Still on Ayogu Eze and PDP Result Sheets

31 Jan 2015

Senator Ayogu Eze

Izundu Okereke

Did Senator Ayogu Eze forge the Peoples Democratic Party’s result sheets with which he returned himself as the winner of a supposed parallel primary election on 8th December? This has remained one of the hottest political issues in Enugu and beyond since the Enugu State chapter of the party leveled the allegation against Senator in a petition to the Police. This is one matter the Nigeria Police and the perhaps the courts would have to resolve as a matter of urgency.

To refresh our memories, the state’s PDP conducted a primary election on 8th December last year where it elected a Member of the House of Representatives, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as its candidate for the 28thFebruary, 2015 governorship election. Ugwuanyi was declared winner by the PDP national electoral panel in the State led by King Asara Asara, having polled 937 out of the 983 votes cast by both elected ad-hoc delegates and the statutory delegates. President Goodluck Jonathan and the party’s National Chairman capped it up with the presentation of the party’s flag to Ugwuanyi, who is now neck deep into a statewide campaign with other party stakeholders to deliver the PDP in all the elections in the State.
On the other hand, however, is Senator Ayogu Eze who claims that delegates loyal to him had also conducted a parallel primary election and “elected” him candidate with 530 votes, while Dr. Samuel Onyishi supposedly got 30, Anayo Onwuegbu 10, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi 15, Hon. Eugene Odoh 25, Prof. Onyeke Onyeke 20, and Chinedu Onu 31. But no member of the PDP national electoral panel or party state or local government executive, INEC observation team statutory delegate or accredited ad-hoc delegate was in attendance in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, thus leaving a lot of gaping legal holes in his claim.
Besides, an Enugu High Court had also restrained Senator Eze from parading himself as the Enugu guber candidate. In addition, the Senator and Sam Onyishi are already in an Abuja Federal High Court to slug it out with the PDP and Ugwuanyi. The court presided over by Justice Eboh Chukwu had earlier declined Senator Eze’s prayers to restrain the PDP from submitting any name other than his to INEC or stopping INEC from accepting any name of candidate other than his. Both Senator Eze and Onyishi’s cases slated for January 14 in the same court could not be heard due to the industrial action by the judicial workers.

However, while the legal fireworks go on, all eyes are on the Nigeria Police as Nigerians to see what becomes of the PDP’s petition urging them to “arrest and prosecute Eze for the uttering and forgery of PDP Result sheet in accordance with the dictates of the law.”
The petition reads in part: “The party, from the National headquarters, appointed a five-man electoral committee to conduct the primaries for the election of the Governorship candidate for Enugu State. The members of the panel were King Asara A. Asara (Chairman), Barrister Ukpai Ukairo (Secretary), Barrister Saratu Umar, Engr. Alamu Adeyemi and myself as the State Chairman of the party.
“The members came with the official result sheets from the party headquarters, as well as the ballot papers and other materials required to conduct the primary election.  At the end of the electoral exercise, the members issued a result of the election wherein they returned Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as having won the election.
“Surprisingly, Senator Eze who was a candidate at the said primary election has now uttered (legal term) a result purporting same to be the result of the said primary election of 8th December, 2014.  The said result was produced on a forged result sheet purporting same to be the result sheet of the Peoples Democratic Party.
“I hereby enclose the original result sheet of the party, which has the name of the party, the logo of the party, the address of the national Secretariat and the serial number of the result sheet issued out to the panel, the signatures of the National Chairman, the National Secretary, the National Organizing Secretary, the returning officer and the Electoral Officer. I mark same as Annexure I.
“I also annex as Annexure 2, the purported result of the primary election written on the forged result sheet purporting same to be the result sheet of the party. A look at this Annexure 2 will show that it does not contain the essentials of the authentic result sheet of the party as enumerated above.”

For me, it is either the PDP is lying or Senator Ayogu Eze is guilty as accused. But if the PDP, which is in the best position to know which is genuine result sheets, the Senator has a cause to worry. With such elaborate differentiations between the genuine result sheets and the forged document by the party itself, the onus is on Senator Eze to prove his innocence. Sadly, he has not come up with any logical statement explaining how he came about the result sheets or if they were genuine, whether himself or his supposed “authentic delegates” were permitted by law to handle such a document.
Section 465 of the Criminal Code Act CAP C38 LFN provides that “A person who makes a false document or writing knowing it to be false, and with the intent that it may in any way be used or acted upon as genuine, whether in the State or elsewhere, to the prejudice of any person, or with intent that any person, may in the belief that it is genuine be included to do or refrain from doing any act, whether in the state or elsewhere, is said to forge the document or writing”
Section 467 of the same Act provides for the punishment for the said offence. According to the Section, “Any person who forges any document, writing or seal is guilty of an offence, which unless otherwise stated, is a felony, and he is liable, if no other punishment is provided, to an imprisonment for three years.”

