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The All Progressives Congress in Lagos State has sent out a circular to its leaders across the state informing them that the Sunday welcome party being organised for the National Leader of the party and former governor, Bola Tinubu, who has been ill and away in the United Kingdom, will not be held as earlier scheduled.

SaharaReporters learnt that the APC sent the circular, signed by Alhaji Tunde Balogun (APC State Chairman), and Alhaji Maroun Are (GAC Secretary) [Governor's Advisory Council] to the party leaders believably at the ward and local government levels, without giving a specific reason for the change of plan.

  Bola Tinubu

SaharaReporters, however, gathered that the cancellation was due to the exclusive report published by this medium, which forced them to abort it abruptly.

“They’ve cancelled the police college event meant to welcome Tinubu back to Nigeria. It was due to the exposé of the media report by SaharaReporters,” a top source revealed.

In the circular obtained by SaharaReporters on Friday, the APC leaders were told that a new arrangement for welcoming Tinubu would be announced later.

“Dear leader/GAC member, you are hereby informed of change in plans/arrival of our National Leader billed for Sunday. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the plans/arrival have been put on hold. A new plan/arrival will be unfolded soon. Sorry for any inconvenience this hold may have caused. Thank you,” the notice said.

SaharaReporters had earlier in the week reported that despite Tinubu’s challenging health condition, the grand welcome was to make people think the APC leader was healthy and fit for the much talked about 2023 presidency.

Sources also had revealed that after his planned return on Sunday, Tinubu would return abroad to have more surgeries – proof that all is not yet well with the former Lagos governor. See Also Exclusive EXCLUSIVE: Ailing Ex-Lagos Governor, Tinubu Plans ‘Brief Return’ To Nigeria On Sunday, To Go Abroad For More Surgeries Shortly After 0 Comments 2 Days Ago

“Tinubu is planning a choreographed return to Nigeria on Sunday. Baba (Tinubu) will return for more surgeries shortly after. A grand welcome is being arranged at the Nigeria Police College in Ikeja, Lagos.

“That’s if everything goes as planned and his health permits him to take the gruesome trip – because the trip is also going to tell on his recuperation,” one of the sources had revealed. 

SaharaReporters had reported that Tinubu confirmed that he went through a challenging health crisis, saying his “physiotherapy was gruesome.”

Tinubu said this while addressing members of the House of Representatives northern caucus who visited him in London last Friday.

The former governor, who has been in the United Kingdom for the last three months since undergoing knee surgery, told the gathering, “Because of God and people like you, I am well. It is just the physio (physiotherapy) that is gruesome.”

Since his departure, Tinubu’s London home has become a mecca of sorts as he has been visited by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Governors Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti).

SaharaReporters had also reported that Fayemi confirmed that Tinubu had surgery recently and he (Fayemi) was in London to show solidarity with him.

The governor had said, “He (Akeredolu) and I were in London together to see our leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but it had absolutely nothing to do with 2023 presidential plans whatsoever. That’s not the reason why we went there.

“Asiwaju had just surgery; it is simply proper etiquette or behaviour both in the part of the country where I come from but also generally that when a friend and elder is undergoing health challenges, it would be improper on your part not to show solidarity and support.”

Tinubu’s health has been a subject of controversy of late.

President Muhammadu Buhari also made a surprise visit to Tinubu in London where he was seen leaning on a walking stick.

SaharaReporters had reported that Tinubu underwent knee surgery at the John Hopkins University Hospital in Maryland, US.

The APC chieftain, it was learnt, left the US for the United Kingdom on crutches, a few days after the surgery.

Sources close to Tinubu told SaharaReporters that he wanted the surgery in Paris, France but changed his plan after rumours of his death spread in Nigeria.

“Tinubu had his second surgery at John Hopkins University in Maryland recently. He was accompanied by a popular Nigerian doctor in Chicago. He had wanted the surgery in Paris but when rumour was rife about his death, he hurriedly left for Nigeria and went to John Hopkins,” one of the sources had said.

"He left the US for the UK on crutches," another source revealed.

SaharaReporters had on July 31 reported that Tinubu, who has had several medical trips this year alone, had surgery about two weeks earlier and could be billed for another one.

The APC National Leader has been off official and party functions in the country for a while, amidst talks that he is being positioned for the 2023 presidency to succeed the incumbent repressive regime of Buhari.

