Edo gov: INEC clears Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu, 17 others...Read It All On Tafia World

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu

Olusola Fabiyi and Alexander Okere

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday in Abuja released what it called the final list of candidates for the Edo State governorship election.

 The election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, September 10.

In a document signed and issued by the Secretary to the commission, Mrs. Augusta C. Ogakwu, the commission said that 19 political parties and their candidates had been cleared to contest the election.

The release of the list, the commission said, was in furtherance of the Electoral Act which stipulates that it must publish the list, at least, 30 days before the election.

Section 34 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides that, “The commission shall, at least 30 days before the day of the election, publish by displaying or causing to be displayed at the relevant office(s) of the commission and on the commission’s website, a statement on the full names and addresses of all candidates standing nominated.”

Surprisingly, the commission again picked Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu and John Yakubu as the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party.

This shows that the commission has rejected the candidate of the factional National Chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff for the position.

Sheriff, who is in court fighting his alleged removal from office, equally forwarded the name of Mr. Mathew Idorioyekemwen as the candidate of the PDP for the election.

Sheriff had on Tuesday said he was planning to storm the state five days before the election, to campaign for his candidate.

While reacting to the release of the list by the commission, Sheriff said he expected INEC to be law abiding in its actions.

Speaking through the spokesperson for his faction, Mr. Bernard Mikko, the former governor of Borno State said that it was possible that INEC was waiting for the Court of Appeal to make a pronouncement on the issue before “correcting the error.”

Mikko said, “The commission has promised to be law-abiding in its dealings with political parties and other institutions.

“We have nothing to worry about concerning the release of the list, because at the end of the day, we will come out as winners.

“The commission could be waiting for the Court of Appeal to make a pronouncement on the issue and correct the error. We are waiting patiently on it.”

The commission had claimed that the Sheriff faction of the PDP did not give it the mandatory 21-day notice to monitor its primary.

It also said that it was relying on the judgment of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, which recognised the Ahmed Makarfi-led national caretaker committee of the party as the authentic leadership.

The list of other candidates and their parties released by the commission are Ishaka Paul Ofemile and Ewemade Osagie (AA), Andrew Igewmoh and Osagie Andrew (ACD), Cosms Irabor and Fredrick Odegua (ACPN), Godwin Obaseki and Philip Shaibu (APC), Onaiwu Osaro and Okpebholo Gladys (APGA) while David Okoror and Ekhorotomwen Smile will be the candidates of the CPP.

Also on the list are Tobi Adeniyi and Ibolo Julius (ID), Thompson Osadolor and Florence Okundaye (KOWA), Amos Areloegbe and Jane Osagie (LP),  Oronsaye Richard and Omijie Ehinor (MPPP), Peter Omoragbon and Ahmed Haruna (NCP) and Ukonga Onaivi and Emodogo Eweha (NNPP).

Also listed are Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena and Efosa Osarobo (PDC), Thomas Sadoh and Onaiwu Ogbeide (PPA), Agol Tracy and Osayomore Clement Osazee (PPN), Omorogieva Gbajumo and Isaac Ogona (SDP), Adviser Efogie and Okosun Davies Roseline (UPP) and Nurudeen Inwanefero and Dakpokpo Georgina are the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of YDP.

Meanwhile, INEC on Thursday announced that a total of 1,924,072 residents had been registered as eligible voters for the election.

It explained that the figure comprises 132,559 persons captured during the Continuous Voters Registration exercise in June and 1,791,513 voters registered prior to the 2015 general elections across 2,627 polling units.

The National Commissioner (South-South), Dr. Muhammed Lecky, who spoke during the presentation of the official register of voters in Benin, noted that the number of registered voters dropped from 136,038, indicating that some individuals attempted multiple registrations and were purged from the system.

Lecky explained that of the 18 local government areas, Oredo has the highest number of registered voters pegged at 279,270 while Igueben has the lowest.

Republicans revolt against Trump, want funding stopped...Read It All On Tafia World

 

Donald Trump

More than 70 influential Republicans have signed a letter urging the party to stop spending money on Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and direct it instead to November’s congressional races, a news report said on Friday.

