Challenge Buhari Over Economic Policies, Falana Tells Nigerians

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has criticized President Muhammadu Buhari for attending the just concluded G7 meeting with a shopping list of Nigeria’s problems. Mr. Falana spoke today at a civil society round table on the state of the nation organized by the Nigerians United for Democracy in Lagos.

The group of seven industrialized nations had urged Mr. Buhari to attend the Munich event with a “wish list” for their consideration and assistance.

“Our president went to the G7 and we are happy. And he went there with a bowl, ‘please do this for us, do this for us,'” said Mr. Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Continue below...


“Again we must interrogate that, has our situation become so bad that we have to ask for external support? When we have not mobilized the energy, the potentials of our people to turn this country around.

“And please, let the new regime be told that the dangerous prescriptions of the IMF and the World Bank and the G7 that we have followed since 1986 that the Structural Adjustment Programme was imposed on Nigeria, those prescriptions have reduced Nigeria to a banana republic. Since then we have been managing poverty, what they call poverty alleviation, not poverty eradication, because this system can never abolish poverty.”

The lawyer called on Nigerians to challenge the government over its choice of economic policies.

“There are alternative economic programmes to the ones that are forced on Nigerians every time,” Mr. Falana said

I say no to huge NASS allowances - Sen. Dino Melaye

APC Governors at their meeting in Abuja yesterday

Buhari says old age will limit his performance, PDPMW replies without any further delay

Press statement from PDP Watchdog. Read below...

    The PDP Media Watchdog has reacted to the statement credited to President Muhammadu Buhari in which he declared and admitted that age will limit the rate of his performance in office as President of Nigeria.

    The group while reacting to the statement on Wednesday June 17, 2015 said the APC and President Buhari are gang of hypocrites and liars. "The PDP is again vindicated by this confession from President Muhammadu Buhari and many more that are yet to come.

Nigerians will recall that during the presidential campaigns, the PDP and other well meaning Nigerians complained on the choice of sponsoring Muhammadu Buhari as Presidential Candidate of APC and the effect it will have on the country when it comes to managing the affairs of a multi dimensional nation like Nigeria, but the APC and its leaders said that age is just a number".

The PDP Media Watchdog again reminded Nigerians of their earlier statements on the need for the people of this country to challenge the numerous inconsistencies of this APC administration and call on President Muhammadu Buhari  to resign immediately to save the country of this four years of motion without movement because according to the group, all they have done since May 29th is that  Buhari and the APC has hit the ground sitting instead of running as they promised.

"It's barely three weeks into the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and his age is already telling on him, so, what will happen to Nigeria in the remaining 1,440 days of this government. It's better to find a black goat in the day time rather than looking for it in the night and this is why we are asking President Buhari to resign now because Nigerians will not entertain further excuses of why the APC cannot deliver on their campaign promises". the group said.

The group also gave another example of how President Buhari's age is affecting his performance and reminded Nigerians of how he disgraced the country in a world forum when he referred to the President of Germany as President of West Germany. "Nigerians saw this all along during the campaigns but could not resist the broom stick voodoo that the APC used to hypnotize the people. Nigerians will also recall that this same  Buhari could not remember the complete name of His Vice Presidential Candidate and even the full name of his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) under which platform he was contesting and instead referred to it as  the All Progressive Confidence during the campaigns. How long will a nation like Nigeria, the giant of Africa remained under this hypnosis of the APC" the group queried.

Finally, the Watchdog urged the people of Nigeria to wake up to the challenge and resist this daylight robbery and blackmail of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and demand the immediate resignation of Pa. Muhammadu Buhari and call for another election to elect a more competent and vibrant Nigerian to lead to the people to the Nigeria of our Dreams.

