Just In: Eyes of the world on Ekiti, says US

The United States of America has said the eyes of the world would be on Ekiti on July 14 during the governorship poll.

The Consul General, Mr. John Bray, stated this during a meeting with the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers held in the palace of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe.

He said this in a response to the requests of the council for a free, fair and credible election in a peaceful atmosphere made by the monarchs.

The Chairman of the council and Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju, had asked the US to prevent vote-buying during the July 14 governorship poll in the state.

He urged the country to bring observers from all over the world to ensure each vote counted in the election.

Saying that the people of the state would resist manipulation in whatever form, the monarchs said the governorship poll would be a pointer to what is to come in the 2019 general elections.

He said, “We want you to use your good office to bring monitors all over polling units. 

“Security agencies must be above board during and after the elections.

“We want everybody to be carried along. We want reputable groups as monitors present at polling units, not people that will just be moving about.”

Also speaking, Oba Adejugbe said the people would be happy if the most popular candidate won the election. 

“We want peace and vote to count. If the most popular candidate won at the end of the day, nobody would raise a voice.”

The Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Alagbado, warned against the experience of 1983 election violence where many houses were burnt in the old Ondo State.

“We are concerned about safety in our domain, we don’t want Ekiti to be a battleground. We want the choice of the people to emerge as governor in the election.”

Responding, Bray promised that the US was committed to peace before, during and after the election.

He said, “We are on the side of the people. We are here to support the free, fair, credible and peaceful election.

“The eyes of the world will be on Ekiti on July 14. We would be here and we won’t let you down.”

Messi wary of physical Eagles

Lionel Messi has admitted that though the current Nigerian team are ‘unknown’ to him and his Argentina side, the Super Eagles physicality could make them very difficult to beat when both teams clash in their final Group D game at the 2018 World Cup.

Argentina and Nigeria are scheduled to meet for the fifth time at the World Cup in Saint Petersburg on the June 26 with Nigeria yet to record a win over the La Albiceleste in their last four games at the in 1994, 2002, 2010 and 2014.

Both teams will also face Iceland and Croatia in Group D.

 “Our challenge is to be champions,” Messi told UK tabliod, Express.co.uk.

“We know it won’t be easy but I’m certain that Argentina has a squad capable of being a champion in Russia. If the players all believe the same then we can be contenders.

“If Argentina goes out there and play as we know we can then it will be very difficult to beat us. We have experienced World Cups before and we know that every rival will come out to try and beat us and play the game as if it is a final. That always makes it more complicated. But we are used to it.”

“It will be important to start strongly. Iceland did well in their last tournament so the first match will not be comfortable. But these are the ones to win if you don’t want the next matches to be even more complicated.

“Croatia is a good team with players in the big European leagues and that makes them dangerous. We don’t know so much about Nigeria but the African teams are normally compact, tough and strong. So it will be no walkover.”

He also played down talks of him retiring from international football after the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

“I don’t want to speak about my future. For now I’m only concerned about the present and doing the best I can in this World Cup.”

World Cup 2018: Russia welcomes the world

The anxious wait for the 2018 FIFA World Cup is finally over as the tournament kicks off today at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia. The 32 teams for the competition have all arrived and the first match of this year’s most-anticipated tournament kicks off at 4pm (Nigerian time) between hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia.

The competition ends on July 15.

Five countries from the Asian Confederation, five from Africa, five from the South America, three from the North America and 14 from Europe will contest for the title in Russia.

When the Russians launched their bid to host the World Cup for the first time, they were on a high after reaching the semi-finals at the 2008 European Championship. Fortunes have changed for Russian football and though not one of the favourites, the world’s focus is on the Eastern European country to deliver the best-ever football spectacle in the next one month.

With 12 stadiums across 11 Russian cities to host the 64 matches, fans across the world will witness one of the biggest tournaments in the history of the World Cup as the 736 players do battle for the world’s most-coveted football honour.

The host cities are Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Sochi, Kaliningrad, Nizhny Novgorod, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Samara, Ekaterinburg and Saransk.

Before Russia, European countries have hosted the most World Cup tournaments. They have hosted the world 11 times while South America has hosted the competition five times. Africa and Asia have only hosted once each, while North American countries have hosted twice.

Of all the continents, most winners of previous editions of the World Cup have come from Europe (11), while countries from South America have won it nine times. In all, eight countries have won the past 20 editions of the World Cup.

Record winners Brazil, who have won five tournaments, are seeking to further extend their dominance on the world scene while defending champions Germany are also in the race to add a fifth title to the four they already have. The German Machines are seeking to equal the number of titles already won by Brazil – five.

