AGF Malami, Kano AG Ordered My Detention – Sanusi [PUNCH]
– Kano CP cited order from Abuja to banish me to Nasarawa
– I was harassed out of palace without taking my personal belongings
– Ex-emir seeks right to live in Kano, leaves Abuja for Lagos
– Why I won’t abandon ex-CBN gov –El-Rufai
Lamido Sanusi says his dethronement as Emir of Kano is unjustifiable but won’t take legal action against the Kano State Government.
The former Central Bank Governor, who has had a frosty relationship with Governor Umar Ganduje since 2017, was sent packing by the state government on Monday for “total disrespect for lawful instructions from the office of the state government”.
Specifically, the Kano State Government dethroned Sanusi, the 14th Emir of Kano, following an approval by the state executive council.
It also cited Sanusi’s alleged refusal to attend official meetings and programmes organised by the government without any lawful justification, which it said amount to total insubordination.
Sanusi, who said he was denied fair hearing in the process leading to his deposition, claimed his arrest order, banishment from Kano and subsequent detention in Awe, Nasarawa State, came from Abuja.
He claimed the Attorney General of Kano State, Ibrahim Muktar, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), instructed the Department of State Services and police to detain him.
Sanusi said he was harassed and rushed out of the palace without being allowed to pick up his personal belongings.
He said upon his dethronement, an unnamed friend of his sent an aircraft to Kano to convey him and his family to Lagos but that the Kano State Commissioner of Police ordered him to be flown to Abuja in another aircraft without his family members.
Sanusi stated these in the suit he filed on Thursday to challenge his detention and confinement in Awe.
The Federal High Court in Abuja where he filed the suit on Friday granted an interim order for his release.
Justice Anwuli Chikere made the interim order after lawyer for the ex-CBN chief, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), moved an ex parte application earlier filed along with the main suit.
Fagbemi urged the court to restore the former emir’s rights to human dignity, personal liberty, freedom of association and movement in Nigeria.
He applied that his client be freed from the detention and allowed to move about in Nigeria apart from Kano in the interim.
He said his client had not been charged with any criminal offence to warrant his detention.
Justice Chikere granted the application, saying, “An interim order is hereby made releasing the applicant from the detention and or confinement of the respondents and restoring the applicant’s rights to human dignity, personal liberty, freedom of association and movement in Nigeria, (apart from Kano State) pending the hearing and determination of the applicant’s originating summons.”
I Regret Being Used By Pastor Okafor, Others To Stage Fake Miracles –Woman Arrested For Controversial Healing [PUNCH]
Bose Olasunkanmi, the woman allegedly used for fake miracles by some pastors in viral videos, shares her story with Afeez Hanafi
Where are you from?
I hail from Ilesa, Osun State.
How old are you?
I am 44 years old.
What religion do you practise?
I am a Muslim.
What is your educational background?
I attended Nawarudeen Primary School. I finished primary school in 1988 and came to Lagos in 1989. I lived with my mother before she died in 1990.
When did you start faking miracles for churches?
After my mother’s death, I started working with a food vendor. I worked there for nine years. In 1999, I had an accident and my leg and right hand were affected. The food vendor I was working with could no longer engage me because of the injuries. I then went to my sister’s place in Igando and I stayed with her from 2000 to 2003 when I met my husband. He married me with the injuries. We had three children together and he died on October 3, 2017. There was nothing for me again. No helper and no house for me to stay. I relocated with my children to my sister’s shop where we were living.
It was at the shop I met a girl called Fatila Musa. I begged her for money and she gave me N1, 000. She saw my hand and said if she took me to some churches I would make some money. She left and returned in September 2018. She then took me to a church in Ogba, Lagos.
What is the name of the church?
The church is Radiant Army Deliverance Ministry; I know the pastor as Tony Anthony.
How did you get to be used for fake miracle when you met him?
Before Fatila took me there, she taught me how I would act when we got to the church. We did the rehearsal at home. She taught me how to first hang my hand.
We went to the church at night. I sat when I got to the church and the pastor came. He took me to the altar. He asked me if I believe my hand could heal and I said yes. Meanwhile, the girl had already sent my picture to him and he already knew what he wanted to do.
He put a towel on my hand and prayed. He put oil on the towel to rob my hand. Immediately he removed the towel, I started putting down my hand gradually (she demonstrated). Fatila gave me N9, 000 when we left the church. Three days after, I returned to Pastor Tony Anthony’s church on Sunday. The pastor asked me to come out and he told the congregants that he helped me with N1m. But he didn’t give me anything. If he had given me N1m that day, I would not have gone to any other church again.
All the pastors were already aware of the whole thing and she was the coordinator. We would do rehearsals and she would send videos to the pastors. I would bring down the hand as they started praying for me. They knew everything was arranged because the girl had told them already.
Where else did you do the fake miracle?
I didn’t see the girl again until August 2019. I followed her to Port Harcourt (Rivers State). She took me to two churches. One of the pastors did his own (fake miracle) at a market. She also took me to a church in Abakaliki (Ebonyi State). In October 2019, she took me to the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministry at Ojodu-Berger which is the last church I went to. The name of the Pastor is Chris Okafor.
As I sat in the church, the pastor called my name and I went out. I have never seen him before but Fatila had already given him all the details. She gave me N10, 000 after we left the church, Fatila called me and said one brother Henry from the church would give me N400, 000. She later sent Henry’s mobile to me and I called him. Henry asked me to send him my account number and I did. After some days, he sent N400, 000 into my account.
