Cloned Nigerian Anchor

Author: Doris Israel Ijeoma

  • BREAKING: Adoke discharged, acquitted of all charges as court dismisses EFCC’s second case

    BREAKING: Adoke discharged, acquitted of all charges as court dismisses EFCC’s second case

    Justice Inyang Ekwo of the federal high court, Abuja, on Friday upheld the “no case” submission by Mohammed Bello Adoke, former attorney-general of the federation, on charges of money laundering.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had charged Adoke and Abubakar Aliyu, a property developer, to court in 2017, alleging money laundering to the tune of N300 million.

    Although there is no mention of the OPL 245 transaction in this case, the same particulars were also charged by the EFCC before Justice Abubakar Kutigi of the FCT high court in 2020.

    While the EFCC admitted before Ekwo that it was a mortgage that Adoke took from Unity Bank, it alleged before Kutigi that the money was a bribe from the sale of the oil block by Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd in 2011.

    On March 28, 2024, Kutigi pointed out the contradiction while dismissing the charges against Adoke and other defendants, chiding the EFCC for wasting the court’s time for four years.

    In his own ruling on Friday morning, Ekwo said the EFCC did not provide any evidence to prove the essential elements of the offence against Adoke, who was listed as the first defendant.

    He upheld the no case submission, discharging and acquitting,

    However, Ekwo ruled that Aliyu, the second defendant, has to open his defence because he has a case to answer.

  • Zamfara Government Bans Political Officers, Civil Servants From Granting Radio, TV Interviews

    Zamfara Government Bans Political Officers, Civil Servants From Granting Radio, TV Interviews

    The government of Zamfara State has implemented a ban on political office holders and agency heads, prohibiting them from engaging in interviews, issuing statements, or broadcasting programs on radio, television, or social media without prior authorization. 

    Media organizations within the state are also cautioned against airing any programs without approval from the Ministry of Information. 

    The Commissioner of Information, Mannir Haidara, emphasized the ministry’s dedication to overseeing compliance with these regulations, ensuring accurate dissemination of government policies and information through radio stations.

    The statement reads: “The Zamfara state government has observed with dismay the attitudes of some individuals, political groups and heads of MDAs towards conducting radio, television stations and social media platforms interviews and programmes on state government’s policies and programmes without following the right channels”.

    “In an effort to checkmate the unwanted behaviour, the Zamfara state Ministry of Information and Culture hereby announce that henceforth no political office holder, group or head of any agencies is allowed to conduct any interview, issue statement or air a programme on radio, television stations or social media without seeking a permission from the authority”.

    “Moreover, the Ministry of Information and Culture is hereby calling on the media organisations based in the state to desist from conducting or airing any radio or television programmes on government’s policies for any individuals or group of people without the approval of the supervising Ministry or the Ministry of Information“.

    “The information ministry is highly committed to observing and monitoring the radio stations for compliance and ensuring that all Information passed to the general public on government and its policies are true and properly disseminated”.

  • Heroes Return: Villagers Cheer Nigerian Soldiers Back From Successful Operation

    Heroes Return: Villagers Cheer Nigerian Soldiers Back From Successful Operation

    Soldiers returning from a military operation in Nigeria’s Northeast were met with cheers and celebrations from local residents recently.

    The troops, who were on Operation Desert Sanity III, had been deployed to combat insurgents in the Sambisa and Timbuktu Triangle regions.

    The Nigerian Army disclosed this in a video shared on its official X account on Friday.

    The caption read, “In a heartwarming display of gratitude and solidarity, local communities in Nigeria’s Northeast region have extended a warm welcome to heroic troops of the Nigerian Army following a successful operation in the notorious Sambisa and Timbuktu Triangle areas. 

    “The operation dubbed “Desert Sanity III,’ aimed at neutralising insurgent threats and securing the region, culminated in a significant victory for the nation’s security forces.”

    PUNCH reports that troops of Operation Desert Sanity III rescued another abducted student of the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, identified as Lydia Simon, around Ngoshe in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State recently. 

    It was also reported on Wednesday that the troops captured a stronghold of the Boko Haram/Islamic State of West African Province in Borno State.

    The Army stated that both air and ground units of the operation conducted a clearance mission, targeting the terrorist stronghold situated along the Ngumne, Kawaran, and Mangu axes within the Sambisa Forest and Timbuktu Triangle.

