President Muhammadu Buhari has invited some top leaders of the All Progressives Congress to an Iftar dinner at the State House, Abuja.
The dinner will hold on Tuesday according to the letter of invitation sent out to guests.
Those invited for the meeting include former Lagos State Governor and Presidential aspirant, Mr Bola Tinubu, former National Chairmen of the APC, Messrs John Oyegun and Adams Oshiomhole.
Also invited to the dinner are the former Adamawa state Governor, Mr Murtala Nyako, former Ogun State Governor, Mr Olusegun Osoba, first interim chairman of the APC, Mr Bisi Akande and former Borno State Governor, Mr Ali Modu-Sheriff.
Also included in the letter of invitation are the former Zamfara State Governor, Mr Ahmed Yarima, former Sokoto State Governor, Mr Aliyu Wamako, former Edo state Governor, Mr Oserheimen Osunbor and former Yobe State Governor, Mr Bukar Ibrahim.
Others are General Muhammed Magoro, Senators Lawal Shuaibu, Aba Aji, Tijjani Tumsah, Fati Bala, Abubakar Guru, and Nasiru Danu.
The letter of invitation to the dinner was dated April 22, 2022, and addressed to the APC National Chairman, and signed by the President’s Chief of Staff, Mr Ibrahim Gambari.
The invitation letter read: “I write to inform you that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has directed that invitation be extended to the attached list of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress to join the President to break Ramadan fast on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at 1830 hours in the Presidential Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja.
“In this regard, you are kindly requested to invite them to attend. The leaders are to arrive at the Pilot Gate at 1630 hours for Rapid Covid-19 testing at the State House Conference Centre and be seated at the venue by 1800 hours.”
Several residents have been killed and an unconfirmed number of others wounded after an attack on Monday night by armed groups locally known as bandits on some villages in Kagarko Local Government Area (LGA) in the northwestern state of Kaduna in Nigeria, POLITICS NIGERIA reports.
Sources told this newspaper that the terrorists also kidnapped people and stole cattle.
APC Chairman, Aribi Ward, Iliya Auta
One of the victims is a local chieftain of the ruling party – the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Aribi Ward, Iliya Auta.
Neither the state government nor the military has confirmed the incident.
Over the last few months, groups of armed bandits have kidnapped, tortured and killed hundreds of people across northwest and central Nigeria, demanding ransoms and looting citizens, rich and poor. Consequently, millions of people have been displaced.
On April 3, the lawbreakers raided Jere, in the same Kagarko LGA, and kidnapped some people.
The bandits have operated from forest bases.
In some villages, they have even become the law, taxing locals on a regular basis.
COURT ORDERS BANKS TO FREEZE SUSPECTED DRUG BARONS’ ACCOUNTS
A Lagos Federal High Court, has ordered Zenith Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa, UBA, to place a lien, also known as Post No Debit (PND) on the accounts of two suspected drug barons, Basil Okafor Onochie (SIR) and Okwuchukwu Edwin Izuchukwu.
Justice Tijjani Ringim, who presided over the court, issued the directive to the two banks, while granting a motion Exparte marked FHC/L/CS/694/2022, for such orders, by the anti-narcotic agency, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Apart from ordering placing liens on the said accounts, Justice Ringim also directed the two bank to allow the NDLEA to inspect and make Certified True Copies (CTC) of Account Opening Packages, Statements of accounts and any relevant documents in their custody in compliance with section 84 of the Evidence Act 2014, for purposes of investigation.
NDLEA had approached the court for the orders, through its counsel, Barrister Umar Hussaini, pursuant to sections 6(6) B, 44(1) and (2)(K) of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999, (as amended), sections 41 and 42(2) of the NDLEA Act Cap. N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (As amended); Section 13(1) FHC Act 2004, Order 26(6-10); 28(1)and(2) and 30(A) of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2019 and under the Court’s inherent jurisdisction.
NDLEA lawyer, Umar when moving the Exparte application, asked the court to order Zenith Bank to freeze account numbers: 1001203139, 1010359483 belonging to Onochie and his company, Optional Business Bureau Limited, and account number: 1001464228 belonging to Okwuchukwu Edwin Izuchukwu.
He also asked the court to direct UBA Plc to place a lien on account numbers: 1008374573 belonging to Onochie.