Why did Henry send the money to you?
He said I should not be involved in fake miracles again. He told me that the money should be used to rent a shop and an apartment. I used the money to rent a shop in Igando where police arrested me.
In your encounter with Pastor Okafor, he said your hand paralysed after you fell from the bed whereas you claimed you had an accident. Who is telling the truth?
I don’t know how the pastor came up with all he was saying about me when I was in his church. Maybe it was the Fatila that told him to say all those things.
Why didn’t you refute his claim?
What am I going to say? It is yes I would say. Why will I say no inside the church? I cannot say no because the girl (Fatila) has arranged everything.
After the service did you meet Pastor Okafor one-on-one?
No. There was no meeting. I left after the service. I didn’t discuss with the pastor; it is the girl I knew.
How much did you make from Port Harcourt and Abakaliki ‘miracle’ crusades?
The pastor in one of the two churches Fatila took me to in Port Harcourt is called Pastor Godswill Abbey. I got N11, 000 in his church. I can’t remember the name of the second pastor. Fatila gave me N7, 000 after ‘the miracle’ at the market. I got N9, 000 at Abakaliki.
Did you regret your action?
Yes, I did.
Why?
If I knew they would put my videos on the social media, I would not do it (the fake miracle). It is poverty that pushed me into it. When my husband died, I could not use my hands to do anything. I am a widow; there was no helper for me. If I knew it would lead to this, I would not have followed the girl (burst into tears).
My father has a stroke and my mother is dead. I lost one of my children and the remaining two live with my sister.
When your children heard about your plight, how did they feel?
They cried.
Did they know you were going to churches to fake miracles?
They didn’t know.
Can you recount all you said before Pastor Okafor and others who performed ‘miracles’ on you?
Yes. In fact, I am ready to take the police to all the churches because I am tired. All the pastors should be arrested. I can confront them with everything I just said. They cannot deny that they don’t know me. I know I have made a mistake doing this, but I am tired. I regret doing what I did.
Academic fraud: ASUU battles LASU VC, Fagbohun, Over Sacking Of Whistleblowers [PUNCH]
The National Executive Council of the Academic Staff Union of Universities has imposed heavy sanctions on lecturers at the Lagos State University, Ojo, saying no Nigerian university should relate with them.
The NEC also barred the lecturers from sabbatical leave, visitations, external assessments, conferences, workshops and research collaborations.
The decisions were taken at the ASUU NEC meeting which held from March 7 to 8, 2020 at the Enugu State University of Technology.
The resolutions of the NEC, obtained by our correspondent, showed that the decisions were taken after the council considered a report of the ad-hoc committee on LASU.
The Vice-Chancellor of the varsity, Prof Olanrewaju Fagbohun, was also declared an enemy of the union in a bulletin signed by the ASUU LASU Secretary, Dr Tony Dasu, and the Assistant Secretary, Dr Adeola Oyekan.
Oyekan, who confirmed the development in a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Friday, said the union headquarters took the decisions over several cases of victimisation allegedly perpetrated by the management.
He explained that those who exposed the alleged academic fraud, especially the union leaders, were sacked.
“The NEC meeting held at Enugu and one of the issues raised was the report of the ad hoc committee that visited LASU. The NEC took note that the management of the university under Fagbohun had been victimising the union since 2017.
“It started with the dismissal of our chairman, Dr Isaac Oyewunmi, and vice-chairman, Adebowale Adeyemi-Suenu, in December 2017. The union came to the conclusion that there was the need to deal with the situation.
“So, effectively, the VC was declared an enemy of the union and sanctions were imposed on the university, which means that no lecturer from LASU can go to any other university for sabbatical and conferences and no lecturer from other university can visit LASU without attracting sanctions from the union,” he said.
Sanusi Out Of Confinement [THE NATION]
…demands N50m compensation, public apology
How he was harassed, forced out of palace – Ex-Kano emir’s aide
Main suit for March 26
Deposed Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (Muhammad Sanusi II), got his freedom back on Friday after a Federal High Court, Abuja, ordered his release from security confinement.
Sanusi had been sent to Awe, Nasarawa State, on exile moment after his dethronement on Monday.
The court heard from Sanusi’s Chief of Staff (CoS), Muhammad Mannir Sanusi, how he was evicted from the palace in Kano on the fateful day.
His CoS revealed that a large number of security personnel, comprising men of the police and State Security Service, laid siege to the palace from 12 noon on March 9 even before the conclusion of the meeting of the Kano State Executive Council where the decision to dethrone Sanusi was made.
He said the security men, who claimed to be acting on a directive from Abuja, later forced Sanusi out of the palace, prevented him from taking any of his belongings and forcefully moved him to Nasarawa State, as against his wish to be taken to Lagos State.
Sanusi’s CoS made this revelation in his deposition contained in an affidavit supporting the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the ex-emir before the Federal High Court, Abuja.
He said: “I know for a fact that as early as 12 noon on 9th day of March, 2020 and ever before the service of letter of deposition on the applicant (Sanusi), I observed an unusual presence (and in an unusually large number) of officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force and members of State Security Service who cordoned off the palace of the applicant in Kano
“The cordon was accompanied by serious restriction of movement in and out of the applicant’s palace in Kano.
“At the time mentioned above, the government of Kano State was still holding its Executive Council (Exco) meeting.
“I sought to know, from one of the officers of the 1st respondent, who did not wear a badge, why the unusual presence. All I got in reply was that the order came from above in Abuja.
