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Tag: Oshiomhole

  • 2019: Edo APC women pass vote of no confidence on Oshiomhole

    Some aggrieved women of Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday unanimously passed a vote of no confidence on the National Working Committee of the party for allegedly promoting nepotism and tyranny in the party.

    Addressing journalists in Benin on Friday, the women accused the leadership of party, led by its National Chairman and former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, of allegedly subverting the aspirations of female party members with impunity.

    They also said that the controversial primaries conducted by the NWC “without recourse to equity, justice and fair play” exposed the APC as “a party of hawks, swallowing chickens as its prey.”

    The coordinator of the aggrieved group and State Organising Secretary of the party, Aisosa Amadasun, noted that female aspirants across the state were not only subjected to harrowing experiences, by being charged exorbitant fees for the collection of nomination forms, but also screened out, even when they were “eminently qualified.”

    Amadasun lamented that about 10 women from the three senatorial districts were denied tickets by the national leadership of the APC, in spite of their sacrifices.

    She said, “The level of impunity has assumed a frightening dimension under the leadership of our national chairman, who once prided himself as an apostle of change and the curative medicine to ‘godfatherism’.

    “The primaries conducted so far by the leadership of the APC across the 36 states of the country are not only shameful, disgraceful, undemocratic, and a charade, but also threw many states into mayhem and shocked the foundation of the party and out it on the edge of a precipice.

    “Any party that fails to recognise the inputs of women and reward them with positions commensurate to their painstaking efforts to ensure victory is not only doomed but will suffer defeat.”

    She, however, vowed that the women would no long play second fiddle to the men who used them as “campaign tools”.

    She also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take pragmatic steps to remedy the injustice done to them, adding that proper reconciliation was needed to ensure victory for the party in the 2019 general elections.

     

  • Zamfara 2019: We’ll challenge INEC ban in court – Oshiomhole

    The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole on Friday said the party will approach the court on its ban by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from fielding candidates for elective positions in Zamfara in the 2019 general elections.

    Oshiomhole stated this on Friday in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the state of affairs of the party.

    He said that INEC cannot disenfranchise the people of Zamfara from participating in any of the elections in 2019.

    “With all due respect, INEC cannot award a state to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or any other political party.

    “It has to be the decision of the people of Zamfara or any other people in any other state that is going to participate in any of the elections.

    “I believe the court will look at the law and the rules, and as far as the legal advice we have gotten is concerned, we believe we are on good grounds.

    “We want to see INEC as an impartial arbiter, and I trust that they will do their very best to maintain their name as an impartial arbiter,“ Oshiomhole said.

    He added that for now, the APC has confidence in INEC, even though according to him, the commission is being pressured by the PDP to do internal reorganisation.

    The APC national chairman expressed optimism that the rule of law would prevail at the end of the day, adding that the party has confidence in the judiciary and would always abide by court rulings.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that INEC had on Oct. 10, said that APC was not eligible to field candidates for Governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly positions in Zamfara in the 2019 elections.

    The commission in a letter signed by Okechukwu Ndeche, the acting Secretary, said APC was not qualified to field candidates because it failed to conduct primaries in Zamfara within the stipulated time-frame.

    Oshiomhole while reacting to the development, had insisted that the party held primaries in Zamfara contrary to INEC position

     

  • Imo gov primaries: Okorocha attacks Oshiomhole, says ‘prove to us that you have integrity’

    Imo gov primaries: Okorocha attacks Oshiomhole, says ‘prove to us that you have integrity’

    Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has called on the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomole to uphold the integrity and honesty for which he is known in resolving the controversy surrounding the party’s governorship primary election in the state.

    Oshiomole had vowed that he will never mortgage his conscience to keep his job.

    But the Imo Governor who noted with dismay that the party is contemplating undemocratic measures in determining the governorship candidate in the after, even after a candidate has been duly elected in the person of Uche Nwosu.

    He enjoined the National Chairman to forward Nwosu’s name as the governorship candidate and jettison sentiments promoted by those that do not mean well for the party.

    Okorocha insisted that Oshiomole and members of the National Working Committee of the party owe it as an obligation to defend the integrity of the party, which he said distinguishes it from other political parties.

