Brave policeman who arrested Evans shot dead by kidnappers

Sergeant Lanre Sanusi

A policeman who was instrumental in the tracking and eventual arrest of Kidnapping Kingpin, Evans, has been shot dead.

The officer, Sergeant Lanre Sanusi, was said to have been shot in the stomach while he was on the field trying to arrest some kidnappers.

It was reported that Sanusi was shot by one of the suspects in the stomach while his colleague got shot in the hand.

Despite being shot, the brave officer and his colleagues were said to have chased after the kidnappers and killed the man who fired the killer shots.

Reports said Sergeant Lanre seemed fine after the bullets were removed only to end up dead a few days later.

“It is really sad and painful altogether. We have not been able to tell his wife and other family members yet. This is the risk of the job we are talking about; we put our lives on line for others, yet when it is time for promotion, one thing or the other will happen and the list will be kept in view,” a colleague expressing sadness over Sanusi’s death said.

“Look at this now, Sergeant Lanre was one of the men that put his life on the line to arrest Evans and now he is dead. We don’t even know how to break the news to his wife and family. It is painful,”

The commander of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT),  Abba Kyari is said to be in deep pain over Lanre’s death.

Source: thenigerialawyer.com

Train Derailment In Agege Leaves Three Dead

Many persons may have been feared dead at Abbatoir area of Agege outskirts of Lagos when a Train derailed this morning.

Lagos State police spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole who confirmed the incident noted that the Train also rammed into a Trailer, injuring many and leaving unconfirmed number of victims feared dead.

According to Famous - Cole who confirmed the incident in a telephone call, “We just got the information. Our policemen and those attached to the railway command are in control of the situation. I cannot confirm any death, but i can tell you that some persons were injured.

Rivers govt rejects police report on Wike, Amaechi convoys’ clash

Nyesom Wike and Chibuike Amaechi

THE Rivers State Government has rejected the report of the state police command on the fracas between the security personnel attached to State Governor, Nyesom Wike and that of the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi in Port Harcourt last Saturday.

The security details of the two opposing political bigwigs in the state were caught in a clash arising from a totally mismanaged traffic situation with each of them alleging assassination attempts on them.

The Rivers Police Command later came out with a report debunking the allegation and stating that no attempt was made on either the governor or the minister’s life at any point of the situation which many observers in the state have joined the police to describe as a show of shame.

But in its reaction, the State Government said the report was not acceptable to the government describing it “as a sad development for the police force that has chosen to disgrace itself”.

The State Commissioner for Information, Barr Emma Okah who stated the feelings of the state government on the report said that the claim by the Commissioner for Police Ahmed Zaki that the incident was a minor accident showed that the police did not investigate the matter but was merely acting a script written for it by the Commander of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), Akin Fakorede.

Alleging that Fakorede is a bosom friend of the Minister, he said the statement by the police only confirms that plans have reached the advanced stage to eliminate Governor Wike adding that the weekend clash was a manifestation of the plans by the police.

The Commissioner stated that it was wrong for the police to treat the Governor as a subordinate of the Minister stressing that not recognising the superiority of the governor’s convoy above any other in the state except those allowed by law is a national embarrassment.

Barr Okah further accused Amaechi of plotting to make Rivers State ungovernable saying that the actions and inactions of the Ubima born immediate past governor of the state have shown a sinister intention to collapse the apparatus of government of Rivers State.

He alleged that Amaechi has been stalling the development strides of Governor Wike in Rivers State.

“Let the Minister of Transport recognise that there is a sitting Governor in Rivers State. Let him wait till 2019, there is another opportunity. But people of Rivers State deserve peace; the people of Rivers State deserve development. We cannot be living in a situation where every day there is one ugly news or the other emanating from the same source and every effort the governor is making to ensure that we develop our state and give our people good governance is being rubbished and whittled down by the former governor of state, a state he governed for eight years,” he stated.

He wondered; “is this how he (Amaechi) wants to be cited by posterity, is this legacy he wants to leave for Rivers State. As Minister of Transport, the best we expect from him is cooperating with your state governor. After election politics goes down the drain, we now face governance.”

