Ex-minister says EFCC is trying to arrest him on politically motivated charges

Former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is planning to re-arrest him.

He made the claim via a statement released on Thursday, October 20. The statement reads in part:

“I have been reliably informed by my sources within the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that they are planning to re-arrest and detain me for as long as possible once again even though I have been granted bail by the Federal High Court in Lagos. Fresh charges were filed against me by the EFCC at the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 7th.”

“The allegations border on a baseless allegation and false claim that I received twenty six million naira from the NSA's office in 2014. These are politically-motivated charges and there is no truth in or substance to them whatsoever.

“Because of that the matter is now seized of the court yet the EFCC are still planning to arrest me probably at the premises of the Federal High Court in Lagos after I appear there on Friday 21st October to attend my trial on the trumped up and, again, politically-motivated charges concerning the presidential campaign funds.

“If they do not arrest me then they will arrest me and seek to detain me for as long as possible soon after that. Whichever way they will come and I am ready for them. I am not running.  The truth is that the EFCC are a ready, willing and able tool in the hands of the hawks and hardliners in the Buhari administration and they are apparently acting on orders.

“They are desperate to keep me out of circulation and off the streets and I have been reliably informed that they were ordered to ensure that that is the case by the Presidency. They are also eager to arrest and detain my wife and my 8 month old son just to hurt and spite me even though they have done absolutely NOTHING wrong.

“The more evil they do to me, the more the coals of fire will pour on their heads. Also the more the President will continue to fail woefully and have all manner of strange and inexplicable problems. Wickedness and wicked men never last. No matter what they do to me that is my consolation. They are bullies and cowards and they have no shame.

“My only crime is that I have spoken the bitter truth to power and I am very proud of that. That is what God created me to do. It is my calling and I stand by every word that I have ever said about this President and this evil, corrupt and inept government.

“This government is vicious, vengeful, inept and toxic and so is their willing tool the EFCC.  As I am in their cells and subjected to their barbaric torture and wicked and inhuman treatment for another period of time I shall continue to pray for Nigeria.”

Fani-Kayode was initially arrested in May after being accused of money laundering by the EFCC.

He was released in July after spending more than two months in detention.

INEC gives PDP factions Oct. 27 deadline to choose a candidate

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given the two factions in the Peoples Democratic Party October 27 ultimatum to decide on a candidate for the Ondo governorship election.

The embattled PDP Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff had presented billionaire Jimoh Ibrahim to INEC as the party's candidate in the election, while the Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee submitted the name of Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) as the party's flag-bearer.

INEC, which earlier expressed confusion about the party's candidate to choose, said the commission will publish the list of candidates that will take part in the election on October 28.

The October 27 date was set aside for political parties to substitute candidates.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of the commission, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday, October 19, during an interview with Punch.

He said INEC will not go back on the deadline, adding that the Commission is already studying the court judgment that ordered it to recognise Jimoh Ibrahim as the PDP candidate for the election.

Last Friday, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered INEC to remove the name of Eyitayo Jegede as the party’s candidate.

Oyekanmi said: "It is true that we have received the court judgment asking us to accept the name of Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim as the party’s candidate for the Ondo State governorship election.

"We are a law-abiding institution. But we are still studying the judgment as the court paper had been sent to our legal department to study.

"But the party still has up until October 27 to sort itself out. October 27 is the last date set for political parties to substitute their candidates."

The Ondo State governorship election is scheduled in November 26, 2016.

I'm supposed to take over from Lai Mohammed - APC's dep spokesman

Timi Frank, the Deputy Spokesman of the All Progressive Congress is unhappy that he hasn't been allowed to fill in the former position of Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed.

In a recent report by TheCable, Frank expressed dismay that he was not given the office of the national publicity secretary after Lai Mohammed was made a minister.

Speaking on the position, he said: “I am meant to be acting publicity secretary of the party. Why is the party depriving me?”

“If you ask the party chairman, he would tell you that certain persons in the party do not want you to speak. Who are these certain persons?”

Frank has been on a collision course with the APC's national chairman, John Oyegun claiming he is unfit for the unity and progress of the party.

I didn't try to bribe any judge,' Minister dismisses allegation

The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has dismissed the allegations of attempted bribery brought against him by  Justice Inyang Okoro.

He said the Supreme Court judge is acting like a child and trying to shamelessly trivialise the allegations of corruption against him and his colleagues.

Amaechi said this in Abuja on Wednesday, October 19, in a statement signed by him.

Justice Okoro, who was one of the judges recently arrested by the Department of State Service (DSS) over alleged corruption, had in a letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, alleged that Amaechi attempted to bribe him to influence the outcome of the governorship election cases in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Abia states.

