Author Archives: News All Around

Ekene Micah

…

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to convoke a panel to investigate all bribery allegations labeled against the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The call is coming in the face of a recent claim by the Zamfara state governor, Bello Muhammad that the anti-graft Czar demanded $2 million bribe from him.he agency had invited the governor on allegations of N70 billion fraud, against which Muhammad told the EFCC to also investigate the Presidency officials on corruption-related cases.In reaction, the EFCC confirmed that it is investigating the Zamfara state governor for alleged N70bn fraud.Ever since, there has been a constant flow of allegations of misconduct against the EFCC and its Chairman.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, in a statement by its National President, Okwu Nnabuike, mailed to ASHENEWS on Sunday, said in parts that Zamfara Governor’s allegation “… opens limitless opportunities for corrupt bargaining and self-enrichment by the operatives of EFCC under Bawa’s watch.”

“Based on the foregoing, it is time for Bawa to pack his luggages and step aside as the Chairman of the EFCC. We even expected that he should have resigned on his own volition judging by some weighty allegations against him,” the Youth Council stated.

“In the past couple of days, we in the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide have watched with dismay the drift currently going on at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.”Needless to say that we are not so surprised owing to the fact that in the not so distant past, we had raised the alarm that the EFCC czar, Abdulrasheed Bawa, was merchandising the anti-graft commission.

“This came to the fore when he unleashed the commission on Senator Ike Ekweremadu, a victim of circumstance, who was then facing charges in the United Kingdom. The EFCC under Bawa has never charged Ekweremadu for any crime, but while the lawmaker was in far away UK, he rushed and misled a Nigerian court to confiscate all his properties.

Thank God that the court later reversed itself. This is just one of the major unholy and sponsored jobs of the EFCC under Bawa.”In the history of the EFCC, no chairman of the commission has ever come under public scrutiny in such a short period of time like Bawa. The same goes for many of the staff under him, justifying the aphorism, ‘like father like son’.

A few days ago, it was even reported that two of the staff members killed another colleague while they were fighting for exhibits. This shows how dirty the commission has become.

“Since the Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle’s recent outburst exposing corrupt practices against the Abdulrasheed Bawa, more damning allegations also crept up that some of the Commission’s officials simply negotiate with suspects, get assets and cash retrieved and do plea bargains.

This opens limitless opportunities for corrupt bargaining and self-enrichment by the operatives of EFCC under Bawa’s watch.”We are also aware that EFCC is undertaking a selective invitation to outgoing Governors in Nigeria while exempting other government officials who have loads of petitions against them, while also being unable to deal with the corruption going on within its own workforce.

“Apart from the corruption fight taking a nosedive under Bawa, it is also no longer news that the EFCC under him has totally become a tool for political witchhunt, it is now merely being used to settle political scores.”Based on the foregoing, it is time for Bawa to pack his luggages and step aside as the Chairman of the EFCC.

We even expected that he should have resigned on his own volition judging by some weighty allegations against him.”However, since he is obstinate about towing the path of honour, we advise President Muhammadu Buhari to do the needful by purging his government of all the ridicule brought upon his avowed anti-corruption stance by Bawa and the EFCC under him.”We join the call for Bawa to leave office and face investigations in accordance with the standard practice globally for officials who had been accused of gross misconduct to step aside while investigations were conducted to ascertain the veracity of the allegations the way his predecessor Ibrahim Magu did.

“We insist that all allegations must be thoroughly investigated by a technical Commission of Inquiry to dig into the modus operandi of EFCC investigations in the last three years by thoroughly analysing records of arrests, investigations, outcomes and final closure of each incident and individual suspects and how the matters were eventually dispensed with.

“But should Buhari fail to do so, the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu should consider it as one of his very first assignments- to make Bawa step aside and face investigation.

This is the only way Nigerians would rekindle their hope on the anti-graft commission,” Ohanaeze said.

Mr Nkem Asogwa Spokes Person for Concern Enugu Citizens (CEC) has said the Friday 19th of May, 2023 Arise TV outing by the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Brigadier General Yushau’u Dogara Ahmed despite a 20b naira Legal Suit filed by Attorneys to the Enugu State Governor Elect Barrister Peter Mbah against the Agency and it’s Director of Corps Certification Ibrahim Muhammad smacks not only of contempt of Court and flagrant disrespect for the Rule of Law, BUT shows that the Agency is being tele-guided by political forces for political end.

