Lagos State SDP Chairman And Excos Dump Party, Join Jandor's PDP

 The Lagos State Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Miss Dabiraoluwa Adeyinka, and some other state executive members have dumped the party and joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Adeyinka, leading about 15 other party executives to the main opposition party on Monday, said that the decision was based on personalities with the tickets of the PDP in the state.

According to her, the group consulted widely before settling for the PDP, having considered the reality on ground.

She said they also considered some personalities in the party like Ms Funke Akindele, the Lagos PDP Deputy Governorship Candidate.

” We are proud of this and find it convincing. We find a lot of attractions in PDP.

“The likes of Funke Akindele are a role and model for us. She likes us as youths, she is accessible and a young mind, who has impacted the system in Nigeria by creating employment for Nigerian youths.

“She (Akindele) is doing wonderfully well and she is a sellable youth. She is a voice for the women and a voice for the Nigerian youths.

“She (Akindele) is motivation even without meeting her in person. We want to join force with an entity like that,” Adeyinka said.

Adeyinka added that the group was also attracted to PDP because of the likes of Mr Wellington Bankole ( Banky W), the PDP House of Representatives’ candidate for Eti-Osa Federal Constituency.


“Those are people we want to reckon with because for Nigerian youth to be able to speak and make impact, we have to come together as one force. We need a force to change status quo.

“We want a Lagos for all not for a few. We want a Lagos that works for everyone. We want to kill the system of godfatherism that puts our lives in danger.

“We need to find the right direction, we have a torchlight in PDP. Not because it is PDP, but because we have people of like minds like Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran and others there.

“We were not paid to do this or under pressure., It is high time for Nigerian youth to get involved.

“We want to be able to elect people into office because they merit it not because the system put them there,” she added

Narcotic Forfeiture: PDP Seeks Court Order To Declare Tinubu Ineligible

The Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organisation has approached the court to seek an order to declare Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ineligible to contest next month’s presidential because of his conviction and forfeiture of money relating to narcotics in the United States.

The campaign announced the decision to go to court on Monday at a press briefing by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, who said that the main opposition party also wants a court order to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to delist Tinubu as a presidential candidate and expunge his name in all materials related to the poll.

Reading a prepared text, the campaign spokesperson said: “Nigerians are not unaware of the criminal matter concerning the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in respect of his criminal conviction and sentencing by a Court of competent jurisdiction in the United States over a criminal case of trafficking in narcotic for which Tinubu forfeited the sum of $460,000 to the State

“For the avoidance of doubt the United States Court in sentencing Asiwaju Tinubu ordered ‘that the funds in the amount of $460,000 in account 263226700 held by First Heritage Bank in the name of Bola Tinubu represent proceeds of narcotics trafficking or were involved in financial transactions in violation of 18 U.S.C. S1956 and 1957 and therefore these funds are forfeited to the United States pursuant to 21 U.S.C. S881(a)(6) and 18 U.S.C S981.”

From the declaration of the Court and the sentencing, it is clear that Asiwaju Tinubu was summarily convicted by the Court, he took no step to challenge the judgment but acceded to the forfeiture of the $460,000 found to be the proceeds of narcotics trafficking.

“It is already established that trafficking in narcotic is an international crime which all nations are obligated by international conventions and statutes to arrest, prosecute and implement any Court judgment imposed on offender anywhere in the world, as well as the consequential effects of such judgements.

“As you are all aware, Nigeria is a signatory to such international conventions and therefore is mandatorily obligated to implement the consequential effect of the conviction imposed on Asiwaju Tinubu by a Court of Competent jurisdiction in the criminal case of trafficking in narcotic.

“You will further recall that as our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had already established, the Presidential Candidate of the APC, having been convicted and having acceded to be guilty as charged by way of forfeiture of the $460,000, Nigeria being a signatory to International Convention is mandatorily obligated to execute the consequential effect of that conviction by virtue of Section 137 (1) (d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“For clarity, Section 137 (1) (d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that1) A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if….(d) He is under a sentence of death imposed by any competent court of law or tribunal in Nigeria or a sentence of imprisonment or FINE for any offence involving dishonesty or fraud (by whatever name called) or for any other offence, imposed on him by ANY COURT or tribunal or substituted by a competent authority for any other sentence imposed on him by such a court or tribunal.

“The import of the foregoing is that under the 1999 Constitution (as amended), having been so convicted and fined and having acceded to the sentencing by way of forfeiture of $460,000 and having not received any State pardon or acquitted by any court of competent jurisdiction, Asiwaju Tinubu remains a convict and the consequential effect is that he cannot contest election at any level in Nigeria

“The effect is that the listing of the name of Bola Tinubu, who stands convicted by a Court of Competent jurisdiction on the ballot for the 2023 Presidential election is by the virtue of Section 137 (1) (d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) fundamentally illegal, invalid and must be expunged immediately.”

