Revealed: Why Ajimobi’s now controversial burial was delayed – cleric accuses ‘constituted authority’

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June 28, 2020

There is an indication that the location of burial of late former Governor of Oyo state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has become controversial.

In a statement issued on Saturday in Ibadan by the Chairman, Muslim Community of Oyo state, Alh Ishaq Kunle Sanni, some group of the Muslim community in the state believes it is ‘unislamic’ to bury the former Governor in a Mosque even if he built it.

The contending issue of where to bury the Ajimobi, which is brewing between the Muslim community and the family, is confirmed to be the reason his burial has been delayed since Friday when he ought to have been laid to rest according to Islamic injunction.

According to Alh Sanni, who was a close associate of Ajimobi, there is an unnamed ‘constituted authority’ who against religious counsel is insisting that the onetime Senator of the Federal Republic will be buried in the Mosque that was named Senator Ishaq Abiola Ajimobi Central Mosque located at Oke Ado, Ibadan, Oyo State.

“When somebody who probably is the sole authority said he would not be buried immediately I equally went proverbial and men of wisdom could understand what was amiss and why Ajimobi’s wish for immediate burial was unfulfillable.”

The cleric narrated further that: “Professor Noibi and Alhaj Muideen Ajani Bello had sleepless nights on these issues. When the news gained currency that he would be buried in the Mosque my phone was inundated with phone calls from all over the world as if I can unilaterally change what the constituted authority this time may decide.

“We only can admonish and persuade. I Alh Ishaq Kunle Sanni believes it is Islamically wrong to bury a Muslim inside a Mosque even if it was built by him. Ditto for other erudite scholars like Professor Noibi. But there are some butter and bread scholars who are misleading people that at least The Prophet {SAW) was buried in the Mosque” he said.

On the argument that The Prophet {SAW) was buried in the Mosque, Alh Sanni noted that he spoke to a respected Islamic scholar who confirmed that burying ex-Governor Ajimobi’s remains in the Mosque is not ideal.

“That is Imam Abdurahman Ahmad Chief Missoner of Ansarudeen and he without mincing words said the Prophet being buried in the Mosque is not true.

“The Prophet was buried in Aisha’s apartment and the expansion of the Mosque met their graves there. He unabashedly said it is unislamic to bury anybody in the Mosque.”

In his account, Alh Sanni stated that he or anyone else cannot unilaterally change the mind of the ‘constituted authority’ on the matter.

He disclosed that he is working on another arrangement as a compromise for both parties in order to douse the tension.

“We can only persuade. We are trying on a land owned by the erstwhile Governor not far from the Mosque but not in the Mosque. If we succeed, that to me is a wonderful compromise. Allah may change the mind of the constituted authority in this matter.

The Muslim cleric, who noted that he was close to the late Ajimobi’s commitment to justice for Muslims in Oyo State, said he is optimistic that the contending issue will be resolved hours before the scheduled time of burial on Sunday.

“May Allah forgive Ajimobi the man Allah sent to right the wrongs done to Muslims for many years. A courageous and forthright human being who prayed to live for seventy years and Allah accepted his prayer. But we would have wished he lived longer. Who are we to query Allah’s decision?” he added.

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APC Crisis: My relationship with Tinubu remains as strong as ever – Buhari

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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June 27, 2020

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Idowu Sowunmi

Hours after the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, commented officially on the crisis rocking the ruling party, President Muhammadu Buhari said he’s in touch with the former Lagos State governor.

The President, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, explained that he has a wonderful relationship with Tinubu and there’s no cause for alarm.

The statement titled: “President Buhari and Tinubu Still Together, Analysts Need to Get Their Facts Right,” struggled to put paid to the seemingly disagreements between the two personalities.

“The very essence of the requests put to the Emergency National Executive Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by President Muhammadu Buhari, which were unanimously approved aim to pull back the party, faced with an existential crisis from the brink of collapse, follow the constitution and take everyone along.

“While this action has been widely accepted with great relief by lovers of democracy and the rank and file of the membership, we are concerned that political vulturism masquerading as ‘smart analysis’ is selling the commentary that this is a Buhari-Tinubu ‘showdown.’ Nothing can be farther from the truth.

“To put the records straight: In the formation of this great party and giving it leadership, President Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who are reckoned as the founding fathers of the APC are both inspired by democratic norms, national interest and not at all by partisan motivations. These are the qualities that have made them move past cynical distractions.

