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PDP Guber Candidate accuses Gombe State Govt of Victimisation over Attack, Campaign office Demolition

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…Barde escapes attack by whiskers, seeks prosecution of involved Police attaches

 

The gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe, Muhammad Jibrin Barde has accused the State Government of victimisation and executive high-handedness, following a recent attack and the latest demolition of his campaign office in the state capital by the Gombe State Urban Planning Development Authority (GOSUPDA).

Barde, in a chat with the media displayed some bullet casings and tear gas canisters which were reportedly expended by the police task force team who escorted the GOSUPDA during the attack, narrated how he escaped the attack by whiskers and accused the state government of disruption of peace in the state. He decried the thuggish attack and latest demolition, which was the second time his campaign office would be hit by government forces, following a recent vandalisation of the same structure.

A petition written by Barde’s lawyers said the attack was spearheaded by the ruling APC State Government, and accused some government officials of leading some police personnel in the raid and demolition exercise. Among those identified as the ringleaders of the attack were Abubakar Kari, Chief of Staff to Governor; Executive Chairman of GOSUPDA, Grp. Captain Peter Bilal (Rtd); Sani PA, Personal Assistant to the Governor; and Garba Sale, PA to the Chief of Staff to the Governor.

The petition identified the police team as led by SP Zulaidaini Abba – AP/NO.118814 and SP Sani Adamu Bajoga – AP/NO.57675, the respective ADC and CSO to the Governor of Gombe State, while the other Police Officers are: OC SWAT – SP Hassan; Abubakar Muazu – SN.518483; Simon Isah – SN.249683; Philip Musa – SN.931462; Lucky Solomon – SN.484355; Nambu Sini – SN.528337; Abubakar Sani – SN.394172; Shamsuddeen Usman – SN.984136; Imrana Sani – SN.883042; Sulaiman Musa – SN.310892; Yusuf Lemoson – SN.724811; Safiyanu Sufi – SN.427813; and Abdulrazak Ibrahim.

In the petition, which was made available to newsmen, it stated that, “The Police Officers, the Governor’s appointees and other dangerous arms wielding thugs engaged in the indiscriminate firing of gunshots, with the approval of the state commissioner of police, which led to hospitalisation of 26 people from the neighbouring houses; the attempted assassination of Muhammad Jibrin Barde, the gubernatorial candidate of PDP in the forthcoming general elections, as well as the demolition of the campaign office, including 6 vehicles that were totally destroyed, with the potential for total breakdown of law and order in Gombe State.

“The Police Officers along with the officers of Gombe State Urban & Property Development Agency (GOSUPDA) invaded the Barde campaign office located by Liberty Junction, GRA in Gombe, under the guise of executing a purported court order, and during the attack, they demolished the office building, without any justification for their unprovoked actions. In the course of the attack, the Police Officers shot teargas and caused grave bodily harm to neighbours. Muhammad Jibrin Barde, the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP, escaped death by whiskers from a gun with live ammunition shot at him. The picture of the canisters are attached for ease of reference.”

According to the petition, “The Gombe State Commissioner of Police, Police Officers and the Governor’s Appointees who continue to terrorise and intimidate the residents and good people of Gombe do not only threaten their victims’ constitutionally guaranteed rights to life, with the attempted assassination of Muhammad Jibrin Barde the PDP gubernatorial candidate. These assailants continue to breach the rights to life; dignity of human person and freedom of movement of their victims as if there is no government in the State.

“Also, the roles of the Police Officers and the Governor’s Appointees as well as the presence of the vehicles from the said Government House at the scenes of the unwarranted attack, points in the direction of possible state sponsored assassination of perceived opponents in the State. This fear is strengthened by the deafening silence of the State Governor and the absence of Press Releases condemning the attacks”, it added.

