Burning of Rivers House: Fubara’s loyalists arraigned, sent to prison

The five Port Harcourt-based men accused of burning down the State House of Assembly were, Thursday, arraigned by the Federal Government on terrorism charges, have been remanded at Kuje Prison in Abuja. The five defendants are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod. They were also accused of killing a Superintendent of Police, (SP) Bako Agbashim and five police informants at Ahoada community of the state. Justice Bolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Thursday, ordered they remain in prison custody till February 2 when their respective bail applications would be determined. In the 7-count charges, the defendants were accused of committing alleged terrorism offences by invading, vandalizing and burning down Rivers State House of Assembly during the wake of political crisis that rocked Port Harcourt in October last year. The police informants alleged to have been killed are Charles Osu, Ogbonna Eja, Idaowuka Felix, Paul Victor Chibuogu and Saturday Edi. Government also accused them of using various cult groups, namely- Supreme Viking Confraternity, Degbam, Iceland and Greenland to unleash mayhem on the people of the state and their commercial activities. However, when the charges against them marked FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024 was read, they all pleaded not guilty to the offences.. Although the immediate past factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Edison Ehie was not listed in the 7-count terrorism charges, he was however represented in court by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Oluwole Aladedoyin on the ground that his name featured prominently in the alleged offences. He challenged the allegations that he was at large alongside other suspects. Justice Olajuwon did not however allow further arguments on the ground that he was not yet a defendant in the charges. Shortly after the arraignment, the leader of the prosecuting team, Audu Garba applied for a date for full blown trial of the defendants. However, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Lukman Fagbemi who stood for Chime Eguma Ezebalike and Prince Lukman Oladele who are 1st and 2nd defendants, sought to move applications for their bail on the ground that they have been in the police custody since last year. The government lawyer, Audu Garba vehemently opposed on the reason that he had just been served with the bail applications and needed time to study them and file counter affidavit. Justice Olajuwon agreed with the prosecution lawyer that the bail applications were not ripe for hearing and fixed February 2 for hearing of all bail applications. Pending hearing and determination of the bail applications, the Judge ordered that the five defendants be taken to Kuje Prison on remand and be returned to court on the adjourned date. Specifically, the defendants were alleged to have on October 29, 2023 at Moscow Road in Port Harcourt conspired to commit acts of terrorism by wilful destruction of public properties by invading, attacking, destroying and burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly, an offence punishable under section 26 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022. Part of the charges read, “That you, Chime Eguma Ezebalike, 37 years, business man of Street 5, Radio Estate Ozuoba, Port Harcourt, Prince Lukman Oladele, 47 years of Okocha Street, Port Harcourt, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Hon Edison Ehie and others now at large on 29th of October 2023 at Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, while acting in concert conspired together to commit felony to wit: acts of terrorism by wilful destruction of public properties by invading, attacking, destroying and burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 26 (1) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022. “That you Chime Eguma Ezebalike, 37 years, business man of Street 5, Radio Estate Ozuoba, Port Harcourt, Prince Lukman Oladele, 47 years of Okocha Street, Port Harcourt, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Hon Edison Ehie and others now at large on 29th of October 2023 at Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, while acting in concert and armed with dynamite, iron rods, lighters and other offensive weapons willfully and maliciously invaded, attacked and set fire on the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Supreme Court affirms Fubara as Rivers Gov

The Supreme Court, Thursday, upheld the election of Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the authentic governor of Rivers State. The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Tonye Cole, filed to challenge the outcome of the governorship election that held in the state on March 18, 2023. The Apex court five-member panel led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit. The court said it found no reason to disagree with the concurrent decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, which upheld Fubara’s victory at the poll. It further established that the appellant failed convince the court that the election was not conducted in compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022. The APC pulled out from the case against governor Fubara of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, while it was being heard by the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal. Despite the position of the party not to challenge the declaration of Fubara as winner of the gubernatorial contest by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mr. Cole, vowed to prosecute his petition to its logical conclusion. INEC had declared that Fubara of the PDP polled a total of 302,614 votes to defeat his closets rival, Cole of the APC who got a total of 95,274 votes. Dissatisfied with the outcome of the poll, Cole approached the tribunal to challenge it. The appellant, among other things, alleged that the Rivers State governorship poll was marred by corrupt practices, insisting that it was not conducted in substantial compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.

