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MEETS US IN THE CREEKS NIGER DELTA AVENGERS TELLS MILITARY

Avengers to the military: Meet us in the creeks — 15th August 2016 Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has given tips to Nigerian military on how to win the battle against militancy in the region. The group members dared military to come after them in the creeks rather than remaining in the comfort zone of the cities. The group maintained that its aim is to cripple the nation’s economy and not to kill military officers, noting that avoiding the military was not a sign of weakness. A statement by NDA’s spokesman, Muddoch Agbinibo, said no member of the group had been arrested by the Navy, noting that those arrested were agents of the military who failed in their assignment to get information about NDA. Agbinibo maintained that the household of the militant group remained intact, adding that it was unfortunate that the military was busy killing innocent souls in the region in the name of looking for Avengers and illegal bunkers. “If the Nigeria military is serious about arresting NDA let them come to the creeks of the Niger Delta, that is where we dwell not the city. “ If I (Brigadier General Moduch Agbinibo) were the Commanding Officer NNS Delta (Commodore Joseph Dzunve) and commander of the so-called Operation Delta Safe (Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie), I would have been in the creeks instead of sitting in the comfort of my air-conditioned office,” the statement read. According to the statement, two suspects, including Stanley Tonghan and Felix Miyenminiye, which the Navy claimed to have arrested and subsequently paraded as members of avengers, were ‘sleepers’ agents to track or checkmate the activities and operation of the NDA.” Agbinibo advised elders in the region to be wary of the antics of the Federal Government, adding that the government was not sincere about any negotiation to end hostilities and bring about the needed development of the region. “Can you tell the world the government official you been dialoguing with? Is it the president? Or is any of the committees set up for it? We respect you our elders, as such stop behaving as if the Niger Delta is a seized region and stop acting like you are begging the government for dialogue. “The worse the government will do is to bombard our villages and towns in the name of looking for NDA. So, our elders should tread carefully with the Nigeria government. The reason behind military harassment of towns and villages in the Niger Delta is because NDA has not confronted the Nigeria military in battle. We are not scared in confronting you. The creeks of the Niger Delta belong to us, so defeating the Nigeria military is not hard for us. We have made it clear on many occasions that our business is to cripple the Nigeria economy not to kill military. The Nigeria military should not think we (NDA) avoiding them is a sign of weakness.

EX-MILITANTS:FG BEGS OVER DELAYED. ALLOWANCES

FG begs ex-militants over delayed allowances — 15th August 2016 From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa After several failed promises of the payment of allowances to ex-agitators, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brigadier General Paul Boroh (Rtd) has again, appealed to ex-agitators in the Niger Delta region not to lose hope in the Federal Government. He pleaded that the ex-agitators should continue to have confidence in the ability of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in effecting the payment of their monthly stipends despite seeming hiccups in the payment process. The ex-agitators had suspended protest over the non-payment of their allowances few weeks ago when Boroh promised that the money would be paid in a matter of days. However, the allowances were not paid and there are fears that the ex-agitators might stage a violent protest in the Niger Delta region over the non-payment of the allowances as promised. According to Gen. Boroh, the Central Bank of Nigeria, which is saddled with the responsibility of effecting the payments of stipends directly to the ex-agitators in the region, in line with the Treasury Single Accounts (TSA) payment system, is making every effort to clear the outstanding months, adding that it was only wise to bear with the payment process, which may have its challenges. The Treasury Single Account (TSA) is a public accounting system under which all government revenue, receipts and income are collected into one single account, usually maintained by the country’s Central Bank from where all payments are made. One of the leaders of the ex-agitators, General Yeimowei Ebi, said the ex-agitators were tired of the many failed promises of the payment of the allowances by the Federal Government. He said the ex-agitators would soon hold a crucial meeting to determine the next line of action.

SARAI, EKWEREMADU AGF DIRECTS EFCC, ICPC, DSS, POLICE ON CASES INVOLVING SARAKI AND OTHERS

AGF directs EFCC, ICPC, DSS, Police on cases involving Saraki, Ekweremadu, others — 10th August 2016 From Godwin Tsa, Abuja The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Department of State Services (DSS) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to forward list of high profile cases they are currently handling to National Prosecution Coordination Committee (NPCC). The prosecutorial agencies are currently prosecuting high profile cases, including the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, among others at the various courts. The AGF issued the directive yesterday at a meeting with the various agencies in his office where he briefed them on the exigency and existence of the committee, and to fashion out a working synergy

between the committee and the agencies. A statement by Head of Communication and Public Affairs, Salihu Othman Isah, who doubles as the Special Adviser to AGF, said Malami’s message was read by the Special Assistant to the President on Research and Special Project attached to the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Sylvester Imhanobe. Imhanobe, who is also the secretary of the committee used the occasion to inform the agencies of the objectives for setting up the prosecution committee. The AGF said for a case to be tagged high profile, it must have overriding public interest elements, but, ultimately, he determines what case is tagged a high profile case. “He added that sometimes, the quantum of value of a case and its sensitivity also influences whether a case is a high profile case or not.

According to him, members of the committee are mainly his aides as well as eight external members selected on the basis of experience and expertise, stressing that heads of agencies are not part of the NPCC due to their busy schedules.

