Premium Gist sees all, knows all
Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday, played the role of a senior prefect as old and current students of the Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, embarked on a road walk to mark the centenary anniversary of the school.
In this video, the former president could be heard saying, “Form three lines.”
One police officer has been killed after unidentified gunmen attacked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Enugu South Local Government Area on Sunday, January 15.
A statement released by Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner, says the resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Enugu State, Dr. Chukwuemeka J. Chukwu, reported that the commission’s office in Enugu South Local Government Area was attacked by unknown gunmen at about 9.12pm on Sunday.
“The security gatehouse was razed. Fortunately, the attackers could not gain access to the main building as a result of the rapid response from the Police and Army personnel from the 82 Division.
The State Commissioner of Police and the REC were personally at the scene immediately after they received information about the attack. Of the two Policemen deployed to protect the facility, one of them lost his life while the other sustained injuries and is receiving treatment” he said.
Okoye added that the incident is under investigation by security agencies.
“Meanwhile, the destroyed gatehouse will be rebuilt, and the Commission is proceeding with its preparations for the 2023 General Election in Enugu State and the entire country as scheduled,” Okoye added
President Buhari will depart for the Islamic Republic of Mauritania on Monday January 16, to receive the ‘Africa Award for Strengthening Peace’.
A statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, stated that the award would be conferred on the President for his leadership role in promoting peace on the continent through regular interventions, counsel and conciliatory position.
The presidential spokesperson noted that the award was instituted by the Abu Dhabi Peace Forum in 2014 to proffer new ways to embrace inclusive citizenship and promote peace.
He added that the President will address the Third Forum of the African Conference for Peace, where he will deliver a speech on the African Peace Process.
He said the President will be accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of Defence, Bashir Salihi Magashi; National Security Adviser, Mohammed Monguno; and Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, has appealed to the Nigerian government to “unconditionally and immediately” release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
The governor of Anambra state made the call at a political gathering in Awka, the state capital on Saturday, January 14.
Governor Soludo went further to assert that if the detained IPOB leader cannot be released unconditionally, he should be released to him saying he is ready to stand surety for him.
“I am making a passionate appeal to the Federal Government to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally. If he cannot be released unconditionally, I want him released to me and I will stand surety for him.
We need Nnamdi Kanu in the roundtable conversation to discuss the insecurity in the South East. We must end insecurity in the South East and we need Nnamdi Kanu to be around.”
Soludo promised to cater for Nnamdi Kanu and also offered to bring him to the authorities any time he is required
“I will house him here in Awka. We need him released to end insecurity in the South-east,” he said.
Kanu was arrested by the Federal government in June 2021 and has been in detention since then.
Reality TV star, Tacha, has thrown shade at celebrities who have chosen to be silent as the 2023 general election draws near.
In a series of Tweets, Tacha said their silence remains worrisome. She opined that most of them who have been termed ”idols” have shown that they are ”money idols”.
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed an appeal by the family of the late military dictator, General Sani Abacha, to stop the Federal Government from reopening forfeiture proceedings against the former Head of State.
The appeal marked:
SC/641/2013, was filed by Abacha’s sons, Mohammed and Abba, on behalf of their family.Listed as respondents were the Attorney General of the Federation; the Inspector-General of Police; Chairman, Special Investigation Panel; National Security Adviser and Magistrate Sonja Nachbaur of the Principality of Liechtenstein.
The move by the Federal Government to reopen the fraud probe was targeted at some family members over their alleged complicity in looting the nation’s treasury during Abacha’s rule.
The appeal was against the July 25, 2013 judgment by the Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division, which affirmed a 2009 judgment of the Federal High Court in Kaduna, which went against the family.
A five-member panel of the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal by Abacha’s family praying that the probe be stopped.
Justice Emmanuel Agim, who read the lead judgment, dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit and substance.
They pronounced that the concurrent findings by the two lower courts “are unassailable.”
Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Friday, hailed the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), for signing the Electoral Act, which he said paved the way for free and fair elections.
Adeleke said this at his first meeting with Buhari at the State House, in Abuja.The governor told journalists;
“Since my election, I feel like I should come and say hello to Mr. President and thank him for signing that Electoral Act because I benefited from it.
That paved way for free and fair elections and the international community is applauding Nigeria, that Nigeria is set for democracy.
“So that is why I’m here today; to see him, thank him and wish him well in his remaining time in office.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is investigating allegations of extortion by its officials at permanent voter card (PVC) collection centres.
In a statement released on Thursday, Jan. 12, and signed by Festus Okoye, its national commissioner and chairman, information and voter education, the commission said officials found guilty will face disciplinary action.
