Tony Charisma Blog

National Assembly members notorious for bribe taking – Jega A former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Monday accused the members of the National Assembly of bribe taking. He said chairmen of committees in the National Assembly were more notorious for bribe  taking antics. Jega made the allegation in Abuja while delivering a lecture titled, “Peace building and good governance for sustainable development in Nigeria,” as part of activities organised to mark the 2018 Democracy Day. The former INEC boss told the gathering that included President Muhammadu Buhari; President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, that the federal lawmakers took bribes at will under the pretence of committee work and oversight functions. He said the present administration should resist the temptation of restricting its ongoing anti-corruption...

2019: Atiku names Gbenga Daniel campaign DG Former Vice President and presidential hopeful of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has appointed a former Ogun State Governor, Otumba Gbenga Daniel, as its Director-General. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is running for the 2019 presidency under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, appointed Daniel the campaign DG in a letter he personally signed. Atiku has saddled the former PDP chairmanship aspirant with the responsibility of campaign staffing, resourcing amongst others. The letter reads in part, “I am pleased to officially notify you of the appointment of His Excellency, Otunba Gbenga Daniel (“OGD” as he is popularly known), as the Director-General of the Atiku Campaign Organisation. “OGD is a former two-term governor of Ogun State, and a foremost engineer, businessman and astute politician. He has vast knowledge of the Nigerian political terrain and has a wide network of contacts an...

Offa bank robberies: Dismisee police officer admits to killing over 20 persons,  gives e ason why he ensure d he killled policemen.  The dismissed Corporal turned leader of the armed robbery gang that attacked commercial banks in Offa, Kwara State on April 5th, Michael Adiku has given reasons why he killed over 20 persons including police officers during the robbery incident. Speaking with detectives after his arrest, Adikwu said he deliberately killed the policemen that day because he has scores to settle with the system that dismmissed him from service. The Nation reports that Adikwu, a Corporal attached to the Kwara State unit of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), was dismissed after he was accused of freeing suspected armed robbers. He was later charged to court and sent to prison, where he spent three years. Upon his release, he formed the robbery gang that attacked the banks. A police source who is part of operatives of the Inspec...

I’ll sign ‘Not Too Young to Run’ bill in few days – Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he will, in few days, sign into law the ‘Not too young to run’ bill. The President made this promise in a nationwide broadcast in commemoration of the nation’s Democracy Day early on Tuesday. He said, “In few days to come, I will be joined by many promising young Nigerians to sign into law the ‘Not too young to run’ bill” The bill, which is part of the process to amend the 1999 Constitution, seeks to reduce the minimum age requirement for elective positions in the country. It was first passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives in July 2017. Many state houses of assembly in the country have also passed the bill. President Buhari also advised all and sundry to be law-abiding as the country enters into another election season. He said, “The upcoming months will usher us into another season of general elections. Let me use this opportunity to urge us all to conduct ou...

Salah to travel to Spain for rehabilitation Mohamed Salah will travel to Spain for treatment on his injured shoulder on Tuesday, according to the Egyptian Football Association. The Liverpool star went off in tears after half an hour of his side's 3-1 Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid, having hurt his shoulder when falling awkwardly under a challenge from Sergio Ramos on Saturday. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said the problem looked "really serious" and, although he was eager to wait for tests, he admitted Salah's prospects of going to Russia were in jeopardy. The Egyptian FA have since moved to calm fears he will miss the World Cup, claiming tests have shown the injury is not as bad as first suspected. And on Monday they said in a statement that the 25-year-old will be accompanied by Liverpool's medical staff to Spain to start an intensive period of rehabilitation. Egypt's World Cup campaign kicks off against Uruguay on June 15.

Bauchi deputy gov, Nuhu Gidado, resigns The Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Nuhu Gidado, has resigned. Gidadu tendered his resignation in a letter dated May 16 and which was addressed to the state governor, Mohammed Abubakar. He said he had lost interest in the job.H He wrote, “Ordinarily, I should have remained up to the end of the tenure, but, with the currently dampened spirit and waning zeal as it relates to my official engagements, my continued stay will not be fair and truthful to you as my brother and leader.” Gidado thanked Governor Mohammed Abubakar and the people of Bauchi State for giving him the opportunity to serve.