APPEAL COURT KEEPS IKPEAZU, OGAH WAITING

Abia guber: Appeal Court keeps Ikpeazu, Ogah waiting — 10th August 2016 •Reserves judgment •Sheriff, Makarfi factions clash in court From Godwin Tsa, Abuja The Abuja division of the Court of Appeal yesterday reserved judgments in the six appeals relating to the Abia State governorship tussle. There was, however, a mild drama as former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, Basil Maidugu, Anicho Okoro struggled on who should be the representative of the party in court. They were, however, stopped by the court which ordered that they should carry their rivalry to the party secretariat. In another drama, the Appeal Court rejected the attempt by the Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction of the PDP to represent the party in the six appeals. A counsel from the group, Mr. Olagoke Fakunle had attempted to appear for PDP, but Justice Ogunwumiju presiding held that since he was not a party on record, he cannot be allowed to scuttle the hearing of the appeals. Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu who appeared for PDP had urged the court to void the letter brought by Fakunle on the ground that it was a worthless document because it had no seal of any lawyer. The court had earlier despatched the governorship candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Alex Oti and KOWA party, Dan Onyeonagu from participating in the legal battle on the grounds that they were busy-bodies and meddlesome interlopers in the case between Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and Dr. Samson Ogah. Meanwhile, the appellate court heard a total of six appeals filed by governor Ikpeazu, (three appeals) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP two appeals) and Friday Nwosu (one appeal) respectively. The court after listening to submissions from counsel to both parties, reserved judgment to a date to be communicated to parties. A Federal High Court had on June 27 in two separate judgments nullified the election of Governor Ikpeazu’s election after holding that he submitted false information regarding his tax clearance certificate. Justice Okon Abang also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to issue Dr. Samson Ogah a certificate of return. The judge also directed INEC to issue a fresh Certificate of Return to Ogah, who was the first runner-up in the governorship primary conducted by the PDP on December 8, 2014. He ordered that Ogah’s full entitlements be restored to him as governor of Abia State. In the main appeal by Governor Ikpeazu, the Appeal Court was urged to set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court. The governor through his counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) claimed that the court erred in its conclusion when the PDP guidelines and tax receipts were not made by his client but from official quarters. The lawyer argued that his client had always been a public servant and it was unimaginable that tax papers of a public officer would be queried the way the judge did. He claimed further that the trial court erred in interpretation of section 31 of the Electoral Act 2010 on the basis that there was no evidence before the court that the tax papers were false. Olanipekun submitted further that the court acted like a magician when it gave interpretation to PDP guidelines that was not before it. In addition, he said it was wrong for the court to rely on mere disposition by Ogah to arrived at a final conclusion instead of a copy of PDP guidelines. ‎However, counsel to Samson Ogah, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN) submitted that the judgment of the lower court was misconstrued by Governor Ikpeazu and urged the court to dismiss the appeal. Izinyon argued that the issue of forgery was not before the court but it was the case of alleged presentation of false information to Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) for the purpose of getting nomination as a candidate for the governorship slot of the PDP in Abia. Besides, the lawyer submitted that Ikpeazu did not dispute that the information he swore before the Commissioner of oath was false adding that the case of the appellant was compounded when one of his witnesses admitted error in the computation of his tax‎ paid. Izinyon therefore urged the court to dismiss the appeal and uphold the judgement of the trial court. On their part, the PDP ‎and Friday Nwosu did not opposed the appeal of Governor while INEC said it would abide by the decision of the court. In another appeal against the judgement in favour of Messrs Obasi Ekeagbara and Chukwuemeka Mba, Governor Ikpeazu urged the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgment on the ground that the originating summons was not signed by counsel as required by law. Olanipekun who argued the case of the governor informed the court that the amended originating summons signed later by a counsel cannot cure the defect because a defective originating summons cannot be cured by an amendment. In opposing the submissions of Olanipekun, Counsel to the respondents, Dr. Izinyon said arguments of ‎counsel cannot take the place of evidence before the court. Izinyon insisted that the amended originating summons contained a signature of a counsel, Mr. Mazi Ozuaka and urged court to dismiss the appeal. Justice Morenikeji Ogunwumiju after taking arguments from counsel to parties in the six appeals reserved judgment. Earlier, the Appeal Court had rejected the attempt by the Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction of the PDP to represent the party in the six appeals. A counsel from the group, Mr. Olagoke Fakunle (SAN), had attempted to appear for PDP, but Justice ‎Ogunwumiju presiding, expressed surprise over the action and held that since, he was not a party on record, he cannot be allowed to scuttle the hearing of the appeals. Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) who appeared for PDP had urged the court to void the letter brought by Fakunle on the ground that it was a worthless document because it has no seal of any lawyer. ‎In another drama, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, former National Chairman of the PDP, had sought to be recognised as representative of PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) while another PDP chieftain, Barrister Basil Magudu who claimed to be deputy National Legal Adviser and Mr. Anicho Okoro, Deputy Director Administration at PDP also sought to be recognised as representative of the party. In the confusion that ensued, Justice Ogunwumiju warned that they should not exhibit any act of indiscipline before the court or show their murky waters in court but at the party secretariat. In his notice of appeal filed by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN the Abia state governor raised five grounds of appeal upon which he asked the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgment and orders of the high court. The governor said that the Federal High Court lacked the power to order him to vacate the seat of Abia State Governor. The notice of appeal reads: “The trial judge erred in law when he ordered as a consequential order that the appellant vacates his office‎ as the Governor of Abia state immediately when there was no jurisdiction in the Federal High Court to remove, vacate the occupier of the office of the governor of a state or order the removal of such officer after the unsuccessful challenge of the result of the election at the Tribunal and swearing in of the appellant as the governor.” The governor said that the only power, authority and order exercisable by the Federal High Court was to disqualify the candidate from contesting the election based on section 31(6) of the Electoral Act 2010. Ikepazu also faulted the judge when he held that he did not pay his tax for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013, at when due, when he was a public officer whose tax deduction was under Pay As You Earn (PAYE) scheme where tax deductions were from the source of his monthly salary by the tax authorities who isssued all the tax receipts and certificates. He also said that the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Services that issued him with the tax certificates had not declared the certificates forged and that the trial court did not invite the issuing authorities to give evidence in the course of the trial. Ikpeazu said that the plaintiff Dr Samson Udechukwu Ogah was not a staff of the Abia Board of Internal Revenue and did not any staff of the board to testify ‎that the tax certificates were forged. He accused the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang of violating his right to fair hearing by embarking on judicial investigation without giving him (Ikepazu) the opportunity to address the court on the issue. The notice of appeal also states: “The learned trial judge erred in law when he held that the appellant presented false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission by his ingenous meticulous study and investigation of documents filed in courts ‎in the recess of his chambers and thereby violated the right of the appellant to fair hearing.” The governor said that the judge had no duty to investigate the contents of documents dumped on the court in the recess of his chambers with a view to finding for the plaintiff. “The decision of the judge which arose from the judicial investigation without opportunity to the appellant violated the appellant’s right to fair hearing”, the governor said. Ikepazu also rejected the decision of the high court declaring him unqualified to be nominated as the primary election conducted by his party because false information was supplied to INEC‎. According to him, INEC Form CF001 which the judge relied on was not one of the grounds of qualification to contest the primary election of PDP. He said that the judge misconceived the presented by the parties and thereby arrived at a wrong conclusion which occasioned a grave miscarriage of justice. Meanwhile, the governor’s party, the PDP has also rejected the judgment and filed a separate appeal. The party‎ said that the trial court erred in law when it held that it had jurisdiction to hear the suit which was on whether section 24 (f) of the 1999 constitution was complied with. It said:‎ “The honourable trial court misdirected itself when it construed the provisions of the PDP constitution to the detriment of the appellant without giving the appellant a chance to be heard and thereby occasioned miscarriage of justice.” In the particulars of the error, the appellant said Ukeagbara and Mba being “the 1st and 2nd respondents in the appeal did not pray the trial court to construe the provisions of the PDP constitution. “No evidence was led that the said Uche Sampson Ogah participated in the 2015 Abia State gubernatorial elections yet the trial court declared him as winner of the said elections contrary to the express provisions of section 141 of the Electoral Act.” The PDP urged the Court of Appeal for “an order setting aside the judgment of the Federal High Court of Nigeria in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/10862014 delivered on the 27th day of June, 2016.”

OHANAEZE:PANIC AS POLICEMAN OPENED FIRE AT NEC MEETING

 Panic as policeman opened fire at Ohanaeze NEC meeting — 23rd July 2016 , ENUGU THERE was panic yesterday at the Enugu Park Avenue National Secretariat of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisa­tion, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, as a policeman attached to one of the leaders opened fire at the beginning of the National Execu­tive Committee (NEC) meeting of the group. The gunshot was said to have jolted the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Enwo Igariwey; the Secretary General, Dr.

Joe Nworgu and other leaders of the organisation who had gathered for the meeting. But when contacted on phone, Dr. Nworgu denied that there was shooting at the secretariat. But Saturday Sun reliably gathered that as the NEC meeting was about to commence two factions of the Ohanaeze Youth Wing (OYC), the youth arm of the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation, who had raised questions over the han­dling of funds at the just organised Igbo Unity Forum in Owerri, Imo State, dis­agreed. Trouble was said to have started when the National Publicity Secretary of the youth wing, Obinna Adibe, who belongs to the Arthur Okafor faction, came with some policemen from the Enugu Area Command to arrest one of the youth leaders, Alex Okemiri. Adibe had earlier in a petition to the Enugu Area Command also accused Okemiri, who belongs to the faction of the National President, Ikechukwu Isiguzoro, of using his name without his permission to send out text messages for meetings.

While the policemen from the Area Command who were in plain clothes were trying to drag Okemiri into a wait­ing vehicle, the Deputy Presi­dent of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Hon. Ugochukwu Onyema, was said to have allegedly in­structed a policeman attached to him to stop Okemiri’s ar­rest. Consequently, the mo­bile policeman was alleged to have shut the gates of the secretariat, raised his rifle and fired into the air, thereby caus­ing panic at the secretariat. The Ohanaeze President General who was said to be ruffled by the gunshot started appealing for calm between the warring factions of the youth wing. An eyewitness said Ig­ariwey pleaded with Adibe to tell the plain-clothe po­licemen with him to leave Okemiri and allow him to use internal mechanism of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to resolve the matter. The pleadings were heeded.

