APPEAL COURT JUDGEMENT AGAINST ME POLITICAL-FALEKE

Following Thursday’s ruling of the appellate court which upheld the ruling of the lower tribunal that declared Governor Yahaya Bello as the governor of Kogi state, James Abiodun Faleke, the All Progressives Congress, APC, deputy governorship candidate in the November 21, 2015 governorship election has instructed his lawyers to proceed to the Supreme Court to appeal against the latest judgment describing it as political judgement.


In a statement issued by his Director Media, Hon. Duro Meseko, shortly after the judgment was delivered, Faleke stated that he disagrees with the judgment, hence his decision to express his constitutional right by challenging the Appeal Court judgment at the Supreme Court.



According to the statement, "this judgement as you all can see is a political judgement and cannot stand the test of time.

“We strongly condemn the judgement and believe that the Supreme Court that is the custodian of Nigeria constitution and the court of the people would do justice to our case."
Faleke decried what he called the undue political influence being exerted on the judges by some highly placed government officials in the Presidency, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately call them to order.
"I am calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to do justice to Nigerians, to do justice to Kogites by immediately calling his ministers and other top government officials to order especially the Minister of Justice , Malami who has been advising government wrongly on these issues. The day before the lower Tribunal gave judgement, June 5, 2016, Malami granted an interview in The Nation Newspaper where he analysed the Kogi Tribunal issue and what he said was exactly what the judges did the following day".
Faleke said it was inconceivable that the president who has been complaining to global audiences on the nation,s judiciary would find it difficult to rein in his ministers who are interfering in judicial issues".
He said it was curious for the Appeal Court to hold that INEC manual for elections has a coordinate locus as the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Citing section 187 of the constitution, Faleke said it was wrong for the Appellate court to rule that he could not be declared winner because he did not participate in the primaries since the Constitution already recognises Deputy Governorship candidates as "candidates" who in the eyes of the law have participated in primaries.
Faleke however expressed elation that the Court of Appeal ruled on the vexed issue of locus standi declaring that he has locus to challenge the outcome of the election.


Faleke appealed to his supporters to be calm and go about their normal businesses, saying that, “at last, victory shall be ours at the Supreme Court.”

SCANDAL: Kogi N30m Bailout fund embezzled.

                                                                                           Online news platform naij.com has revealed how Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, is been accused of mismanaging N30billion bailout fund given to the state by the Federal government of Nigeria. According to a report by The Cable, the allegation was made by an Abuja based civil society group, Egalitarian Mission for Africa (EMA), the governor’s chief of staff, Edward Onoja allegedly took N1billion from the bailout fund.

The group has asked Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to probe the current administration in the state. Sadiq Jobi, publicity secretary of the organisation, alleged that “the spate of the depletion of the bailout funds and other statutory funds, particularly in the last two weeks, is mind-boggling”. He said the government got N30 billion bailout from the federal government, saying N10 billion out of the money ought to be for infrastructure, and N20 billion for salaries.  “N10 billion out of the N20 billion meant for salaries is domiciled in Zenith Bank, while the remaining N10 billion is currently in Access Bank,” EMA said in a statement signed by Jobi.
“It is instructive to note that on the 27th of July 2016, the sum of N 912,648,960.49 million was paid from the Infrastructural account Number 1010756707 at Zenith Bank to AG Vision Construction Nig Ltds account no 1920001651 at Skye Bank as part payment purportedly made for the construction of Agasa-Ukpogoro road, a fictitious non-existing project as at today. “Our investigation revealed that nothing of such is happening on the road.” The statement said Bello had possibly diverted money meant for civil servants, to issues of his election.
“We are highly suspicious of the movement of the money especially at this time where four appellants are challenging his purported election at the appeal tribunal,” EMA said. “We also note that towards the end of the case at the lower tribunal, the state governor approved the movement from the infrastructure account the sum of N1.7billion naira account purportedly for a contract to Lebanese Company, MAJ Global construction Company ltd, owned by one Michel Abboud as CEO.
According to documents seen by Cable, N1.7 billion was used for the renovation of 17 units of houses within government house, Lokoja. Buildings listed for renovation were the residences of secretary to the state government (SSG), accountant-general, chief security officer (CSO), director-general of protocol, Imam’s residence, among others. EMA said its investigation showed that no renovation whatsoever was taking place at the buildings. It also said the amount budgeted for the exercise is outrageous.
“Now the question is why did the government award such contracts without advertising them? Even if the contracts were advertised, how could a single company win all the bids in such a competitive environment as we have in Nigeria today?” the organisation asked. “Looking at the contract details and the figures as stated below, how much does it even cost to construct a new building that a poor state like Kogi would be renovating buildings at these staggering sums ?
“We note with shock that most of the payments to the contractors are done in cash at government house apparently to facilitate movement of cash.” The organisation also alleged that the governor and his aides had been moving money in a suspicious manner in recent times. It said there could be plans to use the money to influence the outcome of the court judgement on Bello’s election. “Our suspicion of movement of cash especially at this time when judgment in the Appeal case against the governor is to be delivered was aroused when the State Government opened a new Sub TREASURY Account called ‘Govt House Admin’ account number 1010662710 with Zenith Bank,” it said.
“The shocking aspect is that the sum of N100 Million is now daily drawn in cash from this account for the past two weeks! Meanwhile, the other old ‘Govt House Admin’ account with the same Zenith bank has a negative balance of N498,157,883 unserviced. The question is: ‘Why would Zenith Bank allow another account to be opened in the name of Govt House Admin?’ What is the chief of staff doing with the alleged over one billion naira cash ferried in his black G-Wagon Mercedes Benz to Abuja last week?
“Time is here for the EFCC and ICPC to move into Kogi for a clinical review of the criminal rape of the commonwealth of the long-suffering people of the state before it gets out of hand.”