He added: “Consequently, our Campaign has proceeded to the Court demanding the Court to: Declare Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Presidential Candidate of the APC, having been convicted, as ineligible to contest the Presidential election by virtue of section 137 (1) (d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“Compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately delist Asiwaju Tinubu as Presidential candidate of the APC or any other political Party for that matter and expunge his name from all materials and documents related to the 2023 Presidential election.

“Our Campaign is filing for accelerated hearing in this case in the interest of the nation as our laws do not permit a convict, let alone an individual convicted on account of international crime of trafficking in narcotic, to stand election at any level.”

The Atiku/Okowa Campaign further averred that “Nigeria cannot afford the embarrassment of having a convict hold office at any level against our laws.”

It counseled “all those wasting their funds, time and energy on the APC Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to put their resources to better use as his gaffe infested, showboating Presidential ambition has practically come to the end of the road.”
https://tribuneonlineng.com/narcotic-forfeiture-pdp-seeks-court-order-to-declare-tinubu-ineligible-for-election/
 

Apeal Court Orders Benue APC Gubernatorial Primary Rerun

 The Court of Appeal sitting in Makurdi, Benue State, on Monday, ordered the All Progressives Congress to conduct a fresh primary election in 11 local government areas of the state to determine its governorship candidate for the forthcoming general elections.

The appellate court justices who decided the case are Justice Mohammed Danjuma, Justice Abraham Biobelle and Justice Ibrahim Jauro.

Delivering the judgment on the appeal filed by one of the governorship aspirants, Prof Terhemba Shija, Justice Danjuma said that the court agreed with Shija that there was no valid primary election held on May 27 by the party for the nomination of its governorship candidate for which Fr. Hyacinth Alia was declared the winner.

Justice Danjuma said, “I have seen that the APC did not conduct a valid primary election on May 27, 2022, reasons the appeal panel ordered a fresh election that was conducted on June 9, 2022, in some local governments.

“In the interest of justice, I cannot allow those voters in the remaining 11 local governments to be disenfranchised, therefore, APC should go back and conduct an election in 11 local governments within 14 days and INEC should recognise the winner after adding both earlier primary results.”

The local government areas where the court ordered a fresh primary election are Gboko, Gwer-East, Gwer-West, Guma, Katsina, Logo Makurdi, Otukpo, Ukum, Tarka and Vandeikya.

The local governments where the rerun was held on June 9, 2022, are Buruku, Kwande, Agatu, Konshisha, Ogbadibo, Ushongo, Oju Okpokwu, Ado, Ohimini Obi and Apa.

The court also delivered judgment on the case filed by another governorship aspirant, Senator Barnabas Gemade.

The court of appeal upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court which earlier dismissed the suit against Alia for being statute barred.

The appeal of the Peoples Democratic Party against the APC House of Assembly and House of Representatives candidates was also dismissed.

The court held that PDP has no locus standi to meddle in the affairs of the APC or another political party.

In his reaction, Alia appealed to supporters to remain calm.

“We are law-abiding citizens. We respect the judgment of the court and we are appealing to our teeming supporters to remain calm. We are still going to be on the ballot. We are all in this for the greater of our state and God,” he said.

The state chairman of the APC, Austin Agada, also asked the party’s supporters to remain calm saying, the people had already spoken, adding that “we believe that the voice of the people is the voice of God.”

Nigerian Man Dies A Year After Posting About What Will Happen After His Death

 Davidson Rotshak Lar, a cleric and Superintendent of Police in the Nigeria Police Force has died one year after posting about what will happen after his death, IGBERETV reports.

Davidson Rotshak Lar who is from Plateau State passed away on Thursday, January 19, 2023. Details of his death are sketchy, however, it was gathered that he had been sick and was set to undergo surgery.

A year before his death, precisely on January 12, 2022, he had taken to Facebook to write about what will happen after his death. 

He wrote;

"One day, I will die and never come back. My loved ones will cry for a while. Then move on. My friends will post my pictures and write touching messages and even cry. Then they'd move on too

"Some will pretend and tell people how they really love me. All would be lies, because they do not like me for my stance in issues.

"My family will cry, but still move on too. My Facebook friends will miss me and my account will be dry my inbox will be full of unread messages. In a short while, everyone will forget me & move on with their lives.

"The world will keep spinning without me. Because my chapter will be closed forever. So you see everything is Vanity upon vanity. There is nothing in this world

"So therefore, that money you always wanted to give me, inbox me for my account number so that you give me before I die.

"If you have a suit or car or a shoe for me, please give me now oo. Do not wait till I am dead and gone. Davidson Rotshak La JP. I don talk my own."

Iyabo Ojo Unfollows Comedian Princess After Leaking Their Chat On Halima Abubaka

 Nigerian movie star, Iyabo Ojo has unfollowed her industry friend and comedian Princess after the latter exposed their conversation to controversial blogger, Gistlovers.

This is coming hours after Actress Halima Abubakar’s affair saga with Apostle Johnson Suleman resurfaced over the weekend following the cleric’s N1 billion Lawsuit against the movie star.