He said the order sought for is for the period of 90 days, which the agency would have concluded it’s Investigation.
Justice Ringim after listened to the submissions of the counsel and perused all the processes before her said: “I have carefully perused the motion Exparte, supported with 18 paragraphs affidavit, Written address and exhibits attached.
“I’m of the firm view and satisfied that the orders sought for deserved to be granted and same are accordingly granted.”
NDLEA in an affidavit in support of the Summons Exparte, deposed to by Kareem Olayinka Musibau, an Investigating Narcotic Officer, stated that on March 28, 2022, the NDLEA Operatives arrested both Onochie and Izuchukwu, at 26, Akpomuje Street, Isolo-Okota Area of Lagos State, in connection with the seizures Of 2.169 kilograms of Heroin.
He stated that both Onochie and Izuchukwu are prominent transnational drug traffickers across the world and that following their arrest, the NDLEA is now investigating the level of their involvement in respect of the seizures of the hard drugs made on March 28, 2022, at their above stated address.
The deponet further stated that in the course of investigation, the NDLEA discovered the stated bank accounts, being used by both Onochie and Izuchukwu to launder the proceeds from their illicit drug dealings and that they both admitted the commission of the said offence in their respective written statements.
He stated that it has become necessary for the NDLEA to freeze the accounts temporarily pending the final investigation of this case.
He also avered that it would be expedient and for the court to place a Post No Debit status on the said account numbers, domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc and UBA Plc, operated by both Onochie and Izuchukwu.
The deponet also stated that order of the court is necessary to require the Zenith Bank and UBA Plc, to give the NDLEA access to inspect and make certified true copies of statement of accounts in compliance with section 84 of the Evidence Act 2011, copies of all the account opening decuments and other relevant documents in respect of the accounts aforementioned to enable the applicant conduct and complete investigation in this case.
He averred that the order of the court is urgently required to carry out this of investigations and that no one will be prejudiced by the grant of the application, as it was in the interest of justice to grant the order sought for.
A new-born-baby was early Tuesday morning dumped at a refuse dump along Enugu Road in the university community of Nsukka, Enugu State.
The baby was wrapped in a blue waterproof, and packaged in a carton. As at the time of filing this report, the baby’s remains had not been evacuated.
The act attracted curses from sympathisers. A woman who could not hold her tears said, “Only cursed women can do this kind of thing. If you see the number of women looking for the fruits of the womb, you wonder how any woman could carry a baby for nine months, and decides to waste the baby.”
Mrs Ozoemene Okonkwo advised young ladies to report to welfare units or registered motherless babies’ homes when they do not want to own their babies.
She said, “Thousands of people want to adopt babies and give them a sense of livelihood. It is very bad to kill a baby one cannot create.”
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi who died in Ekiti State on Friday night failed to carry out some of his plans before his death.
The well respected Yoruba monarch before his death had plans to visit the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi.
Oba Adeyemi before joining his ancestors also had planned to install the Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila as Baamofin of Oyo.
The monarch also took steps to end the rift between the Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu.
A source that spoke with The Nation disclosed that Alaafin had planned to hand over two new houses to two of his wives as gifts before the end of this month.
The source said: “Kabiyesi was waiting to get well. He planned to hand over a gift of new houses to two of the queens. But, death has made that impossible now. The houses have been completed. They were just to be handed over to the wives.”
It was gathered that the monarch had planned to meet with the Oyo State Government over the elevation of some chiefs and balee into obas without his consent and in violation of chieftaincy laws.
A source disclosed that the Alaafin of Oyo had written former Governors Rashidi Ladoja and Abiola Ajimobi on the issue, but no action was taken.
It was claimed that the monarch had planned to complain to the current Governor of the state, Seyi Makinde before his death.
The monarch had gathered relevant documents, which he planned to launch by end of April before death came.
In a 2017 letter to the late Ajimobi, the Alaafin had listed bales who elevated themselves to Obas and those who gave themselves non-existing titles.
“One seemed to believe that with these and a host of legislations on chieftaincy matters, both the administrators, prescribed authorities and the beneficiaries would be guided alright. It was very disappointing that self-esteem, corrupt practices, negligence, and carefree attitude by those concerned have led to great abuse and bastardization of the important culture. Dubious characters in our society now found the acquisition of chieftaincy titles at all costs a haven since the anointment is honourable for life. They manipulated their ways to the highest position, sometimes, to the disadvantage of some families. Criminals have invaded the culture.”
