Akeredolu 'Walks Out On' Labour Leaders During Meeting In Ondo

"Mr. Governor kept us waiting at the venue of the meeting for close to five hours. And instead of him to tender an apology, he told us that he really felt embarrassed by the Tuesday protest, as we the workers shut down the entry to his office. Before we knew what was happening, he stylishly walked out on us," he told SaharaReporters.
A meeting between Labour leaders and the Ondo State government ended with raised voices on Friday.
While the meeting was ongoing, Rotimi Akeredolu, Governor of Ondo State, "walked out angrily".
SaharaReporters learnt that the meeting was called to deliberate on the true position of the last tranche of the Paris Club Refund.
Civil servants and pensioners in the state had protested for several hours at the entrance of the governor’s office on Tuesday, following an alleged plot by the Akeredolu-led government to divert the Paris Club Refund accurable to the state.
Sources who attended the meeting told our correspondent that trouble started when Akeredolu, who arrived late to the meeting, expressed his disappointment with the labour leaders concerning the Tuesday protest.
"Mr. Governor kept us waiting at the venue of the meeting, which is the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor's office for close to five hours. And instead of him to tender an apology, he began to frown and express his disappointment with the protest we organised on Tuesday.
"He was telling us that he really felt embarrassed by the protests as we the workers shut down the entry to his office. Before we knew what was happening, he stylishy walked out on us. Many of our leaders raised their voices in solidarity as he walked out."
Comrade Soladoye Ekundayo, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) told sources close to SaharaReporters that the union would meet to deliberate on the next line of action.
"Although, as I'm speaking with you, our labour leaders are still meeting and we are eager to know their next line of action. But the best thing is to call for an industrial action. Let all the workers sit at home and show their anger with this tyrannical government which doesn't care about out welfare," the source said.
Meanwhile, after the protest on Tuesday, Tunde Akinsanmi, the state Deputy Accountant confirmed that the state government received the alert of N20.9 billion as its own share of the last tranche of the Paris Club Refund.
Akinsanmi later added that the fund was withdrawn by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from the state treasury account because the Federal government want to verify Ondo State Statement of Account.
He noted that only Lagos and Osun states had received their own share of refund of all the states in the South West.

NBC Threatens To Sanction AIT Over Fast-Rising, Govt-Critical Kakaaki Social

Since premiering on AIT Kakaaki on August 7, Kakaaki Social has gained widespread acclaim, numerous viewers praising both the station and its presenter, Ohimai Godwin Amaize, for providing a refreshing platform for the amplifying of social-media voices.
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has warned Africa Independent Television (AIT) to be careful in its usage of “user-generated content from the social media” on Kakaaki Social, a recent introduction to the early-morning show that extracts social-media comments on current political developments.
The warning was contained in a letter obtained by SaharaReporters and dated October 15, from Francisca Aiyetan on behalf of NBC’s Director of Broadcast Monitoring to the Managing Director of DAAR Communications Plc, titled ‘Social Media Segment of KAKAAKI: Need For caution’.
“It has come to the notice of the National Broadcasting Commission that a new segment was recently introduced In your flagship programme, Kakaaki, which makes use of user generated content from the social media,” read the letter.
“While this may be permissible, we advise you to ensure the utmost professionalism is employed in order to maintain editorial responsibility as indicated in our earlier letter dated 21st June, 2018 on the use of trending issues on social media.
“For the avoidance of doubt please note the following section of Nigeria broadcasting code; section 5.6.3 and 5.6.4
“Section 5.6.3: Broadcast shall take responsibility for all user generated content used on their medium
“Section 5.6.4: Material from user generated source shall meet all provision of the code.
“Please ensure compliance to avoid sanction.”
Since premiering on AIT Kakaaki on August 7, Kakaaki Social has gained widespread acclaim, numerous viewers praising both the station and its presenter, Ohimai Godwin Amaize, for providing a refreshing platform for the amplifying of social-media voices.

Fayose To Explain ‘$5.3M He Got From Obanikoro’

Fayose spoke yesterday after 72 hours in detention. He admitted knowing a former Minister of State Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, who ferried N1.299billion slush funds to him in a chartered jet.

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose is telling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detectives all he knows about the N4.685 billion allegedly withdrawn from the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA).

