Data: Building A Digital Economy For A Digital Nigeria – Dr. Pantami

The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami on Friday, 31st, 2020 delivered the year 2020 Convocation Lecture at the Minna Higher institution of learning; honouring the invitation of the Governing Council of Federal University of Technology, Minna, extended by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Abdullahi Bala.

The Chief ICT Policy Maker of Nigeria paper was titled: “Datafication Of Society: Economic And Security Issues In Producing And Using Public And Private Data In Nigeria.

In his two hours presentation, the energetic, vibrant, young charismatic Federal Executive Council Member congratulated the graduands’, stating that their labour has been rewarded. Dr Pantami, however, reminded the graduates that graduation is only a starting point, and encouraged the graduating students not to rest on their oars in the pursuit of a lifetime of significance.

The Honourable Minister also encouraged the students to use the knowledge and skills they have acquired over time to make a positive difference in the society, highlighting that with the re-designation of Federal Ministry of Communications as the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, the Ministry under his watch has been positioned to drive a Digital Economy for a Digital Nigeria.

“The re-designation reflects the focus of Mr President to emphasize the need to build a digital economy. The new name addresses the new mandate of the Ministry; communications addresses the channel, digital addresses the nature of the content and economy reflects the central focus of the activities of the Ministry, which is the development of the economy in line with the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of the Federal Government”, the Minister said.

Pantami further stated that the focus on growing the National Digital Economy will also improve Nigeria’s traditional economy and will enable her to get a slice of the Global Digital Economy which Oxford Economics values at 11.5 trillion dollars or approximately 16% of the Global Economy.

The Minister likewise maintained that Data is critical to the success of the digital economy, underscoring that Data drives the digital economy and the digital economy drives the growth of the traditional economy.

Dr. Pantami while underscoring the importance of data said, “In the recent past, Nigeria’s wealth was mainly measured by the minerals and natural resources it has been endowed with but we are now moving into an era where our wealth will be measured by our digital resources and the innovation of Nigerians. “

Pantami additionally cited an example with the leading companies of today such as Amazons, Google, Facebook and Microsoft that primarily have a high level of valuation because they warehouse and process massive amounts of both structured and unstructured data.

The Federal Executive Council member concluded the lecture by urging the assembly to join hands in building a Nigeria where data will prosper the Nation’s economy, rather than create division among people.

He reechoed that datafication has come to stay in Nigeria and that the rebirth Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy under his watch is committed to taking advantage of the position to develop a Digital Economy for a Digital Nigeria.

We’re Setting Up South East Security Outfit – Umahi

The governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. David Umahi, has revealed that South East Governors and Stakeholders have concluded plans to kick start a regional zone security outfit in the five states that made up the South East geopolitical zone.

Umahi stated this on Wednesday, January 29, 2020, while playing host to the General Officer commanding 82 Army Division Enugu, GOC, Lasisi Adegboye, in Government House Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

The Governor said: “One of our major challenges here in Ebonyi State is our problem with Cross River people, but we bless God so highly for the initiatives of the youths. The Deputy Governor and the Speaker of the State Assembly have to arrange so that the Joint Youth Committee on Cross River and Ebonyi people will go and pay a courtesy call on the GOC.

“Probably, who knows if you are the one that will make both state to sign lasting agreement for lasting peace. Here in Ebonyi, I thank the police, the army, the SSS. It has been a union of brotherhood and working together with our Neighbourhood Watch.

“Every region has their own peculiarities and we had formed our own joint security taskforce and we have written to federal government and we are putting things together because we had a joint meeting with all the service chiefs and the then GOC. So, we discussed and agreed on what we need to do to continue to give safety to our people in South East.

“No one will say that he will not be part of joint security because when people are kidnapped for example in Anambra State, they could be found in Ebonyi. So, we need that synergy to work together to give protection to everybody and here in Ebonyi, we are among the first in the federation to start our law on internal security and that is the Neighbourhood Watch and they have fantastically done very well.

“I am happy that the police, the army, the SSS, they are not ashamed to proclaim that our Neighbourhood Security Watch have done very well. And so, we can say that we are the safest state in the country and there is no joke about that.”

On his part, GOC Adegboye vowed to provide adequate security to the citizens of the south east, adding that, “there would be no more records of kidnapping and armed robbery cases in the zone.

