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Three persons lost their lives when hoodlums said to be working for Evelyn Oboro, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Delta Central, clashed with thugs allegedly working for Henry Baro, the sacked Chairman of Uvwie local government council and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in collaboration with Ovie Omo-Agege, senator representing Delta Central in the National Assembly.

SaharaReporters reliably gathered that three political thugs were gunned down around Jakpa area, near Effurun market on Friday at about 11:30pm in Uvwie local government council of the state. More than 10 people were also injured and rushed to the Ekpan General Hospital and Central Hospital, Warri.

It was gathered that after the Friday night incident, the crisis resumed the following day with sporadic gunshots renting the air in the night.

Sources, who witnessed the bloody clash, told SaharaReporters that guns and other dangerous weapons were freely used by the thugs.

Narrating the incident, a source said: "Thugs from both sides were armed to the teeth. The thugs working for Oboro killed three thugs belonging to the Baro and Omo-Agege camp. The battle was so bloody that people started running for their lives. They also succeeded in inflicting severe injuries on thugs working in Oboro's camp.

"I was made to understand that the cause of the bloody battle was on who controls the local government council between Oboro and Baro. During elections Uvwie local government council is always a battle ground and so many persons have lost their lives as well as properties worth billions of naira since the coming of democracy in Nigeria. The February 16 election is the main reason for this current battle, which has lasted for almost three days now since Friday.”

In a telephone conversation, a strong member of the Baro/Omo-Agege political family confirmed the incident, stating that: "The people of Delta Central have vowed not to have Evelyn Oboro as their representative in the red chamber, because of her antecedent which has always portrayed the Urhobo nation in bad light. Urhobo nation and even her PDP family have rejected her and, as a result, she has decided to unleashed terror on the people. 

"Evelyn is a failure. She is too small to face Omo-Agege in any election. Frankly speaking, both camps suffered during the bloody clash. Oboro’s camp lost men, so also our camp too. As I said, Evelyn is too small for Omo-Agege to handle. Don't forget, Urhobo nation will never send a woman without a husband to represent in the Senate. Omo-Agege has done enough and the Urhobo have agreed in one voice to return him for the next four years."

Speaking with our correspondent, one of Oboro’s media handlers, who preferred not to be named since he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said: “The clash is unfortunate and shows Omo-Agege and Baro's do-or-die kind of politics. My principal is equal to the task and whatever form they will design to prosecute the election, our principal, Evelyn Oboro, is ever ready for them. All we want is nothing but free and fair elections."

Andrew Aniamaka, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), confirmed the incident, but refused to speak further, stating that investigation has since commenced and those involved will be brought to book.

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Three persons lost their lives when hoodlums said to be working for Evelyn Oboro, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Delta Central, clashed with thugs allegedly working for Henry Baro, the sacked Chairman of Uvwie local government council and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in collaboration with Ovie Omo-Agege, senator representing Delta Central in the National Assembly.

SaharaReporters reliably gathered that three political thugs were gunned down around Jakpa area, near Effurun market on Friday at about 11:30pm in Uvwie local government council of the state. More than 10 people were also injured and rushed to the Ekpan General Hospital and Central Hospital, Warri.

It was gathered that after the Friday night incident, the crisis resumed the following day with sporadic gunshots renting the air in the night.

Sources, who witnessed the bloody clash, told SaharaReporters that guns and other dangerous weapons were freely used by the thugs.

Narrating the incident, a source said: "Thugs from both sides were armed to the teeth. The thugs working for Oboro killed three thugs belonging to the Baro and Omo-Agege camp. The battle was so bloody that people started running for their lives. They also succeeded in inflicting severe injuries on thugs working in Oboro's camp.

"I was made to understand that the cause of the bloody battle was on who controls the local government council between Oboro and Baro. During elections Uvwie local government council is always a battle ground and so many persons have lost their lives as well as properties worth billions of naira since the coming of democracy in Nigeria. The February 16 election is the main reason for this current battle, which has lasted for almost three days now since Friday.”

