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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has threatened to file a libel suit against the duo of Yinka Odumakin and Femi Fani-Kayode, a former minister of aviation, over alleged propagation of fake news

This was contained in a statement released by the commission on Tuesday.

EFCC claimed that the duo have made allegations which are not correct against it.

It particularly made reference to the posts from the two personalities which accused the EFCC of surrounding the house of Walter Onnoghen, Chief Justice of Nigeria, with the primary aim of arresting him.

The statement read: “The attention of EFCC has been drawn to the falsehood which has been spreading on the social media that the EFCC has arrested the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen. This is not only a figment of the imagination of the purveyor of the fake news, but an evil machination by the creator and carriers of the news aimed at creating anarchy in the country.

“For the record, the EFCC never went to the house of the CJN for arrest, neither was invitation extended to him.

“Several calls and short messages received all point to the fact that the brains behind the fake news had one thing in mind: to act as agent of destabilization. We would not give in to their plots.

“One of the architects of the fake news, Femi Fani-Kayode, was quoted as saying 'Why have the EFCC surrounded the home of CJN Onnoghen and why are they seeking to arrest him? These people want Nigeria to burn! Buhari call off your dogs before it is too late! This is a democracy and not a gestapo state! In the name of God let this madness stop'. 

“Another arrowhead of the fake news, Yinka Odumakin, shared a non-existent video which has gone viral.
We want to assure Nigerians that while we would fight corruption in line with the mandate setting up the Commission, agents of darkness, in the likes of Femi Fani-Kayode, Yinka Odumakin and his cohorts, would never be able to manipulate the people against the Commission.

"We also want to assure Fani-Kayode, Yinka Odumakin and other purveyors of the evil news to be ready to defend their actions in the court of law as the EFCC will file libel suit against them without further delay.”

Onnoghen has denied the claims that his home was raided by the EFCC.

Awassam Bassey, the Senior Special Adviser to the CJN on media said: “I really don’t know where they got the information from. So many media men were here earlier with cameras over the same report. But what I can tell you for now is that there was no such thing. It is false news".

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has threatened to file a libel suit against the duo of Yinka Odumakin and Femi Fani-Kayode, a former minister of aviation, over alleged propagation of fake news

This was contained in a statement released by the commission on Tuesday.

EFCC claimed that the duo have made allegations which are not correct against it.

It particularly made reference to the posts from the two personalities which accused the EFCC of surrounding the house of Walter Onnoghen, Chief Justice of Nigeria, with the primary aim of arresting him.

The statement read: “The attention of EFCC has been drawn to the falsehood which has been spreading on the social media that the EFCC has arrested the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen. This is not only a figment of the imagination of the purveyor of the fake news, but an evil machination by the creator and carriers of the news aimed at creating anarchy in the country.

“For the record, the EFCC never went to the house of the CJN for arrest, neither was invitation extended to him.

“Several calls and short messages received all point to the fact that the brains behind the fake news had one thing in mind: to act as agent of destabilization. We would not give in to their plots.

“One of the architects of the fake news, Femi Fani-Kayode, was quoted as saying 'Why have the EFCC surrounded the home of CJN Onnoghen and why are they seeking to arrest him? These people want Nigeria to burn! Buhari call off your dogs before it is too late! This is a democracy and not a gestapo state! In the name of God let this madness stop'. 

“Another arrowhead of the fake news, Yinka Odumakin, shared a non-existent video which has gone viral.
We want to assure Nigerians that while we would fight corruption in line with the mandate setting up the Commission, agents of darkness, in the likes of Femi Fani-Kayode, Yinka Odumakin and his cohorts, would never be able to manipulate the people against the Commission.

"We also want to assure Fani-Kayode, Yinka Odumakin and other purveyors of the evil news to be ready to defend their actions in the court of law as the EFCC will file libel suit against them without further delay.”

Onnoghen has denied the claims that his home was raided by the EFCC.

Awassam Bassey, the Senior Special Adviser to the CJN on media said: “I really don’t know where they got the information from. So many media men were here earlier with cameras over the same report. But what I can tell you for now is that there was no such thing. It is false news".

