Connect with us

Latest News

Defence Agency Quizzes Ex-navy Commodore Over TV Interview On Terrorists

Published

on

Defence Agency Quizzes Ex-navy Commodore Over TV Interview On Terrorists

After hours of interrogation by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA ), Commodore Kunle Olawunmi (retd) was released on Tuesday.

The DIA summoned Olawunmi over statements credited to him that Boko Haram terrorists were being sponsored by governors, senators and some officials in the presidency.

He had earlier arrived at the DIA headquarters in company of his lawyers, Femi Falana, SAN, and Abubakar Marshal, at about 4:00 p.m.

It was learnt that the session between both parties lasted about three hours.

Contacted last night on the outcome of the meeting, Falana, said: “I confirm that it was a friendly chat between Commodore Kunle Olawunmi and his colleagues. The chat ended a few minutes ago.

READ ALSO: Defence Agency Declares Ex-navy Commodore Wanted Over Anti-Buhari Interview

“I was allowed to represent the retired military officer during the friendly chat in strict compliance with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.”

Olawunmi had in a recent interview with Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, also said the current government had failed to show the political will to go after the sponsors of Boko Haram.

The retired Commodore, a professor of Global Security Studies, who said he was a member of the Intelligence Brief at Defence Headquarters during the leadership of the then Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin (retd), had said in the interview: “I told General Olonisakin then that the centre of this problem cannot be solved the same way we solved the problem of Niger Delta.

‘’The Niger Delta problem was solved during (Ex-President Umaru) Yar’Adua basically by me and I told them that we can’t use that same template for Boko Haram.

“I told General Olonisakin to look at the centre of gravity of the problem. I was made a member of the committee in 2016-2017 including (Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim) Attahiru that died.

“I told them that the centre of gravity of Boko Haram in Nigeria is the sponsors of the programme. It was beyond us because the job we needed to do was kinetic but we cannot resolve issues of sponsors of Boko Haram that were in Buhari’s government that we know them.

‘’That was why we couldn’t pursue that aspect that could have resolved the issue because we need to arrest people.

“Recently, 400 people were gathered as sponsors of Boko Haram, why is it that the Buhari government has refused to try them? Why can’t this government bring them to trial if not that they are partisan and part of the charade that is going on?

“You remember this Boko Haram issue started in 2012 and I was in the military intelligence at that time. We arrested those people. My organisation actually conducted interrogation and they (suspects) mentioned names.

READ ALSO: Sponsors Of Boko Haram Terrorists In Buhari’s Govt – Ex-navy Commodore

“I can’t come on air and start mentioning names of people that are presently in government that I know that the boys that we arrested mentioned. Some of them are governors now, some of them are in the Senate, some of them are in Aso Rock.

“Why should a government decide to cause this kind of embarrassment and insecurity to the sense of what happened yesterday (Tuesday at the NDA)?” he queried, adding that terrorist financiers want to turn Nigeria to Taliban type of country.

Following media reports last weekend alleging that the retired intelligence officer had been declared wanted over his comments, Defence Headquarters reiterated that Commodore Kunle Olawunmi was never declared wanted.

DHQ in a statement had said Olawunmi was only invited to shed light on information he provided on Channel Television on tackling terrorism.

The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General Benjamin Sawyer, had insisted in a statement that the informal invitation was harmless.

 

Read more authentic news on our social media platforms

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Latest News

Senate Confirms Tunji Olaopa As Federal Civil Service Commission Chairman, 11 Others As Board Members

Published

on

Prof. Tunji Olaopa, the new Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission .

The Senate has confirmed the appointment of a professor of public administration ,Tunji Olaopa, as Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).

The upper legislative chamber also approved 11 others as members of the FCSC representing various states of the Federation.
This followed the presentation and adoption of a report of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service by the Chairman Sen. Oluwole Cyril (APC- Ekiti) at the Committee of the Whole on Tuesday.

Presenting the report, Oluwole urged the Senate to consider the request of President Bola Tinubu for the confirmation of the nominees for appointment as Chairman and members of FCSC.

He said the request was in pursuance to section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constituion of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

Oluwole disclosed that the committee during the secreening of the nominees received documents from the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate).
He listed the documents to include resumes, police clearance reports and asset declaration documents of the nominees.

According to him, the committee deliberated on the qualifications, experience and competency of the national nominees and their suitability for the appointment.

He said the nominees were eminently qualified for the appointment, saying that there was no adverse security reports and petition against them.

He said the nominees possessed the requisite qualifications, professional experience, competence and capacity to further ensure success of the FCSC.

He therefore urged the senate to approve their nominations. The Senate, thereafter confirmed their appointments.

