Bribery: Minister Threatens N10 Billion Defamation Suit Against ‘Ordinary President Ahmed

December 14, 2019

The Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has threatened a N10 billion suit on the founder and main presenter of the Human Rights Radio, ‘Brekete Family’ Ahmed Isah for defamation of character. According to the letter, dated Thursday, December 12, 2019, by the Minister’s lawyers, Okechukwu C. Uju-Azorji, Esq. and Festus Ukpe, Esq, the minister is asking the presenter, popularly known as ‘Ordinary President Ahmed’ to apologise for defamatory publications against him within seven days or face a civil suit of N10,000,000,000.00 in damages.

The letter titled: “demand to retract bribery allegation published against the person of Mr. Sunday Dare and to cease from making any further defamatory publications against him.”

The letter reads in part: ‘Our attention has been drawn to a programme popularly known as “Brekete Family Programme” aired on your station on the mornings of 11th &12th December, 2019. “In the course of the said programme, you made defamatory statements against our client.

Specifically, on 11th December, 2019, in the course of the said programme, you made the following statement: “Any minister wey just land, the first thing wey this people go do na to give you 200 million naira. So if it be say this Dare don collect 200 million naira, if no be so why him no put mouth.”

Additionally, on 12th December, 2019, in the course of the programme, you also made the following statement: “As soon as dem appoint you minister, dem dey give the person 200 million naira so wetin me I dey suspect be say, no be say this present minister of sports no get the capacity, e be like say monkey hand don resemble human being hand, maybe he collect the 200 million naira and him neck don dey deep, if he try to dig, maybe him leg go show.

We have our client’s instructions to demand an unreserved apology and a retraction of the defamatory publication in favour of our client to be broadcast in your programme and published in two (2) newspapers with nationwide coverage within seven (7) days of your receipt of this letter.

Kindly note that in the event that you refuse to comply with the above requests, we will be left with no options than to seek redress for our client through the instrumentality of the judicial process and thereby seek injunctive reliefs and Ten Billion Naira (N10, 000,000,000.00) in damages for the embarrassment which your publication has occasioned our client.

However, concerted efforts to get the reaction of the presenter of the popular ‘Brekete Family’ radio show proved abortive as his phone was switched off as at the time of press. In addition, messages sent to him via SMS and email were not responded to by ‘Ordinary president Ahmed’.

Source: Daily Trust.

2 PDP Governors Quarrel Over Who Is Closer To President Buhari

Editorial staff

December 14, 2019

Two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and David Umahi of Ebonyi, were at daggers drawn yesterday, December 13 over a costly joke the former cracked on the latter’s relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Information reaching us indicated that Umahi at a meeting of PDP governors and prominent party members in honour of Governor Wike, organised by his Ikwere people in Port Harcourt, a joke the Rivers State governor made of the Buhar/Umahi relationship struck the wrong cord in the Ebonyi State governor.
The meeting was said to have begun on a convivial note and exchange of banter. Then entered Umahi, and Wike jokingly welcomed him, saying, “Ah, here comes Buhari’s man!”
The remarks elicited laughter from the other governors, but it did not end well with Umahi, who angrily asked Wike: “Who is more Buhari than you? I have many of your pictures with Buhari which are not known to the public!.”
Governor Umahi then threatened to make Wike’s pictures with Buhari public if he was provoked further by his host.
Those present said Governor Wike was speechless.
Umahi’s response was said to have ended the discussion on Buhari and the meeting moved to discuss other issues.