Tunde Lawal
For: PDP Media Watchdog
pdpmediawatchdog@gmail.com

Ondo governor, Mimiko emerges chairman PDP governors forum

Ondo state governor, Olusegun Mimiko has emerged the new Chairman of the PDP governors forum He was elected new chairman at the PDP governors meeting in Abuja today June 17th. He takes over from Akwa-Ibom state governor, Godswill Akpabio, who is now a Senator.

Kidnapped Ondo regent regains freedom

The regent of Akungba Akoko township in Ondo state, Princess Mojisola Omosowon who was kidnapped by unknown gunmen along the Owo-Akure road in Ondo state on June 3rd has regained her freedom. A team of police officers and state security service officers rescued the regent in Edo.

Princess Omosowon was kidnapped along with her driver while on her way to attend the inaugural lecture of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

Buhari returns to Nigeria after attending AU Summit

Ex Jigawa gov returns to Nigeria, says he will respond to EFCC invitation on Thursday

Ex governor of Jigawa state, Alhaji Sule Lamido, who was accused of conspiring with his sons, Aminu and Mustapha Lamido to steal about N1.3 billion from his state while he was governor, returned to Nigeria yesterday June 15th. He went on holiday immediately after handing over power to the new governor. When he returned yesterday, he was welcomed by his teaming supporters at the Dutse International Airport.

Alhaji Lamido while responding to questions from newsmen at his home in Bamaina village in Birninkudu Local Government area of the state said he is aware of the EFCC invitation and he will be honoring it.

 “I am aware of the invitation.’’he said He said that EFCC is an antigraft agency of the government, recognized by law, therefore, he would not shun the invitation. He added that he will be honoring the invitation on Thursday June 18th.

APC is unfortunately divided - Kwankwaso

Former Kano state governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso said happenings that led to the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as the Senate President has divided their party APC  Rabiu has it that the failure of the leaders of the party to do act at the right time led the party to where it is now. Senator Kwankwaso said this while speaking to journalist in Abuja    

 "I think the party, unfortunately, is divided but it is not too late to correct many things but the party should take certain steps to ensure that such things will never happen again in the party and I am one of those who advised or tried to advise my brother, Saraki that he should not go too far with that ambition under this circumstance. At this level and his level, people should be more careful and cautious in what they do and what they don’t do and especially that the situation is even worst than the case of Tambuwal during the House of Representatives election of principal officers in 2011. Of course, Tambuwal’s case was a case of going out of zoning but all the positions went to members of the party. But this time around, because of the ambition of our members, I think they went and connived with people who are not only opponents of the party but enemies of the party to fight the party after the people of this country have discarded these people. And now because of ambition, these people were made in a way relevant and I don’t think that is the best way to go. Members of the party should have certain limitations, they should know when to start and when to stop and I think this is going too far in romancing members of the PDP.
As far as we are concerned, PDP was dead until recently when this ambition brought certain people to do what they should not do in democracy and party politics and how they are just about to create unnecessary life for them to the extent that some of them are servicing again and making all sorts of statements. On the issue of what went wrong, I think there were so many things having to do with time. This election had to do with time. We had so many weeks before the election to address this issue. This is not the time to say I told you or I told them, but many of us tried to tell our leaders to do the right thing at the right time. I think the party missed the crucial opportunity to address this challenge. I think time was crucial of which the party missed some important steps and therefore things went wrong. I told you the party missed some vital steps and gave an ample opportunity to Bukola Saraki’s group and they used it effectively and took all the advantages that had to do with the mistakes of our leaders" he said

Senator Kwankwaso said some members of the party acted out of anger because they believe one of their leaders Bola Tinubu was trying to take all the positions available.

    "I am aware that members of the G-5/G-7 group were interested in seeing one of us occupying one of the strategic positions. I am also aware that there are some people in the party who believed Tinubu had taken so many things and it was time to take a break. They had a perception that Tinubu was trying to take it all. There are other groups that believed that Saraki had given them so many things and they had to pay him back. Many senators believed that they were supported by Saraki.”he added
He stated that the allegiance of Senate President Bukola Saraki with PDP Senator that resulted in the emergence of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President will cause problems for President Buhari.

