Robbers Steal Legal Documents Challenging Jonathan’s 2015 Eligibility

Over the weekend, a team of armed robbers is reported to have charged the law firm of Wahab Olatoye, a plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging President Jonathan's eligibility in the 2015 general elections, Leadership newspaper reports.
Breaking in through the ceiling, the thieves allegedly robbed and ransacked the office, destroying computer systems and safes. Most critically, the robbers stole files containing vital court documents regarding the case.
Olatoye and a colleague had previously sought an order from a Federal High Court in Abuja to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from allowing President Jonathan and Vice President Sambo to re-contest. The plaintiffs argued that by the virtue of the Nigerian Constitution, the President and the Vice President were taken to have been elected for one single, four year term.
“It is really a great surprise to me, when I was called on Saturday morning that my office had been burgled by yet to be identified persons. It was my office alone that was burgled out of all the offices in the plaza. The thieves came in through the ceiling and ransacked all the files in my office.
“Although, they made away with some amount of money I left in the office, they also took away some documents, especially the ones I am using in pursuing my case against the eligibility of President Goodluck Jonathan.
“As a plaintiff in the matter and a legal practitioner, there are some documents I need to hand over to my lawyers which I kept in the office. All my computer systems in the office were also destroyed, the office safe was also destroyed.
“The matter have been reported to the FCDA police station in Garki, and the police have promised to come around on Monday morning for further investigation,” Olatoye stated.
Olatoye and his colleague launched their suit against Jonathan on the provisions of sections 132(1), 135(2)(a) and (b), 137(1)(b), 142(1) and (2) of the Constitution and the Supreme Court decisions.

Abuja court upholds Enugu PDP ward congresses

Judge withdraws from state chairmanship suit...
A FEDERAL High Court sitting in Abuja Monday upheld the November 1, 2014 ward congresses conducted by the Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
  The position of the court was made known by Justice A.F.A Ademola while ruling on a suit filed by the plaintiffs, Mr. Orji Chinenye Godwin, Chiefs Cletus C. Akalusi and Orji Orji on behalf of themselves and all delegates elected on November 1, 2014 ward congresses with the PDP national chairman and the national organising secretary as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.
The ruling came as Justice A.R Ozoemena of the Enugu State High Court withdrew from hearing the suit (No.E/439/2014) brought before him by a member of the party in the state, Chief Ikeje Asogwa, praying the court to uphold his purported appointment as the chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the PDP and also restrain the defendant, Acting Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the PDP, from parading himself as the chairman of the state’s PDP.
The plaintiffs in the case heard by the Federal High Court, Abuja, had, among others, sought the declaration by the court that the list of delegates is the only valid list for the PDP delegates for primaries in Enugu State to the exclusion of all other lists. It also sought an order restraining the INEC from accepting any other list of delegates for the PDP primaries in the State.
Ruling in the suit, Justice Ademola held that a valid ward congress for the election of three-man delegate from the 260 Electoral Wards of Enugu State took place in Enugu State on November 1, 2014 and that the list before it remained the valid list of candidates returned at the election. On their part, the defendants had raised the issue of jurisdiction of the court, contending that the suit dealt with internal matters of the PDP.
The court however held that it had jurisdiction to hear the suit because the matters in contention were not simply the internal matters of the PDP. It also held that the delegates had been duly elected, have certain rights, and could therefore ask the court to protect their rights as delegates.
Justice Ozoemena could not proceed with ruling on Motion on Notice at the Enugu State High Court in the suit brought by Chief Asogwa challenging the claim to the chairmanship of the Enugu State chapter of the party by the State Deputy Chairman, Elder David Aja.
Justice Ozoemena had on November 14, 2014 taken full arguments on the Motion on Notice and adjourned the matter for November 24 for the ruling of the court.
However, when the case came up for ruling, the learned judge told the court that he had been receiving “threat calls and messages on his phones” and could therefore not go on with the case.
While lawyer to Asogwa, Mrs. Offiah (SAN), described the scenarion as unfortunate, counsel to the defendant, Mr. Ogochukwu Onyekwuluje, held that the proper thing to do was for the learned judge to petition the Police and make available to them the phone numbers in question for thorough investigations that would bring the culprits to book.
However, withdrawing himself completely from the case, Justice Ozoemena held that the file be returned to the Registrar of the Enugu State High Court for onward transmission to the Chief Judge of the Enugu State High Court, Justice Innocent Umezulike, for reassignment.
It could be recalled that while arguing the Motion on Notice on November 14, counsel to Aja had challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case as the matter was a subject of an ongoing litigation at a court of coordinate jurisdiction. He had urged the court to strike out the suit on grounds of abuse of court process.
It could be further recalled that only last Tuesday (November 18, 2014), the Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice E.S Chukwu additionally ruled in the said suit (FHC/AB/CS/782/2014 Elder David Aja Vs PDP and Others) and declared Aja as the authentic chairman of Enugu State chapter of the PDP pending the appointment of another chairman from the area where the immediate past chairman of the party hails from.
This had heightened expectations that the Enugu State High Court would today strike out the suit by Asogwa as well as the ex-parte injunction already granted.
The Federal High Court also held that having regard to the provisions of Sections 24, 35(1) and 45 of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party 2012 (as amended), and following the resignation of Vita Abba, as the chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the PDP, any meeting of the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the Enugu State chapter, could not be valid unless summoned by Aja on his own, or at the request of two thirds of the members of the SEC.
It further held that Asogwa was not entitled to hold himself out or perform the function of the chairman of the Enugu State Chapter of the PDP “not having been validly appointed”.
  The court therefore ordered Asogwa not to carry out the functions of a chairman or interfere with Aja in the course of carrying out his duties as the chairman, while also declaring all acts of Asogwa as chairman of the Enugu State PDP as illegal, null, and void.

Source: The Guardian

Political Associate Of Chadian President Idriss Déby Arrested With Missiles Meant For Boko Haram

A Cameroonian investigative journalist, Bisong Etahoben, is reporting via Twitter the arrest of Mahamat Bichara Gnoti, a
close associate of Chadian President IIdriss Déby Itno.
Mr. Gnoti was reportedly arrested on the Chadian-Sudan border with 19 SAM2 missiles he purchased from the Sudanese army meant for the Boko Haram terrorist network in northeastern Nigeria.

