The President has broken silence on the killing of Madam Achejuh Abuh, Women Leader of the PDP in Wada, Kogi State who was burnt to death.
In a press statement released by Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, described the murder as a “primitive behaviour” that has no place in a civilised society and ordered an indepth investigation to apprehend the culprits.
Read full statement below:
PRESIDENT BUHARI AWAITS INVESTIGATION REPORT ON MURDERED KOGI PDP WOMAN LEADER
President Muhammadu Buhari expects scrupulous investigation into the heinous murder of Madam Achejuh Abuh, Woman Leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Wada/Aro campaign council, in the just concluded gubernatorial election in Kogi State.
The President decries whatever could spur anyone to take the life of another human being, particularly a woman, who was burnt to death in her home in the most gruesome manner.
President Buhari charges all security agencies involved in the investigation to do a thorough and expeditious job on the matter, so that justice could be served without fear or favor.
“We must learn to behave decently, whether during elections or at other times. No life should be taken wantonly under any guise, and the fact that this reprehensible act occurred two days after voting shows primitive behavior, which should not be accepted in a decent society,” the President said.
He sympathizes with the family of the deceased, vowing that the law would catch up with the malefactors, and justice would be done.
Any descent to barbarism, as was visited on the PDP Woman Leader, President Buhari says, has gone out of the realm of politics, and is pure criminality and bestiality.
“Such evildoers must be brought to justice, irrespective of whatever allegiances they hold,” the President affirms.
A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi state, Hon. Charles Oko Enya, has besought a Federal High Court in Abakiliki, Ebonyi state, to direct the National Assembly and the Attorney-General of the Federation and minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to remove constitutional clauses hindering elected President and state governors from seeking a third term in office.
In his suit with No: FHC/AI/CS/90/19, which was filed at the court last Wednesday and made available to Daily Trust by his counsel, Barr. Iheanacho Agboti, the APC member is seeking for possible expungement of section 137(1) (b) and 182 (1) (b) in the 1999 constitution (as amended).
He insisted that the sections were infringement on the fundamental human rights of the likes of President Muhammadu Buhari and all state governors excluding the legislators.
Hon. Enya explained that the ongoing two-term tenure is discriminatory to section 42(1)(a) and articles 2 and 3 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples rights.
The defendants in the suit were the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr Mohammed Sani-Omolori, the National Assembly and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
Daily Trust reporter recalled that the applicant, (Hon. Enya), had served as the organising Secretary to President Buhari in the last 2019 polls. According to him, “that section 137(1)(b)of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 (as amended) restricting the president to only two terms of four years each, is inoperative by virtue of its discriminatory nature in relation to the executive and legislative branches of government in Nigeria, and therefore null and void and thus inapplicable”.
Enya, who is earnestly awaiting the hearing of the matter soon, says he’s seeking the order of the court to direct the first and second defendants to delete and expunge sections 137(1)(b) and 182(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He also tasked the third defendant as the Chief Law Officer of the federation to give the needed support to the first and second defendants to commence a constitutional amendment that would remove the restrictions and the alleged discrimatory sections on tenure limits.
He added that he is seeking “Order of the court nullifying and setting aside section 137(1)(b) and 182(1) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). “And directing the first and second defendants to delete and expunge sections 137(1)(b) and 182(1)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (as amended).”
Mourinho off to winning ways at Tottenham with 3-2 victory against West Ham United.
Son opened up the scores in the 36th minute with the help of Dele Alli, two other goals in quick succession were scored by Lucas Moura and Harry Kane in the 43rd and 49th minute respectively.
The match ended 3-2 with Michail Antonio scoring in the 73rd minute and Ogbonna in the extra-time for West Ham.
Manchester City will be determined to bounce back when they welcome Chelsea to the Etihad Stadium in Saturday’s Premier League clash.
Pep Guardiola’s men are nine points adrift of leaders Liverpool after going down 3-1 at Anfield before the international break, a result that has left them below the Blues in fourth place.
Manchester City vs Chelsea latest odds
However, having won three of their last four home games against this opposition – including a comprehensive 6-0 win last time out – they are 4/9 (1.44) favourites with 888Sport to return to form by coming out on top here.
The last meeting between this pair resulted in a 0-0 draw in last season’s Carabao Cup, and you can get odds of 4/1 (5.00) on this one also finishing up all square.
Manchester City vs Chelsea team news
Ederson is likely to return following injury, although Bernardo Silva is suspended and Oleksandr Zinchenko, Aymeric Laporte and Leroy Sane remain injured.
