Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
The EFCC has launched a manhunt for a former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Maurice Iwu – He is wanted over a N23.29 billion election bribery scandal
An EFCC source said they have been on his trail but he has been evading arrest Some INEC officials have been arrested in in connection with massive bribery Maurice Iwu, a former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with a N23.29billion poll bribery scandal.
The Nation reports that the former INEC chairman allegedly drew up the strategies on how the bribery could be perfected. According to a source in the EFCC, the anti-graft agency has been on his trail in the last two weeks but he has managed to evade arrest. The source said: “Our operatives are still looking for him. We have put other security agencies on the alert.
“He is wanted in connection with the N23.29 poll bribery perpetrated by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.” The ex-INEC boss was said to have been rewarded handsomely for his role. INEC releases additional guidelines for conduct of elections During investigation, the EFCC discovered that the N23.29billion was shared to electoral officials in all the 36 states, some individuals and Non-Governmental Organisations, which deployed election monitors. There are indications that many INEC officials and ad hoc workers benefitted from the bribe. Two weeks ago, the anti-graft agency arrested some top INEC officials in connection with massive bribery during the 2015 elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the 2015 election in Rivers State, Gesila Khan, was arrested for allegedly collecting N185.8m while one Fidelia Omoile who was the INEC electoral officer in the Isoko-South local government area of Delta state, allegedly got N112.4million. Some sensitive election materials meant for the 2015 presidential and senatorial polls were reportedly retrieved from the homes of some of the suspects.
Also recovered were many documents on financial and landed properties from the homes of the embattled officials. Some of the documents include receipts of payments made into their accounts.
Investigation carried out by the commission revealed that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Rivers, Delta and Akwa Ibom states received N675.1 million.
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