“Tinubu is hospitalised in Maryland, US. His health is failing. He couldn’t participate in launching his Arewa library, and he couldn’t participate in the Local Government Area elections last week. He could not attend today’s APC congress due to health reasons.

“He had a surgery last week,” an authoritative source had disclosed.

A few days after the story, photographs of Tinubu hosting Sanwo-Olu in London surfaced where the duo were seen together in a room.

Reports had it that the meeting was held to put an end to speculations surrounding the APC National Leader’s health status.

In January 2021, Tinubu was also reported to be ill and hospitalised in Paris, France.

Tinubu had earlier complained of exhaustion and travelled out to rest before the news of his collapse went viral.

He was flown to Paris for medical attention in the first week of January.

SaharaReporters had on June 15 reported that Tinubu was also in Paris, battling with some old-age ailment.

“Tinubu is in Paris, France for a medical checkup. His health is deteriorating. Old age and other stuff, but he still wants to be president. This could mean another medical tourism presidency for our country,” a top source had revealed at that time.

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The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu returned quietly to Nigeria on Friday after spending months overseas for medical care.

SaharaReporters had earlier reported his planned return to a “grand welcome” organised by his political associates

Tinubu in London

However, due to his inability to stand the rigours of a physical rally, the ex-Lagos governor quietly entered into the country, shunning any fanfare.

SaharaReporters had reported that a grand welcome was being arranged at the Nigeria Police College in Ikeja, Lagos for the politician.

However, top sources confirmed his ‘early’ return to SaharaReporters on Friday.

“Tinubu has quietly returned tonight. He returned quietly but can’t stand the rigours of a physical rally.

“He arrived on a Falcon jet with registration number CP-CBT. The tracking for the jet is blocked on aviation tracking platforms,” a source disclosed.

It was also learnt that among those at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos to meet Tinubu was the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

SaharaReporters further learnt that the APC chieftain did not get down from his aircraft after his arrival.

“His passport was stamped from Quits Aviation but he departed from Evergreen hangar at the airport,” a source said.

Meanwhile, the APC in Lagos State had sent out a circular to its leaders across the state informing them that the Sunday welcome party being organised for Tinubu would not be held as earlier scheduled.

SaharaReporters learnt that the APC sent the circular, signed by Alhaji Tunde Balogun (APC State Chairman), and Alhaji Maroun Are (GAC Secretary) to the party leaders believably at the ward and local government levels, without giving a specific reason for the change of plan.

SaharaReporters, however, gathered that the cancellation was due to the exclusive report published by this medium, which forced them to abort it abruptly.

 

“They’ve cancelled the police college event meant to welcome Tinubu back to Nigeria. It was due to the exposé of the media report by SaharaReporters,” a top source revealed.

In the circular obtained by SaharaReporters on Friday, the APC leaders were told that a new arrangement for welcoming Tinubu would be announced later.

“Dear leader/GAC member, you are hereby informed of change in plans/arrival of our National Leader billed for Sunday. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the plans/arrival have been put on hold. A new plan/arrival will be unfolded soon. Sorry for any inconvenience this hold may have caused. Thank you,” the notice said.

 

SaharaReporters had reported that Tinubu confirmed that he went through a challenging health crisis, saying his “physiotherapy was gruesome.”

Tinubu said this while addressing members of the House of Representatives northern caucus who visited him in London last Friday.

The former governor, who had been in the United Kingdom for the last three months since undergoing knee surgery, told the gathering, “Because of God and people like you, I am well. It is just the physio (physiotherapy) that is gruesome.”

Since his departure, Tinubu’s London home has become a mecca of sorts as he has been visited by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Governors Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti).

SaharaReporters had also reported that Fayemi confirmed that Tinubu had surgery recently and he (Fayemi) was in London to show solidarity with him.

The governor had said, “He (Akeredolu) and I were in London together to see our leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but it had absolutely nothing to do with 2023 presidential plans whatsoever. That’s not the reason why we went there.

“Asiwaju had just surgery; it is simply proper etiquette or behaviour both in the part of the country where I come from but also generally that when a friend and elder is undergoing health challenges, it would be improper on your part not to show solidarity and support.”

 

President Muhammadu Buhari also made a surprise visit to Tinubu in London where he was seen leaning on a walking stick.

