Vandals Invade Abuja, Destroy Electricity Distribution Company’s Equipment

March 19, 2022

There are indication that vandals have invaded the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, destroying equipment belonging to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

The company, in a statement today, March 18 by its Chief Marketing Officer, Donald Etim, said that it is experiencing cases of serious vandalism around its infrastructure, causing outages in some areas in the FCT.

“While we are working to optimally deploy the low power AEDC is being allocated daily in recent days, please be informed that we are also experiencing cases of serious vandalism around our network.

“Specifically, in our Wuye Substation and Utako Substation in FCT, vandalism is causing outages in those areas and environs.

“For Wuye, two Injection Substation areas affected are NNPC Quarters, Cosgrove Estate, Reuben Okoye Street, Pius Ayim Street, Tambuwal Street, Shafa Filling station, Nation Wide Estate, DSS Quarters, Idris Gidado and its environs,” he said.

The statement said that for B6 Injection Substation, areas affected are Anthony Enahoro Street, National Assembly Commission, Ministry of Environment Annex, Aneio Hotel, KANEM Suites, Peace Park.

Others, it said, are the Inuwa Wada Close, S.O. Williams Close, JMG Generators, Custom Quarters, Glory Estate, Dove Estate, Utako Market, IBM Haruna Street, TOS Benson Street, Alibro Plaza, Chisco Transport, and environs.

The statement said that AEDC’s engineers are currently at those sites working to restore normal supply, estimated to be in a matter of hours.

It said that AEDC’s management regretted any inconveniences and appealled to customers for their understanding.

Source: NAN.

10 Russian Diplomats Expelled From Bulgaria, 3 From Latvia, Estonia , 4 From Lithuania

Greenbarge Reporters

March 19, 2022

A hail of expulsion of Russian diplomats is spreading across Europe with Bulgaria expelling 10 of them, while Latvia and Estonia each expelled three and Lithuanian sent away four.

Bulgarian, in a statement today, said that it has given the 10 Russian diplomats 72 hours to leave because of what it is said to be activities of the diplomats considered to be incompatible with their diplomatic status.

The move was contained in a statement today, March 18, by the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry.

The statement did not give a more detailed reason for the expulsions, but since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, the Russian ambassador in Sofia had repeatedly made contradictory statements about Bulgaria’s position on the conflict.
According to a statement on its website, the Bulgarian foreign ministry said Prime Minister, Kiril Petkov, was consulted on the expulsions and the Russian ambassador to Sofia had been informed.
This is said to be the second wave of expulsions of Russian diplomats from Bulgaria, with two expelled on March 2 over allegedly involvement in espionage.
The Russian embassy in the country has called the expulsion a “hostile demarche” that would hurt relations between the two nations.
“Russia’s military attacks on civilians, civilian objects, hospitals, schools, maternity wards, and cultural objects are war crimes and crimes against humanity,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, said.
“Russian special services are actively involved in organizing these crimes against the peaceful population of Ukraine, so we do not want the representatives of these structures to walk on our land and pose a threat to Lithuania’s national security.”
Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics said on Twitter that Riga was expelling three Russian Embassy employees “in connection with activities that are contrary to their diplomatic status and taking into account ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine.”
“The decision has been coordinated with Lithuania and Estonia,” he added.
Estonia said the three diplomats it had asked to leave “have directly and actively undermined Estonia’s security and spread propaganda justifying Russia’s military action.”

Vandals Invade Abuja, Destroy Electricity Distribution Company’s Equipment

Editorial staff

March 19, 2022

There are indication that vandals have invaded the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, destroying equipment belonging to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

“While we are working to optimally deploy the low power AEDC is being allocated daily in recent days, please be informed that we are also experiencing cases of serious vandalism around our network.

“Specifically, in our Wuye Substation and Utako Substation in FCT, vandalism is causing outages in those areas and environs.

The statement said that for B6 Injection Substation, areas affected are Anthony Enahoro Street, National Assembly Commission, Ministry of Environment Annex, Aneio Hotel, KANEM Suites, Peace Park.

The statement said that AEDC’s engineers are currently at those sites working to restore normal supply, estimated to be in a matter of hours.

It said that AEDC’s management regretted any inconveniences and appealled to customers for their understanding.

Source: NAN.

Section 84 (12) Of Electoral Act Will Be Expunged From Signed Electoral Act – Malami

Editorial staff

March 18, 2022

“The provision of Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022 is not part of our law and will be so treated accordingly,” the Attorney-General of the Federation and minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has said.

A statement today, March 18 by the media aide, Umar Gwandu, quoted Malami as emphasizing that section 84 (12) is not of Nigerian law, saying that this is in complying with a court order for the removal of the section from the signed electoral act.

“This is in line with the dictates of chapter 7, Part 4, Section 287 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) on enforcement of decisions that makes it a point of duty and obligation on all authorities and persons to have the judgment of the federal High Court, among others, to be enforced.”

