NaijaCarryGo

Leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, who was arrested last week in Republic of Benin, said he was arrested and interrogated by Benin officials over an allegation from Nigeria that he is a leader of Boko Haram. He has accused those opposed to the second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan of masterminding his arrest.

Speaking to journalists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Friday night, Dokubo described as lies the report that Jonathan sent a presidential jet to fly him into Nigeria from Benin.

“Crisis is normal, it can also happen here in Nigeria, it can happen anywhere in the world. The people and government of Republic of Benin have no problem with me.

“But if people alleged that somebody is a leader of Boko Haram, the government of that country will investigate the person.

“The allegation has much to do with 2015 because when you read comments on social media, you find out that people who are against President Goodluck Jonathan said they should vilify me, and make sure I die before 2015.

“But they are not going to succeed. I am not going to die. I will be present in 2015, and I will do what I am going to do to ensure that Jonathan wins in 2015. There is nothing they can do about it. This is their last fight and it is so unfortunate that the way they are going with show how immature they are.

“I just arrived from Cotonou. I drove in my car from Cotonou to Lagos airport where I boarded a flight to Abuja. The report is not true. No presidential jet was sent to me.

“I do business in Cotonou, and I have been living in Cotonou since 2008. Politically, people who are in Nigeria are trying to fabricate lies, which are not variable, and send it to Republic of Benin government. So I was taken for interrogation and they found that the allegations were false, and I was promptly released with over 20 of my staff who were also taken in.”

The former president of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), however, said his arrest was a blessing in disguise as he had an opportunity of meeting with officials of Benin after his interrogation. “I have met with the top and powerful people in Republic of Benin. Since I went to that country, I have never had any reason to meet with their government officials, but this crisis has made it possible for me to meet with all top government functionaries of the Republic of Benin. The crisis has raised my profile in that country.”

Dokubo didn’t deny President Jonathan’s intervention in his release, but he said; “It is not just only President Jonathan that intervened, Nigerians generally intervened. The number of people that came into Cotonou the day I was taken in, and the following day, were over one thousand.”

A photographer identified as Mark Thomas has been convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment by a Federal High Court sitting in Gombe, Gombe State.

Thomas, who resides at Buba Shongo quarters Gombe, was convicted for being in possession of counterfeit currency. He was arrested on the 8th of October, 2013 by men of the Department of State Security Services and brought to the EFCC Gombe Zonal Office.

During investigations, Thomas revealed that he produced the notes using a photocopier, which he claimed was stolen from him by unknown persons before his arrest. Forensic analysis confirmed the said currency notes to be fake as they had no security markings. Some of the N1000 notes had no serial numbers and three of the N500 notes have same serial numbers.

The convict who was first arraigned on the 19th of November, 2013 pleaded guilty to the two count charge relating to possession of counterfeit currency notes.

Justice Babatunde O. Quadri convicted Thomas accordingly and sentenced him to 2 years imprisonment without an option of fine.

"It was complicated back then, I didn’t really know what was happening and I wasn’t sure of certain things. So the best I had to do then was deny it and sort out things first. Now I know he is my child and I have done everything as a father ever since.

Ice Prince also explains his relationship with his baby mama, Bimbo Babatunde.

A yet to be ascertained volume of crude has been discharged into the Atlantic Ocean from the Brass Oil Export Terminal, operated by the Agip off the Nigerian Coastline in Bayelsa state, has discharged a yet to be ascertained volume of crude into the Atlantic ocean.

Confirming the oil spill, Chief Information Officer at National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Mr Henshaw Oguwike, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that, “The incident occurred on Thursday and our team is already at the spill site, so, I can tell you that investigations have commenced and by the time our men come back from the site, more facts will be made available.” Oguwike said.

According to him, the ongoing investigation would reveal the cause of the spill and the volume of crude discharged into the environment.

The NOSDRA spokesman said that the agency had also deployed its newly acquired oil spill response vessel to combat the spill.

The oil discharged from the incident had spread along the coastline to Odioama and other coastal communities in Bayelsa near the oil terminal.

Community sources in Odioama told NAN on telephone that the waters along the Atlantic coastline were covered by a thick coat of oil which compelled them to suspend fishing.