SaharaReporters had reported that Tinubu underwent knee surgery at the John Hopkins University Hospital in Maryland, US.

The APC chieftain, it was learnt, left the US for the United Kingdom on crutches, a few days after the surgery.

Sources close to Tinubu told SaharaReporters that he wanted the surgery in Paris, France but changed his plan after rumours of his death spread in Nigeria.

“Tinubu had his second surgery at John Hopkins University in Maryland recently. He was accompanied by a popular Nigerian doctor in Chicago. He had wanted the surgery in Paris but when rumour was rife about his death, he hurriedly left for Nigeria and went to John Hopkins,” one of the sources had said.

"He left the US for the UK on crutches," another source revealed.

SaharaReporters had on July 31 reported that Tinubu, who has had several medical trips this year alone, had surgery about two weeks earlier and could be billed for another one.

The APC National Leader has been off official and party functions in the country for a while, amidst talks that he is being positioned for the 2023 presidency to succeed the incumbent repressive regime of Buhari.

“Tinubu is hospitalised in Maryland, US. His health is failing. He couldn’t participate in launching his Arewa library, and he couldn’t participate in the Local Government Area elections last week. He could not attend today’s APC congress due to health reasons.

“He had a surgery last week,” an authoritative source had disclosed.

A few days after the story, photographs of Tinubu hosting Sanwo-Olu in London surfaced where the duo were seen together in a room.

Reports had it that the meeting was held to put an end to speculations surrounding the APC National Leader’s health status.

In January 2021, Tinubu was also reported to be ill and hospitalised in Paris, France.

Tinubu had earlier complained of exhaustion and travelled out to rest before the news of his collapse went viral.

He was flown to Paris for medical attention in the first week of January.

SaharaReporters had on June 15 reported that Tinubu was also in Paris, battling with some old-age ailment.

“Tinubu is in Paris, France for a medical checkup. His health is deteriorating. Old age and other stuff, but he still wants to be president. This could mean another medical tourism presidency for our country,” a top source had revealed at that time.

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The great city of London means different things to different people around the world. To the British Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street are located some miles or kilometres from their neighbourhoods. It is the imperial capital of the Elizabethan crown, a glamorous royalty centuries old. To the average Frenchman, German, Italian or Spanish however London is that capital of a hitherto European country that voted, via Brexit, to become a non-European entity. To those countries colonized in Africa (including our Nigeria) London represents the very face of colonial oppression and man's inhumanity to man.

SOC Okenwa

For many Nigerians London is that glittering city of the Big Ben, double-decker red buses and River Thames where President Muhammadu Buhari often goes for his occasional exorbitant medical tourism. Thousands of Nigerians elect London as home working and living in the cosmopolitan city where security of lives and properties are surely guaranteed (with PM Boris Johnson well aware that that constitutes the primary purpose, if not the very essence, of governance).

 

Unlike Abuja, Lagos, Enugu, Port Harcourt or Kaduna where life is short, brutish and nasty London offers paradisiacal outlook rich in culture, cuisine, diversity and cross-fertilization of ideas! Democracy works for the people and dividends of same are seen in everyday life.

 

Besides, London represents another thing for many Nigerians at home and abroad. It is home to three top Premier League soccer teams -- Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal. Many Nigerians are fans of these great English clubs and every weekend they make their days or break their 'hearts' depending on how good or bad they play. Even the richest man in Africa, Aliko Dangote, our compatriot, is said to be interested in buying up Arsenal!

 

The former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, (BAT), has been sojourning in London for quite some months now. Following series of surgeries he underwent reportedly in the United States Tinubu has been recuperating in the British capital. And his presence there has somewhat turned London into a Mecca of some sort for some Nigerian politicians.

 

Every political Tom, Dick and Harry are trooping there to see the godfather and wish him well. Of course the level of solidarity he had received thus far demonstrated his political capacity, sagacity and leadership. 

 

President Muhammadu Buhari was the first to drop by to wish Asiwaju soonest recovery the last time he went visiting London for his routine medical needs. Since then we have lost count of those that had visited. From Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to Governors Kayode Fayemi, Ibikunle Amosun, Rotimi Akeredolu, Abdullahi Ganduje; from the former Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila. From Gov. Sanwo-Olu aides or Tinubu boys in Lagos to the top Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde.

