Illegal for Buhari not to handover to Osinbajo before London trip – Edwin Clark

The leader of Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Edwin Clark, has claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari breached the constitution by not officially transmitting power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, before travelling to London, UK for his routine medical check-up.

On Monday, Femi Adesina, the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, announced Buhari’s departure.

He said the president is expected back in the country in the second week of November.

However, there was no mention of whether Osinbajo would be in charge in the president’s absence.

 Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Clark asked if Buhari is afraid of handing over to the VP.

He said Osinbajo proved his competence while he acted as president in 2017. That was when Buhari was out of the country for over 100 days.

Not constitutional

Clark said Buhari’s argument that he can only transmit power when his trip exceeds 21 days is unknown to law.

In 2019, the president said he only needs to handover to Osinbajo if he will be out of Nigeria for over 21 days.

He said this in a counter-affidavit deposed to on his behalf by one Friday Atu.

Atu is a litigation officer in the civil litigation department of the federal ministry of justice.

His affidavit was in response to a suit filed by Inibehe Effiong, a human rights lawyer. Effiong sued the president and the attorney-general of the federation over the failure to hand over power to Osinbajo.

“There is no issue of 21 days and the president cannot import into the constitution what is not there,” Clark said.

“What Section 145 says, is that the president shall transmit to the national assembly, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives, whenever he will be away on medical vacation.

“And in his absence, the constitution empowers the vice president to act as the president. And the word shall is used there. Where does Mr. President get that one from? That one does not exist, except that’s another constitution. I am a lawyer.

“Overseeing of the affairs of the government as acting president is a must. Because the constitution used the word shall which is obligatory. And anything done outside it is unconstitutional and illegal.

“A president’s inability to perform his functions, even for a few hours, mandates such action of transmitting a letter to NASS. This is what is done by any responsible government.”

Buhari’s health

The PANDEF leader further stated that “the president of Nigeria is constitutionally bound to inform Nigerians, of whatever ailment or disease he is suffering from and for which government money is being spent”.

“Nigerians will understand; he is a human, and that is why the framers of the constitution provided section 145. Unfortunately, up till now, Nigerians do not know how much of taxpayers’ money is being spent on their president,” he added.

There's no plan to stop INEC from using BVAS during 2023 polls - Presidency

 

The presidency has debunked claims of having a plan to stop the use of the Bimodal Voter Registration System (BVAS) in the 2023 elections.

 

Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina who spoke at a policy dialogue organized to mark the 2022 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists (IDEI) on Tuesday November 1, added that there's also no plan to remove Mahmood Yakubu as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

 

He said;

 

“Recently, there was one group that said the chairman of INEC was going to be removed because maybe they didn’t want BVAS.

“How many times has the president spoken about the role of technology in getting him into office?

“He has spoken about it locally, internationally that three times he contested, three times he ended at the Supreme Court because the government of the day will just write results.

“Then he said until technology came and there was permanent voter cards and so it was difficult to write results.

“So, how and why can the same person have issues with BVAS? I saw that group on television, alleging that there was a plan to remove the INEC chairman and the media gave them that opportunity.

“Such things should be treated with contradictions because they don’t make sense, at least not under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

2023: Real reason Ayu doesn’t want to resign as PDP chairman – Wike

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has claimed that the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu, does not want to resign because he wants to continue overseeing the party’s finances.

Wike stated this over the weekend at a media parley in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State.

The Governor and his associates have been calling for Ayu to resign, insisting that it is against PDP’s constitution for the national chairman and the presidential candidate to come from the same zone.

Ayu is from Benue (North Central), while the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, hails from Adamawa (North East).

Wike had also accused the PDP national chairman of being “very corrupt” and not being accountable for the money that enters the party’s coffers.

“Why does he not want to resign? He is hoping that Nigerians will donate money to the party so he will superintendent over that money.

“He has already finished the one of N11 billion from the party’s primaries. Account for it, he says it is in the account. Show the public the account. Print out the statement of account of PDP and let the world see how the N11 billion was expended.

“And this is the party that all of us have laboured to take over power from the ruling party that we said has done badly. And then the national chairman will open his mouth to talk about stopping contestants.

“Ayu shouldn’t say so. He tried it in Rivers state. He came to manipulate and try to put some gubernatorial aspirants, but he saw the result. We dealt with him,” Wike said.

Popular singer and actor Lee Ji Han, 24, confirmed to have died in Halloween party stampede in Seoul

Singer and actor Lee Ji Han is confirmed to have died at the age of 24 in the stampede at a Halloween party.

At least 151 people are said to have been killed in the incident on Saturday night, October 29, as they gathered to celebrate the festivities.

