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  • Why FG Moves FAAN Corporate Headquarters Back to Lagos –Aviation Minister Keyamo

    Why FG Moves FAAN Corporate Headquarters Back to Lagos –Aviation Minister Keyamo

    The Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has given reasons for relocating FAAN Headquarters from Abuja back to Lagos insisting that it has nothing to do with sentiment.

    Mrs Obiageli Orah, FAAN Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, in a statement on Thursday night, said the relocation followed “wide consultations by the new Management of FAAN with stakeholders, which also involved the Unions”.

    The move by FAAN follows a recent announcement by the Central Bank of Nigeria that it would be moving some key departments from the capital, Abuja to Lagos, the country’s commercial nerve centre.

    Some people have criticised this, stressing that Lagos is congested and that what the government should be doing is seeking to decongest the former capital of the country.

    Orah said: “The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria notes the inquiries some Nigerians have made regarding the directive of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, to relocate the corporate Headquarters of FAAN from Abuja to its original base, Lagos, where it has operated for decades until recently.”

    Giving the reasons for the relocation, she said, “FAAN wishes to inform Nigerians that following wide consultations by the new Management of FAAN with stakeholders, which also involved the Unions, it was agreed that this was in the best interest of the Authority and the country for now for the following reasons:

    “Those affected by the decision to move the headquarters to Abuja have since returned to Lagos as there is no office space for them in Abuja. It was ill-advised in the first place to move the headquarters to Abuja when there was no single FAAN building in Abuja to accommodate all of them at once.

    “Having returned to Lagos, the Authority would be liable to pay them DTA (DUTY TOUR ALLOWANCE) because technically they are working OUT OF STATION as their official posting is to ABUJA. The Minister has decided to stop this waste of public resources and rip-off on the public purse.

    “The other option open to the Authority was to abandon the old FAAN building in Lagos to rot away and to use its scarce resources to rent an office space in Abuja for Millions of Naira of public money when in actual fact more than sixty percent of its activities are in Lagos given the huge passenger volume of the Lagos airports. The stakeholders and the Minister decided against that and to save the country this waste.

    “⁠The Minister has rolled out plans to get concessionaires to build befitting offices for the Authority in Lagos and Abuja and until that is done, the Authority will continue to manage its old building in Lagos that can accommodate all its Directors and senior officials for now.

    “Abuja continues to have full operational offices and the Authority has not scaled down operations in Abuja one bit. It is just the technical decision of where the Authority has its ‘corporate headquarters’ that has been taken without affecting the structure of operations as they are for now in both cities.

    “⁠In the near future, when befitting corporate buildings have been built for the Authority in both Lagos and Abuja, a final decision will be taken as to the location of the permanent headquarters, depending on the exigencies of the time.

    “The Authority wishes to assure members of the public that it will continue to act in the best interest of the public and the country.

    “The Honourable Minister is committed to taking decisions that are in the best interest of the country, especially as it concerns public funds and will not yield to ethnic or sectional sentiments that will derail this commitment

  • Breaking: Tinubu Drops Kano Ministerial Nominee, Appoints Keyamo

    Breaking: Tinubu Drops Kano Ministerial Nominee, Appoints Keyamo

    President Bola Tinubu has withdrawn nomination of Maryam Shetty from Kanoand  replaced her with Mairiga Mahmoud even as he  increases the Ministerial nominees to 48 with the inclusion of Festus Keyamo from Delta state.

    As the Senate begins screening of the 19 fresh ministerial nominees forwarded to it on Wednesday for confirmation, the President has dropped nomination of the woman from Kano. .

    The dropped nominee as stated in a letter forwarded to the Senate and read by Senator Godswill Akpabio, is Dr Maryam Shetty from Kano State.

    The President however, in the letter, replaced Shetty with Dr Mariga Mahmud and also nominated Festus Keyamo for consideration and confirmation.

     

  • Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, Opens Investigation into Atiku’s SPV Saga, Invites Keyamo

    Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, Opens Investigation into Atiku’s SPV Saga, Invites Keyamo

     The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) is poised to commence investigations into a petition against former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar for allegedly using the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to divert public funds between 1999 and 2007.

    Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, submitted the petition against Atiku in the build-up to the just-concluded presidential poll.

    In the case filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, by the Festus Keyamo Chamber, the plaintiff joined CCB, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants respectively, while Atiku is the first defendant.

    In the suit, the plaintiff (Keyamo) sought a declaration of the court that the 1st defendant (Atiku) is under a legal obligation to make available to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants, for the purpose of aiding their investigation, information available to him in respect of a certain bank account belonging to a company named Marine Float and other accounts of two undisclosed companies, which information he disclosed to a certain close aide of his called Michael Achimugu, as to how the said accounts were used as a “Special Purpose Vehicles” to secretly divert and misappropriate public funds between 1999 and 2007 when the 1st Defendant served as Vice President of Nigeria.

