Monday, January 18, 2021

APC DENIES DOGARA'S DEFECTION IN COURT.

Dogara in trouble as APC denies his membership of the party in court

Hon. Yakubu Dogara

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied claim by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has defected to the party.

Dogara, who was elected to the House of Representatives at the last general election on the platform of the PDP, reportedly defected to the APC last year.

The APC’s denial is contained in a counter-affidavit it filed in opposition to a suit by the PDP, seeking Dogara’s sack for allegedly abandoning unlawfully, the party, on which platform he rode to the House of Reps.

The Head of Legal Department of the APC, Dare Oketade was quoted, in the party’s counter-affidavit, to have claimed that he is not aware that Dogara has defected from the PDP.

Oketade said he has checked the membership register of the APC and that he did not find Dogara’s name in APC’s membership register.

“In fact the 5th defendant (the APC) has not received an application for membership from the 1st defendant (Dogara) or any other person acting under the instruction of the 1st defendant; neither the 5th defendant has issued any membership card to the 1st defendant.

“Recording the name of the 1st defendant as member of the 5th defendant in the membership register of the 5th defendant and the subsequent issuance of APC’s membership card to the 1st defendant confers 1st defendant the membership of the 5th defendant,” the APC said.

It described the suit by the PDP as speculative and instituted in bad faith, and prayed the court to dismiss all the claims of the plaintiffs in the interest of justice.


On Monday, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja granted the plaintiffs’ application for an abridgment of time within which the case could be heard.

The application, which was moved by plaintiffs’ lawyer, Jibrin S. Jibrin, was not opposed by the defendants, following which Justice Abang adjourned till February 4, 2021 for hearing.

Defendants in the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1060/2020 are: Dogara, the House of Representatives Speaker, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC.

The PDP and its Bauchi State Chairman Hamza Koshe Akuyam, listed as plaintiffs in the suit, stated that Dogara, representing Dass, Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, defected from the APC to the PDP before the last general election and won a re-election to the House on the platform of the PDP.


They added that Dogara, on July 24, 2020, abandoned the PDP for the APC when he submitted his resignation letter to PDP Chairman in Bogoro ‘C’ Ward in Bauchi State.

The plaintiffs are contending, among others, that by virtue of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution, Dogara ought to vacate the seat for defecting from the party that sponsored him to the Ninth National Assembly before the expiration of his tenure.

They said the former Speaker was no longer qualified to partake in the activities of the House of Representatives while still using his former party’s ticket.

Akuyam stated, in a supporting affidavit, that there was no crisis or division in the first plaintiff, being the political platform by which the election of the first defendant (Dogara) as a serving member of the National Assembly was sponsored and from which he has defected to the fifth defendant (APC) before the expiration of the period for which he was elected.

He also stated that there were no mergers involving the PDP, from which Dogara defected.

Akuyam averred that, having defected from the PDP before the expiration of his tenure; Dogara “has lost his seat/office as a member of the House of Representatives and is no longer entitled to participate in the legislative proceedings and other businesses of the National Assembly and/or entitled to salaries and allowances as a member of the National Assembly”.

He added that given the facts and circumstances of the case, the Speaker of the House of Representatives “is under legal obligation” to declare Dogara’s seat vacant and allow INEC to conduct an election for his replacement.

The plaintiffs are praying the court to, among others; declare that Dogara has ceased to be a member of the National Assembly from the date he defected to the APC.

They prayed the court to direct Dogara to vacate his seat in the National Assembly and to refund all the salaries, allowances and emoluments he collected from the date of his defection from the PDP.

They also prayed the court to direct the House of Representatives Speaker to give effect to Section 68(1) of the Constitution to forthwith declare Dogara’s seat vacant and for INEC to conduct a by-election for his replacement.

COURT RECEIVES SUIT SEEKING TO ANNUL OHANAEZE NDIGBO GENERAL ELECTION AT OWERRI.

 Ohanaeze faction moves to stop Obiozor as court receives suit seeking to annul Owerri election


The Mike Ibeh-led faction of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has asked a High Court sitting in Bwari Abuja to restrain Professor George Obiozor who was elected at Owerri by the Nnia Nwodo-led ohanaeze from parading himself as the President General or be sent to jail.

