By-elections: INEC, security agents meet.

By-elections: INEC, security agents meet.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has expressed concern about the rising insecurity across the country and its likely spillover on the conduct of the February 3 rerun and by-elections.

The INEC boss, who spoke at the first quarterly meeting of the Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security, urged security agencies to restore order so that the elections could be held in the affected places.

According to him, an election is a multi-stakeholder responsibility.

Yakubu added: “As security agencies, it is your responsibility to secure the environment to enable us deploy personnel and materials, the protection of observers, the media, as well as the polling and collation agents representing the political parties and candidates.

“Without a secure and peaceful environment, the conduct of credible elections is imperilled.

“From experience, the conduct of isolated elections, such as by-elections and re-run elections, can be very challenging. We must pay attention to the potentials for disruptive behaviour by some candidates and their supporters.

“A re-run election conducted in one polling unit or a handful of polling units can be severely disrupted by acts of thuggery, knowing full well that these few locations will determine the outcome of the election.

“Arising from the reports we received from the states, concerns have been raised about the impact of the prevailing insecurity in some states on the conduct of the elections, made worse by incendiary statements by some political actors.”

The INEC chairman stressed that there is no more a single election season in Nigeria as elections are held throughout the year between one general election and another.

He added: “This adds to the enormous pressure on both INEC and the security agencies.

“For instance, in addition to the by-elections and re-run elections holding next week, the commission has also released the timetable and schedule of activities for the two off-cycle governorship elections in Edo State, scheduled for September 21, 2024, and in Ondo State, holding on November 16, 2024.”

“As required by the Electoral Act 2022, party primaries and nomination of candidates shall be done not later than 180 days before the date fixed for the elections. Accordingly, party primaries for Edo State will commence next week and end three weeks later (that is, February 1 to 24, 2024). For Ondo State, the primaries will be held between April 6 and 27, 2024.

“Our collective experience as election managers and security agencies shows that party primaries can sometimes be more acrimonious than general elections. Therefore, as we prepare for the by-elections and re-run elections, we should equally be prepared for the two major elections later this year in Edo and Ondo states.”

Yakubu announced that INEC would first conduct by-elections into national and state legislative houses and later the rerun elections ordered by election petitions tribunals.

The National Security Adviser (NSA) and Co-chairman of Inter-Agency Consultative Election Security (ICCES), Mllam Nuhu Ribadu, announced that the President had always maintained that the ability of security agencies to protect lives and property boosts the credibility of any election.

Ribadu, who was represented by the Director of Internal Security in the Office of the NSA, said the forthcoming by-elections and rerun elections must be held without intimidation and other security threats.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun said the security agencies were aware of the challenges of by-elections and assured Nigerians that they were on top of the situation.

He said the police had conducted a threat analysis in the states where the elections would hold and ensure sufficient personnel to those areas.

I’ll take on your concerns one by one, Tinubu assures South-south indigenes.

I’ll take on your concerns one by one, Tinubu assures South-south indigenes.

President Bola Tinubu has assured indigenes of the oil-rich South-south region of his administration’s commitment to addressing all their development and environmental concerns, one after the other.

Tinubu, who gave the assurance when he met with the South-South Monarchs Forum at the State House, Abuja, also emphasised the importance of the traditional institution, saying traditional rulers are the intelligence needed for the holistic development of the country.

According to a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the monarchs were led to meet the President by Chairman of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers and Vice-Chairman of the South-South Monarchs Forum, Major-General Felix Mujakperuo (Rtd).

The President told the Royal Fathers that his administration is diligently working, domestically and internationally, to strengthen Nigeria’s durability and approach to climate change, environmental restoration, infrastructure development, all while ensuring security and stability in the region.

Commending the monarchs for their understanding approach to his administration’s ongoing economic reforms, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy, President Tinubu promised that Nigerians would soon enjoy the benefits of these tough, yet necessary decisions.

”We are working to revive the economy from the damage of several years. We seek your support, prayers, and understanding, and I am glad that the Vice-Chairman of the Forum served in an organization where we need intelligence to operate.

”You (the traditional institution) will be the source of the intelligence we need for the holistic development of our country, and anytime you need to tell us something, do not hesitate to reach out to this office. I will take on all of your concerns, and I will address each of them one by one.

”We cannot underestimate your contributions to the peace and stability of this country. Continue to uphold us in your prayers and in talking to our youths to keep faith with the country because light is already visible at the end of the tunnel,” the President said.

His Royal Majesty, Major-General Mujakperuo appealed to President Tinubu to follow up on all developmental efforts in the region to be sure that progress is tangible to the people.

“Mr. President, you know the problems of our region as an expert with experience in the energy industry. We see you working hard to solve our problems, and we are comforted that you have pledged to take on our concerns and bring a final solution to them,” the South-South Monarchs Forum Vice-Chairman said.

