Celebrated socialite and businessman, Obinna Iyiegbu (aka Obi Cubana), who spent his first night with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Abuja on Monday, is set for release on administrative bail any moment from now.
A source close to the case, confirmed to Vanguard that the socialite had been granted bail but was yet to perfect the conditions attached to the bail for his release.
Yes, he has been granted bail but he is yet to meet the conditions for his release,” the official told Vanguard on the phone on Tuesday afternoon.
A top source explained that although the anti-graft agency plans to prosecute Cubana for sundry economic and financial offences, the trial would not commence any time soon.
Former face of the Cubana group, Pascal Okechukwu popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest has reacted to the arrest of his former boss and friend, Obinna Iyiegbu, also known as Obi Cubana.
The Anambra State-born philanthropist and business man was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday.
Obi Cubana was arrested and brought to the EFCC headquarters on Monday afternoon over allegations of money laundering and tax fraud.
Commenting on the development, Cubana Chief Priest said Igbos are familiar with the action of the anti graft commission against his friend
Reacting, Cubana Chief Priest called on the anti-graft agency to free Obi Cubana, adding that Igbos are used to the EFCC treatment.
What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. We Igbo’s are used to this, Mbakala ga ama ozo mana ozo ga ala (a trap might a big cat but it will surely go). #FreeObiCubana,” Cubana Chief priest wrote on his verified Instagram page.
The Vice-Chancellor, Nassarawa State University, Professor Suleiman BalaMohamed has said the older generation of Nigeria is not ready to relinquish power to the younger generation calling on youths to urgently begin to reflect on their future,
He said the youths must not allow themselves to be used as political thugs during elections but mobilise themselves to vie for different political positions to enable them to make positive changes in the polity.
Mohammed, who was represented by the deputy vice chancellor academics, professor Haruna Ayuba stated this at the opening ceremony of a two-day roundtable on raising political awareness among youths and students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria organized by African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL).
He said: “they will keep saying you are the future leaders or you are the leaders of tomorrow yet you see those who are supposed to leave the seat not ready to leave the seat and you wonder when this tomorrow is going to come.”
The vice chancellor further said the youths represent 60 percent of the population of this country urging them to leverage on this to create political awareness and also exercise their voting rights.
In his address, coordinator, AFRICMIL, Chido Onumah said while it appears that many of our young citizens do not show interest in taking up the baton of leadership, some who dare to, are challenged following barriers placed by the present political actors.
Onumah also said Nigerian students have been in the frontlines of efforts to change unequal social relations in the country as far back as the mid-1920s with the creation of the West African Students’ Union (WASU) which was partly pioneered by Nigerian students in London.
“They fought against colonialism and the emancipation of Africans,” he added.
THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS - JULY 23: View of the International Criminal Court as Dutch prosecuters consider a war crimes investigation of the Malaysia Airlines crash July 23, 2014 in The Hague, The Netherlands. Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it crashed killing all 298 on board including 80 children. The aircraft was allegedly shot down by a missile and investigations continue over the perpetrators of the attack.
The Police Command in Anambra, on Monday, said it had arrested a police sergeant allegedly supplying arms and ammunition to cultists in the state, Igbere TV reports.
The command was reacting to a trending social media (Facebook) post, alleging that the personnel was arming a cult group said to be responsible for most of the killings in the state.
The post had alleged that the policeman was a member of a dreaded Viking cult group and was seen during a shoot-out.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, said that the officer had been identified and arrested, while investigation had commenced.
“The attention of the police command in Anambra has been drawn to a story trending on the social media, alleging the involvement of a police sergeant in the illegal supply of arms and ammunition to a criminal gang in Awka.
“The alleged police sergeant has been identified and is already in custody for questioning.
“The command assures that the outcome of investigations into the case will be made public and reiterates its commitment to being accountable to all personnel serving in the command,” it stated.
I watched this debate with keen interest and rapt attention. In fact, I had to pause an important issue I was handling to monitor the date; to show how I valued the debate.
If I were to be the examiner, the following will be my verdict:
Charles Soludo— Ist position
Strength:
Soludo dominated the debate. He spoke with so much confidence. He was very articulate and punchy; giving out statistics on most of the issues discussed, though Ozigbo of the PDP countered him on some of the statistics he provided. His profile as a professor and EX-CBN governor loomed larger and was intimidating. He mesmerized Andy Uba, exposed his intellectual bankruptcy and made him look not only dumb but like a political neophyte on internship.
