Edo Denies Receiving N500m Campaign Donation from Amaechi

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole

By: Adibe Emenyonu                                              

Special Adviser (Media) to Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, Mr. Kassim Afegbua, Friday, denied that the  travails of Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State was connected to the N500 million he allegedly donated to Oshiomhole.

It was reported in one of the national dailies that Amaechi’s travails may not be unconnected with his alleged donation of N500 million to Oshiomhole for his second term campaigns.

But, in a press statement signed by Afegbua and made available to newsmen in Benin City, the government noted that at no time did Amaechi donate any money to Oshiomhole's second term campaign funds.

According to him, "We had thought of ignoring this so-called allegation as another spurious, very ridiculous and roguish claim by an unnamed PDP chieftain, but for the sake of history and posterity, it is instructive to state that there was no time the Rivers State Governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi donated any money, let alone the sum of N500 million either directly or by proxy, to the campaign funds of the Comrade Governor, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole.

"Again, we wish to state unequivocally that there was no time that the Rivers State Governor spent two nights in Benin City before, during and after the campaigns of the Comrade Governor.

"We find it utterly misleading for anyone to deliberately raise unverifiable claims just to give the Rivers State Governor a bad name and portray the Edo State Governor in bad light with respect to campaign funds and management of same.

"The relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2006 [as amended] frown at such bogus donations by either an individual or corporate body for the campaign of any individual candidate running for election. In fact, if anyone is in the breach of such provisions, it is the PDP. The Oshiomhole Campaign Organisation was very conscious of the requirement of the law with respect to donation, reason why it embarked on public fund raising dinners in Lagos, Abuja and Benin City. All those who made donations to the second term campaign of the performing Governor Oshiomhole were well captured in our reports and duly appreciated. There was no where that the Rivers State Governor was captured as having donated, let alone such a whooping sum of N500m."

Furthermore, he pointed out that for a country and a democracy such as ours, there should be no crime for any governor to honour the invitation of his colleague’s second term inauguration, especially that of the duly elected Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, because the beauty of democracy and credible elections was the exhibition of the spirit of sportsmanship by the loser and his party, and not this invidious show of hostility by the opposition PDP.

"When Governor Oshiomhole earlier referred to the PDP as a Party of rogues, the party went for his jugular by calling him unprintable names and churning out all manners of lies and concocted tales just to make an impression. With the recent outcome of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum election, which returned Governor Amaechi as duly elected, and following the u-turn of those who participated in the exercise, the Comrade Governor’s roguish description of the PDP has become instructively appropriate. It is better for the PDP to look for other reasons why it has wrongly taken certain actions against one of its own, than looking for convenient ways to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it. It is shameful that governors, who claim to be duly elected representatives of their States could lower the bar of credibility and integrity just for the sake of dubious politics," Afegbua said.

UNICEF: Expert Decries Nigeria's Position in Global HIV Chart

United Nations Children's Fund

By: Amby Uneze                                         

A United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) expert on HIV/AIDS, Dr. Femi Adeyemi has condemned the second position ranking of Nigeria in the global burden of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of Human Immune Virus (HIV) on global HIV chart.

Adeyemi stated this at the beginning of a 3-day zonal meeting of journalists and media practitioners on public advocacy and alliance building for PMTCT services in four states of Akwa Ibom, Benue, Cross River and Imo holding in Eket, Akwa Ibom state.

Adeyemi, who gave an overview of PMTCT, including national targets said that the annual births in the country stood at six million while 56 percent of pregnant women attend ante-natal clinic at least once while four percent attend at least four times, putting national average at 4.1 percent.

According to him, the PMTCT strategies include; primary prevention of HIV in women of reproductive age group, prevention of unintended pregnancy and prevention of mother-to child transmission, stating that reducing the incident of PMTCT involved closing the gap among child-bearing women, pregnant women living with HIV and HIV uninfected women and children.

He added that the global plan for PMTCT was launched in 2011 after a global consultation was held in November 2010, stressing that the plan was aimed at reducing HIV infections among children by 90 percent, and reducing HIV related deaths as the national target was to reduce by 50 percent of HIV incidence among 15 - 49 years old women by 2015.

In their separate presentations, the Communications officer of UNICEF A-Field office, Enugu, Mrs. Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe and the FCT Co-ordinator of Journalists Alliance for PMTCT (JAPiN), Mrs. Abimbola Katherine Amosun urged Journalists to be proactive in reporting issues relating to women and children, as it was the duty of the media to carry persistence campaign concerning the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Onuoha-Ogwe said that the issue of equity had not been achieved in the distribution of rights to children, adding that there still remain a widening disparity for children as poverty accounted for the reason why rights of children were not met. She also maintained that financial food crises, climate change and humanitarian crises contributed to the disparity and urged the media to take action to the children.

Amosun said that the reason for establishing JAPiN was to address the issue of media partnership with the other related agencies to tackle PMTCT in the country, as the organization disseminates information about prevention, control, and treatment of HIV particularly as it affects women and children.

Declaring the workshop open the Akwa Ibom State, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bassey Antai expressed the global desire to have zero new infections which could be achieved through elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

He said the HIV prevalence in the four junta states was high, adding that with the partnership with the media and UNICEF, the problem would be reduced or eliminated in no distance time.

The commissioner who was represented by the state AIDS Programme Co-ordinator, Dr. John Markson therefore urged the participants to faction a proactive approach that would be applied to bring the problem to its minimal level in the zone.

Appeal Court Voids N25m Compensation to Baba Suwe

NDLEA

By: Akinwale Akintunde

The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, Friday, set aside the judgment of Justice Yetunde Idowu of an Ikeja High Court, which awarded N25 million compensation to comic actor, Babatunde Omidina, aka Baba Suwe, after he was detained by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for allegedly carrying narcotic substances in 2011.

The appellate court in its judgment delivered by Justice Rita Pemu described the N25 million compensation as baseless and pervasive and held that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to preside over the fundamental human rights suit filed by Baba Suwe’s lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, in October 24, 2011.

Justice Pemu said it was only the Federal High Court that has the right to adjudicate on the matter more especially when it is a drug-related matter, adding that the NDLEA has the prerogative to keep the respondent in custody, while investigation was being carried out.

According to the judge, the NDLEA had good reasons to detain the comedian, adding that the N25 million compensation was uncalled for.

"The constitution stipulates the right to personal liberty. The result of the scan carried out on the respondent were in consonance with the appellant's suspicion.

