Nnamdi Kanu freed

Charity Nnaji: 

Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, has regained his freedom from Kuje prison.

The IPOB leader was arrested in October 2015 following allegations of treasonable felony by the federal government.

He was held in the custody of the State Security Service till the ruling in January 2016 when the Federal High Court ordered that the detained Biafra agitator be kept in prison custody.

Since his detention, Mr. Kanu has made various applications for bail which were refused by the different judges handling the matter.

He was, however, granted bail on Wednesday by Justice Binta Nyako

On Friday, Mr. Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, told reporters that his client had fulfilled the bail conditions given to him by Mrs. Nyako.

By Friday evening, Mr. Ejiofor confirmed that his client had been released. Premium Times

OBJ says he was unaware of Yar’adua’s illness

Charity Nnaji:

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the former President of Nigeria has disclosed that he was unaware of Umaru Yar’adua’s illness, when he selected him as his successor during the 2007 election.

Yar’adua was declared the winner of the controversial presidential election held on April 21, 2007, and was sworn in on May 29, 2007.

In 2009, Yar’adua left for Saudi Arabia to receive treatment for pericarditis. He returned to Nigeria on February 24, 2010, where he died on May 5, 2010.

His vice president Goodluck Jonathan became president.

In a book ‘Against the Run of Play’ authored by Olusegun Adeniyi, Obasanjo insists that Yar’adua’s response to two clarifications he sought from him, convinced him (Obasanjo) to go ahead with his decision.

“One, the lingering doubts about his health, while the other was a very pervasive allegation that he had a manipulative wife who had too much influence on him,” Obasanjo said.

“Not being a medical practitioner, I gave the report to a friend and renowned professional in the medical field who reviewed it and told me that the person in the report was not on dialysis, which meant either he didn’t have a kidney problem or that he had successfully undergone a kidney transplant. 

That was the report I had about his health,” Adeniyi quoted Obasanjo as saying. From Daily Post

Illegal use of Spectrum: NCC issues 14-day ultimatum to Telecoms

Charity Nnaji:

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to telecoms companies illegally using certain spectrum, or face the music.

The Commission said the use of any spectrum not duly licensed by any operator is criminal and could lead to imprisonment.

Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, warned all unauthorized users of 5.470-5.725 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum band to desist from doing so in order not to incur the wrath of the Commission.

“The Nigerian Communications Commission hereby informs the general public that the 5.4GHz band spanning 5.470 – 5.725 GHz frequency range is a licensed band in Nigeria,” Dambatta said.

He added that the transmission of signals or use of equipment in any form on the band without a frequency license obtained from the NCC is illegal and shall not be tolerated.

Continuing, he warned, that all concerned operators and companies or any person(s) using the band to note that it was a criminal offence pursuant to the section 122 of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA), 2003 to operate on any frequency not duly assigned by the Commission.

Turkish Airlines abandons 22 Nigerian kids in Istanbul

Charity Nnaji:

Turkish Airlines has abandoned students and teachers of Glisten International College Abuja in Istanbul, Turkey, over failure of the airline to airlift them back to Nigeria as scheduled.

The children between the ages of 11 and 15, Newworld.news gathered, were made to sleep at the resting area of the airport terminal over night with just blankets provided them by the management of the airline rather than hotel accommodation.

The team, which had gone to the United States to represent Nigeria in a competition few weeks ago, were forced to part with the sum of $40 each, totalling $880 before they could be allowed to sleep in the frozen condition at the airport.

Information gathered from Communicationweek quoting a source close to the school said the team had boarded Turkish Airlines flight from Abuja to US with a stopover at Istanbul Airport. But trouble started on the return 

leg, US-Istanbul-Abuja of the flight.

Information also indicated that the flight from US to Istanbul was delayed for an hour by the same airline and as at the time the flight eventually departed US and arrived at Istanbul for the connecting flight, the Istanbul-Abuja flight had already departed.

The source said that when the team contacted the management of the airline in Turkey for a better accommodation, the airline declined, saying that they could not be responsible for their accommodation despite the fact that the flight miss was not their own making. Since the students had been stranded at the airport they have been responsible for their own feeding and other expenses, the source said.

“These are children between the ages of 11 and 15 years and are exposed to this harsh treatment. Could they have done that with their own citizens? Or, will they allow any Nigerian carrier to do that to their citizens in Nigeria? I am begging our government to take up this challenge because these kids went to represent Nigeria in the US.”

