Main Story

Tension In Kano, as APC, NNPP Clash Over Tribunal’s verdict

Published

10 months ago

September 21, 2023

Palpable fear, apprehension and a high octane tension have enveloped the Northern commercial city of Kano, Kano State, North West, Nigeria, since the State Election Petition Tribunal on Wednesday (20 September) annulled the victory of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), and declared Nasir Yusuf Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) as the winner of the election. The three-man member tribunal thus ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) to withdraw the Certificate of Return earlier issued to Yusuf, and issued a fresh one to Gawuna forthwith.

Sensing probable danger, the State Police Command has therefore imposed a 24-hour curfew across the State. “Going forward, Kano State residents are called upon to note that combined Security Forces have already been dispatched to the nooks and crannies including the entry and exits of the state to ensure enforcement and strict compliance of the Twenty-Four Hours (24hrs) Curfew order as communicated by the State Government via letter with Reference No: K/SEC/H/435/T.1/153 dated 20th September, 2023 taking effect from 6pm of Wednesday, 20th September to 6pm of Thursday, 21st September 2023!”, the Police Commissioner, Muhammad Gumel, said in a Statement.

There were reports that the two contending camps of Kwakansiyya Movement, led by Dr. Rabiu Kwakanso, and the Dr. Abdullahi Umar Granduje’s camp of APC, have been boasting and claiming the bragging rights in the days leading to the Wednesday’s verdict. The State Security chiefs, therefore moved to stalled an outbreak of violence by advising the Tribunal members to deliver the judgment online, via Zoom conference. All entrances to the Tribunal’s venue were blocked very early in the morning and access restricted.
Immediately the tribunal’s verdict, which was delivered via a zoom conference meeting because of the high history of political volatility of the State, was broadcasted on the State radio station, there were panic and confusion in Kano municipality.

Tension in Kano as shops close abruptly, traders across major markets of the state capital shut their shops and rushed home. Some of the areas where merchants suspended activities were Kantin Kwari, Sabon Gari, and Singer markets. A prominent shopping mall in the metropolis, Ado Bayero Mall (ShopRite), is also presently under lock and key.
While the two camps trades insults and abuses around the Tribunal location, traders panicky started to lock up their shops while students were withdrawn from schools.
There is apprehension in the state following the judgment that declared Nasir Yusuf Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the election.
Residents were seen scampering and running helter-skelter to close their shops and business places for fear of attacks by hoodlums.

The state witnessed several looting, vandalization and arson in March of this year following the INEC’s declaration of Governor Yusuf as the winner of the election.
The victorious APC immediately started a hyper excited procession over the party’s victory in the just concluded Governorship Election Petition Tribunal judgement, while hundreds of youths gathered on the street in Kano beating drums and blowing trumpets while also chanting songs in praise of the former Deputy Governor’s victory.
The APC Chairman in the State, Abdullahi Abbas later joined the procession on top of his car. He was seen shaking hands with the jubilant youths as they showered him with praises.
‘Allah Akbir. Allah has saved Kano!’, Gawuna is coming!’, ‘Our mandate is back!’ , they sang along.

The leadership of the NNPP would however not let go easily. They quickly mobilized a protests singing ‘this is robbery’.
The party later issued a statement where signed it stated its unhappiness with the ruling of the tribunal. The in the statement signed by its acting national chairman, Abba Kawu Ali, said the tribunal’s verdict is a miscarriage of justice The opposition party in Kano state accused the tribunal of unjustly subtracting votes from the NNPP’s result so as to favour the ruling APC.
The acting national chairman of the party, Abba Kawu Ali in the statement alleged that the tribunal unjustly subtracted 165,663 votes from the party’s result in order to award victory to the ruling party, the APC.

The acting chairman while appealing for calm in Kano state also alleged the judgement was an affront to constitutionalism, vowing that the party would appeal the judgement.
The party also claimed the judgment of the tribunal is a replay script of the 2019 governorship election, where the tribunal allegedly upturned the peoples’ mandate and awarded it to the loser.
With the tension not showing signs of abatement, the State Police Command took a proactive measure by declaring a 24-hour curfew throughout the State.
The State’s Commissioner of Police (CP), Muhammad Gumel, in a statement he personally signed, on Wednesday, (20 September), said a combined team of security operatives has been dispatched across the city to enforce the curfew.