SCANDAL: Kogi N30m Bailout fund embezzed.

                                                                                           Online news platform naij.com has revealed how Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, is been accused of mismanaging N30billion bailout fund given to the state by the Federal government of Nigeria. According to a report by The Cable, the allegation was made by an Abuja based civil society group, Egalitarian Mission for Africa (EMA), the governor’s chief of staff, Edward Onoja allegedly took N1billion from the bailout fund.

The group has asked Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to probe the current administration in the state. Sadiq Jobi, publicity secretary of the organisation, alleged that “the spate of the depletion of the bailout funds and other statutory funds, particularly in the last two weeks, is mind-boggling”. He said the government got N30 billion bailout from the federal government, saying N10 billion out of the money ought to be for infrastructure, and N20 billion for salaries.  “N10 billion out of the N20 billion meant for salaries is domiciled in Zenith Bank, while the remaining N10 billion is currently in Access Bank,” EMA said in a statement signed by Jobi.
“It is instructive to note that on the 27th of July 2016, the sum of N 912,648,960.49 million was paid from the Infrastructural account Number 1010756707 at Zenith Bank to AG Vision Construction Nig Ltds account no 1920001651 at Skye Bank as part payment purportedly made for the construction of Agasa-Ukpogoro road, a fictitious non-existing project as at today. “Our investigation revealed that nothing of such is happening on the road.” The statement said Bello had possibly diverted money meant for civil servants, to issues of his election.
“We are highly suspicious of the movement of the money especially at this time where four appellants are challenging his purported election at the appeal tribunal,” EMA said. “We also note that towards the end of the case at the lower tribunal, the state governor approved the movement from the infrastructure account the sum of N1.7billion naira account purportedly for a contract to Lebanese Company, MAJ Global construction Company ltd, owned by one Michel Abboud as CEO.
According to documents seen by Cable, N1.7 billion was used for the renovation of 17 units of houses within government house, Lokoja. Buildings listed for renovation were the residences of secretary to the state government (SSG), accountant-general, chief security officer (CSO), director-general of protocol, Imam’s residence, among others. EMA said its investigation showed that no renovation whatsoever was taking place at the buildings. It also said the amount budgeted for the exercise is outrageous.
“Now the question is why did the government award such contracts without advertising them? Even if the contracts were advertised, how could a single company win all the bids in such a competitive environment as we have in Nigeria today?” the organisation asked. “Looking at the contract details and the figures as stated below, how much does it even cost to construct a new building that a poor state like Kogi would be renovating buildings at these staggering sums ?
“We note with shock that most of the payments to the contractors are done in cash at government house apparently to facilitate movement of cash.” The organisation also alleged that the governor and his aides had been moving money in a suspicious manner in recent times. It said there could be plans to use the money to influence the outcome of the court judgement on Bello’s election. “Our suspicion of movement of cash especially at this time when judgment in the Appeal case against the governor is to be delivered was aroused when the State Government opened a new Sub TREASURY Account called ‘Govt House Admin’ account number 1010662710 with Zenith Bank,” it said.
“The shocking aspect is that the sum of N100 Million is now daily drawn in cash from this account for the past two weeks! Meanwhile, the other old ‘Govt House Admin’ account with the same Zenith bank has a negative balance of N498,157,883 unserviced. The question is: ‘Why would Zenith Bank allow another account to be opened in the name of Govt House Admin?’ What is the chief of staff doing with the alleged over one billion naira cash ferried in his black G-Wagon Mercedes Benz to Abuja last week?
“Time is here for the EFCC and ICPC to move into Kogi for a clinical review of the criminal rape of the commonwealth of the long-suffering people of the state before it gets out of hand.”

Governor Yahaya Bello Sacks SSG.

The Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has sacked the SSG Mrs Folashade Ayoade and replaced with new one.Details shortly.

My Resignation a Difficult Decision I would have preferred to continue-Kogi Former Speaker

The immediate former Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly Hon. Momoh Jimoh who tendered his resignation letter yesterday on the floor of the house has described his resignation as a very difficult decision to make as he believed his earlier refusal to resign is to uphold the sanctity of the legislature and entrench democratic values in the state.

In his words he said those who were frustrated and angered with his forceful exit are those who believed in legislative democracy. He thank the judiciary for believing in the tenets of democratic values by delivering a judgement in his favor and also plead  for the mercy of his constituents over the frustrations he might have caused them.

Recalled that Hon. Momoh Jimoh was unlawfully removed as speaker of the house by five(5) members of the house against fifteen other members(G15). The impeachment which sparked off a legal tussle between the two factions lasted for months.

However while the unlawful impeachment was still been challenged in the court of law by the G15 the other five member sat and were allowed to pass the budget and screen political appointees made by the Yahaya Bello led Government.

Meanwhile despite judgement given by the court and the national assembly intervention  in the matter the G15 members tactically gave in and called for a truce between the two factions which had led to the official resignation of the Hon. Momoh Jimoh as the speaker of the house.

Tribunal Affirmed Ahmed Ogembe Electoral Victory.

The Kogi Central Senatorial Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja yesterday upheld Senator Ahmed Ogembe victory at the last senatorial election in the district. Recalled that the Appeal Court had earlier removed the erstwhile Senator Mohammed Ohiare and ordered a rerun election without his participation.

Mohammed Ohiare who after the rerun election which was won by Ahmed Ogembe approached the tribunal challenging the victory of the Ahmed Ogembe and his exclusion from the election.

The judgement delivered yesterday affirmed Ahmed Ogembe Victory at the poll and Ohiare disqualification from the election.

Senator Ahmed Ogembe dedicate victory to God and his constituents.

Some APC senators are asking to join PDP – Ekweremadu

Chief Ike Ekweremadu

The Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, has disclosed that a number of senators elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, are making enquiries on how to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on account of what he called the reign of tyranny in the ruling party.

Ekweremadu stated this on Wednesday when a delegation of the PDP Board of Trustees, BoT, led by its Chairman, Senator Walid Jibril, paid a solidarity visit to the party’s Senate Caucus at the National Assembly Complex.

His words, “Today, I believe and I am speaking the minds of my colleagues, that so many members of the National Assembly from the other parties are prepared to return to the PDP because they have seen that they made a mistake in the last election by voting APC and they are also seeing that PDP remains the biggest, greatest and the most focused party in Nigeria.”

The Deputy President of the Senate expressed gratitude to the BoT members for its show of solidarity and support to the opposition party lawmakers, which he said showed that it was not only the conscience of the PDP, but that of the country as well.

Speaking earlier, the BoT Chairman, Jibril, averred that the alleged forgery of Senate Rules as a frame-up, stressing that it was a deliberate plot to tarnish the person of Ekweremadu.He added that as fathers and conscience of the party, the BoT could not sit and watch the framing-up of Ekweremadu on trumped-up charges of forgery, apparently for political reasons.

According to him, “We are here to show solidarity and recognise the leadership of Senator Ekweremadu, especially when we hear stories of what is happening to him. We are here to give our total support to him over the recent framing of him in an alleged forgery case, because we cannot, as fathers and conscience of the party, sit down and just watch.

“Senator Ekweremadu is a man of integrity with a high record of performance. We want to advise strongly that nobody should try to tarnish his personality and we are strongly calling for fair hearing and justice in the attempt to rope-in Senator Ekweremadu for political reasons.

“He was elected Deputy President of Senate by 48 PDP senators with the suppo
rt of APC Senators, which is a good ingredient of our democracy. No attempt should be made to rope him in. He should be left alone to continue the good service to the country.”

2019: Atiku, SGF, Bindow on collision course over Ribadu

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu

The planned return of the pioneer Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, to the All Progressives Congress (APC), has set former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engineer Babachir David Lawal and Governor of Adamawa state, Senator Mohammed Bindow Jibrilla on collision course, revealed a party source.

It was gathered that the SGF, who is also from Adamawa state as Ribadu and Atiku, is believed to be spearheading the latest move to get back the politician.

The revelation is coming to fore some 48 hours after Atiku led some party chieftains on a visit to the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress, “to appraise challenges within the party’s structures.”

Ribadu’s return bid is flowing from the numerous calls by some stakeholders within APC, urging the party to lobby for return of its members “who left in anger or were misled in the runoff to the election.”

One of such calls was made by an APC support group, National Coalition for Peace and Mobilisation (NACOPEAM).