“We are ready to work round the clock to ensure adequate peace and security in the south east zone.”

Seinye Lulu-Briggs Goes To Supreme Court In Ghana

• Scared of a second autopsy
• Delays further the burial of her husband

Seinye Lulu-Briggs has gone to the Ghana Supreme Court with a certiorari application to quash a portion of the order of the Ghana High Court in the judgement it delivered on 23rd December, 2019. She has also applied for a suspension of the entire proceedings.

The part Seinye is asking the Ghana Supreme Court to quash and order a suspension of proceedings, is the portion of the High Court ruling that ordered:

“That the mortal remains of the deceased, High Chief (Dr.) Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs be released by the 4th Defendant, Enterprise Funeral Services Ghana Limited and the Ghana Police Service, to the family by custom, led by Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, to convey to Nigeria, for the burial and funeral rites”.

Seinye Lulu-Briggs claims that the High Court Judge exceeded his jurisdiction and breached the rules of natural justice.

Mrs. Lulu-Briggs claims that she had informed members of her husband’s family of his death and with their consent, she, Seinye and not Dumo Lulu-Briggs had prepared to repatriate the corpse of her husband to Nigeria.

Seinye Lulu-Briggs, all by herself puts her husband’s body in the mortuary and by herself wants to bring the corpse to Nigeria for burial, claiming that she has the consent of the family as a widow to repatriate the mortal remains of her husband from Ghana to Nigeria. – A strange scenario, never before seen.

This was in spite of all the intervening circumstances that suggest that High Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs may have died in Nigeria and his corpse smuggled into Ghana; may have died on his way to Ghana and his body smuggled into a mortuary without reports to the Ghana security agencies. These controversial circumstances are the subject matters of a petition before the Police.

It is instructive to note that it was Seinye Lulu-Briggs who instituted the suits at the Ghana High Court on July 12th and 15th 2019 against Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs and his two brothers.

The High Court consolidated both suits on 19th August, 2019 and delivered judgement on 23rd of December, 2019 and ordered that the mortal remains of High Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs be released to his family led by Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs.

In her suits of July 12th and 15th 2019, Seinye Lulu-Briggs, had asked the High Court for the following reliefs:

1. A declaration that she is the rightful person to take custody of the mortal remains of her late husband, High Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs.

2. An order directing the Ghana Police and the mortuary to release the corpse of her husband to her after the autopsy.

3. An order restraining the Ghana Police and the mortuary from granting Dumo Lulu-Briggs and his two brothers and their agent access to the mortal remains of High Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs.

4. An order restraining Dumo Lulu-Briggs and his two brothers from procuring the release of the corpse of High Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs.

It is important to note that in an attempt to resolve the issues amicably, the High Court judge initially tried to mediate by asking the Defendants (Dumo and his brothers) to submit an elaborate funeral plan, which they did.

Seinye, at the last minute surprised everyone with her proposed terms of settlement as follows:

Proposed Terms of Settlement

Please, find below. In brief, the terms of settlement as proposed by Dr. Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs & Co. (The “Plaintiffs”) in respect of the anticipated amicable resolution of the Lulu-Briggs matter before the High Court of Ghana:

1. That the Honorable Court make an order for the release of the autopsy report by Dr. Attoh to the Coroner, both parties as well as to be filed in Court as a condition precedent.

2. That an irrevocable burial plan, program and date be arrived at by both parties to the suit i.e. Dr. Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs and all the seven (7) children of the High Chief.

3.That Dr. Seinye Lulu-Briggs shall release the body of the deceased High Chief to the immediate family of the High Chief for burial as stated below:

a) The siblings of the deceased High Chief (namely, children of Madam Seram Frank-Briggs)

b) Children of the deceased High Chief’s Maternal grandparents, namely, Harrison Lawson of Buguma and Asoba Pepple of Buguma.

c) Children of the deceased High Chief’s Paternal grandparents, namely, Ine Agbani and Olulu Briggs.

d) All the 7 children of the deceased High Chief.

e) That the body of the deceased High Chief be released from Transition Home (Mortuary) in Ghana on the date of the agreed burial date to be airlifted to Nigeria.