EFCC to arraign ex- Anambra Gov Obiano over alleged N4bn fraud.

EFCC to arraign ex- Anambra Gov Obiano over alleged N4bn fraud.

Barring any untoward occurrence, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will arraign former Anambra Governor Willie Obiano before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday on alleged complicity in financial fraud involving about N4billion.

Sources at the EFCC confirmed to Newsmen late on Tuesday that a charge had been filed before the court to that effect and that all arrangements have been tidied up for the arraignment.

It was learnt that the EFCC is charging Obiano with money laundering related offences on accounts of the movement of some funds, estimated at N4,008,573,350 while he was the Governor between 2014 and 2022.

It was further learnt that the case has since been assigned to Justice Inyang Ekwo.

Meanwhile, a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Apo, Abuja on Tuesday ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to promptly arrest the Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede and the commission’s Head of Proceeds of Crime Unit, Aliyu Yusuf for disobeying an order of the court made on December 6, 2023.

Justice Abubakar Hussaini Musa ordered the IGP to arrest the two senior officials of the EFCC and produce them before his court on January 25 to show cause why they should not be sent to prison for disobeying the court’s order.

The enrolled copy of the ruling reads: And upon reading a 16-paragraph affidavit in support of the application deposed to by High Chief Ikechi Emenike of No. 6 Aso Drive, Abuja, the claimant/applicant in this suit, to which four exhibits were attached, and a written address in support of the application; and after listening to Adeyemi Pitan Esq, counsel for the claimant/applicant argue in favour of the application and Hadiza Afegbua Esq, counsel for the defendant/respondent (EFCC) informing the honourable court that she has no response to the application; it is hereby ordered as follows:

*That an order is hereby made directing the Inspector-General of Police to arrest Ola Olukoyede, who is the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Aliyu Yusuf, who is the Head of Proceeds of Crime Unit, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the purpose of committing them to prison for disobeying the Orders of this honourable court contained in the ruling of this court delivered on the 6th day of December, 2023.

*That an order is hereby made directing Ola Olukoyede, who is the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Aliyu Yusuf, who is the Head of Proceeds of Crime Unit, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to appear before this honourable court on the date mentioned in this order to show cause why an order

in this court to show cause why an order for their committal to prison should not be made.

*That this suit is hereby adjourned to the 25th day of January, 2024 for hearing.

Justice Musa had, on December 6, upon a motion by Chief Ikechi Emenike, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last election, ordered the EFCC and its operatives to vacate his private residence on 6 Aso Drive, Abuja.

In an affidavit supporting a Form 49 (application for committal) filed by Emenike, he alleged that despite the court’s order being served on the EFCC, operatives of the EFCC, acting on the instruction of the Chairman failed to comply with the order.

Emenike said: “Notwithstanding the service of the enrolled order, the respondent (EFCC) and its principal officers named in this contempt proceedings (Ola Olukoyede and Aliyu Yusuf) have refused to obey the said court order.

“In a strange fashion, on December 7, 2023, at about 6:000m, 35 operatives of the defendant on the authority and directive of the Chairman and Head of p

Proceeds of Crime Unit, over powered the security and domestic guards and broke into my living room when I was barely on pajamas.

“My lawyers caused to be filed on December 8, 2023, Form 48 that is, notice of consequences of disobedience. 

“But the principal officers of the defendant, named in this proceedings refused to be served personally.

“My lawyers swiftly filed an application for substituted service of the order on the principal officers of the defendant named in this contempt proceedings, which application was granted on December 12, 2023 directing the Forms 48 to be served either by DHL Courier or by pasting same on the gate of the defendant .

“In compliance with the order of the court, my lawyer immediately caused to be sent through the DHL Courier the court order as well as the Form 48, which was delivered on 18th December 2023.

“The defendant has refused to vacate the premises of the claimant even after It was in receipt of the order of this honorable court and the said Form 48.”

Blinken meets Tinubu, pledges $45m security fund for Nigeria, others.

Blinken meets Tinubu, pledges $45m security fund for Nigeria, others.

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday said the US would provide an additional $45m to West African nations as part of a plan to battle instability, bringing total funding under the year-old programme to nearly $300m, according to reports by AFP and Reuters.

In a four-nation tour of African democracies, Blinken met separately Tuesday with President Bola Tinubu and Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara.

The trip was to discuss US-African partnerships over trade, climate, infrastructure, health, security and other issues. It follows a summit in Washington with African leaders in December 2022.

Blinken sought progress combatting coups and extremism in West Africa in talks with two key leaders, as he pointed to Ivory Coast as a model.

