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Post Date : March 10, 2021

We have expelled Sowore long ago, says ACC chair

The leadership of the African Action Congress, AAC on Wednesday said that the party’s presidential candidate in the 2019 election, Omoyele Sowore was presently unknown to the party as he was allegedly expelled by its highest decision making organ. The party also claimed that the convener of the Revolution Now’s utterances and behavior have become a security risk and should be investigated by the security agencies before he plugs the country into crisis. Addressing journalists in Abuja, the National Chairman of AAC, Dr. Leonard Nzenwa said the letter by Sowore to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC claiming to be the Chairman of the party amounted to impersonation. Dr. Nzenwa, who is also the National Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC said that apart from the court judgement delivered on 12th July, 2019, by Justice I.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja affirming the suspension of Sowore, the party’s National Convention held in Owerri on 9th August 2019 removed and expelled him. He said, “Our attention has been drawn to ongoing mobilization to hide under the name of our great party to wreak havoc on and burn down INEC offices nationwide, attack other public infrastructure and cause mayhem across the nation. “Only last week, the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, that I lead bemoaned the state of insecurity in the country wherein we called on Mr. President to declare a State of Emergency on National Security even as we condemned in strong terms actions of some State and Non-State Actors in fanning embers of disunity through their speeches and actions. “Same last week some group of people led by one Omoyele Stephen Sowore, a former member of our great Party, who was not only suspended and removed as National Chairman of the party but also expelled over various proven allegations of financial recklessness and misappropriation of party funds, abuse of party constitution, high-handedness etc started displaying and carrying out dangerously criminal actions, under the name of our great party thereby committing various crimes thereof. “African Action Congress, AAC is indeed appalled by acts of a man who now appears to have relapsed and clearly is manifesting psychopathic and delirious behaviour after his expulsion since 2019. “Before we proceed, it is pertinent to draw your attention to the following compelling and unassailable facts: “Following various Judgments and Orders of different Courts of competent jurisdiction affirming I, Dr. Leonard Nzenwa as the National Chairman of the African Action Congress (AAC), our great party has been enjoying peace and order and cordial working relationship with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders in the electoral process in the country. “Following the commission of various acts of financial recklessness and misappropriation of party funds, abuse of party constitution, high-handedness, intimidation and threat of party members including greedily double-roleing as party National Chairman as well as Presidential Candidate in 2019 presidential polls exposing him as a tyrant, etc,Omoyele Sowore was removed as National Chairman and later expelled as a member of the African Action Congress (AAC). “Based on the Constitution of the African Action Congress (AAC), Dr. Leonard Nzenwa was appointed as the Acting National Chairman of the Party. “Later on the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in Suit No: FCT/CV/1874/2019 procured by Mr. Sowore for one Mr. Abugu Bako, affirmed the appointment of Dr. Leonard Nzenwa as the Acting National Chairman of AAC. A copy of the Order is now attached as Annexure AAC 1. “Additionally, another Court of competent jurisdiction per the Honourable Justice I. E. Ekwo, J in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/512/2019 delivered judgment on 12th July, 2019 affirmed the suspension of the former National Chairman, Omoyele Sowore and validated the appointment of Dr. Leonard Nzenwa as the Acting National Chairman of AAC. A copy of the Enrolled order is now attached as Annexure AAC2. “That in exercise of his constitutional rights, the said Omoyele Sowore filed an Appeal at the Court of Appeal and which is still pending before the Court. A copy of the Notice of Appeal is now attached and marked Annexure AAC3. “Furthermore, our great party on 9th August, 2019 at Owerri, Imo State held its National Convention, wherein the formerly suspended Omoyele Sowore was duly removed as the National Chairman of AAC and also expelled from the party; and the exercise was duly monitored by INEC in line with the law and this was widely reported across all media. “Following the vacuum created by the removal and sack of Omoyele Sowore, the National Convention of AAC, which is the highest decision-making organ of the party duly proposed and elected Dr. Leonard Nzenwa as the National Chairman of the African Action Congress at the said and he has been exercising his duties without let or hindrances till date. “In recognition of my little effort to deepen and entrench electoral and democratic process in Nigeria, umbrella body of political parties in Nigeria, the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC elected my humble self as its National Chairman and have been helping to integrate, as well as grow the party within the body of Nigeria political parties as well outside it. The body has established robust relationship with all stakeholders including (INEC) over this period.” Continuing, he said,” Arising from the foregoing, we make bold to state categorically that the said Omoyele Sowore is UNKNOWN to the African Action Congress (AAC) and therefore has no basis for laying any further claim to the National Chairmanship position of the party or in any other manner holding out himself as such. He is also not in control of any structure of the party at any level or indeed any members of the party. “Regrettably, in violation of these Orders of various Court and the terms of the election of Dr. Leonard Nzenwa as the National Chairman of the AAC by the National Convention of the Party, Omoyele Sowore by a letter dated 2nd June, 2020 wrote to the Chairman of INEC wherein he held out himself and signed as

