₦airaland Forum

The National Democratic Front (NDF) has described recent dust being raised on President Muhammadu Buhari’s certificate saga as “unnecessary and needless campaign of calumny” by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to divert attention from serious issues affecting the country.

In a press statement made available to journalists in Abuja, NDF national president, Comrade Audu Auwulu said his organisation is not surprised that, instead of addressing any of the numerous challenges facing the country, the opposition party is making attempt to trivialise the presidential contest.

But a human rights lawyer, Comrade Femi Aborisade, has said the claim by President Muhammadu Buhari on his certificate is false.In a statement made available to The Guardian, Aborisade said: “By the public statement of the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Olajide Olaleye, to the effect that the Army neither has the originals of school certificate and statement of result nor their certified true copies in the personal file of President Muhammadu Buhari, contrary to Mr. President’s claim, it is beyond controversy that the President has made a false claim.

“On the basis that he was elected in 2015 on the claim of an above average moral authority, the credibility of Mr. President would appear to have suffered, as far as the quality that stood him out and made him the choice of the average electorate, irrespective of ethnic and religious affiliation in that election is concerned.

“The desperation to occupy public office is partly informed by limitless access to public vaults, excessive privileges and power to dispense favours to private individuals and companies at the expense of public interests. We need to make public office unattractive on the basis of opportunity for primitive accumulation of wealth.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/buharis-certificate-saga-unnecessary.html

Kebbi State Governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu thursday showered accolades on his counterpart in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, for the high sense of maturity displayed in the wake of the political developments in the state, saying the latter demonstrated grace which has united the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2019 elections.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 18th National Women Conference of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Bagudu said while it was inevitable to offend people in life, Ambode had since moved on and holds no grudges against anybody.


Bagudu who also commended Ambode for achieving a lot for Lagos State, said history would be kind to him for his great works in the State.

“My friend Ambode doesn’t like to be praised; he is a very private person and I always see a reflection of him in me. That is how private people function in all our public work in politics but gratefully he has done a lot for Lagos; he has continued in the tradition and understandably, he might have offended some people.

“I have done so; many others before us have done so but he (Ambode) has demonstrated grace and being the believers that we are, we believe that history will judge him kindly. He holds no grudge against anybody. He has assured me and he loves the people of Lagos State and he is committed to their will,” Bagudu said.

While lauding the Governor Ambode for the Lake Rice initiative, Bagudu said apart from rekindling hope in the ability of Nigerians to achieve a lot for the country, the project also led to 90 per cent reduction in rice Importation.

“Governor Ambode spoke about one of the things I believe is a measure of his greatness which is the partnership between Lagos and Kebbi. Ambode and I have worked in farms in Kebbi State and without Ambode, there wouldn’t have been Lake Rice.

“I want to say it again that without Ambode, there wouldn’t have been Lake Rice and the significance of Lake Rice is that it encouraged a revival in the ‘we can do spirit’ and Mr. President captured it adequately when he said at least now when we tell the world we are going to do something they better take us seriously.

“Those Nigerians and a lot of Africans and well wishers who saw Mr. President when he visited Prime Minister Theresa May and later on, President Trump, and announced enthusiastically that Nigeria has reduced its rice importation by 90 per cent can humbly say that without Ambode we wouldn’t have achieved that.

“He (Ambode) supported the Nigerian Rice Initiative and in turn without her Excellency, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, and the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials, and the great women of Lagos State who encouraged and supported the Lake Rice and the Nigerian Rice project, that wouldn’t have been possible and so I thank you all for what you have done for Nigeria and what we have done to show that it is possible,” Bagudu said.

Corroborating his colleague, Ambode said the Lake Rice initiative had significantly impacted on the economic fortunes of not only Lagos and Kebbi States but also the entire country, saying Bagudu also deserved commendation for the success of the partnership.

Ambode congratulated the executives and members of COWLSO for another very successful conference, saying it was on record that Mrs. Ambode, along with other hardworking and committed members, had succeeded in taking the association and the annual conference to a higher level.

The governor said from testimonies, the conference was yet another rewarding two days of networking, eye-opening, educative and inspiring experiences, adding that it now behooves participants to spread the knowledge gained.

According to him, “The opportunity to be part of a conference such as this is a privilege which also comes with a corresponding responsibility. In the spirit of the theme of this conference: “Strengthening Our Collective Impact”, you all have a responsibility to share this experience with other women and men around you.

“This is the only way that the impact of the knowledge gained at this conference can be widened and deepened. It is a burden each and every one of you have to discharge to the best of your abilities.

“The government, no doubt, also has its own responsibility in terms of giving due and deserving consideration to the recommendations contained in your communiqué. I can assure you of our commitment to do our best in this regard,” Ambode said.

In a communiqué for the conference, COWLSO said it was time for women to rise against the menace of children becoming mothers, especially by putting machinery in place for continuous sensitisation and advocacy to address and eliminate the root-causes and consequences.

According to the communiqué which was read by Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, wife of the Secretary to the State Government, COWLSO said government must put structures and policies in place to address the issues of children having children.

“The government at all levels, policy makers in health sector both at State and local levels, family, society, NGO and so on, must all rise and resolve to eliminate the menace by enacting a policy for a reduction in the minimum age in rendering family planning services from 13 to 15 years,” the communiqué added.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/ambode-holds-no-grudges-over-2019-says.html

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI) have announced the successful completion of a $500 million credit insurance deal structured to cover a portion of the Bank’s portfolio of non-sovereign operations in Africa.

This transaction is expected to have an important demonstration effect to encourage similar institutions to invest more on the continent in the future.


While ATI would be the direct insurer facing the African Development Bank, the transaction involves the participation of a number of Lloyd’s & Company private reinsurers who would share the risk on African financial institutions.

This vehicle would enable many insurance companies operating outside Africa to participate in the financing of development in Africa for the first time.

The deal is the second Balance Sheet Optimisation transaction under the “Room to Run” initiative following the successful signing of the Synthetic Securitisation transaction in September.

The insurance would cover approximately 22 per cent of the Bank’s $2.3 billion outstanding non-sovereign financial sector portfolio.

Specifically, it will protect the Bank against the non-payment of loans made to approximately 30 African financial institutions.

The portfolio spans the African continent, with exposure to financial institutions in all major regions of the continent, and is expected to release sufficient capital to create almost $500 million of headroom for new lending.

“This transaction leverages the Bank’s own capital to achieve more development and lending as it creates new pathways for collaboration between private insurers and the Bank in the development of the African continent,” the President of the African

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/afdb-seals-500m-credit-insurance-deal.html

In anticipation of the commencement of the 2019 general elections, stakeholders in the communications industry gathered to discuss critical issues around management of electioneering campaign communications and highlighted the rules of engagement applicable to the development and deployment of such communications.

At the forum on Political Communication, organised by the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, they called for campaign communications to be fair and truthful enough to aid democratic choice by the electorate and devoid of any traits that could precipitate violent conflicts.


In his paper titled, “Trends and Consequences of Smear Political Campaigns” the Group Managing Director of SO&U Group, Mr. Udeme Ufot, said “smear campaigns utilise unverifiable rumours and distortions, half-truths and even outright lies. Even when the facts are seen to lack substance, the targets reputation, in most cases, is often already tarnished before the truth is known. Often such targets are typically forced to focus on correcting the false or erroneous impression rather than the real issue.”

In his presentation, he cited that when political campaigns are not issue based, there is a strong tendency to dwell on theatrics, verbal assaults and character assassination.

Contrasting this with more sophisticated environments, where political campaigns often combine the three prong approach of advocacy, contrast and attack, he stressed that “their campaigns are more professionally packaged to associate the candidate with salient issues and subject the electorate holds dear”
To succeed, Ufot charged communicators to engage deeply with the people, conduct research and analysis to arrive at communication that would most resonate with the people.

