I’ll conduct council poll early next year –Ajimobi

OYO State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has

promised for the first time in the last four years to

conduct local government elections in the state early

next year.

He made the promise in Ibadan yesterday in a chat

with journalists after he delivered a lecture entitled:

Challenges of Good Governance in an Emerging

Democratic Setting: The Nigerian Perspective, which

kick-started the 67th convocation of the University of

Ibadan.

The opposition political parties in the state had on

several occasions lashed Ajimobi for his refusal to

conduct council election throughout his first term in

office from 2011 to 2015. The opposition had said that

Ajimobi was afraid that the ruling All Progressives

Congress (APC) might not win several of the 33 local

government areas of the state, thereby creating

serious problems for his bid for second term in office.

Ajimobi, who stated that the council election was

delayed for him to see the outcome of the 2015 gov­

ernorship poll in the state, assured that there would be

no further impediments to the conduct of the election,

“ and now that we have seen it (outcome of the 2015

general elections), I can assure you that in the next

couple of weeks, something will be done.

“I wanted to avoid Christmas gift. I was thinking that

in December, we would start gathering our local

government chairmen. But I can tell you that

immediately after then, there would be election.

“We believe most sincerely in the local government

and we are going to conduct chairmanship election

into it soon.”

Ajimobi, however, stated that caretaker committees

would be put in place for the 33 local government

areas of the state any moment from now.

But the governor also dismissed the insinuation that

his administration refused to conduct the poll because

he was afraid of failure.

He explained that the outcome of this year’s general

elections showed that the generality of the state still

prefer APC to other parties in the state.

“We are not afraid of the opposition taking over. We

won the election. So, how can the opposition take

over? If you look at the result, where will they take

over? If you take the whole of Ibadan and less city

election, we won. When you go to Oke Ogun, we won;

when you go to Ibarapa, we won; when you go to Oyo,

we won. Ogbomoso is the only place where we did

not win, but we came second. So, where will they take

over? It is not possible”, he stressed.

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF OYO STUDENTS ON FOSSU NATIONAL

A clarion call to all progressive senators and comrades in Oyo State.

Federation of Oyo State student Union is an indigenous Union that comprises of member from the five geopolitical zones in Oyo State(namely Ibadan, Ibarapa,Ogbomosho, oke-ogun and Oyo).

The Union is saddled with the responsibility of protecting and promoting the interest of students and similarly to provide platform to such teeming youth for them to add their own quota to the progress of the Nation but in the case of this 2014/2015 administration, reverse is the case.

Let me quickly call our attention back to October 2013 when olanshile Ahmad (the then fossu national president after spending 3years instead of 1 year in office) was called upon for dissolution and accountability, he arranged people to boycott the senate sitting because of his personal interest many of us were(among who were the present leadership of fossu national) clamoring, shouting and petitioning against him before the dissolution takes place Nov 7th of that year.

I could vividly recall that the present administration of federation of Oyo State student Union was elected 12th of July 2014 and it's now over a year which is their constitution tenure in office and they are not ready to dissolve their administration even when their tenure remain so adamant and unprogressive to the interest of the students.

I want to use this medium to comradically seek the indulgence of my fellow senators, stakeholders and the entire good people of fossu to please rise and fight this brouhaha and breach of the powers of constitution caused by the Com. Damola led administration because it is tantamount to Abuse of office and rape of power. I believe everybody should maintain his stands now and protect his territory. As for me and the entire member of my geopolitical zone, we stand to declare 2014/2015 FOSSU NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION led by comrade DAMOLA of POLYIBADAN from IBARAPA ZONE  Terminated.

NB: Anybody who claim and parade him/herself to be fossu national executive in Oyo town should be duly arrested by the security agent in the zone.

Yours in struggle................!!! 

Aluta Continual...................!!!

Signed

ADEBAYO ABDULAHI ABDEK

NAOS NATIONAL PRESIDENT

08101599094.

Management and Staff of Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, Pay Solidarity Visit to Alaafin.

In a show of appreciation and solidarity to Honourable

Akeem Adeniyi Adeyemi on the novel motion moved on

the floor of the House for the upgrade of Federal College

of Education (Special), Oyo, to the status of a university,

The Management and Staff of the College have paid visit

to Kabiyesi, Iku Baba Yeye, Alaafin of Oyo, in his palace.

