Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Author: Tobiloba Kolawole

Exam Malpractice: Court strikes out charges against Senator Adeleke

A case of alleged exam malpractice instituted by the Federal Government against Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been struck out by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Friday.

The decision of the court was based on an application for the withdrawal of charges against Senator Adeleke by the Prosecution Counsel, Simon Lough.

READ ALSO: Nigeria keen on finding Coronavirus cure

While delivering his ruling, the trial Judge, Justice Inyang Eekwo noted that Senator Adeleke was discharged in view of the prosecutor’s decision to withdraw charges leveled against the former PDP Governorship Aspirant who contested against the present Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola in September 22, 2018.

He was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja in October 2018 alongside Sikiru Adeleke (who is said to be the Senator’s relative), Aregbesola Mufutau (the school principal), Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (Registrar) and Dare Samuel Olutope (a teacher).

Senator Adeleke and Mr Sikiru were accused of impersonation, both registering as students of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar school, Ojo-Aro, Osun state to enable them to sit for the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination of June/July 2017 while the other defendants were accused of aiding the commission in the alleged offence.

READ ALSO: AfDB: Obasanjo knocks US over flagrant ridicule, rallies support for Adesina

Although the prosecutor declined to speak on camera, the representative of Senator Adeleke, Dr. Alex Izinyon, however, applauded the ruling of the court.

Following the development, Justice Ekwo has fixed June 25 and 26 for the trial of other defendants

May 29, 2020
Breaking: President Buhari requests House approval for fresh $5.513 billion

The Presidency says it will require additional fresh external loan of $5.513 billion to finance 2020 budget deficit.

In a letter addressed to the House of Representatives to seek approval and read during Thursday’s plenary by the Speaker, Rt. Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, President Muhammadu Buhari appealed that the fresh funds will be used to fund the 2020 budget deficit, finance critical projects and some States needing financial assistance.

READ ALSO: NDDC Crisis: Acting Finance Director is dead, sources suspect poisoning

As part of his correspondence to the House, President Buhari presented a reviewed 2020 Appropriation Bill and 2020-20222 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper.

While another $22.79 billion request is still pending before the House, recall that the National Assembly had recently approved a loan of N850 billion for the use of the Federal Government.

May 28, 2020
No probe of Abba Kyari’s memos, Buhari is in charge – Presidency says

By Tobiloba Kolawole

The Presidency has refuted media reports alleging that President Muhammadu Buhari reversed 150 memos signed off by the former Chief of Staff to the President, Late Abba Kyari.

According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Tuesday, the reports on “presidential directive on 150 memos is fake news”.

Shehu said: “The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to media reports alleging that President Muhammadu Buhari has cancelled a number of memos and appointments signed off by his former Chief of Staff. Not surprisingly, these reports have quoted unnamed sources.

READ ALSO: INEC debunks reports stating electronic voting starts from 2021

“There is not a grain of truth in these reports and Nigerians should please ignore the insinuations behind them”, Shehu noted.

The presidential spokesman however reassured Nigerians that President Buhari is in charge and has not at anytime shared presidential power with any of his aides.

“President Buhari was duly re-elected by Nigerians in February 2019. He has not and will never cede to anyone else, that power and trust given to him by the Nigerian people”, he added.

On Monday, media reports alleged that President Buhari had initiated a probe of all activities including appointments, memos and approvals signed off by late Kyari.

READ ALSO: Lagos to evacuate drainage silts as early morning rainfall causes building collapse in Yaba

Before the death of the former Chief of Staff, many Nigerians assumed that late Abba Kyari wielded too much power within and outside the presidency. In fact, he was touted as the arrow head of an alleged cabal that controls the wheel of governance rather than President Buhari.

May 27, 2020
Amosun mourns the passing of Chief Imam, Egbaland at 98

The immediate past Governor of Ogun State, who now represents Ogun Central Senatorial District at the red chamber, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has commiserated with the family of late Alhaji Liadi Orunsolu who was until his death in the early hours of Tuesday, the President-General, League of Imams and Alfas in Ogun State.

Senator Amosun in company of a former Minister for Mines and Steel Development, Sarafa Tunji Ishola and a former member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Idowu Olowofuja visited the Orunsolu’s compound around 8:30am.