“We started noticing oil on Friday and soon afterward we saw oil workers attempting to contain the oil from spreading, but it was far more than they could handle so we had to pull out of fishing,” Doubra Samson, a resident said.

Oil spill is not a strange occurrence in the Niger Delta, and not strange also is the lackadaisical attitude of oil companies responsible for spills to do what is expected of them in remediating the polluted sites and compensating the communities affected.

Apart from affecting the livelihood of the people living in the area, thousands of animals in the affected area may be dead already, depending on the volume of crude spilled.

Beckham, who opened up about the incident in a documentary titled The Class of ’92, said the incident happened when he was just 16 years old. He said he was forced to stare at a calendar photo of eighties Reds soccer player Clayton Blackmore (pictured right) and pleasure himself, while his teammate watched, as part of an embarrassing hazing ritual.

“Everyone had an initiation that you had to go through on the youth team, that was one of the most uncomfortable ones. The fact that I had to look at Clayton Blackmore’s calendar and do certain things. I was embarrassed when I was saying it on camera let alone talking about it more. But it’s something that we all had to go through. It was definitely something I wouldn’t like to go through again!' Beckham said

Some universities have developed cold feet, or just tired of the prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, which has kept government-owned universities in the nation shut for five months now. One of such universities is the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), which said academic activities would resume on Monday 2 December, two days ahead of the December 4 deadline given by the Federal Government to university vice-chancellors to reopen their universities, and for lecturers who have been on strike since July 1 to resume work or consider themselves sacked.

Both ESUT and UNN made the announcement about the resumption in separate statements today.

The Registrar of the UNN, Mr Anthony Okonta, made the announcement in a statement today, stressing that “normal academic activities would resume immediately.”

The statement directed students who had outstanding examinations for the 2012/2013 session to report to their respective faculties and departments in Nsukka and Enugu campuses.

The Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), also called students back for academic activities in a similar statemet.

Registrar, ESUT, Mr Chris Igbokwe, advised students and academic and non- academic staff to report to the institution on 2 December.

According to the statement, students are advised to return to their campuses at Agbani and Enugu campuses as the second semester examination would commence on Monday, 9 December.

The Federal Government had in a statement issued by the supervising minister of Education Nyesom Wike on Thursday, directed all federal universities to resume work on or before Dec. 4, threatening to sack erring lecturers.

OBIO/AKPOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL OCCUPIED BY SECURITY OPERATIVES

The political crisis in Rivers State might not come to an end anytime soon if the resolve of elected officials of Obio/Akpor Local government Council in the state not to obey Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s order dissolving the council is anything to go by.

Amaechi had on Thursday night announced the dissolution of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council through a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. George Feyii but Chairman of the council, Prince Timoth Nsirim, his deputy, Mr Solomon Eke; and the 17 councillors of the council have vowed to remain in office following their reinstatement by a Rivers State High Court ruling on Monday.

In the statement announcing the dissolution of the council in accordance with the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 2 of 2012, Gov. Amaechi directed Nsirim to hand over to the Head of Personnel Management (HPM) of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Mr. Singer Azubuike Singer.

But Nsirim, while speaking to journalists yesterday insisted that he would abide by the court judgment which re-instated him as the chairman of the council.

Adopting a tougher position on why they would not obey the governor’s dissolution order and vacate the secretariat, Vice Chairman, Mr. Solomon Eke, warned Amaechi to stop treating Rivers State like his father’s company.

He said, “Rivers state is not his (Amaechi’s) father’s company; he does not have any say as far as Obio/Akpor is concerned until he gets the court to vacate its order. The court has told him to hands off Obio/Akpor until the elected officers complete their three-year tenure. He should respect the court judgement.

“If he does not obey the court, we cannot obey whatever directives or order he gives. Whatever order he gives on Obio/Akpor will be flouted by us”.

Eke also the so-called Singer, who the chairman was directed to hand-over to, was not known to them and wondered if the head of personnel management was the highest civil servant of the council if at all they were to obey the dissolution order.