“They are in touch with one another. Their relationship remains as strong as ever and between the two of them, only they know how they manage their enviable relationship.

“Try as hard as they could, the opposition parties have used all their intellectuals and their supporters in the media to break this relationship and have failed. And they won’t.

“For President Buhari who has received much of the cynical commentary, Nigerians know him as someone who will not do anything with bad intentions. Neither will he do anything out of partisan motivations or for himself.

“This whole exercise, that should lead to massive reform and overhaul of the leadership of the party, as he said in that brilliant speech, was ‘to save the APC from the imminent self-destruction. We have to move ahead. We have to take everyone with us and ensure that the party is run in accordance with democratic norms and with consensus. We have to work for the benefit of the country.’

“The leaders of the party, who have received two successive massive mandates to govern the country and a majority of the states should be judged by how this exercise turns out in achieving these objectives, not cursed at the mere commencement of the process,” the statement said.

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PDP Primary: National Chairman presents Certificate-of-Return to Gov. Obaseki – Pictures

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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June 27, 2020

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PDP-Obaseki3 — PDP National Chariman, Uche Secondus presents the Certificate of Return to Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki on June 27, 2020. Credit: PDP

Ahead of the September 19 governorship election in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki has received his Certificate of Return from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The certificate was issued on Saturday by the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

This was confirmed on the party’s Twitter handle.

Secondus also presented the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination form to the governor.

PDP National Chariman, Uche Secondus presents the Certificate of Return to Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki on June 27, 2020. Credit: PDP

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Video: Progressive Governors visit Buhari as Oshiomhole NWC jettisons court action

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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June 27, 2020

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The Progressives Governors Forum, PGF and the new Chairman, All Progressives Congress, APC, Caretaker/Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni, on Friday, paid a ‘thank you’ visit to President Muhammadu on a successful Extraordinary virtual National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the party.

See below video by Vanguard:

The former NWC members have jettisoned their initial threat to go to court and have now resolved to work for the rebuilding of the party, the immediate past National Secretary of the party, Mallam Waziri Bulama, said yesterday.

He attributed the crisis to the ambitions of some leaders .

He also said the failure of all organs of the party to function effectively affected the party.

But he was optimistic that the APC would not break up despite the crisis at hand.

Also on Friday, the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, declared that alleged threats by some members of the dissolved National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to challenge the dissolution in court were created by the media.

The chairman of the Caretaker/Convention committee of the party, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, is understood to have commenced efforts to reach out to stakeholders of the party to bury their hatchets and rally round his committee to rebuild the party.

Reviewing the events of the last few days including the NWC dissolution and reactions of some party members, Bulama said the sacked NWC has already accepted the Thursday decisions of the National Executive Committee, would not go to court and would defer to Buhari.

Bulama spoke to some media in Abuja.

He said: “Following consultations with our leaders all the stakeholders, we have accepted the decision of the President on the dissolution of NWC and the setting up of a Caretaker Committee headed by Governor Mai Mala Buni.

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Nigerian Air Force strikes ‘scores’ of Boko Haram Terrorists, tear-down base

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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June 27, 2020

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Air-Force3 — A screen grab from the Air Force video shows the scene of the airstrikes on Boko Haram Logistics Base in Borno State. Credit: Defence Headquarters.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has destroyed scores of Boko Haram terrorists (BHTs ) in Tongule and Bukar Meram areas of Borno State.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, it was confirmed that the NAF airstrikes, which were carried out on June 25 after a series of surveillance missions indicated a resurgence of terrorists’ activities at the two settlements.

Enenche noted that this latest military action is “another set of successful air interdiction missions executed by the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole under the subsidiary Operation Long Reach.

The defence spokesman explained that: “At Tongule, where recent credible intelligence indicated frequent convergence of BHTs, about 35 terrorists were spotted by the NAF surveillance aircraft in different parts of the settlement as it vectored the fighter jets to attack the target area.

“The munitions from the jets hit designated areas within the settlement, destroying some structures and taking out many of the terrorists.

“Similarly, at Bukar Meram, a BHT logistics hub on the fringes of the Lake Chad, the airstrikes, which were carefully timed and executed in multiple waves for maximum effects, resulted in the obliteration of designated portions of the terrorists’ facilities.

“Several of their fighters were also killed in the process”, Coordinator, Defence Media Operations said.

Meanwhile, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has commended the Air Task Force for their dedication and professionalism.

