₦airaland Forum

The Federal High Court in Abuja has giving a go ahead to a suit seeking the suspension and probe of Minister of State on Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.

A civil society group, Kingdom Rights Foundation International, had filed a suit on allegations of money laundering, operation of a foreign bank account, corruption and assets declaration irregularities against the Minister.

The enrolled order of the court bearing the stamp of the Federal High Court and the signature of the registrar with October 15, 2018 date, showed that Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo made the order on October 10.

The plaintiff, KHRFI, through its ex parte application filed on August 23, 2018, had sought the court’s leave to commence a suit seeking Kachikwu’s probe for the various allegations.

Also dragged alongside the Ministry were the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN).

The plaintiff prayed the court, in the substantive suit, to conduct a judicial review of the administrative action/inaction of the defendants to perform their constitutional and statutory mandates and obligations in connection with the investigation and prosecution of Kachikwu.

Lawyer to the plaintiff, Okere Nnamdi, moved the ex parte application seeking leave to commence the suit on October 10.

Granting the request in her ruling, Justice Ogunbanjo held, “Leave is granted to the plaintiff/applicant to commence action for judicial review of administrative action/inaction to perform their constitutional and statutory mandate and obligation under section 174(1), (2), and (3) of the 1999 Constitution, sections 3 and 24 (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, CAP C15, Laws of the Federation 2004, and in section 5(1) of the EFCC Act, to investigate and prosecute Dr Ibe Emmanuel Kachikwu, on allegations of money laundering, operation of foreign bank account while occupying a public office, corruption, false declaration of assets, perjury and abuse of office, contrary to the Code of Conduct for Public Officers provided under paragraphs 1, 2 and 11(1) and (2) of the Fifth Schedule, Part I of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”

The judge also made an order deeming the plaintiff’s originating summons (the main suit) filed alongside the ex parte as “properly filed under Order 34 Rule 5(1) of the rules of the court.”

But the judge declined to grant the applicant’s request that Kachikwu should be served with the court papers through “the most senior staff member in the registry on any staff member of the ministry.”

Rather, the court ruled that “the first defendant (Kachikwu) is to be served personally.”

The judge then fixed October 24 for a report of service.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/court-okays-suit-seeking-buharis.html

Joe Igbokwe, the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, has declared that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock in 2019, insisting that all the presidential candidates put together will not be able to unseat President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to Igbokwe, the ruling APC would not lose sleep over the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the main opposition party, stressing that the contest was going to be between integrity versus corruption.

Igbokwe told newsmen in Lagos that Nigerians cannot trust Atiku because of the many cases of corruption hanging around his neck.

He said, “Let me put it this way, all the presidential candidates put together, both the serious and the unserious, will not be able to unseat Buhari.

“The contest is going to be between integrity versus corruption. And if that is going to be the parameter to judge, it means that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock. If corruption and integrity were to be in contest, then integrity must win. If integrity must win, therefore, Aso Rock is not vacant for now.

“There is no meeting point between light and darkness. We cannot trust Atiku with the keys of the national treasury given his antecedent. I don’t know whether you have watched Obasanjo’s video on Atiku.

“If there is anybody that knows Atiku very well, that person must be Obasanjo because they worked together for eight years. Obasanjo said some Americans came probably from FBI and said that they wanted to investigate some Nigerians and Atiku was one of them.

“After that, Obasanjo was also inclusive, but they couldn’t find anything on him. Meanwhile, on Atiku, there was a damning report. And given what Obasanjo knows about the findings of those people, he said that God would not forgive him if he supports Atiku. If Obasanjo says that kind of thing, then we cannot trust Atiku with the keys of the national treasury.

“Another point is what played out in Port Harcourt at the PDP national convention. It was a bazaar. It was an audacious and thunderous celebration of corruption, where dollars were used with reckless abandon to buy delegates’ votes. We cannot have that kind of person in the saddle. His wealth is questionable. Also remember that PDP told Nigerians that they had repented and pleaded that they should be given another chance.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-all-presidential-candidates-put.html

Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said yesterday that President Muhammadu Buhari would not win in the South-West, South-East, South-South, North-Central.

According to him, Nigerians, through their votes, will send him back to the core North in 2019 because he has completely lost the goodwill with which he rode to power in 2015.

Agbakoba said Nigeria was now broken politically, strategically, morally, and completely bankrupt.

Speaking with Daily Independent in Lagos, Agbakoba, who is the leader of the Nigerian Intervention Movement (NIM), said based on his performance in the last three and half years, nothing qualified President Buhari to continue for another term in office.

According to him, even the president’s wife, Aisha Buhari, was not in support of her husband continuing in office for another term which explained why she criticised the recently concluded primaries of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and also advised Nigerians to vote wisely in 2019.

On the three-pronged promise of the Buhari administration, namely tackling insecurity, revamping the economy, and the war against corruption, Agbakoba said the current administration had not fulfilled any of the promises, insisting that corruption was now rife in the administration.

He said: “I think it misses the point to say that President Buhari is as popular as he was in 2015, because he is not.

“When the PDP ran their presidential primaries, a lot of big Northerners were there; people like Kwankwaso, Lamido, Dankwambo, Tambuwal, Makarfi, and others.

“In any case, President Buhari will not expect to win the North-West and become Nigeria’s president because he has taken part in four elections, this will be his fifth.

“The only time he won was when (Bola) Tinubu made the foolish mistake of bringing him to the South. Now, what will happen is that we will send him back to the North. The North alone can’t make him president; he has to have national appeal.

“So, I can tell you for free that President Buhari is not going to win the North-Central. He is not going to win the South-West; he is not going to win the South-East, and he is not going to win the South-South. So, I don’t know where his votes will come from. If it is going to come from the North-West, that is fine.

“Completely, President Buhari has no goodwill left. All the euphoria that was felt, I didn’t feel it because I have always known his background.

“There was a huge euphoria of change that former President Goodluck Jonathan had not done well; that he presided over a highly corrupt government, and Buhari was the Mr. Clean, Mr. Integrity, and he will fix things. But that has not happened.

“On the contrary, Nigeria is broken politically, strategically, morally, and a completely bankrupt country. Poverty level has grown, 85 million Nigerians are extremely poor, we have now become the poverty capital of the world.

“So, the euphoria of 2015 is certainly not the euphoria of 2019, and that is why, personally, I am unable to support his campaign to remain in office.

“To support the campaign to remain in office for me is to look back at what he has done, the campaign promises on corruption, security, and the economy. These are the three big campaign issues, nothing has been fulfilled.

“In spite of all the monies borrowed, we are now pushing to over $30 billion borrowed money unaccountable, infrastructures all in pieces, corruption is rife”.

“You remember the case of his SGF, Babachir Lawal; you also remember the case of Abdulrasheed Maina, and so on. So, there is nothing that stands him out as qualified to continue.

“Even Buhari’s wife has criticised the primary election that the APC held, so that will tell you that even in the other room in his house, he doesn’t have support.

“Why would I be supporting a man whose own wife does not even support him? For me, he is history. I just hope that we can have a new president.”

Giving a detailed projection of what may play out in the 2019 presidential election, Agbakoba, who blamed Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State, for forming an alliance with Buhari in 2015, said Buhari contested four times between 2003 and 2011 but couldn’t achieve success because he didn’t enjoy the support of the South.

Agbakoba, who said former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s endorsement carried a lot of weight based on the strong followership he enjoys across the country, said anyone saying Obasanjo was irrelevant as far as the 2019 presidential election was concerned, would be making a huge mistake.

“There is no way he can discountenance the influence of Obasanjo, you will be doing so at your peril because he has a strong followership.

“Obasanjo has strong followership in the South-West, Afenifere is on his side because they all believe in restructuring.

“The South-East cultural, traditional systems are on the side of Atiku because he believes in restructuring. The South-East has felt marginalised and excluded and he (Atiku) now comes and said I will bring you in.”

On the chances of Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019, Agbakoba said the presidential election was a two-horse race between the APC and PDP and argued that the claim by Buhari’s loyalists that Atiku was corrupt did not matter.

He said what mattered was his ability to turn around the fortunes of the country like US President Donald Trump is doing despite the many negative stories about his personality.

“I am not interested in whether he is a thief. Jesus Christ cannot be the president of Nigeria. Donald Trump is not an angel but he is the most effective president in a long time.

“In the United States now, unemployment rates are down, the economy is booming, and everything is working.

“The fact that he has girlfriends and does all those bad things doesn’t mean that he is not effective.

“Yes, Atiku may not be an angel but I am not interested in that. I am tired of having a bad government. It is almost like the Jonathan-Buhari thing.

“When people said they were tired of Jonathan and brought in Buhari, so the same way now, people are tired of Buhari, and it is my hope that Atiku, if he does win, will learn lessons and move forward to do the right thing,” he said.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-presidency-agbakoba-lists-places.html

Former governors and ministers as well as senior lawyers are among the 50 high profile persons barred by the federal government from travelling out of the country until the determination of corruption cases filed against them before the courts of the land.

This followed a directive by President Muhammadu Buhari that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice should implement the Executive Order 6 (EO6) in full.
Schedule of the EO6 include a list of 155 cases of corruption and money laundering already pending before the court, with proceeds of looted funds valued at N595,409,838, 452.25.

Some of the affected cases involve former state governors, senators, military top brass, senior lawyers and police officers that held positions in previous administrations
The Executive Order 6 empowers the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to take steps in conjunction with relevant investigative agencies to temporarily seize property linked with corruption cases pending investigation and those that are before the court.

A statement by senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, noted that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and other security agencies have placed the 50 high profile Nigerians on watch-list with a view to restricting their movement out of the country.
Shehu explained that Buhari directed the AGF to implement the Executive Order 6 with full force following the instant judicial affirmation of the constitutionality and legality of the Order.

The statement made available to LEADERSHIP Sunday noted: “To this end, a number of enforcement procedures are currently in place by which the Nigeria Immigration Service and other security agencies have placed no fewer than 50 high profile persons directly affected by EO6 on watch-list and restricted them from leaving the country pending the determination of their cases.

“Also, the financial transactions of these persons of interest are being monitored by the relevant agencies to ensure that the assets are not dissipated and such persons do not interfere with, nor howsoever corrupt the investigation and litigation processes.

