Politics

Police take over Cross River Assembly after court judgment

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Following a court judgement that sacked 18 lawmakers of the Cross River State House of Assembly, different units of the Nigeria Police Force have moved into the Assembly complex on Tuesday, blocking all entrances into and out of the premises.

Staff who reported for work were turned back by the heavily armed policemen who also chased away hangers on, contractors and anyone loitering about the vicinity of the Assembly.

According to a staff of the Assembly who confirmed the development to Ripples Nigeria, the police teams arrived the complex as early as 6am and cordoned off the whole area to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

The police came in their large number as early as 6am from different units including the anti-kidnapping and cultism squad and the regular policemen, armed to the teeth.

“They occupied the Assembly complex immediately and cordoned off the surroundings, preventing staff from going inside”, the staff said.

The presence of the policemen may not be unconnected with the ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday sacking the lawmakers for dumping the political party under which banner they won their seats.

The court presided over by Justice Taiwo Taiwo, had ordered the removal of the 18 lawmakers from the State and two in the House of Representatives for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in May 2021, along with Gov. Ben Ayade.

Politics

Court fixes Friday to hear PDP suit against Gov Ayade’s defection

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A Federal High Court, Abuja, has scheduled Friday for the hearing of a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Tuesday, reported from Court 7, where Justice Taiwo presides, that the judgment in suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/975/2021 filed by the PDP against Cross River governor and his deputy will come up on Friday, March 25.

In its suit, the counsel to the PDP, Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, had filed the suit before Justice Taiwo Taiwo to seek an order sacking the governor and his deputy over their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), among others.

Ayade had defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress in May 2021.

Speaking during the defection, Ayade said, “We need to join hands with President Buhari in his determination to enhance the fortunes of the country.

“I need all governors to similarly join me and understand my decision to join the APC”.

“…It is my responsibility to bring back Cross River to the centre in order to enhance her fortunes.”

In another twist, Justice Taiwo, on Monday, ordered two House of Representatives members representing Cross River and 18 lawmakers from the state’s House of Assembly to vacate their seats over their defection to APC.

The judge gave the order following a suit filed on Aug. 27, 2021, by the PDP to challenge the 20 lawmakers’ defection to APC, alongside the governor on May 20, 2021.

Politics

Soludo claims Obiano left N300m in cash, billions of naira in debt

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Prof Charles Soludo, the recently-sworn-in Governor of Anambra State has revealed that his predecessor, Willie Obiano left about N300 million in cash, and a debt profile in hundreds of billions of naira as of December 2021.

Soludo stated this on Tuesday during an interview on Arise TV.

The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria further stated that other financial details from January to date were still unavailable.

He, however, said he expects those documents to be made available as soon as possible, stressing that they are public documents.

“In terms of debt I inherited, it runs into hundreds of billions of Naira. In that of cash, we met about 300 million Naira. In fact, let’s not talk about it. Our treasury is funny.

But I hope we shall make money henceforth to help us fulfill our promises for infrastructure and development of the state. But in terms of what I met in our coffers, my brother, it’s pathetic. Please let us not go there. God will help us.

“The audited account of Anambra State is open source where anyone can see the assets and liabilities. We are still going to do the reconciliation and we intend to have a very transparent public financial management,” Soludo stated.

However, Soludo also praised the former Governor saying, “Willie Obiano is an honourable man and he kept his word. He did his best to his utmost and he laid some good foundations and make amendments and continue the trajectory.”

He also explained his insistence on adorning the locally-produced Akwaete clothing, saying it would boost the local industry while creating job opportunities.

“In other climes, the leaders patronize the local industry because that is how to create jobs. We are gonna create millions of jobs, just by patronizing this Akwaete because a lot of people now place orders which can’t be met because it is handwoven.

“We will help them get the technology to mass-produce it in order to get more jobs. This agenda is integral since it is the best way to govern by opening the market for the local industry. Made in Anambra first and we create millions of jobs. It is not a temporary thing, for show; I believe in it,” he said.

Shortly after the expiration of his tenure, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Obiano for the alleged misappropriation of N42 billion belonging to the state.

Politics

Bode George warns PDP against plans to discard zoning

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A former National Deputy Chairman (South-West) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Bode George, has warned the major opposition party against discarding the principle of zoning by leaving its 2023 presidential ticket open for all members to contest.

