APC’s sliding fortunes worry Oyegun

By Eromosele Ebhomele

 The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, may have been concerned with the sliding fortunes of his party barely two years after it took over power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), leading him to conclude that the crises within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is not what could be swept under the carpet anymore.

He says it is high time the party asked itself salient questions including whether it was truly moving the country in the right direction.

Odigie-Oyegun and Dogara.

Oyegun and Dogara agree that the APC has some problems that must be tackled urgently

The Cable reports that Oyegun expressed this concern on Tuesday, December 13 just before he proceeded to hold a closed-door meeting with the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.

The report quoted Oyegun as saying it was time to review issues within the party so that members would make amends where possible.

The party has been deep in crises currently threatening to tear it apart.

Oyegun said: “The purpose is clear and straightforward and that is to put all these things behind us and now seat down to introspect, look at the party, look at the national assembly, look at the government. We are going to two years in government.

“If is high time that we sat down, asked ourselves questions, pondered whether we are moving in the right direction, discussed serious issues and where necessary make correction that are considered expedient,” Oyegun said.

In his own remark, Dogara noted that the meeting was to afford the party the opportunity to chart a new course.

He added: “It takes meetings like this to chat a formidable way forward. For us in APC, we cannot assume that progress is automatic, but it is inevitable. If we fold our hands, nothing will happen,” the speaker said.

 “It is only by meetings like this that we will be able to put things in their perspective.

“We should be see what we have done wrong, what we can do and we should do to maintain the competitive political environment we have found ourselves.”
Source: Naij.com

Court orders Mobil to pay Lagos fishing communities N10 b for oil spillage

By Omotayo Yusuf

 A Federal High Court has ordered Mobil Nigeria to pay N10 billion to oil communities in Lagos over oil spillage.

‎The plaintiffs had sought a declaration that the defendant’s continuing failure to clean the environment and restore the ecosystem of their lands and waters was against the law.

They noted that the region was favourable to the occupation and business and failure to clear the spillage was tantamount to violation of their right to life.

They also prayed for a declaration that the Plaintiffs, whose representatives signed the release forms in favour of the defendant, carried out same by undue influence.

They argued that by such undue influence, the document is rendered null and void.

The plaintiffs “prayed the court to hold that the document purporting to release the defendant from effecting post-impact remediation programmes to restore the Plaintiffs’ environment is null and void.”

They asked the court order the defendant to clean up the environment and restore it to its original state.

They asked for the oil company to pay N8.4 billion with ‎interest at the rate of 10% per annum from Jan. 26, 1998 until judgment was delivered.

They also sought payment of interest on the same rate until full payment by the defendant.

Justice Ibrahim Buba in his judgment agreed with the plaintiff and asked the oil company to pay the requested money but cancelled the interest.

·         Source: Naij.com

Revealed: The document that nailed the anti-graft czar, Ibrahim Magu

By  Adejoke Adeogun

The Senate on Thursday rejected the nomination of Magu by Buhari as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, citing “security reports” as the reason for the rejection. 

Ibrahim Magu, nailed by DSS report,  his nomination rejected by Senate.

However, our correspondent in Abuja, who was privy to sight a copy of the “security report” compiled by the Department of State Security Service, DSS revealed that Magu’s activities were alleged to have made him ineligible to hold the office.

The Department of State Services had in the report alleged that Magu has failed integrity test and confirming him will hinder President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war.

According to the letter, dated October 3, and addressed to the Clerk of the Senate, in reference to a letter by the Senate, dated September 21, 2016, asking for Magu’s security check, listed several alleged malpractices against the EFCC boss.

Part of the allegations against Magu was his being in possession of EFCC documents in his private residence during the chairmanship of Farida Waziri.

The DSS also made reference to the circumstances surrounding Magu’s arrest, detention and suspension by the Nigeria Police and further alleged that the sum of N40m was paid for the rented apartment, which costs N20m per annum, where the acting EFCC chairman currently resides.

It added that the accommodation was not paid for from the commission’s account but by a presidential appointee, who had been under investigation.

The DSS alleged that after renting the apartment for Magu, the friend awarded a N43m contract for the furnishing of the accommodation.

The appointee, who is a retired Air Commodore, was said to be a close associate and ally of Magu, allegedly and “runs questionable business” and was once arrested by the service.

The report, which cleared the other four EFCC appointees, said Magu, flew a private jet owned by the retired military officer.

The service also claimed that the EFCC boss was once in the same flight to Maiduguri with a Managing Director of one of the new generation banks, who it alleged was under investigation, adding that the bank chief had been linked with a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The DSS stated that after the arrest of service chiefs by the EFCC, including Badeh, Umar and Amosu, Magu’s ally, while under interrogation by the service, had confessed that he didn’t want Amosu to be probed, the reason why the EFCC arraigned Amosu after his friend’s interrogation.

The acting EFCC boss was also accused in the report of making false allegations against individuals “for personal reasons.”

The report said, “The circumstances surrounding the return of Magu to the EFCC and the role played by Lamorde and their close relationship are clear indications of his culpability in the allegation of corruption tendencies of the Lamorde-led EFCC.”

The DSS also alleged that “Magu uses only his police cronies to execute operations,” adding that the fact that the cronies had acquired landed properties “led credence to the questions about his integrity.”

The report added, “In this light, Magu has failed the integrity test and will eventually constitute a liability to the anti-corruption drive of the present administration.”

·         Source: Daily News

Omawumi of DTHA is dead

By Patrick Ochei,

Anioma Trust

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Monday Igbuya has described the death of Hon. Beatrice Omawumi Udoh as painful and sad.