Fayose spoke yesterday after 72 hours in detention. He admitted knowing a former Minister of State (Defence) Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, who ferried N1.299billion slush funds to him in a chartered jet.

He also said he has links with Abiodun Agbele, who allegedly bought six choice properties for him in Lagos and Abuja.

But the ex-governor added  drama to his grilling when he wrote the EFCC to demand an additional mattress in his cell.

He said sleeping on two mattresses will be more comfortable for him. The EFCC was looking into his request as at the time of filing this report.

The governor, who had vowed not to speak, made a U-Turn, The Nation learnt.

Agbele and Obanikoro are central to the disbursement and receipt of N1.299billion and $5.377million to him.

“The $5, 377,000 was handed over in cash by Obanikoro to Fayose while the N1.299billion was received by Agbele on Fayose’s behalf in the presence of the ex-minister’s Aide-de-Camp who also accompanied them to the bank,” a source close to the investigation said, adding:

“From the $5million, Fayose gave his Personal Assistant Agbele about $1million which he exchanged to Naira and paid for properties on behalf of the governor.

“These assets include four in Lagos (N1.1billion) and two in Abuja worth about N500million to N700million.

“The properties, worth N1.8billion, were purchased with the said proceeds of crime.”

Fayose has been asking the EFCC to take him to court.

The source said: “Fayose will still undergo another round of grilling on Friday (today). We cannot just arraign him in court without obtaining a statement from him.

“By Friday, he has to explain the following:

Did Obanikoro hand over cash to him and Agbele?
What was the N1.299b meant for?
Did Agbele buy properties for him? How did his associate acquire the six properties for him?

“So far, Fayose remains in custody till he is able to respond to issues isolated for him.”

Fayose wrote a letter to the EFCC demanding an additional mattress to sleep on.

He said one mattress was too flat to accommodate his frame in the cell.

”He has demanded for a second mattress from the anti-graft agency and I think they are looking into his request.

“They want to find out from him the type of mattress needed to make him comfortable in custody,” the source said.

Fayose’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), said efforts had begun to secure his release from EFCC custody.

Ozekhome told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that “Fayose’s lawyers are already taking steps to enforce his fundamental human rights by getting him released.

”Yes, his lawyers will go to court to enforce his fundamental human rights.

”The EFCC has no right to keep him for over 24 hours.

“If they have done that by obtaining a Magistrate Court’s Order that will be in the form of “holding charge” which has been declared unconstitutional and illegal by the Supreme Court. Holding charge is illegal. It is unconstitutional.’’

Ozekhome said that the section of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) permitting a magistrate to detain a suspect for 14 days was illegal.

According to him, any action outside the provisions of Section 35 of the Constitution, which specifically provides for 24 hours, is illegal and unconstitutional.

The EFCC, also yesterday disowned a tape in which its Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu is said to have claimed that nothing would happen should Fayose die in detention.

The Head of Media Wilson Uwujaren said the purported audio tape was fake.

The statement said: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission wishes to alert the general public about an audio recording of a conversation currently circulating in the social media in which the Acting Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu, purportedly made comments to the effect that nothing will happen peradventure Ayo Fayose, former governor of Ekiti State, dies in custody.

“Interestingly, the audio tape did not disclose the place where the conversation occurred and the person that Magu was supposedly talking to.

“Purveyors of this fake news especially a former spokesperson of a leading political party, are warned to desist.”

David Mark’s Daughter, Blessing Onuh Dumps PDP After Losing Reps Ticket

It was gathered that Blessing, who is wife of the former Local Government chairman of Otukpo, Innocent Onuh, was advised to step aside for her uncle, Ahubi, but she refused.

Blessing Onuh-Mark, one of the daughters of immediate past President of the Senate, David Mark, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

DAILY POST reports that her defection came barely two weeks after losing the party’s ticket for Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency to her uncle, Johnson Egli Ahubi.

Ahubi is the current Deputy Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly.

It was gathered that Blessing, who is wife of the former Local Government chairman of Otukpo, Innocent Onuh, was advised to step aside for her uncle, Ahubi, but she refused.

Before the party’s primaries, Mrs. Onuh pitched her tent with Chief Mike Onoja, who also lost the Benue South Senatorial district ticket of the PDP to Abba Moro, former Interior Minister.

Few weeks after losing the PDP ticket, Onoja joined the Social Democratic Party where the former party’s senatorial flag bearer, Adakole Ijogi, stepped down for him.

