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Confusion has reportedly hit the camp of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan over fresh discovery that N3.1 billion was allegedly shared by six chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

While the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is making frantic efforts to recover the cash from the beneficiaries, The Nation reports that some of them who ran to the ex-president to bail them out, received the shock of their lives as he (Jonathan) insisted that he will not lift a finger to help out any minister or public officer involved in the deal.

The anti-graft agency was said to have uncovered how N3.145b was paid into the accounts of six PDP chieftains and the Goodluck Support Group (GSG) by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the build-up to the 2015 presidential elections.

The beneficiaries include a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (N840m); a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and leader of the Social Democratic Party, Chief Olu Falae (N100m); Mrs. (N36.9m); a former Imo State Governor, Chief Achike Udenwa and a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Viola Onwuliri (N350m) and Okey Ezenwa (N100m).

Some of the beneficiaries in their separate reactions expressed surprise, claiming when they enquired about the source of the money, they were assured that it was not from public funds.

This is just as a former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Nenadi Usman, had interacted with EFCC operatives in the last few weeks before the anti-graft agency blew open the fraud.

Mrs. Usman was the Finance Director of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization.

There was a sharp disagreement among the beneficiaries of the largesse on how to refund the cash as some members of the defunct Campaign Organization of the PDP were shocked that such a huge amount was collected under the table by a few directors.

They have therefore, asked the beneficiaries to bear the consequences of diversion of public funds.

Some members of the committee have also threatened to reveal dirty secrets on other public funds made available which were allegedly diverted by some stalwarts of the party.

But the EFCC is reportedly more concerned about how the N3.145 billion would be returned to government coffers.

While some claimed that they expended the money on Jonathan’s re-election campaign, others were making spirited efforts to source for the funds from some PDP chieftains and former members of the Federal Executive Council to cover up their track.

But there was no breakthrough for some of the beneficiaries last night, The Nation reports.

A top source said: “There is confusion in Jonathan’s camp. Many top members of the campaign committee were dazed that such huge cash was shared without any general information.

“Some of them have volunteered to testify against some of the beneficiaries if the EFCC digs deeper. They have been threatening to expose other dirty deals.

“Also, ex-President Jonathan has stayed away from the matter. One of the beneficiaries went to the ex-President for a bailout but the former leader said he will ‘not assist anybody but they should go and return whatever was given to them’.

“The beneficiary was said to have diverted N500million out of the N2billion, which he was to remit to the committee. He only gave out N1.5billion.

“The case of some public officers involved in the deal was worse because the former President has asked everyone to bear his or her own cross.

“As it is now, those given the cash will have to look for ways to refund it”.

A member of the Campaign Committee said: “We are not united on this N3.145billion. Some of us were disappointed that they got money without telling us. Let them go and face the music”.

Mrs. Usman is believed to have made a statement pending the time a comprehensive investigation will begin.

“The EFCC will interact with some of the beneficiaries soon. But the ultimate goal of the anti-graft commission is to recover the funds”, a source said.

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Clik here to view.The 2016 budget will not be passed today as promised by the National Assembly with its passage now postponed to Tuesday, the Senate leader, Ali Ndume has said.
The Appropriation Committees of the House of Representatives and Senate at a press briefing last week assured that the N6.08 trillion 2016 budget presented by President Muhammadu Buhari on December 22, 2015, will be passed today.
The initial date of February 25 to pass the budget was not met after various discrepancies were discovered during the budget defence.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, told reporters in Abuja yesterday that the budget will be “laid” today.
Abdullahi, who is also a member of the Appropriation Committee, noted that after laying the budget, only administrative work will be needed.
The budget was supposed to have been laid before the Senate yesterday by the Appropriation Committee but there was no mention of the document budget during plenary.
But Abdullahi said: “God willing, we are laying the budget tomorrow (today). I can assure Nigerians that the budget will be laid tomorrow (today). That tells you that a lot of work has been done on the budget”.
The Senate spokesman noted that Nigerians are aware of “the back and front of the budget” saying that by scheduling March 17 to pass the budget, they merely set a target for themselves.
Abdullahi said: “All is almost set for the laying of the 2016 budget tomorrow (today) in the senate chamber as we have promised Nigerians and with that, one or two processes that are required will take place and we will have our budget as promised”.
Ndume said after passage on March 22, a clean copy will be transmitted to President Buhari on, March 23 for assent.

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Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State yesterday drew the battle line with politicians in the state who want to undermine the integrity of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governor, who reacted for the first time to recent political developments in the state, said his administration believed in the change agenda of President Buhari and would resist any attempt to ridicule him.

Ganduje spoke when he inspected a feeder road built at Zango-Bela in Nassarawa Local Government, barely one week after his predecessor, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, paid him a condolence visit on the death of his mother, Hajiya Fatima.

The condolence visit reportedly ended up in violence with accusations and counter-accusations traded between Senator Kwankwaso and the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, which vowed to sanction the former governor.