The policemen from the Area Command, who repri­manded the mobile police­man for obstructing the ar­rest, later left the Ohanaeze Secretariat while the NEC meeting resumed. The meeting was expected to deliberate on the report of a panel set up by Ohanaeze Ndigbo to resolve the crisis in the youth wing of the or­ganisation, as well as look at the Owerri Igbo Unity Forum handled by Chief On­wuka Ukwa, who they said is yet to give account of the outing bankrolled by Imo governor Rochas Okorocha.

IPOB: OUR FREEDOM IS NEAR

Biafra: Our freedom is near –IPOB — 23rd July 2016  ONITSHA THE Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has said that it will enter the Guinness book of records for be­ing the only freedom fighting organization to organ­ise first peaceful protests worldwide at the same time and hour since the creation of the universe. The group noted that they achieved the feat be­cause members were dedicated and committed to the noble project of restoring the Biafra state. The group also commended the former Vice Presi­dent Dr. Alex Ekwueme, renowned jurist and former Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Prof. Ben Nwabueze, Dr. Arthur Nwankwo, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (retd) and others for shunning and staying away from the ‘Owerri Jamboree’ meeting of Igbo elders. The Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB Mr. Emma Powerful in a statement urged members to maintain the non-violence approach to their struggle because “the freedom is near.” “We Biafrans should stop seeing ourselves as nothing in the face of our enemies, you are kings and queens of the land of the rising sun, you are all heroes of Biafraland becauseChukwuokike Abiama (God Almighty) used our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB members to fight for the total liberation of Bi­afra people. “They thought we are dead, but they don’t know that we are like seeds in the river side, they try to break our souls with lies and insults, called us war­riors of Facebook but today IPOB and Biafra are ev­erywhere in the world today. “They don’t know that IPOB has entered the Guin­ness book of records in the world because IPOB is the only freedom fighting organization that organ­ised first of its kind and conducted peaceful protests worldwide at the same time and hour since the cre­ation of this universe because we are selected and called for this noble project.”

