FG must withdraw case against CJN, Walter Onnoghen – Falana

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has asked the Federal Government to urgently withdraw the charges against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen as such move will amount to prosecutorial misadventure.

The Federal Government had earlier asked Onnoghen to vacate his office over failure to declare his assets as required by the law and moved to arraign him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT.

But Falana, in a statement on Saturday faulted FG”s move to press charges against the CJN.

According to him, “The charge against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen ought not to have been instituted at the Code of Conduct of Tribunal in view of the case of Nganjiwa v FRN (2017) LPELR 43391 wherein the Court of Appeal held that a judicial officer who has not been investigated by the National Judicial Council and sanctioned for misconduct cannot be arraigned in any criminal court in Nigeria.

“As all authorities are bound by the Court of Appeal verdict, the case should be withdrawn by the Attorney-General of the Federation without any delay because it is likely to be a prosecutorial misadventure,” he said.

- PM NEWS

2019 election: Fela would have been president of Nigeria if alive – Femi Kuti

Afrobeat legend, Femi Kuti, on Friday said his father, Fela would have been the president of Nigeria if he was alive.

Femi said this on Friday while speaking on his preferred presidential candidate ahead of the 2019 presidential election.

When asked on who Fela would have supported among the presidential candidate if he was alive, Femi speaking on TVC said Fela would not have supported any of the 2019 candidates including President Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar.

“If my father was alive, he would be president of Nigeria in 2019.

“I don’t think anybody in Nigeria political scene is a pan African socialist so I don’t see anyway Fela can support any one of the 2019 presidential candidates.”

Femi also condemned those smoking ‘weed’ and chasing ladies all in the name of trying to imitate Fela.

“I would not let people bastardize Fela’s legacy by smoking ‘Igbo’, chasing many girls, claiming to be like him,” he added.

- DAILY POST

My husband kidnapped, raped and forced me into marrying him – Woman tells court

A woman, Omowunmi Lameed, has dragged her husband, Mukaila Lameed, to court seeking that their ten-year-old marriage be dissolved.

Omowunmi had sought for divorce on the accounts of kidnap, rape, forceful marriage and threat to life by her husband.

The plaintiff appealed to the court, if her plea for divorce was granted, to further restrain the defendant from coming to her house or work place to harass or fight her.

She further sought for the custody of their only child.

She told the court: “My lord, my life is at stake. My husband is after my life and he will not rest until he sees my end.

“My husband is irrational in his reasoning and crude in his behaviour because he’s not learned or sophisticated. As a literate, I feel belittled being married to such an uncultured person.

“My lord, my husband forced me into marrying him.He’s a driver and member of the National Union of Road and Transport Workers (NURTW). He’s actually one their leaders.

“About ten years ago, he consistently made love advances at me which I constantly rebuffed because he was the last person I thought I could ever marry.

“He later sent his thugs to me. They kidnapped me one faithful evening and carried me to his house. He detained me and refused to release me or let me go.

“He forcefully had sex with me that night; he was actually the one who deflowered me.

“All attempts made by my parents to get me out of his house proved abortive because of his connections and the threat to their lives. He told them I’m married to him and that they could do nothing about it.

“I became a patent medicine seller and vowed not to have any child for him. I, therefore, took drugs to avert pregnancy any time he slept with me, but I later jettisoned this idea because as a woman time was gradually no more on my side

“My lord, my husband has made my life miserable despite his promise to shower me with love and attention.I told him I wanted to further my education but he refused because he felt threatened.

“He’s in the habit of monitoring my movements as a result of inferiority complex and always feels uncomfortable any time I’m chatting or discussing with other men. He will beat me to a pulp and sometimes lock me up at home.

“He once misbehaved and after being found guilty was put behind bars for a few years. I felt he would return home a sober man but he became rather worse.

“We had a quarrel of recent; he stopped me from going about my business and locked my shop. This has automatically brought a stress on my finance.

“He has threatened to kill me any time he sees me with the opposite sex.

“My lord, my life is at stake, I’m not safe. I pray this court to dissolve our union and grant me custody of our only child.

“My other plea is that the court restrains him from harassing or fighting me in my new apartment or shop, “she stated.

The defendant refused to make an appearance in court after being served a court summon and hearing.

Giving his judgment, the court president, Chief Odunade dissolved their union and awarded the plaintiff custody of their child.

The defendant was mandated to give the plaintiff N5, 000 monthly as their child’s feeding allowance. He was also ordered to be responsible for his education and health care.

The court further ordered both parties to keep peace always.

- DAILY POST

How ‘Yahoo boys’ made us burn, stop wearing pants, underwears – Ondo ladies

Following recent trend of alleged hunt for pants and other female underwears in some parts of the country, some ladies have lamented that the situation is now giving them sleepless nights.

Some of the ladies, who spoke to DAILY POST in various parts of Ondo State, revealed that they no longer wear pants due to the activities of the suspected ritualists and internet fraudsters commonly known as “yahoo boys.”

In recent times, some suspected ritualists have been nabbed across the country, particularly in the southern part, who engaged in the stealing of female underwears for what has been suspected to be ritual purposes.