Continuing, Gov. Ganduje said his administration is at war with anyone claiming Kano indigeneship but fighting Buhari behind the scene.

According to him, his administration was ready to confront anyone who dared to challenge the president on Kano soil.

Ganduje said his administration did not believe in brandishing weapons to achieve its goals, adding that the only way to win the goodwill of the people was by treading the path of diplomacy.

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Clik here to view.The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday called on security agents to move in to halt what it described as the madness going on in Rivers State, accusing Governor Nyesom Wike of inciting the people against the Nigerian Army and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Wike had while speaking at the grand finale of the Rivers East Senatorial District Campaign Rally of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at Elele in Ikwerre LGA, on Tuesday, claimed to have uncovered an alleged plot by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and national commissioner of INEC, Mrs Amina Zakari to swap authentic results from polling units during this Saturday’s legislative rerun elections with fake results.
“All those who plan to swap result sheets, may their souls rest in peace. Nobody will rig in Rivers State”, he said. “Anybody who thinks Amaechi will give them result sheets to swap, should be ready to swap their dead bodies. I have told the REC, you were here before, you can’t play games with me”.
In its reaction, the APC, in a statement issued last night by its National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, expressed concern over the death threat issued by the governor on INEC officials coming to conduct the Saturday’s rerun election.
The party said it was compiling evidence of the politically-motivated killings in Rivers State which have taken genocidal dimensions under Nyesom Wike’s watch, adding that it will present evidence to national and international law enforcement agencies.
The statement reads: “In the lead up to the March 19, 2016 Rivers State rerun elections, the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is worried by the fresh reckless and irresponsible statements including death threats issued by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) especially on the person of Mrs. Amina Zakari, a National INEC Commissioner who has a record of supervising some of the most credible, free and fair elections by INEC in the past.
“The Rivers State governor has also issued dangerous threats on the Nigerian Army. The Party also views Nyesom Wike’s petition to the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), Africa Union (AU) and the governments of about 50 countries demanding ‘global surveillance’ for the Rivers rerun election as an affront on the 1999 Constitution (as amended), INEC and sovereignty of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“Nyesom Wike has been in the forefront of inciting the people of Rivers State against INEC and the Nigerian Army. On Tuesday, Nyesom Wike accused INEC Commissioner Mrs. Amina Zakari of an unsubstantiated and cooked up plot to swap election result sheets in the yet-to-be-conducted election.
“He went ahead to issue a death threat on the INEC Commissioner over the unsubstantiated and cooked up plot. The APC takes Nyesom Wike’s death threats and campaign of calumny against critical national institutions including the Nigerian Army very seriously.
“Under Nyesom Wike’s watch, the country and indeed the international community has been traumatised by the daily lynching, maiming, killing and beheading of APC members and supporters in Rivers State.
“The APC believes that Nyesom Wike’s repeated threats to INEC to ‘write their will’ before coming to conduct elections in the state is real and must be looked into by relevant security agencies.
“The APC calls on relevant security agencies to hold Nyesom Wike responsible for any breakdown of law and order before, during and after the March 19, 2016 Rivers State rerun elections.
“The party also welcomes President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to security services to deal decisively with sponsors and perpetuators of political violence in Rivers State. The Police and other security agencies must ensure that the murderers and their sponsors are brought to book and must face the full wrath of the law”.

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Clik here to view.A former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi on Thursday assured the people of Rivers State of adequate security while urging them to come out en-mass and exercise their civic right during the National and State Assemblies rerun election, which is taking place in the state this Saturday, March 19.
Amaechi, who made the call during a session with the media on the rerun, said that the election is another opportunity for people of Rivers State to vote candidates of their choice.
His full statement reads: “The National and State Assemblies re-run elections come up this Saturday, March 19, 2016. This is another opportunity for us to exercise our rights to vote for candidates of our choice.
“You would recall that the last time the elections were held, members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were brazenly, crudely and violently prevented from exercising their inalienable rights to elect those they wanted.
“Those same characters and forces that stole our votes by violently denying us the right to vote the last time, are at it again. In the months and weeks leading to this Saturday’s elections, they have employed the use of violence and threats to lives as tools of intimidation and harassment, all aimed at preventing us from coming out to vote. They have turned our hitherto peaceful State into a haven of brazen criminality, culminating in killings and maiming of innocent citizens
“However, it is gratifying to note that the Commander-In-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the security of lives and property in the State before, during and after the elections. Mr. President has graciously provided adequate security through the length and breadth of the State.
“I, therefore, enjoin you all to come out en mass to exercise your civic rights, on Saturday.
“To this end, the reign of terror in some of our Local Government Areas, leading to senseless killings will not be tolerated, as the security agencies have been directed to ensure the safety of all before, during and after the elections. I therefore, implore you all to come out to exercise your rights to vote.
“The Rivers State Government has declared a two-day ‘public holiday’, for Thursday and Friday. To this effect, the State government has directed non Rivers State government establishments and institutions such as banks, businesses and schools to ensure compliance.
“It is however sad to note that the State government is extending the public holidays to private institutions. This, from the constitutional point of view is an illegality, which clearly shows that the incumbent governor has no regard for the people nor care for their well-being.
“This flows from the sudden declaration of a two-day public holiday without considering the attendant economic hardships and consequences it would inflict on the people and the State, respectively.
“Now, that you have a chance to vote and your vote will count, choose wisely, vote APC. Finally, I call on all Rivers people not to submit to any form of intimidation and threat. Coming out to elect candidates of your choice on Saturday is your constitutional right and civic responsibility.
“No one, I repeat, no one can stop you from exercising this right. Once again, let me assure you all that your security and safety is guaranteed. Come out and exercise your right to vote”.