"The appellant took note of the respondent's rights and that was why it applied for an extension of time to keep the respondent in custody which the Federal High Court presided over by retired Justice Okeke rightly granted.

The detention of the respondent is therefore not unreasonable," Justice Pemu held.

Justice Yetunde Idowu of an Ikeja High Court, Lagos in her judgment delivered on November 24, 2011, had ordered the agency to pay Baba Suwe N25 million for detention on suspicion of drug ingestion, as well as mandated the NDLEA to tender public apology to the actor through two national newspapers.

Baba Suwe was arrested by the NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on October 12, 2011, on his way to Paris, France and was detained by the agency initially for three days during which period he defecated but no drug was found in his faeces.

The NDLEA, through its Director of Prosecution and Legal services, Mr. Femi Oloruntoba had earlier applied to the court for an order of Stay of Execution on her judgment delivered on November 24, 2011 pending the determination of the Appeal filed by the agency on December 6, 2011 against the judgment.

The agency, while moving the application before the court, then argued that the agency will be prevented from performing its statutory functions as well prosecute the appeal if it is made to pay the judgment sum of N25 million as it is half of its monthly available resources.

Oloruntoba contended that keeping Omidina in custody between October 12 and 21, 2011, on the suspicion of drug ingestion, did not violate his rights.

Reacting to the judgment, Baba Suwe's counsel, Bamide Aturu dismissed the NDLEA's appeal, even as he insisted that the exhibits relied on by the agency were legally worthless.

Aturu said the NDLEA misapplied Section 35(1)(c) of the constitution, adding that  the law did not empower the agency to keep Omidina or any other Nigerian citizen in custody indefinitely based on a "mere reasonable suspicion" of having committed a crime.

"The appellant seems to be confused over Section 35(1)(c) of the Constitution. They relied on mere reasonable suspicion. You cannot hold somebody indefinitely without charging the person to court," Aturu added.

Released Suspected Boko Haram Children Spies, Women Handed Over to Governors

Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima

By: Michael Olugbode

Twenty pardoned family members of suspected Boko Haram insurgents were yesterday handed over to the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima by the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Restore Order in Maiduguri as part of the amnesty plan of President Goodluck Jonathan to the dreaded terrorist sect.

This was in response to an order of the President and the first phase of the programme, expected to be an ongoing exercise.

The freed detainees include six women and 14 boys (age between 9 and 14 years) were handed over to the governor by the JTF at the Government House Council Chambers. They are expected to be handed over to their families for rehabilitation and reintegration.

In a speech before the handover, the spokesman of the JTF, Lt. Col Sagir Musa, who was in the company of the Brigade Commander, 21 Brigade Maiduguri, Brig. Gen. Bamigboye said, on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff,  Admiral Saad Ibrahim “We are handing over the six women and 14 boys arrested so that they could be rehabilitated and reintegrated to become good citizens.”

Responding, Governor Kashim Shettima said, "We most sincerely thank Mr. President for his magnanimity. This marks a milestone in our quest for peace and to restore normalcy."

"We will do our part by ensuring that they are integrated into the larger society after rehabilitation to become better citizens. The Federal Government has shown commitment by releasing the wives and children of Boko Haram sect members under detention. We would admit the women into our development centres for rehabilitation while we are going to hand over the children to the ministry of women affairs and advertise for their parents to come and receive them after they might have written an undertaking to enroll them in schools," Shettima said.

The governor also said each parent that ensured her ward remains in school for 30 days would get N10,000 monthly.

He also urged the women to turn a new leaf and not to walk back to the wrong alley, while commending the security for keeping the detainees hale and hearty.

Responding to questions from journalists, some of the pardoned children revealed that their masters (sect members) have been using them mainly to gather information, especially to bring report on troop movement and behaviour of soldiers at duty post.

One of them said: "We watch out for the soldiers at their unit and report back to our bosses. We were reporting when soldiers are at ease or enjoying themselves and off guard, we equally report any large money movement to our bosses for their action."

He said that their bosses always attack the soldiers after learning that they were off-guard and that those with large amount of money, especially the traders were robbed.

The teenage boys also revealed that they were involved in razing some schools in Maiduguri, "We were given a keg of petrol by our bosses to set some schools ablaze within Maiduguri."

According to them, whenever they were sent on such errands, they were paid N5,000. They, however, said after they were arrested and interrogated by the men of the JTF, they volunteered information that led to the arrest or killing of their masters in gun battles.

In another development 17 women and 21 children have also been released to the Governor of Yobe State, Ibrahim Gaidam by the JTF in Damaturu .

Governor Gaidam promised to train them to acquire skills so they would become useful citizens in the future.

FG: We’re Studying Possible Boko Haram-Hezbollah Link

IGP, Mohammed Abubakar

 ‘Military dogs aid arrest of 56 insurgents’

By: Damilola Oyedele and Ibrahim Shuaibu                                  

The federal government has said it would confirm purported link between Boko Haram and Lebanon-based militant group, Hezbollah, before any concrete action could be taken. The government's position emerged a day after officers of the Joint Task Force discovered a cache of arms at the home of a Lebanese in Kano.

This came on a day the Lebanese community in Kano distanced itself from the weapons which Nigerian security agencies have linked to Hezbollah, considered a terrorist organisation by many western nations.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Martin Uhomoihbi, told journalists at a media briefing Friday in Abuja, that Nigeria's relationship with Lebanon cannot be truncated by the conduct of a few citizens.

"What we are reading from the press needs to be confirmed. We would study the situation and take the appropriate action when we do so. Lebanon is a country with which we have excellent bilateral relations. It would not be right to judge a relationship with a country based the conduct of a few citizens," he said, adding that the relationship between the two nations has blossomed in the Jonathan administration.

Speaking on the outcome of the AU Summit and Nigeria's participation, Uhomoibhi disclosed that Nigeria provided the much needed leadership in settling the question of finding alternative sources for funding of the AU which is at present heavily dependent on external partners for most of its programmers' budget.

According to the permanent secretary, President Jonathan, at the Summit was able to convince the panel  set up to identify possible sources of raising alternative funding  for the AU after the members resisted the adoption of the recommendations in the report.

Briefing Reporters in Kano in its first reaction to the shocking discovery, Chairman of the Lebanese community, Tahir Fadlallah, said members of the community ‘’unequivocally condemns crime in whatever form’’.

Fadlallah, chairman of the Tahir Guest Palace in Kano said that ‘with almost century years of our stay in Kano, we have never been associated with any crime that threatened the peace of our host.

