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Mikel Obi Visits Governor Lalong, Promises Investment In Plateau State, To Establish Football Academy
Former Super Eagles Captain Mike Obi and Stoke City player says he is planning to increase his investment in Plateau State and also engage in other social development activities as a way of giving back to his place of birth and base where his footballing career began.
Mikel who visited Governor Lalong at the Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, praised him for his efforts at restoring peace in Plateau State which is promoting development and prosperity for the benefit of the people.
The former Chelsea star said Jos is his home where he was born and raised and also given the support to develop his passion for football which has taken him to the global stage.
He said he remembers with fond memories his upbringing in Plateau State and the hospitality and love of the people as well as the beautiful and serene atmosphere that remains an attraction to people from within and outside Nigeria.
Governor Lalong welcomed the international football star, describing him as a pride to Nigeria and in particular Plateau State which is famous for grooming stars in sports, entertainment and music, academia, banking, administration among others.
He urged the footballer to continue to connect with Plateau State and show more presence by contributing to the development of not only sports, but other areas of investment.
Lalong told Mikel Obi that the Plateau State will host a Glorious Stars event alongside an Investment and Economic Summit which is meant to showcase the potentials of the State and also reunite the array of stars that have emerged out of the State over the years.
He said Plateau is still a melting pot for all Nigerians and foreigners and continues to groom stars.
Mikel is due to visit Jos in the coming weeks.
June 17, 2021
Electoral Act: Tambuwal To NASS, FG, Urges Canada To Put Pressure On NEC Law
By Muhammad Goronyo, Sokoto
Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state has urged the Canadian government to appeal to the Federal Government and the National Assembly (NASS) to expedite action on the timely passage of the National Electoral Act into law.
He also asked the Canadian government to weigh-in on the issues of freedom of expression and sustenance of democratic values in Nigeria.
His media aide who made this available to newsmen in Sokoto further disclosed that the governor said the state and the country is interested in deepening its democracy, told the visiting Acting High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Mr Nicholas Simard, on Wednesday, that this can only be achieved if there is free, fair and credible election, “which is only possible if you have a properly captured elections system in the Electoral Act.”
According to him, from what is discernable, the NASS is not doing much in that regard, thus the need to appeal to Canada to add its voice to this call and the issues of good governance and transparency in the general administration of the country.
“From what was experienced in 2019, the Act was passed by NASS at a time when it could not be signed into law by Mr President because of either EU or ECOWAS protocol,”
Tambuwal observed as he expressed appreciation with the very strong relationship between Nigeria/Sokoto state government with the Canada.
He said as a state and indeed as a federation, both the federal and state governments have benefitted immensely from the interventions of the Canadian government, especially in the areas of education, where through the UNFPA, Sokoto state has received support in its effort to develop girl-child education, healthcare- on addressing fistula issues and the development of legal framework on gender-based Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act.
Tambuwal added that Sokoto state government is looking forward to a greater collaboration with Canada, particularly in strengthening its system of bureacracy.
Earlier in his address Mr Simard said the team from the Canadian High Commission were in the state to show their concern on the situation of insecurity in the Northern States and the country in general.
Noting that Sokoto and its neighbouring states were experiencing various forms of conflicts, such as farmers-herders clashes, kidnappings and other crimes, he assured the state of his country’s support in the development of these states.
He further pledged that Canada will assist Nigeria and Sokoto state to nip in the bud the root causes of the insecurity, which include economic insecurity and poverty.
He also maintained that his country will look into the issues of gender inequality, the role of women in the society and also partner the state government on health and gender parity.
Mr Nicholas, whose request to get a brief on the efforts of the state government in tackling COVID-19 was obliged, said both his country had announced at the recent G7 Summit held in the United Kingdom that it would provide 100 milliion doses of vaccines to many countries including Nigeria.
Adding that Canada is a strong trade partner with Nigeria, one of the biggest economy in Africa, he pledged the country’s commitment to the development of Sokoto state and private sector engagement.
June 17, 2021
Tight security as Buhari Arrives Borno
President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Maiduguri on a one-day working visit to Borno State.
The President landed at the airport located at the Air Force base in Maiduguri a few minutes before 10.00 am on Thursday.
He was received by the state governor Babagana Zulum and other top government officials in the state.
Students were lined up on the streets to receive the president.
Military and paramilitary officers were at the Headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai also to receive the President.