Reiterating that such exercise requires some rigor of process, sound strategising, discipline on the part of the candidate to subject himself to the professional management of his communications consultants, as well as effective programme funding

In the same vein, he challenged media organisations to maintain a professional stance by discouraging airing or publishing of political advertisements without due vetting and approved by the regulatory authorities. Whilst charging, industry regulators to live up to their statutory responsibilities by ensuring that all contraventions of the regulatory process are appropriately sanctioned.

Calling for a review of the educational curriculum to re-introduce civic studies as a veritable tool for building responsible citizens who are aware of their civic responsibilities to the nation, he noted that this approach would give rise to “a new attitude to politics, and indeed a new Nigeria is possible if we re-orientate the minds of our people from kindergarten level up to create a heightened sense of responsibility amongst all Nigerians.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/experts-call-for-regulation-to-curb.html

The Nigerian Ambassador to Benin-Republic, Mr. Kayode Oguntuase, yesterday, disclosed that the Seme-Kreke border was targeted at preventing movement of illegal arms into the country, saying, the equipments installed here will ensure that. Oguntuase, in an interview with Vanguard, said that the joint border post between Nigeria and Benin Republic, completed after seven years, will aid closure of illegal and porous borders between both countries.
He said: “We believe that with the operational equipments available here, we will be able to curb movement of illegal arms. So we believe that it will bring about reduction, prevention and neutralisation of all threats to security in Nigeria. “Also, with this border, we believe that it will generate revenue for Nigeria because in the past, goods and other items go through the illegal border. But with this, the illegal and porous borders will be closed for now.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/nigeria-benin-republic-joint-border.html

Eurobond market.

The $2.7 billion was listed in the budget as a finance channel for the 2018 spending plan.

This would be the third Euro bond floated by the Nigerian government since 2017. The total value of all the borrowings from this market is an estimated $8 billion.

The lawmakers also gave assent to the government to raise $82.54 million “to refinance the balance of $500m matured Eurobond in the international capital market".

According to The Punch, the House Committee on Capital Market and Institutions, also gave nine oil firms a 48-hour ultimatum to release documents on their compliance level with regulatory requirements to operate in the country.

Tony Nwulu, Chairman of the Sub-Committee handling an investigation into the compliance of Public Limited Liability Companies with the extant laws regulating their operations in Nigeria, directed their chief executive officers to appear before the panel on Thursday at the National Assembly.

He informed the nine firms that refusal to heed the directive that he would force the House to activate Section 89 of the 1999 Constitution to compel compliance with the directive:

He said: “If any one of you fails to submit your management letters and comply with other requests of the committee by Thursday, we may not have any other option than to use our legislative powers to compel you.

“You have constantly disregarded our requests to submit documents required by this committee. We are giving the Thursday deadline to submit the required documents and for you to appear unfailingly, otherwise, this will leave us with no other option than to invoke our legislative powers.

“The committee will insist that companies quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, which fail to comply, are de-listed from the stock market for failing to meet the aspirations of investors.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/reps-approve-more-borrowing-for.html

Nigerians are now drinking less of Heineken Beer with the second largest brewer in the World recording less sales in Nigeria and Congo amid significant rise in sales in other regions.

Nigeria is said to be a major Heineken market, comparable to Russia, Brazil, South Africa and France, were sales of the beer were said to have increased by 9 per cent.

Heineken increased beer sales in all four of its global regions in the third quarter and said it stuck to its full-year outlook.

The Dutch maker of Heineken, Europe’s top-selling lager, as well as Tiger, Sol and Strongbow cider, said on Wednesday its consolidated beer volumes rose by 4.6 percent year-on-year to 62.6 million hectoliters (6.2 billion litres).

“Volume growth continued in the third quarter, benefiting from good weather in Europe and strong growth in Brazil, Mexico, Vietnam and South Africa,” Chief Executive Officer Jean-Francois van Boxmeer said in a statement.

Sales of Heineken lager, the company’s premium global brand on which margins are greater, rose by 9.2 percent, with strong growth in Brazil, South Africa, France and Russia.

The only negative spots were declines of beer sales in Nigeria, a major Heineken market, as well as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cambodia, Poland and Spain. Heineken lager sales also fell in the Asia-Pacific region.

The company said its expectations for the full year were unchanged.


Heineken cut its full-year margin forecast in July due to currency weakness in some more profitable markets, such as Mexico and Vietnam, and expansion in Brazil.

It said its operating profit margin would decline by 20 basis points this year, compared with an earlier forecast of a 25 basis point increase.

Heineken acquired the loss-making Brazilian operations of Japan’s Kirin in 2017 to become the number two player in the South America country, and had previously warned of a dilutive impact on its margins.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/nigerians-drinking-less-of-heinekens-62.html

The Re–elect Buhari Movement (RBM), a support group for President Muhammadu Buhari, has said that the activities and actions of Mrs. Aisha Buhari is changing the face of the Office of the Lady, a situation which is having a possitive impact on the polity.

A statement signed by its Convener, Mr. Emmanuel Umohinyang noted that though the office is unconstitutional, the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari has, since assuming office, carved a positive image for the office by being on the side of truth and the people in the last three and a half years.


According to him, this has not only positively impacted on nation’s image, it has proved that she can hold her own without her husband.

Umohinyang said that unlike the experience of the recent past, the office has complemented the office of the President instead of competing with it.

“In the past, Nigerians were not pleased with the operations of that office, I think it has been modified by the wife of the President under the present adminitration

“Be that as it may, I travelled to the village recently and I saw the picture of the wife of the President on a ‘future assured banner’ and I was curious because I needed to know what the banner could be doing in my village.

“I walked into the compound out of curiousity, only to be told that the woman who had displayed the banner got it from an event she attended.

“Being a widow, she happened to be a beneficiary of Mrs. Aisha Buhari’s pet project. Imagine a widow who had lost hope now been empowered, been given money to start up a business to be able to fend for herself and children

“I was really touched by that woman’s explanation and how she came about the banner. It tells you that the ‘future assured programme has really gone far, traveled several kilometres away from Abuja where it was launched.

“The impact of a programme like this on the lives of people make it compelling to say if we had this type of robust programme, Nigerians would not have called for the scrapping of that office.

“When you look at previous administrations, especially the recent past, you discover that, it was badly abused. The office was raised to a level that it was presumed that it running at par the office of the President.

“What has happened under this administration is that the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari has complemented her husband very well.

“Recently, I read about the gigantic medical facility erected in Yola to provide health care to the poorest of the poor in the society. We now have a meaningful and purpose of the wife of the President.

“My appeal to the wife of the president is that she should continue her pet project even after the President has finished his term because of the impact on the widows, orphans and the poor.

“If you go to the website of that project, you will marvel at the massive changes that programme has brought to our people. When you have such offices, we should also support the wife of the President to do more.

“From what we have seen in the last three and a half years, it is not near the abuse they have seen of that office in the recent past.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/group-commends-aisha-buharis-role-as.html

The Federal Government has decided to continue paying the stipends of the N-Power 2016 Batch 1 beneficiaries beyond the expiry month of December 2018, the presidency said.

The statement issued by Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Office of the Vice President, on Monday in Abuja, said funding for the continued payments is contained in the 2018 budget.

However, Akande said that beyond the payments of stipends, the Federal Government is also exploring further options to seamlessly move the beneficiaries from the government job programme to positions where they were able to earn a sustainable income.

He said that the transition would be through a plan, designed to enable them become valuable, all-rounded employees, employers or entrepreneurs.

“The plan is basically an extension of the exit date of December 2018 for the first batch of 200,000 to enable them continue to offer their valuable services in their various communities while still earning their stipends.

“They are also to partake in the Enhancement Programme that would seamlessly transition them into numerous economic opportunities in both the public and private sectors of the economy.

“The N-Power is a job employment and empowerment scheme for hitherto unemployed Nigerian graduates under the Buhari Administration’s National Social Investment Programmes (N-SIP).

“The scheme is the largest post-tertiary employment programme in Africa, comprising N-Power beneficiaries that are paid a monthly stipend of N30, 000 and are deployed as volunteers into various sectors of need in the public space, such as health, agriculture, education and public finance.