Soludo paid little attention to Valentine Ozigbo of the PDP because he knew who his main challenger was—Andy Uba—and reduced the APC’s candidate to a rumble of ineptitude cum cluelessness. Even as someone who began his career internationally and had had a stint at the national level, Soludo understood dynamics of governance as related to Anambra State. He dissected every question thrown at him by the panelists.
On burning issue of Biafra, IPOB and Nnamdi Kanu. Soludo scored a golden goal here. He appeared to be the only candidate among the three who had not only studied the situation on ground but had made bold steps towards resolving the IPOB crisis. He was among the first Igbo group that visited Nnamdi Kanu in prison in 2017. I remember vividly that Pat Utomi was part of that delegation.
Weakness
Failure of Obiano’s government and the incumbent’s inability to manage APGA as one house, is a huge political liability to his party’s candidate. Soludo, from his mannerism displayed during the debate, appeared narcissistic and petty. He did not exhibit the excellence cum civility of a professor during the debate.
Valentine Ozigbo— Second Position
Strength
In terms of carriage, he did very well. He was more refined and well-behaved than other candidates. He spoke with elegance and confidence. He punctured some of the facts provided by Soludo. He is a chattered accountant with vast experience in the private sector. He is the youngest candidate of the three
Weakness
Valentine Ozigbo failed to understand the difference between a political debate and boardroom deliberations. In a political debate, sometimes you intentionally appear controversial just to trend. Some of Ozigbo’s ideas looked more cosmetic than practical—maybe it might be how he elucidated them. He solely focused un-strategically on Soludo; forgetting that forces backing Andy Uba are formidable.
Ozigbo did not appear like someone with street credibility. PDP, his party, is not in charge at the state level or at the center yet he is not fighting dirty. I wonder how he wants to get the needed attention. Peter Obi’s dominance of his campaign, is a turn off to a lot of other stakeholders. I guess he will be reap in another four years.
Andy Uba— Third Position
Strength
He is the candidate of the ruling party. Obiano’s inability to hold APGA together paved the way for Andy Uba to lobby a lot of APGA stakeholders to crossover to the APC. He has weakened PDP structure as well by poaching on its members. IPOB’s Sit-at-Home order, is going to work in APC’s favour. It will deter people from coming out to vote, thereby making it easy for election to be rigged by the government at the center.
Weakness
Andy Uba is intellectually inept—he lacks substance, appeared very uninspiring and unprepared. His articulation was very poor. The manner he ended his thoughts most of the times, made him looked dumber, naive and clueless. He is like Igbo version of Buhari coming to be rigged into office.
It still baffles me that someone with Andy’s exposure and connections could appear this archaic and inarticulate. If Nigeria is where things work properly, Andy should be withdrawing from this race before tomorrow. He was not qualified to be a candidate let a lone a governor.
AriseTV crew did a wonderful job. The ball is the court of Ndi Anambra to decide their governor.
My dear people of Anambra State we must ensure election holds as scheduled. We may be inviting unimaginable uncontrollable, wild, unmanageable disorderly state if we play into the hands of our enemies. Like James Hardly Chase will put it, ” we will be open for a sucker punch”. They may just apoint a Solo Administrator. Let’s weigh the options carefully.
APGA remains the platform open for the Igbos to sincerely, constructively and effectively discuss our position in the Nigerian project if we elect this credible individual as wè are gearing up to do come 6th of Nov., 2021. This election from every calculations and indications may be the most credible ever. Pls it’s best we chose the best from among us, which to my opinion is Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo. Not because he is of APGA but because he has what it takes to lift Anambra State and the Igbo race to the next level. We can bear him testimony that his been test and approve by locaal and international Nationals and credible institutions worldwide
I repeat that this coming election in Anambra is a step forward towards opening up real discussions on how best in actualizing our collective bargain, which is Biafra, socioeconomic development of Anambra State. The multiplier effects will provide the needed catalyst to drive socioeconomic development of Eastern Nigeria and West African Sub region among others.
Sincerely speaking the name Chukwuma Charles Soludo is an invaluable priceless asset to APGA. He has the quality of being believable or worthy of trust:. After all we’ve been through, his credibility is what will give our great Party APGA another facelift after Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu. Soludo’s name will win Saturdays election for us. Hie has what it takes to midwife a new APGA; develop deliberate plans of actions to drive Anambra State socioeconomic and political developments.