Source: Tribune

I have credentials to turn around Ogun – Adeola

One of the frontline aspirant for the governorship seat in Ogun State, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, has said that he has all it takes to administer the State, if given the opportunity to serve.

Adeola, who is a current serving Senator in the National Assembly, representing Lagos West, noted that the state need an experienced helmsman to manage its affairs,  than a candidate that may be  teleguided.

The aspirant explained that he was a former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, House of Representatives and a former political appointee to Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He made this known while addressing politicians from different political parties in Imeko -Afon Local Government Area of the state, as part of his statewide consultation on his ambition.

Adeola while addressing the gathering said he has the credentials to turn around the fortune of the state.

He said, “I was a member of the Lagos House of Assembly. I was at House of Representatives and now at Senate. I was Special Adviser to Asiwaju. So, I have the credentials to turn around the future of Ogun State.”

He promised not to deceive the people of the state in his bid for governorship, just as he said that the present administration might not complete some of the ongoing capital projects before leaving office in 2019.

Adeola popularly known as Yayi in the political circle said most of the capital projects cannot be completed because of the prevailing atmosphere and promised that his administration would complete any of the projects if abandoned.

The governorship aspirant said,  “Don’t let us deceive ourselves; with the look of things, those projects cannot be completed within the remaining part of the tenure.”

He said that the Ogun West Senatorial District should be given the opportunity to administer the state, saying the district had been marginalized since the creation of the state in 1976.

Adeola said, “Let’s leave Ogun West to determine and present their candidate. We don’t want a weak candidate that will be teleguided. We need a people’s governor and not a governor that would be imposed on us.

“A people’s governor will represent the interest of the populace, not the dictates of a cabal. This is why I have embarked on consultation.”

FOOTBALL: Super Eagles can spring a surprise in Moscow

Few minutes after the match between Nigeria and Argentina took the centre stage in Krasnodar, Russia, reactions poured in, especially when it looked like the Eagles were not getting their rhythm. And with two goals down it was as if the sing-song over Argentina’s perceived supremacy will continue.

Questions were being asked as to why the team appear to perform below par, but then with the impressive free kick by Kelechi Iheanacho reducing the tally, the confidence soared and the result was a massive 4-2 victory.

But one thing that should be taken away from this match is that the contest for Eagles shirt has become more competitive. With the exception of a few players who have proved that they can always come and fit in, it is no longer a question of just walking in to pick a shirt.

Again the Gernot Rohr approach has also sounded a note of warning which is that everyone should be able to take the opportunity when offered. A Brain Idowu that that is getting his first call saw an opportunity and took it.

While some players may still need to prove themselves others have already sealed their place in the Russia.

This all important and much talked about friendly has fired warning shot one for and another against.  It is an indication that this Eagles can spring a surprise in Moscow and on the other hand, is an indication that Argentina who struggled before booking a place for the world cup may not go far in Moscow.

That is however not to say that anything is cast on stone any team can do the kind of turn around we witnessed Tuesday night. No doubt there will be fireworks in Moscow and you cannot rule out the possibility of nontraditional winners of the world cup clinching it with panache.  Some may say it is too early to predict but I dare say that there is nothing wrong predicting early in the day. When the time for change comes it has come.

Source: The Nation

You lied, Jonathan replies Waziri, ex-EFCC boss

Former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, said, yesterday, that former chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri, lied when she alleged being sacked  by him because she refused to back down from the probe of one of the masterminds of fuel subsidy scam.

Waziri had told newsmen in an interview in Lagos, last weekend, that the former President ordered her sack for refusing to stop the investigation of one of those involved in subsidy scam.

She also said her removal then “has now helped her not to be associated with the alleged grand corruption that took place under Jonathan’s administration.

“I’m only glad that those things didn’t happen under my watch as the EFCC chairman because it would have been too traumatic for me.

That is why, if I see President Jonathan today, I will kneel down to thank him for the honour done me by removing me as the EFCC chairman at the time he did.”

