Gist Arena

H is recent political comments, realignments and permutations notwithstanding, Atiku Abubakar has not decided to run for president in 2019. The former vice-president told VOA Hausa when he featured on a magazine program there Tuesday that Nigerians will know when he eventually takes the bold move. “For now I have not made up my mind,” Mr. Abubakar said. “When I decide, I will let the world know.” Mr. Abubakar’s statement is capable of demoralising his supporters, some of whom have already commenced groundwork for his 2019 bid, said Azibola Omekwe, the national coordinator of The Atiku Rennaisance, a political group. Mr. Azibola said the 2019 ambition of Mr. Atiku has gained considerable momentum in recent weeks, a ‘moving train’ he said would be difficult to reverse. “Just recently, some people came out to say that they will sue the former vice-president if he fails to join the race,” Mr. Azibola said. “That’s how serious some of his supporters have now taken...

T he issue of the case between innoson motors and GTBank with other parties like the IGP, AGF and EFCC is interestingly complicated. Reason why it might be confusing to many. My aim therefore today is to state the facts according to publicly available time-lines. In summary, there are 5 different cases and I will divide the thread into 3 segments each with its own unique time-line. Stay with me, this will be long 1. Innoson Vs Customs & GTBank - Issue of auction of seized goods by Customs 2003 The relationship between GTBank and Innoson Started sometime in 2003 2004 Between October and December 2004, Innoson imported about 25 containers of Motorcycle CKDs, According to Innoson, it had obtained a concession certificate which allowed it to import at 5% duty. This certificate was to expire in July 2005.  Duty was paid by GTBank and receipt issue. But Customs refused to release his goods because of the existence of a circular removing Innoson from the list...

S enate President Bukola Saraki has expressed displeasure over the arrest of Innocent Chukwuma, chief executive officer (CEO) of Innoson Motors. On Tuesday, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Chukwuma at his Enugu residence. The commission said it picked him up after he failed to honour its invitation. Although, the anti-graft agency did not state the particular reason for arresting Chukwuma, there are reports that it is as a result of a dispute between the businessman and Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Speaking on Wednesday after Ike Ekeweremadu, deputy senate president, drew the attention of the senators to the matter, the senate president said it is the role of lawmakers to protect the fundamental rights of citizens. “As a society that we are all planning that our country to be civilised, I think this does not speak well of the country. How a private commercial transaction has now become the focus of the EFCC. I think t...

G un-wielding herdsmen have fired at the Alpha Jet and the EC 135 Helicopter deployed by the military in an attempt to resist the interventions by the Nigerian Air Force in the troubled communities of Numan and Demsa Local Government Areas of Adamawa State. The herdsmen, who were dressed in black, reportedly attempted to bring down the fighter aircraft which were flown to fire “only warning shots” and not to kill any of the attackers. Our correspondent had reported two weeks ago that the NAF, on the invitation of the Nigerian Army in Adamawa, deployed some fighter aircraft to support the ground forces in stopping the crisis. The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice-Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, who confirmed the deployment of the air assets, had said it would be “a continuous exercise.” The police in Adamawa State also confirmed attacks by the rampaging Fulani militia on Dong and Lawura villages in the Demsa LGA, saying that many buildings we...

I nnoson Motors has rejected claims that its founder and CEO, Innocent Chukwuma, was arrested because he ignored an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. It said the businessman was never invited prior to his arrest and dared the anti-graft agency to present evidence of invitation to Nigerians. Mr. Chukwuma was arrested on Tuesday morning at his residence in Enugu by EFCC officers who remanded him at their field office in the city. He was later released on bail on Wednesday evening. The EFCC said anti-graft detectives decided to take the industrialist into custody after attempts to summon him were rebuffed. “His arrest followed his refusal to honour invitation by the Commission having earlier jumped an administrative bail granted him in a case being investigated by the Capital Market and Insurance Fraud Unit of the Commission’s Lagos office,” the EFCC said in the statement signed by Wilson Uwujaren, its spokesperson. Cornel Osigwe, a spoke...