SENATOR IKE EKWEREMADU, WIFE ARRESTED IN UK, CHARGED FOR ORGAN HARVESTING; COURT DENIES THEM BAIL
Ike Ekweremadu And Wife
AJM NEWS
An Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court in the United Kingdom has denied bail to Ike Ekweremadu, former Deputy Senate President, and Beatrice, his wife, who were arrested over attempted harvesting of organs of a child.
It was earlier reported that the Metropolitan Police arrested the Nigerian couple over an attempt to harvest the organ of an unidentified child.
When he was arraigned on Thursday, the court refused to grant him bail but ordered that he should be remanded till July 7.
In a statement confirming the arrest, the Metropolitan Police had said the pair were charged to court on Thursday following an investigation by the police’ specialist crime team.
“Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu, 55 (10.9.66) of Nigeria is charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.
“Ike Ekweremadu, 60 (12.05.62) of Nigeria is charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting. They have both been remanded in custody and will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court later today.
“A child has been safeguarded and we are working closely with partners on continued support”, the statement read.
NO APOLOGIES, PLEASE! On Peter Obi’s Supposed ‘Stinginess’….
Labour Party Logo
Written By The Wife Of Ikemba Nnewi, Eze Igbo Gburugburu, Iyom Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu
AJM NEWS
Sometime in 2009, ‘Mr’(as he preferred to be addressed) Peter Obi, Governor Of Anambra State at the time, visited Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and myself at Dallas, Texas. He came to deliver a get well message from Dr Goodluck Jonathan and was billed to attend a black tie event at the Dallas Marriot. Curiously, he flew into Dallas airport with one small carry on luggage which he insisted on wheeling around himself, and on getting to our residence requested to freshen up. He opened his carry on, filled with files and paperwork and a few toiletries and an extra shirt, when the Ikemba and I asked if he was expecting another item of luggage, and he said no. ‘Then, what will you be wearing to the event tonight?’, we inquired. It was at that point that it struck him that he couldn’t show up in his casuals at such a ceremony.
I insisted on taking him to the luxury men’s emporium at Nieman Marcus to buy a smart black suit. When we got there, he was busy doing the Dollar to Naira currency conversions. The suit that was a perfect match for him was a dapper Tom Ford suit with a price tag of 3,985 dollars plus tax. He did the calculations and told me ‘Do you know how many students this amount of money can train in Nigeria?’ I reminded him that he was the governor as well as the special guest, and for the caliber of guests expected at that evening’s occasion, including the mayor, senators and captains of conglomerates amongst others, he needed to be dressed in top form.
To cut the story short, he refused to pay what he termed ’that outrageous price’ for the Tom Ford suit and that was how we ended up at Steinmart where he agreed to pay a more acceptable price of 220 dollars, tax inclusive, for a basic men’s suit which he was happy to wear to that evening’s event.
What struck me, was that as we were on the way to the airport to see him off for his return flight back to Nigeria, he reached for his pocket where he brought out an envelope of crisp hundred dollar bills. The amount in the envelope was 3,800 dollars. He said ‘ Anyanwu, this is the balance of the money I would have paid for the ‘Ford’ suit. If the label on the suit was ‘Peter Obi’, I am wondering if anybody in America will pay that amount for it. I have deducted the amount we paid for that suit we eventually bought. Please use this balance for your Charity foundation to help those in actual need. I trust you will do so’. We all laughed heartily. Vintage Peter Obi !
The eventual beneficiaries of that Largese were Madam Theresa Agbo, a yam seller who became penniless and displaced when her Yam shed was gutted by fire, Callistus Egbe who was bedridden due to illness, and needed help with the school fees of his young children, and the Mgbemena family of six who were thrown out of their one room accommodation (which we subsequently doubled to two rooms) because their breadwinner fell upon hard times and could no longer afford the rent.
In Life, You either live by your creed or you desecrate the mould by which the Almighty created you. Any progressive nation measures an individual by his values, not his vaults. If this way of life is what is derided as ‘stinginess’ on the part of Peter Obi, then we all need to adopt this mould for a more sustainable and more humane environment.