    "You see, first of all, the President will face a lot of irritations in the sense that these people must be very angry with themselves, they must be very angry with Nigerians and, therefore, will do everything possible to put all sorts of hurdles on the way of Mr. President. That is obvious. I can always read their mind. I was one of them, I was part of them, I was part of the party but we had to leave the party because of this attitude. So, in some of the books that I read, especially Islamic books,  there are things that we call Sadaqatuljariya (doing charitable deeds like building schools, hospital, throughout your life) and you will be getting reward and even after you die. These sorts of mistakes are what we call Musibatuljariya. It is so bad and it is a bad thing that will continue to occur until the system goes to end because they have their own agenda to tackle the APC, to tackle the APC government, they are angry with themselves, they are angry with the people and Nigeria because they feel Nigeria belongs to them and they wanted to take everything and Nigerians rejected them.” he points

He expressed his displeasure at Senator Ekweremadu's emergence as Senate Deputy President

    "Just yesterday, I was reading, I don’t know whether it is true or not, that Ike Ekweremadu was talking rubbish, nonsense. It is like they have reasons to speak again and I think it is because of the mistakes of our members. I believe that at the end of the day, the party and members must get a way of coming together and behave well, I think that is the only way we can make progress. I don’t think I should be in a hurry to say that he should resign but all I know is that many things have gone wrong to the extent that the party has to put its acts together to make sure that things that are done in that way are stopped and from there, we will build the party again. It (Deputy President of the Senate) does not belong to them. I have been in PDP from 1999 until 2014 or so. You see, it was unthinkable in PDP for you to allow any other party to take any of those positions. They have done it five times and they never allowed any member of any party to go near those positions, so I think it was unfair and not correct and they took it shamelessly and I am sure our party will look at it and take what belongs to our party back. Maybe there are ways APC can accommodate the Southeast by way of appointment but certainly, we have not seen PDP in the five times that they had reasons to select leaders in the National Assembly, they never considered other parties in terms of giving them position but I am sure that our party had it in mind that it will carry the Southeast but not in the position of the Senate President. The Senate has Deputy Senate President; that position does not belong to the PDP and that is the mistake Ekweremadu is making. Now he said he was elected deputy Senate president, yet he reduced himself to a zone and a tribe, which is not good enough. We are not saying he should step down or stay; what I am saying is that what they have taken does not belong to them and all those who supported him and his party to get it have made a big mistake for themselves, the party and indeed for the country and they should be ashamed of themselves"he said.

Senator Kwankwaso said erring members of the party must be disciplined

    “I don’t know, the party must be doing its own bit but if I were the national chairman, I would either write to these members individually a letter of displeasure or call them and tell them because there has to be discipline. It does not matter whether you are 10 or 20 or even 1,000, whatever your number is in a party, as long as there is no discipline, definitely there will be problem. I am one of the senior senators by any standard in this country but because of the consideration of the fact that Buhari is from the Northwest, of course not from Kano, you are not seeing me going round to say I want this position or that position. I have president in my zone and I have to be considerate in the sense that other zones should get it. It is not like you will come by all means and you must take it whether it favours the zoning, the party or not. So, all these things must be respected by the party and the members" he added.

Buhari commissions Nig Immigration center in SA

I was poorer in government - Oby Ezekwesili says

In the absence of Buhari, Osinbajo is President- APC refutes claims VP is being denied access to security meetings

Ambode Dissolves Parastatals, Sacks Fashola’s Sister, Others

Ms Fashola was the General Manager, Lagos State Residents Registration Agency, LASRRA. Also affected is the General Manager, Lagos State Waste Management Agency, LAWMA, whose head was Ola Oresanya; Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu; Executive Chairman, Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Bolajoko Fashola and the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA, headed by Babatunde Edu.
There has been a massive shake-up in the Lagos State Government as Governor Akinwunmi Ambode dissolved all Boards of parastatals and agencies, sacking the sister of the former Governor of Lagos State, Ms Olayinka Fashola and 75 other heads of the parastatals and agencies.