The lawyers, in the petition, requested the immediate provision of additional security officers for the protection of Muhammad Jibrin Barde, the PDP Gubernatorial candidate attacked by Police Officers attached to the Governor of Gombe State as well as his Political Appointees; and the immediate suspension of the above listed Police Officers in order to carry full scale investigation into the unfortunate assassination attempt against above listed victims as well as the unlawful killings of nine people by them and the thugs they deployed.

They also sought the summary dismissal and prosecution of the above listed Police Officers that attempted to assassinate Barde, if found culpable at the end of the investigation; and the immediate removal, investigation, dismissal and prosecution of the Gombe state Commissioner of Police, the Police Officers and the Governor’s Appointees listed above.

Barde, in a statement, said the state development agency had flouted a subsisting order of court following an earlier injunction he brought before the High Court in Gombe, wherein he sought the protection of court against any action against the campaign office.

To buttress his accusation, he noted that a building approval was granted in December 30, 2021 to complete the building at the gate and erect a billboard. He said, “The GOSUPDA wrote a quit notice on the building in early March 2022. Consequent upon this, we obtained a court injunction on 18/3/2020 and duly served it on Government. They disregarded and violated the court order and demolished the building on 21/3/2022.  

“We erected barriers to secure the demolished building and protect people from it. We sent several letters and correspondence to the state Commissioner of Police and the State Director of SSS. The GOSUPDA now are hiding behind an order of the court, setting aside the March 18 injunction (which they already violated and is in effect not in force), and came to demolish yesterday”, the PDP guber candidate added.

According to him, “I visited the Commissioner of Police who said that he had the court order. In any event, it (court order) was dated 28/7/2022 and setting aside an order which had already been violated and taken over by the demolition of 21/3/2022 (2 months ago) and the subsequent contempt proceedings. I asked the CP that, given my position as a candidate of the PDP and since he is in possession of our most recent petition, he ought to have drawn my attention and enquire from me if we have been served with the purported court order.”

However, the GOSUPDA, in response to Barde’s accusation said “the demolition of an illegal structure belonging to Gombe Good Leadership Association was carried out in the spirit of the ongoing reclamation of the development masterplan and maintaining the prevailing peace and tranquility the State enjoys.” 

Some stakeholders have said the demolition exercise may not be unconnected with the running battle that Barde has been having with the Gombe state government. Recently, the PDP Guber candidate had gone on live television (ARISE TV news) where he levelled accusations of poor leadership and economic mis-governance against Governor Inuwa Yahaya, which he said has denied the indigenes of the state true gains of democracy and development.

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Boosting Health Access: Lasaco Assurance Supports NYSC Corps Members’ Health Mission”

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2 hours ago

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April 18, 2024

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Insurance underwriter, Lasaco Assurance Plc, has donated health recovery items to support the Health Initiative Programme of the National Youth Service Corps members serving in the Ifako Ijaiye Local Government area of Lagos State.

A statement from the firm said that the donation was to boost health development in the country.

 

Some Corps members, under the aegis of Local Government Initiative, for their first quarter Health Initiative, embarked on a project to provide health services to rural dwellers, whose access to quality health services was limited due to poverty, ignorance and superstition.

 

Lasaco Assurance supported the corps members to reach the target audience and help them overcome their difficulties in accessing quality health.

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The company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Seye Smart, who represented the Head of Strategy, Research and Communications, Dayo Adetokun, at the presentation of the gift items to the corps members, emphasised the importance of exposing the citizens to quality health and safety as that would improve their capacity, make them function well and prolong their life expectancy.

 

A healthy citizen, she explained, would contribute meaningfully to the growth of society and be useful for the development of humanity.

Leader of the LGI team, Bose Ojimi, said the programme was the group’s modest contribution to the country’s quest for improved health and safety for Nigerians and hoped that other corporate organisations would follow in the footsteps of Lasaco Assurance to offer necessary assistance to the people.

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Yahaya Bello absent as court adjourns, EFCC mulls military’s help to fish him out 

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11 hours ago

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April 18, 2024

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

 

The adjournment is for substituted service and possible arraignment of Bello for alleged N84bn money laundering. At the resumed sitting, Counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Phinro, told the court that the immediate past governor of Kogi State was absent from court for his arraignment because he was being protected by someone with immunity.

