Mbaka’s transfer not punitive, says Catholic church

The Catholic Church has clarified the controvery trailing the transfer of Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka. It said the priest was merely sent to where he would be more useful to the church.

In its first reaction since the controversy broke, the church said the posting was not meant to be punitive.

Secretary-General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria Rev Fr Ralph Madu said transfer of priests was a “normal church procedure”.

Public criticisms had greeted the transfer of Fr. Mbaka out of Christ the King Parish where he had served for over a decade and established the Adoration Prayer Ministry. He is to resume immediately at his new post, Our Lady Parish, Emene.

Speculations were rife that his transfer was a punishment for his support of a Muslim presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, over a Christian, Goodluck Jonathan.

Fr. Mbaka described his re-posting as a ‘calculated move to make him suffer’.

“I know I will suffer within now and a few months to come; I am going to suffer and suffer, I know that. I’m going to suffer because I have no place to put my head. I am going to suffer because I have no place to keep the Adoration Ministry’s assets. I know I’m going to suffer,” he lamented.

But Madu said: “Such frivolities have nothing to do with the posting. His posting should have been a privilege, not a punishment – which the Bishop can do because he has the power.

“Mbaka’s own is not an exception. The Bishop has the right to post any priest wherever he feels his service would be more useful to the church.

“If he (Mbaka) says it’s a punishment, then it’s open for further investigation. Posting is a regular thing; a priest can be transferred after two, three, four, or more years, on the Bishop’s discretion.

“That ministry is his private ministry; it does not belong to the church. Overseeing a parish is a full time job and overseeing a ministry is a bigger task. If the church decides to take him somewhere where he’ll have more time to carry out his ministry, how is it punitive? That should not be the language.”

Fr. Madu hinted that Fr. Mbaka had done things that were unacceptable to the church in the past but received no punishments for them.

“He is supposed to be a missionary, what if the Bishop had closed down the ministry, which is within his power to do? Sometimes, transfers can be for the good of the priest as something can be going wrong which he might not be aware of.

The Bishop is free to move any priest at any time, it is his prerogative.”

Source: The Nation

Power generation to increase by 2,000 MW – Fashola

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has expressed optimism that given the various plans under taken by the present administration in the sector, power generation would increase with additional 2000MW by the last quarter of 2016.

He stated this at the Ministry’s budget defence before the Senate Committee on Power and Mines adding that a lot have changed in the management of power in the country, in recent times.

Distribution of Power is no longer government business, but has been taken over by private Companies.  Also government has privatized power generation which has steered towards the full privatization of the sector with transmission aspect being managed by Manitoba International of Canada.

The ministry’s Assistant Director (Press), Etore E. Thomas, who made this disclosure in a statement Tuesday quoted him as saying that the 2016 budget focuses more on the transmission, completion of on-going projects, refurbishing power plants and tackling gas supply issues.

If all these, are well addressed, the expected projection would boost electricity generation in the country. 

The Minister further stated that the Ministry plans to take its role as a Policy maker more seriously while the Agencies will be tasked more on implementation and execution of government’s agenda for the sector.

Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Committee, Senator James Manager, charged the Ministry to think out of the box, if it is to achieve its goals of taking Nigeria’s Power Sector to the next level.

He stated that Nigerians should reap from the sacrifices incurred in increase in tariff by enjoying uninterrupted power supply.

Source: The Nation

Dasukigate: ICC To Hear Petition Against Dasuki, Iweala, Others Over Alleged Crimes Against Humanity

The International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague has confirmed that it is considering petition submitted to it by human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN over alleged crimes against humanity committed in the context of the arms procurement scandal.

The ICC revealed this in a letter dated 1 February 2016 with reference: OTP-CR-32/16 and signed by Mark P. Dillon, Head of Information & Evidence Unit of the ICC.

The letter reads in part: “The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court acknowledges receipt of your documents/letter. This communication has been duly entered in the Communications Register of the Office. We will give consideration to this communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.”

