Tomeeesin Blog

Former National Assembly members under the aegis of Coalition of South South Emeritus Lawmakers have called on the former General Officer Commanding, GOC, of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, to surrender to security agencies.                                   Government Ekpemupolo The came against the background of a repeated warning by the presidency to the leaders of the ijaw community to handover Tompolo and other suspects in the recent bombing of major oil and gas installations in communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State. The bombing was believed to have been carried out by Niger Delta ex-militants in the state. But the ill development seemed to have pitched the community against the federal government as ijaw leaders told the presidency that it was not in their place to arrest Tompolo. The Ijaw stand on the matter was presented by the Chairman, Ijaw (Izo

Mr. Smart Ajaja, a Nigerian rights activist, based in the United States of America, ‎ yesterday, said the refusal of former President Goodluck Jonathan to probe alleged multi-million dollars allegedly found in one the nation’s service chiefs, during his tenure was the reason America refused to sell arms to his administration. Ajaja, who gave insight into how some persons he described as very vulnerable Nigerians abroad serve as fronts to looters of the country’s treasury,said the US govt, which uncovered the money, gave Jonathan term upon which he could get its support. He said Jonathan refusal to probe a service chief, who he did not name, resulted to the refusal of American government to sell arms to his government. Ajaja said although some volunteers among the diasporans were willing to assist President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government to further identify some of the looted funds, the government should do a lot more to block movement of physical cash out of

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the redeployment of nine Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) among whom is Mrs Gesila Khan, who was the REC in Rivers state. Khan had been in the eye of thee storm even before the conduct of the 2015 General Elections, with the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state calling for her redeployment. In her stead, Ikoiwak Aniedi Abasi was moved from Delta to Rivers. However, in a circular tagged INEC/SEC/402/I and dated 27 January, 2016, Secretary to the Commission, Mrs Augusta Ogakwu described the exercise as routine. In the redeployment chart, Lawrence Azubuike moves from Ebonyi to Anambra state; Ogbudu Gabriel Ada from Imo to Akwa Ibom and Sylvester Okey Ezeani from Cross River to Abia. Others are Sam Olumekun from Ekiti to Edo; Austin Okojie from Akwa Ibom to Bayelsa; Baritor Kpagih from Bayelsa to Delta and Habu Zarma Hinna from Yobe to Taraba. According to Ogakwu, the re-deployment takes

 The President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki, on Thursday said the 8th Senate was committed to good governance, transparency, accountability and due process. The Chairman of the National Assembly (NASS) was responding to an open letter from the former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, to both chambers in which he called the attention of the lawmakers to issues bordering on budgets and finances of the NASS. Saraki Obasanjo also raised issues of fiscal policy irresponsibility, extravagance and impunity by some members. Replying to the letter in a statement he signed personally, Saraki however assured the former president that the NASS was aware of the current economic realities and was also cutting its expenditure. “Yesterday, I acknowledged receipt of a letter from former President Olusegun Obasanjo in which he called the attention of the National Assembly to some issues. “I will want to assure President Obasanjo that the leadership and membership of the

 The National Youth Service Corps has ordered its personnel whose assets declaration dates are due to make such declaration immediately in line with the code of conduct for public officers. The Director-General of the NYSC, Brig- General Johnson Olawumi gave the directive at the opening ceremony of its 2016 Annual Management Conference (AMC), in Asaba, the Delta State capital. The DG in a statement issued in Abuja by his Director of Press, Mrs Abosede Aderibigbe, said the management had been very consistent in ensuring strict adherence to policy guidelines in all aspects of the scheme’s operations. Reviewing the activities of the scheme, Olawumi recalled with delight the participation of corps members in the successful conduct of the 2015 General Elections. “I therefore wish to commend the political class, security agencies, and the electorate for their support to Corps members during the exercise. We assure all Nigerians that given such opportunity in the future, we

Ugieda (Edo) – Two persons have died after consuming some quantity of locally-brewed gin popularly called “Ogogoro’’, believed to have been contaminated. Three persons were hospitalised at an undisclosed health facility, after taking the substance in Ugieda, South Ibie, in the Etsako-West Local Government Area of Edo on Thursday where the incident happened. An eye-witness, Mr Lukman Rilwan, said that the five persons who consumed the local brew, had complained of stomach ache afterwards. “After they consumed the gin, they began to complain of stomach ache; unfortunately two died immediately, while three others are currently hospitalised.” The traditional ruler of South Ibie Clan, Alhaji Kelvin Danesi, and the Chairman, Etsako-West Local Government, Mr Yesufu Busari, who confirmed the incident, said that a ban would be placed on consumption of the gin. “I got a report that two people have died and three others are critically ill at the hospital. “So, we are doing e