AFP reports that while in Abidjan, Blinken hailed Ivory Coast’s stand against last year’s coup in Niger and its approach of “building security together” by investing economically to combat extremism in northern areas bordering Mali and Burkina Faso.

“I have to applaud the approach that’s been taken by Cote d’Ivoire – working with communities, listening to communities, making sure that their security forces understand the needs, the concerns of communities,” Blinken said alongside Ouattara.

“We spent a lot of time discussing mutual security challenges,” Blinken said. “We appreciate Ivory Coast’s leadership in the fight against extremism and violence.”

“We have increased military training by 15 times and are investing in civil protection in Ivory Coast,” Blinken added, according to Reuters.

Blinken promised to boost cooperation on the ground with Ivory Coast, largely through training of its security forces.

Last year was marred by security challenges in Africa including a major coup that toppled democratic leadership in Niger. This is just as terrorists also continue to strike in Nigeria such as the Christmas Eve killing of close to 200 people in Plateau and most recently the kidnapping epidemic plaguing the country

Enugu resident doctors begin indefinite strike Jan 31.

Enugu resident doctors begin indefinite strike Jan 31.

The Association of Resident Doctors of Enugu State University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital has announced its readiness to embark on an indefinite strike over the abysmal shortage of doctors, insecurity, and poor sponsorship of the residency programme.

The doctors announced this in a communique issued at the end of their emergency general meeting at the hospital on Tuesday.

The strike, according to the communique, would commence on January 31, 2024, after seven weeks grace in which its earlier third series of notification of ultimatum to the Enugu State Government to do the needful and meet its demands were ignored.

The communique was jointly signed by the President of ARD-ESUT, Dr Chukwunonso Ofonere, and its Secretary General, Dr Ikemefuna Nnamani.

It said that the EGM observed with regret, the silence from the management of the hospital on the 14-day ultimatum issued and another 49 days of grace following the ultimatum expiration for it to meet the demands of the association.

The group regretted that the management of ESUT, and the Enugu State Government had failed to declare a state of emergency on the employment of doctors and safety and security within the hospital.

The EGM observed that it is over 180 days since the government through the Secretary to the State Government promised the ARD of employment of medical officers, resident doctors, and payment of medical residency training fund.

It said that the EGM noted that the security men placed at the gate are no longer there and direct daily assault on doctors had increased again; while the safety of doctors and other health workers in the hospital cannot be guaranteed.

“The management should declare a state of emergency on the employment of doctors in the hospital. There should be an urgent approval for the recruitment of medical officers, resident doctors, and house officers in the hospital.

“This recruitment should be focused especially at the Accident and Emergency Department, Surgery Department, Internal Medicine Department, Paediatrics Department, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Departments, etc. Resident Doctors that have left our institution in the past four years and were never replaced.

“Management should ensure implementation of safety policies to protect her workers against physical attacks and kidnap by restoring the daily police and other covert security personnel deployed to the hospital.

“The 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) has not been paid and exam bodies are closing their adverts,” it said.

The statement said that salary increments had not been looked into at all; even as house officers were excluded from the hardship/palliative of N25,000 given by the state governor.

“We are still back to where we were in 2023 or even worse as plans are on the way to increase the rents of those living in the hospital quarters (one-bedroom apartment) by about 375 per cent from N8,000 to N30,000 monthly.

“This will escalate the already palpable crises and we will be left with no other alternatives but to protect the interest and welfare of our members.

“Jan. 31, 2024, is here already and the doctors are mobilising for an indefinite, total, and maybe protracted industrial action if nothing is done,” it added.

The doctors also pleaded with the state Governor Peter Mbah, to intervene in the matter to avoid untold hardship and loss of lives that might occur if there is a disruption in the health care delivery in the state.

Edo poll: Aspirants not screened, disqualified yet, says APC.

Edo poll: Aspirants not screened, disqualified yet, says APC.

The Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has said that no aspirant has been screened or disqualified from the governorship race.

A six-man committee led by the House of Representative member (Owan, Edo State), Julius Ihonvbere, was set up last Monday to look into ways to prune the number of aspirants from 29 to a manageable number.

After the committee met with the aspirants, a report emerged that the committee had screened and pruned the number of the aspirant to 10, then 6, and finally four, a developmental which is causing rancour in the party.

Debunking the report on Tuesday, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Peter Uwadiae, said the Ihonvbere committee was an advisory one and not a screening committee. He said the committee was to meet with aspirants and see how the numbers could be pruned down so that their primary which would be held in February would be free of rancour.

He said, “There is no truth in the news making the rounds that governorship aspirants have been screened and about 25 have been disqualified. Based on the advice of the National Working Committee of the party, we set up a committee led by Julius Ihonvbere to interface with the aspirants on the need to reduce the number of aspirants to a manageable one. It is after the close of the sale of forms that the NWC will set up a screening committee.

