Threat to Atiku shows Buhari, APC jittery over collapsing defence at Appeal Court ― PDP

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of
threatening former Vice President Atiku Abubakar because the
defence of the ruling party and President Muhammadu Buhari at the
Presidential Election Petition Tribunal was allegedly
collapsing.

The opposition party in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday took
exception to the governing party’s reaction to a statement made by
Atiku calling for the implementation of electoral reforms.

In the statement signed by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the
PDP scolded the APC for warning Atiku against making comments on
the state of the nation and also seeing his “patriotic” reactions
to pressing national issues as to a felony.

The PDP emphatically stated that the comments of its
presidential candidate in the February 2019 election on national
issues have been patriotic and within his constitutional right of
freedom of speech, not only as a citizen of this Federal Republic,
but also a former Vice President, as well as a leader and
Presidential candidate of the PDP, “the party that commands the
followership and solidarity of overwhelming majority of
Nigerians.“

The statement added: “As a responsible political party, we
boldly state that none of the statements made by our presidential
candidate falls within the realm of a felony in any way
whatsoever.

“However, intelligence available to the PDP largely posits that
the threats against Atiku Abubakar emanated from certain persons
around the Buhari Presidency who are jittery that President
Muhammadu Buhari’s defence is collapsing at the Presidential
Election Petition Tribunal, for which they have become desperate to
use underhand methods to stop Atiku Abubakar.”

The PDP invited Nigerians to note that the renewed allegations
against Atiku Abubakar came after a witness told the court, as has
been publicly reported, that the Army never required any enlisted
officer to submit his WAEC certificate, in total contradiction to
claims that Mr. President’s certificates were in the custody of the
Army.

It added: “Our party counsels the APC to rather get ready for
justice instead of seeking ways to frame Atiku Abubakar on flimsy
and unconstitutional grounds.

“Moreover, the APC is reminded that while the PDP was in power,
it never gagged the APC and its leaders, including President
Buhari, from exercising their freedom of speech and freedom after
the speech, in line with our laws.

“We note that General Muhammadu Buhari issued over 160
statements while he was in the opposition, including inflammatory
remarks like the one that called on his supporters to take their
fate in their own hands. It is instructive to note that none of the
PDP administrations threatened General Buhari over such
comments.

“Furthermore, it is quite disturbing that the APC is attacking
Atiku Abubakar for commending British Prime Minister, Boris
Johnson, for appointing 39 years old Nigerian, Kemi Badenoch, as a
minister in his cabinet.

“Contrary to President Buhari’s projection to the world that
Nigerian youths are lazy and should not be given an active role in
governance in our country, other nations are finding accommodation
for our youths. Atiku Abubakar cannot but commend such world
leaders, no matter whose ox is gored.

“It is also instructive to note that the APC has further shown
its disdain for the Nigerian youth as being demonstrated by
President Buhari, whose cabinet has no place for our youths.

“Instead of attacking Atiku Abubakar for standing for our
energetic and focused young men and women, the expectation of
Nigerians is that APC will accept its failures and advise President
Buhari against total disregard for young Nigerians.

“Furthermore, the PDP notes the reference by APC to President
Buhari as a “sitting” President. Our party, however, states that
what Nigeria needs at a time like this is a working President, not
a President that sits down while our country becomes the world
headquarters of poverty; not a President that relaxes in an
arm-chair while insecurity festers and our economy continues to
nosedive to the extent that Ghana has overtaken our nation as the
number one recipient for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in West
Africa.

“This is why the PDP stands with Nigerians in their
determination to retrieve Atiku Abubakar’s stolen mandate at the
tribunal and no amount of threats by the APC can detract from this
resolve.”

Recall that Atiku had called for the implementation of the
Justice Lawal Uwais report on the reform of the electoral process
and the removal, from the President, of the powers to appoint the
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC).

He had said the powers to appoint the INEC’s boss should reside
with the judiciary.

According to him, this should be part of the measures to
guarantee the credibility of future elections.

He averred that the nation’s electoral process needed to be
brought up to date, saying that one the ways to address the
observed lapses in the system was the implementation of the Uwais
recommendations.

Proprietress Convicted for Squandering WAEC Fees of 284
Students in Maiduguri

The Maiduguri Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentencing of
Josephine Udeh, before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State
High Court, sitting in Maiduguri on a one-count charge of obtaining
money by false pretence to the tune of N5, 059,000.

Udeh, who was the Proprietress of Dala Standard Secondary
School, Maiduguri, collected the said sum as WAEC registration fees
from 284 students of her school and converted it to her private
use.

She pleaded not guilty upon her arraignment on Wednesday, April
24, 2019.
In the course of the trial, the prosecution presented 10 witnesses
and 10 exhibits which pushed her to enter into a plea bargain
agreement with the EFCC.

At the resumed hearing, today, Wednesday, July 31, 2019,
prosecution counsel Benjamin Manji prayed the court to substitute
an earlier charge filed on the April 9, 2019 with an amended charge
of the day, July 31, 2019.

The amended charge reads: “That you, Josephine Udeh being the
director of Dala Standard Secondary School, Maiduguri, sometime
between 2017 and 2018 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the
jurisdiction of this honourable court, did dishonestly
misappropriate the sum of N5,059,000 (Five Million and Fifty-nine
Thousand Naira) only, being monies meant for 2017/2018 WAEC
registration fees for 284 students of the said Dala Standard
Secondary School, Maiduguri and thereby committed an offence
contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Law cap 102 Laws of Borno
State of Nigeria and Punishable under Section 309 of the same
Law.”

She pleaded guilty to the amended charge in line with the plea
bargain agreement she opted for.
Following her guilty plea, the prosecution counsel prayed the court
to convict her as charged.
However, the defence counsel, B.G Sanda prayed for leniency and
urged the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendant has
already repayed the misappropriated sum.

Consequently, Justice Kumaliya pronounced her guilty as charged
with a fine of N150, 000 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) and
to spend one year in prison custody in default of the payment of
the fine.

Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
………….

Anti-Graft War: NYSC Anti-Corruption CDS Partners EFCC

The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has applauded and appreciated the
NYSC Anti-Corruption Community Development Service Club for their
continuous collaboration and resilience in the fight against
corruption in the country.
He made the statement through the Head, EFCC Kaduna Zonal Office,
Mailafia Yakubu, when members of the Club paid a courtesy
visit.

“Partaking in the fight against corruption in Nigeria comes with
a lot of sacrifices and expectations which includes self
discipline, courage and many more,” he said.

He also added that in their various places of primary
assignments that they should live up to expectations especially as
they are the grass-root soldiers of the anti-corruption fight by
ensuring that any corrupt practices that may arise is been reported
to the appropriate authorities.

Responding on behalf of the Kaduna State National Youth Service
Corps, Batch 2018C and 2019A Anti-Corruption CDS Club, the
President of the Club, Usman Barau, who came in company of top
ranking officials of the Club, commended the Commission for the
selfless service over the years.

“The youths of this country through the work of the EFCC have
hope that the country will become corrupt-free and greater,” he
said, and promised the continuous team-work of his members.

Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity