JUST IN!!! Security Operatives Arrest Buhari’s Nephew in Port Harcourt Over Crude Oil Fraud

Nigerian authorities have arrested one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephews, Salisu Mamman, and have detained him and his gang at the Federal Prison in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over allegations of fraud, name-dropping, forgery and attempt to swindle some unsuspecting businessmen reports say.

Our reporter gathered that the gang led by Mamman obtained money from the individuals on the pretext that he will introduce them to the President and use his very close relations with him and purported ties with Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who doubles as the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, to help them secure crude oil allocations as well as licences to import petroleum products. The scam blew up when the businessmen’s companies were not amongst those awarded oil contracts by the NNPC.

Confirming this development, impeccable presidential sources who opted to remain anonymous over the tricky nature of the matter said, “Mr. President has been briefed on the involvement of his nephew in the alleged crime.

HARSH ECONOMIC POLICIES: ABUJA RESIDENTS AUCTION CARS TO RAISE MONEY

The cash crunch in Nigeria, particularly in Abuja, has made many owners of exotics cars to put up some of their vehicles for sale in a bid to raise cash, car dealers in Abuja have said.

According to the dealers, this was despite the fact that the sale of vehicles in the Federal Capital Territory has dropped drastically.

Different dealers who spoke with our correspondent in separate interviews explained that politicians and civil servants were affected by the development.

It was learnt that the aides of many politicians in the city who purchased vehicles and agreed to effect payments based on instalments had not been able to do so, even when dealers forced them to comply.
Ehiremhen Patrick, a car dealer whose business outlet is located close to the headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation on Herbert Macaulay Way, Abuja, stated that the car sales business in the city had slowed down tremendously.

When asked if residents were returning their cars in order to raise cash, he said, “People are returning their vehicles in order to raise funds. It was reported in Saturday PUNCH that some people had started selling their houses and lands to raise funds for the school fees of their wards. It is same for cars, people are looking for money too by offering up their vehicles for sale. But where are the buyers?

“The fact is that there is no money in the country. You can even go to where we sell our cars and you will notice that a lot of vehicles there have remained unsold. I have some cars that have been there for almost six months and nobody is asking how much we are selling. Even when the prices are reduced, nobody is willing to buy.”

Patrick said many potential buyers did not even have the cash to pay.

He added, “In fact, for some, it may take up to a year before they can make complete payment going by what is on ground at present. For instance, in December we didn’t sell anything, our sale was zero, unlike what we recorded in December 2014.

“So sales have dropped drastically in Abuja. You know those who live in Abuja, it is either you are a politician or a civil servant and when civil servants are not paid salaries and all the leakages have been blocked, where then do you expect them to get money? For the politicians, many of them are afraid of even buying luxury cars.”

Patrick went on to state that “Some of their (politicians) aides that bought cars from us are still owing us and despite making it installment payment, many of them still can’t meet up. In fact, there are some payments that were supposed to be completed in December but as I speak to you now they’ve not been able to conclude the payments. Even when you drag them they don’t have the money.”

Another dealer, who’s showroom is located around the Gwarimpa axis of the Kubwa/Zuba expressway in Abuja, Mr. Yahaya Yakubu, said there was “serious cash crunch in Abuja and virtually everyone in this city is lamenting.”

He said, “There is no money and this has contributed to the drastic fall in car sales. It is a serious matter.”
When asked to explain how car sales used to be before the present era of cash crunch, Yakubu said the poor patronage for cars in Abuja started in January 2015 while the country was preparing for the general elections.

He said, “This started towards the preparation for the election. I remember, in December 2014, I sold more than 10 cars. But by January 2015 when we started preparing for elections, people became apprehensive and started to hoard money. When the country started getting close to the election, we (car dealers) started noticing serious drop in patronage.”

Another car dealer at the same Gwarimpa axis, who simply gave his name as Suleiman, said although many residents were putting their vehicles up for sale, there were still few or no buyers.

“Many exotic cars you see here were bought as brand new by their owners, but they can’t continue maintaining them when there is cash crunch. That is why they put them up for sale, but the irony is that there are no buyers because people don’t have money like before,” Suleiman said.

Fake Buhari’s Security Aides arrested in Ekiti for impersonation, attempt to defraud Fayose

Two men, who claimed to be President Mohammadu Buhari’s private security aides, were on Saturday, arrested at the Afao-Ekiti country home of the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose for presenting themselves as staff of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), with influence over the report of the military panel set up to investigate alleged involvement in partisan politics by some soldiers and officers during the 2014/ 2015 gubernatorial election conducted in some states such as Ekiti, Osun, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom.