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Post Date : March 10, 2021

Lobby your Reps to kill anti-labour bill on minimum wage, Gbajabiamila tells workers

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, on Wednesday, urged Nigerian workers under the aegis of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) rally the support of their respective lawmakers with a view to kill the controversial bill which seeks to remove the Minimum Wage from the Exclusive Legislative List to Concurrent Legislative List. The Speaker who spoke through the Majority Leader, Hon Ado Doguwa, during the peaceful protest held by the organised labour, also demanded the reversal of the recent hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and electricity tariff. While expressed the House leadership’s readiness to defend the interest of Nigerian workers, Hon Gbajabiamila said: “Mr President, may I say on behalf of my Speaker and the entire members of the House of Representatives that we are also by extension members of the organised labour; we are your employees. By this implication, we have no case whatsoever to shy away from the interests and yearnings of Nigerian workers. When you are happy we are happy. “I, therefore, say on behalf of the Speaker and the House that we have accepted the letter written and signed by the president of the organised labour and we are going to give it the right treatment. There would be an opportunity to come and address us through public hearings. That initiative is only an opinion. The recommendation of that Bill is only a proposal. From what I am seeing now it is clear that organised labour are against that Bill. I want to assure you that the House of Reps would give a listening ear to your message. “We will still invite you to come and engage with the relevant committee of which I am a member. You will come and make your position fully. Your position will be heard at the committee level and when we come to the plenary to consider the bill, members that are representing your respective communities, engage with them to do justice to that Bill and I can understand that the only justice would be to kill the bill. I want to advise please lobby members that you elected that you do not want the bill and members will make sure the bill is killed.” The protesters for the first time had unfettered access to the National Assembly arcade where they were received by representatives of the Senate President, Senator Abdullahi Sabi, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Ado Doguwa, Majority Leader, who were booed when mentioned. The protesters who displayed various placards also demanded the recall of the lawmakers, who sponsored the anti-workers bill. Some of the placards read: ‘’El-Rufai, Abbass Tajudeen, Datti Muhammed, agent of anarchy, don’t destabilise Nigeria’; ‘Progressive lawmakers, rise like in the past and defend workers rights’; ‘Give us our new minimum wage now’; ‘No minimum wage, no work from November 6th’; ‘Minimum wage willingness to pay and not about to pay is the challenge’; ‘National minimum wage protects unskilled and the vulnerable, leave it on Exclusive List’; ‘River State people should recall dishonourable Bob Solomon from Abua Odual/Ahoada East constituency for sponsoring a bill to remove minimum wage from Exclusive List’; ‘President Buhari no room for fifth columnists, stand with Nigerian workers, keep minimum wage on Exclusive List’; ‘Wage theft: Crime agent workers, crime against humanity’; ‘Upward review of minimum wage would not trigger inflation’; ‘Removing national minimum wage from Exclusive List is a declaration of war on Nigerian workers’; ‘No wage poverty, yes to living wage,’ among others. While addressing the lawmakers and the mammoth crowd during the rally, NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba who warned against compounding the woes of average Nigerian workers, maintained that the issue of the national minimum wage was encapsulated in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and of international best practice. While urging the 9th Assembly to jettison the proposed bill, by maintaining the status quo, Comrade Wabba threatened that the Labour Movement will not hesitate to paralyze all business and government activities across the country, if the National Assembly continues with the consideration of the anti-people’s legislation. The workers also demanded a reversal of the recent hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), electricity tariff. In the same vein, the unions demanded full autonomy of Local Government Councils across the country as part of efforts aimed at deepening democracy in the country.

