Security Challenges Loom Over Buhari’s Re-election Bid

Muhammadu Buhari’s pledge to end Boko Haram’s Islamist insurgency in northeast Nigeria played a large part in his 2015 presidential election victory.

With elections approaching next year and Buhari,75, having declared his intention to seek a second, four-year term, the extent to which he has done that is coming under increasing scrutiny.

But as Africa’s most populous nation gears up for months of hard campaigning before the vote in February 2019, the former military ruler is not just facing questions about Boko Haram.

In recent months there has been a resurgence of clashes between farmers and nomadic herders — and a heavily politicised reaction — which could have an impact on polling.

Ryan Cummings, Africa analyst at the Signal Risk consultancy in South Africa, noted the violence “now accounts for more civilian casualties than the Boko Haram insurgency and may continue to do so in the foreseeable future”.

Elsewhere, criminal violence and kidnappings for ransom in some northern states have increased, while tensions persist from pro-Biafran separatists in the southeast.


– Boko Haram weakened –

In the 12 months before the last election, Boko Haram fighters ran riot across northeast Nigeria, capturing swathes of territory with the military seemingly unable to respond.

Buhari, who headed a military government in the 1980s, was seen as a better bet to end the violence, which has killed at least 20,000 since 2009.

He has achieved that to an extent but persistent attacks have undermined his repeated assertion that the militants have been virtually defeated.

“It is fair to say that President Buhari has failed in delivering on his promise to defeat Boko Haram within his first term,” said Cummings.

The group recently gave a clear indication of the threat it still poses by abducting 112 schoolgirls from Dapchi in Yobe state in almost a carbon copy of the Chibok kidnapping in 2014.

Buhari secured massive support across the mainly Muslim north in 2015. That looks unlikely to change significantly in 2019.

In the north’s biggest city and most populous state, Kano — a key election prize because of its size — people said Buhari had their vote for weakening Boko Haram.

But they warned he needed to take action against security threats elsewhere.

“That is where he is going to face his toughest challenge,” said Abdulhadi Ahmad, a garment trader.


– Herder-farmer violence –

Violence in the decades-old dispute between herders and nomadic farmers in the central states of Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa, Plateau and Kogi has flared again in the past two years.

Buhari has been criticised for failing to stop the violence, which according to some estimates has killed more than 2,000 since the start of this year.

It will be a key issue in central states, where the Muslim north meets the mainly Christian south, that typically swing between parties.

In Benue, the head of the state’s tribal leaders, Chief Edward Ujege, said Buhari “does not deserve a single vote… because he has failed to give us security”.

The conflict, which is driven by land and resources, has been seen largely through the prism of Nigeria’s ethnic and religious identity politics.

The president of the ethnic Tiv Youths Organisation, Timothy Hembaor, indicated patronage will play a part: people in Benue will back Benue’s APC governor, even if he moves party, he said.

Buhari “shouldn’t even come here to campaign”, he added.


– No political will –

Amaechi Nwokolo, from the Roman Institute of International Studies in Abuja, said Buhari, whose candidacy still needs to be endorsed by his party, had already “most likely lost the vote in Benue”, an APC state.

“He may not win in many of the states that have gone up in flames and many people are going to use that against him around the country,” added the security analyst.

Ndi Kato, a campaigner for indigenous people in the central states, said the attacks put a way of life under threat and the government’s lack of action had caused outrage.

“We feel we cannot have four more years of this,” she said, adding there was “zero political will” to end the violence, which has made tens of thousands people homeless.

“All things being equal the Middle Belt won’t be voting for this government. However, we don’t know who they will be voting for — and that is another problem.”



https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/04/security-challenges-loom-buharis-re-election-bid/

National Convention: APC Governors, Leaders Fight To Finish

*Eight govs insist on Oshiomhole, 16 others stick to Oyegun

*As fresh trouble brews in ruling party


Ade Alade, Abuja

Barely three weeks to the national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, on May 14, it’s 24 governors and other national leaders remain polarized over their struggle to control the party’s structure ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s insistence that the party must hold an elective convention that will usher in a new set of executives, the struggle by the power blocs within the party to control its structure especially at the national level has heightened.

While a former governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is currently leading eight serving governors pushing to install immediate past governor of Edo state, Adams Oshiomhole as the party’s national chairman at the May 14 national convention, 16 other serving governors that tag themselves as pro-Buhari are bent on returning John Odigie-Oyegun and his National Working Committee, NWC members into office.

There are however indications that two of the NWC officials; Deputy National Chairman, North, Senator Lawal Shuaib and the National Legal Adviser, Dr Muiz Banire, SAN.

Just as the governors are locked in a fight to finish, which many see as a battle for the survival of their own political career, another trouble that may lead to a crippling legal conundrum is brewing within the ranks of the party. This borders on the provisions of Article 20, Section IV (a) of the APC constitution.


Governors backing Oshiomhole and why?

Governors lining up behind Tinubu to support Oshiomhole include Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara state, Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo, Abdullahi Ganduje of kano, Godwin Obaseki of Edo and Kashim Shettima of Borno. One common factor among them is that, apart from Ambode, Ganduje and Obaseki, the rest are rounding off their second term in office.

Saturday Sun investigations reveal that beyond blind loyalty to anything Tinubu, another common denomination that binds some of the governors to this group is their bid to starve off investigations by an anti-graft agency they believe Tinubu has some level of influence over.

Some of them are already being investigated but that seems to have been frozen for sometime now.

It is public knowledge that Governor Yari was for a long time having issues with the anti-graft agency over alleged diversion bailout fund and Paris Club refund money. The same thing applies to one of the governors from a southwest state.

Sources in the anti-graft agency reveal that, the governor may have questions to answer regarding alleged diversion of N5billion bond fund and another money laundering charge for which the Managing Director of Heritage Bank, Mr Ifiesimama Sekibo, and a businessman, Kolapo Kola Daisi have been a before a Federal High Court in Lagos for an alleged fraud of N605,321,051.05. Also joined in the charge sheet marked FHC/C/95C/18 is a company, Greame Properties Limited.

The governor’s alleged link to the deal is currently frozen. Governor Ganduje who used to be behind Oyegun switched camp because of pressure from his southwest colleague who is also his in-law.

Governor Okorocha, it was gathered got into this group because he needed a new set of party executives in Imo state to replace the current ones who have failed to buy into the project of installing his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu as his successor.

Both Governors Aregbesola and Ambode are known lackeys of Asiwaju Tinubu and as such will naturally follow his direction wherever he turns. In his case, Governor Shettima is a very close ally of Aregbesola.