This comes as the Defence Headquarters equally asked them to “intensify the air offensive against the terrorists and all other criminal elements threatening the peace and security of our beloved country.”

Nigerian Air Force (NAF) airstrike pictures:

A screen grab from the Air Force video shows the scene of the airstrikes on Boko Haram Logistics Base in Borno State. Credit: Defence Headquarters.

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Just in: Suspended APC Chair, Oshiomhole, accepts Buhari-backed NEC’s decisions

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Abuja Bureau

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June 27, 2020

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Adams-Oshiomole-1 — Ousted APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole

Idowu Sowunmi

A former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, who was recently sacked by a Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, Saturday accepted all decisions of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) taken at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to him, “I have accepted the decision of the NEC to dissolve the NWC.

Former national Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole at a media conference in Abuja, Saturday, June 27, 2020.

“Two years ago, President Muhammadu Buhari invited me to come and reposition the APC and that since the president in his wisdom has also agreed to the dissolution of the NWC, I am bound to obey him as the leader of the party.”

While commending himself for his two-year achievements as the APC national chairman, Oshiomhole assured of his loyalty to the ruling party and the President.

He said: “Loyalty is put to test when the going becomes very tough.”

Thus, he has signified his intention to withdraw his litigation against the party for peace to reign.

More to follow…

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APC was hanging on a cliff but for Buhari – says former spokesman

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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June 26, 2020

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A former National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu has advised warring members of the party to accept the actions of President Muhammadu Buhari and other executives at Thursday’s controversial National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

The former spokesman of the party in a personal statement stated he has declared support for President Buhari after a reflection of events happening in the APC.

“I have reflected on the events of the past few days and the outcome of Thursday’s NEC meeting and as a party man, I declare my support for the actions taken by Mr. President.

“Like the President said, the party was ominously hanging on a cliff and as expected, something had to give way because the APC could not have continued along that obvious path of destruction”, Onilu said.

He therefore called on other member of the APC to rally round the Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) led by Governor of Yobe state, Mai Mala Buni and other eminent members of that committee.

In his appeal for cooperation, Onilu, who described Buni as an experienced party administrator, adding that other members of the caretaker committee are compatriots noted reiterated that party members should consider collective interest and lend support “as they embark on the process of rebuilding our party to the height we all desire”.

He said: “Ours must be a party that is strong and truly progressive; one that can provide our government the support it requires to deliver more dividends of democracy.

“We all have the obligation to subordinate our individual interests to the collective interests of our government and country.

“The task of preserving President Muhammadu Buhari’s unprecedented legacies is not negotiable”, he added.

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APC Crisis: Oshiomhole camp fights back, dismisses NEC meeting as PDP mocks Buhari

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Abuja Bureau

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June 26, 2020

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Idowu Sowunmi

Members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to the suspended National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, has reaffirmed their strong opposition to the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting called by the party’s factional Acting National Chairman, Victor Giadom.

This was coming as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) berated President Muhammadu Buhari for violating his oath of office by using the Federal Executive Council (FEC) Chambers and government resources to conduct the affairs of his party.

NWC, in a statement by the factional Acting National Chairman, Hillard Eta, and the Acting National Secretary, Waziri Bulama, explained that they were consulting their lawyers and other stakeholders on the dissolution of NWC and other decisions taken at the NEC meeting on Thursday.

They insisted that the NEC meeting was illegally convened by the suspended Deputy National Secretary of the party, Victor Giadom.

Giadom’s NEC meeting attended by Buhari, among others dissolved the 18-member NWC and other decisions.

“The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress wishes to reiterate its earlier position that Chief Victor Giadom has no authority whatsoever to convene a meeting of the National Executive Committee of our great party.

“Article 25(b) of the constitution of the APC is explicit that only the National Chairman or the National Working Committee is given the prerogative of summoning meetings of the National Executive Committee of the party either for statutory quarterly meetings or for emergency meetings. The same provision of the constitution makes it compulsory for a notice of minimum of 14 days in respect of statutory quarterly meetings and seven days in respect of emergency meetings.

“We note that Chief Victor Giadom had convened and conducted a virtual meeting purportedly to be a National Executive Committee meeting of our party wherein certain far-reaching resolutions were purportedly reached. While the National Working Committee is studying the unfolding drama, it will be consulting with stakeholders and team of lawyers on the next line of action.

“Therefore, all members of our great party and concerned Nigerians are urged to remain calm pending the outcome of the consultations.”