He said the Minister and the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate for Akwa Ibom State, Mr Umana Umana, visited him and pleaded that the cases, which were pending before the Supreme court be ruled in favour of the APC.

Justice Okoro also alleged that the Minister told him President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC were interested in the cases.

According to him, his refusal to dance to Amaechi and the APC's tune was why he was arrested by the DSS.

In his statement, Amaechi denied ever having such discussion with Justice Okoro or any judge for that matter.

He stated: "My attention has been drawn to a letter purportedly written by Honourable Justice Inyang Okoro, Justice of the Supreme Court, one of the judges recently arrested by the DSS as part of its investigation into the allegations of massive corruption involving some officers of the judiciary.

"Given the level of mischief in the social media, I would ordinarily have ignored the letter because the allegations contained in the said letter are wild, baseless and unrelated to the issues in contention between the Justice of the Supreme Court and the Department of State Services. To that extent, I had grave reservation that this letter emanated from his lordship.

"However, for the avoidance of doubt, let me say clearly that I have never discussed any matter pending before the Supreme Court of Nigeria with my lord, Honourable Justice Inyang Okoro, in his house or anywhere else.

"I make bold to also state that the only time I have ever spoken with the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, was at the inauguration of the Abuja-Kaduna Railway project on the 26th of July, 2016 at Idu in Abuja."

He described the allegation of attempted bribery levelled against him by the judge as shameful and a serious national tragedy.

Amaechi further said: "I believe that the issue of corruption at the highest level of our judiciary should be addressed objectively. It is to say the least demeaning and childish of a Justice of the Supreme Court to imply that the security operatives of our nation will arrest a Justice of our Supreme Court for no reason other than the instructions of a minister.

"Those faced with serious allegations should treat the issue with the seriousness it deserves and stop trying to court public sympathy and trivialise what is clearly a national tragedy."

He has directed legal representative "to contact Justice Okoro and take whatever legal steps necessary to clear my (Amaechi) name of this baseless allegation."

Amaechi asked the Justice Okoro to be "objective in dealing with the issue at hand and not whip up unnecessary sentiments against innocent public officers."

He stressed that he has no influence on the DSS, adding that he would focus on his job as the Minister of Transportation and not be dragged into unrelated matters.

Ruling party's dep spokesman slams Oyegun, doubts his competence

The deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has slammed the party's chairman, John Oyegun saying he is not in control.

In a report by TheCable, Frank said the national chairman, isn't fit to unify the ruling party nor support the anti-corruption fight led by President Muhammadu Buhari.

In his words: “As far as I am concerned, he is not in control. He’s being controlled by some forces,” he said.

Speaking further, he said: “But we cannot continue to have a national chairman that is being controlled by people. We need a national chairman that can pull us together. We need a national chairman that can unify this party.

“The party, as at today, is not united; there is an internal crisis disturbing us. I don’t think as a party we are in a better state to truly support the president in the fight against corruption,” Frank said.

Timi Frank has been at war with Oyegun following the fallout of the party's national leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the party's national chairman.

Buhari receives rescued girls

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday said the Federal Government would ensure that the released 21 Chibok school girls would be fully integrated into the society and their needs provided.

The president stated this while receiving the girls at the Presidential Villa from the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the girls regained freedom from their Boko Haram abductors on Thursday while the president was leaving to Germany on official visit.

They were kidnapped in their Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno, on April 14, 2014.

Buhari said that the girls had experienced the worst the world could give, but assured that "they will now be getting the best the world can offer’’.

He also assured that his administration would ensure the release of the remaining girls in captivity and other Nigerians being held by the insurgents.

The president stated that adequate and comprehensive medical treatment would be given to the girls to ensure their speedy rehabilitation.

According to him, government and Nigerians would encourage them to achieve their personal and professional goals.

“It is not late for you to go back to school. Government and all Nigerians must encourage you to achieve your goals in life,’’ he added, and congratulated the girls, their parents, Chibok community and security agencies.

Earlier, the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Alhaji Lawal Daura, had briefed the president on the release of the girls shortly before his trip to Germany.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Aisha Alhassan, called for prayers for Buhari in his determination to secure the release of the remaining girls and other innocent Nigerian in captivity.

She said that since the girls were released, the government had been taking care of their needs.

One of the girls, Rebecca Malam, who spoke on behalf of others, thanked Buhari and Nigerians for ensuring their release.

She stressed the need for security agencies to intensify efforts to free their colleagues still in captivity in the Sambisa forest.

30 years on, ghost of fearless journalist continues to haunt IBB

October 19, 1986 has to be one of the darkest days in Nigeria’s history; hot on the heels of the horrors of the civil war of the ‘60s and ‘70s and the Boko Haram bloodletting in the North.

It was the day Dele Giwa, a journalist, was assassinated via a parcel bomb right inside his Talabi home in Ikeja, Lagos.