The President is expected to address Nigerian army troops on the frontline and commission some projects including 4,000 houses which were part of the Federal Government’s housing project, as well as some local projects executed by the state government.
June 17, 2021
In Nasarawa, Police Nab most wanted Serial Killer, 41 others
By Abel Leonard, Lafia
The Nasarawa State Police Command in the last two weeks says it has arrested the most wanted cult group leader and a serial killer Oodo Moro M Silis alias papa shokey who have been terrorising Nasarawa , Benue, and Fourty-one other suspected criminals for various offenses in the state.
This was disclosed during a press briefing by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Bola Longe, Wednesday while parading the suspects at the force headquarters in Lafia, the state capital.
He explained that the suspects paraded included a cult group that have been disturbing the peace of residents as well as other suspected criminals involved in kidnapping, armed robbery and vandalization of railway tracks and slippers.
He said: ” We got information that one, Oodo Moro ‘M’ alias Papa Shokey, the leader of Black Axe confraternity in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue state has relocate to Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa state, where he was seen recruiting and initiating youths into his criminal cult, in preparation for a reprisal attack on a rival cult group in Benue state.
” I ordered a full scale manhunt for the apprehension of the suspects and It’s heartwarming to note that this manhunt paid off when police operatives attached to New Karu Division busted the notorious cultist and serial killer in his hideout at unity garden, Karu LGA of Nasarawa state.
“Oodo Moro has confessed to the Killing of eight persons and participated in numerous armed robbery activities in Nasarawa and Benue states before he was arrested”, he added.
CP Bola Longe while parading the suspected Kidnappers and armed robbers said that the suspects had been on the watch list of the police because of the atrocities they had been committing in the Kenge-Awe road in Awe local government area of the state.
He said: “Following a distress call from some public spirited individuals that a gang of robbers blocked Kenge-Awe road in Awe LGA and dispossessed motorists/passengers of their money and other valuables, police operatives stormed the location and one Mohammed Idris was arrested with one AK 47 rifle.
“In the course of investigation, Mohammed Idris confessed that, the AK 47 rifle was given to him by his boss, one Adamu Bawa who is also the ring leader of the gang and was subsequently arrested”, he added.
The Police Commissioner also paraded some suspected vandals who had been in the business of buying and selling railway tracks and slippers, assuring that they will not escape the long arms of the law.
The CP commended the Anti-kidnapping unit of the command headed by CSP Anietie Eyoh and other police officers for working tirelessly to ensure that Nasarawa state is free from all forms of terrorism.
Our Correspondent reports that, the Command also recovered some items which include, Five firearms, Eight rounds of live ammunition, one vehicle, and one handset.
June 17, 2021
Wike set to send anti-open grazing bill to Rivers Assembly
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has promised to give the ban on open-grazing in the state a legal backing by sending the required bill to the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The governor said his administration settled for an anti-open grazing bill to protect the people of the state.
At the inauguration of the Isaiah Odoli/Omerelu Streets in New GRA Phase 1 in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area on Wednesday, Wike said the proposed bill was in harmony with the resolution of the Southern governors.
He said: “You can’t go to the farm anymore, those who rear cattle; they’ll not allow your crops to grow. Let me say clearly, now that the House of Assembly has come back, we have to submit the bill on Anti-Open Grazing as we agreed in the Southern Governors’ Forum.
Wike said Nigeria was on life support and required prayers from the citizens to salvage the county.
He said: “Since APC came into power, you can now see what Nigeria has turned to. Each day you wake up, you hear people are being killed. If you watch television and read the news in newspapers, you will hear so and so number are killed or kidnapped in so and so state.
“That is not what I thought all of us needed. The country is on oxygen (life support). Nobody knows what will happen next. As we are today, Nigeria is in dire need of help. Nigeria needs prayers.”
Wike also said the APC-led Federal Government had not done anything in Rivers State for the people, describing as untrue the claim by the Federal Government that it was jointly executing the Bonny-Bodo Road.
The governor noted that every road in the Old and New GRAs had been rehabilitated under the Urban Renewal Programme of his administration except the Orugbum Crescent in the new GRA.

Inaugurating the road project, former Senate President, Senator David Mark, said Rivers people were fortunate to have a governor who fulfilled promises.
Mark said: “All the year-round, you are bringing people to inaugurate project here like me. (Rivers) Now, you have a governor who has fulfilled his promises and done beyond his promises.
Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Elloka Tasie-Amadi said the streets prior to reconstruction were narrow and had a good number of potholes.
He said: “Today on Omerelu Street, we have a 12-meters wide reconstructed road with 1960 meters of drains and eight meters wide road on Isaiah Odoli Street.”
June 17, 2021
Group kick against moves to replace confirmed NDDC board nominees
A rights group, under the auspices of Niger Delta Movement for Peace and Justice, NDMPJ, has kicked against moves by some groups in the Niger Delta region to present a fresh list of nominees for the board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
National Coordinator of NDMPJ, Comrade Etifit Nkereuwem in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday in Uyo, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to go ahead to inaugurate the 15 nominees already confirmed by the Senate in November 2019.
Nkereuwem warned that failure to inaugurate the already confirmed nominees would worsen the controversy trailing the inauguration of the NDDC governing board in the Niger Delta region lately.
He further noted that it was even wrong for another list of nominees to be presented for screening and confirmation when the already confirmed nominees were not dissolved.
His words, “Niger Delta Movement for Peace and Justice aligns itself with the people of the Niger Delta region to call on Mr President to inaugurate the governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) without further delay.
“However it is sad to hear that the Senate is currently contemplating another screening of fresh nominees for the NDDC governing board. It appears that you (the President) have bowed to pressure from some selfish individuals in the Niger Delta to ignore members of the board that have already been constituted, awaiting swearing-in.
“This has never happened in the history of democracy in Nigeria. No President of this country has had his screened and confirmed nominees replaced even before they were sworn in.
“We therefore demand Mr President to demonstrate that he is a true democrat, principled politician and man of proven integrity by going ahead to inaugurate the 15 nominees already screened and confirmed by the Senate in November 2019 for the NDDC governing board”
The National Coordinator of NDMPJ expressed the hope that the Senate would not not fall to the temptation of abusing democratic principles.
June 17, 2021
Guns alone can’t stop security threats in Nigeria – Army
The Nigerian Army, on Wednesday, said that guns alone can’t stop the prevailing security threats across the country.
Army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, who spoke in Abuja, said the myriads of security challenges in Nigeria required a multifaceted approach to surmount.
Nwachukwu stated this while taking over as Director, Army Public Relations at the Army Headquarters.
Nigeria would prevail over challenges, new nation is being born – VP Osinbajo
According to him: “Permit me to note here that it’s an indisputable and very well established fact, that the sword or gun, cannot alone provide a panacea to the complex and multifaceted security challenges that characterize today’s world.
“I must, therefore, make haste to say that the complex nature of these security challenges requires a multi-disciplinary approach and a conglomerate of stakeholders, of which the media is a very vital one.
“In decisively overcoming these challenges, the NA and the media must be partners in progress to surmount these security threats in order to berth the peace and tranquillity we all earnestly desire as a people and nation.”
Gen. Nwachukwu was appointed spokesperson in the latest appointment and redeployment of officers in the Nigerian Army.
June 17, 2021
Nothing should happen to EFCC Bawa, HURIWA warns
*TELLS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO REJECT ONOCHIE AS INEC COMMISSIONER:
By Mike Oboh
Following a high profile alarm raised in the media by the executive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa that a ‘big-man’ has threatened to kill him, the Prominent Civil Rights Advocacy Group :- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has warned that nothing untoward or sinister should happen to the anti-graft Czar.
“We believe that the appointment of this youngster as the substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) could be a fresh breath into the increasingly waning and ethically diminished anti-graft crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. Seeing his refreshing youthfulness and his expressed or vocalised zeal to battle relentlessly the hydra-headed monster of economic crimes especially amongst top flight government officials, we are hereby expressing our solidarity with the Chairman of EFCC Abdulrasheed Bawa and urging the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces to extend the best protection available humanly speaking to his trusted appointee who seems to have started well, so his adversaries will not put him in the way of harm or danger. If anything happens to him, then it will be well known that forced embedded within the administration are the key suspects given the unprecedented quantum of sophiscated and crude economic crimes and corruption that have eroded the few gains made by the 6 year old administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. So it is in the self enlightened interest of President Muhammadu Buhari that Abdulrasheed Bawa and other officers of the EFCC are protected from any sort of sinister violent plot”.