A Nation Poised for Greatness

The widely circulated video bemoaning the massive devaluation of the Nigerian Naira and our interpretation of what it portends for the future of our country, is a clear illustration of how our preconceived and implicit biases can dramatically influence our perception of the same reality. Yes, the author of the video, which sounded like an AI generated audio, was absolutely on target in his diagnosis of the pathology of incompetent, inept and corrupt leadership that has led to the decimation of our currency valuation. In fact, there is no daylight between you and me in our analysis of the current Hobbesian state of existence that our people are being forced to live through. No sane person can deny the reality of the current parlous existence of our people. It is all too glaring for everyone to see. Where there is a huge gulf between us is our future orientation. You, on one hand, see no hope of a bright future for Nigeria. I, on the other hand, see a nation that emerges out of this current mess into a future full of a promise of economic renaissance and rebirth. Even in the midst of the darkest cloud hovering Nigeria, I see shadows and glimmers of bright spots. I see incredible creative energy in the culture economy (Nigerian music and Nollywood) _killing_ it globally. I see a booming tech-economy and an emerging and thriving fintech. I see an economy that is rapidly becoming a cashless economy. From the local bukateria to the hawkers on the street, you can now almost transact business without cash. I also see an explosion of a construction economy. In my neighborhood here in Ibadan and across all the major cities in the country, there is an incredible redevelopment boom, old buildings being demolished, and in their place glistering massive edifice. It is also a reality that the Igbos are buying up the whole place from Lagos; to Ibadan, to Akure, and to my hometown Ilesha. Whether that is good or bad depends on one’s perspective. That is not the subject of this post. You can see some of the most amazing architectural masterpieces going up all over the place and a property valuation going through the roof. By the way, not all the construction are by politicians or corrupt civil servants. You will be surprised that the mechanic who fixes your car or the carpenter who calls your dad is a landlord. Rather than paying exorbitant rents, a lot of people, some misguided people, might look down on as low class, have actually managed to put up their shelter. It might not be Hollywood style edifice, but our resilient no-quitting people are beating the odds of home ownership. Of course, on the flip side, one cannot overlook the mind-numbing and sociologically dangerous gulf emerging between the haves and the have-nots. There is unnecessary suffering and inhumane poverty ravaging the land due to the insane greed of a kleptocratic ruling class and civil servants. That is the danger that lies ahead for our country. The Nigerian rich class may be unwittingly piling up the dynamite that might be used to blow up their wealth. We must address the wealth inequality and the emerging segregation of Nigeria into a de factor caste system based on wealth. So back to my point, while many of us, especially those of us in the diaspora, are focussed on the problems, I see dynamic people both Nigerian and especially non-Nigerians, who are capitalizing on the tremendous opportunities presented by a growing and consuming population of over 220 million people. I see a Nigerian population, though bended by the whiplash of an economic tsunami, yet a people not broken. A resilient people who are eternal optimists, fun-loving, and future prospect-oriented. When you tell a Nigerian he is marooned in an impenetrable jungle, he takes out a matchete and starts cutting a path. That is the Nigerian spirit that will get us out of the current economic quagmire if we don’t give to the debilitating noise of despondency and hopelessness. That is what gives me hope and not some blind sense of patriotism or unhinged optimism. It is our can-do spirit, which has made the Nigerian immigrant population in the U.S. and all over the world, one of the most dynamic and successful immigrant groups in the entire world. Yet, and sadly, when it comes to our country, the same diaspora Nigerians who have become pace-setters all over the world seem to be paralyzed by a pathology of pessimism and negativity. That is what’s so puzzling about the Nigerian diaspora. Let me reiterate that I am as convinced that, as it is predictable that the sun will emerge in its amber glory from the east tomorrow morning, bursting through the dark night, Nigeria too will emerge out of this darkest of nights into a glorious morn. This is not wishful thinking but evidence based prognostication. The reason, I have been sounding the alarm bell is to alert my people in the Diaspora not to be caught up in the web of pessimism and negativity and in the process lose out of the innovator’s dividend. Yes, the Nigeria economy is high risk, but it is also a high reward. The Nigerian stock market, for instance, emerged as one of the best performers globally last year. That is news you will not see posted on social media. All you will see are the stories of kidnapping, banditry, and mayhem all over the country. Those too are the reality of many Nigeria, but that is not the whole truth. That is the nature of the unregulated wild Wild West world of the new social media. Let me restate it now that it would be a catastrophic missed opportunity for those of us in the diaspora not to engage with the Nigerian economy now. Delay will be massively costly for those waiting until Nigeria becomes a mythical Eldorado. I am not talking theory. I am on the