It would be recalled that Falana had in a petition dated 19 January 2016 requested the ICC to “investigate allegations of crimes against humanity committed against the Nigerian people by some former and serving military as well public officials and private persons who engaged in the criminal diversion of $8 billion earmarked to procure equipment for the armed forces to fight insurgency”

The petition reads in part: “On account of the deliberate refusal of the former military authorities to equip and motivate the members of the armed forces involved in combat operations the insurgents have killed about 25,000 soldiers and civilians including children and displaced over 2,000,000 people. Having compromised the security of the people of Nigeria by collaborating with the terrorists the former military authorities deliberately encouraged the brutal killing of innocent people including ill-equipped officers and soldiers.”
 
“During a visit to Borno state in 2014, former President Jonathan revealed to some selected leaders of the community that it was when Alhaji Modu Ali Sheriff caused the extra judicial killing of the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Mohammed Yusuf that the group declared war on the Nigerian people. Even though President Jonathan knew that Alhaji Sheriff was a major sponsor of the terrorist group the government did not charge him to court under the Terrorism Act applicable in Nigeria.”
“In order to divert the attention of the Nigerian people and the international community from the afore mentioned crimes against humanity, scores of soldiers were put on trial before courts-martial for demanding for equipment to fight the well-armed members of the Boko Haram sect. The military courts convicted the soldiers and sentenced them to various terms of imprisonment while 70 were sentenced to death. Over 3,000 others were dismissed from the Nigerian Army in similar circumstances.”
“Having investigated and confirmed that the said soldiers were sacrificed to cover up the criminal negligence of the former military authorities the current Army leadership has ordered the recall and reinstatement of the 3,000 dismissed soldiers and commuted the death sentence of 66 out of 70 convicts on death row to 10 years' imprisonment.”
 
“The inquiry conducted by the Presidential Panel on arms procurement has established  that  the bulk of the sum of $2.1 billion and N643 billion ($4 billion) earmarked for the purchase of military hardware to fight terrorism was criminally diverted by the former government through the office of the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).  It has also been confirmed that the said Col. Dasuki colluded with some serving and retired military officers and civilians to divert the sum of $2 billion and N29 billion set aside for the procurement of fighter jets and other equipment for the Nigeria Air Force.”
 
“As if that was not enough, the sum of $322 million and £5.5 million from the Abacha loot which was illegally transferred to Col. Dasuki by a former Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for prosecuting the war on terror has also been criminally diverted. Part of the stolen fund was used to fund the campaign for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 general elections.”
 
“Apart from diverting the fund for acquiring military equipment some corrupt public officers also stole money set aside for acquiring the necessary gadgets and equipment for securing the Nigerian people. For instance, the $470 million contract awarded in 2009 for the installation of CCTV cameras in Abuja, the seat of the federal government, was poorly executed due to corrupt practices. Thus, the identification of terrorists who launched bomb attacks in public places in Abuja has been frustrated by the government officials who stole the contract sum.” 
 
“Notwithstanding the deliberate refusal of the military authorities to purchase arms and armament due to the criminal diversion of the security fund, Col. Dasuki gave a lecture at Chartam House in London on February 8, 2015 where he claimed that Nigeria had acquired adequate equipment to prosecute the war on terror. At the time he was addressing his London audience Col Dasuki was well aware that the fund for procurement of weapons had been stolen by himself and his cohorts.”
 
“However, out of the fear that he could be made to account for his role in the diversion of the security fund the then Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Barde disclosed, while he was retiring from the service on July 30, 2015, that the armed forces led by him lacked the equipment to fight the terrorists. In his reaction to the disclosure Col. Dasuki stated sometime in August 2015 that the equipment ordered by the Jonathan Administration had not arrived the country!”
 
“It is submitted that the former public officials, serving and military officers as well as civilian collaborators who engaged in the criminal diversion of the security fund are  liable to bear full responsibility for the death of about 25,000 people who were killed by the Boko Haram sect and the over 2,000,000  people displaced by the terrorist organisation.”
“Nigeria is a state party to the Rome Statute and deposited its instrument of ratification on 27 September 2001. The preamble to the 2003 United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), which Nigeria has also ratified states that corruption “is no longer a local matter but a transnational phenomenon that affects all societies and economies”.
 