George, a member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) who gave this warning on Sunday when he appeared as a guest on a Channels Television programme, ‘Sunday Politics,’ said it was important the party took an early position on zoning the presidency to a particular region of the country so as to douse tensions and infighting currently going on within the party.

The elder statesman said he was worried with the controversy being generated over the zoning of the PDP’s presidential ticket as the buildup to the 2023 elections gathered momentum.

“It is mandatory, it is legitimate for the party to say yes, this is zoned to the South or to the North; but to leave it wide open is combustible,” George said.

Insisting that the party should hearken to the yearnings of Nigerians and zone its presidential ticket to the South, George said:

“Whatever has been in the North after eight years must come to the South; whatever has been in the South for the last eight years must go to the North.

“I am looking at it now as an engineer, there is a political equation; when they conceptualised this idea, nobody in their wildest dream thought there could be another political party that could produce the president.

“When you now say you want to throw it (zoning) away, are you telling Nigerians that it is only in certain parts of the country that you have people who have the competence or the courage to rule Nigeria? How can there be peace?

Are you saying we don’t have anybody in the southern part? What we are telling people is that we have no right as a party to tell any individual that you cannot contest, because it will be illegal,” the elder statesman added.

Politics

IPOB is in no position to dictate to Gov. Soludo –Uche Mefor

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Former Deputy-Leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Uche Mefor, has warned the group that it is in no position to dictate to the newly sworn-in Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo, insisting that the group has no option than to embrace dialogue being proposed by Soludo.

Soludo had, shortly after taking oath of office last week, sent an open invitation to IPOB, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), and other agitating groups in the South-East region, to embrace dialogue as a way of resolving their grievances.

In a statement by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful on Sunday, the group said it was willing to work with the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as long as he does not allow “himself to be used to oppress and persecute Biafrans.”

But in a response to the issues raised by IPOB, Mefor said they were in no position to tell Soludo what to do after they had accused the Governor of paying him (Mefor), N5bn to destroy the group in the past.

In a post on his Facebook page on Monday, Mefor wrote:

To you, IPOB-ESN, are you tired of your criminality, targeted assassinations of Igbo Biafrans? This is the soft landing that you need now or lose it for good——for you must get tired after the spirit of land must have finished dealing with all of you who supported this abomination and crimes against humanity against Igbo Biafrans (killing your brothers in the name of freedom).

“Isn’t it instructive that the same man, Prof Soludo, whom you lied and accused of giving Uche Mefor 5billion Naira to destroy IPOB is the same man that you are now shamelessly going back to and who will definitely lead a solution to stop you from your self-inflicted, self-inflicted destruction?

“So, you are now ready to work with politicians? But, of course, this is a fact that your leader, saviour and Messiah, Nnamdi Kanu, has been doing secretly and behind the scenes but unconsionably accusing innocent people of. What a hypocrisy!

In the circumstances, you are drowning and obviously have no choice than to embrace dialogue or perish, so stop bragging, Emma Powerful.

“Finally, here is a test for you: if you know that all these useless, cowardly, delusional conditions you are thoughtlessly dishing out is not that of an empty vessel and that you are not drowning, please continue with your criminality and don’t embrace dialogue.

“Whether you like it or not, you must eventually come back to our position of imbibing human rights principles and democratic ethos (either by proxy or otherwise).”

Politics

Things will get better very soon – APC

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The All Progressives Congress, (APC) has assured Nigerians that the dire situation in the country would soon improve considerably.

APC gave the assurance on Saturday, 19th of March while urging Nigerians to keep hope alive.

The ruling party, in a statement released via Twitter, spoke on the collapse of national grid and described it as ‘regrettable’.

Things will get better very very soon, so keep hope alive, Nigerians!

MINISTRY OF POWER: Recent Grid collapses are “regrettable” & “a direct consequence of a snap on a 330kV transmission line.

Mitigation measures for avoiding such incidence of blackouts are being implemented through several interventions including the Presidential Power Initiative””, it wrote.

https://twitter.com/APCNigeria/status/1505229974533517314?t=98W7PAsNy14bW4WbiE5H4g&s=19

Politics, Videos

Video of former gov, Obiano in EFCC custody leaked

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A video said to be that of former Governor Willie Obiano on Anambra State in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has leaked out and circulating on some social media handles.