f) That the official leader of the family delegation selected to take possession of the body for purposes of being airlifted to Nigeria for the burial should be the brother of the deceased High Chief, namely, Chief (Barr.) Osima Stephen Lawson.

g) That the member of the family delegation who would oversee the taking of possession of the body for purposes of being airlifted to Nigeria for burial should be as follows:

i) Chief (Barr) Osima Stephen Lawson – Head of Delegation.

ii)The siblings of the deceased (namely, children of Madam Seram Frank-Briggs).

iii) Children of the deceased High Chief’s Paternal grandparents, namely, Ine Agbani and Olulu Briggs

iv) Dr. Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs (wife of the deceased High Chief)

v) All the 7 children of the deceased High Chief

After studying Seinye’s terms for settlement, the High Court judge became convinced that by her sudden introduction of persons (like Chief Osima Stephen Lawson) that were not parties to the suits, Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs was not ready for mediation.

This ended the 5th effort at settlement that have been initiated by prominent personalities, including the Amayanabo of Kalabari, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and now a High Court Judge.

Seinye Lulu-Briggs frustrated yet another mediation with the demand that she shall “release the body of the deceased High Chief to the immediate family of the High Chief for burial ”on the condition that a distant relative, Chief Barr. Osima Stephen Lawson shall be the head of delegation and not his son, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs.

Note, that Seinye has always denied in the media that she does not have custody of her husband’s corpse. So which body does she want to release to the said Chief Barr, Osima Stephen Lawson-Jack?

The High Court judge, having failed in his effort to mediate, therefore ruled as follows on the 23rd of December, 2019:

1. That the mortal remains of the deceased, High Chief (Dr.) Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs be released by the 4th Defendant, Enterprise Funeral Services Ghana Limited and the Ghana Police Service, to the family by custom, led by Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, to convey to Nigeria, for the burial and funeral rites.

2. That the delegation led by Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs that will convey the body of the deceased to Nigeria, should include two representatives of the Plaintiff/Widow, who should be part of the delegation that will convey the body to Nigeria.

3. That the family of the deceased, led by Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, will give a binding unconditional undertaking that, under no circumstance will the family allow or suffer the Plaintiff/Widow to undergo any cruel, inhumane or barbaric customary practices in Nigeria, when the body is conveyed.

4. That the family, led by Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, will further undertake that the Plaintiff/Widow will be ably represented in the burial and funeral preparation, and will be allowed to play her role as a widow mourning her deceased husband.

5. It is hereby further ordered, that the 37 Military Hospital which conducted an autopsy on the body of the deceased, High Chief (Dr.) Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs, is to file the autopsy report at the Registry of the Court within three (3) days upon service of this Order on the Hospital.

6. It is hereby further ordered, that the parties are at liberty to procure copies of the autopsy report at the Registry of the Court.

On 24th December, 2019 Seinye Lulu-Briggs filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Accra and also filed an application for the suspension of the order at the High Court that delivered the December 23rd judgement.

Seinye Lulu-Briggs filed the appeal and suspension of the order, even as she went agog in the media in Nigeria that she accepts the judgement and looks forward to the new burial date of January 25th, 2020 which Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs announced after the December 23rd judgement. Hearing of Seinye's application for the suspension of the order of the High Court was fixed for January 24, 2020. Thereby jeopardizing the new January 25, 2020 burial date.

Seinye, while hoping to benefit from part of the judgement of 23/12/19 which ordered the submission of the report of the autopsy that she claims vindicated her, had gone to the Ghana Appeal Court against the part that ordered the immediate release of the mortal remains of High Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs to his family led by Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs.

The whole idea was to authenticate the controversial autopsy report while she stops the family from taking custody of the corpse for burial.

When the application for suspension of the order came up for hearing on Friday January 24, 2020, Seinye's lawyer was absent in court, feigning illness. The matter was then adjourned to Monday 27/01/20.

On January 27, 2020, Seinye's lawyers moved the application for the suspension of the order that "the mortal remains of the deceased, High Chief (Dr,) Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs be released by the 4th Defendant, Enterprise Funeral Services Ghana Limited and the Ghana Police Service, to the family by custom, led by Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, to convey to Nigeria, for the burial and funeral rites".