“We strongly believe that allegations of corruption so far made against Col. Sambo Dasuki and other public officers have had catastrophic effects on the lives of over 25,000 Nigerian soldiers and civilians including children akin to crimes against humanity as contemplated under the Rome Statute and within the jurisdiction of the Court. The Rome Statute in article 7 defines “crime against humanity” to include “inhumane acts causing great suffering or injury,” committed in a widespread or systematic manner against a civilian population.”

“Corrupt officials in the government know well that their conduct is criminal and injurious, and that their ostentatious lives, built on a radical breach of solemn trust, aggravate their crime against humanity. We believe that these allegations of widespread and systematic corruption amount to crimes against humanity and therefore clear violations of the provisions of the Rome Statute of International Criminal Court. These allegations have given rise to individual criminal responsibility of those suspected of perpetrating corruption, as entrenched in the Rome Statute.”
 
“We therefore submit that this is sufficient to hold Col Dasuki and others that have been indicted in the arms theft scandal responsible for crimes against humanity perpetrated against Nigerians. The failure of a former Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to prevent widespread and systematic corruption including the re-looting of the Abacha loot amounts to complicity under the Rome Statute, and therefore fits the legal requirements of a crime against humanity.” 
 
Falana then asked the ICC Prosecutor to:
 
1.         Urgently commence an investigation proprio motu on the allegations of the criminal diversion of the security fund of $2.1 billion and N643 billion earmarked  by suspected perpetrators, with a view to            determining whether these amount to crimes against humanity within the Court’s jurisdiction. In this respect, I also urge you to invite representatives of the Nigerian government to provide written or oral testimony at the seat of the Court, so that the Prosecutor is able to        conclude on the basis of available information whether there is a reasonable basis for an investigation, and to submit a request to the Pre-Trial Chamber for authorization of an investigation.
 
2.         Bring to justice those suspected to bear full responsibility for deliberate under funding of the armed forces through widespread and systematic corruption in Nigeria; and 
 
3.         Urge the Nigerian government to fulfil its obligations under the Rome Statute to cooperate with the ICC; including complying with your requests to arrest and surrender suspected perpetrators of the    criminal diversion of security fund, testimony, and provide other support to the ICC.

Source: http://saharareporters.com/2016/02/02/dasukigate-icc-hear-petition-against-dasuki-iweala-others-over-alleged-crimes-against

CBN agrees 5% lending rate to farmers – Ogbeh

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had agreed to five per cent interest on lending rate to farmers in the country.

Ogbeh made this known on Tuesday, while delivering a keynote address at the opening of a two-day national workshop on a “New Agricultural Policy for Nigeria.”

The workshop was organised by the National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria (NAFN) in collaboration with the ministry and All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN).

According to the minister, the agreement followed discussions with key officials of the apex bank on Tuesday morning.

“Just this morning, I have talks with key officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria to bring the lending rate to five per cent.

“How they do it, how the finance institutions want to cope with it, they have to or we impose severe penalty on anyone who defaults, otherwise we will not survive.

“There is no country on earth in or outside Africa, where banks demand 25, 18 or even nine per cent interest rate for agriculture borrowing.

“With those rates, I assure you as man, who have been in this business – agriculture since the age of seven years, you cannot make profit in agriculture,” Ogbeh said.

The minister said that agriculture and solid minerals remain the alternatives sectors to which the country could diversify now to survive current economic situation.

He said: “The challenge before us is how to make this happen. The time for lamentation is over. The time for action is here.”

Ogbeh said unless this was done, the problem of youth unemployment and youth restiveness would continue to plague the country.

“We have 100 million young people in the country who are below the age of 50 years and if we do not give them job, they are likely to take care of us in a very rough manner,” he said.

Ogbeh said outbreak of bird flu and pastoralists/farmers clashes remained challenges to the sector, adding that in the last two months, the flu had killed between five and six million birds.

He, however, disclosed that a vaccine had been found for the virus.

“I have been calling friends across the globe.

“Just yesterday, I received a message from Egypt and they informed me that they have found a vaccine which they injected the chickens with which is working perfectly well.

“We will not immediately rush in and bring the vaccines, we will ask our research institutes to take a look and see if they can fit into our needs.