Outside the two, other past winners like Uruguay and Argentina, who have won it twice each, and France, Spain and England, who have won it once, would also be hoping to add to their titles in Russia. But an interesting fact about the competition is that every World Cup winning country has been coached by their countrymen – no foreign coach has won the tournament for another country.

Apart from the past winners, Russia 2018 is witnessing the debut of two countries – Iceland and Panama. The tournament is also witnessing the return to the tournament of long-term absentees like Peru, Egypt, Morocco and Senegal.

It the first time the football’s showpiece event is taking place in Eastern Europe, as well as the first time the Video Assistant Referee would be used at a World Cup following its trial, and controversial acceptance by some of the world’s major football leagues.

At Russia 2018, Egypt’s 45-year-old goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary will become the oldest player to feature at the World Cup, if he plays in their opening match against Uruguay on Friday. He takes over from Colombia’s Faryd Mondragon, who played against Japan in their 4-1 win at the Brazil 2014 World Cup at 43 years. Mexico’s Rafael Marquez is the oldest outfield player – he is 39-years-old. The youngest player at the tournament will be Australia’s Daniel Arzani. He is the only player who was born in 1999 or later.

Nigeria will be parading the youngest team at the tournament with an average age of 25.9 years. However, there are seven teenagers at the 2018 World Cup: KylianMbappe, Trent Alexander-Arnold, AchrafHakimi, Francis Uzoho, Jose Luis Rodriguez, MoussaWague and Arzani. The Panama and Costa Rican teams however have the oldest players with an average age of 29.6 years.

England boast of the only home-based squad in Russia. The hosts are close to the Three Lions as they have 21 of their 23 players who play club football in Russia, while Saudi Arabia and Spain are not far behind. Nigeria, Belgium, Switzerland and Iceland have just one player each playing in their domestic leagues while Sweden and Senegal have no home-based players in their squads.

Football clubs from England account for 124 of the 736 players in Russia while clubs from Spain have 81. German clubs have 67 players at the World Cup while 58 of the players in Russia ply their trades in Italy and 49 do business in France. The biggest surprise is the Saudi Arabian league, whose league boasts 30 players at the competition.

However, none of the players from Costa Rica, Iran, Panama, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay play league football in England.

Top stars

Every four years, the World Cup is always home to the game’s mega and superstars; Russia isn’t different. In terms of financial rating, Brazilian Neymar is the most expensive player at the 2018 World Cup. Clubs have paid a combined  €310m (U$366m) to sign the PSG forward so far.

KylianMbappe (France, $213m), Angel Di Maria (Argentina, $211m), Gonzalo Higuain (Argentina, $167m), James Rodriguez (Colombia, $165m), RomeluLukaku (Belgium, $163m), Philippe Coutinho (Brazil, $161m), OusmaneDembele (France, $154m), Luis Suarez (Uruguay, $137m) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, $133m) complete the top 10 richest stars in Russia.

African teams

Making their sixth appearance in the 2018 tournament, some argue that Nigeria’s Super Eagles are arguably Africa’s best chance of winning a World Cup ouf of the five sides presented by the continet — they come into the tournament as one the toughest sides in it and can be considered the dark horses.

Led by experienced captain John Obi Mikel, the Eagles will be banking on their seasoned players — who play their football abroad among the elite teams in Europe to break their quarter-final jinx in five previous appearances. The Eagles haven’t reached the last eight since their debut in 1994.

The Egyptians are playing in the World Cup for the first time in 28 years and will be buoyed by the fact that the mercurial Mohammed Salah will be fit to play, after he suffered a shoulder injury in the 2018 Uefa Champions League Final in May.

The Pharaohs come into the tournament as the most successful African nation in terms of continental titles, winning a record of seven African Cup of Nations trophies.

Senegal’s Lions of Teranga are playing in the World Cup for only the second time, but will forever be remembered for their 2002 heroics — when they eliminated then-defending champions France and made it all the way to the quarter-finals.

This Senegalese team are an unpredictable side, spurred on by their Liverpool talisman Sadio Mane.

For Morocco, it’s the fifth time the Lions of the Atlas have made the tournament and will be led by two-time AFCON winning coach HervéRenard.

Tunisia’s Eagles of Carthage head into the 2018 World Cup as the highest-ranked African side (41) after an impressive 2017 — and their momentum is likely to continue into the tournament.

They are making their fifth appearance — but their first since 2006. Coach Nabil Maaloul, who is in his third spell as Tunisia coach, has built a solid, spirited team worthy of going all the way.

Economic impact

The cost of hosting the FIFA World Cup in Russia will reportedly exceed $14 billion, making it the most expensive football competition in history.

It’s the first time Russia will host the World Cup, and the country’s former Deputy Prime Minister ArkadyDvorkovich estimated that preparations for the championship had contributed $14bn, or around one per cent, to Russia’s GDP over the last five years.

