I admire APC for dumping Ekwunife – Onwubiko

The National Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association, HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko has applauded the All Progressives Congress, APC, for refusing to hand its ticket for the Anambra Senatorial rerun election to Senator Uche Ekwunife, who he described as “serial political party cross carpeter.”

Also read: "APC panel disqualifies Ekwunife from contesting Senate rerun on party’s platform" http://bit.ly/1lzf5qE

Onwubiko, in a post published on his Facebook wall on Wednesday, wrote: “All Progressives Congress (APC) has my total support and appreciation for boldly defending the principle of party loyalty and discipline by banning the serial political party cross carpeter of all times Mrs Uche Ekwunife and for rewarding consistency when it picked in a free and fair contest the lady that has remained as constant as the Northern Star as it’s Senatorial flag bearer in the Anambra Central Senatorial election coming up soon Ms Sharon Ikeazor.

“There are very few Nigerian politicians that are very principled and consistent in terms of ideological discipline and party loyalty and this fast diminishing numbers include Sharon Ikeazor; Ogbonnaya Onu; Goodluck Jonathan; and Muhammadu Buhari,” he added.

A committee set up by the APC to screen aspirants for the senatorial seat had yesterday disqualified Ekwunife, who was occupying the seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, until her election was nullified by the appellate court.

During the screening which had just two contenders, the Osita Okechukwu-led committee disqualified Ekwunife on the ground that she was found “ineligible,” while Sharon Ikeazor, the former interim Women Leader of the party got the nod of the committee.

Explaining why Ekwunife cannot get the ticket, the committee said, “She barely joined the party two weeks ago. The committee members each scoring independently scored the aspirant below the pass mark of 51 points.

“Most importantly, our deep concern is her record which shows that she dumps political parties at will leaving the parties in its wake factionalised. She jumped from the PDP to APGA to PPA, back to PDP or vice versa and now to APC. She is more or less a fair-weather-hen.”

Source Daily Post NG

APC panel disqualifies Ekwunife from contesting Senate rerun on party’s platform

A five-member screening committee set up by the All Progressive Congress has disqualified a former member of the House of Representatives, Uche Ekwunife, from contesting election into the vacant seat of the Anambra Central Senatorial District.

The party selected Sharon Ikeazor, a former interim woman leader of the party, as its candidate in the election.

The Court of Appeal, sitting in Enugu, had in December declared the seat vacant and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a fresh election within 90 days.

The court quashed the earlier ruling of the National Assembly Election Tribunal that Mrs. Ekwunife had won the seat in the March 28, 2015 senatorial election, which she contested as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The appeal was filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Victor Umeh.

Following her loss at the appeal court, Mrs. Ekwunife defected to the APC to contest the rerun since the party’s candidate in the March election, Chris Ngige, had been appointed the minister of labour.

In its report, the five member-committee chaired by Osita Okechukwu, said Mrs. Ekwunife and Mrs. Ikeazor, presented themselves for screening.

It said at the end of the exercise, it chose Mrs. Ikeazor to contest election having “fulfilled Section 4 of 2014 Guidelines for the Nomination of Candidates for Public Office and all relevant sections of the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

The panel recounted that Mrs. Ikeazor was a member of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, woman leader of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change and woman leader, interim national executive committee of the All Progressives Congress, as well as a member of its board of trustees.

“Her trajectory shows loyalty, perseverance and consistency to the emergence of our progressive party,” the panel said.

“In conclusion, she is qualified and therefore we recommend her for nomination as the candidate of our great party for Anambra State Central Senatorial District.”

On Mrs. Ekwunife, the committee observed that she was barely two weeks old in the APC.

It noted further, “Most importantly, our deep concern is her record which showed that she dumps political parties at will, leaving the parties in its wake factionalized – from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), to Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), back to PDP or vice versa and now to APC.

“She is more or less a fair-weather hen therefore her antecedent contravenes Section 4(3) of the 2014 Guideline for Nomination of Candidate for Public Office. Caution is valour.

“The score sheet in respect of the aspirants is also attached herewith for further necessary action. The committee found that Aspirant Senator Uche Lilian Ekwunife, is ineligible to seek the APC nomination for the Senatorial election.”

