The Eagle Gate

Author: Admin

  • Portrait of The Tiger Ambode Rode (4) – Yinka Odumakin

    Portrait of The Tiger Ambode Rode (4) – Yinka Odumakin


    Dear Chief Tinubu,

    The backpage of your The Nation of Tuesday 12 March where one of your Rottweilers under the FORGED name “Segun Ibirogba” wrote “Odumakin’s anxiety over vanishing feeding-bottles” has un-paused the button on this serial.

    I have always wondered why these intellectual almajiris around you always attack me under fake names. It is either they are afraid of me or they don’t believe in you to risk their names doing the dirty job for you. Well, we know many of them hold worst views about you than us, but for the free money they have been accustomed to from a Robin Hood.

    The piece referenced was a rehash of same old silly lies and freshly minted ones. In keeping faith with my resolve that for every dart of lie you guys throw in my direction, I will return 10 bombs of truth. I make this response and for every line I write, I can say like Fela Anikulapo-Kuti “Na true I wan talk again o, if I dey lie o, make Edumare punish me o”.

    Since you guys made a failed attempt to impugn my integrity, I have chosen to use this edition to place your life side-by-side mine on the scale of integrity so we can know if your hen can point at the boil in a hawk’s eye. I intend to show that were it not that Nigeria has become Caesar’s palace where the leper holds the veil, nobody in your circle should move near that subject.

    I am Yinka Odumakin and nobody can say he had known me under any other identity in my life. I have led a straight life unlike you that people know under different identities depending on where they met you in your about 80 years on earth. Yes, 80!

    Those of us who are knowledgeable about you can’t buy your 66 claim for so many reasons. The current governor of Osun is the son of your immediate senior sister from Iragbiji and he is 63 while you are claiming 66. Your first wife died in Lagos recently unannounced at 74.

    When the son she had for you died many months earlier his age had to be doctored to fit into the lie that you live. And there is a photograph of yours at the palace of Soun Ogbomoso in 1974 when the current monarch was installed with a bottle of beer and packet of cigarette in your front. You mean you were 20 when you were drinking and smoking in a palace?

    There is no school I have attended in my life that my classmates would not come out in droves to say “yeah, we were there together!”. From St Augustine Primary School, Ondo to CAC Grammar School, Edunabon and Oduduwa College Ile -Ife down to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile -Ife and University of Ghana.

    At your end St John Primary School Aroloya you claimed may be created by your new governor in Lagos. The old boys of Government College Ibadan were planning a reception for you when someone asked which set you belonged to. There has been no answer to that till date and the reception was cancelled. The tales by moonlight on Chigago State University and University of Chicago are all over the place.

    My parents are alive in Osun and by God’s grace I will give them a befitting burial. I will not have to send emissaries to bury them since I have not abandoned “moomi” (that’s how we Oyo people in Osun call mummy) to be calling another woman “maami” in Lagos to fit a life of lie and greed. No Mama HID Awolowo would have told me that she knew all the children of “maami ” and that I was not one of them.

    My parents are not rich, but I am proud of them because it is from their black pot that my white palp has come out. I say proudly among my University mates today that they could not afford more than N60 per month for me throughout my University days. The story of grass to grace is a proud thing among the Yoruba. MKO Abiola was proud of the story that he ate egg for the first time in his life in the home of Simbiat Abiola’s parents.

    With the modest means of my parents, they instilled so much values in me that there is no crime attached to my name in all my years on earth. Forging traveling passports had never appealed to me. Neither has my name been linked to a narcotic ring leading to inquiry and forfeiture of assets. All my life, my hands have provided for me. And they have provided for you too.

    I recall when you returned from exile in 1998 and running for governor. You were not “Ezeego” then. You had only the Sunday Adigun house and all the four cars you used then belonged to Mr Ganiyu Solomon. There were a lot of printings being done for you by your friends at The News. I saw the price you were being offered and I told you my press could do it at 40%. I delivered and saved you 60%. I recall Mr Babafemi Ojodu complained openly that they could not do the price I offered you.

    That should tell you and your attack dogs that I have always separated the cause I believe in from what I would eat unlike you who always mix the two. You pose as a June 12 hero today but Kola Abiola is alive to tell the story of what happened to MKO’s money as Bashorun is no longer alive. In 20 years, there is hardly any boundary between Lagos treasury and your private pockets. Your “O to ge” moment is coming some day and all the dirty deals will be out.

    Like a rapist, you can tell your victims to shout “O to pe” for as long as stolen funds and drug money rule Lagos politics.

    I have noticed that because you and your followers have no abiding principle and you are driven by only lust for money, you assume it is so for everybody. Your being glued to the lowest of all spirits (money) makes it difficult for you to make the right judgement about people thinking they are all about money. Was it that you didn’t have money when I told you in December 2006 that it was over between us politically? Have I ever looked in your direction ever? There are men who may not be able to give N10,000 to a cause but if they say they want to see me at 8AM I would be there at 7. Can you summon me with all your bullion vans?

    I recall how you said to me in 2006 about Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi and I quote you “Adiye ni Tokunbo, yin agbado fun a pada” (Tokunbo is a fowl, throw corns and it is U-turn). Has he not turned his back at you today? You don’t have “corns” again? This was the man who was your fall guy when you made all the forgeries in 1999. He was among the team that went to bury your biological mother in Iragbiji when you could not show your face, has his exit not shown you there are men who place value on principle than money?

    I have lived my political life on the basis of the fact that an adversary today can be an ally tomorrow and vice versa. I am not beholden to any person outside the core beliefs we share. One of the men I had an open disagreement with was President Obasanjo and when we reconciled it was an open thing. That differentiates me from you who walk both sides of the streets simultaneously. You were with NADECO and also in bed with Abacha through whom you forged friendship with the Chagourys who are your business partners till date.

    The political buffoons around you would hold you out as an anti-third term person today but you know what happened between us on May 2, 2006. We had a meeting at Airport Hotel in Lagos where you were dictating the communique against third term unknown to participants you were at a meeting till wee hours of that morning to work third term in another way.

    I was reading the communique to the press when you called me. I gave the phone to the late Rev Tunji Adebiyi but you told him you wanted to speak with me. We didn’t get to talk till late in the night. I had with me in the car as you spoke with me from VGC to Ikeja then President of Egbe Omo Yoruba in North America, Mr Odusanya. Let me quote you verbatim:

    “I hope you have not released that communique. We need to manage this third term carefully. Obasanjo is a blind cat. If he causes problem now and they kill one Yoruba graduate in Kano and we kill 200 people selling onions in mile 12 it is not equal. I am therefore proposing that we have a win-win situation. Instead of outright third term we can have the confab recommendation of one six-year tenure starting with the incumbent having 2 extra years and so with we the governors. We can use the two years to empower people like you and handover to one of you. I have asked General Alani Akinrinade to come and I am going to meet Prof Soyinka to discuss it. I want you to think about it”

    I told you as a matter of fact that the proposition was unreasonable and there was nothing for me to think about as I would prefer outright third term where we would have elections to automatic two years extension. But my eyes were opened to how unreliable you are that night. Here was a man dictating communique against third term in the morning having this conversation with me at night.

    I made up my mind on you that night. The conversation I had with you minutes after Funso Williams was killed and the way you handled your succession made me to severe political links with you within six months.

    …More to come.

