A Federal High Court in Abuja has denied the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sunday Ubua, bail.
The former Commander of the Intelligence Response (IRT) commander and his team member had filed a bail application before the court.
This was after the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022, had charged Kyari and four others for alleged involvement in drug dealings.
Others charged are Bawa James, Simon Agirigba, John Nuhu, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne.
Upon arraignment, Kyari and four other defendants pleaded not guilty, while the sixth and seventh defendants pleaded guilty and begged the court to “have mercy”.
In a ruling on Monday morning, Justice Emeka Nwite held that the prosecution has placed sufficient materials before the court to warrant the refusal of bail to both senior police officers.
The judge also rejected the bail applications of Inspector Simon Agirgba; Inspector, John Nuhu.
Justice Nwite ruled that their bail application were denied after considering the affidavit evidence supplied by parties and proof of evidence.
The judge said he was convinced that the prosecution has successfully raised a reasonable presumption of criminal responsibility on the part of the defendants.
The presiding judge, however, granted an accelerated hearing of the case.
Omoyele Sowore, the National Leader of the African Action Congress (AAC) and 2023 presidential aspirant, on Monday expressed his aversion to Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike’s presidential ambition declaration.
Wike, on Sunday visited Benue State where he declared his interest in the 2023 presidential race.
He called on national delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to sell their votes, but to consider him.
Wike, who addressed the party delegates at the Government House, Makurdi, said almost all presidential aspirants from the party were responsible for the party’s defeat in 2015.
In a veiled reference to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, he said some of the presidential aspirants on the platform of the party left the PDP when it mattered most.
Reacting, Sowore, in his typical way, made negative comments about Wike.
“The criminally-minded, corrupt, thug and murderous Nyesom Wike too has declared to become Nigeria’s President, we really can’t continue like this!” he wrote on his verified Facebook page.
Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, has said that the National Youth Service Corps certificate saga, which led to her resignation as minister made life more difficult for her.
She said this at the 10th anniversary of the Uncommon Woman Conference organised by the Jesus House Church, United Kingdom.
The Minister described the scandal as horrible, adding that it was the most difficult time of her life.
On 7 July 2018, report broke that Adeosun had illegally obtained her NYSC exemption certificate to get into public office.
On 14 September 2018, Adeosun resigned as Minister of Finance in a written letter to the President due to the alleged NYSC Certificate forgery scandal.
She had admitted using a forged exemption certificate of the NYSC, which she presented for her appointment in 2015.
The report revealed how Adeosun skipped the mandatory national youth service scheme and procured a forged certificate purporting to have exempted her from the one-year mandatory exercise.
Adeosun had while tendering her resignation letter to President Muhammadu Buhari on September 14, 2018, admitted that she realised that the NYSC certificate she had presented to be appointed as minister “was not genuine.”
She admitted presenting the same fraudulent certificate for her earlier appointment as Commissioner for Finance of Ogun State in 2011.
But revealing how she was able to deal with the scandal, the former finance minister said she wept every day without working for three months.
According to her, everything about her life was at a standstill while she had to deal with shame, betrayal, disappointment and humiliation.
She said more painful was the fact that she quit her job as a minister at a time when the economy was beginning to feel the positive impact of her economic policies after a long period of stagnation.
Adeosun said “That period of life was tough for me. I went to step into the shoes of someone like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
“So, I was under fire from day one, it looked like things were not working. Then all of a sudden,the economy started to improve. It was like I was beginning to see the desired result.
“Then out of nowhere, the certificate scandal came. And before I knew it, everything turned upside down. And that was how the issue went viral.
Giving more details on what led to the scandal, the former minister said, “I was born and raised in the United Kingdom; indeed, my parental family home remains in London.
“My visits to Nigeria up until the age of 34 were holidays, with visas obtained in my UK passport. When I finished school, there was no opportunity for dual citizenship; I either renounce my British citizenship or hold on to it and work here. I didn’t renounce mine. I finished school at 21 and started working at 22.