“For the first time in Nigeria, the N-Power beneficiaries applied and were selected for the programme in an objective, efficient and transparent manner, without the need for ‘connections’ to anyone of influence,’’ he said.

He said that based on conservative projections, the N-Power scheme would provide jobs for at least 10 million Nigerians by 2023.

Akande said that since it commenced in 2016, the N-Power scheme, which had beneficiaries in all the LGAs of the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT, had so far, provided jobs for half a million young Nigerian graduates nationwide.

He said that all the N-Power beneficiaries were given the opportunity to select and own electronic devices for continuous learning as they grew; depending on the selected vocations of entrepreneurship, and to boost the Knowledge Economy.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/n-power-graduates-to-receive-stipends.html

A coalition of the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidates have insisted that the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole must be removed now.

The coalition, in a statement to Akelicious, described that former Edo State Governor as cancerous, accusing him of causing much of the crisis brewing in the party.

The presidential aspirants were reacting to Oshiomhole’s latest statement where he alleged a gang up against him by some influential persons in the party, singling out Alhaji Mumakai Unagha.

In the statement signed by Dr. SKC Ogbonnia and Alhaji (Barr.) Mumakai Unagham the coalition called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call an emergency meeting where vote of no confidence will be passed on Oshiomhole.
The statement continues, “A fortnight ago, the Coalition of 2019 APC Presidential Aspirants called for the removal of the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, for his role in the current crisis brewing in the party. Since then, a stream of party faithful from around the country have joined to register their support for the immediate ouster of the former union activist.
“Unfortunately, however, instead of seeking peace and assuaging hurt feelings from the primaries, which left the party in deeper crisis, Oshiomhole has resorted to intimation, blackmail, and slander. If he is not using the name of President Muhammadu Buhari to blackmail governors serving under the platform of the party, Oshiomhole is busy throwing tantrums to aggrieved aspirants and other party stakeholders.

“We also note with dismay that the chairman would stoop so low by using his latest outburst to denigrate the person of Alhaji Mumakai Unagha for the simple reason that the erstwhile presidential aspirant offered a dissenting opinion in a newspaper interview.
“By all indications, Oshiomhole has become a visible cancerous tumor to our great party, and the earlier we cut the cancer off; the better for the party and Nigeria in general. The former union activist is attacking all cells and veins of the party.
“By his press statement yesterday, October 21, 2018, he admitted a gang-up against him from across the country, whatever that means. But Oshiomhole ought to understand that a broad-based gang-up among party faithful and the stakeholders against the party chairman signifies a vote of no confidence.
“We, the coalition of aspirants under the All Progressive Congress (APC), wish to state here that a majority of the party no longer believes in Oshiomhole’s leadership as the National Chairman of the party. Therefore, he has no option than to resign honourably.
“We maintain that the party risks disgrace, losing woefully in 2019, should Adams Oshiomhole remain as the National Chairman of the party. For obvious reasons, the level of division in the party is a clear testimony that the party cannot survive except he is replaced.
“Suffice to mention here that the chairman has not only projected APC as enemy of Nigerian Youths, he has also brought the party into disrepute with his frequent outbursts.
“It is worthy of mention that we, the coalition of aspirants, are not against President Muhammadu Buhari nor fighting Adams Oshiomhole as a person, because he claims to be supporting Mr. President; we are simply for the greater of the party and Nigeria as a whole.
“After wide consultations among party stakeholders, including governors, members of National Assembly, and youth groups, the Coalition of 2019 APC Aspirants resolved as follows:
“President Buhari should use his good offices to occasion an emergency meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to pass a vote of no confidence on Comrade Oshiomhole and relieve him of his position;
“The NEC should appoint an acting chairman who has what it takes to unite the party and lead it to victory. (PDP had similar challenge before 2011 elections and decisively enthroned an acting chairman that guided the party to victory).
“The NEC should appoint a committee to review cases where Oshiomhole imposed candidates and devise ways of refunding aspirants who paid for the exorbitant nomination fees but were denied of free and fair participation and election. There are many creative ways the ruling APC can raise funds besides apparent extorsion schemes introduced by the Oshiomhole administration;
“Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole must be compelled to fully account for all revenues accrued to the party since he resumed office in June 2018.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/remove-adams-oshiomhole-immediately-apc.html

Journalists and civil servants, trapped by the imposition of an emergency 24-hour curfew by the Kaduna state government on Sunday, have recounted their ordeal.

Several of the journalists who were away from home when the curfew was declared Sunday afternoon, virtually putting the vibrant city in a lockdown, said they took refuge at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

Mr John Fwah, Publisher of Newsontime, an online media platform, was among the journalists, who spent the night at the NUJ Secretariat. He said it was not an easy experience.

“There was no water, no food, we have to share two loaves of bread among the five of us stranded there, we took it with Lipton tea in the night and this morning before some soldiers on patrol took us home at about 11 am.

“I couldn’t sleep until at about 5 am. Thank God we were able to communicate with our families to assure them that we were safe,’’ Fwah said.

Fwah said he had just left the Polo Club, where a tournament was taking place, when he heard about the crisis in parts of the town and the declaration of a 24-hour curfew. He quickly sought refuge at the NUJ secretariat nearby.

On Monday, Fwah and his colleagues were taken to their various homes by security men.

“I have just left the ‘NUJ IDP camp’, it was an uneasy experience. I now know what it means to live in an IDP camp”.

A senior reporter with Kaduna State Television, Mr Joseph Zango, said he had just closed from work at the station when the the 24-hour curfew was announced.

“Amidst the confusion it was difficult for me to get home, so I headed to the NUJ secretariat, where I met seven other journalists including two ladies who were later evacuated by a relative nearby, leaving five of us.

“We slept there until a team of soldiers evacuated us and took each of us home.’’

Another reporter, Stella Kabruk, said she had to abandon the coverage of the Polo tournament and head for home when people began running helter-skelter.

“Unfortunately, when I inquired about the cause of the pandemonium I was told that there was crisis in Sabo area of the town and that is where I live.

“I had to drive home through safer routes, and along the way I saw some vehicles burning, and I later learnt that some innocent people lost their lives. ‘’

Mr Idris Abdulrahman, the editor-in-chief of the News Agency of Nigeria, in Abuja had visited his family in Kaduna. He said his plans were completely upset by the curfew drama.

“This has thrown me off balance because I planned to pass only one night in Kaduna but now I’m forced to seek alternative arrangements to keep my family safe.

“My visit was casual, to see my family after weeks of absence from them. This curfew has thrown up a big challenge to me and many others.

“It has disrupted my official engagements in Abuja and caused me some unexpected expenses at home.”

Abdulrahman said he attempted driving out of the town in the morning but was stopped by fierce-looking security men who would not listen to any explanation.

It was also a tale of woes for some Federal Government civil servants who planned to return to work in Abuja after the weekend. They found themselves stranded in Kaduna.


Mallam Abdullahi Mohammed, who works at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture Abuja, told NAN that he was forced to remain indoors in Kaduna since “police are patrolling our area”.

“This crisis and the attendant curfew have disrupted my plans. I wanted to get to Abuja by 9 a.m. but now I have to review my plans to accommodate buying enough foodstuffs for my family.”

Security agents have virtually taken over strategic areas of the highways and areas mostly hit by the crisis.

Malam Ado Abdulmalik, a politician heading to Abuja, narrated his experience, saying “those security men would not even listen if you have an emergency.

“I could not even go to railway station, few metres from my house, to board it to Abuja because police are patrolling everywhere.”

The curfew has crippled commercial and social activities, with hundreds of federal government workers, businessmen and women, politicians on transit to Abuja stranded due to the enforcement of the restriction on movement.

A cross section of residents who spoke with NAN expressed shock and frustration over the escalation of the crisis and sudden declaration of curfew.

Some of the residents who spoke in separate interviews with the NAN, lamented the shutdown of economic activities, adding that residents have inadequate food in their homes as they were not prepared for the curfew.

