Lawyer threatens to sue Buhari for dropping General title from name

Lagos lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegoruwa has threatened to
drag president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari to court, for
asking Nigerians to stop calling him “General” from
May 29.
A statement by his Media Director, Mallam Garba
Shehu, had stated that: “From May 29, 2015, the
President-elect and Vice-President-elect are to be
respectively known and addressed as Muhammadu
Buhari, President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed
Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Prof. Yemi
Osinbajo, SAN, Vice President, Federal Republic of
Nigeria”.
Reacting, the lawyer described the statement as
shocking and unacceptable.
He argues that by virtue of Buhari’s membership of the
Nigerian Army, he became Head of State, and earned
salaries and benefits even when he contested elections
in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015.
Adegboruwa warned that should Buhari ignore his
appeal, by insisting on denying his past, whilst he
continues to earn salaries and benefits through the
same rank that he seeks to jettison, “I shall file a suit
before the Federal High Court, to seek an injunction to
restrain the President-elect from denying his official
and legal titles, or alternatively, to give up, pay back
and restore, all the pensions, salaries and benefits that
he has so far earned, either as a commissioned officer
of the Nigerian Army, or as a former military Head of
State.”
The letter reads:
EBUN-OLU ADEGBORUWA & CO
Barristers, Solicitors, Consultants
‘
PRESS RELEASE ON BUHARI’S STATUS
MAJOR-GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI (Retd.), AN
ARMY GENERAL FOR LIFE
I have read the press statement of the President-elect
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Major-General
Muhammadu Buhari (Retd.), indicating that as from
May 29, 2015, he would like to be addressed simply as
Muhammadu Buhari, without reflecting his official
designation as a retired officer in the Nigerian Army.
This is totally shocking, and rather unacceptable. I
therefore humbly urge all Nigerians to disregard this
appeal from the President-elect, as it is illegal and
immoral, upon the following reasons.
1. Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (Retd.) is the
official and legal status, title, designation and
appellation of our dear President-elect. He has no
choice in the matter but to continue to carry this cross,
for life.
2. The military in Nigeria and the world over, is a
dignified professional institution, built upon the solid
foundations of discipline, selflessness, courage,
dignity, loyalty and patriotism. It is an institution that
everyone should be proud of, except those of them who
were trained and equipped by this noble institution, but
chose to capture civilian power, through coup detat.
3. Under and by virtue of the Armed Forces Act, (s.25)
a retired army officer, such as the President-elect, is
forever a part and parcel of the Nigerian Army.
4. Under and by virtue of Paragraph 1(1) of the 1st
Schedule of the Armed Forces Pensions Act, Major-
General Muhammadu Buhari (Retd.), is entitled to and
has indeed been receiving and benefiting from pension,
as an officer who held a regular commission, before his
retirement.
5. Major-General Mohammadu Buhari (Retd.) illegally
seized power in Nigeria from an elected President, on
December 31, 1983 and forcefully crowned himself as
Head of State. He forcefully held on to power for 1 year,
239 days, before he was also deposed on August 27,
1985, by General Ibrahim Babangida (Retd.). He is thus
a retired commissioned officer of the Nigerian Army
and he remains so for as long as he lives.
6. Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (Retd.) attends
the Council of State meeting as former Head of State,
which office he held in his capacity as a Major-
General.
7. Under and by virtue of section 1 of the Remuneration
of Former Presidents and Heads of State Act No. 32 of
1999, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (Retd.), is
entitled to a very fat salary as pension, for life. He is
also entitled to the following benefits:
(i) Chief Administrative Officer of not less than Grade
Level 12;
(ii) Personal Secretary of not less than Grade Level 12;
(iii) Four armed policemen as his private security;
(iv) A top ranking State Security Service officer as his
Aide De Camp;
(v) Three official vehicles to be changed every four
years;
(vi) Three drivers to be paid by Federal Government;
(vii) Diplomatic Passport for life;
(viii) Free medical treatment in Nigeria for himself and
members of his family;
(ix) Free medical treatment abroad for himself and
members of his family;
(x) Thirty days annual leave;
(xi) Well equipped and well furnished office
accommodation;
(x) Well equipped and well furnished living apartment,
not less than five bedroom duplex;
(xi) Free telephone, etc.
(8) The President-elect became entitled to all the
above, by virtue of his membership of the Nigerian
Army; he became Head of State, by virtue of his
commission as an officer of the Nigerian Army and he
has earned these salaries and benefits as such, over
the years, even when he contested elections in 2003,
2007, 2011 and 2015.
(9) The moral question, involved in the President-
elect’s sudden change of status, is in the fact that he
contested election and canvassed for votes, from
Nigerians and he was so voted for, as a retired military
general. He should continue to bear and carry that
honourable title of Major-General, for as long as he
lives.
10. Thus, so long as Major-General Muhammadu
Buhari (Retd.), is earning his pensions from the
Nigerian Army, so long as Major-General Muhammadu
Buhari (Retd.), is earning all his benefits as a former
military Head of State and so long as Major-General
Muhammadu Buhari (Retd.), has not changed his name
and status in the way recognised by law, the good
people of Nigeria, in particular the Nigerian Army, are
well urged to continue to address him as a retired
Major-General.
PERSONAL APPEAL
From all the foregoing, I therefore humbly appeal to the
President-elect, to continue to bear his official name
and status, by which he once climbed to power. I do
sincerely sympathise with the President-elect, on the
very sad and distasteful memories, that this title
attracts to him, but it is his cross to carry. Nigerians
voted for him, in spite of his past and that should be
enough encouragement for him, to strive to erase any
negative impression, that it may have occasioned.
The best option for the President-elect, to erase those
memories from our hearts, is not by seeking to deny his
past, but rather to use his present position, to address
the fundamental issues of corruption, epileptic power
supply, unemployment, insecurity, infrastructure
development and such other issues, that were the
subject of his campaign promises.
COURT CASE
Should the President-elect ignore this appeal, by
insisting on denying his past, whilst he continues to
earn salaries and benefits through the same rank that
he seeks to jettison, I shall file a suit before the Federal
High Court, to seek an injunction to restrain the
President-elect from denying his official and legal
titles, or alternatively, to give up, pay back and restore,
all the pensions, salaries and benefits that he has so
far earned, either a commissioned officer of the
Nigerian Army, or as a former military Head of State.
The problem facing Nigerians presently is not about
designation, titles or status, but rather that of fulfilment
of all the promises made during the campaigns. WE
WANT REAL CHANGE, NOW, NOW, NOW!
Thank you all. God bless Nigeria.