The statement said: “The office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will accordingly give effect to the Court judgment in line with the dictates of the law and the spirit of the judgment.”

“The judgment of the Court will be recognized by the Government printers in printing the Electoral Act.”

“The Act will be gazetted factoring the effect of the judgment into consideration and deleting the constitutionally offensive provision accordingly.”

Yakubu Gowon Advises Politicians To Sustain Faith In Nigeria

Editorial staff

March 18, 2022

War-time Head of State and Commander-In-Chief of Nigerian Armed Forces, retired General Yakubu Gowon has advised politicians to sustain faith in Nigeria irrespective of the outcome of their ambitions in the next year’s general elections.

Gowon, who spoke today, March 18 when officials of the Progressive Consolidation Group (PCG) paid him a visit in Abuja said that though he has no partisan involvement in politics, but that he believed that leaders and citizens at all levels had a duty to sustain peace, progress and national unity of the country.

He said that no matter the level of intrigues and circumstances in the politics, God would ultimately decide the final outcome, adding that in the interest of the country, all politicians and their followers must look beyond the struggle for positions and sustain faith in Nigeria.

“Sustain hope, believe in Nigeria and believe in the cause of unity and peace,” Gowon said.

The leaders of the PCG had earlier held a closed door meeting with the former Head of State.

The leaders include its Deputy National Chairman (North), Alhaji Musa Kwande, who is also the Baraden of Lafia Emirate, and its Co-ordinator, Alhaji Ahmed Zagi.

Zagi told newsmen that the visit was a matter of courtesy, adding that as an elder statesman, Gowon embraced everyone.

Source: NAN.

Women Group Advocate Sustainable Food Security In Nigeria

Editorial staff

March 18, 2022

Women Agro Processors Agricgen and Exporters Initiative (WAPA-GEIN) has called for a strong policy on sustainable food security to ensure proper development of Nigeria.

President of the group, Mrs. Esther Adebayo, who spoke today, March 18 at the inauguration of the Initiative and National Export Centre in Abuja, stressed that food security is the bedrock of successful export business.

“With sharp focus, relentless execution, fairness, equity, public accountability and transparency, we shall drive for a much better and economically stronger Nigeria.”

She called on the three tiers of government to work together to promote operation “feed yourself” by helping households to access information, and inputs that would encourage them to produce food around their houses to feed their families.

Mrs. Adebayo advised state governments to establish farm settlements, clusters of agro producers including women and youths.

She emphasised the need for the Federal Government to increase the training and employment of extension workers and other supportive services to boost increase in agricultural production. “We must unleash the potential of the youths of Nigeria.

“Today, over 75 per cent of the population is under the age of 35. More decisive actions are needed to turn this demographic asset into an economic dividend.

“A young productive, youthful population with access to education, skills, social protection, affordable housing, and medical care will power Nigeria’s economy now and well into the future. We must move away from the so called youth empowerment programmes.

“The youth do not need hands out. They need investments. Agro business is well loaded with millions of job creation for the youths.”

She called on the Federal Government not be decongesting the ports in Nigeria, but engage in transforming them.

She stressed that the exercise should start with the cleaning up of administrative bottlenecks, most of which are unnecessary with multiple government agencies at the port, high transaction cost, or even plain extortion from illegal taxes.

According to her, Nigeria should rapidly modernise and transform its ports.

She said that Ports should be for facilitating business and exports, and stimulating industrial manufacturing, as well as competitiveness of local business and exports.

”Papers and other documents are to be forwarded on Internet to other country of destination, and according to the sector operators.

“The cost of exporting 100 tonnes of cargoes in Nigeria is 35,000 dollars compared to 4000 dollars in Ghana. Today, the leading ports for West Africa are in Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin Republic.

“All these countries have modernised their Port Management Systems, leaving Nigeria far behind.”

Earlier, Dr. Funmilola Daudu, the Chairperson, Planning Committee of the event, said the initiative would develop a better agricultural and business management practices.

“This will result in improved competitiveness, productivity, income, gross marginal yields for smallholder farmers and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises.”

She stressed the need for increased women potential to participate in high level businesses that could foster high level empowerment, job creation and social development in their communities.

Women Agro Processors, Agricgen and Exporters Initiative (WAPAGEIN) is a non-governmental and not-for profit organisation established to promote agric businesses, entrepreneurships, youth and women development careers. WAPAGEIN is a network of agribusiness marketing professionals from across Nigeria with chapters located in the six geopolitical zones including the FCT.

Source: NAN.

Coast Now Cleared For APC Convention On March 26, As Court Vacates Earlier Judgment

Editorial staff

March 18, 2022

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) can now hold its national convention on March 26 as scheduled as an Abuja High Court in Kubwa vacated an interlocutory injunction earlier granted, stopping the Convention from holding.