Martha Ayuba, a housewife said: “There are no business activities going on as they cannot buy food Ingredients.

“This is an unfortunate situation as preparation was not made for the curfew. I hope the curfew does not last for another 24 hours because all shops are closed and one cannot buy what he needs.

“We prayed for calm and peace to be restored in the state because in situations like this, people need each other and not violence.

Mrs Jummai Bako, a businesswoman said the curfew has affected her because she earns her daily bread selling foodstuffs.

“I can’t go out to sell my foodstuffs in the shop because of the curfew.

“I have fresh tomatoes and pepper in the shop that if I don’t sell them, I will lose.

Also some civil servants lamented the imposition of curfew adding that most workers were yet to receive their salaries, so they were unprepared and had not done their monthly stockpiling of food stuff.

The usual Monday market where most residents converge to buy foodstuffs was deserted.

The residents demanded the arrest of those behind the attacks that claimed many lives in Karuwan Magani, describing the imposition of the curfew as an unpleasant situation.

“We will continue to plead with everyone especially our youths to conduct themselves within the provisions of the law, and to not to engage in acts that will disrupt the peace of the state,”

Meanwhile, uneasy calm is being observed in many parts of the town as areas such as Sabo, Barnawa, Narayi, Malali, Central market area and Unguwar Muazu look desolate.

After the deadly fracas at Karuwan Magani, the spill-over crisis was ignited in Maraban Rido and Sabo, a densely populated area, prompting the imposition of the curfew by Gov. Nasir El-Rufai.

The Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, said the measure was to curb further breakdown of law and order.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/kaduna-curfew-how-trapped-journalists.html

Donatus Nwankpa, the Abia State chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has declared that the emergence of Chief Peter Obi, as the running mate of the Peoples Democratic Party, presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, will not have any impact in south east zone come 2019.

Nwankpa said the former Anambra Governor lacked the political clout to command followership in the zone.

The former Abia lawmaker, who stated this in a chat with Akelicious on Sunday, maintained that APC will sweep the entire south east in the upcoming general elections.



He said, “I want to tell you that Peter Obi is not a household name that can cause an earthquake. He is just like any other ordinary person that would have been chosen by Atiku Abubakar.
“Because, I don’t know how many Abians today will say ‘I’m voting because of Peter Obi.’ Peter Obi has no impact in anything that happens in Abia. He has no impact in anything that happens in Anambra”.
“Even the Anambra, where he came to support a governorship candidate, he lost. And he has not made any impact in Enugu. He has not made any impact in Ebonyi state. The name, Ogbonnaya Onu rings better than Peter Obi. The name, Chris Ngige touches beyond immediate Anambra environment than the name, Peter Obi”.

“So, what are we talking about? If Peter Obi had been in APC, it would have been a second in eleven from the South east zone”.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/2019-atikus-running-mate-cant-lead-pdp.html

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents, in a convoy of gun trucks, attacked Kalle community of Borno State and killed 12 farmers, yesterday morning.

The farmers were working on their farmlands, when the terrorists burst out from the northern flank of Sambisa Forest near Molai community.A Civilian JTF leader, Baba Kura Konomi in Maiduguri said: “The insurgents used machetes, instead of guns to kill 12 farmers, while working on their farmlands, located along Maiduguri-Damboa Road. They had guns but refused to use them, so as not to attract attention of security agencies stationed in Molai community.”

He explained that Kalle community is 17 kilometres south of Maiduguri, the hotbed of nine-year insurgency. Kolomi said the terrorists belong to the Abubakar Shekau Boko Haram faction that attacks both military and civilians since 2009.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/12-farmers-feared-killed-in-borno.html

The military spike operation codenamed Operation WHIRL STROKE says it had recently killed 12 militia men loyal to the wanted militia leader, Terwase Akwaza (Gana), at the end of a four simultaneous assaults on Gana’s hideouts in Sai, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.

OPWS Commander, Maj.-Gen. Adeyemi Yekini, disclosed this to newsmen in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, while giving an update on the activities of the operation, on Saturday.

Gen. Yekini also disclosed that Gana’s wife, Queen, had also lost her life during one of the encounters.

The operations Commander said following the heavy casualty they sustained at Sai, remnants of Gana’s militia group, on revenge mission, attacked the mobile police station in Zaki-Biam on October 18 at about 10:00a.m.

“The policemen on ground gave stiff resistance to the attackers while OPWS troops from four nearby locations as well as the 72 Battalion troops from Katsina-Ala were immediately mobilised to the location, thereby forcing the militia men to disperse into surrounding bushes.”

He stated further that some troops that have just been deployed to Zaki Biam metropolis to reassure the local populace of their safety also conducted a fighting patrol to Agena, Ayati and Sai in the hope to locate a soldier who was missing during the Sai attack.

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t locate the missing soldier as the camp was empty. Our troops destroyed the camp before returning back to base around 1800 hours yesterday (Friday). We will continue to search for Gana until he and his men are brought to justice.”

The OPWS also revealed that it had recovered a total of 45 assorted weapons, 1,285 rounds of ammunition, 24 AK 47 even as 74 suspects have been arrested since the inception of the operation six months ago.

“Since our induction, OPWS troops have been conducting daily patrols, ambushes and raids operations across the three states (Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba) with the aim of putting a stop to incessant killings by armed herdsmen and other armed militia groups in the Joint Operations Area (JOA).”

Gen. Yekini, while focusing on five major operations conducted by the OPWS in the last two months, stated that three of the operations took place in Benue while remaining two operations took place in Taraba State.

He said the troops also carried out non kinetic activities in support of its offensive military operations adding that, “this is because of our firm belief that military operations alone might not be able to resolve some of the myriad of security challenges in our JOA and that peaceful discussions with stakeholders could go a long way in supporting the successful conduct of the operations.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/benue-military-kills-ganas-wife-12-of.html

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has described the nomination of Mr. Peter Obi as running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as the party’s response to the feelings of marginalisation of Ndigbo in the leadership of Nigeria.

Obi, however, said that the success of his nomination was dependent on the harmonious relationship existing among the leadership of the Southeast zone.

Also, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has described Obi as an iconic son of Igboland who has been a two-term governor of Anambra State, explaining that the state would vote for the PDP in next year’s general elections.


President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, who spoke when Obi visited him at his Enugu residence, said his outstanding humility and incorruptibility in government spoke volumes of the yearnings of youths that government must not be used as the instrument of self-aggrandisement, but as an instrument of development for the people.
He said: “I am extremely happy to have you in my house and to say how pleased Ndigbo are that your party has responded to our yearnings and aspirations and our feeling of marginalisation in the top echelon of the leadership of our country by nominating you to vie the office of the vice president of Nigeria.
“I do hope that other political parties in Nigeria will emulate this act of the former vice president (Atiku) and members and the leadership of your party. Very soon, we will convoke a meeting of the highest organ of Ohanaeze, the Ime Obi, when all the political parties have brought out their candidates and take a decision on the direction Ndigbo will go in the next election. But your nomination is enchanting.
“Your visit here and indeed your public conduct while you were governor has sanctified you as a man of outstanding humility; your outspokenness on matters of public policy and your criticism of those who do not do it well shows that you have no skeleton in your cupboard. Five years after being governor and you have not been invited by anybody to investigate you for ill-gotten wealth.
“Your progress when you were a private businessman leading up to being one of the instruments of founding one of the leading commercial banks in Nigeria show that you have eminent qualities. I pray for you as an individual and as a friend and look forward to that day when Ohanaeze will take a decision on which party the Igbos will vote for,” Nwodo declared.
Obi, who had earlier paid a courtesy visit to Ugwuanyi at the Government House in Enugu, said his nomination was not about him as “Obi, but about the Southeast.”
Apparently to douse the tension generated in the zone by his nomination, Obi told Ugwuanyi: “I am in Enugu on consultation. I have met with the governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi; Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu; Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu and I am here to meet with you.
“This is the first time I am welcomed at the airport, not even the time I won a case at the Supreme Court as a governor have I been received with this kind of airport reception and this is will go into history.
“My nomination is about us and not about Peter. For me, this nomination is about our own area. We cannot stay and continue to complain of marginalisation,” he said.
Obi said he still pays tax in Enugu and that shows his belief in the Southeast, noting that Enugu State would continue to remain the capital of the Southeast zone.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/obis-nomination-response-to-igbo.html

Flooding killed six people and sacked no fewer than 35 communities in the Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo this year.