“Every January, we have this problem of avian flu, it has destroyed many farmers; we are looking forward to finding some resources to compensate them.

“We do not have enough money right now even to pay arrears of certain debts which were piled up before now but we will do what we can,” the minister said.

Earlier, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, suggested the creation of a forum where farmers and the ministry could regularly dialogue in formulating agriculture rebirth policies.

Adamu, also the chairman, NAFN, said this was necessary as farmers were the one to really implement agriculture policies.

He said they needed to be brought on board for proper education on policy objectives and direction.

Adamu also suggested that there should be clear policy on the procurement and sale of fertilisers at the right time during farming season.

Source: Today.NG

Finally Ladoja congratulates Ajimobi

The governorship candidate of Accord in the 2015 election in Oyo State, Sen.  Rashidi Ladoja, has congratulated Governor Abiola Ajimobi on his victory at the Supreme Court.

Ladoja had approached the apex court to upturn Ajimobi’s victory in the election after losing at the two lower tribunals. But the Supreme Court dismissed his petition Tuesday for lack of merit.

Following his loss, Ladoja in a statement by his media aide, Lanre Latinwo Tuesday, congratulated Ajimobi on his victory and called for support for Ajimobi’s administration.

He said the Supreme Court judgment brought the electoral process to an end.

Ladoja, who is a former governor of the state, thanked his supporters, party faithfuls and everyone who supported him in the course of the election and judicial process.

He stressed that this is the time to join hands with the governor to move the state forward, as the ruling of the Supreme Court puts finality to the election process.

Ladoja said he would continue to offer himself for service of the people and improvement of the state.

He also encouraged all the people in the state to work and pray for the governor towards the betterment of the state, adding that it’s only in a peaceful atmosphere that true development can take place.

Source: The Nation

Rev Fr Mbaka Reveals How Jonathan, Wife Tried To Bribe Him With Dollars

"I know what was offered me but I don’t need that kind of money. At that time people were saying five million naira, but if I tell you what I was offered, you will drop what you are holding..."

Reverend Father Mbaka, who was unhappy with his transfer from the Christ the King Parish, G.R.A, to Our Lady Parish, in Emene, Enugu state has finally come to terms with this move, saying he is " seeing everything as the will of God."

In an press statement to journalists also tells of how he rejected the offer of money from ex-president Goodluck Jonathan.

On his transfer, he said:

“God is wonderful. You can see that I am smiling, filled with cheer and the joy of the Lord. I have the feeling that God’s hand is in my going out of GRA. No matter what caused it, no matter how it was caused, I am seeing everything as the will of God. When I remember that my providing God is with me and for me, I am filled with joy and comforted. The ways of God are divine and mysterious and at times when he wants to do a thing, we humans may not understand it. We may be seeing the external but God who sees the future planned and packaged everything for us.

When we were leaving the GRA on Saturday, the worshippers in the Adoration Ministry were filled with mixed feelings. I was also filled with thoughts of where to keep the Ministry’s assets because this is a ministry God has blessed. I am not talking about my personal assets which basically are books and clothes.

But I am happy that, I am here, although the place am posted cannot contain the assets of the ministry, but we have to get going. As it is, I am joyful and the vision and passion have hiked, the vibration is all over and I want to tell you that starting from now, it is no longer going to be the adoration ministry that people knew before now in Jesus name, Amen.”

On refusing Goodluck and Patience Jonathan's offer, Mbaka said;

"God in heaven knew that apart from the offertory the woman gave at the Altar, (which amount I knew), I took that amount and put in the bag that one of the aides of the former President brought (it was a small bag filled with dollars in appreciation). But the Holy Spirit said, send back this money and I returned the whole money plus the one she put as offertory. All of them were returned back. There is no one kobo of Jonathan or Mrs Jonathan in my hand. The Holy Spirit rejected all of them. When the saga was going on, I put my hands on the altar, swore an oath that if I ever touched Jonathan’s one kobo, may he win the election and that if I never and am being accused of it, he will fail the election. I demanded the phone number, not for any personal encounter, it was so that if any message comes that we could give to him privately, we will do so. Some prophecies should not be made public, but when the person that should receive it privately inhibits the opportunity of receiving it, God may force you to air it publicly. It burns like fire in your heart. I don’t take bribe from anybody. God blessed me.