  • I have not, will not and will never abandon Atiku – OGD

    I have not, will not and will never abandon Atiku – OGD

    Atiku is different from PDP. I have resigned from PDP and lost interest in partisan politics having put in about 20 years of my life in a thankless process. I will commit my God given resources to help the less privileged through my Foundation and will contribute sharing the body of knowledge through our not for profit Political Academy. That will be a thankful process. I will continue to support the political process in a non partisan manner. I am clear with my position, without any ambiguity.

    There is no need to insinuate, speculate, extrapolate, anticipate or draw conclusions on my behalf. I did not expect such a simple personal decision can generate such national discourse and for that I remain grateful to God. I am however most grateful to all my friends and well wishers. The phones have not stopped ringing. All the advice are well taken. My very deep appreciation.

    Otunba Gbenga Daniels

  • The Uncommon Legislator Sergius Ogun is at it again!

    The Uncommon Legislator Sergius Ogun is at it again!

    • REHABILITATION OF EWOHIMI WATER WORKS BEGINS, COURTESY OF BARR. SERGIUS OGUN

    Barr. Sergius Ogun is a member of the House of Representative for Esan North-East/South-East Constituency elected for a second term on the platform of the PDP.

    In continuance of his good works through his first term Barr. Sergius Ogun has embarked on the project to bring pipe borne water to the people of Ewohimi. 

    The attached photos capture the desilting of the water. 

    In no distant time, the sad tale of the death and dearth of public water supply in Ewohimi Town will be confined to the dustbin of history as Barr. Sergius Oseasochie Ogun is bringing back the good old days of free pipe borne water for all.

    Representation is all about meeting the basic needs of the people.

    Expect much more from the promise-keeping federal lawmaker!

    No dull moments, more positive actions and impacts all the way!

    Team Sergius Ogun

  • The Peoples Mandate 2019: Atiku’s Battle to save our Democracy- Segun Showunmi

    The Peoples Mandate 2019: Atiku’s Battle to save our Democracy- Segun Showunmi

    A time comes in the life of a nation when men of valour have to stand up and be counted at epochal moments to stop the ship of state from either drowning or derailing. The history of mankind is replete with the exploits of great men and women who rose to become something out of nothing and selflessly shaped the future and destiny of their societies. These men and women make all the sacrifices and at the risk of their personal safety and resources take the difficult road to put their nations on the map of development and progress.

    In China, they keep talking about Mao Zedong (Chairman Mao), in Singapore, it is Lee Kuan Yew, and in South Africa, it is Nelson Mandela. But it is not only presidents or leaders of countries who have had this immense impact in shaping the history of their respective nations’ politics and polity. The history of the United States will not be complete without the sacrifices and advocacy of great men like Martin Luther King (Jr.) and Malcolm X, both of whom paid the ultimate price for their conviction. In Nigeria, we have had the benefit of seeing great statesmen like the eloquent Nnamdi Azikwe, the visionary and selfless Ahmadu Bello, the philosopher-statesman, Obafemi Awolowo, the foremost masses advocate, Aminu Kano among several others.

    These great men used different methods and ways to define the destiny of their respective peoples. They put their resources and talents to use in building virile nations that their future generations have always been proud of.  

    The PDP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has made an immeasurable success out of his life. From lonely, challenging poverty-stricken childhood, he has through a dint of hard work, diligence and grace of God, risen to become a fulfilled father and husband, a celebrated entrepreneur, cheerful philanthropist and a conscientious nation builder. He has however never failed to acknowledge that in addition to his business acumen and sheer brilliancy, it is the Nigerian society that has made it possible for him to excel in all he has laid his hands on. He has therefore over the years insisted that the society must also give upcoming generations the same platform to succeed as well. That was why since 1992 he has sought to serve the country at the highest level of governance. That was why on the February 23 2019, Nigerian voters who had bought into his vision of a properly structured, economically-sound and prosperous nation voted for him en masse before the enemies of the nation changed the result overnight.  

    Those who are cajoling, begging, intimidating, harassing and blackmailing Atiku not to go to court to challenge the curious figures that INEC boss, Professor Mahmud Yakubu, allocated to President Muhammadu Buhari, are indeed not fair to Nigerians. This is because INEC cannot set a rule and break the rule by itself and be allowed to get away with the grave injustice. The most shocking aspect of the electoral malfeasance put together by INEC which must be of significant interest to our learned justices must be the issue of card readers. The INEC boss emphasized that it must be used for accreditation or an entire polling unit will be cancelled. But when he was presented with the evidence that card readers were not used in most of the places they allocated huge numbers to APC, he threw integrity to the wind by seeking to change the rule in the middle of the game. He said the rule on card readers could be by-passed in the case of any ‘circumvention’ of the machines. Circumvention? How? Why? Where? By Who? And who should suffer the consequences of the so-called ‘circumvention of the card readers?

    Secondly, many of the figures reeled out by the inconsistent INEC boss did not add up and even though he promised to provide clarifications after the announcement, he has not done so nearly two weeks after the polls. There is no better way to detect dishonesty.

    While declaring Buhari as the winner, saying he polled a total of 15,191,847 votes to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who scored 11,262,978 votes, Yakubu said 29,364,209 voters were accredited, while the total number of valid votes cast were 27,324,583 with total rejected votes of 1,289,607, putting total votes cast at 28,614,190. This means that a total of 1.6 million people were missing in the voter register, considering the fact that the number of registered voters was over 84 million, while the number of collated voters, according to the INEC chairman, was over 82 million.

    Thirdly, we have seen hundreds of videos which came out of Borno, Zamfara, Yobe, Kano, Katsina Sokoto etc where people gather in strange places and thumb printed massively for the APC. The ballot papers used for the election in these selected places must be subjected to thorough forensic checks. If this is done, it will shock Nigerians that in many cases, one person thumb printed hundreds of ballot papers. Why should such disservice to the electoral process be allowed to stand in the name of a narrow definition of peace? There can’t possibly be any real peace without justice and without real peace; we can’t make progress as a nation.    

    Having budgeted N27 billion for technology alone in the 2018 budget, every right thinking Nigerian interested in the credibility of the electoral process expected INEC to for the purpose of transparency and law, display the card reader details to party agents to show how many voters went through the machines. But they did not and this will continue to be a serious dent on the integrity of the election. The difference between the accredited voters and the votes cast, which came to about 750,000 votes is also very suspicious and INEC has some explanations to make.  The cancellations that took place in PDP strongholds impacting 2.7 million voters are also fraud-laden.

    The people who are mocking Atiku and saying his court case is a wild goose chase are not good students of history. These ignoramuses claim that because no presidential election has either been annulled or upturned in the history of the country, Atiku is wasting his time and energy. But we must inform them that the world does not revolve around Nigeria’s history, after all, we have not practised democracy consistently beyond 20 years. That was why some other obsessive historians said the change of guard of 2015 was impossible because it was unprecedented. The fact that that jinx or myth was broken in 2015 should open the minds of people to the reality of the moment that another jinx could be broken in 2019 even if it means Atiku would be the hero once again. But when this happens, would that be the first time Atiku would be setting records and breaking new grounds in the country’s judiciary? The answer is no.

    It is on record that Atiku insisted on testing the Nigerian law in court when his ambition to run for President in 2007 was threatened by EFCC and other government agencies which sought to disqualify him on account of some phony indictments. Atiku went up to the apex court which agreed with him that it was only the judiciary that could find someone guilty of corruption and also disqualify any aspirant from seeking a political office. The landmark cases he won have been sources of references for scholars, Law students and politicians ever since. Since then no governor or President has been able to use state agencies to stop their political rivals from aspiring for any office of their choice.

