Odili Siege: Wike Accuses FG Of Intimidating Judiciary Ahead Of 2023 Election

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has accused the Federal Government of intimidating the judiciary ahead of the 2023 general elections in the country.

Wike’s criticism followed a recent invasion of the residence of Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court in her Abuja residence by men believed to be security operatives.

Speaking on Thursday during a special court session to mark the opening of the 2021/2022 Legal Year of the Rivers State Judiciary in Port Harcourt, the governor said the Federal Government wants to continue to ride roughshod unchecked over the rule of law and the sanctity of the country’s electoral system, hence, the renewed attack on judicial officers.

although it is still early morning in our democratic match towards 2023, the attack on Justice Mary Odili is a prelude to many more and even worse political maneuverings we should be prepared to experience from the APC-led Federal Government, which having lost relevance and popular support is becoming more and more desperate over its dwindling political fortunes by the day,” Wike said.

“While cases with political undertones, including the constitutional validity of certain sections of the recent amendments to the 2010 Electoral Act, if assented to by Mr President, would necessarily come before our courts; what is important is the duty and capacity of our judiciary to save our democracy and the country.”

According to him, it is the responsibility of the government at all levels to protect the judiciary and accord the courts such assistance as they may require enabling them to safeguard their independence, advance the rule of law, and dispense justice equally and fairly to all citizens.

While the present Federal Government has been very weak in resourcing and strengthening the judiciary, Wike said it has been very strong and readily predisposed to ridiculing the entire institution and subjecting individual judges to both physical and psychological trauma for its own self-interest.

“We all witnessed the infamous midnight raids on judicial residences and the subjection of some judges, to illegal raids, arrests and detentions by agents of the Federal Government purportedly carrying out a baseless sting operation back in 2016

“Since then the intimidation of judges whose judgments, intellectual or moral disposition they are not comfortable with has continued unrelenting with the latest attack on a peaceful mother, wife of a former Governor and Justice of the Supreme Court, our own highly revered Hon. Justice Mary Odili

“It is important to emphasize that we allow these intimidations to become acceptable standards of behaviour and even become complicit in their unholy design to undermine the administration of justice when we all opt to keep quite in the face of these assaults,” Governor Wike added.

Governor Wike, who commended the leaders of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and members of the public for promptly condemning the idiotic siege on judiciary, said they  must quickly move beyond the verbal protestations to unveil those behind the raid on Justice Odili’s residence and ensure that they all are held to account for their actions, otherwise this impunity would never cease to rear its ugly head in the country.

He challenged the Federal Government to come clean on this infamy with the names, identities and affiliations of those allegedly arrested for their roles or found to have been involved in the attack on the residence of Justice Odili, if it is not to be perceived as the primary mastermind.

Speaking on the proposed setting up of law school campuses, the governor urged the management of the Nigerian Law School, the Council of Legal Education and the Federal Government to see the folly in the plan, and nib the idea from the bud before it causes more damage to a foremost institution that is already severely challenged for lack of adequate funding.

He explained that the Port Harcourt Campus of the Nigerian Law School being built by the Rivers State Government was consciously demanded for and approval secured from the Council of Legal Education and ultimately from President  Muhammadu Buhari, through the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and named after late Nabo Graham-Douglas, SAN.

Wike added, “Here again, some lazy and uninformed characters have criticised our Law School development project with the unfounded and lousy allegation that it lacks budgetary provisions in our 2021 budget, even when they conceded to the propriety of the project and the optimal benefits it would attract to the State and the business community.”

GOLD FM FRCN ILESA.

Steven Gerrard Becomes Aston Villa’s New Manager

Aston Villa on Thursday announced Steven Gerrard as their new manager to replace the sacked Dean Smith.

The former Liverpool captain has left his role as Rangers boss to take the reins at the club, who have lost five straight Premier League matches.

Gerrard guided Rangers to a first Scottish Premiership title in 10 years last season, finishing the campaign undefeated in the league.

“The board of Aston Villa are delighted to appoint Steven as our new head coach,” said CEO Christian Purslow.

“He then took the brave decision to test himself in the intense and high pressured environment of the Scottish Old Firm. His subsequent achievement in winning the Premiership title with Glasgow Rangers really caught our eye as did his experience in Europe.”

‘Club With A Rich History.

Gerrard is considered one of the greatest players in Premier League history, scoring 186 goals in 710 appearances for Liverpool.

However, this will be his first taste of management in the English top-flight.

