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I would have rejected Tinubu if he appeared as my surety – Sowore

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The Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, in the 2023 general elections, Omoyele Sowore, says he will not accept President Bola Tinubu even if he volunteered to be his bail surety.

Ekwutosblog reports that Sowore is currently in police custody after he was arraigned over allegations of cyberstalking, negligent acts, and intimidation.

The police invitation was about a viral video wherein Sowore confronted officers who had stopped his vehicle at a checkpoint in Lagos.

 

The court adjourned ruling on his bail application to Thursday, January 30.

speaking with journalists in a video, Sowore rejected the bail conditions and vowed not to participate in what he called illegality.

According to him, the conditions were laughable, frivolous, and ridiculous, adding that the police have no right to grant administrative bail.

“I cannot in good conscience continue to participate in illegality because I have made it very clear that the police have no right to grant administrative bail that asks for civil servants to own, first and foremost, N100 million houses, which is a crime; that’s a corruption to stand bail for me, who is an employer of labour.

“I’m a publisher of an internationally renowned news website. I have people who I hired in Nigeria and abroad. I’m not a civil servant. In fact, I’m an uncivil citizen who is against all kinds of corruption.

“I have spent my entire life fighting against corruption. So, to now ask me, to insult me that I should provide a level 17 director, who had not gotten employment when I was fighting for democracy in 1992.

“To now ask the person to come and stand surety for me is a biggest insult. Even if President Bola Tinubu had appeared as my surety, I would have rejected that very laughable, frivolous, ridiculous, and I dare say stupid bail condition,” Sowore said.

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Niger Delta stakeholders slam Senator Natasha over outburst against Akpabio

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Stakeholders from the six states of the Niger Delta region on Friday slammed Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over her outburst against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

In a statement signed by Comrade Alice Omo-Ovie, leader of the Niger Delta Mothers for Good Governance, the stakeholders, comprising leaders of youth groups and women organisations, described Natasha’s conduct as “unwomanly” and a disgrace to her constituents.

They also dismissed as “frivolous” the alleged claims of sexual harassment levelled against Akpabio by Natasha as reason for the outburst, which occurred during plenary on Thursday.

Accusing Natasha of uncontrolled pride, the Niger Delta stakeholders described the Kogi senator’s action as disrespectful.

“It is a taboo that a woman should have such impetus to disregard and insult a man not to talk of the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“First, we call on the husband of Senator Natasha, who is also the Alema of Warri, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, to tender an unreserved apology to the Senate.

“The display of the wife and senator showed a disgraceful and unreined display against the men folk in Kogi, Delta and the entire Niger Delta region,” Omo-Ovie said.

Omo-Ovie, who is the coordinator of the Niger Delta Mothers for Good Governance, said Natasha should tender an apology.

“She should tender unreserved apology to our father and leader, senator Akpabio.

“Though many accepted it during the time of former Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello, the women of the Niger Delta will not accept the open display of disrespectful attitude towards their own, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.”

She described the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against the Senate President by Natasha as a “defeatist ploy to bring to disrepute Senator Godswill Akpabio’s sterling reputation as a senator”.

“We, the women of the Niger Delta region find the allegations as frivolous, a lie and a ploy by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to sway the Senate committee from investigating reasons for a shameful display and avoid disciplinary measures.

“Why didn’t she report such frivolous allegations before now? It is a deliberate campaign of calumny against the Senate President.”

Also speaking, President of the Niger Delta Women for Tinubu, Mrs Faith Adaga Timisetei, cautioned Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from making statements and claims that will further rubbish her as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Senator Godswill Akpabio has shown charismatic leadership and has added to his antecedents as a leader from the Niger Delta region, Natasha and her sponsors should retrace their steps and ask her to apologise and allow the matter rest.

“If the investigative digging starts, images will be shattered and marriages may become a mirage,” Timisetei warned.

