The Court of Appeal sitting in Benin Edo State has affirmed a seven year jail term for Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Temple Nwankwoala without option of fine secured by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission(ICPC) for demanding and receiving bribe.
DSP Temple was, in January 2012, convicted of demanding for N1million and receiving N500,000 from a suspect in a case he was investigating when he was serving in the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in Benin. The act was in violation of Sections 19 and 23 of the ICPC Act 2000 which earned Nwankwoala seven years imprisonment with hard labour. Dissatisfied with the judgment, the police officer filed an appeal through his counsel, Ken Mozia (SAN), seeking to determine whether the case against him was proved beyond reasonable doubt and whether the ICPC Act under which he was tried is a valid law. In the lead judgment delivered by Justice H A Barka on Monday, the Appeal Court resolved both issues in favour of the respondent ICPC and ordered the appellant to complete his sentence. The other two judges on the appeal Court panel, Justice E A Ogakwu and Justice I M Saulawa concurred with the lead Judgement. [myad]
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is broke and is being forced to reduce the fee of coach Stephen Keshi from five million to three million in the new deal which has been prepared by the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF.
“The new contract that has been finalized by the Nigeria Football Federation will see Keshi earn far less than he received in his first contract,” a top source disclosed, admitting: “the federation is broke and would not want to promise what it cannot pay.”
Initial media reports had suggested that Keshi could get a pay rise and earn seven million Naira a month with the coach himself insisting he deserves to be paid a lot more.
Keshi’s initial three-year contract ran out after he led the Super Eagles to the Round of 16 at last year’s World Cup in Brazil and he has since been working without a contract.
NFF president Amaju Pinnick told reporters he expects Keshi to resume work as Eagles coach this week after he would have agreed to the new contract.
“We have concluded on the contract of Keshi and if he is fine with it, he would begin work as early as Wednesday,” declared Pinnick.
Keshi has also been linked with the Burkina Faso top coaching post after Belgian Paul Put was fired following a disappointing showing by the Stallions at the recent AFCON in Equatorial Guinea. [myad]
Gunmen have reportedly kidnapped an American woman who is a missionary at the Free Methodist Church in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital. The kidnappers have already put forward, the demand for $300,000 ransom from the authority.
The woman, whose name is being withheld for her safety at the request of the State Department, was working as a financial administrator for a religious academy in Kogi state.
The Kogi state commissioner of police, Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi confirmed that five gunmen entered the Hope Academy compound where she was staying, firied warning shots before putting her in a vehicle.
He also confirmed that the gunmen are “a criminal gang, not affiliated with any terrorist plan or group. They have requested a ransom payment this afternoon, of 60 million Nigerian naira.”
The amount is equivalent to about $300,000.
The police have not begun ransom negotiations, even as officials of the Free Methodist Church declined to comment on whether it would pay the amount for her release.
There are strong indications that the FBI and the U.S. Embassy have become involved in the search for the hostage.
“The welfare of U.S. citizens is one of the department’s highest priorities,” a U.S. State Department spokesman said, adding: “in cases where U.S. citizens are confirmed missing, the U.S. Embassy works closely with those involved, supporting local authorities in their search efforts and providing all appropriate consular assistance.”
The Kogi state police boss said that local authorities believe the missionary is still in Kogi and being held in a “largely forested area.”
They are seeking assistance from the Nigerian military in their investigation. [myad]
President Goodluck Jonathan has condemned the reversion by Boko Haram to the callous bombing of soft targets in parts of Nigeria even as he gave assurance that the days of Boko Haram will soon come to pass. The President hinged his renewed confidence for the total defeat of the sect on what he called, “the ongoing rapid recovery by gallant Nigerian troops and their multinational allies of areas formerly controlled by the sect.” In a statement by special adviser on media and publicity to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President further assured Nigerians and the people of the North-Eastern states that “the days of mourning victims of incessant terrorist attacks in the country will soon be over as the tide has now definitely turned against Boko Haram.” He is sure that “the gallant, courageous and patriotic officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces, supported with new platforms, equipment and logistics provided by the Federal Government will carry the ongoing operations against the terrorists through to a successful conclusion in the shortest possible time.” Jonathan stressed that his administration will continue to take all necessary action to guarantee the success of ongoing military operations against the terrorist group and drastically reduce its ability to take and hold territory or recruit, groom and brainwash young persons to undertake suicide bombing attacks on soft targets. The President commiserated with all families who have lost loved ones in the bombings which continued today with attacks on Kano and Potiskum. The President said that he shared the grief of all the bereaved families and that he is deeply saddened by the continued loss of many innocent lives at the hands of misguided and desperate fanatics who are now feeling the heat of the intense counter –insurgency operation by the Nigerian Armed Forces. [myad]