“The Committee also advised the Edo APC to be in a talking relationship with the aspirants so that those who know they cannot go all the way can exit the race. So no aspirant has been screened and disqualified,” he added.

Uwadiae also said that the sale of expression form, which costs N10 million, and the nomination form, which goes N40 million were on sale for anyone who wants to vie for the governorship position on the platform of the party, noting that more aspirants are expected to join the race.

He said many of the aspirants saw the reason why they should not purchase the forms while others were still eager to test their popularity at the primaries, noting that those who lose at the primaries have promised to stay and work for the party in the election.

He said the party was going to the polls to win, urging members and supporters not to get agitated as the party believes in unity, fair play, and democracy.

He also urged party faithful not to allow the situation to cause rancour and disaffection among them which will rub off on the party negatively at the polls.

Chief Wole Olanipekun gifts lkere-Ekiti Specialist Hospital Ambulance.

Chief Wole Olanipekun gifts lkere-Ekiti Specialist Hospital Ambulance.

A legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun has donated an ambulance to Ikere+Ekiti Specialist Hospital in memory of his late mother, Iyaafin Bosede Olanipekun.

Handing over the ambulance to the Management of the Specialist Hospital in Ikere Ekiti on Tuesday, Chief Wole Olanipekun, said, the gift was to enhance effective performance of the health workers to the people of Ekiti state. Saying he built the Amenity Ward of the hospital few years ago for effective health care services.

Olanipekun while appealing to the HMB PS, Dr Olasunkanmi Alabi and the Chief Medical Director of the Ikere Ekiti Specialist Hospital, Dr Akinsipe Catherine to capture the staff of the Amenity Ward in the salary structure of the Ekiti State for regular payment. While reiterating his unwavering commitment towards humanity, he hinted that apart from paying salaries of Amenity staff for two years, he would repeat same in the next two years

Chief Olanipekun promised to employ two drivers to drive the ambulances, saying the drivers should come from Ikere Ekiti, his home town.

He commended the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adejimi Adu Alagbado for demonstrating genuine love for the people of Ikere by donating a 500 KVA generator to the hospital.

Advising the Chief Medical Director, Chief Wole Olanipekun assured to give her all the support she requires to succeed in her position, he tasked Permanent Secretary ministry of health to to upscale the condition of the hospital.

Olanipekun equally promised to assist the local government Chairman to re-energized the Amoye Micro Finance Bank in Ikere Ekiti by rallying round the leaders of the Ikere Ekiti community in giving a new face lift to the community bank.

Giving her address, the Chief Medical Director of the Ikere Ekiti Specialist Hospital, Dr Akinsipe Catherine thanked the donor who she said has been supporting the Specialist Hospital in Ikere Ekiti over the years.

Akinsipe eulogized the precious roles of Chief Wole Olanipekun in single handedly building and equipping the specialist hospital with a brand ambulances and Mikano generator in the past.

She commended the philanthropist donating another ambulance for the same Amenity Ward of the Ikere Ekiti Specialist Hospital. She also called on other well meaning sons and daughters of Ikere Ekiti to continue to support the hospital in other areas of needs such as provision of solar lights in the hospital.

In his own remarks, the Chairman of Ikere Ekiti local government area, Chief Adamolekun Olu Egbejoda hailed Chief Olanipekun for counting it worthy to donate a new ambulance for Ikere specialist hospital. He described his donation of the new ambulance as an emblem for the people of Ikere Ekiti.

He described his previous contributions in the area of the provision of Bar Centre, Church building and Scholarship awards among other things as the major impactts of the legal luminary in his country home of Ikere Ekiti.

The local government Chairman urged the people of Ikere Ekiti to be inspired by the contributions of the Elder statesman to Ikere Ekiti community.

Also, speaking, the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adejimi Adu Alagbado appreciated the literacy already being exhibited by the Chairman of Ikere Ekiti local government.

The Ogoga commended Chief Olanipekun for his Philantropic gestures in Ekiti and Nigeria, saying indeed his God sent to Ikere Ekiti . He prayed God to give him sound health to impact more lives. He called on well meaning Nigerians to emulate Chief Olanipekun in putting smiles in the faces of the masses.

The Ogoga announced a donation of 500KVA generator to the hospital.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Human Services, Dr Sola Badmus while speaking, promised to inform her Commissioner about the largesse from the Kabiyesi, the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti.

The Permanent Secretary explained that the staff employed by Chief Wole have written to the Ministry as well as the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, promising to work on the letters, so that the staff can have their employment retained as permanent staff.

She appealed to the Kabiyesi to caution the members of the public against being hostile on the nurses and doctors working in the hospital .