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Clik here to view.With power supply in the country still a far cry from being stable, the Federal Government is exploring the possibility of generating 4,000 megawatts of electricity from nuclear energy.
According to the first phase of the plan, which is expected to be kicked off in the coming years, Nigeria will generate 1,000MW of electricity from nuclear energy, thereafter, it will be increased to 4,000MW.
A statement Wednesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said these and others formed part of discussions President Muhammadu Buhari had during a meeting with the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mr. Yukiya Amano, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The presidential spokesman said the ministers who spoke at the meeting gave updates on the country’s presentation for the utilisation of nuclear energy.
Shehu said: “The ministers of Power, Solid Minerals, Health, Science and Technology, who briefed the meeting, said preparatory steps taken so far included the training of doctors and other medical specialists to prepare for unforeseen circumstances, the establishment of specialist medical centres and the procurement of necessary equipment aimed at protecting the health of the citizens.
“Nigeria, said the ministers, is aspiring to start a programme in the coming years that will give this country 1,000MW of electricity in the first instance, to be increased to 4,000MW thereafter”.
He quoted President Buhari as welcoming the support of the IAEA for Nigeria’s aspiration to generate electricity from nuclear energy.
Buhari said he was happy that the organisation was developing a programme from which Nigeria would benefit.
He urged the IAEA to do more to support Nigeria in view of the long years of its association and support for the nuclear regulatory agency.
Earlier, Amano said he was pleased to see that Nigeria was taking the correct steps towards a safe usage of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

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President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday said a sociological study would be conducted on Boko Haram when they are finally subdued by the government.

The president said such a study will assist in determining the origin, the remote and immediate causes of the movement, its sponsors, its international connections and steps to prevent its recurrence.

Since launching a bloody campaign against the Nigerian state in 2009, Boko Haram has killed over 12,000 people, displaced millions in the Northeast, destroyed livelihoods and property worth several billions of naira and gained notoriety as the world’s deadliest terrorist organization, ahead of the Islamic State (IS).

Buhari, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the International Islamic Conference on peace and nation building in Abuja, noted that the theme and timing of the conference, which is a joint effort between Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’a Wa Iqamatis Sunna based in Nigeria and the Muslim World League, is coming when most parts of the world are grappling with one form of violent conflict or another.

He welcomed the Executive Secretary of the Muslim World League, His Eminence, Professor Abdullahi bin Abdulmohsin Al- Turki to Nigeria.

He said: “I assured Nigerians that at the end of the hostilities when the group is subdued, the Government would commission a sociological study to determine the origin, the remote and immediate causes of the movement, its sponsors, its international connections if any, to ensure that measures are taken to prevent a recurrence.

“The outcome of the proceedings of this conference will be useful in that regard”, he added.

Buhari reiterated that Boko Haram is a mindless, godless group who are as far away from Islam.

He said also that he was impressed by the objectives of the conference, which are among others, to: *promote national, regional and global cooperation against the spread of insurgency;
*correct the distortions about the concept of peace in Islamic ideology and philosophy;
*contribute to the global fight against terrorism because security is a shared responsibility; and to
*attract global attention to the plight of those most affected by the insurgency, which is mostly concentrated in the North Eastern part of our country. These include Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), orphaned children, widows and the elderly who have been rendered homeless and helpless as a result of the insurgency.

The president told the gathering that Nigeria’s joint cooperation with its neighbours has substantially degraded the attacking capability of Boko Haram and have compelled them to retreat.

“We will pursue them relentlessly until they become an item of history”, he added Speaking further, Buhari said: “The tragic paradox of the global insurgency situation is that most of the atrocities committed by various insurgents all over the world today are being carried out mainly by people who pretend to be Muslims, yet most of the victims and casualties are equally Muslims.

“To underscore their cruelty and godlessness, they particularly target the most vulnerable members of the society: children, women and the elderly. No religion approves of such heinous crimes against humanity; definitely not Islam nor Christianity, to which two most Nigerians belong”, he added.

Noting that normal people must rise up against terrorism, Buhari said that Islam does not permit lawlessness as it frowns at extremism even in normal acts of worship.