In the 13-second video, a man who looks very much like Obiano is seen in boxer shorts and a t-shirt drinking water from a container while consulting with another man.

The video has however not been verified, and the anti-graft agency has not reacted to it.

Obiano was arrested at the Mirtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, on his way to the U.S, soon after he handed over power to his successor, Chukwuma Soludo, in Awka, the state capital.

He is said to be under investigation for alleged misappropriation of state funds.

Politics

BREAKING: Gunmen set fire on home of Ohanaeze leader, Obiozor (Video)

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Some unknown gunmen on Saturday set fire to the country home of Prof George Obiozor, the President General of apex Igbo social cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Neighbour who is also a former Nigerian ambassador to the United States of America.

The Ohanaeze leader was however not at the house located in Awo-Omanma in the Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State when the incident happened.

More to come…

Politics

Jonathan’s former aide, Okupe, says PDP will self-destruct, if…

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Former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okupe, says the main opposition party in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is on the path of implosion and self-destruct if it refuses to zone its presidential ticket to the south.

Okupe, in a series of tweets on Friday, said the party would cease to exist after 2023 if it refuses to heed to the clamour by many Nigerians to zone its presidential ticket.

According to Okupe, the party’s reluctance in declaring its stance on zoning of its presidential ticket is not a good omen, adding that since parties don’t select candidates from the same religion for their presidential and vice-presidential tickets, it would be wrong for a northerner to take over power from President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

Perfidy is the word. Dishonesty, injustice and insensitivity are the hallmarks of the current attitude of the PDP towards its own established policy of fairness and its celebrated mantra for equity and justice in the sharing of political offices through zoning between the north and the south of the country,” Okupe wrote.

This zoning policy had guaranteed stability and entrenched sense of belonging and equity within our polity.

“The efficacy of the zoning principle is so self evident that even rival political parties have adopted it as a political tool to ensure fairness and justice among their own membership.

“For the avoidance of doubt, if Muslim/Muslim or Christian/Christian presidential tickets will not work in Nigeria, so will a northern president from any party, following an uninterrupted 8-year rule by the current president, not work in 2023.

But if the PDP, based on any presumptive consideration, chooses the perilous and clearly unjust and inequitable path of throwing the presidential ticket at its primaries open to all zones, then the PDP will finally, through an unforced error, have activated a self-destruct political app and would have commenced an irreversible journey to perdition,” the PDP stalwart said.

Politics

My achievements, rising profile intimidating Wike – Umahi

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The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, on Tuesday berated his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, over the latter’s remark on the court’s ruling which ordered him to vacate the office.

Wike had in a viral video on Saturday boasted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was behind the Federal High Court, Abuja, ruling which sacked Umahi and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, for defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in November 2020.

He vowed that the party would do everything possible to reclaim its mandate from the Ebonyi  governor even if it means getting to the Supreme Court.

But in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Francis Nweze, the governor said Wike was intimidated by his achievements and rising profile.

He stressed that the Rivers governor’s frequent attack on his personality borne out of envy.

The statement read: “We like to place it on record that Ebonyi State is not in the same geopolitical zone with Rivers State, and so nothing would have prompted Nyesom Wike to make such unguarded comment about Governor Umahi, if he is not a cheeky hatchet job-man.

“Not much surprised at the comment though; we would have ignored it as one of his blubberings but it has become imperative we make a few annotations for clarity.

“Wike, from the statement, has taken responsibility for the pronouncement of the Federal High Court, thus requiring that he explains to Nigerians how he now calls the shots in the nation’s judiciary without being a judge.

“It is on record that Governor Umahi, since the legal battle started, has conducted himself properly by filing an appeal in a court of superior records and did not resort to horse-trading like his counterpart, Nyesom Wike, who speaks as if he has the Nigeria judiciary in his armpit, which is impossible.

We are, however, not unaware that the envy of Nyesom Wike is the earth-shattering accomplishments of the Governor Umahi led administration in Ebonyi State which include, but are not limited to over 17 twin flyovers, state of the art King David University of Medical Sciences, the best of its kind in Africa, the shopping mall, the best International airport in Nigeria, payment of civil servants, massive empowerment of the youths, widows, clergy and so much more.

