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APC CHAIRMAN OYEGUN BETRAYS THE PARTY FOR PERSONAL GAIN

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10 years ago

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According to party insiders, APC Chairman John Oyegun is actively betraying the wishes of the majority of the party by refusing to take a principled stand against the anti-party actions of Senate President Saraki and House Speaker Dogara.

Most party insiders are perplexed by the ambivalent attitude of Oyegun to the obvious and public insult that Saraki and Dogara committed against the party and Oyegun as Chairman of the party.  As one member stated, ‘It is as if the man has no backbone or self respect. When he should move, he sits down. When he should  talk, he  is mute. When he should make a decision, he sleeps and after finally making a decision he takes days to implement something that could be done in minutes.’ Party sources state that Oyegun’s footdragging has been a primary cause of the crisis rocking the party in the National Assembly.

From the beginning of the nomination process for the Senate Presidency and House Speakership, Oyegun failed to assert strong leadership. ‘He seemed more the led than the leader,’ according to a group of frustrated APC legislators.  He temporized for days when time was of the essence in determining the procedure to select the NASS leadership.  He was always ambivalent to bringing the matter to a vote among APC lawmakers and reaching a final conclusion.  ‘It was as if he was hedging for more time, but for what purpose?’

Inside observers state that the delays proved decisive. The slow pace  gave Saraki and Dogara  precious time to perfect their plans with the PDP lawmakers to capture the leadership slots.  Without the wasted days, the men would not have been able to reach their intricate deals with the PDP. They would have had to submit themselves to the internal party democracy and discipline of the APC, according to an  NEC member.  ‘If Saraki owes the PDP the most for his rise to Senate Presidency against the will and decision of the party, the person Saraki is most beholden to for this odd gift is our very own chairman,’ argued an APC senator who claimed to be thoroughly disgusted with the wiles of the Chairman.  This man is with us but not for us, added the lawmaker.

One lawmaker stated that Oyegun had to be forced to hold the mock elections that elected Lawan and Gbajabiamila as the party’s choices for the two top NASS offices. If you recall, Oyegun held his head in his hands during the entire process as if he objected to the outcome of the vote. Oyegun was not happy with the result and thus never tried to actively assert the decisions made.

After Saraki and Dogara rebelled by aligning with PDP NASS members, Oyegun remains strangely mum and unmoved to the harm being done to his and the party’s  authority. ‘He took the rebuff too lightly and quickly as if he almost welcomed it,’ recounted a member of the party secretariat.  Oyegun seemed to be following a script that we did not know and seemed to working toward an objective that none of us understood,  lamented a party official.

When Oyegun had a chance to reassert himself in the appointment of party positions of Majority leader and Party Whips in both chambers, he returned to his signature delay mode.  He called for endless meetings and consultations that did nothing but waste time yet reached no conclusion. It was only after APC governors intervened and applied heavy pressure did he write a letter to the Senate President and House Speaker naming the party’s choices for Majority leader and the other posts. Even then, the letter was half-hearted, oddly brief and strangely passive in tone. It was as if he wrote it under compulsion because he had been backed into a corner by the governors and not by conviction.  Once again Saraki and Dogara rebuffed him and once again Oyegun took the insult as if he asked for it.

‘We no longer understand our chairman. It is as if he was there for our electoral victory so that he can preside over the dismantling of the party post election,’ alleged one party member intimate with recent events.

The majority of party members are angry at the ways things are going. They want to instill party discipline, They especially want Saraki removed from the Senate Presidency or suspended from the party. However, Oyegun is acting otherwise.  One member said that ‘Oyegun has become good at turning the other cheek when insulted by Saraki and Dogara because he has become two-faced.’

Oyegun has sounded out many party members. He has received petitions and recommendations from a wide spectrum of the party. The opinion is the same. Saraki and Dogara  need to be disciplined for this unprecedented misconduct. However, Oyegun refuses to say a harsh word or even lift his voice.