I sincerely encourage us to file out and early too this Saturday to vote in Soludo who has come to redeem us.
Thanks.
Ichie Ugbo Oganairu na Nibo
Chief Kenneth Ik. Aniemena.
Ugbo-Na-Aga-Aga.
PREMIUM TIMES brings to you live updates of the Anambra 2021 governorship debate holding today, November 1, 2021, in Awka.
By Cletus Ukpong, Ebuka Onyejiandu, Others November 1, 2021
The debate is organised by Arise News Channel, with the support of a non-governmental organisation, Enough-is-Enough Nigeria.
The Anambra election holds this Saturday, November 6.
Among the candidates participating in the debate are Andy Uba of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Eighteen political parties are participating in the Anambra election which is obviously going to test the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s readiness to conduct a hitch-free, free, fair, and credible general elections across Nigeria in 2023.
INEC has confirmed there are 2.5 million registered voters for the Anambra election.
The issue of insecurity in the South-east state, which the candidates participating in the debate are expected to discuss, may be a factor against voter’s turnout because of the sit-at-home order by the pro-Biafra group, IPOB.
The candidates are expected to tell the electorates their plan to restore peace and security in Anambra, as well as their economic blueprint for the state.
LIVE UPDATE
The session began with the introduction of the invited candidates, which organisers said was done with transparency.
They are: Senator Andy Uba, candidate of the APC; Professor Chukwuma Soludo, the candidate of APGA; Valentine Ozigbo, candidate of the PDP.
This was followed by the recitation of the national anthem.
Andy Uba requested for a minute’s silence in honour of Chike Akunyili who was assassinated in September by gunmen suspected to be members of IPOB. Chike Akunyili was the husband of the late boss of the NAFDAC, Dora Akunyili.
Each candidate is given four minutes to give their opening remark. Andy Uba leads the way, reeling out his political credentials.
Charles Soludo, a former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, was the next. He said his experience in the public and private sector stands him out. He said he has served three presidents, including Presidents Obasanjo, Yar’Adua and Buhari. He said he is throwing his hat into the ring to put all his experiences over the years into serving the people of Anambra.
Valentine Ozigbo said it is heartbreaking to see the way Anambra State has been violence-ridden in the past months. He said what Anambra needs to come out of the “doldrums” is a young, vibrant CEO like himself. “I’m the best of all candidates,” he said, adding that he is passionate about solving the problems in the state.
The debate is anchored by Reuben Abati and Ngozi Alaegbu
Asked about the level of satisfaction he has on the preparation of the security operatives in the build up to the election, Mr Ozigbo said he is satisfied but dissatisfied with how the security challenge has been left to fester for long.
His short response triggered one of the moderators telling the candidates that each of them has three minutes to answer questions posed to them.
In response to the question of insecurity in the state, Mr Soludo said the challenges are politically motivated and he suggested that intelligence gathering was needed to be upped and in liaison with local vigilante groups was key in curbing the menace.
Valentine Ozigbo says APGA and APC have failed Anambra people, as far as insecurity is concerned in the state.
Soludo, talking about insecurity, attacked Uba, saying the APC candidate did not say anything about insecurity when he was in the Senate for eight years.
Mr Soludo accused Mr Uba of not engaging during the non-election season. He said the PDP oversaw a government that institutionalised kidnapping of politicians in the state.
This unnerved the two other candidates as he spoke but they were told to hold their thoughts till they have their turns.
Mr Uba denied the accusations and said Mr Soludo had no facts. “Come on,” Mr Soludo murmured.
The two men exchanged words briefly as it got heated among them.
Mr Soludo was cautioned to stay behind his podium. He asked Mr Uba if he had a school certificate to which Mr Uba said he had one from 1974.
The two men had a short trade of words before the moderators waded in and urged them to be civil.
Mr Ozigbo quickly distanced himself from the traded words, saying his opponents are “The PDP of the past,” suggesting the party he now represents is different from what it was before.
Soludo admits that the roads in Anambra are bad, he said he would declare a state of emergency on roads if he is elected governor.
Valentine Ozigbo says if elected governor he would encourage the private sector to assist in building the dilapidated roads in Anambra state. “Anambra is totally shattered, not even broken,” he says.