"If I need money from them, I know what was offered me but I don’t need that kind of money. At that time people were saying five million naira, but if I tell you what I was offered, you will drop what you are holding. Two senators were there when I returned the money, one of them, said if he was in my shoes, he will take the money and be prepared to die. He said a normal man of God cannot return it and I said then, I am not normal. I left the money there and came back. So when they could not give me their number, they asked Kennedy Opara to give me his number. So I will call Kennedy that we were praying for them to win the election. I did not prophesy the day the woman came. I was praying for them and then on December 31, the prophesy came undiluted, just like the prophesy of 2013 that Nigerian oil boom time will turn to oil doom, that Jonathan should wake up and diversify our economy, that in distance time, our naira will have a problem, our oil will fail in the market. The warning was for us to maximize the boom time and wait for the doom period. The analogy given was Joseph quoted from Genesis chapter 49. Nobody listened; many men of God started criticizing me. I never criticized any man of God because of his message.

"I would say that the prophecy was that Jonathan will not win the election and he didn’t win it. What else do we need to do to know it is true? The accomplishments, the fulfillment and realization of prophetic utterance prove the reality. If it is God, it must come to pass, if it is not God, it must not come to pass. God cannot fail and if he had authored a prophecy, he will finish it. So the issue of Jonathan and his money, God in heaven knows, none of their one kobo was given to me. Why are people even making noise, before Jonathan came, the prophecy came that the next president will come from Niger Delta, so why are they making noise. The day Abacha died, prophecy came a week before (Wednesday before the Monday he died), that the president will die next week. Instead of his aides coming to ask about the solution (because most of the time, when God gives me a prophecy, he gives the solution). Instead of asking how it could be averted, they pursued me; even my mechanic was almost killed that time. They continued to witch hunt me. I ran into the bush, from Thursday morning, Friday, Saturday and on Sunday came from the bush to celebrate mass and the message kept coming that Abacha’s death was imminent and the next day, I was in the chapel when the message came that Abacha was no more. So that is it. I don’t know how it came. That I am a priest does not mean I am not Ejike Mbaka. So there is nothing fake or political about my prophetic life. I don’t say things to gain anything.

"Even President Buhari, when it was prophesied that he was going to be the president, I had never seen or known him then. When eventually I met him (Buhari) when I went for prayers at Aso Rock (not the day people saw me shaking hands with him); what I demanded from him is good governance for Nigeria. I didn’t ask him to give me one kobo. One kobo of Buhari has never entered my hand. So when Abacha eventually died on Monday, people shuddered. I ask people to respect God and respect his words and ways."

FG Spending on State House Clinic

We react to the story: "2016 Budget: Buhari to spend more on State House Clinic than on all federal govt-owned teaching hospitals."

This report is not simply off the mark but one that is insensitive to the government's effort to improve medical facilities at home in Nigeria.

According to the draft 2016 budget presented to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari, the budget for the State House Clinic is N3.8b.

Contrary to the published newspaper report, the total for health institutions as given by the Director-General, Budget Office is more than N200 billion. The 17 teaching hospitals have more than 50 percent of that allocation.

Anyone interested can check out the detailed allocations to the teaching hospitals, the federal medical centers and the specialist hospitals owned by the federal government.

It is also important to explain that the State House Clinic is not the President, or anyone's personal clinic but one which looks after government officials and many others who are not.

The increased spending on government health institutions in the current budget should be seen in the light of the administration's plan to improve medical facilities at home as a way of discouraging overseas trips in search of treatment by citizens which eat away from our foreign exchange.

Garba Shehu
SSAP (Media and Publicity)

PDP chief: My life at risk over Ekiti poll ‘fraud’ leak

Aluko should face perjury charge, says Fayose

•APC, rights activist call for trial of suspects

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief who blew the whistle on the alleged rigging of the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State yesterday alleged that his life was under threat.