Mr. Gnoti who claimed that President Idriss Déby gave him the funds to purchase the weapons, had waved a presidential pass issued to him by Mr. Deby’s office in order to get past border guards but was stopped and searched by the guards who found the deadly weapons on him.
There has not been an official confirmation or denial either
by the Chadian or the Nigerian authorities. A text message sent to the office of Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), the National Security Adviser in Nigeria regarding Gnoti’s arrest did not receive a response, an aide said Mr. Dasuki is traveling in Mexico.
However, the arrest of Mr. Gnoti, if confirmed, will provide solid evidence that the Chadian president is largely behind the Boko Haram lightning insurgency in Nigeria’s northwest.
Mr. Derby recently swindled the Nigerian government out of millions of dollars in Nigeria's failed attempt to negotiate the release of some 200 high school girls abducted by Boko Haram from Chibok town last April.
On September 8th President Goodluck Jonathan made a dramatic visit to N’djamena to meet with Idris Derby, Mr. Jonathan was accompanied on the trip by the former Governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sherrif.
The visit was condemned by opposition figures and civil society groups in Nigeria as they see it as an open embrace of individuals funding Boko Haram militants.
An Australian negotiator, Stephen Davis had accused Mr. Sheriff and former Chief of Army Staff, Azubuike Ihejirika of actively funding Boko Haram.

Source: Sahara Reporters

"This FG knows it is unpopular and Nigerians want change"- Atiku

Amidst the PDP and APC turmoil, the former vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and APC presidential aspirant had this to say today on his Facebook page:

"The security raids of APC offices in Lagos, marks another low in this FG's story of impunity. Very sad and desperate. Not since the days of military dictatorships did we witness such savage raids.
This FG knows it is unpopular and Nigerians want change. No amount of intimidation will scare Nigerians from exercising their rights. We WILL vote!"

Security agents invade APC office…Vandalise equipment, seize documents

BY RAZAQ BAMIDELE

O peratives of the Department of State Security and armed military personnel invaded the membership data centre of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Number 10, Bola Ajibola Street, off Allen Avenue in Ikeja, Lagos in the early hours of yesterday.
In what the party described as a “gestapo-like operation”, the security officials said to be numbering about 50 blocked the two major street entrances to the APC data centre, pulled down the gates and spent over two hours ransacking and vandalizing the office.
“More than a dozen computers were destroyed. The server was also vandalized along with other equipment in the building,” witnesses said.
Twenty five data agents working in the centre during the invasion were arrested alongside three security guards.
Narrating his experience to newsmen, one of the security guards on duty, Mr. Oladele Adepitan, who said his mobile phone had been confiscated, spoke on the operation: “They came in several vehicles about 5.45am, stormed the place, turned everything upside down before they whisked away the staff.” According to Adepitan, he was spared to take care of the compound after their departure.
While briefing the press at the scene, Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, who was accompanied by the state Vice Chairman, Chief Funso Ologunde, condemned the action, which they described as, “The worst political brigandage since 1999,” stressing that, “It shows the level of PDP despration towards 2015.”
The APC chieftains, who predicted the PDP’s sound de­feat across Nigeria next year, however, assured the parents of the arrested staff of their safety in the hands of the security personnel, adding that, “our law­yers are already in Shangisha office of the DSS to secure their release.”
Similarly, in a statement issued in Ijebu-Ode on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the APC strongly condemned the invasion, calling it perhaps the worst political scandal in Nigeria’s history. The party said the invasion could only be likened to the Watergate Scandal that led to the resignation of US President, Richard Nixon in 1974, as a result of the June 17, 1972, break-in at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., and the attempted cover-up of its involvement by the Republican Nixon Administration.
It, therefore, called for an independent inquiry to fish out those who ordered the needless and unprovoked attack on the office of the APC and ensure that they face very serious consequences, irrespective of their status.
“Saturday’s attack is another one in the string of attacks and illegal actions of the PDP-led administration. The attack was unwarranted and unjustifiable. To attack one of the offices of the opposition party, APC, where legitimate operations of the party were being undertaken is an act of fascism and totalitarianism. To the point of brigandage, the invasion of the APC centre is an assault on the APC and its entire membership across the country. It must not go unpunished,” APC said
The party said though it had been tipped off about an impending attack on the ‘secret warehouse’ of our leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, “we dismissed such plan because there was no ‘secret warehouse’ anywhere and also because we never imagined that the government will attack the offices of an opposition party in a constitutional democracy. Obviously we under-estimated the desperation of the Jonathan Ad­ministration and its worsening proclivity to impunity.”
Giving details of the invasion, the APC said in the early hours of Saturday morning, a combined team of men of the DSS and OP-MESA stormed the Bola Ajibola Data centre belonging to the APC in the Ikeja area of Lagos and arrested 25 APC data agents and three security guards.
“In what was a gestapo-like operation, the APC mem­bership data centre located at Number 10, Bola Ajibola Street, off Allen Avenue in Ikeja, came under siege between the hours of 5:30 am and 7:30 am on Saturday. An operation of terror and brigandage was unleashed on a legitimate operation of a leading national party. They came without a search warrant for the premises. Over 50 security operatives drafted from Abuja operations blocked the two major street entrances to the APC data entry centre, pulled down the gates and spent over 2 hours ransacking and vandalizing the centre.
“More than a dozen computers were destroyed. The server was also vandalized along with other equipments in the building. Just like the Watergate scandal in the USA, the state-sponsored security operatives apparently acting at the behest of the ruling PDP government turned the office upside down, and pulled out and vandalized everything in sight.
“If the PDP-led government and the security agents had done due diligence and acted professionally, they would have known that the APC data centre is a legitimate operation and the staff are Nigerian youths who were left jobless by the Jonathan government.
Apart from the Lagos centre, the operation is decentralized and similar centres are functional in about six different locations around the country.
“They chose to believe the lie that it was a warehouse belonging to one of the national leaders of the party where dangerous weapons were being kept, when in fact it is a centre for entering the data provided by the millions of Nigerians who registered as members of the party during its membership registration exercise,” the party said. It described the invasion as another act of impunity, now a trademark of the Jonathan-led presidency, which is being edged on by the hawks in the PDP. APC called the invasion of its offices an attempt to suppress the opposition, get details of its membership with the intention of using it to rig the 2015 elections and also to destroy the spirit of democracy.
“When in Oct. 6th, 2013 we issued a statement alerting Nigerians that the Jonathan Administration was using Rivers State as a testing ground for creeping fascism ahead of the 2015 elections, some said we were raising a false alarm.
“Well, here we are. In the past five months, the PDP-led government has stepped up its acts of impunity and terror against the leaders of the APC and all non-PDP actors. Elected officers, who are not PDP members, have had their rights repeatedly violated by the police and other security operatives. Never before has an elected government been so scared of the opposition to the point of shutting it down.
“Now that they have overreached themselves by attacking the offices of the main opposition party and destroying part of its membership database, can the PDP-led government still claim to be operating under the rule of law? Can the government sincerely tell the world it is now ready for a free and fair elections in 2015? This is one impunity too many, and we will not allow it to be swept under the carpet,” the party vowed.