    According to him, Oshiomole was elected as the National Chairman of the party as a result of his track record of honesty and integrity, which he adduced were and are still his highest selling points.

    In his words, “We elected Oshiomole because we felt that he is a man of integrity and we are only asking him to uphold that integrity for which we have priced him, he must prove that image which he has cut for himself as Oshiomole prior to his being elected as the National Chairman, anything short of that will reduce his value completely in this country. He should do the right thing and be simple”.

    The Governor continued that, “I think people are trying to change the narratives, some people are trying to upturn the truth they want to cover the truth by leaving the main to discuss frivolities, the truth remains that a certain Ahmed Gulak with a sinister mission came here and disappeared with result sheet by 4am on the day of proposed election, the NWC of our party disbanded that Committee, despite the fact that eight members of the Committee including the Secretary stayed back and conducted the election and declared Uche Nwosu winner.

    “Despite the fact that Uche Nwosu won the election, the National Working Committee disbanded that Committee and called for fresh election, this fact is known to everybody and the second election which they came to conduct on October 6, the same Uche Nwosu won. Now how could the man who is supposed to be facing charges of criminal conspiracy turn around and say that the election he disappeared with result sheet is genuine, it makes a mockery of this country.

    “But one fact remains that President Muhammadu Buhari is known for justice and fairness, that is the image he has and let no one or the party destroy this image which has given us victory and that is why we are here today as APC members. So it is not a question of who is a good or bad loser, the issue is that people are trying to change the narrative to cover the truth, it is diversionary as far as I am concerned.

    “How could you explain it for God’s sake, somebody won in the first election, the results are clear and signed by the members of the Committee, same person won the second election signed by all the members, even when you cancelled the first election and then you have the Police and INEC reports confirming the election and you have a letter from the NWC disbanding that Gulak Committee and you also have a letter from the NWC confirming that Uche Nwosu is the candidate of the party and again you have forms given to him from INEC for his name to be submitted.

    “I don’t understand what is happening but I think this issue of semantics and sentiments being poured cannot cover the truth, the truth is that APC holds it as a point of duty and honour to declare winners of election and anything short of that will not go down well with the people and the history of APC in Nigeria and I beg to disagree with those who try to change the issue from what it is.

    “I mean what can you say to the whole world that Gulak didn’t disappear with result sheets or that election was not cancelled or that Uche Nwosu did not win I don’t just understand what is happening, so people are trying to change the truth but that is not going to work. APC must remain APC and our party’s NWC holds it as a point of duty to defend the integrity for which APC is known, anything short of that will amount to self-destruction of the party”.

    On the alleged plot against the National Chairman, “I think talking about Oshiomole’s removal is not an issue, it is not important, we elected Oshiomole because we felt that he is a man of integrity and we are only asking him to uphold that integrity for which we have priced him, he must that image which he has cut for himself as Oshiomole prior to his being elected as the National Chairman, anything short of that will reduce his value completely in this country, he should do the right thing and be simple, I mean we are democrats and this is our party, this is APC and the right thing must be done so when people try to change the narrative and to say Governors are bad losers, the governors want to impose people, excuse me, democracy is about the people, if the people have spoken, who are you to change what the people have said.

    “Buhari is a President today because the people spoke and if Buhari can be a President because people spoke, then the party must respect that and allow the voice of the people to prevail in whatever election and avoid sentiments. The campaign they try to put forward is that Uche Nwosu can’t go because he is Okorocha’s son-in-law and I say to them, has Uche Nwosu gone contrary to any section of the Nigerian constitution, nobody has been able to give an answer to that, nobody has come forward to say that the young man is a criminal or that he is corrupt or does not have capacity.

    “It is not just enough to sit back in Abuja and be talking, they should come to the state to understand the feelings of the people down home, that’s the point am making so my advice to our party, is that our party should sit up and do the right thing and not allow the people get misled.

    “And if you are talking about morals, what is the morality in somebody that joined the party in less than two weeks to be given the number one job by Abuja and not the people, how is he going to win, so I want to advice those behind this to stop forthwith and it is a directive that they should stop forthwith so that this party can enjoy that name that it is known for as a party of justice, equity and fairness if not there is no difference between this party and any other party in Nigeria.