The two men, Benedict Ola Idega and Abdulsalami Leader H. claimed that they already have the preliminary report of the military panel and that with the cooperation of the governor, they could manipulate the final report if necessary. They also said the army panel report was targeted at some top army officers that the Federal Government wanted to punish.

Governor Fayose, who was suspicious of the men’s real intentions, had informed the State Commissioner of Police and Director of the State Security Service, with the Police Commissioner already putting men of the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on standby.

The two men, in a meeting with the governor presented what they called photocopy of page three of the preliminary report to show that they meant business. The purported copy of the page three bore the logo of the Nigerian Army.

After turning copy of the page three of the purported preliminary report, the governor gave the impression that he was satisfied with all that they said and asked them to wait at his waiting room for him to show appreciation. He then called in the Commissioner of Police and SSS Director, who in turn asked their men to move in and arrest the two men.

The identity card found on Abdulsalami Leader H bore “GMB SECURITY” and it was stated at the back that he (Abdulsalami) is the security of Gen. Mohammadu Buhari with Number 34, Lobitto Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja as issuer’s address and 088133636478 and 08057010255 as telephone numbers. Benedict Ola Idega was with identity card bearing Federal Capital Development Authority.

The two men, who lodged at a popular hotel along Bank Road, Ado Ekiti are now being detained at the Police Headquarters, Ado Ekiti alongside another suspected accomplice, who was found in their hotel room when policemen visited the hotel for a search.

Special Assistant to the governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, who confirmed the incident said even though it has been established that they were impersonators, the real intention of the men were yet to be ascertained.

He said; “We don’t want to pre-empt the security agents that are already investigating the incident. But it is certain that they have ulterior motives. We are also not ruling out the possibility of an attempt to set-up the governor, obtain money from him under false pretence or even harm him.

“Therefore, we expect that the security agencies will do their job thoroughly by ascertaining their real motives and their other accomplices.

“However, we must say that anyone thinking that report of any military panel can be used to upturn an electoral victory already upheld by the Supreme Court, which is the final destination for dispute on governorship election must be thinking of committing judicial coup d’état, which by all standard is treason.”

WE’VE BEEN EXONERATED : GODWIN ADINDU BEHIND THE DSS ORDEAL OF HON. EZIUCHE UBANI

On Tuesday January 5 2016, Men of the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Army raided the residence of Hon. Eziuche Ubani, a former federal lawmaker and a Serving commissioner for works from Abia State for reason yet to be said by the DSS. The DSS is yet to disclose their findings during the raid. From the reaction of Hon. Eziuche Ubani, he claimed on live telecast that DSS acted on ordinary anonymous facebook petition against him which accused him of stockpiling arms (150 guns bought in Abala Ngwa) to use for kidnapping and assassination of opposition party members. 

He said that the petition came from anonymous source and spread by Abia Facts News and others. Even before the alleged facebook petition, Barrister Ahamdi Nweke who is the star witness of Dr. Alex Otti in the ongoing electoral tribunal raised alarm through his facebook page that Eziuche Ubani and others are planning to assassinate him because of his support for APGA and Dr. Alex Otti. Nweke pointed that he called Eziuche Ubani on phone to inform him that he has already known their plans. He also calls for commissioner of police Abia state to come to his aid and investigate the matter before they execute their plans. But during the time of making his complains against the raiding of his house by DSS on media and time of addressing the press, Eziuche did not even mention the incident between him and Ahamdi which he has not denied but mainly pointing accusing finger on Abia Fact Newspaper an Abia base investigative online platform which has been updating the general public on ongoing activities in Abia State especially on the electoral tribunal.
He said that Abia Facts News was behind his ordeal with DSS pointing out that the facebook petition was stage-managed by ABIA FACTS NEWS and since then he has been making calls for the online media to block including other major online News that deals with the issue of Abia State activities which include Abia Facts News, PUO Reports, IgbereTV, Aba City Blogs etc. In response to the calls to clampdown these Abia base online Medias, the editors of the Medias have issued a collective statement under Abia State chapter of the Association of Online Practitioners of Nigeria (AMPON) criticizing Eziuche and Abia government of their plans to clampdown their sites in order to deny them their right of freedom of expression. They swear that they will do everything within the law to resist every attempt to shut down their medias platform since they are not using their platform to witch hunt anybody but only using it to be updating Abians and the general public. We have been exonerated: In a new development, the information receives has disclosed how the petition came about. The informant said that it was Hon. Godwin Adindu the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the ousted Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu that masterminded the ordeal. The informant exposes that Adindu has not been happy with Hon. Eziuche Ubani who is using his radio station Magic FM Aba – 102.9 FM Aba to take over media contracts from the government house and for almost taking over his function as CPS to the governor. The ongoing anger has made Adindu not to make any meaningful statement since Ikpeazu was sacked until calls starts coming from different quarters for him to be replaced for not been spontaneous and proactive.