“We believe that Donald Trump’s divisiveness, recklessness, incompetence, and record-breaking unpopularity risk turning this election into a Democratic landslide,” read a draft text of the letter to Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, which was obtained by the Politico newspaper.

It called for an “immediate shift” of party funding to Senate and House races, to aid down-ballot Republicans whose own election prospects have been harmed by Trump’s unpopularity.

“This should not be a difficult decision, as Donald Trump’s chances of being elected president are evaporating by the day,” the letter said.

The letter cited various actions by Trump that the signers said have “alienated millions of voters of all parties.”1

“Those recent outrages have built on his campaign of anger and exclusion, during which he has mocked and offended millions of voters, including the disabled, women, Muslims, immigrants, and minorities,” the letter said, according to Politico.

“He also has shown dangerous authoritarian tendencies, including threats to ban an entire religion from entering the country, order the military to break the law by torturing prisoners, kill the families of suspected terrorists, track law-abiding Muslim citizens in databases, and use executive orders to implement other illegal and unconstitutional measures.”

So far, the letter has been signed by a number of key former party staff members and officials. Politico reported that it began circulating this week and is expected to be sent to Priebus next week.1

Meanwhile, Politico reported in a separate article that a meeting is planned Friday between Trump advisers and Republican Party officials at the request of the nominee’s campaign, in a possible sign that Trump is seeking help in rescuing his foundering campaign.

“They want to patch up a rift that just keeps unfolding,” a source told Politico, speaking about Friday’s sit-down, which is to be held in Orlando.

“They finally realise they need the RNC (Republican National Committee) for their campaign because, let’s face it, there is no campaign,” the source said.

My husband used our baby’s placenta for rituals, wife tells court...Read It All On Tafia World

The Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan, on Friday dissolved a four-year-old marriage between Musa Busari and his wife, Kafilat over issues of missing placenta and irresponsibility.

President of the court, Mr Ademola Odunade, held that there was little or nothing the court could do on the matter as evidence had shown that the couple had agreed to part ways over irreconcilable differences.

Dissolving the marriage, therefore, Odunade ordered that the man should be giving N3,000 as monthly feeding allowance for each of the two children produced by the union.

He directed that Kafilat should have the custody of the twin children “because they are still legal minor while Busari should be responsible for their education, health and other forms of welfare’’.

Earlier, Kafilat had told the court that her husband and his relatives collaborated to steal her baby’s placenta for ritual.

“Shortly before moving into Busari’s home in 2012, I was already pregnant with a set of twins for him.

“It happened that I gave birth to one of the two children in my father’s home, and on the following day after moving to his home, I had the second child.

“I was very weak because I was in pains, but I discovered that the placenta that came with the child was nowhere to be found.

“I asked his relatives that were around me, but they gave me no useful information as to the whereabouts of the placenta.

“It is the same question I have continued to ask till today, but the only answer Busari gave me is to forget it and to make it a secret between his family and me,’’ she said.

She claimed that because of the missing placenta, Kehinde, the second child, had been having nightmares.

“He shouts in his sleep, regularly fall sick and many more spiritual problems have befallen him as we are regular visitors to the hospital.

“Worst still, Busari does not show any form of responsibility either towards the children or I, and instead, fights me.

“Busari and his relatives are diabolic; the only solution is separation,” Kafilat said.

Busari, who welcomed the divorce, however, denied the allegations against him.

He told the court that he was a peace-loving husband who did everything within his capacity to cater for Kafailat and the children.

“Kafilat is just out to tarnish my image due to her greed.

“On the issue of catering for the sick child, Kafilat wanted me to start going the fetish way and I made her to understand that it is only prayer that could do it as an Alfa,” Busari, an Arabic teacher, said.

Man murders wife’s lover on matrimonial bed...Read It All On Tafia World

 

Igbokwe and his wife

Samuel Awoyinfa, Abeokuta

A 32-year-old businessman, Ezekiel Igbokwe, has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly killing his wife’s lover, Victor Olatundun.

Igbokwe was said to have killed Olatundun after he caught him having sex with his wife at their matrimonial home.