Altogether, Russia will spend 883bn rubles ($14.2bn) to host the World Cup, several billion more than the official cost of 683bn rubles ($11bn), according to calculations by the RBC business portal.

Transport infrastructure ($6.11bn), stadium construction ($3.45bn) and accommodation ($680m) are the biggest line items.

Over half of official World Cup-related costs fall on the federal budget. Since Russia won the hosting bid in 2010, the official budget for the tournament has been amended 12 times.

Analysts surveyed by RBC forecast that any economic growth from the World Cup would quickly dissipate, despite the influx of government spending.

“We spent a lot of money and we need to make sure that all this infrastructure works first and foremost for the development of sport,” President Vladimir Putin said at an annual call-in show on Thursday.

Tourism

Eleven cities, namely Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Volgograd, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Saransk, Rostov-on-Don, Yekaterinburg and Sochi, will host the championship’s matches, and the hosts are hoping that the 2018 FIFA World Cup will have a long-term positive effect on Russia’s tourism industry and may even positively influence the Russian economy.

More than 1.5 million foreign tourists are expected to visit Russia during the World Cup, the head of the Russian Federal Agency for Tourism, Oleg Safonov, said.

“We believe that about 1.5 million people will visit us. The figure may be even revised upward,” he said.

I’m still learning how to dance Shaku Shaku – Iwobi

Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi, who is with the squad in Russia for the World Cup, answered some fun questions in a short BBC Africa video

Special goal

My goal for Nigeria versus Zambia (Iwobi scored the winner against Zambia in Uyo, the goal that sealed the Super Eagles Russia 2018 World Cup ticket).

Favourite boy band

Kelechi (Iheanacho) has some low-key songs. I’d probably have (Ikechukwu) Ezenwa on the chorus or something like that.

Favourite Okocha goal

It has to be against Middlesbrough. He bent it in. I was with dad that day and it was amazing.

Best dressed: you or Aubameyang?

I believe I’m the best dressed. He’s a bit too flash. I don’t really like too much flash.

Weirdest item from camp mate

Kelechi actually brought a microwave when we were in London, of all things. But I found it useful because he was in my room and we could warm up our food.

Barcelona or Real Madrid on FIFA 18

Barcelona.

Best and worst roommates

Both have to be Kelechi. He has this tendency to be late and I don’t like to leave him behind because we’re roommates and I feel we’re in this together. But at the same time he’s fun, he’s always enjoyment. He’s the best and the worst at the same time.

Most difficult dance move

ShakuShaku. I’m still learning it and I have to learn it before the World Cup by force. I’m still learning the footwork.

Ekiti Assembly suspends ‘sleeping honourable’

The Ekiti State House of Assembly has suspended the member representing the Ikere Constituency 2, Mr Sunday Akinniyi, for alleged terrorism and sleeping in the last three years.

The lawmakers also barred Akinniyi from the vicinity of the Assembly complex and mandated the clerk to lodge a formal complaint of threat to lives of members against him to security agencies.

The Chairman, House Committee on Information, Dr Samuel Omotoso, said the suspension followed series of allegations levelled against him by the Leader of Business, Tunji Akinleye.

He said the decision was reached based on a report submitted after investigation carried out by the Ayodele Fajemilehin-led committee of the assembly.

“Hon Akinniyi Sunday was alleged few weeks ago of breeding terrorism within the institution of the House,  violence towards the mace in a properly constituted plenary session, belligerent attitude and acts of bellicosity against his colleagues and pugnacious behaviour in his constituency against his own people, all amounting to gross misconduct unbecoming of any honourable member of this House.

“The suspended member was also regularly absenting himself, especially when issues relating to his constituency are slated for discussion.

“Despite complaints of negligence from his people, he remained adamant.”

Omotoso recalled that Akinniyi was initially removed as the Chief Whip of the House on May 24, 2018 when his alleged misconduct became unbearable, towards making him more responsible.

“Rather than achieve this, the few occasions he presented himself for official duties in the House, Hon Akinniyi was in the habit of sleeping from the beginning of any programme to the end to the extent that he was nicknamed ‘the sleeping honourable’.

“Several attempts by the Speaker (Kola Oluwawole) advising him to pay attention to his people and his health has been rebuffed with insults.

“It is in reference to all these that this House viewed the failure of Akinniyi as incompatible with the spirit of good governance and quality representation of the present House of Assembly and he is hereby suspended indefinitely.”

Why Fayose sacked two board chairmen

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has sacked two board chairmen with immediate effect.
They are the Chairmen of the state Teaching Service Commission, Chief Gabriel Falayi,  and that of the Governing Council of the College of Education, Ikere Ekiti, Prof. Babajide Alo.

A statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Modupe Alade, said the decision was as a result of the need to reorganise government parastatals for effective service delivery.

“Consequently, Chief Femi Ogundipe has been appointed Chairman, TESCOM; Mrs Adeola Yesufu, Chairman, Governing Council, College of Education, Ikere Ekiti and Mrs. Folasade Akinrinmola as a full-time member, State Universal Education Board.

“The appointments take immediate effect,” the statement said

Don’t take sides in 2019 elections, UK tells EFCC

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission not to take sides with any political party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Arkwright also called on the EFCC to collaborate with the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that there is no vote buying.

The UK envoy said this when he visited the corporate headquarters of the EFCC in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said, “INEC and EFCC should be there to preserve the integrity of the political process, including taking forward investigations without any prejudice on one side or the other, following the evidence and taking action where it is justified.”

Arkwright further gave assurances of the British Government’s support “both in technical assistance, in investigation and of course broadening support of this great independent institution of the EFCC.”

The high commissioner commended the ant-graft agency for its recent achievements in tackling corruption.

“We are pleased to see how the EFCC operates, and we are assuring you of the endless support of the British Government in the fight against corruption.

 “The UK and Nigeria have evolved and made progress in the fight against corruption, and the EFCC’s achievements have been impressive,” he added.

In his remarks, the acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, appreciated the British Government for its support, and assured him of the independence of the EFCC in the discharge of its mandate.

He said, “I assure you that there is no political interference in what we do. We will continue to work with stakeholders like INEC who we have an agreement with to ensure that there is no interference to ensure free and fair elections in Nigeria and we will stop people using money to buy votes.”

According to him, the EFCC operates international best practices, and “does diligent preliminary investigation.”

Magu said, “We do not invite anybody here if he is not found to be involved in one offence or crime and that is why when you come here, it takes a lot of efforts to be off the chain. Whatever case that comes to the EFCC is investigated to a logical conclusion. We take the case to court which gives the final decision.”

Mimiko dumps PDP, LP rejects ex-gov’s defection plan

The Labour Party has rejected the plan by former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, to rejoin the party which he left in 2014 to join the Peoples Democratic Party.

This came on the heels of Mimiko’s resignation on Wednesday from the PDP.

It was learnt that the ex-governor had sent his letter of resignation to the leadership of the PDP in Ondo State with the intention to go back to his former party, the LP.

In the letter addressed to the state leadership of the PDP on Wednesday, Mimiko said his decision to leave the party was personal to him.

The letter read in part, “I hereby with utmost humility inform you of my decision to resign my membership of the PDP with effect from today, June 13, 2018, for some well-thought-out personal reasons.

“It was an honour working with the many prominent Nigerians with whom I shared the PDP platform for the entire period I was in there as a member. Accept please the assurance of my very high regards”

One of our correspondents further learnt that Mimiko would today join the Labour Party in his hometown, Ondo, but without many of his aides who have remained in the PDP.

However, the Labour Party described Mimiko’s defection plan as an ill-fated adventure, adding that his intention was to “use the LP to launder his sagging political image.”

The LP National Chairman, Mike Omotosho, who addressed a news conference in Abuja, on Wednesday, noted that Mimiko planned to destabilise the gains being made by the workers to reclaim and reposition the Labour Party.

He recalled that the former governor abandoned the party a few days to its national convention in October 2014.

“Such a treachery and betrayal of a party that gave the former governor succour in the darkest hour of his political career, especially as manifested in his two-term victory on the ticket of the Labour Party,  is to say the least cheap and callous.

“It also revealed the paucity of knowledge of the philosophy of the Labour Party as a peoples’ rooted party and the dearth of class consciousness on his part,” Omotosho stated.

He added that the LP is an offspring of the working class family and was midwifed by the labour movement, stating that “political journeypersons like the former governor of Ondo had in the past taken advantage of the leadership challenges in the Labour Party to satisfy their fantasies for political opportunism.”

The chairman explained that the labour movement, in alliance with its civil society partners and other patriotic Nigerians, were poised to fully reclaim the Labour Party and restore it as a model political institution that does not only epitomise the values of the working class family but also capable of contesting for power “with members of a failed political class, with whom the former governor dines and wines.”

Omotosho said, “Right now, the Labour Party is pre-occupied with strategic re-positioning aimed at re-energising our capacity for issue-based politics and ideologically driven political contestations.

“We urge politicians like the former governor of Ondo State to stay clear of the new Labour Party because we are aware of their gimmicks to lure the Labour Party in the direction of other political parties with the hope of rehabilitating their dwindling political relevance.”

Meanwhile, the Labour party has said that it has no candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Ekiti State.

