Fake CNN Reporter Swindles Bayelsa Government, Officials

Paul Yempe

Paul Yempe, who passed himself off as a journalist working for the US-based Cable News Network (CNN), succeeded in swindling key officials of the Bayelsa State government. Sources in the state and within law enforcement disclosed that the fraudster obtained various sums of money running into millions of naira from state officials who were desperate to receive favorable coverage about the state beset by rising insecurity and incessant kidnappings.

Investigations revealed that Allison Okuro, the secretary to the Bayelsa government, as well as Martins Fefegha, the state's commissioner of Information, were among the victims who lost money in the fraudulent deal that was recently exposed.

A source said the fake reporter had moved round several government ministries, departments and agencies collecting bribes before his luck ran out.

Our reporter learned that Mr. Okuro, a professor, had offered hotel accommodation to the imposter and had written a memo seeking the release of funds for a phony documentary promised by the fake reporter in addition to advance cash payments to Mr. Yempe.

Contacted to react on his involvement, the Commissioner for Information declined to state the amount of money he had advanced to the fake journalist. He however admitted that there were plans to lodge money into the reporter’s account before the deceptive deal came to limelight.

Mr. Yempe was taken into custody when he approached the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Energy to solicit funds for an interview for a supposed documentary to be aired on CNN.

Police spokesman Alex Akhigbe confirmed the arrest, but said the case was still being investigated. He declined to mention the number of officials fleeced of cash by the fake reporter or to reveal the amount involved.

A reporter in Bayelsa confirmed that Mr. Yempe is a senior staff of Radio Rivers in Port Harcourt.

CNN could not immediately confirm if it has any connection with the suspected fake reporter

Anambra Delegates Rough Up Chris Uba At PDP Convention

Chris Uba

Fighting broke out at the Peoples Democratic Party’s special convention early Saturday as party delegates gathered to elect new officials.
Popular Anambra politician, Chris Uba, was physically attacked.

Supporters of Mr. Uba exchanged blows with other delegates after he was barred from taking a seat at the Anambra pavilion where delegates were seated. He was rough handled in the fight but later allowed to sit with the delegates.

Mr. Uba and his brother, Andy Uba, a serving senator, were earlier this week suspended by the party after they ignored party summons for conducting parallel nomination for Anambra governorship election.

Security agents moved in to quell the violence while verbal exchanges continued.

The two brothers eventually sat next to each other and close to Tony Nwoye, the man the PDP headquarters recognises as the party’s candidate in the November governorship election in Anambra.

Chris Uba’s attackers said he had been suspended and had no right to attend the Saturday’s party election.
An Abuja court on Friday lifted the suspension order on the brothers by the PDP.

About 3500 delegates are expected to vote for 75 candidates who are vying for 17 positions.

President Goodluck Jonathan, who is attending the event, praised the PDP as the best not only in the country but in Africa.
He said the PDP remained the only party with a well-articulated framework for governance and development.

He said under the PDP telecommunication, education, aviation, banking and infrastructure have been transformed.

“These are facts our critics are never willing to acknowledge,” he said.

Germany won’t join in military strike against Syria- minister

Germany’s foreign minister ruled out his country’s participation in a military strike in Syria after an apparent deadly poison gas attack.

Guido Westerwelle told Saturday’s Neue Osnabruecker Zeitung that such a move had “neither been asked nor is it being considered by us”, according to pre-released comments by the paper.

“We are pushing for the United Nations Security Council to find a common position and for the work of UN inspectors to be finished as quickly as possible,” he added.

Berlin had previously said it would support “consequences” against the Syrian regime if its suspected deadly use of chemical weapons was confirmed, but it did not specify what the consequences would be.

On Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on the need for the UN Security Council to study a report by UN experts on the alleged chemical attack outside Damascus, the Kremlin said.

Suntai unfit to rule – Lawmakers, Acting Gov reverses cabinet sack

Sixteen out of the 24 members of the Taraba State House of Assembly, yesterday, barred ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai, from resuming work, on account of  his feeble state of health.

This came as the Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, yesterday, reversed the sack of the state Executive Council as ordered by Suntai.

Meantime, the Taraba State caucus in the House of Representatives will, today, deliberate on the Suntai resumption saga.

The decision of the lawmakers followed a prolonged meeting with the governor last night, during which, they came to grips with the true state of his health.

Governor Danbaba Suntai and Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar

In a statement released to journalists, the 16 lawmakers insisted that Suntai was unfit to resume and that they doubted the author of the letter, which was sent to the House of Assembly on Monday.

Based on their assessment of Suntai, the lawmakers authorised Garba Umar, his deputy, who has been acting as the governor of the state in the last 10 months, to continue to hold fort until Suntai was fit to steer the ship of state.

The 16 lawmakers opposed to Suntai’s resumption of work, are led by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Haruna Tsokwa, who had on Tuesday warned that Suntai could not resume unless he addressed them.

The Speaker, who is believed to be loyal to the acting governor, was also at the ‘meeting’ with Suntai on Wednesday night.