    However, the CCB, on Tuesday, formally confirmed receipt of the petition and extended an invitation to Keyamo.

    Festus Keyamo Chambers confirmed the invitation on Thursday in a press release signed by John Ainetor, Assistant Head of Chambers, in Lagos.

    “The Bureau has invited our client Mr. Festus Keyamo to come forward to adopt his petition and to help it to secure the presence of the whistleblower, Mr. Michael Achimugu to assist in the investigation.

    “Mr. Keyamo assures that the crusade for accountability in respect of this issue was not a campaign gimmick, as he promises to follow it through to a logical conclusion, even after the victory of the President-eelect, Bola Tinubu,” the chambers said.

    PRESS RELEASE BY FESTUS KEYAMO CHAMBERS

    CODE OF CONDUCT BUREAU INVITES KEYAMO, SET TO COMMENCE INVESTIGATION OF ATIKU ABUBAKAR OVER SPV SAGA

    The Code of Conduct Bureau is set to commence investigation of Atiku Abubakar over the diversion of public funds whilst he was Vice-President of Nigeria through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV). The Bureau has invited our client Mr. Festus Keyamo to come forward to adopt his petition and to help it to secure the presence of the whistleblower, Mr. Michael Achimugu to assist in the investigation. See a copy of the letter below.

    Mr. Keyamo assures that the crusade for accountability in respect of this issue was not a campaign gimmick as he promises to follow it through to a logical conclusion, even after the victory of the President-Elect, ASIWAJU Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Thank you.

    John Ainetor,

    Asst. Head of Chambers,

    Festus Keyamo Chambers,

    Abuja office

  • Keyamo Blasts Peter Obi, Says He Wants to Delegitimize Tinubu’s Mandate

    Keyamo Blasts Peter Obi, Says He Wants to Delegitimize Tinubu’s Mandate

    The Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has berated presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, over  claim that he won last Saturday’s presidential election, accusing him of attempting to delegitimize Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s  mandate.

    Tinubu was declared the winner by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday with 8,794,726 votes. INEC said Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) came second with 6,984,520 votes while Obi came third with 6,101,533 votes.

    Reacting to the result declared by INEC in a press briefing on Thursday, Obi claimed that he won the poll and said he will explore all legal options to reclaim his mandate.

    But in a swift reaction to the claim by the Labour Party candidate, the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Council in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs and Chief Spokesperson, Festus Keyamo, described Obi’s claim as “outlandish”.

    “We make this brief statement in reaction to the Press briefing held earlier today by the defeated candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, wherein (in his now well-acknowledged penchant for spewing falsehood) he made the outlandish claim before the world that he won the 2023 Presidential Election, but he was robbed of the victory.

    “Having been officially declared winner of the 2023 Presidential Election by the Independent National Electoral Commission and having received his Certificate of Return (along with his Vice-President Elect), the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu would have ignored these continuous false claims being peddled by Mr. Peter Obi and his supporters. But we recognise his motive of doing this is to simply delegitimise the mandate freely given to the President-Elect by the majority of Nigerians,” the statement said.

    That APC PCC claimed that there was no way Obi could have won “having played the most divisive religious politics in our history.”

    Noting that Tinubu has extended a hand of fellowship to his opponents, including Obi to join hands with him in nation-building, the APC campaign council said Obi should embrace that hand of fellowship and brotherhood by the President-elect as a committed patriot instead of “engaging in this crass grandstanding.”

     

  • Keyamo to Ayu: Deny Wike’s Corruption Allegation or Keep Your Mouth Shut Forever

    Keyamo to Ayu: Deny Wike’s Corruption Allegation or Keep Your Mouth Shut Forever

    Spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, has lambasted  the National Chairman of People’s Democratic Party, Iyorchia Ayu, whom he said had ‘shamelessly’ dodged the corruption allegation levelled against him by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

    Keyamo’s scathing comment was a response to earlier statement made by Spokesperson of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Dino Melaye, that the ruling APC is not ready for election.

    Wike had on September 23 regaled Nigerians with tale of corruption within the PDP when he challenged Ayu to explain the origin of the crisis in the party.

    He had stated, “Ayu is corrupt. Quote me. I am a lawyer and I am the governor of Rivers State. Ayu collected N1 billion in Lagos. He told one of the PDP presidential aspirants before the primary that the governors were not ready to fund the party.

    “I know how the money was arranged and those involved in packaging the money. He collected the N1 billion. Let him come out to tell Nigerians it is not true and I will reveal more”.

    A livid Keyamo, however, stated in a statement issued on Friday that it is on record that to date, the PDP national chairman has shamelessly evaded addressing the allegation.

    While describing the opposition party as a leopard that cannot change its spot, he scolded Melaye for having the temerity to challenge the ruling party.