GUNMEN ATTACK TWO CHURCHES IN KADUNA, THREE WORSHIPPERS KILLED, SEVERAL OTHERS MISSING, ON SUNDAY, 19 JUNE
Gunmen
Nigeria’s security situation appears to be worsening as the country witnessed yet another attack on churches following the killing of worshippers in Owo, a town in Ondo State.
Just two weeks after the incident in Owo, gunmen struck again, this time in Kaduna State where they attacked two churches.
The worship centres which came under attack by the gunmen believed to be bandits, today, Sunday 19 June, were Saint Moses Catholic Church and Maranatha Baptist Church – both in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.
No fewer than three people were confirmed to have lost their lives to the attacks on three communities – Ungwan Fada, Ungwan Turawa, and Ungwan Makama, all in Rubu general area of Kajuru.
Sources told Channels Television that at least two persons were injured while several others were feared missing and said to have been abducted by the bandits.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs in Kaduna, Samuel Aruwan, has confirmed the attacks on the churches.
According to him, the terrorists stormed the communities on motorcycles, beginning from Ungwan Fada, and moving into Ungwan Turawa, before Ungwan Makama and then Rubu.
Recounting the incident, Aruwan said the bandits attacked worshippers at the Maranatha Baptist Church and St Moses Catholic Church in Rubu, killing three worshippers in the attack.
He identified the victims to include the Ward Head of Ungwan Fada, Peter Madaki; the Youth Leader of Rubu, Ali Zamani, and another resident of Ungwan Fada, Elisha Ezekiel.
Similarly, the commissioner said two persons were injured in the attacks while an unspecified number of locals were kidnapped, quoting reports from the security agencies.
He said the bandits also looted shops and carted away some valuables from the villages.
Also condemning the incident, the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, expressed deep sadness over the attacks.
She condoled with the families of the victims and prayed for the repose of their souls. Balarabe also commiserated with members of the attacked churches and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured victims.
ADORATION MEMBERS PROTEST BAN ON THE MINISTRY, DEMAND FOR BISHOP’S REMOVAL
Protesting Adoration Members
Otu Obiahu AJM NEWS
Members Of Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka’s Adoration Ministry, Today Protested Against The Ban On Religious Activities At The Adoration Ministry’s Ground In Enugu.
The Angry Protesters Who Marched Around The Adoration Ground With Green Leaves In Defiance Of The Bishop’s Order, Rained Insults On Both The Bishop, Calistus Onaga And The Catholic Church, As They Were Seen Shouting “No More Onaga, No More Catholic Church. “It Is Bishop Onaga That Should Be Suspended And Not Fr. Ejike Mbaka”.
However, The Protest By Adoration Members Today Has Attracted Lots Of Reactions By Concerned Nigerians, As Many Have Condemned The Protest And Abusive Remarks At The Person Of The Bishop, While Some Blamed The Catholic Church For Not Handling Mbaka Properly When He Was “Growing Wings”, Adding That He Has Almost Grown Above The Diocese At The Moment.
One Georginia Nwakaego Said:
“Enugu diocese brought this ant infested wood into their house and upon themselves, and allowed it to fester for an unnecessary longer time than it should….
“Let them deal with whatever they are seeing now because if they had clipped Mbaka’s wings when they should have done that, this won’t be happening”.
AJM NEWS Earlier Reported That The Catholic Diocese Of Enugu Under The Lordship Of Bishop Calistus Onaga, Last Weekend Banned All Religious Activities At The Adoration Ministry’s Ground In Enugu, And Also Warned All Catholic Faithfuls And Priests To Disassociate Themselves From Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka’s Adoration Ministry, Henceforth, Due To Mbaka’s Attack On The Presidential Candidate Of The Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi.
Mbaka Had During His Wednesday Ministration Described Peter As A “Stingy Man” Who Is Not Worth Being Nigeria’s President.
CATHOLIC CHURCH BANS SERVICES AT THE ADORATION GROUND, WARNS MEMBERS AND CLERGYS TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM ADORATION MINISTRY
Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka
Otu Obiahu AJM NEWS
Catholic Diocese Of Enugu Wants Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka To Be Always OBEDIENT To Her Rules And Guidelines, As The Diocese Under The Lordship Of Bishop Calistus Onaga Bans Religious Activities At The Adoration Ministry’s Ground, Enugu, Instructs All Catholic Faithfuls And Priests To STOP Attending Any Service Of The Adoration Ministry, Henceforth.