    If Nigeria is truly a democratic nation, there is no way such malfeasance should be allowed to stand. It is actually easier and cheaper to operate a monarchical system and let a few households rule forever instead of spending billions of naira and losing lives just to conduct what will end up as a charade.           

    Again, Nigeria will not be the first to annul a badly conducted presidential election as there are precedents seen in Europe and even Africa. Ukraine annulled its presidential elections in 2004 after Victor Yanukovych, who had lost to Victor Yuchchenko after the second round, went to court seeking to annul the results over sundry irregularities.

    In Maldives, the country’s Supreme Court invalidated the results of 2013 first round presidential elections pitting former President Mohamed Nasheed and Abdulla Yameen against each other. The later had won the election but the court described the poll as a sham which cannot stand in the sight of the law.

    Similarly, the Constitutional Court of Austria ordered a repeat vote after ruling that Austria electoral law was disregarded in 14 of 117 administrative districts in the 2016 election. In the polls, Alexander Van der Bellen had been declared the winner after beating Norbert Hoffer. It also ruled that 77,900 absentee ballots had been improperly counted too early. They ordered a repeat vote to be conducted in October 2016 but it was postponed to December 2016.

    More recently and closer home in Kenya; the Supreme Court in September 2017 nullified reelection of President Uhuru Kenyatta saying the polls were “neither transparent nor verifiable” and blamed the country’s electoral commission for the shortcomings. Kenyatta, the incumbent president, had won a second term by a margin of 9%, defeating his long-term rival, Raila Odinga before the polls were annulled.  

    Now that Atiku Abubakar has chosen a patriotic battle not only to reclaim his mandate but also expand the horizon of the country’s jurisprudence and improve the electoral process, all Nigerians of good conscience must irrespective of political affiliations rally round him and encourage him. Atiku’s ambition is not just to be President and rescue Nigeria from poverty and insecurity but to also place the country on map of civilized, democratic and progressive nations.

  • POLICE PRESS RELEASE – VERIFICATION AND CONFIRMATION OF 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS SENSITIVE MATERIALS

    POLICE PRESS RELEASE – VERIFICATION AND CONFIRMATION OF 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS SENSITIVE MATERIALS

    AZ:5250/EDS/PRD/VOL.23/212

    19/02/2019

    No. 004

    POLICE PRESS RELEASE

    VERIFICATION AND CONFIRMATION OF 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS SENSITIVE MATERIALS

         The Command wishes to inform the general public following the appeal of the Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), that the Nigeria Police Force, Heads of other sister security agencies, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) member of the various registered political parties, the branch Controller of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Benin City met today 19/02/2019 at the CBN for the verification and confirmation of the 2019 General Elections sensitive materials that was safe kept at the CBN office Benin 

         The Commissioner of Police in charge Election duty in the State, CP DanMallam Mohammed Psc, fdc, who had earlier met with all the Heads of other sister security agencies in his office at the Police Headquarters, Benin City where they further brainstorm on 2019 General Elections strategies, moved with the officers to the Central Bank of Nigeria Benin for the verification and confirmation exercise.

         On arrival, the CP and other sister security agencies in company of the members of the registered political parties in the State moved to the office of the branch Controller of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Benin City, whence all stakeholders moved to the CBN leading Bay room where all the INEC sensitive materials for 2019 General Elections were kept. The materials were inspected, verified and confirmed to be well secured by the CBN, Benin.

          Thereafter, it was unanimously agreed by the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner Benin, the Commissioner of Police, other Heads of sister security agencies, members of registered political parties and the branch Controller of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Benin that all the 2019 General Elections sensitive materials would on Thursday 21st February, 2019 leave the CBN for Local Government Areas of the State in readiness for the conduct of the General Elections on Saturday the 23rd February, 2019.    

          Commissioner of Police DanMallam Mohammed Psc, fdc assures the INEC REC and the members of registered political parties the protection of lives and the sensitive materials to the designated areas, stating that adequate security measures have been put in place. The Commander 4 Brigade Headquarters of the Nigeria Army, Benin Brig. Gen. J.O. Omorogbe supporting the Commissioner of Police stated that his men at the various L.G.A in the State will join force with other security agencies in beefing up security where the Election sensitive materials will be kept.        

    DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, Police Public Relations Officer

    FOR: Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command

  • CUPP DECRIES FOUL PLAY BY APC LED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

    CUPP DECRIES FOUL PLAY BY APC LED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

    FROM CUPP

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

    February 19, 2019 at 9 am

    • Buhari orders DSS to arrest INEC Federal Commissioner in charge of Operations today.
    • Buhari planning to sabotage and shift Saturday election with instruction to DSS to massively arrest all INEC top leadership who refused to be compromised. 
    • DSS acting Buhari script to detain Prof. Ibeanu INEC commissioner in charge of operations to give room for his sister Amina Zakari to take charge of operations or emerge acting INEC chairman if Buhari APC succeeds in sabotaging Saturday election and forcing INEC chairman out.

    Buhari is planning to sabotage and shift rescheduled Feb 23rd Saturday Election and have directed DSS invite and detain the Federal Commissioner of INEC in charge of Operations Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu for refusing to help Buhari APC sabotage distribution and compromise of sensitive election materials. 

    The Refusal of INEC to proceed with staggered election during the aborted Feb 16 election which ruined Buhari APC rigging plan is the reason for the new offensive action against INEC to intimidate them into submission. The idea to detain the Federal Commissioner today was on the sole instigation of the former DG of the DSS Lawal Daura who still runs the agency by proxy and convinced Buhari to allow the use of the DSS to clampdown on INEC to force them to do their Bidding or sabotage the rescheduled election and stop it from holding.

    We call on all Nigerians to rise up on against this ongoing leadership abuse and madness which have the potentiality to throw Nigeria into an electoral violence that will enable Buhari execute his lawless order that Security agencies should publicly start killing people under the guise of Ballot box snatching. 

    Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere  CUPP Spokesperson

  • PRESS BRIEFING BY RT. HON. YAKUBU DOGARA, SPEAKER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

    PRESS BRIEFING BY RT. HON. YAKUBU DOGARA, SPEAKER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

    February 18, 2019

    1. This press briefing is to call the attention of well meaning Nigerians and the international community to the incendiary statements made by President Muhammadu Buhari, and Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the national caucus of their party, earlier today.  

    2. At the meeting the President said: “Anybody who decides to snatch boxes or lead thugs to disturb the election, may be that would be the last unlawful action you would take. I have given the military and police the order to be ruthless. I am going to warn anybody who thinks he would lead a body of thugs in his locality to snatch boxes or to disturb the voting system; he would do it at the expense of his/her own life.”

    3. Mr. Oshiomole also claims that the PDP was given prior notice of the postponement of the elections. 

    4. In this context, we categorically deny these false claims and unnecessary blackmail and regard the President’s statement as a call for extra-judicial killings considering the fact that there are adequate provisions in our laws to address electoral offenses. 

    5. These statements clearly indicate that our democracy has become the victim of a full blown dictatorship, when one considers that a democratically elected President would give a directive that is in clear violation of the laws of the land which by his oath of office he is to defend and protect.

    6. Inview of this statement by the president, it is obvious that the military has been given a central role and coopted into the conduct of the election despite the fact that they have no constitutional role in our electoral process.

