The Deputy Inspector General of Police in Charge Force Criminal Investigations Department, DIG Joseph Obiajulu Egbunike is dead.
Joseph Egbunike
ABN TV gathered that DIG Egbunike was feeling uncomfortable during the weekend and on Tuesday went to see the Doctor for a medical check-up after which he was given drugs and told to go.
Minutes later the senior officer who was said to have driven to office in company of family and was his usual bubbling self slumped and died.
DIG Egbunike who recently headed the Special Investigation Panel that investigated the alleged involvement of Suspended DCP Abba Kyari, former Commander of the Police Intelligence Yeam IRT over the $1.1million Hushpuppi internet fraud reported slumped in the office and died before a medical response could be performed late on Tuesday.
Egbunike who had previously served as the DIG in charge of Finance and Administration before he was appointed DIG Investigation hails from Onitsha in Anambra state and in the DIG overseeing the South-East geo-political zone.
A senior Police officer who was evidently in pain over the shocking demise confirmed the death of Egbunike.
Former Governor of Abia State and Chief Whip of the Senate, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu has congratulated Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the occasion of his 65th birthday anniversary.
Prof Yemi Osinbajo
Describing the Vice President as a true progressive who is committed to nation building, Kalu urged the celebrant to sustain his good works for the country, adding that Osinbajo has consistently complemented efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in building a prosperous Nigeria.
Senate Chief Whip, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu
Kalu, who applauded the leadership style of the Vice President, wished him longer life in the service to humanity.
In his message, the Chief Whip of the Senate, stressed that Osinbajo has built a good name in leadership, law, politics and pastoral work.
He said, “On behalf of the people of Abia North Senatorial district, I felicitate with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as he clocks 65.
“Looking at the accomplishments of the Vice President in all spheres of life, it is obvious that the celebrant has sustained his exemplary leadership attributes over the years.
“The Vice President has continually supported President Buhari in building a united, indivisible and prosperous Nigeria.
“As the celebrant attains this glorious age, I pray that God will continue to strengthen him in all his pursuits”.
Kalu wished the Vice President a memorable birthday celebration.
President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned what he described as “the brutal murder of about 62 vigilante members in Kebbi State by suspected bandits who ambushed them in the Sakaba/Wassagu Local Government Area.”
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Shehu Garba, President Buhari said the spate of criminality is shocking.
He, however, assured Nigerians that the present administration will do all it takes to decisively tackle the menace.
The President further stated that his greatest concern is the threat to life posed by the murderous gangs and remorseless outlaws who have no regard for the sanctity of life.
Extending his sympathy to the families of the affected victims, he called on the nation’s security forces to be more proactive and increase their efforts in order to frustrate the operational plans of the terrorists before they launch any attacks.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will officially communicate his stance on the 2023 presidential election to Nigerians, his Spokesperson, Laolu Akande, has said.
Akande fielded questions from State House correspondents shortly after photo sessions with the vice president who marked his 65th birthday on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said that at present, Osinbajo was focused on supporting President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver in addressing Nigeria’s challenges.
“Well, like he has said up to this time, he is committed to the work that he is elected as vice president and to support the president.
“That is what he is focused on now; and like I have also said in my last tweet, whatever will be his activities or whatever he would do will be communicated officially.’’
Akande said that the vice president, based on his observations in the last seven to eight years, was driven by the notion that the government and governance and leadership ought to have a heart of justice and a heart of service.
“He often says in most of the meetings that we hold that the reason why we are here is because people put us here.
“ We are here in the interest of the people; so, he is someone that is committed to that notion of service to the people, whether in government, whether as a pastor, whether as a lawyer.
“In every aspect of his life, he understands very diligently the idea that we are here to serve.’’
He said that Osinbajo had always emphasised on the need to create impact for the people.
According to him, the vice president is very inspiring and worthy of leadership.
“As you can see there are many more Nigerians today that are yearning to say that this is the kind of man to follow.