Source: Sun News

COEASU threatens to suspend academic activities nationwide

BY GABRIEL DIKE
The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has made a passionate appeal to the Federal Government to address the security chal­lenges in some colleges of education or it would be forced to suspend academic activities nationwide.
The union explained that the security challenges, par­ticularly in the North have resulted in the death of some COEASU members and students, saying fears have gripped colleges of education in the areas.
The position of COEASU was taken at the Expanded National Executive Council (ENEC) meeting held in Abuja to examine the federal government responss to the outstanding issues and to deliberate on other challenges besetting the nation as they affect the colleges of education.
The union also decried the non implementation of the retirement age and CONPCASS for its members by some state governments warning that they face industrial action.
The communiqué which was signed by the COEASU President, Comrade Emmanuel Nkoro and the General Secretary, Comrade Nuhu Origima, decried the massacre and kidnapping of staff and students of Federal College of Education, (FCE), Kano and Federal College of Education (FCE) (T), Omoku, Rivers State.
On the situation at FCE Kano, COEASU ENEC decried the infiltration of the campus leading to the massacre of innocent students and staff conducting their normal academic business stressing, ‘’council is particularly deeply concerned given the fact that the college, situated in the heart of the town, could have been so attacked for hours before security agents’ belated
response’’.
The union expressed her condolences to the entire community of FCE Kano on the cold-blooded murder of staff and students by yet-to-be identified gunmen.
COEASU implored the government to step up efforts to stem the spate of violent crimes in the country and tasked security agents to unravel those behind the killings.
On incessant kidnap of staff of FCE (T), Omoku, the three-page resolution stated that no fewer than ten staff was abducted in the last three months leading to the death of three even as it expressed dismay that the security agents have not arrested the perpetrators of the crime.
It urged the government as a matter of urgency to se­cure all institutions across the country to ensure meaningful teaching and learning process necessary
for the overall development of education.
‘’Council strongly warned that she would not be con­strained to suspend academic activities in colleges of education nationwide, indefinitely, if the dire insecurity in the colleges is not addressed and such incidents recurs,’’ it advised.
The communiqué also viewed the federal govern­ment’s response through a letter dated October 28 noting that the three months moratorium is quite belated, and unsubstantial in its terse content but enjoined members to strive irrespective of the disposition of government towards ensuring quality service delivery in line with global best practices.
COEASU described the grave implication of Benue, Niger, Kaduna and Sokoto states non implementation of the CONPCASS and that their action portends damage on the education process in the colleges and urged the respective governments to start the implementation or risk serious industrial action spare-headed by the national secretariat.
The ENEC meeting also decried the refusal of Akwa Ibom State government to implement the retirement age of 65 years in the state College of Education, Afaha-Nsit and described as pathetic the dis­criminatory implementation of the retirement age in the state tertiary institutions which excluded the colleges of education.

Source: Sun News

Thierry Henry to return to Arsenal as Coach

Arsene Wenger is considering offering an Arsenal coaching role to Thierry Henry who is ready to tackle the next stage of his glittering career.
Henry’s contract with New York Red Bulls expires next month at the end of the MLS season and although he is yet to announce his retirement, many believe he will finish as a player.
‘It’s not impossible,’ said Wenger, when asked if the 37-year-old former Arsenal captain could return to coach. ‘I welcome people who have played for us to come back but not (for just) an honorary job.
Wenger speaks with Alexis Sanchez during training ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Manchester United
Henry is expected to retire once his contract with New York Red Bulls expires at the end of the MLS season
‘It has to be a job that is available and one where you get up in the morning and do something.’
Henry has said he would like to manage Arsenal, where he played for eight years, won two League titles and became club leading scorer before joining Barcelona in 2007.
He returned briefly on loan from New York in January 2012 and has a total of 228 goals for the north London club. Wenger said: ‘Has he the quality to be a manager?
Yes… but he has to decide to sacrifice his life. When you’re a player, you think it’s so simple to be a manager. When you are a manager, you think it’s so complicated suddenly and if you’re not prepared for that you cannot survive.
‘One quality that you need is resistance to criticismwhen you feel it’s not justified. I don’t know how he’llhandle that.

Source: Koko feed

"...Chima Obieze is young and reliable" -Ezeagu youths

A young man with vision and passion for a new world and a new Nigeria. Chima  studied Nigerian Law at both Enugu State
University and Nigerian Law School respectively.
He was a President of the Students' Union Government during his undergraduate studies and broke a number of applaudable records.
9jamebor had a chat with one of his subjects (Chetachi) who described the young man as a goal setter and a go-getter.
He is currently a legal practitioner. He runs an NGO with d name Change Nigeria Youths, which he formed to carry his vision for a changed Nigeria. He is both a motivational speaker, a youth counsellor & instructor. He also takes aspiring couples on Marriage Courses in most Catholic Churches in Enugu State.
The youths of his constituency described him recently as the candidate of consensus for the youths, they believe that their interests and the interest of the people of Ezeagu is well protected with Chima Obieze in the Enugu state house of Assembly.
"The people of Ezeagu deserve a better voice by 2015 and Chima Obieze is the voice, he is young and reliable" they said.

Tambuwal reacts to police invitation

The attention of the Hon Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal CFR, has been drawn to publications in the media  to the effect that the Inspector General of Police has ordered that he, Speaker, be invited to the Force Headquarters and that he be arrested if he resisted.
The Honorable Speaker wishes to state that he is a law abiding citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who has no immunity against arrest and prosecution except privileges as may be provided by the Legislative Powers and Privileges Act.
Accordingly , the Hon Speaker states for the records that he is available, ready and willing to answer any lawful invitation from any of the Security agencies on any matter for which they may require his attention.
The Speaker expresses dismay at the unprofessional conduct of the Nigerian Police in the attempt to stop him from accessing the House of Representatives chambers on the 20th November 2014 to preside over the Special Session of the House on the State of Emergency Extension requested by Mr President, for which he had recalled members from their working recess.
Most disgraceful is the false statement later issued  by the Police in which they claimed that in the lawful exercise of their duties “ Alh Aminu Tambuwal CFR, arrived the venue with a motley crowd,who broke the cordon, assaulted the Police and evaded due process”. This blatant falsehood coming from a law enforcement agency, that is expected to be neutral and lawful, is unfortunate, to say the least.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Hon Speaker came to National Assembly accompanied by Hon Members as is customary during any sitting of the House. They all came with their official vehicles but were disallowed from driving into the premises. Certainly Hon Members, who arrived the precinct of the National Assembly in response to a call to perform an urgent, critical national assignment, cannot be described by any self respecting institution as “a motley crowd “
It is important to remind the Nigeria Police Force that as a public institution that provides common services for all the arms of government, they must not allow themselves to be used by one of the arms to undermine the others.
Malam Imam Imam  @imamdimam
Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairsto the Hon Speaker