Corruption Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
http://bit.ly/2srT1od

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has threatened to file a libel suit against the duo of Yinka Odumakin and Femi Fani-Kayode, a former minister of aviation, over alleged propagation of fake news

This was contained in a statement released by the commission on Tuesday.

EFCC claimed that the duo have made allegations which are not correct against it.

It particularly made reference to the posts from the two personalities which accused the EFCC of surrounding the house of Walter Onnoghen, Chief Justice of Nigeria, with the primary aim of arresting him.

The statement read: “The attention of EFCC has been drawn to the falsehood which has been spreading on the social media that the EFCC has arrested the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen. This is not only a figment of the imagination of the purveyor of the fake news, but an evil machination by the creator and carriers of the news aimed at creating anarchy in the country.

“For the record, the EFCC never went to the house of the CJN for arrest, neither was invitation extended to him.

“Several calls and short messages received all point to the fact that the brains behind the fake news had one thing in mind: to act as agent of destabilization. We would not give in to their plots.

“One of the architects of the fake news, Femi Fani-Kayode, was quoted as saying 'Why have the EFCC surrounded the home of CJN Onnoghen and why are they seeking to arrest him? These people want Nigeria to burn! Buhari call off your dogs before it is too late! This is a democracy and not a gestapo state! In the name of God let this madness stop'. 

“Another arrowhead of the fake news, Yinka Odumakin, shared a non-existent video which has gone viral.
We want to assure Nigerians that while we would fight corruption in line with the mandate setting up the Commission, agents of darkness, in the likes of Femi Fani-Kayode, Yinka Odumakin and his cohorts, would never be able to manipulate the people against the Commission.

"We also want to assure Fani-Kayode, Yinka Odumakin and other purveyors of the evil news to be ready to defend their actions in the court of law as the EFCC will file libel suit against them without further delay.”

Onnoghen has denied the claims that his home was raided by the EFCC.

Awassam Bassey, the Senior Special Adviser to the CJN on media said: “I really don’t know where they got the information from. So many media men were here earlier with cameras over the same report. But what I can tell you for now is that there was no such thing. It is false news".

Corruption Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
http://bit.ly/2srT1od

Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, has said the survival of most West African countries depends on the contribution of Nigeria in the area of food sufficiency. 

Lokpobiri said this when Lisandro Martins, the Regional Director of  International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), visited the minister in Abuja. 

This was contained in a statement by the minister’s Director of Media, George Oji, on Tuesday.

The statement read: “Whatever we do here essentially feeds the whole of West Africa. The seeds we produce here essentially services the whole of West Africa, the grains we produce here services the whole of West Africa. 

“Whatever happens here affects the whole of West Africa. So, whatever support you are giving to Nigeria is essentially the support given to the whole of West Africa.

“As a government, we will give priority to our partnership, whatever is needed to be done on the part of the government, we will endeavour to do."

The regional director of  IFAD promised that the  agency would deploy more staff to Nigeria to assist the nation in food sufficiency.

“We are working with our team to bring additional staff to Nigeria because this is clearly a country that is almost like a continent, where we realise the capacity we have at the moment is not sufficient,” Martins said.

Agriculture International News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, has said the survival of most West African countries depends on the contribution of Nigeria in the area of food sufficiency. 

Lokpobiri said this when Lisandro Martins, the Regional Director of  International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), visited the minister in Abuja. 

This was contained in a statement by the minister’s Director of Media, George Oji, on Tuesday.

The statement read: “Whatever we do here essentially feeds the whole of West Africa. The seeds we produce here essentially services the whole of West Africa, the grains we produce here services the whole of West Africa. 

“Whatever happens here affects the whole of West Africa. So, whatever support you are giving to Nigeria is essentially the support given to the whole of West Africa.

“As a government, we will give priority to our partnership, whatever is needed to be done on the part of the government, we will endeavour to do."

The regional director of  IFAD promised that the  agency would deploy more staff to Nigeria to assist the nation in food sufficiency.

“We are working with our team to bring additional staff to Nigeria because this is clearly a country that is almost like a continent, where we realise the capacity we have at the moment is not sufficient,” Martins said.