 

Recently a high-powered delegation comprising some members of the Northern Caucus in the House of Representatives, led by Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase were in London to see Tinubu. The APC Chieftain told them that he was currently undergoing a 'gruesome' physiotherapy. And even a member of the delegation had the effrontery to call Tinubu "Mr President"!

 

The only one we have not heard or seen visiting the ailing Tinubu remains the former Lagos state Governor and estranged godson, Akinwumi Ambode. Ambode may not join the queue for obvious reasons. He had desperately wanted to do a second consecutive term as Governor but the omnipotent godfather said otherwise and so it was. He fell!

 

Asiwaju Tinubu has not officially declared his intention expressly to contest the presidency come 2023 but his body language gives the ambition away as a possibility. He would of course be very happy to succeed Buhari whom he helped put to power twice. Instead of glory he may harvest bitterness in the end given Buhari's presidential failures and his lack of commitment to the Tinubu presidential kite.

 

In our reckoning Asiwaju Tinubu may make a good President, indeed a better President than the incumbent fumbling bumbling one. But the snag lies in his state of health. Ex-President Obasanjo had foisted the then ailing late Musa Yar'Adua on us and the Katsina man died in office raising a whole lot of constitutional ripples. The current President is nothing to write home about in terms of sound health and sound administrative competence.

 

But given Tinubu's stellar performance as Lagos State Governor he could perform very well saddled with the responsibility of presiding over our chaotic national affairs. He is said to be irredeemably corrupt, he is alleged to have cornered a huge chunk of Lagos resources by continuously planting his surrogates in power in Alausa, Ikeja yet the truth of the matter is that BAT's staying power is not given to every politician in Nigeria.

 

The political pilgrimage to London lately may not be unconnected to the permutations and strategies toward 2023. Tinubu might be using his medical sojourn in London to measure both his popularity and acceptability across the board.

 

Asiwaju BAT may be damn good a politician, rich, audacious, shrewd, brilliant, organized and experienced but his health status could be a stumbling block to his presidential ambition. Besides, if power must shift to the south post-Buharism then the Igbos should be supported to produce a President for once in our generation. Justice, equity and fairness call for it.

 

Asiwaju Tinubu could as well be basking in the euphoria of being a President-in-waiting in his London abode. Yet when 2023 eventually comes he may discover to his chagrin that Nigerians are fed up with his type of dealers parading themselves as leaders!

 

We wish the Lagos irrepressible godfather "soonest recover" (apology to Sir Shina Peters)

 

SOC Okenwa

soco_abj_2006_rci@hotmail.fr

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SUNDAY, September 19, 2021 like past Sundays in the Canary Islands promised to be a quiet, restful day. It was also a day of Christian worship. But beneath the earth of La Palma on the islands, rock had been pulverised and turned into molten.

 

That afternoon, the lava sprouted into the air triggering off volcanic eruptions which are still raging. The lava flowed like a river from the Cumbre Vieja volcano and got to the sea within ten days.

Owei Lakemfa

It was a hapless populace that watched the volcanic eruptions in which many had lost all they have, many houses destroyed and over 268 hectares of farmland with their bananas, grapes and avocado, leaked by the lava.

 

In the early days of the eruption, even as residents sat dejectedly bemoaning their loss and wondering how they can start picking up the pieces of their lives, excited tourists were pouring in taking photographs and selfies which were being posted in the social media.

 

They were excited by the fountains of lava sprouting into the sky and returning to earth before flowing in at least three directions, destroying all in their path. The tourists had no empathy for the dejected residents.

 

The Spanish government also had little empathy; it saw the tragedy as a good opportunity of making money. The morning after the eruptions began with people fleeing their homes and some residents being evacuated, Spain’s Industry, Trade and Tourism Minister Maria Reyes Maroto Illera, sent a message to tourists and potential tourists that the island was safe for tourists, especially to watch the eruption live. To Maroto, the issue is not the evacuation of residents, the protection of lives or the general danger including to the environment and climate the eruption poses.

 

Rather, to the economist: “The most important thing right now is reassuring tourists who have been affected, and also those who may be travelling to the island today or during the course of the week. We’re providing information so that tourists can travel to the island and witness something undoubtedly unprecedented for themselves.