Jonathan broke silence on 15 election

Charity Nnaji:

Goodluck Jonathan, former President of Nigeria, has finally acknowledged that the 2015 presidential election was influenced partly by former U.S. President Barack Obama and his officials

He also admitted infractions perpetrated by Prof. Attahiru Jega, former chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In an advanced copy of the book, ‘Against the Run of Play – How an incumbent president was defeated in Nigeria,’ written by Olusegun Adeniyi, chairman of the THISDAY Editorial Board, Jonathan said that the U.S. government “even brought some naval ships into the Gulf of Guinea in the days preceding the elections”.

The book goes on to reveal how the previous U.S. administration undermined Jonathan’s government’s fight against Islamist insurgents in the North-east in order to weaken his government and make it unpopular, quoting Communicationweek.

“I was disappointed by Jega because I still cannot understand what was propelling him to act the way he did in the weeks preceding the election.

“As at the first week in February 2015, when about 40 per cent of Nigerians had not collected their PVCs, Jega said INEC was ready to conduct an election in which millions of people would be disenfranchised,” the former President said.

Jonathan also said he had a meeting with Jega to express his reservations about the preparedness of INEC for the exercise, but he insisted that the election would go ahead. 

Nnamdi Kanu granted bail

 Charity Nnaji:

Nnamdi Kalu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been granted bail by an Abuja Federal High Court on health grounds.

Granting the bail, Justice Binta Nyako, the trial Judge, barred Kanu from granting press interviews while on bail, however, and also warned the defendant against participating in any rally.

The IPOB leader is also expected to provide three sureties, one of whom must be a serving Senator, a Jewish religious leader and a highly respected person, who own land anywhere in Abuja.

The Judge granted bail in the sum of N100m with three sureties in like sum.

Nnamdi Kanu was arrested in Lagos on 14 October, 2015, and has been in detention ever since, in spite of many court orders that ruled for his release.

Prostitute sells 3-month-old baby for N200,000

Charity Nnaji:

An 18-year-old sex worker, Aisha Idris has been arrested by Men of the Katsina State Police Command for allegedly conspiring with a nurse to sell her three-month-old baby for N200,000.

Addressing Newsmen in Katsina, the State Police Commissioner, Usman Ali Abdullahi, disclosed that the nurse, identified as Ogugua Oko, who works with the Federal Medical Centre, Katsina, connected her to the buyer of the baby.

Following their arrest, the three-month-old baby was recovered from one Grace Ohoho, a resident of Okuku village, Owerri in Imo State.

According to the Police boss, “Information gathered has it that Aisha Idris gave birth three months ago at the Federal Medical Centre. She conspired with her friend, Hauwa, and a nurse working with the Centre, who linked them to one Joy Ihenamere to sell the baby to Grace Ohoho.for N200,000.

“The case was reported to the command on April 10. The suspects are in the police custody.

Christian youths guard Mosques, Muslim youths guard churches in Plateau – PCRC

Charity Nnaji

Christian youth now guard Mosques while their Muslim counterparts guard Churches in Plateau.

The Chairman of Police Community Relations Committee, Plateau State chapter, Ola Azeez, disclosed this when he led the group on a visit to the Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Nazif, in Jos on Monday.

According to media report, Christians guard Mosques during Muslim festivities and Muslims youths guard Churches during Christian festivities in Plateau.

Azeez said the group adopted the strategy to consolidate on the prevalent peace in the state, adding that the efforts had enhanced the cordial understanding among the different faiths in the state.

The chairman, therefore, solicited the state government’s support to ensure the success of the group’s effort.
The committee is responsible for setting up Neighborhood Watch in Jos metro.

Receiving the group, Nazif commended the group for the effort initiating and actualizing “The Neighbourhood watch”.
He noted that a good number of young men and women that had nothing to do have now engaged in the neighbourhood watch.

Set Top Boxes users risk blackout after April 30

Charity Nnaji

Alhaji Nazif Mohammed, the Commissioner for Information, Plateau State has said users of set top boxes of the pilot switch-over from analogue to digital transmission risk blackout after April 30.

About 420,000 boxes that would last for one year, at the onset of the switch-over on April 30, 2016, were given out to the public for free, according to NAN.

Mohammed told newsmen on Monday in Jos that interested users must pay N1,500 access fee or face blackout at the expiration of the one year free service. The set top boxes can only work free of charge for one year after which an access fee of N1,500 per year should be paid,” he said.

He said that government provided 200,000 set top boxes free of charge to the people of Plateau, while other people bought the boxes from distributors at a subsidised fee.