    “Ninety percent of those who have joined APC in the last two months are doing so not because they love APC, they can never go to an election without Federal might and per adventure President Buhari loses this election, the net day they will leave the party, so these set of people are simply called political opportunists who are not with the people but always want to grab victory through the use of gun but I think this has to stop, why should our party promote this and I warn they should stop this”.

    On the likelihood of leaving the party, the Governor noted that, “the option of leaving the party has not come to my mind, APC is my party, in 2011 when this party was called Boko Haram and Islamization party, where were these people, nobody gave us a chance that APC was going to win the 2015 election, so what makes you think that we are going to leave the party for those that came through the back door and are being given a voice by the National Chairman of our party.

    “All you hear is rumour everywhere that they are backed by the Presidency that Rochas should take one position and leave the other one as if we are sharing groundnut, but I tell them I have met President and he told me he never said to anybody to impose a wrong candidate or to remove the name of anybody and change it with another in whatever guise, I think they want to make Mr. President a liar. So what they are doing is wrong and unacceptable so they should stop”.

     

  • Only 3 govs are unhappy with APC primaries – Oshiomhole

    Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says he will not mortgage his conscience in order to keep his job.

    Mr Oshiomhole spoke to State House correspondents after having a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Speaking on the fallout of APC primaries, he dismissed rumours that some governors were moblising to unseat him.

    According to him, he knows that the job is not a pensionable job as he will leave it one day; hence he will do the job according to the rules and his conscience.

    He said out of the 23 APC governors, only three were not pleased with the outcome of the primaries in their states.

    Mr Oshiomhole said no one could begrudge the governors for not being happy if a particular outcome did not coincide with their expectations.

    He said he neither had the power to appoint nor the power to change anything particularly when things had been properly done.

    According to him, the three governors who are unhappy are his friends.

    “So, all I have tried is to find some courage to enforce the rules and I think an overwhelming majority of the governors appreciate that I have done the best because change is not easy.

    “We all want change but the process of change can be quite traumatising; because it is not painless. People have been used to a particular way of doing things; to encourage them to do them differently can be a challenge.

    “So, here I am as national chairman conducting primaries, the outcome of which some very powerful people did not see their preferred candidates emerging.

    “Let me say that if there is a choice between my conscience, what I believe is right and mortgaging that conscience in order to keep the job, I will have no difficulty resolving it in favour of my conscience.

    “And those who know me know that at my age, I cannot learn new tricks; I am absolutely committed to justice; fairness; I am a stickler to enforcement of rules; because the source of relevance is derived from rules. I have lived my life fighting for justice and fairness.’’

    The APC national chairman said however, that the issues would be resolved as internal family issues as the three governors were his friends.

    He said that in a moment of distress, he believed that the friendship was enough to help them to build reconciliation.

    According to Oshiomhole, he respects and appreciates the governors for the fact that but for their support, he would not become APC chairman.

    “And you do not go stepping on toes of those who helped you to get into position.

    “But however, I thought I was clear and I remain clear that helping me to get to the position, it was to help APC to return to its core values of progressive politics, of fairness, of justice, of adherence to rule of law and total submission to the extant provisions of our party constitution.

    “In doing that, you do not look at power; you look at what is; what is just.

    “I think that with time, we will reconcile all these; Amosun is my good friend; we have known each other for a very long time; we exchange personal visits in addition to official visits; Zamfara governor has been the Chairman of NGF and I was an active member of that forum; we have wonderful time together and I believe in the future, we are still going to have wonderful time together.

    “Governor Rochas Okorocha was one of those who had issues with my predecessor and I did my best to try and resolve those issues in a way that has given him a new platform.

    “And I am happy that God used us to do that not by cheating in his favour but by doing what is right; it is just that once you stick to the goal, sometimes, you either get caught on the right side or the wrong side,’’ he said.

    He said some Abuja-based politicians were not known in their villages and they thought they were popular; but when their `loudness’ in Abuja failed to translate into electoral victory; they looked for who to blame. (NAN)

  • Oshiomhole’s arrest: I served EFCC with court proceedings, West Idahosa insists

    Counsel to Osadolor Ochei, an Edo-based activist, West Idahosa on Friday insisted he served the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with court processes of the suit seeking the arrest of the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
     
    Recall that Ochei had filed an application at the federal high court in Abuja seeking the arrest and prosecution of Oshiomole for alleged diversion of state funds to personal use while he was the governor of Edo state between 2008 and 2016.
     

