Television Nigerian

By Toby Prince

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, on Monday chose to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre instead of the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Adoke spoke through his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, on his arraignment at the Federal High Court, Abuja on fresh six-count charge bordering on money laundering.

The EFCC alleged that Adoke and co-defendant Aliyu Abubakar, in September 2013, made payments in naira and dollar which equivalent was about N900 million into Adoke’s accounts in violation of various provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.

Adoke made his preference known when Mr Ozekhome argued his bail application after their pleas were taken.

Ozekhome said his client was brought to court by the EFCC from the Federal Medical Centre near Jabi, Abuja, where he had been admitted for treatment.

“We have deposed to the affidavit about his health conditions. The prosecution themselves brought him to court from the Federal Medical Centre near Jabib in Abuja, this morning,” he said.

“We also plead that he be taken to the Kuje Correction Centre, a euphemism for Kuje prison pending when he meets his bail conditions to avoid the mental psychological strictures he goes through in the custody of the EFCC.

“My lord we pray that he be granted bail in liberal and affordable terms and conditions so that he can take care of himself…”

Some well-meaning Nigerians, on Monday, stormed the Iranian Embassy in Abuja, calling for the country’s nationals to leave its shores.

Led by the Concerned Citizens for Defence of Nigeria, the protesters demanded the immediate expulsion of Iranians and their agent of darkness from Nigeria.

In a statement by Convener, Mrs Victoria Ameh, the Concerned Citizens said the rally is necessitated by Iran’s fresh attempt at causing havoc in Nigeria through their proxy, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN).

Formed about four decades ago, IMN advocates the creation of an Iranian-style Islamic state in Nigeria.

It was heavily influenced by the Iranian revolution, which saw Ayatollah Khomeini take power in 1979 after the overthrow of the US-allied Shah in a popular uprising.

The Concerned Citizens revealed that the Iranian government have pumped in millions of dollars in a bid to destabilize and overthrow the Nigerian government.

According to the group, “Iran would stop at nothing until they achieve their desire to see to the collapse of Nigeria, and this is what Nigerians in their numbers have come out to reject in its entirety.”

It further added that the latest move stems from the fact that Nigeria, just like many other countries didn’t take sides with it over the diplomatic row it had with the United States of America over the killing of one of its top military commander, Gen. Qasem Soleimani in Iraq.

The Concerned Citizens, therefore, warned that Nigeria’s integrity can’t be shaken, advising Iranian citizens and businesses to forthwith leave its shores.

Read full address below:

All Protocols observed.

“Nigerians say NO to the clandestine attempt by Iran to truncate our democracy.”

We, the members of the Concerned Citizens for the Defence of Nigeria, are gathered here today to send a strong message to the Iranian authorities in the light of the various revelations concerning how they have been plotting to see to the disintegration of Nigeria to suit their despicable purpose.

We are here, not because we do not have other engagements. But it is indeed a statement of fact that above all and in pursuit of our core mandate as an organization devoted to the defense of Nigeria from external sources through advocacies and civil means brings this strong message on behalf of the over 180 million Nigerians who do not have anywhere to call home but Nigeria to the Government of Iran.

The Government of Iran has indeed exhibited an act that is not only despicable, shameless, but of poor taste, because it has indeed begun a futile attempt at causing havoc in Nigeria through their proxy, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN).

The activities of the IMN in Nigeria are indeed one laced with tales of violence and affront to the constituted authorities in Nigeria with the active support of the Government of Iran. They have killed and maimed innocent people. They have constituted themselves into a parallel government, and they have indeed planned to establish their territory in Nigeria without recourse to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

As we all know, the activities of the IMN is fully sponsored by the Government of Iran from time immemorial. They have sponsored the violent activities of IMN against other peaceful practicing Muslims that do not share in their extremist ideology that has resulted in deaths and incapacitation.

One of the contemptible acts of the IMN was the attempted assassination of the Chief of Army Staff in Nigeria, where his entourage was ambushed on his way to an official function in Zaria-Nigeria. Also, the IMN has held violent protests in some parts of the country, especially the Federal Capital Territory-Abuja that led to the death of a senior police officer and many more deaths.

We know that the Government of Iran would stop at nothing until they achieve their desire to see to the collapse of Nigeria, and this is what Nigerians in their numbers have come out to reject in its entirety.

The Government of Iran should know that Nigerians are not fools. That we have been diplomatic in our conduct all the while is not a sign of weakness. But rather that of strength in our diversity for we are good people of a great nation.

We wish to state that despite their shenanigans, we have continued to respect Iran as a sovereign country. And we expect that such gestures should be reciprocated. But instead, they have chosen the path of dishonor to cause mayhem in Nigeria through their proxy, the IMN.