Tinubu Departs Nigeria For France On Private Visit

President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, departed Abuja for Paris, France, for a private visit. His Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, had revealed this in a statement on Wednesday but did not disclose the reasons for the visit. According to the statement, Tinubu is expected to return to the country in the first week of February 2024. This visit is Tinubu’s third to the country since he assumed office eight months ago. On June 20, 2023, three weeks after assuming office, Tinubu opened his foreign schedule in the city he last visited as President-elect, Paris, the French capital. In September 2023, the President spent nine days with world leaders in New York, USA, at the 78th United Nations General Assembly, which began on September 19, his first UNGA as President. Afterward, he proceeded to Paris, France, where he remained for five days, arriving in Abuja on September 29 ahead of Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Day anniversary on October 1.

Ondo Gov Picks Former National Assembly Clerk As Deputy

A former Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, Olayide Owolabi Adelami, has been nominated as the new Deputy Governor of Ondo State. Adelami’s nomination came shortly after Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa announced the dissolution of members of the State Executive Council in the cabinet, who worked under the late governor, Rotimi Akeredolu. An alumnus of Imade College, Adelami obtained his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Lagos before proceeding to get his MBA from Ogun State University. He was a deputy clerk at the National Assembly before retiring in April 2018. Chief Press Secretary to Aiyedatiwa, Ebenezer Adeniyan, confirmed the nomination of Adelami in a statement on Wednesday. Adelami’s nomination is believed to have laid to rest agitations for the appointment of a new deputy governor for the state following the emergence of Aiyedatiwa. Aiyedatiwa became the substantive governor of the state after the demise of Akeredolu, who passed on after battling protracted prostrate cancer.

Feb 3 Bye-Elections: INEC Expresses Concern Over Threats Of Violence

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised worry about threats of violence ahead of the February 3 bye-elections and rerun. Speaking Tuesday in Abuja at a meeting of the Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stated that, based on his experience, conducting isolated elections, such as bye-elections and reruns, can be extremely difficult. He said, “We must pay attention to the potentials for disruptive behaviour by some candidates and their supporters. A re-run election conducted in one Polling Unit or a handful of Polling Units can be severely disrupted by acts of thuggery knowing full well that these few locations will determine the outcome of the election. “Arising from the reports we received from the States, concerns have been raised about the impact of the prevailing insecurity in some States on the conduct of the elections, made worse by incendiary statements by some political actors. We will present such concerns and reports at this meeting for appropriate security response.” Yakubu noted that there are many parties involved in elections and that security agencies must ensure that INEC can deploy staff and materials, protect observers, the media, and the polling and collation agents who represent the candidates and political parties. “Without a secure and peaceful environment, the conduct of credible elections is imperiled,” he stated. Speaking on the by-election, Yakubu said, “There are two categories of elections. First are the bye-elections arising from the death or resignation of members of the National and State legislative houses affecting two Senatorial Districts, four Federal and three State Assembly Constituencies. “The second category is the re-run elections by order of Election Petition Appeal Tribunals. In my remarks at the Commission’s extraordinary meeting with leaders of political parties last month, I reported that the elections affect 35 National and State Constituencies. Since then, four additional orders of the Court of appeal have been served on the Commission in respect of Yabo/Shagari Federal Constituency of Sokoto State, Madara/Chinade State Constituency of Bauchi State as well as Kudan and Kauru/Chawai State Constituencies of Kaduna State. “This brings the total number of affected constituencies to 39 which translates to 2.6% of the 1,491 Constituencies for which elections were conducted nationwide in the 2023 General Election. “The nine bye-elections are fresh elections covering the entire constituencies. However, with the exception of three Constituencies (Plateau North Senatorial District and Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency in Plateau State and Kachia/Kagarko Federal Constituency in Kaduna State), the re-run elections are to be held in a few Polling Units. In some cases, only one Polling Unit is affected in an entire Federal or State Constituency.”

