News

Edo APC Rally Impasse: Oshiomhole Indicts Police, Edo Govt Over Chaos

Published

6 years ago

December 13, 2019

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has accused the Nigerian police of aiding thugs to cause chaos in the state, saying ‘I’m really ashamed of what happened between yesterday and today.’

He accused Edo State Government of sponsoring thugs to foment trouble by blocking major roads and burning tyre, adding that the plan was to apportion the blame on him should any casualty.

Oshiomhole who addressed newsmen at his house shortly after the rally at Ize-Iyamu’s house noted that taking this into cognisance and knowing well the interior motives of the state government, he decided not to attend the rally which held at Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s house.

“As national chairman, I have to pay the price by abstaining from going there so that I deny the Inspector General of Police and the Edo State Command any excuse to go and kill people and blame it on me. We will not go to their level; blood for blood is not our mantra.

“So, once our members are united, I am comfortable, but we will sustain the path of peace and that was the only reason I opted not to attend the mega rally today. They have already planted a story today from the government house that I am under house arrest.

“The shame, however, is that those who have responsibility to provide security decided to create security challenges.

“Look at what happened at Airport road yesterday. Just because I was coming to the state, the state government sponsored thugs to barricade the roads burn tyre? How do you want owner of that Audi car that was burnt feel? This is a voter that has power to vote against us tomorrow and not a politician, so why burning his car.”

“Thugs were burning tires on the road and security men were there looking at them. I personally wrote a letter, signed it and handover it to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), notifying him of this rally, only for me to hear that this same IGP has cancelled the rally. I didn’t use PA, I didn’t use SA just to avoid communication gap, so I will want to know from the IGP and the Edo State Command what went wrong”, he added.

The former governor of the state posited that if at all there are differences among party members, the best way to iron such out is to have a round table discussion and not the ways things are being done, stressing that such method have been applied but the state government has refused such ‘all-inclusive meetings.’

He said, “My position is that the way to iron differences is to sit down with various sides of opinion within the party; listen to those who have complaints and weigh the ones that are valid; share with them how you will address them; the ones that are not valid, then explain why they are not. This is what we have been working on but the governor has consistently refused to attend an all-inclusive meeting.”

The National Chairman of the APC however expressed satisfaction that the party held a peaceful rally despite the security challenges, stressing he concern is to make sure ‘the house of the APC is in order.’

“We are happy that in spite of everything APC had a successful rally that was peaceful and it achieved its purpose. As I stand here now, I am taller now than I was just yesterday because we have harvested to our party people who were part of the foundation of APC; those who participated in the negotiations for the merger, not only have they returned home, they have also used their connection in the other party they were in to move people to join us”, he said.

In his part, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu declared that he was not in the APC to cause more division or chaos, rather he has come to the party to unit it the more and add value to it.

While thanking all that attended the rally, he expressed dismay that the state government could threaten to revoke his Certificate of Occupancy for organising a rally inside his compound.

News

Nigerian Government Explains Cause Of National Grid Collapse

Published

5 hours ago

September 10, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Government has explained the cause of the national grid collapse around 11:20 am on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.

According to the Nigerian Independent System Operator, NISO, Wednesday’s grid collapse was caused by the tripping of a generation company, resulting in a significant load drop, which cascaded to other GenCos and led to a system disturbance.

NISO, responsible for the country’s national grid, made this known in a statement on Wednesday, noting that restoration of the national grid commenced immediately.

It stated that an investigation has begun to determine both the immediate and root causes of the grid collapse.

“The disturbance was caused by the tripping of a GenCo, resulting in a significant load drop, which cascaded to other GenCos, leading to a system disturbance. NISO immediately commenced restoration of the grid at 11:45 hrs, beginning with supply to Abuja from the Shiroro power plant, and substantial restoration has been achieved across the country.

“A full investigation into the immediate and remote causes is underway.

“The outcome(s) of the investigation report would determine the remedial and proactive actions to be taken to forestall future occurrences. We crave your indulgence to bear with us as restoration is still ongoing,” NISO said.

DAILY POST reports that national grid restoration has begun, with power supply restored in parts of Abuja.

News

EFCC Grills Ex-NNPCL Boss, Mele Kyari

Published

6 hours ago

September 10, 2025

Editor

Mele Kyari, a former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Mele Kyari, on Wednesday, visited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, office.