Christian Pulisic and Ross Barkley are both doubtful after withdrawing from international duty due to injury, while Antonio Rudiger and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are definitely ruled out.
Manchester City vs Chelsea preview
While their performance was certainly better than the 3-1 scoreline suggested, the Citizens looked worryingly fragile at the back in the defeat on Merseyside.
Indeed, that display will have given plenty of encouragement to Frank Lampard’s men, who boast the more profilic away record in the league so far and have averaged over three goals a game over the last seven on the road in all competitions.
Nevertheless, only three teams have conceded more away goals than Chelsea’s 12 in six games, so they are sure to struggle against the champions’ attacking riches.
Manchester City vs Chelsea predictions
With this in mind, odds of 6/4 (2.50) offer solid value on City maintaining their strong home head-to-head record by coming out on top despite making it five games in a row without a clean sheet.
A number of All Progressives Congress (APC) state chairmen, Friday night, asked the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, to resign.
They made their demand hours after President Muhammadu Buhari chaired the National Caucus Meeting of the party attended by Oshiomhole, governors, among other stalwarts.
Addressing journalists after what they called an inconclusive APC NEC meeting, the members said Oshiomhole should leave office, insisting that his leadership had divided the party.
Lawal Lawani, spokesman of the aggrieved chieftains and Chairman of Zamfara APC chapter, alleged that Oshiomhole had hijacked the NEC of the party,
Other aggrieved APC chairmen, who endorsed the statement, are: Arc. Bala Kangiwa (Kebbi), Habibi Sara (Jigawa), Ade Adetimeli (Ondo), Abdullahi Abbas (Kano), Abba Yaro (Benue), Omotosin Paul (Ekiti), Mohammed Jibril Iman, (Niger), Anslem Ojezua (Edo), Philips Shekwo (Nasarawa) Rtd Air Com Ikeda (Kaduna) Lakep Dabah (Plateau) Shitu Shitu (Katsina) Isah Sadiq (Sokoto).
A statement Lawani read noted: “Most of the goodwill acquired by the Party, by reasons of its religious adherence to the provisions of its Constitution and the tenets of internal democratic practices has taken a downturn, principally due to dictatorial and despotic tendencies of the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who has usurped the powers of the National Executive Committee of the party.
“This may have been responsible for the admonition of Mr President who insisted that the Party Organs, at the State, LGA and Ward levels, must be strengthened and accorded due respect with regard to the powers and responsibilities conferred on them by the Constitution of the Party.
“Most, unfortunately, the facade conducted by the National Chairman, today, the 22nd of November, 2019, as a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, leaves much to be desired.
“He completely ignored Mr President advice and rather defied all known rules for meetings by precluding contributions from members and ending the meeting abruptly, without achieving anything. This is most unfortunate and undesirable.
“Arising from the foregoing and having regards to the huge responsibilities bestowed on us as officers of the party and in the overriding interest of our members, we’re left with no option but to demand that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole resigns his position as National Chairman, in other to stem the slide and provide an enabling environment for genuine healing, reconciliation and practice of true democracy within the party across the country”.
The Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Ifechukwu Athan Onyema has been indicted by the United States Department of Justice for bank fraud and money laundering.
Onyema was accused of moving more than $20 million from Nigeria through United States bank accounts in a scheme involving false documents based on the purchase of airplanes.
The US Department of Justice announced this in a press release issued on Friday, November 22, 2019.
Onyema was charged alongside his airline’s Chief of Administration and Finance, Ejiroghene Eghagha,
“Onyema allegedly leveraged his status as a prominent business leader and airline executive while using falsified documents to commit fraud,” U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak was quoted in the statement.
“We will diligently protect the integrity our banking system from being corrupted by criminals, even when they disguise themselves in a cloak of international business.”
Commenting on the allegation, Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division says, “Allen Onyema’s status as a wealthy businessman turned out to be a fraud. He corrupted the U.S. banking system, but his trail of deceit and trickery came to a skidding halt. DEA would like to thank the many law enforcement partners and the subsequent prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office who aided in making this investigation a success.”
Also commenting on the indictment, an investigation agent in charge of the Atlanta Field Office, Thomas J. Holloman says, “This case is a prime example of why IRS-CI seeks to partner and leverage its expertise in an effort to thwart those seeking to exploit our nation’s financial system.