He believes strongly in the ability of Tinubu to make him a Vice President anytime the mantle of leadership falls on Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to be the President of the country. For Governor Obaseki, he’s morally bound to go with Oshiomhole, who is his predecessor and benefactor.


The pro- Oyegun governors

No doubt, the 16 governors rooting for the return of the Oyegun led NWC have a common agenda; to stop Tinubu from hijacking the structure of the party both in their state and at the national level because most of them are first term governors pushing to ride on Buhari’s shoulders back to the office for a second term, while the second termers desire to control the party structure to be able to install their successors.

They include: Bindo Jibrilla of Adamawa; Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of Bauchi; Samuel Ortom, Benue; Badaru Abubakar, Jigawa; Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, Kaduna; Aminu Bello Masari, Katsina; Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Kebbi; Yahaya Bello, Kogi; Abdulfatah Ahmed, Kwara; Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Nasarawa; Abubakar Sani Bello, Niger; Ibikunle Oyelaja Amosun, Ogun; Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, Ondo; Simon Lalong, Plateau; Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Sokoto; Ibrahim Geidam, Yobe.

Most of the governors in this group are either die-hard Buhari supporters, or eyeing a re-election for second term. Some others are just comfortable with their present state executives and wouldn’t want anything to alter the structure.

Also in this group are those scared of Tinubu’s shadows because they are at the moment locked in battles with his loyalists in their respective states, while some equally belong to a different power bloc within the party, which has a soft spot for Oyegun’s leadership.

The case in Katsina, Buhari’s home state is a bit peculiar. While Governor Masari is backing Oyegun’s continued stay, some of the President’s men are desperate for a new election because they want to change the party executives in the state, which is controlled by Masari who is seeking re-election.

This is because the son an influential member of the President’s kitchen cabinet, Mallam Isa Funtua is gunning for Masari’s seat and so wants a change of the party’s exco. The son identified as Abu is believed to be married to one of Buhari’s older daughters.


Fresh legal hurdle

Saturday Sun gathered that the party may eventually run into a fresh legal tango after its national convention on May 14.

Some stakeholders fear that whichever camp loses out at the convention may seek for its nullification in court based on the provisions of Article 20 of the APC constitution.

The party’s National Executive Committee, NEC had at its last meeting directed the National Working Committee, NWC to conduct “a guided congress” from the ward through local council to the state and national level.

This means that the party’s executives at the ward level will constitute the electoral college instead of party members electing the delegates that will constitute the electoral college.

According to Article 20 (iv) (a) on ‘procedure for nomination of candidates’, the party’s constitution states “Further to article 20(iii) of this constitution, indirect primaries for the purpose of nominating a candidate shall be done at a designated venue for that purpose, by an Electoral College of delegates democratically elected by members of the party from the various Wards contained in the particular constituency at congresses.”

The violation of this provision through the ‘guided congress’ is what the concerned stakeholders are afraid is a potential landmine, that may tear the party apart in the weeks ahead.

The party had in a letter to the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, dated April 9, 2018 and signed by the party’s National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, announced the dates for the state, local government and ward congresses nationwide. While the state congresses will hold on May 9, the local government congresses will hold on May 5, and the ward congresses scheduled for May 2.



http://sunnewsonline.com/national-convention-apc-governors-leaders-fight-to-finish/

Is Robert Mugabe dead as reported?

Former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has been reported dead at the age of 94, wife Grace Mugabe said in a statement.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa made an official announcement on the state-owned television and ordered all flags to fly at half mast.

Tributes pour in from the global political establishment.

Mugabe reportedly “rejected an invitation from his successor President Emmerson Mnangagwa to attend this year’s Independence Day celebrations in Harare on Wednesday”.

Presidential spokesperson George Charamba said the veteran politician should be left alone as he needed to rest and had just recently returned from the Far East.

Mugabe is said to have returned from Singapore where he was receiving medical care few days ago.

Robert Gabriel Mugabe was the longest serving President of Zimbabwe, serving from 1987-2017.


As one of the leaders of the rebel groups in opposition to white minority rule, he was elected Prime Minister in 1980, serving in that office as head of the government, until 1987, when he became the country’s first executive head of state.

He had led the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) since 1975.

His 37-year rule has been characterised by gross human rights violations, resulting in him joining the world list of dictators.

Mugabe rose to prominence in the 1960s as the leader of the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) during the conflict against the conservative white-minority government of Rhodesia.

Robert Mugabe bowed to pressure and stood down as president of Zimbabwe in November 2017 to end his 37-year rule that began with the optimism of independence but took the country to the brink of economic collapse.

His resignation came as parliament was starting impeachment proceedings against him — six days after the military took over the country and placed the then 93-year-old head of state under house arrest.



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Man who put gun in woman’s vagina and shot her in sex game has sentence cut.

Richard Hartley-ParkinsonFriday 20 Apr 2018 12:55 pm

A man has had his sentence cut for shooting a woman in the vagina when a sex game went wrong. David Jeffers, 48, had a drink and drug-fuelled sex session with a woman at the Britannia Hotel in Offerton, Stockport.

But the antique shotgun went off while it was inside her so he ran away, catching a train to Leeds and cutting off his dreadlocks to change his appearance. He messaged her before they met, referring to ‘dat ting you want up ya’. They also discussed her fantasy of having a loaded gun placed in her vagina, the judge said as he cut his sentence from 10 years to eight and a half. Mr Justice Morris ruled that he had been hard done by and didn’t have the gun to commit a crime and that the woman was up for the ‘dangerous act’.

The incident caused ‘catastrophic’ and ‘life-changing’ internal injuries, which had had a ‘devastating’ impact on the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons. Cutting the sentence, the judge continued: ‘On any view, his conduct here was extremely reckless and, by his plea, he accepted that it was his intention to endanger life.

‘Nevertheless, in our view, there are a number of factors which lead us to the conclusion that this sentence was excessive. ‘A sentence of the sort which the judge gave is, in our judgment, the sort of sentence that may be more likely to be imposed for possession of a gun in the context of serious criminal activity. ‘In this case, the context was a consensual sexual encounter. There was no background of criminality. ‘Secondly, this isn’t a case of the possession of a conventional modern gun. It was something like a functioning antique pistol with the least lethal in the range of shotgun pellets. ‘He wasn’t in possession of the gun for the purpose of committing a criminal offence. There was no hostility between the parties. She was party to the dangerous act. ‘Taking account of all of the factors, we consider that the appropriate sentence after guilty plea in this case would have been one of eight-and-a-half years.’