We believe that this new onslaught by the Government of Iran stems from the fact that Nigeria, just like many other countries refused to take sides with it over the diplomatic row it had with the United States of America over the killing of one of its top military commander, Gen. Qasem Soleimani in Iraq.

That Nigeria refused to back its atrocities in the international community is why the Government of Iran has vowed to take its pound of flesh with the renewed onslaught against Nigeria by infiltrating the country with mercenaries to destabilize the country manifest in the spate of kidnappings and other despicable activities that are threatening the peace and tranquility in Nigeria.

The Government of Iran is also the brain behind the violent protests across the country with the ultimate aim of causing economic and political unrest. They have set aside vast sums of monies in the regard as well as the deployment of sophisticated arms and ammunitions to the IMN group in Nigeria.

The Concerned Citizens for the Defense of Nigeria sees this act as an affront to the sovereignty of Nigeria, and this gathering is one amongst many civil means we intend to use to send a strong warning to the Government of Iran and their agents in Nigeria to desist from their evil ways or face the full wrath of Nigerians.

The Concerned Citizens for the Defense of Nigeria demands that should the Government of Iran not discontinue this violent campaign against Nigeria, and respect the sovereignty of Nigeria as a country, we shall be left with no choice than to take the bull by the horns in preserving the sovereignty of Nigeria from the enemies of our country.

We are demanding that the Government of Nigeria begin the process of identifying all the channels through which Iran has been promoting terrorism in Nigeria through its proxy, the IMN.

We are also demanding that the Nigerian government begin the process of identifying all the interests of Iran in Nigeria and consequently activating the relevant machinery towards expelling them from Nigeria as Nigerians are not fools that would sit and watch how another country would destroy our country.

This is necessary in the light of the fact that it has been established with facts that the mission of the Government of Iran is to see to the collapse of Nigeria so that their proxy, the IMN can successfully establish their caliphate.

The generality of Nigerians are united in this accord to see that Iranian officials and businesses leave Nigeria in the interest of peace as Nigeria is not a part and would never be an annex of Iran through which they can import their extremist ideology to the African continent.

The territorial integrity of Nigeria can be shaken. However, it can never be broken because we are a strong and united country. This much we want to pass across to the Government of Iran in faraway Tehran. Iran cannot truncate the nascent democracy in Nigeria under any condition. We say no to this, and we also reject it in its entirety. This is indeed the time for Iran to leave Nigeria.

We are resolute on this call because Nigeria is indeed for Nigerians and not for Iran. As such, we refuse to be susceptible to their whims and caprices. A word is indeed enough for the wise and discerning, for we shall not extend any form of respect for any country that does not respect the sovereignty of Nigeria. Nigerians say NO to the clandestine attempt by Iran to truncate our democracy.

By Sylvanus Okpe

The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, Monday, inaugurated the new division of the court in Kano, North-West Nigeria.

Kano State has been under the jurisdiction of the Appeal Court in Kaduna.

Justice Bulkachuwa, who is on a valedictory tour of the Appeal Court across the country, also inaugurated new divisions in Delta and Anambra States.

The Kaduna State Court of Appeal division will by this development, cease to have jurisdiction over cases arising from the lower courts in Kano State.

This has been lauded by many Nigerians who see it as a positive development towards speedy and effective administration of justice

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By Sylvanus Okpe

Senate President Ahmad Lawan has expressed sadness over the death of the lawmaker representing Plateau South, Ignatius Longjan.

The chairman of the National Assembly also commiserated with the family of late Sen. Ignatius Longjan who died at a Turkish hospital in Abuja on Sunday.

Special Adviser on Media to Lawan, Ola Awoniyi, made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

The Senate president also extended his condolences to the government and people of Plateau over the sad loss of the senator who represented Plateau South at the Senate before his death.

Lawan acknowledged the contributions of Longjan both at the state and national levels as former Chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru.

He was also a former Chief of Staff at the Government House in Jos and Plateau Deputy Governor between 2011 and 2019.

Mr Lawan said that the Senate would miss Longjan who was Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism as well as the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The Senate President prayed God to grant those he left behind the fortitude to bear the great loss.

Similarly, the All Progressives Congress (APC) joined to mourn the late senator.

In a statement by Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, National Publicity Secretary, the ruling party “We extend our condolences to Senator Longjan’s immediate family, constituents, the National Assembly, the government and entire people of Plateau State. May the Almighty God grant all comfort during this time of grief and may the soul of Senator Longjan rest in peace.

” and implementation of policies that impact positively on the people. He was a loyal party man who championed party supremacy over personal interest in all party matters and decisions, as displayed in the emergence of the leadership of the current 9th National Assembly.”

