Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday stormed the Maitama home of Supreme Court Judge, Justice Mary Odili, in Abuja, The PUNCH can confirm.
It was learnt that the operatives who were accompanied by policemen, went to the judge’s home to execute a search warrant as part of investigations into her husband, Peter Odili, who is a former Governor of Rivers State.
Odili, who was governor from 1999 to 2007, obtained a perpetual injunction from a Federal High Court in 2007 which barred the EFCC from investigating or prosecuting him.
In 2020, he approached a Federal High Court again to get another injunction to stop an impending probe.
Last month, the former governor sued the Nigeria Immigration Service for seizing his passport at the airport.
In its response, however, the NIS said it was the EFCC that asked it to seize Odili’s passport as part of a probe.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, however, ordered immigration to release the passport to Odili immediately.
An impeccable source revealed bthat Justice Odili, who is one of the most senior judges in the country, was upset about the decision of the EFCC to search her home.
The source said, “EFCC operatives armed with a search warrant stormed Justice Odili’s home today, claiming to be investigating her husband.
“Justice Odili insisted that it was her personal house and not her husband’s own.
“As I speak to you, the operatives are still there, insisting that they search the house.”
When contacted on the telephone for comment, the Spokesman for the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said he would find out.
A Civil Society organization, Civil Society Committee for Anti-fraud election securiy and other organizations led by Comrade Kennedy Iyere have called on former President, Abdulsalami Abubakar to prevail on the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to rescind their threats on a 5-day lockdown of the South East during the Governorship Election.
The Civil Society group with other organizations like the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) South East zone led by the Vice President, Comrade Emmanuel Ifesinachi , Young People of Igbo Nation in Politics led by Hon Tony-Uche Ezekwelu and two political parties including African Democraric Change (ADC) led by its National Chairman,Chief Okey-Raphs Nwosu and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led by the running mate to Mr Valentine Chineto Ozigbo , Chief Mrs Azuka Enemo addressed the media.
They called on the former President, Abdulsalami Abubakar and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Rev. Fr. Matthew Kukah to reach out to the President Mohammadu Buhari soliciting his cooperation in addressing the threats.
Addressing newsmen on Wednesday, the founder of the Civil Society group, Comrade Kennedy Iyere said treating the threats with levity by ignoring the group rather than calming the agitators would further escalate the situation.
He said his group established a situation room for the poll following alleged tactical plans to by some political gladiators to rig the polls, which he said would not be good for the nation’s nascent democracy.
He said, “We’re here to address certain critical threats if not checkmated will affect the people’s choice. Among them is that of IPOB warning people to stay at home for 5days, before and after the election.
“We appeal to President Buhari to realize the need to respond to the agitators rather than ignore them. As a father of the nation, which Southeast is part of, we want to humbly request he speaks to them so we can have a peaceful election.
“These ones don’t need to be ignored. It’s their right to be agitated, but it’s your right to calm them down. That’s what leadership is all about.
“We also want to make a passionate appeal to former President Abdulsalami Abubakar. You intend coming to the state to sign a peace accord with the contestants. But before then, there’s serious need for you to reach out to Mr. President and solicit his cooperation in addressing the IPOB threats.
“He needs to send a word of encouragement and hope to them so they can rescind their threats. Otherwise, it would have a negative effect on the outcome of the poll. If that’s is not done, we’ll be compelled to believe that there’s a hidden plan to impose a governor on the people against their will.
“The same way government are negotiating with bandits, let them send a message to the IPOB known to be armless. We also appeal to Rev. Fr. Kukah, Secretary to National Peace Committee, to reach out to Mr. President, NSA and security chiefs and let them pacify these boys.
“Anambra is not a war zone and we don’t want to believe the security agencies are deployed to come and shoot, that will be absurd and barbaric. They’re role should be safeguarding the process and remaining impartial.”
According to Iyere, he reached out to major political parties in the race on the need for them to lend their voice in the appeal, but regretted that only the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) honored the invitation
He added, “I called the APC candidate, Andy Uba, he didn’t pick, I called his Aide and told him the need for their presence in the meeting, but they bluntly declined, saying the meeting was unimportant.