The former Governor who described the death of Alhaji Orunsolu as painful noted that: “Egbaland, in particular, and Ogun State in general, have lost a respected religious leader and a renowned Islamic scholar.“The Chief Imam was an erudite Islamic scholar who was well versed in Islamic Religious Knowledge. He was a symbol of unity who rallied the Ummah in Egbaland as one indivisible entity during his lifetime.

“Alhaji Orunsolu maintained effective leadership as the Chief Imam of Egbaland and President of League of Imams and Alfas in Ogun State, whilst also provided wise counsel to the entire Rabittah in the entire Yoruba land, Edo and Delta States” Senator Amosun stated.

In his words of consolation and wish for the family and the entire Muslim Ummah, the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, Senator Amosun prayed that “the Almighty Allah (SWT) will grant Imam Liadi Orunsolu Aljannah Firdaus”.

May 26, 2020
Chief Imam of Egbaland dies at 98: President Buhari, Governor Abiodun mourn

The Chief Imam of Ebgland, Alhaji Liadi Orunsolu is dead.

The revered religious leader and erudite scholar passed on at the early hours of Tuesday at the age of 98.

In a condolence message by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, President Muhammadu Buhari condoled with the family of the late cleric and the Ogun State Government.

The President noted that the late President-General of the League of Imams and Alfas in Ogun State “lived a long and qualitative life that was devoted to the service of Allah.

While the president charged those who mourn to emulate the devout life of the deceased Islamic leader, he added that: “He lived a long and qualitative life, devoted to the service of Allah.

“May he be bountifully rewarded, having completed his course”, Buhari stated.

Similarly, the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun has also commiserated with the Orunsolu family and the people of Egbaland including the Muslim community on the passing of the Islamic scholar.

“I commiserate with the people of Egbaland in particular and of the State and the Muslim Ummah in general, on the death of the Chairman, League of Imams in Ogun State and Chief Imam of Egbaland.”

The Governor noted that he is grateful that: “Almighty Allah (SWT) let Baba Orunsolu see the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan and more so, at that grand age tells us that it is important we immortalise him by emulating the virtues exemplified by the late cleric.

“Alhaji never treated me as a Governor. He was a father to me, and I will personally miss him for his words of wisdom. May Allah grant him Aljanah Firdaus, and comfort the family he left with us”, Prince Abiodun stated.

May 26, 2020
Lagos to evacuate drainage silts as early morning rainfall causes building collapse in Yaba

By Idowu Sowunmi

Lagos State Government has promised to focus its immediate attention on the evacuation of silts removed from all cleared drains in the state.

This was coming as Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) disclosed that there was a partial building collapse at 6, Olonode Street, Alagomeji in Yaba, in the early hours of Monday due to the heavy rainfall in the area.

Addressing journalists after the second round inspection tour of ongoing drainage project sites in Surulere, Lagos Mainland and Somolu local government areas, Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello, said findings have shown that several drainage channels, which had been cleared in the past, are quickly filled with dirt again due to non-evacuation of the silts in time.

He assured that work is ongoing at various canals and drainages in order to ensure the free flow of wastewater.

“This is the second phase of the inspection tour we commenced last week. It’s an ongoing process. The inspection is based on the directive of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu that the ministry’s officials must continuously go out to monitor closely and ascertain the level of work being carried out by the contractors assigned to clean these canals,” Bello said.

The commissioner added that the Sanwo-Olu administration has been able to reduce indiscriminate waste disposal by residents to an appreciable level, noting that the government would not relent in performing its responsibilities of maintaining flood-free, clean and hygienic environment in Lagos State.

Bello was accompanied on the inspection tour by the Special Adviser Drainages, Joe Igbokwe, and Permanent Secretary, Lekan Shodeinde.

While expressing satisfaction with the level of work at most of the project sites, he noted that the attention of project contractors has, however, been called to few noticeable lapses in some areas.

READ ALSO: Sanwo-Olu moves to save jobs, restart Lagos economy with Register-to-Open guidelines

On the other hand, the commissioner expressed dissatisfaction with the level of work done at Fatai Kadiri Drain (Opeyemi Fola-Agoro Collector Drain), demanding that contractors should revisit the area for more dredging, while they should immediately remove some of the culverts that were wrongly positioned.

Some of the drainage channels and canals visited include Somolu, Kosofe, Lagos Mainland, Surulere, Alausa Ikeja, System 2/Fola-Agoro, Gbagada/Bariga Channel and Anthony Oke.