“With the importance of our banking system to the movement of money around the world, those attempting to use intricate schemes to commit bank fraud through the use of falsified documents and other means should know that the odds are now heavily stacked against them as law enforcement is combining its talents to protect the sanctity and integrity of the nation’s financial system.”
Another investigation agent, Robert Hammer was quoted to have accused Onyema of setting up various innocent sounding multi-million dollar asset purchases which were nothing more than alleged fronts for his scam.
On Tuesday, November 19, 2019, the Department charged the 56-yr-old businessman on one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, three counts of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit credit application fraud, and three counts of credit application fraud.
He was also charged with 27 counts of money laundering, and Eghagha was charged with one count of aggravated identity theft.
How Onyema allegedly started defrauding US banks
The US Department of Justice traced the fraud allegations against the founder of Air Peace airline to 2010 when he started travelling frequently to Atlanta, where he opened several personal and business bank accounts.
The US authorities say that between 2010 and 2018, over $44.9 million was allegedly transferred into his Atlanta-based accounts from foreign sources. Three years after, Onyema founded Air Peace airline in 2013.
The 56-yr-old businessman allegedly traveled to the United States and purchased multiple airplanes for the airline after founding his airline business.
It is believed that over $3 million of the funds used to purchase the aircraft allegedly came from bank accounts for Foundation for Ethnic Harmony, International Center for Non-Violence and Peace Development, All-Time Peace Media Communications Limited, and Every Child Limited.
In May 2016, Onyema and his airline’s Chief of Administration and Finance, Ejiroghene Eghagha allegedly used a series of export letters of credit to cause banks to transfer more than $20 million into Atlanta-based bank accounts controlled by the businessman.
The US department of Justice says, “The letters of credit were purportedly to fund the purchase of five separate Boeing 737 passenger planes by Air Peace. The letters were supported by documents such as purchase agreements, bills of sale, and appraisals proving that Air Peace was purchasing the aircraft from Springfield Aviation Company LLC, a business registered in Georgia”.
According to the US authorities, the supporting documents were fake. It was alleged that Springfield Aviation Company LLC, which is owned by Onyema and managed by a person with no connection to the aviation business, never owned the aircraft, and the company that allegedly drafted the appraisals did not exist.
The statement by the Department says that “Eghagha allegedly participated in this scheme as well, directing the Springfield Aviation manager to sign and send false documents to banks and even using the manager’s identity to further the fraud. After Onyema received the money in the United States, he allegedly laundered over $16 million of the proceeds of the fraud by transferring it to other accounts”.
However, the US government in its statement said that Onyema and Eghagha are presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
I’m from Ekiti State. Ekiti does not have the best of roads, but having to pass through core Ogun State some weeks ago, I saw first hand the ‘torment’ and unplanned delay bad roads across Ogun State force on the residents of the state. Ekiti is better; albeit, with roads.
I had travelled planned to have a direct single-bus journey from Ondo State to Lagos State. Getting to Ibadan, my friend called and advised I follow a shorter route to Ikorodu from Ibadan, avoiding the heavy traffic Lagos always present. Maybe I should have declined; but, if I had, I wouldn’t have experienced the hardship people face on Ogun roads. I needed to face it to lend my voice; who knows, I may be heard.
Prior to that time, I don’t recall actually going to Ogun State, save Redemption Camp. And, I sincerely don’t think Redemption Camp can be said to be the responsibility of the state. The church handles everything on the camp. Aside that, I just follow Ibadan, through Ogun in transit, and direct to Lagos. I’ve had nothing to do at Ogun State.
The journey started at about few minutes to 5pm. I got home (at Ikorodu) around 11pm. Even following Ojota, with all the traffic, wouldn’t have been that late. Anyway, it was worth it as it opened my eyes to the backwardness of the state when it comes to good roads, despite being the most industrialized state in the South-West geopolitical zone.
It will shock you to know the same state has produced all of Nigeria’s Presidents and Vice-Presidents from the South West. Yes, all. The state even had an Engineer-Governor in Otunba Gbenga Daniel; yet, they have the worst road-network in the South-West.
Olusegun Obasanjo was military Head of State from 1976-1979 and was civilian President from 1999-2007. Ernest Shonekan was leader of the National Government (before he was toppled by General Sani Abacha) for 83 days in 1993. For the Vice-Presidents: Babafemi Ogundipe (January 1966-July 1966), Olusegun Obasanjo (1975-1975), Oladipo Diya (1993-1997), and Yemi Osinbajo (2015-date). MKO Abiola is somehow said to be Vice to Shonekan (that, I can’t confirm). That’s all from the South-West in the Presidency and all are from Ogun State. Tunde Idiagbon, though Yoruba, is from Kwara State. Kwara State is the North Central geopolitical zone.