The CP said a combined team of security operatives have been dispatched across the city to enforce the curfew.
Gumel said: “In view of the Constitutional mandate of the Nigeria Police Force alongside the relevant Internal Security and Law Enforcement Agencies to preserve law and order in the state, the Kano State Police Command has mapped out strategies in that direction and called on the good people of the State to give the necessary confidence and support.
“Going forward, Kano State residents are called upon to note that combined Security Forces have already been dispatched to the nooks and crannies including the entry and exits of the state to ensure enforcement and strict compliance of the Twenty-Four Hours (24hrs) Curfew order as communicated by the State Government via letter with Reference No: K/SEC/H/435/T.1/153 dated 20th September, 2023 taking effect from 6pm of Wednesday, 20th September to 6pm of Thursday, 21st September 2023.
The Police Chief warned that “violators will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

“Finally, I wish to appreciate all the peace-loving People of the State and urge them to remain law abiding as it’s in the best interest of all that we come together to maintain law and order in the State”, the Police boss added.
On Wednesday, the three-man panel ordered withdrawal of certificate of return which INEC presented to Governor Yusuf and directed a certificate of return to be issued to Gawuna.
The court deducted 165,663 votes from Governor Yusuf’s total as invalid votes, stating that the ballot papers (165,663) were not stamped or signed and therefore declared invalid.
All three grounds of the petition were resolved in favour of APC.
This verdict is particularly seen as a victory for Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the APC over his former boss, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP.

www.focusmagazineonline.com (September 2023)

Main Story

Real Reasons Makinde Refuses To Announce New Alaafin

Published

8 months ago

November 9, 2023

Afolayan Adebiyi

Some fresh facts have started emerging why Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State rejected the candidate selected by the body of Oyomesi,(Kingmakers) in Oyo Town, to succeed the departed Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Atanda Adeyemi 11.

The late monarch died on April 22, 2022 and since then, over nineteen months, a successor is yet to be announced.
No less than sixty-five princess from the Agunloye Ruling House, including an octogenarian priest, Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu, did put in an application to succeed the late flamboyant monarch. But after a laborious exercise, that lasted about four months, the Oyomesi claimed that they have submitted a name to the Executive Governor since 30 September, 2022.
The Governor on his part neither confirmed nor denied being in possession of a recommended name from the Oyomesi. But he just kept mute and refused to announced a name.

The body of Oyomesi however, speculatively approached the State High Court, sitting in oyo town, when they suspected that the Governor might announced a different candidate from their preferred choice. The case is still pending before the State Chief Judge who is yet to assign it to a trial Judge.
But in a new twists, www.focusmagazineonline.com gathered in the ancient town of Oyo that the Governor ‘might be protecting the ancient stool from despoliation by his tardiness in announcing a substantive Alaafin’.

Since 1823, Sokoto Caliphate has had a near obsession to annex Oyo into its estate, using the proxy emirate at Ilorin.
A source revealed to www.focusmagazineonline.com that there are a lot of external influences circling around the Oyomesi trying to influence the selection process.
It was further revealed that a prince with very deep affiliation to the Caliphate through Ilorin, and had gotten the support of the Sultan of Sokoto had successfully infiltrated the Oyomesi to influence the successor of Adeyemi III.

The prince was said to have the confidence of the Chief Imam of Oyo Town and that of the Muslims’ Rights Council (MURIC), in his bid to ascend the throne.
‘These people put immense pressure on the Bashorun to compromise the selection process, so that he can recommend the selection of a prince with Fulani blood’.
‘This prince’, www.focusmagazineonline.com further gathered, ‘has more loyalty to Usman Dan Fodio philosophy and heritage than the Yoruba heritage’.

Governor Makinde was said to have seen through the shenanigans and decided to outrightly cancelled the selection process and ordered a fresh one, which the Oyomesi strongly objected to.
The source revealed that ‘Governor Seyi Makinde rejected the process at the risk of his second term in office and insisted on a new selection process with total autonomy of the Oyomesi from Sokoto/Ilorin Fulani caliphate’s influence’.

Main Story

EFCC Arraigns 11 OAU Undergraduates for Alleged Internet Fraud

Published

8 months ago

November 8, 2023

FocusMag

Eleven of the sixty-nine students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, arrested by the operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday (31 October) over alleged fraudulent internet activities have been charged to court.

The remaining fifty-eight arrested students have since been released.
The students were arraigned before Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Osogbo for their alleged involvement in internet fraud.
www.focusmagazineonline.com recalled that about 69 students of the institution were arrested over alleged fraudulent internet activities at the end of the operation. The operation reportedly lasted between about 1.40 a.m. and 4 a.m. on Wednesday. The suspects were ferried to the EFCC zonal office in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital for interrogations.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, on Tuesday (07 November).
Oyewale said the defendants were arraigned on different count charges, ranging from one to six charges, as preferred against them by the EFCC.
The defendants are: Perekebena Olombeni Micah, Nnekwelugo Nnaemeka, Moyosore Favour Oluwasakin, Aghwaritoma Wisdom Obaro, Daniel Olashile Maiye, Gbolahan Khalid Adesina, Yinka Temitope Jayeola, Olumuyiwa Emmanuel Adeleye, Abiola Emmanuel Oluwadare, Busari Abdulazeez Ayodeji and Okesipe Tobiloba Paul.