He added: “The emergence of any group advocating the contrary is, therefore, irreligious and unacceptable. Religious leaders must intensify their efforts to send out the real teachings of their religion in order to counter the diabolical ideology that motivates the insurgent elements”.

President Buhari also urged the forum to call on all religious, community and political leaders to mobilise their followers against corruption and crimes of any kind, lamenting that Nigeria had suffered many years of official neglect and corruption, which in turn led to untold hardship to the common man.

“They should also encourage them to be more tolerant of each other; and recognise the rights of others as they want others to recognise their rights to worship and live freely”, he added.

Buhari promised that his administration will do everything possible to safeguard lives and property and also to ensure even development across Nigeria.

The president also pointed out that the global economic challenges facing the world today might turn out to be a blessing for Nigeria as it will stimulate the latent economic opportunities that have remained untapped for decades in the country.

According to him, poverty breeds disaffection, which in turn leads to crime and lawlessness, including confrontation against the State.

“To checkmate this, we must work hard to lift our economy, engage our youth and rebuild infrastructure. We can only achieve these with full cooperation of all Nigerians and under a stable polity. We are determined to do this and we shall not be deterred”, Buhari said.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar; Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi; governors and other leaders were at the occasion.

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The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the April 11 governorship election in Rivers State, Dakuku Peterside, Wednesday met with the national leadership of the party in Abuja ahead of this Saturday’s rerun elections into the National Assembly and State House of Assembly.

Peterside, who refused to speak with journalists, was overheard, saying “they will bow, they will bow” despite attempts to get information about the motive behind his visit as he was moving towards his vehicle.

Informed sources said apart from the rerun elections, the newly appointed Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), who met the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and other National Working Committee (NWC) members behind closed doors, also thanked the party leaders for his appointment.

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Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who is hearing the case involving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman, Olisa Metuh, yesterday vowed to remain on the case pending the decision of his employer.

Metuh had raised sundry accusations against the judge and asked him to withdraw from the case.

The defence counsel, Emeka Etiaba (SAN) wrote to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, asking him to transfer the case from Abang to another judge.

But Justice Abang said he would not be intimidated, adding that by virtue of the National Judicial Council, NJC’s circular, he would continue with the case until the chief judge takes a decision on Metuh’s petition.

In a March 11 letter to Justice Auta, Metuh through his lawyer, claimed to have been Justice Abang’s classmate at the law school and that they met a few weeks before the trial.

The PDP spokesman, who is standing trial with his firm, Destra Investment Limited, on a seven-count charge of money laundering, accused the judge of bias and giving him no access to records, with the intention of denying him right to appeal.

The judge made the disclosure yesterday while ruling on an application by Metuh’s lawyer, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), for adjournment, on the grounds that the lead defence lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), was unavailable.

Justice Abang said: “On March 16, 2016, at 4 pm, the chief judge forwarded a copy of the letter by Emeka Etiaba (SAN), praying him to transfer this case to another judge, eight witnesses having been called and the no-case application of the defendant dismissed for lack of merit.

“I want to say that I have a circular by my employer, the National Judicial Council (NJC), to the effect that where there is a petition in a matter seeking the transfer of the case to another judge, the judge handling the case shall continue to preside over the matter until a decision is taken by the authority to which the petition was addressed.

“On the account of this circular, I shall continue to preside over this matter until the chief judge takes a decision on Mr. Etiaba’s petition”, Justice Abang said.

The judge, however, expressed surprise that Etiaba failed to give the prosecution a copy of his letter, as required under Rule 30 (5) of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners.

He said having refused to serve the prosecution with a copy, Etiaba violated the rules of professional conduct for lawyers.

Justice Abang noted that by not serving the prosecution, Etiaba denied the prosecution the opportunity to react to issues raised in the letter.

“Mr. Etiaba complained in the letter that the record of proceedings was not made available to him. The record of proceedings of about 212 pages have been served on the defence team since two days ago. This is not the only case the court is handling. This court is a busy court.

“And again, Etiaba said the accused is my classmate. I don’t know the accused as my classmate. It is for him to prove that he was my classmate. Assuming the accused was my classmate; that will not change the facts of the case and the law.

“I do not take arbitrary decisions. Whatever decision I take here is in line with the law and my conscience. I fear no evil. I am guided by my conscience, without fear or favour”, the judge said.

Going through the history of the case, the judge noted that most adjournments were at the instance of the defence.

Metuh’s legal team, comprising three senior advocates, including Ikpeazu, Adedipe and Etiaba, developed cold feet and refused to open its defence after the judge dismissed the defendants’ no-case submission for lack of merit on March 9.

The PDP spokesman made a no-case submission after prosecution completed its case after calling eight witnesses, who the defence team cross-examined.

Rather than lead evidence in his defence, Metuh chose instead to make a no-case submission, which the court dismissed on the grounds that the prosecution raised several issues to which he (Metuh) must respond to.

