*Former Benue governor has nothing to hide, says Aide
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday grilled the immediate past governor of Benue, Mr. Samuel Ortom, for nine hours before he was later released.
Ortom arrived at the premises of the commission’s Zonal Headquarters, Makurdi, at 10 a.m. and left there at about 7:00 p.m it was gathered.
Reacting, Ortom’s media aide, Mr Terver Akase, said that contrary to insinuations in some sections of the mass media, Ortom was not arrested but only honoured the commission’s invitation.
“Ortom was neither arrested nor detained at the EFCC Zonal Headquarters in Makurdi,“ Akase said.
According to him, the former governor has nothing to hide, honoured that he would always be available for questioning by the anti-graft agency.
“Ortom has nothing to hide regarding his stewardship in the state,” Akase said.
President Bola Tinubu’s appointed of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as National Security Adviser marks the first office holder without a military background since the return to democratic governance in 1999.
The announcement by the Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federal (OSGF) signed by the Director of Information, Mr. Willie Bassey, put to rest the speculations that the president might consider a non-military person for the position.
Ribadu, who was the first Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will become the third retired police officer after the late Gambo Jimeta and Ismaila Gwarzo to be appointed to the position.
The new NSA, born on November 21, 1960, was an intelligence police operative who retired as Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG).
He came to national limelight as a star prosecutor at the Oputa Panel which was created to investigate human rights abuses during the military era.
He was later appointed Chairman of the Petroleum Special Revenue Task Force before he became the pioneer Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC was tasked by the Federal Government to counter corruption and fraud in the country.
Ribadu’s pragmatic approach to intelligence gathering and crime-fighting while in EFCC earned him global recognition and awards.
His remarkable efforts led to the de-listing of Nigeria from the Financial Action Task Force List of Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories; admission into the prestigious Egmont Group, and the withdrawal of the US Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Advisory on Nigeria.
Ribadu was a visiting fellow at the Center for Global Development, a TED Fellow, and a Senior Fellow in St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford, UK.
Ribadu ran for President of Nigeria under the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2011, and had sought to contest for the governorship of Adamawa on two accessions but missed out during party primaries.
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Maj.-Gen. Christopher Musa as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja as Chief of Army Staff.
Tinubu also appointed Rear Adm. E.A Ogalla as Chief of Naval Staff and Air Vice Marshal Hassan Abubakar, as Chief of the Air Staff, while Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye was appointed Chief of Defence Intelligence among others.
The new CDS, Gen. Musa, born on Dec. 25, 1967, in Sokoto, hails from Zangon Kataf in Kaduna State.
He is a member of the 38th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy and was commissioned on Sept. 21, 1991, into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps.
Musa holds a Master’s Degree in Defence Studies, from the National Defence University Changing in Beijing China.
He has held several command appointments in the cause of his military career, and was at the thick of the fight against Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists for over a decade.
He was Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai in the North East, before his deployment as Commander Infantry Corps, from where he was appointed as CDS.
The new Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj. Gen. T. A Lagbaja hails from Ilobu in Oṣun and is a member of the 39 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
He holds a Bachelor degree in Geography from NDA Kaduna and a Master’s Degree from U.S. Army War College.
Until his elevation as COAS, Lagbaja was the Chief of Operation (Army), and had served as General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Kaduna as well as 82 Division, Nigerian Army Enugu.
He had participated in and held command positions in several military operations, including Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi Peninsula, the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Operation ZAKI.
He was also part of the Internal Security Operation in Benue; Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Operation MESA/UDO KA, and Internal Security Operation in the South East.
As GOC 1 Division in Kaduna, he personally led troops of Operation FOREST SANITY in confronting terrorists in Kaduna and Niger States.
The new Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admirral E. A Ogalla hails from Enugu Ezike in Enugu State and is also a member of 39 Regular Course of NDA.
Until his appointment, he was the Director of Lessons Learnt at Naval Heeadquarters Department of Policy and Plans.
Ogalla is a regular combatant and has held several command appointments and attended several courses both home and abroad.
The new Chief of Air Staff, (CAS) AVM H.B Abubakar was born on Sept. 11 1970 and hails from Shanono Local Government Area in Kano State.
He was enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) as a member of 39 Regular Course of NDA and was commissioned Pilot Officer on Sept.19, 1992.
He was the Air Officer Commanding, Logistics Command until his new appointment and have attended several course.
Abubakar holds Bachelor of Science Degree from the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna and Basic Flying Training Courses at the 301 Flying Training School Kaduna.
He also attended the National Defence Course at the Nasser Higher Military Academy, Cairo – Egypt, and holds Master’s Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
The new Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Maj. Gen. EPA Undiandeye hails from Bedia in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State.