EFCC Move: SUN Newspaper Distances Self From Jailed Orji Uzor Kalu

Editorial staff

December 14, 2019

Management of The SUN newspaper company has distanced self from the court judgment leading to jailing Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, the supposed owner of the company.
In a letter of complain today, December 14, against the marking of the company’s property for seizure by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, the newspaper company management said that Kalu is not the sole owner.
“We wish to reiterate that The Sun Publishing Limited is an ongoing corporate limited liability company and its shares are owned by various individuals distinct from Senator Orji Uzor Kalu. Therefore, the recent Judgment against Senator Orji Uzor Kalu should not be used to disturb the operations of the company and the proprietary rights of its innocent shareholders until the matters are dispensed with at the Supreme Court.”
The full text of the letter, addressed to the Attorney General of the Federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami goes thus:
Three officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with four heavily armed policemen on Saturday, December 15, 2019, at about 10.00 am arrived the corporate headquarters of The Sun Publishing Limited at 2, Coscharis Street, Kirikiri Industrial Layout, Apapa, Lagos and put up a notice for staff and the general public to keep off the premises.
The EFCC officials, who came in a white Toyota bus with registration number, ABUJA BWR-644GA, wrote on The Sun’s fence, “EFCC, keep off.”
They also advised our staff to collect their personal belongings from the office as they will come back to seal the premises completely.
We do not understand the legal basis for this EFCC action. It is on record that there is a pending appeal at the Supreme Court with Suit No: SC/546/2018 wherein The Sun Publishing Limited appealed against the Judgement delivered by the Court of Appeal on the interim forfeiture order made against it by a Federal High Court in 2007 based on ex parte proceeding.
The Notice of Appeal and Motion for Stay of Execution were duly served on EFCC by the bailiffs of the Court. ICYMI: EFCC marks Sun Newspaper, Slok for forfeiture to FG It is also pertinent to state that EFCC vide a letter written by Counsel to The Sun Publishing Limited, dated 22nd May, 2018 and duly received by one Caleb Peter on behalf of Rotimi Jacobs & Co. was further put on notice of the pending appeal at the Supreme Court and advised to stay action in the matter pending the hearing of the Motion for Stay of execution and the appeal.
Again, it is instructive to state that The Sun Publishing Limited was not a party to the case of EFCC vs. Orji Uzor Kalu & 2 Others, so we do not see why the Judgment in that case should lead to attempt to seal The Sun Publishing Limited premises.
Furthermore, we are aware that both Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Slok Nig Limited have since appealed the Judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Idris and a hearing date given.
We wish to reiterate that The Sun Publishing Limited is an ongoing corporate limited liability company and its shares are owned by various individuals distinct from Senator Orji Uzor Kalu. Therefore, the recent Judgment against Senator Orji Uzor Kalu should not be used to disturb the operations of the company and the proprietary rights of its innocent shareholders until the matters are dispensed with at the Supreme Court.
In view of the foregoing, we call and appeal to the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice to urgently intervene and advise EFCC appropriately on the legal consequences of its actions. Vanguard News Nigeria.

Sudan Jails Ex President Omar Al-Bashir For Corruption, Seizes His Assets

Greenbarge Reporters

December 14, 2019

A Sudanese court has convicted former president Omar al-Bashir on charges of corruption and illicit possession of foreign currency and sentenced him to two years of detention in a reform facility.

The presiding judge in a landmark judgment today, December 14, said that the 75 year old Omar Bashir, who was ousted in April following months of street protests against his three-decade rule, was being sent to the reform facility, rather than a prison, on account of his age.

He also ordered the confiscation of millions of euros and Sudanese pounds found in Bashir’s residence when he was toppled.

Bashir is also wanted by the International Criminal Court, which issued arrest warrants against him in 2009 and 2010 on charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Sudan’s Darfur region.

Dressed in traditional white robes and a turban, Bashir watched silently from inside a metal defendant’s cage while the judge read out the verdict on Saturday.

“The court convicted Omar Hassan Ahmed al- Bashir,” judge Al-Sadiq Abdelrahman said. “The court decided to send him to a community reform centre for two years.”

The judge said that “under the law, those who reached the age of 70 shall not serve jail terms”.

Bashir, 75, will serve his sentence after the verdict has been reached in another case in which he is accused of ordering the killing of demonstrators during the protests that led to his ouster, the judge said.

