FBI give details of how Hushpuppi allegedly paid N8m to DCP Abba Kyari to detain fellow fraudster, Chibuzo By Kingsley Omonobi

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has said that convicted fraudster currently in a US jail, Abass Ramon, aka Hushpuppi, paid $20,600 or equivalent of N8m to the head of the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT) Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, to arrest and detain his fellow fraudster, Chibuzo Kelly Vincent. According to a document issued by the US District Court for the Central District Court, California and dated February 12, 2021, it stated that Hushpuppi contracted the services of Abba Kyari after Chibuzo allegedly threatened to expose an alleged $1.1m fraud committed against a Qatari businessman. Pages 59, item 145 of the document said, “Kyari provided the account information for a bank account at a Nigerian bank, Zenith Bank, in the name of a person other than Kyari himself”. FBI Special Agent, Andrew John Innocenti, made the allegation in the ‘Criminal Complaint By Telephone Or Other Reliable Electronic Means’ filed before the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Explaining how the alleged payment was made, the document said, “On January 16, 2020, Abbas sent a message to Kyari on WhatsApp, and then placed five calls to another phone number (+2348060733588) that was listed as ‘Abba Kyari.’ “Call records show that the last three of the calls were answered and that one of the calls lasted more than two minutes. “Shortly after that, Abbas received a message from Kyari, confirming ‘We would pick him today or tomorrow.’ Abbas wrote, ‘I will take care of the team also after they pick him up.’ Kyari confirmed ‘Yes ooo.’” The document stated that, based on the conversation described in paragraphs 143 to 145, Abbas planned to pay the Nigeria Police Force officers who arrested Chibuzo for that service. It further alleged, “This was not the only time that Abbas arranged payments with Kyari”, adding, “On May 20, 2020, Abbas sent Kyari transaction receipts for two transactions from accounts at Nigerian banks (GTBank and Zenith Bank) of a person Abbas knew in the U.A.E.— a person also arrested with Abbas in Abbas’ apartment in the U.A.E. by Dubai Police on June 9, 2020 — to the Nigerian bank accounts of another person in Nigeria. “The amounts on the transaction receipts totalled 8 million Nigerian Naira, which was approximately $20,600 based on publicly available exchange rate information.” The FBI document added that “Attempting to reason with Abbas, on January 18, 2020, Chibuzo recounted for Abbas all the assistance he had provided in the scheme to victimize the victim Businessperson, including creating the “power of attorney” document, devising a story to tell the victim Businessperson, and facilitating the creation of the “telephone banking” number and fake Wells Fargo website. “On January 20, 2020, Kyari sent to Abbas a biographical, identifying information for Chibuzo, along with a photograph of him. In a conversation immediately following, Abbas confirmed, ‘that is him, sir.’ “Kyari stated, ‘We have arrested the guy. He is in my cell now. This is his picture after we arrested him today.” The document said, Kyari then sent the biographical information about, and photograph of Chibuzo to Abbas, using two different WhatsApp numbers — the second of which Kyari said was his “private number.” “From that point on, Kyari and Abbas primarily discussed the arrest and detention of Chibuzo through WhatsApp on this ‘private number,’” the document stated further After listening to the message, Kyari wrote, “Ok I understand. But he has not succeeded.” Abbas claimed Chibuzo had taken some money and provided Kyari with two screenshots, one of which contained the phone number 3054405586 (the phone number Chibuzo used to contact the Victim Businessperson). “Abbas then told Kyari, ‘Now the [Victim Businessperson] was sceptical to pay me the money cos he keeps attacking the [Victim Businessperson] from his end. Now I can handle the [Victim Businessperson] correctly.” After receiving the photograph of Chibuzo, Abbas said, ‘I want him to go through the serious beating of his life.’ Kyari responded, ‘Hahahaha,’ and Abbas replied, ‘Seriously sir.’ “Kyari then asked for details about what Chibuzo did on audio, which Kyari said was ‘So that we will know what to do.’ “In response to Kyari’s question about what Chibuzo had done to Abbas, Abbas sent Kyari an audio message, which is transcribed here, describing how Chibuzo had tried to steal away a fraud victim (i.e., “the job”) from him: What he did is, I have one job. The job want to pay me 500, umm, 75,000 dollars [i.e., $575,000]. He went to message the job behind me because I told him to help me make one document for me to give the job. Then he went—he has a—I gave him the details. Then he went to message the job behind my back and try to divert the money and in this process, he tells the job because of the documents he gave me that I gave the job, he tell the job, ‘These document they sent to you before. These people are fake. This money—is me who can help you to get it. Come to me le—bring this money you want to pay these people to me. I’m the only one who can help you,’ and all these things to divert the job for himself. The FBI said that after listening to the message, Kyari wrote, “Ok I understand. But he has not succeeded.” Abbas claimed Chibuzo had taken some money and provided Kyari with two screenshots, one of which contained the phone number 3054405586 (the phone number Chibuzo used to contact the Victim Businessperson). “Abbas then told Kyari, ‘Now the [Victim Businessperson] was sceptical to pay me the money cos he keeps attacking the [Victim Businessperson] from his end. Now I can handle the [Victim Businessperson] correctly.” The document further alleged that “Abbas further told Kyari that he wanted to pay money to send Chibuzo to jail for a long time, stating, ‘Please sir, I want to spend money to send this boy to jail, let him go for a very long time.’ “Kyari responded, “Ok bro, I understand; I will discuss with my team who arrested him . . . And handling the case We will do something about it.’ “Abbas responded, ‘Let me know how I can send money to the team sir. Let them deal with him like an armed robber.’ Kyari responded, ‘OK I will send their account details to u.’” “Abbas further wrote, ‘He betray me and try to take food out my mouth, this is great punishable sin,’ and Kyari responded, ‘Yeah bro.’ “Abbas then continued, ‘I want him to suffer for many years.’ Kyari responded, ‘Hahahaha! Hahahaha.’” A month later, on February 19, 2020, Kyari alleged sent a message to Abbas, saying, ‘Hello hush with [sic] need to talk about the subject under detention with me.’ “Abbas asked, ‘Should I call u on this number sir?’ to which Kyari replied ‘Yes call me.’ “The following day, Kyari sent Abbas multiple photographs of Chibuzo to Abbas, including close-up photographs showing a rash or skin disease on Chibuzo’s torso and arms. “Abbas responded, ‘I don pity am, make them leave am from Tuesday.’ Kyari wrote, ‘Ok bro, they just brought him from the hospital. The fever and the rashes are giving him serious wahala. He got the disease from other suspects in the cell.’ “Abbas responded, ‘I see am, I no too pity am. That’s what people like him deserve, but I go forgive am for God sake.’ “Abbas then said, ‘No problem sir from Tuesday he can go,” apparently giving Kyari his blessing to release Chibuzo from custody. “Kyari responded, ‘Ok bro. We will also keep his phone and other gadgets for some weeks.’ Abbas responded, “Yes those ones they should not give him again, those ones are gone . . . Make he no see those ones again for life.’ Kyari responded, ‘Yes he will not see it again,” indicating that he would accede to Abbas’ request.” Vanguard News Nigeria

How Mustapha’s Turaki of Ilorin Title Ruptures Existing Power Blocs

BRIEFINGNOTES The recent turbaning of a national chairmanship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Saliu Mustapha, as the Turaki of Ilorin, a position previously held by a former Senate Leader, the late Dr. Olusola Saraki, and his son, a former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has potentially ruptured the power blocs in Kwara State, Chuks Okocha reports The ancient Hausa-Fulani kingdoms’ chieftaincy systems recognise the Turaki as an officer at the palace court, but the title means more than that in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, considering its history and significance of the previous occupiers to the power dynamics of the emirate and state’s politics at large. The revered Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, recently filled the position, which had been vacant for over two years. He announced this amongst other traditional titles conferred on eminent and illustrious sons of the ancient city including the new Matawalle of Ilorin, formerly held by the late AbdulRazaq Ganiyu, the father of the incumbent Governor of the state and the first attorney in the entire northern Nigeria. The eldest son of the father of the Kwara State governor, Dr. Alimi AbdulRazaq, now holds the title. But of all the nine titles, one stood out — The Turaki of Ilorin, which was bestowed upon Saliu Mustapha on the account of his enormous contributions to the emirate and his unending acts of philanthropy. The aspiring Chairman of the ruling APC, believed to be an underdog in the tight race with former governors and senators, might have added another feather to his cap by clinching this title. Political observers say the development shows Mustapha’s influence and also a power shift from the Saraki hegemony in Kwara State. This is because, the patriarch of the Saraki dynasty and a Second Republic Senate Leader, the late Dr. Olusola Saraki, was