Deservedly, the High Court judge declined Seinye's application to suspend the order and stated clearly that:

"In an application for an order for suspension of the orders of the court pending appeal, the Supreme Court has stated in a number of decisions ... all to the effect that, for a party to be successful in obtaining an order suspending the court's decision, an applicant must demonstrate exceptional circumstances why he/she is entitled to the invocation of this extraordinary jurisdiction of the court.

"Counsel in moving the application, and reading the motion and the affidavit, not much effort has gone into demonstrating how wrong the order of the court was. And with no exceptional circumstances canvassed before me, I decline this application".

Seinye Lulu-Briggs therefore lost her bid to stay the execution of the order of the High Court "That the mortal remains of the deceased, High Chief (Dr.) Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs be released by the 4th Defendant, Enterprise Funeral Services Ghana Limited and the Ghana Police Service, to the family by custom, led by Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, to convey to Nigeria, for the burial and funeral rites".

In the same vein, the application by Dumo's lawyers for the clarification of the 23/12/19 judgement was turned down by the judge who said that "My order, in my view, is self-explanatory, and need no further clarification".

Unfortunately, because Seinye now has a pending application at the Supreme Court, the family cannot still take custody of the mortal remains of High Chief O.B.Lulu-Briggs.

Suspecting that their application for the suspension of the order would not succeed and in line with their time wasting tactics, Seinye's lawyer on the same Friday that he was not in court, filed an application at the Ghana Supreme Court to quash the entire 23/12/19 judgement of the High Court.

It would be recalled that Mrs E.K. Barnes-Botchway, a Magistrate and Coroner had on September 6, 2019 ordered an inquest into the death of High Chief O.B. Lulu-Briggs, saying:

1. An inquest should be conducted on the death of the deceased, Chief Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs because I ordered an autopsy to be undertaken on the deceased following an application for postmortem by the Ghana Police Service (C.I.D.) Headquarters.

The report is yet to be submitted since July, 2019. With this additional information to the one that forms the basis of the police application, I have reasonable cause to believe that the deceased did not die a natural death and I therefore deem an inquest necessary and accordingly order for one to be done.

2. The Ghana Police Service (C.I.D.) is ordered to make available to the court all processes and documents in their custody including the autopsy report.

Strangely, Seinye Lulu-Brigggs brought a certiorari application to a High Court to quash the orders of the Coroner for an inquest and the submission of the July, 2019 autopsy report. Meanwhile, it was the same Mrs E.K. Barnes-Botchway, the Magistrate and Coroner that ordered the autopsy that Seinye Lulu-Briggs claims vindicated her.

This time Seinye's lawyers claim that the Coroner lacked geographical jurisdiction as the court is not the most proximate to the Accra airport where Seinye claims the death of her husband occurred.

Whilst Seinye's case against the Coroner was pending at a High Court, she comes to another High Court that delivered the December 23, 2019 judgment to ask and was granted an order that:

"The 37 Military Hospital which conducted an autopsy on the body of the deceased, High Chief (Dr.) Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs, is to file the autopsy report at the Registry of the Court within three (3) days upon service of this Order on the Hospital".

Interestingly, the autopsy in reference that was conducted at the 37 Military Hospital was ordered by the same Magistrate and Coroner, Seinye says lacks geographical jurisdiction.

So which autopsy report does Seinye want filed at the High Court? Does the Coroner now have jurisdiction and if so why has Seinye not withdrawn her certiorari application before the High Court challenging the Jurisdiction and the Orders of the Coroner.

Why does she not want an inquest that also accommodates the autopsy report she claims vindicates her and how did she know that it vindicates her since the report has not been released?

Seinye's lawyers are obvious taking advantage of the Ghana legal system but by God's grace we are almost getting to the end of this tragedy.

BREAKING: Proof That Seinye Lost Her Appeal Case

Dr. Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs yet again loses application for Stay of Execution of Court Order by Ghana High Court, heads to supreme court to quash ruling of the High Court

In a strange twist of events on Monday, 27th, January, 2020 at the Ghana Court of Appeal, embattled wife of late High Chief O B Lulu-Briggs lost her appeal for Stay of Execution of the orders of a Ghana High Court asking her to release the mortal remains of her late husband to the family through the second oldest son Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, a Ghana Online Newspaper has reported.

Dr. Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs who dragged her late husband’s family into a year long legal tussle in her bid to have the final say in his affairs has decided to the Ghana Supreme Court after the Appeal Court judge dismissed her appeal for stay of execution.

