Governor Siminalayi Fubara has voiced concern over President Bola Tinubu’s direct mention of his name in a statement addressing the recent destruction of local government secretariats in Rivers State.

Fubara, speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, emphasized that he was not responsible for the violence that erupted following the local government elections in the state.

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Fubara remarked, “Everyone in Nigeria knows I have no hand in what is happening… My meekness should not be mistaken for weakness.”

The unrest occurred in several local government areas, with council premises in Eleme, Ikwerre, and Emohua set ablaze by political hoodlums, while sporadic gunfire was reported in Ahoada East as resistance to newly elected council officials intensified.

The violence followed the withdrawal of police officers from 23 local government secretariats earlier on Monday.

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Despite the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), and the police opting out of the election, Governor Fubara insisted on going forward with the vote on Saturday.

The Action People’s Party (APP) emerged victorious in 22 of the 23 chairmanship positions, with the Action Alliance (AA) winning one seat.

Fubara swore in the newly elected local government chairmen on Sunday, but violence erupted as some officials were attacked upon assuming office, and secretariats were torched.

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In response to the escalating crisis, President Tinubu ordered the police to restore security at the local government secretariats.

A statement by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga urged Governor Fubara, political leaders, and their supporters to maintain peace and respect the rule of law.

However, Fubara expressed unease over being singled out in the President’s statement.

“I don’t have an issue with the President’s intervention, but I am a bit concerned that my name was the only one mentioned,” he said.

He stressed that the source of the problem is widely known and does not lie with him.

“The issue is not Fubara, and everyone in Rivers State knows what’s going on,” he added.

Fubara welcomed the intervention of the Inspector General of Police, speculating that the withdrawal of police officers from the secretariats may have emboldened hoodlums to attack.

He urged the police to restore security at the secretariats to allow the newly elected officials to perform their duties.

“I never agreed with the idea of the police pulling out completely. Their absence allowed miscreants to take advantage of the situation and wreak havoc,” Fubara concluded.

On Monday, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State officially swore in 31 newly elected local government chairmen following the polls held on October 5.

Of the new chairmen, 30 were elected under the banner of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), while one is from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The newly elected officials received their Certificates of Return from the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) a day earlier.

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During the swearing-in ceremony at the Government House in Uyo, Governor Eno emphasized his administration’s commitment to working closely with the chairmen to ensure the delivery of effective governance to the citizens.

He specifically urged the new chairman of Essien Udim Local Government Area, Ntiedo Usoro, to unite the community and be seen as the chairman for all, not just for the APC.

Eno stated, “Your election and subsequent swearing-in today affirm that our electoral process was fair. No one can claim otherwise. It was free and credible, which is why you are here today.”

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The governor encouraged collaboration among the chairmen, stressing that governance transcends party lines: “There’s no APC or PDP local government in governance. I want to remind all our chairmen that losing one local government area in an election doesn’t signify failure. It shows we have allowed democracy to flourish. You can lose the battle but still win the war.”

Eno reassured his party members that the loss of a single chairmanship seat does not indicate a decline in PDP’s influence in Akwa Ibom State.

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He expressed determination to support party members in Essien Udim LGA to ensure they access state-level benefits.

“We will continue to work collaboratively with all of you to deliver good governance to our people,” he concluded, highlighting the expectations of the citizens from their leaders.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has officially released the timetable for the upcoming 2025 zonal congresses.

These congresses will facilitate the election of new Zonal Working Committees and National Ex-Officio members.

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In a statement made on Monday in Abuja, party spokesman Debo Ologunagba indicated that the party’s National Executive Committee had approved the conduct of the zonal congresses.

The NWC finalized the timetable during its 592nd meeting, which comes ahead of the expiration of the current Zonal Executives’ tenures across the South-South, South-East, South-West, North-Central, and North-East zones.

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The timetable outlines the schedule of activities as follows:

Sale of Forms for ZWC Positions and National Ex-Officio Roles: November 18, 2024 – December 18, 2024.

Deadline for Submission of Completed Forms: January 17, 2025.

Screening of Aspirants: January 25, 2025, at the Zonal Headquarters.

Screening Appeal: February 1, 2025, at the Zonal Headquarters.

Publication of Cleared Aspirants: February 12, 2025.

Publication of Delegate Lists: February 13, 2025.

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The congresses are scheduled as follows:

Zonal Congresses for North-East, South-East, and South-South: February 22, 2025.

Appeal on Zonal Congresses: February 25, 2025.