The Provost, Professor Olayiwola Usman, while

commending Oba Adeyemi for his support in ensuring

that an indigene of Oyo emerged the Provost of the

College, said, SPED, in last thirty seven (37) years of its

establishment, had never had an indigene of the Town

as its provost.

Professor Olayiwola also praised Honourable Akeem for

quality representation at the Green Chamber of the

National Assembly, and promised to render all the

needed support in ensuring this lofty goal was achieved.

Kabiyesi, while reacting to the provost's speech, said

Honourable Adeyemi had uncommon enthusiasm and

passion for the development of Oyo Federal

Constituency. He urged The Management to team up

with Prince Adeyemi in his quest to uplift the

educational standard of Oyo Federal Constituency and

Nigeria as a whole.

The Alaafin further stated ; " if the College is upgraded

to the status of a university, Nigeria will become the hub

of Special Education in Africa ".

Dr Opoola, who was a member of the visiting team,

thanked the Alaafin for his royal advice, and also

showered encomiums on Honourable Akeem Adeniyi

Adeyemi.

Dr (Mrs) Abimbola prayed for The Alaafin, Prince Akeem,

The Management of SPED and the good people of Oyo

Federal Constituency.

How Radio Nigeria DG, Salihu, diverted public money to own account

The Director General of the

Federal Radio Corporation of

Nigeria, Ladan Salihu, diverted

public funds into his private

accounts during his stint as head

of the radio’s Kaduna office,

PREMIUM TIMES can report

today.

This paper had reported on a

range of corruption allegations

and indictments against Mr.

Salihu, and how former President

Goodluck Jonathan ignored those

red flags to appoint him the DG of

the state radio.

PREMIUM TIMES has obtained

evidence showing Mr. Salihu

engaged in other acts of brazen

theft and corruption.

This newspaper has obtained

copies of bank deposit slips,

which show how a man named

Aminu Gombi paid N800, 000 each

for sponsorship of programmes

aired on Radio Nigeria into Mr.

Salihu’s personal account with

Union Bank and that of his

company, Lead Point Nigeria Ltd,

with Diamond Bank within one

week.

The payment into Mr. Salihu’s

personal account: 3711030036777

with Union Bank, Waff Road,

Kaduna branch, was effected on

May 28, 2007 through deposit slip

number: 0818052.

For Mr. Salihu’s company account

0132010000320 with Diamond

Bank, Mr. Gombi did the

transaction on May 22, 2007

through deposit slip number

1093690.

On the address space of the

deposit slip, Mr. Gombi wrote “c/

o Newsroom Companion FM. 1045

Katsina”.

According to current and former

officials of the FRCN, the two

deposits diverted by Mr. Salihu

were funds meant for the

coverage of the swearing-in of the

former Governor of Katsina State,

Ibrahim Shema, and the

installation ceremony of Emir of

Daura, Abdulmumini Usman.

Interestingly, Mr. Gombi wrote

different sets of names on the two

deposit slips. For Union Bank, he

wrote “Aminu A. Gombi”, while

for Diamond Bank transaction, he

wrote “Muhammed Aminu A.

Gombi”.

Sources familiar with the

controversial transaction alleged

that one million naira was meant

for each of the programmes but

Mr. Gombi was compensated with

N200, 000 on each of the transactions.

Contacted, Mr. Gombi confirmed he was a

staff of FRCN.

He however denied comment on the

allegations. “Excuse me, excuse me, I am not

in the mood to talk now. You don’t know

what I am going through now,” he said.

He also did not reply a text message sent to

him.

PREMIUM TIMES’ previous report showed

how Mr. Salihu engaged in forgery of receipts,

diversion of public funds, unauthorised sale

of government property, among others, when

he was heading the Kaduna station of the

Radio Nigeria.

The FRCN boss denied the allegation in a letter

sent by his lawyer to PREMIUM TIMES after

the first story was published. He threatened to

sue this paper.