Electoral Act: Again, card reader divides Reps Members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday failed to agree on whether the card reader should be used for the 2019 polls. Some members argue that the Supreme Court had in 2015 decided that the card was not recognised by the country’s electoral law. But others argued that the ruling of the Supreme Court also justified the fresh move by the National Assembly to give a legal backing to the card ahead of the next elections. Lawmakers expressed the divergent views as the House revisited the amendment of the Electoral Act 2010 by passing it for second reading on Wednesday. The fresh bill was sponsored by the Chairman, House Committee on Electoral Matters, Mrs. Aisha Dukku. The title of the bill reads, “A bill for an act to amend the provisions of the Electoral Act, No. 6, 2010 to further improve the electoral process and for related matters.” Recall that the National Assembly had passed the Electoral Act (amendment)...

INSECURITY :  Bandits abduct 21 passengers, kidnap 10 others in Kaduna  Some bandits in separate operations reportedly abducted at least 31 persons at Kwanan-Dutse and Labi villages in the Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State between Tuesday and Wednesday. The bandits, wielding assault rifles and in military fatigue, were said to have kidnapped the 31 persons between Tuesday and Wednesday, according to a source. On Tuesday, the local Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Birnin-Gwari, Mallam Danladi Duniya aka Iron, confirmed that 10 persons, mostly commuters travelling from the South to Kano were abducted. Also, on Wednesday, 21 passengers were abducted in Labi village along the same road, the NURTW chief added. Duniya said, “The incident involved commuters in a Sharon and three Golf 3 brand of cars. They were waylaid by the bandits while the people inside the two vehicles were whisked into the bush. “Those kidnapped include, both ...

Ondo Assembly reinstates deputy Speaker as Akeredolu, APC leaders intervene Less than 24 hours after the Ondo State Deputy Speaker, Mr. Iroju Ogundeji was impeached by his colleagues, the impeachment was on Wednesday reversed by the lawmakers. Ogundeji, representing Odigbo Constituency 1 in the Assembly, was impeached by 18 out of the 26 members on Tuesday following an alleged misconduct and disagreement with the Speaker, Mr. Bamidele Oloyeloogun. Immediately after, Mr. Bimbo Fajolu who represents Ile Oluji/Oke Igbo Constituency, was sworn in as the new deputy Speaker. SEE ALSO:  Ondo lawmakers impeach Deputy Speaker However, it was gathered that the impeachment reversal came following the interventions of the state governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, the chairman of the All Progress Congress, Mr. Ade Adetimehin and some other party leaders in the state. The motion for reinstatement at the plenary session was moved by theMaj...

Okada ban: Operators groan as 15,000 lose jobs in Onitsha, Awka No fewer than  15,000 people will be thrown into the labour market in Anambra State following the ban on commercial motorcyclists in Onitsha and Awka, the Zonal leader, Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria, Kingsley Nworah has said. He expressed reservation over the government’s decision, saying they were taken unaware. The state government had on Tuesday announced the banning of   Okada   operations from July 1. In a statement by the Press Secretary to Governor Willie Obiano, Mr  James Eze, the decision was one of the resolutions reached at the state executive council meeting on Tuesday. He said it was part of the overall strategy adopted by the government to deepen its crackdown on crime and restore sanity in Onitsha and Awka. READ ALSO: Anambra State Government Gives Quit Notice To Okada Riders in Onitsha, Awka But Nwora while addressing journalists on Wednesday at ...

BREAKING: Ondo lawmakers impeach Deputy Speaker The Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr. Iroju Ogundeji, has been impeached by his colleagues in the House. The impeachment took place during the plenary session of the Assembly on Tuesday (yesterday). Ogundeji, who represents Odigbo Constituency II in the Assembly and member of the All Progressives Congress, was removed after 18 out of the 26 lawmakers had signed for his removal and the signature was received by the Speaker of the House, Mr. Bamidele Oloyeloogun, during the session. The reason for the action of the lawmakers against Ogundeji was not known yet as of the time of filing this report; but a source told our correspondent that the former deputy Speaker was removed following some allegations of “gross misconduct” leveled against him. Another source in the Assembly said that Ogundeji ‘s impeachment came as a result of the “misunderstanding that ensued between him and the Speaker.” The forme...

