The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has asked security agencies to immediately clear a ministerial nominee, and former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.

The youths warn that their patience must not be tested further with the refusal to confirm the nomination of El-Rufai for appointment as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

A statement by the forum’s president, Yerima Shettima, stated that the youths and indeed northern Nigeria feel humiliated by the news that out of the 48 names submitted to the Senate by President Bola Tinubu, El-Rufai is among the only three whose confirmations were differed.

“We regret to note that the targeting of Nasir El-Rufai for such irreverent treatment is part of a wider agenda being pursued by certain dubious political interests to deny the north and the younger generation of Nigerians fair representation in the coming cabinet.

“It is suspicious that El-Rufai, who is among the best, if not the best of all the names submitted by the President should be among the only three that could not be confirmed without justifiable reasons.

“We consider it deceptive for the Senate to give security checks as reason for not confirming El-Rufai because it is common knowledge that the ministerial nomination list passed through security scrutiny before getting to the Senate.

“At the risk of overstating the case, we can boldly say that El-Rufai, Hannatu Musawa, Bello Matawalle and Festus Keyamo are by far the best representation of the young generation of Nigerians included in the list.

“It will therefore amount to unwarranted provocation to Kaduna State, to the North and to the Nigerian youth for El-Rufai not to be confirmed for flimsy considerations,” Shettima said.

An international group, Egalitarian Mission for Africa (EMA), has dragged President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria before the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice, seeking an order of the court to stop the planned military action against the Republic of Niger.

The group in the suit instituted on its behalf by a Nigerian lawyer, Dr Oluwakayode Ajulo, is praying the regional court to invoke relevant ECOWAS treaties and international laws to stop the military invasion of Niger Republic being spearheaded by the Nigerian Government.

The grouse of the civil group, among others, is that the planned military action or invasion will run foul of the obligations in the ECOWAS treaties and therefore amount to illegality.

The suit marked ECW/CCJ/APP/3/23 emphasized categorically that ECOWAS treaties prohibit aggression among Member States.

Apart from the Egalitarian Mission for Africa (EMA), other plaintiffs in the matter are a former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Internal Affairs (NIIA), Professor Bola Akinterinwa and a Nigerian Northern Region lawyer, Hamza Nuhu Dantani.

The defendants are ECOWAS, Heads of ECOWAS Mission, the President of ECOWAS Mission, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Niger.

A military group had on July 26 toppled the civilian and democratic government of President Mohammed Bazoun, who has since been clamped into unlawful military detention.

Although the three plaintiffs in the regional suit described the coup d’etat as most unfortunate, they, however, warned that Nigeria should not travel the dangerous road of military hostilities that may further escalate the crisis in Niger Republic.

According to them, over 300,000 refugees, mainly Nigerian citizens, have already fled Niger Republic, adding that military action against Niger Republic would lead to a breach of fundamental rights to life, right to dignity of human persons and liberty to life.

The plaintiffs, therefore, prayed to the ECOWAS Court of Justice for a restraining order against any form of military action that may undermine the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Niger Republic.

Besides the Court action, the plaintiffs wrote a strongly worded letter to President Tinubu, notifying him of the pendency of the suit and the need to respect and obey the rule of law.

The letter dated August 8, 2023, is entitled “NOTIFICATION OF PENDENCY OF CASE BEFORE THE ECOWAS COMMUNITY COURT OF JUSTICE; CALL FOR STRICT ADHERENCE TO THE PROTOCOL OF THE HONOURABLE COURT THE ECOWAS COMMUNITY COURT OF JUSTICE”.

Nigerian record-breaking athlete, Tobi Amusan was not included in the list of 26 athletes released by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria for the 2023 World Athletics Championships on Tuesday.

The world champion and record holder in the women’s 100-meter hurdles was conspicuously absent from the list due to the doping scandal surrounding the record-breaking athlete.

The competition, which runs from August 19 to August 27 in Budapest, Hungary, will feature 11 male competitors and 15 female athletes from Nigeria.

Ese Brume, who finished second in the competition the previous year, is expected to go for gold in Budapest this year. She will compete in the long jump event alongside Ruth Usoro. Sade Olatoye (Hammer) and Chioma Onyekwere (Discuss) are two famous ladies on the AFN list.

