Nedu Echianu's Blog

[Speech delivered at White House today, April 30, 2018]. Your Excellency, President of the Confederate States of America. [Pause]. Sorry, I have just been reminded that you are the President of the United States of America. I am sorry for that mistake. It was because during my secondary school days we used to read in our History textbooks about the Confederate States of America. I remember now; they were just like Biafra in my country, which is gone with the wind. Sorry again, Mr. President. I am very glad to be here with you in the White House, which is very elegant and well kept. I envy you Mr. President because in my own country when I put some money in the budget in order to change the utensils in the State House kitchen, the senators leaked it to one newspaper called Daily Trust and it went to town with it, saying we are profligate. I wonder how much money you spend to maintain the White House in this prim shape. You are very lucky Mr. President, even though I know yo

The Referees Committee of the Confederation of African Football has confirmed the recommendation of its Disciplinary Board to ban Nigerian referee, Joseph Ogabor, from any official mission for one year over attempted match manipulation. A statement on CAF website on Sunday said this was with respect to the Total CAF Confederation Cup 1/16th round first leg between Plateau United (Nigeria) and USM Alger (Algeria) played on April 7, 2018, in Lagos. The decision followed investigations conducted and evidence submitted by the South African match officials of the match contacted by Ogabor who offered to provide “technical assistance” to the Nigerian team. Plateau United was also cautioned to refrain from the practice of “hospitality gifts” “which tend to create wrong impression.” In a related development, the South African Football Association has been ordered to tender an apology to the Nigeria Football Federation. This was after investigations proved that there was no evidence

The country home of President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, was on Sunday rocked by an explosion which is believed to have been caused by an improvised explosive device. Punch reports that a yet-to-be identified person threw the explosive device into the building at Ukehe, in Igboetiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, around 5:30am on Sunday. Punch

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has condemned in strong terms the bombing of the country home of the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, in Ukehe, Enugu State. Speaking through a statement by his media aide, Uche Anichukwu, he said: “This is a dastardly act. It is certainly ugly, evil, and outrageous. I roundly condemn it. This is quite an unusual development in the South East and we will not accept it. “I call on the security agencies to get to the root of this devilish act and ensure that the culprits and masterminds are brought to book immediately”, the statement concluded.    

The attempt to recall the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino Melaye, has failed after the verified signatories to the petition for his recall fell short of requirements. For the verification exercise to succeed, 50 percent plus one of the signatories to the petition had to be verified. However, based on the results announced by Professor Ukertor Gabriel Moti, the Declaration Officer for the exercise held in the senatorial district on Saturday, only 18,742 of the 189,870 of the signatories to the petition for the Senator’s recall were verified by INEC. The verified signatories represent 5.34 percent of the 351,146 registered voters in the Senatorial district. After announcing the results, he declared, “I Professor Ukertor Gabriel Moti, affirm that the information on verification of signatures to the petition for the recall of Senator Dino David Melaye of Kogi West Senatorial District has taken place on this day, 28th day of April 2018, and that the verifie

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Friday in Abuja assured that there was no reason to get worried about a Supreme Court decision on the 2014 elections into its Executive Committee. The football body, on its twitter handle some moments after the court’s ruling, said the Supreme Court in Abuja did not nullify Amaju Pinnick’s election as NFF President. It said its reaction followed news to the contrary ongoing on social media. It would be recalled that a football stakeholder, Chris Giwa, had been contesting the authenticity of the Pinnick-led board. While the Proprietor of Jos-based Giwa FC was elected NFF president at an NFF Congress in Abuja, Pinnick was elected at another NFF Congress in Warri on Sept. 30, 2014. Giwa took the matter to the apex court, after losing out at the Appeal Court and at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). NFF’s counsel, Festus Keyamo, was quoted in the tweet as saying: “Nobody should cause unnecessary panic in Nigeria’s football. That’s my cas

Chairman of Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum (NGF), Gov. Abdul’aziz Yari of Zamfara, says state governors can not enforce  maximum security in their domains  because  they are not in control of security agencies. Yari told newsmen in Abuja at the end of an NGF meeting on Thursday that the governors were working energetically with the federal government to tackle the lingering security challenges across the nation. The NGF meeting, the third of its type this year, was convened to address critical issues facing the governors in their states in relation with the Federal Government. ‘We are not in control of either the soldiers or the police or any other security men but what we can do is to sit down with security men in our respective states to support security agencies. ‘’In terms of logistics, we are doing our best and we will continue to support the federal government in this regard. The NGF chairman also told newsmen that the security challenge facing the nation was a global phenomenon w

