₦airaland Forum

NIGERIA has traced its looted funds to some foreign banks.

Buhari has vowed to recover such funds from banks, financial institutions and countries in which payments for stolen crude oil have been deposited.

Buhari, who did not name the banks, spoke while receiving visiting United States Congressmen at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, Buhari acknowledged the cooperation his administration was getting from the international community in gathering intelligence for tracing and recovering stolen national resources.

He said: “We are getting cooperation from the international community, including information on ships that take crude oil from Nigeria and change direction or pour their contents into other ships mid-stream.

“Some monies were paid to individual accounts. We are identifying the financial institutions and countries that are involved.

“I have been assured that when we get all our documents together, the United States and other countries will treat our case with sympathy,’’ the President told the Congressmen, who were led by Representative Darrel Issa.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/buhari-we-know-banks-keeping-stolen-oil-cash/

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called for the scrapping of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) over what it described as anti-students and exploitative policies.

Its National President, Mr. Tijani Usman, made this known monday in Abuja when he led a protest to the JAMB headquarters, asserting that the purpose for the establishment of JAMB had been bastardised.

According to him, “the reason why we are here is to tell the general public and the government of the day that JAMB has outlived its usefulness. Nigerian students have seen most of the draconian policies of JAMB that it is exploitative

“You can’t imagine students from NCE, students with diploma having purchase a form for N5,000 that is expected to be a direct entry or pre-requisite for admission into the schools, JAMB will still connive with the management of institutions to collect what we called “de-regularisation fee”, what do they mean by that?

“Parents have been paying huge sums of money just for their children to get admission into various tertiary institutions, yet JAMB will not give them admission because the body cannot give admission,” he added.

Tijani stated that after writing JAMB, students would still write post-JAMB, which he said is exploitative, explaining that it was in view of this that NANS mobilised the students in order for those anti-student policies to be reversed.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/nans-insists-jamb-must-be-scrapped/

President Muhammadu Buhari has spread the anti-graft dragnet far beyond politicians and other appointed public office holders in a bid to track corrupt federal civil servants who may have violated financial regulations or disregarded audit queries.

To this end, the president has ordered the auditor-general of the federation (AGF) to make sure that all outstanding audit queries are conclusively resolved within 30 days.

Not satisfied, President Buhari has also directed that, henceforth, all audit queries must be answered within 24 hours.

Info getting to us say that the president, who has been getting briefs from permanent secretaries on the state of affairs of their respective ministries, is very angry at the moment about the refusal of top federal civil servants to respond to audit queries for quite a number of years under past governments.

Confirming the development, senior special assistant to the president media and publicity, Garba Shehu, noted that Buhari issued the directives in line with his irrevocable commitment to tackle administrative and bureaucratic corruption head-on.

He said the orders followed the president’s displeasure on hearing that audit queries remained unanswered for long periods, sometimes running into years, under previous administrations.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/corruption-pmb-beams-searchlight-on-civil-servants/

Banks are exposing the businesses and people behind the mountain of debts threatening to kill the sector – courtesy of a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directive that expired at the weekend.

Barring unforeseen developments, some banks will begin the publication of their debtors’ list today.

The publications are coming on the heels of the July 31, 2015 deadline set by the apex bank for the debtors to pay up.

The lists, an official of one of the banks said, is just a part of the whole. “Some debtors have entered into various payment schemes to avoid being shamed by this exercise,” the bank official, who pleaded not to be identified because of “the sensitivity of the action”, said.

The debtors are to be blacklisted and banned from participating in the foreign exchange market as well as trading in the Nigerian Government Securities market. The publication of the debtors’ lists is to be a continuous exercise.

Union Bank is owed huge sums by 176 debtors. Six customers collectively owe the bank N27.91 billion. They are Dec Oil & Gas, owing N15.7 billion following a 1999 contract finance loan that expired in 2000. The directors of the company are Patrick Ugboma and Pius U. Malaka.

Other debtors include Alliance Energy, which is owing the bank N4.92 billion. The term loan approved in 2004 expired 2006. The directors are Akinwale Omoboriowo, Kojo Anan and Timi Austen-Peters.

Hajaig Construction is owing the bank N2.99 billion on a loan approved in 2012 and which expired in 2014. The directors are Abdul Nasser Hajaig, Rud Wan Hajaig and Mohammed Hajaig.

Sapta International Industries Limited is owing the bank N1.87 billion over a 1987 term loan that expired in 1988. The directors are Alex Aloy Nwokodikwa and Clement Nwokodikwa.

Petroleum Project International has a debt of N1.25 billion over a term loan obtained in 2004 that expired in 2007. The directors are Akinwale Omoboriowo, Kojo Anan and Timi Austen-Peters.

Best Aluminum owes N1.11 billion for import and lease facilities obtained between 2010 and 2012. The directors are Chief Godwin Nweke and Chief Pius Nweke.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/banks-reveals-debtors-list-has-cbn-deadline-ended-july-31-2015/

As Dangote Cement Plc prepares to formally open its new cement plant in the Southern African nation of Zambia tomorrow, the company’s total output is expected to hit 45 million metric tonnes per annum (mmtpa) on the African continent.

An investor relations report sighted that on Dangoe Cement’s operations showed that with the company’s plant expansion in various African countries including one in Nepal, Dangote Cement’s total projected capacity will stand at 53mmtpa by 2017.

The company’s cement factories in Nigeria lead the way with a combined capacity of 29.25mmtpa from three massive plants in the North-central and South-west regions of the country.

The Obajana cement plant in Kogi State, which is the largest single cement plant in Africa, produces 13.25mmtpa from four lines, dwarfing all other cement plants on the continent. This is closely followed by the Ibese cement plant in Ogun State, which also runs four lines with a combined annual output of 12mmtpa.

Dangote’s smallest plant in Nigeria is the Benue Cement Company (BCC) acquired from the federal government in Gboko, Benue State, with a capacity of 4mmtpa.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/dangote-opens-new-cement-plant-in-zambia-output-expected-to-hits-45m-tonnes/

There is palpable apprehension among residents and travellers through the ancient city of Ife in Osun State as it is believed that the rites of passage of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II has commenced.

Major markets in the town shut down early and motorists said it is risky to embark on a journey through the town at dusk because of the prevailing situation in the town.

It is believed that rites that would herald the announcement of the death of traditional rulers in many Africa communities involve human sacrifices.

The esoteric tradition of Ile-Ife, where about 401 deities are worshipped all year round competes with Egypt as an origin and the custodian of a robust civilisation. Tradition permits that the Ile-Ife Traditional Council is the only body that has the right to announce the demise of a sitting monarch and they are also saddled with the responsibility of nominating the successor.

Reports indicating that Oba Sijuwade had joined his ancestors have been trending since Tuesday with the town’s chief denying that it happened.

The State government has also kept mum.

After the closed door meeting with the Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola in Osogbo on Thursday, the RTC members, it was learnt, returned to Ile-Ife to commence the arrangements that will culminate in the formal announcement of the revered monarch.

Two noticeable features of the rites of passage were the closure of markets to business and the activities of Oro cultist in the evenings.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/08/ooni-of-ifes-passage-rites-begin/

Nigeria is one of the six countries whose population will exceed the 300 million mark in less than two decades, the United Nations (UN) has said in a report.

The other countries are: China. India, Indonesia, Pakistan and United States (U.S.)

Listed as one of the 10 largest countries in the world, the Nigeria is said to have a population believed to be growing the most rapid.

Going by the UN report, Nigeria has the potential of dislodging the U.S. as the world’s third largest in another 35 years.

“Among the 10 largest countries in the world currently, one is in Africa (Nigeria), five are in Asia (Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, and Pakistan), two are in Latin America (Brazil and Mexico), one is in Northern America (US), and one is in Europe (Russian Federation).