To think the state had all of these leaders as indigenes and still have that much bad roads calls for concern. I was (un)fortunate to have followed Sagamu through to Ikorodu, but that road is an eyesore, especially when it rains.
I heard an unconfirmed story about how former President Olusegun Obasanjo saddled then Minister for Works, Adeseye Ogunlewe, with the task of completing Federal roads across the state. How the money meant for the road construction was diverted to other means is a story I can’t tell (since I can’t confirm it). If it’s true, Obasanjo could have held him accountable and brought him to book. Obasanjo Farms has good roads; couldn’t the ‘magic’ done on that ground be done across the state? But, of course, he isn’t really affected.
It is a big shame on the state. Even Obafemi Awolowo is from Ikenne in Ogun State. The Vice-President, although claiming Lagos, will do well to do something about the roads in his state. Dapo Abiodun just started his tenure and could do well to look into that. Prosperity is around the corner.
The Senate on Tuesday passed the bill for an Act to make provisions for the protection from internet falsehood and manipulations and related matters, for a second reading.
It is opularly known as anti-Social media bill, sponsored by the Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Sani Musa.
Only Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, a former governor of Enugu State, spoke against the bill while Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah raised a constitutional point of order to caution the red chamber against its passage.
However, Senators Ibrahim Gobir, Elisha Abbo, and Abba Moro supported the bill in their various contributions during the debate that lasted about 10 minutes.
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, put the passage of the bill for a second reading to a voice vote after confirming that no senator was ready to speak against it.
The majority of the lawmakers in the chamber unanimously voted in support of the bill and it was read the second time.
A former chairman, Senate Committee of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Dino Melaye, on Wednesday protested at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja where he demanded cancellation of the Kogi West Senatorial election.
The flamboyant Senator was received by INEC Secretary, Rose Orianran-Anthony and National Commissioner/Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye.
Melaye who came with 21 video clips containing details of violence and indiscriminate shootings by alleged agents of Kogi State government told journalists that his determination to retrieve the stolen mandate “is a battle of no retreat, no surrender.”
The petition by Melaye dated November 18 2019 and entitled: “A call for cancellation of the Election for Kogi West Senatorial District held on November 16 2019 in certain areas”, was filed by his lawyer, Tobechukwu Nweke.
Part of the petition reads, “In conclusion, sequel to the abovementioned spread violence, gunshots and killings, disruption of the election, snatching of ballots, multiple thumb printing, several electoral malpractices, irregularities and total sabotage of the electoral process cut across all the seven Local Government Areas in Kogi State which were demonstrated in the video footages attached herein, and the facts in paragraphs 1-5 above which reveals that the election was not conducted in Kogi State Senatorial District, in substantial compliance with the dictates of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) as well as the requisite Guidelines and Regulations issued for the election we urge the commission to cancel the entire election to the Senate of Kogi West Senatorial District held on November 16 2019.”
Okoye who received the petition on behalf of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the commission would look into the petition and take necessary action.
The Kogi State Governor-Elect, Yahaya Bello, has insisted that the just concluded election in his state was free, fair and credible.
Bello said there was a level playing field for all political actors during the just concluded election in the state.
Featuring on Channels Television breakfast programme, Sunrise Today, the governor-elect said despite the “pocket’ of violence experienced, the election was free and fair.
He said: “The conduct of the election was quite very credible, a level-playing field was provided and it was free and fair. In every election, there is bound to be one issue or the other and you can’t take a pocket of issues to judge the general conduct of the election.
“Regarding the comment of the civil society organisation, they are entitled to their own opinion but let us know the parameters with which they are judging this election.
“How many polling units did they visit out of 2,548 polling units, 239 wards and 21 local governments across the difficult terrains of this state? How many people have they reached out to?
“Have they interviewed all the electorates? So what are their yardsticks.?” The governor queried.
The Kogi State election was marred with violence, ballot box snatching, and killings.
Reports had it that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, women leader was burnt alive immediately results of the governorship election was announced.
Despite the violence, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had on Monday declared Bello of the All Progressives Congress, APC, winner of the governorship election in the state.
INEC’s Returning Officer in the state, Prof. Ibrahim Garuba had declared Bello winner after polling 406,222 votes to defeat his closest rival, Musa Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who scored 189,704 votes.