Other NWC members privy to the statement apart from Eta and Bulama include: the National Vice Chairman (North-west), Inuwa Abdulkadir; National Vice Chairman (South-west), Bankole Oluwajana; and the National Vice Chairman, (North-central), Ahmed Wambal.

Meanwhile, PDP has condemned the use of public facilities by the President to host the NEC meeting, saying it’s the height of corruption.

“Our party describes this action of Mr. President, in using public facilities and resources for APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, as the height of corruption as well as a desecration of the sanctity of the seat of power and our national values,” the opposition party said.

PDP added that “never in the history of our nation has governance been so devalued to the extent of using the hallowed chamber of the highest executive body in the country, where high-level executive decisions are taken, for an illegal, wrongly constituted and Nicodemus meeting of a political party.”

The party said: “This shameful development is a further manifestation of the level of impunity, recklessness, disrespect for rules and disdain for our laws by the APC administration, whose latest action exposes a move towards instituting the art of running processes and programmes through illegality, illicitness, illegitimate and unlawful means driven by crude force and naked power.

“Furthermore, it is an indefensible double standard for President Buhari, whose administration has been hounding and prosecuting innocent Nigerians for allegedly using public resources for activities of their political parties, to use the resources and facilities of the FEC chamber for his party’s NEC meeting.

“It is even more distressing that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, is part of this desecration of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) by functioning as a notary public to a political party and using official facilities of FEC chamber to administer oath of office to a functionary of a political party, in total disregard to his oath of office, the code of conduct prohibitions under the 5th Schedule and extant public service rules.

“This is the same Attorney General, who has been prosecuting others for alleged but unsubstantiated use of public resources for activities of their political parties.”

PDP noted that by using government facilities and resources to promote the activities of his party, the Attorney General has become culpable of the same offence for which he has been prosecuting innocent Nigerians.

“Malami has therefore become ethically challenged to continue in office as the Chief Law Officer of our nation.

“Our party therefore demands that the Attorney General should immediately resign from office and surrender himself for prosecution

“It is even more disgraceful that the furtive APC NEC meeting at the FEC Chamber was convened in total violation of the APC Constitution, which prescribes 14 days notice for regular NEC meeting and 7 days notice in the case of an emergency meeting under Article 25 (b) (i) and (ii) respectively.

“Such a coup against their own party’s constitution renders the purported APC NEC meeting illegal and decisions taken therein, a complete nullity.

“Significantly, the kind of marshal orders and threats which President Buhari was issuing out at the so called NEC meeting without allowing for a debate was a sad reminder of his days at the Supreme Military Council in 1984.

“This raised questions on the democratic content of the charade called a NEC meeting by the APC.

“Moreover, now that the Governor of Yobe state, Mai Mala Buni, has been sworn in as the Chairman of APC Caretaker Committee, he has made himself a full administrative officer of the APC and as such, should immediately resign as the Governor of Yobe state, in keeping with Article 17 (iv) of the APC Constitution which prohibits such dual mandate,” PDP said.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, counseled APC leaders to note that “Nigeria is a nation governed by law and as such their party will not be allowed to use their crisis to destroy our democratic order.”

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Tinubu, Amosun, PDP Commiserate with Ajimobi’s Family

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B.O.B Echoload

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June 26, 2020

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Ajimobi-Tinubu-Amosun-PDP — Late Chief Abiola Ajimobi, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and PDP

Former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; immediate past Ogun State governor and Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial district, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have commiserated with the family of Senator Abiola Ajimobi who passed away on Thursday at the age of 70.

Tinubu, in his eulogy titled: “Tribute to a Great Man: Senator Abiola Ajimobi – We Shall Always Remember You,” said: “With his departure, Nigeria has lost an outstanding statesman and one of its most able politicians. Our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has lost one of its leading lights. The Yoruba race and Oyo State have lost a favourite son. I have lost a dedicated friend, brother and ally.”

He said: “The pain we feel at his passing is beyond what words can describe. This good and excellent man has left us but his energy, activism and commitment to Nigeria and its people shall always be with us.

“He was reputed to be the best and most productive governor Oyo State has had. In this assessment, I concur as do so many others. The numerous infrastructural and public works projects he initiated literally changed the face of Oyo for the better. His legacy as a governor will be an enduring and positive one. The first governor to serve two consecutive terms in Oyo, he broke a political jinx that many said could not be broken.