In a telephone conversation, a strong member of the Baro/Omo-Agege political family confirmed the incident, stating that: "The people of Delta Central have vowed not to have Evelyn Oboro as their representative in the red chamber, because of her antecedent which has always portrayed the Urhobo nation in bad light. Urhobo nation and even her PDP family have rejected her and, as a result, she has decided to unleashed terror on the people. 

"Evelyn is a failure. She is too small to face Omo-Agege in any election. Frankly speaking, both camps suffered during the bloody clash. Oboro’s camp lost men, so also our camp too. As I said, Evelyn is too small for Omo-Agege to handle. Don't forget, Urhobo nation will never send a woman without a husband to represent in the Senate. Omo-Agege has done enough and the Urhobo have agreed in one voice to return him for the next four years."

Speaking with our correspondent, one of Oboro’s media handlers, who preferred not to be named since he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said: “The clash is unfortunate and shows Omo-Agege and Baro's do-or-die kind of politics. My principal is equal to the task and whatever form they will design to prosecute the election, our principal, Evelyn Oboro, is ever ready for them. All we want is nothing but free and fair elections."

Andrew Aniamaka, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), confirmed the incident, but refused to speak further, stating that investigation has since commenced and those involved will be brought to book.

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Three persons lost their lives when hoodlums said to be working for Evelyn Oboro, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Delta Central, clashed with thugs allegedly working for Henry Baro, the sacked Chairman of Uvwie local government council and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in collaboration with Ovie Omo-Agege, senator representing Delta Central in the National Assembly.

SaharaReporters reliably gathered that three political thugs were gunned down around Jakpa area, near Effurun market on Friday at about 11:30pm in Uvwie local government council of the state. More than 10 people were also injured and rushed to the Ekpan General Hospital and Central Hospital, Warri.

It was gathered that after the Friday night incident, the crisis resumed the following day with sporadic gunshots renting the air in the night.

Sources, who witnessed the bloody clash, told SaharaReporters that guns and other dangerous weapons were freely used by the thugs.

Narrating the incident, a source said: "Thugs from both sides were armed to the teeth. The thugs working for Oboro killed three thugs belonging to the Baro and Omo-Agege camp. The battle was so bloody that people started running for their lives. They also succeeded in inflicting severe injuries on thugs working in Oboro's camp.

"I was made to understand that the cause of the bloody battle was on who controls the local government council between Oboro and Baro. During elections Uvwie local government council is always a battle ground and so many persons have lost their lives as well as properties worth billions of naira since the coming of democracy in Nigeria. The February 16 election is the main reason for this current battle, which has lasted for almost three days now since Friday.”

In a telephone conversation, a strong member of the Baro/Omo-Agege political family confirmed the incident, stating that: "The people of Delta Central have vowed not to have Evelyn Oboro as their representative in the red chamber, because of her antecedent which has always portrayed the Urhobo nation in bad light. Urhobo nation and even her PDP family have rejected her and, as a result, she has decided to unleashed terror on the people. 

"Evelyn is a failure. She is too small to face Omo-Agege in any election. Frankly speaking, both camps suffered during the bloody clash. Oboro’s camp lost men, so also our camp too. As I said, Evelyn is too small for Omo-Agege to handle. Don't forget, Urhobo nation will never send a woman without a husband to represent in the Senate. Omo-Agege has done enough and the Urhobo have agreed in one voice to return him for the next four years."

Speaking with our correspondent, one of Oboro’s media handlers, who preferred not to be named since he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said: “The clash is unfortunate and shows Omo-Agege and Baro's do-or-die kind of politics. My principal is equal to the task and whatever form they will design to prosecute the election, our principal, Evelyn Oboro, is ever ready for them. All we want is nothing but free and fair elections."

Andrew Aniamaka, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), confirmed the incident, but refused to speak further, stating that investigation has since commenced and those involved will be brought to book.

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Professor Bolaji Owasanoye has been sworn in as the new Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), seven months after forwarding his name to the National Assembly.

He was sworn in by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday at a brief ceremony in the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja. Also sworn in were eight other new board members for the Commission.

At the event, the President said he was “particularly delighted that the ICPC law under which you will operate is robust enough to assist government to sanitise the public sector in service delivery, public procurement, diversion of public revenue, deliberate misuse of public funds, and so on".