Other projects inspected are: Opeyemi Fola-Agoro collector drain, dredging of Ojo-Oniyun-Olaleye (by Park Lane), Otumara collector drain, Alaka – Tejuosho channel (System 4) Alaka, dredging of Carter-Railway channel Alaka, Nathan collector drain, dredging of Bush Arowojobe channel, Atunranse canal, System C6 by Fashoro/Akobi Crescent and System C6 by LUTH Idi – Araba.

Meanwhile, a building has suffered partial collapse in Yaba area of Lagos due to heavy rainfall.

Speaking on the incident, LASBCA General Manager, Engr. Biola Kosegbe, said the collapsed building was a three-floor structure and had previously been identified, sealed and marked for demolition, while all occupants had been evacuated by the agency before the unfortunate incident.

“The structure, which had hitherto failed the integrity test carried out by the agency, had been earmarked for removal by LASBCA. With the latest development, the officials of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) have commenced the immediate demolition of the building to prevent any loss of lives,” she said.

Kosegbe urged owners of old buildings in the state to, as a matter of urgency, ascertain the level of structural stability of their property to avert collapse, most especially with the present raining season.

READ ALSO: President Buhari tasks African Leaders on Silencing-the-Guns”

The general manager explained that statistics has shown high incidence of building collapse during this period.

Kosegbe maintained that the present administration would leave no stone unturned in sanitising the building construction industry removing all illegal or distressed buildings, as well as structures that are not in conformity with the state building laws, regulations and standards.

She reaffirmed the commitment of the agency in ensuring that all building owners as well as developers across the metropolis comply strictly with all regulations and safety precautions, in order to prevent or reduce the occurrence of building collapse in the state.

May 26, 2020
82yr Ex-DG Imo Broadcasting Corporation stabs wife to death

A former Director General of Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), Theophilus Okere is alleged to have stabbed his wife of over fifty years, Beatrice to death.

The incident, which happened in Imerienwe, Ngor -Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State was confirmed by the Police Public Relations Officer Imo state command Mr. Orlando Ikeokwu.

While it is unclear what led to the incident, ikeokwu stated that the suspect who is 82 years old had fled the community, adding that security operatives have launched a manhunt for the alleged killer.

READ ALSO: Singer, Cynthia Morgan stirs controversy over botched N40 million record deal

The remains of the late Beatrice, who retired from the State Polytechnic, Umuagwo has been deposited at the morgue as police have begun investigation to unravel the circumstances that led to the death of the victim.

May 25, 2020
Singer, Cynthia Morgan stirs controversy over botched N40 million record deal

Cynthia Morgan, who was once a toast of music lovers has opened up on what she went through after a misunderstanding with the CEO of her former record label ‘Northside Records, Jude Okoye.

Nigerian songwriter and singer, Cynthia Morgan opened a can of controversy when spoke for the first time on why she had disappeared from the entertainment scene.

The Hip Hop and dancehall crooner during an instalive chat with ex-Miss Globe Nigeria, Cassandra, accused her former Northside Record label boss, Jude Okoye of being the cause of her ordeals.

Morgan, who in an attempt to re-brand for a comeback into the industry changed her stage name to Madrina, disclosed that she lost almost everything including stage name “Cynthia Morgan”, her VEVO account, royalties, Instagram account and other things due to the contract she signed with Northside Inc records.

The singer also suggested that she had information that could wreck Jude Okoye but decided against such as it was unnecessary.

She further revealed that she became depressed thereafter and had to relocate to Benin to save cost for treatment of an illness that almost took her life.

On why she did not open up at that time, Morgan said she was not ready to talk as she believed it was a phase of life she would surmount. She however admitted that some of her colleagues in the music industry reached out to her for work, which she wasn’t ready to get back to at the time.

In a twist, Morgan’s former manager, Joy Tongo and Northside Inc record label boss, jude Okoye have debunked the singer’s accusations. While Okoye claimed Morgan owed the sum of N40 million, and a default contractual agreement; Tongo on her part, accused Cynthia of seeking sympathy with her story.

Jude Okoye’s Statement on Cynthia Morgan

Jude Okoye’s Statement on Cynthia Morgan

She also claimed Cynthia owed her $30,000 and confirmed Morgan owed Jude Okoye “over 40 Million”. Threatening to reveal more of Cynthia’s “dirt”, Tongo disclosed that she introduced Cynthia to Jude Okoye.