“I am aware (because I was present when it happened) that the applicant informed the Commissioner of Police, Kano State, who later came in (as aforesaid) that his friends had sent an aircraft to fly him and his family to Lagos and requested that they should be provided with necessary security to the airport so that he could leave.
“l know for a fact that the Commissioner of Police, Kano State (as aforesaid) refused the applicant’s requests for security protection and to carry his family with him to Lagos and stated that he has no such instruction from above, but instead directed that the applicant be flown to Abuja and then onwards taken to Nasarawa State.
“In order not to jeopardize his safety or the safety of any member of his family or indeed other persons around, the applicant cooperated and proceeded in the vehicles provided by officers, under the command of the respondents.
“The said Commissioner of Police, Kano State, along with other officers under the command of the respondents, harassed and rushed the applicant out of the Emir’s Palace, Kano, without letting him take any personal belongings and personal effects, along with him, as they took him into their waiting vehicles.
“The applicant was then taken, in the company of loads of armed men, being officers under the command of the respondents, to the Nigerian Airforce base in Kano where he was put in a private aircraft to Abuja and departed Kano at about 6.40pm.
“The applicant was separated from his family, who were also carried out of the palace.
“Upon arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, he was conveyed first to Lafia, then to Loko Area of Nasarawa State after driving for about 7 hours in the dead of the night.
“On 10 March, 2020, he was taken back to Lafia and from there to Awe in Nasarawa State.
“Since his deportation or forceful relocation from Kano, he has not been allowed to move freely, to live freely, to associate with those he desires or to work in the way he desires.
“His relocation, first to Abuja, then Loko, and subsequently to Awe in Nasarawa State and separation from his family are against his wish and without his consent.
“He has never been invited by any of the respondents for the purposes of any investigation, nor in relation to any offence nor has he been convicted by any court.
“He has not been served with any order of court for his arrest and detention. The applicant has been seriously humiliated by the action of the respondents who have no right whatsoever to manhandle him.
“The applicant is personally being detained in Nasarawa State by agents of the 1st and 2nd respondents, purporting to carry out the orders of the 3rd and 4th respondents (AG, Kano and AGF),” the CoS said.
Coronavirus: 179 People Quarantined In Lagos, Ogun Released [THE NATION]
Italian patient now ‘perfectly well’
Second case tests negative, may be discharged soon
Things are looking up for the country in the fight to stop the spread of coronavirus, according to statements released on Friday by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, and the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi.
In separate press conferences held in Abuja and Lagos respectively, Ehanire and Abayomi indicated that the index case, an Italian visitor to Nigeria discovered about two weeks ago, is now in good health while the second case of a Nigerian who had contact with him in Ewekoro, Ogun State, has now tested negative to the virus and would be discharged any time from now.
All the 179 people who were on isolation in Lagos because they had contact with the index case have also been released after staying in isolation for more than the mandatory 14 days without showing any signs of the virus.
Of the 179 people who had contact with the index case, 40 were quarantined in Ogun State while the rest were monitored in Lagos State.
At a press conference he addressed on the coronavirus situation at Alausa, Ikeja on Friday, Prof. Abayomi said initially, 179 contacts with the Italian were traced, but since they had exceeded the mandatory 14 days isolation without any of them showing any signs of the disease, they had been let off.
He said the index case still remained on admission, but noted that “he is perfectly well now. We are only keeping him because he still has some secretion of the virus.
“Test shows that anytime from now, he may be negative. If he is negative, we will conduct another test within 48 hours after and if he is still negative, we will set him free.
“We are close to discharging the index case. We want to be sure he poses no danger to the society anymore.”
APC Crisis: We Won’t Watch Oshiomhole Humiliated Out Of Office, Uzodinma Vows [THE NATION]
Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, has vowed that patriotic forces in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would not allow the National chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to be humiliated out of office.
Uzodinma made the vow just as a pressure group under the ruling party, Professionals Forum, called on President Muhammadu Buhari and a national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to wade in and save the party from the crisis that is rocking it.
Fielding questions from journalists in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on Friday, Uzodinma said that every weapon in the arsenal would be deployed to ensure that the plan of those plotting his removal was foiled.
The governor insisted that Oshiomhole has done nothing to warrant being removed from office, adding that there were clearly spelt out guidelines for the removal of national officers of the party, which those that are championing Oshiomhole’s removal want to circumvent by going through the back door to obtain ex parte orders from the courts.
He also accused them of dropping the name of the President in their plot.
The governor accused leaders of the PDP of being behind the crisis in APC.
The governor said the guidelines of the party is clear on how the national chairman can be removed from office, which must be through the National Executive committee (NEC) of the party, adding that anything outside that is illegal and amounts to a witch hunt.
According to him, the plot to remove Oshiomhole is a clear case of witch hunt, otherwise, he said, those behind it would have come through the proper channel which is the NEC of the party.
He noted that they have refused to do so because they know they have no genuine case against Oshiomhole.
He said: “Many of us, leaders of the party, are aware that those clamouring for the chairman’s removal are working with the PDP to destabilise the party.
“But they will fail because we will not allow them to humiliate our national chairman out of the party through illegal means or by dropping the name of Mr. President.”
He noted that President Muhammadu Buhari has always made it clear that as the leader and father of the party, he does not interfere with party matters.
“So, I advise those dropping the name of the President on their wicked plans to desist forthwith.”