‘’The community is ready and willing to cooperate with security and law enforcement agencies in their efforts to counter any act or activities associated or related to terrorists act.’’

According to him, ”Lebanese community will not accept or associate with any criminal associated or related by any individual or group”.

Tahir also condemned a media report suggesting he had a link to the armoury. “I am not involved and prepared to initiate a legal action for redress."

On Thursday, the Department of State Security Service (DSS) and the Nigerian Army 3 Brigade, in Bukavu, Kano, uncovered an arms warehouse at a building owned by a Lebanese national identified as Abdul Hassan. The weapons were allegedly found in an underground bunker of his master bedroom at his No 3 Gaya Road, off Bompai Road residence.

Also, troops of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) deployed to enforce the state of emergency in some states of the north are fast gaining the host communities on their side, as they are said to be more inclined to expose members of sect in their midst.

A statement issued yesterday by the Director of Defence Information, Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade said community members now volunteer information that has helped the force to foil infiltration of the insurgents among locals.

Olukolade said that the cooperation of the civilian population was crucial in the capture of a group of deserting Boko Haram members who were searching for food from the communities.

He said that the intensive cordon and search operation being conducted by the troops of the Special Forces received the major boost from civilians in communities close to locations being focused in the operation on Thursday.

He said: "A group of terrorists moving from village to village in search of large quantity of food were tracked and apprehended following a tip-off from civilians.

"The group which was moving around in a Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep with registration number Borno XA 428 ADM which is suspected to have been stolen was eventually arrested at Daban Masara with weapons such as AK 47 rifle, single barrel shotgun, double hand shotgun and various calibres of ammunition."

Olukolade also disclosed that 56 insurgents were apprehended with the help of military police dogs.

He listed the items recovered from the arrested insurgents to include seven packs of IEDs, two rocket-propelled gun chargers, a rifle magazine, two machetes, bomb detonators, camouflage and other military uniforms as well as medicines equipment, seven vehicles including a Jeep and eight tri-cycles.

"It is believed that some stranded terrorists are keen on establishing new camps. They are being trailed accordingly. There were also a few encounters with some insurgents in forest locations apart from the identified and destroyed camps. The campaign to rid the nation’s territories of the insurgents continues," he added

Fayemi Wins As Court Bars PDP on Amaechi

Dr. Kayode Fayemi

By Tobi Soniyi,  Toba Suleiman and Ernest Chinwo

                                         

The Supreme Court Friday in Abuja affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal which in 2010 returned Dr. Kayode Fayemi of the Action Congress of Nigeria as the duly elected Governor of Ekiti State in the 2007 governorship election in the state.

Also Friday, a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt stopped the Peoples Democratic Party from taking further action against the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, pending the hearing of a substantive suit challenging his suspension from the party.

Minutes after the news of the ruling filtered into Ekiti State, there was wild jubilation across the length and breadth of the state, especially Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State.

Former governor Segun Oni had approached the Supreme Court over the 2007 governorship election, having been dissatisfied with the judgement of the Appeal Court which dismissed his appeal against Justice Ayo Salami’s judgement delivered on October 15, 2010.

The apex court in a unanimous decision by a seven man-panel of justices held that the appeal brought by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party Olusegun Adebayo Oni lacked merit as the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the appeal.

The lead judgement delivered by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta stated: "the appellant's entire case when stripped of its extravagant build-ups and reduced to its proper frame, is simply an invitation to rely on Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution to strip the ruling of the Court of Appeal of the finality granted to it by Section 246(3) of the same Constitution.

"In other words, the appellants (Oni & PDP) want us to rely on Section 36(1) of the Constitution, 1999 to invalidate or render inoperative, the finality clause in Section 246(3) of the same Constitution. In diverse decisions on appeals relating to Section 285(7) of the Constitution of the Federation 1999 (as amended) this court has consistently declined to derogate from, close its eyes to, depart from, modify or set aside expressly or by implication, a provision of the constitution under any pretext."

Justice Ngwuta noted that "Section 246(3) of the same Constitution clothed the judgement of the said governorship election petition appeal with the toga of finality. This court set aside the judgement in FRN v. Ifeagwu (supra) even though the law creating the tribunal made its decision final because the decision did not meet the requirements of the relevant provisions of the defunct 1979 Constitution.

" There is no law, or any law, similar to Decree No. 18 of 1994, by which this court can review the decision of the Court of Appeal in governorship election petition appeals.

"A provision of the Constitution may seem out of touch with reality at any particular point in time, but in such cases, even when proven, the court is not competent to intervene. The court is bound by the Doctrine of Separation of Powers, under which the business of lawmaking is in the exclusive domain of the Legislative made up of the Upper and Lower Chambers of the National Assembly," he added.

"The court does not hunger after jurisdiction. It can expound, but should not under any circumstance, such as the one presented in this appeal, expand jurisdiction. The court has no jurisdiction to hear the appeal and consequently, I sustain the 1st to 2nd and 3rd to 6th respondents' preliminary objection on want of jurisdiction. The appeal is accordingly struck out" he declared.

Reacting shortly after the judgement Friday, Governor Fayemi, lauded the country’s judiciary for "again demonstrating its resolve to always uphold the tenet of truth and justice."

Fayemi said: "Today’s victory has again confirmed that truth will always prevail no matter the situation and that Ekiti State will no longer be governed through fraudulent means. There was no basis for the petition by Oni. His claims were frivolous, baseless and a waste of time. I think we should also put in place laws that will punish electoral offenders. I believe if Oni had been punished for rigging the 2007 governorship election in Ekiti State, he would not have had the effrontery to approach the court again seeking a backdoor to the governorship seat."

On his part, Oni said he was satisfied with the judgement, since "he can’t question God." He added: "When God wants to favour some one, He will refuse to answer your prayers at the moment of request."

Fayemi had after the 2007 governorship elections in Ekiti State on April 14th gone to the Governorship and National Assembly/ Legislative House Election Tribunal to challenge the declaration of Oni by the Independent National Electoral Commission as the validly elected governor of the state.

The tribunal in its decision delivered on 28th November 2008 dismissed his petition.

Not satisfied with the decision, he approached the Court of Appeal Ilorin, which prior to the amendment of the Constitution was the last court in governorship elections.

The Court of Appeal on February 2nd, 2009 delivered its judgement and allowed the appeal in part and ordered a supplementary election in 63 wards, leaving the result in six wards intact and to be added to the result of the supplementary election in the 63 wards affected.