Just recently, Halima spoke extensively about their affair during an interview with Comedian Princess who stood in for faceless blogger, Gistlover.

After the interview, Gistlover, via Instagram page, shared its DM with Princess who disclosed that Iyabo Ojo called her on phone while she was chatting with Halima 

Iyabo Ojo, who has been linked to romance allegations with Apostle Suleman, hit back angrily at Princess on her Instagram page for relaying their phone call conversation to the faceless blogger.

Iyabo, who stood by Princess during actor Baba Ijesha’s sexual assault trial, felt betrayed by the comedian’s actions.

Iyabo Ojo wrote;

“O re ni wan…. I have learned this in the hardest ways… Never inherit anyone’s energy, never risk your life or take a bullet for no one & nobody. Never go beyond & above for anyone.. because when you do & they turn around & stab you… It hurts differently. It’s ok to help, but with great caution”.

Prof. Fola Aboaba Dies Days To His 90th Birthday

 Adeboye’s right-hand man, Prof Aboaba dies 47 days to his 90th birthday  

Prof. Fola Aboaba, one of the closest persons to the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye has passed on.

He died in Lagos on Saturday, January 21 about 47 days to his 90th birthday after a brief illness. A report gleaned from Forevermissed informs that he was born on March 8 1933.

Professor Aboaba was in a circle of three friends very close to Pastor Adeboye. The others are Mr. Simeon Olakunrin (SAN) and Elder Felix Ohiwerei

Until his death, Prof. Aboaba officiated regularly at special Holy Ghost Nights of the RCCG. He played the role of introducing Pastor Adeboye to the podium to minister on such occasions.  He also used to sing special songs to celebrate the birthday of Pastor Adeboye.

He was the founding Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Redeemer’s University.

A professor Emeritus of Agricultural Engineering Aboaba was a member Board of Trustees of the RCCG and also Chairman of the Technical Advisory Board and Lands Committee of the Church.

Prof Aboaba was also one of the founding fathers of the National Prayer Movement. The Gneral Secretary of the body, Mr Gbemiga Olakunle recalls Aboaba’s activities in the group.

He told Church Times that he supported the group and on many occasions hosted its meetings.

Already tributes are pouring in. One of the respondents who perhaps is Aboaba’s grandchild, Rereoluwa Akintola wrote on the wall of www.Forevermissed.com of his earliest memories of the late professor.

He wrote, “One of my earliest memories of Grandpa was when I told him I had seen him at the Alake’s palace when I went on a school excursion, but couldn’t get his attention.

“As I recounted that to him, he told little me that I should have dragged him by the shirt to catch his attention. Little me, drag a whole grandpa by the shirt?! I couldn’t fathom how such a distinguished man could be so down-to-earth”

Akintola also described him as a great family man recalling how he used to interact with his wife who reportedly died in 2018 at age 73.

He says of Prof Aboaba that, “Your laughter will ring loud, and light up heaven so much, everyone there will know there’s a new resident.”

Another respondent, Folorunso Orimoloye wrote, “Prof. Aboaba will be greatly missed. He loved children and gave them candy every Sunday. My children remain ever grateful to you for being part of their world. The sweets you gave made them embrace your beautiful virtues of respect and service to others.

“You had an impact on everyone, both near and far. Oh, daddy Aboaba!, the world would not get to listen to your beautiful voice on various occasions again. But I know you are singing for the host of heaven right now! We shall meet again in the presence of our Lord, where we will get to listen to your bass-enriched tunes. Sleep well, and sleep on our daddy of goodwill.”

All Travellers Arriving Nigeria Must Provide Evidence Of COVID Vaccination

 The Federal Government says all travellers arriving Nigeria must now provide evidence of COVID vaccination.

Geoffrey Okatubo, director of port health services, said this on Monday during a media briefing at the ministry of health in Abuja.

In December 2022, the federal government had relaxed COVID rules in the country.

The federal government had also said pre-departure and post-arrival PCR test requirements for all persons who are not fully vaccinated have been suspended, adding that passengers will no longer be required to upload evidence of vaccination on the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP).

Speaking on Monday, Okatubo said port health services had heightened surveillance at points of entry following the reported surge in the cases of COVID in countries like China, Japan, and the United States.

“Port health services has resumed checks of passengers’ vaccination status and will provide traffic data on inbound passengers from all over the world,” he said.

“All international travellers arriving Nigeria are now to provide evidence of vaccination at point of entry and it was agreed that unvaccinated passengers arriving from other countries may have to be vaccinated at the airport.

“The minister of health also recently approved that port health services should meet with other stakeholders such as the NCDC, and the ministry of aviation over the use of rapid diagnostic testing at points of entry.”

Also speaking at the briefing, Faisal Shuaib, executive director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), said as of January 20, 2023, Nigeria has fully vaccinated 65,176,784 persons with the vaccine, while 77,070,988 eligible persons have taken at least one dose of the vaccine.

He said a total of 10,390,911 persons have received booster doses.