After the judge refused his no-case submission on March 9, Metuh was asked to open his defence and he sought time to enable him prepare his witnesses, prompting the judge to adjourn to yesterday.

Rather than open his defence yesterday, Adedipe, who led the defence team, told the court that the lead lawyer, Ikpeazu, who prepared the defence witnesses, was unavailable.

Adedipe again, sought an adjournment, pledging to conduct defence in the event that Ikpeazu was away, at the next date.

The prosecution lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir, reluctantly agreed to an adjournment following Adedipe’s promise to conduct the defence on the next date even if Ikpeazu was absent.

Justice Abang, therefore, upheld Adedipe’s application and adjourned to March 23.

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday paid tribute to late Minister of State, Labour and Employment, James Ocholi, describing him as an “epitome of civility, archetype of intellectualism and the paragon of loyalty”.

In the tribute issued in Abuja, Mr. Buhari described Mr. Ocholi as one of his right hand men in the quest to reposition Nigeria for the betterment of all citizens.

The president maintained that Mr. Ocholi had taught many, including himself, fidelity, commitment and loyalty to party, to government, and to God.

Mr. Buhari, who said that a lot had been said about Mr. Ocholi and a lot more would be written on him, added that the late minister was no mean man. “He was a man among men, an Iroko in a forest of trees”.

“How do I begin to pay this tribute to a man who was the epitome of civility, the archetype of intellectualism, and the paragon of loyalty?

“How do I begin to mourn James Ocholi, whom you can describe as one of my right hand men in the quest to reposition our country, and fashion a land of peace and prosperity, where no man is oppressed?

“A lot has been written about Ocholi since the tragic event of March 6, 2016, which took the life of our Minister of State, Labour and Employment, his wife, Blessing, and his son, Joshua.

“And a lot more will be written, for Ocholi was no mean man. He was a man among men, an Iroko in a forest of trees.

“How are the mighty fallen!

“Among many other positive and pleasant things, I will always remember Ocholi for his loyalty to our beloved country Nigeria, loyalty to our party, the All Progressives Congress, and loyalty to our administration, in which he had served for just about 4 months, before death took him.

“In 2011, Ocholi ran to be governor of Kogi state on the platform of our then party, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). I believed so much in him, and in his ability to add value to the governance of his state, that I followed him round the state on campaign.

“We visited all the local governments, visited the paramount rulers, and urged the people to vote in a worthy man as governor. But politics is a peculiar game in Nigeria.

“The best often does not win. Ocholi did not win. But he bore it gracefully. In 2015, he threw his hat into the ring again.

“He sought to be governor on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), a party he had helped midwife. He still did not win at the party primaries, an eventuality he bore gracefully again.

“When the APC was being negotiated into existence among the legacy parties, Ocholi did a yeoman’s job, contributing his quota to the legal processes.

“This he did under a junior lawyer, who was not a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), like him then. But what mattered to Ocholi was the birth of a strong, solid party, which could wrest power at the centre, and bring change to our country.

“Hierarchy is important in the legal profession, just as it is in the military. But Ocholi subordinated pride and ego, served under his subordinate, and APC was born.

“Dream became reality.

“Steadily but sure-footedly, he was part of the Change Cabinet, resolved to bring our country from out of the woods, and pedestal Nigeria among the greats in the comity of nations.

“Then the unthinkable happened. The Grim Reaper harvested Ocholi. What a pity! Sad and tragic.

“But we have this consolation: the departed has taught us fidelity, commitment and loyalty to party, to government, and to God.

“He will be sorely missed”.

(NAN)

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The political battle of supremacy between former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and his successor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has claimed its first casualty in the person of the Chief Whip of the Kano State House of Assembly, Zubairu Mamuda.

Hon. Mamuda was removed on Thursday for recognizing Kwankwaso, who is the currently the senator representing Kano Central, as the state leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Mr. Mamuda represents Madobi constituency, where the former governor hails from.

The impeachment followed a motion moved by a member representing Nassarawa Local Government Area, Ibrahim Gama, on the floor of the house.

Mr. Gama, alias Lugard, posited that the removal of the chief whip had become imperative in view of the legislator’s disloyalty to Governor Ganduje.

The house unanimously adopted the motion and immediately removed Mr. Mamuda, who was replaced with Labaran Madari, a member representing Warawa constituency.

It would be recalled that 36 out of 40 members of the house, on Tuesday, visited the governor, where they pledged allegiance to him, deepening the political divide between Mr. Ganduje and his predecessor.