Justice Bello Kawu vacated the interlocutory order made on Nov. 18, following the defence counsel, Shuaibu Aruwa’s application for the court to set it aside.

Justice Kawu said that in vacating the order, he relyied on the recent Supreme Court decision which held that a party member does not have the right to take the party to court.

He however adjourned the case until March 30 for hearing of the substantive suit.

Aruwa (SAN) had moved a motion seeking the setting aside of the interlocutory order and striking out the suit for want of jurisdiction.

He said that the application was supported by a five paragraph affidavit and a written address and adopted all the processes, praying the court to grant them in the interest of justice.

The defence counsel added that the claimant counsel, Mike Enaharo-Ebah did not file any process to counter his application.

In response, Enaharo-Ebah said that Aruwa served him on March 11 and his seven days had not relapsed, adding that his right to respond in line with the rules of the court had been shut out.

He asked the court to reconsider an application to adjourn in other for him to file counter affidavits.

Aruwa in response said that he served the claimant since March 9 through the former claimant counsel, F.O. Ekpa, adding that the seven days elapsed on March 16.

Malam Salisu Umoru had dragged APC, the Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Gov. Mai Mala Buni and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the court challenging the planned convention.

Why I Slapped Obiano’s Wife, Bianca Ojukwu Narrates

Greenbarge Reporters

March 18, 2022

Bianca Ojukwu, wife of the late Igbo leader, Odumegwu Ojukwu has narrated her own side of the reason on the physical assault she and Mrs. Ebele Obiano, wife of the immediate past Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano launched on each other yesterday, March 17 in Awka.
In a statement today, March 18 titled: “My Own Story” Bianca said that Mrs. Obiano actually came to the swearing-in ceremony of Professor Chukwuma Soludo as the new Governor of Anambra State heavily drunk.
She continued thus:
As the inaugural ceremonies for Professor Charles Soludo and his deputy began and all guests were seated, the Former First Lady of Anambra State, Mrs. Ebele Obiano, was noticeabley absent. She then arrived some one-and-a-half hours later while the ceremony was on. I didn’t pay any particular attention to her arrival. Surprisingly, she then walked towards me and I thought she was coming to greet me. Instead, when she got to where I was seated, she verbally attacked me with her voiced raised, taunting me and asking me what I was there to do and using unprintable vile language.
She asked if I had come to celebrate their last day in office. But I ignored her completely. Then, she kept aggressively putting her hands on my shoulders and shouting. While I ignored her verbal onslaught, as advised by those sitting around me, I requested twice that she refrained from touching me with her hands. She proceeded to do so yet again and went further to grab at my headtie, which she attempted unsuccessfully to remove remove .
This very act is considered a sacrilege to a titled matriarch such as myself in Igbo culture. It was at this point that I stood up to defend myself and gave her a dirty slap to stop her from attacking me. As she made towards me, I then pulled away her wig. She held on to her wig with her two hands and tried to take the wig away from me.
The former APGA chairman, Umeh, told her to leave me and told engaged APGA members that had gathered at the spot to lead her away , which they did and took her to the seat next to her husband Chief Willie Obiano who sat through the entire episode completely speechless. What struck me through the whole episode was the fact that she was clearly intoxicated.
I was stunned by the stench of whisky in her breath at such an early hour of the day. How could a first lady be so drunk and proceeded to turn up in that state at an Inauguration ceremony that began at 9am? It is unfortunate that she threw all caution to the wind and imported this kind of melodrama to a state ceremony.
This was highly embarrassing to the Governor who left the venue almost immediately, taking her along with him.
Luckily, this did not disrupt the proceedings and I stayed back to witness the ceremony to the end after which we were treated to a sumptuous reception at the Government House.
– Ambassador Bianca Odimegwu- Ojukwu, former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain and APGA BOT member.

INEC Decides On Ebonyi Judgment About Gov Umahi, Others Next Week

Greenbarge Reporters

March 18, 2022

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has the final decision on the judgment in respect of the Ebonyi State Governor and his deputy as well as some members of the State House of Assembly.
The resolution to postpone the date for the final decision to be taken next week was made today, March 17, at a meeting of the stakeholders.
A statement yesterday, March 17 by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, said that the Commission was briefed by its Litigation and Prosecution Department, including an update on litigations, showing that in the last three months, the Commission has been joined in seventy-one new cases in various Courts across the country.
“Most of these cases, including the widely discussed one on Ebonyi State, involve either intra-party issues or litigants seeking for various reliefs from the Courts that entail consequential orders that are binding on the Commission.”
The statement said that the judgment in the case of Ebonyi State was about the defection of the Governor and Deputy-Governor and sixteen members of the State House of Assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The Commission has been served with nine separate Orders and Motions from various Courts on this matter. “Just as the Commission was about to commence deliberation on them, its attention was drawn to additional Court processes served today in respect of the matter.
“Consequently, the Commission decided to defer its deliberation on the Ebonyi cases and stepped down the listed Memorandum to enable its Legal Services and Clearance Committee to study the new processes in the light of the previously served ones and advise the Commission comprehensively.
“The Commission will meet again next week to deliberate on the matter and thereafter make its decision public.”