Fifa secretary general Fatma Samoura has been cleared by the governing body's ethics committee of any wrongdoing following an investigation. BBC Sport revealed on Wednesday she was the subject of a complaint concerning an alleged conflict of interest. Members of Fifa's World Cup bid evaluation task force said she had an undeclared family link with Morocco 2026 bid ambassador El Hadji Diouf. Samoura, 55, had called the allegations "totally ridiculous and baseless". The complaint was made because as a senior official for world football's governing body she is supposed to be impartial and declare any potential conflicts with the bidding teams. BBC Sport understands the ethics committee has contacted Samoura, who joined Fifa in 2016, to tell her she will not be the subject of an investigation and the matter is now closed. Morocco hopes to win the right to stage the World Cup in 2026 but the United States, Mexico and Canada have jointly put forward a rival bid.

Amidst growing concerns about the recent killings by suspected Fulani herdsmen in the country, including two Catholic priests and 15 other worshippers in Benue State, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign. The CBCN urged President Buhari to stop presiding “over the killing fields and mass graveyard” that the country had allegedly become and choose the part of honour by considering “stepping aside to save the nation from total collapse.” The CBCN made the call in a communique signed by its President, Most Rev. Augustine Akubeze, and Secretary, Most Rev. Camillus Umoh on Thursday evening. The bishops, in the communique titled, “When will this barbarism end?” condemned the increasing attacks by the suspected herdsmen, whom they said had turned the country into a massive graveyard. They also described the killing of the priests and 15 parishioners in the Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State on Tuesday as a dastardly act t

The Defence Headquarters, Abuja, said on Thursday that the fresh rounds of killings in Benue State were being sponsored. It added that the military would, however, soon apprehend both the killer herdsmen and their sponsors.   The Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. John Agim, stated this in an interview with Punch newspaper, insisting that the military would not support any side in the violence that had been going on in Benue State. Recalled that herdsmen, who blocked Gbeji-Anyinn Road in the Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, killed a soldier and a passerby on Monday. On Tuesday, suspected herdsmen invaded a church in Mbalon in Gwer-East Local Area of the state and killed two Catholic priests and 17 other worshippers. On Wednesday, there was a report that 22 people were killed when herdsmen attacked Daudu, in the Guma area of the state. Also, on Thursday, herdsmen invaded Africa Church in Mbamondo clan of Ukemberagya Gaambe-Tiev, in the Logo Local Government Area, an

One of Fifa's most senior executives, Fatma Samoura, has been reported to the organisation's powerful ethics committee. Samoura, who was appointed secretary general of football's world governing body by its president Gianni Infantino in 2016, is accused of alleged breaches of its ethics code relating to "duty of disclosure, co-operation and reporting" and "conflicts of interest". The claims stem from allegations relating to Morocco's bid to host the 2026 World Cup. The North African country wants to host the tournament but is up against a North American joint effort comprising Canada, the USA and Mexico. Members of a Fifa World Cup evaluation taskforce - which recently visited the bidding countries - are said to have discovered an undeclared family link between Samoura - whose full name is Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura - and the former Liverpool forward El Hadji Diouf, who is working in an ambassadorial role for the Moroccan bid. Both Samoura, 5

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, held that the National Assembly lacks the power to re-order the proposed sequence for 2019 general elections. The court, in a judgment that was delivered by Justice Ahmed Mohammed, maintained that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is the only body that is constitutionally empowered to organise, undertake and supervise elections in the country. “I am persuaded by argument of the plaintiff that it is the sole responsibility of the 3rd defendant (INEC) to conduct elections, and further in doing so, the 3rd defendant has the power to fix dates for elections”, the court held. It noted that the NASS commenced moves to amend the Electoral Act after INEC had already released its timetable for the 2019 elections. The court held that action of the NASS was in clear breach of paragraph 15a of the 3rd Schedule of the 1999 constitution, as amended. It stressed that the right that was constitutionally vested on INEC could not be remo

Senate abruptly adjourned plenary Wednesday, as lawmakers resolved to move in their numbers to the National Hospital Abuja to ascertain the whereabout and state of health of embattled Kogi West lawmaker, Dino Melaye. Melaye who is currently at the trauma centre of the National Hospital was first taken to a private clinic in Abuja after injuring himself in the process of being rescued by passersby as SARS officials tried to take him to Lokoja, the Kogi state capital for interrogation. The Senate also resolved to invite the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to address the Senate on Thursday on the security situation in the country and his handling of the Melaye case, who is facing trial for allegedly arming thugs in Kogi state amongst other allegations. Moving a point of order during plenary, Senator Sam Anyanwu lamented that Melaye’s troubles is part of a plot to arrest and dehumanize Senators that are perceived to be opposed to the government using the EFCC. Lawmakers suc

