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I’m Optimistic Next President Will Be Igbo, Says Sen. Kalu [VIDEO]

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Chief Whip of the Senate Orji Uzor Kalu has said it is overdue for the country to have a President of Igbo extraction, expressing optimism that in 2023, President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor will be Igbo.

The former Abia governor spoke on Wednesday while fielding questions from newsmen in Abuja.

The frontline presidential aspirant noted that he has to push with other regions to ensure that Igbo president happens.

He said, “It is overdue, I believe that we should produce the next President and it is going to happen. I don’t need to push, I have to push along with the other regions.”

He also took a swipe at those who have already declared to contest as President of the country ahead of the 2023 general and Presidential elections, saying those persons are not serious.

The Senator representing Abia North said that he does not believe in Igbo Presidency, but believes in Nigerian President of Igbo extraction, just as he declared that if the Presidency is zoned to the southeast geo-political zone of the country, he has everything it takes for him to vie for the most exalted position in the land.

The lawmaker emphasized that he has not started consulting ahead of his formal declaration for the position of the President of the country, said, “Well they are pushing but they are not serious, a serious-minded person will like to be fair to Nigeria, fair to the society and to be fair to the atmosphere, because the party is not owned by me or you the media.

This party is owned by Nigerians and the APC members. It is only APC that can decide like at the forthcoming convention where the Presidential ticket will be zoned to. If they zone it to the south-east I have everything it takes to make a good President.”

READ ALSO: 2023 Presidency: I’m Satisfied With Our Discussion, Says Sen. Kalu After Meeting With Buhari

On his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday night, Kalu said, “This is not the first time I go to see the president, Presidency is a place where people go in the afternoon, I went in the night to avoid the media. I go there regularly it is a family affair and I went there to discuss national issues, issues of security, the issue of well being of our country, and issue of the electoral act. The discussion was very fruitful and it was held in the night, is that why you should come to ambush me?

When asked if he informed President Buhari of intention to contest for the Presidency, Orji Kalu said, “Did the party zone the 2023 presidency to the South West, I told you before that when the party zones it officially to the south. I told you the only two zones that have not tasted the presidency are the southeast and the Northeast, once they zone it to anyone of them I have the capacity and the capability I will roll and I will rock like a hurricane.”

Nnamdi Kanu Refused New Clothes, DSS Tells Court; That’s A Lie, Ozekhome Fires Back

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Contrary to yesterday’s order by Justice Binta Nyako that the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, should not appear in court today in the same Fendi designers clothes he has been wearing since June last year when he was arrested, Kanu was on same clothes today, sparking a debate over why her order was flouted.

The prosecution team told the court that provision was made for a change of clothing for Kanu, but that the IPOB leader rejected them on grounds that he preferred the designers Fendi he had on.

However, Kanu’s lead counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome(SAN) told the court that it was not true that his client insisted on wearing his designer’s clothes.

Tuesday(yesterday) Justice Nyako ordered: “I don’t want to see him in these clothes again.

“This one is almost off-white. Also, make sure that you allow him to exercise and give him a good mattress.”

But when the matter was called upon today! the prosecution counsel, Mr Shuaibu Labaran, told the court that Kanu was the one that chose to wear his designer Fendi clothes.

He said: “My lord, based on your order yesterday, we provided the defendant with a new orthopedic mattress, pillows, and blankets.

“As for his appearance, he chose to wear this particular one because he said that it is designers.”

Reacting, Ozekhome told the court that it was not true that his client insisted on wearing his designer’s clothes.

READ ALSO: ‘Nnamdi Kanu Chose To Appear In Same Designer Clothes’ – FG Tells Judge

“My Lord, what happened was that by the time proceedings ended yesterday, and because it was not his visiting day, we were not able to pass to him some clothes we obtained for him.

“We even discussed it with him this morning and he said that on the next visiting day he would want to have the new clothes,” Ozekhome added.

He, however, commended the DSS for providing the IPOB leader with new mattresses and pillows.

“I want to commend the DSS and the court for ensuring that it was done,” the SAN said.

Before allowing Kanu to be re-arraigned on the amended 15-count treasonable felony charge the Federal Government preferred against him, Justice Nyako reiterated her demand for him to have a change of clothing.

Kanu is currently entering his plea to the fresh amended charge against him.