The suspect allegedly committed the offence at about 12am at Peace Lodge on Itura Street, Awa Ijebu, Ijebu-North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The suspect, who committed the crime on Wednesday, July 27, was arrested by the police the following day.

Igbokwe and his 28-year-old wife were among the 23 suspects paraded at the Ogun State Police Command headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, on Thursday, for various offences ranging from murder to illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

Igbokwe, who said he was a businessman, explained that he had returned from his trip to Onitsha and met Victor on top of his wife on their matrimonial bed.

He said he picked a machete in the toilet and cut the victim in the neck and hand.

Olatundun reportedly died on the way to the hospital.

Igbokwe, who deals in electronics, said he was born in Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.

He said, “I travelled to Onitsha on July 25, and when I came back on July 27, I met a man inside my room making love to my wife. Then we started fighting. The man was stronger than me. When I saw he could overpower me, I got a cutlass in my toilet and dealt him blows in the hand and neck. On the way to the hospital, the fuel in the car finished and he died.”

Igbokwe said he committed the crime due to anger, adding that he never meant to kill the victim.

He claimed that he had never met Olatundun before, saying he also never suspected that his wife was having an extra-marital affair with anyone.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Igbokwe and his wife, Juliet, have three children aged nine, seven and five.

Juliet, who sobbed intermittently, said her alleged lover had been pressurising her for a relationship for some time.

She explained that she had always told him she was married, but the victim never gave up until he ended up at their matrimonial home on that night.

Juliet, who said she sold snuff, said Victor was her supplier and he pestered her for six months before she finally gave in.

She said she suspected that the deceased used a charm on her, as she could not explain how it all happened.

She said, “He had been disturbing me that he wanted to marry me, but I said I was married.

“On the day of the incident, I really can’t say if he used a charm on me. All I know is that he called me that he wanted to see me and I told him not to come; he knew my house and when he came, I didn’t know what happened.

“He used to come and deliver snuff to me in the house. On the day of the incident, he told me he was coming from somewhere and that it was already late. He wanted to sleep in our place till the next day. He didn’t know that my husband was away. He tried to sleep with me, but later he didn’t.”

Juliet, who claimed that she got married to her husband in 2005, said the husband did not take good care of her and the children.

She said their marriage had been turbulent and fraught with fights and quarrels.

The mother of three said each time there was a fight, her husband would leave the house for months.

Why I titled my debut album ‘God Over Everything’ − Patoranking...Read It All On Tafia World

Finally the much anticipated album of popular dancehall singer, Patoranking, is out to the delight of his teeming fans. In a recent chat with Punch the singer explained why he titled his album, God Over Everything. He said the title of his album has a spiritual ring to it because of his belief in the power of God.
 “I want people to know that amidst having fun God still comes first, hence the choice of the name, God Over Everything. The album is about love, God , my life ,where I come from and where I am headed,” he said.
The lanky artiste also shed light on the inspiration behind his music.
He said, “I was raised in a small slum in Lagos known as Ilaje. My family lived in extreme poverty and my parents struggled to put food on the table. By the age of thirteen, I began hawking various goods to passengers on traffic because I desperately wanted to move my family out of the ghetto, in hopes of providing a better environment for my siblings to grow up and a more comfortable life for my parents. Then God blessed me with music. I learnt from life experiences I garnered over the years and I encapsulate the entirety of my being into my music.

He further added that he makes music that everybody can relate to and this also influences his choice of collaborations.

BREAKING NEWS: Buhari, Wole Soyinka meet on national, international issues...Read It All On Tafia World

Prof. Wole Soyinka

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Thursday met behind closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari.

The meeting which lasted about an hour was held inside the President’s office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Soyinka was accompanied by a public relations expert, Dr. Yomi Ogunbiyi.

The agenda of the meeting described as a private one was not made public and the Presidency did not issue any statement on it.

As he emerged from the President’s office after the meeting, the Nobel Laureate was visibly surprised to see State House correspondents who were already laying ambush for him in front of the Press Gallery.

“I didn’t come to see you people,” he said as he attempted to break through a barricade set up by the journalists.

When it became clear to him that the reporters would not relent, Soyinka said, “I came to discuss national and international matters, general matters, that’s all!”

When further probed about the details of the discussion, he said he would not divulge such.