Agriculture International News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Abubakar Mohammed Adamu, the newly-appointed acting Inspector General of Police has said the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) under his leadership, will restrategise to combat various insecurity in the country. 

Speaking with State House correspondents in Abuja on Tuesday after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, he said he would ensure that policemen adhere to the ethics of the profession.

"We know that there are security challenges that we need to tackle in the country; issues of kidnapping and other security challenges. From the strategies put in place by the former IGP, we will restrategise and make sure that we tackle these challenges squarely," he said.

“On the elections, you have heard from the former IGP. Adequate arrangements have been made to make sure that free, fair and credible elections take place in Nigeria. We are going to build upon the strategies put in place to make sure that we have hitch-free elections in the country.

“Well, we are professionals. We are going to stick by the rules; we are going to do the right thing. We will not go outside the ethics of our job to do things that are untoward. Everybody will be given level-playing ground to play his or her politics.” 

Police Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Abubakar Mohammed Adamu, the newly-appointed acting Inspector General of Police has said the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) under his leadership, will restrategise to combat various insecurity in the country. 

Speaking with State House correspondents in Abuja on Tuesday after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, he said he would ensure that policemen adhere to the ethics of the profession.

"We know that there are security challenges that we need to tackle in the country; issues of kidnapping and other security challenges. From the strategies put in place by the former IGP, we will restrategise and make sure that we tackle these challenges squarely," he said.

“On the elections, you have heard from the former IGP. Adequate arrangements have been made to make sure that free, fair and credible elections take place in Nigeria. We are going to build upon the strategies put in place to make sure that we have hitch-free elections in the country.

“Well, we are professionals. We are going to stick by the rules; we are going to do the right thing. We will not go outside the ethics of our job to do things that are untoward. Everybody will be given level-playing ground to play his or her politics.” 

Police Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
http://bit.ly/2sw4hA6

Abubakar Mohammed Adamu, the newly-appointed acting Inspector General of Police has said the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) under his leadership, will restrategise to combat various insecurity in the country. 

Speaking with State House correspondents in Abuja on Tuesday after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, he said he would ensure that policemen adhere to the ethics of the profession.

"We know that there are security challenges that we need to tackle in the country; issues of kidnapping and other security challenges. From the strategies put in place by the former IGP, we will restrategise and make sure that we tackle these challenges squarely," he said.

“On the elections, you have heard from the former IGP. Adequate arrangements have been made to make sure that free, fair and credible elections take place in Nigeria. We are going to build upon the strategies put in place to make sure that we have hitch-free elections in the country.

“Well, we are professionals. We are going to stick by the rules; we are going to do the right thing. We will not go outside the ethics of our job to do things that are untoward. Everybody will be given level-playing ground to play his or her politics.” 

Police Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
http://bit.ly/2sw4hA6

Patience Jonathan, a former First Lady of Nigeria, has presented to the court some video clips as eveidence that the $8.4 million and N7.4 billion claimed to be proceeds of unlawful activities, were generated through legal means.

The video clips were presented  Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday during the forfeiture hearing of the sums filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

On April 20 last year, Justice Olatoregun had given an order for interim forfeiture of the funds.

Jonathan, alongside Globus Integrated Services Ltd, Finchley Top Homes Ltd., Am-Pm Global Network Ltd, Pagmat Oil and Gas Ltd and Magel Resort Ltd and Esther Oba, was accused of unlawful activities and conspiracy.

N1.085billion and N226.3million discovered in Finchley’s Ecobank account, N39.4million also in Finchley’s Diamond Bank account, N55.9million discovered in Pagmat Oil and Gas Diamond Bank account are part of the funds handed over in the interim to EFCC.

Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to EFCC called on the court to grant final handover of the funds to the Federal Government. 

However, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) countered the EFCC’s request saying hard evidence were not given by the anti-graft agency to convince the court that its application be granted. 

Adedipe said the claims by EFCC that the funds are illegal proceeds does not hold water, noting that the agency failed in calling Patience to its office to reveal the source of the funds and the agency did not charge her for any offence. 