“It is instructive to noted that EO6 was specifically directed to relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure that all assets within a minimum value of N50 million or equivalent, subject to investigation or litigation are protected from dissipation by employing all available lawful means, pending the final determination of any corruption-related matter”.

Shehu further said the Buhari administration reassured all well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians of its commitment to the fight against corruption, in accordance with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the general principles of the Rule of Law.

He continued: “Accordingly, this administration will uphold the rule of law in all its actions and the right of citizens would be protected as guaranteed by the Constitution.

“We, therefore, enjoin all Nigerians to cooperate with the law enforcement authorities towards ensuring a successful implementation of the Executive Order 6 which is a paradigm-changing policy of the Federal Government in the fight against corruption”.

Action Targeted At Our Members – PDP
But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday rejected attempts by the presidency to place travel restrictions on Nigerians, saying it amounts to foisting full-blown fascism on the country.
The party, in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, described the move as a draconian step, which it said is clearly targeted at members of the opposition parties and perceived political enemies of the president.

The party also listed those it said are allegedly being targeted to include ‘well-meaning Nigerians, including members of the business community, religious leaders, former political leaders and traditional rulers, who are perceived to be averse to President Buhari’s re-election bid.”

The PDP further noted that the EO6 is a direct clampdown on the country’s democratic order and an overthrow of rights of the citizenry as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
It stated: “We hope this is not a ploy to harm certain eminent Nigerians on the claims of resisting travel restrictions. The whole world can now see how fascism is fast taking over our democracy and judicial system and how the Buhari administration, by fiat, has directly ordered that citizens be secretly trailed, their movements and financial transactions restricted by government agencies, without recourse to due process of the law.

“While the PDP notes that the Buhari Presidency has gone into panic mode since the popular emergence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as PDP Presidential candidate and the spontaneous jubilation his emergence has evoked across the country, the party maintains that the resort to total clamp down on the opposition and our supporters will be totally unacceptable.

“What this means is that all Nigerians, particularly, opposition members, members of the business community and religious leaders, have become endangered and stand the risk of state violence under the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.”

The PDP further asked the international community to hold the Buhari Presidency responsible should any harm befall any opposition leader, key members of the business community and religious leaders across the country ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Ban Primitive, Resort To Political Witch-hunt – HURIWA
The recently announced travel ban placed on 50 unnamed Nigerians undergoing investigation or prosecutions by anti- graft bodies on charges related to corrupt practices has been described as a primitive resort to political witch-hunt and vendetta.

This was the submission of a prominent Non Governmental Organisation, Human Rights Writers Association.

The group in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko said , the Nigerian Constitution in section 36 has clearly indicated that even when a citizen is charged before a competent court of law, the said individual is presumed innocent in the eye of the law until contrary determination is reached.

The Rights group which insisted that presidents Buhari cannot ban any Nigerian from traveling stated caregorically that , “the executive order number 6 which purports to be a policy guideline on the prosecution of suspects accused of hiding foreign located assets, does not have the force of a superior law to supercede the clear and binding provisions of the constitution .”

HURIWA accused President Muhammadu Buhari “ of attempting to declare a state of emergency by suspending the Constitution which is what the just issued Presidential statement meant when it authorised the profiling of certain Nigerians not yet convicted and to deny them their Constitutional freedoms.

HURIWA lampooned President Muhammadu Buhari for the errorneous interpretation of the ruling of the Federal High Court which validated his power to make general policy frameworks on the fight against corruption subject to the order of the competent court of law just as the Rights group reminded President Muhammadu Buhari that the Court couldn’t have unilaterally overruled or nullify the relevant sections of the Constitution

HURIWA said: “ for the avoidance of doubts, these are the exact provisions of fair hearing protected under 36(1) which affirmed extensively as follows: “

HURIWA condemned what it called the deliberate twisting to suit the executive whims and caprices of President Muhammad Buhari, the verdict as read out by the Federal High Court on the executive order 6.

HURIWA wondered the interest of the Presidency in introducing a new dimension to the court ruling so as to fully go after political opponents by the same Presidency that has disrespected over a dozen court orders against the government.

HURIWA has therefore asked the National Assembly to stop President Muhammad Buhari from plunging Nigeria into a full blown dictatorship and restore constitutional democracy to the path of honour and respect for the adherence to the principle of rule of law.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/ex-govs-lawyers-others-barred-from.html

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has reacted to the move by President Muhammadu Buhari to totally implement the Executive Order 6.

The party urged Nigerians to reject the attempt by the President Muhammadu Buhari to foist a full-blown fascism on the nation beginning with the placement of travel restrictions on 50 Nigerians.

The presidency had on Saturday announced that it would impose travel ban on 50 high-profile persons.

According to the PDP, the step was clearly targeted at members of the opposition parties, perceived political enemies of the President, well-meaning Nigerians, including members of the business community, religious leaders, former political leaders and traditional rulers, who are perceived to be aversed to President Buhari’s re-election bid.

The opposition party, in a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Saturday said the development was “a direct clampdown on our democratic order and an overthrow of rights of our citizenry as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”

PDP’s statement added, “We hope this is not a ploy to harm certain eminent Nigerians on the claims of resisting travel restrictions.

“The whole world can now see how fascism is fast taking over our democracy and judicial system and how the Buhari administration, by fiat, has directly ordered that citizens be secretly trailed, their movements and financial transactions restricted by government agencies, without recourse to due process of the law.

“While the PDP notes that the Buhari Presidency has gone into panic mode since the popular emergence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as PDP Presidential candidate and the spontaneous jubilation his emergence has evoked across the country, the party maintains that the resort to total clamp down on the opposition and our supporters will be totally unacceptable.

“What this means is that all Nigerians, particularly, opposition members, members of the business community and religious leaders, have become endangered and stand the risk of state violence under the All Progressives Congress, APC, administration.

“The PDP alerts the international community to hold the Presidency responsible should any harm befall any opposition leader, key members of the business community and religious leaders across the country as we march towards the 2019 general elections.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/executive-order-6-pdp-reacts-to-buharis.html

An All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain in Niger, Dr Mohammed Santuraki, has called on the party to hit the ground running ahead of the 2019 general elections.

He added that the emergence of the PDP presidential candidate, Abubakar Atiku should serve as a wake up call for serious home cleaning by APC.

Santuraki, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Suleja on Saturday, said APC needed to put its house in order to achieve this.

He said that the various disputes that came up in the course of the party’s National and States assemblies must be quickly resolved for unity.

“Whether we would like to admit or not, the Presidential candidate that the main opposition party, the PDP, settled for is a formidable opponent, even if not a credible one.

“Within a week of emerging as the presidential flag bearer, he appointed his campaign team and named his running mate.

“This to me indicates a much needed sense of urgency. We, in APC must respond in like manner. The clock is ticking. We must push the button,” he said.

On the disputes within the party in the state, he expressed satisfaction that measures are already being taken to address them.

“I am happy to note that 10 long days after the October 2 primary elections in Niger, better judgement eventually prevailed. Agreed, it was a choice between a rock and a hard place, but it shouldn’t have been a difficult choice.

“While the election results were adjudged incomplete, flawed and inconclusive in Zone A, and the results also contested in the other zones, a greater level of injustice would have been perpetrated if the tickets were auto-awarded to the incumbents.

“Its commendable that the National Chairman finally accepted a more logical reasoning by awarding the victory to the presumed winners of the elections.

“I congratulate and thank HE Gov. Abubakar Sani Bello, the senatorial aspirants, the elders and other APC stakeholders for their resolute stand on the side of our people, for fairness throughout this process.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-atiku-pdp-moving-faster-than-us.html

Elder statesman and Chairman of the Northern Elders’ Council (NEC), Alhaji Tanko Yakasai has reacted to the choice of Peter Obi as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in 2019.

DAILY POST earlier broke the news on Atiku opting for the former Governor as his running mate in the 2019 presidential tussle.

Yakassai in a statement described Atiku’s choice as a balanced one owing to the fact that Obi is a Christian and from the South-East.

He, however, expressed doubt whether the choice of Peter Obi is the collective choice of the majority of the people of the South East.

The statement read: “ It was expected all along that the slot of the Vice President should go to the South East for the PDP as APC has chosen the South West.

“What is not ascertained is whether the choice of Peter Obi is the collective choice of the majority of the people of the South East.

“Atiku Abubakar/Peter Obi ticket is a very good one. Atiku Abubakar is a Muslim from the North while Peter Obi is a Christian from the South just as Muhammadu Buhari is a Muslim from the North and Yemi Osinbajo is a Christian from the South. Everything is balanced.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-northern-elders-speak-on-atiku.html

Chief Olisa Agbakoba, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Thursday, said former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s endorsement of former Vice-president Atiku Abubakar will go a long way in determining the outcome of the 2019 presidential election.

Speaking with Daily Independent, Agbakoba said Obasanjo has been behind every successful presidential campaign in the last 12 years.

“Absolutely, Obasanjo is Nigeria’s most influential politician and elder statesman and he has been behind every successful presidential campaign of the last 12 years or so.

“So, this endorsement is very weighty,” he said.

Atiku met Obasanjo within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.

Others in the meeting included: the Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Dioceses, Bishop Matthew Kukah; Founder of Living Faith Church, Pastor David Oyedepo; a leading Moslem cleric, Sheik Ibrahim Gumi; and Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, among others.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-obasanjos-endorsement-of-atiku.html

Senate Thursday finally approved N189, 207, 544, 893.00 for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

It also said that the approved sum of money should be vired from both recurrent and capital component of special intervention programme captured in the service-wide votes of the 2018 appropriation act.

Following the approval, the aggregate INEC budget for the 2018 appropriation will be N234, 507, 272, 393.

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday wrote to the upper chamber requesting for the virement for the INEC budget which was expeditiously debated and eventually okayed today.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-polls-senate-approves-over-n189bn.html

MUYIWA OYINLOLA in this report takes a look at issues that dominated the recently held PDP presidential primary and how such issue-based campaigns can enliven the political atmosphere as the nation moves towards the 2019 general elections



One of the sinister issues the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) moved against the moment it came to power in May, 2015, was hate speech.

This is perhaps understandable as hate speech nearly set the country ablaze during the campaigns for the 2015 general elections.

There were name callings, mud slinging, and in some cases, outright abuses, frontal attacks and character assassination. Hence, no responsible government would allow such sinister monster to trend.