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Clik here to view.After playing hide-and-seek with with the law for almost nine years, former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu on Friday lost his bid to have the money laundering charge against him quashed as the Supreme Court dismissed his appeal for lacking in merit.
A similar appeal by an associate of the ex-governor, Udeh Jones Udehogo, was also dismissed by the apex court on similar ground.
Kalu, who governed Abia from 1999-2007, in his appeal, sought to quash the 107-count charge of corruption brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The charges bordered on the alleged complicity of Mr. Kalu in money laundering and illegal diversion of public funds to the tune of N5.6billion when he was governor.
Though the anti-graft agency docked him before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court shortly after he left office in 2007, the ex-governor, through various interlocutory applications, frustrated moves by the prosecution to open its case against him.
The defendant firstly challenged the competence of the charge against him, as well as the jurisdiction of the High Court to hear and determine the case.
However, following refusal by the trial court to quash the charge, Kalu approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
The appellate court, in a unanimous judgment, upheld the competence of the charge, adding that the high court was constitutionally empowered to exercise jurisdiction on the trial.
Dissatisfied with the verdict, the former governor went to Supreme Court, begging it to set-aside the concurrent findings of the two lower courts.
Delivering lead judgments in both appeals, Justice Suleiman Galadima, upheld the concurrent decisions of the Federal High Court, Abuja and Appeal Court, Abuja.
The apex court ruled that it was satisfied that the former governor has a case to answer pertaining to allegations that were levelled against him by the EFCC.
The five-man panel of the apex court ordered the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, to re-assign the case to another Judge to enable the trial to commence de-novo (afresh).
The Supreme Court also ordered accelerated hearing of the matter.

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The national leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government of instigating violence in Rivers State in order to justify its push for the declaration of a state of emergency in the oil-rich state.

This claim was contained in a statement on Thursday by the national publicity secretary of PDP, Olisa Metuh, in Abuja.

The opposition party, however, warned that “dire consequences would follow any attempt by the APC to push its plot to impose a state of emergency in the oil-rich state”.

Metuh disclosed that the PDP had also rallied all its formation in the state to stiffly resist by all means necessary in a democracy, any move by the APC to scuttle tomorrow’s national and state assembly rerun elections in the state.

“The party is privy to a grand design by the APC to orchestrate violence in the state with a view to truncating the elections, having realised that the PDP and its candidates are more popular and ready to win overwhelmingly in all the reruns.

“We are aware that the orchestration of violence is designed to serve as stimulus for the planned imposition of a state of emergency to enable the APC forcefully take over the state which it failed to get through the ballot box. We also know the design to unleash violence is behind the recent infamous call by APC spokesman in Ondo state, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya for emergency rule in Rivers state.

“What else, apart from the execution of this plot explains the complains from our candidates and members in Rivers state of constant threats by partisan security operatives as well as the recent gale of arrests, attacks and killing of PDP supporters in the state?

“But let it be known that Rivers state is a stronghold of the PDP and that such profane quest would be squarely and comprehensively greeted with intense resistance and very dire consequences.

“Our position is guarded by the fact that we remain a responsible and law-abiding party committed to the sanctity of our electoral process, the interest and will of the Nigerian people. Besides, we have the numbers and the people of Rivers state are solidly behind us.

“It is on this note that we totally welcome President Muhammadu Buhari’s warning to those instigating violence and causing mayhem in Rivers state. It is our belief that the president’s warning is more directed to APC supporters who have shown unique thirst for violence.

“The hallmark of democracy is the inalienable rights of the citizens to freely choose their leaders; vote and be voted for, and we believe this right must be fully protected at all times.

“While we expect the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to use Saturday’s polls to redeem its image by ensuring that the elections were not only credible but also conclusive, we support the people of Rivers state in their demonstrated resolve to stand up and use all lawful means necessary in a democracy to defend their votes in the reruns as well as protect the state government they voted for”.

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Clik here to view.A former Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, has heaved a sigh of relief that he did not emerge winner of the 2015 governorship election in the state.
Mr. Alao-Akala, who sought a return to the Agodi Government House on the platform of the Labour Party, LP, said he remains thankful to God for losing the election, because had he won, he would have been at a loss as to coping with the issue of dwindling monthly federal allocation.
The former governor spoke at the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after meeting with the party’s national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and other leaders from the South-West geo-political zone.
“I said that because I pitied the governors because of what they are going through now. I wouldn’t have been able to sleep with these dwindling monthly allocations. That was the reason why I said that. I don’t know how I would have coped. It doesn’t go beyond that”, Alao-Akala said while fielding questions from journalists.
The former governor, who confirmed that he is now a bonafide member of the APC, said he was at the APC secretariat in Abuja to hold talks with the party leaders.
On his plan for the 2019 general elections, the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor said, “When we get to the bridge, we shall cross it. This is just 2016. Time will tell wherever anybody wants to go. Why do you try to ask God about 2019 now? Do you know whether you will sleep tomorrow and wake up tomorrow? Let’s leave 2019 to God”.
He said despite the initial challenges by the APC-led federal government, the party would succeed.
“The change agenda has already started. It has not been the business as usual. Things have started changing. I know it’s purely for good purpose by the grace of God”, he said.
The nomadic politician, who said nobody should be threatened by his entry into the APC, pleaded with Nigerians to continue to exercise patience with the Muhammadu Buhari administration, assuring “things will soon turn around”.
According to Akala, “Change comes with time. When you want to make a change, it doesn’t happen suddenly. It has to be gradual. We have started seeing it. I know we will get there by the grace of God”.

