COURT OF APPEAL, ABUJA, HAS DISMISSED AN APPEAL BY THE ALLIED PEOPLES MOVEMENT, APM, SEEKING TO DISQUALIFY PETER OBI

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has dismissed an appeal by the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, seeking to disqualify Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, from the February 25 general election.

In the appeal marked: CA/ABJ/CV/1414/2022, the Movement had approached the court, contending that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, ought not to have recognized Peter Obi as a valid candidate for the presidential poll.

APM said this was in consideration of the time Obi defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the LP.

The party argued that the period of Obi’s defection for the purpose of contesting the presidential election was in violation of sections 77(2) and (3) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

They also argued that before Obi’s defection, the LP already sent a list of its registered members to the INEC.

According to the appellant, Obi lacked the right to be recognized as the LP flagbearer because his name was not on the list of the party members that was submitted to INEC.

APM further urged the court to set aside the Federal High Court judgment which dismissed the suit it filed to challenge Obi’s candidacy.

In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of Justices, the appellate court said there was no merit in the appeal filed by APM.

Recall that this is one of the grounds the All Progressives Congress APC Candidate and President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented to the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in response against Peter Obi’s Petition.

LT. GENERAL OLADIPO DIYA IS DEAD, FEC MOURNS.

  Late Gen. Diya

THE Federal Executive Council (FEC), has expressed shock over the death of the former Chief of General Staff, Lt. General Oladipo Diya (rtd), which sad event occurred on Sunday.

Lt. General Diya (rtd) served as the Chief of General Staff to the late head of state, General Sani Abacha.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja

described General Diya as a seasoned military officer with admirable administrative capabilities in his various functions as the Military Governor of Ogun State (1984 – 1985), Chief of Defence Staff, and the Chief of General Staff (1993 – 1997); as well as a notable statesman who made invaluable contributions to nation-building.

“FEC condoles with the government and people of Ogun State, his family and friends, and prays to God to grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest,” SGF stated.

AMAECHI, WIKE RENEW SUPREMACY BATTLE IN RIVERS STATE

As the governorship and State House of Assembly elections hold tomorrow, Saturday, some residents of Rivers State are cut in between the line on who to vote for, especially for the position of Governor and of course the houseof assembly seats contestants in the state.

Some observers hold the opinion that the governorship and the state Assembly candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party are likely to win.

This is because, they believe Governor Nyesom Wike’s influence will give a landslide victory to his party, the PDP.

The PDP had won 90% of the National Assembly seats in the state, including the 3 Senatorial districts and 9 House of Representatives seats.

The Labour Party won 1 House of Representatives seat and the All Progressives Congress won 1 seat at the House of Representatives too. However, two constituencies are yet to be announced.

The PDP is being been accused of hijacking the process of the February 25 election.

The Labour Party in the state had claimed that they won the presidential election in the state, as well as most of the National Assembly seats, but their mandate was allegedly stolen by the PDP.

For the March 18 election, it is widely speculated that the APC and the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in the state, have great interest in the elections, despite not showing much interest in the presidential and National Assembly elections.

The Labour Party is also not left out as some “Obidients” have vowed to vote for LP from top to bottom, as a revenge for what happened in the February 25 election.

Meanwhile, some residents of the state have promised to follow through with Governor Wike’s alleged directive during the presidential election, to vote for the APC.

Wike is believed to have worked for the presidential candidate of the APC, now president-elect, Bola Tinubu, to make him remove his interest in APC winning Rivers governorship election.

Tinubu is reportedly caught in the middle on who to support among the guber candidate of his party, which is the APC, Patrick Tonye-Cole, the guber candidate of the SDP, which is his longtime ally, Magnus Abe or the guber candidate of the PDP, Siminalaye Fubara, whose boss (Wike), allegedly worked for his victory in the state.

Tension seem high in the state as various political parties, especially the APC and the SDP, have vowed that the PDP will not hijack the electoral process like they supposedly did with the presidential and the National Assembly elections.