     
    The suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/628/, filed by Idahosa on behalf of the plaintiff, has Oshiomole and the EFCC as first and second respondents respectively.
    However, in his ruling on October 9, Anwuli Chikere, presiding judge of the federal high court in Abuja, ordered Oshiomhole and the EFCC be served with court processes within five days.

    When the suit was heard on October 23, Oshiomhole’s lawyers were represented in court but the anti-graft agency’s counsels were not there.
     
    Wilson Uwajaren, EFCC spokesman, later said the commission failed to show up because the plaintiff did not serve the commission with processes.
     
    “The Commission frowns at the attempt by counsel to the plaintiff, West Idahosa, to mislead the court with claims that the Commission had been served,” the statement read in part.

    “Had the Commission been served, it would have been in court. Ours is an agency that holds the judiciary in high esteem and we will never disregard summons by courts of competent jurisdiction. The truth is that the Commission did not receive any summons.”
     
    Meanwhile, Idahosa in an exclusive interview with TNG on Friday said he duly served the anti-graft agency with court proceedings on Friday. He presented an affidavit which was sighted by TNG and stamped with the official stamp of the Federal High Court Abuja.
     
    Idahosa said there is an attempt to rubbish his image though there is evidence that he served the commission with the notice.
     
     

  • Oshiomhole 'incompetent', not fit to chair APC – Ondo gov, Akeredolu

    The Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu on Wednesday said that recent events has showed that the incumbent chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was ‘incompetent’ and unfit to rule the party.
    While denying any involvement in any attempt to remove the former Edo State governor, Akeredolu accused Oshiomhole of exhibiting incompetence in the handling of the party’s recently concluded primaries across the country.
     
    In a statement by his Senior Special Adviser on Special Duties and Strategy, Doyin Odebowale, Akeredolu said APC primaries exposed the incompetence of Oshiomhole. He described the exercise as a “political charade” and a revelation of “a shocking proclivity towards banditry and impunity.”
     
    He asserted that recent events had justified his opposition to Oshiomhole’s election as party chairman.
     
    Recall that a group of party members staged a protest at the national headquarters of the party in Abuja on Tuesday alleging that Akeredolu and other “conservative” governors were planning to remove Oshiomole and scuttle the efforts of the party towards winning the 2019 general election.
     
    The group pointedly described the Ondo State governor as a mole in the APC, whose recent actions could result in Buhari losing Ondo State.
     
    The crises in the APC followed the outcome of the conduct of the governorship and national assembly primaries across the country, where the National Working Committee seems to have undermined the powers and influence of the governors.
     
    A number of governors protested against the final list of candidates approved by the Oshiomole-led NWC, and had called on President Buhari to intervene to reverse the trend.
     
    Akerdolu is particularly livid over the failure of some of his preferred candidates to make the list of candidates to be fielded by the party in the Senate and House of Representatives, despite being in firm control of the party machinery in the state.
     
    He also insisted that those who feel aggrieved reserve the right to demand justice, including calling for Oshiomhole’s removal.
     
    The governor, however, restated his commitment to work “assiduously” for President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election, who he said is loved by the people of Ondo State.
     
    Referring to the protest in Abuja on Tuesday, Akeredolu described the organisers of the protest as “opportunists,” and denied that he led governors of Ogun, Kaduna Adamawa and Ekiti States against Oshiomhole’s leadership.
     
    He said he found the report laughable and distracting, adding that as a fiercely independent personality, he was not about to change his attitude to please any person or a group of persons.
     
    “There is no truth in the whole contrivance. The governor has been pre-occupied with matters of governance in Ondo State for which he was elected,” the statement said.
     
    Akeredolu recalled his “noble interventions” as Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president at critical moments in the cause of the “progressives”, including in restoring Oshiomhole’s stolen mandate.
     
    “The governor had expressed preference for someone else during the contest for the office of the Chairman of the Party,” the statement further read.
     