The Chairman of the council, Mr Victor Emuankhangbon, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Ubiaja, the headquarters of the council.

He said that the flooding also affected many farm lands.

Emuankhangbon said that the flooding was severe at Ilushi and Ifeku Islands, lamenting that the development might result to food shortages.

He, however, said that government was looking at ways to encourage dry season farming, to mitigate the effects of envisaged food shortages.

According to him, the Federal Emergency Relief Management Agency and the Edo State Emergency Relief Management Agency have since provided assistance to people affected by the flooding.

Emuankhagbon said that people affected by the flooding had started returning to their homes with the water level reducing in the flooded communities.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/flood-sacks-35-edo-communities-kills-6.html

Again, gunmen suspected to be local militias struck at Zaki Biam in Ukum Local Council of Benue State at 10 am yesterday killing four persons and a police officer.


Akelicious learnt that the gunmen in their numbers invaded Tse-Ujondo, Tse Uvia and Zaki-Biam Mechanic Village shooting sporadically and killing the victims.

It was gathered that the gunmen also burnt down the police checkpoint located near the Zaki-Biam Mechanic Village.

An eyewitness in the area told Akelicious that the attack was masterminded by members of a wanted notorious criminal gang led by Terwase Akwaza, popularly known as Gana.

But another resident of the area alleged that an aggrieved politician, who lost the primary election of his party, sponsored the attack.

Consequently, traders in the town were forced to close down their shops, while residents ran into the bush for safety.

An aide to Chairman of Ukum Local Council, who craved anonymity, said they were yet to ascertain the cause of the attack, adding that the chairman has already alerted security men who have gone to the flashpoint to maintain peace.

But confirming the attack, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, said the Gana militia boys engaged security forces in a gun duel during which a police officer and two unidentified civilians were killed.

He said three other persons who sustained injuries were receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital at Zaki-Biam.


However, Benue State Police Commissioner (CP), Ene Okon, has raised the alarm over the proliferation of arms in the state, accusing politicians of arming thugs ahead of the 2019 general elections.

He stated this yesterday when he hosted leaders of Mdzough U Tiv, Ochetoha K’ Idoma, OKI and the Omi Ny’ Igede, noting that the command was fully aware of the plot.

He advised the leaders the tribal groups to tell politicians in their domains that it would be better to have peaceful election in the state rather than stockpile arms as they were doing and for which the force is aware.

Meanwhile, the security chiefs have raised¬ the alarm over proliferation¬ of arms ahead of the 2019 general elect¬ion.

They raised the alarm during a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja to consider the threats posed by ¬arms proliferation and fears of pre and post-election violence in the country.

Among those who attended the meeting wer¬e Minister of Defence, Brig. Gen. Mans¬ur Dan-Ali (rtd.), National Security Adv¬iser, Maj. Gen. Babangana Monguno (rtd.), C¬hief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Tukur B¬uratai, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admir¬al Ibok Ekwe Ibas, Chief of Air Staff, A¬ir Marshal Sadique Abubakar and Ins¬pector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/again-gunmen-kill-four-persons-police.html

A FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja has adjourned hearing in the case of three Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials dragged before the court on allegation of fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to November 27.

The court presided by Justice Peter Affen upheld the administrative bail granted to the three NFF officials, Christopher Andekin (Director of Administration and Finance), Reagan Zaka (Cashier) and Fadanari Mamza (Head, Finance and Account Department) who are accused of mishandling $9.5 million and $1.3 million by the EFCC.

Before adjourning the case, the judge ordered that the defendants’ sureties should sign bond with registrar of the court, and also deposit their international passports with the court.


The officials have been charged by EFCC on a five-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, breach of trust and misappropriation of funds.

The prosecutor, Steve Odiase told the court that the three defendants conspired between January 8 and 26, 2015 to commit the offences, contrary to Section 97 of Penal Code.

Odiase also alleged that Andekin was entrusted with a grant from the world body, Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), which he said was money meant for development of football in Nigeria.

He alleged that Andekin diverted $1.3 million from NFF’s domiciliary account with Zenith Bank, contrary to section 311 of the Penal Code.

The prosecutor further alleged that Zaka diverted a $7.2 million grant from FIFA that was also meant for development of football in Nigeria, while also stating that Mamza did same to $2.3 million

The defendants all pleaded not guilty to the charges, and their counsel, Arinze Egbo applied for their bail.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/three-nff-officials-granted-bail-in.html

The Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI) has disclosed that N2.97 billion for critical projects in 14 states of the country was unaccounted in the 2016 audit report.

It stated this in its 2016 report, saying the fund was meant for water and road projects for constituencies and were nominated by some members of the seventh Assembly but were either abandoned or not executed after huge sums of money was paid to contractors.

Executive Director of PLSI, Olusegun Elemo, who disclosed this during an Accountability Dialogue yesterday in Abuja, said some of the projects are located in Oyo, Osun, Ogun and Kwara states.


He specifically cited the Igboho-Kishi road nominated for Oyo State by Hosea Agboola and awarded in 2014.

He said the project was awarded for N94 million and about N83 million has been paid to the contractor, adding: “As at now, the road has been abandoned. We have the pictures, the road is still in deplorable state.”

He also mentioned the water project in Pansheke, Ogun State, nominated by former Speaker, House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and awarded for over N300 million, saying it has also been abandoned after a lump sum was paid to the contractor.

Stressing the need for the National Assembly to review the 2016 audit report, take necessary actions and make recommendations to the executive for implementation, he lamented that funds were constantly being wasted, while the people suffer dearth of critical infrastructure.

He lamented that the Audit act of 1956 has become obsolete and as such there was the need to pass the audit bill at the National Assembly to the President so as to have a more efficient audit office to deliver value for the money.

He pointed out that they have been working to ensure that abandoned projects in rural communities are either completed or the funds retrieved from defaulting contractors and returned to the national treasury.

Executive Director, Centre for Social Justice, Eze Onyekpere, stressed the need to strengthen the Auditor General of the Federation (AGF), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to work with the AGF’s office.

Onyekpere also stressed the need for the Auditor General to be given power to probe security votes to state Governors and those found wanting should be named and shamed when their tenure expires.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/n297-billion-not-accounted-for-in-2016.html

The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has called for the withdrawal of the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Kukah from the National Peace Committee led by former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar.

The organisation made the call in a statement issued by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke on Tuesday in Abuja.

The group said the call had become necessary because of Kukah’s alleged open display of support for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

It noted that the Abdulsalam Abubakar-led committee was one that should be seen to be non partisan because of the role it was meant to play in the run-up to the 2015 general elections.

“We are surprised, like many Nigerians, to see Bishop Kukah in the company of the opposition candidate at a reconciliation meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo,” the group said.

It recalled that Kukah had later on claimed to be the strategic mind behind the reconciliation which was targeted at bringing the two parties together to fight President Buhari administration.

“This is not expected of a clergyman who is seen in some quarters as the alternate head of the National Peace Committee.

“He has shown his bias and as such cannot be trusted to be non-partisan,” the group stressed.

It dismissed claims by the Catholic Bishop that he was not aware of the political nature of the gathering as tales that no one would believe.

According to the group, Kukah is the key figure behind the reconciliation, a step he took knowing that Atiku was a PDP presidential aspirant.

“And if it is true that Bishop Kukah is insisting that he was only exercising his right to free movement.

“We are also demanding that having shown his hand, he has no reason to sit on a panel that is meant to be non-partisan,” the group maintained.