The supreme Court of Ghana is expected to hear the matter when it is finally brought before it by March 2020.

To further get clarity on the implications of the present dismissal, the lawyer representing the Oruwari Briggs Family asked the judge to further interpret the judgement which clearly stated as one of the preconditions that Dr. Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs should APPOINT 2 REPRESENTATIVES who will represent her at the planning of the burial after she has released the mortal remains to the family.

A precondition she is yet to meet.

The judge in his words said; “the judgement of the Ghana High Court is self explicit and explanatory and ought to be complied with but Dr. Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs having gone ahead to the Supreme Court to challenge the ruling, the Appeal court can no longer say anything on the judgement. On these grounds, I have no other choice but to dismiss the appeal of Dr. Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs”

Attached is the Court Judgement:

Implications of such a ruling means that the legal tussle over the ownership of the mortal remains of the late High Chief will further dash the hopes of the children and family and friends of the late High Chief and Philanthropist for more months.

Speaking to the second oldest son of the late High Chief , Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs on his reaction to the decision of the Appellate court, he said , “Seinye has lost before and has lost this one too, she will definitely lose again by the grace of God who has been our strength and fortress through these harrowing times

Coalition Says Tambuwal Cannot Hold Two Positions Simultaneously

......As PDP Governors kick against the unconstitutional removal of Gov Dickson as chairman

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations, Centre for Credible Leadership & Citizens Awareness has kicked against the unconstitutional/ unceremonial appointment of Gov. Aminu Tambuwal as Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum.

The Director General of Centre for Credible Leadership & Citizens Awareness, Dr. Nwambu Gabriel, described the current development in PDP Governors Forum as a rape on modern democracy, the manner Governor Nyesom Wike decided to oust a Governor whose tenure is yet to elapse as Chairman, PDP Governors Forum as a monumental electoral fraud and a rape on modern democracy.

Speaking to press men on Tuesday, 28 January, 2020,in Abuja, Dr. Nwambu Gabriel, reitraited that this was a monumental fraud especially while Governor Dickson, whose tenure was still subsisting was ongoing. He stated, that it was barbaric and undemocratic to remove a Governor whose term is still subsisting.

According to him, even though they are an independent body, in order to deepen Democratic governance, all stakeholders were supposed to have been contacted before final decision would be taken on the matter, explaining that his interaction with most of the PDP governors have pointed to that direction.

“Again, the beauty of modern democracy is hinged on a vibrant opposition, he said, this decision will further weaken the opposition party and create factions within the party leading to a possible one party state and an eventual totalitarianism.

“Secondly, the PDP Governors had stated that while Governor Tambuwal whose tenure as the Deputy Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum has not elapsed, it becomes an abnormality to appoint Governor Tambuwal as the DG, PDP Governors Forum. This by itself is self contradictory. Tambuwal cannot in a democratic dispensation hold brief of these two positions simultaneously. We hereby advice all lovers of Democracy to advice Governor Wike who has consistently played a bully to desist forthwith from this dastard act and allow democratic tenets within the party, Dr. Nwambu Gabriel said

Seinye Lulu-Briggs Loses Case At Appeal Court Of Ghana

Dr. Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs yet again loses application for Stay of Execution of Court Order by Ghana High Court, heads to supreme court to quash ruling of the High Court

In a strange twist of events today at the Ghana Court of Appeal, embattled wife of late High Chief O B Lulu-Briggs lost her appeal for Stay of Execution of the orders of a Ghana High Court asking her to release the mortal remains of her late husband to the family through the second oldest son Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, a Ghana Online Newspaper has reported.

Dr. Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs who dragged her late husband’s family into a year long legal tussle in her bid to have the final say in his affairs has decided to the Ghana Supreme Court after the Appeal Court judge dismissed her appeal for stay of execution.

The supreme Court of Ghana is expected to hear the matter when it is finally brought before it by March 2020.

To further get clarity on the implications of the present dismissal , the lawyer representing the Oruwari Briggs Family asked the judge to further interpret the judgement which clearly stated as one of the preconditions that Dr. Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs should APPOINT 2 REPRESENTATIVES who will represent her at the planning of the burial after she has released the mortal remains to the family.

A precondition she is yet to meet.