Asogwa Spokes in a press statement said the NYSC must raise its operations beyond the manipulation of political interests and partisan demagogues. The NYSC and the DG in charge must understand that Nigeria and Nigerians crave a new deal in governance where the best hands are allowed to serve.

Asogwa further said the service must therefore remove from allowing manipulative forces deploy it into settling political conflicts and power debacles. The time to shield our politics from the devious control of subversive forces is now. And we must urge those who superintend Parrastatals and Agencies of Government to be above board.

Part of the statement reads “The question about the Authenticity of the NYSC discharge Certificate of Barrister Peter Ndubuisi Mbah Governor-Elect of Enugu State is before the Courts, and has become the subject of litigation, therefore the action of the DG of the NYSC is not only reprehensible but lampoon-able.”

“We are aware that sufficient investigation regarding the details of the said NYSC Certificate of Barrister Peter Mbah shows that the said certificate was validly issued by the NYSC, to have a DG who resumed office recently and has not grappled with the full details of the matter speak on National TV on a matter which is albeit sub- judice is worrisome and troubling.”

“We the forum of CONCERNED ENUGU CITIZENS hereby implore the National Youth Service Corps NYSC, her DG and the Management to stay off partisan waters and allow the Rule of Law take its course.”

“We also must state without equivocation that our Governor Elect is a law abiding citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and that his commitment to building a vibrant, prosperous and great Enugu State is unassailable.”

“Peter Mbah cannot and will not be pulled down or dragged into the ignoble list of those that have been destroyed by Politicians using the instrumentality of the NYSC as a witch-hunt.”

“The NYSC must stay true to its pristine responsibility of serving the cause of National Integration, Orientation, Brotherhood and Oneness, and must rise above the partisan debacles of devious politicians.”

“Finally, if the meddlesome-ness of the NYSC management in a matter presently before the Court does not abate, we shall be compelled to petition the Agency as well as prevail on the Courts to take serious steps to forbid the Service from further actions that border on contempt of Court.”

*Says INEC acting as busybody

The Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku on Friday, told the Presidential Election Petition Court that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lacks legal right to defend Ahmed Bola Tinubu in the drug and dual citizenship accusations.

Atiku insisted that INEC is a meddlesome interloper in its defence of Tinubu on the qualifications for the last presidential election.

Atiku specifically accused the electoral body of being busy body and fishing in another person’s troubled water.

INEC through its counsel at Friday’s proceedings, Mr Kemi Pinhero SAN had moved a motion on notice praying the Court to strike out some of the allegations Atiku made against Tinubu in his petition.

The electoral body pleaded with the Court to strike out 32 allegations made against Tinubu by Atiku which among others, comprised forfeiture of $460, 000 Dollars in the United States of America (USA), possession of Guinea’s Passport and Allegiance to foreign countries.

Atiku had in the petition challenged the declaration of Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress APC as the joint winner of the February 25 Presidential election.

INEC said that the allegations which formed 32 paragraphs in the Atiku’s petition should be discontenced by the Court for various reasons comprising lack of jurisdiction.

But Atiku through his lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche SAN in a counter argument lambasted INEC’S request and asked the Court to dismiss the electoral body’s position.

Uche argued in the counter affidavit that it was not the duty of INEC to do the battle or argue sny case for Tinubu who is 2nd defendant in the petition.

Specifically, Atiku’s lead counsel insisted that INEC ought to be neutral and defend only the conduct of the election in dispute.

He argued that the electoral body has somersaulted by turning itself to busy body and meddlesome interloper by taking up the defense of Tinubu against the provisions of the law.

The Senior lawyer maintained that the request of INEC in its defence of Tinubu is not only spurious, strange but constituted a gross abuse of court process in addition to lacking in merit.

Uche argued that all efforts by INEC to get fundermrntal averments against Tinubu should be treated as efforts in futility, vexatious and irritating and should not be allowed to hold.