 Joining the defendant, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), counsel to the companies involved in the case told the court that according to the provisions of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act, EFCC’s submission for the final handover of the funds was too early. 

Ozekhome said that if the companies’ affidavits to show cause are deliberated upon and the court finds no merit in them, then the EFCC’s request could prove to be reasonable. 

Ozekhome said an affidavit to show cause was filed by his clients, one of the companies displayed its certificate of incorporation, its board agreement that Patience Jonathan be made co-signer, and bank documents to show that accounts were signed by other individuals who are co-signers. 

According to him, one of the companies implicated in the case rolled in income from the sale of groceries, drinks, lighting, among others, and that there was video evidence to back this claim up.

Hearing on the matter will continue on Wednesday.

CRIME Legal Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Patience Jonathan, a former First Lady of Nigeria, has presented to the court some video clips as eveidence that the $8.4 million and N7.4 billion claimed to be proceeds of unlawful activities, were generated through legal means.

The video clips were presented  Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday during the forfeiture hearing of the sums filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

On April 20 last year, Justice Olatoregun had given an order for interim forfeiture of the funds.

Jonathan, alongside Globus Integrated Services Ltd, Finchley Top Homes Ltd., Am-Pm Global Network Ltd, Pagmat Oil and Gas Ltd and Magel Resort Ltd and Esther Oba, was accused of unlawful activities and conspiracy.

N1.085billion and N226.3million discovered in Finchley’s Ecobank account, N39.4million also in Finchley’s Diamond Bank account, N55.9million discovered in Pagmat Oil and Gas Diamond Bank account are part of the funds handed over in the interim to EFCC.

Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to EFCC called on the court to grant final handover of the funds to the Federal Government. 

However, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) countered the EFCC’s request saying hard evidence were not given by the anti-graft agency to convince the court that its application be granted. 

Adedipe said the claims by EFCC that the funds are illegal proceeds does not hold water, noting that the agency failed in calling Patience to its office to reveal the source of the funds and the agency did not charge her for any offence. 

 Joining the defendant, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), counsel to the companies involved in the case told the court that according to the provisions of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act, EFCC’s submission for the final handover of the funds was too early. 

Ozekhome said that if the companies’ affidavits to show cause are deliberated upon and the court finds no merit in them, then the EFCC’s request could prove to be reasonable. 

Ozekhome said an affidavit to show cause was filed by his clients, one of the companies displayed its certificate of incorporation, its board agreement that Patience Jonathan be made co-signer, and bank documents to show that accounts were signed by other individuals who are co-signers. 

According to him, one of the companies implicated in the case rolled in income from the sale of groceries, drinks, lighting, among others, and that there was video evidence to back this claim up.

Hearing on the matter will continue on Wednesday.

CRIME Legal Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
http://bit.ly/2Me0MHl

Patience Jonathan, a former First Lady of Nigeria, has presented to the court some video clips as eveidence that the $8.4 million and N7.4 billion claimed to be proceeds of unlawful activities, were generated through legal means.

The video clips were presented  Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday during the forfeiture hearing of the sums filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

On April 20 last year, Justice Olatoregun had given an order for interim forfeiture of the funds.

Jonathan, alongside Globus Integrated Services Ltd, Finchley Top Homes Ltd., Am-Pm Global Network Ltd, Pagmat Oil and Gas Ltd and Magel Resort Ltd and Esther Oba, was accused of unlawful activities and conspiracy.

N1.085billion and N226.3million discovered in Finchley’s Ecobank account, N39.4million also in Finchley’s Diamond Bank account, N55.9million discovered in Pagmat Oil and Gas Diamond Bank account are part of the funds handed over in the interim to EFCC.

Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to EFCC called on the court to grant final handover of the funds to the Federal Government. 

However, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) countered the EFCC’s request saying hard evidence were not given by the anti-graft agency to convince the court that its application be granted. 

Adedipe said the claims by EFCC that the funds are illegal proceeds does not hold water, noting that the agency failed in calling Patience to its office to reveal the source of the funds and the agency did not charge her for any offence. 

 Joining the defendant, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), counsel to the companies involved in the case told the court that according to the provisions of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act, EFCC’s submission for the final handover of the funds was too early. 