In his remarks, the new Chairman swore to eschew, expose and fight corruption. He also said that he was "encouraged by the unquestionable, unshakeable and unequivocal stand of Mr. President against corruption, which indicated a very strong political will to fight corruption, and therefore promised on behalf of new members that they would not disappoint the nation in their assignment".

In 2018, the Senate screened and confirmed Owasanoye and other board members, whose nominations had been pending for more than one year.

Members of the board that were sworn in alongside Owasanoye are Grace Chinda (Delta), Titus Okolo (Enugu), Obiora Igwedebia (Anambra), Justice Adamu Bello (Katsina).

Others are Olubukola Balogun (Lagos), Hannatu Muhammed (Jigawa), Abdulahi Saidu (Niger) and Yahaya Dauda (Nasarawa).

The Chairman will be in office for a tenure of five years, which is renewable only once, while the board members have a four-year tenure that is also renewable only once.

Owasanoye will be the fourth substantive ICPC Chairman since its inception and takes over from Dr. Musa Usman Abubakar, the acting Chairman, who is the Commission’s Secretary.

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Professor Bolaji Owasanoye has been sworn in as the new Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), seven months after forwarding his name to the National Assembly.

He was sworn in by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday at a brief ceremony in the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja. Also sworn in were eight other new board members for the Commission.

At the event, the President said he was “particularly delighted that the ICPC law under which you will operate is robust enough to assist government to sanitise the public sector in service delivery, public procurement, diversion of public revenue, deliberate misuse of public funds, and so on".

In his remarks, the new Chairman swore to eschew, expose and fight corruption. He also said that he was "encouraged by the unquestionable, unshakeable and unequivocal stand of Mr. President against corruption, which indicated a very strong political will to fight corruption, and therefore promised on behalf of new members that they would not disappoint the nation in their assignment".

In 2018, the Senate screened and confirmed Owasanoye and other board members, whose nominations had been pending for more than one year.

Members of the board that were sworn in alongside Owasanoye are Grace Chinda (Delta), Titus Okolo (Enugu), Obiora Igwedebia (Anambra), Justice Adamu Bello (Katsina).

Others are Olubukola Balogun (Lagos), Hannatu Muhammed (Jigawa), Abdulahi Saidu (Niger) and Yahaya Dauda (Nasarawa).

The Chairman will be in office for a tenure of five years, which is renewable only once, while the board members have a four-year tenure that is also renewable only once.

Owasanoye will be the fourth substantive ICPC Chairman since its inception and takes over from Dr. Musa Usman Abubakar, the acting Chairman, who is the Commission’s Secretary.

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Three members of a kidnap gang have been killed in Taraba.

David Akinremi, Commissioner of the Taraba State Police Command, said they were killed by operatives of his command.

According to Akinremi, the kidnappers met their waterloo when “operatives from Bali Division on 3/2/19 at about 0330hrs engaged a kidnap syndicate responsible for terrorising Bali and Suntai axis for a while".

The bandits were said to have been fatally wounded, when policemen engaged them in a gun battle during their attempt to kidnap some residents of a house in Garwa village. The entire family was held hostage. 

He said prompt response by the officers, with the support of the state Vigilante Group resulted in a shootout, which led to the death of three of the hoodlums.

"A member of the Vigilante Group also sustained gunshot injury in the crossfire,” he added.

The statement also "warned criminal elements operating in the state to have a rethink and turn away from crime and criminality as the command is determined to make the state an unfriendly terrain for criminal activities”.

"To this end, the support of the members of the public is solicited as usual to give useful information on criminal elements in their communities while assuring the confidentiality of such information. However, other members of the criminal gang escaped with bullet wounds, while a massive manhunt is ongoing to effect their arrest,” the statement added.

Items recovered from the hoodlums included one locally fabricated AK47 rifle, 12 rounds of .9mm ammunition, two GSM handsets, a military camouflage uniform, charms and knives.

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Three members of a kidnap gang have been killed in Taraba.

David Akinremi, Commissioner of the Taraba State Police Command, said they were killed by operatives of his command.

According to Akinremi, the kidnappers met their waterloo when “operatives from Bali Division on 3/2/19 at about 0330hrs engaged a kidnap syndicate responsible for terrorising Bali and Suntai axis for a while".