Political campaigns rather than been hinged on hate speech should be based on developmental and progressive issues.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must have taken a queue from the misfortune of recent past and its president aspirants who converged weekend for the parties presidential primary based their campaigns on developmental issues that can unite the country.

Prior to the Port Harcourt convention, a number of the aspirants including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, crisscrossed the length and breadth of the country marketing themselves and presenting their agenda not only to party delegates but also to Nigerians at large.

While Atiku based his campaign on the need to restructure the country, among others, Saraki anchored his on his plan to grow Nigeria, if elected president.

Right from late August when he announced his decision to run, he defined his campaign on the need to #Let’s Grow Nigeria.

According to Saraki, the country needs to grow her economy, politics, social security system, infrastructure and security architecture.

The concept of growth, according to him is just as strong as the past ones like the Americans have New Deal under FDR, Contract with America etc.

The use of a slogan that captures the present situation as Saraki did, according to pundits shows something unique and fantastic about his campaign.

In many gathering today, the phrase is now effectively emblazoned on t-shirts, fez cap, and note pads.

It also looks hood on banners, posters, bill boards and the mobike bill boards. The multi-media use of the theme portrays the Saraki team as the most intellectual among the group.

Furthermore, it gave colour to the Saraki campaign. It gave class and panache to the campaigns.

In his inaugural campaign speech, the lawmaker noted that: “My plan for Nigeria has inclusion in all aspects of the country’s affairs as a central pillar. I am determined to grow Nigeria out of poverty.’

“For youth who have ideas and capacity, we will make sure that there is funding for their ventures, and we shall build on the Made-in-Nigeria legislation as part of our job-creation drive. I have decided to answer the call of teeming youth who have asked me to run for president.

“Nigerian youth will be given all the opportunities to realise their potential to the full within a national framework that guarantees inclusiveness. We will not be indifferent or turn a blind eye to the real concerns of our people – every single Nigerian life matters.

“As a former two-term governor and currently President of the Senate, by the grace of God, I believe I possess a unique blend of executive and legislative experience to push for and implement reforms. You can benchmark us and hold us accountable. In short, I assure you that I will deliver on all promises. “I believe the Nigerian youth are critical to re-building and growing the economy, and restoring our national pride.

“Nigerians are crying out for succour everywhere; many of our children are hungry. Many people are dying of avoidable or otherwise treatable diseases.

“We must pull this country back together and rebuild, block-by-block, with dedication and commitment.”

Whereas Saraki came third in the presidential primary, he agreed to work with Atiku, who topped every other aspirant in the race.

Whereas Saraki has been commended in many quarters for running issue-based campaigns as he moved round the country in his bid to get the party’s ticket, one point that counted against him is that he was a late starter. He joined the race barely two months ago, after his return from the APC to the party.

It was also a miracle that he got up to 317 votes, because of the series of distractions in form of litigations and impeachment threat that he suffered.

LEADERSHIP recalls that he suffered frequent distraction from the Presidency and APC, the ruling party that never wanted him to emerge against Buhari.

According to pundits, this is Saraki’s first time in managing a presidential and national elections. He does not have unlimited resources as Atiku and Tambuwal who was financially supported by a governor in one of the oil rich states.

In the same vein, Saraki’s North-Central was also not supported by the rest of the North in the just concluded exercise.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/dissecting-sarakis-theatrics-for-issue.html

Former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, has described the presidential candidacy of Alhaji Abubakar Atiku under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as a sign of hope for Nigerians.

The former governor, in a statement he personally signed on Wednesday, congratulated the former Vice President for the fit he recorded at the recent PDP national convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

While describing the convention as the most credible and transparent ever, Idris noted that the choice of Alhaji Atiku as the party’s presidential flag bearer by the delegates was noble.

According to him, Alhaji Atiku is also the most prepared candidate that would turn the fortune of the country from bad to good.

“Alhaji Atiku that I know, is very much experienced and articulate in governance. This is a man ready to transform this country with his wealth of experience.

“Let me also use this medium to congratulate the entire Nigerians and the PDP for making a wise choice in Alhaji Abubakar Atiku.”

The former governor equally saluted the maturity and patriotism of other presidential aspirants, who displayed the spirit of sportsmanship during and after the convention.

Alhaji Idris also urged party members including delegates, particularly from Kogi state, who must have had their preferred aspirants at the convention to come together and work towards the victory of the party come next year’s presidential election.

“Every delegate must have his or her preferred aspirant during the convention, however only one aspirant must emerge as the party candidate. It is now time to put all our interest in one basket towards actualising the victory of PDP come next year presidential election and other elections,” Alh. Idris added.

He, therefore, assured Nigerians that the victory of Alhaji Abubakar Atiku next year will change the county’s narration for the better.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-ex-kogi-governor-idris-speaks-on.html

Below are pictures of a Nigerian lady who is running a campaign on Twitter to get the attention of US singer Rihanna.

According to the lady, she believes that the tribal marks on her face is a unique feature which can be attractive enough to make her a model for Rihanna’s brand Fenty.

Read her tweets below.

”I have been doing this campaign to get through @rihanna on all my social media handle… Yeah.. I have tribal marks and want to model for her. I need my Nigerian peeps to help get through to her. Please

It’s not easy growing up with Tribal marks…. The bullying was much though it hasn’t stopped yet… I still get insulted whenever I go out. I want to thrive in what was meant to make me feel bad… I want to model for @rihanna . It will be a dream come true.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/nigerian-lady-with-tribal-marks-wants.html

The governing All Progressives Congress, (APC), in its first official reaction to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s nomination as Presidential Candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) has accused him of buying the ticket and not winning it democratically.

According to APC, Atiku reportedly bought over almost all the PDP delegates which saw him being declared winner of the presidential primaries.

The party wondered how Atiku will recoup his “investment”, if not from the public treasury should he win the Presidency, taking into account the huge expenses expended to secure the PDP ticket.

Acting national publicity secretary, Yekini Nabena, raised these issues in a congratulatory message to Abubakar on his election as the PDP 2019 presidential candidate. Nabena, however, said APC’s congratulatory message to Abubakar was in keeping with its belief in participatory democracy and the electorate’s right to freely choose from candidates in any political contest.

He, however, noted that in assessing candidates to be voted for during elections, Nigerians will normally consider the candidate’s background and antecedents.

According to the APC Spokesman, “the pertinent question to ask about Atiku is what his scorecard in public office was? Regrettably, Atiku’s scorecard is abysmally low and he has proven to be an untrustworthy and unreliable character. “A case in point is Atiku’s revealing altercation with his former boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo which exposed the level of corruption Atiku was enmeshed in. “In the international level, Atiku has been reportedly placed on the global watch list of the United States of America and has avoided travelling to the US to avoid arrest and prosecution over a money-laundering and corruption case in that country.

Really, is this the character and antecedent of a candidate Nigerians will be proud to vote for as our President, come 2019? “Compared and contrasted with President Muhammadu Buhari’s consistent and principled stance on party affiliations, since 1999, Atiku has moved around different political parties – PDP, ACN, PDP, APC and now PDP, all in his blind and desperate pursuit of his ambition – The Presidency of Nigeria. It is therefore very clear that if Atiku loses the presidential election in 2019, he will again defect from the PDP to another political platform.

“Atiku is known as a super-rich Nigerian who entrenched the undemocratic practice of buying votes of delegates. During the APC National Convention in 2014, he spent several millions of dollars to buy delegates votes and emerged third, after Buhari and Rabiu Kwankwaso. “Our dear President Muhammadu Buhari does not spend a kobo on delegates as he banks only on his proven personal integrity. In any case how did a retired Customs Officer acquire so much wealth to fund his several presidential bids? The source of his wealth is very questionable and his financial resources are definitely ill gotten. “Nigerians have had enough of corrupt, cash and carry politicians.

That was why in 2015 they came out enmasse and elected a clean and transparent man in Muhammadu Buhari to clean the Augean stable.

The candidature of Atiku Abubakar will bring back the undesired lots and their practices which Nigerians have long rejected and forgotten.

“The Nigerian electorate deserves to be given a choice of decency, integrity and honour and not dirt, corruption and infamy.

The choice between Buhari and Atiku is one between light and darkness; between positive change and business as usual; between transparency and under the table dealings.

“As we prepare for the forthcoming 2019 elections, one thing is clear. If the choice is between a presidential candidate/change agent who is rebuilding the country and refocusing our national priorities and attitudes on one hand and another candidate who along with his gang of co-looters stole the country’s commonwealth and brought the country to its knees, that choice has already been made by the Nigerian electorate”.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/apc-taunts-atiku-accuses-him-of-buying.html

Eight South African police officers are due to appear in Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court today for the alleged torture and murder of a Nigerian, Ibrahim Olamilekan Badmus.

Ms Catherine Tenteza, Ms Gerhard Der-Walt, Mr Nkosinathi Ngwenya, Mr Aaron Arends, Mr Nomkhosi Khoza, Mr. Emmanuel Ngwane, Mr Msebenzi Mkhuma and Mr Joseph Mamasela were arrested last Friday by South Africa’s Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).

A statement by Nigeria’s Consul General in Johannesburg, Godwin Adama, on Sunday, said Badmus, 25, a native of Ibadan, Oyo State was allegedly killed when the officers interrogated and suffocated him on Oct. 10, 2017, in Vanderbijlpark.

Adama commended the IPID who he said assured of a thorough investigation and they had kept to their word.

“It will set a new standard in prosecution of cases involving Nigerians in South Africa. It will also send a strong message out,” he said.

He also expressed hope that the accused would be convicted to serve as a deterrence to others.

IPID spokesperson Moses Dlamini had said that the accused claimed that they had found drugs on the deceased.

He however said the claim was a false story to cover up the torture and murder of the deceased.

“There was a huge outcry from the Nigerian community when the death was discovered. At the time, the police also alleged that they were attacked by ‘drug dealers’,” he said.

Dlamini said IPID investigators had probed the matter amid a lot of “hostility” from some members of the South African Police Service.