It added that it fully supports President Buhari’s admonition that religious leaders abstain from partisan politics.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/bmo-wants-kukah-out-of-national-peace.html

As part of efforts to end cases of building collapse in the country, Dangote Cement has come out with Dangote BlocMaster Cement.

According to the group managing director, Joe Makoju, the 42.5R cement grade innovation will also translate into more income for block-makers and in the long run for the country.

Speaking at the official launch of the product in Lagos, Makoju asserted that BlocMaster, which is an improvement on the company’s three cement brands, “is the best” for block-making and concrete application.


Describing it as affordable and good for Nigerians because of its rapid setting, especially during the rainy season, he said that the new brand was a product of years of deep research, testing and experimentation, adding that it had been tested and approved by builders nationwide.

“With a block-making motif to resonate key targets, the product guarantees better value for money as it can produce over 32 blocks per bag, achieve up to 50 megapascal after 28 days and get 50 per cent stronger a day after use,” he said.

While commending Lagos distributors as major determinants of its sales nationwide, the GMD disclosed that the product, a combination of good price and quality, was designed to salvage the building and construction challenges in the country.

Group chief marketing officer of the company, Oare Ojeikere, described the new cement as multi-purpose and strong, urging Nigerians to adopt it for all construction purposes, considering the attestations of hundreds of builders who had used it before the launch.

National president of Block Moulders Association of Nigeria (BMAN), Rasheed Adebowale, appreciating the peculiarity of the product, said he could produce as much as 35 blocks with a bag of the cement, while still maintaining standard requirements.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/dangote-cement-introduces-blocmaster-to.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.”

Full details at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/2019-all-presidential-candidates-put.html

The citizenry have been advised to always patronize Made in Nigeria products. Chief Godwin Okafor who said that goods manufactured in Nigeria, are of better quality than the imported ones, maintained that the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, of the country will improve tremendously, if the citizenry resort to patronizing made in Nigeria products.
Chief Okafor who is a community leader in Isuofia, Aguata Local Government Area, urged Nigerians to always take pride in Made in Nigeria products.
Contributing, the Traditional Prime-Minister of Awa in Orumba North Local Government area, Chief Israel Ezue who encouraged Nigerians to always patronize Made in Nigeria products in order to stimulate the growth of indigenous firms, used the opportunity to call on the federal government to improve electricity supply, to ensure speedy industrialization of the Nation.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/nigerians-urged-to-patronize-made-in.html

Dancehall artiste Shatta Wale pulled off one of the biggest surprises of his life when he went down his knees to propose to his longtime girlfriend Shatta Michy.
During the launch of his third album, ‘Reign’ at the Fantasy Dome at the Trade Fair Centre Saturday night, the controversial dancehall act paused during his performance and did the unexpected.

In front of the over 10,000-packed venue and their two kids - including their son, Majesty - Shatta Wale called out the name of the mother of his son and proposed to her.

After performing their joint song, ‘Low Tempo’ together, Shatta Wale paused in the middle of the performance for a few seconds to interact with their fans.

“Shatta Michy,” he called her name, went down on one knee, proposed to her, and stood up to put a ring on his baby mama’s finger.

A visibly surprised Shatta Michy was simply lost for words during the entire process. She just opened her mouth in awe.

After that surprise, the lovebirds shared a long passionate kiss on stage amidst loud cheers and chants from their teeming fans.

After the kiss, they performed ‘BulletProof’ together while intermittently holding hands.

It is however unclear when the two will officially walk down the aisle.Shatta Wale recently was the subject of ridicule and attacks after some of colleague entertainment personalities got married.

After Stonebwoy, Sarkodie, John Dumelo got married, many questioned when the dancehall act will officially walk his longtime girlfriend down the aisle.

It looks as if the proposal at the Fantasy Dome is a step closer to silencing his critics.

Shatta Wale and Shatta Michy, born Diamond Michelle Gbagonah, have dated for some years now. They welcomed a son, Majesty, on July 11, 2015.

Apart from their son Majesty, Shatta Wale also has two other children with different women.

Watch Video at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/shatta-wale-proposed-to-shatta-michy-at.html

The Federal Government, yesterday, engaged turbo gear in the bid to drive out corruption from the polity, with President Muhammadu Buhari mandating the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami to implement the Executive Order 6 (EO6) in full force.

The Presidency confirmed that a number of enforcement procedures were already 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 county, pending determination of their cases.

Buhari’s mandate came following the instant judicial affirmation of the order’s constitutionality and legality by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, of the Abuja Division of Federal High Court, last Wednesday.


The ruling held that Executive Order 6 was within the powers of the President, as granted by the Constitution, to issue executive orders for the execution of policies by the executive arm of government, provided such orders respect the principles of separation of powers.

The judge noted that Executive Order 6 did not violate the rights of citizens to own property, rather it was informed by Buhari’s willingness to save suspected property from being dissipated.

Justice Ojukwu, however, cautioned that the powers given to the AGF under the Executive Order 6 must be exercised in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

The judge held that although the Order seemed to give the AGF discretion as to when to seek permission of the court to seize any suspected property, it must at all times, obtain a court order before seizing any asset. Such application, the court held, could be made ex-parte.

The Presidency, in a statement signed by Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, yesterday, said: “The financial transactions of these persons of interest are being monitored by relevant agencies to ensure that assets are not dissipated and such persons do not interfere with, nor howsoever corrupt investigation and litigation processes.

“It is instructive to note that EO6 was specifically directed to relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure that all assets within a minimum value of N50m or equivalent, subject to investigation or litigation are protected from dissipation by employing all available lawful means, pending final determination of any corruption-related matter.

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

“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 EO6, which is a paradigm-changing policy of the Federal Government in the fight against corruption,” the statement stated.

However, some constitutional lawyers, who spoke to The Guardian have cautioned that even though the President has powers to issue executive orders, such powers should be subject to the provisions of the law of the land.

In reviewing the extent to which the President can exercise his power under Section 5 of the Constitution, Mr. Donald Ibebuike, insisted that the power of the President to issue an Executive Order under Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), is subject to Section 4 of the same Constitution, which gives the National Assembly the powers to make laws for the good governance of Nigeria.

“To this end, the power of the President to issue Executive Order is limited to assisting the implementation of any law made by the National Assembly. See the unreported case of Alraine Shipping Agencies Ltd & Ors V Nigerian Shippers’ Council & Anor for which judgment was delivered on June 21, 2017.

“Having regard to the issue at hand, I can say that if the Executive Order is aimed at implementing an existing law that allows Nigerians to pay tax on their offshore assets, then it is in order, but if otherwise, I suggest for same to be challenged in a court of law.

“I think also that the Executive Order needs to be viewed from the mischief it will cause. It may have the effect of subjecting the owners of offshore assets to multiple taxation, given that the owner of such assets may have paid tax on any profit relating to the assets to the host country, especially where the owner of the assets is a corporate personality.”

On the other hand, Ibebuike believes that the corporate personality may have factored in the profit from such assets in declaring its Nigerian profits, and has, to that extent, paid any due tax to the country.

“I think from the little knowledge about the Executive Order, it appears to be imprecise, fluid and may have implementation challenges,” he maintained.

Abubakar Sani, a legal practitioner holds a different view on the limit to the powers of Mr. President to issue executive orders.

He also believes that the new order, is part of the President’s intervention in furtherance of his executive powers under Section 5 of the Constitution read along with Section 10(2) of the Interpretation Act.

“Pursuant to those powers, the President can lawfully direct relevant tax collection agencies established by the National Assembly, such as the FIRS as he deems fit,” Sani stated.

Another lawyer, Mr. Chris Okeke, disagreed with the position of the court on the constitutionality of Executive Order 6, insisting that it failed to align with Justice Ojukwu’s position.

“My take on the Presidential Order is, taken together with the provisions of the Constitution on the presumption of innocence; I fail to find alignment with judgment of the Federal High Court.

