₦airaland Forum

The Nigerian senate has reacted to the statement issued by the Secretary to the Federal Government, Mr David Babachir Lawal that the Senate is not the one on trial in the Forgery case instituted by the Attorney General of the Federation against the Senate President and his Deputy.

The SGF explained this in a statement released on Wednesday, June 29, stated that a case of forgery is always brought upon individuals. Lawal stressed the fact that a case like certificate forgery was the reason for the resignation of a Speaker of the House of Representatives, Salisu Buhari.

But speaking through its spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the Senate said it disagree with the position of the SGF and maintain it earlier stand that “it is the Senate that is the target of the present attempt to intimidate the legislature to force a leadership change in the Senate.”

Speaking further, he said “Mr. Babachir Lawal should tell us how reasonable it is to conclude that when the President of Nigeria and the Vice President are being jointly tried in a suit whose outcome can remove them from office, it is not the Buhari Government that is being targeted. “It is also imperative to clearly state that contrary to the claim by the SGF, neither the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki nor Senator Ike Ekweremadu were mentioned by the petitioners, the statements by those interviewed by the police or even the police report.

“Meanwhile, let us refreshen Mr. Lawal’s memory about the facts of the 1999 case. It is obvious that the Senate President and his deputy are not being accused of certificate forgery as it happened in ex-Speaker Salisu Buhari’s case. Therefore, nobody should compare an apple with orange. Also, neither Saraki nor Ekweremadu is below the age requirement for their present position as it was alleged in the Buhari case. Attempts to make the two situations look similar is to present all Nigerians as having no sense of history.

“We also know that nobody can be accused of forging his own signature. The executive is in no position to determine what is the correct Standing Orders of the Senate. The Senate President and his Deputy were as at the morning of the June 9, 2015 inauguration of the Senate mere Senators-elect and could therefore not have been in a position to influence any alteration in the rule book.

“The Senate as an institution, and indeed the National Assembly, has spoken about their understanding of the present assault on their independence by the executive’. We maintain that this trial is a design by the Executive to criminalize the internal affairs of the Senate to create a distraction for the leadership of the Senate, force a leadership change and cow the legislators.

“Those behind this plot find this trial more expedient and important than finding tangible solutions to the multi-various socio-economic problems bedeviling the country. However, we are sure they will fail in this attempt. We only hope they will allow the judiciary to truly and creditably perform its duties and give independent verdict on the case.

http://africaonline.cc/index.php/2016/06/30/senate-on-trial-says-nigerian-senate/

On Wednesday, Godwin Izilein, a former coach of the Super Falcons, on Wednesday in Benin warned against appointing a foreign coach for the Super Eagles now.

Izilein told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the senior national male football team may not qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia as a result of this.

“This is because the foreign handler will not have quality time to know the players and their mentality,’’ he said.

Izilein, also a former coach of the Golden Eaglets, said appointing a foreign coach was equally an unnecessary waste of fund and shows lack of respect for Nigerian coaches.

“I don’t know what this rush for a foreign coach is all about, when we do not have time on our hands for the qualification games for Russia 2018.

“The national football authorities must understand that a coach who knows his onions needs not less than a year to know the players and their mentality.

“He will then need also another year to put a good team in place.

“And, again, I consider the amount that will be wasted on hiring a foreign coach as unnecessary, especially against the background of the consistent lamentation of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of paucity of funds.

“It also shows lack of respect for Nigerian coaches because I believe that we have quality coaches with high technical ability to manage the Eagles well and even ensure their qualification for the 2018 World Cup.

“Should they (NFF) be in doubt of the abilities of a particular coach, I will suggest that NFF engages the best three to four indigenous coaches to handle affairs of the team.

“This suggestion is based on the fact that the three coaches cannot all make mistakes at the same time. Where one is deficient, the other will come in handy,’’ he said.

Izilein added that what the indigenous coaches needed to perform optimally was an environment devoid of any undue interference and the right motivation.

