Digital Leonard Blog

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has condemned the action of the eight Benue legislators purported to have suspended 15 of their colleagues and served an impeachment notice on Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State. The group described the lawmakers’ act as one which should never be allowed in any part of Nigeria. Afenifere, in a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting held at the house of its leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti in Akure, Ondo state on Tuesday said this legislative rascality similar to Ladoja's case in the past is hereby condemned and must never be allowed in any part of Nigeria. It said the right of citizens to freely associate with any political party of their choice should not be with intimidation and direct assault as it is being visited on Ortom. The group also condemned the use of money as an instrument of election into public offices by contestants and their parties. It maintained that INEC as a regulatory body on electoral matters must take...

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has assured that the military will soon stabilize the troubled areas of Zamfara state and Birnin-Gwari axis of Kaduna state. The Chief of Army Staff gave the assurance during his routine operational visit to troops in Kafanchan and Kachia in Kaduna state. Buratai who said his visit was aimed at inspecting ongoing projects and assessment of combat readiness of the troops in the field, said plans have already been put in place to restore normalcy in those troubled areas. Speaking to newsmen after the tour, Buratai said, "This is routine operational visit to see the troops, to look at what we have in Kaduna, the school of artillery and to see some of the infrastructure that have been put in place, to see what the troops are also doing in respect of operations. "This place is one of the Nigerian Army's Forward Based Operations, which we later developed into a full battalion. We just acquired some of the equipment neede...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to declare officials of the Benue State Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs wanted over refusal to honour invitations. The officials have been invited since July 2016 to explain their involvement in an alleged N1.328 billion salary scam in Benue State. EFCC agents leading the investigation told Daily Trust in Abuja on Tuesday that it discovered how 1.328 billion cash withdrawals were made from a joint State and Local Government bank account. It was said that new generation bank account operated by the Bureau often received the money meant for salary and pension of Benue workers directly from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC). EFCC agents said plans are in place to declare all government officials involved in the transactions wanted and watch-listed. The EFCC said it had cause to investigate the matter after it received a petition from one Abubakar Tsav on 10th June 2016. The EFCC said Tsav who i...

President Muhammadu Buhari The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina has said the President has no hand in the drama at Benue State House of Assembly. He said Buhari who is currently attending the ECOWAS/ECCAS Summit in Togo could not possibly be responsible for an internal squabble between two arms of government in Benue State. “Statements have been issued by different interest groups, insinuating that the President may have a hand in the development in Benue," he said in a statement on Tuesday. "This is paranoia at its worst, coming from people who have wittingly positioned themselves against the clean-up of the country, and the way we do things. “President Buhari will never be part of any unconstitutional act, and any attempt to link him with the inglorious past, when minority number of lawmakers impeached governors, will not stick.” Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, had...

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, was on Tuesday grilled by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at its Abuja head offices over alleged financial crimes. EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that Ekweremadu honoured an invitation by the Commission extended to him about seven days ago. The Deputy Senate President was being grilled by operatives at the time of filing this report. NPC could not yet determine if he would be given bail to go home today. However, it was gathered that Political Exposed Persons now come with their sureties ready to perfect their bails once they are invited by the EFCC. Ekweremadu on July 24th did not honour an invitation from the EFCC to answer questions over corruption allegations. NPC gathered that security operative from the EFCC had cordoned off his resident located in Apo, Abuja. The operatives later withdrew without arresting Ekewramadu. EFCC letter to Ekweremadu, dated 24th July, a copy of which was seen by ...