It therefore follows that the issue of making a false result sheet of the PDP raises serious issues of forgery contrary to Section 465 of the Criminal Code Act. Such puts the Nigerian Police on the spot to urgently follow the matter to a conclusive end even as far as the courts if need be. It is in the interest of democracy, including Ayogu’s to do so because an alleged criminal offence cannot be treated as a PDP familiar affair.
The Ayogu Eze saga presents us with an opportunity to halt the gale of “parallel” primaries across the parties and define how far an aspirant could go on his/her own in pursuit of his/her political ambition.
Okereke writes from Enugu

 http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/still-on-ayogu-eze-and-pdp-result-sheets/200549/

Jonathan Not President of Ijaw Nation, Says PDP

31 Jan 2015

National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Olisa Metuh

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday cautioned Ijaw leaders threatening war over the second term bid of President Goodluck Jonathan and added that Jonathan was not the President of the Ijaw nation alone, “but the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Also, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof Rufai Ahmed Alkali, debunked allegations by the All Progressives Congress, APC, that the Presidency and the PDP were involved in surreptitious schemes to postpone the February 14 Presidential elections.

The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Olisa Metuh, who cautioned the Ijaw leaders during an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja, also expressed optimism that if the general election were to hold today, the party would win over 64 per cents of the total votes.

The party also warned its members and supporters against making provocative statements in their course of supporting the re-election of the President.

Metuh said: “Though the PDP should not be held responsible for all their (Ijaw leaders) comments, we caution them to be mindful of what they are saying, especially as it concerns the unity of the country. PDP is a national party.
Though the President is from Bayelsa State, but he could be loved more by the people of Anambra State than the people of Bayelsa State.  The President is not the President of Ijaw nation alone; he is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Even yesterday in Yola, the President said that he received more votes from the people of Adamawa State than he received from his home state, Bayelsa State. He said that Adamawa State gave him more votes than Bayelsa State, so he is not the President of the Ijaws alone.”

The National Publicity Secretary of PDP also cautioned other supporters of Jonathan to adhere to the presidential directives of ensuring that all campaigns were based on issues and not casting aspersions on candidates.

“The various support groups of the party should be cautious of what they say and ensure that they follow the dictates of the founding fathers of PDP. There is need to respect the sanity of individual privacy and human dignity and avoid issues that are personal to the families of the candidates.

“There is the need to maintain decency and ensure that campaigns are issue-based. This is how we intend our campaigns to be.”

On the evaluation of the campaigns of the party, the spokesman said it had surpassed more than 70 per cent and so far, “if the votes are cast today, the PDP would be winning with more than 64 percent of the total votes in all the elections, including the presidential election.”

Metuh who slammed the APC for making empty promises, dismissed them as unrealisable dreams.

“APC said that they would create three million jobs and pay benefits to the unemployed people. But the PDP is asking: How will they finance these projects that they are promising? These are nothing but empty dreams. We view these promises as mere mirage. The campaigns of the PDP have exposed their mirage and the insincerity of their campaigns.

“The APC said that they would end insecurity and insurgency in the country within three weeks and PDP would like to ask: Did the APC start the insurgency. Are they magicians or voodoo politicians?”

The PDP spokesman said Buhari was already weary of the campaigns and willing to pull out, stating that his body language was indicative that he was tired. According to Metuh, “It is because of the body language of Buhari that he is tired that the APC is accusing the PDP of plotting to shit the presidential election. The body language of Buhari is that he is willing to concede defeat; that is why the APC is claiming that PDP wants to shift the election.

Alleged plot to postpone elections unfounded, says Presidency…
Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof Rufai Ahmed Alkali has debunked allegations by the APC that the Presidency and the PDP were involved in surreptitious schemes to postpone the February 14 Presidential elections.

In a press statement issued in Abuja, Alkali said rather than the Presidency and PDP, it is the APC through their members and supporters that had been doing everything possible to frustrate the conduct of a free and fair electoral process.
He alleged that the APC had been breaching the Abuja Peace Accord which all the presidential candidates subscribed to with impunity.

He emphasized that Jonathan had been receiving unprecedented support since he embarked on the nationwide campaign and “he is fully prepared for the election with the PDP.”

Alkali added: “From our tours and the unprecedented outpour of goodwill, we are confident of a wider margin of victory than ever before. We are ready and fully prepared for this election.

“We wish to assure Nigerians that the President is committed to a peaceful and successful conduct of the February 14 polls and will not be distracted by tissues of lies and cocktails of deceit from people who have run out of ideas on how to move our country forward.”

February Election Must Hold, Benin Monarch Insists…
Meanwhile, the Benin monarch, Omo N’ Oba N'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo said in Benin that protagonists pushing for the postponement of the February 14 general election were only calling for anarchy, insisting that election must take place as scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

He also warned those making inflammatory statements to desist from heating up the polity while predicting that the election will be peaceful in spite of the beating of drums of war by politicians.

The Oba spoke at a press conference through the Benin Forum, an apex body of the Benin people. It was addressed by its Chairman, Chief David Edebiri.

The forum expressed satisfaction with the way and manner the major political parties in Edo South Senatorial District have conducted themselves.

 http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/jonathan-not-president-of-ijaw-nation-says-pdp/200595/

"Igbos Hate Me Because Of Biafra War" - Buhari In BBC Hausa by Tchitntdu(m): 7:33am

"Igbos Hate Me Because of Biafra War" - Buhari In BBC Hausa.
Maj Gen Muhammadu Buhari has dropped the bombshell, on the reason he has been losing election in Igboland and parts of Nigeria where Igbos are residing, stating that it is because he was involved in the Nigerian civil war.

The former dictator speaking today on BBC Hausa services monitored in kaduna, said with regrets that, "the igbos hate him for what happened during the Biafran war". "I don't have any regret, and at such do not owe any apology to them, infact if there is a repeat of the civil war again, I will kill more Igbos to save the country".
The APC presidential candidate, added that this was the reason they never bothered to vote for him anywhere in Nigeria.
It is shame, that a man that is aspiring to rule the whole country, not part of it, will talk in this manner.