The committee, whose members include Abdullahi Aliyu, Bunmi Oririowo, Mary Aipoh and Garba Umar (Secretary), said, in carrying out its assignment , it enquired into the profile of aspirants, integrity and fulfillment of all the relevant sections of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2010 Electoral Act and Guideline for Nomination of candidates of our great party, the APC.

It stated, “To aid the committee in its assignment, a score board analysis of the parameters set out above was made. Members scored all aspirants on the following basis viz: BioData/Education- 20 Points; Experience (Public/Private)-20 points; Integrity and Personal Character- 40 points and Party Loyalty and Support-20 Points. The guidelines set a pass mark of 51 Points for the aspirants.”

Source: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-east/197129-apc-panel-disqualifies-fair-weather-ekwunife-from-contesting-senate-rerun-on-partys-platform.html

Dasuki drags FG to ECOWAS Court, demands N500m damages

Following his continued detention by the Department of State Security, DSS, erstwhile National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (retd), has dragged the Federal Government before the ECOWAS Court in Abuja.

Dasuki is seeking the court’s order for his release while also demanding payment of N500 million damages for alleged infringement on his human rights.

The embattled former NSA in the suit filed by his lawyer, Robert Emukpoeruo, urged the court to declare among others, that his continued detention was in defiance of court orders for his bail, and an abuse of his fundamental human right.

He also prayed the court to hold that it was, “a most egregious violation of the treaty obligations” signed by Nigeria to have unlawfully detained him under a “de-humanizing condition” after he had been granted bail and met the conditions for his release.

The applicant further asked the court to declare that the alleged invasion of his home in Abuja and Sokoto on July 16 and 17, 2015 and the “forceful and unlawful seizure” of his properties, “without any lawful order or warrant” violates his fundamental rights and offended the country’s treaty obligations as a signatory to the listed legal instruments.

Source: Daily Post NG

Court remands Kanu, two others in Kuje prison

Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that pro-Biafra agitator Nnamdi Kanu and two of his associates be remanded in Kuje prison, Abuja.

Justice James Tsoho gave the order when Kanu, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi (a Field Maintenance engineer with MTN) were arraigned before him.

They were arraigned on a six-count of treasonable felony; running an unlawful organisation, plotting to levy war on the country, illegal possession of firearms and unlawful importation of a transmitter to run their illegal radio station – Radio Biafra.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

When the case was called, lead prosecution lawyer and Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) Muhammad Diri withdrew the charge of December 18, 2015, urging the court to allow the defendants plead to the December 23 charge.

He said the charge was accompanied by a list of exhibits, witnesses, case summary, proof of evidence of witnesses, and their written statements, affidavit of completion of investigation in the case and a letter of approval by the chief judge, for their arraignment before the Abuja division.

Shortly after Kanu and others pleaded to the charge, their lawyer, Chucks Muoma   (SAN), applied that the defendants be remanded in prison custody, saying the prison authorities were neutral.

Muoma argued that the complainant should not be allowed to keep the accused, saying the prison would be a more appropriate and neutral custodian of the accused.

“The DSS cannot be a judge in its cause, cannot accuse and also detain the accused in its custody. The accused have been in DSS custody since October or thereabout. They have been held incommunicado for three months, without access to the world, lawyers or their families.

“They are not allowed to make phone calls to families. In the opinion of the DSS, the defendants are already condemned. That opinion negates the foundation of our criminal justice system that a man is presumed guilty until proved guilty. It is only the court that can declare a man guilty at the end of trial.

“Since the prosecution claimed investigations have been concluded, why seek to further keep them?” Muoma said.

He urged the court to remand the defendants in prison custody, as is the tradition once a person is arraigned.

The judge rejected the prosecution’s request that the three be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), where they have been since their arrest last October.

He ordered  they be remanded in prison and adjourned to January 25 for hearing of their bail application.

Source: The Nation

Nigerian Army Officers Ordered To Declare Assets

Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has asked all officers of the Nigerian Army who have not declared their assets to do so immediately. 

A statement released today by military spokesman, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, revealed that General Buratai "gave the directive today during a conference with Principal Staff Officers and Directors serving at the Army Headquarters."

