The return of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 would pave the way to make Igbo presidency a reality in 2023, Chief Osita Okechukwu, Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), has assured Ohaneze Ndigbo.

“Ohaneze Ndigbo should work towards plucking the low hanging fruit; which is President of Nigeria of Igbo extraction in 2023, than chase elusive theorems,’’ Okechukwu said on Tuesday in Enugu.

The president of Nigeria of Igbo extraction in 2023 will assuage the lamentation of marginalisation and return Ndigbo into the mainstream.

“The low hanging fruit is that equity and natural justice favours the South East more than any other geopolitical zone in the south to produce President of Nigeria in 2023.

“This is based on the fact that since our return to the 4th Republic in 1999 when the zoning convention commenced, the South West had eight years (1999-2007) and South-South five years plus (2010-2015). It’s our turn if we work hard and support President Buhari,’’ he said.

He issued a statement in a reaction to the communiqué of the Ohaneze Restructuring Summit held in Awka on Monday.

Okechukwu, while commending the organizers of the summit, called for pragmatism, `if truly they are working for the collective interest of Ndigbo’’.

He observed that the summit neither addressed the issue of Igbo presidency in 2023 nor commended Buhari for his efforts at revamping dilapidated infrastructure in the South-East.

He appealed to Ohaneze to stop squandering the golden opportunity of the South-East to harvest the zoning convention between the North and South, by pontificating and platitudes.

Dismissing the less democratic six year tenure Ohaneze recommended; he said: “One, the truism is that four years tenure renewable by peoples vote blends squarely into the tenets of democracy, which allows a referendum on the incumbent.’’

“In other words, the four years incumbent is aware that he can be voted out and works hard to please the electorate; unlike the single six years tenure which entrenches corruption and do or die apocalypse.’’

On the fine line in the Communiqué read by Prof. Charles Soludo, which states that, `Ndigbo want a Nigeria that works’; Okechukwu said that he was sincerely on the same page with Ohaneze because “we are all praying for Nigeria that works’’.

“`it is the quest for Nigeria that works which made President Muhammadu Buhari to embark on the massive critical infrastructural development – roads, rails, Agriculture and Power (RRAP) Projects as well as construction of 5,000 kilometres of Federal roads and 5,000 kilometres of standard gauge rail lines.

“An additional 5,000 megawatts of electricity and self-sufficiency in food production,’’ he said.

He however regretted that there was no one sentence in the communiqué, commending Mr President for the construction 2nd Niger Bridge; other dilapidated Federal roads in the region; gas pipeline; Enugu coal and agriculture farms.

Okechukwu said that propaganda apart, Ndigbo would be one of the greatest beneficiaries of Buhari’s RRAP Projects and it would be the onerous duty of our son or daughter president in 2023 to consolidate Buhari’s RRAP Projects.

On the issue of regions, he said it was on record that “we all support additional state in the South East’’.

Source: NAN

Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Mr. Kenneth Kobani and a politician, Mr. Samuel Okposo were docked today in Port Harcourt for a six-count charge of money laundering.

The amount involved was N750million, part of the $115million pilfered from the treasury by former oil minister, Diezani Alison Madueke.

All the three men appeared before Justice B. Bilikisu of the Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the accused collected the money from the Garrison branch of a new generation bank in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on the eve of the 2015 general elections .

The money was part of the infamous $115million Diezani Alison- Madueke cash deployed to bribe many politicians and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election .

Kobani allegedly collected N50,000,000 out of the heist while Okposo allegedly collected the remaining N700,000,000.

Count one of the charge read: That you Samuel Johnson Okposo on or about the 27th day of March, 2015 in Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this court, did conspire and aid other persons yet to be charged, to acquire and take possession and control of the sum of Seven Hundred Million Naira( N700,000,000.00) from Fidelity Bank location Garrison, Port Harcourt, reasonably knowing and or ought to have known that such fund or property forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) and punishable under section 15( 3) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended.

Count two of the charge read: That you Kenneth Kobani on or about the 27th day of March, 2015 in Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this court, did conspire and aid other persons yet to be charged, to acquire and take possession and control of the sum of Fifty Million Naira( N50, 000,000.00) from Fidelity Bank location Garrison, Port Harcourt, reasonably knowing and or ought to have known that such fund or property forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) and punishable under section 15( 3) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended.

When the charge was read to them, they pleaded not guilty

Prosecution counsel, C.A. Okoli told the court that he was ready for trial and prayed that the defendants be remanded in prison custody. However, the lead defense counsel, C.A. Okala, SAN, sued for the bail of the defendants.