Several other judicial cases have been launched in Sudan against the former president.

In May he was charged with incitement and involvement in the killing of protesters, and this week was summoned for questioning over his role in the 1989 military coup that brought him to power.

Source: REUTERS

Buhari Talks Tough Over Killing Of Aid Workers By Boko Haram In Borno

Greenbarge Reporters

December 14, 2019

“Evil will always be defeated by good at the end of the day. Whatever seeming victory evil records, eventually rebounds on the evildoer. We are resolved to beat evil in this land, and we remain unrelenting till we achieve it.”
These were the words of President Muhammadu Buhari when responding to information that Boko Haram had killed four aid workers who they had been keeping captive since July this year.
The aid workers were abducted near Damasak, Borno State, in July, and werr held despite all efforts to secure their release, till their alleged execution.
A statement today, December 14 by the presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina quoted Buhari as vehemently condemning the execution of the aid workers.
The President emphasized that the defeat of evil by good is inevitable, “no matter the pyrrhic victory evildoers seem to win.”
He expressed sadness over the development, and sympathized with the family and loved ones of the aid workers, who had offered themselves to serve humanity at grave risks.
This was even as he advised all insurgents once again to lay down their arms, and rejoin decent humanity.

DSS Wanted To Link Sowore To Boko Haram, IPOB, IMN, Falana Alleges

Editorial staff

December 13, 2019

Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has alleged that despite the directive by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami that the detained publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore be transferred to his office, the Department of State Security (DSS) today, December 13, subjected him to four-hour interrogation.

In a statement today, Falana said that the interrogation pertained to Sowore’s alleged links with the proscribed Boko Haram sect, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN).

“In spite of the directive of the AGF to take over the case the SSS subjected Sowore to a 4-hour interrogation yesterday (12/12/19). The entire interrogation pertained to Sowore’s alleged links with the proscribed Boko Haram sect, IPOB and IMN which he vehemently denied.

“At Sowore’s instance a member of the legal defence team Mr. Abubakar Marshal witnessed the marathon interrogation. The plan of the SSS is to charge Sowore with terrorism in line with the unsubstituted allegations of presidential media aides.

“In view of the foregoing we urge the AGF to file a nolle prosequi motion without any further delay to end the macabre dance which has exposed the country to avoidable embarrassment.”

Those Taking Oath Of Office Deserve Sympathy, Not Celebration – Chief Judge Of Nigeria

Editorial staff

December 13, 2019

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad has said that oath taking by those who are to assume offices is not something to be celebrated, but that those taking the oath deserve sympathy.

The Chief Justice, who inaugurated the new Chief Judges today, December 13, said that God can only help them if they help themselves. The judges were Justice John Tsoho, inaugurated as Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and Benedict Kanyipp, as chief judge of the National Industrial Court, at the Supreme Court complex in Abuja.

Justice Tanko Muhammad said that the law is not a respecter of persons, even as he advised them to deal with the situation as they come before them.

“As it is generally, oath-taking or swearing-in into an office is not something that is celebrated. It is something that actually requires that we sympathize with the person that is sworn in.

“Why did I say so? All your conduct, all your dealings must be within that oath.

“Remember that the oath is dealing between you and your creator, we are only witnessing it.

“An office like that of a judge is something that requires prayers for the person that is taking the oath. So we pray that God will see you through to the end of your tenure.

“You have said God help you. But God will only help you if you help yourself.

“And the only way you can help yourself is to know your onions, know the people you move with and know your principles. Don’t let anybody disturb your principles.”

He advised the judges never to hesitate to resign when they encounter an issue of conflict of interest, saying: “doing otherwise would bring about a lot of challenges.”

Buhari Wishes New British PM Good Luck On Moves To Quit EU

Editorial staff

December 13, 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari wished the newly elected British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson good luck on moves to exit European Union.