Members of the Nigerian Senate have been accused of diverting funds meant for constituency projects to non-existing projects.
The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) made the accusation in its interim constituency and executive projects tracking report, Naija News reports.
According to the report, the anti-corruption agency uncovered how the members of the Red Chamber illegally added N20 billion to N100 billion annual constituency projects.
The ICPC added that the lawmakers embedded additional projects into the 2021 mandate budget of MDAs, which is a long way affected budget performance, as well as distorted developmental planning and implementation of the 2021 fiscal year.
The report read in part: “Budget insertion remains one of the egregious, yet illegally acceptable phenomenon that has distorted the nation’s developmental planning and implementation of developmental programmes.
“In addition to the N100 billion appropriated annually for constituency projects, the National Assembly embedded additional projects into mandate budgets of MDAs. This is done to increase the project portfolios of concerned legislators and their influence on MDAs. The value of the insertion was in billions.
“Analysing the 2021 National Budget alone across key sectors of education, water resources, health, power, science and technology, environment, works and agriculture, we found duplication to the tune of over N20 billion.”
In the report, the ICPC cited other areas of infractions where lawmakers allegedly awarded contracts to themselves or to proxy companies.
This includes the “contract for the construction and renovation of blocks of the classroom at the Federal University Staff School, Wukari, Taraba South Senatorial District by a popular Senator“.
ICPC alleged that the project was “haphazardly nominated, appropriated and executed in locations that have no need for such projects.”
Another infraction pointed out by the ICPC was the supply of tricycles to Rivers West Senatorial District was an empowerment project, where the sponsor allegedly used one of her cronies as the contractor.
The commission alleged that “while the contract was never performed, the sum (N30m) was fully paid and shared“.
An Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun on Monday sentenced a 21-year-old driver, Kenneth Divine, to one month imprisonment for stealing 14 cartons of ”Indomie” noodles worth N48,300.
The police charged Divine, alongside Joel Olawale,34, with two counts of conspiracy and theft.
Delivering ruling, Magistrate A .O. Adeyemi, sentenced the convict to one month imprisonment, after he had pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against him. with an option of N10,000 fine.
Adeyemi, however, gave the convict an option of N10,000 and also directed him to restitute N48,300 to the complainant.The second defendant, Olawale, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was admitted to bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.
Earlier, Prosecution Counsel, Insp E.O.Adaraloye, told the court that Divine, Olawale and others at large, committed the offence on March 29 at the Indomie Company, Fowobi,Oju-Ore area, Ota.
Adaraloye said they stole 14 cartons of 70g f Indomie noodle worth N48,3000 belonging to one Balogun Ayokunle. He said that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 390(9) and 516 of the Criminal Code,Laws of Ogun,2006.
She adjourned the case until May 13 for further hearing.
Nse Ekpenyong, the legislator representing Oron Constituency in the House of Representatives, Abuja, is dead.
Oron is a coastal city and Local Government Area (LGA) in Akwa Ibom State.
This newspaper learned that Ekpenyong, who showed no sign of illness, died on Sunday. He was 58.
The deceased is a former member of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and a former deputy chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa lbom State.
Before joining politics, he was the Managing Director of Based/Investment Trust Co Nigeria Limited and later the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Brule Integrated Nigeria Limited.
Messages of condolence have poured in.
Francis Otioro wrote on Facebook: “I’m just glad I was privileged enough to meet you. Deep inside my heart, my thoughts for you are stronger than death, Hon Nse Ekpenyong. May your reputation precedes you Oh Ofriyo!”
Mattello Felix wrote on Facebook: “Shocking! Rt Hon. Nse Ekpenyong?? Sad news for Oron Federal Constituency. One lost too many.”
DrDurable Osung wrote on social media: “This is a great loss to Oro Nation. But God understands! May God have His way and avenge the death of Nse Ekpenyong. Adieu my brother and friend!”
Citizens of have re-elected President Emmanuel Macron in a tightly contested presidential election.
It took Macron 58.5% votes to defeat his nationalist rival, Marine Len Pen in the runoff election on Sunday, Naija News reports.
