Bayelsa Election Declared Inconclusive

Bayelsa Election Declared Inconclusive
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday declared the Bayelsa governorship election as inconclusive, with the commission cancelling votes from Southern Ijaw, the mainly-riverine and biggest local government area in the state.
The commission announced at the collation centre in Yenagoa, the state capital, that the governorship election in Southern Ijaw would be held at a later date.
Results from seven out of eight LGAs of the state have so far been declared by INEC.
From the results so far collated, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has polled 105,748 votes, while the All Progressives (APC) garnered 72,594.

FG Proposes N6trn Budget for 2016
Federal Government has proposed a national budget of N6 trillion for 2016 fiscal year, allocating 30 percent of the budget to the capital expenditure.
It has also approved and submitted the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, to the National Assembly.
Briefing State House Correspondents after an emergency meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, presided by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday, the Minister of National Planning and Budget, Udo Udoma stated that the in view of the current economic realities, FEC predicated the budget on $38 dollars of barrel of crude oil as benchmark for the MTEF.
He also revealed that the government expected to General a total of 2.2 million barrels of crude oil per day.
He said: “At today’s Council, the Council approved the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF which sets out the policies of government over the next years. It sets out the fundamental economic underpinning of the budget.

Social Media Bill is not Tenable – Buhari
President Mohammadu Buhari Monday distanced himself from the proposed Social Media Bill currently being debated in the senate seeking to restrict Nigerians from “criticizing”, political and public office holders.
The president stated that the principle of the bill was inconsistent with democratic ideals free speech enshrined in the constitution of the land.
He added that he had sworn to protect and uphold the dictates of the constitution and would not in any way go against it.
Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, president Buhari however stated that “he is not averse to lawful regulation, so long as that is done within the ambit of the constitution which he swore to uphold.
According him, free speech was central to democratic societies anywhere in the world.
“The President won’t assent to any legislation that may be inconsistent with the constitution of Nigeria”, he said.
He further explained that without free speech, elected representatives won’t be able to gauge public feelings and moods about governance issues.
“As a key component of democratic principles are so emotionally attached to free speech that they would defend it with all their might”, he said.
Malam Garba Shehu explained that President Buhari was fully aware of the public reservations about the proposed legislation but assured that there was no cause for alarm “because the Senate is a democratic senate.
The bill however has passed second reading in the senate

UN Hears Petition on Social Media Bill
The UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Mr. David Kaye is considering the urgent appeal against the repressive social media bill known as ‘A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and other Matters Connected therewith’, rights group Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has confirmed.
In a press statement released and signed by the Executive Director of SERAP, Adetokunbo Mumuni the organisation said that, “SERAP can confirm that the Office of the Special Rapporteur is now considering our petition. We have received communication from Marcelo Daher at the Office of the Special Rapporteur to this effect. The Special Rapporteur has also requested a copy of the bill, which SERAP has promptly sent to Marcelo Daher.”
“SERAP appreciates the prompt attention to this matter by the Office of the Special Rapporteur. We urge the UN to pursue this matter to a satisfactory conclusion by ensuring that the Nigerian Senate is not allowed to strangulate media freedom and social media in the country,” the group said.
According to the group, “The only option for the Senate now is to withdraw this obnoxious bill without further delay and end this international embarrassment. SERAP will be prepared to withdraw the petition at the UN if the Senate can follow this honourable path.”
It would be recalled that SERAP last week sent an urgent appeal to Mr. David Kaye requesting him to use his good offices and position to urgently request the National Assembly of Nigeria, specifically the Senate, to withdraw the said bill which if passed into law would undermine the internationally recognized right to freedom of expression and press freedom on the internet in the country.

EFCC Cries out Over alleged Plot to Frustrate Trial of ex-NIMASA DG
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday alleged there was a plot to frustrate the trial of a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi.
He and three others were arraigned last Friday before Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court.
They were accused of converting N2.6billion as well as defrauding the Federal Government to the tune of N795.2million.
Their trial was billed to begin on Monday, but counsel for the third defendant, Lanre Olayinka, was absent.
He wrote the court, saying he traveled abroad for an urgent medical treatment.
But EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, said Olayinka’s absence was a ploy to delay the trial.
“My learned friend did not provide sufficient explanation. There is nothing stating the whereabouts of other lawyers in his chambers.
“When the case was adjourned last Friday, he never mentioned that he planned to travel or that he booked a ticket.
“This is a clear manifestation of the defendant’s determination not to allow this matter to go on,” he said.
Oyedepo urged the court not to grant an adjournment, saying he was ready to go on with the case having brought two of his witnesses.
However, Akpobolokemi’s lawyer, Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), said he needed more time to discuss with his client.
“The point is that it will be difficult to represent the first defendant when I have not conferred with him,” he said.
Ruling, Justice Buba said the “days of luxury” for the judge, lawyers and defendants during trials were over.
You cannot delay this trial. You can take it to another court, but you cannot stall the trial in this court. If anybody is not comfortable, let me return the case file to the Chief Judge,” he said.
“Whether the defendants are able to perfect their bail terms or not, it should not affect the trial of this case, because even if an accused is not granted bail, he can still prepare his case.
It is fair enough that this court, conscious of the day to day trial, granted bail to all the accused without any formality. Notwithstanding the non-perfection of the bail condition, this court would have gone on with the trial.
“The only snag is that third accused is not represented. Olayinka’s letter, to this court, is of no moment because he was in court with Mr. Shamsudeen Abubakar last Friday when this matter was adjourned till Monday.
“This court must warn that any counsel who takes up a defence of an accused must come to terms with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act”