“I have read the Presidential Order on offshore assets, and particularly Switzerland was mentioned. The inescapable questions include whether Switzerland and indeed, any other country for that matter will cooperate with you in that direction. Where your demand conflicts with the domestic laws and interests of the cooperating country, who do you expect they will go with?

“Again, as it affects our domestic laws, it need be pointed out that the President’s Executive Order is not a legislation, it is not an Act of the National Assembly either.” He added: “Being none of above, the order cannot in anyway abridge the rights, and or derogate from constitutionally guaranteed rights of Nigerians under any guise or name.

“That they are called taxation is not an excuse. Meanwhile, I expect the Supreme Court of Nigeria to clear the air here in due course.

“Put differently, I expect the judgment of the Federal High Court to be challenged on appeal pronto. In the meanwhile, the Federal High Court judgment in question has not justified the essence and beauty of constitutionalism in Nigeria.

“The President can intervene only to the extent allowed by the Constitution and laws of the land,” he insisted.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected what it called “an attempt by President Muhammadu Buhari to foist a full-blown fascism on our country, beginning with the placement of illegal travel restrictions on certain unnamed Nigerians.”

The party, in a statement released by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, yesterday, said “this wicked and draconian step is clearly targeted at members of the opposition parties, perceived enemies of President Muhammadu Buhari, 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 “this decree is a direct clampdown on our democratic order and an overthrow of rights of our citizenry as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution (as amended). We hope this is not a ploy to harm certain eminent Nigerians under the guise of resisting travel restrictions,” the PDP added.

It invited the international community to note “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.”

It further noted 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,” pointing out that, “the resort to total clamp down on the opposition and our supporters will be totally unacceptable.

FORMER Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, in his reaction to the presidential mandate said: “The banning of 50 prominent Nigerians who are all members of the opposition from travelling out of the country by Buhari’s Executive Order and the power to confiscate their assets even though they have not been empowered to do so by a court of law, or convicted of any offence is utterly shameful and condemnable. It is nothing less than a descent into fascism and a violation of the fundamental human rights and civil liberties of the individuals that have been directly affected and the Nigerian people.”

It continued: “It is also a usurpation of the role of the Judiciary. Buhari is so desperate to remain in power that he has now resorted to attempting to muzzle and intimidate the opposition. He forgets that he is not God and that he will soon leave power. I condemn his lawless and desperate ways in the strongest terms. Only dictators behave in this way and Buhari has proved to be the most brutal and callous of them all in the history of our nation. I challenge him to do his worse and enjoy the short time that he has left in office. Sadists never last. Soon it will all be over and he will account for his evil ways and brought to justice.”

Relatedly, a pro-democracy and non-governmental organisation, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) says the president’s action was a primitive resort to political witch-hunt and vendetta.


According to it, 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 stated categorically that Executive Order 6, which purports to be a policy guideline on the prosecution of suspects accused of hiding foreign assets, does not have the force of a superior law to supercede the clear and binding provisions of the Constitution, which unambiguously affirmed the innocence of a crime suspect pending the determination of the prosecutorial activities of a competent court of law, recognised in Section 6 of the Nigerian Constitution.

HURIWA accused 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 constitutionally protected freedoms even when in the eye of the Supreme law of Nigeria they are as innocent as a white dove until a contrary determination is reached not in the presidential court, or court of public opinion, but in competent courts of law as specified in Section 6 of the 1999 constitution (as amended).

HURIWA in a statement by the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in Abuja, yesterday lampooned President Muhammadu Buhari for the erroneous 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.

It reminded Buhari that the court couldn’t have unilaterally overruled or nullify the relevant sections of the Constitution, which are directly related to the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms such as right to freedom of movement; Civil liberties (Section 35(1) and other constitutionally guaranteed right to fair hearing and the constitutional presumption of innocence, as clearly provided for in the extant constitution which remains the supreme law of Nigeria.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/executive-order-6-fg-goes-all-out-on.html

Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) says it is ready to partner with the Federal Government in curbing circulation of adulterated petroleum products and pipelines vandalism.

Alhaji Abdulahi Idris, the Deputy Chairman of NOGASA’s Board of Trustees, made the pledge during the inaugural ceremony of the association held in Abuja.

According to him, government is managing virtually all aspects of oil and gas but a lot of logistic issues are hindering its efforts at achieving the desired goal.

Idris said that collaboration between the association and the government had become necessary because the latter alone could not address all the existing challenges in the oil and gas sector.

“There was increasing population and sustained struggle to keep up with high demographic demands for vital industrial and domestic petroleum product.

“Petrol, diesel, kerosene and domestic gas became difficult to push to end users and consequently private investors and players started coming in to help tackle the challenges.

“Distribution of petroleum products, however, suffered a great deal of obstacles as a result of fragmented and individual engagement of the job.

“We have discovered that the challenges, intrigues and delay have translated our experience to take up our rightful place in the industry,” he said.

The deputy chairman stated that the association had resolved to be a responsible and forthright representative body that would partner with the government, among other objectives, discourage illicit transactions in the downstream sector.

He further stated that the association would avail itself of the benefits and various support provisions such as products, capital, insurance, banking relationship, litigation among others.

In his remarks, the President of the Association, Chief Benneth Korie, said the strategic position of the industry as suppliers of Natural oil and gas in the overall development of economy could not be overemphasised.

Korie called on marketers patronising illegal depots to desist from doing so, saying it would jeopardise the association’s efforts in addition to the frequent damages caused by adulterated products.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/oil-and-gas-suppliers-ready-to-combat.html

In a bid to set agenda for the 2019 general election, an Igbo think-tank group, Nzuko Umunna, will host a conference on the future of the country with focus on restructuring.

President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, are among dignitaries expected to participate at the special pan-Nigerian conference designed to extract a formal pledge of commitment to restructuring, a priority of the southern and Middle Belt zones, from the major parties and presidential candidates.

A brain child of Nzuko Umunna in association with a group of pan-Nigerian leaders, the Core Federalists, the event holds on November 19, 2018 at the Shell Hall, MUSON Centre, Lagos, with the theme “Nigeria beyond Oil.”

Tagged ‘Hand shake across Nigeria’, Coordinator of Nzuko Umunna, Mr. Ngozi Odumuko, said that it is an expansion of the January 11, 2018 ‘Handshake across the Niger’ summit organised to end the suspicion and unhealthy rivalry between the Igbo and their Yoruba counterparts.

According to Odumuko, the key priorities of the event are to “bring together the various thought leaders of the component regions to articulate progressive ideas that could foster national integration and development especially as we approach the 2019 elections and also avail an opportunity for thought leaders and socio-cultural organisations to constructively interrogate the presidential candidates of selected political parties on their plans, programmes and policies before the elections.”

Soyinka will deliver the keynote address while President Buhari, Atiku Abubakar and Chief Nnia Nwodo, will speak on various aspects of the theme.

Two former ministers of external affairs, Major-General Ike Nwachukwu (rtd) and Prof. Ibrahim Gambari will chair the occasion.

Other dignitaries expected at the event are President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu; foremost leaders of ethnic nationalities; Chief Ayo Adebanjo (Afenifere), and Chief Edwin Clark (Niger Delta), among others.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/restructuring-igbo-group-headlines.html

Oil prices slumped to more than two-week lows yesterday, as global stock markets fell, with investor sentiment made more bearish by the United States government data that showed domestic crude inventories rose more than expected last week.

Brent crude futures fell by $2.08 or 2.5 percent to $81.01 a barrel. The contra posted a session low of $80.69, its weakest since September 24. The global benchmark has retreated after hitting a four-year high of $86.74 on October 3.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 futures fell $1.81, or 2.5 percent, to $71.36 a barrel. WTI hit a session low of $71.08, the lowest since September 21.

Crude inventories rose by six million barrels in the week to October 5, data from the Energy Information Administration showed yesterday. Analysts had expected an increase of 2.6 million barrels.Refinery crude runs fell by 352,000 barrels per day, EIA data indicated, while utilisation rates dropped by 1.6 percentage points.

