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Court orders forfeiture of apartment where EFCC recovered $43 million

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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Court orders forfeiture of apartment where EFCC recovered $43 million

Justice Saliu Saidu of the federal high court, Lagos has granted an order of interim forfeiture on  Flat 7B Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, where the EFCC recovered $43.4 million in April this year.

Folasade Oke, wife of Ayodele Oke, sacked Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), is said to be the owner of the flat.

The EFCC said it found a total sum of $43,449,947, £27,800 and N23,218,000, hidden in disguised cabinets inside the luxurious apartment.

However, the NIA claimed ownership of the money, saying it was approved for the agency by former President Goodluck Jonathan to be used for some “covet operations”.

But Oke, the then NIA DG could not explain how the money found its way to the apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Subsequently he was suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari, who also formed a three-man committee, headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, to investigate the matter.

A report submitted by the probe panel recommended that Oke be sacked and further investigation be carried out into the activities of the NIA.

Oke was eventually removed from office on October 30.

General Olanrewaju wants pardon

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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General Olanrewaju wants pardon

By Eric Teniola

Of all the people arrested and found guilty of General Oladipo Diya (N/671) coup plot in December 1997 under late General Sanni Abacha, only three have not been given Presidential pardon. They are Major General Adeniyi Tajudeen Olanrewaju (rtd.) (N/817), Colonel Edwin Jando (N/3400) and late Colonel O.O. Akinyode (N/5852) .

If granted, the pardon will close the final chapter of the twenty year old saga and speed up the needed reconciliation.

On March 4 1999, in an extra ordinary gazette Number 33 of government Number 78, the then Head of State, General Abdusalami Alhaji Abubakar, GCFR, granted the following, grant of clemency.

They are Lt-Gen. D.O. Diya (N/617), Maj-Gen A.T. Olanrewaju (N/817), Maj-Gen A.K. Adisa (N/1367), Col. E. I. Jando (N/3400), Col. Y. Bako (N/5527), Lt. Col. O.O. Akinyode (N/5852)-Posthumously, Major A.A. Fadipe (N/7664), Major B.M. Mohammed (N/7962), L/Cpl Galadima Tanko (79NA/35/1725).

Others are Mr. Niran Malaolu, former Editor of the Diet Newspaper, Mr. Ojeniyi Ademola, Mr. Isaiah Adebowale, Mr. Muktar Maidabino, Engineer A. A. Adebanjo and Mrs. Sola Soile.

In the same gazette, General Abubakar pardoned the following Ex Major Akinloye Akinyemi, Col. Lawan Gwadabe (N/2665), Col. O.Oloruntoba, Col. R.S. B. Bello- Fadile (N/3137), Col. R.N. Emokpae (N/3139), Col. E. I. Ndubueze (N/2705), Col. G. A. Ajayi (N/3018), Lt. Col K.H. Bulus (N/3399), Lt.Col. S.E. Oyewole (N/5413), Lt.Col. M. A. M. A. Igwe (N/2879), Lt. Col M.A. Ajayi (Rtd.), Lt.Col. R.D. Obiki (N/3396), Cdr. L.M.O. Fabiyi (NN/430), Major E.O. Obalisa (N/6111), Capt. M.A. Ibrahim (N/8815), Lt. A. Olowookere (NN/1330), Second Lieutenant R. Emouvhe (N/9515), 63NA/196806 Sagt. Patrick Usikpeko and Mrs. Chris Anyanwu, who was later, elected a Senator from Imo state.

General Abdusalam also pardoned the following: Lt. Col. O.E. Nyong (N/5454), Lt.Col. C.P. Izourgu (N/2935), Lt. Col. V.O. Bamgbose (N/5931), Lt. Col. S.B. Mepaiyeda (N/5840), Major I.O. Edeh (N/3406), Ex-Major N.U. Okoro (N/6906), Capt. A. A. Ogunsuyi, 63NA/313099 Cpl Godspower Ogbionouvia, 79NA/22520 Lcpl Joseph Onwe and Miss Quienette Lewis Allagoa.

General Abubakar in addition ruled that charges leveled against the following be dropped and their names be removed from the Nigeria Police list of wanted persons. They are Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), who later became National Security Adviser under President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, Lt.Col. G.A.A. Nyiam (rtd.), Chief Great Ogboru, Mr. Benson Ikpe and Mr. Anthony Awoluyi.