The bandits were said to have been fatally wounded, when policemen engaged them in a gun battle during their attempt to kidnap some residents of a house in Garwa village. The entire family was held hostage. 

He said prompt response by the officers, with the support of the state Vigilante Group resulted in a shootout, which led to the death of three of the hoodlums.

"A member of the Vigilante Group also sustained gunshot injury in the crossfire,” he added.

The statement also "warned criminal elements operating in the state to have a rethink and turn away from crime and criminality as the command is determined to make the state an unfriendly terrain for criminal activities”.

"To this end, the support of the members of the public is solicited as usual to give useful information on criminal elements in their communities while assuring the confidentiality of such information. However, other members of the criminal gang escaped with bullet wounds, while a massive manhunt is ongoing to effect their arrest,” the statement added.

Items recovered from the hoodlums included one locally fabricated AK47 rifle, 12 rounds of .9mm ammunition, two GSM handsets, a military camouflage uniform, charms and knives.

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As the global health community commemorates the World Cancer Day today, the Pink Oak Cancer Trust has commended corporate organisations and individuals who have donated hard-earned resources to cancer foundations in support of people battling cancer.

Dr. Laz Ude Eze, the Executive Director, gave the commendation during the signing of the donor partnership agreement between Pink Oak and Pasich Furniture Production Limited in Abuja.

This was contained in a statement by Robert Ekanem an official of Pink Oak, issued on Monday.

According to Eze, Nigeria accounts for the highest number of cancer deaths in the world, not because cancer cannot be treated or cured, but due to lack of funds and poor quality of care.

He explained that Pink Oak and partners were raising money to fund the treatment of patients in the early stages of cancer in Nigeria, and was able to sponsor five cancer patients in 2018.

He called on the government at all levels to increase budgetary allocations for cancer control substantially and ensure efficient utilisation of the funds.

In his remarks, Sise Eze, the Chief Executive of Pasich Furniture, Abuja, said his company believes that a healthier Nigeria will translate to a better business opportunity for them.

He announced and signed a donation agreement of N500,000 to Pink Oak in support of the fight against cancer in Nigeria.

“We are really excited to do this and we hope to do more in future,” he told newsmen.

Pink Oak co-funds treatment of eligible cancer patients recommended by any of its member-NGOs: Breast Without Spot (Enugu), Cancer Aware Nigeria (Lagos), Medicaid Cancer Foundation (Abuja), Pink Africa Foundation (Calabar), Project Pink Blue (Abuja), St. Cyril Cancer Treatment Foundation (Lagos) and Sebeccly Cancer Care (Lagos).

The theme of the World Cancer Day 2019 is ‘I Am and I Will’ — a phrase that seeks to promote individual commitment to the fight against cancer.

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Supporters of Tonye Cole, the aspirant likely to be formally announced as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, were in celebratory mood on Monday following the Court of Appeal ruling granting stay of execution of the lower court's judgement nulifying all the party's primaries in the state and restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from fielding the party's candidates in the forthcoming general election.

In January, Justice Kolawole Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had nullified both the direct and indirect primaries conducted by two factions of the party. He also restrained INEC from recognising any candidates of the APC for the 2019 general election in the state.

While a faction of the party loyal to former Governor Rotimi Ameachi had produced Tonye Cole as its candidate from its primary, the other loyal to Senator Magnus Abe produced him as its own candidate.

However on Monday, Justice Mohammed Mustapha ruled  that since aall parties affected by Justice Omotosho’s judgement had appealed it it would be unjust not to grant the application to stay execution of the ruling.

The ruling means INEC is set to name Cole as APC governorship candidate in Rivers, a development that sent his supporters into wild jubilation scenes right from the court premises.

Tonye Cole's Supporters Jubilate After Appeal Court Ruling

 

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Supporters of Tonye Cole, the aspirant likely to be formally announced as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, were in celebratory mood on Monday following the Court of Appeal ruling granting stay of execution of the lower court's judgement nulifying all the party's primaries in the state and restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from fielding the party's candidates in the forthcoming general election.