“I obtained my first Nigerian passport at the age of 34 and when I relocated, there was debate as to whether the NYSC law applied to me. Upon enquiry as to my status relating to the NYSC, I was informed that due to my residency history and having exceeded the age of 30, I was exempted from the requirement to serve. Until recent events, that remained my understanding.
“On the basis of that advice and with the guidance and assistance of those I thought were trusted associates, the NYSC was approached for documentary proof of status.
“I then received the certificate in question. Having never worked in the NYSC, visited the premises, been privy to or familiar with their operations, I had no reason to suspect that the certificate was anything but genuine.
“Indeed, I presented that certificate at the 2011 Ogun State House of Assembly and in 2015 for the Department of State Services clearance as well as to the National Assembly for screening. I sought legal advice and there was no problem I could get an exemption for the NYSC.
“I was so ashamed at that time because I was into teenagers’ mentoring and all of that. So, the experience negated the lessons I had taught my teenagers. I cried every day for three months; I didn’t do anything for anyone or myself for those months. I just cried, cried, and cried.”
The former Minister of finance said that despite the court judgement which cleared and vindicated her from the scandal, she still wasn’t happy.
Adeosun’s lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) had filed a case against the Attorney General of the Federation, urged the court to declare that his client cannot be disqualified from serving as either a member of the House of Assembly of a State, a Commissioner in the State Executive Council; Governor of a State; member of the National Assembly; Minister in the Federal Executive Council or the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the ground that she did not participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, established by the National Youth Service Corps Act, CAP N84, LFN 2004.
Ruling on the matter, Justice Taiwo Taiwo had held that participation in NYSC was not a yardstick for being selected as a Federal Minister.
But the former finance minister said that despite being cleared by the Court, she still didn’t feel better as she had to go through another round of counselling to heal.
“I thought I would feel better when I got vindicated by the court but I still wasn’t happy. The court cleared my name three years later but it took another time of counselling and therapy before I felt better.
“It was thereafter I forged ahead with life and started my charity work,” she added.
Minister of finance budget and national planningMrs Kemi AdeosunUncommon Woman Conference
Patrice Evra, the Manchester United football legend, on Saturday visited the under bridge axis of Oshodi in Lagos.
During the surprise visit, the 40-year-old was seen playing chess with students of Chess in slums Africa.
Chess in slums Africa is a non-profit organisation known for using the game as a framework to promote education and raise champions from low communities.
In one of the video clips, the ex-France international was welcomed by a jubilant crowd, with many of them chanting his name.
He was also seen donning a Yoruba traditional cap with smiles etched on his face.
In a terse post via his Twitter page, the football star expressed his excitement at visiting Nigeria and sharing the unique moments with the children.
“Checkmate. Evra bus stop #Nigeria ! I’m soo impressed by those genius kids @Tunde_OD @burnaboy #ilovethisgame #positive4evra,” he wrote.
Tunde Onakayo, founder of Chess in slums Africa, had earlier teased fans about his visit but did not disclose his name.
“A Manchester United legend/former captain and a UEFA Champions league winner will be coming to play Chess against some of the kids in our academy at oshodi underbridge,” he had announced on Thursday.
The development comes a few weeks after Kevin Tokar, acting Canadian high commissioner to Nigeria, and his team also visited the area.
Onakoya has become a viral sensation across social media platforms since he initiated Chess in slums Africa.
He recently won the prize for community action at the 2022 edition of The Future Awards Africa (TFAA)
A vigilante member in Itasa community in Iwajowa Local Government Area of Oyo State, Amodu Abubakar, has narrated how he lost his two hands in an attack by some armed robbers suspected to be Fulani.
Abubakar, who is an indigene of Itasa, said the two suspected armed robbers attacked him while he was riding a motorcycle.
He said this in an interview with THE WHISTLER on Saturday.
Narrating how he was attacked, he said he was going back to his duty post and was riding a motorcycle when the incident happened on March 13. He said his attackers also rode on a motorcycle and suddenly pounced on him and cut off his two hands and took away his gun.