BIAFRA: LET NNAMDI KANU GO NOW, JOSEPH EVAH TELLS BUHARI — 23rd July 2016 PRESIDENT Muhammadu Bu­hari has been advised to listen to the advice of those calling for re­structuring of the country or risk the nation being set on fire. While describing the calls for restructuring as patriotic, Evah said: “It is better Buhari listens to these voices of reason. He should heed the calls for restructuring. Without restructuring, there will be no peace in Nigeria. Without restructuring, Nigeria is doomed. Those urging him to snub the calls of patriots calling for re­structuring are not only Buhari’s enemies, they are enemies of Ni­geria.” Evah who spoke with SATUR­DAY SUN’s TUNDE THOM­AS in Lagos also talked at length on other national issues including agitations for the state of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu’s detention, recent meeting between South East and South South states Houses of Assembly lawmakers, develop­ments in the Niger-Delta, Federal Government’s negotiation with Niger Delta Avengers and a host of others. Legislators from the South East and South-South geo-political zones recently held a meeting and one of the outcome of their deliberations was the de­mand for 65 percent derivation instead of the present 13 percent derivation for oil-producing communities. What is your re­action to that? That is completely rubbish. Rubbish. What is 65 percent? What we are demanding for is 100 percent Resource Control as true federalism demands. In countries where true federalism is practiced including the United States, resource control is 100 percent – federating states or units control their own resources, they only pay tax to the govern­ment at the centre, that is, the central or Federal Government. So, why should our own be different? Our practice of federal­ism is a mockery and the earlier we do the needful, the better. We are sitting on a keg of gunpow­der which can explode anytime. People are now wise, the era of deceit and oppression is over, and this is why it is better for the President to heed the voices of reason, calling for the restructur­ing of Nigeria. We can’t continue this way. To continue this way, we are toying with fire. The ear­lier we do the needful, the better for all of us. You were saying that we need to do the needful …? Cuts in … Yes. We need to cor­rect the wrongs of the past. It was not like this way before. When Nigeria was practicing true fed­eralism during the First Republic, before the military intervention, each region was in control of its resources, and they were using the resources to develop their regions, but they were paying taxes to the Federal Government. But when the military came, they changed everything. They turned Nigeria into a unitary state, and by doing that, they cancelled the existing arrangement, and took over the resources of the regions and concentrated everything at the centre. This was how oil was hijacked from the oil-producing commu­nities of the Niger-Delta – Unfor­tunately at that time, the people of the Niger-Delta were about to enjoy or have control over their God-given resources. When the military now took over, they became partisan, they abolished federalism, and ad­opted unitary system; an arrange­ment in which power was con­centrated in the centre. The military did not only do this enormous damage, they also became partisan. They started us­ing the wealth from oil produc­tion to develop only a section of the country, the North, mostly and other parts of the country, while the oil owners were ne­glected and abandoned to wallow in poverty. This is why I described all our former military rulers as plunder­ers –they don’t have conscience. They owed the people of Niger- Delta unreserved apology. These military rulers, all of them Ba­bangida, Murtala Muhammed, Gowon, Abacha, Buhari, all pauperised the people of Niger- Delta. They took our oil blocks, shared it among themselves. They used our wealth in Niger- Delta to develop the North. They should seek forgiveness. The only exception is General Yaku­bu who has human face, and even tried his best to develop Nigeria through various programmes he executed for the nation when he was in office. Gowon embarked on National Development Programme in phases, and not only that, he in­troduced NYSC Scheme in 1973 as a way of promoting and forg­ing peace and unity in the country, May Almighty God bless him. He also embarked on massive in­frastructural development of the country. Gowon is the only one I respect among former northern military rulers, but other northern military rulers came to imple­ment the northern agenda. This is why people like Senator Joseph Waku, a man I will describe as an illiterate and going senile, will open his mouth and abuse the people of the Niger-Delta, calling us blackmailers. Not only that, he went as far as saying that the oil in the Niger-Delta belong to all Nigerians. The old man is go­ing senile. They should take him for a check-up. If Waku is not an illiterate, why would he open his mouth and talk rubbish. Did he not attend school? I doubt wheth­er he attended any school at all, how much more, having kmow­lege of the history of Nigeria. Waku should go back to school. He should not try to re­write history. For the people in the Niger- Delta, we have no interest in their groundnut pyramid in Kano, what does not belong to us, we won’t lay claim to it. Let Waku and people like him in the North do whatever they like with their groundnut, they should not say that oil belongs to them in the North. Anybody making such stupid claim needs his head to be reexamined. This restructuring you were talking about, opponents of the calls …? Cuts in … Yes, I have no regret backing the calls for restructur­ing. There is no alternative to it. Let me tell President Buhari the home truth, whether we like it or not, for the next three years before his first term will expire, the calls for restructuring will get louder and louder. This is just the beginning. Buhari can’t run away from restructuring. To do other­wise is to invite more problems to himself. One of the best way out for Buhari is to implement aspects of 2014 Confab Reports organized by his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan. It is one of the ways out of the quagmire. It is unfortunate that some hawks and selfish aides surrounding Buhari are advising the President not to have anything to do with the Jonathan’s confab reports and recommendations. What we are talking about here is not Jonathan’s person­ality or face. You may not like Jonathan’s face, but what we are talking about here is about Nige­ria’s progress and development. If Jonathan’s confab reports and recommendations contained so­lutions to our problems, why not take those parts that will help move Nigeria forward? Buhari should be careful with some of his aides. They are giving him advice that will create problems for him. This is one of the prob­lems our national leaders have been facing, and also one of the reasons they fail. They are surrounded mostly by evil men and women who call themselves advisers–these so-called advisers will never tell our leaders the home truth – they are always in Aso Rock. They were there during Babangida’s time. they were there during Abacha’s time, They were also there during Yar’Adua, Obasanjo and Jona­than’s tenures. They call themselves advisers but in reality, they are enemies of the nation –that Aso Rock needs deliverance. It needs to be purged of evil men and women who always deceive our leaders and prevent them from doing good works. At a time, I was invited to Aso Rock during Obasanjo and Jona­than’s time, and I told all their so-called advisers the truth. I lambasted them. I asked some of them why were they not willing to tell our leaders the truth? Hear what some of them said. Some of them told me that they prefered to tell our leaders what would be sweet to their ears for them to keep their jobs, while others said that to say the truth or tell the truth to the President amounted to changing the status quo. I told them that prosperity and God would not forgive them if they failed to say the truth or tell our leaders the truth. Some of them became annoyed and told the security agents that “why do you allow this troublesome man to come to the Villa? We don’t want people like Evah in the Vil­la. He is a trouble-maker. Before I left the Villa, I told them that I was not interested in visiting the Villa and that anytime I had access to the Villa, I would always say the truth whether in or outside the Villa. The agitation for Biafra, does it fall under the calls for restruc­turing, or where do you place it? The call for Biafra is a genu­ine call. It is part of agitation by people who felt oppressed by the system. If things are normal, if there is no injustice or persecu­tion or a feeling of it, there won’t be agitations for it. It is not only in Biafra that you have agitations, it is all over the country now. Many people, many sections are aggrieved and that is why I ad­vise President Buhari not to pre­tend that all is well or that there is nothing wrong with Nigeria. Many things are wrong with Nigeria today. The earlier Buhari faces the reality, the better. I’m not a prophet of doom, Buhari or let me say, his administration will not have peace unless these issues of injustice and oppression are addressed. But can the Biafra issue be re­solved, and what is your advice to President Buhari? The first solution to the Biafra problem is that Buhari should free Nnamdi Kanu. The man should not have been detained at all. Kanu has not been violent. He is fighting for the interest of his people. How can you brand somebody asking for justice for his people a criminal? Kanu is not carrying arms. He has not called for armed rebellion against the country. The first step towards peace is to release him, and the Federal Government can then commence dialogue with him and other leaders of the South-East geo- political zone about their griev­ances. Like what happened during Obasanjo’s tenure when Asari Dokubo was detained, and his detention led to upsurge in vio­lence in the Niger-Delta. After some time. Obasanjo called the leaders in the Niger-Delta and he was advised to release Dokubo but with a promise that he was released to elders in the region who would act as guarantors that he would not make trouble again, and that arrangement worked. Asari Dokubo was released to the elders from the Niger-Delta with a pledge that he won’t make trou­ble again while solutions were being found to the grievances of the people then. My advise is that Buhari should release Kanu to a respect­able elder statesman like the for­mer Vice-President, Chief Alex Ekwueme with a provision that he won’t make any pronounce­ment again capable of stoking tension. While he gives that as­surance, then the federal govern­ment and leaders from the south east geo-political zone open the channel to dialogue. It is an act of injustice to keep Kanu behind bars. Keeping him behind bars will continue to win sympathy for him among his fol­lowers especially the youths in the South-east. I can assure you that if Kanu is released today, there will be calm in the South east. If late Chuk­wuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu were to be alive, I would have asked Buhari to release Kanu to him, but Ekwueme is also an­other good replacement. Let Bu­hari try this suggestion, and let’s see how it will work out. Buhari should not allow himself to be taken hostage by some selfish and unpatriotic advisers that will not tell him the truth. This meeting between the south east and south south leg­islators, how do you see it? Do you see it as beginning of a new rapport between the two geo-po­litical zones to fight the common interests of the people in their zoned or what? It is too early to jump to con­clusions. Let’s wait and see. You see, you can’t trust politicians, you can’t trust them, neither can you predict them. But I don’t see any genuineness in their meeting yet. I’m yet to see that serious­ness, but let’s fold our hands and watch as events unfold. May be it is the beginning of a new order. Only time will tell. Some people have accused the president of marginalising peo­ple of the South-south and east in his appointments. They have accused Buhari of lopsidedness; that he favours the North more than any other zone in his ap­pointments, what’s your take on this? I’ve heard those accusations. One thing I know is that before people make allegations, they must have some facts. Even some Nigerians have been advis­ing Mr President to see all Nige­rians as part of his constituency, I would have say let’s still watch the President for some time, he has spent just one year in office. My grouse is even against our state governors and their so-called members of the National Assembly from the South-east and from the South-south. Our governors from the Niger- Delta are cowards. Our lawmak­ers from the zone are also cow­ards –they need deliverance. Are they not the ones that are sup­posed to be fighting for the in­terests of their people? Are they not the ones that are supposed to form a powerful block to con­front, challenge or take it up with Buhari? But our governors are cow­ards – they are all cowards – they can’t face Buhari to demand for the rights of their people. They can’t look Buhari in the face and tell him that what he’s doing is wrong. Our governors from the Niger-Delta need spiritual deliv­erance. I’m appealing to eminent men of God from the South-south, like Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome to orga­nize deliverance prayers for our governors. Governors from the south-south are cowards. They are timid. They can’t fight for the interests of their people. What a shame. What a big shame. There is injustice in Nigeria that needs to be addressed. For instance, my state, Bayelsa State which produce oil that fetches Nigeria’s wealth has only 8 local governments, whereas Kano and Katsina that have no resources that give Nigeria any revenue has 44 and 42 local governments re­spectively. What that means is that these two states that are not producing oil are collecting more monthly allocation than oil-producing state. What an injustice? When we talk, some of them will say that Bayelsa is more of water than land but what we are saying is that, the land mass should also be equated with water mass so that we are treated fairly. The water in Bayelsa should be treated as land mass, is it not on water that our people eke a living as fishermen before oil explora­tion destroyed our ecosystem. We want justice and equity. Buhari must strive to be fair to all.

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LAWYERS :WARES BUHARI ABOUT ANTI-GRAFT WAR