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Post Date : March 10, 2021

EFCC has uncovered N70bn fuel subsidy fraud, says Abdulrasheed Bawa

The newly-appointed Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, on Wednesday, disclosed that the commission had identified about N70 billion fraud perpetrated through the Federal Government fuel subsidy programme. Bawa made the disclosure in an interview with journalists at the Ikeja High Court, Lagos, after testifying in a fuel subsidy trial involving an oil firm, Nadabo Energy. “We have identified fraud of about N70 billion perpetrated through the fuel subsidy. “So far the commission has recovered N20 billion from the N70 billion and we are working to recover the rest,” Bawa said. Expressing concerns at the slow pace of some of the fuel subsidy trials, Bawa said the commission will continue to rigorously pursue all its cases in court. “Yes, we are worried about the slow pace of some of the fuel subsidy cases we charged to court since 2012, when investigations were concluded. “Criminal trials are guided by statutes and procedures and we will continue to follow them. I have been a witness in this particular trial involving Nadabo Energy for five years and hopefully, we will get a conviction,” he said. Bawa also disclosed that the EFCC is working tirelessly to arrest an alleged fuel subsidy suspect, who was arraigned in 2012, but jumped bail and fled the country.

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Post Date : March 10, 2021

Judge fumes at Maina as Malami, Magu, Emefiele fail to appear in court

Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), and Ibrahim Magu, former acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have failed to appear before a federal high court in Abuja in respect of the case involving Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT). Okon Abang, the presiding judge, had on Maina’s request issued a subpoena compelling the AGF, Magu and nine others to come before the court on March 9, 10, and 11 to testify for the defendant. Apart from the AGF and the former EFCC acting chairman, others issued with the subpoena are Godwin Emefiele, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor; Femi Falana, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN); M. Mustapha, Hassan Salihu, Mohammed Wakil, G.T Idris, Kenneth Amabem, Ibrahim Kaigama and the CBN director of compliance. At the court session on Wednesday, there was no sight of the individuals neither did Sani Katu, Maina’s counsel, announce the presence of any of the compelled persons. Instead, Katu moved to call another witness after the court refused his request to withdraw from the matter. In a ruling, Abang berated Maina for failing to assemble his witnesses on time. He said: “Sometime on December 21, 2020, the first defendant lead counsel, then Mr A. Adibe, informed the court that they intend to call 24 witnesses and that the defendant be given adequate time to assemble these witnesses. “The court then vacated December 22 and adjourned this matter from December 21 to January 26. More than one month for the defendant to assemble his witnesses and open his defence. “For upwards of 76 days from December 21, 2020, the first defendant did not apply for a subpoena to compel witnesses to come to court to testify on his behalf. “However, on Monday, March 8, 2021, in chambers, between 12;35 and 12;40 pm, the court registrar forwarded to the court in chambers, about 10 subpoenas filed by the first defendant not filed by the court, compelling about 10 persons to come to court to testify on his behalf today. “I merely signed a subpoena based on the court of appeal decision in the case of Metuh vs FRN that compelled the court to sign a subpoena seeking to compel Colonel Dasuki to come to court and testify on behalf of Metuh. “But ordinarily, I could not have on my own, signed a subpoena to compel an individual a day before the matter is fixed for hearing to come to court and testify for the first defendant because he failed to take advantage of the opportunity offered him to be heard. “The first defendant cannot on March 8 seek to compel the appearance of witnesses to come to court on the 9th.” Maina is being prosecuted by the EFCC for alleged money laundering to the tune of N2 billion.