Those confirmed as members of FCSC include:

Dr.Dauda Ibrahim Jalo representing Adamawa ,Gombe and Taraba states; Ededet Eyoma, representing Akwa-Ibom and Cross River states; and Dr.Chambalin Nweke, representing Anambra, Ebonyi and, Enugu states.

Others are Rufus Godwin representing Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states; and Dr. Adamu Hussein representing FCT and Niger;
Aminu Nabegu representing Jigawa and Kano states; Hindatu Abdullahi, representing Kaduna and Katsina states; and Shehu Aliyu representing Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states.

They also include Odekunle Rukiyat representing Aduke ,Kogi and Kwara states; Sarah Sosan, representing Lagos and,Ogun; and Dr.Festus Oyebade representing Osun and Oyo.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Ogun To Distribute 5000 C Of O On Friday

Published

on

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun

The Ogun State government will, on Friday, December 1, distribute 5000 Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) to beneficiaries.

A statement issued on Tuesday by the office of the Director General, Bureau of Lands and Survey, said Governor Dapo Abiodun would present the certificates to beneficiaries, thus enhancing the value of their properties, as they can be used as collaterals, while house and landowners can also take advantage of the state’s proximity to Lagos to maximise value.

The beneficiaries are drawn from the Ogun State Land Administration and Revenue Management System (OLARMS) and the immediate pass administration’s Home Owners Charter (HOC).

The event will be held at the Arcade Ground, Governor’s Office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.

According to the statement, beneficiaries would be mandated to present valid means of identification.

They will also be accredited by the Bureau of Lands & Survey before the commencement of the distribution.

“The present administration in the state embarked on the exercise aimed at authenticating land documents of all house owners in the state with a view to adding value to the properties and getting the owners to formalize and benefit maximally from them.

“Additional 10,000 certificates of occupancy are in the pipeline for distribution within the next one year, urging interested applicants to take advantage of the opportunity,” the statement read.

Continue Reading

Latest News

TASUED Convocation: Abiodun Gifts Three Best Graduating Students N2m Each

Published

on

L-R: Best graduating student (2021-2022) from the Department of Biology, Elibe Patricia; best graduating student (2020-2021), from the Department of Mathematics, Sunday Oluwafemi; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, best graduating student from the Department of Mathematics (2022-2023), Sanyaolu Mercy and the First-Class student of Mathematics under the indigenous work-study program, Okewale Nelson during the 13th,14th and 15th combined convocation of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijebu-Ode on Tuesday.

The three best graduating students of the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijebu-Ode, representing the 2020/2021, 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 academic years, have been awarded N2 million each by Governor Dapo Abiodun for their academic feats.

The cash award was announced on Tuesday by the Governor during the 13th,14th, and 15th convocation ceremonies of the institution.

He also announced N500,000 to the best graduating students in each of the colleges for the three years from 2020 to 2023.

The recipients are Sunday Oluwafemi, with a GPA of 4.89 (2020/2021); Obadina Patricia Elibe with GPA of 4.89 (2021/2022) and Mercy Deborah Sanyaolu with GPA of 4.86 (2022/2023).

The governor announced a cash of N250,000 to a first-class student, Okewale Nelson, who, despite taking advantage of the ingenious work-study program of the institution, was able to earn a first class degree in mathematics.

Abiodun disclosed that the feat recorded by Nelson has shown that working while studying is not a deterrent to academic success, calling on other students to take advantage of the program and go the same way.

The governor, while empathizing with the students over a recent robbery attack on some of their colleagues residing off campus, said that his administration would root out those obstructing the peace being enjoyed in the state.

He noted that his government remains and maintains a zero tolerance policy for criminal activities, even as he warned of dire consequences on anyone caught disrupting the peace of the state.

Governor Abiodun urged the graduating students to reciprocate the gift of learning and character modelling that the institution has bestowed on them, noting that his administration remains committed to creating an enabling environment for growth and development aimed at making the state economically stable for all.

Abiodun promised that his administration would continue to work diligently to the purpose of utilising the vocational courses acquired during their time in school.

He charged the graduands not to allow the fear of failure to deter them from taking the opportunities, noting that the path ahead may be demanding, but challenges are stepping stone to greatness.

In his address, the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oluwole Banjo disclosed that 12,700 students graduated in the 13th,14th, and 15th combined convocation ceremony, while 329 graduated in the postgraduate college.

He also said that 113 students graduated with first-class honours.

In his remarks, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council; Prof Rahamon Bello, noted that the institution has developed a reputation as being dynamic, accessible and responsive to change.

Continue Reading

Top Stories