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Showing posts from January, 2019

Atiku Endorsement: Ohanaeze Sacks Secretary-General For False Statement

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The controversy trailing the endorsement of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, by the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has claimed it's first casualty as the organisation on Thursday night suspended its Secretary General, Uche Okwukwu. The suspension was contained in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Uche Achi-Okpaga, and made available to journalists at the end of its emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Enugu on Thursday. The statement said that Okwukwu was suspended both as Secretary General and member of all organs of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The body accused the suspended scribe of engaging in false representations of decisions of meetings of the NEC and the Imeobi of Ohanaeze at different for a in the last three days. “These actions having taken place in the public domain and reported copiously in the mass media, NEC in an overwhelming majority de

CUPP Wants Court to Declare Buhari Unfit for Re-election … DSS planning to arrest me, CUPP spokesperson cries out

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The opposition political parties under the auspices of Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) have filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking that President Muhammadu Buhari be declared medically unfit to seek re-election in the February 16 presidential poll. The CUPP spokesperson, Ikenga Ugochinyere, who stated this at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, said the coalition also sought an order directing Buhari to make public the result of his medical examination. The CUPP described the step as a patriotic decision, saying re-electing the president would only empower members of a purported cabal who have hijacked the presidency to rule for another four years as earlier alleged by the wife of the president. He said: "We have come to the conclusion that re-electing Buhari will only empower members of the cabal that his wife admitted has hijacked his presidency to rule us for another four years from the dark. “In order to

Kogi PDP Petition IG, Others over Alleged Bribe Scandal by INEC REC

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  The Kogi State Presidential Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)   has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Adamu, and others over an alleged plan by the state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to rig the forthcoming general election by bribing the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Professor James Akpam. The Head of Media and Publicity, Kogi State PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Mr. Usman Austin Okai, made this known on Thursday in a statement issued in Lokoja. According to him, the trend in the state was capable of igniting unprecedented scale of violence only second to the conflict in Somalia. He alleged that the state government has already settled the INEC REC, Akpam, with the sum of N10 million, stressing that he has accepted to rig the election in favour the state governor during the presidential and other elections in the state. He noted that 21 days ago, the PDP council exposed some cov

N100bn Campaign Funds Pitched Lagos Assembly against Ambode, CSOs Allege …Threaten to shut down assembly on Monday

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…Agbaje warns against plunging Lagos into crisis … APC debunks N100bn allegation A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) on Thursday alleged that the Lagos State House of Assembly moved to impeach the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, because the governor refused to release the sum of N100 billion the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in the state demanded for electioneering.   Also lending his voice against the governor’s plan, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, urged the lawmakers not to plunge the state into chaos with the plan to remove Ambode. The Convener of the coalition, Mr. Mark Adebayo, made the allegation at a world press conference held at the Airport Hotel in Ikeja, noting that with the removal, it was obvious that the assembly was becoming a political abattoir for the murder of democracy in Nigeria. Coming together under the aegis of Lagos Liberation

Obasanjo Promises to Do Everything Possible to Save Nigeria’s Democracy

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that he will do “everything humanly possible” to save Nigeria’s democracy. Speaking during the launch of “Politics as Dashed Hopes in Nigeria”, written by his former special assistant on federal capital territory administration (FCTA), Auwala Anwar,   in Abuja on Thursday, Obasanjo said the world is watching how Nigeria will handle upcoming elections. The former president also called on Nigerians to guard the nation’s democracy ahead of the general election. “If we cherish democracy, we will all guard and protect our democracy. And that I believe is the main purpose of the book,” he said. “I am in despair; our hope lies in democracy and good governance as one of the hallmarks of free fair and credible election. “As for me, I will do everything humanly possible to safeguard democracy, with good governance for Nigeria and for all Nigerians.” He added that he is happy most Nigerians are “rising up to their

EFCC Charges Babachir, Oke To Court Over Fraud, Money Laundering

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday dragged  former Secretary to Government of Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, to High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja following fraud charges filed against him. The charges against Lawal are coming over one year after the former SGF was sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari following public outcry. Also, a former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke, and his wife, Mrs Folashade Oke were dragged before the Federal High Court in Lagos. Reports say Lawal and five others, including his company, Rholavision Engieneering Ltd are faced with 10 counts, while the Okes are faced with four counts. It would be recalled that the presidency sacked Lawal and Oke following a report of investigations by a panel headed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo into allegations of fraud leveled against them in 2017.