The governor wondered why any true member of the APC would want to remove Oshiomhole who has done so well for the party at this crucial stage in time when the party ought to come together, savour their victory at the last elections and plan how to consolidate for the future.”
The governor advised those behind the plot to remove Oshiomhole from office to desist because it is bound to fail.
“Let me make this clear: we will not allow Oshiomhole to be humiliated out of office.
“He has done nothing wrong and no amount of propaganda and illegal plots can succeed in removing him from office.”
The Professionals Forum, a pressure group under APC on Friday called on President Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to save the party from the crisis.
The National Coordinator of the forum, Akintayo Akeem, made the call in Abuja while addressing newsmen at the media center of the party’s national secretariat.
“We call on President Muhammad Buhari, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other leaders of the party to do more to intervene in the internal wrangling in the party,” Akeem said.
The forum said the party cannot allow the crisis rocking it to disappoint millions of Nigerians who voted for the party in 2015 and 2019.
The forum said it behooves the party leadership to up the structures that will activate all organs of the party, including the once sidelined structures like the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party.
It also called on the party leadership to strengthen the recently constituted National Reconciliation Committee, demanding that the committee immediately begins the reconciliation of all aggrieved members of the party across the country.
Akeem then stressed the need for relevant support groups within the party to be empowered and revived.
This, he said, would help strengthen the support base of the party as a means of going forward.
He then appealed to the APC-led government at all levels to reward those who worked for the party’s success at the polls in 2019 so as to encourage the party’s teeming supporters and enhance their loyalty.
Osinbajo Escapes Death, Loses Police Escort Rider In Abuja Road Crash [SUN]
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has aborted his official trip outside Abuja due to the death of one his police outriders, Ali Gomina, who died in an accident involving the VP’s convoy along Airport Road, Abuja.
The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the VP, Laolu Akande, confirmed the incident in a two-paragraph statement.
The incident happened five days after Osinbajo celebrated his 63rd birthday and six weeks after he marked one year of his survival of helicopter crash with a thanksgiving service at the Aso Villa Chapel, Abuja.
The accident occurred at about 3pm on Friday, while Osinbajo was on his way to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport enroute Lagos, for an official engagement at the weekend.
According to sources who witnessed the incident, the police officer in an attempt to clear the way for the Vice President motorcade, got knocked down by a trailer.
The statement reads: “With grief in our hearts, we announce the death of one of the police escort riders on the Vice President’s convoy, Inspector Ali Gomina, aged 45, who was involved in a road accident while on official duty today(Friday).
“The accident occurred on the road to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. The Vice President, who is greatly saddened by this occurrence, has aborted the scheduled trip.
“The Vice President described Gomina as a diligent, hardworking and serious-minded officer who will be greatly missed by the team. He is survived by his wife, children and relatives.”
APC Crisis: How Obaseki, Amaechi, Osunbor Nailed Oshiomhole [SUN]
■ Party’s South South leaders endorse Giadom as replacement
Efforts to remove the embattled National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole continued yesterday with the resolution of South South leaders of the party to replace him with Victor Giadom in acting capacity.
They also insisted that the party’s National Executive Committee scheduled for next week Tuesday, must hold.
They have also urged all members of the party from the six states in the geographical zone to attend the meeting, saying the NEC is the only democratic instrument of the party authorized to do so by its constitution.
These decisions were reached Thursday night in Abuja, at Edo State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, despite the call by the National vice chairman, South South, Hillard Eta for a boycott of the meeting.
A communique released at the end of the meeting was read by the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki. It said seven ministers, serving National Assembly members, former ministers, former governors, former NASS members, and all zonal and state executive members of the party attended the zonal caucus meeting.
The leaders included the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire; Minister of State, Power, Goddy Jedy Agba; Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo; former Edo state governor Oserheimen Osunbor; immediate past Director General of Nigerian Maritime Safety Administration Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside and Senator Ndoma Egba.
Others present were former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Usani, factional chairman of Edo state chapter of the party, Anselm Ojezua, Senator Domingo Obende, Senator James Akpan Udoedege, Sam Sam Jaja, former TUC President, Peter Esele among others.
The communique noted in part, “At the meeting, the leaders of the zone deliberated extensively on situation in the party and at the end of the meeting, they adopted the following resolutions:
“That as a party, we commend our brother, the Acting Chairman of the APC, Victor Giadom, for rising to the occasion by providing leadership for the party in this trying times.
“That we fully support the convening of the National Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday March 17th, as the NEC is the only recognised organ under the constitution of our party to resolve the APC crisis.
“That we insist that the party should respect the current zoning arrangement by retaining the chairmanship of our great party in the South-South zone even in an acting capacity.
“We resolved that the most senior officer of the party from the zone, being the National Acting Secretary, Chief Victor Giadom, should be confirmed Acting National Chairman for the time-being.
“We urged all our brothers and sisters from the zone to fully embrace the NEC meeting and not boycott the emergency NEC meeting, which has been slated for Tuesday March 17th. Because boycott in a democratic environment is always counterproductive.”
APC Crisis: How South South Leaders Sealed Oshiomhole’s Fate [SUN]
The plot to sack the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, was perfected by his kinsmen from the South South at a caucus meeting in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Thursday, March 12.
At the meeting convened by Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, who hosted a meeting of APC South South leaders, the caucus resolved to attend the Tuesday, March 17 Nationa Executive Council (NEC) meeting called by the APC acting National Secretary, Victor Giadom.