“If you provide for the indigenous coach the same environment and motivation provided for the foreign one, he will definitely perform,’’ he said.

NAN recalls that Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been placed in Group B of the Africa Zone Qualifiers alongside Zambia, Algeria and Cameroon for the 2018 World Cup.(NAN)

http://africaonline.cc/index.php/2016/06/30/super-eagles-may-not-qualify-for-world-cup-with-foreign-coach-godwin-izilein/

The Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has called on Abians not to panic, but remain clam over the judgment of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja delivered today in favor of Mr. Uche Oga against him, in the case of alleged falsification of tax receipts.
Governor Ikpeazu, who said that he has faith in the judiciary and rule of law, added that he will appeal the ruling as he has instructed his lawyers to file an appeal immediately against the said judgment.

The Governor noted as an appointee of the Abia State Government from 2011 to 2014, when he served as the General Manager, Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS), and first Deputy General Manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) Aba and Environs respectively, before his resignation in October 2014 to contest the Governorship election in the state, that within the period his taxes were deducted at source, and when he had need of his tax clearance in 2014, he applied to the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue, and was duly issued with his tax receipts for the period in question.
He maintained that he remains the Governor of the state according to law and will await the final determination of the matter by the appellate courts.

http://africaonline.cc/index.php/2016/06/27/governor-ikpeazu-heads-to-appeal-court/

philfrey08:
Ecobank is still Nigeria's worst bank...

Gbam!

Acknowledging the top performance of the state during the May/June 2015 West African School Certificate Examination tthe governor of Abia state, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has graced 17 outstanding students with state award.

Ikpeazu congratulated both students and teachers in the state over the ranking of Abia as the top ranking state during the examination.

To appreciate and encourage their hard work, Governor Ikpeazu has approved the award of tertiary education scholarship to the best students from each of the 17 local government areas of the state in any Nigerian tertiary institution.

The governor also directed that going forward, the best performing student in WASCE from each of the 17 LGAs will receive automatic tertiary education scholarship from the state government.The West African Examination Council recently released details of the performance of students and Abia State was on the very top of the list as the best performing state.

Abia State has consistently maintained top position in the WASSCE performance chart in the past five years.

The State topped the chart with 33,762 of its 52,801 candidates, scoring 63.94 per cent.

Source Africa Online

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How u feel when walk across cultist lodges at the back of admin because the school has zero cultist policy

hris Ubosi, the owner of top Nigerian radio station, Beat FM, who claims Rihanna boycotted a concert she was paid to perform, has sued the Roc Nation singer.
According to TMZ, Ubosi negotiated with two people who claimed to be a representative of Rihanna for the singer to perform for 65 minutes at a concert in Nigeria.
Report has it that, the concert, which was supposed to hold in May 2013, was postponed by the singer’s representatives.
Ubosi reportedly agreed to the arrangement, but requested that Rihanna announce the new date on social media.
Based on the suit filed against Rihanna, his demands were not met.
Having made a payment of $160,000 for the singer’s performance, Ubosi demanded that his money be returned to him since the engagement terms were not met.
Rihanna’s failure to return the money was what prompted him to sue both Rihanna and her record label, Roc Nation.
According to TMZ, sources close to Rihanna are claiming that Ubosi might have been caught in a scam, as nobody in her management received any cash for the performance.

http://africaonline.cc/index.php/2016/06/09/chris-ubosi-gets-scammed-by-rihannas-representative/

ABUJA—THE Bill seeking to reduce the age qualifications for interested candidates to contest for the positions of President, governor and senate in the country to 30 years yesterday passed second reading in the House of Representatives. The bill, which also makes provision for independent candidacy into the country’s electoral process, further reduces the age qualifications to contest for the House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly to 25 years.

The Bill is an alteration of section 65, 106, 131 and 177 of the 1999 constitution which had prescribed qualification into the office of President to 40 years and above, office of governors and senate, 35 years and above as well as House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly to 25 years and above.