The statement reads:
”The Commission is investigating allegations of extortion by officials at some of the collection centres and inducement by some unscrupulous voters to circumvent processes in order to obtain their PVCs. Those found culpable will face disciplinary action and/or prosecution.
“Similarly, the Commission is disturbed by allegations of discriminatory issuance of PVCs in some locations. This is against the law. All bonafide registrants are entitled to their PVCs and to use them to vote on Election Day in any part of the country where they are registered.
“Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) have been directed to ensure that no such practices occur nationwide and take immediate disciplinary action against violators.”
Meanwhile, there have also been complaints by some persons over non-availability of their PVCs. But the commission, in its statement, said it has printed all PVCs of new registrants and those who requested transfer. It, however, directed issuing officers to compile complaints on unavailability of cards.
“The Commission has printed 13,868,441 PVCs for all new valid registrants as well as applicants for transfer or replacement of cards,” the statement reads.
“Nevertheless, issuing officers should compile any complaints about non-availability of cards and forward them to their immediate supervisors for the attention of Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) who shall compile and forward them for necessary action.
“The Commission once again appreciates the patience and perseverance of citizens as we continue to finetune our process to make the collection of PVCs easier.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has said it will remove the former Director-General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Doyin Okupe, from its watchlist following his arrest by the Department of State Security Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Thursday, January 12.
According to EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwajuren, DSS acted on a watchlist request made in July 2016, before the recent conviction of Okupe.
The statement read;
“The Department of State Services, DSS, today, January 12, informed the commission of the interception of Dr. Doyin Okupe, former presidential adviser, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
“The service acted on a watch-list request issued on July 18, 2016, over six years before his recent conviction on money laundering charges by the Federal High Court, Abuja.
“The commission was in the process of formally lifting the watch-list before his interception and will expedite action in this regard.”
Comedian AY has explained why some celebrities have not gone public with those they are supporting in the 2023 general election.
According to the comedian, most celebrities have become slaves to fear during election period, because they can be blacklisted or attacked by clueless thugs.
AY further appealed to Nigerians to stop putting celebrities under pressure.
President Muhammadu Buhari has again asked representatives of foreign governments not to meddle in Nigeria’s internal affairs and the 2023 general election.
The President renewed the call when he received Letters of Credence from Ambassadors of Switzerland, Sweden, Republic of Ireland, the Kingdom of Thailand, the Republic of Senegal and the Republic of South Sudan at the State House.
Buhari also called for cooperation and collaboration from countries in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to overcome challenges in West Africa.
He further revealed that Nigeria is working closely with ECOWAS to deal with insecurity in the region and also implement strategies to contain the spate of unconstitutional changes in government in the sub-region.
Buhari further appealed to friendly countries to support efforts to address the challenge of insecurity, fight against corruption, diversification of the economy, and our efforts in promoting good governance.
The immediate-past Director-General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Doyin Okupe, has said that his rearrest by the Department of State Service on the request of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, was an ”error.” Okupe was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport this morning, Jan. 12.
Speaking on Twitter following his release, he explained that his passport had long been withheld by the Federal High Court Abuja even before finding him guilty of violating sections of the Money Laundering Act that attracted two and a half years imprisonment.
He added that senior officers of the EFCC in Lagos and Abuja have apologised for the error in his arrest.
THE People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Ondo State, yesterday, raised the alarm over the attack of its members in Idanre Local Government Area of the state by alleged soldiers.
The party accused the lawmaker representing Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency, Mr. Tajudeen Adefisoye, of masterminding the attack on its members and the destruction of shops where members were holding a meeting.
Adefisoye, who is the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Army, had accused some PDP youths of attacking his convoy, last Saturday, in the town, injuring his supporters.
The PDP alleged that the invasion by the alleged fake soldiers was a reprisal attack by the APC lawmaker.
Reacting to the invasion, the Director of Media and Publicity of PDP, in Idanre council area, Mr Fasoranti Adeyemi, in a statement, said:
“The military action started around 5:45 pm and lasted till 7:05 pm which resulted in the destruction of shops and property.
“No amount of threats and intimidations will stop Idanre/Ifedore from voting PDP candidates in February/March 2023 and from winning.”
Reacting to the alleged invasion, the lawmaker, Mr Adefisoye, denied the allegations, saying he didn’t bring soldiers to the town.
Adefisoye said:
“I didn’t bring soldiers to Idanre. It was the candidate of PDP for the House of Representatives, Festus Akingbaso, and his supporters that attacked me.
“They destroyed my cars and the windscreen of my car was pierced by a bullet.”
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Ondo Police Command, Funmi Odunlami, said the matter was under investigation.Odunlami said:
“We quickly moved in to ensure peace in the community as investigations have started with a view to apprehending perpetrators of such a dastard act.