He said two pathologists who conducted the post-mortem confirmed that the deceased had indeed been tortured.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/8-south-african-police-officers-in.html

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was yesterday elected the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 general election. With his emergence as the standard bearer of the major opposition party in the country, Atiku is President Muhammadu Buhari’s major opponent in the forthcoming presidential poll. While the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) had on Saturday affirmed Buhari as its candidate at a non-elective national convention at the Eagle Square in Abuja, the PDP, at its national convention in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, held between Saturday and Sunday, declared Atiku winner of the keenly contested presidential primary. Atiku scored 1,532 votes to defeat 11 other aspirants to secure the PDP presidential ticket, making it the fourth time he would be contesting for the presidency. While announcing the results, chairman of the PDP national convention planning committee and Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, said Atiku’s closest rival and Sokoto State governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, polled a total of 693 votes.

According to Okowa, the next person on line is Senate President Senator Bukola Saraki who polled a total of 317 votes, while former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, scored 158 votes. Gombe State governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo came fifth with 111 votes, just as former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, got 96 votes. Former Kaduna State Governor, Senator Ahmed Markarfi got a total of 74 votes; former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Kabiru Turaki, got 65 votes; former Sokoto State governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, polled 48 votes and former Senate President David Mark got 35 votes. Also, former Plateau State governor, Senator Jonah Jang and founder of Baze University, Abuja, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed got 19 and five votes respectively, while a total of 68 votes were voided. In his acceptance speech, Atiku lauded other presidential aspirants who ran for the primaries with him, saying they did so because they have the interest of the country at heart. He said, “Today, we are witnessing a landmark event; landmark event in the sense that since the rebranding of our great party, the PDP, in fact, I dare say that since the return of democratic rule of governance in this country, we have witnessed the most credible, transparent and fair primaries. “Let me also commend my fellow compatriots or aspirants for displaying a sense of unity, a sense of purpose and a sense of commitment. This is a very rare event.

My fellow compatriots have clearly shown that the interest of the party and that of the people of this country is paramount and more important than individual interests. “I want to pay tribute to each and everyone of them and to assure them that I am ever ready to work with each and everyone of them for the realization of the victory of our party in the forthcoming elections.

I cannot do it alone. I need your support, I need your assistance, I need your understanding and I need your participation. It is not a one man’s job. It is a collective responsibility. “I am prepared to listen to you, to take your advice, to consult with you, to work with you and together we succeed and after we succeed together, we shall all be partners in that success.” Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, congratulated Atiku, assuring that he will continue to work for the success of the PDP. He thanked all PDP delegates and stakeholders for ensuring a successful and peaceful National Convention in Port Harcourt. It’s Now Eagle Vs Eagle — Bakare Reacting to Atiku’s victory, the Convener of Save Nigeria Group (SNG), Pastor Tunde Bakare, observed yesterday that the 2019 presidency will be a tough contest between eagle and eagle. Bakare congratulated the former vice president on his emergence as the PDP presidential candidate, saying Atiku’s victory would make the 2019 election keen and interesting.

The Senior Pastor of Latter Rain Assembly, who spoke to journalists in Ikeja after making a speech on Nigeria’s 58th Independence in his church described Atiku’s emergence as a welcome development. Noting that the battle for the presidency would be a tough contest between President Buhari and Atiku, Pastor Bakare said Buhari and Abubakar are equal match and it is Nigerians who would decide between the two. He stated: “I congratulate him (Abubakar); he makes the issue in 2019 more robust. It is not going to be an eaglet versus an eagle but an eagle versus eagle: an old eagle versus new eagle and probably both of them old eagles. “I wish president Muhammadu Buhari the best in 2019. He has the power of incumbency and he will do his best to win the election, but Atiku is not going to take No for an answer when the two forces collide in the election”. Bakare said Atiku, just like Buhari, has the experience, the exposure and the acceptance expected of whoever must be the country’s president. He, however, pointed out that having those qualities alone would not translate into the victory for Atiku, as the electorate would decide the parameters on which to elect the next president. The cleric continued: “I can’t say Atiku will win or lose. You see, I am not advocating for him. Among all the aspirants who contested the PDP ticket with him, he is perhaps the most cosmopolitan.


He is a Wazobia man. “He was Vice-President for eight years and he inherited something from late Yaradua that he had held on to so effectively. He has been a businessman with business acumen and he has the exposure. But you see, that is not what qualifies you to win. A lot comes into play, so again, I cannot say whether he will win or lose”. Bakare said for the PDP to win the 2019 elections, it will need to demonstrate to the electorate that it is a regenerated party and “show repentance for the years of the locust they engineered”. He added that the opposition party has to convince Nigerians that they would not return to corruption, which he said was the way of life during its rule. On the chances of APC, Bakare said though the government was trying its best, there is the need for APC to do much more to win the next election. He said the country is facing a lot of challenges, which the government needs to offer solutions to in order to fast track the pace of development.

The cleric said that performance and policies, and not necessarily incumbency factor, would guarantee victory for the APC in 2019. The SNG Convener said his comments about the Buhari administration from the beginning should not be interpreted to mean he is attacking the government, but that he is just raising issues needing attention. Bakare said Nigeria has the potential to be great with the right leadership and positive attitude of followers, even as he urged Nigerians to vote according to their conscience and elect leaders that mean well for the country. Learn From Our Primary, PDP Tells INEC, APC Meanwhile, the PDP said yesterday that the orderliness, transparency and credibility of its presidential primary should serve as a direct lesson to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the governing APC on how elections should be conducted in present day Nigeria. The party in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbindiyan, noted that the process has shown that the electoral umpire, in its manifest compromises, has been responsible for the electoral crises at various levels of elections.

PDP added that the scenario also shows that citizens, irrespective of their individual and group interests, are capable of holding peaceful and credible elections that meet global standards. The statement made available to LEADERSHIP noted: “The success of our presidential primary followed our strict adherence to democratic rules and principles of transparency and fairness, which has eluded the nation since President Muhammadu Buhari-led licentious administration assumed office. Simply put, in the PDP Presidential primary, every vote counted. “Nigerians are therefore no longer in doubt that our compromised electoral umpire, under the Buhari administration, is ostensibly culpable for injecting rancorous situations that create openings for violence, manipulations, inconclusive polls and outright rigging of elections. “We invite the whole world to note that the PDP conducted its Presidential primary and a clear winner, Atiku Abubakar, emerged, without any form of disagreements or reliance on heavy security, showing that Nigerians are peaceful, orderly and desirous of credible processes at all levels of political engagement”.

Dogara Congratulates Atiku Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, yesterday congratulated former vice president Atiku on his emergence as the presidential flag bearer of the PDP. The speaker noted in a statement issued by his special adviser on media and public affairs, Mr Turaki Hassan, that the task before Atiku is to now unite with other aspirants to work towards the success of the party in the 2019 elections. He expressed confidence that with proper strategies and consensus, the party will win the 2019 elections, defeat and break the chain of bad leadership in the country. The Speaker said, “One would not be entirely wrong if we say that the problem of Nigeria,or the bane of development of this country is bad leadership. Not even the challenge of infrastructure, not the bloodletting we are witnessing in different parts of Nigeria from Zamfara, down to the middle-belt states of Taraba, Benue, Plateau, Southern Kaduna, Adamawa and the rest and sundry acts of kidnapping across this country. “Of course, we have the problem of infrastructure.

Those of us delegates who travelled by road from our various states down to Port Harcourt for this exercise will bear an ample testimony to the fact that we are living in a country with decayed infrastructure. “Obviously, the biggest challenge of them all is leadership. If we have the right leadership, education will not be a problem, infrastructure will not be a problem, and getting or inspiring our citizens to live in peace will not be a problem.” “With the right leadership, Nigeria will be the pride of not only the black man, but of the entire world and that is the responsibility that has fallen on the shoulders of the PDP delegates that we have here today. This is the responsibility that has been outsourced to us by our different citizens from across the states.” Dankwambo Pledges Support For Atiku Also, the Gombe State governor, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, yesterday implored all his followers to immediately back the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku, ahead of the 2019 presidential election. Dankwambo, a presidential aspirant in the just concluded PDP presidential primary, said this is in compliance with the decision of the delegates and keeping with his promise to support whoever wins the primary election. A statement from the Dankwambo Presidential Campaign Organisation signed by the director of media & strategic communications, Dr. Ayoade Adewopo, noted: “Our great party, PDP has just conducted the best primary election ever witnessed on the continent.

It was free, fair, transparent, credible and rancour free. It was a triumph for democracy in Nigeria and Afica at large. Our party, the largest party in Africa, has once again showed the world that we are democratic trailblazers on the continent. “Profoundly, I congratulate our candidate, His Excellency, Alh. Atiku Abubakar, GCON on his victory at the primary election. Together, we will surely make Nigeria great again”. Okowa Hails Atiku’s, Congratulates PDP On his part, Delta State, governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday congratulated former vice president Atiku Abubakar on his victory at the presidential primary election of the PDP. Governor Okowa who extended his goodwill message to the former vice president in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu in Asaba, said Atiku’s victory at the PDP presidential primary is a victory for the party and Nigerians. He expressed optimism that having won the party’s ticket, Atiku will leverage on his track record as an entrepreneur and great employer of labour to grow the nation’s economy. Okowa further applauded other aspirants who took part in the keenly-contested primary and urged them to uphold the values and philosophy of the PDP by coming together to support Atiku in the forthcoming general election, in a bid to ensure the party emerges victorious. The governor noted that PDP values internal democracy, describing the success of the primary election as another testament to the party’s democratic credentials.

He also assured members of the party and Nigerians that the party would not rest until it returns the country to the part of good governance, rule of law as well as security of lives and property. He stated: “Congratulations to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on winning the PDP Presidential ticket to contest the 2019 general election. I have no doubt that Alhaji Abubakar’s track record as an entrepreneur and great employer of labour will be replicated in growing the nation’s economy, which will stand him in good stead in the elections. “I would also like to commend all the participants in the keenly-contested Primary. I would like them to uphold the values and philosophy of the PDP by joining hands to support Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the forthcoming elections. “As a party, the PDP is serious about internal democracy in the party, and the success of the Presidential Primary, with 12 aspirants, further validates our party’s democratic credentials. Let me assure our party men and Nigerians that we will continue to work hard to lead Nigeria to the next level of its development journey”.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-presidency-its-buhari-vs-atiku.html

A Duquesne University football player Marquis Brown has died after he plunged 16 stories from a private residence hall in Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Brown, a junior at the Pittsburgh University, jumped out of the window at Brottier Hall a private residence hall on the school’s campus, FOX 5 DC reported.

