Embattled Police Officer, Abba Kyari has blamed the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and the Eastern Security Network, ESN of being behind his travails.
A police report revealed that Kyari made this comment while facing a panel setup to probe him over his alleged link to disgraced fraudster, Ramon Olorunwa Abass aka Hushpuppi.
The report which was submitted to the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, and in turn sent to the Police Service Commission (PSC) also revealed that Kyari claimed that IPOB and ESN was after him because of the onslaught launched against them in the South East.
The Panel was led by DIG Joseph Egbunike. The report partly read; “The officer did not deny violating social media (policy) of the police. The officer (Kyari) stated that ‘It is a campaign to smear his reputation by members of IPOB/ESN who moved to destroy him due to his onslaught against them in the South-East’.”
Upon review of Kyari’s statement, the panel found his claims to be ‘watery’ and recommended a demotion in rank as ‘punishment’.
The Deputy commissioner of Police was suspended last July after being indicted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI over his ties to Hushpuppi. The report also revealed that Kyari’s younger brother received about N235,120,000 from the disgraced fraudster.
Efforts to reach the PSC and Police Spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi for a comment on the matter proved abortive.r
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Segun Oni, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Society gazette reports that the former governor of the state made this known during an interview on private radio in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday.
Oni disclosed that his decision to join the SDP was due to the alleged electoral malfeasance and irregularities during the PDP primary on January 26.
The former governor added that he joined the party due to the continued call by the people for him to contest the June 18 governorship election as a third force.
He revealed that some aggrieved aspirants in the APC and PDP are supporting his governorship aspiration in the new political party.
Speaking further, Oni said the necessary paperwork for him to become SDP’s candidate and his running mate would soon be concluded with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The former governor, however, opined that the will and aspirations of the people are the most important structure needed to win the upcoming governorship poll.
He said: “I have chosen to advance my ambition in the Social Democratic Party(SDP) because we are looking at the future, not the present.
“The party has been around for years and won elections in this country, it is a well-known party, that is the reason I chose SDP to contest the June 18, 2022 governorship election in Ekiti state.
“We have seen the potential in SDP because we believe it is easier to sell as a third force for Nigerians. The process to make me a candidate is ongoing and will soon be completed.
“I want to say without any forms of contradictions, that we politicians are coming together for this project coupled with the opinions of people in the streets. We are looking at a familiar terrain and a party with potential and also we are getting support from people that are well known in Ekiti’s political terrain.
“Let me say that for those who are in APC, four aggrieved aspirants are working with us. In PDP, the people called repositioning group, majority of them are working with us. Also, we are working with SWAGA members, SWAGA is a strong force in APC with a strong membership base.
“It is going to be a grand collation that will definitely benefit the people of Ekiti. I believe the goodwill of repositioning group, SWAGA and Segun Oni is almost enough to win election in Ekiti”.
In a move believed to have put an end to the various underhand dealings at Nigeria Ports Authority, the Federal Government has confirmed the appointment of Mohammed Bello-Koko as the substantive head of the Authority and by that token, removed Hadiza Bala Mohammed who had been on suspension.
Recall that Bello Koko has been in acting capacity since May 2021 when Hadiza Bala Usman was suspended by the Federal Government.
In a statement issued today, the Federal Ministry of Transport confirmed the appointment of Bello-Koko as the substantive head of the Authority by President Buhari.
Hadiza Bala Usman, it was gathered was queried over issues relating to favouritism, underhand dealings and outright disregard of court order while she held sway as the Nigeria Ports Authority Managing Director.
According to the sources, she revoked the lease of LADOL and gave same to Dangote’s friend a serving Senator, disregarding a Presidential directive. This move angered the Presidency because Ladol had invested over 300million Dollars and for a Federal Government appointee to display such show of disdain was unheard of.
She also shut down the ports and terminals of the BUA Group for close to one year despite a court order to the contrary. Obviously, her intentions and moves favoured Dangote with a view to keeping BUA Group and other competitors out of business while granting mouthwatering concessions to Dangote Group to create a monopoly. This issue generated a lot of questions from industry watchers.