 “It is almost one year now and we want to inform the general public that by the end of this month, 129 boxes will have total blackout unless they are recharged. Such blackout will continue till November 2017 when all free set top boxes will be deactivated if their owners did not pay the access fee.”

The commissioner further explained that those using the set top boxes could establish when theirs would expire by pressing the menu button, and stressed the need for people to know when theirs would go off. Crime

oR&D Health

‘Area Fada’ pierces his testes, puts ring on it

Charity Nnaji

Nigeria’s most blunt celebrities, Charles Oputa, popularly known as ‘Area Fada’ has revealed details of his latest body piercing and tattooing.

Quoting Daily Post, Charly Boy took to his Instagram page to disclose that he has pierced his testes, put a ring on it and has also tattooed his children’s names on his left arm.

In the post that featured photos of himself and a man who apparently carried out the piercing, the self-acclaimed ‘Area Fada’ wrote: “My Body is in shock. Pierced my blokus today. More balls to the ball.

“I know some people no go mind if I show my blokus as dis Oyibo dey take needle scatter ram. The pain enter my medulla. Chineke.

“Tattooed my children’s name on my left arm today, hope space go dey to tattoo my grandchildren’s name and,” he added

Presidential committee on recovered Ikoyi money to work in secret

Charity Nnaji

The Presidential committee investigating corruption allegations against suspended officials of the Buhari’s administration has stated that it will conduct its work in secret.

In a press statement made available to newsmen, the Vice President’s Spokesman, Mr Laolu Akande, disclosed on Saturday in Abuja that conducting sitting in camera would enable all parties in the matter to make full disclosures.

Recalled that Muhammadu Buhari named Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to head the panel to investigate the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and Director-General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke.

While Lawal was accused of legal and due process violations in the award of contracts to companies handling the resettlement programmes in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the North-East; Oke was also accused of contraventions in the discovery of large sums of money in both foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an apartment in Osborne, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The statement read in part, “In the discharge of its work, the panel is expected to invite all relevant officials and private individuals who may be connected to both cases.

“It will also obtain and scrutinize documents that may throw some light on the issues raised in both cases.

“All its proceedings will, however, be in closed sessions to avoid speculations, allow for full disclosure and enhance the pace of proceedings.”

Osinbajo queries Magu over recovered money

Charity Nnaji

Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu has been drilled for hours by the three-man committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari and headed by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

Buhari set up the committee to investigate the suspended secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and the suspended Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ayo Oke.

Other than Osinbajo, the committee has the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami and the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, as members.

Magu, who appeared before the committee members on Friday was queried for hours at the Vice-President’s office inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Magu was questioned on the fund recovered in a Lagos apartment which the NIA DG had claimed belonged to the agency.

Magu was said to have justified the raid on the Ikoyi apartment where the money was recovered and briefed the committee on the investigation into the operation, Punch reports.

The report quoted a source as saying, “The meeting with Magu was part of the assignment of the committee. He was asked questions on the operation and as expected he justified it.”

Recall that the anti-graft agency had recently uncovered huge cash in both foreign and local currencies in an apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos State.

Rev. King to die next week?

 Charity Nnaji

How true is it? Has the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode concluded plans to sign the warrant for execution of Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, popularly known as Rev. King, next week?

The state government declared on Tuesday through the Justice ministry that cases of death sentences in Lagos are being appraised for necessary actions.

If the review ends unfavourably, the General Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly (CPA), would be executed.

“Yes, everything seems set for his hanging. Though, he may not be the only one that might be executed soon. Going by the feelers we are getting, it is likely the governor would sign the warrant next week, and the hanging would follow immediately to avoid unnecessary sentiment.

“What was put out on Tuesday was to gauge the mood and prepare the minds of the populace on what to come,” a source at the state Ministry of Justice, who craved anonymity, confided in Saturday Telegraph.

Recalled that King was sentenced to death in 2007 by a Lagos State High Court over the death of one of his church members after he allegedly set her on fire. Miffed by the judgement, King quickly appealed the ruling which he lost at the Court of Appeal.

He ran to the Supreme Court for reprieve, but met another road block. Instead of clemency, the apex court ratified his death sentence. This confirmation, ironically, came on a Friday that happened to be his birthday.

APC caucus meeting postponed indefinitely

Charity Nnaji

The apex c​aucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been postponed indefinitely.

​Also affected by the postponment was the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting​; the two meetings were expected to hold on April 24 and 25, 2017​.​

​Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the APC ​National Publicity Secretary, who announced the postponements in a press statement did not give reasons for the postponements.