INEC cited as the 3rd respondent in the appeal duly complied with the order of the Court of Appeal and on May 5, 2009 both Oni and Fayemi contested the election with the candidates of other eleven political parties.

When the result of the supplementary election was added to the result of the six uncontested wards, the 1st appellant (Oni) was declared the winner with 111,140 votes against the 1st respondent's (Fayemi) 107,017 votes.

Still not satisfied Fayemi challenged the result of the election. In its majority decision rendered on May 5th, 2010 the tribunal annulled the result of the supplementary election in some wards and dismissed the petition.

Fayemi appealed to the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division against the majority decision of the tribunal and by its judgement delivered on October 15th 2010 the court allowed the appeal and set aside the majority decision and affirmed the minority decision which pronounced Fayemi the duly elected Governor of Ekiti State.

On the 13th of January 2011, Oni wrote a petition headed "Complaint against Hon. Justice Ayo Salami and Others for my premeditated and injudicious removal from office as Governor of Ekiti State" to the National Judicial Council (NJC).

While the petition was pending before the NJC, precisely on March 14th, 2011 the appellants (Oni and PDP) brought a motion on notice pursuant to the inherent jurisdiction of the court for a number of reliefs including, "An order setting aside the judgement of the Court of Appeal of 15th October 2010, nullifying his election as the Governor of Ekiti State."

In Port Harcourt, the PDP was barred from taking further action against Amaechi, pending the hearing of a substantive suit challenging his suspension from the party.

Amaechi had gone to the court, presided by Justice Emmanuel Ogbuji, challenging his suspension from the PDP by the National Working Committee of the party.

Amaechi’s team of lawyers was led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Akin Olujinmi.

After hearing the application, Ogbuji issued the order and also directed the PDP to maintain the status quo in the matter until the substantive suit brought by the governor was heard.

The court also summoned the PDP to appear before it on Thursday, June 6.

Ogbuji also directed Amaechi to serve the PDP the necessary court processes by pasting them on the walls of the party in Abuja and through publications in three national dailies.

Jonathan May Skip Party’s Primaries in 2015 Race

President Goodluck Jonathan

 It’s undemocratic, ACF argues

By Muhammad Bello  and John Shiklam

                                       

There are indications that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party may, after all do away with its age long tradition of conducting primaries for all elective positions and, instead; endorse the incumbent president and incumbent governors seeking re-election as its flag bearers in the forthcoming 2015 elections.

The chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, gave the hint when he spoke late Thursday night at a forum tagged PDP Family Dinner held for the party stalwarts at the Banquet Hall of the State Hose, Abuja.

But in a swift reaction, the Arewa Consultative Forum said it would amount to a mockery of democracy if the ruling party decides not to conduct primaries for some elective positions for the 2015 polls.

According to Anenih, sharp divisions over the outcome of primaries in the past have created serious problem for the party and its members.

Big wigs of the PDP had converged in Abuja to wine and dine in an attempt to revive the party, which in recent times have been battling with internal wrangling.

Seeking the legitimisation of his opinion on the jettisoning of primaries, the BOT Chair said the party must evolve a new system of producing "our flag bearers that will preserve our unity and the President and governors seeking second term should be given automatic tickets."

Anenih also told participants that the current situation whereby two of the party members are laying claims to the leadership of the Nigerian Governors Forum was unacceptable and must be addressed urgently.

Anenih, who said the survival of the party hung on the balance, noted: "Having two chairmen in the Nigerian Governors Forum and both of them are PDP members is embarrassing and must be addressed. We cannot preside over a divided house and I urged the PDP leadership to step in and address the situation."

But the chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, followed a different path by openly declaring that Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau was the new chairman of the NGF. Jang later led 14 of the governors to a meeting with President Jonathan yesterday morning.

Jang, who insisted that he was the legitimate chairman of the NGF, told journalists after the Friday meeting that the governors met the president to felicitate with him on his achievements after two years in office and discussed the security challenges in the country.

President Goodluck Jonathan, who spoke last at the dinner, in the early hours of yesterday, also posited that controversies in politics was a healthy development that strengthen affiliations, stressing that criticism of the ruling party by the opposition political parties should not cause it any worry.

The president said: "if opposition keeps holding meeting then you should smile; if they don't you should be uncomfortable. If the opposition abuses the President you should sleep well; if they don't you should be worried.

"PDP is not built on the platform of conspiracy. We don't believe in conspiracy. We must continue to unite. Sometimes family members disagree; why we continue to win at elections is because we have a way of settling our differences at the 11th hour. We must continue to work together and resolve our differences; then we will continue to win elections."

The spokesman of the ACF, Anthony Sani, said the proposal by the PDP to give incumbents automatic tickets in 2015 would be against the Electoral Act, which prescribes internal democracy in the political parties.

According to him, the Act prescribes that even if there is only one candidate for a position, the members of the party must vote "yes or no".

  

Hezbollah Terrorist Cell Uncovered in Nigeria

Defence Headquarter

by: Ibrahim Shuaibu and Muhammad Bello

The Department of State Security Service (DSS) and the Nigerian Army have linked the weapons found at the home of a Lebanese in Kano to an international terrorist’s organisation, Hezbollah.

They also said they had uncovered a cell of Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based terrorist group, operating in Nigeria and had arrested some of its members.

They said the Lebanese, Abdul Hassan Taher Fadlalla, who is currently out of the country, hid the weapons in an underground bunker in the master bedroom of his No 3, Gaya Road off Bompai Road, Kano. The weapons were discovered on Tuesday night following a tip-off.

The state SSS Director, Mr. Bassey Etang, and the Brigade Commander of the 3 Brigade of Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ilyasu Abbah, who displayed the weapons to reporters Thursday, told them that the bunker was specially constructed for this purpose.

 Abba said:  “These are weapons of mass destruction and were brought into Nigeria for use against Israel and western interests in the country. Investigation also confirms the existence of a Hezbollah foreign terrorist cell in Nigeria.

“Consequently, the Department of State Security (DSS) on May 16, 2013 arrested one Mustapha Fawaz, the co-owner of the popular Amigo Supermarket, as well as the Wonderland Amusement Park, all in Abuja.

 “Thus, his arrest and confession unveiled other members of the foreign terrorists network, which led to the interception of one member of the syndicate named Abdullah Tahini, a Lebanese national, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport with an undeclared amount of $60,000 on him en route Beirut.

“Thereafter, on May 26, 2013, one Talal Roda, also a Lebanese but with a Nigerian passport, was arrested in this same house.