Kyari arrived EFCC’s headquarters in Abuja at about 2:15pm.

He was invited to answer questions on financial and technical matters during his time in office.

Recall that the EFCC had placed Kyari on its watch list over an ongoing probe into the $7.2 billion refineries’ turnaround maintenance.

This is just as the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered a temporary freezing of four bank accounts linked to Kyari due to allegations of fraud.

News

Owo Church Attack: Court Turns Down Bail Request For Alleged Al-Shabab Terrorists

Published

8 hours ago

September 10, 2025

Editor

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday refused the bail request made by five alleged Al-Shabab terrorists who allegedly attacked a Catholic Church in Owo town, Ondo State, leading to the death of over 40 worshippers.

Justice Emeka Nwite, who dismissed their bail application, held that the terrorism charges preferred against them were capital in nature and that they were accused of being members of a strong terrorist organisation who may intimidate witnesses, influence proceedings and jeopardise the trial of the defendants before the court.

Delivering a ruling on the bail application, Justice Nwite upheld the arguments of the Department of State Services (DSS) that the evidence against the alleged terrorists was strong and could not be glossed over.

Besides, the judge said the argument of the DSS that they would jump bail and abscond if released was not disputed and was deemed to be true.

The judge also upheld the submission of the security agency that the five accused persons did not provide credible sureties to stand for them pending trial, and added that the DSS’s argument that admitting them to bail would amount to judicial risk was not challenged by their lawyers.

In all, Justice Nwite held that the defendants failed to give cogent and verifiable reasons why they should be granted bail pending their trial and subsequently dismissed the bail request.

Earlier, before going into the merit of the bail application, the judge had declared the motion on notice incompetent on the ground that the names of the five defendants were not listed on the motion paper as required by law.

The judge also faulted the motion paper on another ground: that a joint affidavit of two paragraphs was filed in support of the request for bail of the five defendants, contrary to the position of the law that each accused person must file a separate affidavit to back up a bail request.

While granting an accelerated trial, Justice Nwite fixed 19 October for the commencement of the trial.

It will be recalled that the bail application of the defendants – Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar – dated 11 August 2025, was argued by their counsel, Abdullahi Awwal Ibrahim, on 19 August 2025.

While arguing the application, the lawyer had submitted that the accused persons had assembled reliable and responsible sureties to stand for them.

The request was opposed by the DSS lawyer, Dr Callistus Eze, on the grounds that the accused persons may escape because of the gravity of the charges against them, urging the court to refuse the bail application and allow the defendants to remain in DSS custody.

Some counts in the charge read: “That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar adults, males, with others still at large, sometime in 2021, did join and became members of AL Shabab Terrorist Group, with cell in Kogi State and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 25(1) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

“That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 30th May, 2022; 37 June, 2022 and 4 June, 2022, at Government Secondary School, Ogamirana, Adavi LGA, Kogi State and behind Omialafa Central Mosque, Ose LGA, Ondo State, respectively, attended and held meetings, where you agreed to and planned for the terrorist attack, which you carried out on 5™ June, 2022, at St. Francs Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12(a) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

“That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 05/06/2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, with intent to further your religious ideology and while armed with IEDs and AK 47 rifles, did attack worshippers, held them hostage and in the process, caused grievous bodily harm to over 100 persons, including Onileke Ayodele, John Blessing, Nselu Esther and Ogungbade Peter and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 24(2)(a) of the same Act.

“That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 05/06/2022, had in your possession IEDs and AK 47 rifles, with which you attacked worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church, held them hostage, killed over 40 persons and caused grievous bodily harm to over 100 persons and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2(1)(2) and (3)(v) and punishable under Section 24(1) and (2) of TPPA, 2022.

“That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 05/06/2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, with intent to cause death, did detonate Improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which led to the death of over 40 persons, including: Ajanaku John; Onuoha Deborah; Onileke Esther and John Bosede and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 42 (a)(ii) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

“That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 05/06/2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, did detonate Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) which caused grievous bodily harm to over 100 persons, including: Onuchukwu Happiness, Ogungbade Vivan and Nnakwe Paschaline Ugochinyerem and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 42(a)(i) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”