Joy Tongo’s response to Cynthia Morgan claims

Joy Tongo’s response to Cynthia Morgan claims

On her return to music, the singer said that she does not want to sign under a label anymore but open to partnerships and hoping to stage a comeback.

A GoFundMe account has been launched by her fans who expressed sympathy over “all she went through” with the hashtag #BringBackCynthinaMorgan.

However, pop singer, Davido has offered to assist Morgan stage a comeback into the music industry.

May 25, 2020
Lagos: Marine Beach Bridge for 5-month repair shutdown

The Lagos State Government says there will be a partial closure of Marine Beach Bridge by Total Gas, inwards Apapa for a period of 5 months

The partial closure, which will take effect from Wednesday 27^th May and last until Wednesday 21^st October 2020, is to facilitate repair work on the bridge and ease the free flow of transportation across the metropolis.

The planned repair work on the affected bridge by the Federal Ministry of Works was on Sunday in a statement by the state Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, described as “vital to the safety of the people of Lagos, especially motorists plying the route to access different parts of the State”.

Oladeinde explained that in order to ease traffic during the reconstruction period, necessary repair works have begun on all alternative routes around the construction area, making them motorable.

READ ALSO: Sanwo-Olu moves to save jobs, restart Lagos economy with-Register-to-Open guidelines

Giving details of the repair works, the Commissioner stated that: “the exercise, which will entail bearing and expansion joint replacement, is planned for two phases, with each phase focusing on one lane of the Bridge at a time. During the first phase, work will be done on the Apapa inbound lane, while the second phase will concentrate work on the outbound lane”.

In an attempt to allay the fears of Lagos residents of imminent traffic jam that might occur as a result of the partial closure, Oladeinde emphasized that “adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure that traffic within the axis is effectively managed during the construction period”.

READ ALSO: Eid: President Buhari calls for sober reflection; Governor Abiodun, Saraki felicitate with Muslims

“Motorists inwards Wharf Road will be diverted to the other section of the bridge for vehicles exiting Apapa. A contraflow of 200 metres will be put in place for vehicles to realign with a proper direction inwards Ajegunle or Wharf Road, Apapa, in order to ensure that motorists descending to Total Gas underbridge will drive without any hindrance”, Oladeinde explained.

However, reiterating the commitment of the Lagos State Government to providing a transporatation system that will meet the aspirations of a greater Lagos, the Commissioner appealed for the cooperation of residents and vehicle owners within the area and assured that officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other State law enforcement agencies will be deployed to the area to ameliorate inconveniences that might arise from the closure.

May 25, 2020
Akande lauds Ibrahim-Imam’s Appointment, describes him as APC’s cornerstone

By Idowu Sowunmi

The former Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, has described former Presidential Liaison Officer, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, as the party’s cornerstone hitherto overlooked in
appointments.

He said Ibrahim-Imam played a crucial role in the merger of legacy parties culminating in the birth of APC.

While congratulating Ibrahim-Imam on his appointment as Chairman, Board of Trustees of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Akande also thanked
President Muhammadu Buhari for doing what he called the right thing.

“When Buhari’s government, perhaps inadvertently, gave Ibrahim-Imam no position, Tinubu requested me to talk to Buhari on Ibrahim-Imam’s behalf. I refused because I presumed that there must have been a dangerous disconnect between the APC and its government.

“Now that the President has approved a position for Ibrahim-Imam in government, I congratulate President
Buhari. I congratulate Ibrahim-Imam. I also sincerely congratulate the APC. I hope that from now on, the party and the government can learn to work in sync.
Ibrahim-Imam’s appointment shows that the rejected stone has been reserved for the corner of the house,” Akande, who is also a former governor of Osun State,
said.

Akande’s special tribute to Ibrahim-Imam on his appointment read: “As soon as the All Progressives Congress (APC) was registered as a political party in
July 2013, there began series of momentous events, which included the emergence of a new faction of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called ‘The New
PDP.’