A federal court in Lagos has remanded Peter Nwaoboshi, a Peoples Democratic Party senator representing Delta North, in Ikoyi prison. Mohammed Idris, the judge, ruled that Mr. Nwaoboshi be remanded till Friday pending the hearing of the senator’s bail application. Mr. Nwaoboshi was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a two-count charge of money laundering. Before his arraignment, the senator was kept in EFCC’s custody in Abuja.

The House of Representatives have resolved to summon President Muhammadu Buhari over the spate of killings in Benue state and other parts of the country. The unprecedented decision was unanimously welcomed by an overwhelming majority of members after a Kano lawmaker, Baballe Bashir (APC, Kano) moved for the amendment of a motion moved by Mark Gbilah (APC, Benue). The House also resolved to suspend its plenary for three days (one week) in solidarity with victims of attacks across the country. At least 15 people were killed early Tuesday at a Church in Benue. Premium Times 

The operatives of the Nigeria Police have moved Senator Dino Melaye out of hospital in an ambulance marked NPF 221 D. Melaye was moved out at about 9:21pm by men of the Nigeria Police on a stretcher into a police ambulance and driven to National Hospital, Abuja. Two medical doctors at the Zanklin Hospital Abuja, who had certified the unconscious senator unfit to be moved out of the private hospital were arrested by the team of the police personnel, led by the FCT Commissioner, Mr Sadiq Bello. Melaye's younger brother who was with him at the hospital was also arrested by the police. Vanguard

PRESS RELEASE ESCAPE FROM LAWFUL CUSTODY AND RE-ARREST OF SEN. DINO MELAYE. At about 1200Hrs of today Sen. Dino Melaye while in lawful custody of the Nigeria Police Force and being taken for arraignment in Federal High Court, Lokoja from Abuja, escaped from lawful custody when hoodlums and miscreants in Two (2) Toyota Hilux Vehicles blocked the Police vehicle conveying Senator Dino Melaye around Area 1 Round About, Abuja and in the process the Senator jumped out of the Police vehicle through the window and was rescued from the Police men by hoodlums and miscreants to an unknown destination. 2.    The Police team re-enforced and trailed Senator Dino Melaye to Zankli Hospital, Abuja where he was re-arrested. The Senator would be arraigned in court without further delay. 3.        Meanwhile, one of the Toyota Hilux vehicles used by the hoodlums and miscreants in aiding the escape of the Senator has been recovered by the Police investigation team. 4.     The Inspector General of Poli

Press Statement Today's Incident Involving Senator Dino Melaye: A Last Resort Sequel to the avalanche of calls by well-meaning Nigerians and supporters of Senator Dino Melaye for enquiries about the well-being and safety of the Senator and against the backdrop of baseless rumours being spread on the social media, we are constrained to make the record straight as follows: Earlier in the morning, Senator Dino Melaye as a law-abiding citizen voluntarily submitted himself to the operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) who had laid siege to his private residence since around 3.35pm of Monday, April 23, 2018. He, along with his lawyers and personal aides, was driven in his private car to the SARS office in Guzape district of Abuja, sandwiched among the numerous police vehicles earleir deployed to his house. For the avoidance of doubt, he had never evaded police invitation before now because there was none extended to him in the first place. Rather, what the Pol

*lawmaker suffers panic attack, sustain injuries, hospitalised Following the arrest of embattled lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye, on Tuesday morning, another attempt by the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) to abduct him to Kogi state was today foiled by passersby. Reports say the lawmaker, who was initially arrested and detained at the SARS facility along the Area 1 expressway, Abuja, was told that he was being taken to court at about 1:15pm. Senator Melaye, it was learnt, agreed to go to court with the armed operatives, but a twist ensued on the way around the area 1 roundabout, when they attempted to abduct the lawmaker to Kogi state. The lawmaker at this point, resisted all attempts to divert the vehicle and raised alarm loud enough to attract the attention of passersby. One of the passersby, Peter Babayemi, who spoke to journalists revealed that their attention was drawn to the lawmaker's plea for help, and immediately the SARS vehicle was surrounded by a se