Speaking on the latest trend, a student of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo in Ondo State, who simply gave her name as Tola, disclosed that as a way of ensuring that she does not fall victim to the menace, she and her roommate no longer wear pants.

She further revealed that the situation has become inconvenient for her as well as her friends during their menstrual days.

“Bros, it’s a big situation for us (Tola and her friends). Some weeks back, one of the girls in our hall (hostel) cried out over her missing pants which she had washed before going to class.

“So, instead of falling victim of such and having unnecessary headache over what might happen to my pants, my roommate and I no longer wear pants anymore.

“Even during my monthly flow, what I do is that I burn off all the panties used during the process immediately.”

Also, an undergraduate of the Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, stated that when the situation became rampant, she had to take cognizance of things she usually does not pay attention to, as regards her undies.

“Anytime I’m leaving my room, I make sure I count all my panties, even to the extent of taking note of all colours I have and I repeat same the moment I return to my room.

“There’s a saying that to be forewarned is forearmed. Since all this started, I’ve been extremely careful with undies and even my pads.

“You really don’t know what these boys are capable of doing. One needs to be extremely vigilant this time around.”

A 300 level student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba – Akoko Toyin, who also spoke with DAILY POST, said that when the trend became notorious and frightening, most girls in her hostel burnt all their pants.

“some months ago when the situation became so real, most girls who stay in the hall (hostel) don’t even keep any pants around.

“When there is the need to put on one, we buy and after usage we disposed it off by burning.

“The scary thing is that, even among the girls here (hostel), no one can be trusted.

“A girl was recently accused for trying to steal her friend’s pant. She was beaten before she was rescued. They said one of the yahoo boys on campus had begged her to get the pant for him after promising to give her huge amount.”

A visit by DAILY POST to “Oja Oba”, a market in the heart of Akure, the Ondo State capital, it was gathered that the buying of pants has reduced significantly.

A trader at the market, who gave his name as Chidoke, lamented that since the trend started, he no longer gets patronage as he used to.

Explaining further, he stated that friends who are also into the same business are facing similar challenges as their customers are mostly young ladies.

- DAILY POST

Imo guber: Tension heightens as Gov. Okorocha, Aisha clash in Owerri

Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari has disagreed with Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State after the governor boasted that his son in-law, Uche Nwosu will win the governorship election in the state and not the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Hope Uzodinma.

Political tension was heightened Saturday, after the first lady and leaders of the party, and women who came from the five states of the South-East were angered by the Governor’s comment forcing them to leave the stadium, Vanguard reports.

Aisha spoke at the South East Women and youths rally which held at Owerri. The mammoth crowd was watching keenly the show of force between the governor’s men and supporters of Senator Hope Uzodinma who flooded the stadium.

The Master of Ceremony hired by the state government refused to acknowledge the presence of Senator Uzodinma and Senator Ben Uwajumogu.

But pressure from party leaders who came from Abuja and and APC supporters in the state forced the MC to recognize their presence even though he sang the name of Uche Nwosu who the APC supporters protested his presence at the stadium, through out the programme.

There were gunshots from security operatives when the wife of the Imo State governor was addressing the crowd.

There were clashes between the supporters of Uche Nwosu and those of Senator Uzodinma.

Two women sustained gunshot injury and were rushed to the hospital.

Security agents had to check the looming fight between the two camps so as to save the situation.

Okorocha’s wife also refused to recognize Senator Hope to the chagrin of APC supporters.

The angry crowd booed the first lady of the State.

However, the National Woman Leader of the APC, Hajia Salamatu Bewa Eluma, urged the crowd to vote President Muhammadu Buhari, Senator Hope Uzodinma and all APC candidates in the South-East.

Other speakers concurred and called for votes for APC candidates which did not go down well with Governor Okorocha, who is supporting his in-law, Uche Nwosu, the candidate of the AA.

Okorocha, who looked visibly angry, lampooned the APC, asserting that, ”the APC has not been fair to us, we are only being calm because of President Muhammdu Buhari who already has won in Imo State.

“We are going to support Buhari but let me tell you people, after we were cheated by the APC, in order to deliver the President, we formed an alliance with other political parties and leading among them is AA led by Ugwumba Uche Nwosu.

“Do not be deceived, Uche Nwosu of AA will win the governorship election in Imo State because he is on ground.

“We have no other candidate, we will not support those with stolen mandate.”

But the President’s wife, who was represented by Wife of the Vice President Mrs Osinbajo, disagreed and urged the crowd to vote all the APC candidates both in the state and the South-East.

“I am happy with the crowd we saw today it shows that Imo is APC and I want to urge all our youths not to fight, avoid any form of crisis because President Buhari is a peaceful man. From what we have seen today President Buhari has won the South East the same way all our APC candidates have won.”

She further urged APC faithful to remain steadfast, asserting that ”a vote for Buhari is a vote for progress. APC has done well and we must all support all APC candidates.”

- PM NEWS

Police intercept 34,000 live cartridges in Ogun from Republic of Togo

The Ogun State Police Command has intercepted a mini truck conveying 34,865 live cartridges from the neighbouring Republic of Togo through a Nigerian boarder town in Ogun, to Onitsha, in Anambra State.