‘Nnamdi Kanu Chose To Appear In Same Designer Clothes’ – FG Tells Judge

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The Federal Government, on Wednesday, informed the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), chose to appear in the same clothes he wore the previous day.

Counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Shuaibu Labaran, told Justice Binta Nyako this shortly after the sitting began.

“The case is adjourned until today for arraignment.

“But before then, I crave the indulgence of your Lordship because you gave an order that the defendant should not appear in these clothes.

“But the defendant (Kanu) chose to wear the same clothes because it is a designer,” he said.

Labaran also informed the court that the Department of State Services, DSS, had complied with the court order by procuring an orthopedic mattress and pillows for the IPOB leader to make him comfortable in detention.

But Counsel to Kanu, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, disagreed that his client refused to wear other clothes.

He said though they got him a set of other clothes, before they could finish with the day’s activities yesterday, it was a bit late and they could not hand over the items to him.

ALSO READ: Nnamdi Kanu Spots Same Attire For Trial Despite Judge’s Order

He assured that Kanu would appear in other clothes at the next adjourned date.

Justice Nyako said the clothes could be handed to the legal officer that came with the security outfit.

Watford Close To Signing Another Super Eagles Star

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Super Eagles winger Samuel Kalu is on the verge of departing Bordeaux for struggling Premier League side Watford after a deal, understood to be in the region of £2.5million, was agreed.

Kalu is set to undergo a medical at London Colney this morning before putting pen to paper on a four-and-a-half-year deal.

According to club sources, Watford initially played down links to the winger, saying that attack was not an area they were looking to bolster this window.

READ ALSO: Pay Nnamdi Kanu N1bn For Invasion Of His House, Court Orders FG

However, the opportunity to move now and sign someone they have been tracking for some time, for what they consider to be a good price, has changed their minds, especially after they managed to identify and secure defensive targets early on.

The 24-year-old shares an agent with current on-loan Watford player Peter Etebo, but is not part of the Nigerian African Cup of Nations squad, so will be available as soon as he is registered, despite having 17 caps for the Super Eagles.

He has scored ten goals and provided 8 assists from 86 appearances for the Ligue 1 side. He has also represented KAA Gent and AS Trencin.

If Kalu’s transfer eventually goes through, he will bring the number of Nigerians at the club to seven.

Other Nigerians already signed to the club are Emmanuel Dennis, Etebo, Okoye Maduka, Williams Troost-Ekong, Dapo Mebude and Tom Dele-Bashiru.

Pay Nnamdi Kanu N1bn For Invasion Of His House, Court Orders FG [VIDEO]

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An Abia State High Court presided over by Hon. Justice Benson Anya in Umuahia, the state capital on Wednesday awarded N1bn damage in favour of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu against the Federal Government, ABN TV reports.

Kanu, through his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor had approached the court seeking N5bn damage against the Federal Government over the alleged invasion of his father’s house on September 10, 2017 by the military.

Hon. Justice Anya described the invasion of Kanu’s Afaraukwu residence as notorious and brazen.

He however struck out other reliefs sought by Kanu’s legal team, including his repatriation from Kenya and continued detention by the DSS.

The presiding judge also granted the relief sought by Kanu’s legal team, ordering the Federal Government to issue a public apology in three national dailies over the illegal invasion of Kanu’s Afaraukwu residence.

He also advised the Federal Government to adopt a political resolution in dealing with issues involving Kanu.

Details Shortly…

Nnamdi Kanu Spots Same Attire For Trial Despite Judge’s Order

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Detained Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu returned for his trial on Wednesday with the same attire contrary to the order by Justice Binta Nyako.

Nyako during the resumption of the trial on Tuesday ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to have a change of cloth after complaints by the accused’s lead counsel Chief Mike Ozekhome that he was being kept in solitary confinement.

Kanu has been spotting the same Fendi designer’s clothes since he was arrested in June, 2021.

Justice Nyako had specifically ordered on Tuesday: “I don’t want to see him in this cloth again. This one is almost off-white. Also, make sure that you allow him to exercise and give him a good mattress.”

When the matter was called up on Wednesday, the Prosecution counsel, Shuaibu Labaran, told the court that Kanu chose to wear his designer Fendi clothes.