“While not joining issues with the governor, we would like to remind Wike that hence he riggled himself out of the 2015 Appeal Court ruling dismissing him as governor of Rivers State, Governor Umahi would come out of his current legal issues stronger and unscathed while still proceeding on his presidential ambition gallantly.”

Politics

ASUU’s payment platform, UTAS, failed integrity test, Nigerian govt discloses as strike rages

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In order to resolve the ongoing strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) the Federal Government said it exercised a series of integrity tests on the Universities Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) which eventually failed the tests.

This was disclosed on Wednesday by the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr Kashifu Inuwa, who noted that this failure disqualifies the usage of UTAS as a payment platform for ASUU.

Inuwa stated this when he fielded questions from State House correspondents at the end of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

Inuwa further noted that the UTAS must be upgraded before the FG can consider it as a payment platform for the allowances accruable to ASUU.

The ASUU, on February 14, had embarked on a one-month warning strike to press home their demands involving about N1.3 trillion.

The union also wants the federal government to adopt the UTAS payment platform to replace the Integrated Personnel and Payment Information System (IPPIS).

Inuwa’s disclosure came after the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, confirmed a mandate from the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, requesting a review of the submission and the technical ability of the software.

Consequently, Pantami stated that he forwarded the request to NITDA.

Pantami, however, directed the director-general of NITDA, who sat beside him, to give the situation report on the matter.

Inuwa said: “When we received the request to review UTAS, you know, building complex system like UTAS that involves employees’ personal data, and also payment system, we have to subject it to do best practice tests before approving.

“Normally, when we are reviewing that kind of system, we perform three tests.

“Firstly, because when you’re building a system, it’s not just about the technology, you need to consider the people that will use this system and the process.

If you don’t align people, process, and technology, you will never get a result. No matter how good the technology is, if people don’t understand how to use it, they won’t use it. And if the process is different from the way the people work, also, they won’t use it.

Part of the capability is the technology you need to bring in and the people that will operate the technology before you start thinking of the technology because technology is always a tool that will help you to achieve an objective or to do your work. If you bring the tool before knowing what to do with it, it will be useless.

“So, when they came, we said okay, fine, we will do user acceptance test. ASUU you’ve built this system, but you are not the one that will use the system.

“Secondly, we said we’ll do vulnerability test to test the security integrity of the system. Because if there is vulnerability, people can hack it, can change and it involves financial transactions. Adding zero means a lot. So we say we need to do that.

And also we need to do a stress test. You can build a system on your laptop or on a small computer, use it but when you put so much data it will crash, we need to do the stress test to make sure that the system can do.

“This is on the system. Then also you need to have a data centre where you need to put that system because just having a system without the data centre it will not operate also.

“So, we did all these three tests with them. And the system couldn’t pass. We wrote the reports and submitted it back to the Minister, which he forwarded to all relevant institutions, including ASUU.

“As we speak now, ASUU is working, trying to fix all the issues we highlighted with the system and we will review it again, but that is just one half of the story.’’

According to him, ASUU is yet to inform the federal government where the data centre of the system will be installed.

The second half of the story also, we need to find where to put that system like IPPIS we have a data centre built for it. ASUU where are we going to put it?

“That means we need to have the data centre and also we need to check the data centre to make sure it meets the minimum requirement because if you put people’s information and the system crashes, how can you pay them a salary?

“You need to build redundancy. There are a lot of things to do. So, as we speak, they’re trying to fix all the issues we highlighted with the system. Then when we finish that, we need to look at the second half of the story, getting where to install it.”

Politics

Lagos Catholic Diocese recalls priest suspended for banning Igbo songs in parish

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The Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos has recalled a priest with the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. James Anelu, who was suspended indefinitely for banning Igbo songs and choruses in his parish.

The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Alfred Martins, had on February 8 directed the priest to proceed on an indefinite leave of absence for banning Igbo songs and choruses in his parish.

In a fresh statement issued on Wednesday by Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu, the Director of Social Communications for the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Martins said the church discovered after a thorough investigation into the matter that the post on social media about the alleged ban on Igbo choruses by the priesr did not give a complete picture of the incident.

The statement read: “Fr. James has therefore been asked to return to the Parish in order to remedy the situation created by the social media posting and bring about reconciliation and unity within the parish.”