The command also said that it had arrested three suspects including a Togolese, Isa Muhammad and two Nigerians, Alabi Fayemi and Seyi Bamgbose, in connection with the incident.

The state commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, presented the suspects to newsmen at Imeko Police Station, on Saturday.

He said the truck and the suspects were arrested on Friday by a Stop-and-search border patrol team at Olohunda, a border town between Abeokuta North and Imeko Afon local government areas of the State.

Iliyasu said the cartridges were neatly concealed inside the truck with registration number Lagos, KSF 254 XX and was being transported to Onitsha in Anambra State.

The Police Commissioner said the suspect offered financial inducement to the officers but rejected it, adding “the extant laws of the land will be invoked on them” (the suspects).

“Our operatives on border patrol led by ACP Shettima Muhammad while on routine patrol of the border area on Friday, based on intelligence report, intercepted a Toyota Dyna Mini truck with registration number KSF 254 XX with some cartons neatly concealed therein.

“The mode of the concealment aroused the suspicion of our men, who stopped the vehicle and properly searched it.

“Upon the search, 34, 865 live cartridges were discovered in cartons neatly concealed inside the vehicle,” he said.

Iliyasu explained that the police have commenced further investigations into the matter and would soon charge the suspects to court.

Muhammad, who is the prime suspect, told journalists that one of his Nigerian customers based in Onitsha gave him the vehicle to help him drive.

Isa said he had to approach another friend, Bamgbose, who had a valid driving licence to drive while he (Mohammed) served as a motor boy.

He explained that after getting to Nigeria, they were enroute Abeokuta, Ogun capital, for a repair work on the vehicle before they were arrested by the police.

Mohammed, who denied knowledge of the ammunition inside the truck, said he could have taken the truck to Onitsha thinking it was empty.

He, however, could not give the name of the person, who gave him the truck.

“I am 36 years old and a bus conductor.

“A friend called me that he has one small vehicle but I told him that I don’t have a driver’s license but I have some of my friends that can drive.

“We took the vehicle from Togo and when we got to Nigeria, Seyi said the spring was too small for charcoal business and we were taking it to Abeokuta to fix the spring.

“On our way, the Police stopped us and said they suspected the vehicle.

“I don’t know the owner of the motor but he usually come to Togo to buy vehicles and okirika (used cloths) and when he gave me the vehicle, he said I should bring it to Onitsha and call him when I get there.

“We were not aware that anything was concealed in the vehicle. We thought we were driving an empty vehicle.

I have called the owner immediately we were arrested and he spoke with the police,” he said.

- PM NEWS

Willian’s strike ensures Chelsea claim all three points

Chelsea moved one point behind third-placed Tottenham with a victory over a Newcastle side who are now in the relegation zone, BBC reports.

Pedro gave the Blues an eighth-minute lead when he collected David Luiz’s ball over the top, took a touch, then shot past Martin Dubravka.

But Newcastle equalised through Ciaran Clark’s powerful header when he got between Antonio Rudiger and David Luiz from Matt Ritchie’s corner.

Willian won it for Chelsea in the second half with a fine curling finish after being played in by Eden Hazard.

The result leaves Maurizio Sarri’s side fourth, six points clear of Arsenal, who they face at Emirates Stadium in their next game on 19 January.

Chelsea had failed to score in their previous two league matches at Stamford Bridge – a 1-0 loss to Leicester and a goalless draw with Southampton – but they netted early on with Pedro’s seventh goal of the season in all competitions.

However, with Eden Hazard again featuring as a ‘false nine’ with Olivier Giroud on the bench and Alvaro Morata left out of the squad, they struggled to create further clear-cut chances before Clark equalised five minutes before the break.

There were boos heard inside Stamford Bridge at half-time, but Sarri’s side were greatly improved in the second half, with Hazard a much more prominent threat.

The Belgian led Chelsea’s attack, which resulted in their second goal as he ran at the Newcastle defence, offloaded to Willian who, from a tight angle, cut inside onto his right foot and curled a beautiful effort past Dubravka with the ball going in off the post.

With nine minutes left, 18-year-old Callum Hudson-Odoi, the subject of a £35m bid from German champions Bayern Munich, came on for only his second Premier League appearance.

The home fans chanted “we want you to stay” in the direction of the talented winger, who was part of England’s Under-17 World Cup triumph in 2017 and has 18 months left on his current Chelsea deal.

- PM NEWS

PSG extends unbeaten run to 18 games

French champions Paris St-Germain extended their unbeaten run to 18 games in Ligue 1 with a dominant victory over Amiens.

Edinson Cavani fired PSG into the lead before the hour after Alexis Blin gave away a penalty for handball.

The striker later set up Kylian Mbappe before Marquinhos confirmed the win with a third goal after some neat build-up play from Julian Draxler.

Amiens defender Khaled Adenon was sent off for a second yellow card.

Top scorer Mbappe has now netted 14 goals in the league this season and has 17 in all competitions.

BBC reports that PSG are 13 points ahead of Lille at the top of the table with two games in hand and are chasing a sixth title in seven seasons.

- PM NEWS