A group, Youths for Democracy, has called on the Supreme Court to save the nation’s democracy by upturning the ruling of the Appeal Court on Taraba State, which returned Darius Ishaku as governor. The group in a statement by its President, Titus Gambo, said allowing that ruling to stand will be dangerous for the nation’s democracy just as it would send the wrong signal to politicians. He said the tribunal ruling which returned Hajia Aisha Alhassan of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as governor of the state should have been upheld, “as it was in tandem with the provisions of the law. He said based on the provision of Section 138(1) (a) of the Electoral Act, 2010, qualification of any candidate for an elective post extends to compliance with the mandatory provisions of Sections 87(1) of the Electoral Act. He said “the bone of contention here is whether or not the party on whose platform the governor, Darius Ishaku contested the election conducted Primaries. And the answer

IT was dusk. The blistering afternoon sun had given way to a creeping cold weather. The dry and dusty day was gradually transforming into a moisture atmosphere. As motorists made their way home that evening, they cast a glance at the debris of the ruin that the operational headquarter of the religion sect had become. Few weeks ago, the empty land stream with stones and broken blocks and pieces of flattened roofing sheet was the ‘sovereign’ territory of Sheik Ibrahim Zakzaky, spiritual leader of the Shiite, also known as Islamic Movement of Nigeria. This is Huyssainyah, few minutes’ drive from the Depot, Nigerian Army, Zaria and a walking distance from the Police Area Command. Elsewhere in Gyaellsu, a nearby residential neighborhood, the expanse occupied by the sect leader and his followers had been leveled, leaving behind a wasteland, at least for now. Buratai-El-zakzaky Penultimate Monday, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, led by its President Augustin Alegeh, SAN, sec

TWO first-class monarchs in Delta State, the Olu of Warri Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli and the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM Orhue I, have asked youths in the Niger Delta region to stop bombing crude oil and gas pipelines as a way of drawing government attention to their perceived grievances. The monarchs, who spoke separately at their palaces when they played host to the Commander-General of Riverine Security Coast Guard of the Federation, Commander Oduku Bibi and his members, said the era of pipeline bombing was over with the successful implementation of the amnesty programme for ex-militants from the region. Ateke Tom condemns attack on oil facilities Meanwhile, former Niger Delta agitator, Chief Ateke Tom, has condemned the recent attack on oil facilities in Delta State by suspected ex-militants. Ateke, who currently is the leader of Niger Delta Vigilante, NDV,  admonished youths to desist from acts that threaten the peace and unity of the country, wa

The new Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adoza Bello, yesterday, declared his stand against corruption and impunity, saying he was in a hurry to develop the state. Bello stated this after he was administered the oath of office and Oath of Allegiance as the fourth civilian governor of the state by the state Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah. The governor, however, was betrayed by his emotion, when he burst into tears while remembering his late father and eulogising his mother and recalling the many troubles he faced before he became governor. Gov. Yahaya Bello during his swearing as the govenor of Kogi State. The inauguration ceremony was, however, conducted without a deputy governor, as the unwilling deputy governor-elect, James Faleke, boycotted the event in continuation of his stand not to be associated with Bello’s emergence as replacement for late Abubakar Audu, the deceased All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate. Indeed, Bello’s swearing-in without

A confident looking former President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday in Switzerland  gave a robust defence of his administration and stated why he would not comment on the current arms probe scandal allegedly involving his National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, and some top politicians in the country. Speaking at Geneva Press Club on Security, and Development in Africa, the former President said he would not like to comment on the arms probe matter now because his comment could affect witnesses and the judicial proceeding that had been initiated by the current administration. Jonathan in Geneva He said: “I would not like to comment now because the matter is in court. I cannot comment. Definitely, I will speak. My Comment now may affect witnesses and the judicial process. “When I was President, I tried to build institutions like the Judiciary and separation of power and the electoral bodies. I should not be the one undermining the process.” The former President f

