Breaking News in Nigeria Today 2nd February 2019
Breaking News in Nigeria Today: Patience Jonathan Loses in Court, Forfeits N1.0004bn to FG. Continue reading iDonsabi for more details…
1. Oil Marketers Reveal their Preferred Presidential Candidate
Members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) on Friday threw their weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid.
They made their choice known on Friday when their National Executive Committee met with President Buhari at the State House, Aso Villa Abuja.
2. PDP Campaign DG Defects to APC, Meets Buhari
Alhaji Bala Bello Tinka (alias Tinka Point), the Director General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign organisation in Gombe State has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He met with President Muhammadu Buhari at State House, Abuja, on Friday, where he pledged allegiance to the APC.
Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), made the announcement in a statement.
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3. 2019 Presidency: Buhari Reveals One Legacy He Must Leave Behind
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that securing Nigeria’s future was the legacy he desired to leave behind.
Buhari also vowed that he will not shield anyone who is brazen enough to embezzle public funds; or betray peoples trust, adding that such persons will face the music in due course.
He made this pledge at a town hall meeting organised by the Directorate of Youth Moblisation, Buhari Presidential Campaign Council on Friday in Abuja.
4. Patience Jonathan Loses in Court, Forfeits N1.0004bn to FG
Former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, has forfeited temporarily N1.0004 billion to the Federal Government.
The interim forfeiture followed a court order secured by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The money was lodged in three deposits with Fidelity Bank Plc on 20th and 25th May 2015.
The forfeiture order by the Federal High Court sitting in Kano and presided over by Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa is consequent upon a motion ex parte filed by the Commission seeking for the interim forfeiture of the money.
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5. Judge Dismisses Kidnapper Evans’ Allegation of Torture
Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja yesterday dismissed the claims by Kidnap Kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias Evans that he was tortured by the men of Police Inspector General’s Intelligence Response Team and the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) after his arrest.
Evans, is standing trial alongside Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba over allegation of kidnapping the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceutical Limited, Donatus Dunu.
Evans and his gang allegedly collected 223,000 Euro (N100m) as ransom from Donatus Dunu.
6. Gov. Umahi Thanks APC, Buhari for Conceding Defeat in Ebonyi
The Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has thanked the All Progressives Congress, APC, for conceding defeat in the state even before the election.
The Governor claimed that immediately after the All Progressives Congress Presidential rally in Abakaliki the State capital on Wednesday, it becomes obvious that his reelection bid received the blessings and approval of all the opposition political parties particularly the APC.
7. Onnoghen: Suspended CJN breaks silence on foreign accounts, assets declaration
Suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, has stated how he got the foreign currencies found in his domiciliary accounts.
In a ‘Cautionary Statement Form’ he filed at the Department of Intelligence Investigation and Monitoring, Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, in Abuja, Onnoghen explained that the deposits in his dollar account were from trading in foreign exchange (forex), AGRICODE, while other investment returns were from proceeds of his investments.
Recall that while suspending the CJN, President Muhammadu Buhari had stated that the Bank Verification Number, BVN, had discovered foreign accounts belonging to Onnoghen with deposits of dollars and other foreign currencies.
8. 2019 Election: Corrupt Politicians Buying Votes with Empowerment Schemes, Loans – EFCC
The Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has called on financial institutions to avoid laundering illicit funds for corrupt politicians and criminals.
In a statement, the Commission’s Acting Head, Media and Publicity, Mr. Tony Orilade, in Abuja on Thursday, said Magu gave the charge during the general meeting of the Association of Chief Compliance Officers of Banks In Nigeria (ACCOBIN) held in Lagos.
Magu said many politicians, who stole the commonwealth had begun to repatriate their loot to the country for the purpose of influencing the elections through vote buying and compromising of election officers.
He said political inducement had taken other forms under different names such as “stomach Infrastructure”, “empowerment schemes”, “non-interest yielding loans” and “outright cash hand-outs”.
9. War Over Participation of Foreigners in Pro-Buhari Rally
Precisely 14 days to Nigeria’s presidential election, the presence of serving governors from Niger Republic at the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential rally in Kano, has heightened fears among the opposition that foreigners may likely take part in the exercise in border states.
For the APC, the issue constituted no threat to the nation in any way, but the leading opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, considered the presence of Governor Issa Moussa, of Zinder State and his counterpart Governor Zakiri Umar of Maradi State, as inimical to Nigeria’s interest.
The two governors from Niger Republic, who wore APC campaign attires, were seen, actively taking part in the exercise last Thursday in Kano.
10. Imama Set to Take Over U-23 Eagles
El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri coach, Imama Amapakabo has been confirmed as the interim manager of Nigeria’s under-23 national team.
Imama, who is currently an assistant coach in the Super Eagles’ technical crew, will now lead the new-look ‘Dream Team’ for their African U-23 Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya.
Gernot Rohr, announced that Imama will step out in place of suspended first assistant coach, Salisu Yusuf for the game against Libya in March.