Since General Muhammadu Buhari emerged as Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), two agents of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Femi Fani-Kayode and Governor Ayodele Fayose have particularly been out in the open. They have been on duty, trying to pull him, as a person, down, which, by the African standard, can be accepted as the dirty part of politicking. Indeed, in the African parlance, the easiest way to hear about the imagined or cooked-up bad deeds of your ancestors from those who did not even know where you were born, is for you to join politics. It is also in politics that a half-sane young man would insult a wise old man, old enough to be his father. And, like in war, all such things are regarded, to some extent, as fair! It all began when the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) suddenly perceived the danger which the popularity of General Buhari could pose to its bloated ego against the background of the 2015 general elections. The party sent its agents, including the two Whitllow-infected mouthed ones, to dig into Buhari’s past records. They went into the archive and found that, in matters of integrity, honesty, incorruptibility, General Buhari is unbeatable. They began to search hard for at least, something to use in discrediting him. That was when one of the two agents: the Director of media and publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Fani-Kayode came up with a contrived certificate saga: the matter that did not crop up in the three previous attempts the General made to unseat, through ballot, the PDP Presidents, starting from the then President Olusegun Obasanjo. Fani-Kayode madly pursued the course of the Buhari’s certificate and lack of it until he became exhausted even as Buhari kept gathering more momentum. Just as the dust raised by Fani-Kayode designed agenda to pull Buhari down was settling in the charged political environment, the Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose intensified his phobia about the ill-health of General Buhari which was originally raised by Fani-Kayode. In the middle of the Fayose’s mad and desperation as he pursued a wish of ill-health for, and even death of, the APC Presidential candidate, he (Fayose) and his brother, Fani-Kayode contrived what was later discovered to be a fake or scammed medical certificate which purportedly showed that the General was actually sick. That could have been enough to land Fayose and Fani-Kayode in jail, but this is Nigeria, under PDP government! While, as noted, Fani-Kayode has backed down on the issue of certificate, as he discovered that he had exhausted all the tricks he gathered, Fayose is now leading himself blindly into a big valley. He is indeed, turning the extreme case of insultive part of the African politics into lunatic display. As a matter of fact, Fayose is manifesting an African proverb which says that a hand that frequently goes to the anus unnecessarily and or foolishly would one day, bring out stool (shit). Fayose displayed his ridiculous ignorance recently when an announcement came that General Buhari was on his way to the UK for a short working visit. Fayose went to town, as if he was Buhari’s medical doctor or consultant, to tell the world, through, of course, his gullible allies in the media, that the General was actually flown out for medical treatment. Even when, a few days later, pictures of Buhari personally having a meeting with the former Prime Minister, Tony Blair; of him being interviewed by a Television reporter and of him addressing Nigerian Professionals in London, Fayose still went ahead to dispute the pictures. He said at one time that the pictures were taken in 2013, at another time that the one in which Buhari was being interviewed by a reporter was taken at the Nicon Noga Hilton Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria. As a matter of fact, when all evidences showed that Buhari was actually in London, the busy-body governor now went spiritual: he asked General Buhari to swear with the Holy Qur’an that he did not visit hospital in London. Fayose has been so mad at pulling Buhari down that he has not only landed in total confusion, but has now earned the anger of his fellow Yoruba people who see him as a disgrace to the society. Indeed, the stage at which Fayose is now operating points to only serious matter of insanity. If there is anybody who is sick all over and who needs special medical attention from special hospital overseas, it is Governor Ayodele Fayose. His aides should be of favour to him by assisting to package him into the next available flight to God knows where before it is too late. [myad]
All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Organization which recently accused the Nigerian Maritime Administration & Safety Agency (NIMASA). Of using Nigeria financial resources to fund the campaign of the Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, is not yet done with the Agency. In a statement today in Abuja, Director of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, Garba Shehu challenged the Federal Government and the NIMASA to tell Nigerians what happened to the $800 Million and N50 Billion of the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF) which the agency was in control of until recently when the “Fund” became unaccounted for. The “Fund,” according to Garba Shehu, was money derived as 2 percent surcharge for all Contracts under the Cabotage regime which came into force in 2004 by virtue of the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act (Cabotage) 2003. He added that the Cabotage Act which was closely modeled after the United States of America’s Jones Act 1938 was to help develop the capacity and participation of indigenous ship owners in coastal inland trade which was largely dominated by foreigners. He alleged that up to date the objective for which it was established is yet to be achieved “as seen in the depleted Indigenous Ship Owners Registry, the mass unemployed Nigerian Seafarers, and the prevalence of foreign interest in the Nigerian coastal waters. “Instead, the Cabotage regime breeds corruption, ranging from request of inducement and gratification from foreign ship owners through their agents for waivers processing by NIMASA and approval of the Federal Ministry of Transport by some top staff of the agency to the disappearance of the CVFF Fund meant to be accessed by the Nigerian ship owners. “The website of the Nigerian Ship Owners Association (NISA) shows that 90% of its 78 registered ship owners are on the brink of extinction as they are submerged in debts without the necessary CVFF to access.” Garba Shehu made it clear that Nigerians deserve to know what happened to the money accumulated under the CVFF Fund amounting to some $800 Million US Dollars and N50 billion respectively. He wanted the agency to make public the list containing names of beneficiaries and amounts from the “Fund” if any. He said that time is of the essence in publishing the list following fears that the money may have been diverted for other purposes like campaign for the PDP presidential candidate, and the submission of a request from the Director General of the agency to proceed on a six months leave of absence from the agency. [myad]
