Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 3, 2015
5 News
Falae appears in court, testifies against his suspected captors ’Tosin Ajuwon Akure
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Chief Olu Falae, the erstwhile Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), on Wednesday, staged a surprised appearance at the Ondo State High Court, to testify against his suspected captors. Falae who appeared in
person made a testified for the first time in the court on how some purported Fulani herdsmen kidnapped and tortured him for days in their hideout. Rendering his testimony, the elder statesman told the court that six of the kidnappers dragged him out of his office to the bush after inflicting matchete
cuts on him. He narrated how the suspects dragged him for several hours on the bush before asking for the mobile line of his wife. The Daily Times recalled that the elder statesman was forcefully seized by some Fulani herdsmen, on September 21, 2015 at his farm, at Ilado, in Akure
North Local Government Area of the state. “When one them saw my wounds, he went to the bush to look for a leave which he used to treat me and the journey lasted for twelve hours. “After 7 p.m. they got my wife’s mobile line and ordered her to go and look for N100 million as a ransom be-
fore they would release me. One of them said my people were offering them N2 million. That was when I asked to speak to my wife to look around whether we could meet their demand which I understood was N5 million at that time”, he said. After hours of testimony, the prosecution counsel and State Attorney General/
Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), prayed that the court should adjourn the case. Justice Rotimi Olumide, the presiding Judge, ordered that the suspects should be remanded in prison custody. He, however, adjourned the case to December 15, 2015.
APC’s march in Rivers, ploy to sway Appeal Court verdict –Rep
Son kills father in Abeokuta
Henry Omunu, Abuja
Tragedy struck on Tuesday in Sabo area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when a middle aged man allegedly killed his father, who was identified as Baba Basirat. It was gathered that the suspect who was said to be a habitual drunkard was said to have pushed his 69 year-old-father during an argument, which led to his untimely death. The incident occurred at number 25, Akintobi Badejo Street, in the area, on Tuesday night, when the middle-aged man whose name could not be ascertained as at press time allegedly committed the crime.
Abiodun Taiwo, Abeokuta
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A member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Kingsley Chinda, on Wednesday, described the recent March by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State as a ploy to attract unnecessary sympathy and sway the Appeal Court Judges in the suit filed by Governor Nyesom Wike. Wike has approached the Appeal Court with the appeal challenging the judgement of the Rivers State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja that nullified his election. In a statement in Abuja yesterday, Chinda, who represents Obio-Akpor Federal Constituency of Rivers State, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the APC march, which was led by its governorship candidate in the 2015 election, Dakuku Peterside, as mischievous and a deliberate attempt by the APC at influencing the Appeal Court Judges in Wike’s appeal. Chinda claimed that the orchestrated march carried out by supporters of Peterside, on Monday, in Port Harcourt, allegedly in remembrance of all those they claimed lost their lives or were killed in the election violence was the latest propaganda embarked upon by the APC in the state to hoodwink members of the public.
L-R: Chairman, Ritsoil Limited, Chief Lawson Omokhodion; Chairman, Concern for Public Accountability and Development, Mr. Bowo OlateruOlagbegi; Author, Mr. Michael Ovienmhada and Broadcaster, Mr. Jones Usen, during the official launch of a book tittled A New Dawn of Chance, If I were Buhari held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos… on Wednesday.
Ihedioha blasts Imo govt over N600 million Christmas decorations Val Okara, Owerri
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The former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha has expressed shock over media reports that the Imo State Government had set aside over N600 million for the decoration of streets in Owerri, ahead of the Christmas celebration. Ihedioha queried, “Why at this critical period when the citizens are passing through untold hardship arising from over 20 months of unpaid salary arrears and pensions, owed to workers in the state?” A statement by his media aide, Mr. Chibuike Onyekwu, Ihedioha said that, “despite prevailing wide-
spread disenchantment being expressed by citizens who have recently called for his immediate impeachment over the alarming rate of hunger and insecurity occasioned by the inept handling of issues of governance and unrepentant deceit so far exhibited by the Okorocha administration, the governor has refused to repent or address such concerns and other critical issues”. Ihedioha further said that “preparations for Christmas celebration are no doubt a tradition for Christians all over the world but it is ridiculous and, indeed, smacks of insensitivity for this government to spend over N600 million on decorations when families can no longer afford their meals
and basic needs as a result of non-payment of salaries, pensions and other entitlements.” “It worries every right thinking Imolite that Governor Rochas Okorocha has refused to constitute his cabinet six months after election. There is no local government administration. There is no functional ministry, department or agency in the state. The Governor has embarked on several trips abroad to woo non-existent investors with a view to actualising his failed promises of aggressive industrialisation and employment of youths. “Even more worrisome are reports in the media, alleging the theft of a part of the bailout funds from his son-in-law’s residence in
Owerri. These reports are no doubt of great concern to all well-meaning Imo citizens, particularly when the government has refused to account for the huge sums that have accrued to the state including more than N26 billion bailout funds. This is in addition to the heart-breaking fact that the government has refused to probe the alleged disappearance of the fund.” Ihedioha, therefore, urged Okorocha to retrace his steps and begin to address the plight of workers, pensioners and other critical issues of governance, in order to avert the looming economic crises, insecurity and, indeed, avoid what could be the bleakest Christmas celebration in the history of the state.
KAI officials beg Ambode for protection Marion Evabor
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Lagos State Environmental Task Force, Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), has called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, to come to the aid of its officials who are constantly attacked by suspected cultists and miscreants. The plea was sequel to the attack on a KAI official on Wednesday at Ojota area of the metropolis. The Daily Times gathered that the suspected thugs, numbering about six, had contravened the law and tried to put the men on check before the thugs swooped on the government enforcement agents. The KAI officials around, apparently feeling overpowered by the thugs, took to their heels and were given a hot chase by the thugs.