A source hinted our reporter on Tuesday that Mrs. Onuh had equally picked the SDP ticket to slug it out in the 2019 general elections with his uncle, Ahubi, and other contenders.

“The truth is, Blessing was not happy with the whole drama that played out. She is also not happy because her father did not use his influence to get her the ticket.

“But (Okpani) Mark told her to wait until 2023 but she refused. Senator Mark doesn’t want to impose his daughter on the people. Now, she has picked the SDP ticket with Mike Onoja who also decamped from PDP last week,” the source hinted this reporter.

A chieftain of the party in Benue South, who pleaded anonymity, described her exit as ‘immaterial’

“She was not known before now as a member of the party, she was only riding on her father’s influence. Her defection is immaterial and we don’t care if she’s leaving or not.

“Well, it has not been made known but I don’t think it is worth discussing,” the PDP chieftain told our reporter in Otukpo.

‘60m Barrels Of Crude Oil Stolen From Nigeria’

Speaking at the 40th anniversary of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Falana noted that the stolen product passed through the Philadelphia Port in the United States of America (U.S.A.).

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) yesterday said about 60.2 million barrels of crude oil were stolen from the country between 2011 and 2014.

Speaking at the 40th anniversary of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Falana noted that the stolen product passed through the Philadelphia Port in the United States of America (U.S.A.).

Also, National President of PENGASSAN, Olabode Jonshon, said the union would engage the Federal Government and legislature on how to evolve a new beginning for the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

“We supported the new Joint Venture (JV) cash call framework and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) reforms. Currently, we are engaging the executive and legislature on the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB),” Johnson said.

On the revenue losses to crude oil theft, Falana said: “The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) commissioned a study about seven years ago concerning millions of barrels of crude oil that leave Nigeria unaccounted for.

“The study found that between January 2011 and December 2014, 60.2 million barrels of crude oil left Nigeria that were not recorded, but were recorded to have been discharged at the Philadelphian Port in the U.S.

“It revealed that the value of the stolen oil amounted to $12.7 billion. That was oil discharged in just one port. We have identified the oil majors that were involved and we have also identified the shipping company.

“But since 2014, we have been begging the Federal Government to recover the money and nothing has been done. The money lost in U.S, India, China and other ports where our oil is discharged exceeds $100 billion.

“We wrote a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that while they are busy recovering small money from politicians, this is the real money available to Nigeria, but unfortunately, no action has been taken,” he stated.

While urging the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the labour movement to lead the battle for recovering outstanding crude oil proceeds, Falana said Nigeria is also losing huge revenues due to the non-implementation of Offshore and Inland Sharing Formula Act enacted in 1999 but was backdated to 1993.

Amosun, Sani, Others Lose Out As APC Submits Candidates’ List To INEC

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, was met half way by the party as he got his senatorial ticket while his preferred governorship candidate, Mr. Adekunle Akinlade, lost out to Chief Dapo Abiodun. The party’s appeals committee threw out Akinlade’s petition against Abiodun’s nomination.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) thursday made good its resolve not to extend the deadline for the submission of political parties’ lists of candidates for the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for the first quarter of next year as it ended the exercise last night.

The International Conference Center (ICC), Abuja, which the electoral body used as the collection centre was full of activities as political parties’ officials made frantic efforts to beat the deadline.

THISDAY gathered at press time that 84 parties had submitted their lists.

For the All Progressives Congress (APC) that was plagued by large scale disputes following its primaries, it was judgement day for the protesters as the party decided on whom to allot its tickets.

The party, said the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Lanre Isa-Onilu, fielded candidates for all the states, including Zamfara, which INEC had said would not be allowed to present candidates because its primaries were not conducted within the stipulated time by the electoral body.

“We submitted applications for all the positions in all the states, including Zamfara,” he told THISDAY on phone last night, adding, that he could not give details of the list for the state.

Many heavyweights fell by the way side as their wishes were not met.

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, was met half way by the party as he got his senatorial ticket while his preferred governorship candidate, Mr. Adekunle Akinlade, lost out to Chief Dapo Abiodun. The party’s appeals committee threw out Akinlade’s petition against Abiodun’s nomination.

In Plateau State, former deputy governor of the state, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, who was also a former minister, lost her bid to pick up a senatorial ticket.