Abdullahi in the statement said “The National Caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scheduled for April 24 and 25, 2017 respectively have been postponed.

“The postponement is due to unexpected developments. New dates for the meetings will be communicated in due course”.

​

Buhari suspends Babachir, AYO Oke

 Charity Nnaji

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered immediate suspension of David Babachir Lawal, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

Also affected was Ambassador Ayo Oke, Director General of the NIA, pending the outcome of the investigation into the Osborne-gate.

 The President also gave directive for an investigation into allegations of violations of law and due process made against Babachir in the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE).

Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in a press release, said that the President has equally ordered a full scale investigation into the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, over which the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has made a claim.

The investigation is also to enquire into the circumstances in which the NIA came into possession of the funds, how and by whose or which authority the funds were made available to the NIA, and to establish whether or not there has been a breach of the law or security procedure in obtaining custody and use of the funds.

A three-man Committee comprising the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the National Security Adviser, headed by the Vice President, is to conduct both investigations. The Committee is to submit its report to the President within 14 days.

Gunmen kill 5 soldiers in Borno State

Charity Nnaji

Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram loyalists have killed five soldiers after attacking a military checkpoint in Sabon Garin in Borno State.

Newworld.news gathered that the terrorists, who came out in their scores and believed to belong to the Abu Al-Barnawi faction, stormed the checkpoint, which is about 140 kilometres to Maiduguri, the state capital, in the late hours on Monday, killing the soldiers and injuring five others.

A military officer confirmed the deaths, adding that the raid on the military post was unexpected.

“Our men were outgunned and outnumbered,” the source, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak about the incident, told AFP

We lost five men in the fight. Five more were injured,” he added.

A civilian, Mustapha Karimbe, who assisted the military, said the terrorists took away military vehicles and burned three armoured cars along the makeshift sheds at the checkpoint.

“The terrorists attacked the soldiers and remained in the village for about three hours before they withdrew,” he said.

Efforts are being made to reach the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.Gen. Sani Usman.

Health officials to account for missing Meningitis vaccines in Zamfara

Charity Nnaji

Aliyu Kagara, chairman of the state sub-committee for the procurement, management and distribution of meningitis drugs and vaccines has said two officials of Bungudu local council in Zamfara have been mandated to account for the missing meningitis vaccines allocated to the area or be sanctioned.

The affected officials are the local council’s director of health, Rabiu Dansadau and the councillor of health, Sanusi Umar.

Kagara said that a total of 400 I.V injections meningitis vaccines was allocated to the area, but only 30 of the vaccines were accounted for.

“When the committee visited the local government, it discovered that 30 persons were treated and there was no trace of the remaining 370 vaccines.

“The two officials must return the drugs and offer convincing explanation of what happened,” he said.

According to NAN, the chairman said that, so far, the affected officials have failed to give satisfactory explanation as to the whereabouts of the remaining drugs.

Patients pay up N1,000 per vaccine, to get treated..

The governor has already set up a committee under the secretary to the state government, Abdullahi Shinkafi, to investigate the matter, while the state house of assembly has also set up its own investigation committee.

A total of 346 people have died of meningitis and 3,145 infected since the reported outbreak of the disease in Zamfara.

Ronaldo maintains world best rating, ends Bayarn title race

Charity Nnaji

Cristiano Ronaldo once again put up a superb display as his hat-trick ended visiting Bayern Munich Champions League race.

With Real Madrid beating Bayern 4-2 ending the quarter final game 6-3 on aggregate, the Spanish giants are through to the UEFA Champions League semi-final.

Cristiano Ronaldo's footballing intelligence was simply overwhelming for visiting Bayern Munich at the Bernabeau on Tuesday.

Amaechi set to sue accusers, demands N2b

Charity Nnaji

Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Femi Fani-Kayode and Lere Olayinka to apologise to him over their claims that he is the owner of the $43 million found by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an apartment at Osborne Towers on Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

His accusers allegedly claimed on Twitter that the apartment is owned by Mr. Amaechi,

The minister also made a demand of N2billion as compensation addressed to Messrs. Fani-Kayode, and Olayinka by his lawyers, Lateef Fagbemi. He said if the duo failed to apologise to him he would sue them over falsehood.

IGP orders touts, transport unions out of roads

Charity Nnaji

Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), has ordered the instant dismantling of road blocks on roads by revenue agents, transport unions and other illegal task force across the country.