Former NIMASA D.G charged with N1.5bn scam, alleges persecution

Mr Raymond Omatseye, a former Director-General (DG) of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), charged with N1.5billion contract scam, had alleged that he was being “persecuted”.
The accused, who had been suspended as the DG of the agency since December 2010, is being tried before a Federal High Court in Lagos by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Omatseye, who opened his defence on Tuesday, told the trial judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, that he believed the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF),
Mr Mohammed Adoke (SAN) was persecuting him.

Omatseye, led in evidence by his counsel, Mr E.D. Onyeke, alleged that his trial came shortly after he declined a request by Adoke to discontinue a case that NIMASA filed against the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG).

Omatseye started his testimony by first craving the indulgence of the judge to allow him to go into the background of his claim which would aid the court to appreciate his evidence.

The former DG, who had been charged with an amended 27-count charge bordering on contract
splitting and bid rigging to the tune of about N1.5billion, was granted leave by the court to background his allegation.
Omatseye said that: “In December of 2010, I was approached by a gentleman, who at that time was the Executive Director of the Cabotage Service of NIMASA, in the name of Mr Ibrahim Zailani.

“Zailani told me that he had been in a meeting with the AGF and that the AGF had directed him to tell me to withdraw a case between NIMASA and NLNG.
“I told him I could not do so because that was the decision of the board.
“Exactly on Nov. 14, 2010, between noon and 1.00p.m., in my office, I received a call from a gentleman called Tunde Ayeni.
“He said hello, hold on for your caller and then handed the phone over to a man who said he was Adoke.

“The man said, `I sent Zailani to you to withdraw the NLNG case and you have refused`.
He said `Mr President has called me twice on this matter to instruct you to withdraw this case.
“I responded to him, My AGF sir, either you please send me a memo to that effect or please send a message through my minister to direct me accordingly.
“I am not in a position to unilaterally withdraw the case.
“He said `I am the chief law officer of the Federal Republic` and I replied, Sir, please help me to do as I have requested.

“He asked if I was aware that there was a directive from his office that no government institution can sue another government institution without his permission.
“I told him that the NLNG is majority owned by foreigners and, therefore, cannot be considered as a government parastatal or agency.
“At that point, he said to me, I have given an instruction and you have refused to obey. This will be your waterloo.”
Omatseye told the judge that 10 days after the phone conversation with Adoke, three operatives from the EFCC came to pick him up for interrogation.

He said he was taken to the EFCC office in Ikoyi with the Director of Procurement and the Director of Finance of NIMASA.
Omatseye recalled that he called the Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman, to inform him of what was going on while on their way to the EFCC
office in Ikoyi.