“It is worth mentioning that the weapons include anti-tank weapons, rocket propelled guns and anti-tank/anti-personnel mines, among other dangerous weapons.

“All the weapons and ammunition recovered were properly concealed with several layers of concrete and placed in coolers, drums and bags neatly wrapped.”

The security chiefs added that the discovery of the weapons was not accidental but the outcome of a robust counter-terrorism investigation by the SSS.

They added that those arrested had confessed to have undergone Hezbollah terrorist training and further implicated one Fauzi Fawad, also a co-owner of Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park.

“It’s an issue of national interest and the house will not be demolished because we want people to come and see the situation by themselves,” the security chiefs said.

They explained that the chief suspect, who is now at large, brought the weapons to Nigeria to attack Israeli and Western targets in Nigeria, adding that the security agencies were making frantic efforts to unravel the plot so that the suspects could be prosecuted.

Among the weapons discovered and displayed to reporters were 11,433 rounds of 7.6 mm ammunition; 76 military grenade, one SMG rifle, nine pistols, 17 AK-47 rifles, 44 magazines, 103 packs of slap TNT and 50 MM anti-tank grenades, 123 MM artillery guns, four anti-tank landmines, 21 rocket propelled grenades (RPG), 16 RPG chargers, and one RPG tube.

Meanwhile, more foreign members of the terrorist group Boko Haram have deserted their camps in the northern part of the country in what looks like a rebuff to the recent call by the leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau, for help from external elements to battle Nigerian troops.

The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said yesterday that the foriegn insurgents, mostly from Niger and Chad, had fled from their former strongholds in Borno State following the sustained onslaught from the Special Forces of the Joint Task Force (JTF).

Olukolade disclosed that five Nigeriens and two Chadians were among the fleeing insurgents apprehended by the Special Forces, as troops continued their pursuit of terrorists dislodged from their bases.

He said another seven were among the nine arrested at Tumbu Gini,  a border town with Chad as they tried to cross the border into the neighbouring country.

He however noted that the man suspected to be leading the group escaped with gunshot wounds.

Olukolade also warned that the Defence Headquarters had observed that attempts were being made by insurgents and their collaborators to push into the public domain, questionable and manipulated messages meant to misinform the public.

“The message which called for support from Afghanistan and Pakistan as well as other cohorts of the insurgents was clearly a confirmation of the level of pressure which has been brought to bear on the insurgents,” he said.

“There is indeed no cause for alarm as the insurgents are actually in flight, necessitating their call for help from their foreign allies,” he added.

Olukolade assured Nigerians that the operation to put an end to the activities of the insurgents was continuing, in line with overall plans for the nation’s security.

Also, in a bid to appraise the emergency rule imposed on the three North-eastern states, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met in private with service chiefs in Abuja.

It was the first meeting the president has held with his security chiefs since the state of emergency was declared in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States two weeks ago.

Although they refused to speak to the media at the end of the four-hour long meeting, those in attendance included the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Mr. Ita Ekpeyong, and the Inspector General of Police, Muhammad Abuabakar, among other service chiefs from the armed forces.

Sources told THISDAY that the meeting was convened to brief the president on the military campaign in the North-east, and reassess the situation to determine how soon the state of emergency could be lifted.

Last week, the president had informed the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon, at a parley during the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that the forces in the three states would not last up to six months.

House Okays Pension Reforms Act Amendment Bill

 Deputy Leader of the House, Hon. Leo Ogor

by: Onwuka Nzeshi

The House of Representatives Thursday passed for second reading, a bill for an Act to repeal the Pension Reform Act of 2004, and enact the Pension Reform Act of 2013.

Deputy Leader of the House, Hon. Leo Ogor, who moved the motion for the second reading of the bill said huge funds  belonging to pensioners had been carted away through fraudulent means due to lapses  in the existing law.

The new  enactment, Ogor said,  would give more powers to the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) to set new guidelines and  bring pension management  in conformity with present day  realities in Nigeria.

In the course of debates on the general principles of the bill, the lawmakers agreed that the existing  Act had lots of  loopholes that gave room for fraud in the pension management system.

They also argued  that the Pensions Department in the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation was running a  parallel system  to the National Pension Commission and  that the new enactment would harmonise  the management of pension and  reduce corruption in the system.

The bill provides among other things, an enhanced coverage and informal sector participation in the Contributory Pensions Scheme.

It provides that the mandatory coverage of the CPS in the private sector should be lowered from the current mark of organisations with five employees to organisations with three employees and above. The minimum number of employees has been  reduced in order to capture a wider number of employees in the informal sector and leverage on Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.

This would also include partnerships and micro enterprises that normally have less than five employees.

The new amendment also provides for the utilisation of pension funds for national development. The law envisages that the Pension Reform Act should facilitate the optimal utilisation of the pool of funds generated by the CPS towards national development. Accordingly, provisions have been inserted in the proposed bill such that the sphere of permissible investment would be expanded to accommodate initiatives for national development, such as investment in the real sector, including infrastructure and housing development while at the same time ensuring the safety of pension fund assets.

The bill has been  referred to the House Committee on Pension Matters for further legislative work.

Meanwhile, the  House has resolved to push  for an upward review  in the monetary jurisdiction of magistrate courts in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to  a minimum of N10 million from its  current level  of  N 250,000.00.

The resolution followed  a  motion sponsored  on the matter by Hon. Toby Okechukwu(PDP/Enugu) on the matter.

Okechukwu had in the said motion, urged the Chief Justice of the FCT to recommend to the  Minister of the FCT an increase in the jurisdiction specifically in line with section 17 of the District Court Laws of Northern Nigeria.

Okechukwu  said the action if taken, would enhance the dispensation of justice, as  the current monetary jurisdiction of N250,000  introduced since 2007 was no longer  realistic.

According to the lawmaker, such increment would attract the patronage of senior lawyers who hitherto avoided  the district courts.

“This would enhance the quality of deliberations and judgements obtained at the magistrate courts,” he stated.

Chairman, House  Committee on Justice, Hon.  Ali Ahmad, explained that the move  was not intended  to expand  the legal jurisdiction of the courts, but to rather enhance case management in the courts, as well as decongest  the High Courts.

The House has therefore  mandated  its Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure full  compliance with  the resolution.