“I spoke with Soludo and he arrogantly told me that APGA is the only winning party running campaign in the state. I warned him that the people he’s going to seek their votes are the same people we want him to speak to. His DG who promised to come, never showed up.
“Those of ZLP and YPP also didn’t turn up. But good enough, we have the PDP and ADC here. I’m not a foolish person. What this establishes is that it’s only these two parties love their people. I’m not a politician nor campaigning for anyone.
“I make bold to say this without any apology or fear that only these parties can advance the course of Anambra people. IPOB, I’m sure with these two parties, you have hope that when a government is formed in their favor, will ensure your sentiments and concerns are addressed.
“I want to appeal to IPOB and its leadership, Anambra is your state, you may have haters, but don’t create room for those who don’t have your interest at heart to destroy your state and unleash mayhem.
“Five days of not doing business will affect many families, including some of you that issued the statement. Think about it and rescind on the decision. I came from Edo state, they wanted to hijack the process, but we resisted it. Today, the governor we have is the one we voted for.
“I want to warn, whoever believes results can be rigged is wasting his time. The civil society is there. I’m also calling on the European Union, US and UK government, if you love us, and want us to grow, please take serious whatever we say to you.”
The ADC National chairman, Chief Raphs-Okey Nwosu and the running mate of the PDP candidate, Chief Mrs. Azuka Enemo who spoke on behalf of their parties, called for dialogue between the federal government and the pro-Biafran group for a peaceful election.
On his part, former youth leader, Ohaneze Idigbo Tony-Uche Ezekwelu, called for the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as a panacea for peaceful poll in Anambra.
While the Zonal Vice- President of NUJ, Comrade Emmanuel Ifesinachi called on security agencies to ensure eligible voters are not intimidated while exercising their civic responsibilities on election day even as he called on media practicioners to discharge their duties without fear or favour.
Enugu State Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Dr. Victor Nnam, on Friday resigned his appointment.
Nnam, whose copy of resignation letter was made available to the media said he resigned over the recent removal of the professional heads of the department in his ministry on punitive ground.
He insisted that the removed directors were punished for simply doing their jobs diligently.
In the letter he addressed to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on Friday October 29, 2021, the former commissioner said his conscience would no longer allow him to continue to serve the administration, while those departmental heads were removed from the ministry.
The letter reads, “Sir, when you appointed me the Commissioner of lands and Urban Development Enugu State in 2019, I accepted the appointment with the hope that I am going to be allowed to bring on board world best practice in land administration. I immediately proposed for an establishment of a Geographic Information Strategy (GIS) land administration system to enable the ministry stamp out land grabbers and create investors confidence in our land system. The proposal was rejected without explanation till date.
“However, the reason for my resignation is the recent removal of the professional heads of the department under me on punitive ground for simply doing their jobs diligently.
“My conscience will no longer allow me to continue to serve your administration, while those innocent professional senior civil servants are punished for doing the right thing.
“I here by resign my appointment as the Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Enugu State with effect from today, Friday 29 October. 2021 and submit the black Prado SUV, with plate number, 1ENSG 5712 to your office.
“Thank you your Excellency for giving me the opportunity to serve the people of Enugu State”.
However, our correspondent gathered that Nnam’s resignation was not unconnected with his activities at the ministry.
Nnam was last month summoned by the state house of assembly following petitions by members of the public over messy land grabbing in the ministry.
It was gathered that following the summons, the lawmakers recommended for his sack to the governor.
A source told our correspondent, “I think he got wind of our recommendation to the governor for his sack. That’s why he rushed to send that letter.
“It is a common knowledge that most people who bought lands here in Enugu metropolis had their lands reallocated to other persons by the ministry. And we have overwhelming evidence that gave credence to our recommendation to the governor”.
The lead counsel for Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indeginous People of Biafra, Ifeanyi Ejiofor,has lampooned the Department of State Services for denying the duo of Chukwuemeka Ezeife and British Consul access to Kanu.