    7. It should be noted that our party chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, was the first to call for an inquiry into why the elections were postponed last Saturday.  In reality, we support a genuine and transparent probe into why the presidential and National Assembly elections could not hold. We also hope that the president’s inflammatory statement is not a threat aimed at intimidating the electoral commission. 

    8. We also strongly condemn Mr. Oshiomole’s false, mischievous and inflammatory claims against our party, when he said INEC colluded with PDP to abort last week’s elections. This is a very surprising statement considering the fact  that the Federal government controls every institution and agency involved  in the electoral process, including the CBN, Nigerian Airforce, Aviation authorities amongst others.

    9. From our position, we strongly believe that the deliberate delivery of election materials to the wrong electoral centers, cancellation of flights, and other actions that undermined the logistics arrangement of INEC were deliberately done to sabotage and manipulate the process.

    10.  We are also very familiar with the pressure brought on INEC by top government officials and APC leaders to go ahead with the elections despite not being adequately prepared for the election. We are also aware the APC wanted the INEC chairman to conduct elections in some states and postpone in other states so as to have staggered elections. It should also be noted that the areas that would have been affected by inadequate delivery of materials were PDP strongholds.

    11. It is important to note that  the APC in its usual manipulative style is now shifting the blame on INEC leadership while absolving itself and the other institutions of government under its control of any blame.That is the common strategy that super villains always employ.

    12. Obvioulsy, we know they are doing everything humanly possible to discredit INEC, remove the chairman and stall the process conscious of the fact that they cannot win this election. 

    13. Embarrasingly, this is the first time that we have witnessed a ruling party play victim, which is a clear indication that they have lost the plot. Evidently, their recent actions and statements clearly show they are panicking and desperate to cling onto power, even when the people have rejected them.

    14. Also, opinion polls conducted by the APC, and other international agencies clearly indicate that the APC will lose this election, anytime it is conducted; we believe that is why they are resorting to desperate measures of arm-twisting the electoral commission,  undermining the entire process and planning to unleash terror on the country.

    15. Finally, let it be known that the PDP, with the support of every well meaning Nigerian, will employ every legitimate means to resist  attempts by the APC and the Federal government to undermine and compromise the electoral process and truncate our democracy. 

    16.  The PDP believes in a united and democratic Nigeria and will continue to do all within its means to protect the country, her people and constitution from undemocratic elements. 

    17. We call on all Nigerians not to despair, but turn out en mass on Saturday to vote and defend their votes. We also urge the international community and their observers that are in the country to monitor the election and be vigilant because their presence as impartial arbiters is important in ensuring we have peaceful, credible, free, fair and transparent elections. The security agencies are also enjoined to be impartial and remain loquat to the constitution of the Federal Republic.

    Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Speaker, House of Representives Federal Republic of Nigeria

  • OSHIOMHOLE’S CALL FOR INEC CHAIRMAN’S RESIGNATION: A BLACKENED POT CALLS KETTLE BLACK!

    OSHIOMHOLE’S CALL FOR INEC CHAIRMAN’S RESIGNATION: A BLACKENED POT CALLS KETTLE BLACK!

    In the last couple of days, I’ve battled the urge to join issues with the erstwhile Governor of my home-state, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, on his alleged call for the resignation of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. As a well-brought up son of Edo land, and one schooled in the nuances of my culture and tradition that frowns at the unedifying pursuit of hurling insults at elders, I am indeed constrained. But as a Nigerian, a Midwesterner, and one who has in recent past, tasked our (mis)leaders to be more forthright and accountable to our people, it has become too difficult to keep quiet.

    It is no longer news that the National Chairman of the APC, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, has called for the resignation of the INEC Chairman. Mr. Oshiomhole is not ignorant of the fact that such action will further heat up the polity, while throwing the entire election process into needless disarray, and avoidable crisis. 

    While not defending the inexcusable failings of INEC, and the attendant postponement of last Saturday’s election, I must plead with the perennially loquacious ex-Governor to elevate his pronouncements and diatribes, at least for once! It is shameful that Mr. Oshiomhole of all people should be the one voicing such gross demands. We all don’t have short memories. Barely a few months ago, he superintended over what was generally alleged to be the worst intra-party Election Primaries in recent history; one that prompted no less a person than the wife of the nation’s President (who is the Leader of his party) to chastise him publicly in a 6-paged tweet on her official Twitter handle! To refresh the memory of the diminutive ex-labour leader, Dr. (Mrs) Aisha Buhari berated the self-styled Comrade for duping hundreds of APC aspirants in the Primaries and she wondered why “such impunity could take place under his watch”! 

    It is baffling that Mr. Oshiomhole, who failed to conduct a transparent intra-party selection process within the APC, and whose monumental failure midwifed the largest ‘decamping’ exercise in the nation’s political history, could call for the INEC Chairman’s resignation. It is akin to a charred and blackened, ugly-looking and weather-beaten pot calling a kettle black!  It is on record that Oshiomhole’s monumental failure robbed the APC the chance to field candidates at all levels in both Zamfara and Rivers States! 

    As an Edo man, I am ashamed of the continued, albeit unchecked, boisterous and Mephistophelean disposition of a man who had the rare privilege to be Governor of my home State. All Edos are a proud people with a distinguished heritage that reverberates along concave shores of the world. It beats me: what peculiar strain constitutes the ex Comrade’s DNA?

    My dear Comrade Sir, since the APC continues to harbor and accommodate you as its National Chairman, please do well to remember the proud and dignified mien of the Edo people from whence you supposedly descended. Maybe (Just MAYBE) that will guard and guide your public pronouncements and vituperations going forward. I wish you a more dignifying comportment during the coming elections. 

    Ògbòo Sir.- Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki, writes from Lagos, Nigeria.

  • INEC IS RIGHT; IT IS END OF THE ROAD FOR RIVERS APC IN THE 2019 ELECTIONS

    INEC IS RIGHT; IT IS END OF THE ROAD FOR RIVERS APC IN THE 2019 ELECTIONS

    A few days ago, INEC categorically and publicly said that it will not change its decision to exclude Rivers State chapter of APC from participation in the 2019 general elections for the offices of Governor, National and Assembly membership. From the state of existing Court judgments, INEC was on firm ground.

    A good point to start would be the first of the legal fireworks initiated by relevant parties.

    1.     Suit No: BHC/78/2018

            Ibrahim Umah vs. APC & Ords.

    This suit was commenced at the Rivers State High Court, Port Harcourt. The Plaintiffs therein sought several reliefs. They include that Magnus Abe’s group were entitled to participate in the APC primaries, a declaration setting aside the purported primaries by the Ameachi group, injunction restraining APC from conducting any Local Government Congress based on the ward congress election purportedly conducted on May 5, 2018, declaration that the purported ward and Local Government and State congress conducted by APC in Rivers State on May 12th, 19th, 20th and 21st 2018 respectively and anything done there under are entitled to be set aside etc.

    INTERLOCUTORY ORDER

    While this case was pending, the Plaintiffs secured an interlocutory/interim order to restrain APC from proceeding with the scheduled congresses pending the determination of the matter. In spite of this order the APC went ahead with the primaries but appealed against the said interlocutory order in Appeal No: CA/PH/198/2018 to the Court of Appeal. In the cause of prosecuting this Appeal, APC applied through one of its Counsel to withdraw the Appeal by filing a Notice of withdrawal. Another Counsel of APC approached the Court of Appeal to continue with the Appeal. The Counsel to the Magnus Abe group opposed this strongly and argued that the Appeal ought to be dismissed. The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt allowed and overruled the Abe group and continued with the Appeal. Abe’s group then appealed to the Supreme Court in Appeal No. SC. 1070/2018.