National champion Usheoritshe Itshekiri, Favour Ashe, Seye Ogunlewe, Alaba Akintola, Fakorede Adekalu, and Anunagba Karlington will be spread across the men’s 100m and 4x100m relay races, just as Rosemary Chukwuma, Favour Ofili, Faith Okwose, Justina Eyakpobeyan, and Success Umukoro will compete in the women’s 100m and 4x100m event.

Nigeria has a large number of medal contenders on the list, although Amusan’s status is yet unknown to the AFN.

Since the hurdler failed three drug tests this year, the Athletics Integrity Unit provisionally suspended her one month before the championships, casting doubt on her eligibility to compete.

The AIU additionally disclosed that there will be a hearing on her case before the World Championships with only 10 days left until this year’s competition. Additionally, she pledged to refute the accusations and prove her innocence, but nothing has come of the procedures yet

The federal government has been told to stop the operations of the cryptocurrency exchange company, Binance in Nigeria in order to strengthen the naira.

The call was made by the president of the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Aminu Gwadabe in an interview with newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday.

He suggested that the operations of Binance is one of the factors putting pressure on the naira and needs to be stopped.

“If you know about Binance, you will know that Binance trading is becoming the anchorage of both the investors and exporters window and the parallel market, which is unfortunate, ” Gwadabe said.

“So, we have to do something that can stop Binance. It’s a competition; we need to ban Binance and the only way to do so is if we have liquidity.

“As I speak, Binance is the most liquid market. They do about 1.2 million transactions per second. So it’s a very liquid market but that is not a scary status, we can break it through our local content and peculiarities.

“So we are seeing a scenario where optimism is giving way to pessimism, investors are not coming, Nigerians don’t have confidence in the market and we have to look for external finances that are coming in as a quick fix, ” Gwadabe added.

There’s A Lot Of Pressure On The Naira
Speaking further, the ABCON president said the naira is facing a lot of pressure and it’s something the current government inherited but action needs to be taken which is the objective of the unification of the exchange rate.

“There is a lot of pressure on the naira from foreign exchange hoarding by the banks and oil companies.

“Is it Nigerians that want to pay school fees, roundtripping, speculations, among others? All these galvanised, to put pressure on the naira.

“Spike and volatility did not start now, it’s something the present government inherited and has gone a long way in checking illegal behaviours around the foreign exchange market and that is the objective of the unification,” he said.

Naija News recalls the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Nigeria in June 2023, said Binance Nigeria was not registered, making its operations in the country illegal.

Former United States President Donald Trump has announced that he will carry out the “largest domestic deportation operation in American history” if he wins the 2024 presidential polls.

Trump who drew a parallel to the Eisenhower-Howard model while speaking at his campaign event in New Hampshire on Tuesday, August 8, expressed his intent to deploy state, local, federal, and military resources to address immigration concerns.

He said;

“I will immediately terminate all the open border policy of the Biden administration. Our country is being invaded. Following the Eisenhower model, we will use 'all necessary state, local, federal, and military resources to carry out the largest domestic deportation operation in American history.”

In 2019, when he was the US president, Trump threatened to deport millions of people living in the US illegally. In June 2019, he promised that his administration “will begin the process of removing the millions of illegal aliens who have illicitly found their way into the United States. They will be removed as fast as they come in.”

Donald Trump has already been indicted on felony charges for working to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the run-up to the violent riot by his supporters at the US Capitol, with the Justice Department acting to hold him accountable for an unprecedented effort to block the peaceful transfer of presidential power and threaten American democracy.

The former US President who claimed that the charges are “politically motivated”, kept up his attacks on special counsel Jack Smith on Tuesday, August 8, vowing to continue talking about his criminal cases even as prosecutors sought a protective order to limit the evidence that Trump and his team could share.

The pairing of Godwin Obaseki as governor and Philip Shaibu as his deputy was a combination that was doomed to fail. Today, those who predicted it have been proven right. The relationship between the Edo State governor and his deputy has broken down ahead of next year’s governorship election in the Southsouth state. Shaibu might eventually be impeached before 2024, according to reliable sources. The sources said former Governor Adams Oshiomhole was probably more concerned about winning the 2016 governorship election when paired both of them. They told our reporter that they had foreknowledge that the pairing of Obaseki and Shaibu was incompatible.