“The Labour Party has no candidate in the governorship election in Ekiti State. lNEC workers and the Ekiti electorate should not allow themselves to be hoodwinked by the antics of political impostors,” the party warned.

The Ondo State Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Clement Faboyede, said Mimiko’s exit from the party could not have any negative impact, saying the party was waxing stronger on daily basis.

“Mimiko is a human being; he has the right to his opinion. We have tried at all levels to discourage him but he insisted on leaving. One thing I know is that PDP will not die as he (Mimiko) leaves.  We have survived many turbulent times in the past, so if he goes it can’t affect us negatively,” Faboyede added.

Summit: Trump downplays abuses by Kim Jong Un’s regime

US President Donald Trump downplayed abuses by Kim Jong Un’s regime in an interview following his summit with the North Korean leader, saying that other countries had also done “bad things.”

“A lot of other people (have) done some really bad things. I mean, I could go through a lot of nations where a lotta bad things were done,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News.

He praised Kim as “a very smart guy” and “a great negotiator,” saying that “I think we understand each other.”

According to Trump’s own State Department, Kim’s regime holds between 80,000 and 120,000 political prisoners in forced labor camps, facing torture and forced starvation.

As well as abuses at home, Kim is also suspected of ordering the assassination of his brother at a Malaysian airport last year.

Trump and Kim met in Singapore on Tuesday — an unprecedented encounter that saw the leader of the world’s most powerful democracy shake hands with the third generation scion of a dynastic dictatorship, standing as equals in front of their nations’ flags.

Critics have charged the summit legitimized Kim and said the summit was more about headlines than substantive progress.

Trump also had kind words for Chinese President Xi Jinping in the interview, describing him as “an incredible guy” and noting that he is “essentially president for life. That’s pretty good.”

NASS lacks power to probe criminal cases – Court

A Federal High Court in Abuja says the National Assembly lacks powers to investigate criminal allegations, indict or absolve anyone of crime.

In a ruling on Tuesday, Gabriel Kolawole, a judge, declared as null and void the practice of the National Assembly to investigate criminal allegations involving individuals.

Kolawaole said law enforcement agents or the executive had the powers to handle such issues, an online news medium, The Cable, reported on Wednesday.

The case with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/163/2009 was filed by Festus Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, against the House of Representatives.

Keyamo’s legal action was propelled by the silence of the House of Representatives over a news story in a national newspaper in 2008, which indicted the leadership of the House in a shady car deal of 380 units of Peugeot automobile.

A former Speaker of the House, Dimeji Bankole,  reportedly responded to Keyamo’s letter demanding an open response to the allegations and referred the matter to The House Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

In its recommendation, the committee faulted Keyamo’s letter, saying the allegations were baseless, while the Speaker was absolved of any wrongdoing.

Adeleke’s death: Family accuses Aregbesola of cover-up

The family of the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke has said they are suspicious that the Osun State Government led by Governor Rauf Aregbesola plans to cover up the truth behind the death of the late politician.

A younger brother of the late senator, Dr Deji Adeleke, made the allegation in his address read by a member of the family, Mr Dele Adeleke, at a press conference addressed at the residence of the late politician in Ede on Wednesday.

Adeleke, who was the first governor of Osun State, died on April 23, 2017  and there were rumours that he was poisoned at a social function he attended a day before his death because of his governorship ambition.

The death sparked spontaneous riots and the governor set up a coroner’s inquest to probe  the cause. The Consultant Pathologist, Dr Taiwo Sholaja, as well as the Chief Medical Director of the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Prof. Akeem Lasisi, told the coroner that Adeleke died of drug overdose.

The coroner, who is a magistrate, Mr. Olusegun Ayilara, recommended the nurse, Mr Alfred Aderibigbe, who treated the late politician, for prosecution for alleged    murder and he was remanded in prison custody upon his arraignment on Friday.

The family stated at the press conference that they were not behind the prosecution of the suspect and wondered why the governor suddenly realised  that Aderibigbe must be prosecuted some months to the governorship poll in the state.

Dele, who spoke on behalf of the family, described the prosecution as an attempt to further politicise the death.

Dele said that despite the fact that the family asked the hospital to carry out an autopsy on the body of the late senator, they had not received the autopsy and coroner’s reports.

He said, “Since this widely publicised declaration and recommendation by Magistrate (Olusegun) Ayilara, the indicted nurse has been roaming the streets freely and undisturbed. The government did not consider it necessary or important to make available to the family the detailed report of the autopsy conducted on our late brother as well as the detailed report of the coroner’s inquest. We have had to resort to getting information from the media just like every other member of the public as if we are not a related party.