Abubakar said he trekked some kilometres before he was rescued and taken to hospital where he is still receiving treatment.
He said, ” Look at my hands, I can no longer use them for anything, I can’t even feed myself again. Somebody has to feed me now whenever I want to eat.
“I cannot remove my trousers. I cannot do anything for myself. They have rendered me useless.”
A son of the victim, Ahmed, who also spoke in an interview with our correspondent on telephone said the case was reported at the police station the same day his father was attacked.
He said the incident happened about two weeks ago adding that the police investigators had come to ask his father some questions concerning the attack on the hospital bed.
He said residents of the town and those living in nearby towns had launched manhunt for the attackers, saying the attackers’ target was the locally made gun which they snatched from his father after cutting off his hands.
The son said, “My father is still receiving treatment at hospital in Iwere Ile. He is devastated like we his children and family because of what happened. But we are trying our best to give him the assurance that he could still use his hands if we can raise money for him to buy artificial hands.
“He doesn’t want to be a burden to anybody and that is why he is happy about the prospect of using artificial hands.
“We are begging members of the public and the government of Oyo State and Nigeria to help us. My father can still.be useful if he can get the artificial hands but be needs financial help to buy them.”
The Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, Adewale Osifeso, could not be reached for his comment on the incident.
Kaduna State Government on Saturday said the attack by suspected terrorists was repelled by those around the precinct of its International airport.
The information was contained in a statement signed by the State’s Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan.
Armed men had reportedly invaded the airport earlier on Saturday, disrupting the operation of the airport services.
The incident had caused the death of a staff member whom the state government revealed to have been shot by the assailants.
“However, the bandits, unfortunately, shot and killed a staff member stationed at the perimeter fence who raised alarm on sighting them,” the statement read.
Aruwan added that aside from those around the airport’s vicinity, “Troops stationed within and around the airport responded and repelled the attackers”.
He also noted that the airport operations had resumed with scheduled flights departing after the incident.
Aruwan further said security forces were conducting operations in the airport general area, and “further updates will be communicated to the public”.
Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i, who commended the security forces for their prompt response to the attack, and for repelling the attackers, expressed sadness at the report of the casualty.
He sent condolences to the family of the victim, offering prayers for the repose of his soul.
Kaduna has witnessed a trajectory of attacks in recent times, with non-state actors devising new strategies to perpetrate evil and its agenda in the state.
Notably, among its recent strategies are the planting of explosives randomly across the state; a situation the state government had raised an alarm about and had asked its residents to be cautious and vigilant of their environment.
Why We Are Supporting Security Agencies – Alhaji Ogunbiyi
Alhaji Waheed Usman Ogunbiyi, Chairman Oguns Investment Ltd, has said the reasons he continuously extends supports to security agencies is to ensure safe environment for social and economic activities to strive.
The frontline real estate investor stated this Friday afternoon when he played host to a team of the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE which honoured him with NAOSRE Security Excellence Award.
Acknowledging the honour, an obviously elated Alhaji Ogunbiyi thanked NAOSRE for recognizing him, saying he never knew that an association as credible as NAOSRE had kept a close observation on his supportive efforts to security agencies.
“I really appreciate NAOSRE for nominating me. We are sufficiently encouraged by this honour. So we will continue to do more to support our security agencies so that our community can be safe.
“We have been doing our best but we never knew that association like yours has been monitoring us.
“We are happy with your association and we expect others to emulate your good work,” Ogunbiyi stated.
Earlier, the Head, Research and Intelligent Unit, RIU, in the NAOSRE PR Department, Lateef Owodunni, explained in details the rationale behind the award which he stated emanated from Alhaji Ogunbiyi’s noticeable supports to the Nigeria Police Force and other para military agencies for effective security service delivery within and outside Lagos State.
Owodunni added that the Comrade Femi Oyewale led media union will continuously recognize individuals and institutions that are supporting security agencies in line with the administrative focus of NAOSRE.