In surprise move, Saraki personally submits names of ministers to Buhari

In an unusual step, the Senate President,
Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday personally
delivered to President Muhammadu Buhari, a
list of nominees cleared by the Senate for
appointment as ministers, breaking with past
protocol that required presidential aides to
transmit the letter.
In the past, the special advisers to the
president on National Assembly submitted
names of nominees to the Senate, and back to
the president.
Mr. Buhari was first to ignore that procedure
this time, choosing to send his list through his
Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, than his senior
special assistant on Senate, Ita Enang.
On Tuesday, after weeks of ministerial
screening, Mr. Saraki submitted the list to Mr.
Buhari at the presidential villa.
The two men later shook hands and posed for
photographs.
Mr. Buhari and the Senate president had not
enjoyed the best of relationships since Mr.
Saraki’s emergence as senate leader, against
his party’s directive.
The Senate president is also currently facing
charges of alleged false declaration of asset
and corruption. He dismissed the charges as
politically motivated.
Fielding questions from journalists after a
closed-door meeting with the president, Mr.
Saraki said the quality of ministerial nominees
submitted by the president, made it easy for
the Senate to screen and confirm them.
“You noticed that in some cases we delayed
the number of one or two, it is all part of
politics, of behind the scene, but at the end of
the day we finished with them, that is all
about give and take and eventually I am
happy with what the senators have done,” he
said.
He said the stage was set for the new
government to kick off.
On concerns that some ministers may not be
given portfolios, the Senate president said that
was nothing new, as some could be ministers
of states.
The important thing, he said, was being in the
cabinet and being part of the government.
He noted that the country had more pressing
issues like declining revenues, the challenges
of trying to boost revenue and create jobs.
On why he personally delivered the list to the
president, Mr. Saraki said he had other issues
to discuss with Mr. Buhari.
He denied that the issue of his trial at the
Code of Conduct Tribunal came up.
Receiving the list, Mr, Buhari reaffirmed his
determination to block leakages and cut
spending in the face of financial crisis. He
said not all the 36 ministers would head
ministries.
According to him, the Constitution said there
must be one member of the cabinet from all
the states but did not say he must have 36
ministries.
Referring to criticisms that trailed his recent
statements while in India on the true state of
the Nigerian economy, he said though accused
of giving bad publicity and scaring away
investors from the country, investors knew
better.
“Any investor who is interested in investing in
Nigeria will seem to know more about the
economy more than ourselves. So when I
come and tell the truth about the position of
the economy of the country, I am going out
looking for investors,” he said.
“But I am confirming to them that we are
truthful, that we need them to come and help
us help ourselves by getting in industries,
manufacturing and services.
“They know our needs. The economy of
human resources, I believe will make them
eventually come and help us,” he said.

