News

Why Onochie is Facing Backlash over INEC Commissioner Nomination

Published

3 years ago

July 10, 2021

Eric

The nomination of the controversial Personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari, Lauretta Onochie as an electoral commissioner has been generating buzz from day one.

Civil Society Organizations and opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have condemned the appointment of a known partisan person as commissioner for the electoral umpire.

Section 14 (b) of the third schedule of the 1999 Constitution provided that members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), must be “non-partisan and be a person of high integrity.”

Ms Onochie, who was nominated to represent Delta State, is known for making controversial statements in defending the President and the government, including partisan statements.

At the Senate confirmation screening on Thursday, political comments by the nominee, gave the members of the Senate committee on INEC ample ammunition to aim at her.

In 2019, Olalekan Raheem, a nominee for the electoral commissioner to represent Osun State was rejected by the Senate for being a member of a political party.

Although, Ms Onochie claimed at the hearing that she ceased being a member of the APC in 2019 after the general election, a Tweet from 2020, during the Adams Oshiomhole-led leadership has emerged, where she still referred to APC as her party.

“There is DEFINITELY an APC e-NEC meeting TOMORROW. We are going through a growth process. Thank you, everyone,” she wrote.

Ms Onochie is believed to have lied on oath during the screening, as an affidavit she deposed on June 2019 has surfaced. In the affidavit, she wrote; “I am also a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

As it stands, YIAGA Africa and 8 others have instituted a case against the federal government and the Senate Committee on INEC at a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Last week, the Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus stormed the National Assembly, to protest her nomination for the office.

Why is Onochie that most hated?

Since she was appointed the aide to President Buhari on new media, Onochie’s mode of operation has been the use of ”insults” to attack anyone opposing the government, earning her the nickname, ”attack dog.”

From saying EndSARS protesters were backed by ‘cyber criminals’ to saying it was organised by ‘dumb kids’, Ms Onochie was never the favourite of the Twitter Nigeria community.

Onochie once went after Ayo Balogun, Wizkid, when the latter called Buhari an ”old man” during the EndSARS crisis.

Onochie said Wizkid “exhibited crass ignorance, insensitivity and childishness,” adding, “But hey, he’s a #DumbkidNotWhizKid”

Etomi Adesuwa, actress and wife of Wellington Bankole, once attacked her for posting a picture of young kids using paper cut for a face mask.

The actress said, “You are a disgrace. Both home & abroad. You should be ashamed that these children have to do this with cardboard. Instead of talking about how to tackle poverty so they can be protected adequately against the virus, you’re spewing this nonsense.”

Onochie has severally been accused of spreading fake news and posting distorted pictures in the defence of the government, with a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar being her favourite target.

DailyPost

News

Ex-Gov Bello Stripped of Security Details, Placed on Watchlist

Published

1 day ago

April 19, 2024

Eric

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has placed Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi, on a watchlist, just as the police headquarters in Abuja “ordered the withdrawal of all men attached to his excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello, former executive governor of Kogi state”.

Bello was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on April 18 after his absence from the federal high court in Abuja “stalled his arraignment”.

The anti-graft agency alleges that Bello, alongside Alli Bello, chief of staff to Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi; and one Daudu Suleiman, diverted about N80.2 billion belonging to the Kogi government.

In a statement signed by DS Umar, assistant comptroller of immigration, on behalf of Kemi Nandap, comptroller-general of the NIS, the agency said “the above named person has been placed on watch list”.

“The subject is being prosecuted for breach of trust and money laundering. If seen at any entry or exit point, he should be arrested and referred to the Director of Investigation for further action,” the statement reads.

On April 17, the EFCC ended its siege on Bello’s residence in Abuja after Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, arrived at the house and was later seen leaving with his predecessor.

News

N80.2b Fraud: EFCC Declares Ex- Gov Bello Wanted

Published

2 days ago

April 18, 2024

Eric

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, wanted. Yahaya Bello was declared wanted for offences bordering on economic and financial crimes, with special emphasis to an alleged N82.2 billion fraud.

This was contained in a press statement made available to news men on Thursday.

The statement signed by Commission’s management reads as follows:

“Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is wanted by the EFCCfor offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2 bn.

“Anybody with information as to his whereabouts should report immediately to the commission or the nearest police station.”

News

EFCC Seeks Military’s Help to Arrest Fleeing Ex-Gov Bello

Published

2 days ago

April 18, 2024

Eric

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja, on Thursday, adjourned to April 23, the suit instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello.

The adjournment is for substituted service and possible arraignment of Bello for alleged N84billion money laundering.

At the sitting, counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Phinro, told the court that Bello was absent from court for his arraignment because he was being protected by someone with immunity.

Phinro complained that the former governor was whisked out of his Abuja residence by the same person with immunity.

Phinro said the anti-graft agency might seek the help of the military to fish him out to come face his arraignment.

Responding to this submission, Yahaya Bello through his counsel, Abdulwahab Muhammad, told the court that there is an order of the court restraining the EFCC from arresting or arraigning him.

Muhammad said a Kogi State High Court had on February 9, 2024 restrained the EFCC from arresting or arraigning the former governor.

He added that the EFCC has appealed the ruling and the Court of Appeal was yet to decide on the matter.

He pointed out that the action of the EFCC was unconstitutional and the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain any charge from the EFCC.

Counsel for the EFCC, however, disagreed with the submission of the counsel to Bello.

The EFCC counsel held that the ruling in the substantive matter on the suit was delivered on March 17, 2024 by the Kogi State High Court.

He cleared the air that the court in its ruling held that for the former governor to be arrested or arraigned, the EFCC must first seek leave from the court to do so.

He said it was in line with that judgment that the EFCC, through an exparte application, filed for the order seeking the arrest of the former governor which was granted by the court.

Counsel for Yahaya Bello, however, insisted before the court that the order for the ex-governor’s arrest was made out of jurisdiction. He said the former governor is not a fugitive, but relying on the order of the Kogi State High Court to take protection.

On Wednesday, EFCC operatives stormed Bello’s residence in the Wuse area of Abuja and spent most part of the day attempting to arrest the former governor whom the Commission later confirmed was whisked away by his successor.

The EFCC subsequently warned members of the public that it is a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.

The Commission’s spokesperson said that Section 38(2)(a)(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.

According to him, culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.

“On several occasions, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

“Regrettably, such disposition is being construed as a sign of weakness.

“The Commission, therefore, warns that it will henceforth not tolerate any attempt by any person or organisation to obstruct its operation as such will be met with appropriate punitive actions,” the statement added.