In the letter dated August 29, 2013, and jointly signed by the Speaker and 15 other lawmakers, they noted that Suntai could not have written the resumption of work letter, given his failing health.

Part of the letter read: “It is no longer news that the Governor of Taraba State Pharmacist Danbaba Danfulani Suntai was involved in a plane crash on October 25, 2012, whereof, he was flown to Germany for treatment in a condition that made him incapable of transmitting a letter to the Taraba State House of Assembly informing it of his absence in office.

“The House invoked the provisions of section 190(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and transmitted power to his deputy to act in the office of the governor of Taraba State. We are all living witnesses to the way and manner the Governor was brought into the state on Sunday, August 25, 2013.

“The leadership of the Taraba State House of Assembly made several efforts to see him since his arrival, until yesterday (Wednesday) August 28, 2013 when they were allowed access to the ailing governor and their visit revealed that he spoke in a manner that brought more doubt to his authorship of the letter purportedly transmitted to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.

“In view of the above, we are convinced that Suntai could not have authored the purported letter transmitted to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.

“Be that as it may, we the undersigned members of the State House of Assembly have unanimously resolved in our meeting that the Deputy Governor upon whom power was earlier transmitted to by the State House of Assembly still remains the Acting Governor of Taraba State and he will continue to act in that regard until such a time the Governor is capable of administering the state”.

Those who moved against the governor were, Haruna Tsokwa, Speaker; Tanko Adamyu, Deputy Speaker; Mohammed Gwampo, Chief Whip; Josiah Kente, Deputy Majority Leader and Mohammed Umar, Deputy Chief Whip.

Others were, Ibrahim Adam Imam, Minority Leader; Yahaya Abduraman, Minority Whip; Iratsi Daki, Rasida Abdullahi, Aminu Jalingo, Emmanuel Dame, John Bonzema, A.A. Jugulde, Hamandama Abdullahi, Abdulkarim Mohammed and Edward Baraya.

Some natives of the state expressed fears that it was apparent that the lawmakers, who had garnered two-thirds of the members of the House of Assembly, could easily impeach the ailing governor, should he continue to move against their interest.

However, a former member of the dissolved cabinet said, yesterday, that Suntai would come out of the present predicament and take over the affairs of the state.

Nwabueze to Jonathan: Be a national hero, don’t contest 2015 election

Elder statesman and leader of the Patriot, Professor Ben Nwabueze, yesterday reiterated his call on President Goodluck Jonathan not to contest the 2015 presidential election, saying he should concentrate on transforming the country to make it more united and stronger through a conference of ethnic nationalities.

But President Jonathan said his administration had no objection to Nigerians coming together to discuss how they will continue to live together in peace and unity.

Speaking with newsmen after leading members of the Patriot to a meeting with President Jonathan, Professor Nwabueze said though the President was eligible to contest, he should sacrifice ambition for the greater good of the nation and become an instant hero.

Nwabueze

He said: “I still believe that the problem of this country is national transformation. You cannot combine national transformation with contesting election.

“The two are so different, because once you get involved in the election campaigns you undermined your authority to lead the nation for national transformation and I said if I were the President of Nigeria that I would restrict myself to serving the nation; to transforming this country; to creating a new Nigeria, creating a new society. that would be my concern and I would go down in history as a hero.

“So if Mr President does that he would become an instant hero in this country, but it is for him to chose. If I were him, I would choose to become a hero, to lead the country into transformation and abandon the ambition of a second term, that is what I said and I still stand by it and that is what I would do if I were the President of the country, but unfortunately, I’m not.

Speaking on the mission of the patriots to the President, Professor Nwabueze said the group was in the Villa to submit its position on the the need for the convening of a conference of ethnic nationalities to tackle the multi-farious problems of the country.

He said: “Briefly, we talked about the transformation of this country, what we said is that this country, the situation in which we have found ourselves today is in dire need of transformation. It’s entire economy, the polity and the society would need to be transformed. We believe that the way to achieve that objective is through a National Conference, a National Conference of ethnic nationalities in this country.

Sovereign National Conference

“We have done our own research and we came up with the fact that we have in this country 389 ethnic nationalities. We need to bring these nationalities around a conference table to discuss how we are going to live together as one country in peace, stability  and security as one country with the aim of achieving national unity.

Asked how such a conference would be held when there is a National Assembly in place, Professor Nwabueze said the power granted the National Assembly by the constitution is to alter the constitution and not to change it or write a new one.

He said: “It is important that the National Assembly is putting forward that their powers under Sections 8&9 is to alter the constitution. Power to alter is not as important as power to abolish what you are altering and replace it completely, and we said no, this country, we need the people’s constitution whose source of authority derives directly from the people. Forget about the contents, we will talk about the contents later.

“Though important, but they are not as important as the source. Where does this supreme law derives its authorities? It must be directly from the people and that is the position of at least 85 percent of the countries of the world. So we examined this and we said this is a bogey, there is no problem, don’t confine yourselves to Sections 8&9, because the 1999 constitution is a schedule to Decree 24. If you read Section 1(1) of the Decree there are preambles to that Decree and the 1999 constitution that you are talking about is a schedule to Decree 24.