Reporter:
Talatu usman

Gbajabiamila writes Dogara, accuses him of undermining principal officers

MAJORITY Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr.
Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu
Dogara, never consulted him before he appointed 96
chairmen and deputies of standing committees of the
House.
Though Gbajabiamila said it was the prerogative of the
speaker to appoint any member of the House to head its
committees, the majority leader nonetheless argued that
under the rules of the House, Dogara was required to
consult all principal officers while appointing committee
chairmen.
Gbajabiamila alleged, in an October 20 letter he wrote to
Dogara, just two days to October 22 when the speaker
named the committee heads, that his (Majority Leader’s)
office had not been accorded due recognition by the
speaker in the running of House affairs.
He specifically quoted Order 7 Rule 10, paragraph (a) of the
House rules, which states that the speaker “shall in
consultation with principal officers, appoint the chairmen
and deputy chairmen from among the members on the
committee.”
He also noted that as both House Leader and Majority
Leader, the rules provided that he should “liaise with
committee chairmen and other functionaries of the House”
for the smooth running of the legislature.
The letter, which was made available to our correspondent
in Abuja on Tuesday, confirmed an exclusive report by The
PUNCH last week that there was a cold war between Dogara
and Gbajabiamila over appointments into the committees.
However, the leadership of the House reacted by saying
that “Gbajabiamila was totally consulted” before Dogara
picked the chairmen.
Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs,
Mr. Abdulrazak Namdas, who gave the side of the
leadership, explained that there was a difference between
consultation and the power of appointment.
Namdas said, “The leader was totally consulted in keeping
with our rules.
“But, we must not mix consultation with the power of
appointment. The same rules vest the power to appoint
chairmen and deputies wholly in the hands of the speaker.
“The speaker does not need to tell him after consultation
whom to appoint as a chairman or deputy chairman.
“In that case, the speaker did not in any way undermine his
office, because he consulted him totally.
“The speaker holds every member of the House in high
esteem, how much less the leader of the House.”
A copy of a letter from the speaker’s office to all principal
officers, dated October 21, 2015, indicated that they
(including Gbajabiamila) were all invited to a meeting with
Dogara on October 22 for consultation on committee
appointments.
The Gbajabiamila allegation came as Dogara held an
inaugural meeting with the chairmen and their deputies at
the National Assembly on Tuesday.
The majority of the chairmen and their deputies attended
the meeting, where Dogara and the committee leaders were
said to have discussed the modalities for the official
inauguration of the committees next week.
However, Mr. Garba Dhatti-Muhammad and Mr. Sunday
Adepoju, who had resigned as Chairman, Committee on
Solid Minerals Development, and Deputy Chairman,
Committee on Special Duties respectively, did not attend the
meeting.
But, findings by our correspondent indicated that the
meeting was reportedly called to douse tension and halt
further threats by some chairmen to turn in their
resignation.
A source told our correspondent that Dogara at the meeting
advised the chairmen to see their appointment as a call to
national service.
‘‘He seized the opportunity to say that people would always
raise issues on committee composition, no matter who was
appointed.
“The chairmen, in appreciation of his speech, later gave the
speaker a standing ovation,” the source added.
There has been uneasiness in the House since October 22
when Dogara named the committees with one out of 96
chairmen rejecting his appointment and one deputy
chairman declining.
The two are members of the majority All Progressives
Congress, same as Dogara and Gbajabiamila.
Another deputy chairman, Mr. Hassan Saleh, of the Peoples
Democratic Party, also allegedly wrote to say he did not
want to be a deputy chairman.
Much of the complaints have come from APC lawmakers,
who are alleging that the party had not been fairly treated
by Dogara in the sharing of committee seats.
Out of the 96 committee seats, 48 chairmanship positions
went to the APC, while PDP got 45 slots.
Included in the PDP’s share are prime committees like
Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream); Committee
on Petroleum Resources (Downstream); Committee on Gas
Resources; Committee on Aviation; Committee on Power;
Committee on Works; Committee on NDDC; Committee on
Niger Delta; and Committee on Air Force.
Among the APC’s committees are Committee on
Appropriations; Committee on Finance; Committee on
Customs/Excise; Committee Defence; Committee on
Communications; and Committee on Agricultural Services.
But, some APC members felt that Dogara should have given
the committees on petroleum resources, gas resources,
power, works and aviation, among others, to the majority
party as well.
They observed that the difference between 48 and 45 was
three, meaning that the ruling party and the opposition
almost tied on the number of committees they got from the
speaker.
Ironically, some PDP members who got committee
appointments have also been grumbling that the speaker
should have given them bigger committees than they were
assigned on account of the “massive” support they gave
him to become the speaker.
As of Tuesday, no additional resignation has been recorded.

Tribunal upholds Oyo governor's election, dismisses Ladoja's petition

The Oyo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal will on Tuesday give judgment on the petition filed by former
Oyo State Governor, Rashidi Ladoja, of the Accord Party, against the victory of Governor Abiola Ajimobi in the April 11 governorship poll. Ladoja is challenging the declaration of Ajimobi of the All
Progressives Congress as the winner of the governorship poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission. The state Police Command said on Monday that it had
deployed its men in the venue of the ruling, warning that anyone, who had no business with the tribunal, should stay
away from the premises. Police Public Relation Officer in the state, Adekunle
Ajisebutu, said the state Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade, would lead the operation. He said, “We have enough well-equipped uniformed and
plain-clothed policemen comprising operatives drawn from
the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, mobile police, Counter Terrorism Unit, Explosive Ordinance Department, State Intelligence Bureau, Dog section and mounted troops.
“The deployment has since commenced to forestall any breakdown of law and order. All the personnel deployed have been adequately briefed. The CP will personally be in charge of the operations. He has warned anyone, who has no business at the venue and its environs, to stay away.
“He further warned would-be miscreants, hoodlums and other social elements against fomenting trouble before, during or after the tribunal judgment as any erring person or group will be arrested and prosecuted.”
The awaited ruling has generated a lot of tension in both camps with words being traded by supporters and party chieftains.