    “He did not hide his opposition to Oshiomole’s aspiration for the simple reason that the leadership of a party, especially the one just emerging from a merger, should distance itself from egregious and inherently destructive narcissism.
     
    “Recent events seem to justify this position as prescient. Only sycophants will fail to see the obvious. Mr President would not have expressed worries over the crises in the party if everything had gone on smoothly.
     
    “The handlers of the mob strive in vain to set the lresident against certain government functionaries considered antagonistic to their pernicious scheme for dominance.
     
    “Their devious plot to outsmart those perceived as opposing their expansionist tendency compelled them to take desperate measures. Anyone endowed with an attitude of sobriety should have seen the need for calm.
     
    “Rather than retrace their steps and display genuine contrition, their desperation pushes them to embrace measures capable of not only hurting the party, but, regrettably, the president, whom they pretend to love so much.”
     
    The governor noted further that it was ludicrous that anyone would consider him a conservative.
     
    “Those who collected varying and humongous amounts as fees from aspirants during the last grandiose charade called primaries and submitted names dictated to them by a cabal, notorious for capturing political power for unbridled pillage, should be bold to explain their real motives to the people. They should be honest enough to deal with the issues,” the statement added.
     
    “Events, which took place across the country during the political charade, have exposed not only sheer incompetence on the part of the national leadership of the party, but painfully, it has revealed a shocking proclivity towards banditry and impunity.
     
    “It is becoming clear, increasingly, that party leadership at that level is seriously challenged in terms of capacity for serious engagements.
     
    “Arakunrin Akeredolu, SAN, does not need to move from ‘North’ to ‘South’ to collect signatures from victims of electoral heist. He was in Ondo State throughout last week.
     
    “He was at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, to deliver a lecture on restructuring a few days ago. He is at presently in Canada on a working visit.
     
    “Only the mob and their hirers can explain the imagined movement from North to South. However, those who feel aggrieved reserve the right to demand that justice be done. If this includes the removal of Oshiomole, so be it.
     
    “May we seize this opportunity to reiterate the fact that the people of Ondo State are favourably disposed to the second term bid of Mr President.
     
    “Our people are unique; they are unwavering in their support for justice. They alone determine what is in their best interest at all times. The President is loved by the people of Ondo State.
     
    “All of us shall work, assiduously, for the President’s victory at the polls next year. We do not need any band of mendicants ready for hire to remind us of this sacred patriotic duty.”
     

  • Oshiomhole moves to quash corruption probe

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday moved to stop a suit seeking to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe him over allegations of corruption.
    The former governor of Edo State has asked the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to strike out the suit against him.
    The applicant, Bishop Osadolor Ochei, had, on October 28, 2016, petitioned the EFCC asking the commission to investigate some corruption allegations against Oshiomhole as governor of Edo State.
    But the APC national chairman, through his counsel, Damien Dodo (SAN), filed a preliminary objection challenging the applicant on ground that he lacked the locus standi to institute the legal action.
    He also specifically asked the court to strike out the applicant’s first prayer for being premature and incompetent.
    In the notice of preliminary objection hinged on 10 grounds, the former governor contended that the applicant, having failed to file the suit for judicial review within three months of occurrence of the subject of the suit, the suit had become academic.
    He added that the action or inaction of the EFCC being subjected to review by the proceedings occurred on December 13, 2016, while the plaintiff only instituted the action for judicial review on June 13, 2018.
    He noted that this came about 18 months after the occurrence of the alleged failure being complained about.
    Arguing that the applicant’s right of action had become unenforceable, Oshiomhole said the plaintiff had not disclosed that he had legal right to file and maintain the action for judicial review, “having not shown how the actions of the second respondent/applicant affected him over and above other residents and indigenes of Edo State.”
    He further argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit for failure of the plaintiff to commence the action within the time provided by extant rules of the court and for failure to disclose locus standi to file the action.
    The court later adjourned the matter till November 19 for hearing of the preliminary objection.
    The applicant had earlier maintained that EFCC’s refusal to act on petitions containing “weighty allegations” against Oshiomhole, ran contrary to Section 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which enjoined the state to abolish corrupt practices.
    EFCC was cited as the 1st defendant in the matter.
    Specifically, the applicant alleged that Oshiomhole, who was sued as the 2nd Respondent, while in office as Edo State governor, acquired properties in the United States of America, South Africa and Dubai worth billions of U.S. dollars and far in excess of his legitimate income.
    He alleged before the court that the ex-governor built a sprawling mansion worth more than N10 billion in his hometown of Iyamho, while in office.
    According to the applicant, “The said building was constructed by Verissimo, a South African architectural outfit. The said house of the 2nd Respondent has swimming pools, water fountains, multiple theatres for cinema and live performances, huge event halls, bridges, manmade lake, lodges of different sizes, amongst others.
    “The said cost of building the mansion is well outside the 2nd Respondent’s legitimate income. The 2nd Respondent’s lifestyle and extent of the said property were not justified by his source of income.”
    The applicant told the court that he had, on November 4, 2016, sent a petition to the EFCC, detailing some alleged corrupt practices he said the ex-governor was involved in.
    But when the anti-graft agency refused to act on the petition, he approached the court via a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/628/2018 seeking an order of mandamus to compel the EFCC to arrest and commence criminal proceedings against Oshiomhole over alleged financial fraud while he was governor of Edo State.
    Counsel to the applicant, West Idahosa, had told the court that there were documents and electronic pictures of palatial houses credited to the former governor, whose earnings throughout his lifetime, according to the plaintiff, could not have been able to afford.