Police were called to the building to respond to a reported disturbance, the school announced in a statement on Facebook.

Authorities said they were investigating the incident but said no foul play was suspected.

The 21-year-old’s former coach at DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Maryland, tweeted his condolences.

“The DeMatha family is mourning the loss of Marquis “Jaylen” Brown ’16. Prayers are requested for his family during this difficult time. We love you JB!” coach Elijah Brooks wrote.

Brown’s former teammate Evan Brooks told NBC Washington that the football player could “light up your day.”

“Just a great person,” Brooks told NBC Washington. “Someone who could light up the mood, light up your day. Someone who’s going to give it his all on and off the field.”

The university announced on Twitter that it was holding a private memorial service for Brown on Sunday evening.(NAN)

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/football-player-jumps-from-16-storey.html

Alhaji Sani Zaburan, a small s cale farmer, on Saturday picked the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket to contest the Kaugama State Constituency election in 2019 after beating the incumbent legislator Usman Masaki.

Zaburan, a Sesame farmer in the area, was Chairman of Kaugama Local Government Area in 2002.

The Electoral Committee’s Chairman, Alhaji Auwalu Kiri, announced this in Kaugama, Jigawa, on Saturday.

He said Zaburan scored 298 votes to defeat the incumbent legislator, Alhaji Usman Masaki, who polled 0 vote.

Kiri said out of the 342 voters in the constituency, 302 were accredited and the total votes cast stood at 302.

The chairman said 298 votes were valid adding that four votes were invalid in the election.

Meanwhile, Alhaji Sadiq Jallo was elected as the APC’s candidate to contest from the Hadejia State Constituency in 2019.

The Electoral Committee’s Chairman, Musbahu Na’Allah, said while announcing this in Hadejia on Saturday that that the winner got 195 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Alhaji Ismaila Dawaki, who scored 48 votes in the election.

Na’Allah said Alhaji Ahmed Hassan scored 27 votes while Alhaji Abdullahi Yerima and Alhaji Hamza Mohammed scored 24 and eight votes.

The chairman said a total of 327 votes were cast in the election out of which 25 were invalid. (NAN)

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/farmer-floors-jigawa-lawmaker-to-pick.html

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has to a great extent reinvented itself from the crushing defeat it suffered in 2015 and subsequent crises. Who could have thought that this was a party teetering on the brink of collapse with its soul being dragged by Senators Ahmed Makarfi and Ali Modu Sheriff before the Supreme Court came to the rescue? Ever since the epic verdict, the party has known relative peace buoyed by the dexterity of the Prince Uche Secondus-led National Working Committee.

The sack of Sheriff and company from Wadata Plaza didn’t spell the end of rancour in the main opposition party as its last convention to elect national officers was greeted by a measure of discontent although only few bigwigs resigned as a result. The defection of some APC chieftains to the main opposition party came with a mild squabble like the case in Kano that eventually saw former governor, Ibrahim Shekarau leaving the party. Only recently, there was disquiet in the PDP over the choice of Port Harcourt, the Rivers capital, as convention venue, which did not go well with some presidential aspirants.

In all of these internal disenchantments, the party has effectively managed the situation and has remained focused on the onerous task of reclaiming power in 2019. But how far it can go with this depends on three factors namely:

1. Who the 4000 party delegates select as the PDP standard bearer to confront President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2019 election.
2. How credible the primaries would be;
3. How the party hierarchy assuages defeated aspirants who may want to dump PDP rather than yield their political structures to the aspirant who won the ticket.

Indeed, the APC will be waiting in the wings to see if its bread will be buttered from the Port Harcourt convention.

The aspirants and their profile:

Having zoned its presidential ticket to the North, the PDP is parading about 13 star-studded list of presidential aspirants among whom are: former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Governors Aminu Tambuwal and Ibrahim Dakwambo of Sokoto and Gombe States respectively, and ex-Governors Attahiru Bafarawa, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Ahmed Markafi, Jonah Jang, and Sule Lamido of Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau and Jigawa states respectively. Others are former Senate President David Mark, former Minister of Special Duties, Taminu Turaki and an academia, Datti Baba-Ahmed.

Out of these lot, four have been singled out by many pundits as formidable enough to clinch the main opposition party’s ticket and give President Buhari a good run at the polls next February. They are: Saraki, Atiku, Kwankwaso and Tambuwal. Their profile and what makes them thick are presented below:

Bukola Saraki

Currently the Senate President, he was born on December 19, 1962 to the family of the late Olusola Saraki, a senator (1979–1983) and onetime Senate Leader of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He studied at the London Hospital Medical College of the University of London from 1982 to 1987, where he obtained his MBBS (London). He immediately worked as a medical officer at Rush Green Hospital, Essex, from 1988 to 1989, and was a director of Société Générale Bank (Nig) Ltd from 1990 to 2000.

In 2000, President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Saraki as Special Assistant to the President on Budget. While holding this position, Saraki initiated the Fiscal Responsibility Bill and served on the Economic Policy Coordination Committee, where he was responsible for the formulation and implementation of several key economic policies for Nigeria.

In 2003, he contested and won to become Governor of Kwara State on the platform of the PDP, serving two terms that saw him leave office in 2011. Saraki at a point was the chairman of the influential Nigeria Governors’ Forum. At 56, Saraki connects very well with the Nigerian youth population and is believed to have a wide network of associates and supporters across the country and beyond, with a cosmopolitan disposition many believe puts him in good stead to unite the country as president.

Widely reputed as a master strategist, Saraki became Nigeria’s Senate President in 2015 following a hire-wire manoeuvre which saw him prevailing over forces in his then party (APC) against him becoming Nigeria’s number-three man.

Atiku Abubakar

He is a long-time presidential hopeful whose ambition for the nation’s plum job dates back to 1993. Born in November 25, 1946, Atiku served in the Nigeria Customs Service for 20 years rising to the rank of then second highest position of Deputy Director. He retired in April 1989 and went into full-time business and politics. In 1999, PDP’s presidential candidate, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo chose him as running mate whilst Atiku was the governor-elect of Adamawa State. He went on to serve as Vice President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007.

Atiku is widely reputed to be more formidable than all those justling for the PDP presidential ticket as regards wherewithal and connections. He enjoys a wide following among the elite across Nigeria so much so that then serving minister in Buhari’s cabinet, Aisha Alhassan, alias Mama Taraba, tipped Atiku over her boss for presidency in 2019. They don’t come better prepared for the job than Atiku as it is believed in some quarters that he was the brain behind the economic marvels of the Obasanjo government.

The former Vice President has been in control of the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, since the death of its pioneer, Late General Shehu Musa Yar’adua. But age is also not on his side given that he is 72 and perhaps, 2019 would be the last opportunity for him to be president. He would be 77 by 2023, when power is expected to return to the South and another eight years of southern presidency means that he would 85 in 2031, when power will return to the North should the power shift arrangement hold sway.

Atiku, a strong proponent for the restructuring of Nigeria, has not only set up a campaign organization headed by a former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel, but has crisscrossed the country, consulting with relevant stakeholders and PDP faithful. Though a founding member of the APC and its presidential aspirant for the 2015 polls, Atiku resigned from the APC on November 24, 2017 hinging his decision on the party’s failure to deliver on its promises to Nigerians, who, according to him, have long been desperate for improved economic interventions.

Rabiu Kwankwaso

Here is the strong man of Kano politics and the defacto leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement. The former two-term governor of Kano State proved his political worth in 2014 when he placed second to President Buhari for the APC presidential ticket during the primaries which held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos. Kwankwaso polled 974 votes to defeat Atiku and place behind Buhari, who won the primaries with 4,430 votes.

Born in October 21, 1956, Engineer Kwankwaso attended Kaduna Polytechnic where he achieved both his National Diploma, and Higher National Diploma. He did postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom a Middlesex Polytechnic (1982-1983) and Loughborough University of Technology (1983 -1985) where he got his master’s degree in Water Engineering. The PDP aspirant started work in 1975 at the Kano State Water Resources and Engineering Construction Agency, WRECA, serving as a civil servant for 17 years in various capacities and rising through the ranks as the principal engineer. In 1992, the former Defence minister was elected as a member of House of Representatives representing Madobi Federal Constituency. His subsequent election as Deputy Speaker in the House brought him to the limelight of national politics.

However, a major challenge to Kwankwaso’s presidential ambition is acceptance in the southern part of the country given his perceived pro-North stance. His reported position that the Federal Government disregards the onshore/offshore dichotomy in deciding oil revenue upon which derivation is paid to littoral states because it is responsible for the imbalance that has worsened poverty in the North, while he was governor still resonates in the consciousness of most southerners, especially people of the oil-rich Niger Delta. He was also said to have opposed the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIP, during its public hearing, warning then northern federal legislators against allowing the bill’s passage. Some people in the South-East have also not forgotten how Kwankwaso allegedly influenced former President Goodluck Jonathan to sack Eze Festus Odimegwu as chairman of the National Population Commission, NPC, for his position on the credibility of Nigeria’s census exercises.

Aminu Tambuwal

Tambuwal, who until May 2015 was the Speaker of the House of Representatives, is currently the Sokoto State Governor and wants to fly the PDP flag for the 2019 presidential poll. Tambuwal, who is on his first term as governor, is leveraging on the supposition that his candidacy will not only enjoy the support of the North, but other sections of the country. From the influential Seat of the Caliphate, those who see the potential in Tambuwal believe that his root puts him in good stead to gain the confidence of Hausa/Fulani emirs as well as enjoy the trust of the powerful political class.

Born on January 10, 1966 in Tambuwal village, Sokoto to Alhaji Waziri Tambuwal, the presidential aspirant had his tertiary education at the rated Usman Dan Fodio University where he studied Law, and graduated with an LLB (Hons) degree in 1991. He was called to the bar in 1992 after completing his one-year compulsory legal studies at the Nigerian Law School.

As Speaker of the House of Representatives, the serving Sokoto Governor was able to build political bridges between the North and the South. Tambuwal is indisputably the game changer in today’s primaries as he is said to have the backing of PDP governors who remain a power bloc that cannot be wished away. It is believed that he was assured of the presidential ticket before he made the switch that saw him dumping the APC with his supporters to the PDP a few months ago.