According to him, “Singer is not the highest ranking civil servant in the council. The head of local government is the highest civil servant in the council. We did not create the law. Besides, I do not know Singer. I have not seen him before. Perhaps, he is the HPM appointed by the caretaker committee. If he is a worker in the council, why did he not resume in the council when others resumed? The civil servants we know all resumed work with us when the court delivered judgment and the council secretariat was re-opened. So, I don’t know where he is coming from”.

The Interim National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has defended the actions of Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who came under massive tongue-lash from generality of Nigerians following his comments, which he has since regretted and apologized, that a widow should ‘go and die’.

A video which went viral during the week, showed an unmoved Gov. Oshiomhole, about a fortnight ago, ordering the seizure of some goods belonging to a woman, who was allegedly hawking her wares on the side-walks, in contravention of existing traffic laws, even as she went on her knees, crying and begging for mercy on grounds that she was a widow.

Her claim that she was a widow only seemed to anger the governor, who retorted, “you are a widow, go and die”.

But this statement did not go down with Nigerians both within and outside the country as they decried the governor’s attitude especially, as he was once a union leader, who fought for the rights of the poor and downtrodden in society when it was being trampled upon by government.

However, commenting on the episode while speaking on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise, on Saturday, Mr Mohammed said “running a state is not about popularity but about doing the right thing.

“In doing so, you are probably going to step on certain toes,” he said, adding that his experience in government gives him knowledge that harsh decisions will be taken.

But when asked if the Governor’s comment was justified, the APC spokesman responded, “No. I’m just saying that in some circumstances, you take decisions which are very unpleasant”.

The Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, on Thursday said rising insecurity and crude oil theft in Nigeria is influenced by poverty.

Mr. Amaechi stated this in London during a presentation on “Security and Human Rights in the Niger Delta.”

“We need a Nigerian president who will rule the country as a nation; for instance, the issues of Boko Haram, kidnapping and oil theft are poverty related.”

“When people are not meaningfully engaged, they become willing tools for destruction.”

“Government has to create opportunities for people to be educated and engaged,” he said.

He also stressed the need for government to deal with the issue of impunity, saying “we are talking about oil theft and nobody has gone to jail”.

“If we deal with the issues of impunity and poverty, oil theft will reduce, kidnapping and other crimes will be on the decline; this we can do by collaborating with the local and international communities,” Mr. Amaechi said.

The governor said that his administration had put in place various initiatives and schemes in the areas of agriculture, health and education.

“We have built and equipped 500 primary schools with ICT facility” to empower our youths,” he said.

According to him, providing social security through basic amenities is vital to Nigeria’s development.

Among Mr. Amaechi’s audience were some members of the British House of Commons who suggested the use of surveillance aircraft as a better means of tackling incessant cases of oil theft and bunkering in Nigeria.

They said that better surveillance would ensure direct information gathering on what quantity of oil is being stolen and those involved in the crime.

They said that oil theft, insecurity, and environmental degradation were big challenges which required rapid response and synergies between states and the Federal Government.

The members also noted the increased level of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, saying that the development had made it difficult for seafarers to go to West Africa.

Nigeria has sought assistance of the international community in tackling oil theft by calling for close monitoring and prosecution of companies and individuals involved in the illegal trade.

The event was attended by some Nigerians in the Diaspora and Rivers State students on scholarship scheme in the U.K.

(NAN)

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday presented Certificate of Return to Chief Mathias Ekweremadu, as Enugu State House of Assembly member-elect for Aninri Constituency.

Ekweremadu (PDP) polled 7,556 votes to defeat his opponent, Mr Collins Obasi of the National Conscience Party (NCP) who polled 117 votes in a by-election conducted on Nov. 23 at the constituency.

Ekweremadu replaced Chief Abel Chukwu who got an appointment at the National Assembly Commission, Abuja.

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, in Enugu State, Dr Lawrence Azubuike, said the by-election was conducted following a letter dated Oct. 29, from the Clerk of the assembly which declared Aninri seat vacant.

He said in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, the commission conducted the election within 30 days it received the letter from the assembly.

The commissioner described the election as “free and fair’’, adding that it indicated a return to the high standards of INEC despite the lapses that trailed the Nov. 16 governorship election in Anambra.

“Though the by-election in Aninri was not as complex as that of Anambra, it however, shows the determination of INEC to return to the lofty heights of the past and to meet the high expectations of the people.