The region’s leaders also resolved that it is time for Oshiomhole to go; so as to end the spate of crises in the ruling APC. At the meeting, four motions were tabled and they were unanimously adopted.
Besides, the APC South South leaders decided to move against new entrants into the party’s National Working Committee (NWC)-Senator Abiola Ajimobi (deputy national chairman (South), Waziri Bulama (acting National Secretary) and Paul Chukwuma as the national auditor. They described their appointments as illegal.
The move by the South South leaders, Saturday Sun gathered, is to checkmate moves by an APC leader to foist Ajimobi on the party; in the event that ongoing legal manouvres do not succeed.
The initial plot, as gathered, was that, in the event that Oshiomhole gets the boot at the Tuesday NEC meeting, Ajimobi would be tipped as his replacement; as the most senior party officer from the South. Ajimobi is a reliable ally of the APC leader, whose tentacles spread across the country.
That was the plot that was allegedly countered by the South South leaders at the Thursday meeting in Abuja. Before the meeting, APC South South Vice Chairman, Hilliard Eta, distanced the leaders of the party in the zone from the meeting convened by Obaseki.
Eta described the meeting as “illegal.” But, a source who was at the meeting on Thursday, dismissed Eta’s opposition to the Obaseki meeting. Eta had initially issued a statement wherein he dismissed the meeting and urged party members not to attend, arguing that the governor was not statutorily empowered to call such a meeting.
The source countered: “Who is Eta to tell us South South leaders which meeting to attend or which one not to attend? Anyway, the Edo governor invited us to a meeting and so, do you now expect me to call Eta or tell Oshiomhole that I’m going for a meeting?”
He added that, at the meeting, which discussed the latest development in the APC and the way forward, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, SAN, tabled four motions to wit: “The South South caucus in the party should support the meeting called by Giadom on Tuesday, March 17; the caucus and any extension, the party should ensure that the position of national chairman is retained in the South South; the most senior party official should be allowed to act as national chairman (Giadom) and, most importantly, the South South should not boycott Tuesday’s meeting.”
Former Edo governor, Prof. Oserhiemen Osunbor, also spoke in support of the motion; it was gathered. Another source said the move by the South South leaders was to checkmate moves to foist Ajimobi on the party as they were appointed after a court had suspended Oshiomhole as national chairman.
He added, “The party took judicious note of the fact that the trio’s appointments were not only illegal, they were even backdated. The truth of the matter is that such powers reside in the party’s NEC. Seeing that the party is pressing ahead with the meeting on Tuesday, they secured a court order that the trio must be present at the NEC meeting. It will be stoutly resisted. They are products of illegality and that cannot stand.
“That was why South South leaders of the party met and resolved to support the most senior member of the party from the zone right now. Besides, Oshiomhole’s NWC had no powers to appoint Ajimobi, Bulama and Chukwuma. They know such appointments are usually ratified by the party’s NEC. Their appointments are illegal and that’s that.”
Yet another source at the meeting said South South leaders decided to attend the Obaseki meeting “because the national chairman was expected to strengthen the party but, by his acts, he’s doing otherwise. His actions could jeopardise the South South’s chances. We don’t want this position to slip from us. It’s best we put our house in order than allow another zone to take it from us.”
Ministers of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Health, Ehanire, as well as Keyamo among others were at the meeting. Regardless, last week, Governors Babagana Zulum (Borno), Hope Uzodinma (Imo) and Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State, are now leading about eight of their colleagues to rally support for Oshiomhole. Others are the governors of Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun and Yobe states.
On his part, Oshiomhole took the fight to retain his seat to the court. On Thursday, March 5, a Federal High Court in Kano State upturned an earlier decision of a coordinate court in Abuja, which suspended him and denied him access to the party’s national secretariat.
A day before, the Abuja High Court suspended Oshiomhole, following an application filed by Oluwale Afolabi in January before Justice Danlami Senchi.
Afolabi’s interlocutory injunction application challenged Oshimhole’s continued right to parade himself as the party’s national chairman after his initial suspension by his primary ward in Edo State.
The national chairman’s suspension came amidst a power tussle between him and Obaseki, whom he helped install as his successor as Edo state governor in 2016.
Why Oshiomhole Must Go – Salihu Mustapha, APC National Vice Chairman [SUN]
- His leadership style is destroying the party’
The National Vice Chairman, North East, of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Mustapha, has said that the leadership style of the embattled National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole was destroying the party. In an interview with VINCENT KALU, the APC henchman, stressed that Oshiomhole must go because integrity has to be institutionalised in the party.
The way the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is going, are you not concerned that its end is near?
No, no, only the devil’s advocates and prophets of doom will hold such position that the party is coming to an end. The difference between APC and other parties is that our party is built democratically and it is operated democratically.
In other parties, the reason the crisis will stay long and at the end implode is that they don’t subject the party to the decision of the people. If it were in other parties, once this crisis occurs, it is one or two or three groups of people that will just sit and decide without subjecting it to the bigger or larger body to see the way forward.
Our own is that we have disagreement and the apex body of the party went to court to seek legal interpretation of the matter. This led to suspension of the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole and his deputy took over.
In order not to arrogate power as the person in charge of the party now, we decided to call National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party to decide on the way forward.
This goes a long way in showing that what is happening is democratic and all possible problems can be resolved, even when we disagree to agree, we will come up with a decision that is binding on all of us because NEC is the highest body of the party before convention, which is the highest decision taking body.
You can see the difference between the APC and the other parties and I believe that the party will come out stronger, as people will know that they don’t have monopoly of power, and that nobody has absolute power. That is the position of APC and it is going to come out stronger from the crisis.