Clearly not comfortable with press interview, Soyinka declared, “I will be holding a press conference in about a week. You can ask me any question then, but now, please I will just like to get away.”

With that the journalists made way for him to leave the premises.

FG, Italy finalise mutual legal assistance against human trafficking...Read It All On Tafia World

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami

Ade Adesomoju, Abuja

The Federal Government and the Italian government have finalised talks on the Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation between their judicial systems.

This was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, Salihu Isah.

Isah said the agreement between Nigeria and Italy in the areas of mutual legal assistance, transfer of prisoners and extradition agreements had already been negotiated and were ready for execution.

He said the AGF met with an Italian delegation led by the foreign nation’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Paolo Gentlioni Silveri, last week.

According to Isah, the MoU between the two nations was finalised at the meeting.

Malami was said to have stated, during the meeting, that “the underlying factors attendant to human trafficking, criminality and migration are issues of terrorism and corruption.”

Isah said the occasion was for “the finalisation of the Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the cooperation between the judicial systems between the two nations”.

The statement read partly, “Malami, who emphasised the need for effective cooperation in order to reduce incidents of human trafficking and other associated crimes, explained that unemployment in Nigeria had been a major cause of incessant migration of Nigerians to Italy.

“He informed the Italian delegation that agreements between Nigeria and Italy had already been negotiated and was ready for execution in the following areas: Mutual Legal Assistance, Transfer of Prisoners and Extradition Agreements.

“He therefore urged them to identify the timeline and venue for the execution of the agreements.

“The minister expressed appreciation to the Italian government for its support to its Nigerian counterpart, in particular, as well as the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons requesting further assistance to strengthen NAPTIP skills and capacity.”

The Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Silveri, was said to have, in response, concurred that there was a connection between criminality, human trafficking and migration.

He advised the Attorney-General of the Federation to leverage on the opportunity of the agreement between the two nations on the three issues raised at the meeting.

He also said his team was in the ministry to seek for collaboration with the Nigerian government in areas such as strengthening the political and economic relationships between Nigeria and Italy and the need to manage migration especially, migration from Nigeria to Libya.

Police arrest pastor behind serial car theft...Read It All On Tafia World

Onyenweaku Chibunnam

Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia

Operatives of the Abia State Police Command have arrested a pastor, Onyenweaku Chibunnam, for allegedly stealing a Toyota Camry in Ebem Ohafia community, of the Ohafia Local Government Area of the state.

Chibunnam was arrested with an accomplice, Prince Nnabugwu, who confessed that they belonged to a car-snatching syndicate.

Parading the suspects at the Police Officers Mess in Umuahia, the state capital, the Commissioner of Police in Abia State, Leye Oyebade, said the suspects were arrested after stealing the Toyota Camry from where its owner packed it last Saturday.

Oyebade added that the suspects, who were arrested on Sunday based on a tip-off, confessed to have stolen six Toyota Camry cars from Aba and sold some of them to one Maxwell in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Chibunnam, who is the founder of a new generation church identified as the Assembly of the Redeemed at Ohafia, said they did not snatch the car, but stole it from where it was parked.

The suspects

He explained that it was their sixth in the last few months, adding that he usually sold the cars at 60,000 to one Maxwell who resided in Port Harcourt.

He said, “Maxwell contacted me sometime last year to buy my car that I put up for sale, but he didn’t give me a good price for it, so, I couldn’t sell it to him. But when I stole an old model Toyota Camry last year, I called him to come and take the car I stole.

“We started having a misunderstanding when he requested the car’s original papers and I couldn’t provide them. I later told him that I stole the car. Maxwell became more interested in the business and gave me a master key with which I could steal Toyota Camry cars.”

Chibunnam, who said he used the money from the crime to fund his 30-member church, however, blamed the devil for his stealing lifestyle.

He promised not to return to crime if he was set free by the police.

Our correspondent learnt that the owner of the stolen black Camry Saloon had recovered it.

Meanwhile, the Abia State CP has warned criminals in the state to relocate, saying the command would not relent in its war against criminality in the state.

The CP also advised members of the public to purchase their vehicles from only genuine car dealers.