According to Police spokesman, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Jimoh Moshood, Special X-Squad has been deployed on highways and roads in the country to clear illegal road blocks and obstructions,.

“The IGP has deployed Special X-Squad Teams of the Force across the country to commence with effect from Monday, today, 17th April, 2017 the removal of all forms of illegal blockage of highways and roads.”

He also said the police would remove other obstructions on public highways and roads created by unlawful revenue/tax collectors, road transport unions, labour and trade related unions inhibiting vehicular movements in the country.

The Special X-Squad Teams are under strict instructions to   arrest, investigate and prosecute any person or group of persons found committing this act.

He explained that, “For avoidance of doubt, the taxes and levies act, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004 section 2 (2) disallowed any person, including a tax authority from mounting a road block in any part of the Federation for the purposes of collecting any tax or levy.”         

 “The Nigeria Police Force hereby advised the relevant State Governments, Local Government Councils, Boards of Internal Revenue service across the country, various transport unions, labour and traders associations that it is against the law for any organization to create a blockage and restrict or restrain members of the public the free usage of roads and highways anywhere in the country.”

Mourinho boasts: I know how to beat Chelsea, wins 2:0

 Charity Nnaji

Jose Mourinho, Manchester United manager, said he knows how to beat Chelsea as he won 2:0 cutting the Blues’ lead at the top to four points.

He said he adopted the same system he used in their 1-0 loss at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup, adding that the system did not work that time because Herrera was sent off for two bookable offences.

“We knew that playing this way would be very difficult for them.

“We went to Stamford Bridge in the cup with same tactics, the game was totally controlled with 11 players, only the decision that made us play with 10 men for the second half and 10 minutes in the first half, gave Chelsea a chance to be dominant,” Mourinho disclosed.

Fayose wants FG to identify owners of Ikoyi N13bn cash

Charity Nnaji

Ayodele Fayose, the Ekiti State Governor, has asked the Federal Government of Nigeria to identify owners of N13billion cash at an apartment in Ikoyi.

In a statement released by his aide, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said:  “Yesterday, it was made public that the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) claimed ownership of the $43,449,947, £27,800 and N23, 218,000 seized on Wednesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from Osborne Towers, a luxury residential complex in Ikoyi, Lagos.

“This, to my mind is one cover-up too many and this federal government seeming plot to protect the original owner of both the money and the apartment where it was found has further shown that the anti-corruption fight is political, selective and therefore a ruse.”

Fayose further stated “Nigerians should recall that I have consistently maintained that the APC-led federal government was not fighting any corruption. Rather, the government is using the anti-corruption fight as a major political tool to cripple opposition and turn the country to a one party state.

“Therefore, for once, the federal government should operate with the mind-set that Nigerians are no fools. They are capable of asking questions and they are already doing that.”

In the statemeny the statement he raised some salient questions. Part of the questions include, “Who is the owner of the apartment in which the money was found? Does the apartment also belong to the NIA? If the apartment belong to the NIA, when was it bought and from whom? If the apartment does not belong to the NIA, from whom and when was it rented? How could a whistle-blower be aware of movement of money into one out of many apartments in a building without knowing the owner of the apartment?

If truly the NIA was carrying out a “covert operation” as claimed, was President Muhammadu Buhari not briefed of the so-called “covert operation” when he took over power? Was the National Security Adviser (NSA), whose office controls all intelligence agencies, including the EFCC and DSS not aware of the “covert operation”?

“As for me, the script being acted on this discovered cash is a cover-up that will mar the EFCC and the federal government. It is a movie well scripted for some alawada (comedians) but acted so badly.

“It is a major test of the integrity of the APC federal government’s so-called anti-corruption fight, and the earlier the proponents of the cover-up plot come back to their normal senses and tell Nigerians who owns the apartment in which the money was found, the better for them.

“In the last few weeks, we have been served with dramas of recovery of funds by the EFCC,” the statement said

Pope decries embarrassments in church

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Pope Francis has begged God for forgiveness for embarrassments in the Catholic Church and for the “shame” of humanity.

He took this position during his Good Friday speech in Rome.

Referring to allegations of sexual abuses in the church, he spoke of “shame for all the times that we bishops, priests, brothers and nuns scandalized and wounded your body, the Church.”

Francis lamented “the daily spilling of the innocent blood of women, of children, of immigrants, those who are persecuted because of race, social status or religious beliefs.”

The Pope spoke of “shame for all the scenes of devastation, destruction and drowning that have become ordinary in our lives.”