Dr. Temitope Aluko, who on Sunday spoke of how former President Goodluck Jonathan allegedly gave Governor Ayo Fayose $37 million to prosecute the election and directed that the military should facilitate victory for the then PDP candidate, said he escaped from the hands of “fake security men” on Sunday night.

He also indicted many politicians and military chiefs. 

But Fayose described him as desperate and denied the allegations.

Also yesterday, All Progressives Congress (APC) urged the government to prosecute all the people indicted by the ex-PDP chief.

A human rights lawyer, Morakinyo Ogele also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the $37m allegedly given to Fayose by Jonathan.

Aluko said yesterday: “After the live television interview on Politics Today on Channels Television on Sunday at about 9.30 pm, my attention was drawn to the presence of some operatives supposedly from the office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), seeking to effect my arrest.

“However, having passed though the same route before, my instinct immediately told me that something was amiss. I made some calls and found out that there was no such order to effect my arrest by the office of the IGP or from any other security agency for that matter.

“I was later made to understand that the ‘fake’ security agents were actually miscreants posing as security men and acting on the orders of Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose to get rid of me at all cost.

“I must let Nigerians know that I have made a resolution to let the whole world know what transpired during the Ekiti 2014 governorship poll.”

The Ekiti APC, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, called on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) to prosecute all those named in the Ekiti 2014 election rigging drama.

The party said it had twice petitioned the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice on the matter, stressing that the revelations by PDP secretary had made it imperative that the nation’s chief law officer must act now.

Olatunbosun said the election fraud crisis had refused to go despite all shenanigans by Fayose, who he said was the biggest beneficiary of the election fraud that created a blight on Nigeria’s international image.

The APC spokesman said even though there was nothing new in the PDP Secretary’s revelations, he noted, however, that it had become pertinent to prosecute the suspects as the revelations were again emanating from the insider who participated fully in what is now known as Ekitigate.

“By Aluko’s revelations, we are justified in our claim that our candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi, never lost that election, but was criminally toppled by a coup d’etat orchestrated by Fayose in cahoots with President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration that illegally deployed money and the military to ensure victory for Fayose.

“It is interesting that more names are coming up in the biggest election scam ever witnessed in Nigeria with the alleged participation of Ifeanyi Ubah of the infamous Transformation Agenda for Nigeria (TAN), a shadowy campaign group for former President Jonathan in the fraud. No wonder Ubah was compensated with a honorary Fellow by Fayose at the Ekiti State College of Education for a job well done.”

Ubah denied ever giving Fayose money for the election.

Olatunbosun went on: “It is in the light of this that we are calling on the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation to prosecute all the suspects in the election fraud for treasonable felony to preserve the integrity of the Nigerian Constitution.”

The APC said President Muhammadu Buhari should use Ekiti election “fraud” case to convince Nigerians that official impunity and fraud would not have a place in Nigeria under his watch.

“We have seen the Army already tackling the military aspect of the Army Probe Panel report. We expect the police and attorney general of the federation to also toe the line in coming out with the civilian component of the probe report and act accordingly.

“The military men were mere agents used by Fayose to rig the election. Some of the officers implicated in Fayose’s crime had been recommended for various sanctions, including losing their jobs while others are to face prosecution by the EFCC and court martial, according to the military rules and administrative procedure.

“These military men should not be made to suffer alone for the crime committed in conjunction with Fayose and his fellow conspirators in PDP who are still working free as if there is no law in this country,” he said.

Olatunbosun berated Fayose’s media aides, Lanre Ogunsuyi and Lere Olayinka, for claiming that Captain Koli’s audio tape was a forgery, saying, however, that it was gratifying that Fayose, who also first denied his voice on the tape, later admitted that it was his.

“If the Ekiti audio tape was a forgery as they alleged, were the appearances of Koli and Tope Aluko also forgeries?” he said.

Noting that Fayose had always mouthed his readiness to wave his immunity to face prosecution over alleged crimes, he said now was the time to wave that immunity to face prosecution on the electoral fraud.

