News

Release Your Chicago Varsity Credentials, Frank Tells Tinubu, Challenges US on Equality

Published

9 months ago

August 9, 2023

Eric

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Tuesday, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to allow the Chicago State University to release his academic records to a court in Nigeria if he has has nothing to hide.

He also challenged the American government and its institutions to cause Tinubu’s certificates in Chicago State university to be released to a court in Nigeria in the spirit of reciprocity and freedom of information obtainable in that country.

Frank, a ULMWP Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, who made this call in a statement in Abuja, also insisted that Tinubu, as a public servant ought not to seek to stop his academic records from being made public in a law Court.

Recall that Tinubu had filed a motion seeking to prevent a United States Federal Court from releasing his university academic records to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as requested by the latter.

He lamented that the United States is playing double standards where actions and requests that are taken seriously in their country becomes the reverse when it concerns an African country like Nigeria.

He said: “Barely two days after former Vice President ans Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP) approached the State District Court for the Northern District of Illinois subpoenaed the Chicago State University to release the records of Tinubu, it is rather shocking that the President has countered the request by filling a counter motion to restrain the Court from releasing his academic records to the petitioner.

“What seems to be more worrisome is the idea that a sitting President who had sworn to uphold the integrity and sanctity of the Presidential office, would attempt to muzzle an independent judiciary of the United States through acts of coercion or frivolous motions unknown to the Justice department.

“However, it is noteworthy to reiterate that the Justice system of the United States isn’t one that is amenable to coercion, intimidation, subjugation or any other form of compromise as demonstrated clearly from recent events concerning the former President of the US (Donald Trump) who is being made to answer various charges concerning his conduct while in office.

“What are you hiding in the Chicago University? If you are proud of your credentials, tell the University you claimed to have attended to release your academic information to Nigeria as requested by Atiku.

“This is simply the right thing to do because when a subpoena has been issued, it’s meant to be honoured anywhere.

“For anybody who wants to lead Nigeria, you should be able to surrender yourself to Nigerians for scrutiny as that is the minimum standard expected and I’m aware Alh.Atiku is not doing anything extraordinary against the law.

“This is the very reason we believe the US court must throw out your (Tinubu’s) appeal and give your academic information to Nigeria.”

He added: “The US must not be seen to protect any high profile Nigerian or any Nigerian that is holding public office. That is their duty, to do the right thing the same way they are doing the right thing in America.

“Today, the world and everybody is watching how Trump is being treated and investigated from one court to another.

“Trump’s information is being released by the CIA and the FBI in America for people to see what he has done.

“So if they can do that in America to Trump who is a former president, then why is the United States today aiding and abetting criminality in Nigeria by refusing to release unclassified documents petmitted by its freedom of information law? Whatever is good for America must also good for Nigeria.”

According to him, “it is because of acts of complacency and deliberate connivance with individuals who have run fowl of the system and taken advantage of compromised individuals that Nigeria and indeed majority Africa countries are turning to China and Russia who are believed to be strict and non-compromising.

“The United States is playing politics with the destiny of Nigeria because of their interest, but if they are not careful they will
do untold damage to their image in Africa.

“The United States is losing its credibility in Nigeria and in Africa because of issues like this because when it has to do with Africans, they will know something is wrong, but because of their personal interests, they will underplay it the way it cannot be done in their own country,

“Is it not too much for Nigeria to demand from the authorities of the United States that we
need the academic credentials of our president that they know is illegally occupying the office? This is the same man that has been fingered in several criminal cases in America.

In America, can you do this to your taxpayers? When taxpayers in America demand for any information, including that of a sitting president, it will be provided because they know that a public officer in America, is answerable to the citizens.

“But why are they promoting and supporting public office holders in Nigeria like the incumbent president who’s unwilling to be answerable to the Nigerian people as if the interest of Tinubu is greater than the interest of Nigerian people?”

“Therefore, the argument in his motion that the records should not be released because they fall under a 1974 privacy law for American students has shown clearly that there’s more to the identity of the individual who’s currently the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and all must be done by the US in ensuring that the real identity of the President is revealed with the demand for his academic credentials whilst in Illinois.

We hold the US in good faith and will expect that everything concerning this matter is finally put to rest when the University is finally subpoenaed. We’re glad that a Federal judge has been assigned to the case, and we expect a full dispensation of justice under the US Justice system in this regard.

News

Ikeja Electric Slashes Electricity Tariff for Band A Customers

Published

19 hours ago

May 6, 2024

Eric

The Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company has reduced the electricity tariff payable by its Band A customers to N206.80 per kilowatt-hour from the N225/kWh approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The spokesperson for the IKEDC, Olufadeke Omo-Omorodion, disclosed this to Channels Television in a notice on Monday.

According to the notice, the downward tariff review of the Band A customers would take effect from Monday, May 6, 2024.

Under the approved review, Band A customers who hitherto were charged N225/Kwh, are now to pay N206.80/Kwh.

“Please be informed of the downward tariff review of our Band A feeders from N225/kwh to N206.80/kwh effective 6th May 2024 with guaranteed availability of 20-24hrs supply daily,” the statement said.