It was 11: 40am.

Giwa was 39 years of age at the time of his assassination. It will be the first time in the nation’s history that anyone’s life would be cut short by a letter bomb. No one has been assassinated by a letter bomb since that time, as well.

Giwa was the pioneer Editor-In-Chief and CEO of Newswatch Magazine. Alongside Ray Ekpu, Yakubu Mohammed and Dan Agbese, Giwa made Newswatch one of the most read titles in Nigeria in the '80s.

He had returned to Nigeria after working for four years as a News Assistant with the New York Times. He would go on to perfect his trade in the National Concord and the Daily Times.

Dare Babarinsa, who worked as a reporter under Giwa, relieves that gloomy day in the history of the media in Nigeria.

“Newswatch was a great place to practise journalism. We had four of the greatest journalists under one roof and commanding the troops into battle. Then one day, our lives changed. October 19, 1986 was a Sunday. After service, I had gone to the office, as was the practice among us staff of Newswatch to pick up my copy of the Magazine. I was accompanied there by my friend and neighbor, Paul Okomayin, a banker and accountant. We got to the office at 62 Oregun Road, and met an eerie scene.

“Giwa had been bombed!

“A lady from Newbreed, another magazine founded by Chris Okolie, was telling me. She sensed my incomprehension. Giwa had been bombed! He is dead!”

Accounts of how Giwa died and conspiracy theories that culminated in his passing may differ from person to person, but the name of a certain General (retd) Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) who was Nigeria’s ruler at the time of the letter bomb assassination, has been a recurring decimal.

Lt. Col. A.K Togun, the Deputy Director of the State Security Service (SSS) was on Giwa’s case, as was  Col Halilu Akilu of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI).

Togun and Akilu had accused Giwa of various offences from gun-running, plotting an insurrection against the government of the day and blackmail.

Akilu had called Giwa’s home and had asked for driving instructions to Giwa’s home a day before the parcel bomb tore through the journalist, leaving him mortally incinerated.

Giwa had been invited to the offices of the SSS and DMI before his death. He was a living threat to the military junta headed by IBB. His pen was mightier than the sword, to borrow a timeless quote.

There’s also been the Gloria Okon angle to Giwa’s death.

On 22 April, 1985, a certain Gloria Okon was caught with heroin and hard drugs at the Aminu Kano International Airport. She was headed for London. According to some accounts, Ms. Okon didn’t even exist. Her real name was Chinyere.

The said Okon would 'die' in custody six days after she was caught; and a 'corpse' of hers paraded.

As the conspiracy goes, the 'corpse' of the Gloria Okon unveiled to the world had been exhumed from a mortuary. The corpse belonged to someone else.

Chinyere, according to the conspiracy theorists, was a drug mule for Maryam Babangida, late wife of IBB.

Giwa had spotted Chinyere in the UK and had assigned a journalist to take pictures of the lady. He was studying the pictures when a parcel arrived his home, bearing the seal of the “Commander-in-Chief”.

According to the New Telegraph, Giwa asked his seven-year-old son when he got hold of the letter: “Who brought this?”

“On the parcel was written “From the Office of the C-in-C” (commander-in-chief). Also written on it was that nobody except the addressee should open it. Billy told his father that he received it from Musa Zibo, the security guard. Billy left the room and Giwa suspended his meal and said to Soyinka: “This must be from the president.” He put the parcel on his laps and tried to open it with his right hand and that was it”.

Kayode Soyinka, who was with Giwa when the parcel arrived, had excused himself  to use the restroom. It turned out his saving grace.

Babangida has been mum for 30 years. In 2001, he shunned an invitation from the National Human Rights Commission to testify about what he knew concerning Giwa’s death.

It got worse: Babangida, Hakilu and Togun proceeded to the courts, obtaining a restraining order barring the Human Rights Commission from ever summoning them.

30 years on however, the ghost of Dele Giwa continues to stalk the land.

There have been several unsolved murders involving high profile persons in that span, but Giwa’s has been the only one carried out with a letter bomb. Giwa’s has been the only one perpetrated with such cold-blooded, brutal technique only the Military could have pulled off at the time.

All investigations into the death of Giwa have been frustrated, several administrations after. Most of the actors in the murder case are still alive. IBB still rules the roost in Minna, Niger State and is still regarded in certain circles as a political Godfather.

IBB continues to pontificate on matters of national concern.

Late legal luminary, Gani Fawehinmi, fought unsuccessfully to unravel the one million dollar question: Who killed Dele Giwa?

IBB may not be the only Nigerian leader who’s got blood stained hands hiding under his Babariga (traditional Nigerian attire), but the death of the journalist may well haunt him until his dying day.

Continue to rest in peace, Sumonu Oladele "Baines" Giwa .