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Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje says the government is making concerted efforts to replace the famous groundnut pyramids with rice pyramids.

Ganduje said that was why the state government is providing the environment that will encourage the massive production of rice, wheat, and tomatoes.

Speaking, Friday while fielding questions from State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Ganduje said the state government would provide rice farmers with the incentives they would need to be able to increase the production of the product.

“Now, we are soon going to talk about rice pyramids not groundnut pyramids because rice is the order of the day now.

“The groundnut you are talking about in those years it was the production of groundnut to be exported to the foreign land and be processed and be brought back to Nigeria.

“But now it is a different issue. We have a lot of oil mills that consume the groundnut. So, you will not expect to see the groundnut pyramids as you used to see because the economic situation has change.

“The industrialisation is much better than those days.

“So, you better stop dreaming of groundnut pyramids now. But when you are talking of rice; that is where we need the pyramids now.

“So, we assure you that in Kano we are providing an enabling environment for the production of rice, wheat, and tomatoes,” the governor said.

The governor said that during the meeting, he brought the President up to date with the security situation in the state, particularly the issues relating to cattle rustling and kidnapping.

According to him, cattle rustling and kidnapping have been brought under control.

He also said that he briefed the President on the state’s amnesty and empowerment programmes extended to repentant cattle rustlers and kidnappers in the state.

On the row between him and Kwankwaso, Ganduje stated that the situation is under control, saying that efforts have been intensified to address the problem.

“The situation is under control, it is an in-house problem which is under control. We are talking about it.

“Yes, reconciliation is ongoing and it will work. We have been together for long; we are politically brothers and friends.

“Therefore, we will make sure that we don’t allow things to continue to fall apart.”

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Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has announced the immediate sacking of the Secretary to the Government of Imo State, Sir Jude Ejiogu.

The Governor’s directive was repeatedly broadcast yesterday, on the radio and television channels of Imo Broadcasting Corporation, IBC. According to the announcements, which was signed by the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Paschal Obi, the sacking was “with immediate effect”.

Okorocha thanked Sir Ejiogu for his previous services to the state and wished him well in his future endeavours.

Some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who spoke to Vanguard, yesterday, on strict grounds of anonymity, expressed shock at the sacking of Ejiogu, who they described as “very loyal to a fault”.

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The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, has denied speculations that he decamped from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) after losing the national chairmanship position.

Mohammed said this at a stakeholders meeting called to settle differences within the party in the state.

According to him, politicians should not allow prolonged malice and animosity to interfere with the political will among members, which would hinder the success of the party.

“Just because I lost the national chairmanship, I will not leave PDP because this is not my kind of politics.

“I have never said that I was leaving the PDP because I lost the seat of the national chairman, this is not my kind of politics. Whoever feels I have offended him, I will ask for forgiveness because this is politics, there is no room for institutionalised animosity,” he said.

Mohammed, therefore, called on party members to ensure that all fences were mended in order to bring the party to its real upper status.

“We all need to come back and make the party great again through collective efforts of ensuring that there is no more factions,” he said.

The party state Chairman, Alhaji Yaro Yaro, said the meeting was aimed at putting to an end all factions, and also to preach to one another the gospel of unity in the political system.

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Clik here to view.The Senate leader, Ali Ndume, has faulted the recent poll conducted by the Governance Advancement Initiative for Nigeria (GAIN), which showed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval ratings dropped from 63.4 per cent in January to 32.8 per cent.

The senator representing Borno South on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, noted that the 32.8 per cent captured in the survey that disproved the president’s popularity rating, do not form the support base of the present administration.

According to Ndume, the APC-led federal government came to power on the back of majority support, the masses, who he said do not have access to be surveyed in the poll by GAIN.

“So, that survey cannot reflect the wish of the majority of the Nigerian population. Yes, things are difficult, Nigerians are going through difficult times, but they are the support base of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and have not lost faith in this government. If you go to various churches and mosques, you’ll still find people saying, ‘we are suffering but we should endure because the result will come’”, the senator said in an interview with Daily Trust on Saturday.

He continued: “If you say the popularity of government has gone down from those you’ve access to get their responses, well, I agree with that, but the majority of Nigerians, who are the poor, still have faith in this government, and that is the most important thing. Yes, people are going through hard times but the government is working; working in the sense that it’s still focused on the three key issues that it came in with, and is still focused to address”.

Ndume listed the three core areas the Buhari administration is focusing on as security, infrastructure and anti-corruption war.

On security, the Senate leader said, “you’ll agree that it is not only in the Northeast in terms of winning the war against insurgency and specifically Boko Haram; the government is fighting other wars in terms of kidnapping, armed robbery and vandalization of pipelines. The bunkering of our crude oil has gone down, but nobody is talking about that. The vandalization of oil pipelines you will now only hear intermittently, which is normal in every society.