the first most visible bearer of the title after the billionaire business mogul, the late Alhaji Sani Okin. The strong man of Kwara politics later relinquished the position after he rose to the rank of Waziri of Ilorin, a title he held until his death in 2012. Saraki’s eldest son and a former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, was named the Turaki in 2006, while serving as the governor of the state. And like his late father, he was elevated to the office of the Waziri in 2018. After the elevation of the former Senate President to the position of Waziri, watchers of Kwara politics had expected that someone from the Saraki dynasty or one that matches its influence would fill the vacant Turaki title. It was therefore not surprising that the expectation was quite high at the annual Bareke where the big announcement was made. However, the power dynamics was disrupted with Sulu-Gambari’s announcement of Mustapha as the new Turaki, which was greeted with wild jubilation from the mammoth crowd present. In view of his overwhelming acceptance, some observers argue that his appointment is a liberalisation of the political space in the Ilorin Emirate from what used to be an absolute dominance by the Sarakis in the emirate’ affairs, having ruled the state for more than three decades until the APC won landslide in the 2019 election. For other observers, Mustapha represents a new order as he is the youngest ever who has held the title, and the first that has not held an elected postion in the past. It will also be gratifying for President Muhammadu Buhari to know that an office formerly held by his political rival is now occupied by his ally of nearly two decades. In 2009, when a breakaway faction of the ANPP led by Muhammadu Buhari formed the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Mustapha was the national deputy chairman of the party, a position he held until the party merged to form the APC. Mustapha was also a key member of the Buhari Campaign Organisations in all the years the former military general contested presidential elections until the fourth successful bid. While some have argued that Mustapha’s political alliance with Buhari may not count when considering a consensus candidate for the post of the national chairman of the APC, the growing influence of Mustapha in Kwara politics and beyond is pronounced with the new title. Most importantly, being the youngest title holder in the Ilorin emirate, he appears to have ticked a box, demonstrating his ability to bridge the gap between the older and younger generations of the party. The APC, considering the wide dichotomy amongst different age grades, needs a thoroughbred party man who can marry the interests of both ranks. “I have the widest experience so far. The records are there to show. I’ve learnt to manage people, I have learnt to accommodate different interests, and I have learnt to stabilise political platforms from some of the best hands that have managed political parties before in the history of politics in Nigeria. I have also paid my dues,” the 49-year-old had reportedly said in an interview. By and large, analysts believe that Mustapha is a man to watch, not only in the political dynamics of Kwara State but especially at the national level as the APC national convention, in which he is a key player draws near. The Mutawalle title, like the Turaki which passed from the late elder Saraki to his son, Bukola, was also last held by the late patriarch of Abdulrazaq family, AGF Abdulrazaq Ganiyu, who was the first Commissioner for Finance in the Kwara State as well as the first lawyer in the whole of northern Nigeria. Others honoured at the event include Ilorin-born Islamic scholars, Sheikh Farouq Suleiman Onikijipa, who was appointed the 4th Grand Mufti of Ilorin, Professor Yakubu Aliagan, who was conferred with the title of Seriki Malami of Ilorin, Sheikh AbdulRahman Sholagberu who was appointed the Malami Ubandoma of Ilorin, among others. Share BRIEFINGNOTES The recent turbaning of a national chairmanship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Saliu Mustapha, as the Turaki of Ilorin, a position previously held by a former Senate Leader, the late Dr. Olusola Saraki, and his son, a former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has potentially ruptured the power blocs in Kwara State, Chuks Okocha reports The ancient Hausa-Fulani kingdoms’ chieftaincy systems recognise the Turaki as an officer at the palace court, but the title means more than that in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, considering its history and significance of the previous occupiers to the power dynamics of the emirate and state’s politics at large. The revered Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, recently filled the position, which had been vacant for over two years. He announced this amongst other traditional titles conferred on eminent and illustrious