On April 29 2015, in a government gazette No 33 of government notice 44, President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, gave the following Presidential pardon: Ex Major Bello Muhammed Magaji (NN/6604), Muhammed Abba Liman Biu,Shettima Muhammed Bulama, Diepreye Alamieyesiegha (former Governor of Bayelsa State), Lt. General Oladipo Diya (rtd.), Major General Abdulkareem Adisa (Post Humous) and Major Segun Fadipe (rtd).

Omitted on the list of those pardoned were General Olanrewaju, Col. Jando and Late Col. Akinyode.

General Olarenwaju, who entered the Nigerian Army in 1967 had earlier served as 2nd Field Artillery Battery, Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery (During the Nigerian Civil War), Deputy Defence Adviser, Nigerian Embassy, Moscow, Commander, 3rd Division Artillery, Jos, Principal Staff Officer, HQ Corps of Artillery, Directing Staff, Army Command and Staff Colleg, Kaduna, Commandant (Colonel), Nigerian Army School of Artillery, Kachia, Kaduna, Commandment (Brig-General), 35 Air Defence Artiller Brigade, Akure, Corps Commander, Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery, Bonny Camp and Kontagora and General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3rd Armored Division, Nigeria Army. He became a member of Nigeria’s highest Military Ruling Body, THE PROVISIONAL MILITARY COUNCIL.

In addition, he was the Chairman of States Asset Sharing Committee and also Chairman on the Review Committee of the report on Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation

I was with him at his Ikoyi’s residence last week during which he explained to me the difference between pardon and clemency. “There were two sets of amnesty granted, one amnesty is “pardon” while the other is “clemency” and yet both were allegedly committed under the same set of circumstances. This clearly runs against the then governments’ so called policy of national reconciliation”.

General Olanrewaju explained that only President Buhari has the power to grant him Presidential pardon.

He declared: “Throughout the trial, there were no charges relating to illegal acquisition to warrant any forfeiture of “ill-gotten wealth”. Throughout the period of the court arraignment, there was no trial within trial that could warrant any accused person to defend him or herself against corruption or misuse of government funds. Any forfeiture without a fair hearing or trial under a properly constituted legal body is ill motivated, illegal and therefore totally void of.

“The coup trial, like that of 1995 was conceived in bad faith and executed with malice. The principles of fair hearing, fundamental human rights and choice of legal representatives were not given pride of place and respect. It was a secret trial with serious breaches of fundamental rights of the accused persons.

“I have served my country to the best of my ability and with all that I have got. I am lucky to have given an opportunity to serve. The pardon which I am seeking will let me get over the nightmare. I will also enable me to be paid my entitlements for all the years I have served in the Nigerian Army.”

General Olanrewaju said his regret was not telling General Sanni Abacha about the coup plot and that till today he believed that it was a set up. “I have forgiven those involved including those who betrayed me. I don’t carry any hatred in my heart”.

In conclusion, he said it is important to state that the events that led to these circumstances are unfortunate and deeply regretted. There is this adage that talks about human error and forgiveness which states “to err is human and to forgive is divine”.

Court orders Police to vacate Peace Corps headquarters, awards N12.5m damages

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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Court orders Police to vacate Peace Corps headquarters, awards N12.5m damages

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Nigeria Police to unseal the headquarters of the Peace Corps of Nigeria and pay the group N12.5 million in damages.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole handed down the judgement on Thursday, adding that the order should be carried out within seven days.

In February this year, security agencies led by the Nigeria Police raided the Peace Corps headquarters in the Gwarinpa area of Abuja and arrested Dickson Akoh, the commandant of the group and 49 others.

Akoh was accused of defrauding unsuspecting Nigerian Youths of millions of naira under the guise of recruiting them into the corps. He was also accused of “acquiring weapons and conducting covert military training in different locations across the country.”

“The Peace Corps of Nigeria under the leadership of one Akor Dickson was registered as an NGO but with brazen impunity, total disregard to the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, opened illegal training camps in some States of the country, where thousands of youths and other persons without proper background check and screening are receiving convert military training,” said Jimoh Moshood, the Police Public Relations Officers.

Akoh was subsequently charged with a 90-count suit bordering on fraud and operating an illegal security outfit.

According to the charges, Akoh and his group, “despite parading themselves as a non-profit making organization, went about unlawfully engaging in the business of providing security services under a recruitment scheme which involved quasi-military training without approval”.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail at the sum of N10 million and one surety who must deposit N20 million. He was also asked to deposit his travel documents with the court’s registrar.

The bill for the establishment of the Peace Corps of Nigeria has already been passed by both chambers of the National Assembly, and is currently awaiting presidential assent.