“This is the electioneering period. You would want to bring in someone that will represent you. There is no justification for taking anybody’s life.
“We will get to the root of the matter and ensure we get those involved arrested.”
Barely four days after raising alarm over a possible postponement or cancellation of the 2023 polls due to the increasing spate of insecurity in some parts of the country, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Wednesday, January 11, made a U-turn saying nothing would stop the conduct of the polls on February 25 and March 11.
Recall that INEC’s Chairman, Board of Electoral Institute (BEI), Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, had on Monday, January 9, warned that the general election faces serious threats of cancellation and postponement if security challenges across parts of the country fails to improve.
Zuru, who represented the commission’s chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, at the validation of election security training resources in Abuja, also expressed concerns that the cancellation or postponement of the elections due to insecurity in some areas would not only hinder the declaration of elections results, but also precipitate a constitutional crisis.
However, in his keynote address at the presentation of the National Register of Voters to the 18 registered political parties in Abuja, yesterday, INEC Chairman, Prof Yakubu, said security agencies have given strong assurances of adequate security and safety of electoral officials to allow for the conduct of peaceful and credible polls across states.
In his words
“The commission is not contemplating any adjustment to the election timetable, let alone the postponement of the general election.
For the avoidance of doubt, the presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Saturday February 25, 2023 while Governorship and State Assembly elections will hold two weeks later on Saturday, March 11, 2023.
The repeated assurance by the security agencies for the adequate protection of our personnel, materials and processes also reinforces our determination to proceed. The 2023 general election will hold as scheduled. Any report to the contrary is not the official position of the commission.”
Hon Aderoboye Samuel, the lawmakwer representing Odigbo Constituency II as Deputy Speaker of Ondo Assembly has been sacked by an Ondo High Court sitting in Akure.
The court also ordered the Assembly to immediately reinstate Hon Iroju Ogundeji as its Deputy Speaker.
Ogundeji, who represents Odigbo Constituency 2, was impeached for alleged gross misconduct.
The Nation reported that he was suspended in July 2020 and efforts he made to resume plenary following court orders failed.
The court which nullified the 2020 impeachment of Ogundeji as the Deputy Speaker, also ordered Aderoboye to stop parading himself as the Deputy Speaker.
In AbujaThe President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Wednesday, met with executives of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria at the State House in Abuja.
One of Buhari’s critics, Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, was one of the bishops who attended the meeting.
The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, on Wednesday said Nigerians who will vote for the ruling All Progressives Congress to retain power in the forthcoming 2023 election, “love suffering.”
The AAC flag bearer said this during an interview on ‘The Roundtable’ organised by PUNCH Newspapers.
Sowore when asked if he would be shocked should the APC presidential candidate win the 2023 election said two things would be involved if the APC wins – either through rigging or the people who would vote for them aren’t tired of suffering.
He further questioned why it seemed Nigerians had a track record of supporting their “abusers.”
A livid Sowore said if the APC wins, “I’ll be surprised but first we will need to analyse two things.
“First is if there was a credible election because the APC is used to winning elections that don’t happen. Very shady party, the same thing applied to the PDP when they were in power (at the centre).
“Secondly, if it is true they won the election, then we would need to examine Nigerians as a people, if there is something wrong with our ability to take punishment. Do we ever get tired of punishment? Do we ever get tired of being abused?
“Why will a people be seemingly convenient with hardship? It’s nothing new anyway, but I’m just reiterating it. I have asked myself this question many times.
“Sometimes, you read comments by pundits with ignorance and very holistical views about the state of the nation, you will question what is wrong with us. And some of them are people you happen to respect.”
He continued, “Some would say with authority that the position of the government is the best. They did it when June 12 election was annulled; they did it when former President Olusegun Obasanjo wanted to run for third term, with some defending that Nigeria had never had a leader like him so he should run for third term.
“They also did it during (Gen Sani) Abacha’s time, five political parties came together and were swearing that he was the best thing that could ever happen to Nigeria; but the day he died, they sang a different tune.
“At the end of the day, we need conscious citizens to remain steadfast and regardless of who wins this election, we will all bear the consequences of our actions,” he concluded.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has been caught on tape admitting his involvement in a complex conspiracy that for years took advantage of federal contracting expenditures.
This was disclosed in a viral audio shared by Atiku’s former aide, Michael Achimugu where the former vice-president was narrating how he took charge of setting up onshore shell businesses to serve as a conduit for syphoning significant sums from public works contracts for himself and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Obasanjo was Nigeria’s President between 1999 and 2007 while Atiku was the Vice President.
Atiku also revealed how their government designated some funds stolen during the process to political allies to fund their party’s activities without traces.
He said,
“What happened was when we came into office and I advised the president against open corruption.
