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  • Chairmanship race: Buhari, governors’ choice of Oshiomhole subject to ratification – APC

    Chairmanship race: Buhari, governors’ choice of Oshiomhole subject to ratification – APC

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has said despite the support for former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole to succeed the incumbent, John Odigie-Oyegun by President Muhammadu Buhari and the 24 governors of the party as the next party chairman, the choice would still be subject to ratification.

    The party also said it will review its timetable for congresses and convention set for May 14.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Bolaji Abdullahi, made this known to journalists in Abuja.

    Oshiomhole is expected to challenge incumbent chairman John Odigie-Oyegun for the position although the latter has not formally announced he would seek reelection.

    Whoever emerges is expected to lead the APC into the 2019 general elections.

    Speaking on the issue of Buhari’s choice of Oshiomole as national chairman for the party, Abdullai said the president’s choice was not binding on the party.

    “What we were told at the meeting was that he was asked who he wanted and he told them his preference which has nothing to do with the meeting today,” he said.

    He said the review of the timetable was because some governors at the ongoing National Working Committee meeting said dates for the congresses/convention ”are too close”.

    About a week ago, the party released the timetable showing the schedule of activities from ward congresses to the national convention.

    The official also said the meeting addressed the need to hold transparent, free and fair elections, ”so as to avoid issues that trail congresses and conventions which was the reason the party gave for wanting to extend the tenure of party officials.”

    “It was a technical meeting that was organised to review our preparedness towards the congresses and convention. It is also to have the opportunity to emphasise to the state governors the need to ensure the congresses were held in a very transparent manner and ensure the processes were free and fair. Because we are aware that some governors have been making statements that we believe have given the impression that we don’t intend to have congresses in some states.

    “If you recall, one of the major concerns of the party is that we should try as much as possible to avoid rancour that could be generated from congresses. So, it was acknowled that the one major way to avoid rancour is to ensure the congresses are transparent and acceptable to a majority of the persons concerned.”

    Abdullahi also said the list of members of the congresses committees will be ready by Friday.

    Speaking on some of the issues raised by the governors, he said the initial timetable was set ”with Ramadan in view so as not to conduct any political activity during that period.”

    “There were also observations from the side of the governors about the timetable for the congresses and convention, and the observation was that the timetable was closely packed and that it doesn’t leave much room for errors but the observation was that the timetable as it is currently composed was determined because of the Ramadan. We want to be sensitive to the feelings of Muslims who will be fasting in the month of Ramadan. Therefore, we tried avoid conducting any political activity during the month of Ramadan.

    “There were also other arguments. Therefore, there is a possibility the timetable will be reviewed. So it’s not decided yet, we agreed that the NWC will take a second look at the timetable and see the possibility for adjustment.”

    Meanwhile, the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, said another issue raised concerning the timetable was that the congresses were set to hold on weekdays ”which will be a problem as they use schools and secretariats which will not be available on weekdays so they suggested they be conducted on weekends”.

    He also hinted that if the timetable is changed, the convention might be after the Ramadan.

    ”In that respect, the NWC has been mandated to go and fashion it out. Also, it may fall within the Ramadan time, we will make consultations to see if only one congress can be held during Ramadan then after Salah we hold the national convention. I think that will be sorted out and the national committee is working on that.

    “Also, we all agreeed that the NWC will organise the congresses from the ward, local government and states while the the committee for the national convention will organise the national convention. We also agreed that zoning will be maintained for the officers but also that those governors within that zone should go and discuss but the post(s) will reamain as it is.”

    Governors present at the meeting were: Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara; Rochas Okorocha of Imo; Abdulahi Ganduje of Kano; Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger; Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo; Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun; Godwin Obaseki of Edo; Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa; Minnir Yakubu, deputy governor, Katsina State and Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State.