Falana writes Buhari, says El-Zakzaky, wife may die if not released immediately

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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Falana writes Buhari, says El-Zakzaky, wife may die if not released immediately

Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, says Ibrahim El-zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, and his wife Zainab, may die if not allowed to travel abroad for urgent medical attention.

El-zakzaky and his wife have remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since December 2015, following a clash between soldiers and members of the IMN, also known as Shiites.

More than 300 members of the IMN were killed in that clash and at least one soldier lost his life.

Falana, El-zakzaky’s lawyer wrote a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, titled ‘Fresh request for the release of Sheik Ibraheem El-zakzaky and Hajia Zainab El-zakzaky’, in which he urged the President to use his powers and order his client’s release.

“Sheik El-zakzaky already lost his left eye and he is on the verge of losing the right eye sequel to the brutal treatment meted out to him by the armed soldiers,” Falana’s letter read.

“The State Security Service has denied him foreign medical treatment recommended by the local specialists who had attended to him.

“Even the alternative arrangement put in place by the family of the Sheik to bring eye specialists from abroad to treat him in custody has equally been rejected without any legal justification.”

Falana said that the health condition of El-zakzaky’s wife is even worse as pellets from gunshot wounds she sustained during the 2015 attack.

“For reasons best known to the State Security Service, some of the bullets lodged in her body during the brutal attack of December 14, 2015, have not been extracted up till now,” Falana said.

“In the circumstances, she has been subjected to excruciating pain and agony, on a daily basis.

“Her life which is currently in danger may be saved and prolonged if she is allowed to receive adequate medical attention without any further delay.”

Falana reminded Buhari that in December 2016, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the release of the couple, awarded them N50 million in damages and directed the federal government to provide them a temporary accommodation.

“Therefore, they should be allowed to regain their fundamental right to personal liberty guaranteed by Section 35 of the Constitution and Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and People Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP A10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004”, Falana said.

I’m only here out of respect, not to answer questions, Ibrahim Idris tells Senate committee

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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I’m only here out of respect, not to answer questions, Ibrahim Idris tells Senate committee

Ibrahim Idris, Inspector General of Police, refused to answer any questions when he appeared before the Senate committee investigating allegations against him by Isah Misau, saying that he only honoured the invitation out of respect for the senate.

Idris said since the matter the committee was set up to investigate is already in court, it would be subjudice for him to make any more comment about it.

“I’m represented by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria here, that’s Alex Izyon,” Idris said.

“I will not make any other comment or answer any question in respect to the allegation (by Mr. Misau) and various civil and criminal cases pending in the law court. More especially, when the senator has already been arraigned in court in respect of these matters.”

“I decided to appear before this Senate committee on the allegations out of the high respect I have for the Senate and my penchant for the rule of law.

“Furthermore, it is expected that the Senate and the committee will refrain from making reference to the issue as it would be against order 41 (7) and 53 (5) of the Senate standing order 2015 as amended.”

Also speaking on behalf of his client, Izyon urged the committee to stand down the investigation pending the outcome of the suit that had already been filed in court.

“I have taken instructions from him (Idris). We’ve gotten the papers filed by the petitioner and we have responded to those allegations to show that we don’t have anything to hide and I have submitted 15 copies this morning to this honourable committee,” Izyon said.

“When you have judicial remedies present and these matters are in court, any reference to it might lead to prejudice.

“The Senate in their own wisdom have this rule. That is why I am pleading with you to look into your own rule.”

In his response, Francis Alimikhena, Chairman of the committee, said that the matter was already before the committee before Idris went to court, adding that the issue being investigated includes virement which is not before any court.

He however said the committee will study the documents presented by Idris and his counsel and re-invite them if need be.

Misau, a retired police officer, now serving Senator, had alleged among other things that Idris pockets N10 billion monthly in illegal payments from highly placed individuals and top organizations in order to provide them with police protection.

He also claimed that some senior police officers pay as much as N2.5 million to the Police Service Commission for special promotions.

Following the allegation, Bukola Saraki, Senate President, set up a panel to probe Idris.

But before the panel could sit for its first hearing, Idris took the matter to court seeking an order prohibiting the Senate from investigating him.

Recall sacked teachers now, or be ready for showdown, NLC tells El-Rufai

YEKEEN Akinwale
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Recall sacked teachers now, or be ready for showdown, NLC tells El-Rufai

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State must rescind his decision to disengage 20,000 teachers in the service of the state government or face mass action from the Congress.