In his lead debate, the sponsor of the bill, Tony Chinedu Nwulu representing Oshodi-Isolo 11 Federal Constituency of Lagos State, on platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, noted that electing candidates into public offices was an important aspect of democratic practices.

He stated: “Countries like the United Kingdom parliament decided in 2006 to lower their age of candidacy from 21 to 18, which had existed since the Parliamentary Elections Act 1695. An age candidacy of 25 would encourage greater youth participation in politics.”

Nwulu stated that many countries world wide had called for a reduction in age qualification into elected offices, adding that the bill was a demonstration of the growing desire and demand of youths to participate in the democratic process.

According to him, “this desire itself could be viewed as a sufficient warrant for young people to participate, demonstrate a willingness to engage and fulfill the burdens of office.” On the Independent candidacy, he stressed the need to open up the space for lawmakers to come in as independent candidates.

He said: “It is pertinent now to amend the constitution to make room for independent candidates to widen the democratic processes in our elections, and above all to encourage our young ones to fully participate in all elective offices.”

http://africaonline.cc/index.php/2016/06/09/nigerian-reps-reduce-age-qualification-for-presidency-govs-senate-to-30yrs/

jejemanito:
APC media team be like

"Omenka your target this week is to explain to nairalanders why PMB's medical trip abroad makes sense despite allocating 3.8 billion naira to Aso rock Villa clinic"

"Get that done and we will increase your salary"

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APC Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West had moved the motion for the amendment of the National Lottery Act 2005 which the Senate on Wednesday set in motion a machinery to strengthen the lottery sector of the economy.

Moving the motion, Melaye said lottery has the capacity to generate revenue as much as crude oil.

He said due to the massive corruption in the lottery sector, the Federal government was not generating enough revenue in the sector.

” The era whereby an investor will generate N50bn from lottery in the country and remit only 5 percent to the government is gone, “he said.

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who contributed to the debate said the potentials of the lottery sector was being underestimated.

” This is one of our major contributions to enhance the revenue base in the era of revenue crunch,”he said.

Also contributing, the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume said he supported the bill for the generation of more revenue for the government.

” Ordinarily, if one is not associated to lottery and gambling, he will not know what is happening there. If more revenue will be paid to government, I support the bill, “he said.

In his remarks, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said government can generate N350billion annually from the lottery sector.

” We are looking for funds in order to provide necessary infrastructures for the populace. We have underestimated the kind of revenue in the sector. It is estimated that government can generate N350billion annually from the sector, “he said.

He referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Youth and Sports for further legislation. The committee was given four weeks to report back.

Source: Africa News Media

The Nigerian Governement is being owed $515,870,250 in signature bonuses for oil blocks licenses won by 37 oil firms during the 2005, 2006 and 2007 bidding rounds respectively, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) yesterday told an Ad-hoc Committee of the House of Representatives investigating Oil Prospecting Licences (OPLs) and Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) granted by the Federal Government.

In his presentation to the committee under the chairmanship of Hon. Gideon Gwani on the first day of a two-day investigative hearing, DPR’s head of basinal assessment and lease administration, Sunday Babalola, said $255,120,000, $155,120,000 and $105,750,250 are outstanding signature bonuses for the same periods respectively.

According to the DPR presentation obtained by LEADERSHIP, in 2005 bid round – 65% indigenous and 35% foreign oil firms participated; in 2006 bid round – 40% indigenous and 60% foreign oil firms participated; and in 2007 bid round – 85% indigenous and 15% foreign oil firms took part in the exercise.

But when the Ad-hoc committee demanded to know what the DPR was doing on the outstanding money being owed the Federal Government, Babalola said: “Many times we have written to the government to take action.”

The committee chairman also queried the rationale behind DPR’s decision to discriminate against the oil firms in the payment of the signature bonuses, demanding to know “why should some people be paying fully and you stagnate the payments of others?”