sons of the ancient city including the new Matawalle of Ilorin, formerly held by the late AbdulRazaq Ganiyu, the father of the incumbent Governor of the state and the first attorney in the entire northern Nigeria. The eldest son of the father of the Kwara State governor, Dr. Alimi AbdulRazaq, now holds the title. But of all the nine titles, one stood out — The Turaki of Ilorin, which was bestowed upon Saliu Mustapha on the account of his enormous contributions to the emirate and his unending acts of philanthropy. The aspiring Chairman of the ruling APC, believed to be an underdog in the tight race with former governors and senators, might have added another feather to his cap by clinching this title. Political observers say the development shows Mustapha’s influence and also a power shift from the Saraki hegemony in Kwara State. This is because, the patriarch of the Saraki dynasty and a Second Republic Senate Leader, the late Dr. Olusola Saraki, was the first most visible bearer of the title after the billionaire business mogul, the late Alhaji Sani Okin. The strong man of Kwara politics later relinquished the position after he rose to the rank of Waziri of Ilorin, a title he held until his death in 2012. Saraki’s eldest son and a former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, was named the Turaki in 2006, while serving as the governor of the state. And like his late father, he was elevated to the office of the Waziri in 2018. After the elevation of the former Senate President to the position of Waziri, watchers of Kwara politics had expected that someone from the Saraki dynasty or one that matches its influence would fill the vacant Turaki title. It was therefore not surprising that the expectation was quite high at the annual Bareke where the big announcement was made. However, the power dynamics was disrupted with Sulu-Gambari’s announcement of Mustapha as the new Turaki, which was greeted with wild jubilation from the mammoth crowd present. In view of his overwhelming acceptance, some observers argue that his appointment is a liberalisation of the political space in the Ilorin Emirate from what used to be an absolute dominance by the Sarakis in the emirate’ affairs, having ruled the state for more than three decades until the APC won landslide in the 2019 election. For other observers, Mustapha represents a new order as he is the youngest ever who has held the title, and the first that has not held an elected postion in the past. It will also be gratifying for President Muhammadu Buhari to know that an office formerly held by his political rival is now occupied by his ally of nearly two decades. In 2009, when a breakaway faction of the ANPP led by Muhammadu Buhari formed the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Mustapha was the national deputy chairman of the party, a position he held until the party merged to form the APC. Mustapha was also a key member of the Buhari Campaign Organisations in all the years the former military general contested presidential elections until the fourth successful bid. While some have argued that Mustapha’s political alliance with Buhari may not count when considering a consensus candidate for the post of the national chairman of the APC, the growing influence of Mustapha in Kwara politics and beyond is pronounced with the new title. Most importantly, being the youngest title holder in the Ilorin emirate, he appears to have ticked a box, demonstrating his ability to bridge the gap between the older and younger generations of the party. The APC, considering the wide dichotomy amongst different age grades, needs a thoroughbred party man who can marry the interests of both ranks. “I have the widest experience so far. The records are there to show. I’ve learnt to manage people, I have learnt to accommodate different interests, and I have learnt to stabilise political platforms from some of the best hands that have managed political parties before in the history of politics in Nigeria. I have also paid my dues,” the 49-year-old had reportedly said in an interview. By and large, analysts believe that Mustapha is a man to watch, not only in the political dynamics of Kwara State but especially at the national level as the APC national convention, in which he is a key player draws near. The Mutawalle title, like the Turaki which passed from the late elder Saraki to his son, Bukola, was also last held by the late patriarch of Abdulrazaq family, AGF Abdulrazaq Ganiyu, who was the first Commissioner for Finance in the Kwara State as well as the first lawyer in the whole of northern Nigeria. Others honoured at the event include Ilorin-born Islamic scholars, Sheikh Farouq Suleiman Onikijipa, who was appointed the 4th Grand Mufti of Ilorin, Professor Yakubu Aliagan, who was conferred with the title of Seriki Malami of Ilorin, Sheikh AbdulRahman Sholagberu who was appointed the Malami Ubandoma of Ilorin, among others.