“The commission’s leadership remains competent, credible, able and ready to exceed commendable performances recorded in recent elections,’’ he said.

While congratulating the member-elect, Azubuike urged him to use his position to give good representation to the people of his constituency.

In his response, Ekweremadu commended INEC for a peaceful conduct of the by-election, and urged Nigerians to have confidence in the commission despite its challenges.

He promised to impact on the lives of the people of his constituency through people oriented bills and motions in the assembly.

The Chairman of Aninri Local Government, Chief Nwabueze Nwobodo, and the PDP Chairman in the council, Mr Uchechukwu Ogbonna, expressed appreciation at the peaceful conduct of the election.

They urged Ekweremadu to work together with the executive arm and the council in ensuring peace and development of the state. (NAN)

file photo: accident scene

Five persons died in an auto crash when a 10-seat Sharon bus skidded off the road at Tudun-Gara village near Kaura Namoda in Zamfara on Saturday.

Alhaji Muktar Fago, Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC’s Unit Commander in the zone, said the carnage occurred at 6.30 am, about 10 kilometers into Kaura-Namoda/Sokoto road.

Fago said “the accident was caused by burst tyre and over speeding which made the driver to lose control and skidded off the road into the bush”.

He said three persons died on the spot while two others died when FRSC officials were conveying them to the hospital. “The corpses were deposited at the Kaura Namoda General Hospital”.

Fago added that five passengers who sustained various degrees of injuries were taken to Gusau General Hospital for treatment.

Fago said all those involved in the accident were Islamic scholars travelling to Niamey in Niger Republic for the Annual International Preaching in that country.

Fago advised drivers and other road users to drive very carefully “especially this season when we record mass movements and increased religious activities”. (NAN)

The Lagos State Government on Saturday said it would demolish structures built under electric transmission cables across the state.

The State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Tunji Bello, stated this while monitoring the monthly sanitation in Ayobo/Ipaja area of the state.

He said building under high tension installations was fraught with grave danger, adding that it also constituted environmental nuisance.

Bello said government could not afford to watch residents endangered their lives, adding that officials would soon remove the illegal structures.

“In fact, I have instructed the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to deal with that.

“Ordinarily, how can people erect structures under high tension cable?

“We have said time and time again that people shouldn’t build under the high tension cables and poles because it is dangerous, but they won’t listen.

“And some of these people still ask us for amenities like drainages and so on. Who will ever do that? We are sorry we cannot do drainage for people under high tension ’’, Bello said.

The commissioner warned residents against building on flood plains, saying the practice threatened lives and the environment.

He advised residents against dumping refuse in drains and canals as doing so could cause flooding.

The commissioner said the government was building new drains and expanding the capacities of existing canals to prevent flooding.

He appealed to residents to co-operate with government in improving the environment by abiding with environmental laws.

Chairman of Ayobo/Ipaja Local Council Development Authority, Mr Shakiru Yusuf, said flooding was a major problem in the area.

According to him, most of the residents were confined to their homes most times during rainy seasons as the area was always flooded.

“We, therefore, appeal to the state government to come up with urgent intervention to end this perennial problem’’, he said.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Works, Mr Ganiyu Johnson, said the government was committed to the transformation of Ipaja/Ayobo and the rest of Alimosho.

He said the ongoing rehabilitation of Ipaja/Ayobo road and execution of other projects demonstrated that commitment.

Johnson appealed for patience on the road, saying the council was doing everything possible to ensure its early completion. (NAN)

Former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday declared that the All Progressives Congress, APC, is bigger than any individual, including himself and former military head of state, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari and Tinubu have often being touted as the soul of APC and the major force binding the opposition party together, but the former Lagos governor debunked that insinuation insisting that the party is essentially about Nigerians and how they can come together to rescue the country from what he termed ‘inept’ leadership.

He spoke to reporters in Bwari, Abuja on the sideline of the 2012/2013 Call to Bar ceremony of the Nigeria Law School while responding to a question about the significance of the five former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governors joining APC and the implications for Nigeria.