The guber candidate of the Labour Party, Beatrice Itubo is also gathering momentum, as the electorates and the Obidients are gearing towards her. The support for her candidacy increased after the former state chairman of LP in Rivers state, Dienye Pepple, as well as the state executives of the party, publicly endorsed the guber candidate of the PDP.

Their decision, they said, was hinged on the fact that, “they want to support a candidate that can win the election.”

They also accused their party’s guber candidate of being, “unserious and unready to run an election.”

As for the candidate of the SDP, Abe, he has been endorsed by several groups in the state, including the Igbo community, of which the leadership have come out to refute.

He also has a large number of followers and has been described as, “a grassroots politician.”

He worked with the previous administration, where he served as Secretary to the State Government. Abe is also said to have a stronghold in his area, which is the Ogoni axis.

The candidate of the PDP is said to also have a great chance. This is because Governor Wike has managed to poach some influential leaders of the APC and SDP in the state to join his camp.

He has equally had meetings with several groups and sectors, to woo them to vote for his party’s candidate.

A week ago, he went as far as promising to employ 10,000 youths in the state, promotion of civil servants, an employment scheme and promotion of several persons. However, this strategy may have won some people to the side of the strategic Governor.

The candidate of the APC, Tonye-Cole, had earlier gathered some level of support from the people, after the presidential and National Assembly elections. Some electorates described him as, “the best man for the job.”

But this did not last, as he allegedly posted a congratulatory message to the president-elect, Tinubu on his Facebook page.

However, some people, despite the congratulatory message, have decided to vote for him, because of his experiences.

The physical campaign of former Governor, Rotimi Amaechi has also helped him gather support from people who are not in tandem with Wike’s style of leadership.

Amaechi has been vigorously campaigning for the APC candidate in what could be seen as a renewal of the supremacy battle between him (Amaechi) and Wike.

People are also expecting some guber candidates from the Kalabari extraction, where Tonye-Cole is from, to step down for him, as the many candidates from the Oceania LGA’s, will mar the possibility of a Kalabari Governor.

The guber candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Tonye Ibraye, as well as his Deputy, Tonto Dike are the first to step down.

It is uncertain if others, including Dumo Lulu-Briggs of Accord, Dawari George of Action Alliance and Sogbomabo Jackrich of National Rescue Movement, will step down for Tonye-Cole.

Tension is high, as many fear of possible violence in the Saturday’s election in the state.

The candidates of the APC, LP, PDP and SDP, all stand a good chance of winning the election. It is quite difficult to say who is likely to win as the race in the state is too close to call.

NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL OF NIGERIA TAKES OVER EMPLOYMENT OF 10,000 CIVIL SERVANTS IN RIVERS

Gov. Wike

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has asked the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, to take charge of the planned employment of 10,000 persons into the state’s civil service.

This was coming less than 72 hours to the governorship and state houses of assembly election in the state.

Wike also released N570 million to youths of the state, adding that part of the money would be used to build a secretariat for the youths.

The governor made the announcement in Port Harcourt during a state rally in solidarity with the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Siminialaye Fubara.

Gov. Wike, during the event, handed the allocation of the 10,000 jobs into the state’s civil service to the state’s leadership of NYCN.

He mentioned that N70 million of the announced sum was for the accumulated subventions for youths, while N500 million is for building a secretariat for youths.

Wike urged the state leaders of NYCN to follow right channel to the Government House and collect their accumulated subventions, totalling N70 million.

He then announced the sum of N500 million to start the construction of what he called a “befitting state secretariat in PH”.

Wike further stard that his administration was prosecuting the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Tonye Cole, and Chibuike Amaechi over the alleged sale of some state assets.

I DIDN'T ATTEND PRIMARY, SECONDARY SCHOOLS; MY UNIVERSITY CERTIFICATES STOLEN BY UNKNOWN SOLDIERS, TINUBU TELLS INEC

    Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, has told the electoral commission INEC that he didn’t attend primary and secondary schools.

The former Lagos governor, however, claimed he had two degrees from two American universities, which he further stated had been stolen by unknown soldiers during the military junta of the 1990s.

The disclosures came in an affidavit submitted by Mr Tinubu to the electoral office as part of his eligibility filings for the 2023 presidential elections.