     

  • Buhari, governors reject Oyegun, back Oshiomhole for APC chairman

    Buhari, governors reject Oyegun, back Oshiomhole for APC chairman

    …as 24 governors support President’s second term bid

    President Muhammadu Buhari and governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have expressed their willingness to support former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole to become the next national chairman of the ruling party.

    At a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Villa last night, the governors, led by Progressives Governors Forum Chairman Rochas Okorocha, proposed to the President their interest in the former labour leader.

    Sources at the meeting said the President did not object to the request.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha and Chief of Staff to the President Abba Kyari also attended the meeting.

    Seventeen governors attended. Two were represented by their deputies.

    Seven governors: Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe), Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa) and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), were absent.

    The issue and the endorsement of the President for second term by the governors were the only isues discussed at the meeting held at the First Lady’s Conferemce Room, sources said.

    The party’s national convention to pick members of the National Working Committee (NWC) will hold in Abuja on May 14.

    After the meeting, Okorcha said all the 24 APC governors were backing President Buhari’s second term bid.

    The President at the last APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, declared his intention to seek another term.

    Okorocha said governors communicated their support for the President’s reelection.

    He said: “We came to welcome him back and to commend him for his boldness and courage to declare his intention to run for second term as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which we the 24 governors of the APC duly support.

    ”And we have come to encourage him that he must go ahead with his vision,” he added.

    According to him, the meeting also addressed the coming convention and congresses to make it hitch-free.

    ”We also agreed that we will not allow the issue of many contestants to destroy our party.” he said.

    Asked if Oshiomhole’s endorsement came up, Okorocha said the public would be “duly briefed in due course”.

     

  • Ban Ki-moon elected BFA chairman

    Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has been elected chairman of Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), replacing former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.

    Founded in 2001, the BFA is a non-governmental and non-profit international organisation committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries closer to their development goals.

    Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong was appointed BFA secretary-general, a statement released after the meeting of the newly elected Board of Directors of BFA, which was held during the ongoing BFA annual conference, confirmed.

    Former central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan was designated as China’s chief representative to BFA.

    According to the BFA Charter, Zhou is ex-officio member of the Board of Directors and vice chair of BFA.

    Of the 19-member BFA Board of Directors, 12 are newly elected, including Ban, Zhou and Li.

    Other new directors are former senior government officials, business leaders, or other eminent persons from Asia and around the world.

    This year’s BFA conference, which runs from April 8 to April 11 in Boao, a town in the southern island province of Hainan, has the theme featuring “An Open and Innovative Asia for a World of Greater Prosperity.”

  • Taraba CAN chairman dies in auto-crash

    Rev. Ben Ubeh, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Taraba, died on Sunday in an auto accident on the Zing-Yola Road.

    The Vice Chairman of CAN in the state, John Aina, confirmed the incident in Jalingo.

    Ubeh , who died in the early hours of Sunday, was on his way to Yola for an official engagement.

    Rev. Peter Gambo, who was travelling with the late chairman, told newsmen that the incident happened when they parked to buy some drugs in Zing town on their way to Yola.

    Gambo, who is the state Chairman of the NLC, explained that the deceased also stepped out of the vehicle at Zing.

    “We parked to buy drugs, the CAN Chairman too came out and stood at the back of our Toyota Hilux van when suddenly a truck came from behind and crushed him.

    “I am still in shock over the incident, but I have come to terms with the fact that God knows best,” he said.

    Gambo said Gov. Darius Ishaku immediately sent a delegation to Zing which helped him to evacuate the corpse to Jalingo.

    The corpse had since been deposited in the morgue of the State Specialist Hospital, Jalingo.

    Ubeh, who was elected CAN Chairman in Taraba in 2016, is also the General Overseer of Army of God Glorious Ministries.

    Gambo added that burial arrangements would be announced later.

     

  • Akeredolu urges Senate to confirm Magu’s appointment as EFCC chairman

    Akeredolu urges Senate to confirm Magu’s appointment as EFCC chairman

    Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has pleaded with the Senate to confirm Ibrahim Magu as the substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

    Akeredolu, represented by his Deputy, Agboola Ajayi, made the plea on Wednesday in Akure, while playing host to a team from the commission’s zonal headquarters, Benin Office.