Apart from this, there were issues relating to the dredging of Calabar port which was believed to have been dare to the Government’s heart, more so that of Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi. Sources claimed she claimed the project was not viable whereas findings by specialists disagreed with this.
To cap it all, there were allegations that she was also indicted by the audit report set up to look at the accounts of the NPA.
When she was confronted with the issues, especially the audit report as well as the move to create monopoly by Dangote, granting him so much concessions thereby denying the country revenue, our source revealed, she had nothing tangible to say in her defence, hence the decision to boot her out.
Two security units in the country have presented different statements on the reported attack on the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.
This follows the reports that some political thugs attacked the convoy of the Minister and former Osun State governor on Monday.
The shooting was said to have occurred at the Old Garage area to Oke Fia Area of Osogbo, the state capital on Monday.
But as earlier reported, the Osun Police Command has denied reports that the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, was attacked by some political thugs in Osogbo, the state capital.
The state police spokesperson, SP Yemisi Opalola, in a statement issued on Monday said that there was no such incident in the state as reported by some media platforms.
Opalola disclosed that some of the minister’s security escorts shot into the air without provocation, causing panic in the area and making people scamper for safety.
She stated the investigation into the matter was ongoing and a full report would be made available at the end of the investigation.
The police spokesperson, however, noted that no casualty was recorded during the incident and normalcy has returned to the area and the state in general.
However, in its own reaction, the Osun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, said hoodlums attacked the Interior Minister but were repelled by his security team.
The NSCDC statement issued by its Osun State Command spokesperson, Olabisi Atanda reads: “unknown hoodlums attacked the convoy of the former Governor of Osun State and Minister, Federal Ministry of Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola today at about 1840hrs around Old Garage area in Osogbo, the State Capital.
“However, the security details of the Minister were able to disperse the hoodlums and bring normalcy to the area.
“Commandant Emmanuel Ocheja said Osun State is a peaceful state and the Command will continue to render excellent and all–inclusive security services in the State, in line with the statutory mandates and functions of the Corps. Professionalism and impartiality is the watchword of NSCDC at all times.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has thrown his weight behind ex-secretary of Osun state government, Moshood Adeoti to become Governor.
The ex-governor media adviser, Sola Fasure on Monday explained in a statement that the governor gave his pledge of allegiance to Adeoti at Ijebu Ijesa while addressing party members and stakeholders in the state ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary on Saturday.
He also urged other party members to show their support for Adeoti in the upcoming elections.
The suspended commander of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), DCP Abba Kyari reportedly spend Monday night in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Recall that the NDLEA had indicted the former IRT leader in the trafficking of cocaine, which subsequently led to his arrest by the police following the intervention of the presidency.
In a statement on Monday evening, Police Deputy PRO, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, claimed that the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, ordered the immediate transfer of Abba Kyari and four others to the NDLEA.
Adejobi added that others officers arrested are ACP Sunday J. Ubua; ASP Bawa James; Inspector Simon Agirgba and Inspector John Nuhu.
Also, the NDLEA, in a statement released by its spokesman, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrest of Kyari and four other police officers over alleged links with an international drug cartel.
He further stated that Kyari and others were driven into the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja at about 5 pm on Monday for interrogation and further investigation.
The agency vowed that no stone will be left unturned to ensure that suspects in custody and those that may still be named full weight of the law.
Top officers involved
But fresh details have emerged indicating that more senior police operatives and other security agents would be arrested following the detention of DCP Abba Kyari.
Sources disclosed to Daily Trust that top police officers and security operatives may be involved in the latest incident involving the disgraced cop.
“Serious infractions have been established against Kyari in relation to drug crimes but the matter was being foot dragged at the police headquarters in Abuja and commands in some states.
“People would be picked in other high profile places because the secret has been busted,” one of our sources said.
He stated that the investigation of Kyari on the latest and other pending issues were being deliberately delayed by powerful forces.
The source added that this was because beyond the suspended deputy commissioner of police and the few officers whose names have been mentioned, there are senior officers that are directly involved and they know they would be indicted.