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari has described the former Nigerian President, Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari as a grand old man of Nigerians politics. In a letter congratulating Alhaji Shehu Shagari who turned 90 tomorrow, which he personally signed, General Buhari said that though his government forcibly removed Shagari’s government but that Shagari had always shown him civility and much courtesy. The letter reads: Although I am physically unable to be present as I am abroad on previously arranged assignments, I wish to send my good wishes to former President Shehu Shagari on his 90th birthday. Alhaji Shehu Shagari is now the Grand Old Man of Nigerian politics, having been in the frame of public affairs since the colonial days. Although my government forcibly removed his government, he has always shown me civility and much courtesy. His contributions at the National Council of State meetings which I attend have always been constructive and eloquent. I wish the former President many more years of good health and peaceful retirement.” General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR. [myad]
President Goodluck Jonathan has sent a birthday greeting to the former Nigerian President, Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari as he clocked 90 tomorrow, saying that Shagari is a committed patriot and outstanding leader. The President said that his administration will continue to count on the former President’s support and solidarity even as he wished that God will continue to bless the former President with good health and long life. “It is with profound joy that I write on behalf of my family, the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and on my own behalf, to express very warm felicitations to you. “I join your family, friends and well-wishers to thank Almighty Allah for His continued guidance, protection and provision for you in the past ninety years of a life of forthrightness and outstanding leadership with which He has blessed you. “It is gratifying to note that our Administration can continue to count on the solidarity and support of accomplished, highly respected statesmen and committed patriots like you as we vigorously pursue our national transformation efforts. “As you celebrate this historic day, it is my prayer that Almighty Allah continues to prosper you and imbue you with robust health as you continue to give of yourself in the service of our dear nation.” [myad]
Chairman of River state APC, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya
The committee set up by the Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) to investigate increasing cases of electoral violence in the State has come up with 50 of such cases allegedly committed by rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against it Submitting the committee’s report to the State APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, on Monday at the party’s State Secretariat in Port Harcourt, committee Chairman, Prince Peter Odika, said that 150 sins were committed by the PDP leadership in the course of the ongoing campaign for the 2015 elections. “These sins revolve around attacks against APC loyalists, billboards, and LG Secretariat by the misguided PDP elements in Rivers State ahead of the March/April 2015 general elections.” Prince Odika, who is also the State APC Deputy Chairman, pleaded that the report should be treated with the urgency it deserves before PDP throws the State into crisis. According to Prince Odika, top on the list is the violent disruption of APC’s campaign rally in Okrika last Wednesday, which culminated in the death of a policeman. He alleged that the attack was principally targeted at eliminating the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside. “If they had succeeded, these enemies of our democracy would have engulfed the State in an unprecedented crisis the end of which no one could have predicted.” Receiving the report, Dr. Ikanya, assured the committee members that the report would be sent to the United Nations, Amnesty International, ECOWAS and other major international bodies. “I commend the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Suleiman Abba, for directing that the Okrika attempt on our lives should be investigated. We wish that those behind this devilish attack are promptly arrested; if not our lives will not be safe anymore,” Ikanya said. The party chairman asked the people of Rivers State to make the choice of stopping further promotion of violence and ensuring that all the candidates fielded by PDP in Rivers State are voted out. “The choice before them is to choose between darkness and light, devil and God, between occultic forces and Christianity, between democracy and anti-democracy forces. The choice is ours to make.” Ikanya appealed to the international community to come to the party’s aid, saying: “We can no longer fold our arms and watch while we are being viciously attacked and slaughtered by people whose mission and vision in politics is to spread violence as their own way of grabbing power, having seen that they have been overwhelmingly rejected by the electorate. What makes the situation more pathetic is that security agencies in Rivers State, including the police and the Department of State Security (DSS), have failed to make any arrest or call the PDP leadership to order simply because they are controlled by the PDP-led Federal Government, which is desperate to take over Rivers State at all cost.” The fact-finding committee, inaugurated on 19th January, 2015 had Prince Peter Odika the Deputy Chairman of Rivers APC as Chairman, Barr. Sogbeye C. Eli, the Rivers State APC Youth Leader, as Secretary. Other members were Chief Emeka Bekee, Secretary of Rivers State APC; Evangelist (Mrs.) Carol Nagbo, Women Leader; Chief Eze C. Eze; Hon. Israel Asiamaka, Okrika Chairman of APC; Chief Victor Ere, Andoni APC Chairman; Hon. Ojukaya Flag-Amachree, former Asaro-Toru Local Government Chairman; Hon. Awongo Ikalama, Chief of Staff to the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly; and Chief (Barr.) Obinna JK Chukwu. [myad]
Former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Chinwoke Mbadinuju, today in Abuja, dumped the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined opposition (All Progressives Congress).