 

That information will let tourists know that the island is open and also whether their hotel has been affected so they can stay elsewhere and enjoy their holidays. We can also make the most of this as an attraction so that a lot of tourists who want to enjoy what nature has brought to La Palma can do so in the coming weeks and months.”

 

This is incredible, but true. The indifferent behaviour and money-centred reaction of the Spanish Minister is a reminder that the Western ideology can be cold, infernal and interested primarily in exploitation and profit.

 

What rules the being of the Spanish minister is the lots of money that can be made in selling the unfolding disaster as a perfect tourist package. Although a member of the Spanish Socialist Party, she is blind to the loss and sorrow of the victims of the volcano who are her fellow Spaniards.

 

She is also unperturbed by the unfolding environmental disaster including the fact that the eruption and lava would change the geographic shape of La Palma and its environs. It is an eruption which registered over 22,000 tremors in one week!

 

Just so you know that Maroto’s mind set is institutional, her boss, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, visited this week. While promising a 206 million euros ($239m) aid, he urged tourists the world over to come and watch the unfolding tragedy: “I would like to let tourists know that this is a safe place, they can come and enjoy the island.” Campaigning that people should “come and enjoy” a disaster? What really is left of our humanity?

 

This was the same mind-set that led their forefathers to exterminate the indigenous African population and turn the islands into a White enclave. Once on a trip to Spain, the then Iberian Airlines which took me from Lagos had a stop-over in the Canary Islands, and I told myself, wait a minute; we just left Lagos!

 

That was when I realised that rather than being Spanish, the Canary Islands are actually in West Africa! They are just 587 kilometres from Western Sahara and 992 kilometres from the West African country of Mauritania while imperial Spain that lays claims to the islands is 2,016.7 kilometres away!

 

In fact, the West African country of Cape Verde is farther than the Canary Islands! Where the islands are 587 kilometres from Western Sahara, Cape Verde is 1,358 kilometres away.

 

The Spanish began their conquest of the Canaries in the early 1400s and systematically began to wipe out the local populace. Their main objective was the extermination of the local male populace while using the local females for interbreeding.

 

Only partial Canarian customs and traditions like the whistle language (Silbo) still survive. The main Canarian language, Guanche of the pre-colonial era, became extinct in the 17th Century.

 

What the Spaniads did in the Canaries to the indigenous populace by virtually exterminating them and seizing the lands, is the same thing Britain did in Australia and the White migrants, to the indigenous Indian population in the United States.

 

That was what the Whites tried to do in Kenya, Algeria, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The method adopted is the same; White colonialists seize a territory and try to exterminate the local population.

 

There are other African territories the Spanish seized and continue to occupy. There are three of them that are Moroccan. These are Ceuta, which a mere eight kilometres from Morocco, Penon de Valez de la Gomera which is 75 kilomtres and Melilla which is 10.5 kilometres from Morocco.

 

While holding on to Moroccan lands, the Spaniards try to bribe the Moroccans with other peoples’ lands. When the Spanish colonialists formally left Western Sahara on February 26, 1976, rather than allow the Saharawi independence like other colonies, they gave the country to Morocco as a sort of propitiation.

 

So rather than challenge the Spaniards for their lands, the Moroccans are trying to hold on to Western Sahara. Both countries also continue to collaborate in this unholy project. For instance, when Morocco “expelled” the Saharawi patriot, Aminatu Haida from her country on November 13, 2009, she was taken to the Canary Islands where the Spanish tried to prevent her from leaving the islands.

 

There may be no hope of Africa taking back her territories especially when the local populace had been wiped out, but our memories must not be wiped clean. As humans, we must empathise with the residents of the the Canary Islands in this their time of grief, but that is not to say we should forget that these islands even if owned by Spain, are African.

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The Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Muhammad Nami, has revealed that only 41 million out of 200 Nigerian citizens pay taxes in the country.

Nami stated this at the “Public Presentation and Breakdown of the Highlights of the 2022 Appropriation Bill” in Abuja on Friday.

He added that in spite of the 41million tax payers in the country, Nigeria still generated less than what other African countries earned from Personal Income Taxes (PIT).

“If you also compare that with South Africa where they have a total population of about 60million people, with just 4million taxpayers, the total personal income tax paid in South Africa last year was about N13trillion. You can now see that these things are not adding up.