“This PDP faction must have had its origin in an earlier discussion between Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and some leaders of the PDP, especially Dr. Olusola Saraki,
Rotimi Amaechi and Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. They must have toyed with the idea of starting a new party perhaps with a merger of their faction with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

“When another set of merger that produced APC had taken place, Asiwaju Tinubu was no longer comfortable
that he had not carried his ‘friends’ in the PDP on board. Through the instrumentality of Kashim Ibrahim-
Imam, a programme had been dramatically drawn up to put pressure on the party leadership so that General
Muhammadu Buhari (as he then was), Tinubu, myself and other leaders would tour the country, meet leaders to showcase APC and invite them to join the new party.

“Kashim is the son of Alhaji Ibrahim-Imam of Maiduguri who used to be the Leader of Opposition and of the Action Group (AG) in the old Northern House of Assembly. The younger Ibrahim-Imam is distinctively cerebral as an old boy of Kings College, Lagos.

“He was in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) during the Babangida era and later became a Special Adviser to President Obasanjo on Senate Matters. He is an
ebullient character, very friendly and very generous. I used the word ‘generous’ because of our experience when, once, we went to see Buhari in Kaduna. Ibrahim-Imam and Buhari were living almost on the same street.

“On our way back, Tinubu and I decided to say ‘hello’ to Ibrahim-Imam and his family. By the time we got there, for he was expecting us, he had prepared three
giant pots of pigeon soup made of special delicacies.

He wanted to start serving us but we said no because we had already being treated to a feast by Buhari and were in a hurry to catch a flight back to Abuja.

“By the time we got to Abuja, we found that the pots of soup were being sent after us. Someone from Ibrahim-Imam’s household had been mandated to take a flight to Abuja just to deliver those pots of soup at our residence! For more than one week, we were eating pigeon soup!

“More so, it was Ibrahim-Imam who masterminded the arrangement for an all-APC initial first visits across the country. There were not many planes. Sometimes we got one, and sometimes two, and each might not be taking more than 10 to 14 persons. We started with
Rotimi Amaechi, then Rivers governor, in Port Harcourt because of the difficult terrain of politics in the South-south on 29th October, 2013.

“From Port Harcourt, we flew to Minna to meet former governor Babangida Aliyu in Bida and from there, to Yola to meet then governor Murtala Nyako and then, Ilorin to meet with former governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Senator Bukola Saraki. It was Ahmed who received us at the Government House in Ilorin and told
us they would deliver our message to their principal, Saraki.

“We visited all the PDP leaders one after the other. We went to Jigawa to meet with the governor, Sule Lamido, who told us, very rudely too, that he would not leave the PDP.

“Our going to Kano became acrimonious. By the time we were at the Abuja airport, former governor Ahmed
Shekarau called to say we should not come. He warned that if we came to Kano, there would be violence. We formed the APC with Shekarau. He was a leading member of the Merger Committee and was very active in the merger arrangements.

“For him to be warning us not to come to Kano was disturbing. We did not want to defy him but we felt we needed to be in Kano. I told him we would drive straight
to his place once we got to Kano from where he would lead us to Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso. He didn’t like it. We went ahead with our trip and moved to meet
Governor Kwankwaso who received us warmly with his people. Ibrahim-Imam had been in Kano before our arrival. When Kwankwaso eventually decided to join us, Shekarau painfully left for the PDP.

“When the party was ready and we were going around to all the leaders, someone reminded us that we had not seen Generals Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida to ask them to join us. We also decided to extend the same courtesy to Atiku Abubakar being a former Vice President.

“But we were a bit reluctant about Atiku because he was being avoided by the new PDP. The more he wanted to be part of them, the more they were pushing
him away. We did not know what they saw. In the end, with persistent pressure from Ibrahim-Imam, we decided to meet Atiku.

“The team met him in Abuja. He did not make any demand of us. He participated actively in all the congresses and tried to help the APC grow in his area. There were reports that he gave money to help the efforts at registration of members and the organisation of congresses while I was still the APC Interim National Chairman.

“When Buhari’s government, perhaps inadvertently, gave Ibrahim-Imam no position, Tinubu requested me to talk to Buhari on Ibrahim-Imam’s behalf. I refused because I presumed that there must have been a dangerous disconnect between the APC and its government.

“Now that the President had approved a position for Ibrahim-Imam in government, I congratulate President
Buhari. I congratulate Ibrahim-Imam. I also sincerely congratulate the APC. I hope that from now on, the party and the government can learn to work in sync.
Ibrahim-Imam’s appointment shows that the rejected stone has been reserved for the corner of the house.”

May 23, 2020