“The militancy in the Niger Delta has gone down tremendously. Even the so-called Biafra struggle is personalized and centered on Kanu, and when Kanu was arrested – and he is presently going through trial – it went down. So, government is working in the area of security.

“Government is also working in the area of putting certain infrastructures on ground; government is working and fighting corruption which is a big problem. Government came in and removed subsidy indirectly and yet, petroleum products are available all over the country at a lower price.

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The Ekiti State Government has described as “ridiculous, and open display of contempt for the rule of law”, the claim by the Department of State Services (DSS) that it detained a member of the state House of Assembly, Afolabi Akanni, for committing security breach and that it was not aware of a court order on his release.

A spokesperson for the DSS, Abdullahi Garba, had while presenting Akanni, the member representing Efon-Alaaye state constituency in the Ekiti House of Assembly before newsmen at the DSS headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, to dispel rumors of the lawmaker’s death, said he was being held over weighty but unspecified security issues.

In its reaction on Friday, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and new Media, Lere Olayinka said the DSS should tell Nigerians “when Hon. Akanni committed those offences amounting to breach of security? Did Hon. Akanni plot coup or is he leading insurgents to warrant his detention without trial?”

Olayinka, who was flanked by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Idowu Adelusi, said as a result of DSS’ refusal to be served with the Court Order on March 11, the order was published in a national daily Thursday, as directed by the court.

The government, which explained why it raised the alarm over Mr. Akanni’s possible death on Wednesday, said; “We wish to reiterate that the state government addressed the press yesterday, based on the information available to it and since the DSS was not talking to anyone concerning the status of Hon Afolabi Akanni and others in its custody, the government had no option than to bring the disturbing information to the public domain and also call for calm among residents of the State”.

It said; “From the pictures of Hon. Akanni that we saw on television and published in the newspapers, it is without doubt that he is terribly sick and in need of urgent medical attention, and the disturbing information about his death could have been informed by his critical state of health. Hon. Akanni even told journalists that he slumped twice yesterday and that he was refused access to medication.

“Evidently and as even reported in the newspapers today, the Hon. Akanni paraded before the press by the DSS yesterday was very sick.

“The press reported that he could not stand on his feet and we wish to ask the DSS whether it actually wants him (Akanni) to die!

“If truly the DSS has facts and evidences that Hon. Akanni committed offence of security breach, why not charge him to court and prosecute him with the facts and evidences before the service? Or is the DSS waiting for Hon. Akanni to supply evidences with which he will be prosecuted?

“If the DSS is claiming that Hon. Akanni is being held for committing serious security breach, why was the State Commissioner for Finance, Chief Toyin Ojo invited by the DSS? What is the correlation between Ecological Fund, claim of Federal Government refund to Ekiti State on construction of federal roads and State Security?

“For clarity, Chief Toyin Ojo was asked by the DSS investigators how much was refunded to Ekiti State by the federal government on federal roads constructed/rehabilitated by the State government and how ecological fund released to the State was spent. He was also asked how Governor Ayodele Fayose election was funded. How are these issues related to the security of Nigeria? What is the business of the DSS with the finances of Ekiti State?

“Also, former Special Assistant to the governor on Internally Generated Revenue, Ropo Ogunjobi is being kept in the DSS custody since March 4.

“Did he also commit ‘serious security breach’ or he is just being held to extract information as to the finances of Ekiti State in furtherance to the mandate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gladiators in the State, who are working on what they called the ‘2006 Template’?

“Did Secretary to the State Government, Dr (Mrs) Dupe Alade, Chief of Staff; Chief Dipo Anisulowo, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice; Owoseni Ajayi, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Kola Kolade, Commissioner for Works; Kayode Osho, Special Adviser on Political Matters; Alhaji Demola Bello and other officials of the State government already listed for arrest and indefinite detention also commit serious security breach?”

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The Kano State chapter of All Progressive Congress (APC) has suspended its chairman, Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa, over alleged violation of the party’s constitution.

The party also suspended its organising secretary, Alhaji Sanusi Suraj Kwankwaso.

The suspensions are a fallout of the political battle of supremacy in the state between Governor Abdullahi Umar Gwanduje and his predecessor, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.

The suspension was announced yesterday by the APC Secretary in the state, Alhaji Abbas Sani Abbas, shortly after a meeting with party members at the party secretariat in Kano.

Abbas said the Party State Central Working Committee has appointed Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas as the interim chairman of the party.

He also said the committee has set up a 7-man disciplinary committee headed by Alhaji Haruna Amadu Dan-Zago, to review series of complaints levelled against the two suspended executives.

The secretary said the suspended executives if found guilty of the allegations levelled against them will be punished according to the weight of their alleged offences.

Abbas, therefore, urged members of the committee, who have only one week to complete their investigation and present their findings to the party, to review the complaints against the suspended executives critically.

The meeting was attended by local government party chairmen, members of the State House of Assembly and other members of the party.