“Of these, Nigeria’s population, currently the seventh largest in the world, is growing the most rapidly,” said the report. Consequently, the population of Nigeria is projected to surpass that of the United States by about 2050, at which point it would become the third largest country in the world.

The report also projected that by 2050 the populations of six countries are expected to exceed 300 million: China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and the United States.

The in its latest report released yesterday has projected the world’s population to reach 8.5 billion by 2013, 9.7 billion by 2050 and exceed 11 billion in 2100, with India expected to dislodge China as the most populous around seven years from now and Nigeria overtaking the U.S. to become the world’s third largest country around 35 years from now.

Moreover, the report showed that during the 2015-2050 period, half of the world’s population growth is expected to be concentrated in nine countries: India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, the United States, Indonesia and Uganda.

Wu Hongbo, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, whose department produced the 2015 Revision of World Population Prospects, the 24th round of official UN population estimates and projections, noted that understanding the demographic changes that are likely to unfold over the coming years “is key to the design and implementation of the new development agenda.”

UN member states are currently in the process of crafting a successor agenda to the landmark Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which wrap up at the end of this year. A new framework, focused on poverty eradication, social inclusion and preserving the health of the planet, is set to be adopted at a special UN summit, in New York in September.

According to the report’s projections, the current world population of 7.3 billion is expected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in 2100.

“Most of the projected increase in the world’s population can be attributed to a short list of high-fertility countries, mainly in Africa, or countries with already large populations,” the report said.

At present, China and India are the two largest countries in the world, each with more than one billion people, representing 19 and 18 per cent of the world’s population, respectively. But, by 2022, the population of India is expected to surpass that of China.

And with the highest rate of population growth, Africa is expected to account for more than half of the world’s population growth over the next 35 years.

During this period, the report said, the populations of 28 African countries are projected to more than double, and by 2100, 10 African countries are projected to have increased by at least a factor of five: Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Somalia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia.

Source: http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/un-report-nigeria-is-seventh-largest-in-the-world/

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday expressed regrets over the sale of two of the nation’s oil refineries, which was concluded before he exited office in 2007, but was reversed by his successor, the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua because he succumbed to pressure.

Obasanjo said this in an interview on Channels Television yesterday.
The former president said business mogul, Aliko Dangote, leading a consortium of investors, had paid $750 million for two of the refineries, as the federal government considered it difficult managing the plants at the time.
He explained that instead of Yar’Adua consolidating on the sale so that the investors could revamp the refineries, his successor succumbed to pressure and reversed their sale.

Obasanjo recalled that not only did his successor cancel the sale, he also refunded the $750 million paid by Dangote and other investors.
“The refineries are old and Dangote and some investors paid $750 million for two of the refineries. My successor came to office and reversed the sale. He even refunded the money they paid.
“So I went to him and asked him why he did this. He said it was because of pressure. So I wondered if the pressure by some people was more important than the interest of the whole nation,” he elaborated during the interview.

Obasanjo expressed regrets that Nigeria will hardly be able to sell the refineries for more than $250 million today because they are obsolete.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/obasanjo-yaradua-regrettably-reversed-sale-of-refineries/

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has thrown its weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to probe the immediate past federal government, saying the revelations of mind-boggling corruption have made such a probe imperative.

The party in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made available to journalists, said sweeping such magnitude of corrupt practices under the carpet would be a great disservice to the country.

APC said, “Some people have insinuated that the Buhari Administration should ignore the massive looting of our patrimony and move on. We say no responsible government can afford to do that, because it will amount to endorsing corruption and impunity,’’

It said in the oil sector alone, billions of dollars have been skimmed off by pathologically-corrupt public officials, wondering how the government of the day can meet its obligations to the citizens if it refuses to recover the huge funds taken away by thieving officials.

