Breaking! Tribunal upholds Abia State Governorship Election

The Abia state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has upheld the election of Okezie Ikpeazu as the duly elected Governor of the state. In its ruling delivered today in Aba, the tribunal dismissed the petion of the APGA candidate Alex Otti for lack of merit.

FORMER PENSION BOSS MAINA APPEARED IN ABUJA

The embattled former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina who was declared wanted by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday has appeared in Abuja. He appeared Tuesday on a popular community Radio show Brekete Family hosted by the Ordinary Ahmed Isah. Mr Maina made live calls during the show where he maintained that he has done nothing wrong and wondered why the EFCC will declare him wanted. The EFCC spokes person Mr Wilson Uwujaren who called in during the show described Mr Maina as a fugitive. He said that if Maina is as innocent as he claims, he should come and clear his name in the law court. He however wondered why he has decided to evade justice only to call from an anonymous location. Abdulrasheed Maina has been charged with former Head of service Mr Oronsaye at the Federal High court in Abuja over allegations of  fraud, and diverting  pension fund for his personal use. Mr Wilson Uwujaren said Maina is wanted for his role in the fraudulent biometric contracts through which he and former Head of Service, Steve Oronsaye and two others allegedly stole over N2 billion of pension funds.

EFCC Confiscates Bullet proof Cars of Diezani's Associates

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has seized bullet-proof vehicles, huge cash and jewellery from five prominent Nigerians fingered in the money laundering allegation against former Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.

EFCC and its British counterpart, National Crime Agency (NCA), are probing the suspects for allegedly conniving with Alison-Madueke to commit the crime, it was learnt yesterday.

The former minister was arrested in London on October 2 for alleged money laundering, bribery and corruption.

EFCC has restricted the movement of the ”high-profile” suspects to Nigeria, pending the conclusion of investigation.

Some of them may be extradited to the United Kingdom (UK), if the former minister is going to face trial.According to investigation, EFCC is still searching the companies and homes of more suspects linked with the former minister, following fresh clues.

A top source said: ‘’It is too early to declare whether they are guilty or not. But in line with international best practices, the EFCC has invoked the assets forfeiture clause in its Act to seize some choice bullet-proof vehicles, huge cash and jewellery from these suspects.

‘’The movement of the affected suspects has also been restricted to Nigeria pending the conclusion of investigation.

‘’The case at hand involves a high-net worth syndicate with tentacles across the strata of the society. But we are already cracking the investigation.’’

Asked if the suspects will be tried in Nigeria, the source added: ‘’It is uncertain or remote because the NCA has initiated a process in the UK, we will not want to duplicate the process.

‘’ If necessary, some of the suspects might be extradited to the UK for trial. This depends on NCA because EFCC is only collaborating with the agency.’’

It was learnt that some NCA officials are in the country to work with EFCC on the case.

A source said: ‘’Some officials of the NCA are in the country for collaboration with the EFCC on this investigation of the allegations against the ex-minister.

‘’The EFCC has more knowledge of the terrain than the NCA in tracking down some of these suspects.’’

Neither the EFCC nor the NCA was willing to speak on record last night.

Alison-Madueke and four others have been under investigation. On October 2, they appeared before the NCA team in the UK.

The names of the four remaining suspects are being kept under wraps in ‘’order not to jeopardise investigation.’’

The Nigeria Customs Service promotes 6 new DCGs, 8 ACGs

The Nigeria Customs Service has approved the appointment of six new Deputy Comptroller-Generals (DCP) and another six new Assistant Comptroller-Generals (ACP). The DCGs were formerly ACGs while the new ACGs were formerly Comptrollers. 

 

A senior officer in Nigeria Customs Service informed SKYTREND NEWs on telephone moments ago.. 

 

SKYTREND NEWS broke the news last week that all 5 DCGs has voluntarily and unanimously resigned their appointments in a one-page letter. 

 

34 other Senior Officers were also retired

in a massive reorganisation of the Customs Service.

 

Earlier today SKYTREND NEWS Correspondent was informed that a massive retirement is in place and will involve at least 1,200 Customs officers from various ranks who are already due for retirement.

APC SPOKES PERSON LAI MOHAMMED LAMBASTS OLISA METUH

The All Progressives Congress Saturday responded to the spokes person of the PDP, Olisa Metuh when he said President Buhari is demarketing Nigeria. 

In a statement issued in Lagos on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party said with a “combustible and out-of-control spokesman like Metuh, there is no way the PDP will survive in opposition”

”Metuh has shown, time and again, that he lacks the temperament, presence of mind, sobriety, analytical mind, decency in the use of language and panache needed for anyone to be the face of any organisation, not to talk of a political party.

”It was the realization of this obvious fact that made us to offer to provide the excitable Metuh a crash course on how to function as an opposition spokesman. Unfortunately, it is too late now as he seems to have become totally untrainable.

”Instead of reacting to our sincere advice to his party to urgently rebrand or go down, Metuh chose to unleash his vitriolic tongue on the APC spokesman, just as he has done to the judiciary and many agencies of government in recent times.

”In what is surely a looming tragedy for the PDP, a spokesman who helped write the party into opposition is now poised to further write it into extinction,” it said.

The APC advised the PDP to stop wailing and insulting the judiciary over their loss in the Tribunals last week. He said the PDP it brought upon itself by engaging in mindless rigging and violence in the last general elections.

”The doomed opposition should also immediately stop its failed strategy of trying to distract the Buhari Administration, which is busy cleaning up the mess left behind by the 16 years of locust of the sinking ‘PDP,” the party said.

NIGERIA HUMILIATES BRAZIL, ADVANCES TO SEMI-FINAL AT U17 FIFA WORLD CUP

The Nigeria Golden Eaglets defeated Brazil 3 - 0 at the on going FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile. Goals from Micheal, Anumudu and Osimhen were all the Nigerian side needed to send the Brazilian home from the tournament. The Golden Eaglets practically overpowered the Brazilians who put in a fair fight but fell short of the brilliant Nigerian lads. Nigeria will meet the winner of Monday's clash of Mexico vs Ecuador on Thursday.

WWE Hell In a Cell 2015 Results

Brock Lesnar def. The Undertaker (Hell in a Cell Match)

Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens def. Dolf Zigler

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins def. Kane

Divas Champion Charlotte def. Nikki Bella

WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day def. The Dudley Boyz

Roman Reigns def. Bray Wyatt (Hell in a Cell Match)

Alberto Del Rio def. John Cena (New U.S. Champion; U.S. Championship Open Challenge)

Dolph Ziggler, Cesaro & Neville def. Rusev, Sheamus & King Barrett (Kickoff Match)