Why it is said that the end is coming for the APC is that the party is sharply divided. Some governors are with Oshiomhole, while others are against him; some members of the National Assembly are with him, while others want him kicked out
There is no party that has consensus as to who is there. In every party, you have some people who may not like some persons to occupy certain offices, but what superintends on people that submitted themselves to members of the party is the constitution of the party.
So, once you agree to be a member, you have to abide by the constitution of that association. So also, as an association in Nigeria, you have to abide by the constitution and other statutes of this country.
So, once you subject the issues to those statutes and our constitution, any decision that comes out, any person that did not follow it means that he or she doesn’t want the well being of the party and so, has no business being in the party.
On this issue, once the clue or position of the law is fully established, everybody will come back to one basket and forge ahead. You can recollect, in 2014, when we were about going for national convention, some people supported the former chairman, while others didn’t, and we went for a convention that produced Oshiomhole as the national chairman and some of us.
You remember, some people that didn’t have the party at heart left after the emergence of Oshiomhole. This issue is strictly the position of the law; we will go through the legal means and ensure that everything that is legal is done, and anybody that is found wanting has to resign, and we will come back as one family devoid of interest because the party’s interest is over and above all our interests.
Oshiomhole had just settled down when this crisis started coming up, why?
The only thing permanent in any society is change and sometimes, the change comes with conflict. You know from the onset, we complained about the leadership style of Oshiomhole. The reason you don’t see us on the pages of newspapers or television is because of the interest of the party and we have been trying to manage this within the party, until and unless something that is going to cause a great harm; a perpetual harm, which forced us going to court, and invariably led to the suspension of the national chairman.
The man on the street may not know the reasons for the suspension. What can you itemise as the sins of Oshiomhole?
The matter is in court and the court has issued interlocutory injunction. There is limit to which I can comment on this matter. The fact is that he has been suspended from his ward due to certain allegations against him, which are in the public domain. Our issue is seeking interpretation whether this suspension subsists or not, and the court said his suspension subsists and that he should cease to act because of the urgency of the matter as the national chairman. That is all I can say, but any other accusation by the ward, local government and Edo state are in the public domain.
There are two different court judgements; the Abuja court didn’t favour him, while the Kano court favours him. Can’t he choose to obey the Kano court judgment and retain his position?
He can’t decide which court judgement to obey. Under the procedure of law, he should have known that two high courts of coordinate jurisdiction, with the same power cannot sit on appeal for the other. For example, if a high court has given an order, if you want to vacate the order, the only thing reasonable and legal to do is to go an appeal, which is Appeal Court, and not going to the social media to say you are waiting for the appeal to come out.
For another court of the same power and jurisdiction to come and say that it is setting aside the judgement of another court, that is not known to law; it is for you to ask lawyers about it. The matter is before a court of law, it is not for us to decide, but as we speak, the party secretariat is busy working towards the successful conduct of NEC meeting on the 17th of this month.
Until the court decides, Oshiomhole ceases to be the national chairman of your party?
Until the appeal is decided which is filed in Abuja, he ceased to the chairman.
Political pundits link this Oshiomhole ordeal to 2023 election. What is your take on this?
Anybody with his right mind, whether APC, PDP or any party and is planning 2023 now, then that person is not a lover of this country; he is not a patriotic citizen of Nigeria. Nobody in his right mind occupying political office now will start talking of 2023. We are determined to deliver dividends of democracy to better the lives of Nigerians. What we are worried about now is governance; how do we deliver the promises we made to the people, and not 2023. It is only God who knows who is going to be alive next year. 2023 is too far.
Once we start talking about 2023 now, governance would cease and politics will start and if that happens, we are not fair to the people of Nigeria. Anybody in his right senses in all the parties, what should be in our minds now is how do we support this government to be sure that those dividends of democracy are delivered.
If you say you are in another party, therefore, APC will not perform, then the problem is on you, your family and everybody. We go to the same market, the same church, the mosque, and out children go to the same school.
What is in our mind now, all of us in APC, anybody who means well in APC, is not any election, but how to see that we deliver all the promises made; to support the president to see that those promises are met. The issue of 2023 has never come up anywhere in our meeting, and I assure you that anyday anybody brings up the matter of 2023 in our meetings within this time, I will ask he be walked out or I walk out.
Buhari is the face of APC, do you think there is anything that will remain in the party after he must have left in 2023, with the integrity he brought to the party?
That is the reason we are trying to build an institution; what we are trying to build now is an institution. While the president has done his best, he has given us a platform, and that integrity and what have you, has been transferred into the institution. APC rode on the goodwill of Buhari and it is still riding on his goodwill, and we are going to build an institution that will continue with integrity; all these squabbles, troubles we are having are in the course of building an institution. We have the trust of Nigerians and the legacy will continue.
Do you think Nigerians are happy the way your party is running the country?
Yardstick of measuring happiness is highly relative and it depends on individuals, but I want to tell you that Nigerians know that this country is in progress and that is why we are doing everything humanly possible to see that we steer the affairs of this country in the best interest of Nigerians and we will continue to do that until the end of this administration.
Sanusi Freed From House Arrest, Arrives Lagos [LEADERSHIP]
The deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, yesterday breathed the air of freedom after a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered his immediate release from house arrest. It was learnt that following the court order, Sanusi left his place of banishment in Awe, Nasarawa State, and took a flight from Abuja to Lagos.