“INEC ought not be here to fight the battle of Tinubu, INEC ought to be neutral and at best, defend only the election it conducted and which is the subject of Alhaji Abubakar Atiku’s petition.

‘This application by INEC in support of Tinubu lacks merit. It is grossly incompetent and should be outrightly rejected and thrown to the dust bin”.

The Senior lawyer therefore asked the Court to dismiss INEC’S motion for being gross abuse of court process, lacking in merit and grossly incompetent.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Court, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani has fixed ruling till the date of judgment in the substantive petition.

*Atiku’s lawyer gets thunderous applause

The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) yesterday in Abuja, told Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, lead counsel to Bola Ahmed Tinubu that he was citing old laws against the request by the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Atiku for live coverage of proceedings of the court.

Chairman of the court, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani drew the attention of Olanipekun to a portion of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers being wrongfully cited to justify Tinubu’s opposition to live coverage of proceedings in Atiku’s petition.

At yesterday’s proceedings, Tinubu, APC and INEC had separately kicked against the request by Atiku for live coverage of proceedings of the Court to engender public trust and confidence in the court.

Atiku through his lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche SAN had cited the monumental importance of the petition nationally and internationally to back up his demand for live telecast of the proceedings.

But in his bid to justify his vehement opposition, Olanipekun had cited paragraph 4.6 of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers which he claimed prohibited Judicial Officers from broadcasting, televising proceedings during court session

He cited the disputed law following the submissions by Chief Chris Uche SAN, that there was no law or statute barring live telecast of court proceedings.

As Olanipekun was about to read the portion of the law, Justice Tsammani cut in and told the legal luminary that he was citing a wrong law.

Justice Tsammani told Olanipekun SAN that the portion he was citing to justify his arguments against live coverage had been amended and the portion being cited had been deleted completely.

The Chairman of the Court maintained that the portion being claimed by Chief Olanipekun SAN was no longer in the new Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers and as such, not applicable.

While making a case for live broadcast of Atiku’s petition, Uche SAN had drawn the attention of the Court to Justice Oputa Panel of Inquiry that was telecast live and hailed all round in the country.

The Senior lawyer said that non of the respondents would be prejudiced if the petition is broadcast live.

Specifically, he said that there was no single law or statute against live broadcast of court proceedings adding that the fact that it has never been done before should not be misconstrued to mean that it cannot be done this time.

The submissions of Uche SAN had drawn thunderous applause from the crowd who for some minutes clapped before the court announced that clapping was not allowed in Courts.

Atiku had approached the Court hearing his case against the outcome of the February 25 presidential polls, for an order allowing live broadcast of the day to day proceedings regarding his petition because of its monumental importance.

Atiku and the PDP in the application specifically prayed the tribunal for “An order Directing the Court’s Registry and the parties on modalities for admission of Media Practitioners and their Equipment into the courtroom.”

The application filed on their behalf by their team of lawyers led by Chief Chris Uche, SAN, is predicated amongst other grounds that: The matter before the Honourable Court is a dispute over the outcome of the Presidential Election held on 25th February 2023, a matter of national concern and public interest, involving citizens and voters in the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, who voted and participated in the said election; and the International Community as regards the workings of Nigeria’s Electoral Process”.

They contended that being a unique electoral dispute with a peculiar constitutional dimension, it is a matter of public interest whereof millions of Nigerian citizens and voters are stakeholders with a constitutional right to receive.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress APC in response kicked against the request of the former Vice President
for live telecast of his petition challenging the declaration of Tinubu as winner of the 2023 presidential election.

In their separate objections, the trio insisted that solemn nature of the court would be put in jeopardy if granted.

Tinubu in his vehement objections raised by Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN on his behalf said that Atiku’s request was not only surprising but dangerous as it was capable of prejudicing the Court itself.

Olanipekun said that the request for live coverage is capable of turning the Court to a football stadium, a crusade ground a theatre or film grounds where all manners of telecast could be permitted.

The Senior lawyer said that the Court should not grant an order that cannot be enforced or supervised, adding that the present moment is not the best time for such a request to be granted.

Lateef Fagbemi SAN who opposed on behalf of APC faulted the request, adding that the facility and policy documents are not there for the application to be granted.