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Post Date : March 10, 2021

We’ll not respond to enquiries about false recruitment, others — Chevron warns

The management of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC/CNL Joint Venture, has affirmed that it will not respond to enquiries about fraudulent advertisements and job offers or contract awards. The company’s reaction is coming against the backdrop of the recent proliferation of false recruitment and contract information about CNL. Vanguard gathered that they have been the circulation of false recruitment and contract information posted by unknown individuals and organizations in the name of CNL in several media and online channels, advertising job positions and contracts in CNL. However, reacting to the development, CNL, General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Esimaje Brikinn, stated that, fraudulent job and contract offers have reportedly been sent through emails, text messages, and phone calls by individuals purporting to be staff or representatives of CNL, with the intent to defraud their victims. CNL hereby dissociates itself from such false job recruitment and contract information, published in any newspaper, website, email, poster, handbill, or any other medium. CNL did not make or authorize such publications. In his words: “CNL will not respond to enquiries about fraudulent advertisements and job offers or contract awards. “Members of the public are hereby notified that Chevron Nigeria Limited does not, and will not require applicants to make any payments towards processing any job application or contract awards. Recruitment advertisements requesting candidates to pay money, at any point during the recruitment process, are not from CNL.” “CNL does not solicit job applications or initiate recruitment processes through emails, posters, handbills, text messages, social media, or phone calls. “Job seekers should always check the company’s website and national newspapers for job advertisements from CNL.”

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Post Date : March 10, 2021

Meghan files complaint against Piers Morgan over comments

Meghan Markle filed a formal complaint with British broadcaster ITV , after a presenter criticised her claims against the royal family and later quit. Piers Morgan left his role as host of Good Morning Britain on Tuesday following a scathing attack on the Duchess of Sussex ’ s interview with US chatshow host Oprah Winfrey . She and her husband , Prince Harry, accused the royal family of racism, while the former television actress said she had suicidal thoughts during her time in Britain . Former CNN host Morgan’ s comments that he did not believe her sparked 41, 000 complaints to Britain ’ s broadcasting regulator Ofcom . Britain ’ s domestic Press Association news agency said it understood Meghan formally complained to ITV before he resigned, confirming a report in the Daily Telegraph newspaper . The complaint focused on how his remarks may affect those trying to deal with their own mental health problems , it added . It did not concern his repeated criticism of her or allegations of racism, which have rocked the monarchy. Morgan, a former tabloid newspaper editor, has been a consistent critic of Markle after she cut off contact with him after she met Harry and they married in 2018. On Tuesday, Morgan stormed off the set of Good Morning Britain as he clashed with a fellow presenter who defended the duchess . In a tweet as the programme aired on Wednesday, Morgan said he stood by his remarks and said he would fight for freedom of speech . “ On Monday , I said I didn ’ t believe Meghan Markle in her Oprah interview . I ’ ve had time to reflect on this opinion , and I still don’ t , ” he wrote . Buckingham Palace on Tuesday responded to the explosive claims . Queen Elizabeth II said Meghan and Harry, who quit royal life last year , and their son Archie would remain “ much -loved family members ” . But she also said the accusations would be dealt with “ privately ” . Asked to respond to Buckingham Palace ’ s statement , a spokesman for Meghan and Harry said they would not be commenting any further. ( AFP)

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Post Date : March 10, 2021

US govt: Visa applicants denied under Trump’s travel ban can reapply

US visa applicants whose requests were denied under former President Donald Trump’ s controversial ban on travellers from 13 mostly Muslim – majority and African nations can now seek new decisions or submit new applications, the US Department of State announced Monday evening . According to ABC News , President Joe Biden overturned Trump’ s travel ban on his first day in office , calling it “ a stain on our national conscience , ” and gave the State Department 45 days to come up with a plan that would allow individuals from the affected countries to have their US visa applications reconsidered . Following a legal review , State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Monday that those whose immigrant visa applications received a final refusal on or after Jan . 20, 2020, due to Trump’ s travel ban “ may seek re – adjudication without resubmitting their application forms or paying any additional fees , provided the underlying visa petitions remain valid. ” Those who were refused visas prior to Jan . 20, 2020, “ may also be reconsidered , but these individuals must submit new applications and pay a new application fee, ” according to Price. An applicant’ s previous denial under Trump’ s travel ban will not be held against them . However, Price said that those who were selected in the diversity visa lottery during the fiscal years of the Trump administration are still barred from being issued visas if they haven’ t gotten them already , because “ the deadlines for visa issuance in those fiscal years have expired . ” That means they are eligible for the diversity visa lottery again but have no redress for their denial under Trump’ s travel ban. The diversity visa lottery aims to accept applicants from nations with historically low rates of immigration to the United States . Since December 2017, more than 41, 000 people were denied entry into the United States due Trump’ s travel ban, according to figures released by the State Department last September . There have been various versions of the ban, with countries added or dropped from the list . The countries included at the end of Trump’ s presidency were Eritrea , Iran , Kyrgyzstan , Libya, Myanmar , Nigeria , North Korea, Somalia , Sudan, Syria , Tanzania , Venezuela and Yemen . A number of lawsuits have challenged Trump ’ s travel ban , including one filed in Hawaii that the Supreme Court ultimately sided against in 2018.