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Source: http://www.genechy.com/2015/01/igbos-hate-me-because-of-biafra-war.html

http://www.nairaland.com/2122515/igbos-hate-me-because-biafra

Boko Haram: Baga Military Commanders May Face Court-Martial

31 Jan 2015

Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade

•   As DHQ confirms recapture of Michika

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

The Nigerian military has given a strong hint that the Commanders, officers and soldiers responsible for Baga debacle, where newly acquired sophisticated weapons were abandoned to advancing Boko Haram terrorists who took over and ransacked the town early this month.

This hint was given on Friday in a statement signed by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, saying that the affected personnel who are part of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) must account for the seeming lack of commitment and professionalism.

Following the loss of Baga, THISDAY reported that the DHQ was disappointed at what they saw as a calculated attempt by some elements within the military to sabotage the operation in the North East.

Accordingly, they set up a probe panel to ascertain the fall of the strategic town, barely two days after delivery of new weapons to the units.
Consequently, Olukolade has confirmed that the "Nigerian officers in key command positions of the MJTF are in the process of accounting for their actions leading to the loss of weapons, men  and location in their area of responsibility in the mission area.

"This is a normal military procedure in major operations or after encounters. The essence is to extract and collate relevant information for subsequent missions."

According to him, the probe “could also lead to or determine appropriate disciplinary action where necessary".

In a related development, the Defence spokesman said that  an extensive mopping up operation to search for arms or stranded terrorists and other casualties was ongoing in Michika, Adamawa State, after troops sacked the terrorists that had been operating in the town and its environ.

He said that the assault on terrorists’ main positions reported by THISDAY, was concluded on Thursday as many of them died in the combat.
Olukolade also revealed that troops who sustained injuries in the operation were receiving necessary medical attention.

He said that other troops are continuing the pursuit of those who are on the run from the town, adding that normalcy had been restored in the town.

 http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/boko-haram-baga-military-commanders-may-face-court-martial/200592/

Chad, Niger, Cameroon Forces Reclaim Nigerian Territories

Agency Report, Bode Gbadebo, BUKOLA OGUNSINA

— Jan 31, 2015

Military forces in Chad, Niger and Cameroon have continued their onslaught against Boko Haram, reclaiming more Nigerian territories from them.
The three neighbouring countries are part of the Multinational Joint Task Force fighting insurgents in the north-eastern part of the country.
LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered yesterday night that Chadian forces cleared the insurgents from Gamboru-Ngala to the north-eastern part of Borno State while men of the Nigerien military overwhelmed the insurgents and chased them out of Malamfatori to the north. Cameroonian forces also cleared Kirawa and Ashigashiya in the eastern flank of the state.
The Nigerian military could not be reached for confirmation of the operation at the time of going to press as a call and text message to the mobile phone number of the Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade, were not responded to.
In another development, a Brigadier-General in the Army, Enitan Ransome-Kuti, his Chief of Staff Lt. Colonel G.A Suru, the Commanding Officer of 134 and 174 battalions, Lt. Colonel Haruna and a certain Major Aliyu, as well as six other senior officers have been arrested by army authorities over their role in the Baga attack.
The two Nigerian Army battalions are under the Multi-National Task Joint Task Force in Baga, attacked by the insurgents.
Baga, a community in Borno State was attacked by Boko Haram insurgents on January 3, 2015, in a manner that has been described as the most deadly, in the history of Boko Haram attacks in the country. The insurgents reportedly dislodged soldiers and took over the town, killing many residents. In the wake of the attack, there were conflicting reports about the casualty figure. While the media reported that over 2000 people were killed in the attack, the military authorities maintained that only about 150 people died in the unfortunate incident.
Olukolade, said the senior army officers were being investigated for allegedly shirking their responsibilities during the attack by the insurgents, despite the sophisticated weapons at their disposal, which gave the insurgents an upper hand.
He explained that the arrested officers were being investigated because at the time of the attack on the multinational headquarters in Baga, Brigadier-General Ransome-Kuti and his men were fully in charge of the military formation, adding that it was disappointing that the attack on Baga was not repelled by both battalions, despite having the necessary weapons to carry out the necessary operations.
Recall that Amnesty International had accused the army of not acting on several reports on the pending attack of Baga, saying the refusal of the army to act was responsible for the high casualty recorded in the attack. But Olukolade in a reaction, described as inaccurate and unfair, the allegation of Amnesty International, saying the report was misleading and inciting.
“Being an area of operation where terrorists are known to be ever looking for the slightest opportunity to attack and perpetrate heinous atrocities, Nigerian troops are conversant with the need to maintain the highest form of alertness always. Every available information is factored into the intelligence that drives every engagement or encounter in any part of the mission area. This standard has not only been sustained but has been incrementally enhanced in terms of capacity, troop’s deployment, coordination, troop’s mobility and protection as well as logistics,” he said.
In a related development, the Defence Headquarters has announced plans to investigate circumstances leading to the initial subjugation of Mubi town in Adamawa state by Boko Haram insurgents sometime last year, a situation which could also lead to appropriate disciplinary action against Nigerian officers in strategic positions of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
Olukolade in a statement in Abuja said concerned officers were already in the process of accounting for their actions leading to the loss of weapons, soldiers and Mubi town in the mission area.
He added that the probe was a normal military procedure in major operations, which is meant to extract and collate relevant information for subsequent military operations.
“Nigerian officers in key command positions of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) are in the process of accounting for their actions leading to the loss of weapons, men and location in their area of responsibility in the mission area. This is a normal military procedure in major operations or after encounters. The essence is to extract and collate relevant information for subsequent missions. It could also lead to or determine appropriate disciplinary action where necessary,” Olukolade said.
Meanwhile, he revealed that an extensive mopping up operation to search for arms or stranded terrorists and other casualties is ongoing in Michika town after troops sacked terrorists who have been operating in the town and environs.
“The main assault on terrorists main positions was concluded yesterday as many of them died in the combat. Troops who sustained injuries in the operation are receiving necessary medical attention. Other troops are continuing the pursuit of those who are on the run from the town. Normalcy has been restored,” he added.
AU boosts fight against insurgents with 7,500 Troops
A blueprint has been ratified by the African Union (AU) towards a regional task force of 7,500 army personnel to battle the Islamist Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria.
The leaders agreed to this after its meeting at the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) session to bring to an end the crisis caused by the militants in the north-eastern part of Nigeria.
Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Benin requested the AU to seek the UN Security Council mandate to assist in fighting the Islamist militants who it is claimed are fighting to establish an Islamic state in northern Nigeria.
According to NAN, each of the five nations is expected to contribute a battalion with each contingent to be based within its national borders and operations to be synchronised from Chad.
AU’s commissioner for Peace and Security Council, Smail Chergui, told members of the media after the African Summit held at Addis Ababa, “we are thinking of a force of 7,500 women and men which will be submitted to the UN Security Council for approval.”
The commissioner added that he hoped that the concept of the force would be better organised in order to achieve the goal to stop the killings and savage acts of the insurgents.
He further added that AU would meet in Cameroon early February to design a notion of operations and strategy, rules of engagement, command and control, and other associated matters.
Mugabe emerges AU Chairman
Meanwhile, Zimbabwean president, Robert Mugabe, took over the post of African Union chairman on Friday, replacing Mauritania’s president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.
Mugabe, Africa’s oldest president, aged 90, shook hands with Abel Aziz in front of fellow leaders to applause at the AU summit in the Ethiopian capital.
“By electing me to preside over this august body, with full knowledge of the onerous responsibility that lies ahead, I humbly accept your collective decision,” he said.
Mugabe, a former liberation war hero who is Africa’s third-longest serving leader, is viewed with deep respect by many on the continent.
But he is also subject to travel bans from both the United States and European Union in protest of political violence and intimidation by his government.
Mugabe, a former guerrilla leader who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, is accused of crushing opponents to ensure his ZANU-PF party won every election for more than three decades.
 http://leadership.ng/news/407999/chad-niger-cameroon-forces-reclaim-nigerian-territories