Falling U.S. equity markets and a global risk-off environment also weighed on crude futures. On Wednesday, U.S. stock markets tumbled, with the S&P 500 and the Dow Industrials indexes posting their worst day in eight months, as solid economic data reinforced expectations of multiple interest rate hikes next year.

OPEC cut its forecast of global demand growth for oil in 2019 for a third straight month, citing headwinds facing the broader economy from trade disputes and volatile emerging markets.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/oil-prices-dip-by-25-amid-us-inventory_12.html

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has vowed that the federal lawmakers will resist any attempt to continue to frustrate the enactment of the Electoral Act Amendment bill, particularly the use of card readers for 2019 elections.

Describing such move as an effort to erode the gains of the successes recorded in the 2015 elections, Dogara, in a speech to mark the resumption of the House from its annual recess, said the passage of the bill will address fears that some forces plan to manipulate the forthcoming elections by exploiting loopholes in the Electoral Act as it is presently.

According to the Speaker, “The new Electoral Act amendment bill has provisions that are designed to guarantee free, fair and transparent elections in Nigeria, entrenches the Smart Card Reader and electronic transmission of results, among others,” adding that “the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) supplementary budget bill must also be accorded expeditious consideration.”

He assured the people that as soon as the assembly settles down to business, the INEC supplementary budget bill must be accorded expeditious consideration.

“The pending issue of the Electoral Act amendment bill, which was unfortunately vetoed by the president, must also be expeditiously considered and passed. The new Electoral Act amendment bill has provisions that are designed to guarantee free, fair and transparent elections in Nigeria. The amendment bill entrenches the Smart Card Reader and electronic transmission of results among others. Any further attempt to frustrate the passing into law of the bill, will be indicative of our desire not to improve on the successes of the 2015 general election as well as further fueling the fears that some, including our international partners, have about some forces who intend to manipulate the forthcoming elections by exploiting identified loopholes in the Electoral Act currently in force,” he stated.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/house-will-resist-non-use-of-card.html

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised Nigeria to explore ways of increasing its revenue outside its traditional base of oil proceeds.

The IMF’s Deputy Director, Fiscal Affairs Department, Paulo Mauro, who made the call at a press briefing at the on-going 2018 IMF/World Bank Meetings in Bali, Indonesia, admitted that there is an issue of how to increase Nigeria’s revenue base, pointing out that the matter was not only crucial, but of utmost priority.

Mauro, who was responding to a question on what strategy Nigeria should adopt to increase its revenue profile, said increasing the nation’s non-oil revenue was crucial, adding that way, more resources will be generated to fix infrastructure and attend to social spending.

”Indeed, we do see this – increasing non-oil revenues — as a crucial priority for the country. If one looks at the ratio of interest payments-to-revenues for Nigeria, that is quite high. And certainly, increasing revenues is the way in which one creates the space to do social spending, infrastructure, and other types of spending that benefit economic growth. So clearly, that is a priority.”

Stressing the need for increased revenue, Mauro also offered tips on how Nigeria could achieve the goal, saying the IMF has been discussing with the country some of the issues.

He said: “We have been discussing over the years with the government, and we see the priorities in tax administration, but there are also aspects of tax policy that would help. So, certainly, in the tax administration, to increase the compliance rate, something that could be done is to increase tax audits and to use e filing to a greater extent. There are data matching exercises that can be conducted.”

He called for strategies to curtail tax evasion and reduction in corrupt tendencies. ”So generally trying to reduce tax evasion and possibly corruption as well, those would be priorities on the tax administration side,” Mauro pointed out.

The IMF official said the Fund had earlier prompted the government to tinker with Excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol, a policy the government rolled out earlier, but which is under review.

“Stamp duties is something that can be looked at again,” Mauro said.

He said while efforts are on to increase revenue, attention should also be focused on how the proceeds are deployed. His words: “I think it is not just the revenue side; it is also the spending side. Clearly, improving the choices that one makes on which infrastructure projects, how does one go about selecting the ones that are really going to boost growth. So, I think, definitely, it is a priority to increase revenues, but also to be careful about the ways in which we can make spending more efficient,” he stated.

The Federal Government has stepped up its revenue generation through taxation.

The 2018 half year revenue performance report of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) shows that tax revenue improved by 42 per cent.

The FIRS also said it had raised the tax-to-GDP contribution by 20 per cent.

On debts, the IMF’s Senior Communications Officer, in the Communication’s Department, Andreas Adrian, said there has been an increase in countries that issue debts in the international capital markets, including Sub-Saharan countries, a development he said was good for infrastructural financing, but nevertheless cautioned that it has its attendant consequences.

He said: “It is good for development to be able to participate in international capital markets to fund things like infrastructure projects and to sustain investment in countries.”

To Adrian, however, “international borrowing has to be balanced with stability objectives, and so countries have to make sure that the level of borrowing is sustainable in the long run so that the country can pay back the debt and the interest rates on the debt even if times get worse at some point”.

He said in the case of Nigeria, the rise in oil prices is sustaining economic activity, but oil exporter,” pointing out that oil prices could decline at some point, and so it is important to have some constraint on how much debt is issued.

“As a matter of fact, when you look at debt issuance of Sub-Saharan African countries, we do see a sharp slowdown in issuance in recent months. As financial conditions for emerging markets have tightened, financial conditions also have tightened for Sub-Saharan African countries, and there is some slowdown in the debt, and so it might be that we see less issuance going forward.

“Of course, there is going to be quite a bit of need for rollover of debt in 2020 through 2022 in particular. There is quite a bit of debt that is going to come due, so there will be rollover, and hopefully international capital markets will allow that rollover in a smooth fashion,” Adrian said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/imf-urges-nigeria-to-increase-non-oil.html

Remember the days of MySpace? The first major social media outlet for teens was immensely popular for a few years before Facebook came through and took over. Millions of teens and young adults rushed over to Facebook, leaving Myspace as a somewhat obscure site that people only visit now to look at pictures they uploaded over a decade ago. It appears the same thing is about to happen to Snapchat.

Snapchat is losing consumers to another Facebook product, Instagram. Instagram was already a large platform before Facebook purchased it, but it skyrocketed to the top of the charts with the help of Mark Zuckerberg's company. As reported by CNBC, Snapchat is losing consumers and money rapidly. "While it is obvious that Snap wasn't prepared for life as a public company, it now has a more pressing problem. It is quickly running out of money," analyst Michael Nathanson of MoffettNathanson stated. Snapchat's most recent layout change is credited as being one of the biggest deterrents for users.

Snap Inc. CEO Evan Spiegel stated in a recent memo to employees that he aims to make the company profitable next year, and a slew of new strategic goals have been introduced. "In our excitement to innovate and bring many new products into the world, we have lost the core of what made Snapchat the fastest way to communicate," Spiegel wrote. Snap currently sits 60 percent below its initial public offering.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/snapchat-is-running-out-of-money.html

Unidentified gunmen killed one Abdullahi S., a soldier attached to the Operation Safe Haven, a military Tasks force maintaining peace in Plateau.

DSP Terna Tyopev, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Plateau Police Command confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Jos.

Tyopev said one Hafsat Gambo, a 21-year old girl was also abducted in the course of the incident at Corner Soja community of Jos North Local government area of the state.

“Yesterday, at about 9.p.m, one Alhaji Idris Gambo of Corner Soja community of Jos North reported at our Laranto Division that at about 7.p.m, some unknown gunmen went to his house in a Golf vehicle and forcefully took his daughter Hafsat Gambo, 21, to an unknown destination.

“Our men immediately mobilised to the scene of crime. On arrival, we discovered that in the bid to escape, the gunmen shot and fatally injured Lance Cpl. Abdullahi S, a soldier attached to the military taskforce

“We immediately rushed him to Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos, but was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty,” he said.

The PPRO said that the body of the deceased has been deposited at the hospital’s mortuary.

He said investigation to unravel those behind the crime was ongoing.

Tyopev called on members of the public with useful information on the crime to make it available to the police.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/jos-gunmen-kill-soldier-abduct-21-year.html