It was rumoured that the stampede began when a huge crowd of young people – mostly aged in their teens and 20s – poured into a narrow Seoul street to "see a local celebrity".

Lee Ji Han, who was best known as a contestant on Produce 101 Season 2, had got caught up in the stampede and died.

In a statement translated by Soompi, Lee Ji Han's agency, 935 Entertainment, said: "It’s true that Lee Ji Han passed away due to the accident in Itaewon on October 29.

 

 

"We also hoped that it wasn’t true, and we were very shocked to hear the news. The family is suffering immense grief right now, so we are being very cautious. May he rest in peace."

They later followed up with another statement which said: "Please send a warm farewell to [Lee], who left us too soon. We will also remember Lee, who shone beautifully with his passion for acting."

Ji Han’s other agency 9ato Entertainment also confirmed the news in a social media statement.

They said according to SBS Star: "We are sad to deliver such news today, but Lee Jihan has passed away in the crush in Itaewon last night. We would like to express our deepest condolences to his family, who are saddened by the sudden tragic news, also to everyone who loved him.

"Lee Ji-han brightly smiled when greeting us all the time. He had pure and positive energy with great passion for acting. It is very hard to believe that we cannot see him anymore. Please send your warm goodbye to Lee Ji-han. He’ll always be remembered."

Many have paid tribute to Ji Han with several of his castmates on Produce 101 mourning him on social media, including Park Hee Seok, Kim Do Hyun, and Cho Jin Hyung.

NDLEA operatives arrest village head in Sokoto for drug trafficking

A 38-year-old village head of Gidan Abba, in Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Abubakar Ibrahim has been apprehended for drug trafficking by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Femi Babafemi, the spokesman of the agency said in a statement issued on Sunday that the suspect was arrested with 3kg of cannabis sativa and 4,000 tablets of exol-5.

According to the agency’s spokesman, 46.637kgs of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin were recovered by NDLEA operatives across seven States, adding that the village head was among 11 suspects arrested in interdiction operations in which 991,320 pills of pharmaceutical opioids and 1,251kgs of cannabis were confiscated.

The statement explained that on Wednesday, 26th October, 2022, NDLEA operatives intercepted 15 cartons containing 802,000 pills of Tramadol imported from Dubai, UAE and Karachi, Pakistan at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos.

The statement said, “While 10 cartons of Tramadol 225mg came in from Dubai on Ethiopian Airlines flight, four cartons of 100mg and a carton of 225mg Tramadol came from Karachi, Pakistan on another Ethiopian Airlines flight.”

Suspected killer of Nollywood actress dies in Delta hospital after beating by angry mob

A murder suspect, Bright Kester, in connection with the death of a POS operator and Nollywood actress, Mary Ngozi, has been reported dead.

DAILY POST gathered that the 22-year-old suspect died at a general hospital in Delta, where he was rushed to for treatment due to injuries he sustained from mob action.

This is coming as the police also rescued a 19-year-old suspect, Onyeka Ifeanyi from the angry mob.

They were arrested by the police who rescued them from being lynched by angry mob.

After the rescue, the police recovered one cut-to-size double barrel gun from the suspects.

The suspects, during interrogation, confessed to have robbed several POS operators in the town.

The Delta State Police Command led by CP Ari Muhammed Ali confirmed the report in a statement signed and made available to DAILY POST by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe.

The Police image maker said, “They also confessed that their gang members were responsible for the robbery and murder of one Mary Ngozi, a POS operator and Nollywood actress at Deeper Life road on 7/12/2021.

According to DSP Edafe, “One of the suspects, Bright Michael Kester, was taken to the general hospital for treatment due to injuries sustained from the mob attack but gave up the ghost while receiving treatment. Investigation is ongoing.”

Again, suspected herdsmen storm Benue community, kill residents

Armed men suspected to be herders who have been causing chaos in Benue State have again attacked the Tse Ikyem community in Logo Local Government Area of the State.

DAILY POST gathered that the unfortunate attack occurred in broad daylight around 4om on Saturday.

The assailants invaded the community and opened fire on residents, killing three persons, while several others were seriously injured.

A source, who confirmed the development to our correspondent, said the attack was launched around Anawah settlement where at least two people were murdered on Sunday, October 23, 2022.

Victims of the Saturday murderous attack were identified as Solomon Ukoom, Mrs Eunice Torkwase Joe Kpei and Mr Mfeseer Iorbume.

When contacted, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Catherine Anene, confirmed that three persons lost their lives to the unfortunate incident.

Commuters stranded as Lagos drivers commence strike

Many commuters were stranded in Lagos State on Monday as commercial bus drivers commenced a seven-day strike.