But  Jonathan in his Twitter handle @GEJonathan, yesterday, challenged the former EFCC  boss, saying she was lying.

He said: “If Farida is not telling lies, she should mention the person or company she was investigating and she was stopped.

“Let the EFCC investigate; crime has no statute bar. If she can’t, then she was simply hired to attack me.”

Source: Vanguard

Buhari Moves to Appoint 8 New Ministers, Restructure Ministries

•  Power, works and housing ministry may be split into three
• Aviation and marine transport may be hived off from transportation
•  Tinubu, APC governors may get nominees

Omololu Ogunmade

In a move to keep to his promise to the chieftains and loyalists of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to appoint more ministers to his cabinet, President Muhammadu Buhari is considering a tentative proposal to restructure some of the ministries, appoint eight new ministers to his cabinet and reshuffle the cabinet, THISDAY has learnt.

Presidency sources privy to the proposal informed THISDAY monday that the plan is to appoint eight new ministers who will all be politicians, to accommodate the yearnings of his party members including its national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and at the same time position APC for the 2019 general elections.

In order to accommodate the eight new appointees to the cabinet, the plan is to get the president to split the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing into three ministries that will be manned by full ministers, and hived off the aviation and marine transport units from the Ministry of Transportation.

One minister will man Aviation and another may lead Marine Transportation.

A presidency source who spoke on the issue said the proposal that has been sent to the president provides for the appointment of eight new ministers, one representing each of the six geopolitical zones in the country and one from Lagos (who may be a nominee of Tinubu) and Kano State (who may be a nominee of Rabiu Kwankwaso).

Fashola is expected to retain Works and Road Transport, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau who is from Kano is expected to retain Ministry of Interior.

However, Police Affairs may be hived off from the Ministry of Interior.

The appointment of two more ministers from the two most populous states in the country is strategic and is aimed at ensuring that the appointees from Lagos and Kano play crucial roles in delivering both states to the APC in 2019.

The source also revealed that with the split of the power and transportation ministries, Fashola would most likely be made responsible for the newly created Ministry of Works and Roads Infrastructure, an appointee from the North-east geopolitical zone will be appointed to man the Ministry of Housing while an appointee from either the North-central zone or the South-east will be handed the Ministry of Power.

In the case of the Ministry of Transportation, once it is split, the current minister, Rotimi Amaechi, will be appointed to man the Ministry of Rail Transportation while Hadi Sirika who is currently a Minister of State in the transportation ministry (aviation) will most likely be made a full Minister of Aviation.

Another appointee will be given the Ministry of Marine Transport after it is hived off from the transportation ministry.

All the new appointments, said the source, will be done with the consultation of state governors.

“The proposal has been put together and sent to Mr. President for his final approval. It remains tentative for now, but if it meets the approval of the president, the announcement will be made public before the end of the month and the names of the nominees will be sent to the Senate for confirmation,” the source volunteered.

He also disclosed that the proposal includes a cabinet reshuffle which could see the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu redeployed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a new minister appointed to replace him as minister of state while Buhari continues to hold on to the petroleum ministry portfolio as the full minister.

At the last meeting of the National Executive Committee of the APC held last month in Abuja, Buhari had promised to appoint more ministers and members to the boards of federal parastatals.

The pledge was made to appease aggrieved members who had felt that they had been ditched after helping the party to win the 2015 elections.

He had said that the new appointees will be fit for purpose and will breathe new life into the administration.

Although Buhari has not yet publicly declared that he will run for a second term, the move is also targeted at empowering strong politicians who can deliver critical states during the 2019 elections.

THIS DAY

Buhari: My appointments based on merit, track record

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday night in Abakaliki explained that many appointments in his administration were done purely on merit and proven track records.

Speaking at a State dinner organised in his honour, Buhari said that he always considered what was best for the country in taking such decisions.

Some of the people holding high positions in the government, like my ministers, will tell you that I didn’t know them from Adam.