    According to him, the Senate should resolve the lingering issue of confirming the appointment of Mr. Magu as EFCC chairman for the benefit of the country.

    The governor said Magu had been in acting capacity as chairman of the commission for more than two years.

    Akeredolu said that EFCC, under the President Muhammadu Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government, had achieved a lot in fighting corruption more than the previous governments in the country.

    “To fight corruption is more difficult than the fight against Boko Haram in the northern part of the country.

    “With the record of billions recovered by the commission in the country, it means God is with this country.

    “With the level of massive looting in the country in the past, I believe there is hope for Nigeria to get to the greater height,’’ he said.

    While commending the commission for its achievements in the last two years, he urged the team to extend its offices to states.

    This, he said, would enable the commission to recruit staff with apparatus to aid it to fight corruption at the state and local government levels.

    Earlier, the EFCC Zonal Head, Benin Office, Mallafia Yakubu, called for the support of the state government in the fight against corruption.

    Yakubu said that corruption had led to underdevelopment and employment.

    “We want to join hands with the state government to fight corruption as the commission cannot do it alone,” he said.

    Yakubu also solicited the support of the state government on the need to sponsor programmes at the grassroots to highlight the damage corruption had caused in the country.

     

  • Police quiz Edo PDP chairman over rice diversion comments

    The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in Edo State, Chief Dan Orbih, is currently being quizzed at the state police command over comments that the state government diverted bags of rice meant for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.

    Orbih’s questioning was based on a petition sent by Governor Godwin Obaseki to the state Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, on the need for the police to make the PDP chief present facts on the allegations.

    Orbih arrived the police command headquarters at 10:17a.m. in company of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and a large crowd of PDP supporters.

    Orbih and few party leaders headed for the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police.

    A huge crowd of PDP supporters besieged the entrance gate of the command as they were not allowed into the command’s premises.

    He had alleged that 4,721 bags of rice out of the 6,822 bags donated by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to IDPs at Ohogua village in Ovia North East local government area of the state were diverted.

    Other items the NCS donated to the IDPs were 76 cartons of vegetable oil, 100 sacks of used shoes and 20 pairs of used shoes.

  • FG queries Magu, Keyamo over corruption charges against CCT chairman

    FG queries Magu, Keyamo over corruption charges against CCT chairman

    The Federal Government has issued a query to the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Festus Keyamo over the corruption charges filed against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Mr. Danladi Yajubu Umar in its name.

    In the query dated February 16, 2018 and with Reference No DPP/ADV:368/15 Magu was ordered to make his response to the query available to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Minister of Justice on or before Tuesday, February 20, 2018.

    In the query, signed by Mr. Dayo Apata, the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary Magu is to explain what informed the filing of corruption charges against the tribunal chairman having being cleared of corruption allegation two times by the same Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Titled “FR VS Danladi Umar (CR/109/18) request for Briefing,” the query read in part: “The attention of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation was drawn to news report that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed charges of corruption against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Hon. Justice Danladi Umar, before the FCT High Court. “I am directed by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation to seek clarification from you as to whether the charges were filed on your instruction or directive and if in the affirmative, what is the compelling basis for doing so.

    This clarification becomes imperative in view of the following background facts. “The Commission’s investigation report dated 5th March 2015 addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation stated as follows: “The facts as they are now against Justice Umar raised a mere suspicion and will therefore not be sufficient to successfully prosecute for the defence. “The Commission’s position in paragraph 2(a) above was also maintained and sustained by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation while appearing before the House of Representatives’ Investigative Committee sometimes in 2015 to the effect that report of investigations showed that the allegations against Hon. Justice Danladi Umar were based on mere suspicions.