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Mohamed Salah equals Shearer, Ronaldo & Suarez’s Premier League goal record

Mohamed Salah has equalled the Premier League record for most goals in a single Premier League campaign thanks to his 72nd-minute goal against West Brom on Saturday. The Egyptian has been in incredible form this season, scoring 41 goals in all competitions, and has now notched his 31st goal of the Premier League campaign to tie the record for a 38-game season. Alan Shearer (1995-96), Luis Suarez (2013-14) and Cristiano Ronaldo (2007-08) all shared the record and now Salah has joined them – though they may not be tied for much longer.

Salah is not only targeting one final goal to claim the record outright, but he also wants to break the record for a 42-game season. Shearer (1994-95) and Andy Cole (1993-94) both netted an astonishing 34 times with Blackburn and Newcastle respectively.

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – 31 goals Harry Kane (Tottenham) – 26 goals Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) – 21 goals Jamie Vardy (Leicester) – 17 goals Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) – 17 goals.

 Speaking about his pursuit of both this season’s golden boot and the all-time scoring record, Salah told Sky Sports: ‘Honestly as you can see, I have had a great season and still some games to go. ‘For anyone the most important thing is to play good, to perform good, to score goals for your team. I am happy in the city, for the club and for myself for sure. It means a lot.’


SOURCE

Arsenal in ‘advanced’ negotiations with Barcelona legend over replacing Arsene Wenger.

Metro Sport ReporterSaturday 21 Apr 2018 6:42 pm

Luis Enrique is in ‘advanced’ negotiations with Arsenal to take over as manager, according to the Daily Mail. The Spaniard is currently on a sabbatical after leaving his role as Barcleona’s manager last year, so he can take over the reigns at the Emirates as soon as Wenger departs at the season’s close. According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal’s head of football relations Raul Sanllehi approached Enrique about possibly taking the role.

Sanllehi joined the Gunners in February after a 14-year spell at Barcelona and he’s said to have a close bond with Enrique after their time together at the Nou Camp. The Arsenal heirachy have also witnessed the success Pep Guardiola has brought to City with his Barcelona influence, and they are keen to replicate their own situation in London, which Enrique can supply. The 47-year-old manager is acustomed to winning trophies having won La Liga twice and the Champions League while in charge of the Catalan giants.

MORE: Giroud sends message to Wenger over Arsenal exit.

Wenger did win the Premier League three times over a 22-year period, and Enrique will likely to have to deliver league titles to be considered a success at the Emirates. For now, Wenger remains in charge and his next task is preparing the Gunners for their game against West Ham on April 22 before facing Atletico Madrid in the Europa League.


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Wenger was sacked by Arsenal, Wright claims.

Former Arsenal star Ian Wright has suggested Arsene Wenger was forced to announce his decision to leave the club.

The Gunners released a statement on Friday in which Wenger stated his intention to step down at the end of the season, despite having a year remaining on his contract.

The Frenchman has resisted repeated calls for him to resign from disgruntled sections of the club's fanbase in recent years, Wenger ignoring their dissatisfaction to sign a two-year extension in May 2017.

And Wright, who won the Premier League title under Wenger in 1997-98, suspects the 68-year-old's hand has been forced amid concerns about the team's form behind the scenes at Emirates Stadium.

"Arsene Wenger is a man of principle, honesty and integrity – that is why I am convinced he has been sacked and not resigned," he wrote in a column for The Sun.

"For all the vitriol and abuse thrown at him, Arsene has never been a man to walk out before the end of a contract.

"It is a sad situation that it's come to this and I don't suppose we will ever find out who is responsible, because they will hide behind each other.

"One day he is doing a press conference with no hint of this, the next he's gone. It doesn't add up.

"But Arsene can go with his head high. That's why, whatever the results, it is imperative he gets the send-off a true Arsenal and football legend deserves. We all owe him so much."

Contrary to Wright's beliefs, Goal understands, however, that Wenger departed on his own accord.

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Did President Buhari say Nigerian Youths are Lazy? Well! Check This Out.

This should show the president that Nigerian youths are creative. While Nigerians are still countering and criticizing the statement made by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday who accused youths of loving freebies above working hard, one 'lazy Nigerian youth'' has decided to turn the controversial statement into a profitable business by printing T-shirts and caps with the caption: “Lazy Nigerian youths”.

Other ''lazy Nigerian youths'' are now making their orders too to encourage one of them who is very ''lazy''.

President Buhari during a business conference in London, was quoted to have said that the youths “do nothing” and want everything for “free” in the oil-rich country.

“A lot of them (Nigerian youths) haven’t been to school and they are claiming, you know, that Nigeria has been an oil-producing country therefore they should sit and do nothing and get housing, health care, education, free,” Buhari allegedly said.

Source; https://www.nationalhelm.co/2018/04/lazy-nigerian-youth-turns-buharis-statement-into-business-photos.html

Teju Babyface And Wife, Welcome Twins After Six Years Of Marriage

Comedian and talkshow host, Gbadewonuola Olateju Oyelakin aka Teju Babyface and his wife Tobi, have welcomed a set of twins after nearly 6 years of marriage. Teju and his beautiful wife, Tobi got married in August 2012. Congrats to them!

Sharing the good nes online, Teju wrote

''Please rejoice with us! My wife Oluwatobiloba @tobibanjokooyelakin and I are the very grateful and excited parents of twin Children. It has taken almost 6years but God who neither forgets nor forsakes has given us double for our trouble. I pray that the God whom we serve will remember everyone who seeks Him & give you the desires of your heart. Mother and babies are doing Great! #Grateful #awesomeGod''.

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Sex For Mark: Monica Osagie To Appear Before OAU Panel Tuesday

Friday OLOKOR , Jos


The alleged victim of sexual harassment by a lecturer in the Department of Accounting at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile - Ife , Ms. Monica Osagie , has been summoned to appear before the investigative panel probing the incident on Tuesday.

The invitation came barely 24 hours after her lawyer and and Executive Director of Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre , Dr . Abiola Akiyode - Afolabi , claimed that the victim had not been invited by any panel .

But it was not clear why the letter dated April 19 2018 was not immediately released to her .

PUNCH can authoritatively report that Osagie was an MBA regular student of the OAU and was said to have gone into hiding since the sex - for- marks scandal broke out.

The letter inviting Osagie dated April 19 2018 from the Office of the Secretary , Post-Graduate College , was obtained by our correspondent on Saturday in Jos.