The APC said, “It is an irony that those who are suggesting that the Buhari Administration should turn a blind eye to the incomprehensible looting are the same ones accusing the government of not doing anything.
“It is even a cruel irony that the same party that presided over what is fast emerging as the worst governance in the history of our country is the same one that is daily bad-mouthing an administration that is cleaning up its mess.’’

Source: http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/apc-pmb-must-probe-jonathan-administration/

The ongoing public sector reform, which Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, embarked upon immediately after his inauguration, has already claimed chief executive officers in the state’s strategic parastatals.

The reform, according to the findings, has also culminated in the scrapping of the Ministry of Rural Development and the realignment of the Ministries of Special Duties, Home Affairs and Culture and Tourism and Intergovernmental Relations.

But findings from affected parastatals yesterday revealed that of the 82 parastatals in the state, about 10 chief executive officers had been quietly eased out on different dates due to what was ascribed to diverse reasons including their tenure of office.

Those already affected by the reform, according to our findings, include Chairman of Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), Mr. Babatunde Fowler, who allegedly outlived his terms in the state revenue-generating parastatal.

Findings also showed that the reform has edged out the Managing Director of Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), Mr. George Noah and the General Manager of Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA), Mr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu.
Other affected chief executives included the Director-General of Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), Mr. Adekunle Hussein, Managing Director of Lagos State Property Development Corporation (LSPDC), Mr. Taofeek Oki and General Manager of Lagos State Electricity Board (LSEB), Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/ambodes-public-sector-reform-claims-key-chief-executives/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday again adduced a reason for the delay in the appointment of his cabinet, stating that he did not want to appoint people who have been compromised.

Speaking on the Nigerian Television Authority’s programme, “Good Morning Nigeria”, Buhari said if compromised people were appointed as ministers, “then we will be back to square one and Nigeria will be the loser”.

He said: “It is taking so much time because a number of knowledgeable people have been compromised.

“They have been compromised by people who will like to depend on them to damage our economy and security, a lot of them have been compromised.

“The worst thing that I think can happen is to get a compromised person to be in charge of institutions. There is no way he could be efficient or patriotic. Somebody behind the scene will be tele-guiding him at the expense of the nation.

“This is what we are trying to avoid and I assure you that so much damage has been done to Nigeria. We cannot rush to give this responsibility to people that have unfortunately been compromised.”

He said the country needed very patriotic, knowledgeable, experienced and committed Nigerians, who could work very hard to be in charge of ministries.

According to him, a lot of institutions in Nigeria were compromised, saying, “Everybody for himself and God for all of us,” describing this as most “unfortunate”.

He lamented that even though Nigeria has people – educated and experienced people – many of them, he regretted had been compromised.

He said: “It is as though everybody seems to be working for himself on how much they could get away with as soon as possible.

“We have to look for technocrats and politicians. We have to look out for decent people in this class to give them the responsibility of being in charge of ministries and important parastatals.

“We will try as mush as possible to avoid appointing hostages; by this, I mean people who have been in the system but compromised their personal and professional integrity.

“Because there is no way you can effectively supervise, let’s say 20 ministries; you have to give it to people you trust and you allow them to perform according to the constitution of the country.”

He also provided clarification on why his government was taking its time reforming the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), explaining that the federal government was trying to establish the magnitude of fraud and inefficiencies in the corporation.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/buhari-why-its-taking-long-to-appoint-ministers-reform-nnpc/

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Expertise on Basel 2/3 and Basel implementation projects
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Expertise on credit and counterparty risk modeling (PD, LGD, EAD, CVA)
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Job Competency and Skills Requirements:

Minimum of 4-5 years of banking experience or in FRM consulting services for financial institutions or relevant roles in industry
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Strong technology and model building skills: Expertise in Excel, ability to implement programs in VBA or SQL


Click link to Apply
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/two-top-manager-job-vacancy-at-kpmg-professional-services/

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of planning to operate a discriminatory administration capable of fuelling ethnic and religious resentment across the country.