“So, happy birthday, vice president,’’ he said.
Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Ade Ipaye, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun who also featured photo sessions with vice president, paid glowing tributes to him.
President Buhari had earlier in a birthday message, applauded Osinbajo for his loyalty and dedication to duty, especially in supervising the nation’s economy
The People’s Democratic Party, PDP has informed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to declare its candidates, Iduma Igariwey as the new Governor of Ebonyi State and Fred Udogwu as his Deputy.
The party made the submission at a press conference on Tuesday evening, following the judgement by a Federal High Court in Abuja which sacked Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, and his Deputy Dr Eric Igwe for defecting from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in his judgement, noted that the votes which made Umahi the governor belonged to the party and could not be transferred to another party.
President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that the U.S. will target “the main artery of Russia’s economy” by banning the import of Russian energy products.
President Joe Biden
“We’re banning all imports of Russian oil and gas and energy,” Biden said in remarks from the White House. “That means Russian oil will no longer be acceptable at U.S. ports and the American people will deal another powerful blow to Putin’s war machine.”
The president warned that the move would probably increase gas prices in the U.S., but that it was necessary to ramp up sanctions pressure on Russia’s economy for its war on Ukraine.
“Putin’s war is already hurting American families at the gas pump,” Biden said. “I’m going to do everything I can to minimize Putin’s price hike here at home.”
Biden’s language anticipates a concerted Republican effort to blame him directly for the rise in gas prices, which hit a record in the U.S. on Tuesday. With gas prices certain to become a huge political issue in this year’s midterm elections, Biden devoted much of his remarks to focusing American anger directly on Putin, while also encouraging U.S. energy companies to produce more domestic oil.
The president said the U.S. had decided to ban Russian energy products “in close consultation” with allies around the world, particularly in Europe. He said many of those partners may not be able to take the same action.
“The United States produces far more oil domestically than all of Europe,” said Biden, who said the U.S. is a net exporter of energy. “We can take this step when others cannot, but we’re working closely with Europe and our partners to develop a long-term strategy to reduce their dependence on Russian energy as well.”
The ban on Russian oil and gas has strong bipartisan support in the Congress and in the country.
Americans have rallied to support the people of Ukraine and made it clear we will not be part of subsidizing Putin’s war.
This decision today is not without costs here at home. Putin’s war is already hurting American families at the pump — and this will drive up costs further.
So, I will take every step we can to minimize Putin’s price hike here at home.
In coordination with our partners, we have already announced a collective release of 60 million barrels of oil from our Strategic Petroleum Reserves — half of that from the United States.
Following the sack of Ebonyi state governor, Dave Umahi, deputy governor, Kelechi Igwe, and 17 lawmakers for defecting to the All Progressives Congress, APC from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; the latter has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to recognize Hon. Iduma Igariwey and Fred Udogwu as governor and deputy governor of the state respectively.
A federal High Court sitting in Abuja in its ruling also directed INEC to receive names of Umahi and Igwe’s replacements from the PDP or in the alternative, conduct a fresh governorship poll.
Addressing a world press conference at the party’s secretariat, PDP national chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu said the nomination of Igariwey and Udogwu followed “the sacking from office of the Ebonyi state governor, His Excellency, Chief Dave Umahi, and his deputy, His Excellency, Chief Kelechi Igwe, by a Federal High Court for defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.”
Ayu noted that “in the same ruling, the court, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, also sacked the 17 members of the Ebonyi state House of Assembly who also defected with the governor and his deputy into the APC.”
It would be recalled that Gov. Umahi, his deputy, and the 17 lawmakers were elected on the PDP platform in 2015 and again in 2019, but defected to the APC on November 17, 2020, citing “injustice done to the South-East.”
The PDP subsequently went to court and joined both the APC and INEC in the suit, praying the court to declare that by defecting from the PDP, on whose platform they were sponsored and elected, “Umahi, Igwe and the 17 lawmakers had resigned or deemed to have resigned from office on the day of their defections.”