Ms Fashola was the General Manager, Lagos State Residents Registration Agency, LASRRA. Also affected is the General Manager, Lagos State Waste Management Agency, LAWMA, whose head was Ola Oresanya; Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu; Executive Chairman, Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Bolajoko Fashola and the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA, headed by Babatunde Edu.

Also sacked are the General Managers of Lagos State Electricity Board, Ms Damilola Ogunbiyi; Urban Furniture and Regulatory Unit, UFRU, Joe Igbokwe; Lagos Water Cooperation, Shayo Holloway; Lagos Internal Revenue Service, Tunde Fowler; Lagos State Building Control Agency, LABCA; Managing Director, LAGBUS Assets Management, Babatunde Disu and the General Manager, Lagos State Lotteries Board, Lanre Gbajabiamila.

Other head of agencies affected are the Lagos State Waterways Authority, Lagos State Building Investment Company Limited, Lagos State Ferry Services, Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau, Lagos State Printing Cooperation, Lagos State Television, Lagos State Traffic Radio, Eko FM, Radio Lagos, among others.

In a statement issued by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Tunji Bello, it said Ambode had approved the dissolution of all boards of parastatals and agencies of government with immediate effects.

According to the statement, the dissolution is with the exception of the Civil Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission and the State Independent Electoral Commission.

While expressing the appreciation of the Governor for the modest contribution of members of the dissolved Boards, Bello wished them well in their future endeavour.

The statement added that constitution of new Boards would be effected in due course.

I don’t have to appoint a minister today and sack him the next week – Buhari

“But the ministers knew that they were going but the technocrats, the permanent secretaries and directors and so on, they know they would remain," President Buhari said.






President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday attributed the delay in his appointment of ministers to the late submission of the transition committee’s report on the previous administration to him.

Mr. Buhari made this known while speaking to journalists at the Summit of the African Union in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The President said he was being careful in order not to make mistakes in appointing individuals especially to key positions such as in the finance and petroleum ministries.

“I don’t know why people are so anxious about ministers. But eventually we will have them.

“But the main reason is that I have an interim committee which I agreed with former President Jonathan that the ministers of the outgoing government should hand over their notes or their documents to this interim committee so that a position can be prepared for the new government to start from with clear records from ministers.

“But the ministers knew that they were going but the technocrats, the permanent secretaries and directors and so on, they know they would remain.

“If anything goes wrong they would be invited to explain, but unfortunately the outgoing government did not cooperate.

“So, what the committee did was to divide itself into about five sub-committees and get a resource person that was willing to come and bring the document, and so they prepared and I got the report I think three days ago.

“I was waiting for this report because I would like to know what position in the government especially in terms of finance and petroleum industry. So, I am not in a hurry to get ministers.

“I want to get ministers after at least I have seen the report because I don’t have to appoint a minister today and sack him the next week because this report would give me what actually happened in terms of security, economy of the country.

“And since I have to have ministers from politicians and technocrats, I wouldn’t (like to) make the mistake of getting somebody, who has been involved on account of accountability”.

Mr. Buhari added that he, Mr. Jonathan and former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, had agreed to letting the former ministers hand over their notes to the interim committee he had formed.

He said that the planned examination of the handover notes had to be suspended when the outgoing ruling party accused his then incoming administration of forming a parallel government.

Mr. Buhari said he actually wanted to get a platform from the former ministers on which to start from following the problem of accountability in the administration.

The President, who recalled that during his time as minister of petroleum during the Olusegun Obasanjo military regime, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had only three accounts, said that during the immediate past administration, the NNPC and the ministry of finance did not know how many accounts they had.

He described the development as improper.