Late Mrs. Omawumi Udoh.

In a condolence message to the family, Igbuya described Udoh as a dogged fighter, grassroots woman and leader. He therefore in his letter stated, "i convey to you the deepest condolence of the Delta Sate House of Assembly”.

He averred that It is really hard to believe that the once vibrant legislator was gone, adding that it is just so sad.

However, the deceased colleagues had joined their Speaker to empathize the life and times of Hon. Omawumi Udoh, describing her as a dependable ally who stood against injustice and intimidation all her life.

One of such who passionately mourned Udoh's sudden departure is Hon. Engr. Emeka Nwaobi, recalling how she was glittering in her scintillating smile during the swearing-in ceremony of the both in January 2016 inside the Chambers of the Assembly.

Nwaobi maintained that her death was a great loss to Delta State and those who know her, describing her as a strong woman who stood and fought for her right.

Hon. Nwaobi was sworn-in alongside with Hon. Udoh after a long legal battle were they both won their cases and reclaimed their mandates.

While Hon. Engr. Emeka Nwaobi had unseated Osi Okocha, Hon. Beatrice Omawumi Udoh also removed Abigor from the House through the Appeal Court. Being sworn-in the same day in a unique way further brought them together.

But unfortunately, Hon. Omawumi Udoh had taken ill immediately after she was sworn-in and had remained outside her legislative duty on health grounds. Her death, in spite of all her efforts to stay alive came as a rude shock. Deltans, and of course the Itsekiri will miss her a great deal. She was a fourth time Member of the Delta State House of Assembly before her death.

·         Patrick Ochei reports for Anioma Trust.

New mega party underway; to be registered with INEC soon

By Omotayo Yusuf

 The speculation that plans for a new mega party in the Nigerian political scene is taking shape as break-away members of the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are expected to meet to fine-tune their plans.

Vanguard reports that the group will be from all the six geo-political zones of the country and would converge on Abuja on Monday, December 19 to put finishing touches to their plans.

It was however reported that a party name is in the pipeline, Action Democratic Party (ADP) and that if it is agreed during the December meeting, the party structure and other important documents would be forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for registration.

The source said: “The name of the new party is Action Democratic Party, ADP, we will meet on 19th December in Abuja to look at the structure and send to INEC the name. At the meeting, we will determine who would be the pro tem Chairman. Everyone will be invited; those expected are from the six geo- political zones of the country as well as the Senatorial districts.

“Our proposed party will come out from the ashes of PDP and APC.”

The speculation for a new party began in the APC following what was termed a betrayal treatment of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu by some politicians and senators from the party.

The PDP has also faced internal crises with the party torn between the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led group battling for supremacy with the Modu Sherriff led faction.

Recall that reports emerged recently that the trio of Tinubu, Atiku and the Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the PDP were planning a mega party for sometime in March 2017.

But Tinubu denied the reports saying he would not abandon APC for any other party no matter the reason. His comments have been widely saluted.

Source: Naij.com

MMM: EFCC responds to alleged crash, reminds users of prior warnings

The dust raised by the ‘frozen’ accounts and alleged crash of the Mavrodi Mondial Moneybox, otherwise known as ‘MMM’ is yet to settle.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Tuesday responded to a Twitter user who called the agency out for letting Nigerians to be duped.

Recall that promoters and participants of MMM in Nigeria on Tuesday woke up to panic as the ponzi scheme was frozen and all confirmed accounts suspended. 

The Twitter user, @Lolami_Boo, called out the EFCC, asking other MMM users to hold the agency responsible for the alleged crash of the MMM.

The user wrote: “Where the hell was EFCC? Isn’t it your job to stop crap like this?”

In a swift response, the EFCC on its official handle @ officialEFCC said, “You mean amongst the plethora of venality we fight daily, Ponzi schemes aren’t sustainable?

“There were a number of warning.”

Also, recall that the the EFCC had confirmed ongoing surveillance on the MMM investment scheme, warning that there was big chance of desperate subscribers on such platforms of losing their investments.

·         Source: Daily Post

8 bag 104 years for kidnap of Igbuya

  

A Delta State High Court sitting at Kwale and presided over by Justice O. Jaloggo-Williams has found eight persons responsible for the kidnap of the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly Honourable Monday Igbuya on May, 21, 2009 at Sapele guilty, and accordingly sentenced them to a total of 104 years imprisonment.

Monday Igbuya, Justice at last.

The convicts are Godspower Ikoro, Godspower Omoniyi (an ex-soldier), Ernest Atteh, John Adapamu, Ife Freedom, Sunday Uba Tiemo, kemi koinyang and Isaiah Mumbor.

The convicts who were arraigned in court after their arrest were later transferred from the Sapele High Court in 2011 to Kwale for trails on a six-count charge of conspiracy to commit a felony to wit, kidnapping, armed robbery and the substantive case of kidnap of Monday Igbuya and demanding with menaces the sum 100 million as ransom.

Monday Igbuya was subsequently released on 27th May 2009.

The Court found the convicts guilty on the count of kidnapping and demanding property with menace and sentenced them to 10 years (for kidnapping) in jail each with hard labour and three years in imprison (for demanding N100 million with menaces). The Court further held that the sentences are to run concurrently.

Justice Jaloggo-Williams however discharged them on the count of armed robbery for lack of sufficient evidence by prosecution.

The accused persons were charged under the criminal Code Law Section 364 (I.)  that prescribed 10 years jail term for Offenders before the Delta House of Assembly enacted Anti-Kidnapping Law,  2016 that now prescribed life imprisonment for Offenders.