In a landmark judgement, the court ruled that “the votes in any election in Nigeria are to political parties, and not candidates,” and Justice Ekwo consequently ordered all the affected persons to vacate office. He also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to receive names of candidates from the PDP to replace Messrs Umahi and Igwe.
The party while commending the Nigerian judiciary said the ruling will bring order in the political space and “check the issue of political rascality and stolen mandates. The judiciary is indeed the backbone of this democracy.”
Ayu continued: “We also want to single out Justice Inyang Ekwo for special recognition, particularly for being courageous and forthright in going for the substance of the law rather than the technicalities.
“And in line with the court order, PDP is immediately submitting to INEC the names of our candidates for Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi state respectively.
“We are also calling on INEC to immediately issue the Certificates of Return to the PDP nominees as a replacement for Messrs Umahi and Igwe pursuant to the Order of the Honourable Court.
“Furthermore, we call on the Chief Judge of Ebonyi state to immediately swear them in as soon as INEC issues the requisites Certificates of Return.
“And lastly, we call on INEC to immediately withdraw the Certificates of Return from the 17 lawmakers and commence the process of conducting bye-elections to replace them,” he added.
Fielding questions from newsmen at the event, Ayu said though Umahi may decide to head to the court of appeal in an attempt to upturn the ruling, the PDP, he noted, won’t concern itself with whether there will be an appeal or not. The party’s business, he added, is to obey the directive of Justice Ekwo.
Former Senator Ademola Adeleke was on Tuesday declared winner of the governorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State.
Ademola Adeleke
Adeleke who is an uncle to Music star, Davido, is set to represent the PDP in the keenly contested guber elections against the incumbent governor, Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The governorship election is scheduled to hold on July 16.
The Primaries held at the 10,000 capacity Oshogbo stadium was also contested by Dotun Babayemi. ABN TV recalls that Adeleke emerged the flagbearer of the party in 2018 but lost to Oyetola.
The legal team of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Tuesday said IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, was suffered by extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria, therefore that no court in Nigeria, has the jurisdiction to proceed on the matter.
The IPOB lead counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, made this known to newsmen in Owerri, after they visited Kanu, at the Department of State Service, DSS, facility in Abuja, last Sunday.
He argued that the extraordinary rendition violated subsisting Nigerian laws.
Ejiofor narrated that; “Our exclusive interaction offered us the unique opportunity to brainstorm on strategic legal dynamics on all pending IPOB cases, with particular regard to the envisaged possible outcome of the 8th April 2022 scheduled proceedings.
“Needless to reiterate the fact that no Court in Nigeria has the jurisdiction to proceed with the trial of Onyendu, who was extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria. This is a grave infraction, which is in clear violation of Nigerian Law, specifically Article 12 (4) of the ACHPR (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. We need not reopen our argument here.
“Onyewu was extensively briefed on pertinent developments, and his words of encouragement and reaffirmation of trust/confidence in our legal team are all we need to keep up with the legal fireworks.
“Onyewu was further assured that no stone will be left unturned in ensuring that justice is done in his case because he has committed no offence known to law. His present incarceration represents a punishment for an offence he never committed, this would explain the amendment of the Charge six consecutive times in search of phantom/non-existent offences.”
“Onyendu commended his followers, especially those who have remained unshaken and undistracted in their undiluted loyalty to him and those steering the ship on his behalf. Onyendu remains firm in spirit and strong in conviction, even as he implores UmuChineke to continue to abide by best practices. He also specially commended you all for your peaceful conduct,” he concluded.
The Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) Senator John James Akpanudoedehe has resigned.
ABN TV learnt the embattled Secretary submitted his resignation letter to Caretaker Committee Acting Chairman, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello during a routine meeting of the committee at the party Secretariat in Abuja.