Adindu was embittered that Eziuche Ubani who is the owner of a radio station is from behind transferring the major media activities in the state to his radio house thereby dominating major media contracts that should handle by the state owned radio house BCA. More revelation has it that Adindu was angry, questioning why Eziuche should leave his ministry of works and hijacking his own activities. Adindu believes that Hon. 
Eziuche is behind previous calls for him to be sack to replace with one of his Magic FM staff to smoothen his intending plans of totally hijacking the media contracts from the government. Therefore he decided to use the said petition for Eziuche to be tamed using a lady to forward the petition of stockpiling arms against Ubani. Adindu who has been having this grudges decided to use this opportunity that Barrister Ahamdi Nweke raised alarm to strike Hon. Eziuche Ubani so that it will leave no trace that it comes from an insider. 

It was said since there is already feud between Nweke of APGA and Hon. Ubani that Ubani will direct every accusation on the opposition party APGA and Barrister Nweke. One of the reasons why Hon. Adindu refuses to make statement on the Appeal Court verdict that sacked his master was because accumulated grievances he had against Hon. Eziuche Ubani who he said was waiting to issue statement since he decided to take over his function as CPS to the governor. It was after criticism from various quarters that Adindu has to issue statement just to fulfil all righteous but the informant said that Adindu is planning more attacks until Ubani leaves his department alone and concentrate on his ministry of works. If Ubani wants to find out this exposition, he should try to find out what Adindu has been saying about Magic FM. It was revealed that Adindu said that BCA is schedule for 69 Million monthly subventions but Magic FM is making more than BCA. He further cried out that Ubani might shut down BCA and render them useless if something is not done to avoid transferring BCA jobs to him. Adindu who is not mincing words often complains that Ubani is using Magic FM Aba to loot the state that he even charges the government on things that shouldn’t be charged. The informant said that Adindu has been told by friends that if he allows Ubani to take over his functions through his Magic FM that his job will render useless and will be sacked. So Adindu is doing everything to save his job and to stop the state governor Dr. Ikpeazu from seeing Hon. Ubani and Magic FM Aba as more important than the state radio house.

It was said that Adindu and some senior staffs of BCA are not happy with Ubani and looking for every means to cause disparity between them and Ubani. It was further revealing that they are afraid that the government might decide to be giving more subventions to Magic FM Aba than BCA radio. It was said that the commission of information knows about this situation but he decided to keep quite because he is making his own gain through BCA monthly subventions. It was said that though government gives BCA monthly subvention of 69 Million but what gets to BCA is only 29-33 Million while the remaining 30 Million will be shared between the commission of information and his cliques. The culture of diverting part of BCA subventions has been there since the time of T.A. Orji which led BCA to be owning taxes amounting to over 100 Million Naira because they check off taxes to be able to pay workers salaries with the little left over given to them. Abians and the general public should now see how Dr. Ikpeazu men are fighting themselves internally and pointing accusing fingers on opposition and online Medias in order to gain public sympathies.
St Jude writes from Awka

Tambuwal, a Statesman, Says Kalu

 

Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu has congratulat­ed the Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Tambu­wal on his 50th birthday.

He described the former Speaker of the House of Rep­resentatives as a nationalist who enjoys unprecedented goodwill among Nigerians regardless of political party, religious and tribal differ­ences.

According to Kalu, Tam­buwal’s contribution to the political development of Ni­geria is commendable having placed the nation’s interest above the selfish wish of his former political party in the 7th National Assembly, add­ing that politicians should emulate the forthrightness and boldness of the lawyer-turned politician.

In a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Prince Kunle Oyewumi, Kalu said, “I join millions of your well-wishers, supporters, associ­ates, friends and family in  celebrating a consummate politician, a philanthropist per excellence and an ad­vocate of democracy on the occasion of his golden jubi­lee birthday anniversary.

“You are a leading light in the propagation of good governance, which is evi­dent in your exemplary leadership style beyond the political circle. I salute your selflessness.