The ban, AJM NEWS gathered was because of Mbaka’s recent vituperation against the Labour Party’s Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.
Mbaka had during his mid-week prayer activities described the Labour Party’s Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi as “a stingy man”, adding he could not be Nigeria’s president. He also said that Peter Obi was “cursed.”
Shortly after, the Catholic Diocese of Enugu disassociated from the utterances, noting that Mbaka’s attack on Obi breached Canon 220 of 1983 Code of the Canon Law that prohibited anyone from illegitimately harming the good name of a person.
In a letter Bishop Onaga personally signed, which was addressed to ‘All the Clery, Religious and Lay Faithful in the Catholic Diocese of Enugu’, he banned them from having anything to do with the Adoration Ministry.
He said in the letter that Mbaka, having refused to heed to the Church’s persistent directives, “and in fulfillment of my pastoral duties as the Chief Shepherd, I hereby prohibit all Catholics (clergy, religious and lay faithful) henceforth from attending all religious and liturgical activities of the Catholic Adoration Ministry until the due canonical process initiated by the Diocese is concluded.”
While noting that his decision was based on the fact that Mbaka’s teaching and utterances were not consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church, he enjoined “all Christian faithful to keep praying for Fr. Mbaka.”
The letter banning Catholics going to Adoration Ministry reads,
“To All the Clergy, Religious and Lay Faithful in the Catholic Diocese of Enugu
“Dear Msgri, Frs., Bros. and Srs.. Dear People of God,
PASTORAL INJUNCTION ON ATTENDANCE TO CATHOLIC ADORATION MINISTRY CHAPLAINCY ENUGU
“In the light of the happenings in the Catholic Adoration Ministry Chaplaincy Enugu; capable of undermining the Catholic faith and teachings; and after several fraternal corrections and admonitions to Fr. Camillus Ejike Mbaka, the Chaplain of the Ministry; and after having given him pastoral directives and guidelines for the Ministry Chaplaincy, which he persistently violated;
“and in fulfilment of my pastoral duties as the Chief Shepherd with the obligation to promote and safeguard the Catholic faith and morals in Enugu Diocese, I hereby prohibit all Catholics (clergy, religious and lay faithful) henceforth from attending all religious and liturgical activities of the Catholic Adoration Ministry until the due canonical process initiated by the Diocese is concluded.
“My decision is based on the fact that some of the teachings and utterances of Fr. Camillus Ejike Mbaka at the Catholic Adoration Ministry are not consistent with the teachings and faith of the Catholic Church.
“I enjoin all the Christian Faithful to keep praying for Fr. Mbaka and the Catholic Diocese of Enugu as I entrust him and the Diocese to the maternal care and protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the Apostles.”
REV. FR. MBAKA ATTACKS PETER OBI, DESCRIBES HIM AS A STINGY MAN
Obi And Mbaka
{….A good old man is better than a young wicked man~ MBAKA }
Otu Obiahu AJM NEWS
The Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Nigeria (AMEN), Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka has described Mr. Peter Obi as a stingy man, and as such cannot be the President of Nigeria.
Mbaka made this known during a prayer service on Wednesday, 15 June, at the Adoration Ground in Enugu, which was attended by thousands of worshippers.
Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State is the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the forthcoming 2023 general election.
Mbaka said Obi was a man without a generous spirit, adding that “a gum-holder would not be accepted a Nigerian leader”.
He noted that it is better to have a president who is a gifted old man than a young man with ‘gum’ hands.
He stressed: “If Igbo people are looking for a representative in Nigeria, they are not the kind of person Peter Obi is. Whoever refuses to donate to the church should be the president?
“A Stingy man cannot be our President! We’re very hungry, we need a generous person.
“A good old man is better than a young wicked man!
“Obi is going no where; he has defiled Adoration Altar, and blasphemed the Altar…
“He should come and apologise! He has a mouthful, he has nowhere to go unless he kneels down on the Adoration altar.”
Rev. Fr. Mbaka also recalled that he helped Obi to become governor in Anambra and that he never returned to thank God.