Recall that two different elections which held consecutively on Saturday and Sunday produced Chidi Ibeh and George Obiozor as the President Generals of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

However, in a Motion On Notice No FCT/HC/BIU/M/14/21 brought against Professor Obiozor and the incorporated trustees of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and made available to DAILY POST on Saturday, the applicants sought for an order restraining Professor George Obiozor and his privies or any other parading himself pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Similarly, in an originating summons, Mike Ibeh-led faction is asking for the interpretations of article 10,11,14 and 21 of constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, brought pursuant to order 2 Rules 1, 3 and 4 of the federal high court of the federal capital territory (Civil Procedure) Rules 2018 and section 6(6B) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.


The matter comes up on Thursday, 21st January, 2021.

Meanwhile, the Spokesman of the new leadership of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Professor George Obiozor, has revealed that the mandate handed over to them is to produce a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction in 2023.

Ogbonna called on all parties who lost during the just concluded Ohanaeze Ndigbo election to cooperate in order to achieve the group’s objective.

The Ohanaeze spokesman in a statement on Saturday, said that they were optimistic about achieving the mandate.

He added that the Igbo should give the new President General, Prof. George Obiozor a chance, calling on those who think Obiozor is a stooge in the hands of President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Hope Uzodinma to give him a chance.

According to Ogbonna, “The only aim is to convince Nigerians to consider Igbo for 2023 because we have been tasked to carry and portray the awareness and consciousness of the Igbo. Fortunately, the consciousness is to produce Igbo president.

“There is no need to delay or coming up with a new mandate. It was an election and some people lost, it will take time for them to come around but they will when they see our achievement”.





(Vanguard)





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GOV. AKEREDOLU CHASE HERDSMEN OUT OF ONDO FORESTS.

 Gov. Akeredolu drives herdsmen out of Ondo forests.


… Also prohibited movement of cattle within cities and highways across the state.

Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Monday ordered immediate evacuation of herdsmen from the forest RESERVES in the state.

The Governor disclosed this in a statement via his official Twitter handle. Akeredolu, who traced the recent killings and kidnappings in the state to the activities of herdsmen, noted that the order takes effect from Monday.

According to the governor, “movement of cattle within cities and highways is prohibited.”

Earlier this month, Amotekun operatives this month reportedly clashed with suspected herdsmen in Aiyete, Ibarapa North, Oyo State.

Reports said several houses were razed during the clash, but herders association Miyetti Allah said the reports were untrue as the herdsmen were only complimenting the efforts of security agencies to clamp down on armed kidnappers in the area.


Read Mr. Akeredolu’s statement below

“Today we have taken major steps at addressing the root cause of kidnapping, in particular, and other nefarious activities detailed and documented in security reports, the press and debriefings from victims of kidnap cases in Ondo State..

“These unfortunate incidents are traceable to the activities of some bad elements masquerading as herdsmen. These felons have turned our forest reserves into hideouts for keeping victims of kidnapping, negotiating for ransom and carrying out other criminal activities.

“As the Chief Law and Security Officer of the State, it is my constitutional obligation to do everything lawful to protect the lives and property of all residents of the State. In light of the foregoing, the following orders are hereby issued:

“All Forest Reserves in the state are to be vacated by herdsmen within the next seven days with effect from today, Monday 18th January, 2021.

“Night-grazing is banned with immediate effect because most farm destruction takes place at night.”Under-aged grazing of cattle is outlawed.

“Our resolution to guarantee safety of lives and property within the State shall remain utmost as security agencies have been directed to enforce the ban.

“In its usual magnanimity, our administration will give a grace period of seven days for those who wish to carry on with their cattle-rearing business to register with appropriate authorities.”





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BUHARI STOP THE KILLING OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS -CAN.

 CAN asks Buhari to stop killing of religious leaders.



The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has asked the Federal Government to put an end to the abduction and killing of religious leaders by bandits in the country.

CAN’s Vice Chairman (Northern region), Rev. John Hayab, was reacting to the killing of a catholic priest of the Minna Catholic diocese, Fr. John Gbakaan during the weekend.

A Catholic Priest of the Diocese of Minna, Reverend Father John Gbakaan Yaji, was reportedly killed by bandits in Niger state.

It was gathered that the Priest was first kidnapped before he was killed by the bandits. His body was discovered on Sunday.

The priest according to reports was kidnapped on Friday night alongside his brother in Tufa village along LambataLapai road on his way to his station after a religious meeting in Lambata.

Reverend of the Catholic Diocese of Minna, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the incident, saying that search has intensified towards recovering the younger brother of the priest.