Judge Withdraws from Al-Mustapha’s Appeal

 Major  Hamza Al-Mustapha

by: Davidson Iriekpen

Justice Ibrahim Saulawa of the Court of Appeal in Lagos withdrew from adjucating on the appeal filed by Major Hamza Al-Mustapha and Lateef Shofolahan, challenging a death sentence handed them by a Lagos High Court.

Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to the late General Sani Abacha, and Shofolahan former Personal Assistant to Alhaja Kudirat Abiola were sentenced to death on January 30, 2012, by Justice Mojisola Dada, for conspiracy in masterminding the murder of Kudirat.

The case, which ought to be for argument of the appeal filed by the appellants, could not go on, as the presiding justice declined hearing for personal reasons.

Justice Saulawa told counsel to the appellants that he could only assist them in recording a further date for arguments, but will not participate in hearing the main appeal for reasons which he described as personal.

He therefore adjourned the case to June 10 for hearing.

Meanwhile, the judge in the meantime, granted two applications filed by Mr. Pedro Lawal (SAN) and Mr. Olalekan Ojo, counsel to the respondent and second appellant respectively.

Lawal in his application, sought to amend his respondent's brief by substituting it with the correct version, and deeming same as being properly filed and served.

Ojo on his part, prayed for an order to amend respondent's brief as properly filed and served.

Justice Saulawa granted the applications of both counsel, adding that it was the much he could do in the matter.

The convicts were arraigned in October 1999 on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and their involvement in the 1996 murder of the deceased, along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.

Justice Dada had found them guilty of the offence, and accordingly convicted and sentenced them to death by hanging.

Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN) and Mr. Olalekan Ojo, counsel to the first and second appellants respectively, had however, appealed to the court of appeal, 24 hours after the sentence of the convicts.

They challenged the judgment of Justice Dada.

In the notice of appeal, the appellants contends that the death sentence handed by the lower court was unwarranted, unreasonable and a manifest miscarriage of justice.

They contended that the trial judge erred in law by concluding that they conspired to kill Kudirat on June 4, 1996.

The appellants faulted the judge's treatment of the contradictory statements of Barnabas Jabila (aka Sgt. Rogers) and Mohmamed Abdul, as well as the reliance on the testimony of Dr. Ore Falomo on the bullet extracted from the late Kudirat.

They also fault the court's rejection of portions of Jabila's testimony which they felt favoured them and applying only areas which did not favour them.

The appellants are therefore praying the Court of Appeal to entertain the appeal, set aside the judgment, and discharge them of the charges of conspiracy and murder.

Al-Mustapha's appeal is premised on four grounds, while that of his co-convict (Shofolahan) is hinged on five grounds.

Court Refuses Sylva’s Application to Travel Abroad

Timipre Sylva

by: Tobi Soniyi

A Federal High Court in Abuja, Thursday refused the application by former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, to quash charge of stealing public funds and money laundering levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The judge, Justice Adamu Bello, also refused an application by Sylva for permission to travel to the United Kingdom, with his wife whom he said was scheduled to undergo a surgery in London.

The court held that the reasons advanced by the former governor to accompany his wife were suspicious.

The governor, however, rejected the ruling and said he had instructed his lawyers to immediately file an appeal at the Court of Appeal.

Justice Bello, who had refused Sylva’s application to quash the charge against him on the ground that it lacked merit, also held that the former governor had a case to answer.

Similarly, Justice Bello also refused Sylva’s application for the release of his international passport to enable him travel abroad with his wife, who is scheduled for surgery at a UK hospital tomorrow.

In refusing the application for the release of his passport, Justice Bello said he had painstakingly scrutinised the affidavit in support of the motion, the counter affidavit, further and better affidavit, a reply further and better affidavit as well as other processes served by both counsel and observed that the application was suspicious.

The judge noted  that a referral letter marked exhibit ‘AA’ tendered by Sylva’s lawyer, Isaac Olorundare (SAN), which he told the court was written by a medical consultant at the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital to the Cromwell Hospital in UK was not replied.

“I observed that the referral letter written by a consultant at the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital to the Cromwell Hospital in the UK was not replied by the UK hospital” the judge noted.

“Exhibit ‘A’ which was supposed to be a reply from the Cromwell Hospital, UK to the consultant at University of Port Harcourt was rather addressed to Mrs. Alaide Sylva, with her residential address in London,” Justice Bello observed.

The trial judge observed further that the letter rescheduling the date of the surgery booked for Sylva from May 22 to May 31, marked exhibit ‘B’ indicated that the operation needed urgency.

His Lordship held: “It has taken 28 days from the day the surgery was booked, now the operation has been rescheduled from May 22 to May 31; this change in dates negates the sense of urgency the operation of Sylva requires in the UK. It is the view of the court that the ailment is not a life threatening one.

“From the letters written to Sylva, it is visible that the Cromwell Hospital in UK is directly dealing with the patient who appears to be in London and not Nigeria.”

Justice Bello ruled that “the court’s observation is sufficient to raise suspicion that the truth has not been told the court by Sylva of his motive to accompany his wife abroad for a medical treatment."

He, therefore, prayed for the quick recovery of Sylva’s wife from the ailment, adding that the former governor should make an alternative arrangement on whom to accompany his wife abroad.

Justice Bello also said he was convinced by the submission of EFCC’s lawyer, John Ainetor, that Sylva was presently being investigated for sundry offences.

Ex-militants Threaten Attack on Oil Installations over Allowances

Police Headquarters

by: James Sowole

Some groups of ex-militants in Delta State have threatened to go back to the creeks and attack oil installations if the federal government and the Amnesty Office failed to pay the backlogs of allowances  allegedly owed them since 2010 within two weeks.

The threat of the ex-agitators was contained in a communiqué signed by Eric O. Ajagidi, I.D number C01/B11/A1/14098, Soroh Dorwei Travel, C01/B11/B1/14205, Prince Degbe Jonah, C01/B11/B1/14127 all in Tompolo’s camp with Tomukebiri  D. Franklyn, C01/B11/A1/14068, Ikiyan Roland Owei, C03/B10/E2/13477, Arthur Fenetobour Harvest, V02/B10/D5/13375 from the Ezekiel’s camp and made available to journalists in Akure, Ondo State.

According to the communiqué,  the ex-militants lamented that they have been facing serious  hardship and frustrations for the past three years over the unpaid allowance, saying all efforts to resolve the issue had not  yielded positive result.

They lamented that after embracing  amnesty and undergoing non-violence training at Obubra in Cross River State with others being trained outside the country, their monthly allowances have not been remitted to their individuals bank accounts.

