Author Archives: News All Around

 by IBRAHIM MADA,

From all indications, the quest of governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to succeed himself in the March 2023 Gubernatorial election has been sealed as the Gubernatorial ambition of his arch rival, Sen Aishatu Dahiru Binani keeps wobbling over serious contentious issues and moral questions staring her in the face.

On one hand, the only female Gubernatorial contender is facing humongous integrity questions over her past misdeeds including alleged theft of public resources and perverse immoral acts when she was a student.

The issue of her suitability in the eyes of many Islamic scholars also poses a great threat to her ambition as conservative Muslims in Adamawa and beyond are hell bent at ensuring that a women did not hold executive position in a Muslim dominated state like Adamawa.

Again, her ambition is facing another litmus test from her own party over intractable and unresolved differences that emanated from the contentious gubernatorial primaries that pitched the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Malam Nuhu Ribadu against the Gubernatorial candidate which metamorphosed into a legal tussle between the two gladiators.

Another issue facing the APC candidate is the no love lost between her and the Adamawa State Presidential Campaign Council superintended by the former deputy governor of Adamawa State Martins Babale. 

Right now the two sides do not see eye to eye because of this gaping cleavage which snowballed into a media war between Binani’s supporters and the members of the PCC.

Another reason for the envisage loss of Binani has to do with allegations of substance abuse which made most of the elites in the state to treat her ambition with a pinch of salt as they believe that if she emerged as governor, Adamawa State is going to loss substantial goodwill on account of electing a substance abuser.

Based on the foregoing, elites in the state are meeting surreptitiously to form a bipartisan front to ensure that the move of Binani to govern Adamawa State is truncated at all cost as that will set the clock of Adamawa’s development in the reverse direction as the state will lose both its goodwill and credibility before the committee of states.

Another serious issue that will dog the Binani quest to become Adamawa State governor is her herd line posture against a large creme of members of state working committee of APC whom she has since declared as enemies for taking sides against her during her legal tussle with Ribadu.

Again, the fear of a backlash if she wins the general election will make many amongst the members of the state working committee to resort to anti-party as many are of the opinion that if Binani win the election she is going to bring back her man Friday and stooge in the person of Ibrahim Bilal the former state chairman of the party who was removed over alleged humongous financial malfeasance.

A number of disgruntled party stalwarts including officials of the party at state and national levels have vowed to support governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to finish his second tenure for the expediency of preventing what they consider as taboo from happening to Adamawa State.

Already some of these people are working seriously behind the clock to ensure Binani’s dreams and larger than life ambition is scuttled for its debilitating consequences. While some are working behind the curtains to ensure her ambition did not see the light of day some have openly indicated that they will never support her ambition.

One of the stalwarts that has resolved not to support Binani is the immediate past governor of the state Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindow who during a meeting with development area administrators in Mubi has resolved to support Fintiri in the Gubernatorial election.

Another APC stalwart that has towed Bindow’s line is his former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Prince Mustpaha Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha who seems by all means and purporses is ready to take sides with his boss.

With the litany of issues dogging the ambition of Binani, her woeful defeat and the convincing victory of governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri come March 2023 is secured and sealed and it is only a matter of time for that dream to become a reality.

As the race to replace Governor Ifeanyi Okowa heats up, amongst the candidates seeking to occupy the Government House in Asaba, one name stands out – Chief Olorugun Kenneth Gbagi -, a former Minister of Education discernibly leads the pack in terms of pedigree and competence.

Mr Kenneth Gbagi is a real estimate manager, who owns variety of hotels, shopping malls, residential buildings amongst others

Also he had served Delta state in many capacities is seen as having the experience needed to bring good governance to the state.

After the creation of Delta State in 1993, the Military Administrator of Delta State then, Colonel Bassey Asuquo, who knew the resourcefulness and single-mindedness of Gbagi appointed him Chairman of Delta Development and Property Authority (DDPA)

Within that short period, Mr Gbagi came up with a revenue formular that saw the DDPA, which had a zero account balance when he assumed office, to have over N800 million in its accounts from issuance of Certificates of Occupancy.

At national level, he was later appointed as the chairman of the committee to develop the Federal Housing Estate at Gwarimpa Abuja by the government of late General Sani Abacha. The seasoned administrator also performed excellently well at the job.

Perhaps, the test of Olorugun Gbagi’s astuteness came in 2012 when he was appointed as Minister of state for education by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

As a minister for State For Education, under his tenure, 13 Federal Universities were created, while numbers of educational reforms were introduced which saw to heavy government funding of tertiary, secondary and primary schools. By and large, these reforms have helped increased the access of millions of Nigerians to education at all levels.

Mr. Alex Asikpi, describes the former minister in terms of his capacity as
“A businessman and an industrialist who has employed hundreds and provided opportunities to numerous Deltans, Gbagi has the leadership qualities and what it’s takes to lead Delta State to the promised land. He had demonstrated and shown capacity while as Minister of State for Education and has a successful entrepreneur and industrialist.

