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The U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Mr John Sullivan, on Tuesday announced that his government will contribute an additional $45.5million(about N13.9 billion) to support Nigeria’s stabilisation and recovery efforts in the North-East.

Sullivan, who made the announcement at the U.S.-Nigeria Bi-National Commission, said that a comprehensive response was urgently needed in building a better future in the North-East.

“The United States will contribute an additional $45.5 million to support stabilization and early recovery efforts to help those who have been affected by violence in the North-East begin to rebuild their lives.

“Nigeria’s success does not just depend on its military effectiveness on the battlefield – it requires improvements to the economy and governance off the battlefield, as well.

“In other words, a comprehensive response is necessary to build a better future in the North-East.

“Nigeria cannot simply restore the North-East to what it was before the destruction brought about by Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa,’’ he said.

The U.S. deputy secretary of state also said that it was imperative for the Nigerian government, civic and community leaders to work together.

Sullivan said that it was important for them to jointly create a durable social, economic, and political infrastructure that would support lasting peace and development for decades to come.

The U.S. official also disclosed his government’s plan to support Nigeria in promoting good governance, peace and economic growth in the Middle-belt, Southeast and the Niger-Delta.

“The United States will continue to support food security and nutrition programming in Nigeria, including development programming focused on the North-Eastern states.

“We recognise that peace, economic growth, and good governance must extend well beyond the North-East to cultivate prosperity across Nigeria from the Northeast, to the Middle Belt, to the South-East, and the Niger Delta,’’ he added.

The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on North-East Intervention (PCNI), Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), has estimated that about N233bn was needed for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the communities ravaged by the Boko Haram sect in the North-East.

The chairman of PCNI, who was represented by a member of the committee, Mohammed Danjuma, said the rebuilding of the North-East required proper coordination, cooperation and communication, to alleviate the sufferings of the Internally Displaced Persons.

Danjuma noted that the Federal Government and other stakeholders were determined to manage the humanitarian crisis in the region, adding that the IDPs would return to their communities after the reconstruction of their destroyed communities.

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The presidency on Monday put paid to any hopes of the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the 2014 National Conference (Confab Report), clarifying that it has no confidence in the report of the conference which it said was a tool to buy goodwill from certain parts of the country.

This is as it said President Muhammadu Buhari is fit enough to seek re-election for the presidency in 2019, despite the ill health that has plagued him since the beginning of his tenure.

The presidency also disclosed that it is awaiting the outcome of the investigations by the National Assembly on the circumstances of the return and reinstatement of fugitive former Chairman of the Presidential Pension Reforms Task Force, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, into the civil service, before taking a definitive action on the matter.

These details were revealed by presidential spokesmen, Mr. Femi Adesina, Mr. Garba Shehu and Mr. Laolu Akande, when they appeared on THISDAY’s sister network, Arise News Channel, yesterday morning.

Adesina, who is the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, said the All Progressives Congress (APC), which Buhari is a member, already indicated that it has no confidence in the conference, right from the time it was convened.

Adesina said this is response to comments by former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, that he could not implement the report because it was submitted in the twilight of his administration.
Jonathan, speaking in his goodwill message at the Integration Summit Roundatable in Abuja last Sunday, said the report holds the key to reshaping and consolidating the necessary common grounds and shared values, needed to move Nigeria forward.

But Adesina said the ex president could have implemented the recommendations of the report, if he really wanted to.
“Right from the beginning of the confab, the APC had said it didn’t have confidence in it. The good thing is that it (APC) made itself clear on that. Between the time when the conference submitted its report and the time when that government ended, the then president could have implemented it if he wanted.

“I know that it is in the papers today, he was explaining why he didn’t implement it but the government could implement the report if it wanted, if it was not strictly a political tool just to buy goodwill from certain parts of the country,” he said.

Also speaking on whether the president would contest in 2019, Adesina said only the president himself can provide an answer to that.
“The president is the one who answer that question, and a time will come when an answer must come,” he said.