“Aston Villa is a club with a rich history and tradition in English football and I am immensely proud to become its new head coach,” said Gerrard.

“It was apparent how ambitious their plans are for the club and I am looking forward to helping them achieve their aims.”

Villa are 16th in the Premier League after picking up 10 points in their first 11 games.

GOLD FM FRCN ILESA.

Finance Minister Blames Rising Cost Of Rice On Smuggling

The Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, on Thursday, said smuggling is responsible for the rising cost of rice in the country.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, the Minister said smuggling is affecting the market and hurting the citizens.

“Unfortunately there is a lot of distortion and the distortion is arising from smuggling of goods into the country,” the Minister said.

“We have unpatriotic Nigerians that will bring rice that is poor quality, some of it not even fit for human consumption and come and dump it in the market.

DShe also reiterated the Federal Government’s efforts in fighting smuggling, noting that there is a combined team of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Police, the Department of Security Services (DSS) among others to rid the nation of economic saboteurs.

The Minister also reacted to the fresh borrowing request by the Federal Government which was recently approved by the National Assembly.

According to her, the Federal Government has created a Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy, noting that the borrowings are not being done by fiat.

The borrowing that was approved by the lawmakers, the Minister noted, has been in the National Assembly since early this year.

“It is encapsulated in a plan, we are guided by the Fiscal Responsibility Act that sets the limit of how much you can borrow at any particular time.

“We have also structured the borrowing to make sure that we have the balance between domestic borrowing as well as external financial borrowings,” she added.

President Muhammadu Buhari had in May, asked the Senate to approve the loan request.

The 2018-2020 External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan contained a request for approval in the sum of $36.8 billion, €910 million, and a grant component of $10 million.

Lawmakers of the upper chamber have since then been making approvals in bits.

They approved $8.3 billion and €490 million in July. They also approved $6.1 billion in the same month.

GOLD FM FRCN ILESA.

Nigerians Can Look After Themselves When Infrastructure Is In Place – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigerians can look after themselves when infrastructure is in place.

He stated this on Thursday while meeting with the President of Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Dr Mohammed Al-Jasser at the sidelines of the Paris Peace Forum, explaining why the administration was committed to an infrastructure renaissance for Nigeria.

“When infrastructure is in place, our people can look after themselves,” the President was quoted as saying via a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

“Considering the vastness of our country, we need roads, rail, power, airports, housing, and that is what we have engaged ourselves with in the past six years. And our people are seeing the new developments. Relative to the resources available to us, we have not done badly.”

Buhari also noted that his administration is working very hard on infrastructure because there can’t be sustainable development without it.

According to the President, crude oil which Nigeria depends so much on has lost a lot of energy.

“It is coming back gradually, and we are breathing a bit more with some confidence. But we expect greater cooperation from you,” Buhari added while thanking the IDB for its help so far.

In his remarks, Dr Al-Jasser said he had been glad to see the level of collaboration between Nigeria and the IDB since he assumed duties three months ago.

“I am impressed by your policies on infrastructure, which will give opportunities to youths, and encourage the private sector. Nigeria is a pivotal country to us, and it deserves all the help it can get,” he told President Buhari.

The IDB boss said the main role of the bank was to promote development among its stakeholders and will continue to lend a helping hand to Nigeria.

Charles Soludo Wins Anambra Governorship Election

Professor soludo was the APGA candidate in the election.

Professor Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has swept to victory in the Anambra governorship elections, winning 19 of the 21 local government areas of the state.

“That Charles Chukwuma Soludo of APGA, having satisfied the requirements of the law is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” said the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Chief Returning Officer for the poll, Professor Florence Obi, in announcing the outcome on Wednesday morning.

Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (Mr Valentine Ozigbo) and Young Progressives Party (Senator Ifeanyi Ubah) each won a local government.

But the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Andy Uba, was unable to win any local government in the election.

Soludo, 61, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, secured 112,229 votes, twice more than his closes rival – PDP’s Ozigbo to be returned as winner of the election.

Ozigbo had 53,807 votes while the other two frontline contenders – Uba and Ubah scored 43,285 and 21,261 votes respectively.