BREAKING: Obiano to be arraigned over alleged ₦4bn fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will arraign the immediate-past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, on Wednesday, January 24, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged money laundering to the tune of N4,008,573,350. The ex-governor will be arraigned on nine count charges. The development comes over a week after the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede vowed to review all abandoned high-profile cases, especially those involving former Governors and Ministers. An impeccable source revealed, “We found that Obiano moved N4,008,573,350 from security votes into different accounts. The money at various times was changed into dollars and returned to Obiano by cash.” EFCC’s lead counsel, Slyvanus Tahir, SAN, will lead eight other lawyers in the trial of the former governor Some of the charges against Obiano include, “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 – March 2022, sometime between 7th February, 2018 to 18th February, 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N156,800.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Pic into the Fidelity Bank Ple Account No: 6060018819 belonging to C.I. Patty Ventures Nigeria Limited (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act. “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 — March 2022, sometime between 9th August, 2017 to 4th March, 2020 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N261,268,585.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc into the Fidelity Bank Plc Account No: 5600062873 belonging to Easy Diamond Integrated Link (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.” When contacted by our correspondent on Tuesday, the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale confirmed the development while noting that Obiano will be arraigned on Wednesday. “Yes, we’re arraigning Obiano tomorrow,” Oyewale noted. The ex-governor was first arrested at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, on March 17, 2022, as he was preparing to board a flight to Houston, the United States of America. The arrest took place at about 8.30 pm, hours after he left office as governor and, thus, lost his immunity from arrest and prosecution. He had been on the EFCC’s watchlist for some time before he was eventually arrested over corruption allegations. “Obiano was arrested for alleged misappropriation of public funds, including, N5 billion Sure-P and N37 billion security vote which was withdrawn in cash. Part of the funds was also allegedly diverted to finance political activities in the state,” EFCC had noted at the time.

BREAKING: Governor declares 24-hour curfew in Plateau LG

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has declared a 24-hour curfew on the Mangu Local Government Area of the state with immediate effect. The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the governor’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere. He said the decision followed the deteriorating security situation in the area. The statement read in the part, “Governor Mutfwang took the decision after consultations with the relevant security agencies. “He stated that only persons on essential duties are allowed to move within the local government area until further notice. “He urged all citizens, especially residents of Mangu Local Government Area, to comply with the directive and assist the security personnel by providing reliable information to restore peace and order in the area. “He lamented that some people are still determined to create an atmosphere of insecurity in the state, despite the government’s efforts to end the activities of terrorist elements. “He expressed his sympathy to the families of the victims and the injured and assured them that the government will not relent in ensuring lasting peace in the state. “He promised that the curfew will be reviewed as soon as the security situation improves.”

Court Nullifies Passage of Rivers State 2024 Budget

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Monday, declared unlawful the presentation and passage of Rivers State 2024 Budget by a group of unlawful four member legislators in the State. Also, the court ordered the governor of the State Siminalaye Fubara to represent the budget to the legally constituted House of Assembly under Speaker Martin Amaewhule. Ruling on the matter before the court, James Omotoso also held that the government has no Constitutional power to withhold the Hose of Assembly fund. The court restrained Governor Fubara from frustrating House of Assembly under Amaewhule from sitting or interfering in the affairs of the House. The redeployment of the Clerk and Deputy Clerk done by the Governor was declared null and void and was set aside. The Inspector General of Police was ordered to immediately give adequate security to the Speaker and legislators loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike. Justice Omotoso ordered the Clerk and the Deputy Clerk to resume office immediately and unhindered. The National Assembly barred from taking over the Rivers State House of Assembly or accept or treat any request from Governor Fubara. Governor Fubara was ordered to release all monies standing in the credit of the House of Assembly to Martin Amaewhule. In all, all issues in dispute on Ribers State House of Assembly were resolved in favour of Wike’s loyalists. Details later.

16 sacked Plateau Assembly lawmakers  to resume legislative duties

The 16 members of the Plateau House of Assembly, who were ousted by the Court of Appeal in November last year, have announced their intention to resume legislative duties on Tuesday. Briefing newsmen in Jos, the lawmakers, originally elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), revealed that they considered the recent Supreme Court judgment on Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s election as a precedent for their case. The Court of Appeal had nullified their election, citing a lack of party structure within the PDP.  This decision also affected federal lawmakers from the state, leading to re-run elections scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for February 3. Interestingly, Governor Mutfwang faced a similar fate but saw his dismissal overturned by the Supreme Court on January 12, highlighting an error in the lower court’s judgment. In response to the Supreme Court’s ruling, the ousted legislators asserted that they were merely on recess during this period and, based on the apex court’s decision, claimed their election nullification was in error.  The spokesperson for the group, Ishaku Maren, emphasized their democratic legitimacy, asserting that they were duly elected by the majority of votes in their respective constituencies.