Justice B. Bilikisu admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N50,000,000 and a surety each in like sum. She adjourned the matter till June 4 , 2018 for trial.

Source: NAN

The Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Bishop Anselm Umoren, has called on the Federal Government to rise up to its responsibility to protect lives and property of citizens.

Umoren made the call on Tuesday in Abuja in his sermon at the Requiem Mass for the slain priests and lay faithful in Mbalon, Benue.

Two Catholic priests, Rev. Fathers Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha, and 17 worshippers were killed on Tuesday, April 24.

They were killed when suspected herdsmen invaded St. Ignatius Quasi Parish, Ukpor-Mbalom in Ayar-Mbalom community of Gwer East Local Government Area (LGA) during Morning Mass.

The bishop reminded the President Muhammadu Buhari of his inaugural speech in 2015 to protect the lives and property of all Nigerians irrespective of their religion and tribe.

We are here today to remind our President about his promise to secure the lives and property of the citizens.

Life is sacred; it is only God that has the right to take life, so there should be dignity for human life.

Therefore, we call on the government to defend the citizens.

We pray for the repentance of those killing innocent people that they may be converted because God wants them to repent from their evil deeds, he said.

He, however, called on Christians to pray for peace and justice to reign in the country, adding that they should be people of clean hands and clear hearts.

Umoren also urged Christians not to allow the killings to affect their relationship with God and the country.

We should fear God who owns our body and soul; we should not fear those that can kill our body only, the bishop said.

Umoren said the martyrs of Benue would be remembered for their commitment to their God.

Also, the Primate of Church Nigeria Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, reiterated the need for the government to protect the lives and property of citizens.

The Army, Navy, Police and all the security agencies should be empowered to enter the bush and fish out these killers and deal with them.

They are human beings, they have to prosecute them and bring them to face the law.

If this is not done, this problem will not come to an end, he said.

Okoh urged Christians not to be intimidated with the happenings but should remain steadfast in prayers.

He commended the Catholic Church for it contribution to peace and justice in the country and assured them of the support of the Anglican Communion.

In his remark, Dr Samson Ayokunle, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), President, also called for the arrest of the perpetrators of the Benue killings.

Ayokunle was represented by Dr Stephen Adeghita, CAN Director of Social Affairs.

We must continue to demand for justice, the blood of the martyrs will not be in vain, he said.

Also Speaking, FCT CAN chairman, Dr Jonah Samson said, CAN is saying enough is enough; we are saying no to killings, brutality and wickedness of all sort, he added.

There was massive turnout of Christians at the Christian Centre in solidarity with the Catholic Church in mourning of the slain two catholic priests and parishioners.

The peaceful protest and Rosary Procession, which started from the Christian Centre, would end in Our Lady of Queen of Nigeria, Pro-Cathedral, Garki.

The peaceful protest was led by the Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Bishop Anselm Umoren, in solidarity with some Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) officials as well as some Christian leaders in the FCT.

Source: NAN

Nigeria's Super Eagles lost to 3 - 2 to the EUROPA league winners, Athletico Madrid at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Uyo.

The game kicked off at 6PM Nigerian time.

Salisu Yusuf named a very strong line up for the game which included the Nwakali brothers, while Diego Simeone chose to leave star player Fernando Torres and captain Gabi on the bench.

Chances for both sides until Arsenal loanee Kelechi Nwakali, opened the scoring with a sumptuous strike in the 31st minute, but almost immediately Angel Correa equalised for the Spanish side as they went to half time with a 1-1 draw.

Source: Pulse NG

Former Minister of Water Resources Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, alongside four others was docked today in Sokoto Federal High Court on a five count charge of Conspiracy and Money Laundering to the tune of N500 million.

Charged along with the former minister are Senator Abdullahi Mohammmed Wali, Ibrahim Gidado, Nasiru Dalhatu Bafarawa and Ibrahim Milgoma.

They were being tried by Justice Idrissa Kolo.

Trouble started for the defendants after the Commission received intelligence that the accused persons were also beneficiaries of the $115m allegedly disbursed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke to senior members of the Peoples Democratic Party, to influence the 2015 election.

Some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, who also benefitted from the money, are separately facing trial.

Shagari and other defendants allegedly received the N500million, which was not paid through any financial institution, in flagrant violation of provisions of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.

