Fayose paid me N75m, Ozekhome issues statement on frozen account

Constitutional lawyer Mr Mike Ozekhome has kicked against the freezing of his account with Guarantee Trust Bank, GTB at instance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The anti-graft agency had obtained the order of a Lagos High Court to freeze the account on the grounds that the 75 million naira found in it was suspected to be the proceeds of crime.

In a statement he issued in Abuja on Tuesday, Ozekhome said that the money was paid into his account by Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose for legal services.

“It is with rude shock and personal sense of consternation that my attention has just been drawn to online publications with numerous calls from Nigerians, that my account containing N75 million domiciled with GTBank has been temporarily frozen, allegedly based on an ex-parte order obtained by the EFCC from the Honourable Justice Abdulazeez Anka of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

“It is alleged that the said sum of N75 million is ‘’suspected’’ to be the proceeds of crime or that it is from money laundering. This is an invidious lie from the pit of hell.

“For the records, the N75 million was paid into my account by my client, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, as part payment of Professional Fees for the numerous cases my chambers is currently handling for him (in his personal capacity) and his aides across Nigeria. The money is neither ‘’suspected proceeds of crime’’ nor of money laundering.

“On the 13th day of December, 2016, I defeated the EFCC in a judgment delivered by the Honourable Justice Taiwo O Taiwo, sitting at the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti.

“Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, the same lawyer who was said to have obtained the ex-parte order blocking my account from Honourable Justice Abdulazeez Anka, is the very counsel for the EFCC in the case I won for Governor Fayose before the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti.

“After the accounts were defrozen by the judgment of the court, I urged Governor Fayose to make part payment of N100 million for the numerous cases I am handling for him and his aides across Nigeria, but which he did not have funds to pay for.

“He then transferred, with the cooperation of Zenith Bank Plc, which was actually the 2nd Defendant in the suit, the sum of N75 million as part payment of my Professional Fees.

“I have since utilized the funds for the payment of salaries, school fees of my children schooling in Nigeria and abroad, with spirally inflation, and for my Mike Ozekhome Foundation (MOF) activities.

“On the 19th of January, 2017, Honourable Justice Taiwo O Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti, took argument on a motion for injunction pending appeal restraining Governor Fayose from withdrawing the remaining balance in his said accounts. This same motion was argued by the same Rotimi Oyedepo.

“The court on the 31st of January, 2017, dismissed EFCC’s motion. He has now appealed to the Court of Appeal, Ado Ekiti, with a similar motion.

“The present action of EFCC is clearly calculated to overreach Governor Fayose in the appeal and also to embarrass and intimidate me from defending Governor Fayose.

“This will never happen. I will continue to defend beleaguered and oppressed Nigerians from the antics and high handedness of publicly funded government institutions that breach their fundamental rights.

“It is sickening and inconceivable that money legitimately and legally paid by a client to his Solicitor from an unencumbered account wholly and totally defrozen and unblocked by the judgment of a competent court of law can be termed “suspected proceeds of crime or money laundering’’.

“I am a practising lawyer, not a government employee, contractor or a business man. I have NEVER laundered and will NEVER launder any money in my life.

“It is so shameful and disgusting when we make ourselves a laughing stock before international circles through brazen unconstitutional acts by publicly funded government institutions, just to silence all critical voices of reason and plurality of ideas.

“I shall take immediate legal steps to defreeze the account, in the event that the EFCC does not immediately voluntarily vacate the said order."

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Osinbajo speaks with Buhari, says president is alive and well

Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is alive and well.

Osinbajo said this on Monday while addressing State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Oyegun, his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Sen. Babafemi and the Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora Matters, Hon. Abike Dabiri at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Osinbajo disclosed that he had a lengthy telephone conversation with President Buhari on Monday afternoon, adding that the country's number one citizen was alive and well.

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Our MUMU don reach last bus stop, Charley Boy tells Tuface Idibia

Veteran musician and civil rights activist Charley Boy, also known as Area Father has expressed his disappointment with Tuface Idibia's decision to opt out of the "Enough is Enough" peaceful protest billed to kick off across the country on Monday, February 6, 2017.

In a statement he issued on Monday, Charley Boy said that Nigerians must begin to resist political insensitivity and mindless looting of their common wealth.

Read the full text of his statement below.