In January, Justice Kolawole Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had nullified both the direct and indirect primaries conducted by two factions of the party. He also restrained INEC from recognising any candidates of the APC for the 2019 general election in the state.

While a faction of the party loyal to former Governor Rotimi Ameachi had produced Tonye Cole as its candidate from its primary, the other loyal to Senator Magnus Abe produced him as its own candidate.

However on Monday, Justice Mohammed Mustapha ruled  that since aall parties affected by Justice Omotosho’s judgement had appealed it it would be unjust not to grant the application to stay execution of the ruling.

The ruling means INEC is set to name Cole as APC governorship candidate in Rivers, a development that sent his supporters into wild jubilation scenes right from the court premises.

Tonye Cole's Supporters Jubilate After Appeal Court Ruling

 

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Obiageli Ezekwesili, former presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), has appealed for forgiveness for withdrawing from the contest for Nigeria’s number one seat.

Her appeal formed part of her remarks at a press conference she addressed on Monday afternoon.

According to the former Education Minister, the decision to step down was a “tough but necessary” one.

On January 24, 2019, she announced her withdrawal from the race just hours before ACPN addressed a press conference endorsing the candidature of President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC). See Also Elections BREAKING: ACPN Disowns Ezekwesili, Endorses Buhari's Second Term Bid 0 Comments 1 Week Ago

Her words: “It has been an interesting one week since I made the tough but necessary decision to suspend my campaign for the presidency. I have been truly overwhelmed by the reactions to my announcement from Nigerians. Even in airports outside the country as I travelled last week, Nigerians walked up to me with questions, concerns, encouragement, and motivation.

“I also saw disappointment by some who had poured their hearts and hopes into actualising our mission to #Fight4Naija, bring back hope to our land and lift 80 million fellow citizens out of extreme poverty.

“I ask for the forgiveness and understanding of all who are hurt by my withdrawal from the race even as I take comfort in the fact that they would agree with my choosing to stand with my values rather than compromise.

“Thank you to the young people who accepted and owned our campaign, to the women - my sisters and comrades – who worked and walked with me, to every believer and supporter from different tribes, states, religions and walks of life.”

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Obiageli Ezekwesili, former presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), has appealed for forgiveness for withdrawing from the contest for Nigeria’s number one seat.

Her appeal formed part of her remarks at a press conference she addressed on Monday afternoon.

According to the former Education Minister, the decision to step down was a “tough but necessary” one.

On January 24, 2019, she announced her withdrawal from the race just hours before ACPN addressed a press conference endorsing the candidature of President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC). See Also Elections BREAKING: ACPN Disowns Ezekwesili, Endorses Buhari's Second Term Bid 0 Comments 1 Week Ago

Her words: “It has been an interesting one week since I made the tough but necessary decision to suspend my campaign for the presidency. I have been truly overwhelmed by the reactions to my announcement from Nigerians. Even in airports outside the country as I travelled last week, Nigerians walked up to me with questions, concerns, encouragement, and motivation.

“I also saw disappointment by some who had poured their hearts and hopes into actualising our mission to #Fight4Naija, bring back hope to our land and lift 80 million fellow citizens out of extreme poverty.

“I ask for the forgiveness and understanding of all who are hurt by my withdrawal from the race even as I take comfort in the fact that they would agree with my choosing to stand with my values rather than compromise.

“Thank you to the young people who accepted and owned our campaign, to the women - my sisters and comrades – who worked and walked with me, to every believer and supporter from different tribes, states, religions and walks of life.”

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The Nigerian Senate has discontinued the case it filed at the Supreme Court challenging the suspension of Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Onnoghen was suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari on a directive by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, before which he is standing trial over allegations of fraudulent declaration of assets.

On January 28, 2019, the Senate approached the Supreme Court to get clarification on the constitutionality of the President's action. See Also Breaking News BREAKING: Senate Asks Supreme Court To Decide Constitutionality Of Onnoghen's Suspension 0 Comments 6 Days Ago

A statement on Monday by Yusuph Olaniyonu, spokesman of Senate President Bukola Saraki, noted that the Senate discontinued the case, which had been slated for hearing on Tuesday, as proof of its trust "in the ability of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to resolve the issues".