Politics

Buhari knew Senate will reject his request on Electoral Act – Shehu Sani

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The former lawmaker representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Sheu Sani, said on Wednesday he was not surprised the Senate rejected President Buhari’s request for amendment of the contentious section 84 (12) in Electoral Act.

President Buhari had a few days ago written the National Assembly to amend the section which required political office holders to resign their appointments at least three months before their parties’ primaries or conventions if they are contesting in the elections.

The upper legislative chamber rejected the President’s request at Wednesday’s plenary.

After the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, led the debate for the second reading of the bill, the lawmakers voted “No” when it was put to vote by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.

Sani, who reacted to the development on his Twitter handle, said the President was fully aware that his request would not be granted by the National Assembly.

He said the Senate action was a clear manifestation of deception evident in the country’s polity, stressing Nigerians should not take it as something serious.

Sani wrote: “If you think that the President is not aware that the Senate will throw out the amendment of the electoral act, then you don’t know the art of political deception. The political appointees are now on their own.”

Politics

PDP warns APC aspirants against contesting under current ‘illegal CECPC’

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The fallout of the leadership tussle plaguing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) continues to reverberate across the polity as the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the situation.

This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, titled ‘Leadership crisis: APC is defunct, not eligible to contest elections – PDP’.

Ologungba also warned political aspirants under the APC from contesting under the ‘illegal CECPC’ who can “only produce invalid candidates just like in the case of Zamfara and Rivers States in the 2019 general elections where the APC had invalid candidates due to defective primaries.”

Our Party, therefore, urges aspirants intending to contest in the 2023 general elections under the APC as well as their supporters to read the handwriting on the wall and not waste their resources, time and energy in the APC.”

The main opposition, which described the APC as legally defunct, argued that the unilateral dismissal and replacement of Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, with his Niger State counterpart, Abubakar Bello, by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), as Chairman of the CECPC confirms that the CECPC is an illegal creation lacking statutory powers, authority and legitimacy of party leadership.

“With the absence of a National Working Committee, National Executive Committee, a Board of Trustees or legitimate structures in the States, the APC is plagued by confusion and fierce infighting by its various warlords with two National Chairmen, multiple factions in the states and a national secretariat now taken over by security agencies.

Moreover, by virtue of Section 183 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which bars a sitting governor from holding ‘any other executive office in any capacity whatsoever’ while serving as a State Governor, the APC’s CECPC whether headed by Governor Buni or Governor Bello remains constitutionally invalid.”

On Monday, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) reportedly replaced the chairman of its Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) Mai Mala Buni

This is as the governor of Niger State, Sani Bello met with the leadership of the party at its Abuja secretariat and went on to swear in 36 New states chairmen of the party.

However, Buni described it as fake news, reports that President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered his removal as the party’s helmsman.

Politics

APC accuses Court of ‘judicial error’ over Umahi’s removal as Gov

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The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Federal High Court of ‘judicial error’ after a ruling declaring that Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi and his deputy, Eric Igwe, vacate their seats as the sitting governor and deputy respectively.

This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director (Publicity) APC National Headquarters, Salisu Na’inna Ɗambatta, who described the ruling as a “glaring judicial error” and a “travesty of justice”.

Dambatta said, “The presiding judge committed a glaring judicial error by giving judgment sacking a duly elected and sworn-in governor and his deputy without relying on or citing any provision(s) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or any provision of the Electoral Act that empowers the court to sack a sitting Governor and or his Deputy. This is purely a travesty of justice.”

Furthermore, the APC criticised the Court for referencing Amaechi’s case, noting it was not a case of defection.

In February 2014, the Supreme Court dismissed a suit filed by Celestine Omehia, a former governor of Rivers State, challenging the election of his successor, Rotimi Amaechi.

The court quashed the decision of an appeal court which gave Mr. Omehia a temporary win that suggested he may oust Mr. Amaechi after seven years in office.

The long-drawn case dates back to 2010.

Mr. Omehia was removed from office in October 2007 after holding office for five months. The Supreme Court at the time ruled that he had usurped Mr. Amaechi’s ticket for the election, and accordingly handed Mr. Amaechi the top job.

In its statement regarding the ruling against Umahi, the APC said, “The Electoral Act and the judgment in Amaechi vs INEC contemplate who is the right candidate of the party and not the issue of defection. As you all know, neither Amaechi nor Omehia raised the issue of defection to another political party.