APC to PDP: "...anywhere in the world where elections have been rigged, the consequences have been dire, and Nigeria will not be an exception"

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has slammed the presidency’s agitated response to its warning that if the 2015 elections are rigged, the party will not recognize the outcome and will go ahead to form a parallel government, saying that represents the stand of the party.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said that what Gov. Rotimi Amaechi said at the APC's Salvation Rally, which has now rankled the presidency into a state of delirium, was simply to reiterate the stand taken by the party before the last Osun State Governorship election.
''Those who are fretting about this statement are those who are planning to rig the elections and they should be warned that Nigerians will no longer accept the outcome of any fraudulent polls. Those who incite the people are those who steal their mandate.
''What we made is a conditional statement. If A happens, then B will follow. That means if elections are not rigged, there will be no problem. It is therefore laughable that anyone will call that statement treasonable,'' APC said,
adding that there is no higher treason than the subversion of the people's will.
The party said it was common knowledge that anywhere in the world where elections have been rigged, the
consequences have been dire, and Nigeria will not be an
exception.
''Let us remind the presidency, in case it has forgotten, that election fraud triggered a civil war in Algeria in the early
1990s, led to the killing of over 1,000 people in post-election riots in Kenya in 2007/2008 and fired a near revolution in
Iran in 2009/2010. Electoral frauds also corrupt democracy and breed dictatorship, and risks making the people to lose confidence in democracy. Why then would any government react violently if warned against election rigging?'' the party queried.
It said that instead of issuing threats and engaging in name calling, the presidency should simply brace up to ensure that the forthcoming elections are not only free, fair and credible, but are seen to be so by Nigerians and the international community.
APC said it was necessary to constantly warn the PDP and the Federal Government not to tamper with the 2015 polls because of their penchant for electoral desperation, which manifests in the intimidation of the opposition and the
militarization of elections, disposition to anarchy and propensity for impunity.
It noted that the process leading to the 2015 polls was already flawed, with moves to disenfranchise millions of
Nigerians by making it impossible for them to either register or get their Permanent Voters Cards, and the plot to
depopulate the strongholds of the opposition.
''PDP and the governments it sired, especially at the centre, are lawless and anarchic. That's why they can unleash the
police against federal legislators in an attempt to force a removal of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
That's why a state under the control of the PDP will use seven lawmakers to remove the Speaker in a 26-member House of Assembly.
''Because it is said that eternal vigilance is the price of freedom, we will constantly warn the PDP and the Federal Government not to tamper with the 2015 elections. We will constantly chide them for trying to institutionalize impunity. We cannot and will not be intimidated by an uptight presidency,'' it said.
''The PDP and the Jonathan Administration are the masters of impunity, and they will not hesitate to exploit any sign of docility in the face of their evil intentions on the part of the opposition. The lessons are there: Had the members of the House of Representatives been docile on Thursday when remote-controlled security agents invaded their premises and barred them from entering, Tambuwal would have ceased to be the Speaker by now.
''For us, the gloves are off. We will no longer engage in any nicety as long as some people are bent on thwarting the will of the people through electoral fraud. All we are demanding is a free, fair and credible election. All we are saying is that no one should incite the people by stealing their mandate.
How these demands can be construed to mean treason is as baffling as the do-or-die disposition of the ruling PDP to elections,'' the party said.

Source: sahara reporters

PDP lawmakers move against plans to impeach Jonathan

The Peoples Democratic Party members of the House of Representatives have begun mobilising against moves by All
Progressives Congress lawmakers to
impeach President Goodluck Jonathan.
This came as Saturday PUNCH got
additional information on how 113
lawmakers began signing on Thursday to
remove the President.
Findings showed that after Thursday’s
stormy session, the PDP members
immediately started making contacts on
how to counter the impeachment moves.
House insiders confided in Saturday PUNCH that members were advised against listening to their APC colleagues, especially now that the country was facing serious security challenges.
The message to all members was that any impeachment of the President would only worsen the situation of the country, “with obvious consequences for our democracy and all Nigerians.”
One source said, “This is just not the time to talk about impeachment.
“The PDP caucus will stop them; what we
should be talking about is how to address
the security situation in the country.
“There is insurgency and the extension of
the state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, which was rejected by the House on Thursday.
“That is what we should concern ourselves with, not impeachment that will do nobody any good.”
Investigations showed that though the APC lawmakers had long threatened that they would initiate impeachment proceedings against Jonathan if the PDP made attempts to remove the Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, they did not take the matter seriously until the police locked down the National Assembly on Thursday.
Saturday PUNCH gathered that the members considered the lock down an affront on the legislature and the office of the speaker, a member of the APC.
“It was a clear case of disregard for
democratic values and the laws of the land.
“What did they want to achieve by locking
the speaker and all those members out?
“The police did not only shut the gates of
the assembly, they threw tear gas at the
Speaker and members.
“That act was a total disgrace, taking place when there is a restraining order against any plan to stop the speaker from presiding over the House”, another source added.

Source Punch

Mark shuts down National Assembly

Senators yesterday could not carry out their duties following the invasion of the National Assembly complex by policemen. Senators were seen in groups in their chamber discussing the ugly incident. It took some time to bring order to the Chambers.
Senator Olusola Adeyeye, (Osun Central)
was particularly disturbed by the unsavory incident. The Senate President read the prayer around 11.48am for commencement of plenary. Before Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, could announce the first business of the day, Mark cut him short. He announced the shutting down of the National Assembly. He noted that there would not be any business in the National Assembly until Tuesday. Mark said: “Because of the ugly incident that happened here in the National Assembly this morning,
I have decided to shut down the National
Assembly until Tuesday next week – both
the House of Representatives and the
Senate. “It is unfortunate. We will invite the Inspector General (of Police) here on
Tuesday also. “You will recall that we had
asked the Service Chiefs to be here. They
were all here this morning but I have
spoken to them and have told them to be
here on Tuesday. “So there will be no
business in the National Assembly today
and the place remains shut until Tuesday. “
Some Senators took to the floor to protest
the police invasion. Adeyeye said the import of tear gassing Senators and House members should not be glossed over. He noted that when lawmakers are tear-gassed, it is those they represent that are actually being tear-gassed. Adeyeye cautioned that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should not allow the country to collapse on its head describing the incident as shameful and despicable. In a statement entitled “Police Invasion: Mark condemns the Use of teargas on lawmakers, staff” Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Paul Mumeh, said that the Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly, David Mark, condemned the use of teargas on Senators and members of the House of Representatives by the police. Mumeh said that Mark described the action as “barbaric.” It said that Mark also ordered the immediate suspension of plenary session in both chambers of the National Assembly.
“This followed the invasion of the National Assembly by security operatives who thoroughly tear gassed Senators, members of the House of Representatives, staff and journalists this morning. “An embarrassed Senator Mark, who had rushed out to the House of Representatives’ Chamber ostensibly to address the situation on hearing the development, was thoroughly tear gassed along with his colleagues while returning to his office after conferring with the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal and his deputy Emeka Ihedioha. “After a brief
meeting with principal officers of the
National Assembly Mark said “After due
consultation with my colleagues in both
chambers of National Assembly on this ugly development, we have therefore agreed that today’s session be suspended forthwith.” It said that Mark “condemned the application of maximum force on parliamentarians and civil servants who were in their respective offices to do their duties.”