S'Court Frees Lebanese Jailed for Unlawful Importation of Firearms

31 Jan 2015

Symbol of justice

•     Says trial of Aborisade, others must go on

Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

The Supreme Court has freed Mr. Talal Ahmad Roda, the only Lebanese who was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for unlawful importation and storage of prohibited firearms in Kano.

This is coming on the heels of another Supreme Court judgement approving the resumption of trial of former Aviation Minister, Professor Babalola Aborisade and others for alleged forgery and corrupt enrichment.

The apex court quashed Roda's conviction and sentence after holding that the Federal High Court in Abuja which convicted him had no jurisdiction to do so.
With this judgment, all the suspects have now escaped punishment despite the fact that firearms were unlawfully imported and stored in Nigeria, giving credence to the allegation making the rounds that the prosecution bungled the case.

Roda, was on November 29th, 2013 sentenced to life imprisonment by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, having been found guilty of conspiracy.
In setting aside the sentence and conviction of Roda, Justice Musa Muhammad who delivered the court's lead judgment with which four other justices concurred, said that since the alleged offences were committed in Kano, the trial ought to have taken place at the Kano division of the Federal High Court.

"In my considered view, the decision of the Abuja Division of the trial court to try an offence which took place in Kano and bears no relationship whatsoever with the offence in Abuja having not stemmed from any provision of the enabling statutes, is manifestly perverse.

"By virtue of Section 45(a) of the FHC Act and the similar provisions contained in section 64 of the Criminal Procedure Act, the appellant could only be tried by the Kano division of the trial court within which territorial expanse the offence was committed.

"The absence of any evidence to suggest any understanding between the appellant and others in Abuja or a link between the storage of the firearms at Kano and those in Abuja further disentitle the Abuja Division's assumption of jurisdiction under sections 45(b)-(e) of the FHC Act and or the similar provisions in the criminal Procedure Act."

His Lordship also held that Roda was not charged under any known law. According to him, the offence of conspiracy is not contemplated under Section 1(14) (a)(i) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation 2004.

Justice Muhammad said: "It is trite that where the prosecution fails to charge an accused person for an offence known to law, an appeal against condition under the incompetent charge will succeed.

"In the sum, the appeal succeeds. The proceedings of the lower court and that of the trial court it purports to affirm are hereby set aside. The conviction and sentence of the appellant, consequentially are hereby quashed."

The trial judge at the High Court level had discharged and acquitted Mustapha Fawaz and Abdallah Thahini on the 16 count charge filed against them.
The court also discharged Amigo supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park “as no concrete evidence was established against the two organisations linking them to terrorism.”

The trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, held that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubts that the discharged persons were terrorists.

He further held that going by Nigerian law, it had not been established that the Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah was a terrorist organisation and that the court could not hold to the contrary.

Justice Ademola who reviewed all the 16 charges preferred against the three Lebanese, freed Fawaz and Thahini while Roda was convicted on Count 8 and 9 which bothered on conspiracy.

The court however noted that some aspects of the investigation were shady.
The judge also held that the prosecution failed by the evidence brought before the court to establish a case of terrorism against the accused persons.
Specifically, the court held that the ammunition seized from No 3 Gaya Road, Kano ought to have been brought to the court or the photographer who took the picture should have been brought to the court.

The judge said that better still, the prosecutor should have brought an application to move the court to the site in Kano.

The court held that failure to do this by the prosecution made the evidence brought inadmissible.

The judge also noted that the witness brought by the prosecution who conducted the search confessed that he was neither a forensic nor a ballistic expert.

The court further ordered that both Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park, all in Abuja be unsealed with immediate effect.

He added that the 61,170 US dollars seized from the 2nd accused be returned to him and that all other personal properties seized from the discharged persons and their relatives be returned to them forthwith.

It will be recalled the Federal Government had on July 29 arraigned the accused persons for terrorism and over link with Hezbollah military group.
They were also accused of act of terrorism and illegal firearms after a large arms cache was discovered in the residence linked to the suspects in Kano.
They were further accused of plotting attacks against Western and Israeli targets in the country. They had all pleaded not guilty.

Says Trial of  Aborisade, Others Must Go On…
The Supreme Court has ordered the resumption of trial of former Aviation Minister, Professor Babalola Aborisade and others over alleged forgery and allegedly corrupt enrichment.

Aborisade and others were charged before an Abuja High Court in Maitama, Abuja by the Federal Government on allegation of collecting bribes.

The Supreme Court order was contained in its judgment yesterday on an appeal filed against the decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja on an earlier appeal by the former minister.

Aborisade, who is standing trial with a director of Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA), T.A. Dairo, and two others, had appealed the decision of the trial court to admit in evidence, a statement made by Dairo.
The Court of Appeal upheld his appeal, prompting the Federal Government to appeal to the Supreme Court.

In unanimous judgment yesterday, the Supreme Court upheld the appeal, upturned the decision of the Court of Appeal and directed prompt resumption of the trials that had been stalled for over one year.

Justice Kumai Bayang Akaahs, who read the lead judgment wondered why Aborisade appealed against a ruling that was not directed against him.

He noted that the ruling was on whether or not to admit the statement by the third accused person (Dairo) and not his (Aborisade's) statement.

The court, in an earlier judgment also set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal in the appeal filed by Dairo and others in relation to the same ruling of the trial court, which admitted his (Dairo's) statement in evidence.

The apex court held that from evidence before it, the trial court was right to have held that the statement was made voluntarily.

It ordered the trial court to re-admit the statement and proceed with the trial.

 http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/scourt-frees-lebanese-jailed-for-unlawful-importation-of-firearms/200594/

Debate: APC Shielding Buhari’s Intellectual Laziness, Says Fani-Kayode

31 Jan 2015

Chief Femi Fani-Kayode

•    UPP: Boycott, a great disappointment

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Campaign Organisation said on Friday that the decision by the APC not to participate in the presidential debate being organised by the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) was simply to shield from Nigerians and the international audience its candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari’s “intellectual laziness and inability to constructively engage contemporary national issues in a live television and radio debate.”

The presidential candidate of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Dr. Chekwas Okorie also described the decision of the former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) not to participate in the presidential debate as a great disappointment.

Director of Media and Publicity of the Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode stated that the APC knew that General Buhari “will flunk it if he is subjected to the rigours of debate on issues of national governance and development.”

Fani-Kayode said he was aware that the APC had already expressed its concerns, when approached by an international news channel for a debate, about the intellectual acumen of General Buhari and had assured the news channel that it was only comfortable with its vice presidential candidate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, who has capacity to feature brilliantly on the programme.

Fani-Kayode said: “We have just read a report in the media credited to the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation that the party would not allow its candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, to participate in the radio and television presidential debate organised by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).

“The APC accused the organisers of the debate of unhidden bias and campaign of calumny by some key organisers of the programme against the corporate political interest of the party and its candidates.

“Whilst we will not bother ourselves with the many reasons adduced by the APC, we wish to state that we see the APC decision as an attempt to shield its presidential candidate from displaying his intellectual laziness and inability to constructively engage contemporary national issues in a live television and radio debate.

“We had envisaged that the APC would be reluctant to expose General Buhari to the rigours of a live television debate because the opposition party knows that its candidate will flunk it. If the APC truly believes that it is a party of progressive intellectuals as it claims it should allow General Buhari to prove that at the debate.

“Should the APC fail to participate in the debate, it would also show the disdain both the party and its candidate have for the Nigerian people, denying them the opportunity to make informed choices on the basis of what each candidate will articulate as propositions on issues that will be raised.

“We are convinced that General Buhari does not have what it takes to sustain a coherent argument on germane issues of governance and development.

“We challenge General Buhari to a debate on any national and international medium of mass communication and our candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan will be ready to participate.

