meaning of the right to self determination as recognized in international law. Somebody should please draw the attention of Professor Yemi Osibanjo to the provisions of the Africa Charter on Human and Peoples Rights which Nigeria ratified and went ahead to domesticate into her local laws.

“How can a professor of law threaten jail term for those exercising their right to self determination under laws adopted and ratified by Nigeria? This confirms again the widely held view that legal practice in Nigeria is one almighty joke. We are challenging Prof. Osinbajo to show the whole world how, where and when IPOB committed this offence he alluded to since the inception of the current phase of the agitation.

“The criminal political cabal that led President Buhari astray on the issue of Biafra agitation are at it again.  By assuring Osinbajo that threatening language, mass arrests, illegal detention, killings and brutal crackdown will frighten IPOB into submission, this same group of corrupt criminals are setting up Osinbajo to fail the same way they caused Buhari’s failure.

“If Osinbajo continues to heed their evil counsel by using threatening language when addressing IPOB he will end up a failure like Buhari. Nigeria must understand how ready we are to go to prison. They should build more illegal detention facilities because we cannot stop agitating for our right to self determination until the Nigerian government accepts the need for a date for referendum on the question of Biafra.

“Professor Yemi Osibanjo should have consulted superior legal minds to advice him before coming on air to make such misleading comments. The Nigerian Constitution and its provisions cannot supersede international charters and treaties freely entered into by the Nigerian state where such treaties appear to render null and void the obnoxious provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

“Those that wrongly advised Prof. Osinbajo to embark upon the citation of the ill conceived constitutional reference to the indissolubility of the Nigeria, should refer to the landmark Nigerian Supreme Court judgement on the case of Abacha Vs. Fawehinmi. United Nations charter on the rights of indigenous people and African charter which was ratified and signed by Nigeria is still in place till today and overrides the Nigerian Constitution on the rights for the indigenous people to the self determination.

“We are warning the vocal few rented saboteurs and uneducated public commentators in Nigeria to stop the perverse insinuation that Biafra agitation is all about war. IPOB is not asking for war, rather what we are asking for is self determination and the only way to achieve that is through the internationally recognized instrument of referendum or plebiscite.” [myad]

The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has insisted before an Ikeja High Court, today, Tuesday that he remains the rightfully elected monarch of Lagos, as he resumed hearing of a suit challenging his right to the throne as Oba of Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on May 22, the last adjournment day which was a day to the 14-year anniversary of his coronation on May 23, 2003 as the Oba of Lagos, Akiolu, citing historical sources, had told the court that he is the bona fide monarch of the state.

Akiolu’s title is being challenged by Prince Adedoyin Adebiyi and Prince Rasheed Modile who are both of the Akinsemoyin Ruling House of Lagos.

It woulde be recalled that Adebiyi and Modile were candidates chosen by the Akinsemoyin Ruling House to contest the Obaship title in 2003 after the demise of Oba Adeyinka Oyekan, the then Oba of Lagos in 2003.

They lost the race to Akiolu who they alleged had no rightful claim to the throne.

Joined in the suit as respondents are the state governor and the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Prince Awobade Pearse, Others are the representative of the Ologun Kutere Ruling House and Chief J.J Junaid – Eko and the head of the traditional white cap chiefs of Lagos.

Other respondents include Prince Kola Balogun and Mr Musibau Kelani, who are the respectively the Head and Secretary of the Eshilokun Royal Family.

While being cross examined by Mr Babatunde Fashanu (SAN), Akiolu reasserted that the age-long traditional customs and traditions were followed in his selection as an oba.

Responding to claims that he was elected less than 90-days after the demise of Oyekan which is contrary to customs, Akiolu said that such a rule was non– existent.

“There have been 21 Obas of Lagos before the late Oba Oyekan, in the Lagos State selection of Obas, there is no 90-day rule.

“By the grace of God, I am a lawyer, I am duty bound to speak the truth, I have a duty to assist the court.

“The 90-day rule does not exist in the selection of Obas,”he said.

Akiolu disputed the claims of Adebiyi and Modile that he was not a descendant of Oba Ologun Kutere, a former Oba of Lagos who reigned from the late 1700s to the early 1800s.

“Oba Ologun Kutere had five children, one of which was Akiolu, Akintoye was the last child and Akiolu and Olusi were the older children.

“Akintoye was three months old when Oba Ologun Kutere died, I don’t know how old Akiolu was when his father died.