“Repeal the Decree and the constitution will disappear and you enact a brand new constitution which would derive its authorities from the people.

“That was what was done in 1963, when we adopted the Republican Constitution to replace the Independent Constitution. That 1960 Constitution was also a schedule to British Order-In -Council just as the 1999 Constitution is a schedule to the Decree 24. In 1963, we abolished the schedule under Section 2 of the Order-in-Council and made a new constitution called the Republican constitution.”

Other members of the delegation were Professor. Kimse Koko, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Mrs Bola Kuforiji-Olubi.

Meanwhile, President Jonathan has said his administration had no objection to Nigerians coming together to discuss how they will continue to live together in peace and unity.

The President, who spoke after receiving a memorandum from the Patriots, said ordinarily, the issue of Nigerians coming together to discuss their future should not be out of place.

According to the President, there has been constant discussion within government on how to create an acceptable and workable platform for a national dialogue that will reinforce the ties that bind the country’s many ethnic nationalities and ensure that Nigeria’s immense diversity continues to be a source of strength and greatness.

President Jonathan said: “The limitation we have is that the constitution appears to have given that responsibility to the National Assembly. I have also been discussing the matter with the leadership of the National Assembly. We want a situation where everyone will key into the process and agree on the way forward.”

While thanking the Patriots for acknowledging the Federal Government’s efforts to implement his administration’s agenda for national transformation, President Jonathan reiterated that “as a government, we are totally committed to transforming this country, positive things are being done and by the grace of God, we will get to where we ought to be as a nation.”

President Jonathan also welcomed the group’s call for the moral re-orientation of Nigerians, saying he shared their belief that ongoing efforts at national transformation and development would be greatly enhanced and facilitated by the cultivation of better national ethics and attitudes.

The Patriots had in the address presented to President Jonathan by Professsor Nwabueze, urged him to support the production of a new constitution that truly derives its authority directly from the people of Nigeria.

We can get to where other nations are if we do things rightly – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan said Thursday in Abuja that African nations must learn to manage their resources better if they wished to overcome poverty and underdevelopment.

Speaking at an audience with Pastor Chuck Pierce of Global Spheres International Church, President Jonathan said that in spite of current challenges, he was confident that African nations will achieve rapid development and progress if their governments and peoples make the right decisions and implement them.

“I believe that we can get to where other nations are if we do things rightly. If we put our acts together, we can take our rightful place in the comity of nations,” the President told the Corinth, Texas-based pastor who is hosting an international conference of his church in Abuja.

Thanking him for his interest in Nigeria and Africa, President Jonathan urged Pastor Pierce to continue to pray for the country and the continent.

Pastor Pierce thanked the President for receiving his delegation which included other church leaders from Nigeria and other African countries.

He told the President that he believed that this was an important time for Nigeria and assured him of the continued prayerful support of his global church.

Stowaway: NCAA to sanction Arik pilot

Five days after the 13 years old boy, Master Daniel Ohikena, who stowed away at the main wheel well of Arik Air flight from Benin airport to the Murtala Muhammed Airport,  MMA, Lagos, indications emerged yesterday that the pilot of the aircraft might be  punished by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, for alleged professional negligence while on duty.

This came as FAAN, introduced new security measures in all the nation’s airports to prevent the re-occurrence of runway incursions, especially those without perimeter fences.

The apprehended teenager who stowed from Benin.

Vanguard gathered that the Director-General of NCAA, Mr. Fola Akinkuotu, had set up a committee to investigate the incident.

It was also gathered that the teenager, at the time of this report, was still being held in the custody of the Department of State Security, DSS, five days after he was arrested at MMA, Lagos.

The committee which was set up, Tuesday, sat up till yesterday probing the stowaway incident and alleged professional negligence of the pilot of the Arik Air’s aircraft.

A  source who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the panel was set up to handle the issue professionally especially when it was confirmed that some passengers onboard alerted the cabin crew of spotting a strange element who passed under the aircraft, but who was not seen coming out of the the plane in Lagos.

Besides, it was confirmed that the cabin crew informed the pilot of the development and rather than handle the issue professionally, he ignored the information even though he contacted the control tower on the issue.

The source alleged that it was already established that the pilot was in a hurry to airlift the passengers to Lagos and airlift other passengers to Abuja Airport same day.

According to the source, “The committee has already established that the pilot didn’t handle the issue professionally because as a professional who was contacted on such danger, the onus was on him to abort the flight and ensure total screening of the aircraft and the pilot, but he didn’t do that. Rather, he wanted to beat the time and pick up passengers in Lagos. That was unprofessional. If he’s found wanting, NCAA will deal with him according to the law in the sector. We need to establish what really happened. That was why the committee was inaugurated by the Director-General.”

However, at the time of this report, the outcome of the yesterday’s meeting was not clear as the members were still at the meeting.

Also, it was not clear when the boy would be released from the SSS custody as the authority was still investigating the incident.

FAAN introduces new security measures

Meanwhile, FAAN,  has announced new security measures in all the nation’s airports to prevent the re-occurrence of runway incursions, especially those without perimeter fences.