Breakdown of votes by the four frontline parties according to LGAs

S/N LGA APC APGA PDP YPP REMARK

1 AGUATA 4,773 9,136 3,798 1,070 APGA

2 ANAMBRA EAST 2,034 9,746 1,380 559 APGA

3 ANAMBRA WEST 1,233 1,918 1,401 357 APGA

4 ANAOCHA 2,085 6,911 5,108 868 APGA

5 AWKA NORTH 755 1,908 840 381 APGA

6 AWKA SOUTH 2,595 12,891 5,498 919 APGA

7 AYAMELUM 2,409 3,424 2,804 407 APGA

8 DUNUKOFIA 1,991 4,124 1,680 1,360 APGA

9 EKWUSIGO 1,237 2,570 1,857 727 APGA

10 IDEMILI NORTH 2,291 5,358 2,312 902 APGA

11 IDEMILI SOUTH 1,039 2,312 2,016 752 APGA

12 IHIALA 343 8,283 2,485 344 APGA

13 NJIKOKA 3,216 8,803 3,409 924 APGA

14 NNEWI NORTH 1,278 3,369 1,511 6,485 YPP

15 NNEWI SOUTH 1,307 3,243 2,226 1,327 APGA

16 OGBARU 1,178 3,051 3,445 484 PDP

17 ONITSHA NORTH 3,909 5,587 3,781 682 APGA

18 ONITSHA SOUTH 2,050 4,281 2,253 271 APGA

19 ORUMBA NORTH 2,672 4,787 1,847 655 APGA

20 ORUMBA SOUTH 2,060 4,394 1,672 887 APGA

21 OYI 2,830 6,133 2,484 900 APGA

TOTAL 21 LGAs 43,285 112,229 53,807 21,261 APGA

Total Registered Voters 2,466,638

Total Accredited Voters 253,388

Total Valid Votes 241,523

Total Rejected Votes 8,108

Total Votes Cast 249,631

No Retreat

Soludo’s victory comes on the heels of a toughly contested election that spilled into a supplementary poll over security concerns in one of the 21 local government areas – Ihiala.

As the usual practice, election results were trickling in a day after the election and those from 20 local government areas were collated, except Ihiala.

Party agents, reporters, and observers, among others, had waited until the early hours of the third day (Monday) for a winner to be declared before events took a different turn.

Rather than declaring a winner, Professor Obi announced the suspension of the collation exercise despite announcing the total votes scored by the contenders in the 20 LGAs collated so far.

She went on to announce that a supplementary election should be conducted in the 326 polling units across Ihiala, saying this was in line with the provisions of the Constitution.

Breakdown of votes by all 18 political parties.

S/N PARTY VOTES

1 A 2,054

2 AA 83

3 AAC 588

4 ADC 324

5 ADP 773

6 APC 43,285

7 APGA 112,229 (WINNER)

8 APM 301

9 APP 139

10 BP 186

11 LP 2,802

12 NNPP 117

13 NRM 213

14 PDP 53,807

15 PRP 437

16 SDP 842

17 YPP 21,261

18 ZLP 2,082

Total Registered Voters 2,466,638

Total Accredited Voters 253,388

Total Valid Votes 241,523

Total Rejected Votes 8,108

Total Votes Cast 249,631

The former banker was elected as the next Chief Executive of Anambra on his second race to govern the state. He first contested in 2009 on the platform of the PDP.

The build-up to the election was characterised by serious campaigning in an atmosphere filled with security concerns and uncertainty.

Amid these concerns, the Federal Government considered declaring a state of emergency in the state to ensure the poll would proceed as scheduled.

It took the deployment of some 43,000 police officers and hundreds of other security agents, including soldiers for the election to be held.

Soludo’s victory means he will be succeeding Willie Obiano who is in the final months of his second term and that APGA will be retaining power in the state, which it has governed since 2006.

Threats Defied

After weeks of uncertainty and mounting tension, the election held peacefully as the electorate went to their respective polling units to vote for the candidates of their choice, defying security threats.

Observers monitoring the election, however, reported incidents of vote-buying and failure of accreditation devices – Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), among others.

The device failure was also experienced at the governor-elect’s polling unit in Aguata Local Government where he waited for over five hours before he could vote.

This initially sparked tension at the polling station as just one person out of the 717 registered voters was able to vote, about one and half hours into the election.

Elsewhere, the other frontline candidates voted without any glitch recorded.

At the event held six weeks before the election, Soludo began his acceptance speech with a song titled ‘Who Can Battle With The Lord?’ after which he thanked the party leaders and members for their support all through the events that led to his emergence as the party’s candidate.

“The next thing that should happen in Anambra will be to consolidate the wonderful works that are ongoing, especially under the 16 years of APGA in Anambra State,” he promised.

GOLD FM FRCN ILESA.