  • 2019: Fayemi speaks on alleged fight with Buhari, Oshiomhole, Tinubu

    Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State on Tuesday reacted to news making the rounds that he is not on good terms with President Muhammadu Buhari, National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and a national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
     
    The governor said he enjoys the best of relationship with the trio of President Muhammadu Buhari, Oshiomhole and Tinubu.
     
    Fayemi described the claim of a political pressure group, Buhari Support Group that he is working against the President as “baseless and unfounded.”
     
    The Ekiti governor also dismissed the allegations that he is working to remove Oshiomhole and that he is fighting Tinubu.
     
    Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Olayinka Oyebode, Fayemi wondered how the group came about the alleged feud with the three senior party figures.
     
    Fayemi said he holds Buhari, Oshiomhole and Tinubu in high esteem noting that the trio contributed immensely to his victory in the last governorship election in Ekiti.
     
    He said: “Governor Fayemi holds President Buhari, Asiwaju Tinubu and Comrade Oshimohole in high esteem and he still maintains a good relationship with them which is not hidden.
     
    “We don’t know where the Buhari Support Group got their story from; Governor Fayemi has the best of respect for these eminent party leaders and he has no reason to be working against them.
     
    “Let us ask ourselves, on what basis will Dr. Fayemi will be working against the President? This was the man who appointed him Minister and supported him to regain the governorship seat.
     
    “Why will he fight Comrade Oshiomhole? It was under his chairmanship that APC won back Ekiti and everybody knew the role played by the national chairman.
     
    “Asiwaju Tinubu is a mentor to the governor; both of them had come a long way in a relationship that has lasted over two decades.
     
    “In fact, Asiwaju attended the governor’s inauguration last week and the roles he played in the APC victory in Ekiti election cannot be forgiven in a hurry.
     
    “Governor Fayemi has no reason to fight or work against our revered President, our respected national chairman and our revered national leader.
     
    “The allegation is false, baseless, unfounded and exists only in the imagination of those peddling it.”
     

  • Reject suit seeking to probe me for corruption, Oshiomhole tells court

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, has urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to strike out a suit seeking an order compelling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate allegations of corruption against him.
     
    Justice Anwuli Chikere, on Tuesday, fixed November 19 for the hearing of the notice of preliminary objection filed by Oshiomhole, a former Governor of Edo State.
     
    The plaintiff, Bishop Osadolor Ochei, had, on October 28, 2016, petitioned the EFCC asking the commission to investigate some corruption allegations against Oshiomhole as governor of Edo State.
     
    Dissatisfied with EFCC’s alleged refusal to look into the case, Ochei filed the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/628/2018 before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order of mandamus to compel the EFCC to arrest and commence criminal proceedings against Oshiomhole over alleged financial fraud while he was governor of Edo State.
     
    The plaintiff attached to his suit 86 exhibits.
     