Ayuba Wabba, President of NLC handed down the warning on Wednesday in Kaduna when he led thousands of workers in the state on a protest against the sack of the teachers who allegedly failed a Primary Four examination given t them as part of a competency test.

Despite the ban on street protest in Kaduna State, the workers were seen in great numbers carrying placards with various inscriptions on major roads in the metropolis, causing traffic gridlock.

They also marched to the Kaduna State House of Assembly complex to lodge their complaints with the lawmakers.

At state NLC secretariat located along Independence way in the state capital, the workers insisted that the Kaduna State Government should not sack the teachers for failing to pass the competency test administered on them sometime in June this year.

They argued that government has no constitutional powers to organise such examination for teachers, saying only the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has the mandate to do so.

The workers have therefore given the state government two weeks to cancel the planned dismissal of teachers, or they will embark on an indefinite strike.

Addressing the workers, Waba assured them that the leadership of the NLC will support them and ensure that they get what they deserved from the state government.

Dropped ICPC board nominee says witness was coerced to testify against him

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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Dropped ICPC board nominee says witness was coerced to testify against him

Saadu Alanamu, one of the candidates that was dropped from the list of newly appointed board members of the ICPC, says a witness was coerced and forced to testify against him.

Alanamu, is facing an eight-count charge before Justice Mahmud Gafar of the Kwara State High Court, accused of collecting N5 million bribe from a contractor during his tenure as Chairman of the Kwara State Polytechnic Tenders Board.

He was first arraigned in September, together with Salman Sulaiman, the contractor, who was charged with offering bribe to a public officer.

Then Acting President Yemi Osinbajo had withdrawn Alanamu’s nomination into the ICPC board, alongside that of Maimuna Aliyu, when ICIR reported that both were already under investigation by the same ICPC.

At the resumption of trial on Wednesday, Sule Amedu and Ijezie Ezeana, counsels to the ICPC produced one Oluwaseun Oshinyemi as the first prosecution witness.

In the course of his testimony, the prosecution sought to tender the written statement of the second accused, Sulaiman, as evidence, but the defence counsel raised an objection saying the statement was not made voluntarily.

They alleged that Sulaiman was “forced, harassed, intimidated and coerced” into making the statement to ICPC investigators.

Consequently, Justice Gafar ordered a trial-within-trial to determine whether the statement was made voluntarily or not.

On conclusion of evidence for both the prosecution and the defence in the trial-within-trial, the case was adjourned to November 21, 22, and 23 for address in the trial-within-trial and continuation of hearing in the substantive matter.

The ICPC says it has strong evidence of collusion, bid rigging and corrupt practices against Sulaiman’s company, Namylas Nig. Ltd.

Investigations reveal that the company used falsified, forged and doctored PENCOM Compliance Certificate, Tax Clearance Certificate and ITF Certificate of Compliance to submit its bid during the bidding process.

Their offences are contrary to section 9(1) (a) and punishable under Section 9(1) (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

2018 budget maintains abysmal allocation to health sector

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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2018 budget maintains abysmal allocation to health sector

Over the years, Budgetary allocations to Nigeria’s health sector have remained abysmally low, and 2018 is no different.

This is in spite of the numerous challenges that has bedeviled the health sector, the most recent being the outbreak of monkey-pox disease in various parts of the country.

In 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari’s first full year in office, out of the approximately N6 trillion budget proposal, only about N250 billion was voted for the health sector, representing 4.17 percent of the total budget.

Given that the budget was prepared using an estimated exchange rate of N199 to $1, it meant that the dollar equivalent of the health budget stood at $1.25 million.

2017 witnessed a budget proposal of N7.4 trillion, with the health sector getting N308 billion, or 4.13 percent. This time, the estimated exchange rate was estimated at N305 to $1, meaning that the dollar equivalent of the health budget for 2017 was approximately $1.01 million.

So while it appeared that budget allocation to the health sector grew from N250 to N308, it was actually a reduction when represented in dollar.

On Tuesday, Buhari presented a budget estimate of N8.62 trillion to the National Assembly for 2018.

Out of this sum, a total of N340.45 billion was voted for the health sector. This represents a paltry 3.9 percent of the total budget, lower than the 4.1 percent in 2017.

Further breakdown of the health budget reveals that N269.34 billion was voted for recurrent expenditure, while only N71.11 billion will be used on capital expenditure.

This is a far cry from the Abuja Declaration signed by African leaders at an AU meeting in Abuja in 2001, where they pledged to devote at least 15 percent of their countries’ annual budget to the health sector.

Nigeria is one of the signatories to that agreement but the country has never lived up to that commitment.