Tambuwal learnt the political ropes by serving as Personal Assistant on Legislative Affairs to Senator Abdullahi Wali, the then-Senate Leader (1999 to 2000), before he contested for a legislative seat as representative of the Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency in 2003 and later rose to become speaker in 2011.

Port Harcourt convention: an opportunity PDP mustn’t wish away

With this array of eminently qualified aspirants and many others who space won’t allow this analysis to spotlight, the PDP and its delegates will do well to select the very best among the 13 who have what it takes to return the party to power.

To stand a chance of returning to Aso Villa in 2019, PDP must go into this primary with the mindset that every of the aspirant is important and must be given equal chance through a level playground. To defeat a President as entrenched as Buhari, it is a no-brainer that the main opposition must go into the polls as a united front.

It would be an irony for a party, which months ago formed a coalition with about 38 political parties to unseat Buhari, to lose its presidential aspirants with their supporters because of irregularities in the convention. Although politicians will always be driven by their interests, analysts believe that PDP must not give them a reason to do so, hence must take factors two and three earlier listed very seriously. This is aside the very important responsibility of electing a standard bearer in whom most voters will be well pleased.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/road-to-pdp-convention-factors-that-may.html

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has sacked the Party executives in Zamfara State at all levels.

This was contained in a statement Friday night by the national publicity secretary, Yekini Nabena.

“By this decision all supposed Party factions in Zamfara State stands dissolved”, he said.

“The NWC-inaugurated committee for Zamfara State are to conduct the Governorship and Legislative primaries in the State.

“Hence, the Zamfara State Governor, H.E. Alh. Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari and the dissolved executives in the state should not interfere in the primary elections in the State.

“The Governorship and legislative primaries will hold from Saturday, October 6, 2018 – Sunday, October 7, 2018,” he said.


http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/apc-sacks-zamfara-party-executives.html

Delta State secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr. Chidi Okonji, yesterday, said that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege was not suspended by the party. Okonji in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP Friday denied any form of crisis in the party in the state, saying that Omo-Agege is a key member of the APC and he is the authentic nominee of the party for the Delta Central Senatorial District in next year’s election.



He said that Omo-Agege won the primary conducted on Wednesday, 3 October, 2018 by the Primary Election Panel of APC led by General Onoja from Benue State in a landslide. The statement reads in part: ‘’This clarification became necessary due to the fake news circulating in the media that Sen. Omo-Agege who is the only elected member of APC in Delta State has been suspended by the Chief Cyril Ogodo-led APC faction on 3 October, 2018. ‘’



This same illegal Delta APC State Working Committee that claim to have suspended Omo-Agege also organised an alternative Delta Central senatorial primary in Ughelli on 2 October, that returned Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, who is no longer in our party, as the winner of the APC Delta Central Senatorial primary. ‘’Mr. Solomon Igbiaye who acted as the Returning Officer of the alternative primary is a member of APC from Warri North local government area. He was not appointed by the National Working Committee of our party.’’



He recalled that Ogodo and five other members of his alleged illegal State Working Committee were expelled from the party last week for anti-party activities and impersonation of party officials. He said that members of the party, supporters of Sen. Omo-Agege and the general public should therefore disregard the purported suspension of the senator and the alleged nomination of Emerhor as the senatorial candidate for Delta Central senatorial district.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/omo-agege-not-suspended-says-delta-apc.html

Professor Muhammed Akaro Mainoma is a professor of accountancy and currently the vice chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Keffi. He spoke with LEADERSHIP’s OMONU NELSON on the impacts of collaboration among institutions, research and other sundry issues. Pointedly, tell us what you want to be remembered for as the Vice Chancellor of Nasarawa State University? Not to blow my trumpet, when I was not yet a vice chancellor, I was able to attract two buildings to the institution. The two buildings are still standing and in use today. Go down the Faculty of Administration, you will see Gafar Centre, I singlehandedly solicited for it from National Association of Accountants of Nigeria and they built that Centre.



I spoke personally to the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria that we needed a befitting Postgraduate School and he has agreed to come and give us a lecture and then also built a Postgraduate School for us. The building is still standing today. It was my initiative. That is at a personal level, as a vice chancellor, I was able to make this roads feasible, the roads that you are seeing on this campus. Since the establishment of this university, there have never been hostels built. But we have built three new hostels. In the area of infrastructure, we have commissioned 16 projects during the last convocation and all 16 projects were commenced and executed during my tenure. These are standing buildings in the university that can be verified. If you look around the university, you will discover that most of the buildings were constructed in the last five years that I have been in charge.



In terms of programs, when I took over as vice chancellor, we didn’t have up to 60 postgraduate programs in this university, today we have 270. So, you can see that the volume of development and programmes we have consummated in the past five years is significant. Even in terms of undergraduate programmes, when I took over, we didn’t have more than 41 programs, today we have up to 70 degree programs. Also, I took over with seven faculties, today, we have eight faculties, we have another faculty called Faculty of Environmental Science. In fact, we have done resource assessment hoping that in a little while, all the programs in that faculty will be functional. So, you can see that we are really focused in terms of the things we do. Apart from that, you will notice that since the establishment of this university we have never had what is called a public lecture to invite renowned people and do a public lecture. The first was done during my tenure, the former vice president; he presented the first public lecture of this university some years back, it was followed by Professor Ibrahim Gambari.



The Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, did the next. We have agreed with Professor Attahiru Jega to come and do public lecture. We have same understanding with Dangote; the only impediment is that the two always have a clash on the dates. When I took over the inaugural lectures series, professor showed what made them to become professors. Then, the former vice chancellor, Professor Ademu Baki, did the first four and after that, it was only one that was done during the time of the acting vice chancellor. Since I took over, we have done the 19th and we are preparing to do the 20th.



So you can see the volume of encouragement, even if you look at the number of professors we have in this university, when I took over, we didn’t have up to 40, but we now have over 100 professors. Apart from those coming, those we have promoted, within the last four years, we have consistently had four promotions, and in all these promotions we had people promoted to associate professors and some people promoted to professors. These are something that you can actually say are mild achievements that we have being able to make. Again, we have being able to stabilise the system. I never had a situation when people said they were going on strike because of any form of maladministration; I have never had a situation when students had to go on demonstration in one way or another.



We were able to resuscitate the banned student unionism, so you can say we have done some little efforts to sanitise the place and make it work. But most importantly, we have made the committees to function, which is why you can observe that everything moves seamlessly. Every last Thursday of the month, we have senate meeting. We have done that consistently for the last 56 months, and the minutes of the last meeting is always up to date since I took over, but before then the minutes were not always up to date. So, these are things that can make the university to function properly as a university should. Of course, if you look at the level of attraction that comes to the university, it has gone up significantly. So we do things that will speak for us even after we are no more around.



What would you say were your challenges in the process? The number one challenge is for people to understand you properly. Once you have a mission, you need to actually sell it to people to be part and parcel of it. Let them own whatever you are trying to do. Because we made it open and discussed it loudly, we have been able to overcome such kind of challenges. I made it a duty to sit as chairman for every senate and bring a paper that we would all discuss; opening speeches are presented in a way that everyone has a copy so that everyone can get access to it. In the paper I am working on now, I identified seven ideas to move the university forward, so that is what I am going to present to the senate tomorrow and see the workability of the points I am proposing.



I do that every month that I chair the senate and that makes the barrier give way and people understand you better and are ready and willing to work with you. The second issue is the challenge of perceived interference; people tend to want a role that isn’t theirs. So, it takes a lot of time to tackle such issue, sometimes the assembly attempts to conduct an oversight function or duty in the university and you wonder that if they do this, what then will the council be doing, on issues of admission, promotion etc. It takes time to clarify these issues and this is a major challenge. The third challenge is the issue of finance, some projects cannot be actualised because of insufficient funds thereby causing the project to remain redundant and causes one to work within the amount of funds available. But as an accountant, I have learnt to cut my coat according to the resources I have.



What is your signature project or your most important project? Well, my most important achievement is that people are willing to work with a different attitude. That I can go and sleep and have confidence that people can perform even in my absence and that’s what excites me most. In the quantitative sense, I see the establishment of research centres and it is currently self-financing in the execution of its research activities. People are getting involved and people get more remuneration. I established a research round table when I took over where all parties come to present what they have done in a whole year; it is presented in the first quarter of every year. Also we bring industries to see what they can actually borrow. We also invite other universities to come and see what they can do. In fact, it is a reflection of our own contribution to the community. At the moment which institution do you have collaboration with? We have collaboration with institutions in Malaysia, France, Cameroon, Ghana, USA, and Poland.



In the past five years, we have being able to establish collaboration with 16 institutions in different parts of the world apart from the local ones we have in Nigeria with IRM, Institute of bankers. What are the benefits of these collaborations? The visibility of the university has improved. Improvement in things we do. NCC gave a contribution of about 300 laptops and so much recognition for the university and the staffs. You have just turned 53, what have you achieved in the last 53 years? I have achieved a lot.



First, as an individual, I have reached the pinnacle of my profession, whether you take it as an academic or as an accountant. As an academic, I am a professor. As an accountant, I am a fellow of Chartered Institute of Taxation. I am a fellow of Association of National Accountant of Nigeria. I am a fellow of other disciplines I profess. Also, socially, I am married with children. In terms of human capital development, I have taught over ten thousand individuals within the scope 25 years. There is no year that I have I not taught at least, one thousand individuals in the last 25 years. In that aspect, I would say I have achieved a lot. These 25,000 individuals are aside the people we share ideas with in conferences and seminars. In terms of environment, within the community I operate, I have impacted on my younger ones to the extent that today, I am the ‘Gardi’ in 15 different emirates. I am the ‘Gardi’ Lafiya, Keffi, Nasarawa, Awe, Karshi, Keana, Obi, Kwandere, Uke, Shabu, Odege, Asakio etc.



Beyond Nasarawa State, in Kogi State, I hold two chieftaincy titles. A community in Enugu State has also given me chieftaincy title. You find out that in terms of influencing human development, I have paid my due. QUOTE: My most important achievement is that people are willing to work with a different attitude. That I can go and sleep and have confidence that people can perform even in my absence and that’s what excites me most

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/in-5-years-i-have-laid-enduring.html

Ben Murray Bruce, the Senator representing Bayelsa East constituency has congratulated Hon. Blessing Ipigansi Izagara, who has won the senatorial primaries on the platform of the People Democratic Party (PDP).