    “In view of the foregoing, the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation requests for your prompt briefing as to the existence of new facts which are contrary to the position in your attached investigation report, sufficient evidence or other developments upon which the prosecution of Hon. Justice Danladi can be successfully based. “Kindly accord this letter top priority while your prompt response within 48 hours from the receipt of same is required in the circumstances.”

    In the same vein, in a separate letter to Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN, who was purportedly engaged as a private lawyer by Magu to prosecute the CCT boss was also requested by the AGF to confirm who authorise him to file the corruption charge against Umar. Like Magu the senior Lawyer was given till Tuesday February 20, 2018 to furnish the Office of the AGF in writing detail of who engaged or issued him with authority to file the corruption charges.

    The letter to Keyamo with reference No DPP/ADV:369/15 dated February 16, 2018, which was also signed by the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Sectary read in part: “The attention of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation was drawn to news report that you have filed charges of corruption against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Hon. Justice Danladi Umar, before the FCT High Court.

    “The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation hereby requests that you kindly furnish this office with the details of the instruction or authorization upon which you instituted the case under reference. Kindly accord this letter top priority while your prompt response on or before Tuesday, February 20, 2018 is solicited in this regard.” Although the EFCC in two separate letters to the Federal Government through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation had in 2015 and 2016 cleared Umar of any wrong doing in the alleged N10 million bribery allegation made against him by a defendant, Rasheed Taiwo Owolabi standing trial before him on false asset declaration.

    Upon receipt of the petition from Owolaabi, the EFCC had investigated the petition and sent its report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) with a Reference No EFCC/EC/SGF/03/56 dated March 5, 2015, personally signed by the then Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde exonerating the CCT boss from the bribery saga.

    The EFCC report received by the office of SGF on March 6, 2015 was categorical that “the facts as they are against Justice Umar raised a mere suspicion and will therefore not be sufficient to successfully prosecute for the offence.” Other EFCC’s documents show that in 2016 a fresh investigation was conducted into the same N10mn bribery allegation and the same anti-graft agency in its second report absolved Umar of any wrongdoing and that the bribery allegation against him remain a mere suspicion. The EFCC’s second report with reference EFCC/P/HRU/688/V30/99 dated April 20, 2016 and submitted to the SGF and signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Emmanuel Adegboyega Aremo, read in part: “Kindly recall our correspondence of March 5 2015 with Reference EFCC/EC/SGF/03/56 with above subject caption.

    We will like to reiterate the Commission’s position in regard to this matter as earlier communicated to you and state that the allegation levelled against Justice Umar were merely suspicions and consequently insufficient to prosecute the offence.” Finding by PRNigeria revealed that the action of Magu in instituting criminal charges against Umar has caused serious confusion and embarrassment to the Federal Government because the EFCC reports had made clear that the CCT boss had no case to answer. The AGF was said to have been thoroughly embarrassed with the corruption charges because he had already informed the National Assembly that Umar had no corruption case to answer based on the two reports of EFCC to the Federal Government.

    The Federal Government was infuriated by the action of Magu in engaging Keyamo as a private counsel to prosecute the CCT boss in purported corruption charge because, the same Keyamo is the counsel to Rasheed Taiwo Owolabi who is standing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal and who made the allegation in the course of his trial on criminal offence.

    However, there are indication that the corruption charge against the CCT boss may be dropped by so as not to cause further embarrassment to government in its fight against corruption.

    A source said the Federal Government has to be consistent in its fight against corruption and that having cleared Umar on two occasions on the same issue, saw no reason to somersault on the issue, hence the need to withdraw the corruption charges.

    The EFCC had on February 2, brought a two-count charge against the CCT Chairman Danladi Yakubu Umar bordering on alleged receipt of N10m bribe from one Rasheed Owolabi Taiwo in the charge signed by Festus Keyamo as a private prosecuting counsel and one Offem Uket an official of EFCC. Umar was accused of receiving N1.8mn through his Personal Assistant, Gambo Abdullahi for a favour to be afterwards shown to the petitioner who was standing trial for a criminal offence before the tribunal. No date has been fixed for arraignment of the CCT boss at the High Court of FCT, Abuja.