He also said that the emergence of Bukola Saraki as Senate President divided the All Progressives Congress in spite of the moves by the party to avert a crisis.

He said the onus was on the National Assembly to resolve the issue as it had its own criteria for choosing its officers, which was why he did not want to interfere in the exercise.

Mr. Buhari said the problem of Boko Haram had been internationalised and expressed his happiness with the support coming from Nigeria’s neighbours and the G7 in an effort to end insurgency.

BUHARI MAY APPOINT NON APC MEMBERS AS MINISTERS-OYEGUN

APC Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun has said President Buhari may appoint some individuals who are NON APC members as Ministers into his government.

Oyegun said  Buhari is keen on appointing technocrats who will work with his agenda of moving Nigeria forward. Oyegun said this while speaking with journalists after a meeting in Abuja today.


    "There is absolutely no dispute between the party and the president. We agreed that we shall use all manner of people: politicians, technocrats, all manner of people even if not politicians, who can deliver and who subscribe passionately to the agenda of the president to move this country forward, irrespective of where the people come from; irrespective of whether the person is a card-carrying members of the party. What is important is the qualification of the person and the ability of the person to deliver on the ideas of Mr. President. What we are interested is in the ability of the people to bring up the ideas that will help Mr. President achieve the set objectives and the ability to deliver on what the President wants. Secondly, this is an executive function and the President has the right to consult as widely as possible. This means he might pick people within the party; people outside the party. It is a prerogative the President should exercise and we cannot question that. We are quite happy about the way he is proceeding" he said

Aunt Cuts 9yrs old Nephew With Blade For Eating At a Party,

 Ronke Olayinka(pictured right)has been arrested for inflicting terrible injuries on her 9 year old nephew named Abdullahi Taoreed (left). According to New Telegraph, the woman inflicted blade cuts on the boy for eating at a party on June 7th. The boy's parents are dead.

On the day of the incident Abdullahi said he went to the house opposite theirs at Pipeline Street in Oke-Odo area of Lagos to serve food and also to eat since there was no food in their house.

This got his aunt, who he calls mummy, angry

    "Yes, it was my mummy who inflicted blade cuts on my hands because I went to a party opposite our house to eat. There was no food at home. I was hungry, so I assisted the people holding the party to carry chairs. I knew that if I assisted them, they would give me food. They gave me food. My sister went to report to my mummy. We went for evening prayer. After the prayer, my mummy called me and started cutting my hands with a blade. She went out to buy the blade. The cut was deep. She poured pepper into the wounds. She then gave me a hot pot of beans to carry to the kitchen with the bloodied hands. One of our neighbors, a woman, saw me and took the pot from me. She went and told everyone in the compound. People saw my hands and started crying. It’s not every time my mummy gives me food. She uses a piece of wood to beat me, but uses canes on her kids.”he told New Telegraph

Neighbors who saw him with the injury alerted the police at the Oko-Oba police station who immediately arrested the aunt. When interrogated, she said Abdullahi was a stubborn child who never listens to her

    “I’m a struggling widow. I have three kids. One is 15, the second is 12 and the third is 10. I’m a trader. I leave home in the morning and come back at night. Whenever I return, neighbours usually complain about Abdullahi; how he usually goes to different places to eat. Sometimes, he would go with his friends to a place called Agbele-Kale to swim. He’s just stubborn and doesn’t listen! He’s my brother’s son. I’ve been taking care of him since he was a baby. He behaves like someone without home training. He usually goes to parties to eat. He was behaving like someone who doesn’t have parents or like someone who has no home training. When I returned on Saturday, neighbours said I should warn him. On Sunday, he went out again. Food was ready, but he was nowhere to be seen. I was angry. I used the blade on his two hands. I never knew it would be that bad!”

Asked why she used a blade instead of a cane on the boy, Olayinka said:

    "Anytime I want to beat him, he would run away, forcing me to chase him. But what happened that day was the work of the devil. Yes, I poured pepper on the wounds. I only wanted to make him to be a good boy.”