He insisted that APC would not accept anything short of comprehensive review of the Ekiti State election saga, even as he urged Nigerians to prevail on the Minister of Justice to compel Fayose to explain to the world what he meant by saying that he collected INEC soft copies and got them printed as captured in Captain Sagir Koli’s tape detailing all activities connected with Ekiti poll rigging.

“Besides Fayose talking on the tape about how INEC gave him soft copies that he printed to win the election, the minister of justice must also compel the governor, who spoke on election result collation in the tape, to tell Nigerians which election result he was collating in Efon-Alaye on June 19, 2014, two clear days before the June 21, 2014 governorship election,” Olatunbosun concluded.

Ogele urged Fayose to resign from office within seven days “because the election that brought him to office was highly compromised”.

He vowed to approach the Federal High Court if Fayose fails to resign to seek a declaration that the election is null and void by reason of the latest facts and figures released by Fayose’s former right-hand man.

The activist-lawyer also challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to explain its own side of the story following the alleged sharing of N1 billion by its officials to compromise the Ekiti poll.

“They have the statutory power to probe this fraud; they should look into it to ascertain whether it is part of the arms money diverted and shared among many people. If truly the Federal Government is determined to fight corruption, EFCC, as a matter of urgency, should comb Ekiti for this gigantic fraud.”

Source: The Nation

I’m Ojukwu’s only legal wife, Bianca tells court

Widow of the late Ikemba of Nnewi, Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, Bianca, yesterday told a High Court sitting in Igbosere, Lagos, that she is the only woman that was legally married to Ojukwu.

Mrs. Ojukwu spoke during her Evidence-in-Chief before Justice Abdulfattah Lawal, in the ongoing legal battle between her children and the deceased’s brothers over the family estate.

She admitted that Ojukwu has eight children, including the claimants, Afamefuna and Nwachukwu, but that being the only one Ojukwu wedded in court, church and according to traditional marriage rites, she is the only one legally married to him.

The former beauty queen admitted that neither she nor her children are shareholders or directors in Ojukwu Transport Limited (OTL), one of the property in the family estate.

Mrs. Ojukwu told the court that the suit is for the preservation of the rights of her children alone, and not that of Ojukwu’s other children. She said some of the property was in her husband’s possession before his demise and he personally collected their rent.

Mrs. Ojukwu, on behalf of her to under-aged children, Afamefuna and Nwachukwu (claimants), dragged OTL and seven others before the High Court over an alleged move by the family to eject her sons from the company’s property located in Lagos.

She asked the court to declare that her children were entitled to the possession and occupation of one of the property (No. 29 Oyinkan Abayomi Street, Ikoyi, Lagos), until the harmonisation of the management and administration of the assets of the first defendant (OTL).

The defendants are Prof. Joseph Ojukwu, Emmanuel Ojukwu, Lotanna Putalora Ojukwu, Dr Patrick Ojukwu, Edward Ojukwu, Lota Akajiora Ojukwu and Mrs. Massey Udegbe.

In their statement of claim, Bianca and her children prayed the court to declare as illegal, the threat of forceful ejection from 29 Oyinkan Abayomi Street.

She is also asking the court for a declaration that her children are entitled to possess the following property: 13, Hawksworth Road, Ikoyi (now 13, Ojora Road); 32A, Commercial Avenue, Yaba; 30, Gerard Road, Ikoyi and 30, McPherson Avenue, Ikoyi, all in Lagos.

According to her, the property were in the possession of the deceased since the government released them. She said the second to seventh defendants “never played any role in the struggle nor contributed financially or otherwise to the realisation of the struggle.”

Justice Lawal adjourned the matter till today.

NAN

FIRS Projects 4.9trn Naira Internal Revenue For 2016

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has set a target of 4.9 trillion Naira as the revenue that would be generated in 2016.

The Executive Chairman of FIRS, Mr Babatunde Fowler, who made the disclosure, said that the development was to ensure a successful implementation of the 2016 Budget.

Projecting a 90% budget implementation success, Mr Fowler maintained that the FIRS would achieve at least 70% delivery per quarter or forfeit their performance bonuses through the year.

He said that their target of adding 500,000 taxable corporate accounts to their grid would be achieved before the end of March with an additional five million by December 2016.



Source: Channels TV