In another development, the Rights group HURIWA has asked the Senate not to confirm as National Commissioner Laurentia Onochie, who is a person widely known to be deeply divisive and a strong member of the All Progressive Congress and one of the die-hard partisan loyalist of President Muhammadu Buhari.
HURIWA said any attempt to confirm Onochie as a Federal Commissioner of INEC will be the death nail to the coffin to the Independence and impartiality of the electoral management body just as the group said the confirmation of Onochie would unambiguously become the everlasting evidence that the National Assembly has become a rubber-stamped institution and open to Corruption and compromises.
“We believe that Onochie who openly confessed her membership to the All Progressives Congress and has posted a lot of statements on the popular social media platforms to demonstrate her aversion for multiparty democracy but prefers a one party state, is not a fit and proper person to be so appointed into INEC. Her enlistment into INEC means that the 2023 election has been rigged already in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress. Her going to INEC means the official obituary and death of INEC”.
Asking Senator Ahmed Lawan -led senate to maintain the already established precedent by rejecting Laurentia Onochie’s nomination as National Commissioner of INEC, HURIWA recalled that on December 3^rd 2019, the senate rejected the nomination of Raheem Muideen Olalekan as the Resident Electoral Commissioner representing Osun State of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
According to the Senate, confirmation of Muiden Olalekan as REC be deferred until he satisfactorily clears himself of all the allegations levelled against him by the petitioner.
Resolutions of the Senate were subsequent to the consideration of the report of the Chairman, Senate Committee on INEC,Senator Kabiru Gaya. All Progressives Congress, APC, Kano South on the confirmation of Appointments as Resident Electoral Commissioners of INEC.
Presenting the report, Senator Kabiru Gaya said that the Committee did not recommend for the confirmation of Muideen’s nomination because he could not defend the allegations of bias levelled against him by a petitioner.
HURIWA recalled that there was mild drama at the Senate Committee on INEC last month November 5 when the Osun State Commissioner nominee for INEC, Raheem Muideen, admitted that he remained a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
On the specific threat to the life of the Chairman of EFCC, HURIWA has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to see it as a task that he must do to protect the chairman and members of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission because of the fact that if and only if their duty is properly implemented, it could ensure that Nigeria’s economy does not collapse under the heavy weight of systemic and systematic, Institutional and bureaucratic corruption tearing down the existential fabrics of the Nigerian State.
HURIWA recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, has said that he has been getting death threats to his life. According to him, he got to know last week that someone was threatening to kill him.
HURIWA quoted Abdulrasheed Bawa as stating in the media however that the war against corruption is winnable because the social malaise can be tamed, stating that between 90 and 100 per cent of looted funds end up being laundered through real estate.
Bawa made the disclosures while appearing on the Sunrise Daily programne on Channels Television.
The EFCC boss said: “Last week, I was in New York, as all Nigerians are aware of. A very senior citizen received a phone call from somebody that is not even under investigation.
“What he (the caller) said to him on phone is that; he is going to kill the EFCC chairman, the young man. He said, ‘I am going to kill him. I am going to kill him’. This is to tell you how bad it is. It is actually real. Corruption can fight back.”
When further asked if he meant he has been receiving death threats, the EFCC chairman said, “Yes”.
HURIWA’S statement to the media was signed jointly by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and Zainab Yusuf the Director of media nationwide.
“HURIWA is calling on patriots to speak out. We are cslkingbon credible Civil Rights leaders to speak out to put pressure on both the EFCC Chairman and President Muhammadu Buhari to name, shame, prosecute and punish the particular identifiable man that the EFCC chairman said made a call and threatened to kill him. In the last five years, life has become very cheap in Nigeria and mass killers are roaming freely even within the corridors of power in Abuja and nothing is happening. The early warning by Abdulrasheed Bawa should not be treated the usual fire Brigade approach whereby government would wait until the threat is executed before running around trying to spread propaganda”.
June 17, 2021
PDP Gov’s Forum communique ignores real solutions-FG
The federal government has carpeted the PDP Governors’ Forum over a recent communiqué decrying the state of the economy and the failures of the APC led administration.
A state by presidential aid Garba Shehu described the statement as “a spectacular demonstration to the people of Nigeria as to why this party and its representatives should not be entrusted with national leadership of our country any time soon” .
It noted that in bemoaning the decision by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) not to make contributions to the Federation Account, the governors appear to believe NNPC can spend the same money twice: once on the petroleum subsidy – which they all support – and then on their States via the Federation Account.