Zonal Congresses for North-Central and South-West: March 22, 2025.

Appeal on Zonal Congresses: March 26, 2025.

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The party has encouraged all interested aspirants to reach out to the Directorate of Organization and Mobilization or the Directorate of Finance at the National Secretariat for information regarding fees and other inquiries.

Ologunagba also called on all PDP leaders, stakeholders, and members to stay united and work collaboratively for the party’s advancement.

A hearing in the asset forfeiture suit filed by former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke was postponed on Monday due to the absence of the presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The case is now scheduled to be heard on November 21, as the judge is attending a seminar at the National Judicial Institute.

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Diezani, represented by Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), filed her suit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to challenge the final forfeiture order of her assets, a decision granted by the anti-graft agency.

The case with the suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023 was filed on January 6, 2023.

In her motion, Diezani is seeking several orders from the court, including an extension of time to apply for a court order to set aside the EFCC’s public notice for the sale of her property.

She argues that the various forfeiture orders were issued without jurisdiction and should be annulled “ex debito justitiae.”

Diezani contends that she was never served with the charge sheet, proof of evidence, or any summons related to the criminal charges against her.

She alleges that the courts were misled into issuing the forfeiture orders through the suppression of crucial information.

“The multiple applications that led to the final forfeiture orders were obtained through significant misstatements and concealment of material facts,” she argued, asserting that the orders violated her constitutional rights to fair hearing and property.

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On the other hand, the EFCC, represented by investigator Mr. Rufai Zaki, filed a counter-affidavit requesting the dismissal of Diezani’s application.

Zaki stated that the investigations conducted by his team revealed evidence of Diezani’s involvement in criminal activities, including conspiracy, official corruption, and money laundering.

The EFCC highlighted past statements from its former chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, indicating that $153 million and over 80 properties were recovered from Diezani.

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She is believed to have fled to the United Kingdom following her tenure as minister from 2010 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

In addition to her asset forfeiture suit, Diezani has filed another case seeking N100 billion in compensation from the EFCC, claiming damages from what she describes as defamatory publications related to the multiple suits against her.

Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele announced on Monday that President Bola Tinubu has allocated 1,200 bags of fertilizer to each senator for distribution to farmers in their respective districts.

Additionally, each member of the House of Representatives received 600 bags to support farmers in their 360 federal constituencies.

Bamidele made this announcement during a fertilizer distribution event in Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, where he provided 5,000 bags of fertilizer to farmers in the Ekiti Central Senatorial District, which he represents in the National Assembly.

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Addressing rumors about his stance on regionalism, Bamidele stated, “As of today, October 7, there is no bill or memorandum regarding regionalism under discussion in the National Assembly. The claims that I oppose regionalism are unfounded and false.”

He emphasized his commitment to regional development, noting, “Recently, I led all 18 senators from the six Southwest states to successfully pass the South West Development Commission Bill. How could anyone suggest that I am working against the interests of the Yoruba people when I have actively participated in this process?”

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Bamidele highlighted that the headquarters of the newly established Southwest Development Commission (SWDC) will be in Ibadan, which he noted is the historical center of the Southwest.

He explained that the commission would include a chairman, managing director, and four executive directors, with each position allocated to representatives from the six Southwest states.

Discussing the president’s initiatives, Bamidele stated, “President Tinubu believes that we should go beyond merely distributing rice and focus on investing in agriculture to improve lives. He has made 1,200 bags of fertilizer available to every senator and 600 bags to every House member specifically for our farmers.”

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He stressed that the fertilizer distribution is intended solely for farmers and is not for political gain. Bamidele mentioned his efforts to secure additional funding to provide a total of 5,000 bags for his district.

The senator cautioned the beneficiaries against selling the fertilizer, urging, “Only accept it if you intend to use it for farming.”

He reiterated the government’s commitment to promoting agriculture and supporting farmers across the state.

President Bola Tinubu has called on political stakeholders in Rivers State to remain calm and adhere to the rule of law in response to the violence following Saturday’s local government elections, during which three LGA secretariats were set ablaze.

In a statement released by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the president expressed concern over the escalating violence and urged all aggrieved parties to approach the judiciary to resolve their disputes rather than resorting to violence.

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Tinubu also instructed the police to take immediate action to restore peace and ensure the protection of public property.

He emphasized that government facilities built with public funds must be protected from vandalism and that self-help or violence has no place in a democracy.