This is not farfetched. Obaseki and Shaibu are from different backgrounds. They served in the administration of former Governor Oshiomhole in different circumstances. Obaseki, a technocrat, was the head of the economic team. He was later referred to as the ‘software’ that powered the successes of Oshiomhole as governor. Shaibu, on the other hand, was a former president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and a lawmaker. As a member of the Edo State House of Assembly, he ensured a smooth relationship between his colleagues in the legislative chamber and the executive arm of government.

Shaibu was a key ally of former Governor Oshiomhole; he assisted the latter to fight against the then formidable Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers who refused to pass the 2009 budget. The budget was eventually approved inside the bedroom of the late Chief Tony Anenih who was then godfather of Edo politics, after many projects were tinkered with. It was in February 2010 that Shaibu and other lawmakers elected on the platform of the then-ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) fought and drove out their PDP counterparts. Though he was a member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Shaibu was widely regarded as the de facto deputy governor to Oshiomhole. He had already won his election to represent his constituency at the House of Representatives in 2015 when he was nominated by Oshiomhole to be the running mate to Obaseki in the 2016 governorship election.

The nomination of Shaibu, the political ‘son’ of Oshiomhole as deputy to Obaseki was perceived by many as a ploy by the then-outgoing governor to have a firm grip on the administration of Obaseki. The first signal that the relationship was doomed to fail reared its head in 2017 when Governor Obaseki was to present his first budget. Shaibu was said to have refused to be present at the budget presentation because he was not carried along in the preparation of the budget and was not conversant with its full content. It was said that Oshiomhole had to intervene before he agreed.

However, it was the preparation for the APC primary ahead of the 2019 general elections that further strengthened the relationship between Shaibu and Obaseki and pitched them against Oshiomhole who had become the party’s national chairman. The two sides disagreed over the choice of candidates for both the National Assembly and the state assembly. Oshiomhole used his position as national chairman to substitute the names of candidates that emerged at the primaries before submitting the list to the election management body in Abuja. Those who had secured the party’s ticket with the backing of both Obaseki and Shaibu were replaced, particularly for the state House of Assembly election. That singular action of Oshiomhole united Obaseki and Shaibu and it snowballed to the 2020 governorship election when the former governor denied them the party’s return ticket. Shaibu, who pitched a tent with Obaseki against his ‘father’, was vehement in his opposition to Oshiomhole’s plan to emerge the new godfather of Edo politics. When Obaseki secured the PDP ticket to run for a second term, following his humiliation out of the APC, he insisted on running with Shaibu despite pressure from the PDP leaders that he should pick a deputy from within the so-called legacy PDP.

Shaibu, regarded as a loyal deputy, was given various responsibilities. He was placed to oversee revenue generation. He was also in charge of sports and youth empowerment.

But, the outcome of the recent general elections where the PDP performed abysmally in Edo State is believed to be the beginning of the sour relationship between Obaseki and Shaibu. Party sources said it was a signal to Obaseki to take charge ahead of the governorship election.

Some top government officials who do not wish to be named said Shaibu didn’t expect the governor to turn against him. They said it was shocking for Shaibu to learn in July, through a letter from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) that ministries, including local government councils, have been directed to liaise with the Mr. Governor in matters concerning internally generated revenue, instead of the deputy governor.

A close aide to Obaseki said the governor decided to cut the excesses and powers of Shaibu ahead of the September local government elections and the forthcoming governorship primary. He added that the governor is also deploying other tactics, including ensuring proper protocols were observed by Shaibu. It was all calculated to frustrate Shaibu’s quest to succeed his boss. Shaibu’s supporters said Obaseki should support his deputy as payback for supporting him against Oshiomhole.

Government officials said the governor has advised his deputy to allow them to focus on governance and play politics at the appropriate time. They said the governor was not in support of Shaibu’s ambition to succeed him and that the decision has to do with the subsisting power rotation or zoning arrangement in the state. Edo Central is favoured to produce the next governor. So, Shaibu who is of Estako extraction from Edo North is not suitable, in the governor’s opinion, for the party’s ticket. The argument put forward was that Oshiomhole, the current lawmaker representing Edo North is of Estako extraction and that the minister-designate, Abubakar Momoh is also from that axis of the state. Besides, several persons of Estako extraction have served as either governor or deputy since 1999.