He said: “My lord, based on your order yesterday, we provided Defendant with a new Orthopedic mattress, pillows, and blankets.

“As for his appearance, he chose to wear this particular one because he said that it is designers”.

Kanu’s lead counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, denied his client’s insistence on wearing his designers’ clothes.

READ ALSO: Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyers Sitted In Courtroom, Waiting For The Arrival Of IPOB Leader (PHOTOS)

“My lord what happened was that by the time proceedings ended yesterday, and because it was not his visiting day, we were not able to pass to him, some clothes we obtained for him.

“We even discussed it with him this morning and he said that on the next visiting day he would want to have the new clothes,” Ozekhome added.

Details Shortly…

Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyers Sitted In Courtroom, Waiting For The Arrival Of IPOB Leader (PHOTOS)

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Legal team of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB have arrived Federal High Court Abuja in continuation of his trial, ABN TV reports.

The IPOB leader is yet to be brought to the court as at the time of filling this report.

The judge, Binta Nyako had on Tuesday adjourned the trial to enable the defence lawyers led by Mike Ozekhome to study the 15-count amended charges bordering on terrorism brought against the separatist agitator.

Nnamdi Kanu's Lawyers Sitted In Courtroom, Waiting For The Arrival Of IPOB Leader (PHOTOS)

More details shortly….

Gunmen Invade Enugu APC Reconciliation Meeting, Kill Two Party Stalwarts

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Unidentified gunmen on Tuesday evening invaded meeting venue of All Progressives Congress, APC members in Enugu South LGA of Enugu State, killing at least two chieftains of the party.

The gunmen also abducted another stalwart of the party while others sustained bullet wounds.

ABN TV learnt the deceased and others were having a reconciliation meeting at the party office at Ward III Obeagu Awkunanaw, Enugu South Local Government Area when the gunmen struck.

Numbering over seven, the gunmen were said to have stormed the venue of the meeting, killing the two instantly while whisking away one other person.

The incident, it was gathered, had thrown the state chapter of the APC into mourning.

A source at the meeting told newsmen that the meeting was called to reconcile the two factions of the party in the ward as part of the ongoing efforts to unite all members of the party in the State.

The meeting was underway when these men invaded the place and shot and killed the immediate past Enugu South local government chairman of the party.

“Ezeoha was also elected as the incumbent state youth leader in one of the factions of the party. One other person I don’t know his name was equally killed instantly.

“Hon. Monday Ogbonna (Okwadike), a factional chairman of the party in our area was kidnapped.

“One person is lying critically wounded at the hospital and we don’t know his fate,” the source said.

Efforts to speak with Enugu Police spokesman Daniel Ndukwe on the development were unsuccessful as his phone line was not reachable.

Buhari Salutes Former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku At 89

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President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, on his 89th birthday, January 18, 2022, joining family and friends to celebrate with the diplomat, whose contributions to Nigeria and the international comity he said will continue to stand out.

President Buhari in a birthday message signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu affirms that the international diplomat, who started as a Foreign Service Officer, has consistently followed and projected the wellbeing of his country, working assiduously to build his local community and staying vocal in counselling leaders on way forward.

President Buhari extols his foresight, courage, and diligence in pursuing his vision for a more just and peaceful world as the diplomat turns 89.

READ ALSO: 2023 Presidency: I’m Satisfied With Our Discussion, Says Sen. Kalu After Meeting With Buhari

President Buhari prayed God to continue to strengthen the renowned international diplomat and his family.

Banditry: Buhari Orders Full Military Operations In Niger

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President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered for a major military operation in Niger State which has faced continued attacks on its communities by bandits and terrorists fleeing theatres of war in the Northwestern and Northeastern parts of the country.

In a directive to the Defence Headquarters a few days ago, the President asked the military to respond robustly to the cases of killings and kidnappings in the State and to give effect to the strategic objectives through the use of force.

In his message to the government and people of Niger State, President Buhari said, “I would like to express sincere sympathies to the government and people of the State following recent security incidents” Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu said in a statement, made available to ABN TV.

The President he said reiterated that security is a responsibility of every member of the community and only through solidarity and cooperation with law enforcement agencies can we defeat the problems finally.

The Federal Government is willing to strengthen support and cooperation with all the states. I believe that with the full cooperation of the citizens, we will surely overcome this problem,” said the President.

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