“NNPC is a trustee for the nation – and this means it must manage its finances with prudence and for the long-term to safeguard the financial support it bestows on our country. What the governors are asking of NNPC is to “break the bank” for their own profligate political ends”.
On the devaluation of the naira by the CBN it said the position of the PDP Governors for a revaluation would damage exports – including oil revenues on which NNPC depends – as well as damage small businesses and employment. “an appreciated currency would benefit those spending on luxuries from abroad – this, no doubt, being the leading desire of a typical PDP governor” . The statement said.
It also carpeted the governors and their refusal to grant local government financial autonomy.
“When the governors claim a lack of federal institutions’ money pouring into their States’ coffers is an affront to democracy, constitutionalism, and federalism, they fail to mention the ugliest trend against the integrity of Nigeria comes by own hands with their refusal to support the Federal Government’s earnest desire to reinstate the local government as the third tier and finding a lasting solution to farmer-herder conflicts costing the nation lives and livestock”.
This initiative brings rights and support for generations of all ages to bring solutions to challenges that different communities of our country have faced but the PDP governors reject it – denying all Nigerians their constitutional right to live and work in any state of the Federation – preferring to appeal to ethnic division and hatred rather than support the first practical solution offered since independence.
Similarly, the governors appeal to each other for more involvement of States in mining and geophysical activities within their States. The question must be asked: “Why has this taken you so long?” Such opportunities and States’ powers have been fully available since independence – yet only now the PDP realises it?
And, of course, the PDP grieve over the Federal Government’s action over Twitter – for it represents the curtailment of their ability to use the platform to spread fake news and invented stories to the detriment of community and good-neighbourliness between the peoples of Nigeria.
The PDP Governors propose no solutions to any of our nation’s challenges in the face of COVID and global economic downturn: instead, they grasp for more money and mourn their lack of access to social media to spread falsehoods and hate. Their statement is evidence, if any were needed, as to why the President and the APC ended the PDP’s one-party rule in 2015, were re-elected by an increased margin in 2019, and why their winning trend is set to continue far into the future.
June 17, 2021
Court Convicts Ex-Bank PHB Boss, Atuche Over N25.7bn Theft
A Lagos High Court sitting in the Ikeja area has convicted Francis Atuche, a former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB on charges of stealing the sum of N25.7bn belonging to the bank.
In a judgment that lasted over 10 hours, Justice Lateefat Okunnu convicted Atuche alongside a former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu.
The court convicted the duo on 21 of the 27-count amended charge of conspiracy to commit a felony and stealing brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Okunnu held that the EFCC successfully proved its case against the convicts beyond a reasonable doubt.
The judge rejected the claims of the defendants that they were merely professionally negligent.
She specifically held that Atuche and Anyanwu abused their powers, ignored established rules and regulations thereby putting the bank and depositors’ funds in danger.
The court also came to the conclusion that the convicts corruptly took advantage of their positions to confer on themselves undue financial benefits without regard to the health of the bank.
Justice Okunnu however, cleared Atuche’s wife on the charge of conspiracy and stealing.
According to the judge, the EFCC failed to link her to the crime and insisted that suspicion no matter how strong can not take the place of fact.
The judge held that it was not proven that she was aware of the source of the funds she received into her account from her husband and she had no powers to take any decision to influence the transaction.
Charges
The EFCC had alleged that between November 2007 and April 2008, the accused persons stole about N25.7bn belonging to the bank.
The anti-graft agency had also claimed that of the total N25.7bn, they stole about N14.7bn by fraudulently describing it as a loan to some companies and subsequently converted the said sum to personal use.
The Commission had listed the companies as Future View Securities, Extra Oil Limited, Resolution Trust and Investment Limited, and Tradjek Nigeria Ltd.
The EFCC also alleged that another N11bn stolen by the defendants was used to purchase about 984,375,000 units of Bank PHB shares for themselves.
According to the commission, the sum used for purchasing the shares was described as a loan to some companies including, Guesstrade Services, Sentron Trading, Montrax Investico, Claremount Management Ltd., Trenton Trade, and others.
In proof of its case against the accused persons, the EFCC called 12 witnesses who gave oral evidence. It also subpoenaed 6 others to present some documents which were admitted as exhibits by the court.
June 16, 2021