Ozekhome said that if the companies’ affidavits to show cause are deliberated upon and the court finds no merit in them, then the EFCC’s request could prove to be reasonable. 

Ozekhome said an affidavit to show cause was filed by his clients, one of the companies displayed its certificate of incorporation, its board agreement that Patience Jonathan be made co-signer, and bank documents to show that accounts were signed by other individuals who are co-signers. 

According to him, one of the companies implicated in the case rolled in income from the sale of groceries, drinks, lighting, among others, and that there was video evidence to back this claim up.

Hearing on the matter will continue on Wednesday.

CRIME Legal Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
http://bit.ly/2Me0MHl

Emmanuel Okereke, the Director-General of the National Taskforce on Small Arms, Light and Chemical weapons, has alleged that some bigwig politicians have purchased all types of ammunition ahead of 2019 elections.

Okereke, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja, on Tuesday.

He said the activities of these politicians were aided as a result of the porous nature of Nigeria’s borders and the lack of a watchdog over illegal importation of arms.

"Due to the lack of a legally established specific body or commission as obtainable in 14 out of the 16 countries in the West African sub-region, all manner of ammunition have been illegally brought into the country ahead of the elections by high-class political players," he said.

“For Nigeria to effectively tackle the menace of proliferation of ammunition in the country with its attendant crimes, a National Commission for the Prohibition of Illegal Importation of Small Arms, Ammunition and Light Weapons and other related matters, must be established as already done by other West African countries except Nigeria and Gambia.”

Okereke said the commission was suggested by the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) for all all West African countries in December 2017. 

Lamenting that Nigeria was yet to do the needful, he said: “Unfortunately, while 14 out of the 16 members sub-regional body have complied, Nigeria and Gambia have yet to do the needful in that direction. The bill, as it is currently in the 8th Senate, has passed second reading in the House of Representatives but not yet at the Senate having earlier failed to scale through the required legislative processes in the 6th and 7th National Assembly".

He urged the Senate to double up their efforts on the bill so the commission can take flight.

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
http://bit.ly/2stELew

Emmanuel Okereke, the Director-General of the National Taskforce on Small Arms, Light and Chemical weapons, has alleged that some bigwig politicians have purchased all types of ammunition ahead of 2019 elections.

Okereke, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja, on Tuesday.

He said the activities of these politicians were aided as a result of the porous nature of Nigeria’s borders and the lack of a watchdog over illegal importation of arms.

"Due to the lack of a legally established specific body or commission as obtainable in 14 out of the 16 countries in the West African sub-region, all manner of ammunition have been illegally brought into the country ahead of the elections by high-class political players," he said.

“For Nigeria to effectively tackle the menace of proliferation of ammunition in the country with its attendant crimes, a National Commission for the Prohibition of Illegal Importation of Small Arms, Ammunition and Light Weapons and other related matters, must be established as already done by other West African countries except Nigeria and Gambia.”

Okereke said the commission was suggested by the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) for all all West African countries in December 2017. 

Lamenting that Nigeria was yet to do the needful, he said: “Unfortunately, while 14 out of the 16 members sub-regional body have complied, Nigeria and Gambia have yet to do the needful in that direction. The bill, as it is currently in the 8th Senate, has passed second reading in the House of Representatives but not yet at the Senate having earlier failed to scale through the required legislative processes in the 6th and 7th National Assembly".

He urged the Senate to double up their efforts on the bill so the commission can take flight.

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
http://bit.ly/2stELew

Emmanuel Okereke, the Director-General of the National Taskforce on Small Arms, Light and Chemical weapons, has alleged that some bigwig politicians have purchased all types of ammunition ahead of 2019 elections.

Okereke, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja, on Tuesday.

He said the activities of these politicians were aided as a result of the porous nature of Nigeria’s borders and the lack of a watchdog over illegal importation of arms.

"Due to the lack of a legally established specific body or commission as obtainable in 14 out of the 16 countries in the West African sub-region, all manner of ammunition have been illegally brought into the country ahead of the elections by high-class political players," he said.