Students tackle FUNAAB’s medical staff over death of a colleague

Academic activities were disrupted on Monday on
the campus of the Federal University of
Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, as hundreds
of students of the institution protested the death
of their colleague, Maria Atere.
The students, who were led by the Chairman of
National Association of Nigerian Students in
Ogun State, Dotun Opaleye, blocked the
entrance of the school, as early as 6am.
During the protest, which lasted for about two
hours, the students accused the medical
personnel of the institution of negligence, which
according to them, led to the death of the
student.
Our correspondent gathered that Maria, a 400-
Level student of Plant Physiology and Crop
Production, lost her life on Sunday while she was
heading for the campus on a commercial
motorcycle, popularly known as okada.
It was learnt that the motorcycle had a head-on
collision with a car some metres away from the
premises of Ogun-Oshun River Basin
Development Authority, Alabata in Odeda Local
Government area of the state.
Opaleye, while addressing journalists shortly
after the protest at Iwe Iroyin, Oke Ilewo area of
Abeokuta, said the accident occurred around
7pm.
He said the girl would have been saved if the
medical personnel had released the ambulance
to convey the injured student to the Federal
Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta.
Opaleye added that the late Atere had a fracture
on her skull and was immediately rushed to a
nearby private hospital while some students
went to the school to request for ambulance to
convey her to FMC.
He alleged that the request was turned down.
He added, “The President of Students Union
Government of the institution, Segun Dennis,
went to the health centre, located in the school
premises, to request for the ambulance but, he
was denied. They told him to bring the girl to
the school clinic.
“The lady was bleeding seriously and for two
hours, the medical personnel did not release the
ambulance and later we got a referral, and we
had to take her to the FMC with the union bus.
“On getting to the hospital, the doctor told us
that she had died and we became devastated.
That was the reason we embarked on the
protest.”

Group asks Buhari to withdraw ministerial nominees to save APC from crisis

A group, Save Democracy Contingent, has

asked President Muhammadu Buhari, to

urgently save the All Progressives Congress,

APC, from sliding into crisis by reversing

some of the nomination for ministerial

positions he made.

It alleged that some of the nominees were not

members of the APC but got their

appointments because they have relationships

with a “cabal” within the Presidency and

therefore do not merit their appointments.

The group stated this in a statement on

Sunday jointly signed by its President, Ade

Ibitutu, and other officials, namely Ahmed

Jibrin, Okon Eta and Chijioke Nkwocha.

Mr. Buhari has so far forward names of 37

Nigerians in two batches to the Senate for

confirmation as ministers. However, the

president, last week, withdrew nomination of

a former deputy governor of Niger State,

Ahmed Ibeto.

The upper house has already confirmed 18 of

the nominees.

The SDC alleged that Zainab Ahmed, the

nominee from Kaduna, was nominated

because she is a cousin to the state governor,

Nasir El- Rufai. It also alleged that Aisha

Abubakar was nominated for being the

daughter of Abubakar Alhaji and niece of

Mamman Daura.

It also claimed that Suleiman Adamu was

nominated merely for being Mr. Buhari’s

nephew while Khadija Abba Bukar Ibrahim

was picked because she was the wife of Abba

Bukar Ibrahim, three time governor of Yobe

State.

In the South, the group alleged that a former

Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan,

Isaac Adewole, was nominated “merely to

make sure that the imprimatur of the former

president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is absent,

despite the gentleman agreement reached with

the governor of Osun State before Colonel

Olagunsoye Oyilola (rtd) decamped to APC.”

It also alleged that Claudius Daramola was

chosen to diminish the hold of a former

governor of Lagos state, Bola Tinubu, in the

South West.

The SDC further claimed that Anthony

Anwuka, a professor, was because he is an in-

law to Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo

State, “in spite of the fact that he was indicted

by a White Paper of Visitation Panel led by

S.A. Nsofor, JCA, which investigated the affairs

of Imo State University and against the

declaration of Justice Ngozi Opara of Imo State

High Court on 29th of January, 2013.”

It said the appointment of persons indicted

into position of authority is illegal,

unconstitutional, immoral, null and void is

binding.

It also faulted the appointment of Geoffrey

Onyeama, an indigene of Enugu State, who it

said was nominated because he was a class

mate and friend of Abba Kyari, the Chief of

Staff to the President

It further claimed that Okechukwu Enelama

was nominated merely for being the Deputy

Pastor to the Vice President.