In a statement he personally signed on Thursday night, he accused the DSS of also not allowing Kanu’s international and Legal Representative in the United States of America, Attorney Bruce Fein to see his client.
According to him, the DSS acted contrary to the subsisting order of the court.
The statement was titled,’Lawless DSS Denied British consul and Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife access to Nnamdi Kanu Today’.
The lawyer pointed out that the the judge had clarified that the persons to visit Kano are no longer restricted to his lawyers and family members but, any other person of his choice.
He said, “In line with this Order of Court, we forwarded the list of names scheduled to visit Our Client on Monday, 25th October, 2021, which included Attorney Bruce Fein – our Client’s International Attorney and Legal Representative in the United States of America.
“Attorney Fein arrived Nigeria from the United States of America to witness the Court proceedings of the 21st Day of October, 2021, and also utilize the opportunity of the visit to interface with his Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“Unknown to us, a rude shock awaited us at the DSS. Upon arrival at the DSS Headquarters on Monday, 25th October, 2021, for the scheduled routine visit, the detaining authority did not stop at keeping us waiting for well over two hours, but thereafter specifically told us that no foreigner, including Bruce Fein would be allowed to visit Our Client, and as such, he would not participate in the visit.
“Attorney Bruce Fein, consequently left the premises of the DSS visibly broken. Apparently, he has gathered enough to feed the International Community upon his return to the United States.
“Today was the turn of the British Consul to experience what the civilized society may refer to as the height of abnormality in the System.
“The innocent woman who flew all the way from Lagos on this special diplomatic engagement, was denied access to Our Client, and told that she is not welcomed for the visit because she’s a foreigner.”
He said although the legal team have filed another application for the transfer of Kanu to the correctional center , adding that if the DSS is allowed to remain the custodian of Kanu there would cbe gross denial of fair hearing and fair trial in these proceedings.
He added, “We shall leave no stone unturned in ensuring that this weighty infraction of the positive Order of Court and by extension, gross violation of our Client’s right is addressed without further ado.
“We still appeal to our Client’s millions of followers to remain calm as we explore all legal remedies available to our Client in the circumstance of this breach.”
Efforts to get the spokesperson of the DSS, Peter Afunanya proved abortive as he was yet to respond to message sent to him on the matter.
Troops conducting Exercise GOLDEN DAWN have neutralised one of the Biafran National Guard, gunmen who attacked troops’ location at Amaekpu, Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State on Thursday 28 October 2021.
This was contained in a press statement made signed by Brigadier General, ONYEMA NWACHUKWU, Director Army Public Relations on 28 October 2021.
According to the statement, “the assailants, who were heavily armed and conveyed in several vehicles opened fire on the troops’ location, but were met with stiff resistance by the troops. In the encounter, the troops neutralized one gunman, while others abandoned their vehicles and retreated in disarray with gunshot wounds. The troops also recovered a pump action gun, among others”.
“While the criminals withdrew, having been overwhelmed, they were promptly intercepted at Eda by troops of Forward Operating Base Ohaozara in Ebonyi State.
The troops recovered additional three vehicles and apprehended one of the gunmen”.
The Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr Ahmed Audi, on Thursday said personnel from Kogi, Ekiti, Ondo, and Benue States have been placed on standby, in case there is the need for reinforcement for the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State.
He said the corps is deploying 20,000 personnel, including those in the Arms Squad, Counter-Terrorism, and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosives Units, for the election.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that Audi disclosed this in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at a three-day capacity building and electoral workshop, ahead of the Anambra election.
Audi said the special forces would be drafted to key areas in the state where they would be saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and property.
He also said the personnel would be drafted from the NSCDC commands in all the states in the South-South and South-East zones.
“In addition, personnel from Kogi, Ekiti, Ondo, and Benue have been placed on standby, in case there is the need for reinforcement,” he said.
He said NSCDC, in collaboration with other security agencies, had developed strategies to checkmate electoral violence and other nefarious activities capable of undermining the electoral process.