In addition, the source said Governor Obaseki does not believe Shaibu would continue with his plans and vision as spelt out in his 30-year development plan for the state. A boardroom guru, Asue Ighodalo, was named as Obaseki’s choice. The plan B, according to a source, is to support a powerful politician from Edo South due to the voting population to retain power in the state. The source said: “Shaibu wants to force the governor to support him at all costs. But the governor is not keying into it. The deputy governor is trying to blackmail his principal into submission and has probably forgotten how the governor warded off demands by the legacy PDP group to drop him in 2020.

“The governor has put certain pThey said the governor was not in support of Shaibu’s ambition to succeed him and that the decision has to do with the subsisting power rotation or zoning arrangement in the state. Edo Central is favoured to produce the next governor. So, Shaibu who is of Estako extraction from Edo North is not suitable, in the governor’s opinion, for the party’s ticketrotocols in place that he has earlier overlooked for the sake of peace. Some of the protocols are that Shaibu must inform him before storming his office and ensuring Shaibu is stopped from entering state executive council meetings whenever he is late. Shaibu used to come late to exco meetings but the governor has put a stop to it. How can the deputy governor handle the revenue of a state? Obaseki gave him a long rope to operate but the governor is now insisting on things being properly. Shaibu has gone around the political wards in the state and set up structures without informing the governor. The governor himself is focusing on governance and cannot sacrifice other ethnic groups like the Akokos, the Owans, the Esan, to support his deputy who is from Estako.”

Shaibu, in the suit he filed seeking protection from the court to stop impeachment proceedings against him, listed several instances where he has been deprived of performing his constitutional roles. He stated that there were occasions when gates were locked against him and he was prevented from attending critical meetings. He said: “Ever since I made known my intention, the third defendant was not pleased and openly told me to jettison any idea of succeeding him in office, to which I refused and has since then become his enemy. The third defendant has been doing all he can to prevent me from carrying out my official functions as the deputy governor and has ever since refused to involve me in all matters about the state administration of which I hitherto participated and acted creditably with commendation. The office of the third defendant posted, as usual, the schedule of meetings of the governor for Monday, July 17, 2023.

“Amongst the meetings for that day was the one scheduled for 11:00 am with HOLGAs, bankers, technical partners, EIRS and Edo-GIS – which was to hold at the State Executive Chambers. Before the appointed time at the Exco Chambers, all the named persons and bodies, including the deputy governor and the SSG, were all seated. The said meeting for 11:00 am at the State Executive Council Chambers however never held as the third defendant did not come to the chambers for the meeting, but the attendees, except the deputy governor, were invited into the Governor’s Office by the Chief of Staff to Mr. Governor for discussion and dispersed from there.

“Since that day, the Office of the Deputy Governor has not been receiving any schedule of the meetings and events of the third defendant, contrary to the existing practice and procedure in Government House. On Wednesday, July 19, 2023, it was when briefs for the State Executive Council Meetings were forwarded to my (Personal Private Secretary) that I knew that there would be an Exco meeting that day at 11:00 am for the meeting at 10:00 am as no schedule of Mr, Governor was sent to my office as it used to be.

“On Friday, July 21, 2023, at about 3:45 pm, I was going for an engagement outside the office when my Protocol Officer called the Chief Detail to inform him that there was going to be Security Meeting at 4:00 pm as I saw Security Officers and Commanders in the Government House premises which placed me on enquiry and I got to know of it. On June 15, 2023, I was informed that there was going to be a meeting in the third defendant’s house to determine the leadership of the House of Assembly, but when I got to the gate of the third defendant’s house, the State Security personnel informed me that I was not invited to the meeting and would not be allowed into the meeting. I called the third defendant about eight times on the phone, but he refused to pick up my calls.

“The following day, June 16, 2023, when I was to go to the Governor’s Office, I met the gate between the two offices locked and on enquiry, the DSS personnel from the Governor’s Office told my DSS personnel that they were under instruction from the third defendant not to allow me in or open the gate for me. While trying to know what happened, there was a meeting at the instance of the former deputy governor, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, between the third defendant, myself and Chief Mike Oghiadomhe.

