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Alleged N1.7b Fraud: Enugu APC Chairman, Guber Candidate Dragged To Court

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A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Enugu State, Mr. Adolphus Ude has dragged the party’s chairman, Barr. Ugochukwu Agballah to court over alleged N1.7 billion fraud.

Also joined in the suit as defendant is the governorship candidate of the APC in Enugu State, Chief Uche Nnaji.

Ude, in suit No. E/47/2023, filed a criminal complaint against the duo before an Enugu State High Court.

The plaintiff is accusing Agballah and Nnaji of misappropriating party funds and lack of accountability.

READ ALSO: New Naira: Two Arrested For Transacting Counterfeit Notes In Enugu

Ude, who is the pioneer deputy chairman of the party in Enugu State, alleged in the suit that the Enugu State chapter of the party realized N786 million from the sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms, which the defendants were yet to account for.

He also alleged that the APC, Enugu State, realized an additional $1,351,000 from consultations and logistics from presidential aspirants, but that Agballah and Nnaji had refused to account for the monies despite agitations and protests by members of the party in the state.

“Since the third defendant (Nnaji) was nominated as the (governorship) candidate of the party, he has connived with the second defendant (Agballah) to misappropriate the funds of the party and run the affairs of the party with impunity.

“The second and third defendants misappropriated the $1.5 million given to the APC, Enugu State, as delegates’ allowances and failed to pay the money to the delegates. The second and third defendants appropriated the money for themselves instead,” he stated in the suit.

He is, therefore, seeking an order of the court directing Agballah and Nnaji to “render and publish a detailed account of the amount realised by the APC in Enugu State from the issuance and purchase of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms by the aspirants in the APC for the governorship position in Enugu State in the 2023 general election.”

The plaintiff is also pressing for an order of court directing Agballah and Nnaji to render and publish a detailed account of the use and proof of disbursement of the sum of $1.5 million released by the first defendant (APC) for the payment of allowances of the first defendant’s delegates from Enugu State to the National Convention and presidential primary election of the first defendant.”

He further averred that, “By a letter dated August 19, 2022, the second defendant’s ward, the Udi/Agbudu Ward in Udi Local Government Area suspended the second defendant from being a member of the Ward and expelled him from the Ward and debarred him from holding party office in APC.

READ ALSO: 13 Passengers Burnt To Death In Enugu Road Accident

“This was as a result of the corruption and impunity perpetrated by the second defendant in handling the affairs and funds of the APC, Enugu State. Notwithstanding his suspension and expulsion from APC in his Ward, the second defendant continued to parade himself as the chairman of APC, Enugu State and to meddle in the affairs of the party with impunity and without authority.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

Rcall that earlier in January, Ude led a protest of aggrieved Enugu APC members against Agballah and Nnaji at the APC national secretariat in Abuja.

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How God Saved Me From Firing Squad – Gospel Artiste, Buchi

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A popular gospel singer, Buchi Atuonwu, simply known as Buchi, has revealed how God saved him from firing squad.

During an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief program on Friday, Buchi said he and some other people were already lined up for execution by the firing squad.

He said despite not being religious, his desperation to be alive made him call on God and make a promise to dedicate his life to serving Him in exchange for his life if spared.

He narrated, “At a point in my life, we were laying up for execution. Indeed, the people who were to execute us were already kneeling, ready to fire. It is true that I called out to a God that I didn’t know, saying if you save me, I will serve you. Since we don’t have all the time, let me just say that He saved me from that firing squad.

READ ALSO: How I Formed Kidnap Gang During My 11yrs In Prison- Suspected Kidnapper

“Then I devoted my life to serving him. To see that my music is not empty and that it becomes an extension of a classroom for me having been a teacher in the university. The stage became an extension of the classroom. Who says musicians can not sing about GMOs, government policies, trends, events, and happenings that inform the quality of life of the people?”

Speaking on what influenced his choice of music, Buchi said his background and an intention to make a change after being spared from death were the factors responsible for his style of music.

I come from a peculiar background. Night club DJ and at the same time a university lecturer and transiting to the choir of a church having been involved in the campus confraternity, drug abuse, and youth violence amongst others.

“My kind of music has to be somewhat different. Influenced by that background and also with an intention to make a change, it led me to the kind of stories that you are referring to. Stories that manured the songs that I put out, such as gun running and violence,” he stated.

READ ALSO: Man Jumps Into Lagoon, Dies After Being Chased By Mob For Alleged Stealing

No relationship between reggae music and weed

Speaking on a controversial comment that every musician must use performance-enhanced drugs to perform at their best, Buchi said it is a narrative sold by people, adding that there is no relationship between reggae music and weed.

“It is a narrative sold by people interested in the matter. It’s like saying to watch a good movie, I need popcorn. yes, they go together, people buy it and do it. They practice it. It is also like saying to watch a good football match. I need a particular kind of drink with me.

“It is okay to sell your products and ideas but I don’t have to accept it absolutely because I know that I can watch a good movie without popcorn and I can also watch a good football game without the drinks in question. In the same way, there is no relationship between reggae music and weed.

READ ALSO: Lawyer Drags NERC, AGF, Minister Of Power To Court Over Electricity Tariff Hike

“Yes, I have been there, and now I am here. I know for sure that the substances that I took at that time did not enhance my performance. It is true that you have to be in a certain state of mind to give your best, but drugs don’t take you there. There are so many other things like deep thinking and concern for what you are that can take you there.”

In January, the music star refuted claims that his genre of music— reggae was connected to his past romance with marijuana.

His response followed criticisms from those who questioned the inspiration behind a book he published.
PUNCH

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UNIBEN Ex-deputy VC Is Dead

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A Former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of the University of Benin, Edo State, Prof. Pius Iribhogbe, is dead.

Until his demise, Prof. Iribhogbe was also a consultant trauma surgeon, head of the Department of Surgery and coordinator of the School of Paramedics at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.

The academic scholar passed on in Saudi Arabia.

UNIBEN’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Benedicta Ehanire, who confirmed the surgeon’s death said the school was yet to issue a statement.

 

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Residents Displaced As Rainstorms Wreck Havoc In Edo Community

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Lampese community in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State has been ravaged by rainstorms.

The incident was said to have occurred Friday as a result of a heavy downpour which affected many houses including the electricity transformer.

An eyewitness account described the incident as very unfortunate following the level of devastation.

Residents of the community have therefore called on the state and local governments and all concerned authorities to come to their rescue with a view to proffering urgent solutions and resettling displaced residents.

READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Properties Worth Millions Destroyed As Fire Razes Shops In Benin

Reacting to the situation, the local government council chairman, Tajudeen Suleman, who said he was far away in Enugu State for an official engagement, disclosed that he has mobilised the council officials to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment immediately he got the news, promising to visit victims as soon as he returns today.

He also said he was in touch with the state deputy governor, Marvellous Omobayo and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on moves to fast track the process of resettling affected persons.

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