    CONTINUATION OF RIVERS STATE HIGH COURT TRIAL

    While this appeal was pending in the Supreme Court, the Rivers State High Court presided over by Hon. Nwogu delivered judgment on 10th October, 2018 in suit No: BHC/78/2018; Ibrahim Uma &Ords v. APC. The Court decided in favour of Ibrahim Uma & Ords restrained APC from conducting any primaries upon the ward congress which the Court found to have been conducted in contravention of extant laws and party Guidelines. The Court nullified all the nominations for election to the offices of Governor, National and State Assemblies on the ground that they were conducted in breach of extant court order restraining the conduct of same

    It would appear that the only appeal lodged against the Rivers State High Court judgment is the one against the order of interlocutory injunction made by that Court. No appeal was lodged against the substantive judgment itself. For all intents and purposes the Rivers State High Court judgment remains valid and unchallenged.

    SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT IN SC. 1070/2018

    On 8th February, 2019, the Supreme Court delivered its judgment in the Appeal filed by the Abe group against the failure of the Court of Appeal to dismiss the Appeal filed by the Ameachi group, same having been withdrawn by the filing of Notice of withdrawal at the Registry of the Appeal Court. The Supreme Court held as follows at page 19 of its judgment

    It is my considered opinion that this appeal must be given a decent burial. The appeal having been withdrawn is deemed to have been dismissed. This is what the lower Court failed or evaded for reasons stated above.

    The Supreme Court’s judgment therefore strongly protected the interlocutory orders of the Rivers State High Court restraining the conduct of primaries by APC on the basis of a flawed ward congress. In any case, the said High Court gave its final judgment which eventually nullified any purported primaries for contravening valid court orders.

    2.      SUIT NO: FHC/PH/CS/149/2018

            PDP vs. INEC & APC

    Once PDP found out that the Rivers State High Courts had given judgment nullifying any purported primaries, by APC and further restraining the party from conducting any upon the flawed ward congress, PDP quickly approached the Federal High Court and sought several reliefs. They include; a declaration that all primaries conducted in Rivers State by APC, having been set aside by a competent Court, APC was not entitled to nominate or sponsor any candidate for 2019 General Elections. They sought injunction against INEC from according any recognition to purported APC candidates.

    The Federal High Court, in a judgment delivered by Justice J.K Omotosho, found for PDP and granted the reliefs sought. The Court pointed out that it was important to obey Court orders and that the defect of non-compliance was fatal.

    3.      APPEAL NO: CA/PII/38/2019

            PDP vs. INEC & APC  

    APC filed an appeal against the said judgment of the Federal High Court in the Court of Appeal. It also filed an application for stay of execution of the judgment of the Federal High Court. The said application is still pending but has been fixed for hearing same in February, 2019.

    4.      SUIT NO: FHC/PH/CS/144/2018

             Magnus Abe & Ords vs. APC & Ords

    Magnus Abe and Ords instituted the above suit against APC and Ords seeking amongst others an order of Court that they have been duly nominated to contest the various elections in 2019 general election. They also sought an order to nullify the nomination of the candidates of Ameachi’s group and an order for INEC to recognize them as the nominated candidates. In the end, the Federal High Court declared that Magnus Abe’s group were not validly nominated by APC, having failed to prove that the primaries that produced them were validly conducted. The Court held that the primaries that produced them were conducted during the pendency of Suit No BHC/78/2018, between Ibrahim Umah & Ords vs APC. The Court also held that the Magnus Abe’s group failed to show that their primaries were conducted by the national body of APC.

    The Federal High Court went further to restrain INEC from recognizing any candidate of APC contesting for the various offices in the 2019 general elections. The Court nullified the nomination of any candidate by APC for election into the said offices as earlier nullified by Nwogu .J, on 10thOctobetr, 2018 in Suit No: BHC/78/2018, Ibrahim Umah & Ords vs APC.

    5.      APPEAL NO: CA/PH/39/2019

            APC V. SEN. MAGNUS ABE & ORDS

    APC appealed against the said Federal High Court judgment in Suit No: FHC/PH/CS/144/2018. It also filed an application for stay of execution against the judgment of the Federal High Court delivered on 7th January, 2019.

    TWIST IN THE APPLICATION

    In what appears to be a costly mix-up, APC’s counsel in their prayers for stay of execution filed on 5th February, 2019, directed their relief against the judgment of the Federal High Court in Suit No: FHC/PH/149/2018; PDP v. INEC & APC which was not the subject of this appeal. The subject of this appeal was Suit NO: FHC/PH/CS/144/2018, Sen. Magnus Abe & Ords v. APC & Ords. In spite of this costly mix-up which should have led to the striking out of such application, the Court of Appeal granted the application for “Stay of Execution as Prayed”. What the Court of Appeal granted in reality were prayers in connection with another appeal between APC and PDP.

    REACTION TO COURT OF APPEAL’S MIXED-UP ORDERS

    In reaction the mixed up order of the Court of Appeal, PDP filed an application before the Court of Appeal in Appeal NO: CA/PH/38/2019; APC V. PDP & INEC praying that the Hon. Justices should recuse themselves from further hearing the appeal or participate in the hearing and determination of the said Appeal on the basis of the mixed-up order of stay of execution and a previous application made to the president of the Court of Appeal on 30th January, 2019 for the re-constitution of a fresh panel of Appeal. The said application filed on 6th February, 2019 is pending before the Court.

    CONCLUSION

    In conclusion the judgment in suit No: BHC/78/2018; Ibrahim Umah & Ords vs. APC delivered on 10th October, 2018 by the High Court of Rivers State nullifying the nominations by APC for 2019 elections remains valid and unchanged. The judgment of the Federal High Court in Suit No: FHC/CS/149/2018, PDP vs. INEC & APC delivered on 7th January, 2019 restraining INEC from recognizing any APC candidate and also nullifying all APC nominations remain valid as it has not been set aside on appeal. In addition, no valid stay of execution has been granted to warrant INEC to act on it. The judgment in Suit No: FHC/PH/CS/144/2018; Sen. Magnus Abe & Ords vs. APC & Ords which restrained INEC from recognizing any candidate of APC for 2019 elections remains valid. No valid order for stay of execution has been made against it. In any case, for INEC to validly recognize APC candidates for all positions in 2019 elections, all existing judgments must be set aside on Appeal or validly stayed.

    So far, this has not been so. It appears that nothing can be done about the Rivers State High Court judgment in Suit No: BHC/78/2018 Ibrahim Umah & Ords vs. APC which has no appeal against it and there cannot be one anymore having regards to the period allowed by law to appeal against same. It can therefore be safely concluded that the iron curtain has been closed on APC with respect to fielding candidates for 2019 general elections with respect to Rivers State.

