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I’ve Not Withdrawn from Ogun Guber Race – Otunba Ashiru

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By Eric Elezuo

The Ogun East consensus candidate for the 2019 Ogun State Governorship election and Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, has reacted to the rumours making the rounds that he has withdrawn from the race to Ogun government house in 2019.

Otunba Ashiru expressed his opinion in a statement signed by his Media Consultant, Mr. Tayo Mabeweje.

The statement noted that the rumours emanated from Ashiru’s absence from at the recently held congress, saying his absence was as a result of ‘circumstances beyond his control’. It also noted that the report was unfounded, callous and nothing but rumour from the pit of hell.

Full text of the press release:

Our attention has been drawn to a report in a section of the media that the APC consensus candidate for Ogun East, Otunba  Bimbo Ashiru has withdrawn from the 2019 gubernatorial race. We hereby debunk such report as unfounded, callous and nothing but rumour from the pit of hell.

The absence of Otunba Ashiru at the recently held party congress was as a result of some circumstances beyond his control and this does not in any way suggest  that he was persuaded not to attend the congress. Otunba Ashiru is a national delegate of the party and will, by the special grace of God, attend the forthcoming national convention of the party.

It is a report aimed at distracting the forward moving train of the Ijebu/Remo Agenda and the growing popularity and acceptance of its consensus candidate, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru who has been garnering overwhelming support since the process started.

In as much as we know those behind the wicked lies and their antecedents, we would therefore not join issues with disillusioned, lazy politicians whose stock-in-trade is peddling rumour and mudslinging. Instead of playing by the rules and accepting the reality of the times, they chose to sit in comfort of their room spinning tissues of lies all in a bid to score cheap political points.

Otunba Bimbo Ashiru has never at anytime discussed with anyone to have been persuaded  to drop the mandate given to him the by the APC leadership from the senatorial district. He remains committed to run in the gubernatorial primaries and, with the support of good people or Ogun State, win the 2019 gubernatorial election on the platform of the party.

To this end, we urged the all the supporters of Otunba  Ashiru to remain steadfast and work assiduously to  the emergence of the people’s choice, as we appeal to antagonists to desist from their ways and tow the right path. Ogun State belongs to all of us and together we shall consolidate the gains of the present Administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, CON, FCA.and take it to the enviable pedestal of our dreams.

Tayo Mabeweje,

Media Consultant to OBA

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Court Grants Malami N200m Bail in DSS Terrorism, Firearm Charges

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Justice Joyce Abdulmalikof the Federal High Court Abujahas admitted a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and his son Abdulazizto N200 million bail in the charges bordering on alleged terrorism and illegal firearms possession brought against them by the Department of State Service (DSS).

Malami and his son were, however, ordered to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of the bail conditions imposed on them by the Court.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted them bail while ruling on their bail applications, which were argued by their lead Counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN).

The judge ordered the former AGF and his son to get two sureties each, one of whom must own landed property either in Maitama or Asokoro.

Justice Abdulmalik said that the title of the property must be deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court, along with valid international passports.

The sureties are also to depose to an affidavit of means and submit their two recent passport photographs to the court.

Malami and his son were also ordered to submit their international passports and recent passport photographs to the court.

The judge subsequently fixed March 4 for the commencement of the trial.

The Department of State Services (DSS) had arraigned Malami and his son, Abdulaziz, on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism and illegal firearms possession.

In the charge, Malami was accused of refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers, whose case files were handed to him while he served as the AGF and Minister of Justice.

Malami and Abdulaziz are equally accused of warehousing firearms in their residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birain Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, without lawful authority.

The DSS accused Malami in count one of the charge, with knowingly abetting terrorism financing, while the ex-AGF and his son are charged in counts two to five, with unlawful, possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5720 live rounds of cartridges and 27 expended Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges, contrary to and punishable under relevant Sections of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and Firearms Act, 2004.

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Fubara Appoints New SSG, Chief of Staff

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Governor Siminalayi Fubara has appointed Dr. Dagogo S.A. Wokoma as the new Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) and Barrister Sunny Ewule as Chief of Staff, after the recent shake-up of the State’s political and administrative structure.

The appointments were announced on Thursday in a Special Government Notice signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onwuka Nzeshi, and made available to journalists. Both appointments take immediate effect.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onwuka Nzeshi, the governor appointed Dr Dagogo Wokoma as Secretary to the State Government and Mr. Sunny Ewule as Chief of Staff.

The statement said the appointments take immediate effect, adding that the new appointees would be sworn in at 2:00 p.m. at the Executive Council Chamber, Government House, Port Harcourt.

The development comes amid the protracted political crisis in the State, which recently escalated into impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, by the State House of Assembly. The crisis was eventually diffused following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu.

Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, had last week announced during plenary that the Assembly formally withdrew the impeachment notice against the governor and his deputy after the President’s intervention.

Political observers suggest that the dissolution of the cabinet may be part of efforts to rebalance the power structure in the following the peace accord. However, it remains unclear whether the new appointees are aligned with the governor or loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The statement read in part: “The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has appointed Dr. Dagogo S.A. Wokoma as the Secretary to the State Government and Barrister Sunny Ewule as the Chief of Staff.

“Both appointments are with immediate effect. The new appointees will be sworn in at 2:00 pm.today, Thursday, February 26, 2026. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at the Executive Council Chamber, Government House, Port Harcourt.”

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Court Strikes Out Forgery Case Against Ozekhome As FG Withdraws Charges

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The Federal Government has formally withdrawn the forgery charge filed against senior lawyer Mike Ozekhome, bringing an abrupt pause to a case that had drawn public attention.

The charge was originally instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).
It followed a judgment delivered by a London court over a property linked to the late former FCT minister, Jeremiah Useni.

In January, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation took over the matter from the ICPC for what it described as effective prosecution.

However, proceedings took a new turn on Tuesday at the FCT High Court.

The Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed Peter Kekemeke that the Federal Government was withdrawing the case file for “further instruction”.

He explained that the decision was taken in line with the provisions of Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

Counsel to the defence, Paul Erokoro, SAN, told the court that his team had no objection to the withdrawal of the charge.

In a brief ruling, Justice Kekemeke held that since the application was not opposed, it was granted.

He consequently struck out the charge and ordered that the case be dismissed.

The withdrawal effectively halts legal action against Ozekhome over the alleged forgery linked to the disputed property transaction.

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