The party accused Buhari of making a statement to the effect that he would not treat every part of the country same on account of the low support he got from some areas during the last presidential polls.

Addressing a press conference Sunday evening, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, alleged that the president has embarked on witch-hunt exercise aimed at humiliating former President Goodluck Jonathan and those who served in his administration.

He said President Buhari had told a stunned audience in the United States that “constituencies that gave me 97 per cent cannot in all honesty be treated, on some issues, with constituencies that gave me five per cent,” signifying that his government would be discriminatory.

“Never in the history of our nation has a president made such a divisive and vindictive declaration. Never in the history of Nigeria has a president made such tendentious, biased and partisan statement, a blade on the chord of unity of his own country and people,” he said.

According to Metuh, president Buhari as a respected leader and the father of the nation must note the enormous damage and danger his recent partisan declaration has brought to the polity.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/pdp-apc-buhari-plan-wants-to-run-a-discriminatory-govt/

The Vice-Chancellor of University of Ilorin (Unilorin), Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, has said the institution’s Ebola Research Committee is working toward developing a vaccine for the Ebola virus.

Ambali, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, said the process of developing a vaccine was a long one.

“What is happening is that the committee is just monitoring events; in terms of the vaccine, it will take a while because there are processes that you have to follow before you develop a vaccine.

“For example, you have to isolate the virus; grow the virus; attenuate the virus; bring it out for testing; and then before the final usage.

“So those are the processes that any vaccine candidate will have to pass through before you can now use on victim.

“But right now what they are doing is monitoring events across the borders; and then we have put in place the facilities to be able to advise our staff as well as students that want to visit those places (High risk Ebola countries).

The vice-chancellor said the committee was monitoring developments in neighbouring countries, especially in Liberia where there was a resurgence of Ebola.

He said people, staff and students, who travelled, would be advised on proper precautionary measures, while those returning from high risk areas would be properly screened before entry.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/unilorin-vc-we-are-working-to-develop-ebola-vaccine/

A total statutorily distributable sum of N518.54 billion was shared on Friday among the three tiers of government for the month of June.
Also, it emerged that the Excess Crude Account (ECA) created to provide succour in rainy days has increased slightly to $2.2 billion from about 2.1 billion.

Briefing journalists after the monthly meeting of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) in Abuja, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Anastasia Daniel-Nwaobia who chaired the meeting said mineral revenue in the period in review stood at N289.35 billion compared to N225.16 in May.

The non-mineral revenue also increased to N196.59 billion from N98.89 billion the previous month.
She said value added tax (VAT) receipts also increased to N64.99 billion in June compared to N56.82 billion in May.

A breakdown of the statutory distribution showed the Federal Government received N218.92 billion while the states shared N111.04 billion as well as the local governments which got N85.61 billion. The sum of N34.10 billion was further shared to the oil and gas producing states under the derivation principle.
For the VAT distribution, the Federal Government got N9.35 billion while the states shared N31.19 billion as well as the local governments which got N21.83 billion.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/fg-states-lgs-share-n518-54bn-in-june/

Etisalat Nigeria, one of the top four mobile operators in the country, has dragged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) before a federal government high court in Lagos for favouring its rival, MTN Nigeria, by reversing its 2013 Market Dominance Determination (MDD). According to Etisalat, the development is causing it and other telecom operators to lose revenues running into billions of naira.

Etisalat Nigeria is seeking judicial review of certain actions taken by the NCC which, it believes, is in contravention of the Determination of Dominance issued in April 2013.

In a motion ex parte filed by Mr. Kola Awodein (SAN) on July 15, 2015, Etisalat Nigeria is seeking an order for a judicial review of NCC’s decision approving and allowing a 30 per cent differential between the on-net and off-net retail voice tariff for MTN Nigeria. The approval is said to be in contravention of the obligation imposed on MTN Nigeria under the Determination of Dominance Regulation to collapse its retail voice on-net and off-net tariffs and ensure both tariffs are at par.

In 2012, the NCC conducted a study to assess the level of competition in the Nigeria’s telecoms industry. The Commission thereafter issued a regulation entitled ‘Determination of Dominance in Selected Communications Markets in Nigeria (DDSCMN),’ dated April 25, 2013, wherein it declared MTN Nigeria a Dominant Operator in the Retail Mobile Voice Market segment of the telecommunication industry and directed the firm to immediately collapse the differential between the on-net and off-net retail voice tariffs.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/etisalat-sues-ncc-over-concession-rift/

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked the National Assembly to explain how its budget, which in 2003 was N23.347 billion, rose to an all time record of N154.2 billion in 2010.

Speaking during a courtesy call with the Senate president, Senator Bukola Saraki, the NLC president Ayuba Wabba said the National Assembly has to explain how its budget, which in 2003 was N23.347 billion, rose to an all time record of N154.2 billion in 2010.

He said, “Nigerians are concerned and want explanations on how the National Assembly budget, which in 2003 was N23.347 billion, rose to N66.488 billion in 2007, and then climbed to N104.825 billion in 2008. In 2010, Your Excellency, under the watch of your predecessor, the budget of the National Assembly reached an all time record jump to N154.2 billion.”

Source : http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/nlc-to-nass-how-did-your-budget-rose-from-n23bn-to-n154bn/

President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to extend the war against corruption to corrupt members of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that there will be no party member or personality that can escape justice.
Buhari, who is on a four-day official visit to the United States of America, made this known yesterday on the CNN current affairs programme Amanpour.

The programme’s anchor, Ms. Christiane Amanpour, had asked the president on his campaign promise to root out corruption and if he would crackdown on members of his own party or his associates if they turned out to be some of the guilty ones, he said: “I just have too. There isn’t going to be any party member of personality that can escape justice.”

On the issue of insecurity in the country, Buhari restated that Nigerians were rooting for normalcy in the country, making references to oil infrastructure vandalism and kidnappings in the Niger Delta and the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east.
“This is major preoccupation in Nigeria now and is a realistic way of looking at things, and nothing will work until the country is secure,” he told Amanpour.

When she reminded him that there had been at least 400 deaths since he assumed office and the credibility of the military had been eroded due to the Amnesty International report on human rights abuses, Buhari stated her that under the Lake Chad Basin Commission, the member countries had agreed to set up the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/buhari-i-will-coordinate-measures-to-apprehend-corrupt-apc-members/

Human rights group, Human Rights Watch (HRW), has urged the United States President, Mr. Barack Obama, to raise issues relating to critical human rights challenges in Nigeria with President Muhammadu Buhari during his high-level visit to America in the week.

While the body enjoined Obama to encourage Buhari to keep his commitment to ensure that government security forces respect human rights and to address the endemic corruption that has deprived many Nigerians of their basic rights, the Washington Director for HRW, Sarah Margon, also implore Obama to implore Buhari to repeal the Same Sex Prohibition Act contrary to views expressed by larger majority of Nigerians.

“Human Rights Watch also urged Obama to raise corruption issues with Buhari as well as the need to repeal the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, which became law during the administration of Nigeria’s previous president, Goodluck Jonathan. The law criminalises public displays of affection between same-sex couples and penalises organisations advocating the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people,” she said.

She noted that the Buhari visit to Washington is an important moment to re-evaluate the US-Nigeria relationship, but that any closer ties and assistance should be approached with caution.

Margon said: “If the US is discussing further financial or technical support for Nigeria’s security forces it should insist on clear benchmarks on how they will ensure respect for human rights.”


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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/hrw-urges-obama-to-press-for-repeal-of-same-sex-prohibition-act-in-nigeria/

Detectives probing the alleged N1.45 billion legal and consultancy fees scandal at the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) have got some key documents which will help them get to the root of the matter.