Adesina also tackled the disobedience of several court orders ordering the release from detention of former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), and the Head of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
Maintaining that the administration of Buhari is one that thrives on strict adherence to the rule of the law, Adesina said the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Abubakar Malami, is in a better position to offer perspectives on why the men have not been released.

“This administration respects the rule of law. If there are some cases that constitute issues, the best person to address those issues would be the AGF. He would be able to tell from the perspective of law, why those cases are different. But as far as we can see, from practical examples, verifiable cases, the president respects the rule of law,” he explained.
Adesina also talked insinuations of perceived silence from the president on the herdsmen attack in different parts of the country, stating that Buhari already gave marching orders to the heads of all security agencies to tackle the menace.

He also defended the recent launch and public presentation of the book on Buhari’s achievements: Making Steady, Sustainable Progress for Nigeria’s Peace & Prosperity, a midterm scorecard on the President u Buhari administration.
“There are some who say the president has not done anything, and if they continue to trumpet it, some people may be deceived. That is why we decided to do an encyclopedia of his achievements,” he said.
The book, Adesina added, provides information on the achievements of the government in the three focal areas of security, economy and anti-corruption.

Garba Shehu was however more emphatic on the presidential bid for 2019 without categorically clarifying whether or not the president would contest the presidential election.
“ That is the perfect answer (Adesina’s response) but if you ask that question; is he good enough, is he fit enough? I can tell you the president is very well and good enough to go,” he said.

Shehu, who is the Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the President, also indicated that Buhari is waiting on the National Assembly, before he takes a definite action over the scandal and embarrassment caused by the controversial recall of Maina. The matter is currently being investigated by an adhoc committee of the Senate.

“Maina, yes, is a sore point. As we speak, the National Assembly is also investigating the issue. It would not be reasonable if the president is judgmental or rushes into judgement on this matter. Supposing, something comes from the National Assembly asking him to do this or that, that would be awkward, if he had already determined this matter. This government, like all governments, has to work together as one: the judiciary, executive and Legislature and that is what you are seeing,” Shehu said.

He also debunked insinuations that the president is slow to act on corruption allegations involving his associates, explaining that under a constitutional government, the president has no powers to stop anti-graft agencies from carrying out investigations, or to stall such investigations.

“If there is a failure to get it done, please ask the agencies,” the presidential spokesperson said, added.
“No government has taken the fight (anti-corruption) this far, as this government as done. There has never been as many number of convictions, there has never been as much recoveries of funds, there has never been so highly placed people undergoing trial in the history of this country. “

All the President can do is allow EFCC do their job, they make arrests, they charge to court, it is removed from his hands, he cannot tell them what to do,” he added.
Garba also speaking on Boko Haram, said 90 percent of the job has already been done, and the pockets of attacks being reported are regular when terrorism is being tackled. He however expressed optimism that the attacks would stop all together with the pressure being sustained by the military.

The spokesman to the Vice President, Mr. Laolu Akande, who briefly featured on the show, had earlier said the administration is committed to economic development of the country and ensuring that its poverty alleviation programs touch the lives of Nigerians.

He listed the School Feeding program, N-Power program, Loan scheme and conditional cash transfer as programs that are making impact, with plans being made to expand them.

“The president has maintained a useful interaction with the private sector including a quarterly presidential briefing, economic management team, the industrial competitive council with people like Dangote (Aliko) and Peterside (Atedo). A lot of ideas are coming up on how to do PPP, in the areas of infrastructure, developing a kind of blue print on how to get the private sector to do some of these things,” he said.

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A London estate agent who appeared on the BBC’s Homes under the Hammer has been named in an investigation into alleged corruption by a former Nigerian oil minister known as ‘The Madam’.

Court documents filed in the US allege King’s Cross estate agency, Daniel Ford, helped to buy millions of pounds worth of properties for Diezani Alison-Madueke in London.

