INTERPOL: Diezani’s Extradition Request From UK Rejected
The Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has seen a request for the extradition of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, over corruption allegations and trial, rejected by the British government. Naija News reports that this was made known by an Assistant Inspector-General of Police and Head of the National Central Bureau, INTERPOL Nigeria, Garba Baba Umar, on Thursday.
He stated this while appearing before the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate Alleged Loss of Over $2.4bn in Revenue from Illegal Sale of 48 Million Barrels of Crude in 2015 Including Crude Oil Exports from 2014 till date. While being questioned by members of the committee, the AIG noted that the government followed due process in seeking mutual legal assistance from the United Kingdom but the demand was ignored as the ex-minister also went to court in the UK to stop her extradition.
The country’s Interpol head disclosed why the federal government was successful in extraditing a former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina; and a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Bello Adoke (SAN). He said: “In respect of assistance – seeking for assistance, if you remember, we repatriated many Nigerians who were alleged to have swindled the Nigerian Government. I went personally and brought Maina from (Republic of) Niger.
“I brought the former Attorney-General of the Federation from Dubai and many other Nigerians who absconded. We brought them back to face justice and those who are in Nigeria, hiding, we took them back to their various countries to face justice.” On why the Nigerian authorities had been unable to bring Alison-Madueke back to the country to face trial, Umar said, “The issue of Diezani, a warrant of arrest was issued. I am sorry to say the government of the UK turned down our request. We followed the MLA – you can check, that is Mutual Legal Assistance – to bring her back home. She went to court because, according to them, they have a system where they check our…let me not go there.”
Source: Naija News
Ayo Adebanjo: If Obi loses, a Christian southerner may never be president again
Ayo Adebanjo, leader of Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-cultural group, says the survival of Nigeria is tied to Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) winning the presidential election. Adebanjo said this on Thursday in Abuja after a meeting of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) during which Obi was endorsed. The Afenifere leader said electing the LP candidate will show that Nigeria values ethnic and religious inclusion.
“The battle is on. We are in a war and our opponents are not sleeping at all. They’ve underrated us in the past but they are now seeing the stuff we are made of now,” Adebanjo said. “They are making all sorts of devices to ensure that power remains in a particular part of the country. That’s why they are not even supporting the candidate of their own party. “You are fighting for your freedom. Don’t joke with your freedom. Don’t be deceived. They are not going to organise any election. We are fighting to get out of slavery and bondage.
“We all living in denial, even among the Igbo. The impunity is too much and you don’t want those who are dissatisfied to leave the country. “Obi’s phenomenon is not just about Labour Party. LP is now like NADECO. Obi is leading the crusade to get us out of the bondage of serious oppression. “They don’t want to leave office. I’m saying it openly here. It is not a joke that they want to scuttle the election. You must be prepared for post-election.
“We will give it what it takes. It is either bend or break. If Obi does not win, forget a country called Nigeria. If we lose this election, there will be no opportunity for a non-Christian, a non-northerner to be president again. “Right now they are planning to vote for Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, by jettisoning their candidate in the Labour Party.
“They want another northerner to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari. How they want to do it, I don’t know, but we must all be prepared for a war. “Have it at the back of your mind that Obi must be declared president. Anything contrary to this, we should forget about Nigeria.”
Source: The Cable
2023: Ebubeagu operatives allegedly attack Ebonyi APGA guber candidate, Odoh, kill driver
The gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Ebonyi State, Prof. Bernard Odoh was on Thursday allegedly attacked by suspected Ebubeagu operatives. They were alleged to have killed Odoh’s driver during the attack. DAILY POST learnt that Odoh was allegedly attacked near Rest House, Okpoto community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The candidate was also attacked days ago in Iboko community, Izzi LGA of Ebonyi State by hoodlums on his way to commission a campaign office in the area. Speaking with newsmen in Abakaliki, the Director, Media and Publicity, APGA Campaign council, Mr. Charles Otu, said Odoh and his team were allegedly ambushed by the suspected Ebubeagu operatives. He said: “An unmarked silver-coloured Sienna, loaded with suspected Ebubeagu with not less than 8 persons parked at the left flank of the road and opened fire with AK-47 as soon as they sighted the leading pilot vehicle of the team.
“The pilot vehicle was shot at not less than 8 times before they cordoned-off the governorship candidate’s vehicle and riddled his Prado jeep with bullets. “In the process, his driver was shot at and as he bled profusely, the ADC swiftly drove off the vehicle with all tyres already punctured and flat down till he managed to get to Pele Filling station.” Otu alleged further that no fewer than five persons were feared missing, while two others sustained serious gunshot injuries.
In a swift reaction, the Ebubeagu commander in Ebonyi State, Mr. Friday Nnanna Ujor denied knowledge of the alleged attack and warned that the opposition parties in the state should refrain from accusing Ebubeagu of mastermind of attacks. According to him: “Tell them that it is a lie. Ebubeagu did not attack anybody. They should leave Ebubeagu alone, not when they have a problem, they will start calling Ebubeagu. “Last week, another party shot one Ebubeagu to death and nobody talked about it.
“Tell them that the Ebubeagu commander said, ‘no Ebubeagu attacked anybody yesterday’. This thing that the opposition is doing, the day that they killed one Ebubeagu at Onicha LGA, they said it is because they are dragging one thousand naira but when we did an investigation, we found out that it was not true.”
Source: Dailypost
Uniben Reacts As Students Clash With Soldiers
The Management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has called for calm in the institution after soldiers clashed with students over the new naira notes. Naija News had reported that soldiers had clashed with Uniben Students when they tried to jump a queue to with money from ATM in the school premises. This resulted in a clash that left many people injured including the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the institution.
Reacting in a statement on Friday, the Vice Chancellor of Uniben, Professor Lilian Salami appealed for calm. She stated that the University is in discussions with the hierarchy of the S & T army barracks for amicable resolution.
The statement read: “The unfortunate incident of the clash between some students of our university and soldiers on Thursday 2nd February, resulting from alleged resistance of students to the soldiers’ attempt to jump ATM queues on campus has been brought under control and the Management of the University is in discussions with the hierarchy of the S & T for amicable resolution.
“The Management acknowledges that these are challenging times for everyone and enjoins all to remain calm while efforts are being made to avert a re- occurrence. “Management also calls on the students to constantly engage dialogue in resolving issues that concern them rather than taking to protests, at any provocation, thereby causing more injury and damage to themselves and other citizens.”
Source: Naija News