Nigerian Gazette

Breaking: Senate confirms Buhari’s nominee rejected in 2016 The Senate on Thursday, approved the appointment of  Mr Aliyu Abubakar, as a non-executive commissioner on the board of the National Communications Commission Abubakar, from Bauchi State, was nominated to represent the North-East last week on the board by President Muhammadu Buhari for the same position despite his rejection by the eighth Senate because of low educational qualifications. Other nominees confirmed by the Senate were Uba Maska (Executive Commissioner), Professor Millionaire Abowei (Non Executive Commissioner) and Abdulazeez Salman (Non-Executive Commissioner) Mr Abubakar was first nominated in 2016 for the position but was rejected by lawmakers in November of that year. He was rejected along with a former speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yisa Ezekiel, whose qualification as a nurse posed a hitch for him to satisfy the criteria. The lawmakers hinged their decision on Mr Abubakar’s lack of adequate...

Afraid of being probed for stolen billions, Akpabio plots removal of EFCC Zonal Head ...As top APC chieftains dump him These are certainly not the best of times for former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akapbio, as he is now running from pillar to post, plotting the removal of the Zonal Head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Garba Gungum, over his insistence on carrying out the investigation of his (Akpabio) eight years tenure as governor to a logical conclusion. This is also as Senator Akpabio's case challenging the election of Senator Chris Ekpeyong as the duly elected Senator representing Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District is falling apart like packs of cards at the Tribunal currently sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital. To add to his woes, chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State, including the party's governorship candidate, Nsima Ekere, Senators John Akpanudoedeghe, Ita Enang, Don Etiebet, Ch...

INEC official took $10,000 to change results for Buhari in Nasarawa, witness alleges A Ward Collation Agent, Bikita Ali, on Tuesday, alleged before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, that an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, collected $10, 000 to change result of the February 23 presidential election in Nasarawa State, in favour of President Muhammadu Buhari. Ali, who appeared as the 43rd witness in the petition the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, lodged to challenge the declaration of President Buhari as winner of the presidential contest, told the tribunal that the INEC officer whose name he gave as Abubakar Kaura, was arrested and handed over to the police. While being cross-examined by counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mr. Yunus Usman, SAN, the witness said: “The matter was later referred to the State CID. I was there when the official was caught. The incident h...

Akwa Ibom APC's Attack On Tribunal chairman: When Bribe Refuses To Speak Emmanuel Ukeme The recent wailing of Akwa Ibom APC and subsequent call for the resignation of Justice Jennifer Mbalamen Ijohor, Chairman Panel 2, National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal is a clear indication that the APC is an anti-justice party. We have all followed the proceedings since the beginning of hearing in the election petition tribunal. The APC before now seemed to have been satisfied with the choice of Justice J M Ijohor and the way she was handling the cases brought before her. But why are they wailing now? Although we know that crying in a bit to win sympathy is part and parcel of the APC, especially in Akwa Ibom state, but why now? Prior to the 2019 general election, the APC manipulated the security architecture in the country which led to the transfer of 3 commissioners of Police(CP) to and out of Akwa Ibom in less than 24 hours. As if that was not enough, the APC just f...

Akwa Ibom Guber Tribunal: APC Plot To Manipulate Judgement Exposed, Moves To Lobby Appeal Court President, CJN  In what is believed as a last-ditched effort to influence the outcome of the Akwa Ibom State governorship election petition in which even witnesses called by the petitioners had testified that the election was free, credible, transparent and fair and that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won fair and square; the All Progressives Congress (APC) is now  plotting to lobby the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa and Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Mohammed, in their bid to get the Tribunal judgement manipulated. They are using a non-existent and unsubstantiated bogeyman involving a female judge at the tribunal. A source, who confirmed the plot said the party leaders are jolted that instead of witnesses called by the party to corroborate the petitioners' claim that the election was rigged, they have insisted that the PD...

A/Ibom: APC’s allegation against tribunal unfounded – AILM A socio-Political group in Akwa Ibom state has described as unfounded, allegations by the state chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) against the elections petitions tribunal. The Akwa Ibom Liberation Movement, AILM, rreacting to the allegation made during a press briefing on Saturday, advised the APC to exercise restraint and resist from raising false alarm. In a statement issued by the group’s Secretary General, Samuel Abasiekong Esq., it said that the the claim by the APC against the tribunal was unfounded. Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the APC, in the press conference claimed that it has established that Hon. Justice Jennifer Mbalamen Ijohor had conflict of interest. The APC claimed that Ijohor, who is the Chairman of Panel 2, National and State House of Assembly Election Petition in Akwa Ibom State, has a strong family relationship with a PDP stalwart, and so, there is a clear conflict of interest in her work. However, t...

Akeredolu Visits Pa Fasoranti, Says Death of Olakunrin Was Personal Loss Ondo State governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has commiserated with the Leader of the Pan - Yoruba Socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, over the loss of his daughter, Mrs Funke Olakunrin, who was killed by armed bandits on Friday. Governor Akeredolu also condole with the husband of the deceased, Mr. Idowu Olakunrin. Arakunrin Akeredolu, who cut short his trip to Lagos State, to console the foremost Yoruba leader and his family over the painful loss, was accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Cheif Gbenga Ale, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Engr. Ade Adetimehin and other members of the state Executive Council. The Governor described the murder of Mrs Funke Olakunrin as an ugly incident, stressing that it is undoubtedly a death too many.  Arakunrin Akeredolu, who expressed his worry over the incident, said that some meas...