The documents released on Friday showed Mr Tinubu left the columns for his primary and secondary education unmarked. But he said he obtained a degree in business and administration in 1979, apparently referring to his previous claims of attending the Chicago State University.

“I went on self-exile from October 1994 to October 1998. When I returned I discovered that all my property, including all the documents relating to my qualifications and my certificates in respect of paragraph three above, were looted by unknown persons.

“My house was a target of series of searches by various security agents from the time the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was forced to adjourn following the military takeover of government of 17th November 1993.

 

“I was the chairman of the Senate committee on appropriation, banking and finance. I was also a plaintiff in one of the two suits against the interim national government in 1993.

“I went on exile when it became clear to me that my life was in danger,” Mr Tinubu said in his claim to ine

The electoral law mandates candidates to submit their personal credentials that will be published for public scrutiny ahead of elections.

Mr Tinubu’s latest claims appear to contradict his previous election submissions, especially in 1999 and 2003 when he ran for office as a governorship candidate in Lagos. He claimed both times that he attended primary and secondary schools.

He said he attended St Paul Children’s Home School, Ibadan, between 1958 to 1964; while his secondary education was at Government College, Ibadan, between 1965 to 1968.

From Ibadan, Mr Tinubu said he proceed to Richard Daley College, Chicago, from 1969 to 1971.

He stated finally to have attended both Chicago State University and the University of Chicago.

The Chicago State University confirmed Mr Tinubu as its student, graduating with a degree in business and administration on June 22, 1979.

All the submissions were, however, challenged as fraudulent by a prominent Nigerian lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi.

Mr Fawehinmi, 1938-2009, argued the matter up to the Supreme Court, which dismissed the case on technical grounds rather than on its merits.

Ikenga Ugochinyere, a political activist in Abuja, said he would challenge Mr Tinubu’s filings in court, accusing him of having committed perjury.

Mr Tinubu “commits perjury as he abandons his earlier claim of attending primary school, sworn in an affidavit to run for governor but now claims not to have attended primary school,” Mr Ugochinyere said in a statement. His “new forms contradict his 2007 affidavit that he has primary school and secondary.”

A spokesman for Mr Tinubu did not return a request seeking comments about the alleged discrepancies in his submissions to the electoral commission.

ZAMFARA GOVERNMENT DONATES SECURITY VEHICLES TO NIGER REPUBLIC TO FIGHT BANDITRY

The Zamfara State government has donated five new Hilux vehicles to the Government of the Niger Republic for special security border patrol.
This was contained in a statement issued in Gusau on Saturday and signed by the Press Secretary to Governor Bello Matawalle, Jamilu Birnin-Magaji.

Birnin-Magaji said the donation was in fulfilment of a pledge by Matawalle to support the country with patrol vehicles and other security logistics in the fight against banditry.
“The vehicles were presented by Governor Matawalle to the Governor of Maradi Region, Alhaji Abubakar Shu’aibou, at a ceremony held at Government House, Gusau.”

The governor said the vehicles were to provide special border patrol at Maradi and other parts of the Niger Republic which share borders with Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto.
Responding, the governor of Maradi Region, Shu’aibou, assured Matawalle that the vehicles will be used to fight bandits and “other heinous crimes, particularly along the Maradi border.”

In December 2021, Matawalle visited President Mohamed Bazoum of the Niger Republic in Niamey, where the two leaders resolved to explore more areas of cooperation.

HUSH PUPPI STEALS OVER $400,000 BY SCAMMING US GOVERNMENT, CITIZENS FROM INSIDE AMERICAN PRISON — JOURNALIST CLAIMS, CITING NEW COURT DOCUMENT

A few years ago, the internet was awash with news that popular Gucci millionaire and Instagram influencer Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, aka Hushpuppi, was arrested in the UAE for fraud and extradited to the US.

Well, he’s at it again. This time, right behind bars. US prosecutors presented documents before the United States District Court of California on Wednesday with fresh evidence indicting Hushpuppi of committing fraud and money laundering in a US federal correctional facility.