“By the grace of God, I am a direct descendant of Akiolu Ologun Kutere.”

When asked by Fashanu to state in order of seniority, the children of Oba Ologun Kutere, Akiolu retorted “I don’t know, I don’t work at the births and deaths registry.

“What is important is that Akiolu is the child of Ologun Kutere.

“There have been three members of the Akiolu family who ran for the Oba of Lagos including an Akiolu family member known as Baba Ita-Ado, I can’t remember when he ran and I cannot tell lies.

“All Lagos princes who have no curse placed on them are entitled to run for the kingship, it is however the prerogative of the king makers to choose who will be king.

“Many are called, few are chosen,” he said.

Akiolu noted that his being capped as Oba during his coronation ceremony by a representative of the Eleboro family was not illegal despite the fact that it was not presided over by Chief Eleboro, who personally caps Obas of Lagos.

“Contrary to claims that in the history of Lagos, no Oba has been capped by any person other than Chief Eleboro, Oba Adeniji Adele was capped by Chief Gafir.

“The Eleboro family capped me,”he said.

Akiolu denied holding grudges against individuals who he allegedly disliked by preventing them from succeeding him as the monarch in future.

“The claimants had wanted to meet with me somewhere to sign a document regarding the succession but I refused.

“It is not an individual position; it belongs to the past, present and future.

“All human beings should not hate each other, we are equal in the eyes of God but not equal in our love for God,”Akiolu said.

Justice Adebowale Candide-Johnson adjourned the case until July 5, 6 and 11 for continuation of trial.

NAN. [myad]

“Let us continue to counsel the misguided elements among our youth, who think that ethnic confrontation is a game and that words can be thrown around carelessly without repercussion.”

These were the advice given by the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo when he had a consultative meeting with traditional rulers and other prominent leaders from the North at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa today, Tuesday.

Osinbajo told the royal fathers that the divisive rhetoric and agitations coming out of the youths in the South East, going by the name of IPOB and the North are unjustifiable, unacceptable and often times illegal.

“The reason for these series of meetings is well known to all of us; it became necessary in the wake of a spate of divisive statements, in recent months and weeks, pitching the South-East against the North.

“We are all aware of the so-called ‘ultimatum’ issued by a group of Northern youths, asking that all Igbos living in the North vacate the region.

“Before then, there was the clamour, and it’s still on-going, by some south-eastern youths, operating as IPOB and affiliated groups, demanding secession from Nigeria at all costs and by any means.

“In all our previous engagements with Northern and South-Eastern leaders, we all came to the consensus that Nigeria is stronger and better together, and that these hate-filled and divisive rhetoric and agitations are unjustifiable, unacceptable and often times illegal. And I would like to reiterate that today.”

The acting president said that the traditional rulers had a great role to play in checking the divisive tendencies in the country, stressing that Nigeria had already seen enough violence and bloodshed during its history.

According to him, the price of Nigeria’s unity has already been paid with the blood and lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians lost.

Recalling President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to one Nigeria from his experience in the military, Osinbajo said that Buhari fought side by side with Nigerians of every tribe and faith.

The acting president said: “We must protect each other, put our lives on the line for each other; we were brothers even in the face of death. This is the type of nation we must maintain.

“As royal fathers and leaders, I think you will agree with me that we all have a role to play in countering the voices of divisiveness, and the elements who seek to take us down a bloody path.

Osinbajo assured the traditional rulers that the “government is not deaf to the legitimate concerns and frustrations in parts of the country.

“Every part of Nigeria has its own grievances. But these have to be expressed graciously and managed with mutuality rather than with scorn and disdain.

“I would like to assure you all that we are here to listen and to answer, and, very importantly, to reassure everyone that we are committed to the unity of Nigeria, and that upon the foundation of that unity we can together build a prosperous and great country.’’

He urged all Nigerians never take the nation’s diversity for granted, saying the fullness of the nation’s strength “actually lies in that diversity.

“And we must wield that diversity, not as divisive tool, but instead as a binding agent.

“As we round up these consultations tomorrow with a meeting with governors, it is clear to me that we are all resolved to by words, conduct and action, promote the unity of our dear nation.”

He assured that the government would ensure that “the entire apparatus of government is deployed to ensure that no one threatens Nigeria’s territorial integrity and that no one threatens the lives or livelihoods of any Nigerian living anywhere in the country.”