Abba Kyari and cocaine
It was gathered that before the NDLEA decided to hold a press conference to expose the suspended officer, only a handful of Police officers were aware of the cocaine scandal.
One of the officers told Daily Trust that the arrest and subsequent handover of Kyari to NDLEA for probe had caused serious confusion in the force.
“It is an institutional indictment. In the police force, especially among us the junior officers we see Oga Kyari as a role model in view of the various breakthroughs he had made in the arrest of criminals across the country.
“The drug thing happened while we are waiting to see how the Hushpuppi scandal will end,” the officer said.
The police have debunked the claim by a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osun chapter, that some political thugs attempted to kill the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, during a roadshow in Osun State on Monday.
The Osun police command said contrary to APC’s claim, it was Aregbesola, his bodyguards and political thugs that attempted to disrupt the peace of the state by “shooting sporadically into the air without any provocation” while moving in a convoy in Osogbo, the state’s capital.
Earlier, the spokesperson of the APC faction, Abiodun Agboola, had claimed that Aregbesola’s convoy was attacked by armed political thugs at Orisunmibare, Osogbo while coming from Ilesa.
“Today’s attempt on the life of the minister is a confirmation that Osun is no longer a safe state.
“We can only pray that the Almighty would keep the good people of Osun and her well-wishers safe,” Agboola had said.
But reacting in a statement, the Osun police command refuted the claim and accused Aregbesola of disturbing public peace.
Aregbesola Seeks Ambode Treatment For Oyetola As Gov, Minister Clash Over Shooting
“Today, Monday, at about 5.40 pm, the Minister of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola was moving in convoy of personnel of NSCDC, Correctional Service, Immigration, as well as some unidentified armed people, suspected to be political thugs along Orisumbare/MFS Road, Osogbo.
“Suddenly, some of the security escorts of the minister started shooting sporadically into the air without any provocation nor attack, thereby causing members of the public to scramble for their safety.
“Thirteen empty shells of G-3, assault, and AK-37 rifle were recovered along the road after the minister’s departure. No casualty, however, was recorded,” the command’s spokesperson, SP Yemisi Opalola, said in a statement.
According to reports, the shooting incident happened shortly after Aregbesola, who is the immediate past governor of Osun State, openly declared support for the governorship ambition of Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, a former Secretary to the Osun State Government (SSG).
The minister was said to have indirectly attacked his estranged political godfather, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, while also calling on the people of the state to reject the re-election bid of the incumbent Governor Gboyega Oyetola in the July 16 governorship election.
“It is possible some share your ideals and it’s also possible some do not. This happened in Lagos recently. There was a governor, who wanted to seek re-election and the party declined and showed him the way out with their votes. So, the same way it was in Lagos then, is exactly the way it is in Osun today. What is good for the goose, is also good for the gander. It cannot be the turn of your younger brother now and you change the rules,” Aregbesola had said in reference to Tinubu’s alleged role in stopping Akinwunmi Ambode from being re-elected as Lagos governor in 2019.
Friends of Godwin Emefiele, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), have declared that he is not planning to run for president in 2023 but focused on delivering on his mandate as governor of the apex bank.
The group, which called itself Friends of Emefiele, said it met with the CBN governor following media reports urging him to run for president to clarify the true situation.
The group in a statement on Tuesday said Emefiele disclosed to them that he had no such plans, except what God has willed for him.
The statement urged those sponsoring a “campaign of calumny to impugn the character of the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria” to desist and allow him focus on his mission to support President Muhamnadu Buhari in reviving the Nigeria economy.
The group frown at what it called “sponsored media reports on the purported interest” of Emefiele, “in the 2023 presidential race, leading to stampede by interested parties and vested interests who are resorting to all sorts of blackmail, sponsored articles and choreographed comments on social media targeted at tainting Godwin Emefiele’s image, impugning his character and legacy.”
They noted that Emefiele has not confirmed to anyone he is running for President even as he is
constitutionally qualified to do so, and has been under pressure in the past few weeks due to “unsolicited campaign for his candidacy”.
The group explained that after meeting with Emefiele on Monday, he told them he remained focused on his job and will continue to support the President Buhari-led
Federal Government’s economic recovery drive.