  • Details Of PDP NEC Meeting Emerge

    Details Of PDP NEC Meeting Emerge

    The details of the 98th Meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have emerged.

    The NEC expressed concern over the ill-implemented policies of the insensitive APC administration, leading to worsening insecurity, harrowing economic hardship, soaring unemployment rate, high cost of food and other necessities of life with pervading misery and despondency across the country. 

    It also expressed serious apprehensions over the spate of acts of terrorism and violence including the escalated cases of mindless killings, mass abduction of innocent Nigerians and marauding of communities in various parts of the country.

    It condemned the insensitivity, nonchalance, incompetence and arrogance in failure of the APC administration which continues to conduct itself in a manner that shows that it has no iota of interest or commitment towards the wellbeing of Nigerians. 

    It also kicked against the creeping totalitarianism and tendencies towards a One-Party State which is inimical to the peace, stability and corporate existence of our nation as well as the development of Democracy and good governance in the country.

    The PDP after due consideration demanded that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should urgently convene a special National Security Council meeting to proffer a holistic solution and measures to curb the disturbing insecurity with its attendant negative consequences on our national life.  

    It also appealed that President Tinubu should immediately rejig his Economic Team to bring in persons of proven integrity and competence without bias and vested interest to assist in repositioning the economy.

  • PDP To Elect New Chairman In August

    PDP To Elect New Chairman In August

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved to elect a new national chairman in August 2024.

    This announcement follows the 98th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja yesterday, at which party stakeholders decided to extend Umar Damagum’s tenure as the party’s acting national chairman.

    Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who serves as the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, shared this information with journalists during a press briefing held in Abuja yesterday.

    He said: “In the next two months we will see a lot of activities, leadership is a responsibility. We said in September that we would have come out from our congresses.

    “We will look at the issue of leadership and look at the issue of our constitution where it will be and we will do it without rancour.”

    Mohammed emphasized that the smooth execution of the party’s NEC gathering demonstrated the absence of any disagreement or hostility within the leadership.

    “It was planned that the party will have an explosion. PDP is more than that, we have gone beyond all these idiosyncrasies. This party is a united party that is guided by experience and constitutionality.

    “There were a lot of permutations and mischievous thinking outside there. But we looked at all the issues and we worked along our guidelines and constitution. There is no problem or dissension and problem among members,” Premiumtimes quoted the PDP chieftain saying.

    In his remark, the acting national chairman, Damagum, said that the leadership of the party was not a do-or-die affair.

    “This is not a matter of life and death. I am still an elected member of this NEC. Even if I revert to deputy national chairman I’m still a member of NWC. The issue of surviving or not does not emerge,” he said.

  • Why PDP failed to suspend Wike, Makinde, others over anti-party activities – George

    Why PDP failed to suspend Wike, Makinde, others over anti-party activities – George

    A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has reacted to calls for the the suspension of FCT minister, Nyesom Wike and other members of the G-5 group.

    According to George, the PDP is more focused on reconciling its members than punishing them over previous actions against the party.

    The PDP chieftain stated this during an interview with ChannelsTV on Thursday, April 18.

    Wike, now the minister of the FCT under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), fell out with the PDP hierarchy in the lead-up to the presidential election of last year.

    He and a group called G-5 including then-governors, worked against the PDP in the presidential election, insisting the southern part of Nigeria ought to produce the party’s flagbearer.

    While many have questioned Wike’s membership of the party with others calling for sanctions against him, Bode George says the PDP is working to settle its matters.

    “There is a standing committee. They are going to add more members to do a post-mortem analysis,” he said.

    “We don’t want to start firing because there are one or two people that are still thinking about the past. The party must move on.”

    “It is an issue in the party. It should not be resolved in the marketplace,” the PDP chieftain said, insisting “We are going to settle our own matters like a family.”

    The PDP was the runner-up in the 2023 presidential election, losing to the ruling APC.

    Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president, was its flagbearer in that exercise and also in 2019.

  • IGP withdraws policemen attached to former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello

    IGP withdraws policemen attached to former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello

    Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has ordered the withdrawal of all policemen attached to former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

    The directive, contained in a police wireless message, comes amidst the embattled former governor’s legal troubles and being placed on the Nigerian Immigration Service watchlist.

    The order relayed through a police wireless message, emphasized strict compliance with the withdrawal of security personnel assigned to Bello. 