The judge in his words said; “the judgement of the Ghana High Court is self explicit and explanatory and ought to be complied with but Dr. Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs having gone ahead to the Supreme Court to challenge the ruling, the Appeal court can no longer say anything on the judgement. On these grounds, I have no other choice but to dismiss the appeal of Dr. Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs”

Implications of such a ruling means that the legal tussle over the ownership of the mortal remains of the late High Chief will further dash the hopes of the children and family and friends of the late High Chief and Philanthropist for more months.

Speaking to the second oldest son of the late High Chief , Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs on his reaction to the decision of the Appellate court, he said , “Seinye has lost before and has lost this one too, she will definitely lose again by the grace of God who has been our strength and fortress through these harrowing times”.

Seinye Lulu-Briggs: Her Lies And More Lies

It was the famous author Dorathy Allison that once said “things come apart easily when they have been held together by a web of lies”.

This is the stage where Seinye Lulu-Briggs, the infamous Black Widow of Rivers state is at now. Everything is coming apart right before her eyes as she is running out of options on what next to do.

Seinye Lulu-Briggs who styles herself as a woman who has the means to purchase the labors of hacks to represent her in courts and in the media so as to obfuscate the issues surrounding the reasons why she has denied her late husband and father and High Chief of Kalabari land , High Chief O B Lulu-Briggs his deserved eternal rest on his ancestral lands, has once again successfully delayed indefinitely the burial of the late sage.

Seinye Lulu-Briggs in her most recent publication, published on the pages of ThisDay Newspapers as an advertorial had earlier gone ahead to challenge the rulings of a Ghana High Court where she had instituted a case against the surviving sons of the Late High Chief O B Lulu-Briggs which she lost to the family on the 22nd of December 2019 in an Appeal court in Ghana, has finally come out to admit to the facts she earlier denied.

Remember that in the earlier days of the whole issues, the family of the late High Chief through the Head of the family had raised questions as to why Seinye Lulu-Briggs had kept the late High Chief onboard an aircraft she claimed she chartered for upwards of 5 hours and 30 minutes before take off to Accra , Ghana for the vacation she claimed they had embarked on a day after the late sage’s 88th birthday celebration in his country home in Abonnema , Rivers state.

Seinye denied that such a thing happened and denied this for upwards of 11 months only for her to come out in a publication yesterday accepting that there was a delay of the flight take off time.

The family also wondered why it had to be Seinye Lulu-Briggs who was saddled with the responsibility of procuring a LANDING PERMIT, for the airline company when she is neither an Aviation Authority official to either Nigeria or Ghana. A fact that Seinye Lulu-Briggs denied vehemently until in her 24th January publication on ThisDay Newspapers where she finally agreed that she indeed had to procure a landing permit for the airline owned by a private jet charter company, VistaJet, based in Malta, Greece. 

Seinye Lulu-Briggs had earlier flashed on the social media pages belonging to her that the said Private Jet company had deposed a document in court and also to the Ghana Police Service and Nigeria Police Force claiming that the company had absolved her of any wrong doing concerning the suspicions that she may have deliberately kept the late High Chief in a discomforted situation which facilitated his death before his mortal remains were ferried off to Ghana for keeping in a morgue. The letter which she claimed was written by VistaJet has long since been deleted off all her social media pages where it was earlier posted.

While Seinye Lulu-Briggs is busy running round in circles over what she assumes is the crux of the matter, the family and the entire people of Kalabari land have asked her for one thing only; “Release the body of the High Chief O B Lulu-Briggs to the family as the customs require”. A simple request which Seinye has refused to accede to, which has further thrown more suspicions on her actions regarding the mortal remains of the late High Chief.

Seinye who has busied herself with conversion of the properties and estates and companies of the late High Chief still struts about, grandstanding the bonafide children of the late sage and challenging them with all manner of law suits.

In her most recent challenge against the family in a Ghana Court of Appeal which was supposed to deliver its ruling on the 24th of January 2020, which coincidentally is the day she decided to sponsor a 22 pages of more lies against the children and Executive Governor of Rivers state and the Oruwari Briggs Chieftaincy House of Abonnema, Seinye instructed her lawyer to send word across to the court that she was not feeling well and will not be available for the hearing and ruling and pleaded with the court that they choose a longer date in another month after March 2020 when the Supreme Court of Ghana will decide if the court which she filed the suit at is competent to hear the matter.