Meanwhile, reacting to the development, Rev. Hayab described the killing of the Catholic priest as ‘shocking and painful’, stating that insecurity in the North has assumed a more alarming dimension. Hayab said.

“We received the news of the kidnapped and killing of our dear Rev Father John with great shock and pains. “Sadly, those in power are wanting us to be singing their praises while our loved ones are being killed.

No responsible citizen will enjoy criticising his leaders for fun or because he hates them. Citizens criticise leaders so that they will sit up and do what is right.

“Today in Northern Nigeria many people are living in fear and many young people are afraid to become pastors because pastors’ lives are in great danger.

“When Bandits or kidnappers realised that their victims are a priest or pastors it seems a violent spirit do take over their heart to demand more ransom and in some cases go to the extent of killing the victim.

“We are simply pleading to the Federal Government and all security agencies to do whatever it will take to bring this evil to a stop.

“A person living in fear can never be productive and effective in the things he is doing. All we are asking from the government is protection from evil men that are destroying our lives and properties.”

Meanwhile, at least 17 people have also been kidnapped by bandits in three communities in Bassa/Kukoki ward of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

The people were kidnapped over the weekend in Madagwa, Wongo and Marenje communities.

It was learnt that the bandits stormed the town at different times on Saturday night.

It was also gathered that five people were abducted from Wongo and Marenje communities while about seven people were abducted from Madagwa.

The Co-convener, Concerned Shiroro Youths, Sani Abubakar Yusuf Kokki, confirmed the abduction, saying the whereabouts of the victims were yet to be identified.

He described the abductions as disheartening and unfortunate, saying “it is unfair that the locals have been left to their fate.

Kokki lamented that kidnappings and other related criminal activities have become the order of the day in the entire Rafi and Shiroro Local Governments areas of Niger State.

Also, about 20 other people, who were on their way to Madaka market, were said to have been kidnapped by the bandits from Duguru in Madaka Ward of Rafi Local Government Area, Niger State on Thursday.





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NO COVID19 TEST REQUIRED FOR STUDENTS'RESUMPTION -EDUCATION MINISTRY.

 COVID-19 test not requirement for students’ resumption – Education Ministry


The Federal Ministry of Education says no COVID-19 test is required for returning students to be admitted into their schools.

The spokesperson of the ministry and Director, Press and Public Relations, Mr Ben Goong told newsmen in Abuja on Monday as schools resumed for academic session.


Goong said that only temperature checks should be carried out on students and any other person crossing any school gate.

“School authorities should therefore refrain from asking students or parents to undergo COVID-19 test before they are accepted in their schools,” he said.


 

(NAN)


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SUSPECTED GANG RAPE AND MURDER OF 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL NABBED.

Seven suspects nabbed over gang rape, murder of 11-year-old girl

Seven persons, among them a woman, have been arrested in connection with the 11-year-old girl who was gang-raped to death in Ejigbo area of Lagos, three months ago.

Recall that the deceased, Favour Okechukwu, a Junior Secondary School 3 student, was sent on an errand by her mother, at about 3 p.m. that fateful day but never returned.

Her lifeless body was later recovered in a building on Olarewaju street, not too far from her home, naked and with blood-stained, by policemen attached to Ejigbo Division.

Perpetrators of the crime fled, including occupants of the building.

However, Vanguard reliably gathered that two of the suspects were traced to Ogun State. The suspects were said to have been involved in a botched robbery operation.

Their confessional statement led to the arrest of other suspects, among them, a woman alleged to have paid the boys to gang- rape the girl.

But the woman was said to have denied the allegation.

A spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the arrest, gave names of the suspects as Ajom Princewill, 37; Omobolanle Olowookere, 41, Aliu Adesola Bilyamin, 24;/Emmanuel Okon, 24; Bolarinwa Olamilekan,24; Badmus Abdullatif, 20; Quadri Azeez, 22 and Sunday Odunayo, aka Walter, 22.

The suspects according to him, had been charged to the Magistrate Court 3, Ebute Metta on a three-count charge of conspiracy, Defilement and Murder.

Saturday, January 16, 2021

JIHAD ATTACK IN NORTHEAST NIGERIA: MILITARY BASE SEIZED

 Jihadists seize military base in northeast Nigeria

Jihadists aligned with the Islamic State militant group have captured a military base in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state after overnight clashes with troops, sources told AFP on Saturday.