“The APC is not about Tinubu, Buhari or any of its leaders. It is about the nation and how we can come together and work together to rescue Nigeria from inept leadership. The implication is change,” he said.

The APC leader added that, “We want to change the way things are done by working together and investing our ideas. We must change the way we do things. Imagine from the 60’s till date. The cutlass of the 60s cannot be used for farming now. We need leaders that can think outside the box’’.

Describing Nigeria as a blessed nation with talented youths whose potentials must be harnessed for the development of the country, Asiwaju Tinubu said Nigeria needs a democratic revolution that will unleash infrastructural development and massive industrialization.

“The lamentations must stop. After so many years of lamentation with action, we must lead the new resolve to rally for the much needed change our country badly needs’’, Tinubu said, and condemned the hardline stance of the Federal Government to the lingering strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

Specifically reacting to the December 4 deadline given to the striking lecturers to return to their classrooms or risk losing their jobs, he said: “We are not in a military era. The language used shows a government out of tune with the general feelings of Nigerians.

“Nigeria cannot afford to continue to lose her best brains to the diaspora’’.

The Abubakar Kwau Baraje led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also known as the New PDP or nPDP, has stated that there is no going back on its decision to leave the ruling party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Recall that the New PDP announced a merger with the APC on Tuesday after a meeting of leaders of both sides in Kano.

The spokesperson of the faction, Chukwuemeka Eze, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, however, thanked President Goodluck Jonathan and National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, for making the prayers of Nigerians come true with the announcement of the merger which he said signaled the “death of PDP”.

He said: “We have bidded the sinking ship called PDP bye and there is no going back. We wish to thank President Goodluck Jonathan and Alhaji Bamanga Tukur for ensuring the death of PDP as prayed for by the good people of our country”.

The New PDP spokesman noted that “History will record it that it was under their watch that a ruling party changed roles and became an opposition political party,” just as he added that “Their eyes will clear when a rejuvenated APC dislodges the torn umbrella from the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in 2015”.

PRESS RELEASE

"Edo PDP watched with consternation Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s brutal, inhuman and merciless treatment of a widow street-trader whose wares he ordered seized and who he unfeelingly told to ‘…go and die’ even as she knelt down in fervent protestations and appeals to his pity on a helpless widow.

The governor’s actions are appalling, insensate, disgraceful, indecent, cruel and below board. It is clear that he does not care much about the well being of the people as he pretentiously avowed. Our hearts go to that hapless widow in this her time of travails and through her, to other widows who have been oppressed by the unfriendly policies of the administration in Edo State.

The PDP, Edo State will not let any Edo person ‘to go and die’ if it can help it, especially not hardworking people like that widow who are engaged in lawful enterprises that are, in themselves, not easy to carry on.

To this end, our party has instituted an endowment fund for all widows and oppressed people in the state and by this release, we invite the widow captured in the video of the encounter with Governor Oshiomhole to come to the PDP Secretariat on No. 70, Sapele Road, at 11am on Tuesday December 3, 2013 to receive a first-installment sum of N250,000.00 to cushion the pain, trauma and loss occasioned by her mistreatment and the seizure of the items she sells. Governance is about the people and as a responsible National Institution, Edo PDP cannot be unconcerned about the wrong treatment of indigenes of the state to whom the present administration promised heaven just to win their votes.

We will continue to stand in the gap to ensure that Edo people are deservedly fairly treatment If Governor Oshiomhole believes that Edo People sinned by voting him into office, let him remember that he will account for his actions, if not to the people because he apparently does not think much of them, but to God Almighty in the short or long run.

We thank all those who have been humanely concerned about the plight of the widow and have stood out vehemently against the crying shame that was the insensitive action of a governor who seems bent on repaying electoral favor with ingratitude."

Repentant militant and leader of the defunct Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF) Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, who was arrested on Tuesday afternoon in Cotonou, Benin Republic but was released on Thursday, has attributed his ordeal to an allegation which emanated from Nigeria that linked him to the dreaded Islamist sect, Boko Haram.

He also attributed his travails in the hands of the Beninoise authorities to persons, who he claimed are opposed to the 2015 re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Looking unperturbed as he spoke with reporters Friday night upon his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Dokubo-Asari described as lies, reports that President Jonathan sent a Presidential Jet to bring him back to Nigeria immediately he was released by authorities in the neighboring West African country, which he has adopted as his second home.