Source: Radio Biafra

Another Boko Haram Rampage in Borno; 45 killed

Dozens of people have been killed in an
attack by suspected Boko Haram militants in north-eastern Nigeria, officials and witnesses say.
Gunmen rampaged through the village of
Azaya Kura in the Mafa area in Borno State, killing at least 45 people.
Shettima Lawan, caretaker chairman of the local government, called it “wicked and despicable,” AFP reports.
Muhammed Gava, the leader of a vigilante fighter group, told the Associated Press that heavily armed Boko Haram militants surged through Azaya Kura in several vehicles on
Wednesday.
“We counted 45 bodies at the end of the
attack,” village chief Mallam Bulama told
AFP.
But others may have died after they fled
into the bush, residents said.
The village is about 40km (25 miles) from
Maiduguri, capital of Borno State.
In May 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan imposed a state of emergency in the northern states of Borno, Yobe and
Adamawa, vowing to crush the Islamist
insurgency.
But Boko Haram, which translates as
‘Western education is forbidden’, has
stepped up attacks against civilian targets ever since the Nigerian military offensive
began last year.
It frequently attacks schools and colleges,
which it sees as a symbol of Western culture, and was behind the kidnapping of
over 200 schoolgirls from Chibok in Borno State.
Mafa and the surrounding area has been
repeatedly attacked by militants.
About 30 boys and girls were taken during a raid in October, despite government claims of a truce. At least 17 people were also killed in the assault.
Some 29 people were also killed in an attack on Mafa town in March.
•Adapted from a BBC report. Photo shows a Borno community after a Boko Haram
onslaught.

Source News Express

Adebayor accuses his own mother of being a witch

Togo and Tottenham Hotspurs striker, Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor has claimed that his own mother and relatives have been plotting ‘juju’ (witchcraft) against
him aimed at bringing his career to a premature end.
“At the airport my mum said, ‘Go to France so you can change the way this family lives.’ She knew that if I succeeded in football we could have a better life and
finally get out of poverty. At 15 I wasn’t just playing for my own glory, I was playing for the sake of my family,”
Emmanuel Adebayor once told the Daily Mail in an interview back in 2009.
It’s all a different story nowadays as a now matured and wealthy Sheyi Adebayor has strongly defended his decision to stay away from his family by accusing his
mother of using witchcraft to attack him, the mother he once hailed as the best in the world and went with to receive the Africa footballer of the year award.
The now overly rich Togo captain apparently sent his mother packing from his house over a year ago and has not set eyes or spoken with her since.
Adebayor’s sister called Maggie told a radio station in Accra that the footballer has abandoned their mother and family and won’t even respond to calls from his
mother whom he has not seen in over a year.
“As at now, our mother is selling polythene bags, padlocks and other things on the (Ghana/Togo) border.
Our mother has not seen him for more than a year and he rejects her calls anytime. Our mother is not calling
him for his money, she just wants to see him because she loves him very much,” Adebayor’s sister told Peace
FM.
But in a sharp response, Adebayor confirmed to the same radio station this morning that he has neglected his mother and is out of touch with her and his siblings because they have an evil agenda against him.
Asked when was the last time he spoke to his mother, Adebayor replied, “How can I talk to a mother who together with my sisters have been plotting juju against
me?”

Source: KokoFeed

1000 soldiers and policemen seals the entrance of the National Assembly

The Speaker of the House, Aminu Tambuwal arrived the National Assembly  with a view to preside over the sitting of the House but fierce looking troops posted the stopped him at the gate. A melee has ensued as a result.
Mr. Tambuwal, President Goodluck Jonathan and the ruling People’s Democratic Party are at loggerheads over the Speaker’s decision to decamp to the All Progressives Congress (APC) a few weeks ago.
Immediately he joined the APC his personal security guards were withdrawn on the orders of the President.

US embassy ruines the honeymoon of African sprint queen

The US embassy in Abuja has ruined the honeymoon of African sprint queen, Blessing Okagbare who recently got married to her heart-throb Igho Otegheri.
“I feel so bad that America Embassy would turn down the visa request by my husband to travel with me to Los Angeles.Okagbare and her footballer husband, planned to travel to Los Angeles where the double sprint 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist is based. But Otegheri was denied a visa, something that has left Okagbare distraught and confused. Okagbare trains with American coach, John Smith in Los Angles and was hoping that her husband who won four caps with the Super Eagles will be around at her weakest moments. Okabgare is billed to resume training for the next years World Championships in Beijing China.
“I have resumed training for the season and I have to go back to my base (Los Angeles) with my husband so that I can concentrate.
“I have sent copies of my documents, including my Resident Permit in Los Angeles to them so as to facilitate my husband’s traveling with me to the States, but they refused. Help me appeal to them to grant him visa because it won’t be easy for me to shuttle between Nigeria and the States every time.
“I have to concentrate on my training and the only way to do so is to have my husband with me in the States. I have been so sad since my husband returned from Abuja with this bad news. They have to do something about it,” she lamented

Source: kokofeed

Court advises 42 members of the House of Representatives to resign “honourably” because they had no business in the National Assembly.