“So it is absolutely ridiculous and questionable, as it is shameful that a judge could decide a weighty matter such as conditions for sacking the governor of a state without relying on any express provision of the Constitution or Electoral Act or Judicial Authority either of superior courts or even courts of coordinate jurisdiction,” the statement read.

Governor Umahi and his deputy had been elected into office in the 2015 and 2019 general elections on the platform of the PDP. However, they defected to the APC in 2020.

Consequently, the PDP approached the court, asking for Umahi’s removal.

In his ruling on Tuesday, Justice Inyang Ekwo ruled that Governor Umahi and his deputy cannot transfer the mandate of the PDP to their current party, the APC.

He described their defection as illegal, null, and unconstitutional.

Politics, World News

‘Putin Has No Idea What’s Coming’: Joe Biden Bars Russian Flights from US Airspace.

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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has tested Joe Biden’s ability to respond rapidly to events without sending American forces into battle.
U.S. President Joe Biden assailed Russian President Vladimir Putin, barred Russian flights from American airspace and led Democratic and Republican lawmakers in a rare display of unity on Tuesday in a State of the Union speech dominated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Let each of us if you’re able to stand, stand and send an unmistakable signal to Ukraine and to the world,” Biden urged Democrats and Republicans
Lawmakers who are deeply divided over taxes, voting rights and gun safety stood together to applaud Ukraine, many waving Ukrainian flags and cheering in the chamber of the House of Representatives. Several women members of Congress wore the flag’s colors of yellow and blue.

In a deviation from his prepared remarks, Biden said of Putin: “He has no idea what’s coming.”

Biden was looking to reset his presidency after a first year in office marked by rapid economic growth and trillions of dollars in new programs, but beset by the highest inflation in 40 years and a lingering coronavirus pandemic.
The annual speech to Congress gave Biden a platform to highlight his agenda, reassure fretful Americans and seek to boost his sluggish poll numbers amid dire warnings his fellow Democrats could face losses in November congressional elections.
The ovation joined by both parties marked a return to tradition for Washington. Two years ago, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was so disgusted with then-President Donald Trump’s claims to be protecting healthcare insurance in his speech that she ripped her copy into pieces behind his back.
“The State of the Union is strong — because you, the American people, are strong,” Biden said. “We are stronger today than we were a year ago.”

For the first time in months, members of Congress were not required to wear masks in the chambers to guard against the pandemic, a sight that could provide helpful optics for the president.
A CNN snap poll of speech watchers showed 41% reacting very positively, 29% somewhat positively and 29% negatively.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has tested Biden’s ability to respond rapidly to events without sending American forces into battle, and lead the West’s response to the most tense period in relations with Russia since the Cold War ended 30 years ago.

The United States and its allies have launched withering sanctions against Russia’s economy and financial system, Putin himself and his inner circle of oligarchs. Biden announced the United States will join other nations in banning Russian flights from American airspace.
The crisis forced Biden, whose chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan last year drew wide criticism, to reshape the speech to focus on uniting Americans around a global effort to punish Moscow and support Kyiv.

He took aim at Putin, saying the Kremlin leader had badly miscalculated how events would unfold and that now “Russia’s economy is reeling and Putin alone is to blame.”
“He thought he could roll into Ukraine and the world would roll over. Instead he met a wall of strength he never imagined.

Lifestyle, Politics, Videos, World News

Nigerians React As Buhari’s Appointee, Nimota Akanbi Turns Policeman To ‘Errand Boy’ At Kwara Event.

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According to Sahara Reporters, the officer identified as Yahaya Abubakar was seen carrying Akanbi’s plate as she went about dishing food.

A video of a police orderly holding a plate of food for his “madam”, Ambassador Nimota Akanbi, at a party has gone viral.

Akanbi is the chairman of the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC). She is also a former Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Netherlands.

The event was said to be a Turbaning ceremony held in Ilorin, Kwara State during the weekend.

In the video, the officer identified as Yahaya Abubakar was seen carrying Akanbi’s plate as she went about dishing food from the array of food provided at the party.

Meanwhile, some Nigerians on social media have expressed disgust at the manner police officers willingly offered themselves to be used by the rich, while remarking that such scenario brings disrespect to the force.

They also faulted the top echelon of the force for prioritising the security of a few wealthy people while the poor masses who are in need of protection from robbers and criminals are left unattended.