At a briefing in Lagos, General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said that henceforth, a security vehicle would be deployed to a point within full view of the aircraft as it taxies out to take-off at the airports aimed at maintaining visual scrutiny until every departing aircraft was safely airborne.

Mr. Dati pointed out that the second measure was to ensure that all bushes at the airports across the country were cleared to ensure full view of the perimeter fence, to allow the control tower, FAAN Fire and Rescue observation posts and aviation security patrol teams sweeping view of the entire perimeter of an airport from their duty posts.

According to him, “Again, static observation posts will be erected at strategic locations within the perimeter fence of all airports to forestall premeditated and inadvertent unauthorised access to the airside. This will be complemented by motorised and foot patrols.”

Rivers senators, 10 reps, Amaechi delegates boycott PDP convention

Rivers State delegates loyal to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday, declared a boycott of Peoples Democratic Party’s mini-convention which holds in Abuja tomorrow.

Leader of the Rivers State Caucus in the National Assembly, Asita Asita, who declared the boycott at a gathering of the league of pro-Amaechi’s delegates at Government House, Port Harcourt, said the action was to protest national PDP leadership’s indifference to the crisis rocking the state PDP and illegal suspension of Governor Amaechi by the party.

Gov. Rotimi Amaech

The boycotting delegates, who constitute majority of the automatic delegates to the last PDP National Convention, include two serving senators and 10 House of Representatives members and all commissioners, particularly those not expelled by the Felix Obuah-led state leadership of the party.

Others are the 27 pro-Amaechi Rivers State House Assembly members, suspended by the state leadership of the party, chairmen of all 23 local governments in the state and those of the party local government area chairmen instituted by the deposed Wilson Ake-led state executive of the party.

Asita said: “The leadership of the party at the centre has refused to bring under control the rascality with which activities of the party are being run by the illegal administration of the PDP in the state. We are not satisfied with the illegal suspension of Governor Amaechi who is the known leader of the party in the state.

“We are aware of the mini-convention and were hoping the party at the centre would take appropriate steps over the disrepute the party is suffering. Because the party at the centre has failed to do what it is supposed to do, we have decided to boycott the convention.

“Those qualified at the last convention are those who are still qualified to attend this coming convention according to INEC. So anyone claiming to represent Rivers at the convention is not qualified to do so.”

The member representing Gokana Constituency, Innocent Barikor, said “in support of the leaders from the Rivers NASS caucus, 27 of us from the Rivers State Assembly are also in support of the boycott in solidarity with the governor.”

Tammy Danagogo, Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development, also presented the unanimous consent of Rivers State commissioners, especially those not declared expelled by the party leadership, to the boycott of the convention, while Mayor of Port Harcourt City Council, Chibuiko Akarolo, said the 23 council chairmen had also met and decided to boycott the convention in solidarity with the governor.

IG orders tight security as PDP convention holds

ALL is set for tomorrow’s Special Convention of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday, assured Nigerians and participants that Police would provide water-tight security for the exercise holding at the Eagle Square, Central Area, Abuja.

The Professor Jerry Gana-led convention committee, which suspended the election for the national secretary because of a pending court case, also announced its readiness to mid-wife a credible and rancour-free exercise and rallied support for the PDP.

The committee also restated the party’s stand on zoning of the vacant slots to states that held them before the occupiers were asked to step down recently.

All the candidates will face the Senator Ndoma Egba-led screening panel today and those with grievances are expected to take their appeal to the Governor Theodore Orji-led appeal panel tomorrow before the convention will kick-off.

This is coming as an aspirant to the national publicity secretary post dragged PDP; its National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; and immediate past publicity scribe, Chief Olisa Metuh, to court over the zoning of the post to Anambra.

Tight security, traffic diversion

To ensure adequate security, safe and conducive atmosphere for the convention, the IGP has issued an Operational Order directing the Commissioner of Police, FCT, Mr. Femi Ogunbayode, to ensure a tactical and well-coordinated deployment of personnel and other operational equipment.

The IG, in a statement by Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba, also directed the deployment of personnel of the Police Mobile Force, PMF, Counter-Terrorist Unit, CTU, Anti-Bomb Squad and the Police Air Wing for aerial patrol.

It said: “In addition, personnel of the Canine section and special operatives of the FIB are to be deployed for the operation.

File photo: Police officers

“The AIG Zone 7 has been directed to personally take charge of the entire operation, to guarantee a seamless command and control of the exercise.”

Meanwhile, the Police informed motorists in Abuja that all routes leading to Eagle Square would be barricaded and traffic diverted with effect from 4.00pm today.

Traffic will be diverted to the following routes: Ahmed Bello Way Fly-over, Benue Plaza Road, Ministry of Finance Junction, Bullet Junction, Bayelsa House Junction and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Fly-over.

It said: “In view of this development, all commuters, motorists and the general public are strongly advised to utilise alternate routes, during the duration of the convention.

“Affected routes will be re-opened to traffic and the public as soon as the convention activities are over.”