    The document read in part, “IG has ordered the withdrawal of all policemen attached to His Excellency and former Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

    “Acknowledge compliance and treat with utmost importance. Please, above, for your information and strict compliance.”

    The decision follows the Economic and Financial Crimes Comission’s declaration of Bello as wanted in connection to a money laundering case totalling N80.2 billion.

    In addition to the police withdrawal, the Nigerian Immigration Service placed Bello on its watchlist, directing border officials to arrest and refer him to the Director of Investigation if sighted at any entry or exit point. 

    The EFCC had earlier declared Bello wanted and was granted a warrant of arrest by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

    Efforts by the EFCC to apprehend Bello were foiled by the current Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, and his security team escorting Bello away from his residence.

  • Kogi Governor to chair committee for Ondo APC primary poll

    Kogi Governor to chair committee for Ondo APC primary poll

    Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi state, has been appointed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to lead a seven-member committee that will conduct the party’s governorship primary election in Ondo state.

    The Ondo APC primary poll has been slated for April 20.

    The committee is expected to conduct direct primary elections in the 18 LGAs of the state.

    The five-man primary election appeal committee will be headed by Mohammed Abubakar, former governor of Bauchi.

    Abubakar’s committee will be inaugurated by Suleiman Argungu, APC national organising secretary; with Ovie Omo-Agege, former deputy senate president, serving as the secretary of the primary election committee.

    Obiocha Israel will serve as secretary to the five-man election appeal committee, with Jamilu Gwamna, Patrick Obahiagbon and Onyeka Okafor as members.

  • Another Judge Halts Ganduje’s Suspension From APC

    Another Judge Halts Ganduje’s Suspension From APC

    A Kano high court has issued an order halting the suspension of the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, from his party.

    Justice A.M Liman gave this interim ruling in response to an ex parte motion filed by Ganduje, wherein he sought to enforce his fundamental right to a fair hearing.

    The suspension, initially enforced on April 15 by APC executives in Dawakin ward, Tofa LGA of Kano, came after Ganduje was accused of corruption.

    The Kano State APC working committee quickly overturned this local party action, which also disciplined the ward executives involved in Ganduje’s suspension.

    However, to complicate matters further, Justice Usman Na’Abba of the Kano High Court previously upheld the suspension, deepening the legal and political intrigue surrounding the case.

    The respondents named in Ganduje’s application included not only local party officials but also major national security agencies like the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    Justice Liman’s order temporarily stops any enforcement of Ganduje’s suspension, stipulating that no action should be taken until the case is fully heard and a determination is made.

    “That all the parties are hereby mandated to maintain status quo before the purported emergency meeting of the alleged executive members of APC Ganduje Ward, and to stay action in respect of this matter pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application,” Liman said.

    The judge subsequently fixed April 30 to hear Ganduje’s appeal.

  • Police Invite Edo Labour Party’s Guber Candidate, Akpata Over UNIBEN Assault Incident

    Police Invite Edo Labour Party’s Guber Candidate, Akpata Over UNIBEN Assault Incident

    The Edo State Police Command has summoned the Labour Party’s governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata, to discuss alleged security breaches, particularly the incidents of gunfire reported at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) last Friday.

    The Public Relations Officer for the Command, Chidi Nwabuzor, disclosed this development to the media in Benin City.

    Nwabuzor stated that the LP gubernatorial candidate was served the invitation by investigators during the Political Desk Session at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.

    Recall that during an investiture ceremony hosted by the UNIBEN Staff Club, the candidate of the Labour Party for the forthcoming September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State was allegedly assaulted by suspected political thugs.

    Olumide Akpata, on the other hand, has claimed that the attack was orchestrated by both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and the State Government to assassinate him.

    The Command’s spokesperson elaborated that the invitation extended to Olumide Akpata was a component of the investigation launched by the police Command into the crisis.

    In response to inquiries, the State Chairman of the Labour Party, Kelly Ogbaloi, verified the reception of the police invitation, mentioning his absence in Benin during the letter’s arrival, but he affirmed his intention to honour the invitation.

    “The police ought to have done their background investigations, his being honoured by UNIBEN had nothing to do with our party secretariat. So, I don’t know why I am being asked to come along with him to the Police Command Headquarters in Benin, however, I will honour the invitation,” he said.