Abdullahi said it was not the first time his Aunt had physically assaulted him.

One soldier killed, many terrorists injured during attack in Yobe yesterday

One soldier was killed while scores of Boko Haram members were injured during an attack in Babangida, the Headquarters of Tarmuwa Local Government Headquarters in Yobe state yesterday June 14th.

Over 10 rifles and weapon, three hilux cars as well as hundreds of rounds of ammunition and some Hand Grenades were recovered from the terrorists. A vigilante member died while 5 were wounded during the attack.

Basket Mouth at 70

US pledges $5bn to the Multinational Joint Task Force against Boko Haram

US government has pledged to release the sum of  $5 billion towards the Joint Task Force, a military team drawn from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger, with the sole responsibility of fighting Boko Haram insurgents in the Lake Chad region.

Making the pledge known at the AU Summit in South Africa today June 15th, the US Assistant Secretary of Bureau of African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the US govt is currently in talks with President Buhari on how best they can support the fight against insurgency in the region

    “We are having discussions with President Buhari on how we might bolster our support. We have already been working with them and providing information. We are also providing some equipment and support and we have a number of meetings with the countries who are members of the Multinational Joint Task Force to look at other areas we might support. We are working closely with the Lake Chad Basin countries: Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon to address the issues of Boko Haram,” she said

Skuki Vavavoom Posts Photo With A HARD ON

Can you see it?

Buruji Kashamu Withdraws Lawsuit Against Obasanjo

Ogun Senator elect who has been facing challenges with NDLEA men, Buruji Kashamu has withdrawn the N20.1 billion libel suit he instituted against former President Olusegun Obasanjo at an Abuja Federal court. The case was struck out following a notice of discontinuance of the suit filed by the plaintiff.

Kashamu is said to have withdrawn the suit due to an ongoing settlement talks between the two parties, but Chief Obasanjo’s lawyers have said they are not aware of any ongoing settlement.Buruji however withdrew the lawsuit.

Osun State Workers Set To Be Paid

There seems to be good news coming  from Osun State over the seven months unpaid salaries of State workers. The Governor yesterday through its media aide, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon disclosed this in a press statement issued to media houses. The Governor also spoke about having the State workers and other indigenes at heart. Find it after the cut.


“The dream has not gone awry and it is a clear vision that Osun must be on its feet, self-reliant and be a reference point in Nigeria. The race to ensure development within the first term of Aregbesola was informed by the fear of what is happening now.

“Aregbesola wanted an Osun State that is self-reliant. That Osun State, almost two decades after its creation, could not boast of tax-paying companies speak volume about the magnitude of the works that awaited the Aregbesola administration.

“But he did not shy away from this task of industrialisation. Within his first term, his government had caused investors to bring up companies, such as the Omoluabi Garment Factory, Osogbo and Adulawo/RLG Technology Company in Ilesa.

“Just last month, a leading telephone line company, Airtel, came to establish partnership with the Adulawo/RLG Company. These are aside the various agro-allied companies which have benefited from the growth schemes of the Aregbesola administration throughout the state.

“The government has also commenced aggressive drive for the development of the solid mineral sector with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with an Australian mining firm, Andalusia Mining Industry.

“It was in the same vein that the idea of an airport for aircraft maintenance was conceived.

“Only a lazy administration would accept the tag of Osun State as a ‘civil servant’ state as excuse for not developing initiatives for industrialisation.


“To accept that our state must continue to survive on the meagre inflow through what goes to the civil servants alone is to accept that we would continue to depend on external forces for our survival.” He ended.

Unveiling Nigba Fayose,Son of Gov Ayo Fayose

GEJ Is a Good Man But The People Around Him Are Not- AISHA BUHARI

Speaking at the 'Thank You' dinner she organized to appreciate APC women at the presidential villa on Saturday June 13th, wife of the President, Aisha Buhari warned Nigerians not to fall into the hands of fraudsters who go about asking for money from Nigerians to arrange a meeting between them and the President or his wife.