    My humble opinion

    Dr. Ehiogie WEST-Idahosa

  • EDO STATE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE PRESS BRIEFING

    EDO STATE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE PRESS BRIEFING

    Edo state Police Command in its efforts to rid the State of crimes and criminality and make it safer for the citizens, have made modest achievements as highlighted below. The achievements are:

    1. ARMED ROBBERY

    A. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY/CULTISM SUSPECT

    On 15/01/2019, operatives of Evbuotubu Police Station, Benin City arrested one Osazee Odiase ‘m’, a member of three (3) gun men and also Aiye secret cult, at No. 6, Ehigie Street Evbuotubu, Benin City, who came to his house, attacked and injured him with bottles and robbed him of the sum of #5,000.00 and handsets. Suspect made statement and confessed to the crime. Investigation is in progress.

    B. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECT/RECOVERY OF ARMS;

    On 18/01/2019, Operatives of Okada Police Station, Okada, Edo State acting on a tip-off arrested one Umar Abubakar ‘m’ aged 25yrs along Benin/Lagos Expressway by Fulani camp, while two other members of the gang escaped. Suspect confessed that he is an armed robber belonging to a three man gang. Items recovered from him;

    1. One locally made cut-to-size single barrel Dane gun
    2. Charm
    3. Pellets
    4. Nails
    5. Gun powder

    C. DEATH OF ARMED ROBBERY/RECOVERY OF CUTLASS

    On 20/01/2019, Operatives of Ekiadolor Police Station, Benin City received complaint from one Blessing Igwe ‘f’ of Upper Uwa by Murtala Mohammed way, Benin City, boarded one Audi 80 car Reg. No EDO BEN-969-TW to take them home with two (2) men and the driver already inside the car suddenly, the driver made a u-turn and headed to Benin/Oluku bye-pass via Ute, Ahor and Utekon Communities, took her inside the bush where she was sexually assaulted under threat with one locally made cut-t0-size single barrel gun and cutlass, robbed her of two GSM phones and #31,250.00 and adopted her brother, luck ran out of them she sighted the criminals at Isihor, Benin City and alerted Soldiers on guard duty who gun down one of them and other escaped. Items recovered from him are;

    1. One Audi 80 car EDO BEN-969-TW
    2. One cutlass

    D. DEATH OF ARMED ROBBER AND KIDNAPPER/LOST AND RECOVERY OF FIRE ARMS/CARTRIDGE/OTHER ITEMS;

    On 23/01/2019 Inspector Monday Omokaro and Cpl Amadi Augustine attached to State Safer Highway patrol who were on their way to Oluku along Benin/Lagos expressway, Benin City, in Inspector’s Grand Cherokee Jeep, were attacked by armed robbers/Kidnappers, in the process one of the suspects Usman Mohammed ‘m’ was gun down and Cpl Amadi Augustine was also killed by the armed robbers/kidnappers and his long range smoke gunner taken by the suspects. DPO Ekiadolor Police Station and men moved to the scene and the criminal elements on sighting them took to their heels. The following items were recovered;

    1. One (1) AK 47 Rifle with breach No. 1968TE8266
    2. One (1) live Cartridge
    3. Four Expended Cartridges
    4. Eighteen Expended AK47 (7.62mm) Ammunition
    5. One Itel phone
    6. One Identity card of the dead suspect
    7. One Wallet with cash sum of #4,500
    8. One sack containing some clothes
    9. Two bearings  

    On 24/01/2019, operatives while on Hi-Tech investigation in the same case arrested one Yahaya Mohammed ‘m’ aged 40yrs old in connection with the case. He made statement and he is helping the Police in the investigation.

    E. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECT;

    On 09/01/2019, operatives of Evbuotubu Police Station arrested one Onorode Sunday ‘m’ with two Techno phones and Infinix phone in a raid operation. Suspect made statement and confessed to the crime. Investigation is in Progress.

    F. ARREST OF SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBERS/CULTIST/RECOVERY OF ARMS/BATTLE AXE/CARTRIDGES;

    On 21/01/2019, operatives of Iguobazuwa Division in Ovia South West local Government area of Edo State led by the DPO bust into a kidnappers hide out at Okada Junction by Hausa Bush Market and recovered one locally made pistol, one cut-to-size single barrel gun, two wooden toy guns, three pairs of black jean trousers, four (4) pairs sanders, three pairs of black shirt, one wrist watch and one black singlet. Investigation is ongoing to bring the criminal elements to book.

    G. ARREST OF SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBERY/RECOVERY OF ARM/VEHICLES

    On 28/01/2019, operatives of Esigie Police Station received a distress call from one Anthony Sunny ‘m’, that a gang of armed robbers attacked and robbed him of his Toyota Camry car Reg. No. Edo BEN-62-KJ and other valuables, but luck ran against them as Operatives of Ugbekun Division on township patrol intercepted the armed robbers in the robbed Camry car, who engaged them on gun battle, in the process one of the robbers Efosa Osawe ‘m’ A.K.A Dogo was gun down, one Osawe ‘m’ a member and the dead armed robber’s girl friend were arrested. The following items were recovered from them; one locally made cut-to-size single barrel gun with one expended cartridge. Investigation is in progress.

    H. ARREST OF ROBBERY SUSPECT/RECOVERY OF ITEMS;

    On 24/01/2019, Operatives of Evbuotubu Police Station arrested one Ogobidi Nwanne ‘m’ aged 25yrs old near Ugbiyoko Primary School, Benin City. Immediately he was searched and the following items were recovered from him;

    1. One hundred and sixty four thousand, Eight hundred naira (#164,800.00)
    2. One new shirt
    3. One ¾ new jeans
    4. One handkerchief.

    Suspect made statement and confessed being a thief and not an armed robber. He will soon be charged to court.

    I. ARREST OF ROBBERY SUSPECTS/RECOEVRY OF ITEM;

    On 05/01/2019, a gang of armed men attacked one Mrs. Odion Ufumwen ‘f and robbed her of her bag containing one Infinix hot 2 phone and some along Benin/Lagos Express road, by Isihor, Benin City. On 15/01/2019, the robbed Infinix hot 2 was tracked to one Paul Emmanuel ’m’, he was arrested and could not give reasonable account on how he acquired the phone,. Investigation is in progress and suspect will soon be process to court.

    J. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY/CULTIST/RECOVERY OF ARMS/CARTRIDGES/JACK KNIFE/CHARM

    On 30/01/2019, Operatives of Sabongida-Ora Division in Owan West Local Government area of Edo State in collaboration with vigilante group arrested  one Blacky Longe ‘m’ of Uzebba in Edo State during a joint raiding operation and recovered from him the following items;

    1. One (1) Cut-to-size single barrel gun
    2. Three (3) live Cartridges
    3. One (1) expended cartridge
    4. One (1) Jack Knife (Dagger)
    5. Some Charm

    In another operation, on 30/01/2019, the operatives in collaboration with vigilante group arrested one Prince Ifah ‘m’ at Uzebba with one cutlass. Suspect made statement and confessed being a member of ‘Baby Bird’ secret cult confraternity. He will soon be processed to court.

    K. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECTS/RECOVERY OF ITEMS

    On 18/01/2019, operatives of the Command received a distress call from one Evbosonion Socrates ‘m’ that when he and his families were on their way home, a gang of armed robbers attacked and robbed them of their phones, ATM Cards, a Cash sums of #37,000, one Wrist Watch, one Necklace and some other valuables worth thousands of Naira on gun point. Acting on this information, the following suspects were arrested; Edoseghe Ovouramwen ‘m’ aged 24yrs, Mavis Imade ‘m’ aged 27yrs and Akim Benjamin ‘m’ aged 27yrs. Items recovered are; one Red Techno Carmon X PRO and one constructed wooden gun shaped stick in form of a gun. The case is under investigation.