The president reassured the public that law enforcement agencies would bring the situation under control and reiterated that the judiciary remains the appropriate avenue for settling political disputes, including those arising from the recent election.

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Appointees of Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State have issued a warning, threatening to curse the governor if he fails to officially swear them in before the end of October 2024.

The governor had listed 1,273 individuals for various appointments, including special advisers, senior special assistants, constituency and community special assistants, as well as members of boards, commissions, and agencies.

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Despite the appointments being made in batches starting in June, the appointees have not been inaugurated, nor have they received official letters.

The first batch of appointments, released on June 19, 2024, listed 134 appointees, followed by a second list on June 25 with 61 names.

Additional lists were published in July, with 573 appointees on the 15th, 502 on the 16th, and three more on the 22nd.

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The appointees were directed to submit their resumes via WhatsApp, but four months have passed without any formal swearing-in or letters of appointment, leaving many frustrated.

Some have even declined the positions, while others are threatening to take drastic measures if the governor does not inaugurate them soon.

One appointee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed anger over the governor’s neglect of those who supported him during the 2023 election, accusing him of filling key positions with outsiders.

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“He brought in people who didn’t work for him during the campaign, leaving those of us who worked tirelessly in the cold,” the appointee said. “We’ve been listed for months, but we’ve received no official letters, no allowances, and our status is in limbo. If the governor doesn’t swear us in before the end of October, we’ll swear for him.”

The appointees expressed concern about the financial strain and social pressure they’ve faced due to their unofficial status as political appointees, warning that the situation could affect the governor’s chances in the 2027 elections.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the trial of former Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, on charges of alleged money laundering.

The case, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), will now resume on November 13 for the continuation of proceedings.

The trial, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, was scheduled to continue on Monday but was delayed as the judge was attending a seminar at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja.

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Earlier, during the June 26 session, EFCC’s counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, had presented two witnesses.

One of them, Ugochukwu Otubelu, a former commercial bank employee, testified as the third prosecution witness (PW-3).

Otubelu managed the security vote account for Obiano’s government and revealed that funds from the account were transferred to six company accounts but did not reach the account holders directly.

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Another witness, Bureau De Change (BDC) operator Hayatu Hadejia, testified as PW-4, detailing his involvement in transactions related to the case.

Following his cross-examination by Obiano’s defense counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, Hadejia was discharged from the witness box.

Obiano, who governed Anambra from March 2014 to March 2022, faces a nine-count charge, including the alleged misappropriation of over N4 billion from the state’s treasury.

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The court initially set October 7-10 for the continuation of the trial but has now rescheduled the case to November 13.

The political turmoil in Rivers State has escalated further, with the Emohua Local Government Council Secretariat being set ablaze, reportedly by thugs believed to be loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike.

The attack is allegedly in protest of the results from the recent local government elections.

This marks the third local government office targeted, following similar incidents at the Eleme and Ikwerre LGAs.

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In Eleme, significant portions of the secretariat were destroyed, while the chairman’s office in Ikwerre was set on fire.

Armed thugs are said to have stormed the premises shortly after Governor Siminialayi Fubara swore in new council chairmen.

The violence has triggered widespread looting in council offices across the state, with reports of mobs stealing office equipment and materials from various local government areas.

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These attacks followed the withdrawal of police officers from LGA premises, as per the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, which left the secretariats vulnerable to such acts of violence and vandalism.

On Monday, Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, Abuja, discharged and acquitted former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye of all charges brought against him by the Federal Government.

The case, which dates back to 2019, involved a six-count charge accusing Melaye of attempted suicide, escape from police custody, and damage to police property.

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The alleged incident took place on April 24, 2018, while Melaye was being transported by the police to Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State.

During the journey, Melaye allegedly forced his way out of the police vehicle, threatened to commit suicide, and broke the vehicle’s window, thus causing damage to public property.

Despite these serious allegations, Melaye maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, pleading not guilty.

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His legal team, led by Professor Mike Ozekhome SAN, filed a no-case submission after the prosecution presented five witnesses and ten exhibits.

Initially, Justice Oriji upheld the no-case submission on two of the six counts — threat to injure public officers and attempted suicide.

However, the remaining four charges required Melaye to enter a defense.

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In delivering the final judgment, Justice Oriji held that the prosecution could not prove beyond reasonable doubt that Melaye was guilty of the remaining charges, which included escape from custody and damage to police property.

Consequently, the court acquitted him of all charges, affirming that the prosecution failed to meet the legal threshold for conviction.

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