Count Me out of Deputy Governor Oath Taking – Faleke
The All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate in Kogi State, Hon. Abiodun Faleke, has said he would not make himself available for swearing in with the governor-elect, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on January 27, 2016.
Faleke, who stated this on Monday in Kabba during a meeting of APC stakeholders from Kogi West Senatorial District, said this statement followed his resolve not to work with Bello, a decision he communicated to the national leadership of the party some days ago.
The politician, who was reacting to resolutions reached at the meeting that he should pursue the legal option to its end, said the Audu/Faleke ticket remained intact and unchanged.
He said: “I will not disappoint Prince Abubakar Audu. I, James Abiodun Faleke will not be there for the swearing in if we don’t finish the case before the January 27, 2016.
“Nobody consulted me before making me a deputy to Bello. Bello too did not consult me. I have made my position known to the party leadership on this. I am not ready to betray and disappoint Prince Abubakar Audu.”

Nobody Can Stop Biafra
Biarfan Independence Movement, BIM, has said that the Federal Government has no power and capacity to stop the actualization of sovereign state of Biafra, saying that the matter is now before the United Nations, UN for consideration.
Addressing newsmen in Monday in Onitsha on the recent protests by Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and Uchenna Madu led MASSOB, in Onitsha a Personal Assistant to former leader of MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, Mr Emmanuel Omenka, said who BIM which replaces the Uwazurike led MASSOB accused the MASSOB as led by Madu as violent group.
Mr Omenka who addressed newsmen with his Anambra Central Administrator of BIM Mr. Vincent Iloh, said IPOB and Madu led MASSOB are perpetuating the recent mayhem in the South East and South South zones adding that both should be held responsible for the destruction and loss of lives during the protest.
According to Omenka, “Uchenna was expelled from MASSOB in 2014 because of anti MASSOB activity, when you don’t follow the organogram of the we expel you so, they were expelled for not following the organogram”.
“Madu and his cohorts are being sponsored by politicians to blackmail the then Uwazurike led MASSOB, but we don’t blackmail, we remain non violence in action and words, those politicians who said that Biafra died in 1970 are cowards because Biafra still exists,” he said.
He said “the God we serve will still help us to actualize a Biafra State without splitting blood, we are BIM now and we are more determined than ever to actualize Biafra without violence.
Ilo on his part said “those politicians that are sponsoring Madu and cohorts will never succeed because Uwazuruike remains the only Igbo man that stakes his life for the course of the Igbo nation”.
“He is the leader we know in Igboland and who will take us to the promise land not minding the intimidation, blackmail and arrest by the Federal Government security forces against our members'” he said.
Meanwhile, the Movement for the Sovereign state of Biafra, MASSOB as led by Mr Madu, has said that the recent change of name by Uwazurike of the MASSOB group he led before he was removed is a tactical way he wants to withdraw from the struggle for the actualization of Biafra, confirming what they have been saying that he has been compromised.
The MASSOB National Director of Information Mr Samuel Edeson said that Uwazurike has been know for his inconsistency and selling out when the chips are down and has proved them right in removing him as MASSOB leader before he announced his new group.
“Uwazurike’s acceptance of his removal by announcing BIm as his new group is a good riddance for the bad nonsense he planted into MASSOB before we removed him, we are happy that he has proved us right, now we will be more focused in our struggle for actualization of Biafran state,” he said.
He dismissed all the allegations of Uwazurike and his followers against MASSOB as tissues of lies and action of drowning people who have been thrown off balance.

Onitsha Market on Fire
The Anambra Fire Service on Monday lost one of its staff while fighting the inferno that gutted the Ochanja Market, Onitsha.
The Acting Director of the service, Mr Innocent Mbonu, who confirmed the death of the staff, however, refused to give the name of the deceased.
Mbonu explained that a storey building in the market collapsed on two of his staff in an attempt to stop the fire, adding that one died instantly while the other was receiving treatment at a hospital.
“Eive other persons sustained various degrees of injury while 15 shops, mostly shoe shops, were razed during the inferno,” he said.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Ali Okechukwu, said that the cause of the fire could not be ascertained.”
“The governor was there. When government comes out with its report on the cause of the fire, we shall all know but the place is calm now,” Okechukwu said.
Reacting, a member of the market’s vigilance group said that the fire started at about 3 a.m. from a shop line and extended to other areas.
The security guard, who pleaded anonymity, said that efforts by the firemen and others to put out the fire were unsuccessful.
“The fireman met his untimely death when he climbed a storey building to spray water but unfortunately for him, the building collapsed and he was consumed by fire.
“Another official of the fire service broke his leg and was among the five that sustained various degrees of injury,” the source said.
An eyewitness further disclosed that a cash of N1.5 million was recovered in one of the shops and was handed over to the owner of the shop.
Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra, who rushed to the fire scene early in the day, said he would set up an investigative panel to find the immediate and remote causes of the fire outbreak.
Obiano said that he would provide a fire-fighting vehicle and other equipment and urged the traders to be calm.

Kashamu Validly Elected – Court of Appeal
The Court of Appeal in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Monday ruled that Senator Buruji Kashamu is the validly elected representative of Ogun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
Kashamu headed to the Court after the Ogun State Elections Petitions Tribunal ruled in favour of

The Tribunal had nullified the election of Kashamu, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and ordered the conduct of fresh election in 109 wards to determine the actual winner of the seat.
In the course of the hearing, the Court of Appeal panel was disbanded over a controversial N150 million bribe allegedly given to the judges by Kashamu.