“For Nigeria to effectively tackle the menace of proliferation of ammunition in the country with its attendant crimes, a National Commission for the Prohibition of Illegal Importation of Small Arms, Ammunition and Light Weapons and other related matters, must be established as already done by other West African countries except Nigeria and Gambia.”

Okereke said the commission was suggested by the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) for all all West African countries in December 2017. 

Lamenting that Nigeria was yet to do the needful, he said: “Unfortunately, while 14 out of the 16 members sub-regional body have complied, Nigeria and Gambia have yet to do the needful in that direction. The bill, as it is currently in the 8th Senate, has passed second reading in the House of Representatives but not yet at the Senate having earlier failed to scale through the required legislative processes in the 6th and 7th National Assembly".

He urged the Senate to double up their efforts on the bill so the commission can take flight.

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
http://bit.ly/2stELew

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of failure to deliver its 2015 campaign promises.

The former vice president said this on Tuesday in Osogbo during the presidential rally of his party, which held at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo. 

His words: "This government came and said they were going to give you jobs. Have they given you the jobs? They said they were going to grow the economy. Have they grown the economy? We are in recession. In fact, we are the headquarters of poverty in the whole world. That is where they took us to.

“They said they were going to secure our country. Instead of securing our country, we have insecurity in three to four zones of the country. Have they delivered on all these three? Why should you then vote for them?

“Now, listen to this very carefully. We have information that INEC has been giving uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to the APC governors. So, if a voter comes to your polling booths and you don’t know him, don’t allow him to vote because they want to steal your votes.

“I promised restructuring. In five to six months, I will start that and I mean it. I said I am going to give youth 40 per cent of my government and I mean it. I said I am going to give women 30 per cent of my government and I mean it. Mark my words, I am not Buhari.” 

Atiku also paid homage to Oba Gabriel Aromolaran, the Owa Obokun of Ileshaland, and Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, at their palaces.

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of failure to deliver its 2015 campaign promises.

The former vice president said this on Tuesday in Osogbo during the presidential rally of his party, which held at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo. 

His words: "This government came and said they were going to give you jobs. Have they given you the jobs? They said they were going to grow the economy. Have they grown the economy? We are in recession. In fact, we are the headquarters of poverty in the whole world. That is where they took us to.

“They said they were going to secure our country. Instead of securing our country, we have insecurity in three to four zones of the country. Have they delivered on all these three? Why should you then vote for them?

“Now, listen to this very carefully. We have information that INEC has been giving uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to the APC governors. So, if a voter comes to your polling booths and you don’t know him, don’t allow him to vote because they want to steal your votes.

“I promised restructuring. In five to six months, I will start that and I mean it. I said I am going to give youth 40 per cent of my government and I mean it. I said I am going to give women 30 per cent of my government and I mean it. Mark my words, I am not Buhari.” 

Atiku also paid homage to Oba Gabriel Aromolaran, the Owa Obokun of Ileshaland, and Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, at their palaces.

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
http://bit.ly/2Me0EaP

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of failure to deliver its 2015 campaign promises.

The former vice president said this on Tuesday in Osogbo during the presidential rally of his party, which held at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo. 

His words: "This government came and said they were going to give you jobs. Have they given you the jobs? They said they were going to grow the economy. Have they grown the economy? We are in recession. In fact, we are the headquarters of poverty in the whole world. That is where they took us to.

“They said they were going to secure our country. Instead of securing our country, we have insecurity in three to four zones of the country. Have they delivered on all these three? Why should you then vote for them?

“Now, listen to this very carefully. We have information that INEC has been giving uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to the APC governors. So, if a voter comes to your polling booths and you don’t know him, don’t allow him to vote because they want to steal your votes.

“I promised restructuring. In five to six months, I will start that and I mean it. I said I am going to give youth 40 per cent of my government and I mean it. I said I am going to give women 30 per cent of my government and I mean it. Mark my words, I am not Buhari.” 

Atiku also paid homage to Oba Gabriel Aromolaran, the Owa Obokun of Ileshaland, and Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, at their palaces.

Elections Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
The approximately 91m (298ft) wide frozen slab formed naturally and has been slowly spinning.