One incensed party member stated the opinion of the rank and file: ‘ events in the NASS go beyond Saraki and Dogara. These men would not have dared such rebellion unless backed by strong forces wanting to continue business as usual.  The forces of reaction and unjust privilege now conspire to thwart the progressive change and reform the electorate endorsed in the last election. These people never wanted President Buhari to emerge and have been fighting him from the beginning. They pretended to ally with him only when his victory seemed likely. They came close not to help but to hinder his program. People like Saraki and Dogara are in this camp. Having rode the APC to victory, they now seek to destroy the party because of its progressive intent to fight corruption and bring broadly shared prosperity through fundamental economic reform. That is what this fight is about. It is a fight for the soul of the party and for the fate of the nation. ‘

Other APC members suggest something more mercenary is also at play.  ‘We have credible evidence that high-ranking members of party have sold their souls to Saraki and Dogara. Oyegun has been implicated in taking money in order to slow and distort the party machinery so that Saraki and his team have time to outflank us, declared one APC senior official.
‘We are not surprised by Saraki and Dogara. A snake will do what a snake will do. However, we are extremely saddened by Oyegun’s conduct. We thought we had a man of integrity. We have found out now that we have a man who will act in accordance to the whims and will of the highest bidders. If he continues, he will go down in history as one of the group of confederates who conspired to impair change and sink the nation further into a hole,’ said the official.  In helping to break the Buhari government and this party, Oyegun and others are breaking sacred vows made to the Nigerian people. There is no amount of money worth that. However, Oyegun does not apparently think so, concluded one APC lawmaker

By- Maxwell Ighado

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Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact saharaweekly@yahoo.com

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Supreme Court Slams Door on Fred Ajudua’s Bail, Orders Immediate Return to Prison in $1.43M Fraud Trial

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4 hours ago

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May 10, 2025

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Supreme Court Slams Door on Fred Ajudua's Bail, Orders Immediate Return to Prison in $1.43M Fraud Trial

Supreme Court Slams Door on Fred Ajudua’s Bail, Orders Immediate Return to Prison in $1.43M Fraud Trial

 In a seismic ruling that sends shockwaves through Nigeria’s legal and social elite, the Supreme Court on Friday revoked the bail earlier granted to flamboyant Lagos socialite and alleged fraudster Fred Ajudua, ordering his immediate remand in prison custody.

Delivering a unanimous judgment, a five-man panel of the apex court dismantled the bail granted by the Court of Appeal in 2018, declaring it a judicial overreach steeped in procedural irregularity.

Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, who read the lead judgment, minced no words as she condemned the appellate court’s decision, declaring it “an exercise in futility” after it had already ruled Ajudua’s appeal incompetent.

“The lower court, at that point, had no jurisdiction to proceed further. It had become functus officio,” she ruled, restoring the earlier decision of trial Judge Mojisola Dada who denied Ajudua bail in July 2018.

The decision marks a major victory for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which had petitioned the apex court to overturn what it described as a flawed and unjustified release of Ajudua—an accused at the center of a staggering $1.43 million international fraud.

The case, which has dragged for decades, centers around allegations that Ajudua, in concert with an accomplice still at large, duped a Palestinian businessman, Ziad Abu Zalaf, of millions under the guise of executing shady contracts backed by forged documents from the Central Bank of Nigeria and NNPC.

The scandal has long been a symbol of Nigeria’s struggle with high-profile financial crimes and delayed justice. With this ruling, the Supreme Court not only nullified the appeal court’s decision but also ordered a swift resumption of Ajudua’s long-stalled trial before Justice Dada of the Lagos High Court.

The EFCC had charged Ajudua in a 12-count indictment that included conspiracy to obtain money under false pretenses and forgery. Despite citing health concerns, Ajudua’s attempt to evade prosecution through bail has now been effectively shut down.

Legal observers say the ruling reasserts the authority of trial courts and reinforces the Supreme Court’s intolerance for procedural abuse in high-profile criminal cases.

“This appeal succeeds and it is hereby allowed,” Justice Nwosu-Iheme declared. “The respondent is to be remanded in prison custody.”

The court further directed that the matter be reassigned immediately for continuation of trial “within the shortest possible time.”

With the bail revoked and trial back on track, all eyes now return to the courtroom—where a case that began over three decades ago may finally see resolution.

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#FreeVDM Trends as EFCC Secures Court Order to Remand VeryDarkMan Over Alleged Cybercrime

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4 days ago

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May 6, 2025

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#FreeVDM Trends as EFCC Secures Court Order to Remand VeryDarkMan Over Alleged Cybercrime

#FreeVDM Trends as EFCC Secures Court Order to Remand VeryDarkMan Over Alleged Cybercrime

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained a court order to remand controversial social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), pending the conclusion of an investigation into alleged cybercrime offences.

VDM was dramatically arrested last Friday outside a bank in the Wuse area of Abuja by a combined team of EFCC operatives, Department of State Services (DSS) officers, and the Nigeria Police Force. Eyewitnesses say the activist was apprehended moments after leaving the bank, sparking immediate online outrage.

The arrest has ignited a social media firestorm, with the hashtag #FreeVDM dominating trends across platforms throughout the weekend. Many critics argue that the arrest is yet another attempt by authorities to intimidate dissenting voices online.

“The remand order was granted to allow us to complete our investigation and finalize the charges,” a senior EFCC official told reporters, noting that charges would be filed under the Cybercrimes Act once investigations are complete.

Sources familiar with the case say the EFCC is building a case focused on alleged violations involving online financial misconduct, which fall under the commission’s purview.

As of Monday morning, VDM remains in EFCC custody, with his legal team led by rights activist Deji Adeyanju confirming efforts to gain access to him and prepare a legal response.

“We are seeking to visit our client and are reviewing the legal implications of his arrest,” Adeyanju said in a statement.

Despite the mounting public interest and widespread speculation, the EFCC has yet to release an official statement detailing the arrest or outlining the specific charges VDM may face.

The arrest of VeryDarkMan adds to growing concerns over press freedom and digital expression in Nigeria, where several social media commentators have recently faced legal action for controversial posts.

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David Abioye Begins New Chapter with Launch of Living Word Conquerors Global Assembly

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5 days ago

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May 5, 2025

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David Abioye Begins New Chapter with Launch of Living Word Conquerors Global Assembly

David Abioye Launches New Church, Living Word Conquerors Global Assembly, Amid Jubilant Crowd

Former Vice President and retired pastor of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Abioye, has officially inaugurated his new ministry, Living Word Conquerors Global Assembly, marking a new chapter in his over four-decade-long spiritual journey.

The launch took place today, Sunday, May 4, 2025, during the ministry’s first Sunday service, which saw a massive turnout of enthusiastic worshippers. The atmosphere was charged with excitement as congregants gathered to witness what Abioye described as the “manifestation of God’s eternal purpose.”

In a passionate address during the inaugural service, Abioye emphasized that the establishment of the new church was not the result of public opinion or personal ambition, but a divine assignment birthed from deep spiritual conviction.

“May I make it very clear that the inauguration of this assembly is not in response to demands of people to start a church,” Abioye declared. “But by the emergence of God’s eternal purpose, ordained from the foundation of the word, which is just coming to light at His own time.”

The renowned cleric explained that the Living Word Conquerors Global Assembly is founded on divine direction and is dedicated to the spiritual development, edification, and victory of believers worldwide.

Clarifying his role in the new ministry, Abioye stated that he does not view himself as someone attempting to fulfill the entire Great Commission alone, but rather as a messenger raised for a specific divine assignment within God’s broader agenda.

“In the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, for the spiritual development, edification, and triumph of the saints globally… this assembly is hereby inaugurated,” he declared, drawing a resounding “Amen” from the congregation.

The launch follows Abioye’s retirement from Living Faith Church in October 2024, alongside Pastor Thomas Aremu, after the church implemented a policy setting a mandatory retirement age for senior leaders. Abioye bowed out of active service at the age of 63, concluding a distinguished ministry career under the leadership of Bishop David Oyedepo.

As the curtain lifts on this new ministry, many see it not as a departure from Abioye’s legacy, but as a continuation of his divine calling—this time under a new banner with a global vision.

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