He added that they were flown to the EFCC office in Abuja the following day where he was confronted with a petition written against him by the Minister of
Transportation. He said the petition was what formed the basis of his trial.
Omatseye said that the contract approval threshold for NIMASA was N2.5m for supply and N5m for goods and services.
He said that the thresholds were not yet stipulated as of the time he approved the contracts over which he was being prosecuted.
According to him, while the charges captured contracts awarded between December 2009 and February 2010,
the contract award threshold for NIMASA was only put in place by the Bureau of Public Procurement in November 2011.

The EFCC Prosecutor, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN), had raised an objection to that line of testimony which the judge overruled.
The case was adjourned till May 20 for continuation of testimony.

Too Bad: Woman Dies During Sexual Intercourse With A Driver In Lagos

Officers attached to the Lagos State Police Command have apprehended a driver identified as Utebor over the death of a lady in his apartment while in ”a sex race”.
Utebor was said to have picked up the victim around Baruwa Estate in the Ipaja area of the State over the weekend and took her to his house. The deceased reportedly gave up the ghost during some unconfirmed round of sex with Utebor.
It was gathered that police officers from the Ipaja division, after been alerted, apprehended Utebor and removed the corpse from the apartment to a mortuary.
According to a police source, “The man was driving his cab that fateful day when the lady flagged him down. She asked him for money, but he told her he didn’t have any money on him. He then asked her to enter the car and follow him home.
”He took her to his apartment in Baruwa Estate and it was that night that the girl died. Investigation showed that it was while he was making love to her that she died. It was the following morning that somebody alerted the police.”
Utebor while giving a confessional statement said he picked up the deceased from the bus stop and took her home where she died while they were having sex.
The suspect was said to have been transferred to the Department of Criminal Investigation, Yaba, where he is been interrogated.

Confirming the incident, Kenneth Nwosu, the State Police Public Relations Officer, said “We have arrested the man. As I speak with you, the matter is under investigation at the DCI, to know what actually killed the lady. The deceased’s name and address are unknown.”

Jonathan Sacks Chief Executive of NIPC

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday sacked the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive of Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Mrs. Saratu Altine Umar.
The president approved the appointment of Mrs. Uju Aisha Hassan-Baba, as the new NIPC boss. No reason was given for Umar's sack in a terse statement issued by the presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati.
Hassan-Baba, the new NIPC boss, had served previously as Director-General, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Attorney-
General and Commissioner of Justice in Anambra State and Director, Legal Services, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
Jonathan thanked the out-going Executive Secretary/Chief Executive for her services and wished her well in her future
endeavours.
Meanwhile, the president will leave Abuja this Tuesday to attend the 47th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government holding in Accra, Ghana.
The summit, which coincides with the 40th anniversary of ECOWAS, will receive reports on the current situation in Burkina Faso and Guinea Bissau and deliberate on issues of democratic consolidation and regional peace and stability.

Official List of names submited by Buhari for ministerial positions

General Muhammadu Buhari has submitted to the security agencies for screening 40 names being considered for ministerial appointments. According to Daily Post, the names were submitted by the president-elect about a week ago.
The names being screened include Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the former Osun state governor and ousted PDP national secretary; Chief Bode Mustapha, the former PDP national auditor; an All Progressives Congress stalwart from Ogun state; and Engineer Segun Oni, the former Ekiti state governor and APC deputy national chairman (South
West).
Others are Dr Kayode Fayemi, the immediate past governor of Ekiti state; Dr. Abba Ruma, a former minister for agriculture and water resources; and Chief Kanu Agabi, a former minister of justice.
The list continues with Donald Duke, a former governor of Cross River state; Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos state;
and Yinka Folashade Oredola, a pharmacist from Ondo state.
Others on the list are Rotimi Akeredolu, a former gubernatorial candidate in Ondo state; Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state; Engineer Funsho Kupolokun, a former group managing director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation; Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso of Kano state; and Bisola Adegbenro, a senator-elect from Ogun state.
Also on the list are Isaiah Danjuma, the son of General TY Danjuma from Taraba state; Dele Momodu, the publisher of Ovation; Kehinde Lawanson, a former executive director of First Bank; and Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), former minister of justice.
The rest of the names will be published when security agencies confirm the names to newsmen. Buhari ran on the platform of change but critics have asked
whether working with the old guard even with a new system can guarantee change? If you agree or disagree with this,
leave your comment below.

Music: Tonyflex - German Juice Remix ft Ebisco [Cynthia Morgan's Cover]

Arab Gang General Tonyflex returns with dis follow up on Cynthia Morgan's German Juice. Dope song I swear.

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MUSIC: EBISCO – AFFECTION [@IAMEBISCO]

Hit after hits, Ebisco comes through again with this nice tune that was released few weeks ago. Ebisco deem it fit to release it now as Ebisco and Harry Song are mourning the death of Harry Song’s father. Hope you enjoy this one.

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