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday declared as unconstitutional, the defection of 42 members of the House of Representatives from the Peoples Democratic Party to the opposition All Progressives Congress.
The  ruling put the seats of the 42 lawmakers under threat as the court also advised them to resign “honourably” because they had no business in the National Assembly.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola, in his judgment in a suit filed by the PDP, stated that since their defection was illegal, they could not  validly function as members of the House.
Ademola also held that the defected legislators were not competent to sponsor, contribute or vote on any motion calling for a change in the leadership of the House, including the election of its principal officers.
He consequently made an order of perpetual injunction restraining the 42 lawmakers from taking part in any step to alter the leadership of the House.
Following the defection of the lawmakers , PDP had on January 7 approached the court, asking that the legislators be restrained from altering or changing the leadership of the House, or taking any steps to do so.
The PDP however did not ask the court to order the defected lawmakers to vacate their seats.
The ruling party, through its lawyer, Yunus Usman (SAN), had argued that the defection of the lawmakers was unconstitutional, as it did not comply with the provisions of Section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The section allows  elected public office holders to defect to another political party and retain their seats in situations where there is a division within their political parties.
The PDP had  in the suit insisted that there was no division within its ranks to warrant the lawmakers to defect and continue to hold on to their seats.
But the  42  legislators, who were listed as the 12th to 53rd defendants in the suit, argued that there was a division in the PDP.
But Ademola stated that his verdict was informed by the court’s interpretation of Section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution, which reads, “ A member of the Senate or the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if –
“Being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected; provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored.”
Stressing the court’s decision, the judge said, “The above constitutional provision is clear and unambiguous and must be given its literal meaning.
“From the facts admitted by the parties, the 12th to 53rd defendants (defected lawmakers) were sponsored by the PDP in the 2011 elections and their terms are yet to expire.
“It is the court’s opinion from the evidence before it that there is no division in the PDP.”
Ademola pointed to a related judgment by Justice Evoh Chukwu, also of the Abuja FHC, which restrained the then Abubakar Baraje-led New PDP from having another national executive of the PDP, to justify his  belief that there was no division in the PDP.
He noted that no appeal had been filed against Chukwu’s judgment  since it was delivered on October 18, 2013.
The judge stated that the PDP had, through its submissions, proved that there was no division within its ranks.
He said, “The plaintiff (PDP) has discharged the onus of proof and the defendants have failed to do so.
“There is no division in the PDP, yet they (42 lawmakers) defected to another political party, the APC; they should either resign their seats or relinquish their seats honourably; they have no business in the House of Representatives a day longer.”
Quoting the late eminent jurist, Justice Kayode Eso, Ademola condemned what he called “political carpet crossers and unscrupulous politicians.”
The House of Representatives was cited as the 1st defendant, while the principal officers, including the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal; his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, and the Majority Leader, Mulikat Akande-Adeola, were listed as some of the defendants.
Counsel for the defected lawmakers Mamoud Magaji (SAN), announced after the verdict, that his clients had given him the permission to test the judgment at a higher court.
• We’ll go up to S’Court- APC
Expectedly, the 42 lawmakers’ vow to appeal the judgment was welcomed by the APC which said it would subject it to legal test up to the Supreme Court.
“We are going to appeal the judgment. We will pursue this matter up to the Supreme Court. That is all I can say for now,” the Interim National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, told one of our correspondents in Abuja.
• PDP, APC  House causes  disagree
In the House of Representatives, the PDP Caucus and its APC counterpart, differed on the judgment.
While the PDP Caucus said it had been vindicated by the judgment, the APC Caucus described it  as “strange.”
The Deputy House Majority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, said,
“The PDP has been vindicated because we believe in the rule of law.
“The judiciary, as the arm of government vested with the power  to interpret our laws, has clearly spoken what is the correct position.
“We went to court because the defection had no basis in law and we thank the court for interpreting the law correctly.”
Ogor argued that “being a declaratory judgment,” he expected the defected lawmakers to return to the PDP.
He added, “We advise those who wanted to take over the leadership of the House through the back door to have a rethink and come back to where they belong.
“The judgment has shown that they are PDP members; they should return home to their party because they have no
other party.”
But, House Minority Leader and Leader of the APC Caucus, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, disagreed with Ogor.
He said the judgment was strange to democracy, adding that it would be against the fundamental human rights of the defectors to insist that they remained members of a party they no longer wanted to associate with.
Gbajabiamila noted that the APC and the affected lawmakers would “definitely” appeal the judgment.
Part of an electronic mail he sent to our correspondent reads, “The judgment is strange and will be appealed.
“No person can be compelled by law to stay in an association against his or her wishes.
“It negates a fundamental right of association of every citizen that is inalienable.
Section 68 of the Constitution (as amended) has been turned on its head and the error of the court is manifest.”

Source: Punch News

IGP warns Tambuwal to stop the use of thugs

Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has warned the Speaker of Nigeria's House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, from using thugs and undermining laws in the bids to achieve
sinister agenda.

The IGP warning to Tambuwal was contained in a statement issued by police spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu, in response to today’s violence at the National Assembly complex where Tambuwal and scores of lawmakers were stopped from entering the chamber.
The statement read “Following an intelligence report of a likely invasion of the House of Representatives by hoodlums and thugs, the Nigeria Police Force promptly deployed its personnel to the premises to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
“Consequently, the Police condoned the area and began screening of all members and visitors alike. In the course of this lawful exercise, Alh. Aminu Tambuwal CFR, arrived the venue with a motley crowd, who broke the cordon, assaulted the Police and evaded due process and the Police had the duty to restore order and normalcy, using lawful means.”
Indirectly warning Tambuwal, the Police IGP said “The IGP seizes this medium to warn all political actors and their followers to respect constituted authority and due process and to desist from the use of thugs to pursue their agenda.
“The Nigeria Police shall continually apply all lawful means to prevent a breakdown of law and order in all segments of the society and shall apply the full weight of the law on any political actor who violates the peace and security of the nation.”

Source: Sahara Reporters

Nigeria’s Exit From AFCON 2015, What Jay Jay Okocha Has To Say

Jay-Jay Okocha says that questions will be asked about the passion of Nigeria’s players following their exit from the Africa Cup of Nations.
The reigning champions failed to qualify for the 2015 finals after drawing 2-2 with South Africa in Uyo on
Wednesday, marking a second exit before the tournament proper in three editions.
And while Stephen Keshi’s future has already been called into question, Okocha believes the players have to take some of the responsibility too.
“I think, to be honest, we will always produce talented players. But perhaps the question is whether they have the same passion that they used to have,” Okocha told Goal . “People are pressuring them about that, you know, because sometimes it seems as if they don’t really care much about the result.”
Wednesday’s result combined with Congo’s 1-0 win in Sudan to extinguish Nigeria’s final hopes, but the 41- year-old said they had made it very difficult for themselves earlier in the campaign.
“Of course it was down to our bad spot, even if we were still in with a chance,” he added. “I think sometimes players must have a wake-up call before they realise they are back in African football. They left themselves get into a difficult position.”
Ironically, Okocha – who won 75 caps for his country –believes the Super Eagles could have gone on to perform very well again in the finals in Equatorial Guinea had the qualified amongst the final 16 teams.
“I have no doubt that had we managed to qualify we would have had a good tournament, because you have to play really well once it comes to the tournament itself. The qualifiers are sometimes a bit tricky here in
Africa, so I think if they had qualified they would have had a good tournament.”
Okocha is currently acting as an ambassador for Western Union’s ‘Pass for School’ programme which will see funding made towards better education every time somebody posts an old photograph of themselves in a childhood sports photo to Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #PassForSchool.
He explained: “It is a great initiative, especially since it
helps the less privileged children because we all know
how vital education is. So I’m delighted to be a part of
it.”