“The family is concerned about the politicisation of the demise of Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke especially with the timing of this sudden interest in the matter after over a year of inaction on the part of the Osun State Government, more so that the election to change the mantle of leadership of the state is so close. There is also unfounded news in the social media about the family being behind this sudden re-arrest and prosecution of the nurse. This is far from the truth! The family is not involved. There is also a growing suspicion that the recent ‘arrangement’ of the Rauf Aregbesola government is to achieve the ultimate goal of a grand cover-up of the truth behind the death of Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke.

“The general public is hereby put on notice to be vigilant of the manipulative moves of the highly discredited and unfavoured Rauf Aregbesola administration.”

But Aregbesola said the family should give the judiciary the chance to do justice in the matter, saying the governor and the government had nothing to cover up in the case.

The media aide to the governor, Mr. Sola Fasure, who spoke on behalf of his principal urged the family to respect the rule of law and allow the judiciary to do their job.

He said, “What everybody wants is justice for the deceased and there is no better way to get justice than to allow the suspect to be prosecuted. The government set up a coroner’s inquest and the coroner gave his report.

“The government has been working on the report; the logical sequence is that those indicted by the coroner’s report are being prosecuted.

“I think we should have some respect for the judiciary and court process so that we will not create anarchy in the society. We all want justice for the late Senator Adeleke and I am sure that is what the family also wants. 

Stop attacking us, APC cautions Okorocha

The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress has cautioned the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, against further verbal attacks on party leaders.

The party advised the governor to work with the party leadership in his state instead of making libellous attacks on the APC and its leadership.

The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, issued the warning in a statement he signed in Abuja, on Wednesday.

According to him, Okorocha has made it a habit of making libellous attacks on the party and its leaders on a daily basis.

Abdullahi said, “Hardly a day passes by without Governor Okorocha verbally assaulting our National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and other party leaders over the recently concluded congresses in Imo State.”

He cited an example of an advertorial published in a national daily titled: “Let the Truth Speak for itself.”

Abdullahi said the advertorial “was signed by a known associate of Governor Okorocha, one Ireagwu Obioma, who styles himself as ‘Acting Secretary, Imo APC.”

The party spokesperson noted that a number of false claims were made against the party in the said publication.

The statement partly read: “The import of the allegations was that the party was aware of a court order preventing it from conducting the Imo State congress following the receipt of a copy of the so-called court injunction, which directed it to maintain status quo.

“But nothing can be further from the truth. Even the published documents in the advertorial do not support this position and in fact expose a lie in the governor’s version of events, that the party was duly served and prevented from going ahead with the congress in Imo state.”

Offa robberies: Police arrest more suspects in Oyo, Kogi, recover firearms

The operatives of the Intelligence Response Team led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari,  have arrested more suspects in connection with the April 5 Offa bank robberies during which nine policemen and 33 persons were killed.

Our correspondent in Abuja gathered on Wednesday that the additional suspects were apprehended in Kwara, Oyo and Kogi states and were assisting the police to track down other accomplices.

A source, who declined to give the number of the suspects, explained that two AK 47 rifles were also recovered from them.

The source said, “The fresh suspects belonged to the Michael Adikwu’s gang, the dismissed policeman and an ex-convict. He actually led our men to the hideout of the men where they were arrested.”

The fresh suspects, it was learnt, would soon be brought to Abuja and paraded before the media.

Meanwhile, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has denied any link to the five gang leaders that were involved in the bank robberies.

A source explained that the former Kwara State Governor, in his response submitted to the police last Thursday, stated that as a politician, he had a large following and could not possibly know all his supporters.

The police had said that their investigation into the matter showed that all the five gang leaders, namely: Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salawudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran, have direct connections to the Senate President.

The force stated that the suspected gangsters were at Saraki’s daughter’s wedding and also went with him to visit the Olofa of Offa, when he paid the traditional ruler a condolence visit in the aftermath of the robberies.

It also explained that one of the five gang leaders, Abraham, was wearing the ‘Aso Ebi’ used during the Senate President’s daughter’s wedding, indicating that he was close to the politician.

A National Assembly source described Saraki’s statement as mature, noting that he denied procuring firearms for the robbery suspects and omitted the Lexus SUV he donated to the gang leader, Ayoade Akinnibosun, a.k.a AY.

“He actually denied knowing the gang members; he insisted that as a politician, he has a large following and could not know many of them. He also defended the allegation that he purchased arms for the gang, but he was silent on the SUV he gave to Akinnibosun through the Chief of Staff to Kwara State Governor, Yusuf Abdulwahab,” the source stated.

It was learnt that the letter was receiving the necessary attention, but it could not be established whether the police authorities would still insist on the Senate President’s appearance before investigators in spite of his written defence.

The police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood,  had insisted at a press conference that Saraki must report to the Force Intelligence Response Team’s office at Guzape, Abuja, for interrogation on his links to the five gang leaders.