The group said, “Unfolding events have

shown that our great Party the APC is

dangerously sliding into crisis of

unimaginable dimension. Our genuine fear is

that if APC implodes or runs into the palpable

crisis being brewed wittingly or unwittingly

by a cabal around Mr President, it will

definitely impact negatively in the country’s

democratic landscape.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we are not

making this statement because no youth made

his ministerial list; but genuine concern to say

capital NO to the deceit making rounds that

the cabal which hijacked power from

President Buhari is Kaduna Mafia. The tag of

Kaduna Mafioso is being weaved to hold

tightly on Northerners who in all Mr

President’s four elections of 2003, 2007, 2011

and 2015 pro bono obliged him vote bank of

12 million votes.”

The group stated that its analysis showed that

the cabal was a sophisticated fascist variant,

with uncanny capacity exemplified by the

response of some sections of the country

when it was alleged that Mr. Tinubu, the

national leader of the APC, complained over

the lopsided nature of the initial appointments

the president made.

“The crass nepotism and cronyism

unfortunately have spread across in the

ministerial nomination,” the group argued.

“It is akin to the early days of Hitler’s fascism;

where people will say the annihilation doesn’t

concern them because they are not

communists nor Jews or Catholics, until it

spread.

“The Fascist Cabal is given an impression that

President Buhari will run for one term, even if

this is the case; is it enough reason to kill

APC? Or kill the integrity quotient of President

Buhari?”

The SDC said though it was not challenging

the powers of the president under the 1999

Constitution to appoint whomsoever he

deemed fit, he should, in the interest of

fairness, equity, natural justice and survival of

APC, urgently “reverse the Signature of the

Fascist Cabal, especially in the 2nd Ministerial

Nominees List as the Window of Substitution

is still wide open.”

It said, “Accordingly, we appeal to President

Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, to urgently

reverse the ignoble Signature of the Fascist

Cabal, as the window of substitution is still

open.

“This will quickly redeem Your Excellency’s

image, which the main opposition party – the

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has gone to

town, narrating the ugly tale that Mr President

is never in charge.”

“I won’t comment on Boko Haram, I still have family to take care of” – Ministerial Nominee, Shittu

A ministerial nominee, Adebayo
Shittu, who was screened by the
Senate on Tuesday declined to
publicly comment on the
extremist Boko Haram sect, saying
he feared for his safety.
Boko Haram is currently ravaging
North-East Nigeria, killing,
bombing innocent citizens.
Mr. Shittu, responding to a
question pertaining the activities
of sect, said he could not publicly
comment on the sect, expressing
fear over his safety.
“I cannot publicly comment on
Boko Haram; I still have family to
care of,” he said
He noted that many northern
leaders were “unfairly” criticised
for not speaking out against the
sect.
Mr. Shittu explained that Boko
Haram had killed anybody who
spoke out against the sect.
“So anybody that still wants to
live will not condemn that faceless
group publicly.”
Mr. Shittu, a lawyer and Islamic
scholar, however, insisted that the
activities the sect negated the
principles of Islam.
“They can claim to be anything,”
the ministerial nominee. “They
even claim to be a Christian; but if
you are Christian and still goes to
babalawo (herbalist), you are not
really a Christian.
“So also if you say you are a
Muslim but kills innocent people,
you are not really a Muslim,” he
explained.
He further said Islam teaches
freedom of religion as a central
tenet, pointing that “Almighty
Allah says he wants everybody to
be of same faith, he will have
done so”.
He had earlier said he was never
indicted for religious intolerance
in Oyo State.

Again, Senate defers Amaechi’s screening

A former governor of Rivers
State, Rotimi Amaechi, will not be
screened by the Senate today as
his name was not listed in the
Order Paper, which gives details
of the business of the day at the
Senate.
This is the third time Mr.
Amaechi’s screening was
suspended by the Senate.
Earlier, the Senate Order Paper
showed names of eight ministerial
nominees billed for screening, but
another paper later emerged
showing only three names of
ministerial nominees.
In the earlier schedule, the names
of Adebayo Shittu, Heineken
Lokpobiri, Rotimi Amaechi,
Khadija Ibrahim, Baba Bwari,
Ocholi James, Mansur Mohammed
and Zainab Ahmed were listed,
while the subsequent paper only
showed the names of Adebayo
Shittu, Khadijat Ibrahim and
Claudius Daramola.
The submission of report of the
Senate Committee on Ethics,
Privileges and Public Petitions on
Mr. Amaechi was also not listed in
the Order Paper.
Last week, the Senate
spokesperson, Dino Melaye, said
Mr. Amaechi would be screened
on Monday as petitions filed
against him would not stop the
Senate from screening him.
Mr. Melaye explained that the
Standing Rule provides that a
petition would not be entertained
when the subject matter was in
the court.
Mr. Amaechi had also written the
Senate, asking the legislative body
to put aside the petition brought
against him.