The ex-militants, therefore, threatened to use violent approaches to pursue their demands, threatening to  blow off oil installations in the state if the concerned authorities did not correct the anomaly within the stipulated period of two weeks.

The communique read: “We agreed to surrender arms and ammunition because we only want to be good and law abiding citizens, we embraced the amnesty programme of the government.

“We expect that the government should always keep to its words. We are disappointed that after the amnesty programme, where most of us were taken out of the country and others trained within the country, the federal government has refused to pay our allowances.

“What do they expect us to do? How do they expect us to live? We are giving the federal government 14 days to pay all our outstanding allowances or we will go back to the creeks and start blowing up oil pipes.”

Judge Withdraws from Al-Mustapha’s Appeal

Major  Hamza Al-Mustapha

by: Davidson Iriekpen

Justice Ibrahim Saulawa of the Court of Appeal in Lagos Thursday withdrew from adjucating on the appeal filed by Major Hamza Al-Mustapha and Lateef Shofolahan, challenging a death sentence handed them by a Lagos High Court.

Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to the late General Sani Abacha, and Shofolahan former Personal Assistant to Alhaja Kudirat Abiola were sentenced to death on January 30, 2012, by Justice Mojisola Dada, for conspiracy in masterminding the murder of Kudirat.

The case, which ought to be for argument of the appeal filed by the appellants, could not go on, as the presiding justice declined hearing for personal reasons.

Justice Saulawa told counsel to the appellants that he could only assist them in recording a further date for arguments, but will not participate in hearing the main appeal for reasons which he described as personal.

He therefore adjourned the case to June 10 for hearing.

Meanwhile, the judge in the meantime, granted two applications filed by Mr. Pedro Lawal (SAN) and Mr. Olalekan Ojo, counsel to the respondent and second appellant respectively.

Lawal in his application, sought to amend his respondent's brief by substituting it with the correct version, and deeming same as being properly filed and served.

Ojo on his part, prayed for an order to amend respondent's brief as properly filed and served.

Justice Saulawa granted the applications of both counsel, adding that it was the much he could do in the matter.

The convicts were arraigned in October 1999 on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and their involvement in the 1996 murder of the deceased, along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.

Justice Dada had found them guilty of the offence, and accordingly convicted and sentenced them to death by hanging.

Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN) and Mr. Olalekan Ojo, counsel to the first and second appellants respectively, had however, appealed to the court of appeal, 24 hours after the sentence of the convicts.

They challenged the judgment of Justice Dada.

In the notice of appeal, the appellants contends that the death sentence handed by the lower court was unwarranted, unreasonable and a manifest miscarriage of justice.

They contended that the trial judge erred in law by concluding that they conspired to kill Kudirat on June 4, 1996.

The appellants faulted the judge's treatment of the contradictory statements of Barnabas Jabila (aka Sgt. Rogers) and Mohmamed Abdul, as well as the reliance on the testimony of Dr. Ore Falomo on the bullet extracted from the late Kudirat.

They also fault the court's rejection of portions of Jabila's testimony which they felt favoured them and applying only areas which did not favour them.

The appellants are therefore praying the Court of Appeal to entertain the appeal, set aside the judgment, and discharge them of the charges of conspiracy and murder.

Al-Mustapha's appeal is premised on four grounds, while that of his co-convict (Shofolahan) is hinged on five grounds.

NPC Plans Mapping, Survey of Nigerians in the Diaspora

Chief Festus Odimegwu, Chairman, NPC

by: Damilola Oyedele

The National Population Commission (NPC) has said it would commence the conduct of the Diaspora Survey and Mapping of Nigerians including researching ways to work with stakeholders to ensure the return of influential Nigerians to contribute to nation building.

This is part of its plans for 2013 in addition to the conduct of Nigeria Youth Migration Survey and clearing the backlog of migration arrival and departure cards.

The Chairman of the commission, Chief Festus Odimegwu, in his keynote address at the public presentation of the 2010 Internal Migration report in Abuja Thursday, added that the youth survey would research reasons for the spate of violent and immoral acts in the country with best ways to reverse the ugly trends.

He added that the surveys would also research ways to attract value and adding immigrants that will create jobs and add value to raw materials and natural resources exploration and discourage immigrants that collude with Nigerians on corrupt practices or engage in criminal activities.

Odimegwu, who was represented by the chairman of the Technical Committee for the Survey, Dr. Festus Uzor, lauded the support of the International Organisation on Migration (IOM) for the 2010 Internal Migration Survey.

“The collection, processing and analysis of migration statistics require specialised skills. This is a relatively new area for the commission and we will need to build technical competence to go forward,” he said.

We therefore solicit support for capacity building for members and staff on migration through the training programmes and study tours,” he said.

Odimegwu also appealed for support for the provision of equipment and resources for data collection, processing and publication of migration data.

Dana Crash: Why Compensation to Victims' Families is Slow

Dana Airline

by: Dele Ogbodo

Almost a year after the crash of Dana Airline in Iju, a Lagos suburb, killing about 153 persons on board the aircraft, the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, yesterday stated that legal tussles resulting from squabbles of the relatives of victims, coupled with the lack of proper documentation, have been responsible for the slow payments of claims and compensation to relatives of the victims.

Addressing the heads of parastatals, agencies and stakeholders of the ministry in Abuja, Oduah admitted that only 30 per cent of the 153 victims’ claim have been paid by Dana Airline, stressing that the legal tussles had made it difficult and in some cases extremely impossible for the airline operator to fulfil its obligation.

The minister, however, said in the last one year, the ministry had worked closely with Dana Airline, the relevant insurance companies and the Lagos State Government to ensure the expeditious processing and payment of claims and compensation to families of victims of the crash.

“Specifically, on our request, Lagos State Government, granted waivers on the mandatory requirements for the processing of claims, so as to lighten the burden of the bereaved family members,” she said.

Speaking further, she said the crash remained one of the major blots in what she described as an otherwise remarkable two years of her stewardship.

She said: “Our hearts continue to go out to the families of the victims that perished in that tragic accidents. I wish to assure you that we shall not rest until every claim is verified and all the victims’ families are fully compensated in accordance with existing law and regulations,” she said.

While government was still awaiting the final report of the investigation into the crash from the department of Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIPB), the minister said the ministry had been working round the clock since the incident to ensure that such sad event never happens again in the country’s airspace.

Oduah said it was based on her recommendation that President Goodluck Jonathan set up the Technical and Administrative Panel on Domestic Airlines (TARPDA), adding that the panel had since concluded its work and submitted its report, which contained recommendations that would enhance aviation safety in the country.