Moshood could not be reached for comment as he did not respond to calls and a text message, but police sources stated that Saraki’s claims would be verified by investigators, noting that his defence had not foreclosed his connection or link to the gang leaders.

I can’t vouch for those working for Buhari — Keyamo

The Director, Strategic Communications, Buhari Campaign Organisation, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), says he can only vouch for President Muhammadu Buhari’s integrity and not those working for him.

Keyamo said this during a chat with ‘The Interview’, a monthly magazine published in Abuja.

The senior advocate was asked to respond to allegations that there were nepotism and backdoor recruitment at the Central Bank of Nigeria and other public institutions.

He said, “Remember there was a time when there was an outcry that they shortlisted certain people or there were more people from certain parts of the country. Like I said, when these things come out and they come to the knowledge of the President, what does he do?

“Do you really expect the President to sit down and compile names of those to employ in MDAs? We cannot vouch for people who work for him. I am saying that openly. I cannot vouch for them. Do you expect the President to sit down, take his pen and begin to shortlist people one by one?

“When the issue of shortlisted candidates was brought to the public knowledge,  that it tilted to some areas, he stopped the process.”

Keyamo also berated those accusing Buhari of appointment of mainly northerners to top positions.

He said even though a large number of the persons running security agencies were from the North, the economy was being run by the South.

The senior advocate, therefore, stated that many southerners were being unnecessarily paranoid.

He said, “The service chiefs, two are from the South, two are from the North. One is from Ekiti and one, I think is a Calabar man or so. Now, the DSS and the NSA, in some areas when the President concentrates on picking people from some areas, in other areas, he may decide to leave that zone entirely and concentrate on another zone.

“For the northerners complaining that there is no one northerner in the economic team. You have the Vice-President from the south. You have the Minister of Budget, he is from the South; the Minister of Finance, from the South; the Minister of Trade from the south"

David Alaba: I would have loved to play for Nigeria

Bayern Munich of Germany and Austria international defender David Alaba has revealed that he loves Nigeria and would have loved to play for the Super Eagles but for circumstances beyond his control.
Alaba, of Nigerian parentage, was born in Austria and capped at U-17 level by the European country when he was barely 15.
However he has not forgotten his Nigerian root as he went to the Super Eagles Pre-World Cup training camp in Bad Tatzmanndsdorf, Austria over the weekend to wish the Nigerian team well on their way to the World Cup in Russia.
“I love Nigeria and I would have been happy to play for the country. However, I was spotted by Austria at a very early age and I was guided to play for them. So it was not that I choose one [country] over the other,” he said.
Alaba, a six-time Austrian Footballer of the Year who also holds the record for being the youngest player to be capped by Austria, is a lover of Nigerian food and music with Wizkid being his favourite musician among many others.
The 25-year old was born to a Nigerian father from Ogere Remo in Ogun State and a Filipino mother.

Scandal!! Jonathan’s Aide Says President Buhari Caused Osinbajo’s Helicopter Accident

Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan Reno Omokri believes President Buhari might have a hand in the mechanical fault the helicopter conveying Osinbajo developed recently and that he has warned Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo about President Buhari.

Omokri warned Osinbajo to be very careful of Buhari because the late Military Head of State, Gen Sani Abacha was the president’s idol.
In a tweet, Omokri said the crash-landing of the chopper he, Osinbajo, was in happened shortly after Buhari joked that his seat was threatened.
Omokri alleged that when Abacha fell out with his deputy, Oladipo Diya, the latter almost died in a plane crash.
He tweeted, “I remind Prof Osinbajo that when Abacha fell out with his deputy, Diya almost died when bombs were planted in his plane.
“The crash-landing of Osinbajo’s chopper soon after Buhari joked that his seat is threatened is fishy! Remember Abacha is Buhari’s idol.”
Recall that Buhari, while hosting a delegation of the Conference of Nigerian Female Parliamentarians, had said in a lighter mood that the position of Osinbajo was under threat.
Just last week, a chopper that was to convey Osibanjo from the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada in Abuja, was forced to land, few seconds after takeoff.

Miracle! Oyedepo Explodes, Raises Dead Man In Mortuary

Bishop Oyedepo rejoices in church after member who had been declared dead for over a day was resurrected in the mortuary after prayers from his church (video)

Yesterday, a lady shared the news of her brother who had been declared dead for over a day and injected for embalmment only for him to resurrect after prayers by members of Bishop David Oyedepo’s church.

Following the testimony, Bishop David Oyedepo, who is being given credit for the miracle, took to the pulpit to praise God for the miracle done through his church. He pointed out that the boy was raised to life by “Jesus that David Oyedepo serves”. He also used the opportunity to pray for members that everything dead in their lives will come back to life.