 

Phinro said 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.

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Society

Billionaire Businessman, Tunde Ayeni’s Talk of the town Daughters Wedding

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2 days ago

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April 17, 2024

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Barr. John Olatunde Ayeni C.O.N is indeed a man of high repute with a highly cerebral nature blessed with suave, elegance and finesse. As a young man, he has carved a niche for himself as a seasoned investor and a finance person with a background in the legal profession after bagging a law degree at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria before he was called to bar. Everything he touches turns into gold. He is a man who knows the true spirit of friendship and brotherhood which has elevated him to the position he holds today. The erstwhile Chairman of Skye Bank has created his name in gold as one of the best brains to have come out of Nigeria as he sits atop several high business conglomerates.

 

One thing has remained constant for him he is a man who loves his family and will never trade anything for his family. More reason he spared no cost to ensure his daughter Abolaji Ayeni gets one of the biggest wedding Soiree with her hubby Oluwatobiloba Adeoye that will never be forgotten in a hurry. It was a rollercoaster of events that remained colourful and also further cents Ayeni’s position as a crowd puller as all his friends turned up for him to celebrate him and his family in one of their proud moments as a father.

 

Last year 2nd of December, the Groom’s family was hosted by Ayeni at an introduction ceremony at his Lagos residence and from that moment he has told his friends that; the wedding shindig would be one to remember as he is putting lots of resources into making the day a memorable one and also appreciate his daughter for making him and his wife proud parents.

 

On Thursday the 11th of April, Ayeni and his family hosted a traditional engagement wedding in Lagos Ikoyi where it was a parade of cultural aesthetics from the best Aso-Ebi to the best of Agbada and music as Yinka Aiyefele serenade the audience with his musical rendition there was an array of cuisines that guests savoured their taste buds with and lots of high-cost drinks.

On Saturday the 13th of April, Ayeni also pulled his heavyweight as the Church wedding where the couples were tied together by Pastopr Tunde Bakare’s Latter Rain Church in Oregun before the train moved to the reception at the Balmoral Hall of the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island where guests were treated like a king, the whole V.I corridor was locked down as automobiles of different kinds took over the roads.

 

It was an absolute display of wealth, opulence and splendour as the who is who in Nigeria’s business, political and socialite space were in attendance. The roll call was quite an elitist one as it was like a gathering of stars with deep pockets. The father of the bride adorned in his full Agbada was seen smiling cheerfully welcoming his guests and also making sure those who attended were given the best of treats. The food was local and continental and the wines served were vintage wines. It was like a carnival as Evangelist Dunni Olarewaju (Opelope Annionting)coroner was on the bandstand while King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall the Fuji maestro also serenaded the audience.

 

Those who attended confessed that Ayeni is not only a master planer in the boardroom he is also a master planner of soirees and a good host with a high sense of hospitality. Those spotted were; the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Kogi State Secretary to the State Government; Mrs Ayoade Folashade, Former Governor of Ogun State Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Chairman Federal Inland Revenue Service; Dr Zacch Adedeji Former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, Former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Niyi Adebayo, Hajia Bola Shagaya, Olugbon of Ilegbon Oba Francis Alao, Olofin of Isheri Oba Sulayman Bamgbade, Elegushi of Ikate Land Oba Saheed Elegushi, Akinshiku Dosumu Oba Otudeko, Iyaloja of Lagos Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, Mogaji Wole Arisekola, Former Fidelity Bank MD Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo, Daily Times Publisher Mr Fidelis Anosike and wife Rita Dominic-Anosike, Nkiru Anumudu, Segun Awolowo, Terry Waya, Comfort Obamuyiwa, Aisha Achimogu, Abu Abel, Abisagboola ‘Bankuli’ Oluseun and a host of others.

By: Oladapo Shofowora.

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