On the status of oil blocks as at May 31, 2016, the DPR official told the lawmakers that there were 109 OMLs, 75 OPLs and 208 open blocks.

He added that an OML is granted through the conversion of OPL and a relinquishment of 50% lease after 10 years of grant and OML but that some oil firms have refused to give up the 1/2 lease as required by the law.

Babalola was however quick to point out that 16 OMLs directly granted to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) are exempted from the 50% relinquishment in line with section 20 of the NNPC Act, 1990, adding that three leases’ relinquishment process has been completed, one was granted waiver while 11 leases’ relinquishment process was ongoing.

On critical projects to be invested on by the beneficiary oil firms, the DPR official said: “Unfortunately, none of the strategic projects is on course.”

While on the issue of awarding an OPL to a company other the one that won the bid, Babalola said the DPR has noted the committee’s observations and will make a submission on the matter in seven days.

Meanwhile, earlier during the proceedings, there was a mild drama when the committee sought to know why the Ministry of Petroleum Resources failed to bring two former ministers in the ministry, HRM Edward Daukoru and Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke to the hearing.

Responding, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, who stood in for the minister of state, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Mrs Jamila Shuara, said the ministry was unaware of their whereabouts.

“We don’t have the forwarding addresses of HRM Edward Daukoru and Diezani Alison-Madueke,” she said.

But when countered by a member of the committee, who said apart from Allison-Madueke who is currently outside the country, the other former minister resides in the country, hence it is incumbent on the ministry to produce him, to which Shuara said she had ‘noted’ even as she added that the ministry will re-jig its policies.

For their part, two former GMDs of NNPC present, Mr. Funsho Kupolokun and Andrew Yakubu, also made their separate submissions.

Kupolokun said the committee needed to address the manner of allocation of the oil blocks given the fact that the law allows the minister to go by way of competitive bidding or using discretionary power.

While Yakubu said he was not aware of any marginal field processing under his tenure even as he said that no bidding round took place when he was GMD of the corporation.



FG injects N6.5bn funds into capital market

The Federal government has injected over N6 billion in the Capital Market to protect and shore up investors’ confidence.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Capital Market and Institutions, Sen. Isiaka Adeleke (Osun-APC).

Adeleke at a press briefing at the Senate building yesterday, also disclosed that the Senate and the House of Representatives, would was host a conference of stakeholders to realise the full potential of the Capital Market through legislation.

“ It gives me immense pleasure to make some few remarks today as we prepare towards an epoch making event, i.e. the Stakeholders’ Forum with the theme “Realizing the Full Potentials of the Nigerian Economy through Proactive Capital Market Legislation” organized by the National Assembly Joint Committee on Capital Market and Institutions . We are ably supported by such critical stakeholders as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the Investment and Securities Tribunal (IST), Financial Market Dealers Quotation (FMDQ) OTC Securities Plc., the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS), and National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD)”.

He observed that “this era of change calls for major shifts in approaches to seeking solutions to our political, social, and economic challenges”.

He stated that the National Assembly is keenly aware of the dwindling fortunes of the Capital Market and by extension the economy. As a mono-product economy, with oil and gas constituting the life-blood, the global downturn has continued to negatively affect meaningful growth and development”.

He however opined that dwindling economy provides a window for growth.

Fmartin:
bt he is nt suprise at d level of corruption at the national assembly abi? Kettle calling pot black

Cool Fm’s OAP Freeze has commented on the petition Baseline Records released yesterday,May 31 2016 against its artist, Skales and his manager, Osagie Osarenkhoe alleging fraud of over 13million naira.

In his words, Freeze wrote, ‘Many of these artistes are from the hood. One small hit and they upgrade their transportation from Marwa and Molue to a 2006 Range Rover or G wagen with 2014 bodykit, then they upgrade their housing from mushin or Aj city to LEKKI phase one.

‘But the problem is they don’t upgrade their minds!!! They do business with intelligent and witty entrepreneurs while using their ‘Molue mentality’, not realizing that a contract is a contract and GRA-GRA cannot break it!