In court documents obtained from the US Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Central District of California, Hushpuppi, while in a US federal correctional facility, participated in the purchase and laundering of Economic Impact Payment (EIP) debit cards fraudulently obtained from compromised data of US citizens and residents.

EIPs are financial support offered by the US government to residents according to the CARES Act. It is also called stimulus package or stimulus check. One of the ways eligible US residents obtain their EIP is by debit cards. From the documents presented in court, it was found that hackers use data of US residents to file and obtain those debit cards. They sell off these EIP cards in underground marketplaces to other cybercriminals.

US prosecutors said Hushpuppi’s recent frequent internet usage triggered a red flag and they monitored and recorded his internet activity. The court document read:

Security alerts on Abbas’ activities

• Inmates in correctional facilities across the US are allowed certain activities which includes access to phone calls, video calls, the internet, and computers with limited and regulated usage
• Inmates have constitutional rights to their privacy. Phone calls from correctional facilities by inmates are not recorded except when necessary and a warrant is obtained for this purpose. Inmates’ internet activities are not logged or recorded except when necessary and a warrant is obtained for this purpose.
• Abbas was also allowed these privileges like every other inmate.
• Between 28th January 2022 and 4th March 2022, security officers at the US Federal correctional facility, Central District of California, observed more frequent usage of the internet by Abbas. With the knowledge that the crimes Abbas committed which he is being charged for are all internet related crimes, security officers were concerned and informed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
• On 7th March 2022, investigators obtained a federal search warrant, issued by Central District of California, to monitor and record Abbas’ internet activities.
• Security officers at the US Federal correctional facility, Central District of California, were instructed to setup a dedicated computer for Abbas. Any time Abbas requests for access to the internet, he should be given that dedicated computer. Only Abbas should be given that computer.
• From 7th March 2022 to 13th March 2022, investigators monitored and recorded Abbas’ internet activities. In this period, he requested internet access daily. He spent an average of 55 minutes for each session.
• During this period, we found out that Abbas was actively buying Economic Impact Payments debit cards from an underground cybercriminal marketplace where hackers sell EIP debit cards for Bitcoins.

The document went further to detail their shocking findings while recording Hushpuppi’s activities

EIP debit cards purchase and money laundering

• Investigators found out that Abbas uses an underground cybercriminal marketplace for hackers to sell EIP debit cards for Bitcoins.
• On the marketplace, hackers listed EIP debit cards with different balances. Investigators found EIP debit cards with $1,400 balance to as high as $8,000. These EIP cards were applied for by hackers using compromised and stolen data of US citizens and residents.
• Investigators found out that criminals can order a virtual option of EIP debit cards and receive it instantly. They use this for online purchases. Criminals can also order for the plastic version of EIP debit cards and they receive it to their mail address.
• Abbas bought between seven to 10 EIP debit cards daily for the period he was recorded. He purchased a total of 58 EIP debit cards in this period, with a total value of $429,800.
• Of the 58 EIP debit cards, Abbas chose the virtual card option for 36 EIP cards and he selected the plastic physical card option for 22 EIP cards.
• Abbas was in constant communication with one AJ. Abbas sent all the cards he bought from the marketplace to AJ. Abbas gave instructions to AJ on what to shop online. He gave instructions on what to do with the purchased items. Abbas also gave instructions on cash withdrawal from ATMs with the plastic cards.

In the document, the prosecutors mentioned Hushpuppi was constantly buying high-end gadgets such as iPhones, gaming consoles, MacBooks and iPads through his primary contact AJ. Investigators could not ascertain the total proceeds Hushpuppi has laundered from this fraud. Their recorded evidence was for a total of $429,800.

US prosecutors said they are on a mission to unmask the identity of Abbas’ accomplice AJ. They said they are also working with relevant authorities and bodies to take down the underground cybercriminal marketplace.

This story was written by journalist, Mathilde Salomé Bonnet

TYSON FURY KNOCKS OUT DEONTAY WILDER

The Gypsy King, Tyson Fury has retained his WBC heavyweight boxing crown on Saturday with a dramatic 11th round knockout of Deontay Wilder.

