Witness absent as Saraki's trial stalls

The trial of Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT could not proceed on Wednesday as prosecution witness, Mr Michael Wetkas did not show up in court.

Saraki is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a 16-count charge bordering on false/anticipatory declaration of assets, money laundering and receiving salary up to four years after he had ceased to be the governor of Kwara State.

He has already pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

At the resumed hearing in Abuja, for the continuation of cross examination of Wetkas by the defense counsel, EFCC's lead  counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, sent a letter to the tribunal seeking adjournment on the grounds that Wetkas was giving evidence in another criminal case involving former Governor of Jigawa, Sule Lamido and his son, Aminu, at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that although the prosecution counsel urged the tribunal to adjourn the case till either June 9 or June 10 for continuation of hearing, no new date was fixed.

NAN

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Niger Delta Avengers warn Buhari against planned visit to Ogoniland

The Niger Delta Avengers have reportedly issued a warning to President Muhammadu Buhari against his proposed visit to Ogoniland on June 2.

The Herald reports that the NDA issued a statement on Radio Biafra advising President Buhari to sign his own death warrant before embarking on the journey to the creeks.

” This is Niger Delta Avengers …it has come to our notice that the Nigerian army killed our brothers who went to remember our dead heroes on 30th May in Nkpor, Anambra State. The army will hear from us. You are all monsters but you must pay.

“Buhari do not step your foot in our land because we heard you want to visit Ogoni land. Before coming you should sign your death warrant because we will kill you.

“If you don’t come and decide to send representatives, you should also sign their death warrant. Any Niger Delta elder working against our people should also sign their death warrant.

“Finally we are urging all Biafrans who to us are our brothers to keep faith with Nnamdi Kanu as they cannot harm him even in their custody. Thank you."

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Officials reject 300 over aged players at Eaglets screening.

No fewer than 300 over aged footballers were rejected by officials on the first day of screening for the National U-17 soccer team, the Golden Eaglets.

Over 400 hopeful footballers had stormed the NFF/ FIFA Goal Project playing ground in Abuja for the screening exercise being conducted by Coach Manu Garba.

According to one of the officials involved in the screening exercise, “many old players simply descended on the training camp hoping to be picked for the team, but they were promptly sent away merely by looking at their hardened faces.”

The open screening for a new  Golden Eaglets team began in Abuja on Monday and will be on for three weeks.

Nigeria are five-time world champions and will begin its qualification quest for next year’s U17 AFCON billed to hold in Madagascar with a road trip to Niger in August.

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PDP crisis: Police reopen Wadata Plaza

Police operatives have ended their blockade of the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP located in Wadata Plaza at Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

The police took over Wadata Plaza 9 days ago, following reports of threat to public peace and breakdown of law and order arising from intra party crisis afflicting the PDP.

Sources around the area said that the fierce looking policemen who had kept vigil at the secretariat over the past week vacated the place around 11 am on Tuesday.

The Secretary of PDP Board of Trustees, BoT, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, who arrived the building around 1:00p.m., told news hounds that the trustees actually requested the police to re-open the secretariat.

“We requested police to unseal the place so that staff can resume work. We will return tomorrow  to meet with the staff of the party,” he said.

Although a handful of policemen were still positioned at the gate, staff of the party and visitors who were denied entry in the heat of the crisis however gained entrance after undergoing security checks.

The PDP had been embroiled in a crisis over its National Chairmanship position.

The crisis led to the staging of two parallel conventions in Abuja and Port Harcourt and the subsequent emergence of two National Chairmen.

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CCT trial: Saraki's appeal stalled as judges fail to form quorum

Hearing in the appeal filed by Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki at the Court of Appeal against his trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT could not proceed on Tuesday,  following the inability of the justices of the court to form the quorum required by the constitution  to hear the case.

The presiding judge, Justice Moore Adumein adjourned the matter till Thursday, June 2, 2016 as only three justices out of the required five were available.

Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi appeared for Saraki while Rotimi Jacobs SAN led Federal Government's legal team.

Saraki is challenging the jurisdiction of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT to try him on the 16-count criminal charge, preferred against him by the Federal Government.

The charges border on false and anticipatory declaration of assets, money laundering, operation of foreign accounts while in office as  Kwara State Governor.

Saraki is also accused of receiving salaries as  governor, four years after his tenure had elapsed and while he was already serving as a Senator.

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Soldiers bar legislators from Kogi State House of Assembly

Armed soldiers numbering about 15 on Tuesday, barred legislators from entering the Kogi State House of Assembly.

A group of legislators on the platform of the G15,  had taken over the parliament last Thursday and held a plenary session having secured an Abuja court ruling.

However, the G15 led by  embattled Speaker, Mr. Momoh-Jimoh Lawal returned on Tuesday only to discover that armed soldiers had barricaded the entrance to the House of Assembly Complex.

Spokesman of the G15, Matthew Kolawole, expressed shock at the development.

The Abuja court had ruled that the impeachment of Lawal by  5 out of 20 lawmakers was unconstitutional, null and void.

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Buhari meets Igbo leaders in Abuja

In the aftermath of Monday's Biafra Day protests in which three policemen and several protesters were killed, President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met with some Igbo leaders at the State House, Abuja.

The Biafra Day protests rocked cities like Onitsha, Owerri, Aba, Abakaliki, Enugu, Asaba, Ikom and Port Harcourt.

In Asaba, two policemen were reportedly killed while another two were thrown into River Niger.

Security sources said that many of the protesters were arrested.

Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani led an 18-man delegation that included the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC National Auditor George Moghalu; Senators Ifeanyi Ararume and Osita Izunaso, former House of Reps member Sharon Ikeazor; former Executive Vice-Chairman of Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC, Ernest Ndukwe, the APC National Vice-Chairman (Southeast), Emma Eneukwu, Chief Austin Edeze, Dr. Uzoma Obiyo and Mr. Chris Akomas to the Presidential Villa for the meeting with Buhari.

No statement was issued after the meeting which was held behind closed doors.

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