Fagbemi insisted that Atiku did not deserve to be granted the request

The electoral body in its own objections by its counsel, Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud SAN said that Court room is for serious business and not a market place where anything goes adding that the request for live coverage is unnecessary and uncalled for and should not be granted.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Court, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani has reserved ruling on the motion for a later date.

As they say “silence is golden”, to me it’s not only golden, it is the wisdom that has the power and the ability to create affluence wealth that can influence people positively. This is the power Dr. Ismaila Nuhu Maksha got, an Adamawa State silent achiever and a humanist who is passionate about supporting the less privileged and the downtrodden.

Maksha is an achiever, a critical All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholder in Adamawa state the party is fortunate to have him as an enigma unto good works. He worked out success in many electioneering periods in the interest of the party because he believes in the party manifestos and constitution as a platform for poverty alleviation and National development.

Maksha is a brainy gift not only to APC but to the nation at large, he has worked and still working for the party at both the National and state levels. An unflinching loyalty he maintains and reserved for the party system.

As a registered member of APC from the Gashaka polling unit in Hong LGA, of Adamawa State, Dr Maksha has grassroots verifiable contributions for the development of the party. He provided the Local Government, Thilbang ward party offices and his APC Youth supporters group offices with chairs, which is to show his high level of allegiance and belief for the party right at the grassroots.

As a major stakeholder of the party in his ward, this humble and God Fearing politician has contributed generously to ensure success, this earned him a good name with led to the formation of a volunteer support group (Dr. Maksha Support Group) with a registered members numbering about seven thousand spread within Hong and Gombi LGAs, sustaining the group with his resources to campaign for APC. He donated new motorcycles for the APC campaign even though he was not directly looking for a political post.

Because of his steadfast allegiance to the party, Maksha held several political meetings with various religious, youth, and community groups preparatory to the election which garnered the votes for APC in his LGA, especially his Gashaka Polling unit; Wuro- Dole, Fadama Rake, Bangshika, Dulchidama polling units even though the party lost.

His unwavering love for APC Maksha is without mincing words to say that he has paid his dues to be called for any national assignment and to serve the country at whatever level.

He is recognized for his staunch political consistency and beliefs in the rule of law, justice, and fairness. It is beyond question that he is another beacon of hope, a glorious flying horse for APC. A trailblazer with all the threads of good leadership. Giving life to APC, the party he sojourned fighting tooth and nail to sustain its glorious future for Nigeria and all Nigerians.

Beyond Political records of building his party, the humble, tranquil, optimistic, and very kind to all those who come his way. Dr. Maksha is an ace Public Health Practitioner.

His dazzling skill in the field of Public Health has taken him beyond the shores of Nigeria as a seasoned Public Health practitioner with previous long-term experience in clinical practice and Health Services Management and Administration.

He earned the Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) honor because of his selfless service to humanity in the medical line.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants/Chartered Management Consultant (FIMC/CMC) and holds a Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH -Health Services Management) from the University of London and; Diploma in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB, BS) degree from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria.

The excellent Man recently retired from the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) after over 22 years of service in different capacities as Regional Health in Emergency Specialist with the UNICEF Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Regional Office in Jordan.

Where he provided professional support in the areas of Human Rights Based Programming in health and emergencies ensuring quality preparedness, response, and prevention of Public Health Emergencies and oversight to 16 MENA countries (Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon, Iran, Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Tunisia, State of Palestine, Jordan, Djibouti, including those in L3 emergencies with a specific focus on the Whole of Syria operation.

Also, as a Health Specialist (Health Systems Strengthening and Partnerships), Project Officer of Health and Nutrition, Immunization Specialist, and Project Officer of Primary Health Care and Disease Control at the National (Nigeria) and international levels (Liberia, Sierra Leone, and MENA).

Adamawa CSO creates awareness on good governance
As a national Officer in UNICEF Nigeria-Bauchi Zonal Office, he has visited virtually all the nooks and crannies of the 6 States in the North East and is very familiar with the Challenges of the terrain in addition to working in other States in the zonal office including Kano. He pioneered the use of Photovoltaic Solar Refrigerators for vaccine storage jointly with the Engineering Department of ATBU in 1997. He won the Best Project Officer prize in the Health Program for the UNICEF -Nigeria Country Office for the Year 2001.

