LASIEC says Lagos council polls unstoppable

•LASIEC Chairman, retired Justice Ayotunde Phillips.

 The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) says it has no plan to postpone the July 22 council polls.

The Chairman of LASIEC, retired Justice Ayotunde Phillips, said on Saturday that rather than shift the election, preparations had been intensified to ensure that the exercise was successfully conducted.

The commission is also stepping up awareness to mobilise voters for the elections, she said in a statement by Mr Dapo Olatunde, the Director of Publicity of LASIEC.

She explained that LASIEC had just concluded the training of its electoral officers on effective election management and administration as part of the preparations.

In addition, the ex-Chief Judge of the state, said ad-hoc staffers were being trained on how to discharge their duties efficiently during the election.

Phillips promised that the commission would “go extra mile” to meet the expectations of the people of credible elections on July 22.

On the litigation against the commission by the Labour Party over its decision not to use card readers, she said: “LASIEC will have to wait for court pronouncement for next line of action.

According to her, the commission is also awaiting the court’s verdict on the suit instituted against it by National Conscience Party (NCP) over “imposition of administrative fees”.

Phillips noted that the party did not obtain the nomination forms for its candidates as a result of the fees and did not also participate in the recent screening and validation of candidates.

The chairman urged the electorate to participate actively in the political process, saying it is through participation that they can elect quality leadership at the grassroots.

NAN

APGA, INEC in crucial meeting

•APGA National Chairman, Chief Martin Agbaso.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Friday held a crucial meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the Commission’s resolve to withdraw from challenging a court order issued to it and the Inspector General of Police, not to recognise any other person as APGA National Chairman, beside Chief Martin Agbaso (Ochoudo). The APGA delegation to the meeting held in Abuja was led by Agbaso.

“Our great party under Chief Martin Agbaso is on course to participate in the November 18 election in Anambra State and win, and to therefrom, situate, position and consolidate APGA as the household political platform, capable of sweeping most of the seats in the South East, South South and the Middle Belt in 2019,” the party said in a statement issued on Saturday by Uche Ezechukwu, Media/Public Affairs Adviser to the APGA Executive.

He stressed that the direct consequence of INEC withdrawal from challenging the court order is that INEC has formerly accepted the decision of Justice A.R. Ozoemena of the Enugu High Court, which was served on it since last month.

Continuing, Ezechukwu said: “With that in mind, we went to rub minds with the INEC leadership and to submit, as required by law, the programme and schedule of our party for the processes and procedures that will lead up to our primaries, to select our flag bearer, through a very transparent democratic means, as spelt out by our party Constitution and the Electoral Law.

“Chief Agbaso has always insisted that in the new APGA, there will be no room for imposition of candidates, as our party has hundreds of people who are as amply qualified as the incumbent Governor to fly our party’s gubernatorial flag on November 18 and win.

“Chief Agbaso is, therefore, calling on all our party faithful in Anambra State and beyond to be rest assured that our great party is retooling to return to dignity, self confidence and inclusiveness which our leader and founder, the Great Ikemba had inculcated in the rank and file of the party and which formed the marching order which he handed to all who, like Chief Martin Agbaso, were there at the very foundation of our party.

“Our National Chairman, therefore, directs me to inform all the APGA members, stakeholders and well wishers that our dear party and mass movement is back on song, and requests all those who have been disillusioned to shake off their negativity and return to the fold, because we are at a threshold of a new dawn for APGA.”

My travails in the hands of Nigeria’s law enforcement personnel, By Mohammed Bello Adoke

•Ex-Justice Minister Mohammed Bello Adoke.

I have just been informed that my country home in Okene, Kogi State built some 12 years ago was today 14th July 2017 thoroughly searched by men of the Nigerian Police Force.  Armed with a Search Warrant from the High Court of the FCT sitting at Gudu District, Abuja, the 12 policemen searched the whole building including the overhead and underground water tank, septic tanks, the penthouse and Boys Quarters apparently looking for foreign currency (Dollars and Pound Sterling) and other unspecified documents.