    2. KIDNAPPING

    A. RESCUE OF KIDNAP VICTIMS/RECOVERY OF VEHICLES

    On 16/01/2019 at about 2230hrs, Operatives of Okada Division, Edo State acting on a distress call met one Ash colour Toyota Corolla, Reg. No Lagos MUS-185-CM parked with the engine-on and head lamp-on along Isuwa slope, one Honour Ibenye ‘m’ aged 55yrs old was rescued and vehicle recovered. Victim said his three (3) brothers were kidnapped and taken into the bush by some hoodlums. Operatives engaged in bush combing and on the 4th  day his three brothers one Emeka Ibenye ‘m’, Stephen Ibenye ‘m’ and Emeka ‘m’ surname unknown were also rescued unhurt and they have since re-united with their families.

    In another development the operatives of Okada Division rescued unhurt all 14 passengers of a commercial Bus vehicle Toyota Hiace, navy blue in colour Reg. No. AAA-738-DY and recovered the same vehicle. They have since been reunited with their families.

    B. RESCUE OF KIDNAP VICTIM

    On 22/01/2019, Evbuotubu Divisional Police Headquarters, Benin City rescued unhurt one Queen Abigil Egbo ‘f’ who was kidnapped in her home at No 25, Ekoma Street, Okhokugbo, Benin City, by unknown four (4) man gang, operating in their Audi 80 car Reg. No. Edo BEN-749-GK. Following a complaint received from her husband one HRH Johnson Egbo ‘m’. Victim has since reunited with her family, while operatives are on the trail of the criminal elements. 

    C. RESCUED OF KIDNAPPED VICTIMS;

    On 01/01/2019, one Fidelia Azenabor ‘f’ was kidnapped at Jattu Community, Auchi, Edo State, but through a serious pressure mounted on the stronghold of the kidnappers, the victim was rescued unhurt on 16/01/2019. She has since been reunited with her family.

    3. CULTISM:

    A. ARREST OF SUSPECTED CULTIST

    On 08/01/2019, Operatives of Esigie Police Station acting on distress call stormed Murtala Mohammed Way, Benin City and met one Osaze Okojie ‘m’, a cultist lying helplessly on the ground with matchet cuts on his head and body. He was said to have been attacked and wounded by some members of a rival secret cult group who were on a revenge mission. Investigation is ongoing.

    B. ARREST OF SUSPECTED CULTISTS;

    On 06/01/2019, operatives of Ogida Police Station, Benin City acting on a distress call arrested two suspected cultists one Emmanuel Osazumwen ‘m’ Owiebo ‘m’ while others took to flight that attack and wounded another rival cult  member, one Eguavoen Edobor ‘m’ at Ohonba line, off Siluko road, Benin City. Suspects made statements and confessed to the crime. Investigation is on going.

    C. ARREST OF SUSPECTED CULTISTS;

    On 17/01/2019, operatives of New Benin Police Station, Benin City accosted and arrested three (3) cultists, one Obazee Monday ‘m’ aged 22yrs, Scott Eina aged 24yrs and Odo Kingsley ‘m’ aged 25yrs who were inside a commercial bus drinking hot drink mixed with Indian Hemp. The three (3) suspects made statements and confessed being members of Manfit secret cult group. Investigation is on going and suspects will be process to court accordingly.

    D. ARREST OF SUSPECTED RITUALIST/RECOEVRY OF ITEMS

    On 16/01/2019, operatives of South-Ibie Police Station, Edo State, acting on information arrested a suspected ritualist, one Kenneth Oviangbede ‘m’ at Afokha Street, Ihankpi quarters, Sabo, South-Ibie, Edo State recovered a sack containing the following;

    1. Used children Pampers
    2. Used female menstrual pads
    3. Female bags
    4. Female Brassieres

    Suspect made statement and confessed to be ritualist. Investigation is in progress.

    E. ARREST OF CULTIST/MURDER SUSPECTS;

    On 11/01/2019, operatives of Ogida Police Station, Benin City arrested one Enoma Igbinora ‘m’, Fred Aghedo ‘m’ Onyema Okorocha ‘m’ Osaretin Junior ‘m’ and Ikumapayi Alaba ‘m’ who were on rampage in carrying out clandestine cult activities at No 10, Eweka Street and killed a rival cult member; one Eze Enabulele ‘m’. Suspects made statements and confessed to the crime. Investigation is in progress.

    F. ARREST OF CULTISTS/RECOVERY OF ARMS/CARTRIDGES;

    On 20/01/2019, operatives of Anti Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Unit arrested eight (8) cultists, recovered one (1) locally made cut-to-size single barrel gun, one (1) locally made pistol, fifty (50) rounds of live cartridges, one Eiye secret cult blue beret with cowries and two parcel of cannabis satiba from them. Suspects made statements and confessed being members of different secret cult groups. Investigation is in progress, thereafter, suspects will be process to court accordingly. The suspects are;

    1. Osayuware Aigbogun ‘m’ A.K.A EBO Aged 23yrs
    2. Emmanuel Ogiemudia ‘m’ A.K.A Ekpoma (Capon) Aged 25yrs
    3. Osarenkhoe Etinosa ‘m’ A.K.A ade aged 24yrs
    4. Ehizogie Ogandu ‘m’ A.k.A, Akpan aged 25yrs
    5. Chidi Ukpai ‘m’ aged 23yrs
    6. Osaruyi Daniel  Bakare ‘m’ aged 27yrs
    7. Joseph Oladimeji ‘m’ aged 24yrs
    8. Imadiyi Lucky ‘m’ aged 22yrs

    G. ARREST OF SUSPECTED CULTISTS/RECOVERY OF ARMS/BATTLE AXE/ CATRIDGE

    On 21/01/2019, operatives of Auchi Area Command, Edo State responding to a distress call arrested four (4) cultists one Lucky Anthony ‘m’, Sunday Anthony ‘m’ John Omosuanfo ‘m’ and Omomoh Omozuanfo ‘m’ in different locations of Iyora village in Etsako West Local government are of Edo State, who were allegedly initiating new members into Vikings and Jurist secret cults confraternity. Suspects made statements and confessed being members of the above named confraternity. Investigation is ongoing. Items recovered from them are:

    1. One locally made single barrel gun
    2. Battle axe
    3. One cartridge

    H. ARREST OF SUSPECTED CULTISTS

    On 09/01/2019 operatives of Anti Cultism Unit acting on a distress call that some cultist were holding their meeting at Okomu Community, Edo State. They swung into action and arrested the following suspects; one Cletus Tragama ‘m’, Emmanuel Augustine ‘m’, Peter Wazor ‘m’, Ordunate Tarwase ‘m’ and Friday John ‘m’. Suspects have made confessional statement to the crime. The will soon be process to court.

    I. ARREST OF SUSPECTED CULTIST

    On 23/01/2019, operatives of New Benin Police Division arrest one Agho Osabohien ‘m’, a member of Eiye secret cult confraternity. Suspect made statement and confessed to the crime. Investigation is ongoing.

    J. ARREST OF SUSPECTED CULTISTS

    On 25/01/2019, operatives of Anti Cultism Unit while on township patrol arrested two suspects one Emeka Ogoke ‘m’ and Michael ‘m’. They made statements and confessed being members of Aye secret cult confraternity. Investigation is in progress in arresting other members.