By Bukola Olasanmi

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers, have abducted a batch A corps member, Samuel Adigun, and eight others near Idu village, along Abuja -Lokoja road.

The corps member is serving with Abaji area council secretariat, when he boarded a bus on his way from Abaji to Lokoja.

He was kidnapped along side other passengers. A resident of Idu village, who preferred anonymity, told our reporter on Monday that the incident happened last Thursday afternoon, after the gunmen wearing army uniforms with sophisticated weapons emerged from the bush.

He said the gunmen suddenly shot the tyres of the unmarked Toyota commuter bus, which he said forced the driver to stop, before the gunmen whisked away the corps member and eight other passengers. “I was actually inside the river by the bridge washing my motorcycle, when I heard a sound of gun shot and I quickly take cover. Until some few minutes later when the kidnappers emerged from the bush and whisked away passengers inside the bus,” he said. Meanwhile, a senior staff with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC ) who preferred anonymity, confirmed the abduction of the corps member, saying contact has since been established with kidnappers as negotiations were ongoing. “Even as I am not position to speak to the press about the incident, but a contact has since been established with kidnappers, which we are hoping that the victim would be set free either today or tomorrow, ” he said. When contacted, the spokesman of the Kogi state police command, CSP Williams Aya, promised to call our reporter back in 5 minutes, which he didn’t call back after waiting for 15 minutes

By Bukola Olasanmi

A Federal high court in Abuja has granted bail to Mohammed Adoke, former attorney general of the federation, on liberal terms.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had refused to release him after he fulfilled the terms of a previous bail he was granted.

The anti-graft agency had re-arraigned him for alleged money laundering but Binta Nyako, the presiding judge, granted him bail.

She held that she would rely on the bail conditions previously given by Abubakar Kutigi, judge of a federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Gwagwalada, where Adoke and six others were arraigned on 42 counts of alleged fraud.

Kutigi had granted Adoke bail with a bond of N50 million. He also ordered the former AGF to produce one surety who has a landed property in the FCT.

The surety must provide evidence of tax clearance for the last three years. The defendant was also ordered to submit his international passport to the court and to sign an undertaking to always attend trial.

In her ruling, Nyako said although the two cases were different, the courts are of the same jurisdiction. She ordered the EFCC to respect the order of the court.

She said: “I have no more conditions to add. I take the same conditions as the FCT high court.”

Nyako ordered the anti-graft commission to deposit the defendant’s passport which is in its custody before the high court in Gwagwalada.

Adoke and Aliyu Abubakar, a businessman, were arraigned on seven counts of alleged money laundering. Adoke was said to have received gratification to the tune of N300 million from Aliyu Abubakar in September 2013.

The duo pleaded not guilty to the allegations preferred against them.

Mike Ozekhome, Adoke’s counsel, had urged the court to grant bail to his client on liberal and favourable terms.

He prayed that his client should not be remanded in custody of the EFCC owing to the mental torturewhich he was subjected to.

The case has been adjourned till April 1 for commencement of trial

By Bukola Olasanmi 

The Citizens Against Destabilization (CAD) has urged Nigerians not to succumb to the plot by the Iranian government and Amnesty International to destabilize the country.

CAD made this known at a press conference on Iran’s nefarious plot to wreck havoc through their proxies on Sunday in Abuja.

In a statement signed by President, Comrade Stephen Okenarh, the group revealed that the destabilization plot by Iran is part of the broader strategy towards securing the release and escape into exile of their stooge and leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN).

According to them, Iran had budgeted a whopping $500 million for the destabilization plot and this much is evident in the way and manner the adherents of the IMN had carried themselves in recent times.

The Citizens against Destabilization, however, stated in unequivocal terms that should the federal government fail to act fast in addressing the threat posed by the IMN and Amnesty International, the consequences might eventually lead to the disintegration of Nigeria.

The group, therefore, urged Nigerians to disregard any statement from Amnesty International and their affiliates on Nigeria as this is indeed a part of the plot to make the citizens gullible for the smooth execution of the destabilization plot as arranged by the Iranian.

Read full statement below:

The Citizens against Destabilization, a Civil Society Organization at the vanguard of exposing the nefarious plots by organizations and individuals against Nigeria through its vast network of members, is holding this press conference to intimate Nigerians on a recently revealed conspiracy against the Unity of Nigeria.

We wish to state that the Government of Iran has perfected plans towards the destabilization of Nigeria in cahoots with some organizations and individuals in Nigeria.

The destabilization plot by the Iranian Government is part of the broader strategy towards securing the release and escape into exile of their stooge and leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN)

This has consequently seen to the covert supply of arms and ammunitions to the IMN in Nigeria through unconventional means all aimed towards launching a violent attack on Nigeria that would include jailbreaks across the country.