Similarly, the National Health Act, which was signed into law in December 2014 by then President Goodluck Jonathan, stipulates that one percent of the consolidated revenue fund of the federal government should be set aside to finance health initiatives in the country. That too has never been complied with.

Yet, available statistics show that five women die daily across the country as a result of pregnancy related issue.

Thousands of medical doctors continue to flee from Nigeria in search of better life in the United States of America and United Kingdom.

Between December 2016 and June 2017, meningitis disease killed about 1,166 people in 27 states of the federation.

Within the same period, more than 500 persons had contracted Lassa fever in about 17 states, 104 of them did not live to tell the tale.

Strike actions by medical doctors, nurses and other health workers have become regular occurrences in the country.

Even the State Hose Clinic, which is supposed to be the exclusive health facility for the President and his family, is in comatose.

This year alone, Buhari has spent approximately 155 days out of office, appointing Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as Acting President while he flew to London to attend to his health.

Anthony Anwuka, Minister of State for Educatin, is currently in the US receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment, and recently, Alex Ekwueme, former Vice President of Nigeria, was flown abroad for medical treatment.

It beggars belief why the government has consistently, or perhaps deliberately, starved the health sector of the funds needed to turn the sector around, and the question remains: will Nigeria ever abide by the Abuja Declaration of 2001?

EXTRA: Oyo-Ita, Abba Kyari laugh away during FEC meeting

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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EXTRA: Oyo-Ita, Abba Kyari laugh away during FEC meeting

It appears Winifred Oyo-Ita, Head of Service of the Federation, and Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, may have mended fences following an angry encounter between the two top officials during last week’s Federal Executive meeting.

Both officials were captured on camera engaged in what appears to be an angry argument last Wednesday, shortly before the FEC meeting begun.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Babagana Monguno, the National Security Adviser were seen in the video while Oyo-Ita and Kyari lashed out on each other.

There was no sound in the video clip, and so it was not possible to say what the argument was about, but Oyo-Ita later walked out angrily on the three men and went to sit at her position, visibly seething with anger.

However, at Wednesday’s FEC meeting, both Oyo-Ita and Kyari were pictured chatting and laughing away, perhaps signifying that all is now well.

See some of the photos below:

CAN insists Nigeria must withdraw membership of all religious organisations

YEKEEN Akinwale
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CAN insists Nigeria must withdraw membership of all religious organisations

Nigeria cannot continue to be members of Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) and other religious organisations, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has said.

To this end, CAN has asked the National Assembly to list all international organisations that Nigeria belongs to with a view to withdrawing her membership from those that are religious.

The decision was contained in a communique issued at the end of a meeting of prominent Christian leaders in the country held at the Shepherdhill Baptist Church, Obanikoro, Lagos, where they discussed the challenges facing the church in the country.

The meeting which was at the instance of Samson Ayokunle, President of CAN, had in attendance Christian leaders such as Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, David Oyedepo, Presiding Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, Mike Okonkwo, General Overseer, the Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM).

Others were Ayo Oritsejafor, former CAN President, Musa Asake, CAN General Secretary, Bishop Antony Anyiador, CAN Treasurer among others.

The forum condemned “the government’s decision to lead Nigeria into being member of Islamic Coalition Against Terrorism through executive fiat, Nigeria’s participation in the International Islamic Sports Federation, Nigeria’s membership of International Islamic Financial Institution of which our present Governor of the Central Bank is the chairman”.

“Didn’t all these violate the constitution?” CAN queried.

CAN also called on the Federal Government to address the issue of breakdown of infrastructure such as roads, electricity supply, provision of adequate funding to health institutions in the country in order to reduce the huge amount of money being spent by Nigerians on medical tourism.

The church leaders also described the inability of state governments to pay workers’ salaries and allowances as unacceptable and called on the federal and state governments to ensure that workers are promptly paid.

“The National Assembly must prevail on the states in the North of the country to henceforth be issuing Certificate of Occupancy to the churches there to build their houses of worship,” the communique read further.

“We call on the government to declare a state of emergency on unemployment in the nation and deliberately set up machineries towards provision of employment for many school graduates who are roaming the streets or becoming nuisance in the society through the commission of many crimes.

“We condemn in strong terms the failure of the security agencies to stop the murderous Fulani herdsmen from their criminal activities.”

This recent development is coming just few days after CAN accused Vice President Yemi Osinbajo of being desperate to please Buhari.

The association urged Osinbajo to “use his good office to correct the imbalance in the Nigerian system … in order to reduce tension in the polity”.

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