However, unlike previous searches, which were conducted in the crudest manner with the aim of needlessly destroying property, these Policemen conducted themselves professionally and were civil in their approach thereby giving credence to the new image of the force as a reformed Institution. At the end of the almost 2 hours search, no incriminating thing was found in the house and a report to that effect was duly prepared and witnessed by those who were present including my junior brother, Abdullahi Adoke.

This will be the 4th time my home will be subjected to search at the instance of Nigeria’s law enforcement personnel. It will be recalled that my student home in The Hague, Netherlands was searched at the instance of the EFCC. This was followed by the search of my country home in Kano and the search of my junior brother’s house also in Okene and today’s search of my own home in Okene. While all these searches have been futile in the sense that nothing incriminating was found, the law enforcement personnel still persist in this fruitless exercise.

I am therefore convinced that the searches are in furtherance of an orchestrated plan to harass, intimidate and generally prevent me from pursuing my suit against the federal government.  I served Nigeria diligently as Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for 5 years and two months and I am proud of the modest achievements I recorded in the Justice and other sectors that my inputs impacted. I am therefore utterly surprised that at the end of my service, agencies of the State especially the EFCC have chosen to align with those with personal grudges and scores to settle with me for refusing to allow my office to be used in their fight to gain ownership and control of OPL 245 granted to Malabu Oil and Gas Limited.

I am however certain that at the appropriate time, all those behind my travails will be exposed and shamed. By the grace of God, Nigerians will be made aware of the ignoble roles some of their so called leaders are playing in furtherance of their personal interests in the guise of fighting corruption.

•Ex-Justice Minister Mohammed Bello Adoke sent in this piece on Friday night.

Lagos Govt. vows to enforce land grabbing law

•Governor Ambode.

The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Civic Engagement, Mr. Kehinde Joseph, has reiterated the determination of the administration to enforce the Land Grabbing Law of 2016.

Speaking at a One-Day Enlightenment Programme on the Lagos State Properties Protection Law 2016 held at Alausa, Ikeja, the Special Adviser said before the announcement of the law, forceful takeover and fraudulent conduct was the order of the day.

He added that the Omo-Onile syndrome which was wide spread throughout the state resulted in wanton destruction of lives and property, adding that government acquired land was not spared by the trespassers.

Joseph recalled that the consequences of this menace affected the socio- economic sector adversely as people and individuals were discouraged from acquiring landed property in the State until the advent of the law which prohibited forceful entry and fraudulent conduct in relation to landed property.

While noting that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had set up a Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers in order to curb the deplorable act as well as ensure effective enforcement, he warned the people perpetrating the illegal act to desist, adding that the state would not hesitate to wield the big stick against offenders.

The Coordinator of the Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers, Mr. Jide Bakare, who gave an extensive interpretation of the law, explained that offenders could get a maximum penalty which includes a fine of N5 mnillion or between 10 and 21 years imprisonment or both.

Source News Express

Sheriff rejects PDP’s amnesty offer

•Ex-PDP National Chairman Ali Modu Sheriff.

Sacked factional national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has denied congratulating the Senator Ahmed Makarfi over the recognition of his camp by the Supreme Court as the authentic leadership of the party.

The former chairman distanced himself from series of tweets congratulating Makarfi after the court judgment on Wednesday, saying he has no twitter handle.

Sheriff who also rejected the amnesty offered him and his followers by the Markafi-led PDP maintained that he was rather worried about the future of the party, which he said is now in the hands of some persons known to have criminal cases bordering on fraud, treasury looting and dishonesty pending before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A twitter handle @SenAliSheriff, with a display picture of Sheriff, had posted a congratulatory message to Makarfi, call on PDP faithful to corporate with the new leadership of the major opposition party to remove the All Progressives Congress (APC) from office.