Anti-graft war: Lawyers reply Buhari — 20th July 2016 , Abuja Lawyers yesterday tackled President Muhammadu Buhari over his comment that the judiciary was frustrating the speedy determination of corruption cases. President Buhari on Monday said the judiciary was yet to perform its functions to the satisfaction of Nigerians inspite of the reforms brought about by the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. Speaking at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja, while declaring open a workshop for Nigerian Judges organized by the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption in conjunction with the NJI, the president said the Judiciary must take steps to ensure that it was not perceived as being partisan. But reacting, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said the prosecution of criminal cases follows due processes and laid down procedures recognised by law before arriving at conviction. Besides, president of the NBA, Mr. Austin Alegeh (SAN) said an enabling environment  must be put in place for judges to perform optimally in the discharge of their duties. “The president should put some things in place for the judiciary to perform its role without inhibitions. “In other climes, you don’t necessarily  need to bring an accused person to court before his trial can continue. There are cameras that connect an accused person from prison to court so that he doesn’t need to come to court. “Here, there are no such facilities and the Federal Government who is expected to produce  an accused person in court sometimes don’t do that. In such a situation, Judges and lawyers will be waiting for an accused who is being held in custody by the Federal Government. This is the same Federal Government that wants corruption cases to be speedily dispensed with. “A classical example is the trial of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki who on several occasions, government refused to bring to court. “In this same country, our Judges are till taking notes in long hand instead of by electronic sytstem. These and many more are the problems working against the speedy trial of corruption cases.  I can say that the judiciary is doing its best within its available resources and working environment.” Mr. Joe Agi (SAN) shared the position of the NBA president. “Under our law, every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law. You cannot just come to court and the court will say okay you are guilty, go to prison. “The entire administration of former criminal system starts from the commission of crime, investigating the crime, arresting the suspect and taking him to court. And so, the judiciary alone, without the support of the  prosecution and defence counsel, can do nothing. “So, Mr. President should blame the system which include the Executive and Judiciary, and the lawyers as well. So, it is not just the judiciary problem at all. “In addition, I am sure you are a witness to a situation where an accused person is being charged on 200-count. This makes the whole thing looks like a child’s play. By the time you finish reading count one and goes to the next one, the Judge may have forgotten about the first one. “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should look at the offences and make it more concise. If you charge a man with 40-count, at the end of the day, the witnesses will start giving contradictory evidence and the defence counsel will capitalise on such contradictions and get judgments for their clients. This is not the fault of the judiciary. “I always say this and I will repeat it, EFCC and other law enforcement agencies will do the nation and society a lot of good if they operate within the ambit of the law which say investigation before arrest. “Here, you find them arresting someone before investigations are conducted. So the problem is squarely that of the investigation agencies prosecution; let them do their homework well and then trial will be concluded within six months.” In his reaction, Mr. Amobi Nzelu said President Buhari only expressed his personal opinion on the matter, noting that criminal trials operate within a written law which must be followed by Judges to arrived in conviction or an acquittal. “It is better for 40 criminals to go unpublished than to convict an innocent person,” he said. Nzelu who lauded the anti-corruption war of President, said the judiciary was doing its best. “I appreciate what Buhari is doing and I doff my cap for him for touching those who were perceived to be untouchable. There was massive corruption, the country was looted dry and people are now in pains as a result,  but he (Buhari) should be patient and allow the judiciary to do its work. The three arms of government are inter- independent and no one should be seen as trying to undermine the other.” Another lawyer, Vincent Otaokpukpu said the judiciary was not the only stakeholders in the administration of criminal justice and therefore cannot take the blame alone. He posited that other stakeholders including the police, EFCC, prosecution and prison should share in the blame as they contribute in the delay of cases in court. “I don’t see the judiciary as the problem because there are constitutional rights of an accused person standing trial in court. For instance the constitution allows him adequate time prepare for his defence as well as fair hearing. So, the Judge has a duty to balance the interest of justice and the constitutional rights of an accused person. It is not a one way thing like going to the market to buy some items. In any case, justice hasten is justice denied.”

CONFERENCE TO BEGINS ON AUGUST 3 IN RIVERS

Guild of Editors conference begins August 3 in Rivers — 20th July 2016 The 12th All Nigeria Editors’ Conference (ANEC) will hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State from August 3-7. The theme is “Economic Diversification: Agriculture as Option for a Prosperous Nigeria.” No fewer than 300 Nigerian editors, a collection of mainstream farmers, agribusiness financiers, policy-makers and captains of industry are expected to be in attendance. Host Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, said the conference would afford the state the opportunity to showcase its investment potentials. In a statement signed by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, the governor noted that the conference would be a fitting platform to partner editors and the media to consolidate development in both the state and the nation at large. “Hosting this year’s conference will also make the editors witness first-hand the development projects and programmes of my administration which has improved the living standard of the people,” Wike said. The All Nigeria Editors’ Conference is the largest gathering of Nigerian editors. It is a watering hole of ideas that have shaped government policies and programmes over the years. Acting President of the Guild, Funke Egbemode, said, “the sole emphasis on agriculture for this year’s conference was in response to the falling price of crude oil at the international market which has automatically reduced government’s earnings and revenue base. This is the first time the conference is focusing on agriculture in the most pragmatic sense and it is meant to draw the nation’s attention to the limitless opportunities that abound in agriculture”.

ABIA STATE GOV DECRIES ORDER OF COURT TO REMOVE HIM

Ikpeazu decries  order of court to remove him — 20th July 2016   Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has said if a High Court in Nigeria could give an order for the removal of a sitting governor, the same court can also issue an order for the removal of a president. He stated this when he received a delegation of members of the Senate who paid him a condolence visit on the death of Senator Onyekachi Okoroafor and former Nigeria Ambassador to Canada, Chief Ojo Maduekwe . The governor stated  that the death of the duo was a personal loss to him, saying this is the time  such men were needed to contribute to the stability of the state. “If a High Court can give an order to remove a sitting governor, that High Court can also remove a president and it tells a story about the political stability  of Nigeria. It will impact on how people, investors and the rest of the world perceive us. Nobody wants a country that is atomistic, in turmoil and unstable. If we begin to recount the contributions of the two gentle men, we require a whole day. It’s a personal  loss to me because this is the time we need them most in Abia,” the governor said. He stated that chief Maduekwe particularly struck him as one who was determined to assist him, adding that the state has lost great family members in the two men and prayed God to give the state the fortitude to bear the loss. The Governor  maintained that what Abia is going through today it is passing on behalf of Nigeria as what is being attacked is the very foundation of Nigeria,s democracy. The leader of the delegation,sen Biodun Olujimi said their visit was to commiserate with the Governor over the drath of sen Okoroafor and Chief Ojo Maduekwe who they described their demise as a great loss to the Abia and Nigeria. She said their visit underscores how much  the senate believes in the state and consoled the Governor and Abians over the sad loss. The delegation included former Governor of the state,Chief TA Orji,sen Bernabas Gemade,senSamuel Anyanwu,sen Enyinnaya Abaribe,sen MAO Ohuabunwa and sen Sunni Ogbuoji END

MILITARY TAKE OVER TURKEY

Military coup in Turkey
— 16th July 2016
■ It’s a warning to dictatorial leaders – Obiozor

THE military in Turkey on Fri­day deployed troops and tanks to the streets of Istanbul and capital city, Ankara, claiming a takeover of government even as armed sol­diers stormed government buildings and jets roared over the country’s airspace as Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said a group within the mil­itary had attempted to overthrow the government.

A national curfew was announced, and other security forces had been called in to “do what is necessary,” Yildirim said. “Some people illegal­ly undertook an illegal action outside of the chain of command,” Yildirim said in comments broadcast by pri­vate channel NTV and reported by Reuters.

“The government elected by the people remains in charge. This gov­ernment will only go when the peo­ple say so.”

Istanbul’s Bosphorus bridge and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridge were both closed by military forces on Friday, local television channels reported, without giving a reason. Istanbul is 320 miles away from An­kara.

The Turkish military, however, claimed in a statement that it had  taken over the country in order for democratic or­der and human rights to remain. In the statement, the military said that all existing foreign relations would continue and that rule of law would be a pri­ority.

A Turkish presidential source said in a statement, according to Reuters, that the statement made on be­half of the armed forces was not authorized by military command.

Footage from NTV showed tanks at the en­trance to Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport, and all flights from the airport were re­portedly cancelled. Many social media platforms were blocked in Turkey during Friday’s events, ac­cording to internet moni­toring groups.

Reacting to the coup in Turkey, former Nigerian Ambassador to the United State, Prof George Obio­zor, advised that leaders must be careful on how to use power, be it in Africa, Europe etc.

According to him, pow­er is delicate, and one must make sure that he doesn’t abuse it. If there is any abuse of power, challenge to such power must come.

The diplomat noted that Turkey is one of the most dynamic countries in the world. They taught the world the history of modernization. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, a mili­tary man built the modern Turkey. He gave turkey the best democracy and modernisation. He was a military man who built a modern nation.