-Source: Kokofeed

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Jonathan Sacks Oduah amidst PDP Heat

*Orubebe, two others dropped *Supervising ministers to take over affected ministries *Jubilation engulfs aviation industry; stakeholders react By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North, BEN AGANDE & Daniel Eteghe ABUJA—The gale of sack at the Presidential Villa continued, yesterday, as President Goodluck Jonathan fired the controversial Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah and dropped three others. Those dropped by the President included the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe; Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade and the Minister of State for Finance, Dr Yerima Ngama. Minister of Information and Supervising Minister for Defence, Labaran Maku, who confirmed the sack said the president relieved the ministers of their appointments to allow them pursue other interests. Mr Maku also debunked reports in the social media that the former Chief of Staff to the President, Mike Oghiadomhe was removed because of his alleged involvement in corrupt acts in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. The Minister of Information said: “Today (yesterday) the President announced further changes in the Federal Executive Council. He said a number of ministers have been asked to step out of the federal executive council to further their own interests, some in politics, others in their own private enterprises. “Clearly, what the President did today (yesterday) was to allow ministers who have indicated interest in pursuing further goals in the polity, in the economy and in the life of the country to be allowed to go. From left Stella Oduah; Orubebe, Ngama Olubolade, From left Stella Oduah; Right from top: Orubebe, Ngama Olubolade, “Those asked by the President to go include the following: The Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama, Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (rtd); Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe and Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah. “In announcing his acceptance of their decision to participate in the polity, the President thanked them very sincerely for the great job they have done in helping the government realise the goals that have been achieved under the transformation agenda. The President believes that they have done so well for this administration and was generally happy with what they have done, particularly in their various sectors to help the administration realise the goals we have seen today under the transformation programme of the government.” Refutes media reports on Oghiadomhe “The President also further explained that contrary to some insinuations in some quarters, that our colleague, the former Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, was asked to go because of alleged involvement in NNPC alleged fraud, the President explained that contrary to these insinuations which came from the social media and were also replicated in some regular media, Chief Oghiadomhe left to pursue further interests in politics. “The office of the Chief of Staff does not supervise the NNPC, it has no direct correlation with the NNPC and he said if Chief Oghiadomhe left because of the NNPC alleged fraud, then it will suggest that there would have been people that were involved with him and those people too would have gone. “So contrary to these speculations, the President asked him to go when he offered to resign to pursue interest in politics. Politics is very vast so the President made it very clear that the resignation of the former Chief of Staff has nothing to do with alleged misdemeanour in NNPC but rather purely the decision of the former Chief of Staff to withdraw his services was to participate in politics”. Supervising ministers to replace Oduah, others Mr Maku further announced that “the President asked the following ministers to take charge of the ministries: For the Ministry of Aviation, the Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Investment, Samuel Ortom, will supervise it until the substantive appointment of an Aviation Minister. “The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, already has a Minister of State, Darius Ishaku; in the Ministry of Finance of course the CME (Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala) is already in charge. For the Ministry of Police Affairs, the President asked the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Olajumoke Akinjide to take charge of the Ministry”. Asked if other ministers who also have interests in higher political offices would be asked to go in batches, Labaran Maku said: “That is left for the President to decide. I am not the President but I believe sincerely that it depends on what they have communicated to Mr. President. He does not just take those decisions in isolation”. He added that “the President said he has asked them to go because of their interests. They have indicated interest in pursuing higher and deeper interests in the polity and so he has decided to allow them go and pursue those interests. You have to get that correctly so that you won’t go and say something like it was said in the case of the former Chief of Staff”. Asked if the President asked Oduah to go based on the report of the presidential committee on the N255 million car scam, Maku said: “I have just reported exactly what the President said. Also don’t forget allegations don’t necessarily mean guilt and I think the press should always be patient. But the truth of the matter is that they left because they indicated interest in playing deeper roles in the politics of the country and the President has decided to let them go”. Jubilation engulfs aviation industry Meanwhile, the aviation industry went into jubilation, yesterday, as many stakeholders expressed delight over the removal of Princes Stella Oduah. Some stakeholders, however, faulted the timing of her removal, arguing that she should have been allowed to complete the airport remodelling project. While expressing delight over the removal of the Aviation Minister, Deputy General Secretary, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Comrade Olayinka Abioye affirmed that President Goodluck Jonathan had just given Nigerians a valentine gift, stressing that it was a welcome development. Comrade Abioye further noted that Princess Oduah’s tenure was full of irregularities, noting that she disrespected the unions all through her tenure. According to him, all the remodelling of airports and upgrade of facilities did not follow due process, asking what was the cost of the airports remodelled and the source of the funds. He also noted that most of the agencies were tasked to partake in the remodelling project. He said that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) was asked to purchase electronic counters which were not part of the responsibility of the agency. Comrade Abioye said: ”We will remember Princess Stella Oduah for so many things. All the remodelling project and upgrade of infrastructure, did they follow due process? The answer is no; were the stakeholders carried along in the process? The answer is no. Were proper materials used in the buildings and the structures, the answer is no. Does FAAN which is supposed to be the supervisor in the know of several of these things? The answer is no. “President Goodluck Jonathan has just given Nigerians a valentine gift by the removal of Princes Stella Oduah and, however painful it may be, we will cherish this gift. The House of Representatives in their report indicted the minister for violating extant rules and urged the government to review her appointment. That word review means a very big thing, if somebody is appointed in a place and there is an error and you said please can we review the appointment of this person, it means that, please get this fellow away from this place or position.” Also speaking, the President of Aviation Round Table, (ART), Capt. Dele Ore said that the sack of Oduah was good news, adding that he congratulates President Jonathan for the bold step he has taken. Capt. Ore further noted that with this development, it was time to re-position the aviation sector in the right track as this would help in protecting the Category One Status of the country. He said: ”That is good news, I congratulate President Goodluck Jonathan for the bold step he has taken though it is belated. It is a welcome development. Now that the minister has been asked to go this is the time to bring aviation back to the right track. We hope it is not too late to protect our Category One Status which is being threatened. “We expect that her successor will be coming will correct several errors that have been committed in the process of this transformation agenda.” EFCC to swoop on Oduah, others Meanwhile, the stage was, yesterday, set for the nation’s anti-graft agencies to move against the former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah. Although the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, told journalists that the President relieved the affected ministers of their portfolios to enable them pursue deeper political ambitions, it was clear that the former Aviation minister was booted out as a result of her involvement in the bulletproof cars scandal, which rattled the Presidency. A top source in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said yesterday that investigation into the matter had been going on and would now be taken to a logical conclusion with Oduah’s ouster. The source, which declined to be named, pointed out that the coast had been cleared for the commission to resume its investigation on the multi-million scandal that shook the nation’s image at home and abroad. The source said: “It is true that the investigation of Oduah has been ongoing and we can now take the matter to a logical conclusion to save the image of the commission and the country.” Asked how soon the former minister would be summoned, the source said that ‘nothing would be done in secret’ when the investigation resumes. But the removal of the minister by President Jonathan has been described as medicine after death by Mr. Abubakar Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN. Malami noted that the President should have sacked Oduah when the heat was on rather than allow her continued stay to deal a serious credibility blow on his government and Nigeria. Malami said: “The sacking of Oduah is belated and of no relevance to this country. In fact, it is too late to say the least. She has already done a substantial damage to the credibility of this administration and her sack at the moment does not make any sense at all”.