Checks by our correspondent showed that aside the above mentioned twitter handle traced to Sheriff, there are three other handles which has his display picture.

Makarfi had on Thursday offered Sheriff and his loyalists amnesty, declaring that it was in the spirit of ‘no winner no loser’ disposition of his leadership.

But reacting to the purported tweets from Sheriff, acting national publicity secretary of the Sheriff-led PDP, Hon Bernard Mikko said, “Our attention has been drawn to a fake congratulatory message credited to an imaginary Twitter handle of Sen (Dr) Ali Modu Sheriff, the immediate past PDP National Chairman.

For the avoidance of doubt, Sen Ali Modu Sheriff does not have or own a Twitter account and could not have tweeted any message.

“We therefore view the said message as fake and mischievous and should be discountenanced as that of evil doers. We further warn all mischief makers to desist from trying to exploit the huge political capital of Sen Ali Modu Sheriff for selfish gains”.

Reacting to the amnesty offered Sheriff and his group of loyalists, Mikko said, “I take exceptions to the reckless statement credited to Prince Dayo Adeyeye suggesting the grant of amnesty to Sen Ali Modu Sheriff, his National Working Committee and supporters. Amnesty is a reprieve for those who have committed offence under our statutes. We did not occupy the office illegally or committed any offence.

“Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff was validly elected and was forced to vacate the National Secretariat after a joint meeting of the contending camps with the Inspector General of Police in the wake thuggery attack in the heat of conflicting court pronouncements.

“However the office was officially re-opened for us after we presented the certified true copy (CTC) of the judgement of Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt division to the Inspector General of Police. I am therefore concerned about the future of our party in the hands of some of those who are known to have pending criminal cases bordering on fraud, treasury looting and dishonesty with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the highest court in our land and we await the copy of the full judgement delivered on July 12, 2017.

“No one owns the party and those making unguarded and reckless statements in the public domain should realise that the solution to the problem of Nigeria is beyond any political association. Unacceptable and unjustifiable means cannot lead to a justifiable and acceptable end.”

In a related development, the immediate past national organizing secretary, under Sheriff’s terminated leadership, Okey Nnadozie, has pledged loyalty to Makarfi’s leadership, describing the Supreme Court judgment as victory for the party.

In a statement issued by himself, Nnadozie said, “I have carefully considered Wednesday’s ruling of the Supreme Court, which in effect ended the regrettable leadership tussle and protracted disagreements among members of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“The unfortunate tussle, while it lasted, saw many loyal and committed members of our great party wittingly or unwittingly on different sides of the divide based on principle and different interpretation of our Party’s constitution. But in all, the verdict is victory for all as it has at last brought us all together again as one big family that we have always been.

“It is on this note that I sincerely congratulate the leaders and members of our party, particularly, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, and members of the National Caretaker Committee, Our Governors, members of the National Assembly, and of course all Nigerians for this important judgment. Indeed, the ruling is a clear pointer to the future of not only our party but also the entire nation”.

Nnadozie continued: “This development also points to the democratic credentials of our party and the resilience of its undying ideology as a robust and egalitarian platform, irrespective of the challenges it faced.

“No doubt, during and immediately after the 2015 general election, and particularly during the period of this unfortunate divisive leadership tussle, mistakes were made; unguarded statements were made, our party had to bear avoidable pain and loses, but in all, very serious lessons have also been learnt.

“What is left for us now is to put the painful past behind us, forgive and embrace one another and together forge ahead in the onerous charge to reposition our party for the task ahead. In this regard, I wish to commend and thank our leaders who have made comments in this direction.

“As a loyal and dedicated member who has held leadership position at the national level, the PDP remains my home as we once more rededicate ourselves and place the overriding interest of our party over and above every personal ambition or interest”.

Source: LEADERSHIP

U.S. moves to recover $144m Nigerian oil industry bribe

•Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The U.S. Justice Department on Friday filed a lawsuit seeking to recover assets that include a $50 million Manhattan apartment and an $80 million yacht that it said were bought using money generated from a scheme to pay millions of dollars in bribes to a former Nigerian oil minister.