One of the counts read: “You Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, Ibrahim Gidado and Ibrahim Milgoma sometime in March 2015, within the justification of this honourable court did conspire among yourselves to receive cash payment of the sum of N500,000,000 (Five Hundred Million Naira Only) from one Abdulrahaman Ibrahim without transacting through a financial institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 16(2) of the same Act”.

All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them.

Prosecution counsel Johnson Ojogbane requested a date for trial in view of the plea of the defendants and also asked that the defendants be remanded in prison custody.

Counsel representing the 1st,3rd and 4th defendants Ibrahim Abdulaziz as well as counsel for the 2nd and 5th defendants Ibrahim Idris and L.A Abdulkadir respectively applied for the bail of their clients pending the determination of the case.

Ojogbane confirmed that he was served with the various bail applications by the applicants but also reminded the court that he was only served yesterday (May 21 ) and therefore needed time to respond.

Justice Idrissa after listening to the arguments exchanged between the parties remanded the defendants in police custody till Thursday, 24 May, 2018 for the hearing and determination of bail.

Source: NAN

The police announced on Tuesday the arrest of two of the fugitive robbers that took part in the attack on banks in Offa on 4 May, about two weeks after they were declared wanted and their photographs published.

One of the suspects arrested was identified as 35 year-old Kunle Ogunleye, also known as Arrow..

An indigene of Kwara, he was arrested on 20 May in Oro town, also in the state.

The second suspect arrested was Micheal Adikwu, from Apa LGA in Benue State. He was arrested two weeks ago.

Adikwu was a dismissed Police corporal. He was dismissed from the police in 2012, after being found guilty of aiding the escape of robbery suspects in police custody.

He served three years in prison. When he was freed in 2015, he became what the police called, “a vicious and notorious gang leader of an armed robbery syndicate, wanted in Kwara and beyond for for several armed robbery cases.

The police in an update said the arrest of these two gang leaders have brought to 22, the suspects arrested so far by the Nigeria Police Force in connection to the Offa Bank Robbery.

“The two suspects have confessed to the crime and admitted to the various criminal roles they played in the Offa bank robbery. They will be charged to court on completion of investigation”, said Moshood Jimoh, an assistant commissioner of police and public relations officer.

Moshood said: Members of the general public who have any information further information about the other wanted suspects still at large should feel free to contact the Police through the following Phone numbers 08062080913, 08126285268, 08032365122, 07056792065, 08088450152. Protection of the informant will be guaranteed by the Police and handsome rewards in addition to the pledge of Five Million (N5,000,000) by Kwara State Government await anyone whose information leads to the arrest of these wanted suspects.

Source: NAN

John Cardinal Onayikan, the Cardinal of the Abuja Catholic Diocese has called on Nigerians to rise above religious, political and ethnic divides to save the country from drifting into anarchy.

Onaiyekan handed down the advice on Tuesday during a sermon for the burial of two catholic priests; Rev Frs. Felix Tyolaha and Joseph Gor, at Ayati, a small agrarian hilly village in the outskirts of Ikpayongo in Gwer East local Government Council of the state.

He said the killings across the country must stop and called on well meaning Nigerians to unite in fighting the great evil that had befallen the country.

The cleric warned: This must not be politicized. The nation is in a state of emergency. We demand for synergy; division, especially on tribal lines will only throw our nation to anarchy.

He called on the Federal Government to act decisively to end the spate of killings across the country.

The cardinal called on the people to be vigilant and be your brothers keeper.

He warned that if murderers were allowed to continue killing without checkmating them it will come to a time when people will begin to use other means of self defense.

Onaiyikan called for forgiveness and warned against reprisals and said the souls of the righteous were in the hands of God.

He appealed for calm and advised the Christian faithful to show appreciation to God in all situations.

This is our hope which is based on our trust in God, the cardinal said.

He described the death of the priests and the others as a horrific massacre which will not be forgotten for a long time.

The cardinal said the killed priests and their worshippers were martyrs of the church.

Earlier, the Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Most Rev. Wilfred Anagbe, said the decision to bury the victims of Saint Ignatius Parish, Mbalom at the Se Sugh Maria Pilgrimage Centre, Ayati, was to honor them as martyrs of the church.

He said the barbaric acts perpetrated against the victims would attract the wrath of God and lamented the act of desecrating the church of God.

If our places of worship are no longer safe, then where can we run to in this country, Anagbe said.

He expressed optimism that their blood would restore peace and end the killings in the state and across the country.

Sympathizers, mostly Catholics, dressed in their societal attires besieged the Ayati prayer ground as early as 7a.m to secure seats for the historic event.