He was until his appointment the Commandant of the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, Jaji, Kaduna State.
Undiandeye was a member of the Troop Contributing Countries Working Group for the development of the second edition of the United Nations Infantry Battalion Manual (UNIBAM) published in 2020 by the UN Office of military affairs.
He is of the Intelligence Corps of the Nigerian Army.
Mr Kayode Egbetokun is the Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
Born on Sept. 4, 1964, he was the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), Force Criminal Investigation Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja before the appointment.
Egbetokun was born in Erinja, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun and enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on March 3, 1990, as Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police.
He had his initial training at the Nigeria Police Academy and had served for more than 26 years in the Police Force.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree (BSC) in Mathematics from the University of Lagos.
Prior to joining the Police Force, Egbetokun was a Mathematics lecturer at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.
He also holds a PhD from Al-hikmah University, Ilorin, and was the first Ph.D. candidate to graduate from the University’s Centre for Peace and Security Studies.
Egbetokun also holds an MSC in Engineering Analysis from the University of Lagos, Post Graduate Diploma in Petroleum Economics from Delta State University, Abraka and an MBA from the Lagos State University.
The Federal Government, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has repatriated 21 Nigerian irregular migrants who were held in Libyan detention facilities.
Amb. Kabiru Musa, Charge D’Affaires En Titre of the Nigerian Mission in Libya disclosed this in a statement made available to the NIGERIAN ANCHOR in Abuja.
According to Musa, the stranded Nigerians are being evacuated to Nigeria under the Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation (VHR) exercise.
Musa said that the exercise was part of the Federal Government’s commitment to ensure that none of its citizens, irrespective of their migration status, was left stranded in Libya.
He said that the returnees, who would be evacuated via commercial flights; Egypt and Ethiopian Airlines are expected to arrive the Murtala Mohammed International Airport on June 20.
“The IOM in collaboration with Embassy of Nigeria Tripoli has repatriated 21 stranded Nigerians through the Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation (VHR) June 19, from the Benghazi International Airport Libya, aboard commercial Egyptian Airline no. S830 to Cairo.
“Commercial Ethiopian Airlines will airlift the returnees from Cairo to Addis Ababa and from Addis Ababa to Lagos, Nigeria with flight nos. ET453 and ET901 respectively.
“The Egyptian airline is expected to depart Benghazi on the 19th June 2023 at 11:10 p.m on transit to Addis Ababa, and the Ethiopian airline will leave Addis Ababa on 20th June 2023 at 09.00 a.m local time,” he said.
According to him, the flight is expected to arrive in Lagos at 12:25 p.m. local time.
He said that the exercise was the 7th voluntary evacuation exercise that would be conducted this year, with about total number of 5000 stranded Nigerians repatriated under the VHR.
“We are working closely with the Libyan authorities and we appreciate their support always,” Musa said.
Thousands of Nigerian irregular migrants are locked up in detention centres across Libya for migration offences.
Gunmen on Monday night kidnapped the Oba of Idofin and his wife in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi.
It was gathered that the traditional ruler, Shedrack Durojaye Obibeni, and wife were abducted along Makutu-Idofin Road in the evening.
Yagba East Local Government Council Chairman, Mr Abdulrasak Asiru, who confirmed the incident to newsmen, described it as “very shocking” and “sad”.
The Asiru said that he was still in shock over the incident which had not happened in the area for almost two years.
“I as the council chairman and the people of Yagba East are in great shock over the kidnap of our respected Oba and his wife this evening.
“This is because we in this LGA have a very robust security architecture keeping vigil and warding off criminal elements away from us.
“This incident was well planned by the kidnappers because from what I learnt, the Oba and his wife only moved out to see something and in less than 10 minutes that incident happened.
“We smell a rat over this sad incident and we are not resting until we get to the criminal elements who did this dastardly act and rescue our traditional ruler and his wife,” he said.
The council boss said that already alerts and messages have been sent to all the traditional rulers and community leaders in Okun land to be vigilant and conduct thorough search for the rescue of the couple.
Asiru said: “As we speak, our hunters and vigilante group are already out into the bushes searching for the criminals so as to rescue our Oba and his wife as soon as possible.”
However, the Kogi Police Command’s Public Relation Officer, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, said he was yet to be briefed by the DPO of the affected area on the incident.
Ovye-Aya promised to keep the media abreast on developments as soon he got details.
The Nigerian government and organized Labour on Monday reconvened at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to look into ways of cushioning the effects of the removal of subsidy on the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
Mr Dele Alake, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, said that steering and technical committees have been set up to help achieve the planned interventions for Nigerians.