As an international officer, he worked in the Liberia Country office to respond to the Humanitarian crisis situation as the Section Chief for Health (including EPI, HIV/AIDS, and WES) and Nutrition. He got a commendation note from the then Executive director UNICEF for his role in negotiating peace corridor with rebel groups for a mass measles vaccination during the humanitarian crisis.

In Sierra Leone he was on the team that was responsible for post humanitarian conflict and recovery response and the UNICEF Country office health emergency focal point and technical coordinator for the Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) outbreak in 2014 during which he conceptualized, and presented the three days ‘lock down’ response strategies that won the presidential and Health partners (including major donors) approval for the implementation and is a proud holder of UNICEF staff award letter to that effect.
In Nigeria, he has worked at all levels of primary, secondary, and tertiary Health institutions as a clinical medical practitioner, and hospital administrator including supervising a 600-bed capacity referral hospital where he supervised over 500 staff including specialist consultants, and as public health director in Gongola/Adamawa State. He also has a long experience in the area of Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health and was an honorary Registrar in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria, Nigeria. He is a Nigerian, married for almost 32years, and has children and grandchildren and a very committed Christian.

In and outside Adamawa Many young people who have faith in Maksha have long yearned for him to be part of a system. Before now he has sponsored over three hundred Youths (Mainly Orphans) to finish their Senior secondary schools and University through his NURAH Education Foundation scholarship pet project he established since 2004. Several youths irrespective of State, Tribe, and Religion have benefited tremendously from his goodwill through employment opportunities and entrepreneurial development.

Maksha took early retirement from international civil service with UNICEF to return and serve his nation in any way possible, and offered his professional services pro-bono during the Corona outbreak with the Presidential Task Force (PTF) he joined APC not because he wanted a position or a job but because he believed in the party agenda for change.

It is utterly inconceivable that a man like Maksha because of a political feud among the APC family in Adamawa to utterly say is not a member of the party. These are some of the sentiments that hinder growth in the nation’s economy and its polity. This Man has given so much to the growth and development of APC and the nationa. Let all the anti-progress APC members understand that with or without any position Maksha remains a bonafide member of APC because this is his political face as a starter in partisan politics.

This is also to say that with such affinity and allegiance to APC, Dr Maksha is another good Nigerian that the present government of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu should bring on board to help in having an effective and progressive administration. As such, it is only fitting that the incoming President considers utilizing the political sagacity of Maksha and his prowess in the Field of Medicine and management in his administration and ignores the blabbing noise of political haters.

Tom Garba, FIMC, FBDFM, SPSP
Is a Journalist, a political analyst, and an opinion writer. He writes from Yola-Adamawa State. He can be reached through these means:
tomgarba7@gmail.com
08172570959

*Urges court to direct police to investigate ex-minister’s conflicting certificates

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has filed a criminal complaint case against the immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva at a Chief Magistrate Court Abuja.

In the suit filed by his Counsel, Edward Omaga Esq. of Graylaw Practice LP chambers, Frank urged the Chief Magistrate of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to cause a direct criminal compliant to be issued against Sylva over alleged inconsistencies in his name and doubts over participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

Frank, who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, averred that based on documents before him, the actual identity of the former minister seems to be in doubt.

The suit reads in part: “Over the years, the complainant (Frank) has also shown his resolve in fighting and exposing corruption in public places and holding public officers accountable to their oath of office.

“The defendant (Sylva) on his part once served as the Executive Governor of Bayelsa state between2008 till 2012 and recently resigned his position as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources sometime around 30th March 2023.

“Facts and documents available to the complainant reveal that the actual identity of the aforesaid defendant is in serious doubt.

“Recently, the complainant while undertaking a private investigation visited the United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania where Chief Timipre Sylva instituted a libel case against one Jackson Ude.

“In the course of hearing, Chief Timipre Sylva signed a verification of interrogatories answers dated April l, 2022 and attached various documents in proof of his identity.

“The said academic documents include a First School Leaving Certificate with No. 092915 dated 1st July, 1976 issued to Anagha Timipere who finished from Ajeromi Central School, Araromi-Apapa, Lagos State.