Question again is; what game is Seinye Lulu-Briggs playing?

Recall that in the previous year, Seinye has challenged the competency of the Ghana Judicial Institution twice, creating an impression that the judges are incompetent.

Why would you ask a court of appeal you filed an appeal at to hold on for a supreme court to decide if it is competent enough to hear a matter which you brought before it yourself? 

From information gathered so far, Seinye is reacting to an expository interview held with the second oldest son of the late High Chief O B lulu-Briggs, last week in Port Harcourt.

In the no-holds-barred interview which lasted for 1 hour, the second oldest son and Head of Family Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs reiterated that all the family has asked and begged of Seinye Lulu-Briggs is for her to release the mortal remains of their late father so they can gather together and plan a befitting burial for him as the law and customs of the Kalabari people dictates.

From all indications, Seinye is rattled by the revelations contained in the interview which also exposed the fact that she had in the past attempted same thing with the family of yet another deceased high chief of Rivers state, Chief W W Whyte, in her younger years. (See link to youtube video of interview)

https://youtu.be/xUTZfg9jTxw

While the family understands that it is not strange for a man of his age which means all other suspicions could be laid to rest if a second opinion is sought right?

But then she refused and moved to court to file a motion barring the family or the Ghana Police Service or anyone except herself from accessing the remains of the deceased. This is in utter disregard of an exiting court order by a competent Coroner’s court in Ghana ordering for an autopsy to be conducted to ascertain the cause of death.

http://saharareporters.com/2019/09/17/ghanaian-court-launches-inquiry-billionaire-lulu-briggs-death

This continued and has given more and more reasons to believe that indeed someone is trying to cover up some sort of foul play.

It is said, that a clear conscience fears no accusation. What would have put all these away was for Mrs Seinye Lulu-Briggs who up until now is seen as the matriarch of the family and in no way is being undermined by either of the family members of the Oruwari Briggs Chieftaincy House nor her step-sons and step-daughter. Utmost respect has been accorded to her and will continue to be so, but one request from the family till date which has not been met by her remains, “Please give us the corpse of our father so we can plan his burial”.

Contrary to the beliefs that she has tried to push out to the public, the sons and the family of the late High Chief has continued to say that all they want is to give their late father, brother, uncle, grandfather and head of family, a befitting burial. Is this so hard a plea to accede to?

Of course not, unless someone is trying to hide something.

This has caused a series of questions asked over time with evidences to show that something is afoot.

https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/10/19/what-is-seinye-lulu-briggs-afraid-of/

Mrs Seinye Lulu-Briggs as custom requires anywhere in the world, upon demise of her husband has no business whatsoever in the planning of his burial without the family. As it is clear even in the marriage act, that at the point of departure, the mortal remains are released to the family of the deceased and the first son is referred to as the “Chief Mourner”. The woman is only to see the remains of her husband on the day of the burial and not before. But it is surprising that Mrs Seinye Lulu-Briggs has gone ahead since January 2019 and filed an application before a Ghana Court asking that the remains of her husband be not released to the family of the deceased.

Between January and October 2019, Mrs Seinye Lulu-Briggs has occupied herself with converting the assets of the deceased to her name and names of her children, but that is not even a problem to the family. All the family is interested in is for her to withdraw her application before the court and allow the mortal remains of the deceased to be handed over to the family so they can go ahead with plans to bury their brother and father and grandfather. Nothing more.

https://scannewsnigeria.com/news/the-o-b-lulu-briggs-sons-only-want-to-honor-their-father-with-a-befitting-burial/

In the light of these events, it has become imperative to advise Mrs Seinye Lulu-Briggs to let common sense prevail; hiring a character assassin to cause damage to the image of her husband is one of the most barbaric and grievous things she has done to her own family in the recent time. Money does not guarantee peace and fulfilment. In the absence of her husband, the widely respected sons of her husband who duly symbolize the family authority, will stand in as her pillar of strength, courage and pride. Seinye should stop desecrating the mortal remains of her husband and allow the family to give him his last honour.