“At this point, Delta State needs someone like Gbagi that will unite all sections of the state and take the state to another level.

“Many people in Delta State, believe that the Gubernatorial candidate under the Social Democratic Party,( SDP) has all it takes to win the election and take Delta State to higher pedestals”. he concluded.

The gubernatorial candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the March 2023 election in Delta State, Chief Olorugun Kenneth Gbagi and his campaign team got a big endorsement from the Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Ughelli on Wednesday when the Governorship candidate visited the cleric.

The Bishop of the Anglican Communion Diocese, Right Rev Cyril Odutemu who conducted the New Year Annual Prayer Service at the Anglican Girls Communion School ground endorsed the ambition of Chief Gbagi to become the next Governor of the state.

The Cleric prayed for the success of Olorugun Gbagi in his quest to become the next occupant of the Delta State Government House in Asaba, while presenting him to the congregants.

The Cleric further blessed the gubernatorial candidate asking that God should grant him the power and will to do as he promised.

Speaking earlier, Olorugun Gbagi urged the people of Delta State to vote him as their next governor based on his track record as a former minister, administrator and human capacity developer.

The popular and energetic politician said, during his tenure as a Federal Minister he created 13 Federal Universities across the country, “within that short period, I brought the Federal Government Girls College to Ughelli South and I’ll do more”, he added.

He continue by urging the good people of Delta State to take their fate in their hands and liberate their states this 2023, “if we don’t liberated ourselves then we are in trouble. Hence, my conscious efforts in creating facilities that would generate employment opportunities”.

He further promised to initiate Local Government reforms that would make Local Governments autonomous and viable.
“I promised to pay unemployed youths in Delta State N30,000 every month till they are gainful employed”.

According to political observers, the endorsement of Kenneth Gbagi by Bishop Odutemu is a major milestone that would greatly increase his chances at the polls. It could be recalled that community leaders from Ughelli South and other great leaders from communities across the state have been endorsing Gbagi as the next Governor .

*calls for vigilance

A citizens led anti sabotage organisation under the aegis of The Natives, has said some desperate politicians responsible for the face-off between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Directorate of State Security Service (DSS) to sabotage the forthcoming General elections.

The Natives, however, warned those involved in the act to stop or else they will be exposed.

Addressing a joint press conference Wednesday in Abuja, with other Civil Society Organisations, youths groups, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Lawyers, among others, leader of The Natives, Hon. Smart Edwards, urged citizens to be weary of calculated plots that may not be the reason or hidden interest behind the recent turn of events and ignition of heat in the country by elements of confusion.

According to Edwards, All agencies have their modus operandi guiding their operations. The CBN is insulated to be independent in developing its policies and so is the DSS empowered with capabilities to interrogate issues of concern, so also are the courts approachable in cases of infractions. This are not any reason to call for protests.

The group expressed worry that certain Nigerians are being hog washed into another debacle of a non-existing threats to the CBN, in another permutation to keep the streets in chaos as the Yuletide season approaches, “this is political gymnastics and we are not ready for it.

“The story of Nigeria is not all gloom today, our Air Force is making superior strides in the North-east and forests, the Military and Defence Intelligent forces are recovering lost grounds, peace is gradually returning to Nigeria and people are travelling the roads home for the holidays. The Kaduna Trains have resumed and working, the EAST-WEST Road is almost completed, security situation is improving, the NDDC Board is reconstituted, our Naira is slightly recovering, our elections are around the corner, politicians have come to their seasons, Nigerians must come to their senses.

“Indeed, politicians can be mischievous, I mean the Youths Population are the largest voters in this country, particularly the Students, and rather than politicians and political parties reaching out to them with their well-defined manifestos and water tight integrity based assurances of a visionary government and campaigns that should rest on their records, so as to gain their acceptance, they are busy sponsoring chaos.

“Let it be made abundantly clear that as a Citizens led Anti Sabotage Organisation we are fully motivated and committed to free and fair elections. We are fully aware of saboteurs in nocturnal meetings, preparing to scandalise and blackmail persons of high reputation as a precursor to sponsor protests across the country, this has already failed because we will resist.

“During the EndSars youths suffered the most, whilst politicians sat in the comfort of their homes either financing and dishing out commands, this is our only country, we will not allow agents of destructions to distribute crisis across the Nation.

There is no Political Party, Politician or Candidate new to us, they have all been around, therefore our country and the country all seek to govern must not explode in the name of their ambitions.

“As Citizens, we know that this Nation has reached combustion stage in the past few years, however the security agencies in our country have been faced with challenges on all fronts, we will not allow the relative peace being enjoyed to be truncated, in the roll down to the General Elections in February.

“Let all Nigerians be aware, alert and recognise that there is nothing better than the peaceful transfer of power so there will be no room for Saboteurs. The Security Agencies, Defence forces and intelligence community should rise urgently to man our borders and curtail any threats to our National Affairs.