    The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to a statement by the PDP Campaign Council alleging that the APC is not ready

    “This most outlandish statement, coming from the PDP at a time it has become the theatre of the most absurd in this country, is most ironic and unfortunate.

    “Firstly, in the past few weeks, the PDP has entertained Nigerians with scandalous issues that show the party remains a clear and present danger or threat to Nigeria’s treasury and equity. In the last few days, the public space has been inundated with allegations made by no less a person than a prominent Governor of the PDP accusing its National Chairman of being patently corrupt and of collecting a bribe of N1 billion from one of its candidates.

     

  • 774,000 Jobs: Keyamo Adamant as NASS Labour Committee Walk Him out of Meeting

    774,000 Jobs: Keyamo Adamant as NASS Labour Committee Walk Him out of Meeting

    Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo made good his threat to resist the ministry’s pet project, Special Public Work Programme being hijacked by politicians. The Minister on Tuesday insisted that journalists must cover proceedings of his meeting with the combined Senate and House of Representatives Labour Committee.

    His request angered the lawmakers as they walked the Minister of out of the meeting.

    The lawmakers had invited Keyamo to give details of the Special Public Works Programme where 774,000 people would be recruited by the Federal Government under the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

    During the meeting which held at the National Assembly in Abuja, members of the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Labour sought to find out the method of selection of a 20-man committee from each state for the programme.

    However, a heated argument erupted between committee members and Keyamo over who should helm the programme which was to be domiciled under the NDE.

    As the rowdy session ensued, the committee decided to go into a closed-door session to discuss the matter, but the minister refused, insisting that the further discussions be held in the presence of journalists.

    This enraged the lawmakers who told Keyamo to apologise to the committee, but he ignored them.

    Thereafter, the minister was asked to leave the meeting since he has refused to apologise to the committee members.

    The lawmakers claimed that Keyamo has no right to direct the committee on how to conduct its proceedings.

  • Imo Verdict: Keyamo Blasts PDP, Says It’s An  Unserious Opposition

    Imo Verdict: Keyamo Blasts PDP, Says It’s An  Unserious Opposition

    The Minister of State for Labour and Productivity,  Festus Keyamo, has lambasted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) saying it is a very unserious opposition.

    He made the remark during an interview with reporters on Wednesday while attending an event in Ughelli, Delta State.

    “We have an opposition that is a very unserious opposition; an opposition that is not ready to take but they are ready to give,” said the Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

    He further described the PDP as “an opposition that takes the benefit from the system; from a particular institution and they don’t want to take the downs from that same institution.”

    Keyamo faulted the reaction of the opposition party to the judgement of the Supreme Court which removed Mr Emeka Ihedioha as the governor of Imo State.

    A seven-man panel of justices led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammed, had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC0 to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Ihedioha and give same to Senator Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Party (APC).

    Reacting in a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP rejected the judgement and wondered how Uzodinma who came fourth could be declared as the winner of the election.

    “In fact, the PDP and indeed, most Nigerians are still at a loss as to understand the basis upon which the Supreme Court arrived at its decision.

    “The party says it is lamentable that the destiny of the people of Imo state is being taken from the governor they chose and voted for and handed over to individuals and a political party that do not have their blessing and mandate and which they rejected at the election,” the opposition party said.

    But  Keyamo believes members of the opposition party are not objective with their reaction because the court’s ruling did not favour them.

    He highlighted the events in two states where members of the APC were barred from participating in the 2019 general elections.

    The minister questioned, “The same court that gave them victories and excluded us entirely in Rivers State, excluded us entirely in Zamfara State; is that the same kangaroo court?

    “How can democrats come out and make such very inciting statement? I think it is an irresponsible statement.

    “It doesn’t even deserve a response and they need to apologise to Nigerians and to the Supreme Court; it’s extremely provocative,” he added

  • I Can’t Run Away from My Friend Jerry Ikogho, Arrested by FBI, Says Festus Keyamo Who Speaks on Their Relationship

    I Can’t Run Away from My Friend Jerry Ikogho, Arrested by FBI, Says Festus Keyamo Who Speaks on Their Relationship

    Few days ago, about 77 Nigerians were arrested by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for fraud and money laundering cases. Among the people paraded is Jerry Ikogho which happens to be a friend to the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Festus Keyamo.

    The newly appointed minister in an interview with newsmen after pictures of him and Ikogho appeared on the Internet descried Jerry Ikogho as a brother and friend from a good home. The suspects allegedly conspired to scam at least $46 million from victims via romance scams, business email compromises and other online fraud schemes. A grand jury indictment was filed in the Central District of California back in October 2018 and unsealed last week after the arrest of 14 defendants in the US

    Keyamo began a relationship with Ikogho as a child in the 70s in Ughelli, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State. They were classmates at Government College Ughelli and were children of Jehovah’s Witnesses. While Keyamo’s family barely managed to make ends meet, Ikogho’s father was a major car dealer in the area.