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POLICE PARTNER FOR 2ND NATIONAL SECURITY SUMMIT

Again, police, The Sun partner for 2nd national security summit — 15th July 2016 Barely one year after jointly hosting a successful National Security Summit, the Nigeria Police and The Sun Publishing Limited, publishers of Daily Sun, Saturday Sun, Sunday Sun and SportingSun, are set for another outing. With the theme, “Effective Policing: New Strategies to Combating Insecurity,” the second edition of the National Security Summit holds before the end of the year. The two institutions had hosted the first edition of the Summit on August 17, 2015, which had President Muhammadu Buhari in attendance. Revealing the plan to host the second security summit yesterday, after paying a courtesy visit to the Force Headquarters to congratulate the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr. Eric Osagie, said there was need to extend the scope of corporate social responsibility (CSR) to issues that bother on global and national security. “We are the Voice of the Nation and we are passionate about utilising our widely read newspapers to stimulate discourse on contemporary national security challenges and provide a collective voice towards achieving a multifaceted approach to proffering lasting solution to insecurity,” Osagie said. The Acting IGP had, during the meeting with Osagie, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, noting that policing was the responsibility of all. He underlined the need for the meeting of relevant stakeholders to make informed input into concerted efforts of the police and other security agencies to ensure a safer Nigeria. The first edition of the police/The Sun National Security Summit had the theme: “The Community Partnership Approach to Internal Security and Crime Management.” The summit attracted all relevant stakeholders, from the top brass of the police and the country’s political leaders, to pre-eminent traditional rulers and the academia. It recommended community policing as a panacea to the problem of insecurity in the country. President Buhari had, at the summit, announced the Federal Government’s intention to recruit 10, 000 fresh police officers and to establish a well-trained and equipped anti-terrorism and multi-agency task force to address the challenge of insurgency in the country. The recruitment exercise in the police is on-going. He had promised to enhance the operational capacity of policemen through a training programme that would give them a civil orientation, with the view to enabling them perform their roles effectively. The summit was timely and successful in raising not only the awareness that security should be the concern of all citizens, but also in proposing far-reaching recommendations for the enhancement of security and effective policing of Nigeria. In a communiqué issued at the end of the summit, it was acknowledged that there was need to bridge the gap and restore trust between the police and communities, and to motivate Nigerians to see security as a collective responsibility.

BIAFRA :I SUPPORT PRO-BIAFRA AGITATORS WOLE SOYINKA

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has, again, explained his support for Biafran agitators. Soyinka said the Igbo people have been so wronged that they have no choice than to consider opting out of Nigeria. Prof. Soyinka spoke on Al Jazeera, yesterday where he shed light on his support for Biafra agitators. “I am very much pro- Biafra because I recognise that the Igbo have been wronged desperately. “They have been brutalised in a way that justifies their feeling that they were not part of the nation. “Let me also say this, Biafrans are not entirely innocent in this affair. They were not, but the unleashing of such venom, such devastation on them as a people, was sufficient to justify their decision not to be part of the nation. “I was pro-Biafran in the sense that I felt that they needed justice.” Soyinka denied he was a troublemaker, especially in the Biafran crisis, but added, “I grew up in certain circumstances being very conscious politically, in this very Abeokuta; my mother was involved in the politics, my aunt, Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a leader… “I grew up among political arguments on issues that concern humanity and I find that basically gravitated towards recognising the basic worth of human beings. “Something I disagree when they call me a patriot because I don’t agitate on some certain entity called a nation; I agitate on humanity.” He criticised the removal of History and teaching of the Biafran crisis in schools. “Officials do not want to confront their own history, especially the history in the making of which they feel uncomfortable but, if you do not confront your past, you are going to mess up your future.” On Boko Haram and the breakup of Nigeria, he said ironically, Boko Haram might be part of the reasons Nigeria may stay together. Soyinka said a few years ago, he would have agreed that Nigeria would break, but, now that a section of the country is in trouble, there is some kind of pulling together. He added that the conscience of many Nigerian has been awakened such that they cannot abandon that section of the country. He urged Nigerians to recognise the plurality of Nigeria, how it came together and begin to devise and adopt a method of governance which cannot only be of massive decentralisation. “That way, we can stay together. If we continue to have a centralist government, then, Nigeria is on the brink.”

ATTACK IN FRANCE 73 KILLED

73 killed in France terror attack — 15th July 2016 A French officials have confirmed that they are investigating a terrorist attack and there are reports that there are gunmen on the loose in the city. French TV channel iTele reported that a gunman “holed up in a nice restaurant downtown” had been “neutralized” by police. The channel said it is not believed the man had taken any hostages during the incident. The man is believed to have been in the lorry with the driver and fled on foot to a restaurant called Le Buffalo nearby, where he was killed by an officer with a handgun. French newspaper Le Figaro quoted police sources saying that officers found weapons, guns and grenades inside the lorry cab, indicating it was a premeditated terrorist attack. Police have identified the driver, who was killed during the incident, and it is believed to have been a man who was known to security services. Separate reports emerged that police fear four different trucks are involved, raising fears of a massive organised terror attack.

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HIV INFECTED MORE THAN 700 PREGNANT WOMEN IN BAYELSA

700 pregnant women infected with HIV in Bayelsa — 14th July 2016 A United State-based non-governmental or­ganisation (NGO), PACT has revealed that 700 pregnant women have been infected with HIV in Bayelsa State. According to PACT, out of the 50,000 preg­nant women tested in the state for the Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS, the 700 pregnant women were discovered to have been infected and have been placed on antiretroviral prophylaxis. The NGO also dis­closed that 300 HIV in­fants were exposed from their mothers. Nigeria’s Director of PACT, Mr. Trevor Maisi­ri, who made this known during the launch of the second phase of the community-based Pre­vention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS (PROMOT 11) project, said the first phase lasted four years. He said though 294,000 were reached with HIV messages, over 50,000 pregnant women tested for HIV, received their results, while al­most 700 pregnant women were placed on antiretroviral prophy­laxis. Maisiri further dis­closed that over 670 people have so far been trained on the latest Prevention of Mothers to Child Transmission (PMTCT) approaches and techniques, just as over 300 HIV exposed infants were tested for HIV at six weeks. According to Maisiri, PACT as an organisa­tion had been working with the Bayelsa govern­ment with funding from Chevron to increase community awareness of the disease. Speaking on the occa­sion, General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs of Chevron Nigeria Lim­ited, Deji Haastrup, said PROMOT 1 was a huge success, saying it reduced Bayelsa State’s prevalence rates from 9.1% to 3.8% in 2010, the third best in the country. Represented by Esi­maje Brikin, the compa­ny’s area manager, West, Mr. Haastrup applauded the programme, say­ing the concept was a private sector-led so­cial sustainable, com­munity-based initiative meant for the Niger Delta people. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Kojo Omietimi, com­mended Chevron for sponsoring the project, saying the programme came at an ideal time

FEAR ON SAUDI MERCENARIES OVER NIGER DELTA AVENGERS

Buhari In Big Shock, Confusion As Saudi Mercenaries Reject $258m Over Fear Of Niger Delta Avengers  A report coming in to our newsdesk has it that the Saudi Arabian mercenaries President Muhammadu Buhari intended to hire to combat the dreaded Niger Delta Avengers have put him in a big state of shock.  According to the report, the Arabian mercenaries conducted their investigations and found out that the Avengers in the Niger Delta are highly trained by professionals in Abroad and cannot easily be taken down without losing much if not all resources which include humans which happens to be the Arabian military forces.  Therefore the best way to win these tactically trained warriors is not to engage them in a battle field because they will wipe everything off without mercy, but to call them to a round table for dialogue. This they said. Read more: 

TOKASONNEWSONLINE: FORGERY:COURT ADJOURNED SENATE PRESIDENT , SARAKI AND HIS DEPUTY EKWEREMADU TRIAL TILL SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

TOKASONNEWSONLINE: FORGERY:COURT ADJOURNED SENATE PRESIDENT , SARAKI AND HIS DEPUTY EKWEREMADU TRIAL TILL SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

FORGERY:COURT ADJOURNED SENATE PRESIDENT , SARAKI AND HIS DEPUTY EKWEREMADU TRIAL TILL SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