The Nigerian Armed Forces have been in the spotlight after an audit ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari found that numerous retired and serving military officers may have colluded in billions of dollars worth of weapons procurement deals. Mr. Buhari asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to commence investigation of the officers.  

Colonel Usman's statement disclosed that the Chief of Army Staff had declared his own assets shortly after his "appointment as Commander, Multinational Joint Task Force in May 2015 and also on his appointment as Chief of Army Staff in July 2015." He revealed that copies of both declarations were with the Code of Conduct Bureau.

According to the press statement, the directive to officers to declare their assets was justified owing to the fact all military officers "are public servants, as well as subject to both civil and military laws."

Colonel Usman added that the order to officers to declare their assets was in keeping with "the current drive of the country for probity and accountability." He wrote, "the Nigerian Army should not only key in but should be one of the key drivers for such laudable project."

Source: Sahara Reporters

$2.1b arms deals: Mu’azu, Dikko, Jonathan’s ex-aide may be declared wanted

Security agencies may declare former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chair Adamu Muazu, former Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Comptroller-General Abdullahi Dikko Inde  and four others wanted.

The others are former PDP Kebbi State governorship candidate Gen. Bello Sarkin Yaki, a former top official in the Office of National Security Adviser, Col. Bello Fadile, former Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs Waripamowei Dudafa and a former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Mr.Abdulrasheed Maina.

They are wanted in connection with the ongoing probe of alleged curious spending by some former public officers, including  the management of $2.1billion arms cash by ex-National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), who is in detention.

Some of those wanted allegedly diverted public funds  to other uses, including political purposes.

Investigations have so far shown that some of the officers have questions to answer on some expenditures incurred by the Jonathan administration.

The breakdown is as follows:

• Muazu—(N500million cash allegedly from the Office of the National Security Adviser);
• Yaki(N200million from ONSA);
• Fadile(N100million from ONSA);
• Dudafa( being investigated for N10billion given to the delegates to the PDP’s nomination convention);
• Maina—alleged N20billion pension fraud
• Dikko—N3.5billion incurred  on internet project

According to a source, who spoke in confidence, most of those affected were invited by the Special Investigative Committee probing the activities of ONSA but they refused to turn up.

The source added: “Security agencies have given these former public officers enough time but they have not turned up to clear some disbursements and  expenditures traced to them.

“The committee is not saying that they are guilty but it is imperative for them to appear before the team handling these issues.

“They have up to one week to honour the invitation of the panel or else they will be declared wanted by the appropriate security agencies.”

Another source said: “Some of the accused persons on trial admitted disbursing arms cash to a few of these former public officers. For instance, Dasuki, in his statement, said he handed over N10billion to Dudafa for disbursement to delegates to PDP Nomination Convention.

“A former Minister of Finance, Amb. Bashir Yuguda, who is standing trial, said Yakin benefited to the tune of N200million from some funds.

“Most of these people are holed up abroad. Let them come home. Once they are declared wanted by security agencies, it will be easier to extradite them home.”

Source: The Nation

Buhari splashes cash gifts on Eaglets, others

… Fulfills 31-year -old promise to Nduka Ugbade -led side

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday announced various cash gifts to members of the Golden Eaglets team that won a fifth FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile last year and other athletes that did the country proud at various international competitions during the period.

The athletes were hosted by President Buhari at the old Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

The President also rewarded members of the Golden Eaglets that won the inaugural FIFA U-16 World Cup in China in 1985 with various cash gifts.

Each member of the 1985 team will get N2 million, while their coaches will smile home with N1.5 million each.

Members of the victorious 2015 side will go home with N1.2 million each and the coaches will receive N900,000 each.  The Assistant coaches are also rewarded with N600, 000 each.

Each member of the Dream Team that won the U-23 African Nations Cup in Senegal last year got N600,000, while their coaches went home with N500,000 each.

The 2015 Afro-Basketball Male Tournament Gold medalists got N600,000 each, coaches – N600,000, and team officials – N250, 000 each.

Members of the 2015 FIBA African Women Championship, where Nigeria won silver medal, got N400,000 each, coaches went home with N400,000 and while team officials got N150,000 each.

Source: The Nation