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Post Date : March 10, 2021

Police nab four for Killing Of POS Agents In Aba

A major breakthrough was recorded in the area of security following the apprehension of a four man robbery gang that was said to be involved in the robbery and killing of Ezinne Grace Iron and Victor Chimaobi Igbokwe who were both POS agents in Aba. According to report, one of the arrested suspect is a neigbour to the deceased victim, Ezinne Grace whom he robbed before the recent one that led to her death. The gang leader, identified as Ralph Godwin, a Kogi state Indigene, has other members in the gang to include one Chibuike Samuel from Mbaise in Imo State, Godswill Kalu from Ohafia in Abia State and Uzoma Samuel from Obingwa in Abia State. The breakthrough of their arrest began when the criminal gang put Chimaobi’s sim card into another phone with an intention to make transfers from his account. The tracking started and led to the arrest of the team one after the other. According to report, they would be transferred to Abuja for further interrogation.

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Post Date : March 10, 2021

Return £4.2m Ibori Loot To Delta State, Reps Tell FG

The House of Representatives on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to ensure that the £4.2million Ibori loot be returned to Delta State. The lawmakers insisted that the funds were stolen from Delta State and as such should rightly be returned to the state. They added that the funds are needed for the infrastructural development of the state. This was the resolution reached after a motion of urgent public importance which was sponsored by all the lawmakers from Delta State. Meanwhile, the lawmakers said the total money is £6.2 million and not £4.2 million as is being reported. The House also asked the Federal Ministry of Finance to direct the Attorney General of Federation, Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and give the House all particulars relating to the recovered money. The United Kingdom on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to return the sum of £4.2 million assets stolen by former Delta State Governor, James Ibori to Nigeria. The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami said the recovery of the stolen fund is part of the efforts of the current administration to fight corruption and that the money will be used for the construction of the second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kano road, and Lagos-Ibadan Express road. Following criticisms on why the loot is not returned to Delta State, Malami in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today insisted that it will be used for federal projects and not returned to the Delta State Government where it was pilfered from. “The major consideration relating to who is entitled to a fraction or perhaps the money in its entirety is a function of law and international diplomacy,” Mr. Malami said during the interview. He argued that the law that was alleged to have been breached by Ibori was a federal law and that the parties of interests involved in the repatriation of the funds were national and not sub-national governments. “All the processes associated with the recovery were consummated by the federal government and the federal government is, indeed, the victim of crime and not sub-national,” he said. When pressed on whether the British government had insisted that the money be spent on certain projects, Mr. Malami said it was not “a matter of insistence but a matter of negotiation between two sovereign states.”

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Post Date : March 10, 2021

Imo CP condemns killing of youth, says Jungle justice not the best

….As Imo Command Commences Discrete Investigations into Incident Ibe Pascal Arogorn, Owerri The Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Nasiru Mohammed has condemned the death of a youth (name unknown) in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of Imo state. This was contained in a statement by the state’s police public relations officer, Orlando Ikeokwu in Owerri on Tuesday. The CP who described the incident as unfortunate, has called for calm and assures that the perpetrator(s) would not go unpunished. The CP noted that the Command has commenced discrete investigations into the incident. Recall that two policemen from the Ihite Uboma Division on investigations activity, took a suspect to her house on investigation, and on reaching the house, her relatives raised an alarm, and some persons in the area came out in their numbers and allegedly attacked the officers. The officers sustained multiple, serious matchet cut injuries in the attack and currently hospitalized. It was also revealed that in the heat of the attack on the policemen, one of the weapons of the Policemen was accidentally discharged under circumstances yet to be ascertained and a middle-aged man was hit by a bullet. Pursuant to the above, youths of the area, invaded the Police station in Ihitte Uboma community and razed it. The CP enjoined the people of Ihitte Uboma community not to resort to jungle justice but allow the course of justice to prevail. He condemned the attack on the Police Station and call on the members of the public to remain calm, as the command will leave no stone unturned in its efforts to ensure that justice is done.

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