The letter with Ref . No: ADP 15/ 16/ H/1424 entitled : “ Re : Investigative panel on alleged harassment of a female student : Detailed audio recording : Request for the presentation of Miss Osagie Monica Oselode ” , was signed by the OAU Deputy Registrar and Post- Graduate College Secretary , Mrs. A . O . Fadeyibi .

The letter reads : “I write at the instance of the Provost , Post-Graduate College to invite you to appear before the investigative panel on alleged harassment of a female student detailed in audio recording at its meeting which will come up at 10 :00am on Tuesday April 24 2018.

“ Please be informed that on arrival , you are required to call the Secretary to the panel to facilitate your appearance before the panel . Thank you . ”

Akiyode - Afolabi had raised the alarm that Osagie , “ resorted to self help ” through audio recording after two lecturers approached by her for intervention disappointed her .

According to her , several efforts made by her in reporting her predicament to two senior lecturers in the Faculty of Administration were unsuccessful as they both refused to intervene, adding that she therefore resorted to to self- help in documenting her evidence.

Akiyode - Afolabi , a former Public Officer of the OAU Students Union Government , therefore called on the school authorities “ not to compromise the reputation of this old and respected university and its responsibility for protecting its students in a bid to covering the unethical and disgraceful behavior of individual lecturers.

http://www.punchng.com/sex-for-mark-female-student-to-appear-before-oau-panel-tuesday/

‘Lazy Nigerian youths’: APC chieftain, Igbokwe gives 10 reasons Buhari’s remark is true.

Joe Igbokwe, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has thrown his weight behind the statement allegedly made by President Muhammadu Buhari that a lot Nigerian youths prefer to sit and not work.

Buhari, while speaking at the Commonwealth Business Forum in London few days ago, had said most Nigerian youths want everything free without doing anything.


Supporting Buhari’s remark, Igbokwe insisted that some Nigerian youths are actually lazy.

In a Facebook post, the publicity secretary of the APC in Lagos said youths now prefer “Okada business, yahoo yahoo and begging” to learning a trade that will take them years to perfect.

Igbokwe wrote” “10 REASONS WHY I INSIST SOME NIGERIAN YOUTHS ARE LAZY.

“A research carried out at NNAMDI Azikiwe University Awka Anambra State found out that Students spend more time doing some funny things on the Internet than focusing on their books.

“In the 90s I had some two Children of close family members in my house. They were about writing their WEAC Exams but I didn’t see them for one day reading for the exams. When I confronted them they said ‘ Uncle do not worry we will pass’ They ‘passed’ and today they are ‘graduates’ but I know they are not.

“Today in Nigeria if you want a good carpenter, Tiler or POP man you need to get the Togolese, Camerounians, Ghanaians to do the job.

“I have met Mothers who are ready to give anything including their bodies for their Children to get admission into Universities and even to pass common entrance exams.

“For years I have pleaded with some of the young people I know to go to learn a trade and even when I succeeded in getting them places to learn something they usually run away to go and continue to beg.
“I have met many of our young people who said they went to university and when you engage them you will discover instantly that they are fake graduates who are not employable and yet they will tell you there are no jobs.

“One of my brothers spent good money to get his wife who claimed to be a graduate a teaching appointment. He pushed and pushed until one day he was invited by the man who wants to help him. My brother was shocked to the marrows when the man told him that the woman should return to class one in Secondary School and that she knows nothing.

“In the South East today hundreds of young men have been brutally killed in drug related offenses in South Africa, Thailand, Malaysia and other Countries. Some sell their Kidnies to raise money. Give these young men a job of 200k a month they will just laugh at you.

“Today in NNEWI where I come from it is difficult for you to get a young boy to learn a trade for say 5,6,7 years before they are established. They prefer Okada business, yahoo yahoo, begging etc.

“There are so many fake Proprietors of universities and Polytechnics in NIGERIA that are only interested in money and nothing else. They go to JAMB and bribe them to send these 10th rate poor students to them. They push and push them until they graduate and the vicious cycle continues. We have close to 200 Higher Institutions but how many of them are real higher institutions.

“I am passionate about getting our Country to work again and that is the reason why I am challenging the young people of Nigeria. My father abused us for laziness and untoward behaviors to make us strong and dedicated. Our teachers in those days abused, flogged and and gave us pits to dig for failing to do our assignments. I know a father who went to pick his son in Navy school Abeokuta for holidays. When he got there and was told that the boy failed his exams the man turned his car and left for LAGOS without the boy. He did not return to pick that boy until after one week. It became a turning point in the life of that boy.”

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JUST IN: KADSIECOM building gutted by fire in Kaduna.

The head office of the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KADSIECOM) has been gutted by fire. The incident is coming exactly 20 days to the local government election in the state scheduled for Saturday, May 12. The fire was said to have started around 10am this morning at the top floor of the building was seen in flames.

Eye witnesses say fire fighters have been battling to put out the inferno as trucks of the state’s fire fighting unit responded to a distress call late. Security operatives were seen on ground controlling the crowd that converged at the scene to catch a glimpse of the incident. The cause of the fire is still unknown as at the time of this report. Meanwhile, Kaduna state governor has threatened to take one Steven Kefas to court, after the man alleged that the governor is responsible for the outbreak on his Twitter page.


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Breaking: Sex Scandal: OAU Suspends Prof Akindele

The Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has received and considered the interim report of the Committee set up to investigate the allegation of sexual harassment revealed in a recent audio recording.

Press Statement

The Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has received and considered the interim report of the Committee set up to investigate the allegation of sexual harassment revealed in a recent audio recording.

In the interim report submitted to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, Professor Richard I. Akindele, of the Department of Management and Accounting, is now established to be the lecturer in the controversial “marks for sex” audio recording. The female voice has also been identified as that of Miss Monica Osetobe OSAGIE, a Postgraduate Student on the Master of Business Administration Regular programme.

Although the Investigative Committee had invited both Professor Richard I. Akindele and Miss Osagie, only Professor Akindele had appeared before the Committee, while Miss Osagie is yet to appear or make any representation. The report indicated that many other witnesses appeared before the Committee and gave useful evidence. The University is making efforts to ensure that Miss Osagie appears before the investigative committee so that it can hear her side of the case and promptly submit its final report.

Sex For Mark: Monica Osagie To Appear Before OAU Panel Tuesday

The Committee observed that a prima facie case of inappropriate relationship with the female student had been established against Professor Richard I. Akindele. The Vice-Chancellor, having carefully and dispassionately considered the report, also came to the conclusion that a prima facie case of serious misconduct had been established.