APC: There is cause for alarm!! By Tonnie Iredia

It was with mixed feelings that I received the news last Wednesday of the affirmation by the Supreme Court of the election of Rotimi Akeredolu as governor of Ondo State. Before the ruling, I had become quite apprehensive when the irregularity of having a sitting governor serving as the national chairman of a party was reportedly raised at the Court of Appeal. I feared for Akeredolu’s survival, bearing in mind that it was Governor Mala Buni of Yobe State who as interim national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presented Akeredolu to the electoral body as the candidate of the party. Now that it has all ended well for Akeredolu, i am happy for him for two reasons, one because he is my brother and fellow alumnus of the great Loyola College Ibadan and the other because the results of the elections did show clearly that the people of Ondo State preferred him. Truly, there is ample merit in allowing the choice of the people to prevail instead of creating a Southwest Supreme Court Governor. Although it would have been a personal pain, I would have, as a political analyst, accepted the verdict if it had gone the other way, because the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to make a sitting governor their interim chairman hardly resonates well with people including APC members. A look at Section 183 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999, reveals that a state governor is not allowed, during the period when he holds office, to also hold any other executive office or paid employment in any capacity. This is why many people feel it was inappropriate for the APC to have made Governor Bala Buni to serve as its national chairman. The fact that the said Section 183 of the constitution outlaws holding any other office “in whatever capacity” nullifies the argument that Buni was chosen only as an interim chairman and for a short period. To show that the APC was absolutely conscious of the real purport of the provision, she also introduced it in Article 17 of her own party constitution. The arguments of the pro-establishment members of the party that interim chairmanship of a party is a mere assignment is only meant to bamboozle the public. That is the usual rationalization of a ruling party in Nigeria. Each time people queried activities of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP while it was in power, it was always able to mobilize some loquacious speakers to confuse everyone else. It is interesting that the APC has inherited the same trait Listening to several comments on television on the Akeredolu case, there are Nigerians who strongly believe that it would have been in order if the judiciary had penalized the APC as it did with the Zamfara governorship in 2019 when the same APC was sent packing for refusing to play the game of politics by its rules. They say the Judiciary ought to have stood with the people in deprecating political rascality in the polity. This is why some analysts commended the 3 Justices of the Supreme Court that delivered the persuasive minority ruling in the case, for calling a spade by its name. It is certainly substantive that as many as 3 Justices were not convinced that APC has done well. The party needs to watch the borderline clearance instead of relying on her legal team that says the courts never queried the idea of a governor serving as a chairman. What about earlier reports that at the Court of Appeal, the failure to join Governor Buni in the suit was said to be the undoing of the petitioner? Why was it necessary for the petitioner to join the chairman who was a mere agent of the principal that was appropriately sued? ALSO READ: Ward Congress: Lagos APC records hitch-free exercise via consensus A new development that APC needs to worry about is that known party loyalists who are leaders of the party in their own rights have become anxious after the Supreme Court ruling. For example, Senators Ita Enang and Femi Ojudu, both Presidential aides have appropriately drawn the party’s attention to the dangers ahead. In fact, the Minister of Employment, Festus Keyamo SAN, took time to present a well-considered position paper on the matter. There he drew attention to the ease with which the opposition and indeed some aggrieved APC members will in future exploit the anomaly of having a state governor serving as national chairman. Interestingly, these party leaders who are being castigated for destabilizing the party believe they are the genuine saviours. On our part, we don’t think Keyamo and others are raising a non-existent alarm. It is unfortunate that some of those urging the party to ignore Keyamo and others are lawyers; it is worse that they are accusing Keyamo of importing extraneous matters into the Supreme Court ruling. With due respect, the opinion expressed by Minister Keyamo is a redemptory early warning signal; if the APC does not follow it now, she might face a-not-too distant bitter regret. The point to be made is that the APC has cause to be alarmed at the development. It is true that the majority ruling affirmed her party as the winner of the Ondo governorship election, just as the combined position of governor/chairman of the party was not supported. The other day when Senator Kabiru Marafa opined publicly that the continued chairmanship of the party by a governor was not in tandem with the party’s