Forgery: Saraki, Ekweremadu’s trial adjourned to Sept 28 — 12th July 2016 From Godwin Tsa, Abuja The trial of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, his deputy and Ike Ekweremadu before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was yesterday adjourned to September 28,2016. They all left immediately after it was announced that the trial would not go on. They were docked alongside former Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa and his deputy, Benedict Efeturi, for allegedly forging the Senate Rule. They were specifically accused of illegally altering the Senate’s Standing Rule used in electing them into office in June 2015. Although Saraki and other defendants were in court, the matter was adjourned following the annual vacation of the court which began yesterday. The defendants were arraigned before Justice Halilu Yusuf on June 27, but entered a plea of not guilty to the two-count charges. They were admitted to bail and ordered to provide sureties with properties in Asokoro, Garki, Wuse and Maitama areas of Abuja. The trial was fixed for yesterday, but the court registrar, Victor Ifeachor, told journalists that the case had been adjourned till September 28 following the ongoing vacation of Federal Capital Territory High Court, which began on Monday, July 11. The Federal Government maintained that they had by their conduct, committed an offence punishable under Section 97 (1) and 364 of the Penal Code Act. The charge was a fallout of investigation police conducted into a petition by a group of lawmakers under the aegis of the Senate Unity Forum (SUF), who alleged that the Standing Order used for the July 9, 2015, election of principal officers for the 8th Senate, was doctored. Five members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Senate, Abu Ibrahim, Kabir Marafa, Ajayi Boroffice, Olugbenga Ashafa and Suleiman Hunkuyi, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/651/2015, sought the removal of Saraki and Ekweremadu. The plaintiffs prayed the court to sack the lawmakers on the ground that the version of the Senate Standing Orders that was used for their election was forged. In their suit dated July 27, 2015, the plaintiffs, contended that allowing Saraki and Ekweremadu to continue to run the affairs of the Senate regardless of the fact that they emerged through an act of illegality, would on itself amount to corruption. Cited as defendants in the suit were Saraki, Ekweremadu, the National Assembly and Clerks of the National Assembly. Though the court had concluded hearing on the matter, however, Ekweremadu filed a petition before the Chief Judge of the High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, alleging bias against the judge that handled the case, Justice Ademola Adeniyi. In his petition dated December 18, 2015, Ekweremadu, insisted that Justice Adeniyi was closely related to some chieftains of the APC. He specifically identified the national leader of the party and former governor of Lagos State, Ahmed Bola Tinubu as one of the people he said has personal relationship with the Judge. Ekweremadu queried the ability of Justice Adeniyi to deliver an objective verdict on the matter in view of his alleged closeness with the APC-the party the plaintiffs belong to. Following the petition which was filed four days after the suit was fixed for judgment, the CJ, re-assigned the case to Justice Evoh Chukwu. Nevertheless, Justice Chukwu died earlier this month, thus leaving the case hanging, waiting to be re-assigned to another judge.

FOUR SUSPECTED MEMBERS OF NIGER DELTA MILITANT ARRESTED

Troops arrest 4 Niger Delta Avengers suspects — 12th July 2016 Four suspected members of the militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), have been arrested in Ikebiri community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Investigations revealed that an ex-militant leader and member of the Movement For the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Africa Upkarisia, assisted the Operation Delta Safe (ODS ) in effecting the arrest of the suspects. Upkarisia, who was recently appointed as the Chairman of Waterway Security in the state by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, acted on a tip off on the activities of the suspected militants and alerted ODS. The troops rounded up the suspects and recovered arms and ammunition. A top security source said the four suspects have been moved to the headquarters of the ODS for interrogation. Upkarisia confirmed the incident. He said the suspects were arrested at the weekend and commended the ODS for its prompt response. He explained that he worked on information provided and ensured that the suspects were arrested before they unleash terror in the state. “These are the boys that have been responsible for the ugly things that have been happening in the area. They are also into kidnapping and other violent crimes which they confessed to when they were arrested. I want to assure the state and federal government that we would keep Bayelsa safe,” he said. He had held a meeting with the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Emmanuel Kachhikwu and Dickson at the state Government house where he declared that the NDA should steer clear of the state. He and other militants in attendance at the meeting had condemned the activities of NDA and warned that they are breaching the agreement reached with the government to grant amnesty to the militants in 2008 by late President Umaru Musa Yar Adua.

PRESIDENCY: NO DIVISION IN SECURITY RANKS

No division in security ranks –Presidency — 12th July 2016  Abuja Nigerians and the international community have been told to discountenance any suggestion of in-fighting or division in the nation’s security ranks. According to a Presidency source, the security chiefs are not only 100 per cent loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, but also working in synergy towards tackling the nation’s security challenges. The co-operation, it said, has made it possible for the team to successful degrade Boko Haram terrorists sect in the North east as well as checkmate other groups threatening the peace and security of the nation. To drive home the point that there was no division, a top government official who spoke with select journalists in Abuja yesterday, said the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Munguno (retd) meets with all the security chiefs or their representatives on a regular basis. The meetings, the source noted, provide the team the needed forum to “brainstorm, work harmoniously and strategise on ways to check criminal activities. There is no discord in the nation’s intelligence community and there will never be. Anyone alleging otherwise is only imagining things. I can assure you there is no friction or disaffection within the rank security.” Specifically, the source said there was no cold war between the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS), as being alleged in some quarters. “I can assure you that no such thing between the two, as far as I know. The DSS boss and other top security officers have been attending meetings, which the NSA chairs to coordinate the intelligence community. Those sponsoring the rumour are bent on causing discord within the intelligence community and security apparatus of the government.” The source appealed to “Nigerians and the international community to disregard any false information questioning the loyalty and cohesion of the security apparatus.” Last month, the umbrella body of militants in Niger Delta, the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force (JNDLF), alleged that some senior military officers were scheming to overthrow the administration of President Buhari. In a letter to President Buhari, the militants group alleged that some military officers were instigating unrests in Niger Delta as part of their strategies to carry out a coup. They also alleged that some military officers have reached out to leaders of militant groups on the coup plot. But the military dismissed the coup theory. “The report is not true and the Nigerian Army hereby distances itself from this weighty allegation. We also see this speculation as a dangerous distraction to our effort in fighting the insurgency and other criminal elements in the country,” the army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement.

ABUJA:. WIFE OF A PASTOR IN THE FEDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD KILLED IN ABUJA

Outrage over murder of female pastor — 12th July 2016 … Clerics demand justice From  Nsukka Clerics are vexed over the gruesome murder of Mrs. Eunice Olawale, in Kubwa, a suburb in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja last weekend. Mrs. Olawale, wife of  a  pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Abuja, was killed during a routine morning evangelism. She was also a pastor in the same church. From the South East, residents of Nsukka, Enugu State, have described her murder as “abomination that will surely attract the wrath of God.” Residents told newsmen in Nsukka, that what happened was an indication of the level of insecurity in the country. Rev. Jude Uchechukwu, pastor of House of Liberty Church, Nsukka, said “killing of the woman who was on early morning evangelism showed that the end time is here, if preachers of the gospel have become targets for murder. ‘It’s unfortunate and a sign of the end-time that a woman who is preaching the gospel of salvation will be murdered in cold blood. “What is happening in this country now should give God-fearing Nigerians concern as people no longer respect God. Government should wake up to its responsibility of protecting lives and property.” Rev Chika Eze, overseer, of Highway Great Assembly, also in Nsukka, described Mrs. Olawale’s killing as an abomination that was capable of attracting the wrath of God if those behind the crime failed toconfess and ask for God’s mercy. “It is an abomination for one to contemplate to kill a preacher of the gospel of Christ. Those who are trying to dare God should be ready to face consequences of their actions, unless they confess and ask for God’s forgiveness.” Mrs Philomena Ogummah, an evangelist, urged Christians in the country not to develop cold feet in preaching the gospel. “That’s why the Bible says we should not fear those who can kill the body but cannot kill the spirit but should only fear God who can kill the body and the spirit. Those who killed the woman will never know peace in their lives as they have murdered sleep. She will be remembered as a dedicated Christian who died on active service while trying to win souls for Christ. Pastor in charge of Freedom Gospel of God Ministries in Onitsha, Mr. Chuks  said God would condemn the bloody murder by some assailants who might have felt offended in one way or the other by her preaching of the truth. He demanded in-depth, speedy investigation of the murder. “Even if we don’t have the fear of God again in this country, don’t  we have the Constitution that protects people’s rights of worship and religion? Why should Christians be killed like cows and nothing is happening. The other time a woman was killed in Kano market by some Muslim fundamentalists and up till now, we have not heard anything about it.” Pastor in charge of Holy Ghost Power Ministries, Nkpor, Prophet John Nwadike also said the wrath of God would soon befall those fighting the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to protect every citizen in the country including Muslims and Christians, and ensure that those who committed the crime of the killings of men and women of God were brought to book according to the Constitution of the country.