Machine-gun wielding fighters from Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attacked the base in the town of Marte in the Lake Chad area overnight Friday into Saturday, two sources said.

“The priority now is to reclaim the base from the terrorists and an operation is underway,” one of the sources said.

“We took a hit from ISWAP terrorists. They raided the base in Marte after a fierce battle.”

The second source said the army “incurred losses” but it was not yet clear how many people had died or the level of destruction inflicted by the insurgents.


ISWAP, which split from Boko Haram in 2016, maintains camps on islands in Lake Chad — where Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad meet — and the area is known to be group’s bastion.

Last week, the jihadists attacked the Marte base but were repelled, prompting them to mobilise more fighters for the overnight raid, said the sources.

The raid was seen as a “fightback” after recent losses — troops recently overran ISWAP’s second largest camp in Talala village, said the sources.

In November last year, officials began the phased return of residents to Marte six years after they were pushed out by the jihadists.

The town, 130 kilometres (80 miles) from the regional capital Maiduguri, was once considered the breadbasket of the Lake Chad region.

At least 36,000 people have been killed in the jihadist conflict since 2009 and violence has spread into neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, prompting a regional military coalition.





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GIRLFRIEND REJECTED N1.5M PAY OFF FROM A MAN AFTER 11 ABORTIONS.

Tension as girlfriend rejects N1.5m man wanted to pay her off with after 11 abortions

This is what a man sent to social media seeking advice.


“Hi there , I am 36 and about to settle down. Dated a lady for about 9 years or there about. she got pregnant several times and we both opted for abortion, we both took the decision.


I tried alot of times to tell her the danger about this and how to protect herself, this lady doesn’t know her freezone and all that .in 2017 after the last abortion her uterus caught an infection that made her bleed and smell for months and was finally removed. That was the point i realized that the journey to our forever has ended.

In as much as i wasn’t and we weren’t ready for babies then, I know one day I will I’d like to be called a father.its been 3years the womb was removed and its one hell of a ride for me.

Right now I want to settle down and make a family. My friends advised I give her a cash of 1.5million while i have a closure on her . at least it would go a long way towards setting her up.

Its been a tough one and I got the courage to do so on 30th December,which she left me at the eatery. There wasn’t any violent form of reaction from her.

Emotionally we are compatible but physically No. Someone already has my baby growing in her womb and I really want to sort out things with my girl before proceeding.

Went to her home and I was told she traveled to her home town Benin precisely for the season, I called, she picked and sounded okay.




Please comment on the post, let's know your opinion

At this point do i go ahead with the marriage plan with the other lady? Since everything is cool with my ex?


To make it clear to the public. She had 11 abortions in 9 years we stayed and it wasn’t totally my fault . I couldn’t bring myself also to sign for hysterectomy if her life wasn’t in danger” keep my anonymous.

MARKET PRICE OF PETROL HITS N183 PER LITRE.

 Fuel subsidy returns as open market price of petrol hits N183 per litre

•Govt pays N1.1b daily on local consumption


The increment in the price of crude oil at the international market has pushed the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) landing cost to N160 per litre.

The Guardian learnt yesterday in Abuja that the while the landing cost was N160 as at yesterday (Thursday) morning, the open market price has also jumped to N183 per litre.

The open market price is the expected price at the pump stations. The additional N23 is the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) pricing template component.

With payment of additional N23 as contained in the PPPRA pricing template and national consumption figure of about 50 million litres daily, the Federal Government now offsets about N1.1 billion on consumption of petrol in the country daily if the situation remains the same going forward.

Meanwhile, a source in the petroleum industry has called for the establishment of a special account in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the importation of petroleum products.

He argued that such a special fund would make foreign exchange readily available to marketers that want to import the product as a smart move of breaking the state monopoly the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has assumed.

He said: “The creation of this special fund will ensure that the NNPC is no longer bogged down by importation of petroleum products which is not its core business. There are very serious businesses that the corporation should be engaging in that can benefit Nigeria as a country more than importing products, which the private sector is most suited to do. NNPC engaging in petrol importation is not without some underhand practices that are draining the country.

“The time has come for the NNPC itself to push for its exit from importation of petroleum importation business to boost efficiency in its core business areas. The creation of a special fund will encourage more marketers to come into the fray and that is most likely to lead to reduction in the pump price.”