Having regard to the gravity of the offence for which Professor Richard I. Akindele is found to be prima facie liable, the Vice-Chancellor, in line with the Code of Conduct for the University Community and acting under all the laws and regulations of the University enabling him in that regard, has directed that Professor Richard I. Akindele be suspended forthwith from the University, pending the final determination of the disciplinary case against him.

Under the provisions of the relevant Statute of the University, an academic staff can only be dismissed from service or have his or her appointment terminated only when the matter on which consideration is being given has been investigated by a Joint Council and Senate Committee, and the staff has appeared before the committee with his or her counsel, if so desired. This procedure is the minimum requirement of the law and regulations of the University. It should therefore be noted that the suspension of Professor Richard I. Akindele is on the basis of the findings of the Investigative Committee that he is prima facie liable, and this decision will abide, pending the final determination of the case by the Council of the University.

We will like to reiterate that OAU will continue to do everything legally and morally acceptable in pursuance of its avowed commitment to zero tolerance for sexual harassment, intimidation and, or coercion.

Thank you.

Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede

Vice-Chancellor.


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Minister Adeosun, Saraki, Dogara, Accountant General In N10 Billion Fraud Scandal.

[ The money is not part of the obscene N125billion appropriated for the federal legislature in the 2017 fiscal year for recurrent and capital expenditures.]

Nigerian taxpayers need to know this. Their representatives at the National Assembly, led by Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, have just illegally received and shared a hefty N10billion from the national treasury.

The money is not part of the obscene N125billion appropriated for the federal legislature in the 2017 fiscal year for recurrent and capital expenditures.

It is also not part of the N100billion allocated for the controversial zonal intervention projects through which lawmakers have always enriched themselves.

This N10billion, more than enough to pay a year’s salary of 45,000 civil servants on the minimum wage of N18,000 per month, was not appropriated, and insiders say it was not even approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Bukola Saraki, Senate Speaker

It was arbitrarily and illegally approved for the lawmakers by the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, in collusion with the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris.

PREMIUM TIMES and UDEME became aware of this curious cash release while engaged in their joint accountability project of scrutinising how funds released for capital projects are spent.

The money was released to the lawmakers as part of a secret N50billion approved for the execution of the so-called “constituency projects” Mr. Saraki and other lawmakers discreetly inserted into the budgets of several ministries, agencies and parastatals.

That is different from the controversial zonal intervention projects for which N70billion of the N100billion appropriated in the 2017 budget have so far been released to contractors handpicked by lawmakers.

Apart from the N10billion cash given to the National Assembly, another N485million was released for a project conceived by Mr. Saraki – construction of model junior secondary schools across Kwara Central Senatorial District.

Four hundred and fifty million naira (N450million) was approved for the project in the 2017 appropriation law. But an additional N35million cash was released for its execution, in clear breach of the law.

To take possession of the illegal N10billion cash given to them by Mrs. Adeosun, Messrs Saraki and Dogara submitted a list of 82 contractors which they claimed the National Assembly was owing and the amount due to each contractor. It was based on that single document that the cash management office at the finance ministry funelled the huge cash to the lawmakers.

Mrs Adeosun failed to do further due diligence such as asking the lawmakers to provide award of contract letters, Certificates of No Objection issued by the Bureau of Public Procurement and job completion certificates issued by the National Assembly.

Finance ministry insiders described the action as deceitful and illegal, saying since the National Assembly has its own budget, which is usually a first-line charge on the federal treasury, any other cash released to it is extra-budgetary and unlawful.

Nigeria's Finance Minitser: Mrs. Kemi Adeosun

Slush funds and fraudulent companies

National Assembly sources described the released cash as slush funds for the leadership of the two chambers and top civil servants at the management unit. Our sources said the national assembly budget already provided for the projects and that there was no need for any extra-budgetary funding from the ministry of finance.

Investigations by PREMIUM TIMES showed that at least 44 of the 82 contractors Messrs Saraki and Dogara claimed they were owing were not registered on the National Database of Contractors, a database of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). That means they are not eligible to be awarded federal contracts. A further check by this newspaper revealed that 17 of the 44 firms were not even registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

Our National Assembly sources said the contractors were indeed awarded jobs but that some of them had already been paid while while pending payments were already provided for in the federal legislature’s own budget.

When contacted for explanation, Mrs. Adeosun referred our enquiries to the Accountant-General, Mr. Idris. After three days , the accountant-general sent us a written response saying the controversial payment was sourced from a N20 billion service-wide vote “provided for local contractors’ liabilities under the 2017 Appropriation for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and institutions of Government.”

But while it is true that N20billion was appropriated for the payments of local contractors, experts say it was illegal to pay those hired by the National Assembly from the funds.

Questions were also raised regarding why Mrs. Adeosun would give half of allocations made to pay local contractors to the National Assembly at a time those who built primary health centres and roads and supplied drugs to hospitals were yet to be paid.

One official at the finance ministry also challenged the minister to explain why the funds were first moved to the National Assembly instead of paying the contractors directly. “It is a monumental fraud that they are now desperate to cover up,” the official, who asked not to be named, said.

Yakubu Dogara, Speaker;m House of Representatives.

‘Furious activists want investigation’

“The National Assembly already has its own budget of N125billion and it cannot therefore benefit from any other federal funds without appropriation,” said Auwal Rafsanjani, executive director of the advocacy group, ‎Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC).

“This is a serious financial recklessness orchestrated by the minister of finance and the National Assembly. Here, the Appropriation Law, the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the Public Procurement Act appear to have been broken.

“It is sad that the executive, in a desperate bid to make peace with the National Assembly is now conniving with unaccountable lawmakers to further shortchange Nigerians.

“Nigerians must stand up for their right and the minister of finance must be compelled to explain why she sacrificed integrity and financial prudence to engage in this kind of practice.”

Olanrewaju Suraj of the Civil Society Network Against Corruption believes the nation’s anti-corruption agency should be called in to thoroughly investigate the matter.

“It is a major blight in the anticorruption fight of the government and prudent management of resources by the Buhari government,” Mr. Suraj said.

“The National Assembly has its own budget that should cover capital and recurrent expenditures. So it cannot benefit from any other fund without appropriation.

“Besides, every payment for capital expenditure is not at the whims and caprices of the finance minister. There is always a procurement process that must be certified by the BPP.

“The anti-corruption agency must be invited to investigate the motive, the process and the purpose of the released fund.”