In a tweet posted on Tuesday, Ben Bruce admitted that he wants Izagara to replace him in the Senate and insisted there was no bad blood.

“My hearty congratulations to Hon Blessing Ipigansi Izagara, who has just won the @OfficialPDPNig Senatorial primaries for Bayelsa East.

“God willing, this is the man who will succeed me in the @NGRSenate.

“We are one family in Bayelsa East and nothing will break that familial bond,” he wrote.

Ben Bruce withdrew from the senatorial race on Monday.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/ben-bruce-reacts-as-hon-izagara-emerges.html

Governor Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa State on Monday secured the mandate of party members in the state to be the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate for the 2019 election.
Announcing the result of the primaries held in the state, Chairman of the committee that conducted the exercise, Sen. Abubakar Yaradua, said Badaru scored 3,123 votes to defeat his only opponent, Mr Ubale Hasheem, who garnared 54 votes.

NAN reports that Yaradua said 3,828 delegates, across the 27 Local Government Areas of the state, participated in the election.
According to him, 35 votes were declared invalid while 500 of the delegates collected ballot papers but did not vote.
In his acceptance speech, Badaru described the endorsement as a “vote of confidence” for him to continue the good work he had started.
“I promised you that you will never regret voting me to recontest in 2019 general eletions.
“I also hope that the gesture will bring more unity among all APC members, to ensure massive victory in the general elections,” the Governor said.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/gov-badaru-emerges-jigawa-apc-flagbearer.html

Popular singer, David Adeleke, AKA, Davido has reacted to the outcome of Osun State governorship election.

Davido’s uncle, Ademola Adeleke was the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in the election.

DAILY POST had reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Oyetola winner of the gubernatorial election in Osun State.

The State Returning Officer, Prof. Joseph Adeola Afuwape said Oyetola garnered 255,505 votes to defeat his main rival, Senator Ademola Adeleke who polled 255,023 votes.

However, reacting, Davido who had on Thursday raised the alarm that PDP supporters were not allowed to vote in some LGs where the supplementary election took place and claimed that APC thugs were seen assaulting voters, said he has left the situation to God.

The singer while affirming a tweet from a fan which reads, ‘So the Osun election was rigged as per Mr Oshiomole,’ said ”God knows best.

”Best believe he will come through soon.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/09/osun-election-davido-breaks-silence-on.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has scored a total of 2,931,235 votes across 44 local government areas of Kano State in the just-concluded presidential primary election of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Announcing the result via a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Abba Anwar, on Saturday, Kano State Returning Officer for the primary election, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, said he was impressed by the large turnout of voters in his Ganduje ward, Dawakin Tofa Local Government area of the state.

The governor then restated his pledge to garner over 5 million votes for Buhari come 2019 general elections.

“With these figures of over five thousand votes from my ward, Ganduje ward of Dawakin Tofa Local Government, which only came from APC card carrying members, it is indicative to the fact that our pledge of over 5 million votes to our dear President in 2019 election is tenable and realisable,” he assured.

Ganduje also asserted that Buhari would be voted by other political party stalwarts in the 2019 presidential election.

“People should understand that when the general election comes around, apart from our APC members that would vote for the continuation of President Buhari regime, many more others who belong to other parties would join the queue,” the statement quoted Ganduje as saying.

Ganduje added that the conduct of direct primaries was intended to provide enabling environment for maximum political participation, adding that, “that is the reason why we are solidly behind President Muhammadu Buhari in strengthening democracy at all levels.”

DAILY POST reports that the APC presidential primaries were conducted on Friday in the 36 states of the federation and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/09/apc-primaries-buhari-gets-29m-votes-in.html

The Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial District and presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Jonah Jang, has called on President Muhammdu Buhari and Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State to “resign with immediate effect.”

According to Jang, Buhari and Lalong have “displayed unfathomable insensitivity and cluelessness in the aspects of security and value for human life”.

Jang who was reacting to the killing of several persons in Rukuba road on Thursday night, called on the United Nations to intervene in the country and act on behalf of the “poor, innocent, and abandoned people”.

The Presidential aspirant, who spoke through his Media Consultant, Clinton Garuba, lamented that under the current administration; hardly a day passes without news of people getting killed by herdsmen or unknown gunmen.

He said, “The Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial District Dr. Jonah David Jang with a heavy heart and deep sense of grief condemns in the strongest possible terms, the invasion of Rukuba Road, Jos North Plateau State, a few kilometers from the 3rd Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army on Thursday night.

“The unprovoked attack, which targeted innocent unarmed natives in their homes once again reveals the very short life expectation of our people who are no longer safe wherever they are in our towns, villages, and city.

According to the presidential hopeful, “This recent surge of mindless killings in Plateau State is a damning appraisal to the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari and the Governor of Plateau State.

“Under the current administration, hardly a day passes by without news of people getting killed by herdsmen or unknown gunmen with ancestral lands forcefully occupied and people rendered homeless and internally displaced on their own land,” he lamented.

“Before we are all wiped out from the face of the earth by gunmen whose familiarization with murder and violence seem to confound our Armed Forces and the overall structure of government.”

The Senator without equivocation hereby, “calls on President Muhammdu Buhari and Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State to resign with immediate effect having displayed unfathomable insensitivity and cluelessness in the aspects of security and value for human life”.

“In addition, it is the determination of Senator Jonah David Jang, that Nigerians no longer feel safe with General Muhammdu Buhari as President.

“Therefore, he wishes to call on the United Nations to intervene in Nigeria and act on behalf of the poor, innocent, and abandoned people of Plateau State and their endangered kinds in the Middle-belt, to protect and guarantee them a future of longevity, pride, and prosperity.

“A situation where security officials are mobilized to militarize the conduct of elections in a ratio of one policeman to one citizen at the expense of communities prone to attacks is unacceptable”, he decried.

While calling on the youths and people of Plateau State to be law abiding, the Senator said he finds it instructive to admonish them, “to rise up to defend themselves within the perimeters of the law, as it is now dangerous to trust the Commander-in-Chief with our security”.

“Importantly, the Senator representing Plateau North is using this medium to call on the Armed Forces to live up to their sworn duty to protect Nigerians before the public completely loses faith in them.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/09/plateau-killings-jang-asks-buhari.html

Being a speech delivered by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, at the special session of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to mark the commencement of the 2018/2019 legal year and swearing in of newly conferred Senior Advocates of Nigeria, held at the Supreme Court complex, on 24th September, 2018. PROTOCOLS It is a great privilege and opportunity to mark the commencement of the 2018/2019 Legal Year.

Therefore, on behalf of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, I extend a warm welcome to everyone present at this auspicious occasion. As we all know, this unique occasion is celebrated alongside the swearing-in of deserving members of the Nigerian Bar conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Certainly, the 2017/2018 Legal Year had been an eventful one. An occasion like this gives us the opportunity to reflect and examine the activities of the last one year with the aim of paving the way for a robust legal year by building on the previous landmark achievements and avoiding a repetition of past mistakes.

The Judiciary to a large extent was successful in effectively responding to the challenges it faced towards maintaining its independence and protecting its impartiality. May I therefore use this medium to commend my learned brother Justices for their courage, resilience and expertise in the handling of cases. We have worked together as a team to pilot the affairs of the apex Court of the land. I am optimistic that we shall demonstrate more commitment and hard work in the course of this New Legal Year. I wish to also recognize the efforts of all those, both within and outside the judiciary, who have been very instrumental in rebuilding the judiciary.

Indeed their unwavering support and partnership have given birth to an improved justice delivery system. APPOINTMENTS, RETIREMENTS AND PASSAGES 2017/2018 On 27th February 2018 Hon. Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi’s sterling career as a judicial officer came to a fitting end as she gracefully retired into a well deserved era of rest and private life. We wish her good health and God’s blessing in her retirement. Also of note is the appointment of Mr. Bassey E. Bassey, a Chartered Accountant as the Secretary of the Federal Judicial Service Commission. Mr. Bassey, replaces Mrs. Bilikisu A. Bashir, OON who retired last year. Sadly however, we recall the passing of two seasoned Jurists, both former Chief Justices of Nigeria. I refer to the Honourable Mr. Justice Dahiru Musdapher, GCON, who died on January 22, 2018 at the age of 75 years and the Honourable Mr.Justice Katsina-Alu who died on18th July, 2018 at the age of 76years.

The leadership that both Jurists provided to the Nigerian judiciary and the Supreme Court in particular during their stewardship as Chief Justice of Nigeria was impactful and profound. Their judicial pronouncements have remained and will continue to be invaluable references both in advocacy and the practice of law in this Country. We also lost four of our brothers and retired Justices of the Supreme court namely; Hon. Mr. Justice Saifullahi Muntanka Coommassie, who departed on Friday, October 13, 2017 at the age of 71 years; Hon. Mr Justice Pius Olayiwola Aderemi who passed away on Monday, June 18, at the age of 79 years; recently, Hon. Mr. Justice Dennis O. Edozie answered the call on 18th August, 2018 at the age of 82 years, and just last week, my ‘Senior Brother’, Hon. Mr. Justice Ikechi Francis Ogbuagu, CON, passed away at the age of 78 years. We thank God for their worthy and noble lives and the privilege of having them in our midst.

We pray for the peaceful repose of their gentle souls and comfort for their families. On a personal level, I lost a mentor, Hon. Mr. Justice Mohammed Mustapha Akanbi CFR, former President of the Court of Appeal, and former Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC), who died on 3rd June, 2018, aged 86 years. You will all agree with me, we lost one of the finest Jurists of our time whose enduring legacies we will cherish for a long time. May God grant his noble soul the rest he so deserved. REVIEW OF THE 2017/2018 LEGAL YEAR In the course of the 2017/2018 legal year, the Supreme Court considered a total number of 1,540 matters comprising motions, appeals and judgments. Under motions, we heard 824 civil and 273 criminal motions, totaling 1097. The Court also considered a total number of 438 appeals comprising 246 Civil, and 192 Criminal. A total of 297 Judgments were delivered by the close of the 2017/2018 legal year. This is by all means an impressive report considering the persistent and increasing volume of cases that continue to come before this Court. I attribute this impressive performance to the hard work of judicial officers, support staff and the reforms we are implementing to improve justice delivery. As we sit daily and sometimes conduct special sittings to clear back log of cases, we remain committed to expeditious dispensation of justice.