We have credible information stating that the Iranian Government had budgeted a whopping $500 million for the destabilization plot against Nigeria, and this much is evident in the way and manner the adherents of the IMN had carried themselves in recent times.

The Citizens against Destabilization wishes to state that the Iranian Government had also enlisted the services of Amnesty International to spread propaganda against Nigeria through the publication of false and fictitious reports meant to distract the security agencies in an attempt to allow the arms piling and movement of the IMN across the country where there are prisons and concentration of critical government infrastructures marked for destruction.

This much Amnesty International has agreed to do as credible information at our disposal indicates that colossal sum of monies was paid for these services to the country representative of Amnesty International in one of the African countries to evade the prying eyes of the EFCC and the DSS in Nigeria.

The Citizens against Destabilization wishes to state in unequivocal terms that should the Government fail to act fast in addressing the threat posed by the IMN and Amnesty International; the consequences might eventually lead to the disintegration of Nigeria.

We also wish to state that this sinister plot has reached the peak, and it’s only a matter of time before the full implementation across the country in an operation tagged unleash sorrow, tears, and blood.

The Citizens against Destabilization wishes to inform members of the general public that it should do well to disregard any statement from Amnesty International and their affiliates on Nigeria as this is indeed a part of the plot to make the citizens gullible for the smooth execution of the destabilization plot as arranged by the Iranian Government.

This is of great concern because the Iranian Government must understand that Nigeria is a sovereign country that is governed by laws and any attempt to impose their ideologies on Nigerians, as they have attempted with the sponsorship of the activities of the IMN in Nigeria, would be resisted by all and sundry through civil actions.

The Citizens against Destabilization wishes to call on our security agencies to beam their searchlights on the activities of the IMN and Amnesty International to nip in the bud the destabilization plot against Nigeria. We also call on the Federal Government to seek collaboration with its western allies in truncating this threat posed by the Iranian Government to Nigeria.

The Citizens against Destabilization wishes to call on the Federal Government to expel these agents of darkness out of the country for the Peace and Unity of our country. Enough is indeed Enough.

Bukola Olasanmi

House of Representatives Leader Hassan Ado Doguwa has threatened a woman columnist, Fatima Abubakar, for criticising him that he brought his four wives to the floor of the House during his inauguration.

The lawmaker expressed anger at such criticisms, saying what he did was in line with his religious practice and that he was proud to have four wives.

He said: “I’m not only disappointed, I’m disenchanted by the kind of reactions I received, especially on social media, when, on the day of my swearing-in, I brought my four wives with me to the floor of the House of Representatives. I told the House that these women are here to respect the institution of the House of Representatives.

“These are my legitimate wives; everybody knows them, starting from Abuja down to my village. I’m a Muslim; not only a Muslim, but a proud practising Muslim.

The most fundamental pillar of every faithful person in Islam is that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) should be your watchword, the Prophet should be your role model in actions and in thoughts.

So, as a proud Muslim, marrying four wives is in all ramifications copying the practice of Muhammad (Peace be upon him).

“I’m allowed by my religion to marry four wives, produce and reproduce.

“So, if there’s anything that can now be subject of ridicule, subject of reactions, write-ups on pages of papers, and unfortunately, sometimes by Muslims.

“I have to be very particular about a lady called Fatima Abubakar, who wrote an analysis on the back page of Daily Trust. The paper is seen as a northern paper. The writer is presumably a Muslim.

“Fatima Abubakar wrote a column, making references to my name, attacking my personality, attacking my family. If she’s really a Muslim, I should not be a subject of ridicule simply because I took the challenge of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)

“What I did on the floor of the House, for me, was an act of pride. For my four wives, it was an act of pride, and all of them went home very happy. It’s because I have control over them.

“I’m not a soldier; I’m a democrat. For me to bring together my four wives to the floor of the House and they all played along with me in peace, that confirmed that I’m a reliable husband.

“I want to say with all sense of sincerity and seriousness that as long as I’m a free Nigerian, if anybody dares to write about me in this kind of a ridiculous manner, either about my family or my person, I’m telling you I’ll take it up. I must take it up. I’ll not take this lightly, and I want you to take this public.

“This is unfortunate. Fatima, who wrote about me in Daily Trust …has no business with my family. None of my wives was embarrassed; none of my children was embarrassed.

As a good Muslim that I am, I tell you that I’m proud of my family. I’m proud of marrying four wives; I’m proud these four wives are not even imported.

“We have a lot of people here who call themselves VIPs and who went out to import wives. My wives are indigenous wives; not only are they indigenous, they are my village people. All four of them are from Doguwa Local Government Area.”