‘‘I just came across their names from the records and I worked with the records. I thank God that I have a very good team,’’ he said.

The President commended Gov. David Umahi for his development strides in the State, saying ‘‘the absolute commitment of the Governor to his position is very remarkable and I am very impressed.’’

He expressed gratitude to God and the people of Ebonyi for recognising his modest contribution to the country.

Buhari described Nigeria as a great country with incredible resources and highly talented people.

‘‘We should continue to pray to God that the elites that will be in charge of the country in the future fear God,’’ he said

Source: The Nation

PDP chairmanship: Why Governor Fayose is against me – Tunde Adeniran

Prof. Tunde Adeniran

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairmanship aspirant, Prof Tunde Adeniran, has observed that he has not been able to secure the support of his state governor, Ayo Fayose, because of the Ekiti governor’s presidential ambition.

Speaking to reporters after submitting his nomination form for the post at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja on Wednesday, he said the governor does not believe that the PDP could have both its national chairman and presidential candidate for 2019 election from the same state.

He was however confident that with the grace of God and support of party members, he could clinch at least 80 percent of the vote at the election in the December 9 – 10 national convention.

Adeniran was also optimistic that the Ekiti state governor would come round to support his chairmanship ambition at some point before the national convention.

He said: “I am enjoying by the grace of God the support of the masses of the PDP and of course I believe that people have various interest.

“My governor that you referred to was interested in contesting the presidency of this country and I believe that he thought that well, it will be impossible for us to have the president and national chairman from the same place.

“Now, the more he realizes that the party has taken a decision that our president by the grace of God as for 2019 will come from the North, the more he realises that the more he realizes the reason to stand by the method decided by the party, the more he will realize the position taken by the party at the convention is a reality and that he will support his brother Adeniran for the chairman.

“In fact, I expect that he will lead the Ekiti state delegation to support me at the convention.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has admonished chairmanship candidates to rein in their supporters who he said are wrongly accusing the national leadership of bias.

Speaking while receiving Prof Adeniran on a courtesy call on Wednesday, the party boss noted that despite the peace accord reached by the aspirants, some of their supporters are still questioning the sincerity of the Caretaker Committee.

He assured that the committee is committed to conducting a transparent, free and fair national convention.

Makarfi stated: “I will assure you that as a caretaker committee we will do our best no matter what a few might say. We are determined to be transparent and to conduct a free and very fair convention where the views of PDP members will prevail.

“One of the key elements of the peace accord we discussed yesterday was the acknowledgment that the only thing the party has zoned in respect of national issues is the presidency for North and chairmanship for South.

“And in the peace accord which we have signed, you categorically stated that by the south, you meant all the states in the South and by the North all the states in the North.

“If aspirants themselves come to a conclusion, develop a document and sign, it is very unfair to hear accusations that the caretaker committee has refused to do some things that we have no powers to do.

“We also did say that wherever there is a political arrangement whether in the North or South to push for consensus, we will acknowledge it.

“But we also said that we have no power to force delegates but it can form a basis for campaign.

“Some statements have come from an individual who claims to support or promote your course. To continue to issue press releases condemning the caretaker committee which is completely contrary to the document you signed, you people should be able to call such a person to order if you mean well for this party.

“Such individual has done everything possible to make us compromise by going to the media to say that we have compromised with somebody else.

“Left for such individuals the caretaker committee should not be in place.”

New Video Shows Boko Haram Displaying Captured Military Tanks

The Abubakar Shekau-led faction of Boko Haram group have released a new propaganda video where the insurgent group showed off some captured military tanks and casualties.

A new video produced by Boko Haram showing insurgents maneuvering tanks seized from the Nigerian military and graphic images of troops being killed has been obtained by SaharaReporters. The video also shows insurgents in a gun battle with Nigerian soldiers.

The 7-minute 48-second video, exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters, provides proof of the group’s claim that it successfully ambushed Nigerian troops when they ventured into the Sambisa Forest on 10 November. It also provides proof that the insurgents made away with arms and ammunition belonging to the military.