Security around the burial site was tight as only identified dignitaries apart from the clergy, were allowed entry.

Source: NAN

A Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan on Tuesday dissolved a 15-year-old marriage between one Mr Akanmu Kasali and his ninth wife, Mujidat, over allegations of threat to life.

Mujidat approached the court with claims that her husband was wicked and troublesome.

She told the court presided over by Chief Ademola Odunade that she had suffered enough in the marriage and was no longer in love with Kasali with whom she had three children.

My lord, he beats me at will; he once locked me and the children inside a room at night.

I have every reason to believe that he intends to kill me and the children; if not, why would he put poison in the food I was cooking. He is a threat to my life.

I am fed up with this marriage. I plead that you will allow us to go our separate ways, she said.

The petitioner also told the court that Kasali was uncaring.

In his response, Kasali consented to the divorce, but denied attempting to poison Mudijat and the children.

I seduced her from another man about 15 years ago, and we have three children.

The poison she mentioned was just special leaves we used in cooking beans for the entire family; she is very much aware of this.

I did not lock her in a room.

However, I am in support of divorce, he said.

In his ruling, Odunade dissolved the union on grounds of irreconcilable differences.

He gave the custody of the children to Mujidat, and ordered Kasali to pay N10,000 monthly for their feeding.

You are to equally take responsibility of the childrens education and healthcare, the President told Kasali.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari is meeting with 10-man senate delegation raised to address the ongoing impasse between the Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Inspector-General of Police over a criminal case involving some suspected cultists.

Members of the senate delegation included former governors of Nasarawa (Abdullahi Adamu), Gombe (Danjuma Goje) and Akwa Ibom, Mr Godswill Akpabio.

NAN observed that the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters (Senate), Mr Ita Enang also accompanied the senators to the meeting with the president.

It would be recalled that the Senate had on May 9 passed vote of no confidence on the IGP, describing him as enemy of democracy over his failure to honour its invitations twice.

Idris, however, asked the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations), Joseph Habila to represent at the senate.

Senate President Bukola Saraki on Wednesday also accused the IGP of plotting to implicate him and Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara in a murder case involving some suspected cultists.

The Senate on Thursday raised a 10-man panel to meet with President Buhari over the allegation leveled against the IGP by Saraki.

Source: NAN

Dr Hannatu Fika, the Executive Secretary, Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board (FGSHLB), said that the board had helped over 30,000 workers to access loans to own houses.

Fika made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Monday in Abuja.

She said that public servants were the engine room of good governance, adding that one way the government could encourage workers was to provide them with shelters.

She said it was for this reason that the current administration had used FGSHLB to enable Federal Government workers to build houses.

Fika disclosed that the board had helped over 30,000 workers access loans to own houses, and reaffirmed the commitment of the board to the welfare of Public Servants.

This is a change era, the good thing any government can do for its workers is to provide certain basic welfare needs so that they too can work effectively, diligently and willingly for the country.

Until 1974 the programme was only situated in the Lagos territory but was expanded to all the states of the federation.

So as of today, from the statistics of loans that we recently disbursed, we can proudly say that we have touched the lives of over 30,000 federal public servants, who now own their own homes through the FGLSHB revolving scheme, she said.

Fika said the housing deficit in the country might persist if the relevant agencies lacked the resources to operate.

We will continue to pressurise government to make fund available for housing programmes.

We have over hundreds of thousands number of civil servants that come under our purview they are so many, she stressed.

She, however, said as long as funds are not there, we have to utilise what is in the mortgage agency to be able to build these houses.

Fika lauded the efforts of the present administration in providing houses for Nigerians, especially through the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housings projects in all the states.

According to her, amendment to the act establishing the board is long overdue.

Let me begin by saying this is a change era, and the art of life is a constant readjustment to our surroundings. Progress is impossible without change, therefore, change is inevitable.

The last amendment was in 1974, about 44years, without sentiment, there are provisions that are obsolete like Section 3 (1h) of Cap F.II.LFN 2004 no longer exist in service, she said.

She disclosed that some critical areas like area of partnerships required a law for sustainability, appropriate designation of officers of the Board, offences.

According to her, to participate in partnership for the affordability and availability of housing for eligible public servants, the board signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with both government and private organisations.

She said that this was in an effort to look outside the box in order to address the housing need of teeming population of federal staff.

NAN recalls that the board has disbursed over one billion naira as renovation loan to 2,000 civil servants across the country.

The renovation loan was being managed by the loans board on behalf of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria as agreed in a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2015 by the two agencies.

Source: NAN