He said, “Crisis is normal, it can also happen here in Nigeria, it can happen anywhere in the world. The people and government of Republic of Benin have no problem with me. But if people alleged that somebody is a leader of Boko Haram, the government of that country will investigate the person.

“The allegation has much to do with 2015 because when your read comments on social media, you find out that somebody who is against President Goodluck Jonathan, said they should vilify me and make sure I die before 2015. But they are not going to succeed. I am not going to die. I will be present in 2015, and I will do what I am going to do to ensure that Jonathan wins in 2015. There is nothing they can do about it. This is their last fight and it is so unfortunate that the way and manner they are going with it shows how immature they are”.

On the allegation that he was flown into Abuja aboard a Presidential Jet, Dokubo-Asari said, “I just arrived from Cotonou. I drove in my car from Cotonou to Lagos Airport where I boarded Aero Contractors flight to Abuja. The report is not true. No presidential jet was sent to me.

“That report is an instigated falsehood. Most of the things that have always been written against President Goodluck Jonathan is also falsehood. A section of the press in Nigeria is manipulated and instigated.

“I do business in Cotonou, and I have been living in Cotonou since 2008. Politically, people who are in Nigeria are trying to fabricate lies, which are not verifiable, and send it to the government of Republic of Benin. So I was taken for interrogation and they found that the allegations were false, and I was promptly released with over 20 of my staff who were also taken in”.

The ex-militant leader also spoke on his meeting with government officials of Benin Republic after his interrogation.

“I have met with the top and powerful people in Republic of Benin, since I went to that country. I have never had any reason to meet with their government officials, but this crisis has made it possible for me to meet with all the top government functionaries of the Republic of Benin. The crises has raised my profile in that country”, he boasted.

The National Secretary of PDP, Prof. Wale Oladipo, said Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola had lost moral ground and political legitimacy to lay claim to the party.

The remark is contained in a statement issued by Mr Abiodun Ojo, his Special Assistant on Special Duties in Abuja on Friday.

In the statement, he also said Oyinlola, former National Secretary of the PDP and Governor of Osun, had lost political relevance in his state.

Oyinola, suspended from the PDP on Nov. 11 by its National Working Committee (NWC), insists that he remained the party’s national secretary.

He was suspended from the party after an Appeal Court recently ordered that he be reinstated as national secretary.

Oyinlola was suspended along with Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, leader of the PDP splinter group, Dr Sam Jaja and Ibrahim Kazaure.

The statement added that since Oladipo emerged as PDP scribe, he had deliberately refrained from joining issues with Oyinlola because of his respect for old relationship.

It said Oyinlola’s recent activities raised many questions about his understanding of politics and suggesting a political disorientation of sorts.

“We are constrained to issue this statement on the recent conduct and pronouncements of Oyinlola.

“His disloyal and theatrical betrayal of allies and party that made him, disrobe him of any further claims to a party he has done so much to destroy.

“We affirm that Oyinlola has for long lost his political troops in Osun due to chronic betrayal and manifest self-centeredness”.

According to the statement, the former governor is jumping from one platform to the other and window-shopping in the judiciary.

“Members rejoice at Oyinlola’s exit from the party and we thank well-meaning Nigerians for their concern and inquiries’’, the statement added.

It restated Oladapo’s loyalty to the party’s national leader, President Goodluck Jonathan and commitment to harmonious working relationship with National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and members of NWC.

In a reaction, Oyinlola advised Jonathan to be wary of people who were out to pursue hidden agenda.

Such persons, he added, could disappoint him if they failed in their rabid ambition to get what they wanted. (NAN)

The South-east zone of the Civil Liberties Organisation, (CLO), Friday, raised alarm over what it described as the unlawful torture and execution of four crime suspects in police custody in Enugu, and therefore demanded for the immediate intervention of the federal government to unmask those behind the crime.

In a petition to the Police Affairs Minister, Caleb Olubolade signed by its Zonal Director, Olu Omotayo and copied to Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mike Okiro, the human rights group listed the four suspects as Dennis Nwode, Obinna Nwode, Goodluck Echezona Igwenagu and Onyeka Nnaji.