I would like therefore, to once again salute and thank my learned brother Justices for their continued commitment and hard work. As we acknowledge noticeable improvement in the disposition of cases, we are not resting on our laurels. This court will therefore continue to strive for speedy disposal of cases that come before it. On the international scene, our reform efforts are recognized and rewarded. I was recently conferred with the Michael Hill Prize by the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law in Montreal, Canada. I was also in Vienna, Austria at the launch of the Global Judicial Integrity Network by the United Nations Office on Drugs in April, 2018. I am happy to inform you that one of our Judges, Hon. Mr. Justice Kashim Zannah, Chief Judge of Borno State was nominated to serve on the Advisory Board of this important body. 2018/2019 LEGAL YEAR IN FOCUS In my speech at the commencement of the 2017/2018 Legal Year, I stated that my primary concern is, inter alia, to ensure progressive upgrade of the judiciary especially in areas of administration, practice directions, independence of the judiciary and contributing significantly to the fight against corruption.

I also emphasized that justice must not only be done, but must be manifestly seen to be done. While our quest for a vastly improved and ICT driven judiciary has achieved commendable milestones, I must state here that much work still needs to be done in order to improve our administration of justice, particularly as regards stricter timelines, records management, enhancing I.T presence, the independence of the judiciary and strengthening judicial standards and ethics. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE In order to enhance the administration of justice in Nigeria we are constituting a National Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure made up of Judicial Officers, Legal practitioners from the local chapters of the Nigerian Bar, Academics and the National Judicial Institute. In addition to the present system of partial frontloading which covers pleading of facts and law, evidence should also be included.

The Rules of practice and Procedure should make provision for concessionaires to handle the service of court processes and documents. Also, the Rules of Practice and procedure should provide for e-filing to be done either by courts or by external management service providers. We consider that the appellate system should be strengthened by enabling applications for leave to appeal where applicable to be dealt with in Chambers. Also I believe we have reached that stage in our legal system where it is needful for our rules of court and procedure to provide for the award of punitive or wasted costs by the Court for frivolous litigation or delays caused by Counsel. Rules of Court must provide for the mandatory keeping of Court Diary not only by the Registrar of Court, but also by the Judicial Officers. Where Information and Communication Technology is available and applicable, there must be computerized records in each Court. Entries must also be made and posted on the Website of the Judiciary, where information on the type of cases, progress made, judgments etc., can be accessed anywhere in Nigeria, weekly, monthly or quarterly.

The National Judicial Council will write to each Head of Court within the State to avoid conflict between the Chief Judge, Grand Kadi and President of Customary Court of Appeal where they exist. In addition, the Bar and the Bench should ensure that they play their roles in restoring ethics to the legal profession. The National Executive Committee of the Bar should prescribe and enforce sanctions for members who address news men while fully robed, and making comments on cases that are ongoing in court.

The Educational Committee of the National Judicial Institute should include in its curriculum, issues that would sensitize Judicial Officers on the need to be cautious in having improper and private communication with Counsel appearing before them. Finally, there is need to continuously train Judges and lawyers in the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism as a means of speedy dispensation of justice, and more importantly, boosting investor confidence in our economy.

As we prepare for the 2019 general elections I reiterate that the Judiciary will, in determining electoral disputes, continue to play the role of independent, dispassionate arbiter without fear or favour, affection or ill will. However, the Bar must partner with key stakeholders to play the critical role of sensitization and voter education to ensure that eligible members of the public are properly enlightened on the need to participate in the process and conduct themselves lawfully. Such peaceful and largely accepted electoral outcome will engender peace and stability in the polity and ensure sustainable, innovative developments. It goes without saying that a free and fair election will generate less acrimony, tension and litigation.

THE COURT AND TECHNONOLGY It is obvious that the conventional method of justice delivery in Nigerian Courts today is cumbersome, time consuming, susceptible to loss or theft of Court documents. There is difficulty in filing Court processes. Information Technology assisted justice system will therefore enhance justice by ensuring, for example that information is adequately captured and passed on digitally, data ex¬change will not be disintegrated and court processes will be finalized and ready on demand. I believe, rather than point accusing fingers at the courts we should all take collective responsibility for this problem and chart innovative and practical solutions. To what extent, for example, can judicial process be fast-tracked with information technology unwittingly excluding or punishing litigants to negative consequences of IT. With e-justice system, case management will be auto¬mated, payment of fees will be made through dedicated websites to reduce corruption, and forms that simplify and streamline court proceedings will be available to court users online.

However such measures must be accompanied by enhanced capacity of personnel and investments in cyber security. There is no doubt that an independent, technology-driven justice system is fundamental to ensuring the establishment and promotion of sustainable institutions. During the 2017 / 2018 legal year, the following milestones were recorded; 1. Newly Retrofitted Court at the Supreme Court of Nigeria: The year witnessed the commencement of court proceedings in the newly retrofitted Courtroom of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. All Court proceedings are available on High Quality Video Format with FTR Recording Equipment.

This has greatly assisted in obtaining real time transcription of Court Proceedings. 2. Nigeria Legal Email System: The Supreme Court of Nigeria had commenced the implementation of serving hearing notices through the Nigeria Legal Email System. This process came into force on July 16, 2018. Every registered lawyer on the platform gets immediate proof-of-service on sending email to the court using their Legal Email Address. Every lawyer having appeals in Supreme Court of Nigeria is expected to enroll for this service in order to be properly served. At present 23,000 lawyers have been registered for the email and 18,000 already activated on the platform. In addition, 5, 250 email addresses are available for court staff. It is expected that some correspondences should now be mandatorily sent by official email (courts.gov.ng). A Court Policy will soon be developed in this regard. 3. Nigeria Case Management System (NCMS) – New cases are currently being filed into the Nigeria Case Management System.

This is our flagship application designed to manage appeals from filling to final disposition. Appeals that have been filed before the implementation of this application will be migrated into the database using a Back loader Template. 4. New Audio Visual Equipment for Court Ceremonial Occasions– The main Courtroom has been equipped with new Audio Visual Technology equipment and big SMART LED Screen. This will assist in handling overflow arising from large turnout of people for court events by projecting the event on real time basis to them in the Court FOYER. 5. Weekly Display of Cause List and Chamber Sittings– Our Cause List and Chamber Sittings are now constantly updated on our website.

This will enable counsel and litigants to have prior information regarding the state of their appeals in the Supreme Court. Presently, the cause list of the Supreme Court for the period September to December, 2018 are already on our website. You may confirm it right now! 6. Presence on Social Media– For effective dissemination of information on Supreme Court of Nigeria operations and events, Twitter handle and Youtube accounts have been created in addition to the Court Website.

This will enable the court to reach the litigation world through social media. Our twitter handle is @SupremeCourtNg and the Youtube Channel is “Supreme Court of Nigeria Media”. These mediums will be updated on a continuous basis to disseminate relevant information to Litigants and the public at large. In the same vein, the National Judicial Institute (NJI) has intensified IT training for existing Judicial Officers, Judges of Lower Courts and other staff of the judiciary. I therefore enjoin all judges and lawyers to join the judiciary’s quest for excellence by subscribing to, and acquiring the legal email, as manual forms of communication will soon be phased out. Lawyers who have acquired the legal email can henceforth communicate electronically with the courts and with each other.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/09/we-remain-committed-to-expeditious.html

The Accountant-General of the Federation(AGF), Mr Ahmed Idris, has stated that salaries of all workers on the Federal Government payroll will be paid in spite of the ongoing labour strike.

Idris gave this commitment on Thursday while speaking to newsmen at the Treasury House in Abuja.

He said: “We have a standing order from Mr. President to pay workers salaries from the 25th of every month, which we have striven hard to fulfill to Nigerian workers and this month will not be an exception”.

He, however, said that the payment of salaries cannot be achieved in an atmosphere where the critical stakeholders are not allowed access to their offices.

“I must explain that salary payment involves a number of processes that do not begin and end with the OAGF.

“There are other critical stakeholders like the Cash Management Department in Ministry of Finance and others who are supposed to do their beat before we can finalise.

“On coming to the office this morning we met the gates of the office locked and wondered how we can keep this promise if we are being locked out of the office.

“After speaking with the local arm of the Labour in the office on the need to pay salaries, they conceded to allow me and some of my staff in but the gates are still locked.”

The AGF further appealed to the national leadership of labour to reconsider their stand on the industrial action, saying the President Muhammadu Buhari government had demonstrated high commitment towards meeting the welfare of workers.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/09/new-minimum-wage-fg-announces-decision.html

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) secretariat has explained reasons why the internally generated revenue of some states especially in the North Central improved in 2017. In his goodwill message at the North Central regional training on Tax audit and investigation for state internal revenue services in Abuja, yesterday, the executive director strategy and research of the NGF, L.O.T Shitttu attributed the rise in the states’ IGR to PAYE. LEADERSHIP recalls that Kwara (14%), Plateau (17%), Benue (30%), Kogi (18%), Nasarawa (81%) and Niger (11%) recorded remarkable growth in their annual IGR in 2017.

According to Shittu, the crisis that followed the oil price burst between 2013 and 2014 had made states look inward for ways to improve their revenue mobilisation. Consequently, he said state internal revenue services were tasked with the objective of raising internally generated revenue to stabilise recurrent receipts.

To deliver on this task, he noted that the states revenue services embarked on various reforms to revitalise the service and improve revenue outcomes. He said, “These include recruitment of professionals, conduct of sensitisation programmes, implementation of tax for service projects, deployment of innovative technologies to support tax payers enumeration and a cashless policy.

Sequel to these reforms, states recorded remarkable growth in their annual IGR including Kwara, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger States. “However, examining the composition closely, one will observe that this was driven mainly by PAYE. While the growth is commendable, there is still room for improvement.

“Recent conversations with your revenue services indicate that tax audit cases have been on the rise with a number inconclusive, perhaps due to poor management or inadequate skilled personnel to manage them. “The outcome in some states on selected approaches contained in this training has shown that adopting a strategic and taxpayer-centric approach to tax audit is indeed key to effective tax administration. “Tax audit officers need to understand tax payer behaviour and how they think to be able to outsmart devious means they might adopt to evade taxes or under-declare taxable income”.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/09/why-north-central-states-igr-improved.html