“As you clock the glori­ous age 50 , it is a milestone that should be celebrated by reflecting on your achieve­ments and challenges in life towards sustaining your good work in the service of mankind.

The former governor while praying God to strengthen the celebrant for his service of humanity, felicitated with the govern­ment and people of Sokoto State.

Kalu wished Hon. Tam­buwal a memorable cel­ebration.

Release Kanu and Dasuki Now or Else… Egbesu Water Lions Warns FG

Our Correspondent, Bayelsa
Another dreaded militants group in the Niger Delta region, the Egbesu
Water Lions has warned the Federal Government of Nigeria to release
the Radio Director of Biafra and the

former National Security Adviser,
Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) in the next seven (7) days without
hesitation and unconditionally.

In a statement by General Torunanawei Latei, who is a Creek Network
Coordinator, the dreaded body further asked the Federal Government to
direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to restore
the accounts of Chief Government Ekpemupolo (a.k.a) Tompolo within the
same period or else they are going to shut down every oil and gas
activities in the region.

“Federal government approached Chief Tompolo for his land to be used
as Maritime University and he sold his land to the government based on
agreement, humanly what is wrong in that for someone to sell what
belongs to him, is it a crime in Nigeria now?
“It is also extremely important to note that the engine room of the

National interest is the Executive obedience to COURT ORDERS and
protection and preservation of the citizens’ constitutional liberties.
Justification of executive disobedience to court orders as a
protection of national interest is abominable.

It is also a deliberate ploy to bend the law and suspension of the
1999 constitution. Federal government disobedience to court decisions
is one of the dimensions of corruption and seen as gross abuse of
office, contrary to section 15 (5) of the 1999 constitution.
“We ask, is President Muhammadu Buhari has any legal capacity to
declare anyone as a criminal? Disobedience to court orders is an act
of executive rascalities in the country.

DASUKI , BAFARAWA & OTHERS IN COURT

Nmandi Kanu has been in detention since October 14, 2015 when he was
arrested by operatives of the DSS while the former national security
adviser too is facing multiple charges before three different courts
and was re-arrested recently at the gate of Kuje prision, Abuja
shortly after he has perfected all his bail conditions. The continued
detention and incarceration of the two accused persons is humanly
unjustifiable in the 1999 constitution and therefore the rule of law
must be respected”, the body warned.

President Muhammadu Buhari must not constitute himself as a court of
law and allow justice prevail in the country. Within this period we
will halt gas and oil operations in the country until they are
released as directed by the courts.

We also demand the immediate payment of Bonga Oil Spill and Chevron
gas explosion in Koluama in Bayelsa state unconditionally.
The country will be a ground and let us see what the president will
use to run the economy and we will accomplish the ultimatum, General
Torunanawei Latei concluded.

JUST IN!!! Two Soldiers, Four Policemen Killed in Bayelsa

More than 14 people were feared killed in the supple­mentary election held yesterday in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa. Among those allegedly killed were four policemen, two soldiers and eight civil­ians.

Reacting to news of the kill­ings, Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson condemned the electoral malpractice and violence, which marred the supplementary elections in Brass, Nembe, Ekeremor town and parts of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Daniel Iwor­iso-Markson, the governor accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains of masterminding the killings of innocent Bayelsans in Brass, Ekeremor, Nembe and Soth­ern Ijaw and wondered why the APC would kill to capture power.

The governor wept for those who were killed and prayed for the repose of their souls. While calling for the arrest of the perpetrators of the crime, Governor Dickson condoled the families of those who have lost their dear ones.

While reiterating his ear­lier stance that the APC was not ready for ‘One Man, One Vote’ the governor said the violence had also vindicated him on his assertion that the security agencies particularly, the Nigeria military are parti­san and not willing to create the enabling environment for a free and fair election to take place.

The governor also accused the security agencies of pro­viding cover for the APC to perpetrate violence and rig the elections in the state.

“To achieve their sinister plot, APC militants hijacked election materials and wrote results in many wards of Southern Ijaw, Brass, Eker­emor town, Brass while elec­tions were disrupted in parts of Yenagoa and in a polling unit in Otokpoti, Ogbia Local Government Area. The gover­nor called on the Independent National Electoral Commis­sion to cancel the elections in polling units where the APC hijacked election materials and wrote results.

Many PDP members were attacked in Brass and South­ern Ijaw and are in critical conditions at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.

Governor Dickson thanked Bayelsans for reposing confi­dence in him and his govern­ment and expressed confi­dence of victory.