Plaintiff withdraws suit challenging Buhari's certificate

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday struck out a suit challenging President Muhammadu Buhari's academic credentials.

The presiding judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola struck out the suit consequent upon a notice of discontinuance filed by the plaintiff, Mr Nnamdi Nwokocha-Ahaiwe.

At the resumption of hearing on the matter on Thursday, Mr Chikordi Okeorji, counsel to the plaintiff informed the court that his client had filed a notice of discontinuance on June 27, pursuant to order 50 rule 2 (1) of the Federal High Court Rules.

Justice Ademola struck out the case after Paul Ajiboye, counsel to the defendant had said that he was not opposed to the application.

Nwokocha-Ahaiwe, an Abuja-based legal practitioner, had filed an application asking the court to nullify Muhammadu Buhari's  election  as president on the grounds that he did not possess the minimum academic requirements to contest for the position, having failed to sit for the Cambridge West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1961 as he had claimed.

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Some officers, politicians behind coup rumours - Buratai

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai has disclosed that some military officers and members of the political class are behind recent rumours of an impending coup d'etat in the country.

The Army Chief warned against military misadventure in democracy, adding that investigations were on to unmask the faces behind the rumours.

“We are much better under democracy. Military misadventure in democracy should not repeat itself.

“We see it as an attempt to show some misgivings by some officers and the political class, but they will fail,” he said.

He assured that the Army would remain professional and stay out of politics.

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$2.29m money laundering: Court orders Ohakim to opun his defense

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a no case submission filed by the immediate past governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim in a money laundering suit instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

In his no case submission, Ohakim had argued that the evidence aduced by the prosecution to prove its case disclosed no prima facie case against him.

However, Justice Adeniyi Ademola on Thursday ruled that Ohakim had a case to answer as the prosecution had established a prima facie case against him warranting that he should defend himself.

The EFCC had on July 8, 2015, arraigned Ohakim, governor of Imo State from 2007 to 2011, on a three-count charge bordering on money laundering.

Ohakim is charged with purchasing a property at 60, Kwame Nkrumah Street, Plot No 1098, Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, Abuja with a cash payment of $2.29m which was said to be the dollar equivalent of N270m in November 2008, contrary to section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004 and punishable under Section 15(1)(d) of the same law.

Ohakim is also accused of attempting to conceal the ownership of the property by falsely entering into an agreement as a tenant in the property, contrary to and punishable under section 14(1b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.

The ex-governor is also alleged to have failed to declare the property as part of his assets when asked to do so by the EFCC in January 2014, contrary to section 27(b) and (c) of the EFCC Act and punishable under the same section.

The prosecution closed its case after calling six witnesses and tendering documentary evidence as exhibits.

On May 5, 2016, Ohakim through his counsel, Awa Kalu (SAN), indicated his intention to file a no-case submission, contending that the prosecution’s evidence had not linked him to the commission of the alleged crime.

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Eid-el-fitri: Tuesday, Wednesday are public holidays - FG

The Federal Government has declared Tuesday and Wednesday next week as public holidays to enable Muslims mark the Eid-el-fitri celebration.

A statement released in Abuja on Thursday by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Bassey Akpanyung said that the Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd) admonished the Muslim faithful to allow the spiritual benefits of
Ramadan, which include love, peace and justice to permeate their daily living and thus contribute to national development.

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PDP's BoT Chairman, Walid Jubrin mourns Ojo Maduekwe

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Senator Walid Jubrin has confirmed the death of the Secretary of the party's BoT, Chief Ojo Maduekwe.

Jubrin while confirming the development in Abuja on Thursday, said that the sudden death of Maduekwe was shocking.

He explained that he had been expecting the former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States of America to return from his trip to that country so that they could continue to sort out PDP's leadership crisis, only to receive the shocking news of his sudden demise.

"I learnt with sadness and great shock about the death of this very devoted member of the party, a very dependable member and a very useful member with whom we have worked very closely together.

"We have been trying our best to find a solution to this problem and it is so sad that Maduekwe died at a very critical moment.

"It is sad that at this critical moment, Maduekwe had to go and we are definitely going to miss him and his ideas.
"He meant very well for this party, he meant very well for BoT.

"He had very fantastic ideas on the way out for our party crisis.
"Maduekwe has been national secretary of the PDP, he has been a Nigerian ambassador and so, we were utilizing his knowhow in BoT.