Mum is the word from Saraki, Dogara

Messrs Saraki and Dogara declined to comment for this story. Their spokespersons, Yusuph Olaniyonu and Turaki Hassan, directed all enquiries on the matter to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori.

But Mr. Sani-Omolori did not answer multiple calls made to him by this reporter on Wednesday. He also failed to answer a text message sent to him.

The clerk, through Mr. Olaniyonu, later gave PREMIUM TIMES an appointment for Thursday. But the several times our reporter visited his office, his aides said he was unavailable. Again he did not answer or return calls made to him to remind him of the appointment. He is also yet to respond to a follow-up text message sent to him.

SOURCE

BREAKING: Over 15 killed as herdsmen sack Saghev community in Benue.

Published on April 21, 2018 By Ameh Comrade Godwin.

No fewer than 15 persons have been killed while several others were injured after herdsmen invaded Uzughul, Tse Ginde, in Saghev council ward of Guma LGA, early hours of Saturday.

DAILY POST gathered that the attackers numbering over 20 set ablaze many shops and several houses, including that of one Dr. David Tsevende.

Sources in the village hinted our reporter that the attackers wearing military camouflage drove into the village in a white Hilux patrol van.

After gunning down some villagers, the gunmen reportedly carted away assorted food items belonging to traders and farmers in the community.



http://dailypost.ng/2018/04/21/breaking-15-killed-herdsmen-sack-saghev-community-benue/

Why I am Running For Second Term The Speech President Buhari Never Delivered

The opposite is true: I'm responding to the clamor by Nigerians to seek a second term.


My Fellow Nigerians!

I'm here today to tell you that I have decided to run for re-election. This ends months of speculation about whether I'll seek a second term. I'm sure my decision to run at 75, growing criticism of my performance, my five months stay in the UK to treat undisclosed ailment, the uncertainty, and fear in the nation, you'll expect me to retire to Daura. The opposite is true: I'm responding to the clamor by Nigerians to seek a second term.

First and foremost, let me express my profound gratitude for your unprecedented level of patience shown me in the past three years. Nigerians have never been so generous to show such level of patience and tolerance for any of our past leaders known for their incompetence.

Let my record speak for me. Cast your votes for me based on my record. For the past three years, my administration has been plagued with failures, crises, and chaos across every socioeconomic and political sectors. I must humbly admit that the likes have never been seen before. Within a year that I took office, the economy which had till then grown at an average of 7% in previous years (2011-2014) nosedived into recession. Naira, our currency, has lost 70% of its value. Food prices tripled across the nation. Unemployment rose from 6.5 to 26%. Petroleum prices at the pump jumped to 67%

I have not kept my campaign promises. The two million jobs every year is a flat out lie. The two million housing units every year is a ruse. Restructure is a ploy. Infrastructure is a mirage. Electricity supply is erratic, unavailable and worse than before. In fact, Nigerians now pay more for darkness than for light. On health, nothing new is happening. Indeed, our hospitals have been certified and approved for non-humans. Safety and security in the land is zero. Boko Haram remains stronger, more dangerous, more unpredictable, and unconquerable. The war against Boko Haram is unwinnable. I have since given up. I'm afraid, the Chibok girls are lost for ever.

A year ago, I declared victory on war against corruption. Apart from the occasional harassment and media trial on front pages of newspapers, none of the sharks and whales of corruption has been jailed. Under my watch, government waste is on the rise. Members of my kitchen cabinet particularly the ones close to me at Aso Rock who were caught in the twin cobweb of greed and graft were swiftly excused by me. It's on record that the 2016 Budget year was passed without implementation. You may not know this: The Central Bank foreign reserves are being shared among some highly connected and favored Bureau De Change operators.

I realize that I'm very unpopular for my history of bigotry, nepotism, dictatorial tendencies, scary and strange policies. In this regard, I'm sincerely grateful for the support given me by my ardent supporters and loyalists – the Buharists – who eagerly and always shield me from personal attacks by raking up all sorts of excuses at all times by blaming the Jonathan administration, political opponents, political appointees, and the late Libyan President Qaddafi, anything and anybody except me.

My fellow Nigerians, remember it took me three months to appoint my Chief of Staff, six months to form a cabinet, and more than 23 months to appoint heads of agencies and board members. I promise I will do it all over again in my second term. This is why I'm running. This is why you must re-elect me. This is how I'll take you to the next level. May Nigeria succeed.

And God bless Nigeria!



source

2019: ‘Nigeria will be worse if Buhari returns’ – Ex-VC, Yaqub

President Mohammadu Buhari

Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja and the Sokoto State University, Prof. Nuhu O. Yaqub has said the situation of the Nigerian nation would not change if President Muhammadu Buhari succeeds in returning for a second term.

Prof. Yaqub, who is presently the Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, spoke in Awka while contributing to the keynote address by former Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof. Ikenna Onyido at the ongoing 55th Meeting of the Committee of Deans of Postgraduate Schools in Nigerian Universities (CDPGS), holding at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (NAU).

Contributing to a lecture with the theme, “The knowledge paradigm in the age of sustainable development: the relevance of the Nigerian Postgraduate School,” Prof. Yaqub lamented the erosion that was brought into the governance of the country by the military, stressing that military intervention was the worst thing that had ever happened to the country.

He said, “I am very happy that you brought in this issue of the erosion that was brought in by the military. The military intervention in this country has been the worst thing that has ever happened and I am saying it, politically, economically and socially.

“Everything about Nigeria since the military intervention up to this time and as far as I am concerned it has not reduced because what are we having? Still generals.”

The university Don stressed that the worst of the situation was that Nigeria had been recycling the same military generals in civilian governance.

He said, “Secondly, we are recycling people who have come before and had messed us up and I already believe, I may be wrong, that at the end of the day I do not see anybody who will defeat Muhammadu Buhari.

“If you don’t like him, am sorry I am saying this, but there is every likelihood that he will be back and what we are going to experience in the next four to five years will be worse than what we are seeing now.”

He told journalists later in an interview that, “I have seen what we have gotten in the past three to four years, my problem is, what is the evidence that we are going to get something qualitatively different from what we have had so far? That is my question.”


source

2019: ‘I will retire Ganduje, Buhari from politics’ – Kwankwaso

Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso representing Kano Central in the Senate has vowed to retire Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje from active politics come 2019 general elections.

In an audio voice message aired on a private radio station in Kano (Express FM) on Wednesday, Senator Kwankwaso declared that no amount of persuasion would make him change his mind over the stance to remove Ganduje.