CAN Should Commend Pantami For Blacklisting 9.2million Pre-registered SIM

By Adewole Kehinde

My attention was recently brought to the allegations of Christian Association of Nigeria statement asking President Buhari “What is the essence of SIM card registration if the authorities can not utilize it to find these killers who depend on phones as a mean of interaction to do their criminalities?”

I will like to bring the attention of the Christian Association of Nigeria to one of the major breakthrough of this administration under the most performing Minister of the Decade, Dr Isa Ali Pantami, the Hon Minister of Communication and Digital Economy.

It will be recalled that Dr Pantami while addressing the Executive Councils of both the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), who paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy Headquarters, Abuja directed telcos and NCC to blacklist 9.2 million pre-registered SIM Cards.

Dr Pantami asserted that President Muhammadu Buhari is a result-oriented individual, stressing that his modest achievement as the Director-General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) elevated him to the post he occupies today on merit.

After the Minister’s directive, it will be recalled that the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy had cleared about 9.2million unregistered and preregistered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards hitherto in the country within three weeks!

During his appearance before the Senate Committee on Communications at the National Assembly Abuja, Dr. Pantami said while he believes that ICT should be used to improve the security and economy of the country, the situation he met on ground was that it was being used to perpetuate insecurity.

Pantami said: “When I was appointed and assigned portfolio, by President Muhammadu Buhari, immediately I reported to the ministry and I received briefings.

“In the course of the presentation I immediately directed the NCC, looking at the security implication of unregistered SIMs or preregistered SIMs, I said we will not continue to ignore because even before I was appointed to this place , it has been worrying me that most of the crimes being committed in Nigeria, either in the process of coordination or committing SIM cards were involved.

“And I felt, whatever we do as a government, protection of lives and property of Nigerians should be our priority. Any other issue should be secondary.

“I mentioned this to them clearly that under my leadership I will not allow that to continue. If there is anything that should be our priority it is for us to make use of ICT to promote the security of Nigeria.

“But the situation I inherited, ICT was being used to compromise the security of Nigeria because people planning to make any attack or robbery, usually coordinate using SIM cards.

“When Nigerians are kidnapped, people negotiate what to be paid, using SIM cards. And I think this is something that should not be tolerated. We should not allow our platforms to be used for that.

“So I ask them immediately to go and begin or conclude audit exercise. Without audit exercise, we will not be able to know, the total number of unregistered/preregistered SIM cards.

“That figure was not available by the time I joined the Ministry and I gave them only one week to conclude that audit exercise.

“The did so and they came forward with around 9.2million preregistered, unregistered or partially registered SIMs. With this number definitely it was difficult for us to curtail any crime committed in the country.

“So I gave them another two week to announce to all Nigerians to come forward and conclude their registration. If it is incomplete, you have two weeks to complete. If it is preregistered, you need to come forward and present your bio data and all the information required to complete it. After that period the number was reduced to 2.4million.

“Then that 2.4million I gave them another one week and I said by 25th of September 2019, you should make sure that that there is no unregistered, preregistered or partially registered sim on our networks in Nigeria. All these 2.4million should either be blocked or deactivated.

“Whoever comes forward to present the necessary information then you can activate, deactivate or de-block his number. This is based on result presented to me on 26th September 2019.

“They have carried out the assignment and they presented a reporter me that as at 26th September 2019, there wasn’t any unregistered or preregistered sim being used in Nigeria.

“And I forwarded another letter to them that whenever a crime is committed, in which SIM is involved, we have informed security agencies to let us know. I will give you the number used to commit the crime and you only 60 minutes to produce the details and information with regards to that.

“And if you fail to do that definitely the operators must be sanctioned. Because this has been the agreement with them. And I will not tolerate that henceforth.

“To date I don’t have any information contrary to the directives we have given and I want to assure this committees that I know the provisions of the Section 4 Constitution which is all about the protection of life and property. That will be our priority and we want to make use of ICT to improve that.” Pantami said.

I think the Christian Association of Nigeria should rather commend the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy for taking the bull by the horn in ensuring that ALL SIM Cards in Nigeria are registered and any SIM Card linked to criminal activities are tracked within 24 hours by the security agencies in collaboration with the service providers.

Adewole Kehinde is the Publisher of Swift Reporters and Public Affairs Analyst based in Abuja. kennyadewole@gmail.com