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
»Okorocha Explains Kano Visit, Denies 2019 Presidential Ambition

»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