Indeed, from August 2020, there was a Federal Gazette that forbade the PPPRA from interfering in the prices of petroleum products. However, the gazette stated the role of the PPPRA to include intervention where the agency finds the prices too high and unjustifiable.

This scenario presents where all operators including marketers are able to defend their prices in clear manner to avoid sanctions by the PPPRA.

PPPRA’s PMS pricing is made up of two parts. The first part is the product/importation cost (cost, insurance and freight) and the second aspect is the local distribution margins (cost of distribution and return on investment).

Product cost is the cost of one metric tonne of petroleum product in US Dollars as quoted on Platts (S&P Global Platts). Freight is the average cost of transporting (30kt) cargo from North West Europe (NWE) to West Africa (WAF).

Lightering is the ship-to-ship local freight charge incurred on the trans-shipment of imported petroleum products from the mother vessel into daughter vessel to allow for the onward movement of the vessel into the jetty.

The Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) charges cargo dues (harbor handling charge) for use of its port facilities, while the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) charges for marine pollution prevention and control, and cabotage enforcement.

Jetty Throughput Charge refers to the tariff paid for the use of facilities at the jetty by marketers to move products from the jetties to storage depots. Storage charge is for depot operations covering storage charges and other services rendered by the depot owners.

Financing refers to stock finance (cost of fund) for the imported product. It includes cargo financing based on 25 per cent of landing cost details of the distribution margins on the PPPRA pricing template. These include Transporters Allowance (NTA), which entails the contribution to/reimbursement from the fund to defray the cost of local transportation of petroleum products within the same zone.

Local delivery is based on a transportation differential zone map and retailer is the allowable margin to retailers of petroleum products after considering the overhead cost and other running costs, while wholesale refers to the allowable margin to importers of petroleum products after considering the overhead cost and other running costs and administration charge goes to the PPPRA as payment for its interventions.



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EMBATTLED FORMER FCMB MD's WIFE SPEAKS.

 Wife of embattled former FCMB MD, Hauwa speaks on leaving husband, insists he’s loving, kind

Mrs Hauwa Adam Nuru, wife of the former MD of FCMB, Adam Nuru has reacted to the viral news that she has left her husband describing the publication as “fake news”

In a press statement signed by the Mrs Nuru, she insists that she’s still with her husband whom she described as her; “beloved husband and a loving father” stressing that the “malicious publication and deliberate falsehood” aimed at further demonising her husband.

The statement reads;

“I am still very much with my beloved husband.

“Following several calls from well-meaning family members and friends over a malicious publication and deliberate falsehood that I have packed out of my matrimonial home, I want to clarify for the avoidance of doubt that I am still very much with my husband.


“This fake news was published by an online newspaper in a calculated attempt to further demonise my beloved husband and a loving father.

“Let me reiterate that at no time did I contemplate leaving my matrimonial home or filing for divorce as no grounds exist for such. I really have no idea where this is coming from.

“While I owe a debt of gratitude to all those who have genuinely expressed concern about the fabricated story of moving out of my matrimonial home, let me appeal to the media to abide by the ethics of their profession and avoid the pitfall of rumormongering and sensational reporting.

“There is no truth to the tale whatsoever. I will not be responding to any further comments made by persons who obviously have an agenda whatever it may be.”




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TRAVEL CORRIDORS TO THE UK WILL BE CLOSED FROM MONDAY.

 UK to close all travel corridors Monday

All travel corridors to the UK will be closed from Monday, the Prime Minister has announced, ending the quarantine exemption for arrivals from selected nations.

The announcement comes after it was confirmed that a new variant of COVID-19, which emerged in Brazil, had been discovered in the UK.

The new policy, which comes into effect from 4am on Monday, means that arrivals from every destination will need to self-isolate for 10 days, or receive a negative result from a coronavirus test taken at least five days after they enter the UK.

It had already been announced that travellers arriving in England and Scotland from Monday will need to have a negative test taken up to 72 hours before leaving the country of departure.

Boris Johnson told the Downing Street press conference: “It’s precisely because we have the hope of that vaccine and the risk of new strains coming from overseas that we must take additional steps now to stop those strains from entering the country.

“Yesterday we announced that we’re banning flights from South America and Portugal and to protect us against the risk from as-yet-unidentified strains we will also temporarily close all travel corridors from 0400 on Monday.

“Following conversations with the devolved administrations we will act together so this applies across the whole of the UK,” he said.



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