Abubakar solicited the understanding and cooperation of the general public in assisting the Police and other security agencies in ensuring a peaceful, safe and secure convention, as part of conscious efforts by all citizens to nurture democracy and national growth.

He advised people, who are not part of the convention, to avoid the venue of the exercise as “Police operatives have been instructed to restrain all intruders or trespassers, irrespective of status or placement.”

Zoning stands

Ahead of the convention, Professor Gana said, yesterday, that election of National Secretary would remain suspended until the determination of a subsisting court case on the matter.

According to Gana, the party would conduct election into the office of National Secretary as soon as the case was concluded in line with the directives of the court judgment, adding that aspirants that purchased forms to contest for the office will have their purchase fees refunded accordingly.

Addressing journalists yesterday on the readiness of the party to hold the convention tomorrow, Professor Gana said 14 sub-committees on security, accommodation, transport and logistics, among others, were set up to ensure a seamless exercise.

Ekweremadu said that the zoning arrangement where the states had the positions prior to the resignation, remains, adding that the party had earlier fixed the positions for geo-political zones and subsequently zoned them to states and that the status quo stands.

Raises appeal panel

Meanwhile, Deputy Senate President and Secretary of the committee, Senator Ike Ekweremadu said, yesterday, that an appeal committee for those that might be disqualified today by the Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba screening committee will have the opportunity of appealing tomorrow to the Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji -led Appeal Panel.

The panel has Minister of State, FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide and Tafidan as members. The appeals, if any, would be entertained before the convention begins.

Also, yesterday, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the publicity sub-committee of the national convention of PDP,  Emeka Ihedioha, expressed optimism that tomorrow’s convention would be very successful and called on all stakeholders, officials and members of PDP to rally round one another to give the party full support and ensure a hitch-free convention.

Aspirant drags party, Tukur, Metuh, others to court

A chieftain of PDP in Anambra State, Chief Akwugo Iloanya, has prayed an Anambra High Court to restrain Metuh from contesting the position of publicity secretary at tomorrow’s convention.

Also joined in the suit as defendants are Bamanga Tukur, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd.) and the South-East Zonal Executive of the party, Jerry Gana and PDP.

Iloanya and Victor Ishiwu, in the originating summons, are seeking a declaration of the court that the post of National Publicity Secretary of PDP is zoned to Anambra State to the exclusion of any other state.

They said this was by virtue of the zoning arrangement ratified by the National Executive Committee, NEC, and the zonal executive committee (South-East) of the party, which was allegedly acknowledged by the report of the 2012 National Congress and Convention planning committee.

They are also seeking a declaration that by an agreement between the executive and members of PDP in Anambra State, the post of National Publicity Secretary of the party is zoned to Anambra North and Central Senatorial districts to the exclusion of Anambra South senatorial district.

The plaintiffs are further seeking for a declaration that the 3rd defendant (Olisa Metuh), who is from Anambra South senatorial district, is not qualified to contest the post of National Publicity Secretary of PDP in tomorrow’s special national convention in Abuja or any other applicable day.

… against Metuh

In their prayers, the plaintiffs are seeking an order of the court restraining Olisa Metuh from presenting, contesting or putting himself forward as a candidate for the post of National Publicity Secretary of PDP at the special convention.

They are praying for an order of the court restraining the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th defendants (PDP, Bamanga Tukur, Austin Akobundu and Jerry Gana, respectively) from accepting the nomination of Metuh to be fielded as a candidate for the post of the National Publicity Secretary of PDP at the convention.

In a 25-point affidavit in support of the originating summons, Chief Iloanya, who is one of the aspirants for the post of National Publicity Secretary, said: “In the spirit and letters of zoning principles as contained in Peoples Democratic Party constitution and guidelines and in order to ensure fair play and equity in the distribution of party posts, members of Peoples Democratic Party in Anambra State agreed that the post of National Publicity Secretary to be contested at the national convention of the party be zoned to Anambra North and Central districts to the exclusion of Anambra South Senatorial district.

“The violation of this agreement, the guidelines and constitution of the party and INEC’s own observation at the March 2012 convention of Peoples Democratic Party led to the voiding of the election of the 3rd defendant by INEC at the convention.”

Ondo guber poll: Mimiko floors Oke, Akeredolu at S-Court

The Supreme Court, yesterday, declined to order the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct fresh governorship election in Ondo State.

In their unanimous judgment, a seven-man panel of justices of the apex court, affirmed Governor Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party as the bonafide winner of the gubernatorial election held in the state on October 20, 2012.

Following the ruling, Chairman of Nigeria Governor’s Forum, NGF, Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Ameachi, congratulated Governor Mimiko on his victory, saying the judiciary had come of age.

The Supreme Court dismissed as lacking in merit, two separate appeals filed before it by Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and Chief Olusola Oke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

*Supreme Court Judgment: Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko jubilating with his Supporters shortly after Supreme Court judgment in his favor in Abuja. 

Whereas the lead judgment in the appeal entered against Mimiko by Akeredolu was delivered by Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta, that of the PDP candidate, Oke, was delivered by Justice Mary Peter Odili.