“The number of billionaires in Lagos alone is more than the number of billionaires in the whole of South Africa but what we generated as PIT by Lagos State was low.

“So if we don’t pay these taxes, there is no way the government will be able to provide the social amenities required, the critical infrastructure required for the wellbeing of the country,” Nami said.

The federal tax agency boss said that the overall collection up to September 31 which had not been fully reconciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Customs was about N4.2 trillion.

He added that from this amount, oil-related taxes accounted for only 22 per cent which is N950billion only, while the non-oil taxes generated was within that period was N3.3trillion.

“People are not willing to pay even when they are appointed as agent of collection, whatever they have collected they find it difficult to remit.

“We assume that we are a rich country, I don’t think that is correct, we only have the potential to be rich, because we have a very huge population of about 200million.

“If you look at it from the rate of taxes paid in Saudi Arabia with a population of 10 million people, the VAT rate is as high as 15 per cent and what we have in Nigeria is just 7.5 per cent,” the FIRS boss said.

He also said that Nigeria, an oil-producing country, could not be compared to a small country like Saudi Arabia, saying “we are still not there.”

Speaking, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, urged citizens to always pay their taxes.

“The money from taxes will go a long way, by providing social amenities, among others.”

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A selection of powerful images from all over the globe, taken this week.

Another batch of five students of Bethel Baptist High School, Maraban Damishi, in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State has been freed by their abductors.

The President of Nigerian Baptist Convention, Israel Adelani Akanji, disclosed this in a statement sent to SaharaReporters on Friday.

According to him, the school's matron, who was abducted alongside the students, was also released.

He wrote, "Glory be to God. Five of our Bethel Baptist High School students and the Matron (Making 6) have just been released to us this evening, October 8. We thank God and trust that the remaining four students will also be released. Thank you for your prayers and support."

The bandits had in the early hour of July 5 invaded the school and kidnapped 121 students.

The criminals had since then been releasing the students in batches.

The bandits had earlier released 10 students of Bethel Baptist School in Kaduna on Saturday, September 18 after being held aptive for 74.

There are speculations that the release of each batch is usually preceded by payment of ransom.

But the school and the state government are yet to confirm that any ransom was paid to the bandits. The Kaduna government has a policy of not paying ransom to criminals.

 

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday arraigned Mr Embelakpo Apere, and his wife, Beauty Apere before a Federal High Court Yenagoa over money laundering allegedly carried out in 2015.

Embelakpo was a former aide on Sustainable Development Goals to former Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State who is currently a Senator representing Bayelsa West in the National Assembly.

EFCC operatives.

Following an opposition by defense counsel, Andrew Arthur, to the arraignment of Embelakpo, the court could not take his plea. His wife was also arraigned on seven counts but she pleaded not guilty.

Arthur had argued that Embelakpo had been discharged by the court and could not be tried twice for the same offences but the prosecuting counsel, M.T Iko, countered that the discharge was not based on merit of the case.

The trial judge Justice I.H Ndahen adjourned to October 19 for ruling on the arguments.

According to the charges filed against Beauty Apere, she, between April 1 and May 15, 2015, allegedly received N73million on May 12, 2015; also got N50million, on May 5, 2015, and $85,900 between April 2 and April 27; in 2016, she received £3,800.

The EFCC alleged that the funds were proceeds of unlawful acts punishable under the Money Laundering prohibition Act.

The EFCC also charged Beauty for forgery of her medical certificate and birth certificate purported to emanate from the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.

The court granted her bail to the tune of N10million and two sureties in like sum who must have landed property in Yenagoa.

The defendant would be in the custody of the Yenagoa Correctional Service pending meeting her bail condition.

The EFCC urged the court to also adjourn to October 19 to enable the commission to produce witnesses to establish its case.

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Buzu, second in command to the notorious banditry kingpin, Bello Turji, has reportedly refused to release 27 people he kidnapped in Gatawa area of Sokoto State, despite collecting ransoms for their release.

The gunmen had recently attacked Gatawa town in the Sabon Birni Local Government Area, where residents said over 20 persons were killed and 27 persons kidnapped.

Gunmen Google

The bandits also sent one of the victims with a handwritten letter to the district head of Burkusuuma, Sarkin Rafi, asking for N20 million for the release of the victims.