The TuFace Cancelled Protest. The Struggle to overcome Political Insanity, Audacious impunity and Mindless looting in Nigeria took a Negative hit last night not just because Tuface Idibia called off the 6th of February, 2017 Protest; because most of the demons we are Fighting against hijack the Peoples Protest and Anger at the Establishment.
We must not Trivialize the Struggle because it is the Emancipation of the Nigerian Mind. President Muhammadu Buhari is not the Problem of the Nigerian State and this is not excusing his Failures. The Nigeria Political Elite are Vampires Feeding off the Blood of a Willing and Docile Populace. They Loot Because we Hail; The Celebration of Ibori in Delta State Yesterday and Across the Country Typifies the Insanity of our Stupidity and eternal Problem of the Nigerian Struggling Populace.
Now we retreat to regroup and replan and we will lock hands to synchronise our objectives. For me, it is #ALUTAETERNAL, because If we no plan well things no go work well. No be everybody get that kin heart to stand tall when jungle mature. The real tsunami it’s coming, and no doubt I will be on the front line. I will take the First Bullet; let my body be the first to drop; Let my Blood be the first to wash our LANDS.
Will the Nigeria youth back a Full Blooded Peaceful Political Mass Revolution at the Federal, State and Local Government Level? I doubt. But, I no go give up on my children, The Coalition of the Frustrated, Angry and Hungry, as well as this country that I love. We must sustain the pressure and cannot turn back as the Revolution Continues. We must begin to resist political insensitivity and mindless looting of our common wealth.
I, AreaFada will fight so fear will no longer cripple my people. Our MUMU don reach last bus-stop. And before we go start to chop sand sand, we go enter street and purge our lands of political dictatorship, oppression, poverty and corruption.
We must not walk/work alone or we will fail miserably. The Nigerian politician is our eternal enemy; The Nigerian people are the willing victim and it is time to channel our anger peacefully towards making governance work work for us not against us.

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Buhari sick but not terminally ill - FG

Following the announcement of President Buhari's decision to indefinitely extend his two weeks vacation on Sunday, the Presidency has finally admitted that the nation's number one citizen is sick.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adeshina, the Presidency said that Buhari decided to shelve his planned return on Sunday on the advice of his doctors to complete and receive the results of tests recommended for him.

Furthermore, an unnamed government official told The Punch correspondents on Sunday that the president was truly sick although not terminally ill.

“ The President is sick . But it will not be correct to say he is terminally ill. The President is only under the weather ; he is not terminally ill, ” The Punch reports.

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BUHARI EXTENDS VACATION: READ STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the National Assembly requesting the extension of his vacation.

The President was hitherto expected back in Abuja on Sunday evening so as to resume work on Monday the 6th of February.

The latest development will no doubt heighten speculations about the President Buhari's state of health.

Below is the press release issued on Sunday by Mr Femi Adeshina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT BUHARI EXTENDS VACATION, WRITES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the National Assembly today, February 5, 2017, informing of his desire to extend his leave in order to complete and receive the results of a series of tests recommended by his doctors.
The President had planned to return to Abuja this evening, but was advised to complete the test cycle before returning. The notice has since been dispatched to the Senate President, and Speaker, House of Representatives.
Mr. President expresses his sincere gratitude to Nigerians for their concern, prayers and kind wishes.

FEMI ADESINA
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
February 5, 2017

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Photo news: Islamic Movement protesting in Gombe

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Federal Government issues statement on food security

FACTS: THE PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE ON FOOD SECURITY
1. Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday February 1, 2017 constituted a Presidential Task Force on Food Security.
2. Contrary to circulating reports, the work of the Task Force is NOT to fix the prices of food items.
3. Instead, the Task Force has been mandated to explore and recommend means of urgently resolving some of the bottlenecks and challenges contributing to the increase in food prices across the country.
4. Some of these bottlenecks revolve around transportation and preservation processes. Even with credible reports of bumper harvests in parts of the country, transportation and preservation issues have combined to ensure that surpluses are stranded away from where they are needed, and lost to spoilage. These scenarios ensure that the price of produce remains high in many parts of the country.
5. The Task Force has seven days to report back to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) with recommendations and a Plan of Action.
6. The overall goal of this intervention is to ensure smooth and steady flow of produce from farms to markets, and bring down the added costs responsible for escalating food prices, ultimately bringing needed relief to Nigerians.
7. The Members of the Task Force are:
a. Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh
b. Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun
c. Minister of Industry, Trade & Development, Dr. Okey Enelamah
d. Minister of Transportation, Honorable Rotimi Amaechi
e. Minister for Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu
f. Minister of Labour & Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige
g. Representative from Office of the Chief of Staff to the President
h. Representative from Office of Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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