Uche Nwosu, governorship candidate of Action Alliance (AA) in Imo State, has insisted he will continue to support President Muhammadu Buhari and will ensure all members of the party in Imo vote for the President.

Nwosu stated this in response to the warning issued by Kenneth Udeze, National Chairman of AA, when the latter warned Nwosu against campaigning for Buhari in the state.

AA recently endorsed Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party as its presidential candidate.

However, Nwosu has dismissed his party chairman's threat, stating that: "We have made up our mind in Imo State chapter of the party to support President Buhari and nothing can change that. No amount of threat or blackmail can change our decision. The AA can decide what they want in other states, but in Imo we have made up our minds and nothing can change that.

“The support for President Buhari is far and above party or religious inclinations and it is a task I and other members of the Action Alliance are committed to and we must deliver."

Meanwhile, Udeze has expressed the party's decision to support Atiku.

His words: "We are for Atiku/Obi leadership and we are glad to work with all believers of true federalism and efficient administration of governance at all levels to accomplish this as we approach the forthcoming elections."

AA is part of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) and has stated it will continue to support the adoption of Atiku as the presidential candidate of CUPP.

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The Civil Society Groups for Accountability and Probity stormed the Abuja office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday to request an investigation into the financial activities of Godswill Akpabio, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

The civil society group asked the anti-graft agency to investigate Akpabio for unlawful acquisition of properties and false declaration of assets.

Leading the protest against the former governor, Jonathan Ogwuche maintained that the assets declared by Akpabio in 2007 and 2011 did not seem different.

“Contrary to claims by Senator Akpabio, the ‘following outlandish properties located at the under-listed addresses could also be traced to him as follows: Plot 5, Ikogosi Spring Close, off Katsina-Ala Crescent, Maitama-Abuja; Plot 28, Colorado Close, Maitama; 22, Probyn Road, Ikoyi, Lagos and Plot 23, Olusegun Aina Street, Parkview, Lagos.”

The group stated that the properties are missing from the asset declaration of the former governor.

The group also referred to an investigation by SaharaReporters that revealed Akpabio also owns properties in Dubai, which the governor was said not to have declared.

While spotting discrepancies in the number of cars owned by the governor, the group said with the exception of a Bedford armour bus, which he claimed to be a gift, cars declared in 2007 were copied and pasted in 2011. 

The civil society group further stressed that Akpabio transferred some of the state’s funds to his family, with one of his children owning a property in the Federal Capital Territory valued at N16.9million.

"The source of the house is questionable. We can incontrovertibly submit that Senator Akpabio freely dished out the finances of Akwa Ibom State to his children, friends and other family members, while corruptly enriching himself with same at the detriment of the state," Ogwuche said.

The Civil Society Groups for Accountability and Probity ended the procession by submitting a petition to EFCC, urging the commission to act swiftly on it as it was done to the petition written against Walter Onnoghen, Chief Justice of Nigeria.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says not more than one million ad hoc staff will be deployed for the coming elections.

This was disclosed by Malam Mohammed Haruna, the Commissioner for North-Central, in Ilorin, on Monday.

He reminded the candidates that only 1,504 of the 22,643 persons contesting would emerge.

According to Haruna, the ad-hoc staff would be sourced from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), federal tertiary institutions and Ministries Departments and Agencies.

“1, 886 candidates would contest the 109 senatorial districts in the country and 4,634 candidates contesting for the 306 House of Representatives seats. 14,643 candidates would contest for 991 posts in the various State Houses of Assembly," he said.

He confirmed that governorship elections would hold in 29 states, excluding Kogi, Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun States.

The commission urged all eligible voters who are yet to pick up their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to do so before the deadline, February 8, as there would be no extension.

Haruna also urged all residents to embrace peace before, during and after the elections exercise.
 

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There are indications at the Force Headqaurters in Abuja that a new Inspector General of Police (IGP), AIG Abubakar Adamu Mohammed (pictured right, with Governor Serikae Dickson) from Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, has been appointed to replace Ibrahim Idris, who is scheduled to retire from office.