“The people of Oyo were wise and very well served to have elected him their governor for eight years. I also shall always remember and hold dear the vital contributions he made to the establishment of our party and how he worked with great commitment and sagacity to enshrine progressive governance in the party, Oyo and Nigeria itself.

“His recent emergence as Deputy National Chairman of our party was in affirmation of his many years of service and devotion to the pursuit of democratic governance. The history of the APC cannot be squarely written without him.

“Ajimobi was my friend and brother. He was honest and forthright. He had the interest of the people at heart. We shared a common progressive vision for our country and how to bring prosperity, justice and hope to its people. I had hoped that we could achieve more together but the ultimate wisdom and all our fates rest in the hands of Almighty Allah who knows best.

“At his core, Senator Ajimobi was a family man. He was a loving husband and father. My heart grieves for his wife, Florence, and their children. May they find the comfort that only Almighty Allah can provide at this moment.

“Ajimobi’s death hurts. Yet, we must all find strength in the good way he lived his life and in the fine and good ideals for which he fought. We must carry on with the important task ahead because that is what my dear friend and brother would expect of us.

“My prayer is that the Munificent Allah shower mercy upon him, reward his good deeds, and admit him to Aljanna Firdaus.”

Also, Amosun, in a letter addressed to Ajimobi’s wife, Chief (Mrs.) Florence Ajimobi, described late former Oyo State governor “as a highly skilled and educated professional, who had a successful career in the private sector, culminating in his appointment as the Chief Executive of National Oil Corporation of Nigeria.”

He noted that “Senator Ajimobi distinguished himself in the service of Oyo State where he made history as the first to be elected governor twice just as in the Senate where he served as a principal officer in the fifth Senate.”

Amosun described Ajimobi as a “good friend and brother, who would be remembered for his hard work, sense of humour and diligence in the service of humanity.”

He prayed God to grant the family of Ajimobi the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and prayed Allah to grant him Aljannat Firdaous.

On its part, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the PDP family, Thursday mourned the death of Ajimobi.

PDP described the death “as a national tragedy and a huge loss not only to the APC and his state, Oyo, but also to the entire nation.”

“Indeed, our party is still in shock and deeply saddened over the news of the death of Senator Ajimobi, especially at this time, when our nation needed his wealth of experience and statesmanship the most.

“Senator Ajimobi was an exceptionally brilliant administrator, outstanding legislator and a man of peace, who made immense contributions and sacrifices towards the unity as well as political stability and development of our dear nation, Nigeria.

“Senator Ajimobi was an excellent administrator and broad-minded Nigerian, who put the good of the nation ahead of other considerations in his political life.

“Our party sincerely commiserates with the Ajimobi family, particularly his widow, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, President Muhammadu Buhari, the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the government and people of Oyo State,” PDP said, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.

The party prayed God to grant the nation the fortitude to bear the loss and eternal repose to the faithful departed.

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Company demands release of ‘wrongly’ seized estates by EFCC

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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June 25, 2020

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images (4) — File Photo: Headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja, Nigeria.

The Management of Trademore International Holding Limited has given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) a 48hour ultimatum to unseal its property, which was ‘wrongly’ seized.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its legal representative, Nwoke Kalu, the company accused the EFCC of lacking due diligence in their operation that led to the sealing of its estates that include Luxury Apartments, Millennium Apartments, and Ogwumabiri Event center located along Bank Road and Finbars Road, Umuahia, Abia state.

The company in its demand called on the EFCC to immediately remove the notice of seizure placed on all its estates.

According to the statement, the Trademore estates are owned by a private businessman and have been wrongly marked as properties of a PDP chieftain under the agency’s investigation.

The company lamented that the decision of the anti-graft agency to seal its estates could affect the trust its subscribers reposed in the company which it had built steadfastly over the years.

It stated: “As a company, we are deeply startled by this development as the owner of these properties is a successful business man with no involvement in politics whatsoever.

“We expected a thorough due diligence from an organisation like EFCC before going ahead to mark our housing estates,” it said.

“This shouldn’t be happening because it sends a bad signal to those planning to invest in Nigeria. There should be an enabling environment for businesses like ours to operate without being caught in political games or be victims of inaccuracies.”

The company stated categorically that its estates in Abuja currently accommodate over 30 staff of the EFCC.

It therefore urged the EFCC to unseal its estates to enable it return to normal business and also tender an apology forthwith, as its integrity and the interest of its clients remain paramount.

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