“At the meeting, the third defendant alleged that the reasons for his actions were that I was dining with his enemies and that the only way our relationship can come back to what it used to be was for me to go to the public space (media) to renounce my interest in the forthcoming governorship election. Despite the intervention of well-meaning stakeholders, including the Oba of Benin, the third defendant is hell-bent on dealing with me and has vowed to use all machinery at his disposal to remove me from office as the deputy governor of Edo State.”

A public affairs analyst, Dennis Osaretin said the resort to using the court as Shaibu is currently doing at a time when there was practically nothing to be scared about gives the deputy governor away as a man haunted by his demons. He said: “Come to think of it, during the administration of Chief Lucky Igbinedion between 1999 and 2007, the deputy governor at the time was Chief Mike Oghiadomhe from Etsako; he did eight years. Then came Comrade Adams Oshiomhole from Etsako West as governor; he did another eight years. This was followed by Comr. Philip Shaibu, from Etsako West as deputy governor; is almost completing another eight years.

“Does Shaibu, therefore, think that it is fair and equitable for him to become Edo’s next governor, particularly when he is from the same Etsako West where the immediate past governor is from? Are there no other competent hands from other ethnic groups? What happens to the people from Owan East and Owan West, Akoko-Edo and the Esans? Are they not part of Edo State? If these people are constantly disenfranchised by Edo South and Etsako people, would the consequences not be dire? Shaibu must be called to order to temper his ambition with reason.”

Some lawmakers in the Edo Assembly who spoke to our reporter have denied any plot yet to impeach Shaibu.

However, Governor Obaseki has been victorious in all his political wars since he emerged as governor. Obaseki holds all the aces against his Shaibu. He is expected to carry out more decisive actions to make Shaibu merely resume office to be reading newspapers daily.

On his part, Shaibi has never displayed cowardice since his days as a students’ union leader. Political analysts believe he would get the needed support to keep the loyalty of his supporters, especially those appointed by Governor Obaseki. One thing is certain, according to a top government source; Shaibu will not last as deputy governor till 2024.

The Southeast Senate caucus has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint two more ministers from the zone.

They insisted that the two additional slots would make for equity, fairness and justice in the representation of all geopolitical zones in the present administration at the centre

This demand was contained in a motion moved by Senator Tony Nwoye (LP – Anambra North) on Monday night.

It was co-sponsored by the remaining 14 Senators from the Southeast.

Nwoye, in his lead debate, complained that the Southeast had the lowest ministerial representation among those nominated by the President, with only five.

They are Dr Uju Kennedy Ohaneye (Anambra), Nkiru Onyejiocha (Abia), Uche Nnaji (Enugu), Senator Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), and Doris Uzoka (Imo).

Nwoye insisted that President Tinubu’s action violated Section 5 (a) and (b) as well as Section 4 (1) of the Federal Character Commission Act Laws of the Federation, 2004.

He also said under-representation of the Southeast in the present government would not make for national unity and loyalty as enshrined in Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He called on the Senate to prevail on the President to pick at least two additional ministers from the Southeast to balance the nation’s geopolitical representation in the administration.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, interrupted the Nwoye during his lead debate.

He promised that the leadership of the Senate would take up the matter with the President as soon as possible.

After a stormy screening session on Monday, the Senate deferred the clearance of three ministerial nominees.

They are former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Leader Stella Okotete (Delta) and Taraba State nominee Abubakar Danladi.

The remaining 45 nominees, screened throughout last week, were confirmed for deployment.

The screening of the last nominee, former APC Presidential Campaign Council spokesman, Festus Keyamo (SAN) (Delta), threw the Senate into a stormy session.

The spark was a motion by Sen. Darlington Nkwocha (Abia Central), which was seconded by Senator Eyinaya Abaribe (Abia South).

They demanded that Keyamo’s screening should be put on hold for disrespecting the 9th National Assembly when he was Minister of State (Labour and Employment).

After the rowdy session, the Senate moved into an executive session.

Akpabio, accompanied by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, made a brisk visit to Aso Villa. On their return, Keyamo apologised and was allowed to take a bow and leave.

The Senate returned to plenary for the confirmation hearing.

Those cleared are: Adebayo Olawale Edun (Ogun), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun), Simon Bako Lalong (Plateau), Dele Alake (Ekiti), Abubakar Kyari (Borno), Abubakar Momoh (Edo), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Joseph Utserv (Benue), John Enoh (Cross River), Bello Mohammad (Sokoto), Mohammed Abubakar (Jigawa), Yusuf Tuggar (Bauchi), Uju Ohaneye (Anambra), Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo (Ondo), Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (Abia) and Betta Edu (Cross River).