Obiano Falls Into EFCC Trap Hours After Hand Over As Anambra Governor

Greenbarge Reporters

March 18, 2022

Willie Obiano was picked up yesterday, March 17 by officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos a few hours after handing over as governor to Chkuwuma Soludo.
Obiano, who completed the maximum two terms of eight years in office was picked up about 8.30 pm at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
He was billed to fly to Houston Texas in the United States of America.
The former governor had been on EFCC watchlist since November 2021.
In a letter to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) dated November 15, 2021, EFCC requested the NIS to place the governor on watchlist and inform it anytime he was travelling out of the country from any of the International airports and other points of entry and exit.
It was not clear why the anti-graft agency placed the former governor on watchlist.
But knowledgeable sources said the move then was an indication that the agency might have been discreetly investigating the governor and possibly had intelligence that he planned to travel after handing over power to his successor, Charles Soludo.
But Obiano who was holidaying then in Houston took exception to the Commission’s move which he said was politically motivated.
He accused the EFCC of becoming a tool in the hands of desperados who failed to install one of their own as governor of Anambra State.
Obiano, in the statement by his then Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C.Don Adinuba, said the EFCC went a new low when it provided no details of how Obiano had been placed on its watch list.
The statement said besides a reference to a letter it purportedly wrote on November 15, 2021, to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) asking it to inform the anti-graft agency anytime the governor was travelling out of the country, there was nothing to show how Obiano became a target of the EFCC.
The statement read in part. “Everything that can be wrong with politically motivated statements like this one is obviously wrong with this statement. The EFCC knows full well that it is acting inelegantly in this instance, and so has tried as much as possible not to make an official public statement on the alleged placing of Chief Obiano on the watch list. It furtively gave a section of the media the news report it wrote based on ostensibly its letter to the NIS on November 15.
“Governor Obiano is out of the country currently. And he travelled through one of the country’s international airports. He did not disguise himself, but rather left the country with his identity fully disclosed at the necessary immigration point.
“The EFCC sounded more inelegant when it claimed in the sponsored press report that it received intelligence reports that the governor plans to “flee” from Nigeria once he hands over power next March 17 to the newly elected Anambra State governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo. Chief Obiano has never left any persons in doubt that he will relocate to his base in the United States once he finishes his tenure.
“As early as Wednesday, March 4, 2020, he announced his decision to a meeting of the Anambra State Council of Elders, comprising such personages as the erstwhile Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe who is also the chairman of both the Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers; a former Anambra State governor, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife; an ex-Minister of Women Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih, mni; the founding Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Professor Elochukwu Amucheazi; the Archbishop Emeritus of the Anglican Church in Anambra State, The Most Reverend Dr Maxwell Anikwenwa; and the Catholic Bishop of the Awka Diocese, Rev Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor.
“Governor Obiano has a whole four months to remain in office as the Anambra State chief executive. Nobody in Nigeria can circumscribe his constitutionally conferred immunity which shields him from both criminal and civil prosecution. The EFCC went too far to announce in November that it is observing him. We are not aware of any state governor who had up to four months to be in office and the EFCC went on to sponsor media reports that he was being investigated.
“It is, indeed strange that the EFCC is making a show that it is investigating a high public officer. Anti-corruption agencies, like intelligence services, conduct their investigations discreetly, and not on pages of newspapers. Media trial has never benefitted the EFCC.
“The whole nation knows those behind all the present histrionics about Obiano. They are those who didn’t want the November 6 election to hold. They are those in high places who unsuccessfully canvassed for emergency rule in Anambra supposedly on security grounds. They are those who masterminded the Birnin Kudu High Court charade in Jigawa State over the APGA leadership and, more importantly, the authentic APGA candidate in the November gubernatorial election in Anambra State.
“They are those responsible for the sacrilege of a customary court in Abuja issuing criminal summons to Professor Soludo, a former Central Bank of Nigeria governor. These people are still fighting the gubernatorial battle on behalf of their badly defeated friends and political associates in the Anambra vote. They will fail badly, as they have done in the recent past.
“The EFCC should not allow itself to be used by politicians who are mere birds of passage. Its ongoing Anambra drama is in bad taste. It did not serve Governor Obiano any notice. Nor did it invite him to answer questions about his service record. It just went to the press. Yet, the governor is willing to answer any questions about his years in office. After all, he has received a prestigious award from the United Nations Development Programme for social service integrity.”

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