Adding “that good will triumph despite its apparent defeat.”

In 2017 alone, more than 650 migrants have died (or are unaccounted for) while trying to cross the sea.

Francis presided at a traditional candlelight Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) service at Rome’s Colosseum attended by some 20,000 people and protected by heavy security following recent attacks in European cities.

Francis watched as a large wooden cross was carried in procession, stopping 14 times to mark events in the last hours of Jesus’ life from being sentenced to death to his burial, according to Reuters

Wike says $43m Ikoyi money belongs to Rivers State

Charity Nnaji

Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State has given the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum to return the $43million discovered in an apartment in Ikoyi to the state government.

Claiming ownership of the money, Wike said if the FG fails to do so the Rivers State government will take legal measures to ensure that it gets back her stolen resources.

He said “Investigations by the state government revealed that the money was proceed from the sale of gas turbines by the immediate past governor of the state, Rotimi Amaechi.”

Addressing journalists at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Friday night, Wike said: “The money in question belongs to the former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi

“We want to confirm that the house in Ikoyi also belong to Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. If you recollect in 2015, we said that gas turbines built by former governor Peter Odili were sold to Sahara Energy, business partners of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi at $319 million. That money was used to sponsor the All Progressives Congress for the 2015 general elections.

From the date of sale of the gas turbines to May 29, 2015, the money depleted from $319 million to $204,000. What was stashed at the Ikoyi residence was part of that fund”.

He spoke further: “We have facts to prove that the said money belongs to the Rivers State Government. The Federal Government must return our money”.

Wike said all the stories being peddled about the money belonging to the National Intelligence Agency are false and mere face saving measures by the embattled APC Federal Government. He said: “As I speak to you, the Federal Government is so embarrassed that this has happened. All the stories that the money belongs to the NIA are fake”.

Wike challenged the Federal Government to set up a panel of Inquiry, which would sit publicly to investigate the money, if it doubted the claim of the Rivers State Government.

Obaseki confirmed winner of Edo State Governorship election

Charity Nnaji

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has been declared winner of the Edo Governorship election last year.

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Benin upheld the election of Obaseki, declaring that the petition filed by the People’s Democratic Party  (PDP) and its candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, to be declared winner of the election lacked merit.

The Tribunal asserted that the reliance of the petitioners on the ticking of the name of a prospective voter on the left side of the voters’ register to mark complete accreditation was only an administrative guideline for election officials.

Ebonyi State Ministry of Education demotes five school heads to class teachers

Charity Nnaji

Ebonyi State Ministry of education has demoted five school heads to class teachers over involvement in examination malpractices.

Also sanctioned were three officials of the Ministry for their alleged involvement in examination fraud during the 2016 Senior Schools Certificate Examination (SSCE).

Prof. John Ekeh, Commissioner for Education who made the revelation to newsmen recently said “The sanction followed the report of the examination body, which indicted 20 schools and some officials of complicity.”

Ekeh stated further that five head teachers have been demoted while 25 teachers and supervisors will be paid half salaries for three months.

“15 private schools indicted in the report will not participate in SSCE for one year and they will pay a fine of N100,000 to serve as deterrent to others,” Ekeh stated.

Buhari sacks PPPRA, PENCOM, NSITF heads

Charity Nnaji

In a major shakeup in the nation’s agencies, President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked the heads of 23 Federal Government agencies and ratified appointment of their successors.

Agencies affected by the shakeup included the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), National Pension Commission (Pencom), Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), among others.

According to a press statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by the Director, Press & Public Affairs in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Bolaji Adebiyi, said all the appointments take immediate effect.

The statement also has it that the Consumer Protection Council CPC, now has an Executive Secretary rather than a director general

Also named in the statement include Ms. Julie Okah-Donli as Director-General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP); Mary Ikpere-Eta, Director-General, National Centre for Women Development (NCWD); and Bayo Somefun as Managing Director, NSITF.

Tijani Suleiman, Jasper Azuatalam and Kemi Nelson were also named Executive Directors of the NSITF.

Ahmed Dangiwa was appointed Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank (FMB) while Melvin Eboh, Hajiya Rahimatu Aliyu and Umaru Abdullahi Dankane were named Executive Directors of FMB.

Alex Okoh was named the new Director General of BPE; Abdulkadir Saidu Umar as Executive Secretary of PPPRA; Ibrahim Musa Goni as Conservator-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Park Service (NPS), and Nnenna A. Akajemeli as National Coordinator/CEO of Service Compact (SERVICOM), among other appointments.