Daniel Ford’s sole director is Adeyemi Edun, UK company records show. He has been seen on the TV series offering advice on buying and renovating flats.

Documents show that Mr. Edun has acted for the controversial Mrs. Alison-Madueke who was Nigeria’s oil minister from 2010 to 2015, the first female president of the OPEC oil cartel and a former executive for Shell in Nigeria.

The Cambridge-educated politician has faced investigations in the UK, US and Nigeria for allegedly receiving lucrative kickbacks for oil deals she sanctioned as a minister.
In 2015 it was reported she was arrested in the UK on suspicion of bribery and money laundering offences and released on conditional police bail, pending further investigation.

Her lawyer, who was named at a court hearing in late September, did not respond for comment. She has previously denied allegations of any wrongdoing.

The Nigerian government is trying to recover billions of pounds it believes were looted from the country during the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan between 2010 and 2015.
As part of these efforts, civil asset recovery proceedings have been separately filed in the UK, US and Nigerian courts.

While the UK proceedings have been withheld from the public, the U.S. court papers say Daniel Ford ‘assisted in the purchase’ of three London properties linked to the probe, an investigation by Finance Uncovered and The Mail on Sunday has found.

There is no suggestion in the documents that Daniel Ford or Mr. Edun committed money laundering or that they were aware of such activities.

The papers filed in Texas in July allege the property spree in London formed part of a series of disguised payments to Mrs. Alison-Madueke in 2011.

According to the documents, three Nigerian businessmen bought three homes near Regent’s Park over a six-day period in March that year for £8.3million.

The US investigators allege the properties were ‘provided’ to 56-year-old Mrs. Alison-Madueke ‘for the corrupt purpose of inducing her to use her influence within the Ministry of Petroleum Resources… to direct the award of business opportunities’.

The businessmen’s companies all received oil deals, the papers say. They are also alleged to have funded a lavish lifestyle for Alison-Madueke.

Between December 2012 and July 2014, one of them allegedly paid a chauffeur company nearly £400,000 for her use.
The US investigators allege the properties were bought using offshore companies in the Seychelles and the British Virgin Islands. Two of the properties were frozen by the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service last year.

A separate court application filed by Nigerian investigators in Abuja in August this year claims ‘one Adeyemi Edun’ received more than $5.5 million in cash from Alison-Madueke to be used to buy properties for her in Lagos in May 2011.

The Nigerian investigators allege money was moved through two bank accounts in Nigeria before being transferred to buy upmarket apartments in Lagos.

Contacted by telephone, Mr. Edun said he could not discuss the Alison-Madueke matter because ‘it was subject to ongoing investigation’. He added: ‘Everything is done within the ambit of regulation, that I can say.’

When asked about the Nigerian court papers, Mr. Edun said: ‘You have to be very sure the name you are referring to is actually mine, because it is common in a country of 180 million people.’

The Nigerian filings show that a Daniel Ford email address was used to issue payment instructions for the Lagos apartments.

They also include Mr. Edun’s Nigerian passport and a UK mobile number that he used to answer our call.

According to his social media accounts and land registry documents, Mr. Edun, 46, appears to have links to other Nigerian politicians and has attended dinners for the country’s expats at luxury hotels in London.

Former Arsenal and Nigeria football star, Nwankwo Kanu, has praised his work, reportedly saying in 2012 that Daniel Ford ‘helped grow my London property investment despite my tight schedule’.

There is no suggestion of wrongdoing or any further link to the company by Kanu.

Estate agencies are required by law to conduct enhanced due diligence on politically exposed persons, or PEPs, to establish the source of their proposed funds used to buy UK property, and to monitor them on an ongoing basis.

It is an offence not to report suspicion of money laundering to the National Crime Agency.

When asked to detail what checks Daniel Ford carried out on the properties allegedly bought for Mrs. Alison-Madueke in London, Mr. Edun said he was under legal advice not to comment.