Justice Anwuli Chikere gave the order in a ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by Sanusi through his lawyer, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN. LEADERSHIP Weekend recalls that Sanusi had been under house arrest since Monday in Awe town in Nasarawa State, where he was banished to after his dethronement as Emir of Kano. However, the former emir challenged his restriction in court, pleading the enforcement of his human rights.
In yesterday’s ruling, the judge ordered that the fundamental rights of the deposed emir to freedom of movement and human dignity flagrantly breached by his banishment must be restored to him immediately. The court agreed that since the former Emir had no pending criminal charge or valid order for his detention, placing him under house arrest under whatever guise is a clear breach of his fundamental rights as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution.
The court, in addition, ordered the service of the originating summon on the respondents through substituted means. Respondents in the suit are the Kano State government, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS). The dethroned Emir had dragged the defendants before the court over his unlawful banishment to Awe town in Nasarawa State.
Sanusi, in a fundamental human rights, suit instituted in Abuja, prayed the court to release him from detention and confinement to Awe town. In the suit brought pursuant to section 34, 35, 40, 41 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution and Order 4 Rule 4 of the Federal High Court, the former emir wants the court to restore his right to human dignity, personal liberty, freedom of association and movement in Nigeria apart from Kano State.
In the suit with no: FHC/ABJ/ CS/357/2020, filed by his counsel, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Sanusi is praying the court to declare his banishment to Nasarawa State, as illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void. LEADERSHIP Weekend, however, learnt that the deposed emir arrived in Lagos around 9pm yesterday. The former Central Bank of Nigeria governor arrived in a chartered flight which landed amidst tight security on the Quits Aviation Terminal of the Lagos airport under the cover of the night.
Many reporters who had got wind of his anticipated arrival in Lagos were, however, caught napping as the former monarch’s aircraft landed at a terminal exclusively for private and chartered planes amidst tight security and under the cover of darkness after which he was immediately whisked away from the airport. el-Rufai: Why I Visited Sanusi Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, has revealed that he visited his longtime friend, ideological soul mate and confidante, His Highness Muhammad Sanusi II, as a mark of solidarity over his temporary travails at Awe town in Nasarawa State. A statement issued from Sir Kashim Ibrahim House yesterday said that ’the governor who drove from Abuja to Awe town, met His Highness in high spirits, demonstrating his usual calm, poise and regal bearing amidst what has befallen in the last four days.”
The statement which was signed by Mr Muyiwa Adekeye, his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, said that ‘’His Highness seems to have taken all that happened in his stride but has reiterated his commitment to enforce his fundamental human rights.”
“Sanusi II, the 14th Fulani Emir of Kano, manifested a renewed vigour to continue serving humanity in his life long efforts to expand the frontiers of knowledge so that Nigeria will not remain a perpetual potentially great nation,’’ he said.
According to the Special Adviser, elRufai arrived Awe town shortly before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja granted an interim order releasing Sanusi from detention. Adekeye said that el-Rufai and His Highness later drove to the mosque, where the latter led the Jumma’at prayer, adding that hundreds of well wishers lined up the road of Awe to hail His Highness on his way to the mosque and back to his residence. The statement further said that the duo rode in Governor el-Rufai’s car to Abuja, from where Sanusi will proceed to Lagos. Deposed Emir Sanusi leads Friday’s prayer in Awe Meanwhile, Sanusi led Friday prayers in Awe.
The deposed Emir who has been in Awe since Tuesday March 10, was allowed to lead the Friday’s prayers at Central Mosque located at the palace of the Emir of Awe. Sanusi during his sermon urged Muslim faithful to always obey God and accept his judgement no matter the situation. According to him, whatever happens to anyone is destined by God, otherwise there is no way it would happen. He underscored the need for Nigerians to also continue to pray for peace and progress of the country at large.
The monarch also urged Muslims to fear God in all their activities, reminding them that everyone of them must give account of his or her deeds hereafter. This was Sanusi’s first public speech after his dethronement and banishment by Kano State government. Among those that attended the prayer were Governor Nasir el Rufai of Kaduna State, Emir of Awe, Wuse and his Shabu counterpart, Mohammed Bwala.
There was heavy security presence during the prayer as armed policemen and other security personnel were deployed to Awe where the deposed Emir was in exile. Among the people who visited Sanusi in his Awe residence were his aged mother, family members and close associates. However, Muhammad Sanusi II has left Awe. He left the community at about 4:27 pm, in company with Governor Nasir elRufai after observing Friday congregational prayers. Sanusi To Chair Convocation Lecture At LASU Meanwhile, the deposed emir is slated to chair the convocation lecture of Lagos State University expected to hold on Thursday, 26th March 2020, with the theme:
“The Future Of Developing Economies In A Digital World.” The keynote address will be delivered by the President, Africa Export-Import Bank Afreximbank, Professor Benedict Okey Oramah. About 76 graduating students would be awarded first class degrees at the 24th graduation ceremony of LASU scheduled to commence on Friday 20th to Friday 27th March, 2020.
The vice chancellor, Professor Olarenwaju Fagbohun, at a pre-convocation press conference, told journalists that total number of 8,959 students will participate in the convocation ceremony. Fagbohun revealed that the best graduating students is Mr. Shotunde Oladimeji Idris of the department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences, with Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.95.