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Osun PDP chieftain, Adekunle alleges plot to disrupt LG polls

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A former Caretaker Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun State, Dr Akindele Adekunle, has raised alarm over an alleged plan to disrupt Saturday’s local government election using hoodlums disguised as police officers.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Akindele claimed that individuals imported from other states were being housed by top members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and would be deployed under the cover of a tactical police squad to unleash violence.
The statement said, “Credible intelligence at our disposal points to the fact that hoodlums brought into Osun State are being clothed in police uniform to perpetrate violence on the people in a bid to stop the local government election billed for Saturday.”
He further alleged that those individuals were being accommodated in locations across major towns, including Iragbiji, Ikire, Osogbo, Ila-Orangun, Iwo, Ilesa, and Ile-Ife.
According to him, the aim was to instill fear among PDP leaders and electoral officials.
Akindele also accused the police of complicity, suggesting that the tactical squad deployed from Abuja was not in Osun for peacekeeping but to provide cover for political violence.
“It is quite disturbing to note that the police are aiding this brazen threat to peace and safety,” he stated.
The PDP leader warned that the names of party leaders had been compiled for arbitrary arrests or possible assassination.
He also urged voters to resist intimidation and come out to exercise their constitutional rights.
Responding, the Osun State chapter of the APC dismissed Akindele’s allegations as baseless and politically motivated.
The party, through its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, called for the arrest of Akindele over what it described as false accusations and fear-mongering.
“The Ondo-State-born political alarmist is afraid of his own shadow. The said Saturday election is an impossible utopia based on its illegality.
“Akindele should be a resourceful witness for police investigation and prosecution regarding his unsubstantiated claims,” he said.
The APC maintained that there was no need for violence, as the local government election was already voided by a recent Court of Appeal ruling.
The party argued that there were no vacancies in local government councils, making any election attempt an aberration and impossibility.
“A situation where all manner of political functionaries are issuing press statements is a pointer to the fact that Governor Adeleke’s government is a monumental failure,” Olabisi remarked.
The party also expressed concerns over reports that the government had compiled a list of APC social media activists for alleged persecution.
“We are watching and cautioning Governor Adeleke that nothing untoward should happen to our diligent social media men,” the APC warned.
As tensions rise, security agencies are yet to issue an official response to the allegations.
The Osun State Police Command has not confirmed or denied the presence of tactical units from Abuja.
With the election scheduled for Saturday (tomorrow), residents remain on edge, awaiting further clarification from authorities on security measures being taken to ensure a peaceful exercise.

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JUST IN: U.S.-Based Nigerian Pastor Edward Abiodun Oluwasanmi Arrested By FBI Over Alleged COVID-19 Fraud

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The FBI has arrested Nigerian Pastor Edward Abiodun Oluwasanmi for conspiring with Osun monarch Oba Joseph Oloyede to defraud the U.S. government of $4.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds.

Similar to the Apetu of Ipetumodu, Mr Oluwasanmi submitted forged documents to apply for COVID-19 loans intended to alleviate the financial strain on struggling businesses during the pandemic.

Using his three companies—Dayspring Property Incorporated, Dayspring Holdings, and Dayspring Transportation—Mr Oluwasanmi obtained millions of dollars, which he subsequently diverted for his personal expenses, violating U.S. federal laws.

The U.S.-based Nigerian pastor was indicted on a 13-count fraud charge and arrested in Cleveland in April. He was later released on a $20,000 bail, under the condition that he appears in court for trial and serves any sentence if convicted.

In September 2020, Mr Oluwasanmi transferred approximately $221,880 to purchase a commercial property on South Freen Road in South Euclid, Ohio.

On October 26, 2021, he wired $1 million of COVID-19 funds to the brokerage account of Dayspring Transportation.

Prosecutors have already seized around $620,000 from the Nigerian pastor and are seeking to forfeit the confiscated amount along with other properties acquired through fraudulent means.

On April 5, 2024, the FBI seized $599,250 from Mr Oluwasanmi’s Dayspring Transportation account with Fidelity Investments, ending in –5800. They also seized nearly $20,000 from his Dayspring Property account ending in —3548 at Key Bank on the same day.

Both Mr Oluwasanmi’s U.S. and Nigerian passports have been confiscated to ensure his attendance at trial.

His name appears as Edward Olanrewaju Abiodun Oluwasanmi on his U.S. passport, with the number 58*****76, while his Nigerian passport bears the number A10****31.

According to his bail terms, he would be re-arrested should he fail to appear in court for his trial.

The fraud cases involving Mr Oluwasanmi and the Osun monarch add to the long list of Nigerian fraudsters who have been convicted and are currently serving time in U.S. prisons.

Similarly, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun’s associate Bidemi Rufai faced a matching fate, having been released from Fort Dix correctional facility in December, where he served his sentence for fraud.

 

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