First-round voting results between the top two contenders, Macron and Len Pen are shown below:
Emmanuel Macron of the Republic on the Move polled 9,783,058 in the first round of France’s 2022 presidential election, earning 27.8% count of the total votes.
While his major contender in the race, Marine Le Pen of the National Rally gets a total of 8,133,828 votes which stood at 23.2%.
This led to Sunday’s second-round runoff which secured Macron another tenure in leadership.
As projected by French polling agencies, 44-year-old Macron garnered between 58.5 per cent of the vote in the second-round runoff to beat down 41.4% vote for Le Pen.
The latest victory for Macron makes him the first president in France to have won re-election since Jacques Rene Chirac who served as President of the European country from 1995 to 2007.
Len Pen on the other had lost against the incumbent president for the second time, Naija News understands.
She was defeated in the 2017 France Presidential election after earning just 33.90% of the total votes, against Macron’s 66.10%.
Speaking on his latest victory, Macron acknowledged the love from his loved ones and the entire residents of France.
He vowed to improve the living standards of the less privileged.
“Many in this country voted for me not because they support my ideas but to keep out those of the far-right. I want to thank them and know I owe them a debt in the years to come,” the 44-year-old said.
He assured the people that he will address the “anger and the disagreements” that led to many French voters choosing the extreme right, saying “this will be my responsibility and that of those around me”.
“No one in France will be left by the wayside,” he continued, pledging to be a “president for all”, Macron added.
Some residents of Oyo town who thronged the Oyo Palace to mourn the death of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi on Saturday were stung by bees.
This happened around 10 am after Islamic clerics had arrived at the palace in preparation for the burial of Oba Adeyemi, who died on Friday night.
Our correspondent observed that to ward off the attacking bees, residents in the open space in the palace who were affected plucked tree branches and leaves to drive the unwanted creatures away.
A policeman was one of the victims and some of the mourners assisted him to drive away the bees and removed some of the insects which got stuck in his uniform.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Saturday, described the death of the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, as “a huge loss to the state, Nigeria and the Yoruba race”.
Makinde, while describing Oba Adeyemi’s death as a personal loss to him, said that he was “an ever-supportive royal father and a worthy leader, who spared nothing in trying to make Oyo State and Nigeria greater”.
The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Taiwo Adisa, said, “Kabiyesi’s words of advice and guidance were always golden and helpful”.
Makinde expressed his condolences to the Oyo State Traditional Council, the Oyomesi, Oba Adeyemi’s immediate family, the people of Oyo Kingdom and the entire Yoruba race.
The governor, however, prayed to God to grant repose to the soul of the departed traditional ruler.
According to Makinde, apart from Oyo State losing its last man standing in the rank of experienced monarchs with long years of royal leadership, it has also lost a royal institution and an authority, which Alaafin Olayiwola Adeyemi III had become by virtue of his high-octane understanding of Yoruba history, politics and national development.
He said, “I have been informed about the death of our father, His Imperial Majesty, Iku Baba Yeye, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III.
“I express heartfelt condolences to the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, which Oba Adeyemi chaired for decades, the Oyomesi and the entire people of Oyo Kingdom.
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“I equally commiserate with the Oloris, children and entire Adeyemi family on the demise of their patriarch and worthy father.
“Kabiyesi’s departure is a huge loss not only to Oyo State, to which he committed 52 years of his life as the Alaafin of Oyo Kingdom, but also to Nigeria and the entire Yoruba race.”
According to him, Oba Adeyemi was our last man standing in the rank of most eminent royal fathers with long years of leadership.
“He became a golden king, an institution and an authority rolled into one by virtue of his immense experience, wisdom and understanding of Yoruba history, royalty and politics.
“Oba Adeyemi, not only elevated the Alaafin throne with his knowledge and wisdom, he became a worthy exemplar for royal leadership in Africa and brought glory to Oyo State and Nigeria.
“Kabiyesi never spared anything in his strive to make Oyo State greater and to bring about the Nigeria of everyone’s collective dream.
“Personally, Kabiyesi’s death is a great loss to me, because he proved to be a worthy father and had been ever so supportive of our government.
“His words of advice and guidance were always golden and helpful.
“It is my prayer that God accepts Kabiyesi’s soul into Aljanah Firdaus and uphold everyone and everything he left behind. Good night, Iku Baba Yeye !”