“On the other hand, President Jonathan’s running mate, Vice President Namadi Sambo is also ready to participate in the debate and any other debate. Our presidential candidate and his running mate will not raise flimsy and escapist excuses such as “unhidden bias” and the like, since we believe that they are well-rounded intellectuals who have been prepared by their experience in office to answer any question under the sun on the governance of our nation.”

UPP chides Buhari over boycott of presidential debate…

The presidential candidate of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Dr. Chekwas Okorie yesterday described the decision Buhari not to participate in the presidential debate as a great disappointment.

Okorie in a statement said the presidential debate was a unique event in the current development of democracy in Nigeria that should be encouraged and not boycotted.

"The news that the APC presidential candidate, General Buhari, will not participate in the scheduled debates is a great disappointment,” Okorie said.
In the statement signed by the Director-General of his campaign organisation, Dr. Ugorji Okechukwu Ugorji, the UPP flag-bearer urged Buhari, "to reject his advisors’ voices and show up for the debate".

Among the reasons given by the APC for boycotting the presidential debate organised by Nigeria Election a Debate Group (NEDG) debates scheduled for February 8, 2015 was the composition of its board.

However, Okorie said he did not find the rationale given by the APC for withdrawing from the debates convincing.

The UPP Presidential candidate said: “It is an encounter that the UPP candidate had looked forward to because the match-up was consistent with independent polling around the country that identified President Jonathan’s PDP, General Buhari’s APC, and Chief Okorie’s UPP as the three most serious contenders in the highly anticipated general elections to choose Nigeria’s next president for a four-year term.

"The Chekwas Okorie Presidential Campaign Organization (COPCO) believes the leadership of the most significant and largest democracy on the African continent should not be acquired by avoiding what may be difficult questions. My Vice Presidential candidate, Barrister Bello Umar (SAN) and I are ready for the debates

“I urge my compatriot, General Buhari, to reject his advisors’ voices and show up for the debates.  That is what the nation and the international community expect of him.”

 http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/debate-apc-shielding-buhari-8217-s-intellectual-laziness-says-fani-kayode/200593/

We must judge Buhari with his past–Obanikoro

By Our Reporter on January 26, 2015 

Former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro yesterday, urged Nigerians to assess Gen Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Con­gress (APC) presidential candidate by his past and not what his party presents him to be in 2015.
Addressing a rally of over 5,000 supporters in Badagry under the aegis of the Good­luck Sambo Independent Campaign Group in Lagos, Obanikoro said Buhari was not electable.
“We cannot continue to judge Buhari based on what we think he will do in future. He should be judged by what he did as a former head of state,” he said.
Obanikoro, said the as­saults allegedly committed by Buhari and his regime could not be swept under the carpet.
“His assault on Pa Awolo­wo, late Bola Ige, former gov­ernor Lateef Jakande, among others should not be forgotten.
“The worst crime was his stopping of the Lagos Metro line, which would have put Lagos State on a pedestal of sorts,” he said.
On the Buhari certificate saga, the former minister said it should not be patched up, stressing that the APC wanted to patch up the issue but must not be allowed.
On why Nigerians should vote for Jonathan, Obanikoro said the President was serving Nigeria without discrimina­tion and had helped Nigeria’s democracy to grow by guar­anteeing freedom of speech for all.
“Jonathan has made Nigeria his constituency and has never discriminated against any tribe,” he said.
 http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=101837

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is the new chairman of the African Union for the coming year. He was chosen for the roving position at the ongoing African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Mugabe, who turns 91 next month, drew applause when he denounced colonialism. Earlier, the UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, had warned of the dangers of leaders clinging to power. Robert Mugabe has led his country since 1980.

BBC Africa

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is the new chairman of the African Union for the coming year. He was chosen for the roving position at the ongoing African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Mugabe, who turns 91 next month, drew applause when he denounced colonialism. Earlier, the UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, had warned of the dangers of leaders clinging to power. Robert Mugabe has led his country since 1980.

DID YOU HEAR THE SIMPLY QUESTIONS FROM NIGERIANS TO #GENERAL_MUHAMMED BUHARI OVER HIS ORIGINAL CLASS SIX SCHOOL CERTIFICATE?

We still have more reasonable Nigerians like these.

DID YOU HEAR THE SIMPLY QUESTIONS FROM NIGERIANS TO #GENERAL_MUHAMMED BUHARI OVER HIS ORIGINAL CLASS SIX SCHOOL CERTIFICATE?

With the extend of movement Nigerians are struggling to be today can achieve us a NEW-NIGERIA" only If we wish.

For me"
#The_most highest sin and the biggest offence Goodluck Jonathan committed against those enemies of Nigeria and Nigerians is because his goverment inheritted all the whole Nigeria Problems and yet insisted to cure-all-the-madness that strangle and killing Nigerians from the Nigeria onset daily basis.

Therefore" We must assist, support and back Jonathan up to free us from slavery and terrorisation, Goodluck Jonathan and his leadership are ready to set us free from the bondage that we the Nigerians found ourselves into from the hands of our past leaders.

OBJ and his heartless-group-members who pretends to love 1-Nigeria and Nigerians while they are the most biggest Nigeria Problems and threats that killing us today in Nigeria.

Have forgot how OBJ, easilly writes many letter to Mr, President when he lied against President gej, blackmailing, castigating and criticisen Jonathan the way he want, But he never raise issue or say anything about GMB's of tendered a fake school result before Nigeria..