“I told him to give me three people you trust and I will prepare three companies in which they will be subscribers or rather the directors.
“So that if there is any contract that we give they will act like consultants and they are given a fee. That fee is what we use to fund the party.”
Mr Abubakar specifically stated in the audio that Obasanjo gave him the name of Otunba Oyewole Fasawe, Andy Uba as well as another politician from Borno State whom he said died in a plane crash to serve as fronts.
“I now incorporated companies and put them as subscribers. One of the companies was Marine Float,” he added.
The PDP presidential hopeful further admitted to having collected N100 million bribe from Mr Joshua Dariye, a former Plateau State governor, which was paid directly to Marine Float, one of the three firms he registered.
Dariye was convicted of criminal misappropriation and criminal breach of trust and was found to have looted N2 billion in public funds during his time as governor between 1999 and 2007.
Atiku continued:
“When the governor sent donations, he sent it to Marine Float. It stayed in Marine Float. One of the subscribers of Marine Float was Otunba Fasawe.
That was where the N100 million went to. It did not go to Atiku Abubakar. It went to Marine Float. Marine Float was a special-purpose vehicle,” Mr Abubakar said, adding that that was the way he “handled it”.
Mr Abubakar said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission later probed Marine Float accounts “very well” but still “found nothing” linking him to its fraudulent activities.
In 2007, Nigerian senators accused Atiku Abubakar of diverting more than $100m (£51m) in public funds to private interests.
A Senate inquiry recommended that Atiku should be prosecuted for syphoning off money to companies he was connected to.
The Senate launched the investigation after the then-president, Obasanjo, forwarded charges made by Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency against Atiku.
In a report presented to the Senate, the investigating panel said it agreed with the findings that Atiku helped divert $145m from Nigerian government accounts to banks.
However, nothing came out of the investigation and findings made by the panel.
Abba Bichi who is the son of the Director-General of the Department of State Security has denied reports claiming his mum, Aisha, ordered men of the DSS to assault the New Nigerian Peoples Party governorship candidate in Kano state, Abba Yusuf, at the Aminu Kano International Airport’s VIP lounge on Sunday, January 8.
It was reported that Aisha Bichi ordered the arrest of Yusuf following a confrontation they had at the airport.
According to the publication, the governorship candidate’s convoy caused traffic congestion which prevented Bichi’s convoy from gaining access to the VIP lounge.
An argument reportedly ensued and it is alleged that Mrs Bichi ordered her security details to arrest Abba Yusuf.
It is also alleged that Mrs Bichi ordered the assault of one of Abba Yusuf’s aide, Garba Kilo, pictured far left above, who she spotted filming the altercation.
However in a post shared on his Instagram page, Abba Bichi, denied the claims.
His post reads;
One of his goons attempted to go after the wife of the dg that’s when the DSS agents attached to her neutralise him which resulted in his injuries.”
”The wife of the DG DSS never ordered the arrest of abba Gida gida or the killing of his political goon! The convoy of the dg DSS wife was blocked by the thugs of abba and the DSS agents demanded entrance into the airport which the goons denied, the agents approached and the goons turned violent while abba Gida gida was watching from his car while all of this was unveiling!
The DSS agents decided to make entry again into the airport then abba Gida gida who was in his car decided to come down from his car and started harassing the DSS agents and ordered his goons to be violent, while all of this was happening the wife of the dg DSS came down from her car and pleaded with abba Gida gida to let it go which he turned on the wife of the dg and started raining insults on her.
The Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Gani Adams, has dismissed as untrue reports that members of the Oodua Peoples Congress were involved in the crisis that erupted in Ojota, Lagos, on Monday.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, Adams said the Ojota rally came as a surprise, adding that none of his members were part of the crisis.
“Let me clear the air on the crisis that had engulfed Ojota this morning. There were unconfirmed reports linking members of the OPC to the mayhem. I want to state it clearly that none of our members were at the scene of the incident.
“The OPC is not against the liberation of the Yoruba race, however, it is a fact that the struggle for the liberation of the Yoruba race is an inalienable right of all the Yorubas to champion self-determination. We are not part of the peaceful rally held in Ojota.“Our position on regionalism is very clear. It is sacrosanct because that is what we are seeking at the moment.
“Nigeria should be restructured to full regional autonomy, where each region will be at liberty to operate at their own pace.
“It is unfortunate that the report was done in bad faith to discredit our organisation.
“So members of the public should not be deceived by unconfirmed reports.
“Information at my disposal from the visual contents of happenings in Ojota indicated a peaceful rally that later went awry, leaving in its wake a bitter experience that led to the death of one of the Yoruba nation agitators.
“It is unfortunate that such a crisis could lead to such fracas that eventually claimed one life,” he said.