Nine of the defendants were arraigned on one-count charge each, while the remaining two: Micah and Obaro, had six-count charges filed against each of them.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Perekebena Olombeni Micah sometimes in 2023 in Osogbo, Osun State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently impersonated the name – Pies through your Whatsapp account phone number +1(414)367-9473 by claiming that you are an American Female in love with your victims in the United States of America with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015.”

Another count reads: “That you, Aghwaritoma Wisdom Obaro on or about 1st November, 2023 at Ile-Ife, Osun State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated by representing yourself to be a white man by name Alex Stephens from United States of America to one Megan Johnson, through your Google Chat and your email address (alexsteps678@gmail.com) with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015.”

Upon their arraignments, they all pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to them.
Consequently, prosecution counsel, Oluwatoyin Owodunni, prayed the court for trial dates and the remand of the defendants in a Correctional Centre.
In response, defence counsels to Ayodeji, Adesina, Oluwasakin, Micah, Adeleye and Okesipe informed the court of “motions for bail applications” filed on behalf of their clients, which have been served on the prosecution, therefore urging the court to admit the six defendants to bail in the most liberal terms.

Justice Ayo-Emmanuel, having listened to the prayers of both parties, admitted Ayodeji, Adesina, Oluwasakin, Micah, Adeleye and Okesipe to bail.
Ayodeji, Adesina, Oluwasakin, Adeleye and Okesipe were admitted to bail in the sum of N2 million each, while Micah was granted bail in the sum of N3 million.
Other bail conditions are: two sureties in like sum, first surety must be the defendant’s father or mother; the second surety must be a relative, sibling, clergy or civil servant with the Osun State Government; the sureties must depose to an affidavit of means and both residential and office addresses of the sureties, as well as their statuses, must be provided and verified by the court registrar.

The judge adjourned the matters to November 29 and December 12, 2023 respectively for commencement of trial and remanded the defendants at the Ilesha Correctional Centre, Osun State pending the perfection of their bail conditions.

The defendants were among the 69 suspected internet fraudsters arrested on November 1, 2023 at Oduduwa Estate area of Ile-Ife in Osun State following actionable intelligence on their alleged involvement in fraudulent internet-related activities.

Main Story

Nigerians Says No as Labour Declare Strike

Published

8 months ago

November 8, 2023

FocusMag

Organised Labour, consisting of the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress, (TUC), have been advised to shelve their proposed nationwide strike slated to take off on November 14.

Many Nigerians spoken to were particularly displeased that the workers could be contemplating such an economic debilitating move at this point in time, when the nation is grasping for breath economically.

www.focusmagazineonline.com recalled that the leadership of the two unions on Tuesday (07 November) declared a total nationwide strike effective November 14, 2023.
The leadership of the two unions reached the resolution after an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.
The leadership of the NLC and the TUC had summoned what the unions described as an extraordinary NEC meeting.

The aim of the meeting was to review the modalities of the planned strike following the brutalisation of the National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, review of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Federal Government and the organised labour on October 2, 2023, following the removal of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit which the labour centres said has caused “untold hardship” to Nigerians.

The labour unions had, on Friday, issued a five-day ultimatum over the earlier arrest of the National President of the NLC, by the police in Owerri, Imo State, on Wednesday.
The labour centres demanded the redeployment of the commissioner of police in the state and the arrest and prosecution of the aide of the government who was alleged to have perpetrated the attack.

The unions also threatened to embark on a nationwide industrial action if their demands were not met in five days from Friday.
But a Labour Lawyer, Mr. Richard Akinola counselled the unions to perish the plan, at least for now.
He wrote, ‘dear NLC, l was one person that came out unapologetically to condemn the brutalization of your president, Joe Ajaero in Imo state and l still stand by that condemnation.
‘However, by declaring a national strike over that assault is stretching your luck too far. You have trivialized strike as a tool that nobody takes you serious again. You have demystified yourself and the potency of strike. So, you mean workers in Maiduguri would go on strike because of what happened in imo?

He added that ‘you people mean employers who have no trade dispute with their workers would shut down in this struggling economy and you expect them to pay the workers? When you abuse the power of strike, it loses its potency. You guys must be joking’, he warned the workers.

An Ikeja based businessman, Engr. Charles Nwaneke was more furious. He lamented the huge wage bills he had to contends with every month, and now the workers are planning to disrupt what was left of his staggering business.

He urged the workers to always towed a path of peace and development.
www.focusmagazineonline.com recalled that NLC President, Ajaero was arrested by the police ahead of the state-wide protest in Imo on Wednesday. This was disclosed by the NLC’s Head of Information, Benson Upah.

Although the police denied arresting Ajaero, stating that he was merely taken into protective custody to prevent a mob attack, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, accused the labour leader of meddling in the political affairs of the state.

The attack on the labour leader has been condemned by many prominent Nigerians and civil society organisations, including the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN).