APC will win elections in a free, fair manner – Oshiomhole

Adams Oshiomole, the All Progressives Congress, APC, National
Chairman has assured that the party would win the forthcoming
general election in a free, fair, and transparent manner.

According to a statement issued by Lanre Issa-Onilu, the APC
National Publicity Secretary, Oshiomhole gave the assurance at a
meeting convened by the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, in
Abuja.

Mr Issa-Onilu said the special meeting was necessary to review
and deliberate on the party’s preparation and general issues ahead
of the general election scheduled to commence on Feb. 16.

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He added that the meeting which was presided over by Mr
Oshiomhole was attended by the party’s state chairmen, secretaries
and governorship candidates from across the federation.

“The APC will win the election in a free and fair manner as
against the practice in the past when the Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP, was in charge.

He said the PDP administration had always stole people’s mandate
by manipulating the electoral process and state institutions to win
elections.

Mr Oshiomhole identified the state executives represented at the
meeting by their respective chairmen and secretaries as an
important grassroots base that would work and ensure the party’s
victory in the Presidential, Governorship, National and State
Houses of Assembly Election.

He hailed the huge turnout of party supporters in the
presidential campaign rallies held so far, and urged the party’s
state executives to work cordially with state governors and
stakeholders to ensure victory for all APC candidates.

Mr Oshiomhole while cautioning against complacency, said the
party’s victory in the coming election was assured judging by the
continued support of the electorate and the unprecedented
achievements of the President Muhammadu Buhari led
administration.

He, however, urged APC members and leaders not to be distracted
by the daily falsehood and propaganda by the opposition PDP, saying
that PDP’s strategy was a fallout of its infamous Dubai
meeting.

NAN

How I handed $360,000 to Maimuna Aliyu, Ex-Aso Savings
Boss – ICPC Witness

A former Regional Manager of Ecobank Nigeria Plc, Mr. Bashir
Babagana, has admitted before a Federal High Court, Abuja, that he
paid $360,000 for three plots of land, in cash to the former
Executive Director of Aso Savings and Loans Plc, Ms. Maimuna
Aliyu.

Babagana, who left Ecobank in 2017 was called by the Independent
Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to
testify against Aliyu, who the Commission charged to court for
allegedly defrauding the bank of $360, 000.

Testifying before Justice N. Dimgba, Babagana told the court
that Aliyu, in 2012, informed him that her bank had three plots of
lands measuring 2,500 sq m, at Jahi district, Abuja, for sale at
the cost of N57 million.

Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Ekoi Akponiminsingha,
Babagana said that a client, Vincent Mshelia provided the $360,000
for the purchase of the property which he handed to Aliyu in cash
in her office in exchange for the original title documents of the
land.

He further told the court how his client who went to the Abuja
Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) in 2014 for the Certificate
of Ownership (C of O) was asked to go back to Aso Savings for some
documents vital to the transaction.

However, on getting to Aso Savings, it was revealed that Maimuna
Aliyu never remitted the proceeds of the sale of the land to the
bank.

The judge then adjourned the matter to 1st March, 2019 for
continuation of trial after Babagana was also cross-examined by the
defense counsel, R. Okotie-Eboh.

Mrs. Rasheedat A. Okoduwa, mni
Spokesperson for the Commission