National President of the group, Comrade Ahmed Saleh, told newsmen that the party was in need of “the likes of Nuhu Ribadu and many others to re-join the party and support this government to fight corruption and help Mr. President address the multifaceted problems we have been facing since independence”.

Ribadu, it would be recalled, contested the presidential election on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria in 2011.

And upon the party’s merger with some others to form APC, the retired police officer dumped the new mega party in 2014 to contest the 2015 governorship election on the Peoples Democratic Party’s platform, but lost to the incumbent.

Since then, there had been pressure on the erstwhile anti-graft boss to rejoin the APC.

And to realise this, Ribadu was said to have held talks with the national leadership of the APC and other party chieftains, including former Governor Murtala Nyako, who are believed to be engaging Ribadu on the need for him to reunite with his old party.

It was also gathered that the state chapter of the party, last month, wrote a letter to Ribadu,
urging him to return to its fold. The missive was dated June 22 and signed by its acting secretary, Saidu Naira.

“We, the entire APC Adamawa state chapter, wish to invite you back to your “Home party” APC. Given your track records and progressives nature, we strongly believe APC is where you belong to.

“We are also mindful of the efforts and contributions you made during the merger without which the merger would have been difficult. To this end, we reaffirm our request for you to come home to APC and assist and contribute to the success of the APC government both at state and national level,” Naira pleaded.

But former Vice President Abubakar and Governor Bindow, our reporter gathered, are frantically kicking against the move, a development many believe, might not be unconnected with the 2019 race.

“Atiku, it is generally believed, has his eyes on the presidency, as many are of the view that President Muhammadu Buhari might not be favoured by age to fly the party’s flag, hence his (Atiku) perceived discomfort with Ribadu’s return. Although, no pronouncement by the party to the effect on whether Buhari would re-contest or not.

“For whatever reason, Turaki (Atiku) is not comfortable with Ribadu and that was what he came to tell the party leadership. You know he was the main reason Ribadu left the party in the first place when Nyako was impeached and Atiku took over the party in Adamawa,” said a source at the APC national secretariat who pleaded anonymity.

In February this year, a move by some governors of the PDP to make Ribadu the party’s national chairman was out rightly resisted by the politician, who, sources said, went into hiding at the time. They later settled for the former Borno state Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

“It is like a done deal. He (Ribadu) and Oga (SGF) have met many times and I think all arrangements have been concluded for his return to the party. It is not only the SGF, some other party chieftains have also been talking to him (Ribadu) and by now, I think his disposition to the calls is positive.

“The feeling around here is that no matter what happens, people like Ribadu are still needed in the party and around the government, given his experience and credibility as an accomplished individual. It is for this that he and some other politicians in Adamawa are being wooed back to the party by the SGF,” added the source.

The overture was further confirmed by an official of the state APC (names withheld), who said plans are on to receive Ribadu and his followers “any time, they are ready.”

But asked what his mission was at the party secretariat on Monday during which he parleyed with the National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, Atiku said, it was a normal routine expected of party chieftain.

Atiku clarified that his visit to the party secretariat was not a response to summon by the leadership of the party as widely reported.

“As a party chieftain, I owe it a duty to my party to appraise challenges within the structures of the party and also proffer suggestions on how to manage those challenges. I urge you all to discountenance any malicious insinuations about my visit to the party secretariat.

“My visit to the national secretariat of our great party was to rub minds with the party hierarchy, and it was of a routine kind as a chieftain of the party. I was neither summoned nor queried by the party on any issue as being speculated. Rather, my visit was at my own behest,” explained the former VP.

Ohanaeze’s Owerri meeting, a stage-managed jamboree – IPOB

Authorities of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has described weekend’s meeting of Ohanaeze Ndigbo held in Owerri, the Imo state capital as a mere jamboree and insignificant.

IPOB alleged that the meeting convened by Governor Rochas Okorocha, was stage-managed by his political masters in Aso Rock, Abuja, for the purpose of finding a lasting solution to the agitation for Biafra by nailing the remaining IPOB members and other agitators.

In a press statement issued yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra state, by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, IPOB said it wondered why stooges to those in Abuja would come out to be deceiving our people by calling them out on such an insignificant meeting to discuss their secret agenda.

Powerful said IPOB worldwide under Nnamdi Kanu is worried that those elders and some governors who attended the meeting convened by Okorocha who they alleged destroyed the South-East governors forum, because of his selfish interest, would call a meeting in Owerri instead of Enugu which is the headquarters of the old Eastern region and they attended.

IPOB recalled that Okorocha had boycotted meetings of South East Governors’ Forum in Enugu each time it was convened, yet Igbo elders, traditional rulers and some Eastern states governors who attended the meeting in Owerri could not ask questions on why the meeting should be held in Owerri, instead of Enugu.