Both Akeredolu and Oke had, in their substantive appeals, urged the apex court to sack  Mimiko from office on grounds that the Ondo gubernatorial poll was fraught with manifest irregularities and that there was substantial non-compliance to the Electoral Act which, they said, rendered the election invalid.

While urging the court to sack Mimiko from office, Oke and PDP alleged that there was infusion of over 100, 000 ghost names in the voters’ register used to conduct the election.

Oke further relied on the case of Agbaso vs Ohakim to argue that the inability of INEC to display the voters’ register,  prior to the election as prescribed in section 19 of the Electoral Act, rendered the outcome of the poll invalid, adding that the lower court erred and miscarried justice against him when it held that issues bordering on voters’ register was a pre-election matter.

On the other hand, Akeredolu, in his 13 grounds of appeal, urged the apex court to set aside the judgments of both the Election Petition Tribunal that sat in the state and the Court of Appeal, Akure, contending that the lower courts  failed to evaluate the evidence of two of his principal witnesses, PW-34 and PW-35, who, he said, exposed how ballot boxes were stuffed in favour of Governor Mimiko.

He equally prayed the Supreme Court to determine whether the appellate justices, having found that the voters’ register did not comply with the Electoral Act, ought not to have nullified the election and whether the lower court was right  to have held that he was unable to prove allegations of malpractice and that the injection of names into the voters’ register affected the outcome of the election.

While dismissing the appeals, the Supreme Court held that the allegation of injection of names in the voters’ register was not proved by the appellant, noting that allegation of “compilation or usage of an illegal voters’ register for an election is a criminal offence that must be proved beyond every reasonable doubt.

“This allegation was not proved by the appellant, even on the balance of probability,” the court added.

More so, the court maintained that even if it was proved that the votes of the entire alleged 100, 000 ghost voters were added to the appellants’, the 1st respondent, Mimiko, would still have won the election, having secured the highest number of validly cast votes.

Describing the evidence of the PW-34 as “hearsay”, the court said it was convinced that the witness was a mercenary ready to render his services for a fee.

“The court has a duty to treat such evidence with the disdain it deserves,” the Supreme Court held.

Other Justices that concurred with the lead judgments yesterday were Justices Walter Onnoghen, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, Christopher Chukwuma-Eneh, John Afolabi Fabiyi and S.S Alagua.

Meanwhile, Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State-led Nigeria Governors’ Forum said, yesterday, that with the Supreme Court’s upholding of the election of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, the nation’s judiciary had come of age.

In a statement signed by NGF’s Director-General, Asishana Okauru, read:   “The Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, congratulates  Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State on the Supreme Court ruling which upheld his election.”

Medical Doctors May Reject New Agreements By Which Health Sector Workers Agreed To End Strike

As health workers under the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) call off their strike following a meeting with the Minister of Labour, Mr. Emeka Wogu, and the Minister of Health, Mr. Onyebuchi Chukwu in attendance, the crisis in the health sector may continue if doctors determine that the agreements compromise their interests, a sources in the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) confirmed on Wednesday.

The meeting between the health workers and the two Ministers started on Monday.  Following the agreements on Tuesday, JOHESU expressed optimism that they will be implemented within two weeks.  The health workers said they wanted to end their industrial action to allow for implementation of the new understanding with the Federal Government.

But the new agreement may not resolve the issues in the sector, until the doctors have reviewed them at the weekend.  Our sources said the NMA will react appropriately if the agreements appear to be questionable.

"We don't know what they discussed and we are not aware if those matters that should concern us were taken into cognizance during their meeting", one source said.

The medical professional described the decision of the court which was taken on an appeal by the Ministry of Health as critically important as a matter of rule of law, but that the change in direction where another dialogue was adopted may override the due process being followed in court.

Another NMA source said, "We thought the matter was on appeal and we hope that the progress of the appeal would not be disrupted by the so-called discussion". The doctors said health workers had done the rightful by approaching court and that parts of their demands were granted.

"It is like, out of about seven demands, about one and half was granted and even that one is even questionable that must be appealed. So the Government must be responsible to appeal in the interest of the public and posterity. After all, National Industrial Court is not the final until the Supreme Court says it is so", the doctor said.  He expressed fear that the meeting of health workers with the ministers to call of their strike may have been developed as a ruse to hurt endeavors at redressing the underlying issues in court.

The issues deliberated upon at the meeting heralding the health workers ending their strike action included membership of board of management of Teaching Hospitals; implementation of 2008 Job Evaluation Report; and retirement and promotion from CONHESS 14 to CONHESS 15.

The meeting also considered the constitution of a presidential committee to oversee implementation of the agreements.

Governor Uduaghan Accused Of Using Multi-Billion Naira Oleri Leisure Park As Conduit Pipe, Awards Contract To Daughter

Gov. Emmanuel Udughan "inspecting" the leisure park

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has been accused of turning the Oleri Leisure Park, in which his state has sunk several billion naira, as a conduit for looting state funds. “The park has nothing to show for all the billions Delta State has put into it, and the purported investors have become contractors, collecting [the state’s] funds,” said one of the sources who spoke to us on the issue.