The outgoing VC said the number of first class graduates produced this year is the highest number in the history of the university, adding that the Faculty of Arts produced four first class graduates among whom is the first ever from the Department of English Language, Sanusi Remains Ekiti Varsity Chancellor – Management The management of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado EkitI yesterday said the deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II remained the chancellor of the institution.
Sanusi, who was deposed by the Kano State government on Monday for alleged insubordination, was appointed by Governor Kayode Fayemi as chancellor of the university in 2019. EKSU management, in a letter dated 12th March, 2020, signed by the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Eddy Olanipekun and addressed to the former Emir , said the institution will continue to recognise Sanusi as the Chancellor of the university despite his present predicament. The letter entitled : ‘Letter of Solidarity’, said the decision was taken owing to the university’s firm belief that Sanusi’ s wealth of experience would be useful to the university.
The university sympathised with Lamido on his travail, saying the deposed Emir’s rulership in Kano will forever remain a reference point. “On behalf of the governing council, the Senate, staff and students of EKSU, where you serve as Chancellor want to identify with you at this critical moment of your life. “We will also like to reassure you of our unflinching support and cooperation as you traverse a new terrain”, the letter concluded.
Sanusi: Sen Jibrin Advocates Constitutional Amendment Against “Easy Removal” Of Monarchs The Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen Walid Jibrin, yesterday called on the National Assembly to amend the constitution to make the process for removal of traditional rulers stiffer. Jibrin who is also the Sarkin Fulanin Nasarawa equally urged the legislative arm to give traditional rulers official roles.
The PDP BoT chairman, who stated this while faulting the dethronement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir of Kano, said the people of Kano State and the former Emir’s family deserve an apology from the state government. He however called on traditional rulers to participate in politics in order to protect the highly respected Institution. Jibirin, in a statement, added that the dethroning of Sanusi, a first class emir, and banishing him to far away Nasarawa by the governor within two hours, was very disturbing. “May I therefore call on this respected Senate in their effort to amend the 1999 Nigerian to provide a strong procedure of Removing Emirs, Chiefs, Igwes and Obas‚ and equally give them official roles. “Emir Sanusi, the traditional ruler of a highly respected traditional stool of Kano shouldn’t have been treated as a rat being pursued.
Oil Crash: FG Mulls Reduction Of Fuel Pump Price [LEADERSHIP]
The federal government has hinted that it is engaged in consultations to decide whether or not petrol prices will be reduced for Nigerians in view of the global drop in crude oil prices caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, announced this to State House correspondents after the Presidential committee on the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak on Nigeria’s economy presented an interim report to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday.
The committee is chaired by the minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, and has other members as Sylva; the Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele; and group general managing director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari; among others. Sylva was reminded by reporters that dwindling crude oil prices translate to lower domestic prices for huge importers of refined petroleum products like Nigeria, and a price slash had actually resulted in the past.
He said, “On when the price of PMS is likely to be reduced considering the drop the crude oil price, of course we are still consulting. We’ll get back to you, please be patient.” On her part, the minister of finance disclosed that the government had released N285 billion from the 2020 budget for capital projects. According to her ,another $220 million had also been released by government for counterpart funding. She said the committee would be back next week to brief the President on the necessary adjustments that would be made for the nation’s economy to run smoothly in spite of the global oil price crash.
According to her, government would continue to run normally, while investments especially in critical sectors should not cease. She said, “The Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Works and Housing, Niger Delta, a number of ministries and agencies that have important infrastructure projects have got their funds. “Also this week we have been able to release to the Ministry of Transport the counterpart funding provided for in our budget that is required for the important railway projects that are currently ongoing.
The finances from the China EXIM Bank. “What we have been mandated to do is to ensure that the business of government continues to run as much as possible normally, that government agencies are funded but there must be continuous investments in critical infrastructure that would ensure continuous growth and also concentrate on programmes and project that will enhance employment of our people.
“We are looking at ways and means in which the revenue of government will be stabilized and that we are able to fund the states through the FAAC process at a level that is averagely expected and planned for by both the federal as well as the national budget. On the issue of interest rate, the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, said “On the issue of interest rate, luckily, even before this time, I am sure most of you must have observed that interest rate has come down quite drastically and we are going to continue to ensure that it is not a temporary phenomenon, that it will be a phenomenon that will continue because we think and we believe that Nigerians, whether they are business people or private people who deserve to take credit should do so at a low interest rate so that they can use them for a good purpose, pay back those loans and also do good business.”
NAF Destroys Terrorists Meeting Venue At Kadi [LEADERSHIP]
A Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) meeting venue at Kadi Wanzama on the fringes of the Sambisa Forest in Borno State has been destroyed in the
latest series of attacks carried out by the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole, as part of the ongoing Nigerian Air Force (NAF)
Air Interdiction Operation, codenamed Decisive Edge.
A statement issued by the director of Public Relations and Information,
Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said the destruction was accomplished on 8 March 2020 sequel to Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions which established that the Kadi Wanzama Settlement, characterized by active interconnecting tracks linking various terrorists’ locations, was being used as a BHT staging post for planning attacks.
“The ATF therefore dispatched an appropriate Force Package to engage
the location, completely destroying the target compounds within the Settlement.
The air strikes also eliminated several of the BHTs as they hid out in the target structures, further contributing to the attainment of the overall mission of Operation Decisive Edge, which is to destroy BHT capabilities before they can be brought to bear on our troops or innocent citizens.
“The NAF, in furtherance of the objective of restoring peace and security in the Northeast and operating in concert with surface forces, will continue to carry out air interdiction missions against the enemies of our nation,” the statement added.