‘The other day DJ Zeez was asked to pay his record label N21m, then the Vector issue, then Runtown was issued a court injunction restraining him from performing and now Skales allegedly sleeping inside police cell!!

Source: Africa Online Media
‘Upcoming artistes abeg make una learn how to read book, no be everything be swag, no be everything be gra-gra! Please don’t jump and sign your life away for a plate of porridge!

‘UPGRADE YOUR MINDS!!!! Still trying to get Osagie and Skales for their own side of the story so expect more updates tomorrow…. In the meantime remember to read whatever u sign o! And make sure u have a good lawyer’.

Though we independently cannot verify claims that both Skales and his manager, Osagie have been remanded in police custody after reportedly confessing to various charges of fraud and diversion of Baseline Records funds.

Following Annie Idibia’s write up which hailed women who do not keep their kids away from their fathers, the elder sister of 2face Idibia’s first baby mama(Pero Adeniyi), Eniola Titiloye call the actress out for keeping 2Face’s kids away from him.

Annie making particular reference to 2face Idibia’s baby mama who is happily married, Sunmbo Ajayi, she wrote:

“Am all about child abuse for the last few weeks… And I realize that they are so many forms of it! Even as parent we do this without even knowing!!!

Let’s love our children more than the situations!!! Shout out to all the separated parent /EX who don’t stress the other parent over seeing their own kid!!! God bless you.. Your reward is bigger and it is in heaven… #sayNo2Parentalalienation #saynotochildabuseforreal #loveyourkidsmore #whatGoneIsGone #letgo #livefree God bless u real big @s/o to @sunmbo great woman.“

Source: Africa Online Media

After going through the audit report of NNPC the Nigerian Senate President, Bukola Saraki expressed shocked at the several allegations of corruptions in the sector.

He accused the anti-graft agencies of literally paying lip services to the issue of fighting corruption where there are several allegations of corruption to the tune of over N1trillion in the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation.

In a report by TheCable, the Senate President accused the anti-graft agencies of finding pleasure in harassing government officials than investigating allegations of corruption in the oil sector.

Speaking when a delegation of the Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) led by Waziri Adio, its executive secretary, presented the organisation’s audit report to him, Saraki said, “I studied the report in the early hours of this morning, and honestly I was just dumbfounded about the figures that we are talking about.”

Continuing, he said, ‘This is just 2013, one year’s report. It is not cumulative. In one year’s audit report you are talking about figures of over $3.8billion at that time I am sure the rate was close to N150 per dollar. So you are talking about N650billion. Then you are talking about another N358billion which brings it close to about N1trillion.

‘Then you are talking about assets that were undervalued and transferred to NPDC but still no payment was made. You are talking about NAPIMS paying cash calls for an asset that doesn’t belong anymore to NNPC and you truly wonder that this is going on right under our nose here in this country.

‘What is the ICPC doing? What is the EFCC doing? This is what is killing this country. Honestly, I just concluded that as a country I don’t think we are serious. We are just paying lip service to this issue of fighting corruption because this is the real terminology of economic sabotage.

‘This is what I believe agencies that are truly fighting corruption should have taken up. Meanwhile you see them sometimes chasing a local government chairman for N10million or chasing even the state governments for less amounts,’ Saraki stressed.

Charging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to channel its energy into helping Nigeria recover allegedly misappropriated funds in the oil sector, Saraki said, ‘These are just astronomical figures and nobody is being asked where the authority came from. Even if you say it was a minister, do we have where managements of those organisations have been able to say this is not what should be done?

‘There are people who are responsible in management to advise on what should be done. And these people am sure are just walking the streets up and down without anybody asking them any question. It is incredible.

‘Honestly, we must begin to do something about this because unless we do that we are just wasting our time. We are just chasing areas that maybe catch news headlines but they don’t have any effect,’ he disclosed.



Source: African Online News Media

If I hit or miss it how does it help the fuel price?