Earlier on Monday, SaharaReporters had obtained a screen grab supportive of the group’s claim of success against the military, which is carrying out clearance operation in the area.

At some point, the video shows a very young Boko Haram commander, who claimed to have led the attack, praising the group’s fighters and boasting that they are firmly settled in Sambisa Forest.

Boko Haram Militants Show Latest Firefight With Nigerian Troops Near Sambisa Forest Boko Haram Militants Show Latest Firefight With Nigerian Troops Near Sambisa Forest

The young commander also said: “Allah will protect His religion.” According to him, this divine claim is supported by the success of their ambush “against the enemies of Islam.”

The commander is shown speaking while being flanked by two fighters, whose faces were covered with turbans. He urged Boko Haram members to remain patient in the face of hardship being endured.

The video’s concluding scenes shows terrorists maneuvering one of the armored tanks seized along with trucks and arms.

P

Ambode Bares Fangs On 90 Year-Old Banire’s Mother; Set To Demolish Her House In 48 Hours

Ambode and Banire

Barely 11 days after the Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode ordered policemen to forcefully eject the family of Hon Funmilayo Tejuoso from her GRA residence, the governor has descended on a 90 year-old mother of the National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr Muiz Banire, SAN serving her 48 hour demolition notice on the pretext of contravention.

Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development served the notice on Tuesday alleging that a bungalow was built without ‘planning permit’. The building is located in Ikeja area of Lagos.

‘Erection of a structure (bungalow) without evidence of Lagos State Government planning permit’, the notice read.

Meanwhile, a highly placed family source disclosed to newsmen that, “The law relied upon, the Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law was enacted on 5th July 2010. The property, a 3-bedroom bungalow was leased long before 2010 from the Federal Government and has been retained in the same form till date as no major alteration has been done on it”.

“I can tell you for a fact that no single block has been added to it. In fact you can’t even see the bungalow from outside. That tells you it is a vendetta targeted at Dr Muiz Banire, SAN.

‘It is preposterous to request for a building or planning permit from a leasee or tenant. The documents cannot be in her possession, they are the papers belong to the Federal Ministry of Works”

Recall that 3a Sasegbon Street, GRA Ikeja, a residence of Hon Funmilayo Tejuoso, a known political ally of Banire was invaded by policemen acting on the order of the governor on November 3 while the lawmaker was away in Brussels for an official assignment of the Lagos State Government.

Tejuoso, is  a member of the Lagos  State House of Assembly representing Mushin 1 constituency.

The family including her 11 year-old son, Adedotun were locked out and tear-gassed. They were forcefully ejected from the building.

The government had earlier claimed that the building was the official residence of the Lagos State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker and later admitted that the building was sold to a company, Debam Mega Solution Limited, a firm where Tejuoso’s family has interest. Lagos state government insisted that the property was sold in error.

Prince Kayode Tejuoso last Wednesday, November 8 dispelled the claims of the government saying Ambode-led government was being mischievous.

Tejuoso described the gestapo invasion and eviction from the property they labored to acquire and developed as the height of political persecution and vendetta. He wondered why the family including his children could be made to face trauma, chased us from the home they have always known and rendered them homeless for unjust political score.

Contrary to the claims of the Lagos State Government that the property is the official residence of the deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Tejuoso presented duplicate copies of cheques totaling N150 million naira to journalists which was paid to the Lagos State Ministry of Housing to acquire the prime property.

He argued further that the property could not have been an official residence of the deputy speaker stressing that no past deputy speaker ever lived there before his family moved in.

“Contrary to the lies being peddled by the Lagos State Government that the building is the official residence of the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, the two previous Deputy Speakers before my wife, Honourable (Mrs.) Funmilayo Tejuoso were Farouk Oshodi and Toun Adediran whilst the two after her were Bola Badmus and Kolawole Taiwo. None of them ever lived here at No. 3A, Sasegbon Street. I MAKE BOLD TO SAY THAT NO DEPUTY SPEAKER HAS EVER LIVED IN THIS PROPERTY.