He said the level of betrayal meted to him by the Governor was enough yardsticks to stage a comeback into Kano politics and unseat Ganduje from Government House.

Senator Kwankwaso also boasted of dealing and retiring, from politics, “those who have any link to the Governor from any quarters within the Country, even if that person is in Abuja” (an apparent reference to Buhari).

The fire-spitting Senator was also quoted as saying, “go and write it down, I will retire this betrayer (Ganduje) and his collaborators from active politics in a simple arithmetic of 1 + 1 which you all know the answer.”


Source

Bello dumps APC, joins SDP

A former member of the House of Representatives Chief Emmanuel Bello has defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The former lawmaker has also announced intention to contest for Adamawa State governorship position in 2019.

Bello, who earlier quit the Peoples Democratic Party, for the APC, stated this yesterday during a press briefing at his residence in Dougirei, Yola.

He said he defected from the APC to the SDP to seek refuge and get social justice for his people in Adamawa State.

“Since I became a member of APC in Adamawa State, I have never been invited for a meeting of any structure of the party in the state. This is because there was no meeting of any of the party’s structure by people authorized to do so,” he stated.

“I have decided to move away from the confusion in the APC and graciously join the SDP. My decision is actually a happy return. I once belonged to the party, which represents the philosophy, ideas and fundamental political positions I believe in and have moulded my politics all these years,” he added.


SOURCE

Gov. Bello replies Tinubu, says we have confidence in Oyegun’s leadership.

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has reacted to the letter credited to the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, that the party’s national chairman, John Oyegun was “sabotaging” his presidential assignment.

Addressing State reporters in Abuja, Bello said governors on the platform of the party had confidence in Oyegun’s leadership.

He also noted that APC governors believed in Tinubu’s ability to reconcile aggrieved party members.

According to Bello, “We the governors and the majority of APC members have confidence in our national chairman, Chief John Oyegun.

“We also believe in the president by appointing Bola Tinubu, our leader to reconcile some aggrieved members of our party. However, one size fits all will not work in all the states where some erring members need to be disciplined.”

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has reacted to the letter credited to the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, that the party’s national chairman, John Oyegun was “sabotaging” his presidential assignment.

Addressing State reporters in Abuja, Bello said governors on the platform of the party had confidence in Oyegun’s leadership.


He also noted that APC governors believed in Tinubu’s ability to reconcile aggrieved party members.

According to Bello, “We the governors and the majority of APC members have confidence in our national chairman, Chief John Oyegun.

“We also believe in the president by appointing Bola Tinubu, our leader to reconcile some aggrieved members of our party. However, one size fits all will not work in all the states where some erring members need to be disciplined.”

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had recently directed Tinubu to reconcile aggrieved members of the ruling party.

However, a letter surfaced online yesterday, wherein the former Lagos State governor accused the APC national chairman of sabotaging his efforts at reconciling aggrieved members.




SOURCE

Uche Secondus Visits Babangida With PDP NWC Ahead Of 2019 Elections. PHOTOS

Uche Secondus Visits Babangida With PDP NWC Ahead Of 2019 Elections.

SOURCE

Police Arrest Fake Medical Doctor In Lagos State.

Lagos State Police Command has arrested a fake Medical Practitioner, Abdulrahman Mohammed, who has allegedly practised medicine for over four years at Idi-Araba area in Mushin.

The primary school dropout, the police said, owned a clinic where he administered intravenous injections to patients and also collected blood and urine samples for diagnosis.

The state Police Commissioner, Imohimi Edgal, said Mohammed had confessed that he usually bought the drugs from Idumota.

Edgal said: “Detectives from the Area D Command, Mushin, arrested one Abdulrahman Mohammed, a native of Ran, Borno State, for operating as a medical doctor whereas his education stopped at primary school level.

Further investigation into his activities revealed that he had been administrating intravenous injections, conducting medical test on his patients and taking urine and blood samples from his patients.”

However, according to Mohammed, the thermometer and other medical gadgets found in his shop were used by patients. He said: “I was a hawker. I was hawking drugs before I decided to open a pharmacy.

I did not finish my primary school and I was not taught to sell the drugs. My pharmacy was not licensed. I do not treat people. I do not collect blood or urine samples. I only sell the kits and people come to buy it.

For the thermometer, people used to come and check their temperature and other things by themselves. If someone comes and complained of headache and fever, I give them Panadol or Boscopan and blood tonic.”

Source:
http://www.nairaplus.com/2018/04/police-arrest-fake-medical-doctor-in.html

Tinubu, Fashola end ‘cold war,’ embrace [PHOTOS]

The social media is currently abuzz with the circulation of images wherein the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, and a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, were seen discussing and embracing each other at a public function where they recently met.

There have been reports that both men, who are former governors of Lagos state, have not been in good terms with claims in some quarters that they belong to different camps in the APC. Tinubu was the immediate predecessor of Fashola who had served as Chief of Staff in the former’s government.

At the recently held 10th Bola Tinubu Colloquium, though Fashola was among the guests, he did not play a major role in the event commemorating Tinubu’s 66th birthday. Neither was he selected as one of the individuals to testify about the impact Tinubu has made on their lives.

See pictures of them which have left many wondering whether the supposed feud between both leaders were a media creation afterall.

SOURCE

Manyeva Dlamini has taken the family of his ex-wife, Ruth Thembisile Sibiya, to court to have his cattle back. Dlamini contends that Sibiya lied about being a virgin.

A man in Swaziland has demanded from his in-laws his 24-cow bride price back after reportedly discovering that his wife was not a virgin at the time they got married.

However, Sibiya denies ever making such a claim. She also insists that Dlamini knew that she was not a virgin and that she was already three months pregnant on their wedding day. Court papers reportedly indicate that Dlamini, who is a teacher, began his relationship with Sibiya while she was still his student in high school.

She said:
“After I completed school in 1995, Dlamini, who was far older than me, insisted that we get married but I refused to marry him since I wanted to pursue my studies.” She also states that she met and fell in love with a man named Themba Thwala in 1998 prior to marrying Dlamini.

https://www.gistrealm.com/man-demands-his-bride-price-after-he-found-out-his-wife-is-not-a-virgin-also-with-another-mans-pregnancy/

Prophet George Fakolade: "Fashola Will Be President Of Nigeria In 2019"

Prophet Reveals Nigeria’s Next President

Fashola would take over from Buhari in 2019, says Prophet Fakolade

– An Abuja-based cleric, Prophet George Fakolade, the leader of Divine Intelligence Ministry, has prophesied that President Muhammadu Buhari would leave office as President in 2019, as Nigerians would elect the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, to replace him. Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola Fakolade, who made this prophecy known in a statement issued to journalists during the weekend, also said Mr. Fashola would make his cabinet ready before assumption of office, step-up the fight against corruption, spare no sacred cows, and heal the nation of the many maladies plaguing it.

