Police arraign Rivers Rep nabbed with $498,100

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About 13 days after he was arrested with $498,100 in Port Harcourt, a member of the House of Representatives, Dr Chinyere Igwe, was on Wednesday arraigned in a Federal High Court sitting in the Rivers State capital.

Igwe, an ally of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, represents Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 2 in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly.

He was arraigned by the police on a one-count of money laundering.

At the beginning of proceedings, prosecution counsel, M. N. Nweke, said Igwe on February 24 accepted that he received a cash payment of the said sum which he neither reported to the CBN nor reported its transportation to the Nigeria Customs Service.

He said the act contravened sections of the Money Laundering and Prohibition Act 2011.

When the charge was read to him, Igwe pleaded not guilty and his counsel made an application for bail which was objected to by the police counsel.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Stephen Daylop-Pam, after listening to the argument, adjourned the case till March 14, 2023 for consideration of the bail application by the federal lawmaker’s lawyer, Ibisiki Tonye, while the accused would remain in police custody.

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Police arrest ex-Imo deputy governor

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A former deputy governor of Imo State, Gerald Irona, has been reportedly arrested by security operatives.

Irona, who was arrested in his Owerri residence at about 10:15 am on Wednesday, is currently detained at the Imo State Police Command.

He was said to have been arrested based “on the order from the above.”

Details later…

Buhari seeks diasporans support for Tinubu

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The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Tuesday, in Qatar, advised Nigerians living in the Gulf country to support the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, as he assumes office on May 29.

“Support the incoming government of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, so that Nigeria will continue to be the beacon of hope and prosperity in our continent,” Buhari said at a Town Hall meeting organised by the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Erewa, and her team.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, revealed this in a statement he signed on Wednesday titled ‘President Buhari calls on Nigerians in diaspora to support Tinubu’s government.’

Buhari said his regime is resolute to engineer transparent and fair elections which will conclude with the Governorship and State Assembly elections this Saturday, March 11.

Therefore, their support for Tinubu who emerged as President-elect one week ago will make Nigeria “an example for other African countries to emulate.”

The President acknowledged the noble roles played by Nigerians in the Diaspora and all over the world toward the development of their home country.

To support their efforts, he said his regime established a National Diaspora Policy and supported the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission to develop programmes for the engagement of Nigerians abroad.

Poll: Don’t Turn Court To Protest Ground, Obi Warns Supporters

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The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has urged his supporters against protesting on court premises when the presidential election tribunal commences.

The Appeal Court will today hear the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) application seeking to set aside earlier order granted to both Obi and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to inspect the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines.

Obi and Atiku had obtained the order of the Court to inspect INEC materials used during the presidential election.

However, INEC is asking the court to set the order aside as it may affect the conduct of the gubernatorial election on Saturday.

Via his Twitter handle, Obi asked his supporters not to congest the court premises.

“The Court Premises is not and should not be turned into a rally ground. I urge the Obidients to go about their businesses peacefully,” he said.

I’ll Negotiate With Bandits If I Become Kaduna Gov – PDP Candidate

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in Kaduna State, Isah Ashiru Kudan, has said that to properly tackle banditry and kidnapping in the state, his government will engage the perpetrators in dialogue, noting that they are human beings, and not monsters.

Kudan stated this during a chat with ARISE TV on issues concerning his party’s chances ahead of the March 11 governorship and state house of assembly elections.

The PDP candidate faulted some of the policies of the incumbent governor, Malam Nasiru l-Rufai, including sacking of some traditional rulers, adding that such decision worsened security situation in the state.

He said, “The truth of the matter is that whether we like it or not, people must be involved in getting us out of these insecurity problems. The issues that are enumerated are those of our inability to take maximum use of our vast lands. We have vast lands that are ungoverned.

“In the past, we had traditional rulers that were managing these vast lands but these rulers are no more now. When we come onboard, I assure you that we’ll ensure the right things are done by bringing these people back.

“Second, the issue of funding as far as the security issue is concerned in the state has been very poor. We have made contacts with those that are in the security apparatus within the state and they said they’ve not had enough as far as the issue of funding is concerned. We will make sure that we do the right things as far as the issue of funding is concerned.”

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