“I am glad to announce that over 90 per cent of the recommendations have been adopted and are currently being implemented,” she said.

According to her, one major recommendation of the panel was the need to review the 2001 National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP), to bring it in line with international standards and best practices”, adding that: “I am pleased to state that the NCAP 2013 has been approved by government.”

Anxiety in Ekiti as S'Court Rules on Oni's Case Today

Segun Oni

by: Toba Suleiman

Ahead of today’s ruling on the suit filed at the Supreme Court by former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Segun Oni, on the 2007 governorship election, anxiety has gripped residents of the state over possible break down of law and order in the state.

Already, leaders of both parties have shifted their base to Abuja, to witness the outcome of the verdict, as efforts to extract comments from them proved abortive.

Besides, at the secretariats of both parties in Ado-Ekiti, there was apparently nobody or official to attend to the journalists over the ruling.

Oni, whose election into the office in the April 2007 governorship election was truncated by the verdict of the  Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State,  on October 15, 2010, is currently at the Supreme Court, to ‘reclaim his mandate’, from the incumbent governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi.

The former governor subsequently approached the Supreme Court, having lost out at the Appeal Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti last year.

At the Appeal Court, Oni sought the reversal of his removal from office, saying the judgment was in flagrant violation of the rule of law, despite the fact that the court struck out the case, on the basis that it cannot reverse itself.

Oni is seeking an order at the Supreme Court to set aside the decision of the Appeal Court delivered on February 27, 2012, and also to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Ilorin delivered on October 15, 2010, nullifying the election of the first appellant as the governor of the state.

He is also seeking an order directing a fresh panel of the Court of Appeal to hear and determine the aforesaid appeal in the above prayer.

Oni is also seeking an order directing the Speaker of the state House of Assembly to take over the governance of the state pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.

While commenting on the preparations of the state police command to meet today’s challenges, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sotonye Wakama, said the leaders of the party had been mandated to caution their supporters to remain calm before, during and after the judgment.

Wakama, who spoke through the command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Victor Babayemi, said: “We are monitoring the situation very closely.

“We summoned all the leaders of the political parties on Tuesday, and it was agreed that they will talk to their supporters and party members in view of today’s judgement to ensure that there is peace in the state.

“Our Intelligence Unit had been sent out to gather information from the public and we have also deployed our men to all strategic positions across the state to forestall breakdown of law and order that may arise as a result of the judgement.

“So, we don’t foresee crisis before, during and after the judgment.”

Responding to the pending court judgement, the Chairman of state chapter of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Jide Awe, who assured the police that his party members would not foment trouble, said his members did not take laws into their hands, even at a time when situations were more serious.

Awe stated that the party had avowed confidence in the judiciary and would not involve the action that would desecrate the temple of justice, just as he enthused that the party would be victorious in the end.

However, Oni had maintained that the suit was not intended to ridicule the judiciary but to expose alleged bias in the judgement that ousted him from office. He believed that he would be vindicated in the end with the recent judicial step he had taken.

Protect Your Voters’ Cards, Aregbesola Tells Osun Electorate

Governor of Osun State, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola

Governor of Osun State, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has alerted the people of the state to be wary of some politicians who are allegedly deceiving innocent indigenes to sell their voters, cards.

He spoke in Ibokun, headquarters of Obokun Local Government Area of the state at the inauguration of Aregbesola Campaign Office facilitated by the Assistant Director (Community Forum), Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye.

Describing such transaction as illegal, the governor wondered why the politicians are striving through illegal means to return to power in the state despite the fact that they had failed the people when they had opportunity of leading the state to greatness.

He said for 14 years of interrupted democracy in Nigeria, the PDP has been ruling the country at the centre, while it had ruled for seven and a half years in the state, noting that no positive impact were made by them at the centre and state levels.

According to him, for only six and half years that the progressive had ruled the state, the development witnessed by the state is enormous.

He said: “For the 14 years of democracy, PDP has been in power at the centre, but people have not seen any development they have attracted to our state and other states of the federation, in spite the huge resources available to the government at the centre.

“The federal government is taking 51 per cent of the resources of the country, and only 26 per cent is being shared among the states. In spite that, no impact of the federal government is felt here, except the police we have here.

“It is from our share out of the 26 per cent that we have been able to attract the huge development you are seeing to our state within two and a half years. They were also here, but they achieved nothing.

“The progressive has only ruled for six and half years, comprising the four years of Chief Bisi Akande and my two and half years, and for that period, development has been attracted to the state, while the PDP was here for seven and a half years and there was nothing to show for it,” he said.

Aregbesola added that his administration would not relent in its efforts at transforming the state to a Mecca of sort and make it a model of development in the whole of Africa.

Also speaking, the facilitator of the campaign office, Oyintiloye, said the development Osun is currently witnessing has been well-conceived and planned.

He said Aregbesola deserves the support of the people of the state for his second term bid, hence, the campaign office was secured and equipped by him with the support of others to serve as a meeting point for the supporters of Aregbesola to drive his campaign for second term in Obokun local government.

Earlier, the governor had met with traditional rulers in the local government, who appreciated their gains from the Aregbesola administration.

They, however, drummed support for the second term bid of Aregbesola, expressing optimism that the re-election of the governor would bring more benefits to the state.

GTB Emerges ‘African Bank of the Year’

Guaranty  Trust Bank

The Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTB) yesterday announced that it was on Wednesday conferred with the 2013 ‘African Bank of the Year’ award by the African Banker magazine at an event held in Morocco.

The African Banker award recognises financial institutions across the continent that had emerged as industry leaders. Winners of the award must have consistently reported strong financial performance and contributed significantly to the quality of service offered by the financial services industry within their country and across the African continent.

The Publisher, African Banker magazine, Mr. Omar Ben Yedder said: “We are delighted that GTB has won this award. Indeed, it has been a good evening for Nigerian banks and GTB has consistently played a leading role in banking in Nigeria.

“Prudently run, with strong values, it continues to set new standards in banking. Its successful foray in international markets reflects strong fundamentals of a leading institution in Africa.”

Commenting on the award, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, GTB, Mr. Segun Agbaje, attributed it to hard work; discipline and a well-defined operating strategy that enables it satisfy its customers.

According to Agbaje, customer satisfaction and service excellence have always been the foundation of the bank’s business, adding that GTB will continue to listen to its stakeholders and institute innovations that allows it provide services that surpass its stakeholder’s needs.