    His lawyer, West Idahosa, had told the court that there were documents and electronic pictures of palatial houses credited to the former governor, whose earnings throughout his lifetime, according to the plaintiff, could not have been able to afford.
     
    Idahosa added, among other allegations, that there was evidence of diversion of Edo State funds by Oshiomhole.
     
    He said there were also vouchers of exorbitant air fares that the former governor allegedly incurred. But Oshiomhole, via a notice of preliminary objection filed before the court through his lawyer, Damien Dodo (SAN), contended that the plaintiff lacked the locus standi to institute the legal action.
     
    He also specifically asked the court to strike out the plaintiff’s first prayer for being premature and incompetent.
     
    In the notice of preliminary objection hinged on 10 grounds, the former governor contended that the applicant, having failed to file the suit for judicial review within three months of occurrence of the subject of the suit, the suit had become academic.
     
    He added that the action or inaction of the EFCC being subjected to review by the proceedings occurred on December 13, 2016, while the plaintiff only instituted the action for judicial review on June 13, 2018.
     
    He noted that this came about 18 months after the occurrence of the alleged failure being complained about.
     
    Arguing that the plaintiff’s right of action had become unenforceable, Oshiomhole said the plaintiff had not disclosed that he had legal right to file and maintain the action for judicial review, “having not shown how the actions of the second respondent/applicant affected him over and above other residents and indigenes of Edo State.”
     
    He further argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit for failure of the plaintiff to commence the action within the time provided by extant rules of the court and for failure to disclose locus standi to file the action.
     
    The presiding judge, Justice Chikere, had, on October 8, 2018, granted leave, as required by law, to the plaintiff to commence the suit of “judicial review”.
     
    The judge had granted the leave following the ex parte application moved on behalf of the plaintiff by his lawyer, West Idahosa.
     
    Granting the application, the judge ordered that Oshiomhole and the EFCC be served with all the processes filed in the suit.
     
    She also ordered that the EFCC be served with the same court process, stressing that the service be done within five days from October 9, 2018 when the order was made.
     
    Although EFCC was not represented by any lawyer during the Tuesday’s proceedings, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Idahosa, said the anti-graft commission was duly served.
     
    Justice Chikere on Tuesday adjourned the matter till November 19 for hearing of the preliminary objection.

  • 2019: Oshiomhole, Tinubu, Osoba behind political crises in Ogun – Amosun

    2019: Oshiomhole, Tinubu, Osoba behind political crises in Ogun – Amosun

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, on Monday, accused the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, a national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and former governor of the state, Aremo Olusegun Osoba of allegedly masterminding the political chaos in the state.
    The governor said the aforementioned party leaders are plotting to foist Dapo Abiodun on the party in the state, as its governorship candidate in the 2019 election.
    Amosun alleged that the trio of Oshiomhole, Tinubu and Osoba wrote a fake result showing Abiodun as the winner of the party’s primary election and thus its governorship candidate.
    He had alleged that the duo of Tinubu and Osoba had played roles in what he termed ‘electoral fraud’, adding that their silence over the matter smacked of complicity.
    The governor made the allegation in an interview shortly after swearing-in the new Chief Judge of the state, Mosunmola Dipeolu.
    The event held at the Governor’s office Chamber in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
    He said, “The President already knows there was no election in Ogun State. He knows that they just went to Lagos, wrote all results and that what they did is fraud.
    “If the National Working Committee or the National Chairman said there was an election in Ogun State, it’s all fraud. That is what I said.”
    The governor insisted that the National Working Committee panel of the party sent to the state didn’t conduct a genuine primary election. He argued that the only authentic primary was the one which produced Adekunle Akinlade as governorship candidate.
    He added, “Mr President already knows, there was no election in Ogun State, other than the one we held.
    “The issue of Chief Osoba and Asiwaju and co, what we said was that there was a definite silence from their end, and silence means consent. You can record me and publish it in your newspapers.
    “We have not heard one word from any of them. Was there any election in Ogun State? Yes or No? They should come out.
    “People at this level should be courageous enough to take a position, to come out, to come and tell us whether there was an election.
    “The one governorship election that we had, there was live telecast, people even witnessed it.”