“Also, the defendant claims to hold a West African Examination Council (WAEC) General Certificate of Education with certificate No. PO851528 and Candidate No. 21735215 dated December 1981 issued to Marlin Anagha Timipre…

“The complainant equally discovered that the erstwhile Minister of State for Petroleum Resources parades a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English with Second Class (Upper Division) from University of Port Harcourt dated 19th August, 1986 issued to Anagha Timipre Marlin.

“The defendant equally holds a Doctorate in International Relations (Honoris Causa) from UBIS University in Geneva, Switzerland, dated 22nd September, 2011 and issued to Chief Timipre Sylva.

“The certificates mentioned above have visible anomalies and do not depict the true identity of Chief Timipre Sylva. It is confusing as to who Chief Timipre Sylva is.

“There is no evidence anywhere showing that Chief Timipre Sylva ever changed his name from Anagha Timipre Marlin to Timipre Sylva in 1986 after he purportedly graduated from University of Port Harcourt.

“Investigation by the complainant further reveals that there is also no record that the defendant has National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Discharge or Exemption Certificate, as the case may be, either in the name of Anagha Timipre Marlin or Timipre Sylva.

“Records abound in public domain that Chief Timipre Sylva intentionally presented the aforementioned inconsistent, conflicting or forged academic documents before the Bayelsa State Gubernatorial Screening Committee in 2007 as well as the Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives in 2019 under oath for purposes of screening into the positions of Governor of Bayelsa State and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

“In a bid to escape the long arms of the law, Chief Timipre Sylva concocted a Deed Poll and Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette dated 11th and 12th May, 2022 to cover up his alleged offences.

“In the documents…Sylva attempted, albeit belatedly to make the general public believe that the manifestly conflicting names: Anagha Timipere, Marlin Anagha Timipre, Anagha Timipre Marlin and Chief Timipre Sylva appearing on the academic certificates he has been parading for decades all belongs to him.

“The complainant believes that the said Deed Poll and Official Gazette are nothing but mere pieces of paper…procured by Sylva to mislead people and wriggle himself out of being investigated, prosecuted and jailed for the alleged offence.

“The Complainant is worried like every other reasonable Nigerian as to why the defendant waited till May 2022 before procuring the Deed Poll and Official Gazette…

“That the complainant is crying for justice in this matter and only an intervention by the Court can answer the cry.

“That it will be in the best interest of Justice to bring the defendant to answer to the complaint.

“Based on the foregoing, the complainant humbly prays the Honourable Court to direct the Nigeria Police Force to carry out investigation of the alleged offences concerning the defendant.

“Whereof the action of the defendant constitutes the offence of forgery contrary to Section 366 of the Penal Code.”

By Musa Ogbole

….

The Arewa Defenders Forum has warned Obono-Obla, a former Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Prosecutions to steer clear of former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari and instead face his criminal charges of falsification, forgery of school results and misappropriation of public funds.

The Defenders Forum was reacting to Obono-Obla’s recent comments that Abdulaziz Yari, a front runner in the Senate Presidency race, should be disciplined before he scatters the All Progressives Congress (APC)

A statement by the Forum’s Chairman, Lawal Waziri Bako said Obono-Obla currently on bail on account of charges of forgery, certificate falsification and other corruption-related charges, ought to see himself as grossly incompetent to remark on other personalities or even on any national issue.

“For a person charged with dishonestly” forging a General Certificate of Education, Ordinary Level, May/June 1982 (GCE) Statement of Result with candidate No: 09403/247 showing an O’Level credit (6) score for Literature in English and using same “as genuine”, to study Law for the 1985/86 academic session in the University of Jos (UNIJOS), to now venture comments on respected personalities like Yari, is certainly the peak of shameless rascality,” the Defenders Forum said.

The Forum noted that the result falsification and forgery charges are part of 10 counts, charges against Obono-Obla which include corruption allegations instituted against him by the ICPC at the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 1, 2020.”We cannot forget how Obono-Obla, his former Senior Assistant, Special Duties (Protocol), Aliyu Ibrahim, and the Managing Director of ABR Global Petroleum Resources Ltd, Daniel Omughele Efe, charged as co-defendants and subsequently, granted bail by the court in the sum of N1 million, with one surety.