"He did very well for the few months he was in BoT. I will never forget him.

"I have lost a great partner,'' he said.

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Read Fani-Kayode's purported message to Christians, Apostle Suleiman

A message purportedly written by detained former Minister of Aviation, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode has been making the rounds lately.

The message alleges plans by the present administration to persecute Christians including Apostle Johnson Suleiman of the Omega Fire Ministries International.

Fani-Kayode has denied authoring the message through his Special Assistant on Media, Jude Ndukwe.

Read the message below.

''God willing am in custody of EFCC. But to me is a great time to commune with God just the way Paul and other brethren did in their days.

"I am here not only because my party gave me money to campaign for them like every other politician even in APC. But if it might interest you to know,what is going on is the persecution of Christians. Before i forget,this message should be taken to apostle Johnson Suleman the founder of OMEGA fire ministry. I had a revelation that they are planing to attack him. Because he is one of the major voice crying out for justice in the body of Christ.

"The Muslims are out to persecute the Christians.
I am here under custody because the likes of Kabiru are not comfortable with my position as a Christian.
God willing,the dark age will soon be over.

"They refused taking me to court to defend my civic right.
They want to keep me for the next 4years. But they don’t know it is dangerous. I now have time to pray more, study more, and even meditate.

"Before my arrest, Lai Mohammed offered me an amnesty if only i decamp to their anti-Christ party.
I refused because i know who i am.

"No man can cover your sin for you. If am guilty,i will surly come out strong.

"This is not just anti-corruption fight. Where are the PDP governors and leaders from the North? They are walking freely today.

"This is a fight to pocket the voices of Christians.
A situation where an officer picked offence on me for relating with my God through the name Jesus. He threw my Bible to the floor today.

"If it where to be the Quran,will he do that?
The head of who did that would’ve been at the gate of Aso rock by now.

"So many secret plots to eliminate top politicians and pastors who are Christians is on going.

"Tukur was right when he raised alarm that,a meeting was held in Dubai to overthrow Jonathan by all means. Part of what they discussed at the meeting,is what Aregbeshola and El-Rufai are displaying in their various states.

"I am not an infidel and i will never be one. I am a man of dignity. I will not stop fighting even here in prison.
I am the John the Baptist of my generation.

"I will not keep mute and watch anti-Christ imposing policies that are not religious friendly.
What has bible got to do with my case with the EFCC?
Why are they keeping me here when we have a competent court to prove if am guilty or not?

"I am blowing the whistle now for Christians to go on their knees. This was how i warned my brothers against Sheriff whose mission is to destroy the PDP and give room for Buhari to install one party system.

"We gave them opportunity to be opposition.
Why are they depriving us such right if they don’t have interior motive.

"A democratic system without vibrant opposition is said to be dictatorship government.
God willing,i will be alive to witness Nigerians glamouring for referendum like what took place in great Britain.

"And such referendum will tell if we truly saw the future under president Buhari’s government.
Arresting Kayode is the greatest achievement they’ve achieved. But for me,God used them to keep me here,in order to prepare for the challenges ahead.

"Today is pregnant. Let’s see what tomorrow will deliver.
They were not elected to be permanent. They have maximum 8years to stay. And is already counting.
Thank you all for your prayers.

–Femi Fani-Kayode"

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Message to Apostle Suleiman and Christians: Fani-Kayode denies authorship

Embattled ex-Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has denied authoring a message purportedly meant for Christians and Apostle Johnson Suleiman of the Omega Fire Ministry.

A statement issued on Thursday by Fani-Kayode's Special Assistant on Media, Jude Ndukwe said that the so-called message was part of a systematic plan by his "traducers and detractors to continue to discredit and malign his person and character, and cause disaffection among his friends, associates and supporters."

Read the full statement below.

RE: FEMI-FANI-KAYODE SENDS MESSAGE TO ALL CHRISTIANS AND APOSTLE SULEIMAN FROM DETENTION

This is to inform the general public that the purported message making the rounds that Chief Femi Fani-Kayode wrote a certain message to Christians and Apostle Suleiman from detention is not true. That message was part of a long and systematic plot by mischief makers, his traducers and detractors to continue to discredit and malign his person and character, and cause disaffection among his friends, associates and supporters. We therefore urge members of the public to disregard that message and treat it as non-existent.

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