Ojudu defies Buhari, insists Presidential Directive on withdrawal of political court cases not applicable to him

The Special Assistant to President Muhammed Buhari on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu has said that he would pursue the case he had instituted against his state chapter of the All Progressives Congress to it's logical conclusion.

This was revealed in the Federal High Court, Abuja today when the matter of Ojudud & ors V APC, Ekiti State came up for hearing. 

Senator Ojudu's insistence is in defiance of the directive given by President Muhammadu Buhari that APC party members who had instituted cases against individuals or party structures across the country withdraw same in the interest of enabling peace and reconsolidation within APC. In his speech at the recently concluded APC NEC meeting President Buhari had proposed that this directive be enforced  including providing for punitive measures against erring members.

The Presidential aide had taken the Ekiti chapter of the party to court, challenging the composition of the state exco of the party, up to the ward level, arguing that the structure was imposed in contravention with the constitution of the APC.

At the resumption of the hearing today, the presiding judge, Honourable Justice Ekwo  adjourned the matter until 30th July 2020 to enable all parties file necessary papers.

BREAKING: WAEC Examination To Commence On August 4 – Education Minister

Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Minister of State for Education, on Monday said the West Africa Examination Council has fixed August 4, 2020 as commencement for this year’s examination.

Nwajiuba made this known at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing on Monday.

The minister said the examination will end on September 5.

Details later...

UPDATE: Journalists barred as panel grills Magu in Aso Rock

ACTING Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, is being grilled by a panel set up to investigate alleged infractions against him.

The panel is sitting at the Conference Centre of the Presidential Villa (Old Banquet Hall) Abuja.

Recall that the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami had recently written to President Muhammadu Buhari on why the EFCC boss should be replaced having been rejected many times for confirmation by the National Assembly.

The former Director-General of the Department of State Service, DSS, Lawal Daura had also written what was said to be damaging report against Magu to the senate.

However, journalists who went to cover the event at about 3.20 pm, were turned back by security personnel.

Even when the journalists who cover the State House decided to go to the press center at the Old Banquet Hall, they were politely told to excuse the place for a while.

“They said you people should excuse the use of this place for today,” a security official detailed to the venue, politely told reporters.

Magu was said to have been arrested by the DSS in Abuja on Monday, following allegations that he owns four properties and was allegedly transferring funds abroad through a third party.

He was said to have been stopped in traffic while moving out of the Wuse II Annex of the EFCC in Abuja and the invitation was extended to him.

(Vanguard)

Breaking: DSS arrests EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu

Following allegations that he owns four properties and transfers funds abroad through a third party, the Department of the State Service, DSS, Monday, arrested the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.

In a seven paragraphs statement disclosed by DSS, obtained by SaharaReporters stated that the anti-graft agency chairman was said to have been found guilty of prejudicial to state security – withholding of EFCC files, sabotage, unauthorised removal of EFCC files and acts unbecoming of a police officer.

Read the full statement below:

“In December 2010, the Police Service Commission (PSC) found Magu guilty of action prejudicial to state security – withholding of EFCC files, sabotage, unauthorised removal of EFCC files and acts unbecoming of a police officer, and awarded him severe reprimand as punishment.

“Magu is currently occupying a residence rented for N40m at N20m per annum. This accommodation was not paid [for] from the commission’s finances, but by one Umar Mohammed, air commodore retired, a questionable businessman who has subsequently been arrested by the secret service.

“For the furnishing of the residence, Magu enlisted the Federal Capital Development Authority to award a contract to Africa Energy, a company owned by the same Mohammed, to furnish the residence at the cost of N43m.

“Investigations show that the acting EFCC chairman regularly embarked on official and private trips through a private jet owned by Mohammed.

“In one of such trips, Magu flew to Maiduguri alongside Mohammed with a bank MD who was being investigated by the EFCC over complicity in funds allegedly stolen by the immediate past petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

“Furthermore, the EFCC boss has so far maintained a high-profile lifestyle. This is exemplified by his preference for first-class air travels. On 24 June, 2016, he flew Emirate airlines first-class to Saudi Arabia to perform lesser hajj at the cost of N2.9m. This is in spite of Mr President’s directive to all public servants to fly economy class.

“Magu has fostered a beneficial relationship with Mohammed who by his confession approaches clients for possible exploitation, favours and associated returns”.

Recall that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), had on the 19th of June recommended to President Muhammadu Buhari the sacking of Magu.

Malami, in a memorandum to the president, anchored his recommendation on several grounds “raging from diversion of recovered loot to insubordination and misconduct”.

Weeks after his letter, DSS arrested Magu.

Nigeria records 544 new coronavirus cases, total now 28,711

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 544 confirmed new coronavirus cases in the country on Sunday.

The 544 cases announced by the Centre for Disease Control takes the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 28711.

The NCDC also announced the discharge of 203 patients from isolation centers across the country with 11 new deaths reported.

Lagos state, the epicentre of the virus in Nigeria topped the number of confirmed cases with 199 new cases taking the total number of confirmed cases in Lagos alone to 11244.

Ebonyi state recorded 65 new cases, Oyo reported 47 new cases while Ondo, Ogun, and Edo recorded 46, 31 and 30 new cases respectively.

Other states are FCT-28, Katsina-25, Plateau-15, Bayelsa-11, Kaduna-10, Adamawa-10, Akwa Ibom-8, Gombe-7, Kano-4, Taraba-3, Rivers-2, Abia-2 and Ekiti-1.

NCDC reports that there are 28711 cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria with 11665 discharged and 645 deaths.

Christians exhibiting reckless confidence in face of Coronavirus pandemic – SGF

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha has said that it is worrisome that some Christians exhibit reckless confidence in the face of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic.

Mustapha who spoke at the Interdenominational Church Prayer Service, organised by the Nigeria Interreligious Council (NIREC) in Abuja on Sunday evening, said all Nigerians must realize that the pandemic has come to stay.

Particularly, the SGF called on Church leaders to be at the vanguard of enlightening their followers on the truth about the deadly virus and how they can stay safe in their families and communities.

Speaking about stay at home directive by various governments, Mustapha who doubles as the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, said: “If you have no business going out, stay at home, it is scriptural and I will undertone this with a quotation from Proverbs 14:16 where the bible says the Wise are cautious and avoid danger, fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence. I see a lot of Christians exhibiting reckless confidence and the Bible describes them as fools.

“Stay at home, if you don’t have business going out. That is the safest place you have. If you have every genuine reason to go out, as mandatory, wear a face mask.

“My admonition to the church is that we must stop the exhibition of reckless confidence and tell our people the truth and ask them to do the proper things so that they can stay safe for their families, communities and for the body of Christ”.

Mustapha also stressed that the national response that the federal government has put in place was intended to protect the people of Nigeria.

(Vanguard)