According to Mbaka, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar had shown that he is ready to run for office because he and Peter Obi are no longer in the running, adding that he earlier warned Atiku to drop Peter Obi as his running mate in 2019 if he actually wanted to become Nigeria’s President, because Obi is cursed, but Atiku did not heed to the instruction, and therefore failed.
Mbaka added: “Who doesn’t spend his money eating what you want to support? Do you want people to starve? If Obi becomes president, he will close our ministry”.
GOVERNOR UMAHI ASKS EBONYIANS TO REJECT LABOUR PARTY AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, PETER OBI, VOWS THAT ALL VOTES FROM EBONYI WILL BE FOR APC
Gov. Dave Umahi
{…Let any state that has received any uplift from the Labour Party go ahead and vote for it. As for Ebonyi, we’ll vote for APC~ UMAHI }
Otu Obiahu AJM NEWS
The Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi, has urged the people of the state to reject the Labour Party (LP) and the Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as he maintained that all votes from the state must go for the All Progressive Congress (APC) and not the Labour Party (LP) in the next presidential election.
Umahi who made the declaration at the new Exco Chambers in the new Government House, Centenary City, Abakaliki, while addressing leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), traditional rulers, town unions, and members of the state executive council after swearing-in newly appointed commissioners and special assistants, also bragged that the APC has been good to the state by supporting his administration.
Gov. Umahi noted that he owes no one any apology for his stance, adding that the state will vote for the APC and its candidate, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, as president in the coming election.
He stressed that the current APC leadership in the country has done a lot for the state and challenged any state that has received any uplift from the Labour Party to go ahead and vote for it.
His words: “Our party is APC and not the Labour Party. We will not vote for the Labour Party. We will vote for APC.
“The states that Labour Party has helped should vote for them. The agenda of God for Ebonyi State is Ebonyi State agenda and that is what you should be telling them when they come to ask you, will you vote for us?
“Tell them do not look for our votes, our votes belong to APC.
“Tinubu started with only one state and used it to liberate his people. We need to tell all of them that we have risen”.
UMAHI VOWS AGAIN THAT EBONYI CAN NEVER BE PART OF BIAFRA, AS HE REGRETS THE OUTCOME OF APC PRIMARIES, BLAMES SOUTH-EAST DELEGATES, ACCUSES PROF. OBIOZOR
Gov. Umahi And President Buhari
{…UMAHI SAID: I weep for our Igbo Leaders! We are now regarded as people that will sell anything for the sake of money. I’m dissatisfied with the political actors from South East Zone, for not justifying the agitations against the marginalization of Ndigbo }
AJM NEWS
Annoyed and disappointed by the poor solidarity he got from delegates and leaders of the South East region towards his campaign to ensure that an All Progressives Congress, APC aspirant within the region emerges as his party’s flag bearer during the last APC presidential primary election, Governor Dave Umahi, weekend, insisted that Ebonyi would never be part of Biafra, not minding the activities of various agitators in the South East geopolitical zone of the country.
Umahi further expressed regrets at the conduct of delegates from other South East states who allegedly sold their votes to willing buyers, instead of standing in defense for the call for the Igbo Presidency.
The Governor who stated this while addressing a mammoth crowd that received him in Ebonyi, after the Party’s Presidential primary election, explained that the Ebonyi person was not regarded as should, within the South East.
“Prof. Obiozor could not stand for Igbo when it mattered so much, it is a very big shame, I have no confidence in him and he is no longer my President. In the comity of South East, Ebonyi people are not regarded, I continue to say that Ebonyi will never be Biafra.
“I weep for our Leaders, we are now regarded as people that will sell anything for the sake of money, it is about equity, justice, and fairness upon which I continue to shout for the unity of this country.”
Umahi added that he was dissatisfied with the political actors from South East Zone, for not justifying the agitations against the marginalization of Ndigbo.
He particularly accused the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Professor George Obiozor for toeing the path of politics, instead of making himself a rallying point during the struggle for the Igbo Presidency over the weekend.
He commended the delegates from Ebonyi State for their loyalty and commitment towards to the struggle for Igbo Presidency and liberation of Ndigbo from the stronghold of marginalization.
His words: “First, let me say to Ebonyi people, you are wonderful people, the Presidential election was a great eye-opener to every son and daughter of Ebonyi State and with your support, we fought very gallantly.