constitution, no one called him to order. Someday an aggrieved party member who may find find cause to sue the party may join Buni and the court will uphold the petition to the embarrassment of the party. No one needs to be a lawyer to know that a governor cannot hold any other executive position. The rationale for this which is to ensure that a governor concentrates on governance and not to be unnecessarily distracted by other functions is self-explicit. It is for the same reason that governors enjoy the immunity clause in our constitution which protects them from litigation while in office. According to the clause, no judicial proceedings shall be instituted or continued against a governor during his period of office; he can also neither be arrested nor compelled to appear in person before any court on any issue. APC members who feel there is nothing wrong with a governor serving also as their national chairman are unwittingly calling for the abrogation of Section 308 of our constitution which protects governors from being distracted through time wasting litigations. This is because it is nonsensical to constitutionally stop everyone from distracting governors are comfortable with self-distraction If our constitution says a governor shall not hold any other executive post, there is no need to find convenient arguments to make a governor the chairman of a party. If the constitution says the media shall make government accountable to the people, as it did in its section 22, it is not in the public interest for those in government to repress the same media thereby making it impossible for anyone to make government accountable to the people. If the constitution says the electoral body shall be completely in charge of elections, law makers empowered to make laws should not in the guise of lawmaking usurp the power of an independent electoral body that the constitution expressly says should not be supervised by any other person or authority. It is because these recognizable unambiguous provisions of our constitution are breached at will by the political class that some Nigerians have continued to believe that no constitution can work in our clime. Vanguard News Nigeria

Hushpuppi Scandal: Abba Kyari Assembles Team Of lawyers, Threatens To Expose Other Police Officers If Extradited BY SAHARAREPORTERS

Kyari is also lobbying the Nigeria Police Force starting with the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba Embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, on Friday assembled a team of lawyers to fight off his looming arrest and extradition by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States, which appears to be hell bent in returning with the alleged fraudulent officer. SaharaReporters learnt that Kyari is also lobbying the Nigeria Police Force starting with the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, and threatening to expose other top police officers who have benefitted from his largesse, should he be handed over to the FBI and extradited. SaharaReporters gathered that Kyari, whose links with serial internet fraudster, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, alias Hushpuppi, were becoming too evident to deny, warned that he would expose the “dirty jobs” he had done for past and present Inspector-Generals of Police as well as some political elites in the country, if they did nothing to stop his extradition. “There was a stormy meeting on Friday at the Inspector-General of Police’s office between the IGP and police authorities and the FBI agents. Kyari on his part is threatening that many senior officers benefited from his ‘generosity’ and if he’s betrayed, he would expose them. “He’s now got a team of lawyers. Abba Kyari is still being assured by the police hierarchy that he would not be extradited to the US. He has warned that if he is extradited, the current and past IGPs and members of the political elites he provided support for and assisted for dirty jobs will all be exposed," a top source told SaharaReporters. SaharaReporters also reported exclusively that Kyari was given till next week to formally respond to the allegations till his extradition to the US would be decided by the police authorities. SaharaReporters since Thursday in several reports on Kyari exposed how Hushpuppi claimed to have offered bribes to the top police officer, going by court documents that were ordered unsealed. The United States Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, had also issued an arrest warrant against Kyari for his alleged links to Hushpuppi, who is standing trial for various offences that include internet fraud and money laundering. The court documents also outlined a dispute among members of the Hushpuppi conspiracy, which allegedly prompted him to arrange to have an individual identified as ‘co-conspirator’ Kelly Chibuzor Vincent, jailed in Nigeria by DCP Kyari. According to the affidavit, “Kyari is a highly decorated deputy commissioner of the Nigeria Police Force who is alleged to have arranged for Vincent to be arrested and jailed at Abbas’ behest, and then sent Abbas photographs of Vincent after his arrest. “Kyari also allegedly sent Abbas bank account details for an account into which Abbas could deposit payment for Vincent’s arrest and imprisonment.” The Inspector-General of Police has ordered an internal review of the United States’ authorities’ allegations against Kyari.