In Kaduna State, although the appeals committee upheld the nomination of Senator Shehu Sani as saved by the National Working Committee (NWC), THISDAY sources said his name was eventually not on the list submitted to INEC by the party.

The appeal panel also dismissed the petition written against the emergence of Mr. Tonye Cole as the APC’s gubernatorial candidate in Rivers State.

This meant that Senator Magnus Abe would have to wait a bit to realise his ambition to govern the state.

THISDAY also gathered from a source that was privy to the decisions reached by appeals panel, which submitted its report to the NWC on Monday, that it upheld the candidacy of Mr. Uche Nwosu, the son-in-law of Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha.

An intriguing verdict was the decision of the appeal panel to uphold the choice of Senator Shehu Sani as the candidate of the party for the Kaduna Central Senatorial District.

In its report, the appeal panel said it held that the primary conducted by the electoral panel for Kaduna was done in contempt of a court order, adding that the only aspirant cleared by the party to contest the election was Sani.
Yet, THISDAY reliably learnt, Sani’s name did not make the party’s list.

A reliable information on the report of the APC’s appeal panel showed that the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Uguru Usani, was a loser in the highly intricate struggle for the governorship ticket of the APC in Cross River State, losing his appeal against Senator John Eno.

The appeals committee, which considered petitions from the aspirants for the various offices, rejected many of the petitions while upholding the results of the primaries in the various states.

Among other big losers who also lost out in the governorship race according to the committee’s report include a brother to the wife of the president, Aisha Buhari, Alhaji Mahmoud Halilu, popularly known as Modi, and President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) Bala Bobboi Kaigama.

There was tension within the national headquarters of the party as aspirants for the Senate and House of Representatives besieged it to know the outcome of the screening and probably the list of candidates sent to INEC by the party.

The leadership of the APC had made the list of candidates a top secret and would not even let those who lost at appeals level know their fate until the last day of submission.

NLC Faults FG’s No Work, No Pay Policy

He said strike is legalized in the country, and had been exercised since colonial era to date, adding that the right to strike is what differentiates a worker from a slave.

The President of Nigeria Labour Congress Ayuba Wabba yesterday said the decision of the Federal Government to implement no work, no pay policy cannot stand as the right to strike is a human and trade union right which cannot be wished a way.

He said strike is legalized in the country, and had been exercised since colonial era to date, adding that the right to strike is what differentiates a worker from a slave.

He said, “Just like the right to strike, right to picketing, the right to work to rule, right to protest and peaceful assembly the issue of no- work no pay has always existed. It is morally and legally wrong to apply a phrase in a body of law without respecting all other provisions of the same law.

“Same law being quoted provided that a workers wage is due after 30 days, where this and or any collective bargaining agreement is violated, it is legally and morally justifiable for unions and workers to apply ‘No pay No Work.’

He said the adoption of no work no pay cannot deter workers and trade unions from exercising the right to strike, saying “there are clear procedures provided by law to embark on a strike, once the legal requirement is met no work no pay cannot apply.”

Atiku: Peter Obi Speaks On Southeast Govs Working Against Him

He said he had spoken to leaders in the Senate including Ike Ekweremmadu, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Theodore Orji, Sam Egwu and others.

Peter Obi, former Anambra governor, has stated that South-East governors and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the region never acted against him.

He said this in reaction to alleged opposition to his emergence as the running mate of the party’s presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

NAN reports that Obi spoke when he visited the site of last Friday’s pipeline fire that killed scores of residents of Umuimo and Umuadoro communities in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Council.

He said he had spoken to leaders in the Senate including Ike Ekweremmadu, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Theodore Orji, Sam Egwu and others.

“For us, what is important is to rebuild the South-East, to rebuild Nigeria. What we need is to talk about how to create jobs, how to make Nigeria better for the citizens.

“Let me thank Gov. Ikpeazu for what he is doing. Governance is about the people feeling you. It is about moving around, seeing it for yourself.

“When we came this morning, he could have said “well, listen I am busy” and stayed back in his office but he came around with us. He has been to those places.

“He has listened to the people and I assure you that whatever he said today he will do will be practicalised. It is not a question of wishing. So we are all working as a team.

“You know in politics, we need to ask for more. That consultation will be asking for more”, he said.

Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, in his remarks, said that the South-East caucus in the National Assembly had always been in support of Peter Obi’s emergence as the PDP vice-presidential candidate.

He said that the nation at this time needed men and women whose words could be their bond and who would understand the challenges of the country.

“Today, what we have is a man who we can queue behind, a man who can make sure that Nigerians are rescued from where they are today, in despondency”, he said.

He noted that this was the reason he could say that all the leaders of Igboland were in support of Obi’s candidature.

Couple Sells Baby For N200,000 To Relocate To City

Narrating her part in the deal, the wife said: “I have given birth to four children, one is late. I have two now. So when I became pregnant I told my husband that we would sell the baby and use the money to relocate from my village to township to start a better life.

A couple, Richard and Chidimma Benson, has been detained by operatives of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit for allegedly selling their one-week old baby boy for N200,000 to rent an apartment in the city.The couple, who hail from Isiala-Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, confessed to the crime, saying it was hard times that forced them into the decision.

Narrating her part in the deal, the wife said: “I have given birth to four children, one is late. I have two now. So when I became pregnant I told my husband that we would sell the baby and use the money to relocate from my village to township to start a better life. He refused but I forced him into agreeing with my plan.

“My husband is a labourer, he is a wheelbarrow pusher. I owe debts everywhere and I needed to settle them. So, we sold the baby for N200,000 but I later learnt the baby was sold for N500,000.”Her husband, Richard said: “We were owing N10,000 and the hardship was too much for us to bear. I went round seeking for help but no help came. We wanted to relocate to the township for a chance of a better life, that was why we sold the baby to enable us raise money and rent an apartment in the city.”

Parading the suspects alongside other seven child traffickers yesterday at the IGP complex in Aluu, Ikwere Local Government Area of Rivers State, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the IGP Monitoring Team, DCP Benneth Igwe, disclosed that the team rescued six pregnant women and arrested seven child traffickers in connection with the business.

He said: “Based on reliable intelligence about a notorious child trafficking cartel operating in Obigbo-Afam in Oyigbo Local Government Area and Omagwa, Aluu, the operatives burst into Afrique Hotel in Oyigbo and rescued six pregnant women awaiting delivery.

“The hotel is used as a harbinger by suspected child traffickers. Information further revealed that on October 7, the victims, one Richard Benson and his wife, Chidinma Benson, delivered a baby boy at Grace Land Maternity Homes, Afam Obigbo.

“The maternity is owned by a quack nurse called Grace Daniel. After delivery, the parents were paid N200,000 by one Mrs. Rose Onyia and the baby was later sold to Mrs. Eucharia Jaja of Omagwa for N500,000 and thereafter, the baby was resold by Mrs. Jaja to her potential client in Lagos. Operatives are on a trail to recover the baby.

“The cartel pay N150,000 for a girlchild and N200,000 for a boy to the mother. The baby is later trafficked to an unknown destination for amounts between N1 million and N1.5 million,” he said. Meanwhile, another couple, Eucharia Ihunna, aged 48 and her husband confessed that they have been in the business for four years and have sold over four babies. 

You’re Midgets, Ohanaeze Mocks Igbo Presidential Candidates, Backs Obi

PHOTO CREDIT : SAHARA REPORTERS

Speaking at the conference, the State President of the group, Damian Okeke-Ogene, stated that the chapter had decided to support a former governor of the state, Peter Obi, who was nominated as the running mate to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Anambra State Chapter, has described the Igbo Presidential candidates in the 2019 general elections as midgets.

The Igbo socio-cultural organisation at a press conference in Awka, Anambra State, likened such candidates with “somebody trying to go to Lagos from Awka by bicycle.”

Speaking at the conference, the State President of the group, Damian Okeke-Ogene, stated that the chapter had decided to support a former governor of the state, Peter Obi, who was nominated as the running mate to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar.

Okeke-Ogene said, “You know in this presidential race that some contestants are like somebody trying to go to Lagos from here by bicycle, while others are like somebody trying to do the same journey by aircraft.

“So, we have chosen the person we shall support in that election based on his acceptability, capacity and chances to achieve result.”

Our correspondent gathered that no fewer than four Igbo men emerged as presidential candidates of various political parties in the current dispensation.