“Records available to the public also show how President Muhammadu Buhari suspended Mr Obono-Obla from his position as the chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP) for the Recovery of Public Property, based on ICPC report accusing him of “falsification of records and financial impropriety” in August 2019.

“About a month later, on September 17, 2019, the President disbanded the SPIP, ordered the ICPC to conclude its investigations, send its final report to him, and prosecute Mr Obono-Obla, who was also the President’s special adviser and prosecutions.

“In the charges subsequently filed against him, the ICPC alleged, among others, that Mr Obono-Obla, his former Senior Assistant, Special Duties Ibrahim, Aliyu Ibrahim, and the Managing Director of ABR Global Petroleum Resources Ltd, Daniel Omughele Efe, conspired in 2018 and to use their offices to confer an unfair advantage on Mr Ibrahim by allegedly diverting N19,994,185 received from the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) to furnish SPIP offices.

“ICPC said in another count that Obono-Obla, around July 2018 in Abuja, as SPIP Chairman “failed to attend/honour an invitation” by ICPC for an investigation, contrary to Section 28(1)(a) and (6) and punishable under section 28(10) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000,” the Forums Chairman, Bako recalled.

The Forum said Obono-Obla an inconsequential factor in the politics of his state who could not be trusted to become Senator in his state should ordinarily be hiding his face in shame and not making unfounded remarks against leaders who have clear record of being trusted and elected to various positions at various times.

By Sanusi Duguri

A group under the auspices of Justice and Equity in Nigeria(JEN) has condemned Zamfara Governor, Mohammed Matawalle’s use of rumours of a study leave of CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele for what it described as “Matawalle’s cheap media propaganda”.

A statement issued in Kano by the group’s Coordinator Musa Ibrahim noted that while the incoming APC government led by Senator Bola Tinubu is working round the clock with other governors to boost the fortunes of Nigeria, “the Zamfara Governor is busy upgrading cheap rumour by issuing a Press Statement to further fuel falsehood”.

The statement also accused Governor Matawalle of trying to “divert attention from burning issue of unpaid salaries in his State and failure to secure governorship for the APC.”

The group challenged Matawalle to tell the world if there was Kidnapping in his State at the time CBN Governor “suffocated kidnappers of funds, through cashless policy”.

The Statement argued that the Zamfara governor was clearly out to promote two agenda: divert public attention from his inability to pay workers salary, failure to deliver the governorship seat for the APC and pursuits of White Elephant projects.

The group called on President-elect Bola Tinubu to “ignore the rantings and distractions of people like Matawalle, and continue concentrating on policies and programmes under the Renewed Hope mantra”.

Mansur Mahdi

An association called the North-West Support Groups For Asiwaju 2023 has refuted allegations by one Aminu Sani Jaji as being solely responsible for the electoral victory of the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed  Tinubu in the North West and other parts of the North.

In a press conference on Tuesday in Kaduna, the leader of the group, Comrade Khalid Shehu Kaoho

 said that Aminu Sani Jaji’s claims were unfounded and dubious as the claimant was not known to have campaigned for Tinubu . It added that only the Governor of Zamfara, Mohammed Bello Matawalle was the only factor that galvanised support for the group when it was campaigning  for   President-Elect .

“We are compelled to react to this blatant false claims because we are a critical factor in the Asiwaju campaign and should know those directly or remotely associated with the victory in all the North-West states and some states in other zones.

“In our capacity as such, the only person that closely identified with our activities and in various forms, actively supported our every move to promote the Asiwaju and the APC, is the Governor of Zamfara State, Mohammed Bello Matawalle in his capacity as the North- West coordinator of the Tinubu campaign.

“Matawalle was almost the only man who showed real commitment to what we were doing by way of logistics, monitoring and guidance.

The group further called on the President-Elect and other critical stakeholders to be wary of dealing with Sani Jaji and his like who are simply out to deceive them .

“By this, we call on the President-elect to be wary of such political merchants that parade themselves as significant factors whereas they are inconsequential, hypocritical and self- centred.