Super Eagles’ Shot-stopper Okoye Joins Watford

Watford on November 8, 2021, announced the signing of Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye from Sparta Rotterdam. 

Watford on November 8, 2021, announced the signing of Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye from Sparta Rotterdam.

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye has joined English premier league outfit, Watford FC, the club confirmed on Monday.

Okoye joined the English club from Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam.

He was signed on a five-and-a-half-year deal which is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2022, when the transfer window opens.

However, Okoye will be loaned back to Sparta Rotterdam until the end of the 2021/22 campaign.

The transfer fee was undisclosed.

“A regular starter for the Dutch club, Okoye has lined up between the sticks in each of their games so far this season, while he has made 13 appearances for his country since debuting in a 1-1 draw with Brazil in 2019,” the statement from Watford announcing the deal said.

“Born in Germany to a Nigerian father and German mother, the 22-year-old played in the youth ranks at Borussia Mönchengladbach, Bayer Leverkusen and Fortuna Düsseldorf before moving to Sparta Rotterdam in the summer of 2020. He won Sparta’s Player of the Season award last term for a string of stellar performances, helping his side claim an eighth-place finish in the league.

“The 6ft 6in shot-stopper’s consistent displays for both club and country have seen him linked with some of Europe’s biggest clubs, but he has now put pen to paper on a long-term deal with the Golden Boys.”

GOLD FM FRCN ILESA.

Court sentences Maina to 8 years imprisonment over money laundering, others

 Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced the former Chairman of the now-defunct Pension Reformed Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, to 8 years imprisonment for money laundering and others.

This follows a guilty judgement by the court earlier in the day for offences that include money laundering, inducing bank staff to open bank account without conducting requisite due diligence, concealing his true identity as a signatory to accounts opened in 2 banks among others.

Justice Okon Abang found Maina guilty of stealing monies meant for pensioners amongst other charges.

What happened in court

Justice Abang, while delivering his judgement, sentenced Maina to various prison terms on 11 counts of offence which are expected to run concurrently with a maximum of 8 years.

Abang in his ruling said, “Having considered how the pensioners’ funds were stolen, the convict is inhuman, heartless and has no compassion for the pensioners. Some have suffered, died in the process while waiting for their reward on earth.”

In the judgement, Maina was sentenced as follows; Count 2: 5 years in prison, Count 3: 8 years in prison, Count 4: 8 years in prison, Count 5: 2 years in prison, Count 6: 5 years in prison, 7: 8 years in prison and should refund N314 million to the federal government, Count 8: 3 years in prison, Count 9: 5 years imprisonment.

Others are; Count 10: 8 years in prison, and refund of N1.872 billion, Count 11: sentenced to 3 years in prison and property in life camp forfeited and Count 12: 3 years imprisonment.

Maina in his allocutions said, “I want to apologize for anything I might have done with or without my intentions or those related to me. I also want to inform my lord that the issue of my sickness is 3 different tumours that need to be operated upon urgently.’’

What you should know

On October 25, 2019, Maina was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside his firm, Common Input Property and Investment Ltd (2nd defendant) before Justice Abang.

Maina jumped court bail in 2020 and the judge ordered his arrest, He was apprehended in the republic of Niger and brought back to Abuja to continue facing his trial in December 2020 and detained at the correctional facility in Abuja.

On the 7th of October his son, Faisal Maina was sentenced to 24 years imprisonment by the same judge.

GOLD FM FRCN ILESA

Oyetola advocates innovative ways of funding infrastructure

 ...Your govt is doing well for workers - Osun RATTAWU

...as gov declares 2021 RATTAWU Week open

The Governor of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola has advocated more innovative ways of funding  infrastructural needs without inflicting pains on workers.  

He said government at all levels must begin to pursue aggressively an economic diversification plan that will bring about prosperity and abundance to cater for their statutory obligations.

Oyetola proffered creative financing approach as panacea to negotiating a balance between bridging infrastructural deficits and prioritising the welfare of workers.

This is even as members of the Osun State Chapter of Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) applauded the Oyetola-led Administration for being committed to the welfare and general well-being of the citizens, particularly workers in the State.

The Governor spoke on Monday while declaring open, the 2021 RATTAWU Week, at Osun State Staff Development Centre, Government Secretariat, Abere.

He was represented by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan on the occasion.

Speaking on the theme of the programme, "State’s Infrastructure Development and Wokers’ Welfare: Achieving the Delicate Balance", Oyetola said walking the delicate balance would require that "we all think up more innovative ways of funding our infrastructural needs without inflicting pains on the teeming workers.