The Ohanaeze statement read in part, “The journey to 2019 has started and is gathering momentum.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo has earlier made its stand clear in line with the South-East Summit held on May 21, 2018, at the Ekwueme Square, Awka, tagged “Ekwueme Square Declaration,” to support every effort towards restructuring the country to give every zone a sense of belonging and promote equity, justice and fairness that would give Ndigbo and every other part of the country a sense of belonging.

“In line with this, Ohanaeze Ndigbo resolved to support any political party and candidate with a manifesto of actualising restructuring.

“This is why Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Anambra State chapter, is declaring a total support for the choice of Mr Peter Obi, the former Governor of the state, as the running mate to the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

In the same vein, Igbo lawyers, under the aegis of Otu Oka-Iwu, have expressed delight about the choice of Obi as Atiku’s running mate for the 2019 presidential election.

The Igbo lawyers, in a statement on Wednesday signed by their chairman, Chief Chuks Ikokwu, enthused about the choice, saying they believed that if elected next year as Nigeria’s Vice-President, Obi “will make very meaningful contributions to the growth and development of Nigeria, especially given his widely acknowledged track record as Anambra State.”

The Igbo lawyers held an emergency meeting to x-ray the state of the nation and concluded that Obi had the capability to make a difference.

The group said, “We view the opposition of the PDP South-East Governors to the selection of Mr Peter Obi as the running mate of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as uncalled for and totally misguided.

“It is even more untenable when the reason for the opposition is predicated on the claim by the governors that they were not consulted.”

Fayose: EFCC Gives Update On Probe Of Ex-gov

Asked why Fayose was still detained for over 24 hours, Uwujaren said “we are still within range. We are not keeping him but interrogating him.”
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, who on Tuesday reported at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) office in Abuja in accordance with his promise is still being interrogated by the commission.

Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren disclosed this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

Asked why Fayose was still detained for over 24 hours, Uwujaren said “we are still within range. We are not keeping him but interrogating him.”

Fayose’s tenure as governor ended on Monday, and he had on Saturday, presented “Hand-over Note’’ to his successor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who was inaugurated on Tuesday.

On arrival at EFCC office, the former governor had said “I am here in line with my promise that I will be here on the 16th of October.

“And, like I said to EFCC, they should await my arrival. They had been to my house; they cordoned off my street which I feel personally was unnecessary. It is unwarranted.

“I had led Ekiti, and the best I could give, I have given. Therefore, every question, whatever they need to ask, I will be able to respond appropriately.”

He had in a letter to the EFCC sometime ago, said his term of office “to which I enjoy immunity against investigation and prosecution shall lapse by Monday, Oct. 15, 2018.

“As a responsible citizen of our great country, who believes in the rule of law, I wish to inform you of my decision to make myself available in your office on Tuesday, 16th October, 2018 at 1pm.

“It is to clarify issues or answer questions within my knowledge.”

EFCC Obtains Court Order To Detain Fayose For Two Weeks …Ex-Gov To Sue Anti-Graft Agency

A reliable source said, “We have obtained a court order to hold Fayose for at least two weeks pending investigation. He could be released earlier or later than two weeks depending on the outcome of investigation.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has obtained a remand order from a Federal Capital Territory High Court to keep former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State for two weeks, The PUNCH can confirm.

The remand order, it was learnt, is subject to renewal which implies that Fayose could spend longer than two weeks in custody.

A reliable source said, “We have obtained a court order to hold Fayose for at least two weeks pending investigation. He could be released earlier or later than two weeks depending on the outcome of investigation.”

Fayose is under probe for allegedly receiving N1.3bn from the Office of the National Security Adviser through a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, during the build-up to the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State.

However, sources within the commission revealed to The PUNCH that Fayose was also under probe for allegedly receiving kickbacks from government contractors through his aide, Abiodun Agbele, who is currently standing trial for fraud.

The EFCC source said, “We have many cases against Fayose being handled by three different teams. We cannot just arraign him immediately. We want to do a thorough job before taking him to court.”

Meanwhile, the lawyer to Fayose, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), told The PUNCH on the telephone that if the EFCC failed to release the former governor on Thursday (today), the commission would be sued for breaching Fayose’s fundamental human rights.

Ozekhome said the EFCC began investigating Fayose over two years ago and that he wondered why the agency would decide to hold him for over 24 hours.

He said the commission could not force Fayose to write any statement as he reserved the right to remain silent.

The senior advocate said any move to obtain a remand order would amount to illegality because the Supreme Court had made that clear.