Recalled envoy, diplomat arrive today, Indonesia defends assault by Adelani Adepegba

Nigerian diplomat, the aggressor, elbowed immigration official – Ambassador THE Nigerian High Commissioner to Indonesia, Usman Ogar and a diplomat, Abdulrrahman Ibrahim, who was assaulted by immigration officers in the South East Asian country, will arrive in the country today. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this to The PUNCH on Wednesday as the Indonesian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Usra Harahap, told the Minister of Foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, in Abuja that the Nigerian diplomat was the aggressor during his (Ibrahim) encounter with some immigration officers. The PUNCH had on Wednesday reported that Ibrahim was assaulted in a car by some Indonesian immigration officials in Jakarta. The August 7 incident had sparked a diplomatic row between Nigeria and the Indonesian authorities with the Federal Government recalling Ogar for consultation, while threatening a review of the bilateral relations between the two nations. The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Esther Sunsuwa, in an interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday, said, “The Federal Government will make its position known after consulting with the recalled Nigerian envoy expected to arrive in the country along with Ibrahim on Thursday (today).” Recall that the minister had on Monday summoned Harahap over the assault of the Nigerian diplomat in Jakarta. Our correspondent on Wednesday obtained a copy of the Indonesian envoy’s presentation to Onyeama during the Monday meeting. Giving an account of the incident, the envoy disclosed that the immigration officers from South Jakarta Immigration Office were carrying out surveillance on foreigners when they asked Ibrahim for identification but the diplomat allegedly refused to identify himself or tender his passport. He stated “By that time, they met with Mr Ibrahim, and politely requested him to show his travel document. He answered that his passport was in his room. “Then the officer asked again, ‘Can we see your travel document to check the residence permit and if there are no problems with the document, so you may continue your activities “Mr Ibrahim was not willing to show his passport and said to the officer, ‘you will know who really I am and be careful on that. “Instead of showing his identity card, Mr Ibrahim was angry and said, ‘Just arrest me and you will regret to know who really I am.’ “The officer said, ‘We will not detain you further sir, if you can show us your identity card.’ Then Mr Ibrahim said, ‘Where is your car, I’ll come to your office.’ “On the way to the immigration office in South Jakarta, several incidents happened. Mr Ibrahim elbowed the immigration officer, Mr Laode Hauzan Baidi, who was sitting next to him until Mr Laode’s lip was bleeding. “This led to other officers restraining him from attacking another officer during the trip.” Explaining that Ibrahim later showed his identity card, Harahap further said, “As of February 22, 2021, there were 180 Nigerian citizens in Indonesian Immigration Detention Centre, who were undergoing process for deportation.” The envoy further said that the issue was resolved when the Nigerian high commissioner to Indonesia arrived at the South Jakarta Immigration Office around 6:30 pm, together with the staff and his police guard from the Directorate of Security of Vital Objects of Police of the Greater Jakarta Metro Area He stated that the officer injured by Ibrahim lodged a complaint about the attack on him but did not process it further because the matter had been resolved. When our correspondent asked if Indonesia would sanction the officials involved in the incident as demanded by Onyeama, the spokesman for the Indonesian High Commission in Nigeria, Mr Zaenur Rofid, said investigation into the incident was still ongoing. Foreign relations professionals laud FG, say Indonesian officials must be sacked Meanwhile, the Association of Foreign Relations Professionals of Nigeria has commended the recall of the Nigerian high commissioner to Indonesia by the FG. In a statement on Wednesday titled, ‘Undiplomatic and uncivilized treatment of a Nigerian diplomat in Indonesia’, AFRPN President, Amb Gani Lawal, called for the sacking of the immigration officials. The association comprising serving and retired ambassadors asked the Indonesian high commissioner to return to Jakarta “until satisfactory explanation and necessary restitutive steps are taken by Indonesian authorities to assuage frayed nerves.” Similarly, the Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria condemned the attack by the Indonesian officials on the diplomatic agent. It said, “The actions of the Indonesian officials represent a modern-day display of gangsterism and inhuman behaviour towards a fellow human being, even if he was not a diplomatic agent, and must therefore be met with robust response from the Federal Government of Nigeria through the application of measures that may include a complete reassessment of Nigeria’s diplomatic relations with Indonesia. “ARCAN rejects the statement credited to the Head of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of Indonesia which makes no sense and an obvious attempt to cover up the barbaric action of the Immigration officials, and a clear indication of the unacceptable manner foreigners, legal or illegal, are treated in the country.” PUNCH.