    K. ARREST OF SUSPECTED CULTIST

    ON 28/01/2019, operatives of Anti Cultism Unit while on township patrol arrested one Emmanuel John ‘m’, a native of Igiobhudu village in Uhnumwonde Local Government Area of Edo State. The suspect made a confessional statement that he is a member of Jurist Secret cult, that he was initiated by Austin ‘m’ and Gosic ’m’ who are presently at large. He also confessed that he took part in the recent cult clash in Benin City. Efforts are on to track down other members of the group.

    L. ARREST OF SUSPECTED CULTISTS

    On 26/01/2019, operatives of anti Cultism Unit arrested one Elijah Ojeifo ‘m’, Michael Francis ‘m’, Ehis Ehimare ‘m’ and Destiny Erinmhene ‘m’ from Uromi, Edo State. Suspects made confessional statements that they are members of Vikings, Maphite and Eiye secret cults confraternity. Investigation is ongoing.

    M. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECT/ RECOVERY OF FIREARM

    On 23/01/2019, Command Operatives arrested two (2) suspected armed robbers/cultists one Idehen Osarenmwinda ‘m’ and Precious Osayande ‘m’   who attacked passersby, force them into the bush and robbed them at Aso Water Mechanic road, off Siluko road, Benin City. Suspects made statements and confessed to the crime. The following items were recovered from them;

    1. one locally made double barrel cut-to-size gun with
    2. Three (3) live cartridges.

    N. ARREST OF SUSPECTED CULTISTS

    On 27/01/2019, operatives of Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) acting on information bust into a group of suspected cultists at Upper Sakponba road, Benin City and arrested nine (9) of them who confessed being members of Vikings secret cult confraternity. The suspects are;

    1. Izigbe Elvis ‘m’ aged 24yrs
    2. Ufumwen Osaigbokhan ‘m’ aged 19yrs
    3. Edobor Omoruyi  ‘m’ aged 21yrs
    4. Osasere Aruagbon ‘m’ aged 20yrs
    5. Okurobo Etiosa ‘m’ aged 18yrs
    6. Osayomwonbor Festus ‘m’ 31yrs
    7. Edoisiagbon Osakpamwan ‘m’ 21yrs
    8. Uyi Omoragbon ‘m’ 32yrs
    9. Nosa Erabor ‘m’ 28yrs

    4. MURDER

    A. ARREST OF MURDER SUSPECT

    On 18/01/2019, the operatives of Oba Market Police Station acting on distress call arrested seven (7) suspects, Friday Osaigbovo ‘m’ Osagie Aimalawa ‘m’ Ogochukwu Oha ‘m’ Godwin Jackson ‘m’ Daniel Ovire ‘m’ Niyi Obasuyi ‘m’ and Adodo Junior ‘m’ in connection with the murder of a boy of about 26yrs whose names are unknown, that was beaten to death by the suspects on 18/01/2019 at Iyaro Water Board, Benin City. Investigation is in progress and suspects will be processed to court soonest.

    B. ARREST OF MURDER SUSPECTS;

    On 16/01/2019, operatives of Esigie Police Station, Benin City while on township patrol saw a lifeless body of a man lying on his pool of blood with bullet wound, on enquiry the victim was identified as one Moses Momoh ‘m’ aged 40yrs. He was allegedly murdered by some boys. During investigation three suspects were arrested one Iguma Osemwegie ‘m’ Evans Chukwu ‘m’ and Eric Omozuwa ‘m’ in connection with the dastardly act. Body of Moses Momoh ‘m’ has been deposited at Jessy Hospital Mortuary, Benin City. Investigation is ongoing.

    C. ARREST OF MURDER SUSPECT

    On 23/01/2019, operatives of Abudu Division received a distress call from one Godfrey Idahosa ‘m’ that his younger brother one Matthew Idahosa ’m’ aged 50 yrs old was attacked with a matchet by one Atekha Iyare ‘m’ at Osa village farm in Abuduthat led to his death, thereafter made away with hisunregistered Lifan motorcycle to Afuze, Edo State. He was later arrested, made statement and confessed to the crime. Investigation is ongoing, thereafter suspect will be processed to court. Items recovered from him are;

    1. One unregistered Lifan motorcycle
    2. One cutlass used by the suspect

    D. CULT ACTIVITIES/MURDER

    There was heightened criminal activities viz cultism by rival cult group; the black Axe, Eiye, Black Mafias, Vikings and Aye one of which was the cult fight that took place at Nomayo Street, Upper Sakponba road, Benin City where a Police Sergeant Monday Ehigie attached to Executive Chairman Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, was shot by the cultists, though he gallantly killed two of them before giving up the ghost.

    In another development, the Command carried out raid operation in Upper Sakponba black spots and criminal hide outs and arrested six (6) cultists and recovered one cut-to-size gun from them. The suspects are;

    1. Jeffery Ugiagbe ‘m’ aged 18yrs
    2. Iyamu Mavis ‘m’ aged 22yrs
    3. Uizeagie Victory ‘m’ aged 20yrs
    4. Udoh Monday ‘m’ aged 18yrs
    5. Monday Emmanuel ‘m’ aged 20yrs
    6. Osakpolor Promise ‘m’ aged 26yrs

    5. STEALING

    A. ARREST OF SUSPECT FALON/RECOEVRY OF COW;

    On 13/01/2019, operatives of Igueben Police Station, Edo State received two Fulani men one Ibrahim Abubakar ‘m’ aged 38yrs, Babangida Momodu ‘m’ aged 27yrs, Gango Hassan aged 22yrs and Umoru Alhaji Bello 25yrs from HRH Onogie of Udo, who were caught by the vigilante group, stealing a cow from one Ahamodu Haruna ‘m’ aged 57yrs old. Suspects made statements and confessed to the crime. They have since being charged to Magistrate court Igueben and currently on remand.

    B. ARREST OF /RECOVERY OF STOLEN VEHICLE

    On 29/01/2019, operatives of Conflict Resolution Unit received a complaint that, one Omoregbe Tunji ‘m’ was having in his possession a stolen Toyota Bus Reg. No. Ondo REL-11-XA swung into action and arrested the suspect with the said vehicle along Ekehuan Motor Park, Benin City. Suspect made confessional statement that he stole the vehicle in the month of December 2018 from Irele town in Ondo State, and registered it here in Benin City for commercial purposes. He will soon be charged to court.   

    SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS

    NUMBER OF ROBBERY SUSPECTS = 15

    NUMBER OF SUSPECTED CULTISTS = 54

    NUMBER OF ARMS RECOVERED = 1 (AK47 RIFFLE)

    NUMBER OF CUT-TO-SIZE GUN RECOVERED = 8

    STEALING SUSPECTS ARRESTED = 3

    NUMBER OF SINGLE BARREL GUN RECOVERED = 1

    NUMBER OF LIVE CARTRIDGES RECOVERED = 55 

    NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECOVERED = 6

    NUMBER OF MURDER SUSPECTS ARRESTED = 11

    NUMBER OF KIDNAPPING SUSPECTS ARRESTED = NIL

    NUMBER OF KIDNAPPED VICTIMS RESCUED = 20

    NUMBER OF ROBBERY VICTIMS RESCUED = NIL

    NUMBER OF BATTLE AXE = 2

    CASH SUM RECOVERED = #200,800


    Hakeem Olusegun Odumosu, CP Edo State