On IPOB, all three candidates hinted that they will dialogue with the group. Mr Ozigbo said he will advocate for the release of Nnamdi Kanu and the de-proscription of the group. Mr Soludo said every option will be examined, including dialogue. Mr Uba also said dialogue was a route he was open to take.
Uba, just like Soludo, says he would declare a state of emergency on roads if he is elected governor.
Valentine Ozigbo of the PDP said Anambra deserves more than what it was getting from the APGA-led administration.
Both Messrs Uba and Soludo seem to have scores to settle. Both men wouldn’t stop hurling jibes at one another.
The former said Mr Soludo, despite serving in advisory capacity for various administrations, couldn’t advise the government on how to improve the roads in the state. “You were a senator,” Mr Soludo quipped, eliciting giggles from the audience.
Uba attacks Soludo, saying that he (Soludo) is management expert, not leadership expert. The APC candidate says running a state is different from running a bank. “I know my people and my people know me,” he says.
Mr Uba refuses to answer the question if he supports IPOB or any other group affiliated to it.
Mr Soludo says IPOB deserves to be heard and dialogue with.
Mr Ozigbo says there certain things IPOB does that he supports but there are actions they take that he condemns.
The session is on a short break.
The debate has resumed. Candidates are fielding questions on how to leverage the large population of billionaires in the state.
Uba says he’ll conduct local elections in Anambra in six months if he’s elected governor.
The candidates are talking about what they would do about the environment in Anambra state. Soludo says the gully erosion in the state is far beyond what the state government can handle alone.
He says he has a masterplan to tackle flooding in the state, especially the coastal areas in the state.
FACT-CHECK: How true are Soludo’s claims made during Anambra governorship debate?
Claim 1: Charles Soludo (APGA) claims he was three times winner of the best governor of the Central bank award.
Verdict: True
Verification
The Central Bank’s document on Soludo’s service indicates that he won the Global and African Central Bank Governor of the Year, in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Different international media institutions, including The Banker Magazine published by the Financial Times of London, gave him the awards.
True, Anambra has the lowest unemployment rate in Nigeria
Claim 2: Charles Soludo (APGA) said Anambra State has the lowest unemployment rate at 17 per cent.
Verdict: True
Verification
According to a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Anambra State has the lowest unemployment rate, with 17 per cent in the second quarter of 2020.
FACT-CHECK: Anambra Governorship debate: Under whose administration was Anambra’s vigilante law made?
Claim 3: Charles Soludo (APGA) said the vigilante act was not enacted during Governor Willie Obiano’s government.
Verdict: True
Verification
According to a report by real-world and Amnesty International, the Anambra State House of Assembly enacted the Anambra State Vigilante Group law in 2004, under Chris Ngige PDP-led government. The vigilante law was enacted to give private groups the right to prevent crime in the state.
Mr Soludo is the candidate of APGA, the party of the incumbent governor, Willie Obiano.
This instant fact-check is a partnership between Premium Times and Dubawa on claims made by candidates during the Anambra governorship debate.
“Erosion in Anambra is a catastrophe,” says Uba. Uba says Soludo hasn’t been advising the APGA-led government in the state on how to tackle the environment issues in the state. He says he would plant trees around the state to tackle erosion in the state.
The debate is now focused on health – what the candidates would do to improve healthcare in Anambra State.
Valentine Ozigbo says he would improve on access to healthcare if elected governor.
On health, Mr Ozigbo said he intends to run a performance-driven government. This he said he would do while also creating an environment to bring in Nigerians in diaspora with their expertise.
Mr Soludo says he would consolidate on what the current APGA-led administration has been doing in the health sector.
He says he would begin a “lifestyle change campaign”. He added that he would work with the private sector to improve the infrastructure sector by leveraging on the Anambra people in the diaspora.
Mr Uba said his administration, if elected, will establish three health clusters in the state.
The debate now moves to education.
On education, Ozigbo attacks APGA-led government as not doing anything to improve the education standard in the state. He says he will bring quality and affordability to the education sector if elected governor.
“Education has collapsed in Anambra State,” Uba says. He promised to employ the best teachers and pay them very well if he is elected governor.
Soludo is asked about his relationship with Uba when both of them served in President Obasanjo’s administration. “I didn’t know Andy Uba from Adam,” Soludo said.
He said Uba was Obasanjo’s domestic servant.
Uba responded to Soludo’s remark. He reiterated what he said earlier that he assisted Soludo to become the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He said he was more relevant in the presidential villa than Soludo whom he described as an interloper.