In a swift reaction, the police in Enugu has dismissed the allegation as false and intended to deceive the general public.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, DSP. Ebere Amaraizu, disclosed that the suspects are still alive and would soon be taken to court after investigation is concluded by the police.

The CLO, however insisted in its petition which was made available to newsmen in Enugu that the suspects were summarily executed on Tuesday November 26th 2013, at the Anti-Kidnapping Base, Enugu.

Prison officers lead Talal Ahmad Roda to Prison after he was sentenced to life imprisonment by an Abuja court

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced one of the three Lebanese arraigned for terrorism by the Federal Government, Talal Ahmad Roda to life imprisonment, having been found guilty of conspiracy.

The two others, Mustapha Fawaz and Abdallah Thahini, were discharged and acquitted from the 16 count charge filed against them by the Federal Government.

The court also discharged Amigo supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park “as no concrete evidence was established against the two organizations linking them with 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 the nation’s laws, 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.

Having reviewed all the 16 charges preferred against the three Lebanese, Justice Ademola 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 Gaiya 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 was about to pronounce sentence on the convict when counsel to the accused persons, Ahmed Raji SAN, prayed it to temper justice with mercy.

He premised his allocutus on the grounds that the convict co-operated with the security agencies all through the trial and that he had lived his entire life in Nigeria.

Responding, the prosecution counsel, Simon Egede, submitted that he shared in the sentiment of the defence counsel; however, he said “the law must take its course, no matter what happened.”

He noted that the punishment for conspiracy was life imprisonment and he urged the court to follow the law in making its pronouncement.

It was at this point that the trial judge rose for about 45 minutes.

In pronouncing sentence, Justice Ademola held that the charge under which the 3rd accused person was convicted provided for life imprisonment and the court had no discretion to vary it.

He said: “I have listened to the allocutus of the defence counsel on the issue of sentencing.

“After I have read one or two authorities as to the provision where the accused was charged, it does not give room for judicial discretion. I thereby sentence the third accused person to life imprisonment on Count 8 and 9 and both terms are to run concurrently.”

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. [Thisday]

THE HELPLESS WIDOW PLEADING FOR MERCY FROM GOV. ADAMS OSHIOMHOLE

Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo on Friday apologised for the comments he made to a widow in Benin during an inspection tour on Mission Road, in the state capital, a fortnight ago.

Oshiomhole said that he now regretted the comments which had become the subject of discourse in the social media.

The Governor, however, noted that he made the comments in anger.

Oshiomhole’s apology was made when the leadership of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), paid him a courtesy visit in Benin.

He noted that though the challenge of modern times had bestowed on the shoulders of some women and single mothers the status of bread winners of their homes, such should not be used as an accuse to flout the laws.

The Governor urged the Muslim women leaders to use their offices to propagate the essence of healthy living among children and women in the nation and the need to maintain proper sanitary conditions in their neighbourhoods.

Oshiomhole lamented that the challenge of widowhood had also exposed children to different temptations, adding that there was the need for society to be careful, to avoid unwittingly creating more problems for the nation.

He noted that money was not the best thing that guaranteed ones happiness, “but honesty and selfless service.

The Governor added that if Muslims and Christians were adequately committed to their religious doctrines, the world would be a better place.

He urged the women to propagate the message of Islam through the nooks and crannies of the nation, and to also inculcate the values of honesty in their followers.

Oshiomhole, however, assured the association of government’s support in ensuring that its present leadership made remarkable progress and also consolidated on the successes of their predecessors.

Earlier, the FOMWAN National President, Hajia Amina Omoti, urged the state government to look into the issue of the teaching of Islamic Religious Studies in public schools in the state.

Omoti also solicited for government’s moral and financial support for the effective running of the association. (NAN)

Following reports that he was flown to Nigeria after being released by the police in Benin Republic, the leader of Niger Delta people’s Volunteers Force, NDPVF, Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, Friday, debunked the reports, saying he was still in Cotonou, the capital of Benin Republic.

Describing the reports as lies, Alhaji Asari-Dokubo said he will be flying into the country aboard a commercial flight any moment from now.

