Sheriff seizes PDP hqtrs as Makarfi writes INEC.................

I’m in charge till 2018, says ex-Borno governor
Caretaker chair: I’m authentic leader
AFTER a short break, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders returned yesterday to their bitter struggle for the party’s control.
Ousted National Chairman Ali Modu Sheriff took over the secretariat in Abuja, proclaiming himself the authentic leader and dismissing the Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee as an illegal body.
But the Makarfi camp wrote to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding to be recognised as the authentic leadership of the party.
 
INEC was yet to take a decision on the PDP crisis last night.
It was gathered that the electoral commission was awaiting the decision of the court on all pending issues.
Sheriff yesterday staged a dramatic return to the party’s national secretariat.
With Sheriff were erstwhile National Secretary Prof. Wale Oladipo, ousted National Auditor Adewole Adeyanju and a former presidential aide, Ahmed Gulak. There was a small crowd of supporters.
An initial attempt by the party chiefs to enter the building as early as 9a.m. was blocked by policemen manning the gate – apparently on the orders of the Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee.
Undeterred, Sheriff went to confer with Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase, at the Force Headquarters and got permission to be allowed into the building.

Niger Delta Avengers gives govt conditions for talks...........

Fed Govt ready for dialogue, says Kachikwu
Militant groups in row
The Federal Government yesterday said it has not closed the avenues for negotiations with the new Militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), saying it would explore every available opportunity for negotiation so that the NDA can stop the bombings of oil pipelines and platforms.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Ibe Kachikwu, stated this at the South-South Town Hall Meeting held at the Le Meridien Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
 
Kachikwu said there is no theatre in the world where conflicts have been resolved through a battle. He said his mandate as minister of state for petroleum is to protect oil production and to generate more revenue for the government.
He explained that on the part of the Federal Government, negotiating with the militant group is not an evidence of weakness of the military but that massively bombing a territory would not articulate a solution to the already exiting problems.
“It doesn’t matter who is right and who is wrong. I have too many objectives in this portfolio; one is to present production and generate the revenue because if we don’t, all the things we are talking about here will be just a joke.

EFCC freezes N126b in 120 accounts.....

•‘We’re covered by law’
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frozen over N126billion in the accounts of some suspects in order not to jeopardise investigations, the agency said yesterday.
More than 120 bank accounts are affected by the freeze order.
About  N126,563,481,095.43 was temporarily seized by the EFCC pending the conclusion of corruption-related cases.
 
Other cash and assets under Interim Forfeiture is $9,090,243,920.15, seized from suspects facing trial or under investigation.
Apart from freezing of N32.8 billion from six suspects implicated in the Police Pension Office, some high profile suspects  with accounts among the over 120 frozen include ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, ex-National Security Adviser (NSA) Col.  Sambo Dasuki (retd),  ex-Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; ex- Chiefs of Air Staff Air Marshals Adesola Amosu and Mohammed Dikko Umar; Robert Azibaola( ex-President Jonathan’s cousin) and ex-Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode, among others.

Alleged $40m fraud: Jonathan’s cousin’s, wife’s trial begins............

Barring last-minute changes, the trial of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin,  Roberts Azibaola will begin today in Abuja.

Azibaola, his wife Stella and their firm will be arraigned for alleged payment of $40million into their company, One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited, by the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA).

Mrs. Stella Azibaola was taken into custody last night to join her husband in preparation for their arraignment before a Federal High Court in Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed seven charges against the couple.

The charges were filed by Sylvanus Tahir and Jirbo Francis from the Legal and Prosecution Department  of the EFCC.