BREAKING: EFCC detains ex-Governor Akpabio again over alleged multi- billion naira fraud

A former Governor of Akwa Ibom
State, Godswill Akpabio, has
returned to the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, for more questioning after
he was allowed to go home Friday
night.
Mr. Akpabio, who is also the
incumbent minority leader of the
Senate, arrived the EFCC at 11.45
am Saturday, accompanied by his
counsel and Senior Advocate of
Nigeria, SAN, Rickey Tarfa and
some aides.
As soon as the former governor
arrived at the commission, he was
moved into the interrogation
room, a source who pleaded not
to be named because he is not
authorised to speak on the issue,
told PREMIUM TIMES.
Mr. Rickey Tarfa and aides to the
former governor watched
helplessly as the anti-graft
operatives led Mr. Akpabio away.
Our source also hinted that the
former governor might spend the
day with the commission.
He is still been interrogated by
crack detectives of the
commission as at the time of
filling this report.
Mr. Akpabio was quizzed by the
anti-graft agency on Friday
afternoon.
He was, however, allowed to go
home late in the night but asked
to report to the commission today
(Saturday).
Shortly after he regained his
freedom, Mr. Akpabio had given
insight into why he was
interrogated for several hours by
EFCC operatives.
Speaking with a PREMIUM TIMES
reporter shortly after he left the
EFCC headquarters late on Friday
night, Mr. Akpabio admitted that
he was summoned by the anti-
graft body to respond to several
allegations of corruption against
him.
He however said he was not
arrested, but that he honoured the
commission’s invitation
voluntarily.
“A young lawyer from my state
has been petitioning the EFCC
accusing me of corruption,” the
former governor said. “So shortly
before I got involved in an
accident in August, the EFCC summoned me to
come and respond to the allegations.
“But following the accident, I wasn’t well
enough to honour the EFCC summon. And I
let them know.
“So today, since I’m now well, and the Senate
did not sit, I decided to honour the EFCC so as
to answer questions concerning the allegations
against me.
“I wasn’t arrested. I walked in there myself
and now I’m back at home. The EFCC
operatives were professional. They asked
questions, and I answered.”
Mr. Akpabio insisted the allegations against
him were false, saying “those making the
allegations do not understand how
government works”.
The former governor, who is now Senate
Minority Leader, said the lawyer who dragged
him to the EFCC submitted at least four
different petitions, and that it would take a
while for him to respond to each of the
allegations.
“So I will return to the EFCC again as
necessary,” he said.
Mr. Akpabio added, “I am a law-abiding
citizen, and whenever I’m summoned to
answer questions about how I served my
people, I will always respond.
“I urge everyone who has served in public
office not to be afraid to explain what they did
and how they served.”

Newspapers Headlines | 17th October 2015

•GUARDIAN
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»Insurgents Are Not Muslims, They Are Criminals, Murderers, Says Tsav

»Seun Takes Centre Stage At Felabration Tonight

»How To Have A Difficult Conversation With Your Partner

»Boko Haram: Ending The Trend Of Female Suicide Bombers

»Group Kick-starts Learning Series For Business Leaders, Stakeholders

»Human Traffickers Make 40 Billion Dollars Annually, Say NAPTIP, UNODC

»Key Brazil impeachment figure accused of hiding $16 mn

»Oil claws back losses as US rig count falls

»Nigeria's Foreign Debt Profile Cannot Collapse Economy, Says DMO Chief

»Govt Releases Final Lab Result On Calabar Ebola Scare

»Ekiti House Will Chastise Fayose If Necessary, Says Speaker

»Osinbajo Hosts Ukrainian Envoy, Pledges Expansion Of Trade Ties

»Kidnapped Dolphin FC's Boss Regains Freedom‎
‎
»NEMA Delivers Relief Materials To Borno Govt

»Shettima Swears-in Durkwa As New Deputy Governor

»KWASU Is Making Strides In Space Engineering, Says Provost

»Reps Call For Inclusion Of FCT Aborigines In Ministerial Appointments‎

»Ortom Urges Out-Going Corps Members To Be Industrious

»Victor Ochei Sees Brighter Future In Wheelchair Basketball

»Visa Delays NFF Delegation, As Golden Eaglets Battle USA

»Believe In Your Dream, Manu Tells Eaglets

»Nigeria's FIFA Dream ' An Essential Update!