“I had a series of meetings with the party’s chairmen in the five states of the zone in the company of its national vice chairman. I implored on the delegates that the issue was not about me but the mood of the Igbos in the nation.
“I implored that they should vote for any south east aspirant so that when the votes are counted, we would not be missing. We would have made a strong statement in the process that the Igbos are eminently qualified with due capacity to lead the country.
“There was no sort of lobbying I did not receive but I maintained that it was about bringing the marginalisation of the Igbos to the fore.
“The setting of the Nation is well skilled against any contest for Igbo man, while every Zones have about eight States or more and South East has only five, how do you expect an Igbo man to win a contest under this kind of arrangement.
“I am the Governor of Ebonyi State, the only agenda I have for South East now is Ebonyi Agenda, I continue to say that he who sells his brother, even the buyer will not trust him.
“Anyone that fights against the interest of Ebonyi people in the South East, I will fight the person Publicly, Ndigbo, get your PVC and bond together, you have seen that nobody wants you anymore, we have the fighting spirit and the spirit of our founding Fathers have been rekindled to fight for us.
“When Honourable people are needed in South East, they will come to Ebonyi State, everything is not money.”
It would be recalled, after losing out in the just concluded APC presidential primaries, Governor Umahi on Thursday clinched the Senatorial ticket of Ebonyi South zone in a rescheduled primary election held in Afikpo North, which was earlier won by his brother, Chief Austin Umahi two weeks ago.
GOVERNOR UMAHI WINS EBONYI SOUTH SENATORIAL TICKET AFTER LOSING APC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES
Gov. Umahi Of Ebonyi State
{….It’s of note that Governor Umahi’s younger brother, Chief Austin Umahi, had earlier emerged as the Senatorial candidate of Ebonyi South zone in the primaries held two weeks ago in Ebonyi }
Otu Obiahu AJM NEWS
The Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi last night emerged the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in a rescheduled Senatorial primary election for Ebonyi South zone.
It would be recalled that Governor Umahi’s younger brother, Chief Austin Umahi, had earlier emerged as the Senatorial candidate of Ebonyi South zone in the primaries held two weeks ago in Ebonyi State.
It is also of note that Gov. Umahi before going back to contest for the Senatorial seat of Ebonyi South zone, had lost in the just concluded presidential primaries of the APC in Abuja.
Shortly after he lost the presidential primaries, the All Progressives Congress (APC), announced the cancellation of the senatorial primary election for Ebonyi South and rescheduled it for Thursday night.
The rescheduled Ebonyi South APC Senatorial primary election was held at Afikpo North Local Government Council, with Governor Umahi clinching the party’s ticket.
Meanwhile, the rescheduling of the APC Senatorial primary election which produced Umahi has raised serious reactions and concern among Ebonyians.
JUNE 12 DEMOCRACY DAY: NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT DECLARES MONDAY, JUNE 13, PUBLIC HOLIDAY
June 12 Annulment
AJM NEWS
As part of this year’s Democracy Day celebration, the Nigerian Government has declared Monday, June 13, as public holiday.
This was made known in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Shuaib Belgore.
Belgore stated that the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who declared the holiday felicitated with Nigerians while urging them to support the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in its efforts on maintaining security of lives and properties and making the country a united and prosperous one.
His words: “As we mark another Democracy Day in the history of our dear country, let us reflect on the efforts of our founding fathers and ensure that Nigeria remains one united, secured, peaceful and an indivisible entity, noting that no development can take place in an acrimonious environment”.
He also called on Nigerians to use the occasion to reflect on the efforts and sacrifices the country’s patriots have made towards the enthronement of democratic governance before and after independence.
“With the challenges we face in Nigeria today, I see an opportunity for us not to break up or break down, but to break open; open up to ourselves in truth so that we may appreciate each other, understand each other, honour each other and live together in peace and prosperity,” he stated.
While reflecting on the spate of insecurity in the country, Aregbesola encouraged Nigerians to use the Nigeria Internal Security and Public Safety Alert System (N-Alert) Mobile App recently designed and launched as part of efforts to solve security challenges and other disasters in the country.
According to him, no matter what the country is going through, “There will surely be light at the end of the tunnel.”
AJM NEWS 