The commandant-general further said that the deployed personnel would ensure effective monitoring before, during and after the election.
Men of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a student suspected to be a cultist, Ojo Iyanu, while attempting to disrupt an examination at the Ogun State Institute of Technology, Igbesa, in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
Oyeyemi said the police were hinted that some students, suspected to be cultists, had concluded plans to disrupt the school examination.
The police spokesman said the exam was rescheduled after the reconciliation of a disagreement between the school management and the students.
According to the police, some students who did not prepare for the exam, came up with a plan to ensure that the examination did not hold.
He said, “Upon the intelligence, the DPO Igbesa, SP Abayomi Adeniji, in collaboration with other security agencies such as NSCDC, So-safe Corps and the polytechnic security department, decided to properly screen all the students coming into the examination hall right from the main gate.
“While the screening was going on, the suspect and one other, who was later identified as Aloma, were intercepted with a black bag.
“While searching the bag, the second boy took to his heels, while Ojo Akinola Iyanu was quickly arrested.
“On interrogation, he confessed to being a member of the dreaded Aiye Confraternity.
“He confessed further that his group decided to disrupt the examination because the examination came suddenly and met them unprepared.”
The PPRO said the state Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, had ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for discreet investigation.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says the fact that bandits are imposing levies on communities does not mean they have taken control.
Mohammed said this during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday while reacting to an article by The Economist magazine titled, ‘Insurgency, secessionism and banditry threaten Nigeria.’
The minister said the London-based magazine was wrong to claim that terrorists had carved caliphates for themselves in the North-East.
While answering questions from journalists on banditry in the North-West where bandits now impose levies on communities, Mohammed argued that imposing levies does not mean criminals are in charge, adding that it takes place in many parts of the country, including in the South where touts commonly referred to as ‘area boys’, impose levies.
He added, “Do you know how many places in this country where area boys collect taxes? And there is no terrorism or banditry there. I don’t want to mention names.
“In many of our cities, they carve out their own territory. So, it is not indicative of the bandits have taken over.
“No. I know many areas in Nigeria both in the South and the North where these kinds of things happen. So, it is not the same thing.”
The minister urged the Nigerian media to stop glorifying negative reports published by their foreign counterparts.
Mohammed said The Economist Intelligence Unit, which is a sister organisation of The Economist magazine, had predicted in 2019 that the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, would win the election but the prediction turned out to be false.
“President Muhammadu Buhari won re-election by over three million votes. So, The Economist and other arms of the group are not infallible,” the minister argued.
Mohammed argued that the idea of the Nigerian media regurgitating things published or reported by foreign media is antithetical to its reputation of independence and vibrancy.
“The Nigerian media does itself a great disservice by turning itself into an echo chamber of the foreign media. When The Economist reported its patently-wrong and badly-researched story, it was immediately amplified by the local media, without even interrogating its content? This is totally unconscionable!” he added.
The minister maintained that contrary to the article by The Economist, Boko Haram had been degraded. He, therefore, lambasted the newspaper for attempting to downplay the exploits of the Nigerian military.
He added, “Again, at a time that Boko Haram and ISWAP are taking on each other in a mutually-destructive lockstep, and at a time that the terrorists are surrendering in droves as a result of heavy pounding by the military, it is wrong to say that Jihadists are carving out a Caliphate in the North-East, as The Economist reported.
“In any case, why would the Nigerian media become an echo chamber for a foreign newspaper that denigrates the Nigerian military and makes light of the sacrifices of our valiant troops? Would the British or American press regurgitate a report in the Nigerian press denigrating their militaries?”
Some of the 3,600 delegates expected for the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party have started arriving in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
One of our correspondents, who visited the Eagle Square, venue of the event, on Thursday, observed that the PDP flag had been hoisted in the venue, while banners and decorations adorned the area. A podium had also been assembled at the centre of the square.
“I’m already in Abuja; the congress is on; it will hold,” the Gombe State Chairman of the party, Maj Gen Mamman Kwaskebe (retd.), told one of our correspondents on the telephone.