He also noted that the incumbent Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS), Lawal Daura, would continue in office under Mr. Fashola for the sake of continuity and in the interest of the nation. He said: “Mr. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state is the person chosen by God as President and Commander-in-Chief in Nigeria come 2019.

“Under Fashola’s administration, the situation in which Presidents are booed or booted out of office in shame and ignominy in past times would no longer continue. “He would announce his cabinet on his first day in office and take-off without delay. Fashola’s government would take-off in grand style with all hands on deck. The present sick administration and government shall become history.

“Before Mr. Fashola assumes office in 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari shall beef-up security around him like an incumbent. Anti-bomb and explosives experts shall open all letters for him like in the case of ex-President of the United States, Barack Obama, before his historic election. “He would consider the entire nation his constituency, eschew parochialism in his appointments and make no excuse for failures.

“Fashola’s government would also step-up the fight against corruption and spare no sacred cows. Treasury looters can only run but cannot hide. God maintains that Nigeria still stinks with corruption and more arrests will be made.

“Having duly reflected on the incumbent Director-General of DSS, Lawal Daura, in my previous prophecies, I predict he will continue in office under Mr. Fashola for continuity and greater successes for all Nigerians.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/04/fashola-take-buhari-2019-says-prophet-fakolade/

OAU Sex For Marks: Richard Akindele May Go Free – Investigation

•No official complaint yet, three days after committee was set up –Source


By Mojeed Alabi

After all the hues and cries, especially on the social media, against the purported conduct of a Professor of Management and Accounting at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife- Richard Akindele, who was accused of demanding sex to help an unnamed female student pass his course, strong indications have emerged that the embattled lecturer and a senior pastor with an Anglican church may escape trial.

A top management official at the university, who spoke with Saturday Telegraph on condition of anonymity, said apart from the damage the social media account may do to the lecturer’s image, there is yet to be any case established against the accused. The source, who confirmed that the university had on Wednesday set up a committee to look into the matter and give its report in one week, said only four top officials of the institution know the membership composition of the committee to avoid unnecessary influence.

Meanwhile, further investigations have revealed that as at Friday night, just about four days to the expiration of the oneweek tenure of the committee, the female student, whose voice was heard in the recording that has gone viral on social media, has refused to either meet or forward any relevant document or information to the committee members for prosecution.

This was as the Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, has advocated the institution of whistleblowing policy on campuses to address the rising cases of corruption in tertiary institutions, especially the cases of sexual harassment among both the students and staff.

Investigations conducted by Saturday Telegraph revealed that similar cases in the past could not be legally tried because the victims were afraid of coming out. Meanwhile, the highly-placed source has confirmed to Saturday Telegraph that information at the university’s disposal linked the embattled lecturer to similar cases of harassment, threats and bullying in the past, but there is yet to be any official complaint.

The source said: “I can confirm to you that information at our disposal even shows that the said lecturer had helped some female students under similar circumstances but where is the evidence? The lady is yet to come out and like we have experienced in the past, I can say authoritatively that she would not come in the open.

“Even when some people are suggesting that we could trace the call logs of telephone numbers for confirmation, the argument is that even if we do, except the victim comes out, we can’t fight her case for her. You can only forcefully take a horse to the stream, you cannot force the same horse to drink water.

“So the import of my message is that all that we are witnessing by the cries in the social media is just a social trial but the legal trial is different from all these. If you go to court without concrete evidence, the matter may be thrown out and the accused may even win claims against the institution or whoever goes to court.

So we need to appeal to the victim to come in the open first.” The source said the university has at many times in the past advised victims to share their experience with some gender activists among lecturers on the campus “but just like a rape case, they always keep quiet and suffer in the corners of their room.”

“But I can confirm to you that the Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede-led management of the university is committed to prosecuting anyone found guilty because within the last few days that the whole matter had trended on social media, the image of our university has been at stake.

Yet, we must rise above mere sentiments and deal with issues and not hearsay,” the source added. However, the LASU VC has insisted that the whistleblowing policy introduced by his administration has helped in no small measure to address similar cases on his campus, noting that without promise of adequate protection and some benefits for informants, no one would be ready to risk his or her life to give such difficult information.

Fagbohun, who had conducted journalists round the university campus recently in appreciation of the many ongoing infrastructural facilities facilitated by the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in the state, said the peace currently being enjoyed on the campus cannot be entirely dissociated from the policy. It would be recalled that in the audio recording, which has gone viral, a female student had called the Professor to inquire about his earlier sex demand to pass her in the lecturer’s course that she supposedly failed.

He told the student that she would repeat the exam in the next academic session since she had refused to “take the opportunity” he offered her to have sex with him. “I gave you an opportunity and you missed it. Forget about it. You will do it next year,” the professor had threatened.

he student said she was calling to confirm whether he was serious about having sex with her. He responded: “Me that agreed to do something. I know what I meant. If you don’t trust me forget about it. If I wouldn’t do it, why should I give you audience in the first place. If I am not interested in doing it, I won’t give you audience.

“The other person has come and I told her straight away because there is nothing I can do to bail that person out and her mark is even better than your own. The person scored 39 while your own is 33.”

The lecturer then asked her why she told him that she was having her menstruation the day they met and he demanded sex. “I was really seeing my period Professor Akindele,” the girl responded but the man told her to stop mentioning his name.

“And now nko?” he asked, to which she replied that the period had ended. “Your boyfriend has done it yesterday?” he asked. “Is it every time that someone will be doing with the boyfriend?,” she responded. “Is it every time you do it with your wife?” “Yes,” he answered. “It’s a lie,” the girl exclaimed. “Not possible.”

When the girl asked him about the plan for the arrangement for her to have the sex so that she could avoid repeating the course, he told her that they would have the first sex the next day and on four subsequent occasions. “Is not five we agreed? Our agreement is five,” he said. “Is it B that you want to give me or C?” the girl asked.

“Why would it be five times you will knack me?” She then told him she would not have sex with him five times. “Prof, you know what? Let me fail it. I can’t do it five times. For what nah? No worry. Thank you, sir,” she said, then ended the call.



https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/04/sex-for-marks-lecturer-may-go-free-investigation/