The upper chamber of the National Assembly also expressed confidence in the ability of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to resolve the issues.

The statement read: "The Senate has therefore decided to discontinue the case it filed in the supreme court. It should be noted that the case has been slated for hearing tomorrow.

“This decision also affirm the confidence of the Senate in the ability of the NJC to successfully and creditably resolve the issues.”
 

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The Nigerian Senate has discontinued the case it filed at the Supreme Court challenging the suspension of Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Onnoghen was suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari on a directive by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, before which he is standing trial over allegations of fraudulent declaration of assets.

On January 28, 2019, the Senate approached the Supreme Court to get clarification on the constitutionality of the President's action. See Also Breaking News BREAKING: Senate Asks Supreme Court To Decide Constitutionality Of Onnoghen's Suspension 0 Comments 6 Days Ago

A statement on Monday by Yusuph Olaniyonu, spokesman of Senate President Bukola Saraki, noted that the Senate discontinued the case, which had been slated for hearing on Tuesday, as proof of its trust "in the ability of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to resolve the issues".

The upper chamber of the National Assembly also expressed confidence in the ability of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to resolve the issues.

The statement read: "The Senate has therefore decided to discontinue the case it filed in the supreme court. It should be noted that the case has been slated for hearing tomorrow.

“This decision also affirm the confidence of the Senate in the ability of the NJC to successfully and creditably resolve the issues.”
 

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The visit of Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to Washington two weeks ago to meet with top US diplomats and lawmakers was only possible thanks to a temporary suspension of a travel ban linked to decade-old bribery scandals, Reuters is reporting.

Atiku’s failure to travel to the US for more than 12 years had been used as a campaign weapon against him by the ruling party, which consistently maintained that he would be arrested for corruption should he set foot on American soil.

Atiku would eventually enter the US in January, but speculations about his allegedly corrupt past have refused to go away — and questions about this dominated his appearance on ‘TheCandidates’ last week. See Also Breaking News BREAKING: Kadaria Ahmed Grills Atiku On His 'Corruption' Record 0 Comments 4 Days Ago

Quoting “people familiar with the matter”, including “several US government officials”, Reuters said the travel ban was waived temporarily by the US State Department after lobbyists mounted a campaign among congressional lawmakers arguing that the administration should not snub the leading challenger to Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 16 election.

The US administration has not commented on Atiku’s status or his travel, but several US diplomats and others familiar with the visit told Reuters the former Vice President had been banned from entering the United States for the past several years after he figured prominently in two corruption cases.

For Atiku’s supporters, the fact he was able to visit Washington on Jan. 17 and 18 without being arrested 

“One person familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Atiku was allowed to enter because the United States saw little benefit to creating bad blood with the man who might be the next leader of Africa’s most populous nation and the continent’s biggest oil producer,” the paper wrote.

“Lobbyists hired by Atiku said they sought to overcome resistance at the State Department by securing support from members of Congress for the visit, as well as arguing that the top US official for African affairs, Assistant Secretary Tibor Nagy, had an obligation to encourage democracy in the seventh most populous country in the world.”

It quoted a State Department official as saying “Assistant Secretary Nagy was pleased to meet with him and share the US government’s expectations that Nigeria’s elections be free, fair, transparent, and peaceful, and reflect the will of the Nigerian people”, but stressing the department had not requested the waiver.

Atiku’s visa troubles stem from when he served as Nigeria’s vice president, from 1999 to 2007. He figured prominently in the corruption trial of former US Representative William Jefferson, who was accused of trying to bribe Atiku in an effort to expand a technology business in Nigeria. Jefferson was convicted in 2009 and sentenced to 13 years in prison. His sentence was subsequently reduced. 

Separately, US Senate investigators in 2010 alleged that one of Atiku’s four wives helped him transfer more than $40 million in “suspect funds” into the United States from offshore shell companies.

At least $1.7 million of that money was bribes paid by German technology company Siemens AG, according to Senate investigators. Siemens pleaded guilty to bribery charges in 2008 and agreed to pay a $1.6 billion fine.
Atiku has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Neither he nor his wife face criminal charges in the United States.

The paper also said Atiku’s whirlwind visit to Washington last month was put together with the help of two US lobbying firms. 