He thanked the traditional rulers for their unyielding cooperation and support, Osinbajo prayed that almighty God would continue to give them the wisdom and the strength to preside over their Kingdoms and the good health to reign long and reign well.

Among those who attended the meeting included the Sultan of Sokoto, Sultan Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III; Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi and the Etsu Nupe, AlhajiYahaya Abubakar.

Others were, Alhaji Muhammed Isah Muhammed, theEmir of Jama’a in Kaduna State; Justice Lawal Hassan, the Emir of Gummi; the Coordinator of the Northern traditional rulers council, Sakaruyi of Karo Dr. Emmanuel Kyauta, and the representative of the Emir of Katsina, Prof. Sani Lugga ,the Waziri Katsina.

The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambari; Alhaji Mustapha Agwai II, Emir of Lafia in Nasarawa State; Alhaji Kyari Umar El-Kanemi, Shehu of Bama representing Shehu of Borno and the Gbong Gwon Jos, Jacob Buba Jang, also attended the meeting.

Also at the meeting were Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar, Emir of Gombe; Ndakwo Ameh Oboni II,Attah Igala,Kogi State; Alhaji Muhammadu Ibn Abali, the Emir of Fika in Yobe;, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmed Muhammed Emir of Anka in Zamfara and Prof. James Ayatse, the Tor Tiv.

Alhaji Adamu Baba Yinusa, the Emir of Abaji, FCT; the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari; Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonaya Onu; Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazzau; National Security Adviser, Babagana Munguno, and Speaker of the House of Representatives,Yakubu Dogara also attended the meeting.

Osinbajo will tomorrow, Wednesday meet with the 36 governors of the federation as part of the on-going consultative meetings with stakeholders in the “Project Nigeria” [myad]

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), today, Tuesday, made it clear that they have not violated any law of Nigeria, and international convention in their bid to have Biafran Republic out of the present Nigeria.

The Igbo group, who reacted to the threat by the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo to deal with both the agitators for the Biafran Republic and the Northern Youths that handed Igbos in the North three-month quit notice, said that they won’t be intimidated by Osinbajo.

The IPOB’s statement, which was issued in Awka, Anambra State by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, insisted that there was no law empowering Osinbajo to jail any group in the country that are seeking for self-determination.

The group said that it is empowered by charters and conventions under international law to seek self-determination as an indigenous people even as it accused the acting President of standing the law on its head.

Saying that domesticated charters and conventions are binding on member countries, the group said “For such a statement to escape the lips of a learned fellow like Prof. Osinbajo confirms the widely held view that African leaders lack the mental capacity and discipline to operate a constitutional democracy in a modern world.

“If the corrupt ruling class in Nigeria cannot distinguish between those rights that are sacrosanct, such as freedom of association and freedom of expression under which IPOB operates, then the entire political edifice in Nigeria is a monumental mess.

“It is very shameful that a professor of law cannot situate the Nigeria constitution within the context and meaning of the right to self-determination as recognised in international law.

“Somebody should please draw the attention of Professor Yemi Osibanjo to the provisions of the Africa Charter on Human and Peoples Rights which Nigeria ratified and went ahead to domesticate into her local laws.

“How can a professor of law threaten jail term for those exercising their right to self-determination under laws adopted and ratified by Nigeria? This confirms again the widely held view that legal practice in Nigeria is one almighty joke.

“We are challenging Prof. Osinbajo to show the whole world how, where and when IPOB committed this offence he alluded to since the inception of the current phase of the agitation.

“Nigeria must understand how ready we are to go to prison. They should build more illegal detention facilities because we cannot stop agitating for our right to self-determination until the Nigerian government accepts the need for a date for referendum on the question of Biafra.

“Professor Yemi Osibanjo should have consulted superior legal minds to advise him before coming on air to make such misleading comments. The Nigerian Constitution and its provisions cannot supersede international charters and treaties freely entered into by the Nigerian state where such treaties appear to render null and void the obnoxious provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

“United Nations charter on the rights of indigenous people and African charter which was ratified and signed by Nigeria is still in place till today and overrides the Nigerian Constitution on the rights of the indigenous people to the self-determination.

“We are warning the vocal few rented saboteurs and uneducated public commentators in Nigeria to stop the perverse insinuation that Biafra agitation is all about war. IPOB is not asking for war, rather what we are asking for is self-determination and the only way to achieve that is through the internationally recognized instrument of referendum or plebiscite.” [myad]