$16bn power projects : Buhari attacks Obasanjo, ex-President reacts 6 hours ago One of the former heads of state was bragging that he spent more than $16bn, not naira, on power. Where is the power? – Buhari While it is doubtful that a President with proper understanding of the issue would utter such, records from the N’Assembly have exculpated Obasanjo –Obasanjo’s spokesman John Alechenu, Olalekan Adetayo, Eniola Akinkuotu, Samuel Awoyinfa and Olaleye Aluko President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday threw a jibe at former President Olusegun Obasanjo for spending $16bn on power projects during his tenure as the President without corresponding power supply to Nigerians. Although he did not mention any name, Buhari said a former Nigerian leader was bragging at a time that his administration spent the amount on power sector, yet there was nothing to show for the expenditure. Buhari spoke at the Presidential Villa, Abuja while receiving members of the Buhari Support Orga...

PSC shortlists 37,062 for police recruitment exam The Police Service Commission has shortlisted 37,062 candidates for examination in the ongoing police recruitment out of a total of 133,324 applicants who were earlier screened.  The examination which would be conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, is scheduled for May 25, 2018, at Computer-Based Test centres in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. A statement in Abuja on Monday by the PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, said 6,000 candidates would be recruited at the end of the exercise, noting that candidates for the examination had earlier been contacted through text messages and emails.  “Candidates who have yet to receive any invitation are required to check at the State Police Command Headquarters for the date, venue and time for the examination or the Police Service Commission portal,  www.psc.org.ng .  “Candidates are required to come with their bi...

Abuja lady murdered after sacking guard, driver A woman, Onise Ismail, has been murdered by an unknown assailant at her residence in Citec Estate, Mbora, Jabi bypass, Abuja. The deceased, popularly known as Ize, was reportedly stabbed several times in her chest and in the neck till she gave up the ghost. She was buried on Sunday amidst wailing by her family and friends who thronged the cemetery in Abuja. Ize, who was living alone, was said to have fired her driver and gateman a week before her brutal murder. Our correspondent learnt the incident occurred on May 14, 2018 when the woman who was said to be in her late 20’s stepped out of the house to put on her generator due to power outage. It was gathered that her attacker struck in the night when he knew she would be alone in the house. A family source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that after stabbing her to death, the assailant dumped her body in her room and ransacked the house for valuables b...

NEWS:  Anambra State Government Gives Quit Notice To Okada Riders in Onitsha, Awka Commercial motorbike (Okada) operators in Onitsha and Awka, the capital city of Anambra State have been given until July 1, 2018 to change to another trade or vacate the two cities for good.  This is one of the many resolutions from the meeting of the Anambra State Executive Council today, Tuesday, May 22, 2018. The ultimatum given to Okada operators in the two cities is part of the overall strategy adopted by the state government to deepen its crackdown on crime and restore sanity to Onitsha and Awka. Similarly, residents of some make-shift structures on the banks of the River Niger stretching from Onitsha to Ogbaru have also been given until August 1, 2018 to relocate from those places along the waterfront as they have been marked for demolition. This is also a part of the campaign against the men of the underworld in the state. The deadlines given to Okada operators and th...

Soldiers sack Police station, arrest DPO over murder of colleague Photo: File There was commotion along Ada George Road in Port Harcourt on Thursday morning as soldiers sacked the Rumukpakani Police Station, allegedly over the killing of their colleague by a policeman. A policeman had  Thursday  morning shot and killed the Army officer, who was in mufti after mistakenly tagging him an armed robber. The deceased soldier was said to have come out of a hotel armed with a pistol in his pocket before he was accosted by a group of policemen, who shot him, even after he allegedly tried to identify himself. Dissatisfied with the killing of their colleague, a group of soldiers had stormed the Rumukpakani Police Station and reportedly arrested the Divisional Police Officer and eight others, including the policeman, who allegedly shot the Army officer. Apart from taking away some policemen from the station, some suspects in the police cell were said to have taken a...

CRIME REPORT: Lagos SARS operatives extort N5,000 from woman, friends, threaten to kill them A digital marketer, Ifeoluwa Adegoke, caused a stir on the social media on Thursday after sharing her encounter with some operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State. Adegoke said she was forced to part with N5,000 to save her life and that of her colleagues, who were accosted by the policemen around 1.20pm while going for a photo shoot. The victim, who shared a snapshot evidence of the fund transfer and the photo of one of the policemen, alleged that the operatives threatened to kill them. “With my encounter today, it is safe to say SARS men are armed robbers. I was going for a photo shoot in Ikorodu today (Wednesday) and armed robbers SARS pulled us over and made us pay for no reason, threatening that they were  gonna  waste our lives. I made a transfer so they can be traced,” she wrote on her Twitter page. The  tweet  w...