The lawyer said since Fayose’s accounts had been frozen and his properties seized by the commission, there was nothing for the ex-governor to tell the EFCC as the matter was already in court.

Ozekhome added, “His lawyers will consider approaching the court for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights if he is not released on Thursday. Section 35 and 36 of the constitution are clear on this.

“He is not a flight risk. He willingly submitted himself to the EFCC even earlier than the time he was supposed to come. What the EFCC is doing is nothing but media trial.

“From the way they have been chasing Fayose in the last three years, one would have expected that the EFCC would have completed its investigations and would arrest him immediately his tenure expires and charge him the next day but that is not the case.

“They want him to write a statement by force and then use the statement against him instead of using their own evidence.”

Charge Fayose to court, PDP tells EFCC

On its part, the South-West Zone of the Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday warned the EFCC not to detain Fayose for more than 48 hours before charging him to court.

In a statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of the party in the zone, Mr Ayo Fadaka, the party said, “It is now going to 48 hours that he submitted himself to the agency and he is still being held incommunicado, this development proves that the claim by the EFCC that it is actually working in public interest is a lie. It is merely playing a partisan card as attested to by its unfortunate tweet in the immediate aftermath of the Ekiti election.

“We, therefore, hold firmly that if Fayose is not charged to court immediately to answer to whatever charges against him, then it will be very clear that the Buhari administration is merely using the EFCC to intimidate, harass and punish him in the most unjust manner.”

Akpabio To Saraki: Senate Leadership Must Change

Akpabio, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and resigned as the minority leader, said the Senate president should follow suit after Saraki’s defection to the PDP from APC.

The calm that reigned in the Senate since its return from recess last week was shattered yesterday.

Senator Godswill Akpabio called for the reconstitution and restructuring of the upper chamber — in line with the numerical strength of parties. “The majority must always preside over the minority,” he said.

He threatened to stop contributing in plenary unless his desired change is carried out.

Akpabio (Akwa Ibom North West) spoke at a news conference after yesterday’s plenary during which he was temporarily barred from making contributions by Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Akpabio, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and resigned as the minority leader, said the Senate president should follow suit after Saraki’s defection to the PDP from APC.

He added that while the minority should have its say, the majority should have its way for peace to prevail.

The Senate, he insisted, must be properly constituted and senators must sit according to political parties.

“You cannot have 10 senators presiding over the affairs of 80 senators and expect peace to reign,” Akpabio said.

He went on: “On the other side, having me move from the PDP to the APC, I think it is a jolly good movement and I am excited that I have a much greater opportunity to relate directly with the government and not my voice to be heard from a partisan point of view.

“Being part of the ruling party now, whatever advice or contributions I will make will not be looked at with suspicion. They will now know that I am saying it from a patriotic point of view and for the fact that I want things to work better.

“I moved in national interest. I saw a kind of slight towards disorder, where many of my colleagues saw defection as a weapon against the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“I don’t believe that we should bring a government into being without supporting that government to succeed. If the administration slides and Nigeria slides into anarchy, it is our children that will suffer. I moved to stabilise the polity.

“I moved from PDP to APC, to make sure that this government works before election. It should not be all about election; it should be first about Nigeria. Let others also move in national interest.

“I did not just move like that, I was a (Minority) Leader in the Senate. I resigned my position in order to show that, yes, I meant business. Let others who also have positions in the Senate who wish to also cross carpet from one political party to another also resign their positions and take a cue from what Godswill Akpabio did.

“There is the need for us to restructure the Senate. Behind where I sat today, my very good friend, distinguished Senator Shittu; it was after the little noise in the Senate that he told me that he was now in the PDP and I said ‘why are you sitting here?’

“Don’t you think there is the need for us to restructure the Senate? PDP will sit on a side, APGA will sit where they are supposed to, and the ruling party, which still forms the majority, will still sit where they are supposed to sit.

”The leadership should be restructured in a way that the majority can have their way and the minority will have their say. That is the practice all over modern democracies.

“You cannot have a political party with 10 members, another with 80 members, and the 10 members will now produce the leadership.

“Does it happen anywhere in the world? Nigeria is not different. We are running a democracy. That is what I meant when I said I would speak when the Senate is well restructured and reconstituted.”

During plenary, there was commotion for over 30 minutes.