Evangelist Elliot Uko is the founder of Igbo Youths Movement, IYM, Deputy Secretary of the Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT and leader of Soth-East Democratic Coalition, SEDC. In this chat with Vanguard, he disagrees with comments that the Igbo are not marginalized in Nigeria. He also backed total war against corruption and stressed that restructuring the country into fiscal federalism will ensure justice, equity, harmony and robust development. D uring his first media chat last month, President Muhammadu Buhari said that Ndigbo are not marginalized. What is your take on this? The world was shocked at the assertion by the President. But Ndigbo were not surprised. They have his records as a young Lieutenant in the army, a Captain and Major during the civil war till date. Majority of our people believe he has passionate hatred for Ndigbo. His friends deny that but clearly he doesn’t seem to care how Ndigbo perceive him. The world saw his emotions at the tail of the interview,

FOLLOWING the drop in the revenue from federation allocation to states in the country, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has advised the various ministries, departments and agencies of government to prioritize the items on their budget proposals that will generate revenue for the state. Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriations, Mr. Usoro Akpanusoh, gave the advice, yesterday, during the 2016 budget defence organised by his committee for the 57 MDAs in the state. Gov Emmanuel Udom of Akwa-Ibom This came as most of the MDAs demanded for increase in the vote appropriated for them for year 2016 while making their presentations during the budget defense. Akpanusoh appealed to them to understand the current economic situation in the country and ensure judicious use of the funds allocated to the items in their proposals for the effective implementation of the 2016 budget. He said, “My appeal is that you should prioritize items on your budget. There is no nee

President Muhammadu Buhari’s quest to provide  500,000 unemployed Nigerian graduates jobs in the teaching profession, has attracted manifold reactions from stakeholders in the education sector. While a school of thought views it as a good policy thrust on tackling unemployment among youths, it is, however, perceived by many as a bid to solve one problem, which may lead to creating more in the process. File photo: Unemployed youths at Alausa, Ikeja It will be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had recently stated that 500,000 unemployed graduates will be absorbed into the teaching profession to solve, in the interim, the problem of graduate unemployment in the country. Apart from the reality that many square pegs will end up in round holes, stakeholders are also asking who will be responsible for the 500,000 teachers’ salaries, as the states and local governments over the years have had the responsibility of paying teachers’ salaries. In her reaction, the Deputy Vic

Two suspected Female suicide bombers, yesterday attacked Chibok Market in Chibok Local Government area of Borno State, leaving 14 persons dead and over 24 others seriously injured, All Progressives Congress, APC, chairman in Chibok, Lawan Pogu, said in Maiduguri. According to the report from Chibok, the Chibok market shut since the attack in Chibok School where over 200 female students were abducted by Islamic militants, was only opened yesterday. File: Abducted Chibok girls. Pogu said: “The market was opened today, and the suicide bombers hit the market at exactly  12:54 pm. eight persons died on the spot while over 30 persons were rushed to the General hospital Uba in Askira local government with two of the victims in critical condition.” Another resident of Chibok, Mallum Chibok told Vanguard that, despite the presence of security in Chibok, the Boko Haram insurgents succeeded in attacking the area indicating that, the insurgents were everywhere. According to him,

Jigawa State Government has confirmed the death of one person as a result of Lassa fever outbreak and 26 others persons who had contact with the decease were at present under surveillance. Lassa-fever Confirming the development, Commissioner of Health, Dr Abba Zakar, said the victim who resided at Gujubaki village in Dutse Local Government area of the state had just returned from Port Harcourt in Rivers State and reported to Dutse General Hospital with signs and symptoms suggestive to Lassa fever. The commissioner explained that immediately the hospital management noticed the case, it contacted the state ministry of health. According to him, the ministry immediately sent its Rapid Response Team, RRT, which consisted three Doctors, Disease Notification Officers, DNOs, and an Epidemiologist to examine the victim and take sample of his blood. He said , the blood sample was taken to a laboratory in Abuja where it was confirmed positive, lamenting that the victim died late

GSK Consumer Nigeria Plc has confirmed that it has received a non-binding offer from, Suntory Beverage & Food , SBF Limited to diversify its drinks business comprising the bottling and distribution of Ribena and Lucozade and part of the Agbara manufacturing site. The Board, it was gathered is considering the offer and expects to make a decision after the appointment of its professional advisers and negotiation with SBF. Any potential sale would be subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals and, until it completes, the Drinks Business would belongs to GSK Nigeria and “business as usual” would be maintained with It was also gathered that the Board has granted SBF access to certain due diligence information. There can be no assurance that SBF will make a binding offer following completion of their due diligence review, or whether the terms of any such offer will be acceptable. Findings show that the financial terms of SBF’s non-binding offer remain confidential.