Jonathan announces Tukur’s resignation

By Henry Umoru ABUJA- President Goodluck Jonathan, Thursday, announced that Bamanga Tukur had resigned his position as the National Chairman of the party, adding that the party would hold another National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting on Monday to select his replacement. Tukur had earlier in his remarks at the ongoing NEC meeting announced his readiness to step aside. It was learnt that Jonathan had given Tukur a soft landing, by allegedly promising to appoint him as an Ambassador of an unnamed country.. The president handed over Tukur’s resignation letter to the National Secretary of the party, Wale Oladipo, at the meeting in Abuja. “He (Mr. Tukur) is not guilty of any offence and I am going to give him an assignment that is tougher than PDP chairman,” Jonathan said. It was gathered that the Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke moved the motion for the acceptance of Tukur’s resignation and was seconded by the Deputy Senate Leader, Abdul Ningi, before it was accepted by the NEC.

NHRC probes Obasanjo’s claim of rights abuses against Jonathan

(SUN News)  • Rivers crisis also on the card
 From GODWIN TSA, Abuja
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) yesterday set up a five-man probe panel headed by its Chairman, Prof Chidi Anselm Odinkalu to investigate allegations of extra-judicial killings and human rights abuses raised against President Goodluck Jonathan by his political godfather, former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Other members of the panel which was constituted at the extra-ordinary emergency meeting of the Commission in Abuja are the Executive Secretary, Prof Bem Angwe, Mrs. Eugenia Abu; D.O.C Ezeigwe and Alhaji Ibrahim Nikau.
In reaching its decision to probe, the NHRC considered the claims contained in the transmission from the Attorney-General of the Federation [AGF] to be quite weighty and grave, concluding that they raised issues of serious and systematic violations of the rights to life, access to fair hearing and justice, personal liberty, safety and security, equality before the law and the prohibition against discrimination.
The commission also raised a three-man panel of Mr. Kayode Komolafe, Mrs. Rita Ifeyinwa Njokanmma and Mr. Eric Bell-Gam to investigate, identify and verify the facts and actors involved in the ongoing crisis in Rivers State and any violations of human rights. In the case of Obasanjo’s letter to Jonathan, the council considered the referral transmitted to the commission by the AGF and Minister of Justice on December 23, 2013 in relation to the allegations contained in recent correspondence between them.
In taking cognizance of the AGF’s referral, the council said that Rule 79(2) (e) of the Standing Orders and Rules of Procedure the NHRC provide for the AGF or state AGFs to refer appropriate cases to the commission. Council is at all times guided also by the provisions of Section 6(3) of the National Human Rights Commission Act (as amended) that “in exercising its functions and powers under this Act, the commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other authority or person.”
After comprehensive deliberations, the council decided, in exercise of its powers under Sections 5 and 6 of the NHRC and in accordance with Rule 79(2)(a), (c) and (e) of the Standing Orders and Rules of Procedure of the commission to constitute a panel to inquire into the following:
*Whether or not there is or has been state-sponsored killings or assassinations in Nigeria at any time since November 1995 to date;
*If so, what organizations, institutions, agencies or persons were or are involved in or affected by such killings;
*Whether there is or has been at any time since November 1995, a list of persons to be targeted for watching or for such killings;
* If, in any of such cases, the perpetrators, known or unknown, were brought to justice or assisted, facilitated or helped by any persons or institutions to evade justice;
*Whether the victims of any such killings were or have been afforded access to truth or to effective remedies; and
*Undertake any other or further tasks related to or necessarily incidental to the foregoing.
Council authorized the executive secretariat of the commission to immediately issue an invitation or call for memoranda on the above-indicated terms of reference.
The commission also considered the deepening crisis in Rivers State and concluded that the situation calls for urgent action to verify the facts and stem any further deterioration.
Accordingly, the council constituted a panel to undertake a verification mission into Rivers State with the following terms of reference:
* Identify and verify the facts and actors involved in the ongoing crisis in Rivers State and any violations of human rights connected therewith;
* Identify and interact with all parties or actors connected with or affected by the crisis;
*Recommend any interim measures to ameliorate or prevent further escalation of the situation in Rivers State into serious or massive violations of human rights; and
*Undertake any other or further tasks related to or necessarily incidental to the foregoing.
The NHRC authorized the verification mission to work on an expedited time-line and report back to the next regular meeting of council before the end of next month.

Nigeria anti-gay law ’ll fuel violence –UN Secretary General

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon

| credits: File copy

United Nations’ Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed deep concern on Wednesday at a new Nigerian law that criminalises same-sex relationships, which he fears could fuel prejudice and violence and risks obstructing an effective HIV/AIDS response.

The bill, which contains penalties of up to 14 years in prison and bans gay marriage, same-sex “amorous relationships” and membership of gay rights groups, was passed by the National Assembly last May and signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday.

“The Secretary-General fears that the law may fuel prejudice and violence, and notes with alarm reports that police in northern Nigeria have arrested individuals believed by the authorities to be homosexuals, and may even have tortured them,” Ban’s press office said in a statement quoted by Reuters.

As in much of sub-Saharan Africa, anti-gay sentiment and persecution of homosexuals is rife in Nigeria, so the new legislation is likely to be popular. Many African countries are seeking to tighten laws against homosexuality.

Under existing Nigerian federal law, sodomy is punishable by jail, but this bill legislates for a much broader crackdown on homosexuals and lesbians, who already live a largely underground existence.

“As UNAIDS and the Global Fund noted in a statement yesterday, the law also risks obstructing effective responses to HIV/AIDS,” Ban said.