Yunusa Tanko, the spokesperson for the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has alleged a fresh orchestrated plan to blackmail his principal.

Tanko made this known in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday in Onitsha, Anambra.

According to him, some people operating under the guise of civil society and non-governmental organizations have been recruited by some powerful political interests to accuse Peter Obi of playing religious politics.

He debunked the allegations that Obi is indulging in religious politics, stressing the blackmail aims to malign the former Governor’s purely altruistic motives in supporting underprivileged Nigerians of all faiths.


Tanko noted that Peter Obi fully understands the constitutional dictates of separation of church/mosque and state and that Nigeria is an undisputed secular state.

He further said that his primary concern in and out of public office has always been pursuing the welfare of society’s underprivileged, whom he believes should have a better life given the abundant human and natural resources bestowed on this country by God.

The statement read, “The Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) wishes to alert the public of a fresh orchestrated design to blackmail the 2023 labour party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, by linking him to frivolous, malicious and unsubstantiated allegations of indulging in religious politics.


“We are aware that some persons operating under the guise of civil society, and non-governmental organizations, but acting at the behest of some powerful political interests, have been deployed to petition and accuse Obi of playing religious politics.

“The aim is to malign Mr Obi’s purely altruistic motives in supporting underprivileged Nigerians of all faiths. The ploy is to erroneously claim that he goes to religious places to carry out political campaigns off-season.

“We should ordinarily ignore such mischievous ploys as they are only intended to distract attention from Mr Obi’s patriotic and compassionate position.

For the avoidance of doubt and the protection of the gullible in their midst, it has become imperative to restate the truth and the facts.

“What remains an undisputed fact, is that Peter Obi’s charity work predates politics and he would never be intimidated to change this personal disposition, which he believes is an assignment for him from his creator.

“We, therefore, urge the public to ignore any insinuations of co-mingling politics with religion; and see them as a grand design to limit Mr. Obi’s freedom of movement and citizenship welfare action.”

The Federal High Court in Abuja, has fixed May 17th to rule on an application by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), seeking to serve by substituted means the charge against a top executive of Binance Holdings Limited, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who fled from custody while awaiting trial.

Moses Ideho, Counsel of FIRS, hinted at moves to serve the charge of the fleeing defendant, on Tigran Gambaryan, the defendant who has been available since the matter started.

This comes days after the Presiding Judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, had ruled that it was proper to serve on Gambaryan, the charge against Binance, which is the first defendant in the case.

The judge had granted the application of the prosecution, stating that the defendant could represent the crypto-exchange company.

The counsel for the defendant, Chukwuka Ikwazuonu, however, said it was inappropriate to serve a criminal charge of another defendant on his client, prompting the judge to adjourn the matter for ruling on the mode of service

By Augustine Akhilomen

A former spokesman to the defunct Atiku-Okowa Presidential Campaign Council, Daniel Bwala, has criticised the decision of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to declare former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello wanted.

Recall that on Wednesday night, EFCC declared Bello wanted for an alleged financial crime to the tune of N80.2 billion.

The declaration is the latest in the tussle between Bello and the anti-crime agency.

However, Bwala via his official X handle said that the press statement captioned “wanted” is not necessary.

“Unless EFCC and Yaya Bello are both doing simulation for a movie about the agency and former governors, the press statement captioned “wanted” is not necessary.

“You were at his residence to effect arrest- you failed to apply ACJA or better still what you did to Okorocha at his residence.

“You knew who came and whisked him away- you allowed that

“Both him and the incumbent governor have security detail from police and SSS who must report activities including the whereabouts of their VIPs to their commands- meaning his whereabouts is not hidden

“You knew Police and SSS have surveillance instruments for geo-tracking and geo-locating- yet you failed to approach

“You are asking the general public to give you information about someone you have every reason to know his whereabouts. Please do your job without dramatizing it.”