The former governor, who could not hide his anger at the alleged shoddy treatment which PDP allegedly mete to him and his supporters, said that he is confident that Nigeria would fare better under an APC administration with General Muhammadu Buhari as President. Chief Mbadinuju said that the Boko Haram menace was part of God’s judgment on Nigeria for embracing injustice instead of promoting justice and fairness.
He said that until the leaders give justice and fairness a pride of place, especially in national life, the insurgency would not abate. [myad]
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Between Buhari And Fayose, By Deen Adavize
Since General Muhammadu Buhari emerged as Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), two agents of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Femi Fani-Kayode and Governor Ayodele Fayose have particularly been out in the open. They have been on duty, trying to pull him, as a person, down, which, by the African standard, can be accepted as the dirty part of politicking. Indeed, in the African parlance, the easiest way to hear about the imagined or cooked-up bad deeds of your ancestors from those who did not even know where you were born, is for you to join politics. It is also in politics that a half-sane young man would insult a wise old man, old enough to be his father. And, like in war, all such things are regarded, to some extent, as fair!
It all began when the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) suddenly perceived the danger which the popularity of General Buhari could pose to its bloated ego against the background of the 2015 general elections. The party sent its agents, including the two Whitllow-infected mouthed ones, to dig into Buhari’s past records. They went into the archive and found that, in matters of integrity, honesty, incorruptibility, General Buhari is unbeatable. They began to search hard for at least, something to use in discrediting him.
That was when one of the two agents: the Director of media and publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Fani-Kayode came up with a contrived certificate saga: the matter that did not crop up in the three previous attempts the General made to unseat, through ballot, the PDP Presidents, starting from the then President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Fani-Kayode madly pursued the course of the Buhari’s certificate and lack of it until he became exhausted even as Buhari kept gathering more momentum.
Just as the dust raised by Fani-Kayode designed agenda to pull Buhari down was settling in the charged political environment, the Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose intensified his phobia about the ill-health of General Buhari which was originally raised by Fani-Kayode.
In the middle of the Fayose’s mad and desperation as he pursued a wish of ill-health for, and even death of, the APC Presidential candidate, he (Fayose) and his brother, Fani-Kayode contrived what was later discovered to be a fake or scammed medical certificate which purportedly showed that the General was actually sick. That could have been enough to land Fayose and Fani-Kayode in jail, but this is Nigeria, under PDP government!
While, as noted, Fani-Kayode has backed down on the issue of certificate, as he discovered that he had exhausted all the tricks he gathered, Fayose is now leading himself blindly into a big valley. He is indeed, turning the extreme case of insultive part of the African politics into lunatic display.
As a matter of fact, Fayose is manifesting an African proverb which says that a hand that frequently goes to the anus unnecessarily and or foolishly would one day, bring out stool (shit).
Fayose displayed his ridiculous ignorance recently when an announcement came that General Buhari was on his way to the UK for a short working visit.
Fayose went to town, as if he was Buhari’s medical doctor or consultant, to tell the world, through, of course, his gullible allies in the media, that the General was actually flown out for medical treatment.
Even when, a few days later, pictures of Buhari personally having a meeting with the former Prime Minister, Tony Blair; of him being interviewed by a Television reporter and of him addressing Nigerian Professionals in London, Fayose still went ahead to dispute the pictures. He said at one time that the pictures were taken in 2013, at another time that the one in which Buhari was being interviewed by a reporter was taken at the Nicon Noga Hilton Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria.
As a matter of fact, when all evidences showed that Buhari was actually in London, the busy-body governor now went spiritual: he asked General Buhari to swear with the Holy Qur’an that he did not visit hospital in London.
Fayose has been so mad at pulling Buhari down that he has not only landed in total confusion, but has now earned the anger of his fellow Yoruba people who see him as a disgrace to the society.
Indeed, the stage at which Fayose is now operating points to only serious matter of insanity. If there is anybody who is sick all over and who needs special medical attention from special hospital overseas, it is Governor Ayodele Fayose. His aides should be of favour to him by assisting to package him into the next available flight to God knows where before it is too late. [myad]