Obasanjo should be jailed, Says Oshiomhole - The Nation Nigeria

Former Edo State governor and top contender for the office of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo should arrested and sent to jail if found to have soiled his hands.

Oshiomhole spoke In a pre-June 12 event he organized in honour of late Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN and acclaimed winner if the June 12 1993 Presidential Election, Bashorun MKO Abiola. He dismissed reports credited to the former President that President Buhari wanted to frame and arrest him, saying when he was in power, he also arrested and detained people, thinking that he would be president for ever.

At the event, Hafsat Abiola Castillo accused the former President of betraying their father when he declared that Abiola was not the messiah Nigeria was looking for and never mentioned him once in his eight years in office as President.

Oshiomhole also praised Chief Frank Kokori for standing up to dictatorship when it mattered most, saying even though he was not President if the NLC, he mobilized oil workers to support the ideals of democracy.

Oshiomhole said Chief Obasanjo should be investigated and sent to jail if found to have dipped his hands in the pie.

He said: “Gani is not here today, but his spirit is here. Falana is here and today, I am standing. Even the president who was in charge then, he is now complaining that they want to harass him. He was harassing me and he got me arrested. He thought he himself would not be arrested?

“If I were the president, I would arrest him. We are all Nigerians. I remember one day I told him, I said ‘President Obasanjo, we made you president. You did not make me a Nigerian. You are our creation; I am not your creation. You must listen’.

“But he thought he would be in power forever and he tried to take us on the way to Zimbabwe. He was a reluctant Head of State, became president for two terms and he wanted to do a third term because a cockroach licking palm oil would never lick enough.

“I remember when I was accused by former president Obasanjo of behaving as if I was an alternate president; that I was running the NLC like a parallel government,  that I wanted to overthrow his government. A small man like me, completely powerless.

“If I am dark like this, it is because of Obasanjo’s teargas. When I now hear these same people saying they are trying to arrest them, why shouldn’t they be arrested? He should be arrested if he has committed any offence. He arrested many of us.

“So, if we are celebrating Chief Gani Fawehinmi, we have compelling reasons to do so. In all of these, we didn’t pay any money to Gani or Falana. They defended us pro bono.

“The late Abiola would be smiling not just for the honour done him by the president, but that Frank Kokori who was very young then, deployed the instrumentality of oil workers to support the progressive mission of the civil society.

“It is not the position you occupy, but the role that you play that will define your place in history. This man was never an NLC president, but he is the only unionist invited to the investiture.

“So, we just consulted among ourselves, few of us who benefited from Gani’s leadership by using the instrument of the law to confront evil leaders. At the NLC, we were so efficient at causing troubles, but too poor to procure the services of legal titans like Gani and Falana, but who would always come and defend us pro bono. So, we felt that on the eve of his investiture, we should gather and celebrate him.

“On June 12, the late Abacha asked us to tell Abiola to do a national broadcast to renounce his mandate. Pascal Bafyau advised him to take the bail conditions because he got information that the regime was ready to keep him in jail indefinitely, but Abiola said he wouldn’t mind dying, that if you are already in the river, you can no longer complain of being wet.

“Abiola died, but Abacha also died and today, Abiola’s children can go anywhere and say I am Abiola. But I am not sure of other persons”.

Speaking at the emotion laden event, daughter of the late Chief Abiola, Hafsat Costello, said some people they considered as close friends of their father abandoned them when the June 12 controversy began, only to start calling the family’s phone lines when President Muhammadu Buhari proclaimed June 12 as Democracy Day and conferred a posthumous award of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic GCFR on the late democrat.

She said: “MKO had friends who seemed like friends, but they disappeared when the problems started and only started calling us when this award thing came last week. The phones have been ringing, but 25 years is enough to know your friends. I want to thank Mr Femi Falana, Prof. Pat Utomi and a few others for standing by us in the past 25 years.

“There is another story. MKO had this classmate who he used to assist even to pay his fees in school. But after June 12, he was the first person to say that MKO was not the Messiah. And he was president for eight years and couldn’t even mention MKO for once. He couldn’t honour him.

“We thank Buhari for this. He does things differently from the way the average Nigerian elite does things. If there is anything that means a lot to me, it is because MKO was true to the Nigerian people. If he had betrayed that mandate, he would have died a broken man and no amount of wealth would have made him happy.

“I have just being thinking about MKO. To have known him was to know greatness in the body of a Nigerian. MKO came from a very poor family. He used to be a singer, a drummer and boxer. People just gave him money not because this voice was good, but perhaps they just took pity on him, a destitute singer”.

Also speaking, Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s son, Mohammed said: “I am overwhelmed by this event organized in honour of my late father. It has made me to recognise that we should not always think of ourselves but of our neighbours. My father was a very unusual man