Below are some comments

@PoliceNG please try and bring respect back to the uniform. Your men are now gatemen and bag carriers, Umbrella carriers etc this must stop

— Deximal (@greatestskull1) March 2, 2022

The painful part is that Mr. Police may not taste any of those delicacy. Just salivate while others feast.

— Mr. ‘Dipo 🇳🇬 (@edoyakulo) March 2, 2022

Dear @PoliceNG this is what your officers have been reduced to??, lack of security personnel on the streets but carrying food for oga Madam… Shame!!!

— ONI OLUMUYIWA ⚪ (@muyiwhar) March 1, 2022

That’s not a policeman but a domestic staff with police attire.

— È y i t a y ò 𓃵 (@eyiteeonline) March 2, 2022

@PoliceNG there are terms and conditions that prevents police men being used for demeaning tasks such as this when assigning officers to “VIP’s” ….why is this being allowed to happen?? https://t.co/VxUowEYtBP

— Force Majeure 🐺 (@G4cHaMp) March 2, 2022

Now you know the police is their errand boys.
For learned person enslaving another, this is appalling https://t.co/rI5WTYY8wh

— Nnamdi, MD (@Enigma_Gpes) March 2, 2022

Politics, World News

Ukraine Invasion: Reports that Africans are stopped from leaving Ukraine is shockingly racist and in breach of international law – AU

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The African Union has reacted to reports of Africans being stopped from crossing Ukrainian border following the invasion of the European country by its neighbour, Russia.
Macky Sall, chairman of the AU, and Moussa Mahamat, chairperson of the AU Commission, in a statement released on Monday night February 28, said all people irrespective of their racial identity, have the right to flee to safety in times of war.

Countries have been asked by the AU to “respect international law” by showing empathy to all people fleeing the war. According to the union, stopping Africans from fleeing Ukraine is racism and breaches international law.

The statement read;
“The current Chair of the African Union and President of the Republic of Senegal, H.E. Macky Sall, and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, are following closely the developments in Ukraine and are particularly disturbed by reports that African citizens on the Ukrainian side of the border are being refused the right to cross the border to safety.

“The two Chairpersons recall that all people have the right to cross international borders during conflict, and as such, should enjoy the same rights to cross to safety from the conflict in Ukraine, notwithstanding their nationality or racial identity.

“Reports that Africans are singled out for unacceptable dissimilar treatment would be shockingly racist and in breach of international law. In this regard, The Chairpersons urge all countries to respect international law and show the same empathy and support to all people fleeing war notwithstanding their racial identity.

“The Chairpersons commend the efforts by African Union Member State countries and their embassies in neighbouring countries to receive and orientate African citizens and their families trying to cross the border from Ukraine to safety.”

Politics, World News

Cameroonian Forces Encroach Into Nigerian Territory, Seize Farmalands From Nigerians.

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The residents have vehemently protested, saying they were denied access to their farmlands.

Cameroonian armed security operatives have encroached and seized farmlands from Nigerians in border communities, SaharaReporters learnt.

Some residents of Kwaja, a border community in Adamawa State, have cried out, urging the Nigerian government to recover their land from the Cameroonian authorities.

The residents have vehemently protested, saying they were denied access to their farmlands.

Their protest message says, ‘Maintain ICJ position’, ‘We agreed to the 1932 Thompson Marchand Declaration’, We request for Protection from Nigerian Government’.

The community alleged that Cameroonian officials on 14 February, 2022 erected demarcation signs in Kwaja, Kinga, Jugrma, Fajawa Girziya villages in the Mubi South Local Government Area, known for the cultivation of Irish potatoes.

The spokesman for the community, Dr Ibrahim Kwaja said a letter requesting the Nigerian government to protect the rights and interest of the people has been addressed to the federal and state governments and Nigeria/Cameroon Mixed Commission on the boundary, stressing that the community was amalgamated as part of Northern protectorate in 1914.

The letter agrees with the Thompson Marchand declaration which the International Court of Justice accepts as the correct instrument defining the boundary in the Kwaja area against the watershed line.

The letter reads in part, “In respect of the ICJ judgement, we stand to argue that our people from generation have never in any case spread beyond Nigerian boundary.

“We would not continue to watch our community tortured by confiscation of our shelter and farmlands.”

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