According to Premium Times, the relations of the victims revealed that the bandits asked families and friends to collate the money and pay through the village head of Katsallen Kade.

The source, whose sister is kidnapped, said, “Buzu, taking decisions on Turji’s behalf, said the money should be paid through the village head. But we pleaded and negotiated with the monarch, who is afraid of going against the bandits, from N20million to N2million.”

He said the bandits were eventually given N2.2million but Buzu had refused to release the victims.

Another source from Sabon Birni, who also asked not to be named due to safety concerns, confirmed that the money was taken to the bandits but none of the victims have been released.

“The victims are being held in Suruddubu, which is all under Buzu’s territory. What I heard is that when the N2.2million was given to Buzu, he insisted that the whole N20million must be paid, and in addition to jerry cans of fuel. It is becoming scary because the issue is just like a movie premiere,” the source said.

The police spokesperson in the state, Sanusi Abubakar, did not respond to calls and SMS sent to him on the issue.

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Nollywood actor, Chiwetalu Agu, who was arrested by the Nigerian Army over his support and canvassing for the Indigenous People of Biafra, has been picked up and quizzed by the Department of State Services, hours after he was released by the military.

A Nigerian writer, Chiagozie Fred Nwonwu, who writes under the pen name Mazi Nwonwu, confirmed that Agu was not yet a free man.

According to Nwonwu, Agu is presently in custody of the DSS.

“Chiwetalu Agu is still not free. He is with DSS now. Colleagues say they are looking for a top lawyer to bail him,” Nwonwu wrote on his known Facebook page on Friday.

Recall that there were widespread reports on Friday that Agu had been released by the Nigerian Army, following his arrest on Thursday, for wearing the Biafran regalia.

Agu was arrested in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Thursday.

The army had come out to say it arrested Agu for soliciting support for the separatist group, IPOB.

“Dressed in a very well known attire of the proscribed group, Chiwetalu Agu was picked up for questioning while inciting members of the public to join the proscribed group. Though he attempted puting up some resistance when troops made effort to take him into custody, he was not assaulted or subjected to brutalisation.

“While the NA recognises the inalienable rights of the citizenry to freedom of movement and expression as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is apparently a violation for any individual or group to incite the public to cause mayhem or break down of law and order.

“It is therefore pertinent to state that while exercising such freedoms, it must be done within the confines of the law, bearing in mind the imperative for peace, and national security,” the army had said in a statement.

The military had on Friday released Agu before he was reportedly picked up by the DSS for questioning.

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The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Board of Trustees, BoT, has urged the party leaders to be cautious in handling the zoning of the party’s presidential ticket and other elective offices for 2023.

The BoT stressed that the zoning of the party’s presidential tickets may destroy the party.

The Chairman of PDP BoT, Walid Jibrin, disclosed this while addressing journalists at PDP’s National Secretariat in Abuja.

He noted that the PDP BoT was ready to assist the party’s leadership in ensuring peace ahead of the elective convention.

He said, “We are not talking about the zoning of the offices of the President, Vice President, Senate President or Speaker of the House of Representatives yet.

“Zoning can mar or destroy our party. But by the grace of God, we will not allow it to happen.

“What I can say is that we should never be personal because when you want to be personal, the issue of disunity will come.

“The BoT met today in our continuous commitment to bring peace and unity to this party,” he added.

There have been talks and controversies, particularly among the governors as to the region that should produce the president in 2023 and succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Southern Governors' Forum had warned that the Southern region should be allowed to produce the president, threatening that it would never support any northern candidate for the 2023 polls.

The Northern Governors' Forum days later had met and replied their southern counterparts that zoning was not only unconstitutional but undemocratic.

The northern governors’ forum had insisted that it would not be coerced to give up the 2023 presidency to the southern region.

 

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A chieftain of the ruling party, All Progressive Congress (APC), Garus Gololo, has called on President Muhammad Buhari not to shelve his plans to sack some cabinet members of his administration.

According to Daily Post, the party chieftain stated this in reaction to the story by SaharaReporters, which revealed that Buhari had perfected plans to sack the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and others whom Buhari said had not lived up to expectations.

SaharaReporters had on Thursday reported that Buhari had completed plans to sack Malami and 15 other ministers in his cabinet, before December 2021.