The civil lawsuit, filed in federal court in Houston, alleged that two Nigerian businessmen conspired with others to pay bribes to the minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who oversaw the African country’s state-owned oil company.

The lawsuit said that in return, Alison-Madueke steered lucrative contracts with a subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corp to companies owned by the two businessmen, Kolawole Akanni Aluko and Olajide Omokore.

Despite being unqualified and in some instances failing entirely to perform services under the contracts, these companies received more than $1.5 billion in revenues through the sale of crude oil, the lawsuit said.

The Justice Department said that Aluko and Okokore then laundered their illicit revenues through the United States and used the money to buy $144 million in assets including the Manhattan condominium and the $80 million yacht, the Galactica Star.

The condominium is located in One57, a skyscraper located near Central Park on a street in Midtown Manhattan that is known as “Billionaire’s Row.”

Acting Assistant Attorney General Blanco said in a statement that the case demonstrated the Justice Department’s commitment to trading and recovering corruption proceeds.

“The United States is not a safe haven for the proceeds of corruption,” he said.

Following a mortgage default, lender Banque Havilland SA launched foreclosure proceedings on the condominium in January. It is scheduled to be up for public auction on July 19, according to the lawsuit.

Alison-Madueke was charged with money laundering in Nigeria, the country’s financial crimes agency said in April. She previously denied to Reuters any wrongdoing when questioned about missing public funds and corruption allegations.

Lawyers for Aluko and Omokore could not be immediately identified. They are not defendants in the lawsuit, which is a civil forfeiture action.

The lawsuit was brought as part of Justice Department's Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, which seeks the forfeiture of the proceeds of foreign corruption.

Reuters

Horror as kidnappers kill Osun Permsec

The Osun Head of Service, Mr. Sunday Owoeye, on Friday confirmed the abduction and killing of the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of General Services, Office of the Governor, Mrs. Olufunke Oluwakemi Kolawole.Owoeye, who confirmed the incident in a statement in Osogbo, said the killing of the permanent was a rude shock to the state government.

It was gathered that the kidnap victim was traveling to Abuja from Osogbo on an official assignment when hoodlums kidnapped her and took her to an unknown destination.

The deceased was said to be driven in her official car and was going to attend the inauguration of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Abiola Adewemimo, as one of the judges of Industrial Court when the hoodlums struck.

On behalf of the Forum of Head of Service and Permanent Secretaries, Tutors-General, Accountants-General, Auditors-General and Surveyors-General, and with rude shock and a deep sense of loss, I hereby painfully announce the untimely death of Mrs. Olufunke Oluwakemi Kolawole, who was brutally attacked by kidnappers while traveling along Okene – Abuja highway on her way to Abuja on Thursday, July 12, 2017 for an official assignment.

“Until her death, Mrs. Kolawole was the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of General Services, Office of the Governor of Osun state.

“The Forum commiserates with the families of the deceased, the entire public service and the State Government of Osun on this irreparable loss,” Owoeye said.

Details of the burial programme shall be released as soon as they are announced by her family,” the head of service said.

Late Mrs Olufunke Oluwakemi Kolawole

Bar Solomon Dalung, Hon Minister of Youth & Sports, submission on the outcome of Osun Bye Election:

Barr. Solomon Dalung

I am always at lost with our interpretation of politics.

This is where I differ with many. The fall of a dried leaf is good warning to the green one. I am an APC founding member, least I am misunderstood, but the lost of Senatorial election in Osun to PDP and the attendant celebrations even by civil servants indicates that our Governors in the states need to have a rethink.

Also at the centre we need self reflection and improve on our performance. In 2019, I see a situation where money and party politics will be debased for intergrity.

I am a revolutionary democrat and I congratulate the PDP but  will adjust and work harder to ensure that we retain the confidence of our people.