ObJ need to learn a role an Elderly stateman suppose been Playing as elderly stateman in his country.

Obj attitude still Proved him as a Politician, Not an elderlystateman.

#BUHARI_NIGERIANS_WANT_TO_SEE_YOURSCHOOLCERTIFICATE.

That's all.

He can't Provide his original class six school certificate,

Rather he approved a fake result to Nigerians But forget that nigerians are no longer fools as GMB thought.

ThankGod today that Nigerians of nowadays are more wiser now than that Nigeria of yesterday.

Buhari is not Qualify to be a Nigerian President, I think he needs to go back to school first.

How desperate can APC Crooks be??? AIT Reacts To Allegation Of Closing Down Poll Website Because Buhari Was Leading. One IP address voted 500 times for Buhari and another 13 IP different addresses voted for the same Buhari.

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Chinedu Nwosu

How desperate can APC Crooks be???
AIT Reacts To Allegation Of Closing Down Poll Website Because Buhari Was Leading.
One IP address voted 500 times for Buhari and another 13 IP different addresses voted for the same Buhari.

It should be remembered that the DSS had bursted 2 APC hacking centres in Lagos and APC media centre in Abuja. These centres should be originators of the forged statement of result and the doctored email response from Cambridge and others.
Nobody is surprised. APC and fraud are children of the same mother and father.
A party premises on the fundamentals of criminality and hooligalism like its Presidential certificateless candidate.
Instead of them to concenterate on convincing actual humans to vote for them in real elections, they are busy configuring robots to help them win online polls.
What shall it profit them if they win all the online polls and lose the election itself?
I hope they aren't planning to present online poll results as evidence to court or use it to justify their parallel government threat after they lose the election.

Allow Buhari to seek medicare abroad, Fayose urges APC

By Our Reporter on January 30, 2015 

From WOLE BALOGUN, Ado Ekiti
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has pleaded with leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), especially former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, to be humane enough to allow the party’s presidential candidate, Major General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd) embark on his planned medical trip abroad.
The governor said Buhari was being prevented from travelling abroad for medical treatment, despite his ill-health so as to avoid controversies.
Special  Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, quoted Governor Fayose as saying at a campaign rally in Omuo Ekiti, Ekiti East Local Government that “Buhari is a car with a damaged engine but being packaged by Tinubu and his cabal whose only interest is the wealth of Nigeria.”
He said; “In all the campaign rallies held by the APC,  Buhari never spoke for more than six minutes.
“Buhari will just utter some words that he had rehearsed and any attempt to bring in new words always result to confusion in his brain due to senility. That was the reason he called his running mate Osunbade instead of Osinbajo and also referred to Imo State as Ibo State.
“This is clear evidence of ill-health, old age and senility.  Those packaging Buhari to achieve their personal ambition of gaining unhindered access to the wealth of Nigeria  should fear God and allow this old man to take care of his health,” the governor said.
Speaking further, Fayose, who insisted that “Buhari is old and sick said; “they had programmed Buhari to travel to the U.S on 26th of this month, but they opted out when the secret trip was reported in the media.
 http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=102406

DOKUBO'S WIFE REACT TO TY DANJUMA'S CALL To ARREST ASARI AND OTHERS, TELLS HIM TO ARREST AMAECHI, BUHARI.

Posted by: admin
January 30, 2015 in News

Hajia Mujahidat Daba Asari-Dokubo, wife of former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo has reacted to T.Y Danjuma’s call for the arrest of the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Mujahid Dokubo-Asari; Victor Ben Ebikabowei, aka, Boy Loaf; and Government Ekpudomenowei, aka, Tompolo, for threatening to plunge a war if incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan not won election. Hajia Daba Asari-Dokubo asked on her Facebook page why general didn’t ask the DSS to arrest Buhari, accusing him of being commander in chief of Boko Haram. Here are excerpts from her Facebook update, “Rtd. General Danjuma said Asari Dokubo, Tompolo and others should be arrested. Questions for Danjuma – did you arrest Mohammed when he was insulting the commander in chief of the armed forces president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan?” “Did he ask the DSS to arrest Buhari who is the commander in chief of BOKOHARAM? Did he asked the DSS to arrest Gov. Ameachi and his party APC when they said they will form a parallel govt. should the PDP be declared winner May 29th?” “Did the general ask the DSS to arrest those who attacked the president campaign convoy in Katsina, Bauchi and burnt the PDP presidential campaign buses in other northern states? I can go on and on the list is endless. T.Y. Danjuma should not raise dust just because is one of the beneficial of the Niger delta oil wells.” “I want to state categorical here that should Jega and his allies the north conspire against GEJ to favor Buhari to forcefully take over power to the north, we the Niger Delta people will shut down our oil.” “The north cannot use our oil to rule Nigeria and also restitute the poverty stricken north. If a Niger delta man is not good enough to rule, his oil should also be rejected.” Ex-Niger Delta militant leader Asari Dokubo has also hit back at General Danjuma asking the general to return his oil wells. He said, “Theophilus Danjuma should return Ijaw oil before calling for my arrest. He’s a Gambari slave.” -
Source: ‪#‎Scannews‬.