“Let them mention if any otherwise. A former Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Budget, Mrs. Dawodu handed the place over to us and it was only a colonial building with wooden deck that was there then. My wife and I improved the property to what it is presently”, Tejuoso explained.

Explaining how his family acquired the property, he recalled that the administration of former governor Bola Tinubu had adopted the Monetisation of government property policy introduced by the Federal Government which allowed public office holders and civil servants to acquire government properties. He said his family using their company, Debam Mega Solutions Limited to buy the property under the scheme.

His words “Let me quickly lay the facts bare to correct the falsehood being peddled by the Government to justify their unlawful act and outright violation of our rights. During the administration of former Governor Bola Tinubu, the Lagos State Government adopted the Federal Government’s property’s monetisation and redevelopment  policy by offering several of its properties to public/civil servants occupying same for sale as well as companies under redevelopment schemes.

“This monetization policy was continued by the Babatunde Raji Fashola government, as a result of which several officials benefited, including the present chairman of the Lagos chapter of the APC, Mr. Henry Dele Ajomale .

In furtherance of this  policy,  my wife and I being the present occupiers were equally afforded the same

opportunity of acquiring the property which we chose to do through a company in which we have interest.

“This Company called Debam Mega Solutions Limited, by a letter dated November 21, 2008 addressed to His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State, Debam Mega Solutions Limited sought the concession and approval of the Governor to acquire the right of occupancy over the property at 3A, Sasegbon Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

“At the time Debam Mega Solutions Limited sought the concession of the Governor, the property housed a dilapidated and abandoned structure. Further to the said application and by a Lagos State Government, Ministry of Housing letter dated March 26, 2010 with reference No. MHEST/627, the Lagos State Government offered to sell the property to Debam Mega Investment at the ultimate agreed purchase price of N150,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira).

“This amount was eventually fully paid to the Government on the 28th day of May 2015 thereby concluding the sale of the property from the Government to the company.

Since the completion of payments, the property no longer belongs to the Lagos State Government as it has become the private property of Debam Mega Investment.

“Upon the acquisition of the right of occupancy over the property, the company continued to be in active possession of the property through Prince and Honourable (Mrs.) Funmilayo Tejuoso who improved the property to its present state. It is important to state that the improvements you are seeing on the property today that is being reffered to by the Government as Deputy Speaker’s official residence were constructed by us. The meaning of which is that, what basically we obtained from the Government was parcel of land.

“Since the acquisition of the property, Debam Mega Solutions Limited enjoyed quiet and undisturbed possession of the property until about 11:00am on Friday, 3rd of November, 2017, eight years after, when policemen from the office of the Governor of Lagos State, led by one Mr. D. Abutu, without an order of court, invaded the property, evicted some of the occupants and imprisoned the others, who have remained imprisoned since. Also, the property was sealed since the 3rd day of November 2017 with fierce police officers stationed within and outside the premises with my daughter and other aides inside.

“On Monday the 6th day of November 2017, the police officers extended their unprecedented ignominious conduct to horrifying proportions when, acting on the specific instruction of the Lagos State Governor  according to them broke the doors and walls of the house, in Gestapo style. They also vandalised the property and harassed the children who are occupying it, and who had been imprisoned in the house since the 3rd day of November 2017. As at now, some of our properties have been pilfered.

The lawmaker’s husband decried the lawlessness of the state government and flagrant violation of the provisions of the Lagos State Tenancy Law which frown at resorting to self-help in recovering a property even from a squatter.

According to him, the matter was already in court before the government invaded the property.

“The actions of the Lagos State Government amount to a resort to self-help  contrary to  the laws which govern this state. Let me also state that prior to this invasion, there was an existing litigation already initiated by the Company since the 3rd of August and for which the Government has joined issue.

“The state Government is fully aware of this and the suit number is FHC/CS/1200/2007 BETWEEN DEBAM MEGA SOLUTIONS LIMITED V INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, LAGOS STATE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND ATTORNEY GENERAL OF LAGOS STATE”, Prince Tejuoso stated.