Also confirmed are Sulieman Ibrahim (Nasarawa), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Ahmed Dangiwa (Katsina), Uche Nnaji (Enugu), Waheed Adelabu (Oyo), Mohammed Idris (Niger), Ali Pate (Bauchi), Doris Anite Uzoka (Imo), Lateef Fabemi (Kwara), Ekperikpe Ekpo (Akwa Ibom), Hannatu Musawa (Katsina), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger), Hieneken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa), Alkali Saidu (Gombe), Tanko Sununu (Kebbi) and Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi).

Others are Abdullahi Tijani Muhammad Gwarzo (Kano), Bosun Tijani (Ogun), Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure (Kano), Iziaq Salako (Ogun), Tunji Alausa (Lagos), Lola Ade-John (Lagos), Tahir Mamman (Adamawa), Zephaniah Jisalo (Federal Capital Territory) and Uba Ahmadu (Taraba), Shuaibu Audu (Kogi).

The Presidency said the ministers-designate will undergo induction before they are sworn in.

Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Mathew Kukah, has identified religious tolerance, fanaticism, and injustice as some of the factors responsible for insecurity in the country.

Kukah stated this on Tuesday during the high-level town hall meeting organised by the Kukah Centre in collaboration with Global Right, a Non-Governmental Organisations, to help in promoting peace and security in North Western Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, he said the meeting became necessary looking at the recent happening in the region.

He further explained that sectionalism, fanaticism, injustice, and religious intolerance are responsible for insecurity in the country.

“You know most of this problem at times is as a result of proper understanding of our religion, when we are dealing with ourselves we should know we are dealing with Nigerians, not religion,” he stated.

The cleric noted that one cannot fight for God stressing that we shouldn’t quarrel on how we worship God.

He maintained that governments have a role to play not only by giving money but by providing effective communication in building dialogue.

He further urged stakeholders at the meeting to come together to form common front in curbing the menace saying insecurity know no religion.

On his part the Governor of Sokoto state Dr Ahmed Aliyu represented by the permanent secretary ministry of religious affairs, Alhaji Abubakar Toronkawa said his administration has made deliberate efforts in promoting peace in the state.

He reiterated that youth and women empowerment, job creation and frequent security meeting is part of the efforts put in place by his administration to tackle insecurity.

He further explained that his administration would support any initiative gear toward in promoting peace and social development.

Also speaking the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, represented by Sa’in of Kilgori Dr Muhammad Jabbi Kilgori thanked Kukah Centre and Global Right for organizing the meeting.

The monarch explained that bad governance, injustice, and inequality are some factors contributing to insecurity.

He charged those in authority to be fair in dealing with their subjects, saying they would give an account of their stewardship after leaving this world.

The Sokoto state commissioner of police Ali Hayattu Kaigama said police through community policing would continue to engage stakeholders in its effort at peace building.

He further disclosed that Nigerian police would partner with the Nigerian army and other sister security agencies in tackling insecurity bedevilling the country.

Anxiety, confusion and shock have gripped many residents, business and property owners at Kirikiri town in Apapa area of Lagos State as the beneficiaries of the Estate of the late Lawrenco Antonio Cardoso, have taken over possession following a consent judgement of the Lagos high court which ruled in their favour.

The land area covers about 50 acres with over 200 buildings comprising tank farms, offices, markets, mosque, and residential buildings already erected.

The exercise was sequel to the Terms of Settlement dated 18th day of June, 2014, and filed at the High Court Registry, Lagos, same having been duly signed by parties in the suit, as well as their Counsel.

Many residents were shocked when the beneficiaries of the estate, stormed the area with security agents to take possession of the land by pasting notices on all the buildings reading: “M/7P/2014 Possession taken today August 8, 2023 by Court Order.”

The notice warned that attempt to re-enter or any forceful re-entry into possession of the property or part thereof by anyone corporate or individual shall be an intentional violation of the said judgements and the lawful execution which shall lead to prosecution of the involved violator for criminal offence in the face of the said valid and subsisting judgements.