  • 2019 election budget ready in seven days – INEC Chairman

    Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday said that the 2019 General Elections budget would be ready in seven days.

    Mahmood disclosed this in his in an address of welcome at a Two-Day 2019 Election Project Plan (EPP) Implementation for the senior management staff of the commission in Lagos.

    “It is exactly a year today to the 2019 General Elections scheduled for Feb. 16, 2019, the commission has developed a strategic plan and programme of actions (2017-2021), in full consultation with stakeholders.

    “In order to implement the plan, the commission then developed detailed activities and assigned specific responsibilities and time lines for the 2019 general elections under the Election Project Plan (EPP).

    “There is no time to waste; the 2019 General Elections are already around the corner. These are the last activities before the conduct of the general elections.’’

    He said “we have finalized and validated the election project plan, thereafter, finalize work on the election’s budget for 2019, this will be ready next week.

    “Part of the successful implementation of the election plan is funding and the commission is not unaware that Nigerians are anxious to know the cost of the 2019 General Elections.

    “The commission believes in optimal utilization of resources which is dependent on proper planning.

    “With the validation of EPP workshop, having concluded and validated the strategic plan and plan of actions, work on 2019 elections budget will be concluded next week

    “Immediately after the validation, the budget will be presented to the appropriate authority for consideration and funding,’’ the chairman said.

    He said that the commission would continue to take all necessary steps to ensure that Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) were given necessary support to implement EPP.

    Mahmood urged RECs to mobilise all members of staff of the commission to enable them prepare to play their respective roles to ensure the hitch-free general elections.

    According to him, activities ranging from the assessment of the current election infrastructure, acquisition and deployment of sensitive and non-sensitive materials would take place as specified.

    Mahmood stated that the objectives of the 197 activities of EPP include: “harmonizing the activities and needs of all departments and directorates of the commission into an implementable plan for the 2019 elections.

    Others he said include “Organising the 2019 general elections in line with the highest global professional standards to deliver cost effective but high quality general elections in 2019.

    “Ensure that all stakeholders are carried along and create a level playing field for all candidates and political parties in administering the 2019 general elections

    “Also to ensure accountability and responsibility of all INEC staff in the conduct of 2019 general elections”.

    Mahmood said that each of the 197 activities of EPP responded to specific actions and tasks to be carried out within a specified timeline.

    He called for diligent and meticulous monitoring, close supervision and sustained of the EPP for understanding and adherence to timeline.

    On the concern in certain quarters about the possible prevalence of ineligible registrants on voter register, Mahmood said the commission was equally concerned and worried.

    The INEC boss also said that the recent reports of violation by underage person, following the Kano Local Government Election were deeply disturbing.

    “We wish to assure Nigerians that the matter will be fully investigated and we will share the findings of the investigation with the public.

    “I wish to assure Nigerians that voter register, nationwide, will be purged of any possible ineligible registrants,” he said.

    According to him, the investigation becomes necessary because the credibility of an election is drawn from the credibility of voter register.

    He noted that eligibility for registrations include citizenship, residence and mandatory attainment of age of 18 years.

    Mathmood said between July and December, 2017, 3, 978,682 were registered afresh nationwide.

    He also disclosed that 135, 127 unclaimed Permanent Voter Cards were collected and 166,073 requests made for transfer of PVCs while the commission received 334,086 requests for replacement of PVCs.

    In terms of distribution by state, the INEC boss said that Rivers recorded the highest number of voters, followed by Delta and Lagos while Kwara, Gombe and Ondo recorded the lowest.

    On the ongoing voter registration, Mahmood assured that only legally eligible citizens would be screen and registered, saying INEC has 1446 registration centres nationwide.

    He said that the commission had deployed additionally Direct Data Capturing machines, staff and resources nationwide to address the challenges people faced in exercise.