    "I will like to inform you that in the past regime, whether it is true or false, only God knows, some people were going round and parading themselves as PAs. If you wanted to see the First Lady, you will pay $30,000, $50,000 and if you are seeing the President, you will pay all that you have gathered in your lifetime. This will not happen in our regime. Whoever asks you to give a single penny in the name of coming to see the President or his wife is not our staff. It is a lie, don’t be deceived" she said

Mrs Buhari said a lot of things were said against former president Goodluck Jonathan's administration but that it is not like the former president is a bad man, it was the people around him that gave him a bad representation.

    "There was nothing that people did not say about the past administration. It is not Jonathan that is not good, but the people around him. So, the people that are going to be around General Buhari have to be very careful because this election ended peacefully. We are praying and hoping that people around him should know that it took him 12 years to get to that position and they must know that they are coming to serve the masses, not General Buhari in person. It is the people that are around him that will determine the political health of our state"she said

EFCC charges former Bayelsa Gov. Sylva with 50 money laundering charges

After the dismissal of the money laundering charges it charged against former Bayelsa governor, Timipre Sylva, by Justice A. R. Mohammed of the Abuja Federal High Court, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, released 50 fresh charges against him.
The charges were increased from the initial 42 to 50 by the anti-graft agency and this has already been filed and will probably be assigned to a new judge. The charges, according to a document were prepared and filed in court by the Director of Legal of the EFCC, Mr. Chile Okoroma.

In the new charges, EFCC listed acts of looting allegedly carried out by Sylva when he was the governor of the state. He is also alleged to have connived with three companies to commit the offences charged against him between 2007 and 2011.

The filing of fresh charges against Sylva came barely a week after Justice A.R. Mohammed dismissed the 42-count charge against the former governor on account of abuse of court processes.

However, the commission immediately faulted the action of the judge for dismissing the case without it being heard.

It noted that the dismissal of the charge by Justice Mohammed following the application of the commission to consolidate the charges against the former governor and his accomplices, did not amount to  a  discharge or an acquittal, and it did  not preclude the power of the agency to bring fresh charges against the defendants.

Vanguard

APC should stop being shameless - Ekiti Govt

Read the press statement below...

    Special Assistant to the governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, who reacted to the APC's claim in a statement issued in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, said over 1,000 fake workers have already been discovered on the payroll that ought not to be receiving salary. He said; "over 250 workers that are already dead have been receiving salary through the e-payment system introduced and contracted to a Lagos based company by the immediate past APC government."

The governor's aide, who urged the APC to first remove the timber in its eyes before aspiring to remove the toothpicks in other people's eyes, said the party should prevail on its governors in neighbouring States to pay workers that are owed as much as right months salary. He said; "We commenced workers verification exercise last month and we have kept faith with our covenant with the workers by paying the April salary of those already cleared.

"As at today, we have discovered more than 1,000 people that were receiving salary fraudulently, out of which over 250 are dead. "The over 1,000 fake workers have now been deleted from the payroll and the exercise is still ongoing."

On the claim by the APC that the State government received N22 billion from the federal government as refund for construction of federal roads in the State, Olayinka said; "Only a demented mind would believe that a refund of N22 billion was made by the federal government on N11 billion road project. "For instance, Ado-Iworoko-Ifaki Road on which they claimed federal government refunded N22 billion was awarded by the Engr Segun Oni government for N7.4 billion.

In 2013, the APC government of Dr Kayode Fayemi increased it to N11 billion, claiming the increment was to ensure quick completion of the project.

"So, How could federal government have refunded N22 billion on a N11 billion road project?

"These people just love to tell lies, hoping that they can again lie their way into the hearts of Ekiti people, but the people already know them and their stock in trade."