Adamu was AIG in charge of Zone 5 Benin before he was sent to the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru in Plateau State.

He was said to have been sent on the compulsory course on the suspicion that he was pencilled down by the presidency to succeed the outgoing IGP.

Many Nigerians have kicked the against an alleged move by President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the tenure of the outgoing IGP, basing their allegations on the notion that there are plans to use Idris's influence to manipulate the presidential election scheduled for February 2019.

SaharaReporters gathered that Idris had made frantic efforts to get his tenure extended but was unsuccessful. Also, pressure mounted by the opposition parties contibuted to the President's eventual decision to rescind the original extension plan.

The mood at the Force Headquarters was calm when the news of the replacement filtered in. It was also gathered that the outgoing IGP  had been quietly removing his personal effects from the  office since last Friday.

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Wole Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), declined questions from newsmen after the first hearing of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) against Walter Onnoghen, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Onnoghen is standing trial over allegations of fraudulent declaration of assets.

Olanipekun had led the defence team who stood for Onnoghen at the court hearing on Monday.

Olanipekun Shuns Journalists After Representing Onnoghen At CCT

Onnoghen was not present in court, an action Olanipekun attributed to the failure of the prosecution tea to serve him personally.

The defence team also challenged the CCT on jurisdiction to hear the case. After deliberations, the hearing on jurisdiction was adjourned till January 22, 2019.

After his appearance in court, Olanipekun was asked repeatedly by journalists for his comments on the case, but he declined to make any comments.

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An Abuja High Court has dismissed the suit filed by Ladi Adebutu challenging the nomination of Buruji Kashamu as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State.

Adebutu had approached the court seeking a declaration of his candidature for the governorship election on the platform of the PDP.

Ajoke Adepoju, the presiding judge, ruled that the primary election that saw Adebutu emerge as the governorship candidate was conducted while there was a subsisting court judgment.

According to the judge, the choice of Adebutu by the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) flouted the earlier court judgment.

The suit was dismissed, and as such, Kashamu and candidates that emerged through the primary election conducted by the PDP faction led by Adebayo Dayo, remain the party’s flagbearers for the 2019 elections.

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has insisted that Walter Onnoghen, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, accused of false declaration of assets, must stand trial.

Onnoghen was scheduled to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Monday, but was not in court. His defence team, led by Wole Olanipekun (Senior Advocate of Nigeria), said the CJN could not appear in court as he was not served the court summons personally. See Also Breaking News BREAKING: CCT Begins Sitting In Onnoghen's Absence 0 Comments 16 Hours Ago

Onnoghen’s defence team had also challenged the CCT on jurisdiction for the case and the hearing was adjourned till January 22, 2019. See Also Breaking News BREAKING: CCT Adjourns Onnoghen’s Trial Till January 22 0 Comments 16 Hours Ago

An earlier statement by Kola Ologbondiyan, National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had accused APC of “desperation to replace Justice Onnoghen with a pliable CJN, who will execute their plots to use the courts to detain opposition leaders as well as vocal members of civil society during the elections”.

The APC, however, urged Nigerians to ignore the PDP, just as the party denied that Onnoghen’s arraignment was not based on ethnic or religious sentiments.

A statement by Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, APC National Publicity Secretary, read: “We wish to put on record that the virulent attack that has come from the PDP in the wake of the trial of the CJN over alleged false asset declaration is particularly worrisome and suspicious when the PDP has in fact called for the removal of virtually all heads of government’s arms, particularly the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Inspector General of the Police over frivolous issues.

“While the will not be drawn into debates on the legality and sponsored conspiracies of the CCT trial, we insist that our democratic and constitutional institutions must be allowed to operate without interference and undue pressure from partisan and sundry interests as being done by the PDP and its cronies.

“The CCT trial is a legal matter, let the law run its course. The CJN must go through the instrumentalities of the courts, more importantly as an institution he represents. Indeed, this is the true test of our constitution, rule of law and will deepen democracy.

“Where there are contestations on institutional procedures, we must allow same institutions perform their functions unhindered, autocorrect if necessary and set good precedence on future matters. This is the only way we can build strong and lasting institutions.”

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