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Nollywood Igbo film and awards (NIFA) calls for increase of Igbo film:

The Igbo Chapter of the Nollywood body will be hosting the Nollywood Igbo Films and Awards (NIFA) soon and the body has called for the public turn up for Igbo-content films and visuals in a bid to increase the language.In a press release signed by National President of Igbo Film Forum (IFF), Comrade Chief Dr. Harris Chuma, the awards has called for the submission of feature, short, documentary, music video, Tvc,Talk Show, Tv Drama in Igbo language. NIFA intends to orchestrate the creation of an all day-all night channel exclusively dedicated to Igbo visuals on satellite broadcast media.

"Nollywood Igbo Film Festival & Award (NIFA)has become part and parcel of the annual Nollywood calendar. We look forward to keeping this yearly event. What we celebrate this year is a “Festival of increase”. This is an expression of our firm hope of recording a remarkable increase in the production of our darling Igbo Language movies.
"Furthermore,it is a pledge of our determination to make a substantial improvement in our sense of personal commitment and sacrifice to enable us increase the quantity and quality of the infrastructure needed for Igbo Film Industry to stand firm.We therefore urge all and sundry to raise the level of their commitment to, and conviction in Igbo Film Production as their creative community. Please, upgrade your contribution to the creative as well as economic growth of this industry of ours."
The body said the festival’s objectives include to create a 24/7 Igbo language television channel on satellite media, Igbo viewing centers, curtail piracy and others.

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NORTHERN ELDERS FORUM PROTECTING BOKO HARAM, SAYS - MIDDLE BELT DIALOGUE.

Middle Belt Dialogue (MBD), has accused the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) of protecting Boko Haram, stating that the only concern of the Forum is how to grab power in 2015.
BY ‪#‎SAHARAREPORTERS‬, NEW YORK:
MAY 20, 2013
Middle Belt Dialogue (MBD), has accused the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) of protecting Boko Haram, stating that the only concern of the Forum is how to grab power in 2015.
In a statement issued at the weekend by its spokesperson, Rima Shawulu Kwewum, MBD criticized the NEF for faulting the State of Emergency declared by President Goodluck Jonathan in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, adding that the NEF speaks not for them but for Muslims and their political interests.
For its part, MBD declared that Boko Haram deserves to be crushed out of Nigeria to make way for a peaceful and purposeful nation that is not indexed on religion, ethnicity or region.
“Erstwhile controversial Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Dr. Ango Abdullahi, who has transmuted into the spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has been in the news of late, castigating President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, declaring war and presumptuously speaking for the "North," the statement said. “We are in a new world, where presumably the rights of people, including the right to speak, however untruthfully, are respected. However, the freedom to speak precludes speaking for people who have not mandated you to speak for them. We, in the Middle Belt, the primary victims of the ethnic and religious cleansing embarked upon by Boko Haram and associated groups, have not mandated Ango Abdullahi to speak for us.”
Drawing attention to recent statements by Dr. Abudullahi, notably in Vanguard newspaper of May 17, the group said it was not surprised that the NEF is concerned about protecting Boko Haram but is not bothered about the Christian victims of the Boko Haram insurgency and the ethnic groups of Northern Nigeria, asserting that the militants are only acting out a script Northern leaders wrote for them.
“For sometime now, in central and northern Borno State, commercial vehicles are stopped, Christians separated from Muslims and summarily executed; churches are primarily targeted for destruction and attack. Boko Haram members we are told, [have] a camp where they keep kidnapped Christian women and children, and at such camps, they execute Christians who refuse to renounce their faith.”
Drawing attention to the atrocities committed so far by Boko Haram, MBD expressed regret that Ango Abdullahi and his wayfarers have seen nothing wrong with its ethnic and religious cleansing programme, and have neither condemned the killers nor sympathized with the victims.
MBD further said that for the sake of peace, its members had thought that President Goodluck Jonathan should be given the chance to proceed with the amnesty programme, but pointed out that after the announcement of amnesty, Boko Haram ridiculed Nigerians and the President by saying that it was the Nigerians which needed amnesty.
“We doff our cap to President Goodluck Jonathan, for sending troops after, the groups, which have denounced the sovereignty of Nigeria by hoisting strange flags on our motherland. Or is Ango Abdullahi supportive of the atrocities of Boko Haram, including the hoisting of the strange flags , because Boko Haram is carrying out Ango Abdullahi's treatise, which he expoused on May 1, 2013, when he said that the 1914, amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorate of Nigeria was a "mistake"? In any case, why would President Goodluck Jonathan treat Boko Haram differently from the way other insurgents in the past have been treated?
“Was the 7-day rebellion of Isaac Adaka Boro not crushed by the military?” the group asked. “Was Biafra not crushed by the military for hoisting a strange flag? Did President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, and earlier, President Olusegun Obasanjo not send Nigerian troops - air, land and sea -against the Niger Delta militants?”
The group called on Nigerians to pray and work for the total defeat of the ‘retrogressive’ Boko Haram agenda.
“We need a new Nigeria, where every tribe, religion and group would be accorded equal rights, a Nigeria where religion or tribe will not be the basis for promotion or demotion. Indeed, a Nigeria where all parts and peoples would be humanely treated and people will live in any place of their choice, freely choose and change their faith without fear of molestation and bombings.”
MBD reassured President Jonathan of its continuous support through this challenging period, although, it noted, it has not fared well in terms of patronage by his government.
Expressing gratitude that some money has been released to ameliorate the conditions created by the post-election violence, it urged him to ensure that the governors do not deny the Churches and the Christians, who are the primary victims of that violence, their due.
Source: #Saharareporters.