“As we promised the last time we met; when labour called off their planned strike, we held a meeting today. We went through all the demands that labour had tabled, that is government and the labour unions last time.
“They said they were going to go back to their executives and make consultations so that we reconvene today. That is exactly what we did.
“At today’s meeting, both parties went through the list and we ticked off the viable ones which are now broken into three categories; those that can be given immediate attention, and those that can be achieved in the medium term and long term.”
Alake added that the committees would help actualize the dream of providing the interventions to cushion the effects of removal of subsidy.
“Work groups have been constituted at today’s meeting. There is a steering committee that will serve as a clearing house and there are other committees comprising both parties; government and labour.
“They will work together very harmoniously and efficiently to arrive at the final resolution of all the demands of labour and what we (the government) call interventions,” he said.
The President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Joseph Ajero and his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Festus Osifo both confirmed the setting up of steering and technical committees.
They said that the committees would commence work immediately and complete the assessments within a maximum period of eight weeks.
Just moments after sacking Service Chiefs and other heads of security and paramilitary outfits, President Bola Tinubu on Monday approved the immediate dissolution of boards of Federal Government parastatals, agencies, institutions, and government-owned companies.
In a statement signed by Director Information, Willie Bassey, on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, the dissolution does not affect Boards, Commissions, and Councils listed in the Third Schedule, Part 1, Section 153 (i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
Titled: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Approves Dissolution of Boards of Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions and Government-Owned Companies”, the statement reads:
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the immediate dissolution of the Governing Boards of all Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions, and Government-Owned Companies in the exercise of its Constitutional Powers and in the Public interest.
“The dissolution does not, however, affect Boards, Commissions and Councils listed in the Third Schedule, Part 1, Section 153 (i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
“In view of this development and until such a time new boards are constituted, the Chief Executive Officers of the Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions, and Government-Owned Companies are directed to refer matters requiring the attention of their Boards to the President, through the Permanent Secretaries of their respective supervisory Ministries and Offices.
“Permanent Secretaries are directed, also, to route such correspondences to Mr President through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Consequently, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies are to ensure compliance to the provision of this directive which took effect from Friday 16th June, 2023.
“Permanent Secretaries are particularly directed to inform the Chief Executive Officers of the affected Agencies under the supervision of their respective Ministries/Offices for immediate compliance.
President Bola Tinubu on Monday removed all service chiefs in Nigeria.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the immediate retirement of all Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Advisers, Comptroller-General of Customs from Service as well as their replacements with immediate effect,” said Willie Bassey, the Director of Information on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
See statement below:
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION PRESS & PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
June 19, 2023
PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU RETIRES ALL SERVICE CHIEFS, ADVISERS, COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF CUSTOMS, APPOINTS NEW ONES
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the immediate retirement of all Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Advisers, Comptroller-General of Customs from Service as well as their replacements with immediate effect.
The newly appointed Officers are: S/N NAME APPOINTMENTS 1 Mallam Nuhu Ribadu National Security Adviser 2 Maj. Gen. C.G Musa Chief of Defence Staff 3 Maj. T. A Lagbaja Chief of Army Staff 4 Rear Admirral E. A Ogalla Chief of Naval Staff 5 AVM H.B Abubakar Chief of Air Staff 6 DIG Kayode Egbetokun Acting Inspector-General of Police 7 Maj. Gen. EPA Undiandeye Chief of Defense Intelligence
Mr President has also approved the following appointments: S/N NAME APPOINTMENTS 1 Col. Adebisi Onasanya Brigade of Guards Commander 2 Lt. Col. Moshood Abiodun Yusuf 7 Guards Battalion, Asokoro, Abuja 3 Lt. Col. Auwalu Baba Inuwa 177, Guards Battalion, Keffi, Nasarawa State 4 Lt. Col. Mohammed J. Abdulkarim 102 Guards Battalion, Suleja, Niger 5 Lt. Col. Olumide A. Akingbesote 176 Guards Battalion, Gwagwalada, Abuja
Similarly, the President has approved the appointments of other Military Officers in the Presidential Villa as follows: S/N NAME APPOINTMENTS 1 Maj. Isa Farouk Audu (N/14695) Commanding Officer State House Artillery 2 Capt. Kazeem Olalekan Sunmonu (N/16183) Second-in-Command, State House Artillery 3 Maj. Kamaru Koyejo Hamzat (N/14656) Commanding Officer, State House Military Intelligence 4 Maj. TS Adeola (N/12860) Commanding Officer, State House Armament 5 Lt. A. Aminu (N/18578) Second-in- Command, State House Armament
Mr. President has also approved the appointments of two (2) additional Special Advisers, and two (2) Senior Assistants, namely:
S/N NAME APPOINTMENTS 1 Hadiza Bala Usman Special Adviser, Policy Coordination 2 Hannatu Musa Musawa Special Adviser, Culture and Entertainment Economy 3 Sen. Abdullahi Abubakar Gumel Senior Special Assistant , National Assembly Matters (Senate) 4 Hon. (Barr) Olarewaju Kunle Ibrahim Senior Special Assistant, National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives)
Finally, the President has approved the appointment of Adeniyi Bashir Adewale as the Ag. Comptroller General of Customs.