The much awaited fight started at about 4:00am WAT with Deontay Wilder, the challenger approaching the ring first in his mask and beaded regalia. The Defending champion, Tyson Fury was seen later with his knighthood costume beftting of a champion.

In a stunning battle that saw both fighters floored on multiple occasions, Tyson Fury was able to finish stronger with a knockout to put Wilder down via a powerful right hook on the 11th round. 

The event happened at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

PRESIDENT BUHARI APPROVES 200% PAY RISE FOR NIMC STAFF, NEW CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

    President Muhammadu  Buhari

*Male staff to enjoy paternity leave

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a 200 per cent pay rise and an enhanced conditions of service for the staff of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

Male employees of the agency are now to enjoy paternity leave under the new conditions of service.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, officially conveyed the approvals to both the Chairman, Governing Board of NIMC, Bello Gwandu and its Director General, Aliyu Aziz.

Pantami said the new salary scale was 200 per cent of the total personnel cost of NIMC, which raises the total cost of the agency from about N5.3 billion to N16.7 billion per annum.

He said: “We now have a new condition of service and salary scale approved by Mr. President for the National Identity Management Commission. This new condition of service and salary scale increases with over 200 per cent the total NIMC personnel cost, a significant departure from what is currently obtainable.”

“The NIMC Condition of Service is a comprehensive document that going forward, would serve, as the machinery through which the Commission articulates and implements its personnel policies and programmes,” the minister said.

According to him, the NIMC plays a critical role that impacts the life of every Nigerian.

He said in the light of the foregoing, it was imperative that the vibrant NIMC staff who are tasked with managing one of the nation’s most sensitive and critical asset are provided with the enabling environment to play this pivotal role efficiently and effectively.

According to him, securing a N25 billion approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for NIMC to upgrade its infrastructure led to the rapid increase in the number of enrolments from 41 million to over 60 million in less than a year.

“Securing the N25 billion Federal Executive Council Approval for upgrade and replacement of the NIMC Identity Infrastructure, and the implementation of novel initiatives that has increased the registration of persons to over 62 million on the NIDB,” he added.

The Chairman, Governing Board NIMC, Bello Gwandu, the Director General NIMC, Aliyu Aziz, praised the president and minister for approving this new salary scale and new conditions of service.

The Legal Adviser, NIMC, Hadiza Dagabana stated that in the newly approved conditions of service, NIMC male staff are to enjoy paternity leave, adding that staff on Grade Level 14 and below are getting 70 per cent allowance of their salaries.

NIGERIAN MILITARY REACTS TO PORT HARCOURT -- BONNY CHOPPER ATTACK

The Nigerian military says the report by some print and online media saying that “the military fired at a cargo boat conveying people and foodstuff from Port Harcourt to Bonny is false and calls to question the credibility of the news medium.

In a statement by the Director, Defence Information, Major General Benjamin Sawyer said, contrary to the report, the Air Component of the Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe, (OPD) received reports from ground troops who were on clearance operations but encountered resistance. On receiving the report, a combat helicopter was despatched to provide a close air support mission along the Cawthorne Channel.

The helicopter encountered an illegal bunkerers’ boat popularly called “Cotonou Boat”. The boat which was being escorted by 2 speedboats was suspected to be carrying illegally refined oil products in large drums along the Channel in the direction of OPDS patrol boats.

On sighting the boat, warning shots were fired to dissuade the crew from hostile action. The crew fired back at the helicopter and the boat was engaged accordingly. The 2 speedboats detached from the convoy at high speed leaving the “Cotonou Boat” which was neutralised. The helicopter later went after the 2 speedboats but was unable to get them.

The suspects are still at large and a manhunt has been sent out to apprehend them. 

The statement added that the military remains a professional institution that operates in line with best practices, through the application of the rule of engagement and code of conduct. It is also positioned to protect the populace, rather than victimize their efforts by anyone to protect criminality, by disparaging the actions of the military in preventing economic sabotage and other sundry crimes that need to be condemned by all.

The general public is therefore enjoined to disregard the report and continue to provide accurate information to troops, that will lead to the attainment of their operational mandate of safeguarding lives, property as well as government assets in the South-South region.