»Mourinho To Appeal Against 50,000 FA Fine

»Platini deal was 'gentleman's agreement' ' Blatter

»African Nations Championship fixtures

»Benitez accuses press of trying to destabilise Real Madrid


•VANGUARD
»I will not resign if we fail to defeat Boko Haram ' Buhari

»EFCC Invitation: I've nothing to hide about my tenure as Akwa Ibom gov ' Akpabio

»Apapa tank farm: Nigeria's hidden danger

»Is Lagos falling under Ambode

»Festac robbery: Lagosians react

»Peaceful tenure: Oracles prescribe sacrifices for Buhari, Ambode

»Ministerial nominees screening: The drama, intrigues

»Trending Fashola's 20 remarkable Quotes at the Senate

»Starwood Hotels to grow portfolio by 50 per cent in Africa

»Foreign firm to invest $260m in Agric, power, other sectors

»Femi Fani-Kayode at 55: Celebration of a Gentle Volcano

»Honeymoonization and the death of expression

»Between Bukola Saraki and Babajide Omoworare: Implementing Senate's E-parliament

»Clark, the father, Jonathan, the son, by Reuben Abati

»Nigerians express mixed feelings over Akpabio's arrest by EFCC

»Low data security crippling Nigerian businesses

»We'll play Eaglets with energy ' USA

»Eagles battle Burkina Faso for CHAN ticket

»Guinea set the ball rolling against England

»We're not half-way there in comedy, Ali Baba warns

»Rescuing Nollywood, Eddie Ugbomah set up 15-man c'ttee

»Upcoming singer Dimplez marks 'No Bra Day' nude

»Fame is not glamourized in the UK 'Anneka Honor

»Ali Baba, Dayo Amusa mesmerize Helen Paul's students


•TRIBUNE
»Tribunal re-affirms election of el-Rufai as gov

»Tribunal upholds Ebonyi governor's election

»University of Calabar hospital patient might have died of food poisoning, not Ebola, says FG

»FG suspends issuance of licences for new vehicle assembly plants

»I would not have become president if not for Alamieyeseigha's roles, says Jonathan

»Nothing will stop me from probing my predecessor, says Benue governor

»Joseph's tomb set ablaze as Palestinian-Israeli violence escalates

»We did not blame Army, Navy for FESTAC Town bank robbery, say police

»Egbin power station bounces back as generation hits 4,600 megawatts

»Lagos governor swears in, gives portfolios to commissioners, special advisers Monday

»Police rescue 3 polytechnic students after 3 days in kidnappers den

»3 suicide bombers kill 26, injure many in dawn attack in Borno

»Buhari won't force ministers to declare assets publicly 'Presidency

»I won't resign because of Boko Haram 'Buhari

»Nigeria is threatened 'Army Chief cries out

»HID valued tradition 'Alakenne-in-council

»EFCC arrests Akpabio, ex-Akwa Ibom governor

»Military arrests 10 Boko Haram members with fully-loaded petrol tanker

»US to conduct counter-Boko Haram operations in Nigeria

»ANALYSIS: With cabinet, Buhari puts party before reforms

»Asset declaration: Appeal Court to decide Saraki's suit against FG on Monday

»Ighalo nominated for EPL award, Says, I want to score against Arsenal


•THE NATION
»Alleged N108.1b fraud: EFCC arrests ex-Governor Godswill Akpabio

»Clark, the father, Jonathan, the son ' Ex-President's Media Adviser Reuben Abati

»Falae abduction: DSS needs new paradigm

»Anxiety over gunmen's Invasion of community

»How rock crushed mother, two children, grandchild 'neighbour

»I would not have been president without Alamieyeseigha, says Jonathan

»Nigeria's economy on upward swing under Buhari, says DMO boss

»Seven killed as suicide bomber hits Borno mosque again

Naos felicitate with her grand patron.

National association of Oyo students rejoice with her grand patron on his 77th birthday anniversary. We pray to God to grant him long life on throne and wealth