Our sources, among them a former commissioner in Mr. Uduaghan’s cabinet, told a correspondent that the governor was misleading people about the state’s much-publicized tourism resort projects at the Oleri Park in Udu local government council as well as the Wildlife Park at Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha North local government area.

Two sources asserted that the main contractor for the resort facility, Sarner PFM, owned by Princess Abiodun Oyefusi, a daughter of Oba Salaudeen A. A. Oyefusi from Lagos State, is actually a front for the governor’s daughter, Orode Okpu-Uduaghan. A lawyer who has investigated aspects of the projects said he found out that Ms. Oyefusi’s firm, Sarner PFM, was officially registered only after the state government had awarded the projects to her.

SaharaReporters learnt that the governor’s daughter was able to purchase a high-priced duplex in the swanky VGC gated residential community in Lagos. Our sources said that the duplex cost about N460 million, and that the cash was exclusively provided by Ms. Oyefusi. They added that the real estate transaction further cemented the business ties between the governor’s daughter and Ms. Oyefusi.

Uduaghan administration officials have often said that the park projects were inspired by the stunning landscape, showcasing the area’s rich and diverse culture and wildlife. The parks were designed to cover some 300 hectares in the Warri and Asaba areas, and is projected to cost N49 billion ($250 million) for the resort and $300 million for the Wildlife Park. The state government has said that the $300 million wildlife park will harbor five big animals.

Our sources alleged that the projected expenditure on the projects did not account for several billions of naira that the state government had already committed and other funds being spent daily.

Both the state and the contractor have stated that the attractions to be built will a spectacular water park with wave pool and flume, thrilling adventure rides, a dramatic waterfall, an animal reserve and marine life center, a sports club and golf course, a cinema complex, 5- and 3-star hotels, luxury villas, a casino, an arena to host colorful live shows, stylish restaurants, a luxurious spa, and a top brand shopping plaza.

In addition, the contractor has indicated that a center for education and historical learning, a local crafts village, a cultural museum, and children’s interactive center will also be built.

A critic of the project drew attention to Governor Uduaghan’s disclosure that the sand-filling of the Oleri site alone was costing the state more than N2 billion. “The question is: was the condition of the land not discovered before the government chose the site?” the critic asked.

Mr. Uduaghan also revealed that the road median from Effurun to the park, which is being laid with interlocking tiles and street lights, would gulp about N700 million.

The projects are conceived as a public/private partnership business. The state government is expected to provide the land, security, and the access road, including a bridge that cost N3 billion, while the private investor is expected to take care of the rest. The project is being executed by the state government and Africa Sarner PFM Resorts Limited under a public-private partnership, while consulting services are being provided by Bergsten Africa. Fast Approach Konstruction Ltd is the main contractor handling the project.

In what those opposed to the project see as a case of deception, Mr. Uduaghan once described the project as “a partnership between the state government and an outfit that is involved in building parks and zoos around the world. They are bringing about N40 billion, they are the ones bringing the money; it is not from the state government. What the state government is contributing is the road and the bridge which is about N1.8 billion.”

But opponents insist that the state government has expended more than N5 billion on the projects and still spending.

According to a former commissioner in the state, “Part of what they say is that a 3-star hotel of 500 rooms as well as a 5-star hotel of 450 rooms tagged Tajmahal would be built in the park. The question is for whom? Deltans are also being bamboozled to believe that, apart from the leisure aspect of the resort, there are also structures that will usher in activities that will enhance spiritual and academic growth, and that the resort would emerge as the most beautiful in the world. They are empty promises.”

The state government has revealed that it would also build a theological and research institution in the area in collaboration with an institution in Pretoria, South Africa.

Speaking on the benefits of the park during a recent tour of the site, Mr. Uduaghan stated that, even though the construction was yet to commence fully, the project was already reducing unemployment in the state. He stated that no fewer than 2,000 people were already making their living from the preliminary work going on, adding that when the project is finally completed, at least 5,000 will be engaged. On her part, Ms. Oyefusi told the governor that the reclamation of land had been completed, pledging that the first phase of construction will start in September. She added that the first stage of infrastructure, including the Wild Life Park at Ogwashi-Uku, would gulp about $290 million.

But several sources said that Ms. Oyefusi seemed unsure how to finance the two projects. She had stated at one time that she would sell shares and at another that some individuals and organizations had promised to finance the projects.

Such uncertainty has fueled critics who allege that the projects are being used to steal land from the communities. One source said, “These are deceiving projects that will never and can never be actualized. The state governor had announced a completion date of 2015, even when a block has not been laid.”

Another source stated that several documents had been doctored to give virtual ownership of the projects to Sarner PFM, and that a few civil servants who asked questions were summoned to Government House and threatened.

The former commissioner said that the projects were being funded with public funds but without proper accountability. He added that the state has no experience with tourism. “Why on earth is a state without any form of tourism structure and foundation wasting so much resource in building such extravagant projects?” he asked. According to him, “The two white elephant projects are the most expensive single investments in the history of the state. And there is nothing to suggest that Delta State is genuinely willing to develop and promote tourism. Rather, they are using the sector to steal money and reward cronies.”