“On the recent debacle between the DSS and the CBN, these are two institutions that will be saddled with our elections therefore we can see fifth columnists and emergency activists mixing up within politicians to rubbish institutions that should be apolitical.

“Bichi is going nowhere and CBN by their mandate are empowered to and can deepen policies that would help grow and stabilize our Naira and Economy.

“The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is an APC man, yet he has given a clear body language readable by all parties including his own, of an unmistakable resolve and determination to ensure free and fair elections.”

While asking Nigerians to to be peaceful, be safe and be their neighbours’ keepers, Edwards said: ” Politicians, Be warned, we want leaders and not dealers! You have the mastery of changing and cross carpeting dramatically, we want the mastery of our peace, having gone through the torturous era of banditry, Kidnapping and terrorism.

“We therefore urge citizens to not allow their households as the centre for deliberate distortion of our sanity and peace. As we go on holidays, we urge everyone to stay peaceful, be safe and be your neighbours’ keepers.”

Foreign Investigators have written to the UK government seeking the outright and immediate cancellation of the visas issued to the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority, Mohammed Bello-Koko, his wife, Agatha Koko and all other members of his family over humongous corruption cases, money laundering and fraud.

The investigators are also seeking an Exclusion order which will outrightly ban the NPA Boss and his family from ever accessing and entering the United Kingdom and its territories.

In a letter to the Home Office Secretary, 2 Marsham Street London SW1 4DF, The Rt. Hon. Suella Braverman as sighted by our reporter, the Investigators further sought for the total confiscation and forfeiture of properties allegedly obtained through questionable means.

The investigations unearthed criminal acts against Mr Bello-Koko bordering money laundering activities, fraud, forgery, tax evasion and extortion.

In the letter signed by Michael O’ Leary for UK/ Ireland Investigators, they noted that as a banker with Zenith Bank Nigeria Plc, and account officer to Rivers State Government, Mr Bello-Koko stole billions of Naira in a systemic money laundering scheme with officials of the Rivers State government in Nigeria.

Their findings revealed that “On 6 November, 2015, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko bought a property in London worth £1,750,000.00 (One million, seven hundred and fifty thousand pounds only).

“This property is located at 2a Beech Hill Barnet EN4 OJP with Title Number NGL399845 with co-ownership: with -agatha Koko. Deed attached

“This property was bought with stolen funds laundered to the United Kingdom from Nigeria.” They alleged.

Furthermore, the Investigators revealed that “As Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority, a high revenue earner for Nigeria after crude oil, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko has looted the agency through several awards of fictitious contracts and money laundering schemes.

“Mr. Bello-Koko is operating the following accounts in contravention of the Nigeria Single Treasury Account policy. These accounts are used to receive millions of dollars annually and looted under his leadership.

FIDELITY BANK

CORRESPONDENT BANK

CITIBANK N.A

111 WALL STREET

NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10043

ABA CODE: 021000089

SWIFT CODE: CITIUS33

BENEFICIARY BANK: FIDELITY BANK PLC

USD ACCOUNT NO: 3611-5264

SWIFT CODE: FIDTNGLA

ACCOUNT NAME: NPA SERVICE BOAT REVENUE COLLECTIONS A/C ACCOUNT NUMBER: 5250108491 (DOLLAR CURRENT ACCOUNT)

ZENITH BANK

CORRESPONDENT BANK

CITIBANK N.A

CANADA SQUARE, CANADA WHARF LONDON €145LB

SORT CODE: 18-50-08

SWIFT ADDRESS: CITIGB2L

IBAN CODE: GB80CITI8S00810407941 ACCOUNT NAME: ZENITH BANK PLC ZENITH BANK SWIFT CODE: ZEIBNGLA FUNDS FOR FURTHER CREDIT TO BENEFICIARY: NPA SERVICE BOAT REVENUE COLLECTION A/C

BENEFICIARY ACCOUNT NUMBER: 5070611581 (USD).

While seeking for the accounts to be frozen pending the conclusion of investigation by the UK national Crimes Agency, the Investigators wrote that “We are therefore writing to the Rt. Hon. Home Office Secretary to use her powers to issue an Exclusion Decision on Mohammed Bello-Koko and family from the United Kingdom and its Territories.

“We cite from The Home Office “Exclusion from the U.K booklet version 1.0 page 12 under corruption.

“The types of activities associated with corruption include, but are not limited to the following: Tax evasion, Money laundering, Bribery and accepting kickbacks Extortion, Asset stealing, Fraud, Match fixing in sport”.

While hinging its argument that “A person does not need to have been convicted of a certain corruption related offence in order to be excluded. Where there is substantive reliable information that a person has been involved in corruption this should be taken into account.”

While reminding Madam Secretary of past prosecution of the likes of former Delta state governor, James Ibori, Dan Etete, Andy Uba amongst others, the Investigators insisted that “this Exclusion Decision be invoked on the person requested”.

The Investigators also applied for a FORFEITURE ORDER on the property located at 2a Beech Hill, Barnet, EN4 OJP to avoid it being sold.