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Tuesday announced that the National Assembly will be constituting a joint committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives to investigate the April 18 invasion of the Senate.  The Committee will also be tasked with coming up with recommendations that will ensure that such security breaches do not reoccur in both the Senate and the House. “We have also directed our security agencies, head of services and the Inspector General of Police to look at how to strengthen the security of the National Assembly to ensure that this kind of security lapses never occur again,” the President of the Senate said. Saraki also commended the Chamber Staff of the National Assembly for their gallantry and courage during last Wednesday’s invasion of the Senate by sponsored thugs. He said:  “My Distinguished colleagues and I would like to thank the Chamber Staff for their gallantry courage during the

Operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad have arrested embattled lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye this morning, Blueprint authoritatively reports. As at the time of filing this report, our correspondent gathered that the lawmaker has been taken to the SARS detention facility located just opposite the old CBN junction along the Area 1 expressway. The SARS detention facility is reputed for imprisoning hardened criminals arrested for theft, murder, cultism and other criminal acts. It was gathered that the Nigeria Police Force forcefully carried out the arrest of the lawmaker without an arrest warrant or court order. In a telephone conversation to our correspondent, the lawmaker sounded rattled, as background conversation suggested a struggle between himself and some of the operatives after which his mobile lines were switched off. Recall that initial attempts were made by the police to arrest Senator Melaye after immigration officials disembarked him from a flight to Morocco

President Muhammadu Buhari was misled to approve $469 million for the procurement of 12 Super Tucano aircraft from the US without the backing of the national assembly, TheCable reports. The money was said to have been withdrawn from the excess crude account (ECA). In August, the US government sold the aircraft to Nigeria to enable it combat the Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east. An embargo had been placed on Nigeria owing to allegations of gross human right abuses against the military. In a letter to the leadership of the national assembly dated April 13, 2018, the president explained that the United States had given Nigeria a deadline for payment, hence the reason he approved the money without consulting the legislators. Buhari also sought the inclusion of the procurement of the aircraft into the 2018 budget which the national assembly is still working on. The source said the lawmakers, particularly those in house of representatives, are not happy with the developme

Men of the Nigeria Police force have taken over the house of the Chairman, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Senator Dino Melaye, APC, Kogi West.  Speaking with newsmen on phone, earlier today, the lawmaker said in a low tone;  "the Police have taken over my house.”  It will be recalled that Senator Melaye was this morning arrested by the Police at the International wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport. Senator Melaye was picked at the airport on his way to Morocco for an official engagement sponsored by the Federal Government after checking in. Melaye wrote on his Facebook account, saying, ” I have just been arrested at the International wing of of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport on my way to Morocco for an official engagement sponsored by the Federal Government after checking in.”  When contacted by newsmen, Senator Melaye's Senior Legislative Aide, Samuel Melaye, was quoted as saying, ” I am on my way to the Airport now, I cannot say anything now, bu

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has confirmed the arrest of Sen. Dino Melaye at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Monday morning. Spokesman of the Service, Mr Sunday James, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Melaye was arrested by Immigration officials “based on instruction”. The confirmation came hours after the senator, who represents Kogi West, announced the arrest on his Twitter handle at 7:32 a.m. “I have just been arrested at the international wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on my way to Morocco for an official engagement sponsored by the Federal Government after checking in,” he tweeted. The police recently declared Melaye wanted after he was accused of supplying arms to some murder suspects, who allegedly implicated him. The senator denies the allegations, which he describes as politically motivated.

CAN President, Dr Olasupo Ayokunle T he Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Sunday advised the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to disregard the counsel of British Prime Minister, Theresa May, on same sex marriage. The advice is contained in a statement issued by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, the Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the CAN President, Dr. Olasupo Ayokunle, in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that May, while speaking at the first joint forum at Commonwealth Head of Government Meetings in Westminster, said there should be no laws criminalising same-sex relationships across the Commonwealth. She was quoted as saying: “As the UK’s Prime Minister, I deeply regret that those laws were introduced. As a family, we must respect one another’s cultures and traditions, but we must do so in a manner consistent with equality, as it is clearly stated in the Commonwealth charter. “Nobody should face discrimination or persecution because of who th

Nigerian Federal lawmaker, representing Kogi west senatorial district, in North Central, Nigeria, Senator Dino Melaye has been arrested at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.     The lawmaker tweeted this on Monday morning.  

