EFCC detains Atlantic Energy boss, Jide Omokore.

Businessman and close ally of former Petroleum Minister, Alison-Madueke, Mr Jide Omokore has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The businessman who has interest in several companies being investigated for corruption is being questioned for his role I the mismanagement of many oil and gas deals during the Jonathan administration.

The unilateral award of controlling ownership of two rich oil wells to Atlanta Energy without due process by Alison-Madueke for as little as $50m has raised a lot of suspicion given the fact that Shell paid $1.3b for a similar interest in a transparent bid process.

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I couldn't bear to see over fifty percent of Northern children not having formal education - Jonathan

Remarks by former President Jonathan in Geneva, talks about his achievements while in office http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2016/01/remarks-by-former-president-jonathan-in.html

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Supreme Court upholds Wike's election as governor of Rivers State

ABUJA

A seven-man panel of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on Wednesday upheld the election of Nyesom Wike as the governor of Rivers State

The panel led by the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Mahmud Mohammed said that it will explain the reasons for the judgement on February 12. 

The Supreme Court ruling effectively set aside the judgments of the tribunal and the Court of Appeal which had both sacked Wike.

In the lead judgement, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun held as follows;

“I find and hold that this appeal is meritorious and it is allowed. The judgement of the lower court delivered on the 16th of November 2015 and the judgment of the tribunal delivered on 24th October 2015 are hereby set aside.

“The petition of the petitioners is dismissed. The return of Nyesom Wike as governor of Rivers State by the Independent National Electoral Commission is restored.”

Other members of the panel, Justices Mohammed, Ibrahim Mohammed, Sylvester Ngwuta, Kumai Akaahs and Amiru Sanusi, concurred with Kekere-Ekun’s  judgment.

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the April 11, 2015 governorship election, Dakuku Peterside had earlier obtained judgments from the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal and the Court of Appeal sacking Governor Nyesom Wike.

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Widow in police net for killing her own newborn

The police in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State are questioning a widow for allegedly snuffing life out of her new-born baby girl.

News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports that the widow who was arrested on Wednesday suffocated the baby soon after delivery and hid her in a pot.

“After dropping the baby in the big pot, she went to the backyard of the family house and hid it before proceeding to the farm.

“But unfortunately for her, curious children, who were playing around the backyard picked the pot to play with only to discover the dead baby inside and quickly raised an alarm, ’’ NAN was told.

Mr. Williams Nkarang, Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Mangu while confirming the incident said that the woman has been taken into custody.

He however said that she is not in good health and has been taken to hospital for medical attention.

“We got wind of the sad and unfortunate incident and arrested the woman only to discover that she was bleeding from the delivery,” he said

He added that investigation would continue after she had fully recovered.

“She has told us about the man who impregnated her and we shall also take him into custody for questioning,” he revealed.

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Photos from the inauguration of Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello

Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress, was on Wednesday, inaugurated as the Executive Governor of Kogi State at the Lokoja stadium.

See photos of the event.

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How Metuh's company, others shared billions of naira for nonexistent contracts

A Federal High Court presided over by Justice Okon Abang in Abuja was on Tuesday, told how the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA under Col Sambo Dasuki retd, paid billions of naira to 78 companies including Olisa Metuh's Destra Investment Ltd for phoney contracts.

Of the total sum, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Spokesman allegedly received about N1.4b as payments for fictitious contracts through his firm.

An electronic mandate tendered before the court by the prosecution in Metuh’s trial by an official of the ONSA, Bali Ndam, was said to have been issued by former NSA Sambo Dasuki, to the Abuja branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, authorising various sums of money to the tune of about N1.4 billion.

Ndam who is a legal adviser in the Office of the National Security Adviser was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir as the third prosecution witness.

“On November 28, 2015, the ONSA forwarded a letter to the Chairman of EFCC and the title of the letter was ‘payment of contracts without award’ for their necessary action.

“The letter forwarded a list of companies and individuals covering almost about 78.

“The one I can remember vividly is Destra Investment Limited.

“Following the letter, the EFCC sent a letter to the ONSA requesting e-payment mandate for these companies. The (EFCC’s) letter, dated January 13, 2016 was signed by one Ibrahim Musa.

“The ONSA replied the request of EFCC forwarding the list of e-payment mandate, number 0799 to the EFCC on January 14, 2016. It was signed by one M. Abdulraheem, Group Captain.

“After the letter was forwarded to EFCC, I was also invited to write a statement which I did,” he said.

The defense counsel, Barr Ikpeazu's attempt to prevent the document from being admitted in evidence on the grounds that the witness was “procured to manufacture evidence to entangle the defendant” was overruled by Justice Okon Abang.

The judge fixed Wednesday for consideration of Metuh's application for variation of conditions of bail

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Kaduna CP orders Vice Chancellor to produce anti government lecturer

CP Umar Kofar-Naisa, the Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State has directed the Vice Chancellor of Kaduna State University, KASU,  Professor Williams Quirix, to produce anti-government lecturer, Dr. John Danfulani for questioning over certain comments attributed to him, which the police claim could cause a breach of public peace.

The police directive is coming in the wake of the suspension of the political science lecturer by the university authorities.

In a letter dated 21st  January, 2015 and referenced– CR: 000/KDS/X/D6/Vol.82/150 addressed to the VC of KASU, the Police Commissioner said;

“This Department is investigating the above mentioned case involving one of your lecturers, Dr. John Danfulani. You are kindly requested to release him to interview the undersigned through O/C General Surveillance State SCIID Kaduna on 25/01/2006 at about 10. 00hrs to enable us complete our investigation.”

However, the Vice Chancellor may not be in a position to produce the errant lecturer as demanded by the police, having suspended him from the institution since January 8.

The register of KASU, MrsTalatu A. Kuri, had on January 8, written Danfulani to convey the decision of the university to suspend him from duty.

“We refer to our letter of query dated 5th January, 2016 requesting you to explain  within 48 hours  why disciplinary action will not be taken against you for gross misconduct and confirm that you failed to respond. In line with S15 (1) 4 of KASU staff Conditions of Service, the Vice Chancellor has suspended you from duty forthwith and will report the matter to Council.”

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