The NAOSRE team included National General Secretary, Osho Oluwatosin, National Registrar, Gbenga Isaac Shaba, Director of Process & Planning {NAOSRE President Office} Aina Iyabo Bose and Idumonza Isidahomhen, Public Relations Officer.
The South-West unity list for the 2022 All Progressives Congress’ convention has been released.
The name of former Minister of Communications, Adebayo.Shittu, is conspicuously missing on the list made available on Saturday.
Five APC governors in the South West signed the list. They are: Governor Kayode Fayemi ( Ekiti) Rotimi Akeredolu ( Ondo); Adegboyega Oyetola ( Osun); Dapo Abiodun ( Ogun) and Babajide Sanwo-Olu ( Lagos).
On the list, former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, was nominated as the National Secretary of APC.
Former APC chairman in Ondo State, Isaacs Kekemeke, was listed as the National Vice Chairman South West and 11 other APC members were nominated in the list.
Akeredolu had said in a statement by his Commissioner for Information, Donald Ojogor, that some forces outside the region were trying to impose some persons on the APC in the South-West. But he said the governors had agreed to support Kekemeke as the National Vice Chairman ( South West).
It read in part, “This is to confirm that one of our own, the former APC state chairman, Duerimini Isaac Kekemeke, is in the race for the position of the National Vice-Chairman (South-West). Kekemeke has the full backing of Governor Akeredolu and his brother governors in the South-West.
“It should be noted that critical stakeholders in the South-West had earlier micro-zoned the positions that were brought to the region. Among these were the national vice-chairman, which was retained in Ondo, and the secretary, which was micro-zoned to the Oyo/Osun axis.
“For emphasis, what we are going for is national vice-chairman with Kekemeke as our candidate, and not national secretary. Those outside the South-West, who are attempting to micro-zone our offices for us in the South-West, are only creating unnecessary confusion and any such of their permutations outside the decision of stakeholders in the South-West should be ignored.”
Some foreign delegates have lamented the ill-treatment they received at the ongoing national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) currently taking place at Eagles Square, Abuja.
In a video in circulation which was sighted by DAILY INDEPENDENT, a foreign delegate from Canada, said they arrived at the venue of the convention as early as 7 am but were not allowed admittance as at 1 pm.
He said they were asked to be in the queue but were beaten while some of them have their phones stolen.
“They sent us an e-mail that we should come by 7’o clock in the morning. We were there at 7 am. Later, they sent another e-mail that we should come at 9 am. They gave us a tag, took us on a bus. We went round all this place for almost one hour. They couldn’t let us in”.
“They finally told us to form a line. We got on the line. They started beating us, stealing our phones. As I am talking to you, we are still standing outside. Just look at what they are doing to foreign delegates. This is very unacceptable and the government has to know this. I came all the way from Canada and this is what we are getting”.
One of the contenders for the national chairmanship position of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Tanko Al-Makura has withdrawn from the race.
He withdrew from the race to support Senator Abdullahi Adamu who is believed to be the consensus candidate of the party for the position and enjoys the support of President Muhammadu Buhari.
This development was confirmed by Al-Makura’s spokesperson Danjuma Joseph and comes just a few hours before the commencement of the APC national convention in Abuja.
Al-Makura has previously declared he would not be withdrawing from the race to become the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to Al-Makura, he can’t withdraw from the race simply based on speculations that President Muhammadu Buhari has endorsed Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reiterated that it prefers candidates contesting national working committee (NWC) positions to emerge through consensus.
This is at it added that members who feel otherwise about a consensus candidate would be allowed to test their popularity at the polls.
This position was made known on Friday by the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule who is the chairman of the media and publicity sub-committee of the APC national convention.
He submitted that the consensus option ensures the process is faster and rancour-free.
Sule however added that it doesn’t mean the APC would deny aspirants the opportunity to contest or for delegates to vote as anyone who disagrees with the consensus candidate would be allowed to slug it out at the polls.
He stated this during a press conference on Friday ahead of the party’s national convention scheduled for Saturday (tomorrow) at the Eagle Square in Abuja.