ABIA STATE :OGAH TO REMAINS GOV ELECT COURT INSISTS

Abia guber crisis: Court insists Ogah remains gov-elect, refers motions to Appeal Court — 9th July 2016 ■ Ikpeazu remains gov – Kalu ■ No, he’s on holiday – Ubani FROM: GODWIN TSA, ABUJA AND CHUKS ONUOHA,UMUAHIA THE Abia State governor­ship conundrum continued at the Federal High Court, Abuja and the Federal High Court Owerri, yesterday. The Federal High Court in Abuja, held that the Cer­tificate of Return issued to Dr. Samson Ugah as the governor-elect of the Peo­ples Democratic Party for Abia State was lawful. This is even as the court also refused to set aside the interlocutory injunction re­straining the Chief judge of Abia State and other judi­cial officials from adminis­tering the oath of office on the governor-elect Dr. Sam­son Ogah. Justice Okon Abang also refused to stay the execu­tion of his judgment. But ruling on the appli­cation by the PDP, Justice Abang held that the judg­ment of the court remained valid until it is set aside by the Court of Appeal. He accordingly, dis­missed the application brought by the PDP asking for the stay of execution of the judgment of the court, which ordered Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to vacate office on account of giving false information with re­gards to his tax documents. Justice Okon Abang said the said application by the party constituted an abuse of court process because the PDP filed two motions on the same subject matter. He said, though the appli­cant had sought and applied to withdraw the earlier ap­plication filed on June 28, 2016, issues had already been joined by counsel to Dr. Ogah. Alex Iziyon (SAN) via a counter affi­davit. Justice Abang further held that there was nothing for the court to stay as the judgment had already been executed by INEC. “Judgment of the court has already been executed by the issuance of certifi­cate of return in favour of Dr. Ogah, therefore there is nothing to be stayed. Besides, Justice Abang held that there was no evi­dence before the court that the certificate of return was issued to Ogah before ser­vice of the notice of appeal was served on INEC. “INEC had also told the court that it had issued the certificate of return to Ogah before it received service of the notice of appeal.” In his earlier ruling in the application by Gover­nor Ikpeazu, seeking a stay of execution of its judg­ment, Justice Abang ruled that the Federal High Court has jurisdiction to hear the motion for stay of execution of its own judgment. He however added that the court in the instance case is refusing to take it because it will be presumed it had jumped into the arena as the judgment beneficiary coun­sel Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN) had conceded to the judg­ment debtor, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) submis­sion that the court lacked jurisdiction. “It is my honoured view that I have jurisdiction to en­tertain the motion for stay of execution of the judgment.” Specifically, as the motion in question is on the “final judgment” of this court, Jus­tice Abang said. He disagreed with Olani­pekun’s submission that the court should hands off all matters once an appeal has been entered. He said that a motion for a stay of court judgment, which is final de­cision, must be taken by the trial court. Justice Abang said it was wrong for Ikpeazu to have filed stay of execution at the Court of Appeal without first filing such an applica­tion at the trial court. On the interim injunctive order issued by the Abia State High Court that re­strained the swearing in of Ogah, Justice Abang said that “is absurd for a court that is not cease of the mat­ter to have issued order ob­structing the judgment ben­eficiary.” The judge also dismissed the motion filed by Gover­nor Ikpeazu who had sought an order of the court to va­cate the certificate of return issued to Ogah by the Inde­pendent National Electoral Commission. Justice Abang said the motion lacked merit and awarded N40, 000 cost against Governor Ikpeazu whose led counsel Olanipe­kun attended to after issues have been joined. Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), counsel to Governor Ikpeazu had asked Justice Abang to hands off the mat­ter on the grounds, inform­ing the court that an ap­peal has already been filed against the judgment asking Ikpeazu to vacate office. While not opposing the submission of the coun­sel for the applicant, Alex Iziyon (SAN) counsel to Ogah however said the Court should rule on the ap­plication before it at the last hearing relating to abuse of court process. In the same vein, the Federal High Court sitting in Owerri has dismissed the tax forgery suit filed against Ikpeazu by a chieftain of the PDP in the state, Mr. Friday Nwosu. Delivering judgment on the suit, Justice L. A. Al­lagoa, who resolved other issues in favour of Nwosu, said that Ikpeazu was not the maker of the tax docu­ment. He stressed that the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue, testified that the document emanated from them and was not forged. The judge further ruled that Nwosu failed to prove the case of forgery against the governor. Justice Allagoa also ruled that Uche Ogah who is the 4th respondent in the suit lost his right to benefit from the process as he re­fused to sign the result and petitioned the party to con­duct another exercise. Reacting to the judg­ment, one of the counsels to Nwosu, Ajayi Ilesanmi, said the Court failed to consider issues before it and promised to appeal the verdict. Reacting to the judg­ments, Abia State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Umeh Kalu, said the Federal High Court, Owerri, has affirmed that Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu remains the governor of the state, as he was duly elected. According to him, the court also ruled that the governor didn’t forge any tax certificate as alleged by the plaintiff, Sir F. N. Nwosu in his suit. While the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on June 27, 2016, sacked Ikpeazu as the governor over tax mat­ter, the Federal High Court Owerri, yesterday affirmed that Ikpeazu remains the governor, as he didn’t forge any tax certificate. Chief Kalu, said when courts of coordinate juris­diction make judgments, the latest takes precedence over the former, espe­cially when the parties are the same, like in this case, Uche Ogar is also a party in Nwosu’s suit. On the Certificate of Re­turn Independent National Electoral Commission is­sued to Ogah, the Abia Jus­tice commissioner said it is of the use at the moment as the governor has appealed the judgment of Justice Okon Abang. Also, Barr Monday Uba­ni, said all these illegalities playing out now and all these long holidays being given in Abia State would end by the decision of the court at the end of the day by the grace of God. An order, which I would call a village injunction, was obtained earlier when they saw that there was no order of stay. Now when it became clear to them again yesterday that there is no order for stay, they went ahead to extend that par­ticular interim order. That is an absurdity in the high­est order. There is no way it is done. You don’t extend an ex­parte order when you have not given the other party notice. What you do is to give a return day when you will now hear the motion on notice for the injunction. Here, there is no return day. Under what rules of the High Court of Abia State would the man have extended the exparte order because there must be rules. There are so many things wrong with that particu­lar order in the first place. Because it is a court of co­ordinate jurisdiction, and it cannot overrule a court of competent jurisdiction. Everything about that in­terim order is wrong. Now the man has gone ahead to extend that illegal order the more. The governor in wait­ing is a law abiding citizen and he has said it that he is not desperate to be gover­nor because he is coming to serve. So we will use all judicial and legal means to actualize his being sworn in as governor of Abia State. We won’t take laws into our hands or cause chaos or crisis for our state. We will allow things to be done le­gally, so people would know that we are coming there to really serve the people and not to destroy Abia State.