    Speaking in the interview, Keyamo said he did not know the kind of business Ikogho was doing in America. “We were born together in the same town at Ughelli in Delta State. His parents and my parents are close friends up till tomorrow. We were both raised in the Jehovahs Witnesses sect. It is a whole family union. If he has legal issues, I handled them for him free of charge. I didn’t know him as a client but as a family friend with whom we both grew up together,” Keyamo was quoted as saying.

    Asked if he was aware that his friend was into shady business, Keyamo asked: “How would I know? He has not been proven guilty. Have you concluded that he is into massive fraud and money laundering?” The lawyer who once prosecuted cases on behalf of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), added that he needs to hear from Ikogho what transpired in America before he takes a position.

    Hear him: “If his explanations are not satisfactory, I will scold him. I have spoken with the wife since this issue broke out, but I have been unable to get in touch with him. But I need to hear from him.” Describing what happened to his friend as “very unfortunate”, Keyamo added that Ikogho grew up and did his youth service in Nigeria.

    “I used to stay with him when I first came to Abuja. He is my brother and friend, though I am just a month older than him. Anybody can be in trouble. I am praying for him. If he has valid explanations I will help him legally. I can’t run away from him,” he concluded.

  • If I Emerge Attorney General of Federation; I’ll Unbound Supreme Court –Keyamo

    If I Emerge Attorney General of Federation; I’ll Unbound Supreme Court –Keyamo

    Human rights lawyer, Festus Keyamo, was the cynosure of all eyes at the Senate of Friday, disclosing that he would unbound the country’s Supreme Court for speedy administration of justice if he is assigned to Ministry of Justice.

    Keyamo, a ministerial nominee from Delta State spoke while responding to questions at the Senate during screening, presided over by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.

    He also said Nigeria has too many frivolous political parties, recommending that not all the political parties should be allowed to participate in presidential elections.

    According to him, “ If I am made the attorney general, I have the idea I call the three Ds that will be at the heart of judicial reforms – decongestion of Supreme Court, decongestion of prisons and decongestion of cause lists in courts.

    “ Nigerian supreme court is the busiest in the world and that is not acceptable.

    “My first task will be to unbound it. Some of the cases that go there are frivolous. This country is big enough to have six regional courts,” he said.

    He said the case diary of the Supreme Court has been filed up to 2022, except for political cases.

    Keyamo who was the spokesperson of President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign council in 2015, also said Nigeria has too many frivolous political parties, recommending that not all the political parties should be allowed to participate in presidential elections.

    “ I think we can strike a balance that for new parties to be registered, you must show capacity at the local level. And until the party wins a seat at a particular level, you cannot run for an office in the next level up to the presidential election,” he said.

    He also said that Magistrates should be given the powers to grant bail even in matters involving murder when there is no evidence at the early stage.

    “Our constitution is replete with mistakes. We should amend the law to make the powers of the attorney general and DPP subject to judicial review. It is subject to abuse when people accused of abuse are freed,” he said.

    Keyamo said he was a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying “the party was formed in his house”

  • Buhari Doesn’t Need  WAEC  to Become President in Nigeria –Festus Keyamo

    Buhari Doesn’t Need  WAEC  to Become President in Nigeria –Festus Keyamo

    Firebrand social crusader and director, strategic communications of President Muhammadu Buhari’s  2019 presidential campaign, Festus Keyamo, has revealed that West African Examination Certificate (WAEC ) is not a prerequisite to becoming  President in Nigeria.

    His reasons: “Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution defines “School Certificate or its equivalent” to mean primary 6 School Leaving Certificate plus the ability to just speak, write, understand and communicate in English language to the satisfaction of INEC. And No WAEC certificate is needed.”

    According to him, if you have occupied the public office for a reasonable length of time, by the provisions of the constitution, you do not even need a WAEC certificate to become President of Nigeria.

    “By the definition of “School Certificate or its equivalent” in section 318 of the 1999 constitution, you don’t need a WAEC certificate to become President or Governor, but if you present a FORGED WAEC or other certificate to INEC for any office, you will be disqualified.

    “Forgery occurs when the supposed author of a document denies ever making it or denies its authenticity. WAEC has confirmed the authenticity of PMB’s certificate by issuing an attestation of it. Case closed.

    In the Osun Case Scenario, WAEC has denied the authenticity. See the difference?

    “Let me end my free lecture series by saying that the crux of the matter is that if you don’t have a WAEC certificate, there’s no need to go ahead & forge one in a bid to be Governor or President. You can still be qualified, regardless. That’s the mistake made in #OsunCaseScenario.

    “It becomes extremely foolish for anybody who is not statutorily empowered to issue WAEC certificates to come and challenge the body that has the statutory power to issue certificates.”

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