According to the group, the CBN governor said he had never lobbied for a job in all his career trajectory.
Emefiele told the group that after his appointment as the CBN governor in 2014 by former President Goodluck Jonathan, he remained “humbled by President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to grant him an unprecedented second term as CBN Governor- again without lobbying.”
Emefiele told the group that he believed “it’s the prerogative of President Muhammadu Buhari to plan his succession in line with global best practices for good governance for the continuing peace and progress” of Nigeria, “as such he will play his part to stabilise the economy for an orderly transition.”
Taking a historical account of when Emefiele assumed the position of the CBN Governor in June 2014, the group pointed out that “he has calmed the waters and put
Nigeria back on the path of growth,” despite challenges.
After the sharp fall in crude oil prices and a 13-month recession, he initiated major monetary policies that supported the Buhari administration and all 36 State governments, ensuring salaries were paid to steer Nigeria away from crisis.
The group pointed out that the second recession the country entered in 2020 was as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet CBN under Emefiele supported fiscal authorities with N100 billion health sector credit facility, one-year extension of a moratorium on principal repayments for CBN intervention facilities and reduction of the interest rate on intervention loans from 9 percent to 5 percent.
According to the group, Emefiele also strengthened Loan to Deposit ratio policy, created N400 billion target credit facility for affected households and small and medium enterprises, granted regulatory forbearance to banks to restructure terms of facilities in affected sectors among other interventions.
The Friends of Emefiele noted that ‘those behind the sponsored negative reports are afraid of Emefiele’s towering personality and
service to Nigeria.
“But they must understand that he cannot be stampeded any way. He is focused on delivering the mandate of the Central Bank; he is rebuilding the economy of the country through import substitution policies and using agriculture to create a new rural middle class from ground up.
“Those who continue to criticise the rice pyramid are too ashamed of giving glory to whom it is due.
“Emefiele is focused on his unfinished job and should not be distracted.”
An Abuja-based human rights lawyer Pelumi Olajengbesi has urged the Federal Government and the Police Force to immediately arrest the suspended Head of the Intelligence Response Team, DCP Abba Kyari.
Olajengbesi urged the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, to immediately hand over suspended Kyari, to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to prove his innocence.
The Nation reports NDLEA had declared Kyari wanted over alleged drug links.
He said: “The IGP must immediately order the arrest of Abba Kyari and hand him over to the NDLEA at a public press conference if truly the police do not shield bad eggs.
“The IGP must prove that he is not backing Abba Kyari in his alleged atrocious crimes exposed in the public glare in the last one year.
“Justice must be served in the case of Abba Kyari and it must be served now to deter the bad eggs amongst the security agents colluding with drug barons and internet fraudsters to perpetrate heinous crimes and tarnish the image of the Force.
“The Police and the Federal Government have no excuse not to arrest Abba Kyari now that a government agency has found him culpable of heavy crimes. There must be no cover ups, no matter whose ox is gored.”
The West African Examination Council on Monday released the results of the 2021 second series West African Senior School Certificate Examination for private candidates.
This was made known on Monday at WAEC Lagos office, Head of the National Office, Patrick Areghan, Naija News reports.
He said the WASSCE was conducted across West Africa at the same time.
“A total of 52, 973 candidates registered ft the examination. The conduct of the examination took place from Friday, November 12, 2021 to Wednesday, December 22, 2021,” he said.
WAEC Announces 2021 WASSCE Private Result Release Date
Recall that WAEC on Sunday announced that the WASSCE results for Private Candidates 2021- Second Series will be released today.
Naija News understands that WASSCE for Private Candidates also known as General Certificate Examination, GCE, is usually written in November/December and is mostly taken by secondary school leavers who want to correct deficiencies in their results.
It’s a private examination and no uniforms are worn during the exam sitting, only biometric registration is compulsory.
Giving an update on the release of the results on Sunday night, WAEC wrote: “@waecnigeria is set to announce the release of results of WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2021- Second Series tomorrow, Monday, February 14, 2022. Stay tuned for more details!”