Ozigbo described himself as a child of grace, when asked if he has the capacity to do the job of the governor. He says has been prepared for the job, but that it would be arrogance to claim he knows it all.
FACT-CHECK: Soludo’s claim on Anambra’s COVID-19 death rate true
Claim 7: APGA’s candidate, Charles Soludo, claims Anambra State has one of the lowest, if not the lowest death rate from COVID-19 in the country.
Verdict: Largely true
Verification
Our findings show Anambra state’s death rate, which is 19 per cent, is not the lowest but could be counted as one of the lowest. There are four other states with lower figures, NCDC’s data show. Jigawa’s death rate is 17 per cent, Kebbi has 16 per cent, Zamfara has 8 per cent and Kogi has 2 per cent.
Claim 8: Mr Soludo (APGA) also said three are over 2,000 confirmed
COVID-19 cases in Anambra.
Verdict: True
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) data shows 2,387 cases have been confirmed as of November 1 in Anambra.
This instant fact-check is a partnership between Premium Times and Dubawa on claims made by candidates during the Anambra governorship debate.
FACT-CHECK: Anambra Governorship: Ozigbo’s claim on CEO award true
Chukwuma Soludo claims that Anambra’s general hospitals are the only ones offering vaccines false
Claim: Anambra is the only state where a general hospital is administering vaccines.
Verdict: False
Verification
A search on the National Primary Health Care Development Agency’s website shows general hospitals in other states provide vaccines. Also, some persons who have received the vaccines from general hospitals outside Anambra State confirmed they got their vaccines from general hospitals.
Claim: Valentine Ozigbo (PDP) claims he was once awarded the best CEO award of the year.
Verdict: True
Verification
According to the seven stars luxury hospitality and lifestyle awards, Mr Ozigbo won the 2016 Seven Stars awards as CEO of the year.
This instant fact-check is a partnership between Premium Times and Dubawa on claims made by candidates during the Anambra governorship debate.
Read previous FACT-CHECKS
Concluding remarks from the candidates, Soludo says he would not need a penny from the government of Anambra if elected governor, and that he wants to serve his people. “I am prepared to give it (my best) you,” he says.
Uba says he would build a coalition government if elected governor. He says Anambra needs to join the political party at the centre which is APC.
Ozigbo, in his concluding remark, says Anambra does not need those who have been part of a dysfunctional past. He says PDP is the right party for the state in the election. He says he is a Devine candidate who emerged through a free and transparent primaries, unlike the candidates of APGA and the APC.
The three candidates hug themselves, smile and laugh, while the debate comes to an end.
Governorship Debate: LIVE UPDATES
Anambra Debate: Governorship candidates reluctant to condemn IPOB,
Andy Uba of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Anambra 2021:
A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned till January 20, 2022 hearing on the suit filed by the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) seeking a referendum to determine the fate of Biafra and other self-determination agitations.
It was noted that CNG had in June, sued the National Assembly, and the Attorney General, asking the court to compel the defendants to halt the ongoing constitutional review exercise and in its place, conduct a referendum to determine what determines Nigeria and who populates it.
The case was adjourned on Monday in Abuja after the court before Justice Inyang Ekpo could not sit the same due to official assignment.
Speaking to journalists on Monday after the adjournment, the spokesperson of the CNG, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, noted that the court could not sit and the suit was subsequently adjourned to 20th January, 2022.
The CNG said instead of constitutional review, the defendants should immediately provide a framework for the actualization of agitators’ demand on self-determination.
He said: “What we are doing is to save the country, ourselves and the future of the country because these peoples are becoming violent already. And most of the people engaged in this activity are below 50. So if we allow our leaders of today to go and leave us with these people in this situation, there may be another bloodshed or civil war. That’s what we want to avoid, which is why we come to the court to interpret the situation.
“One of the issues for determination in the substantive suit has to do with the legal obligation of the 2nd – 4th defendants/Respondents to provide a framework that will pave the way for the self-determination of the South-eastern states and any other enclave that wants to go so as to leave the geographical entity called Nigeria before any further step is taken to review the Constitution”.
The suit, filed by the plaintiffs and leaders of the group, Nastura Ashir Shariff, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, Balarabe Rufa’i and Aminu Adam, joined the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and the National Assembly as defendants.
Group of Igbo Lawyers came to Abuja Court demanding to be joined in the suit .The case is getting interesting and will continue full time by early next year.