Amid the development, it had also revealed that Malami was secretly lobbying the “cabal” in Aso Villa, to prevail on the President to spare him.

But reacting to the development, Gololo said it would do the President a whole lot of good if he sacked Malami and others in his cabinet. See Also Politics EXCLUSIVE: Buhari Plans Removal Of Attorney-General Malami, 14 Other Ministers 0 Comments 1 Day Ago

He said, “Let the President go ahead and sack them – both Malami and other ministers who are not productive. The party APC has built on good ideology and if anyone has nothing to offer the President, in terms of capacity, to enable him to deliver on his promises and live up to the expectations of the ideology, then such person should be shown the way out.

“I will advise the President not to listen to anyone or even the Malami himself. Let him stay focused and reposition his government. Let no one distract him.

“I would even prefer if the President sacks the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the National Security Adviser, in addition to Malami and other members of his government who has brought his performances down, by their own actions or inaction."

Buhari had, on September 2, 2021, removed two of his serving ministers, with the promise to continue with the reshuffling of his cabinet.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that about 62,698 cases of double voter registration were discovered in Anambra State.

The INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, stated this in Abuja on Friday at an emergency meeting with political parties.

Permanent Voter Cards

Yakubu said the meeting was necessary in order to brief the parties on the commission's preparations for the coming governorship election as well as some other recent developments in the state.

He said it was discovered during the clean-up of registration data in Anambra that 62,698 people who are already registered voters, registered again.

“In Anambra State, a total of 138,802 citizens completed the registration, including applications for transfer and requests for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVCs as required by law. However, in the process of cleaning up the registration data, we discovered that many previously registered persons re-registered afresh,” he said.

He continued that “As a testimony to the effectiveness of our new system for checking double and multiple registrations, the commission found out that some 62,698 persons who are already registered voters in Anambra State went ahead to register again. These double or multiple registrations are invalid by law. We have archived these registrations and will not print new PVCs for them.

“Their old PVCs remain valid and they can use them to vote at the Polling Units where they registered and probably voted in previously elections. The same cleaning up exercise is going on nationwide. As soon as it is over, the commission will provide further details to Nigerians on the situation in other States of the Federation and action to be taken on the matter. Let me remind all Nigerians that the law prohibits double registration.

“Consequently, the number of valid registrants in Anambra State at the end of the first quarter of the CVR exercise on 5th September 2021 is 77,475. This figure has been added to the existing register of 2,447,996 eligible voters used for the 2019 General Election. Accordingly, the number of registered voters in Anambra State now stands at 2,525,471.”

Yakubu added that the security around INEC facilities in the state has been ramped up in preparation for the upcoming election and appealed to the political parties not to worsen insecurity with their utterances and actions. 

“This could compound the security situation and make the work of the Commission, political parties and security agencies even more difficult. It may also lead to voter apathy,” he added.

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Some villagers of the Izombe community in the Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State have deserted their homes over fears trailing the alleged killing of security personnel and a youth.

According to reports, the personnel on Friday confronted a youth allegedly engaged in oil bunkering in the village and killed him.

File photo used to illustrate story.

The situation reportedly forced the youths to descend on the security personnel and killed them too.

The situation became charged when the personnel in their numbers stormed the community for retaliation causing the burning of the palace of the traditional ruler of the community and other houses close to the Eze’s palace.

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A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted permission to a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) to travel abroad for medical treatment.

During the ruling on Friday, the court held that his travelling documents, including his International Passport, deposited with the court as part of his bail conditions be released to him.

According to the court, Adoke who is standing trial on charges bordering money laundering, I permitted to travel abroad between October 11 and November 15, 2021, and return to Nigeria thereafter.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, the trial judge, however, had while delivering the judgment held that the lead counsel to Adoke, in the money laundering charges, Godwin Kanu Agabi (SAN), must give an undertaking before the travel documents would be released.

On application for release of Adoke's International Passport, Ekwo directed the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court to convey the order to the Nigeria Immigration Service to make the movement hitch-free.

Justice Ekwo's approval of the request had come after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) did not oppose the application.

The judge also ordered that the ex AGF must, upon his arrival back to Nigeria return the passport to the custody of the court and subsequently adjourned the matter till December 6, 7 and 8, 2021 for resumption of Adoke’s trial.

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