The legally recognised beneficiaries of the estate are Mrs. Olaitan Ogunfade, Mr. Emmanuel Adewale Shyllo, John Oloye Reis, and Mr. Francis K Adeojo (for themselves and as representing all beneficiaries of the Estate of late Lawrenco Antonio Cardoso)

While the respondents are Mrs. Stella Adedoyin Shonowo, Mrs. Bukola Amusan, Mrs. Adetokunbo Vera-Cruz , Mr. Lawrence Oluwatoyin Reis, Ms. Taiwo Shyleon, Ms, Winifred Cardoso, and the Probate Registrar, High Court of Lagos State

Justice Jumoke Pedro of the Lagos High Court had in a consent judgement in suit number M/7P/14 set aside all previous dealings in properties forming part of Lawrenco Anthonio Cardoso Estate without first obtaining Letters of Administration.

The judge stated that those appointed and recognised as Administrators of the deceased estate shall immediately apply to the Probate Registrar, High Court of Lagos State for the processing and issuance of Letters of Administration consequent upon which the Administrator — General of Lagos State shall cease from further management to the estate amongst all beneficiaries.

The order stated: “Upon the Terms of Settlement dated 18th day of June, 2014 and filed at the High Court Registry, Lagos on 18th day of June, 2014 same having been duly signed by parties in this suit and the learned Counsel for the parties.

“It is hereby ordered that judgment be and judge is hereby entered in this suit as follows: That all previous dealings in properties forming part of Lawrenco Anthonio Cardoso Estate without first obtaining Letters of Administration are hereby set aside.

“That the Administrator-General of Lagos State shall forthwith take possession of all properties comprised in or forming part of the Estate Pa Lawrenco Anthonio Cardoso (hereafter referred to a “the deceased estate”) and hand over same to the four persons listed hereunder upon their applying for letters of Administration in respect of the deceased estate from the 7 Defendant herein

“That the following persons that is to say: Mrs. Felicia Enitan Fetuga, Mrs. Stella Adedoyin Shonowo, Mr. Emmanuel Adewale Shyllon and Mr Lawrenco Oluwatoyin Reis are hereby appointed and recognised as Administrators of the deceased estate provided that they shall immediately apply to the 7th Defendant for the processing and issuance of Letters of Administration consequent upon which the Administrator — General of Lagos State shall cease from further management to the estate amongst all beneficiaries.

“That the appointed Administrators upon taking over the management and control of estate property; shall do so as Trustees for themselves and on behalf of all the beneficiaries and/ or descendants of Late Pa Lawrenco Anthonio Cardoso and shall see to the proper disbursement and sharing of accruals to the estate amongst all beneficiaries.

“That annual accounts shall be rendered by the Administrators to every beneficiary or as may be requested by any constituted authority.

“That the first charge on estate income shall be the payment of estate duty as may be assessed and settlement of professional fee and other obligations due to the solicitors herein.

“That all pending proceedings in relation to any estate property shall forthwith be taken over and prosecuted to conclusion by the Administrators appointed herein.

“That paragraphs 1 to 7 herein shall be the Judgement of this Honourable Court in this case even as parties agree to bear their respective cost.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared its former National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore, of corruption allegations and abuse of office.

APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, stated this on Tuesday while speaking with reporters after the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting.

Recall that former APC National Vice Chairman for North-West, Salihu Lukman, had accused Adamu and Omisore of squandering N30bn realized from the sale of nomination forms for the 2023 elections.

But according to Basiru, Adamu, and Omosire have not been found guilty of any financial recklessness, adding that the proposed appointment of external auditors was not to probe any member of the party.

He said, “I think it is good to say we should not misrepresent the reasons for the resignation of our chairman. I don’t know where you got the financial recklessness you are talking about, with due respect.

“On the issue of external auditors, it has been the routine of our party to appoint external auditors, and it is a standard procedure and practice everywhere. It has nothing to do with the resignation of any officer of our party.

“And if you go back, there has not been a year that external auditors have not audited the party account.”

Also addressing reporters, the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Felix Morka, said consultations were ongoing on how to fill the vacant leadership positions in the party’s NWC.

He said, “Regarding the questions on the vacancies in the NWC, as you can imagine, we just came off NEC a few days ago, and consultations are ongoing at the moment.

“I think that in due course, we will be considering the question of filling the remaining vacant positions in the NWC.”