However, there is uncertainty in the atmosphere due to a pending appeal filed by the party’s suspended Chairman, Uche Secondus.
An Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday, reserved ruling on the appeal filed by Secondus seeking the suspension of the national convention scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
Secondus, through his counsel, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), in an appeal marked CP/PH/339/2021, is seeking an order of injunction restraining the PDP, its officers and representatives from holding or conducting the national convention on Saturday and Sunday, or any other date pending the hearing and final determination of the appeal.
However, when the court resumed sitting on Thursday to entertain and rule on the legal submissions of all parties, Oyetibo told the court that in adherence to its directives, he had amended the processes earlier served on all respondents and added the names of all the parties.
Oyetibo said all the 11 respondents had been served the amended processes, adding that one of his motions was filed afresh on October 27 and was ready to be taken.
He noted that Article 35(1B) of the PDP Constitution, made pursuant to Section 222(C) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, used the word “shall” and vested in the national chairman the right and not a privilege to preside over the national convention.
Oyetibo told the court that the intention of his application was not to prohibit the national convention, but to suspend it pending the determination of issues of leadership of the party, stressing that what the court was not to stop were primaries of political parties and general elections.
On his part, counsel for the 1st to 5th respondents, Henry Bello, opposed the application with a 24-paragraph affidavit sworn to by the 1st respondent and urged the court to dismiss the application with cost.
Bello argued that the application sought the determination of the main appeal, which was the leadership of the party, without a hearing, noting that such prayers were not attainable.
He said the five grounds of the appellant’s amended notice of appeal had no iota of allusion to the national convention of the PDP (6th respondent), adding that the application was a radical departure and alien to the main appeal.
Similarly, counsel for the PDP, S. I. Ameh, SAN, prayed the court to dismiss the application, saying the balance of convenience was on the court not to grant the application, because it fell within the set time for the convention as set by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Counsel for the 8th respondent, Godwin Obla, SAN, in a 21-paragraph affidavit sworn to by one Joy Okonkwo, urged the court not to find merit in the application, but to dismiss it.
Also, Donald Dee-Wigwe, SAN, who represented the 9th and 10th respondents, told the court that the office of national chairman was a political privilege and that the decision of the High Court that sacked Secondus terminated that privilege.
Dee-Wigwe noted that being a political privilege, it could not attract a judicial response and urged the court to dismiss the application.
After listening to the arguments, the three-man panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani reserved ruling on the appeal for today (Friday) by noon.
“We are reserving ruling on this matter for Friday by 12 noon. Nobody has said anything about setting aside the application,” Justice Tsammani said.
An uprising in one of the custodial centres in Edo State known as White House on Sapele Road on Thursday created panic among residents, as gunshots rent the air.
Commuters, drivers, passersby and business owners around the prison vicinity scampered for safety when they heard the gunshots around 1pm.
Many thought there was an ongoing jailbreak, as they took to their heels not wanting to be caught in the crossfire.
A woman, who works in a business centre close to the custodial centre and identified herself only as Jane, said she started to hear the gunshots around 1.30pm.
“I started noticing that something was wrong in the prison with noise coming out from the facility. We thought it was a small issue until men in the facility started shooting and everyone nearby took to their heels,” she added.
Another source said he thought the prisoners attempted a jailbreak as they did during the #EndSARS protest last year.
The spokesperson for the custodial centre, Aminu Sulaiman, in a statement, said the situation had been brought under control.
The statement read, “Around 12.30pm, some awaiting-trial inmates, especially the recaptured escapees, started a protest which led to a confrontation between them and the convicted inmates. Reinforcement was immediately mobilised from the state headquarters to enforce law and order.
“The situation has been completely controlled and the custodial centre is calm. There was no escape of any inmates or death.
“Sister security agencies showed solidarity by drafting their men around the outer perimeter fence to compliment the correctional service armed squad personnel to ensure total security of the custodial centre.
“Meanwhile, investigation into the incident has been instituted by the controller to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the disturbance.”