    Presenting the 2019 EPP report, Prof. Bolade Eyinla said that the reports harmonised the activities and needs of all departments, units and directorate of INEC into implementing the plan for the general elections.

    Eyinla is the Technical Adviser to INEC Chairman.

    He further said his committee was inaugurated in May 2017 and was informed by success of the EPP in 2015, which centralised planning for the election.

    “It is important that all hands are on deck to deliver more credible elections in 2019.

    “The plan is to ensure that the 2019 elections will be conducted in line with the highest global standard and to deliver cost efficient but high quality elections.

    Eyinla said that all state offices, led by RECs, designed and established their Election Monitoring Support Centres, structured to monitor and support the implementations of EPP.

    Mr Shalva Kipshidze, Country Director, IFES said the EPP was developed by INEC with the support of IFES to enhance electoral integrity and good governance.

    National Electoral Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners, Administrative Secretaries, directors, Heads of Departments among other senior staff of the commission attended the workshop.

    The workshop was facilitated by INEC’s international partners (the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN), European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) and International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).

  • Alleged N10m fraud: CCT chairman’s trial holds in March not February – Keyamo

    The arraignment of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Danladi Umar, over allegations of bribery will hold in March, not February 15, the prosecution has said.

    The prosecution counsel, Festus Keyamo in chat with newsmen denied reports that Umar will be arraigned today, February 15.

    “It’s not today. He is going to be arraigned on March, 15. It’s March 15,” Keyamo said.

    Umar is however scheduled to continue overseeing the trial of a former customs officer, Rasheed Taiwo, who accused him of bribery.

    The trial which began over six years ago, is closely linked to the ongoing case against Mr. Umar who was charged based on the allegation brought by Mr. Taiwo.

    An official of the Court of Appeal who did not want to be named, because he was not authorised to speak said on Thursday that an appeal challenging the decision of Umar to still preside over Mr. Taiwo’s case, ”will soon be decided upon.”

    “Yes, the Court of Appeal heard arguments of parties in the matter during the month of December. The case was brought by some lawyers who want Umar to step down because of the allegations against him. The Appeal Court will soon call the parties for a ruling on that case,” the source said.

    The current charge against Mr. Umar were first filed by the EFCC on allegations of the CCT chairman’s involvement in the collection of a N10 million bribe from Mr. Taiwo, in 2012.

    The bribe was allegedly given when Mr. Taiwo was first arraigned for allegations of false asset declaration at the CCT.

    Following the charge, Mr. Umar was suspended by the government, but was later cleared and reinstated.

    On February 2, however the EFCC filed fresh charges against the CCT chairman, bordering on the same alleged offence.

    The allegations are contained in a two-count charge filed at a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

  • Tears as Osun NULGE chairman dies in midnight fire

    There was pandemonium in Osun State on Thursday as the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees in Ayedaade Local Government Area, Mr. Tajudeen Alabi, died in a fire that ravaged his home around 1 am on Thursday.

    It was gathered that the NULGE chairman was burnt to death in his sleep when fire gutted some shops located close to his residence. The fire was said to have spread to his residence and he was affected.

    It was not clear if there were other casualties in the inferno but a resident of the area, who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that the wife of the deceased and other members of the family were not at home when the incident happened.

    The source said some of the neighbours of the deceased blamed the fire incident on a power surge. He added that they told sympathisers, who thronged the residence of the NULGE chairman that the fire started at around 1am and destroyed property worth millions of naira.

    He said, “I learnt that the fire started from some shops located close to his house. The fire was said to have started around 1am as a result of power surge but some of the people said it was a mysterious fire.

    “They said they heard screaming but it was too late before they could get to the place.”

    The Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress in Osun State, Mr. Tunde Adekomi, could not be reached on the telephone despite efforts made by our correspondent.

    However, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Babawale Afolabi, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the telephone.

    He said, “I was told by our officer in the local government area that the incident happened and the man died in the inferno.”