The decision to crash the tariff may not be unconnected with public outcry over the increase in electricity which industry observers, Civil Society Organisations, and labour unions have described as insensitive.

The tariffs for Bands B, C, D, and E remain unchanged.

News

Masterminds of Abuja-Kaduna Train Attack, Greenfield University Kidnappings Nabbed

Published

4 days ago

May 3, 2024

Eric

The Nigeria Police on Thursday, announced the arrest of the alleged mastermind of the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna where some passengers were killed while scores were abducted in March 2022.

The mastermind was identified as Ibrahim Abdullahi, also known by the ominous moniker of Mandi.

Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who made this known in Kaduna on Thursday, also disclosed that the suspect had also participated in the abduction of students from Greenfield University in 2021.

Adejobi also added that 48 AK-47 rifles were seized during Mandi’s arrest and efforts were underway to identify his sponsor and supplier of weapons.

He said, “On 12th January 2024, police operatives attached to an anti-kidnapping unit of Kaduna State Criminal Investigation Department, based on credible information swooped in and arrested one Ibrahim Abdullahi aka MANDE at Abuja-Kaduna Road flyover by Rido Junction.

“The suspect confessed to being the leader of a kidnap syndicate terrorizing the Kaduna-Abuja highway, ranked among other criminals like Dogo Gide and Bello Turji.

“He had participated in various kidnapping incidents including the kidnapping incident at Green Field University and he partook in almost all the kidnappings along the Abuja-Kaduna highway.”

Meanwhile, the police spokesman also said that no fewer than 81-armed robbers, 40 kidnapers, 73 murder/homicide suspects, 36 rape suspects, 22 suspects involved in cult-related crimes, and 28 suspects engaged in other criminal activities between January to date with particular focus on the Abuja-Kaduna expressway.

According to him, the strategic initiative being implemented by the force along the Abuja-Kaduna highway was responsible for current success stories so far recorded.

Similarly, he added that operatives have successfully recovered 16 firearms of various types along with 226 ammunition of diverse calibres.

“Additionally, our operations have led to the retrieval of 28 stolen vehicles, over 200 harmful weapons, and 600 bags of fertilizers.

“A total of three million, three hundred and fifty thousand Naira (N3,350,000) only, previously paid as ransom to kidnappers, has been successfully recovered, while our swift and coordinated efforts have resulted in the safe rescue of 158 kidnapped victims, all of whom have been reunited with their families unharmed. These achievements include.”

The police spokesman further said that the Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of IGP Kayode Egbetokun, remains steadfast in its resolve to uphold the rule of law, ensure the safety and security of all citizens as well as combat criminal activities in the country.

Some bloodthirsty terrorists had attacked the Abuja-Kaduna bound AK9 train on March 28 and abducted some passengers.

A day after the attack, another passenger who suffered from a gunshot wound died, making it nine, the total number of those killed in that attack.

From the manifest received by the Nigerian Railway Corporation, 398 passengers bought tickets but 362 were validated as having bought tickets.

The Punch

News

Osun Taskforce on Petrol Scarcity Raids Filling Stations, Forces Stations to Dispence Products

Published

5 days ago

May 2, 2024

Eric

The Special Taskforce set up by Osun State Government to monitor the Petroleum Scarcity has raided filling stations in Osogbo Federal Constituency.

The Taskforce which has the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye as the chairman went round filling stations in Osogbo, Ifón, Ilobu today to ensure that marketers do not hoard the products while people suffer for petrol scarcity.

The Taskforce team which comprises of Commissioner for Government House and Protocol, Honourable Soji Ajeigbe, Commissioner for Youths, Hon. Moshood Olagunju has two Special Advisers to the Governor, Hon. Babatunde Badmus and Alhaji Nurudeen Emiloju Among others.

At Muhy International Investment filling station at Ayekale, the committee ordered the manager to start dispensing as it was discovered to be hording about 800 litres in it’s PMS tank.

Addressing the petrol marketers and members of the public waiting to buy Petrol products, Hon. Soji Ajeigbe appreciated the managers of the filling stations that were seen dispensing the products.

According to him, the Taskforce was not out to shut down or witch-hunt any petroleum marketer but to ensure that any station found hoarding the product start dispensing the products immediately to the members of the public.

The team also took time to address members of the public on the need be orderly and law abiding assuring that the state government is doing everything possible to facilitate more allocation of PMS to the state from the depots in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

Members of the public who were happy at the activities of the Taskforce were full of appreciation to the state government for being responsive to the public cries.

It was carnival-like from Agunbelewo where okada riders started following the taskforce from one filling station to another as those who were not selling before started dispensing the products ahead of the taskforce ‘s visit to their stations

The Taskforce inspected PMS tanks of the stations that were not dispensing the products to ascertain that they were not hording the product.

Parts of the stations visited include Major and Independent marketers as well as NNPC retail stations in Osogbo, Olorunda, Irepodun and Orolu local Governments.

Members of the Taskforce include Honourable Niyi Olaniyan, S A policy Coordination, and security agents.