The feasibility of the projects’ completion date is another sore subject. “It is obvious now that the completion of the first phase of the resort by December 2013 and the official opening in April 2014 will only remain a dream,” said a critic. 

The former commissioner confirmed that the project cannot generate 5000 jobs when, in his words, “not even a single block has been laid at the site.”

PHOTONEWS: Inspector General Of Romance- Police IG MD Abubakar's Pre-Wedding Photo Shoot

IG of Police, MD Abubakar and Safiya

MD and Safiya

Nigeria's Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar is set to remarry about a year after he lost his wife, Maryam Abubakar, to cancer in January 2012.

The IGP will be engaging in a three-day wedding ritual to a popular 35 year-old Safiya according to sources close to the Mr. Abubakar. The wedding proper will take place on September 14, 2013.

Saharareporters obtained a photo from a series of photos taken during a photo shoot in preparation for the grand wedding.

Ms. Safiya is the daughter of Ambassador Bunu Sheriff Musa.

FEC approves $200m loan for Fadama III project

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved for the country to borrow an interest free loan of $200 m from the International Development Agency to accelerate the Fadama III project across the country.

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku who disclosed this while briefing state house correspondents after the meeting said the council also approved that a draft bill to detect, prevent and control cyber-crime in Nigeria; as well as a contract  for an integrity check on the Third Mainland Bridge.

Mr Labaran Maku who was joined by  his counterparts in the Ministries of  agriculture and finance, Dr Akinwunmi Adesida and Dr Yerima Ngama respectively said  the  Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala brought a memo seeking  approval to obtain an International Development Association , IDA credit facility in the sum of USD200 million as additional financing for the Third National Fadama Development project.

From right : Vice President Namadi Sambo; SGF, Senator Pius Anyim; Head of Service, Alhaji Goni Aji; Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomen and Senior Special Assistant to the President, Chief Mathew Aikhonbare during the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja.

He said “The Project Development Objective, (PDO) for the additional financing is consistent with the on-going Fadama III project which is to increase the incomes for users of rural lands and water resources within the Fadama areas in a sustainable manner.

He said the “proposed additional financing will scale up the project’s achievements and strengthen the development effectiveness of the highly performing Fadama III by aligning it more closely with the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the present administration.

Minister of Agriculture Dr Adeshida, explained that with 24 million hectares of Fadama land all over the country, it was imperative to  optimise the use of these tracts of land, which predecessor, Fadama II was evaluated by the World Bank and found to have improved the beneficiaries income substantially.

The minister said 317,000 farmers are to benfit from the project which will among other things lead to an  increase in food self-sufficiency, crop distribution, such as rice in key states of Lagos, Niger, Anambra, Enugu and Kano Sorghum-Kano; Cassava in Kogi, and women empowerment.

Dr Adeshida also revealed that this years NationAl Economic summit  will focus on agriculture and showcase the achievements of president under the president’s agric. transformation agenda. It will look at the petrochemical industry, power, water, roads, ICT, science and innovation, aviation, transport and environment sectors.

Speaking on the the contract for the comprehensive review of the seabed of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, Mr Maku said the N290 million contract is intended to check and make sure all sectors of the bridge are in good order.

The minister said “The bridge is a vital artery on the Federal Highways network connecting Lagos mainland to the island. Following reports of oscillation and excessive vibrations of the bridge under traffic load, investigations and tests were carried out by experts on the bridge in 2008 and the reports indicated that the bridge was structurally sound but required the replacement of damaged expansion joints and bearings,”

“the ministry of Works decided that Advanced Integrity Assessment including echometric (sonic pulse) tests on piles was inevitable in order to authenticate the findings of the Nigerian Submarine Divers Limited (NSD).”

“Cumulative efforts are being made to rehabilitate Lagos roads in order to make sure that as the artery nerve center of the nation’s economy, it continues to work. Every effort is being made by the federal government to improve the infrastructure of Lagos. This is aside the works being done at the deep seaports there,” Maku explained.

On the bill seeking to regulate and criminalising cyber-crime, which has been approved for transmission to the National Assembly (NASS), Maku said: “the core objective of the Cybercrime Bill, 2013 is to prove an effective, unified and comprehensive legal, regulatory and institutional framework for the prohibition, prevention, detection, prosecution and punishment of cybercrimes in Nigeria, promote cyber security and ensure the protection of critical national information infrastructure.”

“There is need for cooperation and international coalition to combat cybercrimes and that a lot is expected of Nigeria as a noteworthy regional power in Africa by the International community which expects her to acquaint herself commendably by joining forces with other members of the comity of nations in the fight against cybercrimes and in the promotion of cyber security,” he explained.

According to him, “cybercrimes are species of cross-border crimes perpetrated in time and space from any geographical spot in the world. The Bill is in conformity with existing Nigerian laws, the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime and reflects Nigeria’s obligations under the soon-to-be finalised AU Convention on the subject matter.”