We must remember that the power of incumbency was defeated in 2015 and has since been buried by popular mandate.

Therefore, we should grow above politics of hatred or trivialities and mature into politics of service and integrity.

 Iam challenged by the defeat of my party with a sitting governor.

It calls for sober reflections and not trading of insults my  people. God bless Nigeria.

Soyinka, Ijaw literary icons converge in Kaima

•Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka

Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka on Friday in Yenagoa faulted arguments by some people that Nigeria should not be restructured.

According to him, while the country should not be left as it is, Nigeria was negotiable.

He made the remarks during a colloquium with the theme: “A Day with the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Ijaw Literary Icons,” held at the Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama, Bayesla State, and moderated by renowned poet, Odia Ofeimun.

At the event, which was also graced by other literary giants including Dr. Gabriel Okara, Prof Ebiegberi Alagoa and Prof John Pepper Clark, Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson said Nigeria’s unity was negotiable.

Soyinka said: “My response is simple. We must stop confusing and mixing up the argument. It is very unfortunate for our leaders to say that the question of breaking up or not breaking up should not have arisen in the first place. It all sounds hypocritical, dogmatic and dictatorial. The statement whether the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable, that to me is a falsititude.

“Anything is negotiable, the right for people to determine their future is what is non-negotiable. Most nations came to being through negotiation.

“Sometimes, when people say negotiate, what they really mean is restructure. What the question should be is: 'Should Nigeria break up?' My answer to that is 'No.' But please don’t tell me that Nigeria, as it stands, is non-negotiable. For me, this is a fallacy.

“The nation has got to be negotiated; negotiation includes ensuring that there is no marginalisation. Negotiation means control of resources, negotiation has to do with restructuring a nation in a way that the components and constituents are not feeding an over-bloated centre to the detriment of their development. The language we should use is what are you willing to sacrifice? What effort are you willing to make to ensure Nigeria remains intact? That is the question.”

Also speaking, Dickson said while the unity of Nigeria was desirable and negotiable and that aggrieved nationalities should sit down and dialogue.

“Nigeria’s unity is negotiable and desirable. The answer on whether to break up is 'No!' There is a desire to stay as one. Ask questions about what is happening, there are several things to negotiate.

“If we can control our resources, we will do more for our people. All we need to do is to talk about existence, our living together. Let’s sit down and talk.”

Dogara mourns as another lawmaker dies

•Late Rep member Abdullahi Mohammed Wamakko.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, has expressed grief over the death of another serving member of the House of Representatives, Abdullahi  Mohammed Wamakko.

Wamakko died on Friday in Abuja at the age of 50.

The lawmaker represented Kware/Wamakko Constituency, Sokoto State and was serving his first term.

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Turaki Hassan, on Friday in Abuja, Dogara expressed his heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Sokoto State.

“Hon Wamakko was a dedicated lawmaker who had the progress of Kware/Wamakko federal constituency, Sokoto State and the entire Nigeria at heart”, Dogara said in his tribute.

“As we mourn his painful untimely departure, I pray that God will bring solace to his family who will miss him the most and grant him eternal rest.”

The Speaker recalled that Wamakko was a patriotic, committed, peace-loving and hardworking lawmaker who gave his best for the service of his people and said the House will greatly miss him.

“I also condole with the government and people of Sokoto State over this loss. May his soul rest in perfect peace.”

The Speaker later joined  Gov Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Reps. Abdussamad Dasuki and Umar Bago  at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, to take Wammako’s  body to  Sokoto for burial.

NUJ warns El-Rufai over arrest, detention of journalists

•Governor El-Rufai

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has warned Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai against persecution of journalists in the state.

A Kaduna State High Court had on Wednesday remanded a former reporter with Vanguard newspapers, Luka Binniyat in prison over allegation of false publication brought before it by the Kaduna State Government.

Binniyat, who had been on medication, walked into the courtroom with the help of crutches to make appearance having sustained injuries from an accident.