Twitter has agreed to set up Nigeria office in 2022 – FG by Stephen Angbulu

The Federal Government has said the social networking site, Twitter, has agreed to set of Nigerian office in 2022. It added that the over two-month ban on the social networking site will soon be lifted as it had reached an agreement with Twitter in most areas of misunderstanding. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this on Wednesday while answering questions from State House correspondents after a meeting of the Federal Executive Council presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Recall that on June 5, 2021, the Federal Government banned Twitter after it deleted tweets made by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), warning the Indigenous People of Biafra that they “will be treated in the language they understand.” The government had interpreted the action as discourteous, accusing the social media platform of allowing misinformation and fake news. Mohammed on Wednesday said, “I want to say that the end for an amicable solution is very much in sight. “We quite appreciate the anxiety of Nigerians, I just want to assure you that we have made tremendous progress. “As a matter of fact, is to the credit of Twitter that they admitted that they’ve never received any kind of informed or detailed communication from any country as they have received from us. Not only did they promise that they were going to look into it, but we made very clear what we wanted from Twitter.” “One of the conditions that we set was that Twitter, in line with Nigeria’s Companies and Allied Matters Act, should establish a presence in Nigeria with registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission. “We also asked that Twitter shall be mandated to employ a designated country representative. We also asked Twitter to register with relevant regulatory authorities like NIPDA, like NCC, broadcasting commission.” The minister added that the Federal Government also asked Twitter to commit itself to working with the Federal Inland Revenue Service saying, “If you make money from Nigeria, you pay taxes according to Nigeria laws.” Mohammed said on the issue of a Nigeria-based office, Twitter agreed, but maintained that the “earliest it can establish that is 2022. We have that everything will be ironed out with Twitter within a few days or weeks.” He said the FG’s committee negotiating with Twitter would meet on the agreement soon to make recommendations. PUNCH.

Neymar, Pochettino convinced me to join PSG –Messi Agency Report

Lionel Messi revealed Neymar and Mauricio Pochettino played major roles in his move to Paris Saint-Germain. The 34-year-old, who left Barcelona last week in a shock exit via a free transfer, took part in a press conference at the Parc des Princes before he was presented to the club’s raucous supporters and ultras outside the stadium. Reports claimed former Barcelona teammate Neymar was messaging Messi continuously over recent months over a move to France, with the former Barcelona captain revealing that he was influenced by the Brazilian winger. Speaking about Neymar, Messi revealed at the press conference, “I know him well. We were apart before but I think we are better together. Neymar was one of the reasons I came here. “I know all of my team mates though. We’ve all met many times before. I can’t wait to play with the team-mates that I have, we have the same objectives.” Messi also provided insight into his conversation with PSG head coach Pochettino, whom he telephoned before deciding to sign his contract with the French giants. “The coach and coaching staff had a big part in the negotiations,’ Messi claimed. “When I saw it was possible, I spoke with him (Pochettino) straight away. I’ve known him for a while. “I spoke to him, the fact we are two Argentines helped a lot. We spoke, it went well to begin with. The technical staff at PSG helped my decision.” The Argentine was emotional in his Barcelona farewell press conference on Sunday and revealed in his PSG introduction on Wednesday that he wants to return to the club he played over 700 games for and won 35 major trophies with, “Everything that has happened to me this last week has been hard, quick and emotional. “I can’t believe what I lived and experienced in Barcelona but I feel impatient and happy at this new life with my family as well. I am very happy. This whole week I have gone through ups and downs but we are processing it everyday little by little. “It would be good to return to Barcelona. But I can’t wait to play here as well. “Everyone knows that I left Barcelona a few days ago, it was tough because I was there for several years but since I arrived here I felt a great happiness and a great eagerness to start training. “I can’t wait to join my team-mates the head coach and to start this new stage. I want to thank (sporting director) Leonardo, the president and all the club for the way this happened. “After the press release from Barcelona they (PSG) took their position and it was very quick. It did not take long, it was a difficult decision and I want to thank everybody at PSG for what they did for me.”