Speaking through the South East/North Central Coordinator of Niger Delta People’s Volunteers Force, Mr. Emmanuel Amakiri in Abuja, Asari-Dokubo accused enemies of the present administration for his current travail and incarceration by Beninoise gendarmes.

He said that there was no iota of truth in the insinuation that President Jonathan deployed a jet to ferry him to Abuja a few hours after his release.

“We want to correct erroneous impression making round in some quarters concerning the unfortunate incident in Benin republic in the arrest of the leader of NDPVF and our mentor, Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo.

“After all efforts by his followers and the Nigerian people we were able to secure his release. There was a rumour that presidential jet was deployed to Benin Republic to fly him to Abuja.

“As I speak with you, Asari-Dokubo is still Benin Republic, and possibly to come back to Nigeria by today or tomorrow aboard commercial flight.

“So, we are here to debunk emphatically that no presidential jet ever brought Asari-Dokubo to Abuja. He will come with Arik aircraft and all of us, his followers, friends and admirers will be at the airport in the public glare to receive him,” he said.

The Chief of Army Staff Lt General Azubike Ihejirika, has advised Nigerians not to panic over speculation of the spread of terrorists into other regions of the country, assuring that security operatives are on top of the situation, with security moves in top gear to monitor terrorists movements.

Speaking in Lagos while commissioning the remodeled headquarters of the Nigerian Army Engineers Complex, at Bonny cantonment, Victoria Island, Ihejirika noted that attempt by some insurgents to spread from the North eastern region of the country to other regions have met brick-wall following their subsequent arrests, adding that the Nigerian Army would continue to do its best in providing equipment and logistics to enable troops carry out their duties.

“The spread should not cause panic. We monitor their movement and the exposure on them is beefed up in the North East in particular and in other parts of the North and the tendency is not for them to fret down wards,” Ihejirika said.

“What we are trying to do is to build new cells in the new areas particularly for those of them that are unrepentant.

“We have a common understanding with the SSS ,the police and other sister services to continue to monitor them and they are being arrested”.

Commending the Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers for giving its headquarters a structural face lift, Ihejirika noted that the initiative and courage to undertake such project was in line with his vision to transform the Nigerian Army into a force that would meet the demands of the present challenges as well as remain relevant in national development.

According to him, this giant strides entailed a lot of sacrifice, integrity and on the part of the commander and his officers and soldiers. It is a proof that the transformation agenda of the president, commander-in-chief of Armed Forces, Dr Goodluck Jonathan is being imbibed by some commanders in the Nigeria Army.”

He therefore,urged other commanders to emulate such,even as he encouraged the Commander, officers and soldiers of the Corps to strive more to improve upon the standards attained, noting that any organisation that is not growing is dying. here is still room for improvement particularly in support for the Nigeria Army operations in the North East where we have made progress the Army Headquarters in the face of limited resources and other competing needs.

Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Ibrahim Attahiru also alerted Nigerians that Boko Haram terrorists have come out with new tactics to circumvent security measures put in place towards curtailing their activities in the North East.

The new methods according to General Attahiru include resorting to attacks on soft targets and erecting snap road blocks on major highways in the north east.

He however stressed that the Army has been responding swiftly through effective combat patrols both on air and land.

General Attahiru said: “While the onslaught on the violence extremist organisation continues, the insurgents have devised methods to circumvent the new security measures by resorting to attacks on soft targets and erecting snap road blocks on major highways in the north east” he said.

“Equally, our troops have responded appropriately through effective combat patrols both on land and air in order to dominate the area of operations,” he stated.

Describing the United States’ designation of Boko Haram and Ansaru as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTO) as a step in the right direction, he noted that the Nigerian Army has continued to carry out “full spectrum counter-insurgency operations, with emphasis on both kinetic and non-kinetic operations to shape the operational environment in the north east”.

“Currently, 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in conjunction with the Nigerian Air force had carried out simultaneous offensive operations. Based on these operations, insurgents were successfully cleared from some camps in Sambisa Forest, Bita Village in Damboa Local Government as well as Gujba in neighbouring Yobe State. Many insurgents were killed and large cache of arms and ammunition were also recovered,” the Army spokesman said.