The strike is due to the alleged extortion by the men of motorparks and garages management in the State.

Recall that the commercial drivers in Nigeria’s economic nerve centre, Lagos State, under the umbrella of the Joint Drivers Welfare Association Of Nigeria (JDWAN), had declared a 7-day boycott of transport services in protest against arbitrary levies imposed on members by the State government.

According to the Association, the seven-day boycott would start on Monday, October 31 and end on November 6, 2022.

In a statement issued on Sunday, signed by its National Leader, Akintade Abiodun, the Association lamented payment of illegal fees and collection of high levies from their members by government officials, which they said had increased the cost of living in Lagos.

Dailypost....

Police neutralize six IPOB/ESN members in Imo

On Thursday, luck ran against a six-man terror gang, suspected to be members of the Proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN), who came in a sienna vehicle with registration number ABUJA-GWA 932 CQ, and attacked Police operatives who were conducting stop and search duty along UBA Round About Orlu, Imo State.

This was disclosed by the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, CSP Michael Battam, in a statement revealing the successes of the Imo State Police Command against insecurity.

According to Abattam, the hoodlums who came prepared, shooting sporadically at the Police operatives, were shocked by the alertness and dexterity displayed by the gallant police operatives who responded swiftly, positioning themselves professionally.

He said, “In the gun duel that ensued, the hoodlums were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the police and in the process one of the hoodlums was neutralised while others escaped into the adjoining bushes with fatal bullet injuries abandoning their sienna vehicle, one AK47 rifle with fifteen (15) rounds of live ammunition, two (2) English made Pump Action guns with ten (10) rounds of live catridges and assorted charms

“All the abandoned items were recovered by the police operatives to the station. While the corpse was later removed from the scene and deposited at a nearby mortuary.”

Police investigate incident

Abattam revealed that preliminary investigation showed that the sienna vehicle used by the terror gang was snatched from its owner in Amurie Omanze in Isu Local Government Area of Imo State and it was reported at Njaba Police Station.

He said, “However, the owner has been contacted to come with proof of ownership for the collection of his vehicle. While the Command’s Tactical Teams are working assiduously to arrest the fleeing suspects.

Police promise crime-free yuletide

The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, while commending the officers and men for their gallantry, thanked Imolites for their continued support and assured them of the Command’s efforts in wiping out crime and criminality in the State to ensure a crime-free yuletide season.

“He then, enjoined them to be wary of persons living within their neighborhoods and to report any person/persons seen with or treating bullet wounds to the nearest police station or call the Command’s emergency numbers 08034773600 or 08098880197,” The statement added.

Housewife poisons her husband to death in Borno, says "I hate marriage"

The Borno Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old housewife, Fatima Abubakar, for allegedly killing her husband, Goni Abbah with poison. 

The Commissioner Of Police, Mr Abdu Umar, who disclosed this to the News men in Maiduguri, on Sunday, October 30, said that the suspect was arrested on October 19 by men of the Command at Anguwan Doki.

Umar said that the victim, who was the Chief Imam of the area, returned from the mosque when the suspect, who was the second wife, allegedly mixed poison in his food.

 

The CP explained that as soon as Goni started eating, his condition deteriorated.

According to him, the victim was immediately rushed to the State Specialist Hospital where he was given emergency medical attention,  but unfortunately, he later died when they returned home.

 

The commisioner of Police immediately deployed men of the  Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department to arrest the suspect after the incident was reported by the family of the victim at the GRA Police Station.

He noted that on the arrival of the police, they witnessed large numbers of aggrieved youths in the neighbourhood who stormed the home of the victim with the intention to lynch the suspect but the police were able to bring the situation under control.

He added that the suspect, in her statement, confessed to the alleged crime, noting that she bought the poison from Monday Market when she already made up her mind to kill him.

The police boss said that the case had been registered as culpable homicide at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions before she would be charged to court.

 

The suspect, Fatima who was paraded at the command, told newsmen that she killed her husband with poison because she was tired of the marriage.

 

"I never wanted the marriage. Goni was my second husband; I got separated with my first husband because I hate marriage," she said. 

"Anytime I woke up with the fact that I am married, it pisses me off. At some point, I had to run to my parent to demand an end to the marriage but they always sent me back, asking me to be patient,"

 

"At some point, two months after I gave birth to my child, I ran away and slept in an uncompleted building for about two weeks. I later returned to my husband’s house.

 

“Not that he doesn’t treat me well, we are also not quarrelling. We are two in the household, I am his second wife and I have been married to him since 2021. But I just hate when any man comes near me.

 

"I don’t really know what is wrong with me. Even now that I am speaking to you, I don’t really feel that I was the one who killed him," she added as she broke down in tears.