Holland & Knight was hired by Atiku personally in December to help him secure a visa, in part by enlisting members of Congress to request one on his behalf, according to a lobbyist for the firm. It has been paid $80,000 so far.

Ballard Partners was hired by Atiku’s political party at a rate of $90,000 per month in September, before Atiku emerged as the party’s candidate, according to US disclosure filings.

The firm’s lobbyists worked to set up a meeting with Nagy, arguing it would show that the United States wanted to encourage free and fair elections in a country where graft is endemic.

“We are not asking the administration or anyone to take sides, but to merely demand the same level of freeness and fairness,” Ballard lobbyist Jamie Rubin told Reuters.

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The visit of Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to Washington two weeks ago to meet with top US diplomats and lawmakers was only possible thanks to a temporary suspension of a travel ban linked to decade-old bribery scandals, Reuters is reporting.

Atiku’s failure to travel to the US for more than 12 years had been used as a campaign weapon against him by the ruling party, which consistently maintained that he would be arrested for corruption should he set foot on American soil.

Atiku would eventually enter the US in January, but speculations about his allegedly corrupt past have refused to go away — and questions about this dominated his appearance on ‘TheCandidates’ last week. See Also Breaking News BREAKING: Kadaria Ahmed Grills Atiku On His 'Corruption' Record 0 Comments 4 Days Ago

Quoting “people familiar with the matter”, including “several US government officials”, Reuters said the travel ban was waived temporarily by the US State Department after lobbyists mounted a campaign among congressional lawmakers arguing that the administration should not snub the leading challenger to Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 16 election.

The US administration has not commented on Atiku’s status or his travel, but several US diplomats and others familiar with the visit told Reuters the former Vice President had been banned from entering the United States for the past several years after he figured prominently in two corruption cases.

For Atiku’s supporters, the fact he was able to visit Washington on Jan. 17 and 18 without being arrested 

“One person familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Atiku was allowed to enter because the United States saw little benefit to creating bad blood with the man who might be the next leader of Africa’s most populous nation and the continent’s biggest oil producer,” the paper wrote.

“Lobbyists hired by Atiku said they sought to overcome resistance at the State Department by securing support from members of Congress for the visit, as well as arguing that the top US official for African affairs, Assistant Secretary Tibor Nagy, had an obligation to encourage democracy in the seventh most populous country in the world.”

It quoted a State Department official as saying “Assistant Secretary Nagy was pleased to meet with him and share the US government’s expectations that Nigeria’s elections be free, fair, transparent, and peaceful, and reflect the will of the Nigerian people”, but stressing the department had not requested the waiver.

Atiku’s visa troubles stem from when he served as Nigeria’s vice president, from 1999 to 2007. He figured prominently in the corruption trial of former US Representative William Jefferson, who was accused of trying to bribe Atiku in an effort to expand a technology business in Nigeria. Jefferson was convicted in 2009 and sentenced to 13 years in prison. His sentence was subsequently reduced. 

Separately, US Senate investigators in 2010 alleged that one of Atiku’s four wives helped him transfer more than $40 million in “suspect funds” into the United States from offshore shell companies.

At least $1.7 million of that money was bribes paid by German technology company Siemens AG, according to Senate investigators. Siemens pleaded guilty to bribery charges in 2008 and agreed to pay a $1.6 billion fine.
Atiku has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Neither he nor his wife face criminal charges in the United States.

The paper also said Atiku’s whirlwind visit to Washington last month was put together with the help of two US lobbying firms. 

Holland & Knight was hired by Atiku personally in December to help him secure a visa, in part by enlisting members of Congress to request one on his behalf, according to a lobbyist for the firm. It has been paid $80,000 so far.

Ballard Partners was hired by Atiku’s political party at a rate of $90,000 per month in September, before Atiku emerged as the party’s candidate, according to US disclosure filings.

The firm’s lobbyists worked to set up a meeting with Nagy, arguing it would show that the United States wanted to encourage free and fair elections in a country where graft is endemic.

“We are not asking the administration or anyone to take sides, but to merely demand the same level of freeness and fairness,” Ballard lobbyist Jamie Rubin told Reuters.

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