We Are Not Desperate about Elections, Says el-Rufai

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Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, declared on Wednesday in Kaduna that he does not   care whether he wins or loses the March 3 governorship election so long as   the mandate of the electorate is not stolen. Speaking   at a ‘high level dialogue on peaceful elections in Kaduna State’ jointly organised by the State Peace Commission,   National Peace Commission and the United Nations (UN), el-Rufai said he was not desperate about the election. He said the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state was committed to peaceful, issues-based campaigns and peaceful elections in the state. The governor called on politicians to stop buying drugs for the youths and arming them for political thuggery. He warned that anyone caught with weapons at campaigns “will be arrested by the police and prosecuted whether he is a member of our party or not. “ Let me say this on behalf of the state government that our most important job now is to govern the state. Wh

We're Using Our PVCs to Sack Buhari, Says Group

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A Coalition of Youth with PVC, a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) on Wednesday in Kano vowed to prevail on its members all over the country to use their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to send President Muhammadu Buhari out of the Presidential Villa in the forthcoming elections. The spokesman of the coalition, Malam Mikail Hassan, said it is the right of every citizen who believe in the rule of law to express disaffection with the manner being exhibited by   President Buhari's administration in violating the constitution guiding and legitimising   the present political system. He said the Nigerian democracy is still young and a replica of the United States democratic system, and that the only way its legitimacy could be sustained is by way of lending credence to respect for the rule of law by all citizens. He pointed out that it would be fool hardy for the federal government to berate America, Britain and the European Union for crying foul over Just

NBA Attempt to Disrupt Appeal Court Proceedings End in Attack

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An Attempt by the Port Harcourt branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to enforce the decision of the national executive council of the association to boycott sessions at the Court of Appeal ended in fiasco as suspected litigants pounced on the NBA officials, beating them up in Rivers State. The Court of Appeal had adjourned last Monday sitting to Wednesday to hear the motion of Stay of Execution on the judgment of a Federal High Court, which barred the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the sstate from fielding candidates for the 2019 elections. The adjourned date had coincided with the two-day boycott of court proceedings declared by NBA national executive council over the Justice Walter Onnoghen saga. When the Court resumed to commence hearing, NBA members in the state led by its Chairman, Sylvester Adaka, arrived at the court premises in the company of some lawyers, with placards. It was gathered that the presiding Justice, Justice Ali Gum

Coca-Cola Completes Acquisition of Chi Limited

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The Cola-Cola Company has completed the acquisition of Chi Limited In a statement issued on Wednesday, Coca-Cola announced that it has extended its minority investment in the company to full ownership. In 2016, the company acquired a 40% minority stake in Chi and expressed interest in increasing ownership within three years. “Coca-Cola is continuing to evolve as a total beverage company, and Chi’s diverse range of beverages perfectly complements our existing portfolio, enabling us to accelerate expansion into new categories and grow our business in Africa,” said Peter Njonjo, president of the West Africa business unit of Coca-Cola. “We will support the Chi management team in building on the company’s remarkable heritage and achievements while using the scale of the Coca-Cola system to replicate their success in more markets across Africa.” Chi Limited was founded in Lagos in 1980. It produces juice under the Chivita brand, Caprisonne and value-added dairy under the Hol

Pro-Ambode Protesters Ask Lagos Lawmakers to Account for N28bn

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Hundreds of protesters  on Wednesday gathered at the Lagos State House of Assembly, asking the lawmakers to account for N28 billion constituency allowances they collected between 2015 and 2018 or face mass action. Besides protesters’ call for explanation, sources alleged that the lawmakers had demand the sum of N100 million from the State Executive Council to facilitate the presentation and passage of 2019 appropriation bill. The protesters made the call under the aegis of Lagos Peoples Assembly (LPA) yesterday, warning the lawmakers against plan to initiate impeachment proceedings against the state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode. The lawmakers had at a plenary last Monday alleged that the governor had started implementing the 2019 Appropriation Bill without presenting it formally to the assembly, which they claimed violated Sections 120 and 121 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Contrary to the claims of the lawmakers, the governor se

Many Feared Dead, Vehicles Burnt, in Fuel Tanker Explosion

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A 33, 000 litres petrol-laden truck exploded on Wednesday morning, along the Mile-II/Badagry expressway in Lagos after falling and spilling its content on the ground. According to an unconfirmed report, a yet to be ascertained number of people were believed to have lost their lives in the inferno, with scores of vehicles burnt to ashes. The incident occurred at a bad spot in front of Onireke police Station around Barack bus stop in the area. However, the Lagos State Fire Director, Musibau Rasaki, just confirmed that two persons died, one person injured and five vehicles burnt in the explosion. ...detail later