Despite his illness, the presiding judge, Bashir Sukola ordered the remand of the journalist despite appeals from his counsel, James Kanyip.

Justice Sukola said the journalist should be remanded in prison custody till July 20 for ruling on the bail application filed by the journalist’s lawyer.

But a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by Shuaibu Usman Leman, NUJ National Secretary, the union described the Governor’s numerous actions as clearly aimed at his perceived political opponents which "ridiculously included the media."

Leman said that as a result of El-Rufai's intolerance for criticisms and aversion for the media, many journalists in the state were now being persecuted by the government.

The statement reads: “The government of Kaduna State, in its further drive to cage the media and muffle freedom of expression, had this week arraigned a Kaduna-based journalist, Luka Binniyat before a Kaduna State High Court charged with injurious falsehood and incitement. He was earlier charged to a Magistrate's Court for the same allegations, remanded in Prison custody before being granted bail.

“The High Court had equally remanded Luka Binniyat in Prison custody pending the hearing of his bail application next week.

“It will be recalled that Kaduna State government had issued a stern warning to journalists on the 28th of January this year, threatening of dire consequences if they file any story considered false by the State Governor.

“Recently some other journalists were taken to court by Governor Nasiru el Rufai, prominent of which included Midat Joseph of Leadership newspapers who was detained and charged to court for alleged injurious falsehood, plan for mass demonstration that will shut down Kaduna and public incitement. Others being hounded are Dickson Onjekwu of New Nigerian newspapers and Gabriel Idibia of The Union newspapers.

“El-Rufai’s numerous actions are clearly aimed at his perceived political opponents which ridiculously include the media. As a result of his intolerance for criticisms and aversion for the media, many journalists in the state are now being persecuted by the Government. We are terrified by the remanding of Binniyat in prison custody because of his health challenges. He had an accident and came to court on clutches to answer the summons but instead of being in hospital, he is now behind bars.

“The NUJ will hold Governor Nasiru el-Rufai fully responsible if anything mysterious happens to Binniyat in prison. 

“This development calls for concern because the government of el Rufai rode to power on the formidable use of the media and therefore it cannot now turn round to want to instruct journalists on how to do their jobs. Certainly the Governor cannot make untoward rules for journalists outside their extant Code of Practice. Journalists should not be used as scapegoats to cover up for his numerous gaffes.

“We advise the Governor to desist from having journalists arrested, detained and taken to court for writing stories and reports on the crisis in Southern Kaduna, which he feels do not reflect the thinking of the State Government. The problems of Southern Kaduna can never be resolved through threats and intimidation by the Kaduna State Government on journalists. Rather, we suggest that he should appeal to the media to help mobilise citizens to appreciate the benefits of peace and peaceful coexistence.”

Court grants bail to OAU’s former Acting VC, Bursar

•Ex-OAU VC, Prof. Elujoba.

The Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo has granted bail to the immediate past acting Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Anthony Elujoba; and the Bursar, Aderonke Akeredolu.

The two defendants are standing trial on a seven-count charge ranging from alleged stealing, intent to steal, and misappropriation of funds to abuse of office.

Justice David Oladimeji, in his ruling on the application for bail, said he granted Elujoba bail on self-recognisance, while Akeredolu was granted bail in the sum of N50 million and two sureties in like sum.

The two sureties must be either members of the academic or non-academic staff of the university with the highest grade and must submit two passport photographs and a verifiable address to the Chief Registrar of the Osun State High Court.

The court also ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to return the international passport of the first defendant and deposit it with the Chief Registrar of the court, while ordering that the first defendant must not travel out of the country except on the order of the court.

The judge however condemned what he termed as the unruly and uncivilised behavior of the union members and students of the institution at the last court sitting.

In the meantime, the students and unions are jubilating on the streets of Osogbo over the release of Elujoba.

The case has been adjourned to October 27, 2017.