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Sunday, visited a female Sergeant-At-Arms, Mrs. Sandra Davou - injured on Wednesday as she and her colleagues struggled to stop thugs who invaded the Senate and stole its Mace. According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the President of the Senate, Sanni Onogu, in Abuja, Mrs. Davou who lives in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is presently recuperating after she was treated and discharged from the hospital.  Saraki who was accompanied on the visit by his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Senator Isa Hamma Misau and Senator Baba Kaka Garbai, commended Mrs. Davou and her colleagues who had put up a spirited fight to prevent the invaders from gaining access to the Senate Chambers. He also commended his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and all his colleagues who successfully took charge and safeguarded the National Assembly and the nation's democracy.  He said that the visit was meant to thank

Verne Troyer, who is best known for playing Mini-Me in the Austin Powers films, has died at the age of 49. Troyer, who was 2ft 8in (81cm) tall, also played Griphook in the first Harry Potter film. "It is with great sadness and incredibly heavy hearts to write that Verne passed away today," a post on his official Facebook page read. "Over the years he's struggled and won... but unfortunately this time was too much," it added. Troyer appeared on a number of reality TV shows, including Celebrity Big Brother in the UK in 2009. He has also made regular appearances on Celebrity Juice and starred in Keith Lemon's feature length film, Keith Lemon: The Film. One of his first roles was as a stunt double for a nine-month-old baby in the 1994 film Baby's Day Out. He appeared in two Austin Powers films as Mini-Me, the clone and sidekick of the villain Dr Evil who was played by Mike Myers. "Verne was the consummate professional and a beacon of positivity for t

Arsene Wenger is to leave Arsenal at the end of the season, ending a near 22-year reign as manager. The Frenchman departs a year before his latest contract was due to expire. The Gunners are sixth in the league and set to miss out on a top-four spot for the second straight season, with their hopes of reaching the Champions League resting on winning the Europa League. Wenger, 68, won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups, including the Double in 1998 and 2002. "I am grateful for having had the privilege to serve the club for so many memorable years," said Wenger. "I managed the club with full commitment and integrity. "To all the Arsenal lovers, take care of the values of the club." Arsenal say a successor will be appointed "as soon as possible". BBC Sport

The invasion of the hallowed chamber of the Senate on Wednesday by hoodlums and miscreants who carted away the mace and other paraphernalia of authority is a violation of the sanctity of the Senate and constitutes a threat to our democracy. It represents a throw-back to those dark old days we are better off without It is equally a sad commentary on the quality of representation. We therefore condemn it in its entirety. We similarly invite all who love Nigeria to rise and condemn this crude and sordid act or conduct. The Senate, from the  days of the Greeks and Romans from whom the world borrowed this  concept of democracy, has always been a sacred arena for the  nobility ( in carriage, thought or  mind ), the best and the brightest, the gifted in oratory, a hatchery of the supremacy of ideas delivered in the most sublime and profound language in furtherance of the interest of fatherland. As a house packed full of representatives from different parts of the Republic, there

…Thanks Nigerians for solidarity     The culprits in the Wednesday invasion of the Senate chamber by armed men will not go unpunished, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has assured the nation. He stated this in a brief address at the Senate plenary on Thursday . He said: “Yesterday, this legislative chamber, the nation, and the international community were treated to the theatre of the absurd when armed men invaded the chamber to assault our staff and cart away the mace, the symbol of authority of the Senate. It was a very sad testimony, a derogation, and total smear on our democracy and nation. “You would also recall that this hallowed chamber, supported by the House of Representatives, demanded that the Inspector-General of Police recover and return the stolen mace to the Senate within twenty-four hours. Concerned colleagues and Nigerians, who wanted to find out if the mace had been found, have inundated me with calls and m

***IGP orders Commissioner of Police FCT Command to beef-up security at the National Assembly. Sequel to the invasion of the Senate Chambers of the National Assembly, Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 18th April, 2018 by some suspected thugs who disrupted the Senate Plenary Session and carted away the Mace of the Red Chambers, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris NPM, mni, immediately instituted a high-powered Police Investigation and Intelligence Team coordinated by the IGP Monitoring Unit of the Force and further directed a total lockdown of the Federal Capital Territory with intense surveillance patrol and thorough Stop and Search Operations at various Police checkpoints with a view to arresting perpetrators and possible recovery of the stolen Mace. 2. The Police teams engaged in massive raids of identified criminal spots/flashpoints, stop and search operations, visibility and confidence building patrols, intelligence gathering which forced the suspected mis