Buhari said, in a congratulatory message to Boris on what he called “his resounding election victory in the United Kingdom general election,” in a statement today, December: “I wish you the best of luck as you navigates the people of Britain through the decisive period of leaving the European Union.”

The President expressed satisfaction with Britain for being a reliable and historically unique ally of Nigeria, “and has particularly supported this administration’s efforts at improving security and recovering stolen assets held in the UK.

He said that he will continue to work with the Prime Minister to forge a stronger Nigeria-UK relationship, especially in the area of trade and economic partnerships which greatly benefits the citizens of both countries.

Edo PDP Rejects N1 Million Fee For Purchase Of Chairmanship Contest Form

Editorial staff

December 13, 2019

The PDP in Edo State has rejected the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) to fix the sum of one million naira to be paid for form by anyone contesting for the post of chairman in the State.

The NWC had also fixed N500,000 is to be paid each by vice chairman aspirants, even as those aspiring for chairmanship of the party in the local government councils would pay N300, 000, as those aspiring for chairmanship at the ward level would pay N100, 000.

Rising from its stakeholders’ meeting in Benin today, December 13, the State branch of the party mandated the State Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, to inform the party’s national chairman of the position of the Edo State chapter.

Addressing the party members earlier, Orbih advised them not to hand over positions to people who would use the positions to negotiate their exits from the party.

Orbih, who disclosed that the fees regime was unfolded by the PDP’s national working committee, said that people interested in the positions should go ahead and collect the forms.

He, however, advised that people interested in the various positions should go about it in peaceful manner.

“We should be careful not to hand over these positions to those who will use them to negotiate their future exit.

“In these are strange times, we are seeing those who have benefited most from this party shopping for excuses to justify their undignified exit.

“Our liberalism must be exercised with caution arising from the bitter lesson of political ingrates, who are today casting aspersions on the PDP.

“No matter what they are saying, Edo State people see them as cheap fair weather politicians, who will do anything to advance their selfish political interests. But time will tell.”

Orbih reiterated that the governorship and the chairmanship positions were not zoned in the state, saying however, that a committee would work the zoning of offices next month.

Edo State is billed for governorship polls in August next year in an election expected to be characterised by back-stabbing, betrayals and violence.

Source: NAN.

New Minimum Wage: Only Lagos, Kaduna, 3 Others Now Implement – NLC

Editorial staff

December 13, 2019

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced that Lagos, Kaduna, Kebbi, Adamawa and Jigawa states have so began the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage which was signed into law in April this year by President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a communiqué at the end of one-day stakeholders meeting in Abuja today, December 13, the central labour union said that it would resort to shutting down the 31 other states by December 31, if they failed to conclude all negotiations on the ‘consequential adjustment’ and begin full implementation of the new wage.

The communiqué was signed by the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, and National Chairperson, Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (Trade Union), Abdulrafiu A. Adeniji.

It said that organized labour would not guarantee industrial harmony in any state that failed to implement the new wage.

Some of the state that are yet to setup committees, according to the NLC, are Bauchi, Yobe, Rivers, Benue, Gombe, Kwara, Imo, Osun, Ekiti, Oyo, Anambra, Taraba, Cross River, Ogun, Enugu, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kogi and Delta.

The congress noted that oranised labour in the states would work in harmony to ensure that all workers enjoyed the new national minimum wage.

The communiqué reads: “Each state should immediately convoke an emergency executive council meeting and state congress of all workers to brief them on the outcome of the stakeholders’ meeting on the new national minimum wage implementation;

“States that are still on the discussion table (Category 2) should expedite discussions to conclude the negotiations on or before December 31, 2019;

“States which have not commenced discussion should quickly constitute a negotiating committee and expeditiously conclude discussions on salary adjustment consequent on the new national minimum wage on or before December 31, 2019.

“In the event that any state fails to comply with these resolutions on or before December 31, 2019, organized labour will not guarantee industrial harmony in such state.”

Source: The Nation.

1...914915916...2,499 Page 915 of 2,499