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, United Kingdom branch is demanding for fair trial and judgment based on facts, evidences and logic, in the case involving their leader and Director of Radio Biafra, Mr Nnamdi Kanu, saying that the case will make or mar Nigeria’s image in the international community, if mishandled. The group in a statement made available to newsmen in Nnewi, praised what it called “Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court Abuja’s forthrightness in ensuring that justice, equity, and fairness were displayed in his ruling for the transfer of Mr. Kanu from the Department of State Services, DSS, cell to Kuje prison. Nnamdi kanu In the statement signed by Mr Emma Nmezu and Dr Clifford Iroanya, Spokes persons for the IPOB in United Kingdom, the group said: “Keeping Mr Kanu in prison will enable him have access to his doctors, lawyers, family members and other related parties. “We, the IPOB are encouraged by the forthrightness of Honourable Justice J

The Ivorian Head of State, Alassane Ouattara and his Kenyan counterpart, President, Uhuru Kenyatta, are billed to chair the fourth edition of the African Chief Executive Officers, CEOs forum aimed at development of African private sector. The event, expected to assemble more than 800 participants across the continent and beyond, world holds between March 21 and 22, 2016, in Côte d’Ivoire. Speaking on the significant of the gathering, Abdoul Maiga, said aside from bringing together the continent’s top CEOs, bankers, investors and public decision-makers, it would mark Uhuru Kenyatta’s first official trip to Côte d’Ivoire. According to him, “At a time when the continent faces an uncertain economic environment, the participation of the highest representatives of the most dynamic economies of East and West Africa is a true testament to the success of the Africa CEO Forum and its objective of fostering the development of the African private sector by promoting dialogue and

The Federal Government, yesterday, failed to open its case against former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, who is facing corruption charges before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT. Orubebe was in the charge, alleged to have falsely declared his assets while in office as a public officer. Orubebe docked Government alleged that he failed to declare his ownership of two choice property in Abuja. More so, he was accused of collecting bribe of N70 million from one Pastor Jonathan Alota, the owner of a company, Chemtronics Nigeria Limited. The charge against him was initiated by the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation . Government had on November 26, 2015, when the matter came up for trial, applied for an adjournment to enable it to amend the charge against Orubebe. However, when the matter came up yesterday, another lawyer who appeared for the government, Mr. E.A Orji, told the tribunal that O

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, his Kwara State counterpart, Alhaji Abdulfatah and the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, yesterday described the death of the former Inspector General of Police, Chief Sunday Adewusi, as a colossal loss to the nation. They equally noted that his demise was as a great loss to the government and the people of the state. Ex-IG, Sunday Adewusi This came as the family of the late Inspector General kept sealed lips on the death and plans for his burial. Governor Ahmed described the death of the former Inspector General of Police, as a national loss of immense proportions in a statement by his Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba. According to the statement, Governor Ahmed said the late Chief Adewusi was a police officer who not only rose to the pinnacle of his career but contributed immensely to nation building. He said the late police boss was an elder statesman whose vast experience in security matters was of great value t

An official of Diamond Bank Plc, Eno-Mfon Effiong, yesterday, told the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that the National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, who is facing trial over alleged N400 million fraud, ran five separate accounts with the bank. Olisa Metuh Effiong, who told the court that she was the account officer to Metuh’s firm, Destra Investment Limited, explained that the company already had a balance of N6,676,576 in its account, prior to the date the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, credited it with N400 million on November 24, 2014. The witness, who testified as the PW-3 yesterday, said she was not surprised by “the credit inflows” into the account, 0040437573, considering that both Metuh and his firm were regarded by the bank as “high network customers.” She explained that high network customers were those that have high credit inflow into their accounts, saying “this is usually because the person

The Supreme Court has upheld the outcome of the April 11, 2015 governorship election that brought Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to power. The apex court in a unanimous judgment, restored the declaration of Wike as the valid winner of the poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Justice Kekere-Ekun, who delivered the lead verdict, held that three separate appeals filed by Wike, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and INEC, were meritorious. Concurrent judgments of both the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and that of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal were all set aside by the Supreme Court. The apex court panel headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, however, reserved their reasons for the judgment till February 12. Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike ; his wife Justice Suzzette Nyesom-Wike and others celebrating the Supreme Court judgement validating his election, yesterday in Port Harcour