It is to be noted that the appointed Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and the Comptroller General of Customs are to act in their positions, pending their confirmation in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Willie Bassey Director, Information For: Secretary to the Government of the Federation
The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Candidate for Lagos State in the 2023 General Elections, Mr Abdulazeez Adediran (a.k.a. Jandor), on Monday, said that re-elected Lagos Governor, Babjide Sanwo-Olu does not have a WASC result.
Jandor, who made the claims before the Lagos State Election Petition Tribunal, said that one of the documents is a printout said to be from WAEC Result Verification Portal.
The witness, while being questioned by counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Adetunji Oyeyipo, said that he bought a WAEC scratch card on the instruction of WAEC to check for Sanwo-Olu’s result on the portal and the portal showed: “Result not available for this candidate in the specified year and on the examination date”.
He said that Sanwo-Olu lied on oath when he claimed that he attended Ijebu-Ife Community Grammar School and sat for West African School Certificate Examination in 1981.
Adediran said that he confirmed from the West African Examination Council (WAEC) Result Verification Portal that the governor lied.
While being led in evidence by his counsel, Mr. Clement Onwuenwunor (SAN), he had told the tribunal that his investigation showed that Sanwo-Olu did not have a West African School Certificate (WASC).
Adediran also claimed as unlawful the process that led to the sponsorship of the Governorship candidacy of Sanwo-Olu and Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party (LP).
He was being cross-examined by APC’s lead counsel, Mr Muiz Banire (SAN).
According to Adeniran, a political party can only be said to have sponsored a candidate validly in a general election, if it adheres strictly to the Electoral Act.
“Election is a process and not an event. The processes of their nomination that led to the parties’ sponsorship of the candidates are unlawful,” he said.
The Chairman of the three-man tribunal, Justice Arum Igyen-Ashom, admitted in evidence 12 documents that Adediran tendered through his counsel.
During cross-examination by the APC lead counsel, Mr Norrison Quakers (SAN), he told the tribunal that he was sponsored by his party.
He told the court that he was not a member of PDP in 2018 and that he was not declared the winner of the 2023 Governorship Election because Sanwo-Olu was allegedly unlawfully declared the winner.
While being cross-examined by Rhodes-Vivour’s counsel, Mr Uchechukwu Ani, he said he was never a member of LP but he knew about the primary election of the party held on June 1, 2022, and Aug.10 2022 through a document he got from INEC.
According to him, Rhodes-Vivour’s Form EC9 was submitted on Aug. 13, 2022, but had been endorsed on July 4, 2022, before the primary election that produced him as the LP Candidate.
He told the court while being cross-examined by counsel to LP, Mr. I.O. Benson, that his grouse with the governorship candidates was not nomination but sponsorship.
The other members of the tribunal are Justice Mikail Adubulahi and Justice l.P. Braimoh.
The tribunal adjourned until June 21 for the continuation of the hearing.
The Police in Anambra have confirmed the killing of two gunmen who attacked the camp of the Anambra Vigilante Service on Monday in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.
Ihiala LGA borders Imo and has witnessed many terror attacks by gunmen.
A source said about 15 armed men attacked the camp of the vigilantes in the early hours of Monday and opened fire on them, but were quickly repelled by security agents.
“Two of the gunmen were gunned down during a hot exchange of fire and two AK-47 riffles were recovered, while many fled the scene.
“Many of the gunmen who fled as they could not withstand the superior firepower of the security operatives, sustained various degrees of injuries and bullet wounds,” the source said.
He added that there was no casualty on the part of the vigilante.
Confirming the incident, the Police spokesman in the state, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, called on private and public hospitals to report any patient with bullet wounds.
Ikenga said a joint security team was mopping the area to arrest the fleeing gunmen, adding that no life was lost on the part of the vigilance operatives.
Governor Charles Soludo said in a statement through his Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, that the government would remain committed to saving and securing Anambra.
He added that the security forces would continue to safeguard the lives and properties of travelers and residents of the state.