"Given the huge infrastructural deficit that inundates our society and the dwindling revenue of the government, this is a matter that deserves to be collectively looked into, with the intention of generating useful ideas that can guard decision making of the political leadership.

"Without attempting to pre-empt our Guest Lecturer, I wish to submit that walking the delicate balance would require that we all think up more innovative ways of funding our infrastructural needs without inflicting pains on the teeming workers.

"It is equally important that, more than ever, we pursue aggressively an economic diversification plan.

"As an Administration, we are consistently guided by the conviction that our workers deserve to get their entitlements promptly as critical stakeholders in the wealth-creation process.

"This conviction inspires us to not only pay salaries promptly, but to also incentivise the productivity of our workers through such deliberate efforts as payment of minimum wage, focused commitment to servicing our pension baggage, among others.

"Additionally, aside our dogged pursuit of a diversification agenda, we have continued to pay a good attention to building requisite infrastructure by adopting a creative financing approach of funding our infrastructure needs without going borrowing. 

"Going by the gains we are seeing, I am convinced that it is indeed possible to walk the delicate balance, with a good dose of focus, industry and fiscal discipline", Oyetola added.

The Governor also commended the leadership and members of RATTAWU in Osun for the growing partnership between the union and his Administration, saying "I assure you that we will continue to value this partnership for the growth and development of our dear State."

In his welcome address, the State Chairman, RATTAWU, Comrade Isaac Bayo Akinsanya, lauded the Administration of Governor Oyetola for prioritising the welfare and well-being of workers since assumption of office.

He reiterated the avowed commitment of the Union to continue to support the Administration in its efforts to reposition the State.

"Indeed, Oyetola is the Governor of the masses who cares about the welfare and well-being of workers. Kudos to you for making it possible for us to be receiving regular salaries. It is on record that since you came on board, salaries have been paid as and when due and just last Saturday, the October salaries were paid", he added.

In his goodwill message, the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr. Remi Omowaye, urged workers to continue to support the Administration of Governor Oyetola in his onerous efforts to transform the State.

According to him, the Administration is genuinely committed to diversifying the economy to turnaround the State for the betterment of all.

Also, the Acting Director General, Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC), Alhaji Rasheed Folaranmi, lauded Governor Oyetola for being committed to the growth and development of the State in general and the Corporation in particular.

According to him, the Governor had shown keen interest in the astronomical improvement of the Corporation as manifested in his resolve to quickly revitalise it in the quest to match the modern media practice requirements.

He said RATTAWU has been at the forefront of most that had yielded positive results in the lives of workers in the Corporation saying "if a Union is doing that it deserves a laud commendation."

The State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Adekomi Kabir Adekunle, commended the Governor for creating an enabling environment for all strata of workers to perform and showcase their abilities to achieve optimum performance in the State.

GOLD FM FRCN ILESA.

STORM WRECKS HAVOC , RENDERS PEOPLE HOMELESS IN ERINMO IJESA

Residents of Erinmo in Oriade Local Government area of Osun State, have been counting their loses following the havoc wrecked by  stormy rain in the area destroying property worth millions of naira.

Most hit were church buildings, schools , town hall, shops, palace fence and private residences.

Calling on government of Osun State and the State Emergency management Agency, as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency ,FEMA, to  Come to the  rescue of the affected  residents, the Elerinmo of Erinmo, Oba Michael Odunayo  Ajayi , Arowotawaya the first, said the rain that lasted for about one hour left a trail of horror .

According to Oba Odunayo Ajayi, roofs and walls of Over 52 houses, 3 church buildings Erinmo Civic Centre, 21 shops, the entire palace fence were completely destroyed.

Also affected were large billboard, Household  Consumables, electricity poles and cables at Temidire, Oke Ode, Odo Oja, Odi Olowo, Ogbon Idimi and Imogun.

The traditional ruler showed empathy for the suffering of the people who have been rendered homeless and helpless by the calamity.

A victim who is a retiree , said the building which roof was blown off by the storm was the only property left behind by her husband for his children and her, calling on government and spirited individuals to help her cover her shame.

The chairman of the Local Government Area, Mr Olubunmi Obeisun and Special Assistance to Governor On Bereau Of Social Services, (BOSS),  mr Abolade  Ajakaye who went to the place on a sympathy visit, promised government's intervention.

Coverage: Isaac Haastrup

GOLD FM FRCN ILESA