Lion of Bourdilon: Read Daar Communications Plc's apology to Tinubu

Daar Communications Plc, owner of Africa Independent Television, AIT has tendered an unreserved apology to the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the contentious airing of the documentary, Lion of Bourdilon on AIT in the heat of last year's presidential election campaign.

The apology is part of the terms of the out of court settlement agreed between the plaintiff and the defendant in the N150 billion suit filed by Tinubu against Daar Communications.

Read Daar Communications Plc's apology to Tinubu below.

Retraction and Apology by DAAR Communications PLC to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinuby

“Further to the terms of settlement in suit No: ID/196GCMW/2015 between Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and DAAR Communications Plc filed as a result of the broadcast of a documentary titled, “Lion of Bourdillion” and which terms were adopted at the High Court of Lagos State on 5th February, 2016 as the judgement of the court, the defendant DAAR Communications Plc hereby retracts and apologises to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as follows:

“Daar Communications Plc, acknowledges that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is an outstanding political leader of unblemished character and integrity, as well as a leading public figure and opinion moulder who has made and continues to make immense, colossal and gargantuan contributions to the progress and development of the nation in general and Lagos State in particular.
“Daar Communication Plc admits that in airing the said documentary, it had no intention whatsoever to embarrass or diminish the high reputation of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu which it respects and attests to.

“Daar Communications Plc hereby makes a public and unequivocal retraction of the said documentary titled ‘Lion of Bourdilon’, which was broadcast on its television station, AIT.

“Daar Communications Plc hereby tenders unreserved apology to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the broadcast of the documentary on its television station, AIT.

“Daar Communications Plc prays that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will live long to make more enormous contributions to the advancement of our nation, Nigeria, Lagos State and the world at large."

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Assets declaration trial: Saraki unhappy with Supreme Court's ruling

Senate President, Bukola Saraki is not a happy man this Friday.

This stems from the unanimous ruling of the justices of the Supreme Court , which dismissed his appeal to stop his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT , over alleged false declaration of assets while he was governor of Kwara State.

The Supreme Court had in its lead judgment read by Justice Walter Samuel Onnoghen, held that the CCT was properly constituted to exercise jurisdiction over Saraki’s trial,

A statement issued by Saraki's media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu said that the Senate President was disappointed in the judgment of the apex court on all the grounds of his appeal.

He said that Saraki would  "however, will like to put it on record that the facts of the substantial matter are not before the Supreme Court since the apex court was only invited to rule on some preliminary issues in the process of commencing the trial.

“The Senate President believes he will have his day in the court to prove his innocence of the charges preferred against him during the trial proper.

“Dr. Saraki will like to thank everyone who has expressed support for him from the beginning of the case. He assures everyone that at the end of the day truth will prevail and justice will be served.”

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Osinbajo Is Acting President As Buhari Goes On Vacation For Five Days.

President Muhammadu Buhari began a five-day vacation today, Friday 5 February 2016.

While he is away, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will perform the President's duties in acting capacity.

According to a statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, “While President Buhari is on vacation, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo will perform the functions of the President.

“In compliance with Section 145 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution, President Buhari has dispatched a formal notice of his vacation to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.”

President Buhari is expected back on duty on Wednesday, February 10, 2016.

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How unknown men abducted son of ex-VP Sambo's orderly

Former Vice President, Namadi Sambo's orderly, Sergeant Mahmud Mohammed has narrated how some unknown men went to his Marafa Estate, Kaduna home and abducted his 4 year-old son

He said that the abductors at first picked up his daughter aged 6 years and her younger brother but later dropped off the girl along the way.

His words:
“The incident took place on the 19th of January while I was on duty with the former Vice President in Abuja.

“And since then, neither myself nor any member of my family has had contact with the kidnappers.

“The kidnappers had on the 19th of January, Tuesday, driven into my Marafa Estate residence with a Toyota highlander, silver colour at about 6:30 pm, and picked my two children under the guise that they were taking them to me.

“They (kidnappers) took them to No 10 Sultan road, gave the six-year-old girl one thousand naira and sent her to go buy meat. While she left on the errand, the kidnappers drove off with the innocent boy to an unknown destination. Since then, we have not had any contact with the kidnappers,” he lamented.

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Assets declaration trial: CCT floors Saraki at Supreme Court.

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has failed in his bid to stop his trial by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT over allegations of false declaration of assets as the Supreme Court judges dismissed his appeal in a unanimous decision.

In the lead judgment read by Justice Walter Samuel Onnoghen, the apex court held that the CCT was properly constituted to hear the case against Saraki.

The judges also resolved the issue of whether the tribunal had jurisdiction to try criminal matters and issue bench warrants in favor of the CCT.

Other members of the seven-man panel headed by the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Mahmud Mohammed are Justices Tanko Muhammad, Sylvester Ngwuta, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Chima Nweze and Amiru Sanusi.

After the judgment on Friday, Saraki's army of political associates, and supporters who thronged the court to watch the proceedings walked away silently.

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DHQ warns Niger Delta militants against acts of sabotage

The Defence Headquarters yesterday in Abuja, warned that it would no longer tolerate acts of sabotage against the Nigerian state by anybody or group of persons.

The Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar, while issuing a a statement in Abuja, on Thursday, said that the warning was against the backdrop of renewed bomb attacks on oil and gas pipelines in the Niger Delta.

The defense spokesman said that such acts of economic sabotage posed a threat to the security of the country.

Recall that in recent weeks,
suspected militants have attacked and vandalised some oil and gas pipelines across the Niger Delta including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Gas pipeline in Egwa 1 Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State and Agip pipeline in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

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Electricity tariff hike: labor to go on nationwide strike on Monday.

The organized labor, Civil Society Organizations and electricity consumers  across the country will hold a nationwide protest on Monday to show their displeasure with the recent forty-five per cent hike in electricity tariffs announced by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC.

According to the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr Ayuba Wabba, Nigerians have been mobilized to come out in their numbers on Monday to support the protest.

“ The Abuja rally will start at Labour House, Central Business District at 8.00 am before moving to the NERC head office at Adamawa Plaza, Plot 1099, First Avenue, Off Shehu Shagari Way, Central Business District. From the NERC office, the rally will roll to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company at Zone 4. The rally will mobilise from there to the National Assembly.

“This protest rally has become necessary after all effort to make NERC shelve the idea of increase failed.  Indeed, rather than see reason with Nigerians, the minister for power, works and housing has been advancing spurious arguments in its justification,” he said.

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