The BPE is insisting that the legal contract was valid because ex-President Goodluck Jonathan approved it, based on a memo from ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo, who was the chairman of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP).

It also said Sections II (J) and 55 of the Public Enterprises (Privatisation and Commercialisation) Act Cap. P.38, LFN 2004 exempt the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) from complying with the processes of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

In a June 27 letter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the BPP requested the anti-graft agency to investigate the payment scandal.

One of the lawyers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was paid N950 million for the liquidation of the Power Holding Company when the company had ceased to exist and N500 million was paid as consultancy fees to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

The fees were paid contrary to the advice of the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) and the BPP.

Based on the BPP alarm, the EFCC has since started probing the payment.

But, in a fresh twist, the BPE insisted that the contract was legal and approved by ex-President Jonathan.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/bpe-to-efcc-ex-president-goodluck-jonathan-approved-n1-45b-legally/

The breakfast meeting between the US Vice President Joe Biden and Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari afforded the two leaders opportunity to compare notes on the terrorist activities of Boko Haram and terrorism as it affects both countries.

At the meeting, which held at the Naval Observatory, official residence of the American Vice President, Biden shared with his guest US experience on terrorism while counseling that victory cannot come from military option alone.

Biden advised that military option must be combined with strong socio-economic support programmes, while promising that the U.S would work with Nigeria in that direction. He said the US was eager to partner with Nigeria in efforts geared at rebuilding the ravaged North East.

According to him, if the country must benefit from ongoing reforms and subsequent ones there was need to tackle corruption by strengthing the anti-corruption institutions such as the EFCC and the ICPC.

Biden said there was need for seasoned technocrats to manage key sectors of the Nigerian economy, insisting it was all that was needed for investors to be attracted to the country.

He congratulated President Buhari on his victory at the March 2015 Elections.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/buhari-gets-usa-backing-in-fight-against-terrorism/

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Barack Obama to back up his commitment on stolen assets by taking thoughtful and aggressive steps towards returning them to Nigeria.

The organisation which made the plea in a statement issued in Lagos ‎ahead of the meeting of President Muhammadu Buhari with officials of the Obama government this week,‎ urged the US government to deal with the problem with the seriousness and intensity that has been previously lacking in similar exercise.

In the statement signed by SERAP executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation welcomed the commitment by President Obama to assist the Buhari government to track down billions of dollars in stolen assets from the country.
It stated that greater efforts are required by the Obama government to follow through its commitment if it is to secure a measure of justice for Nigerian victims of corruption and money laundering.

It urged the Obama government to move quickly to resolve the issue of returning the assets to the country in an expeditious, just and fair manner.
“Unless this is done, the rare opportunity the Obama government now has to right the injustice aided and abetted by the US banks will be gone,” it said.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/obama-urged-to-ensure-return-of-nigerias-stolen-assets/

Investigator

Job Type: Full Time
Qualification: BA/BSc/HND
Experience: 5years
Location: River



Job Description

We are currently looking for an experienced Investigator with travel levels up to 40% to join our Business Integrity Department (BID). The BID is a specialist unit within Shell Internal Audit that is responsible for managing the Shell Global Helpline and Code of Conduct Compliance Incident Reporting and providing expertise in the area of fraud prevention and detection including training and reputational due diligence. We will provide you with outstanding benefits, development opportunities as well as career advancement.

The Investigator will be expected to support and conduct investigations which may involve, but are not limited to, fraud, theft, bribery and corruption, conflict of interest, anti-trust and may involve employees, contract employees, vendors/suppliers and others into potential breaches of the Code of Conduct, company policy and the law to maximize success and minimize liability and to effectively facilitate management decision-making including consequence management. Key responsibilities will include but not limited to

• Plan and execute investigations into possible violations of the Code of Conduct, company policy and relevant laws.
• Identify accounting and internal control weaknesses, and determine the quantum of potential and actual loss.
• Conduct witness and subject interviews, collection, preservation and analysis of evidence (digital and hard copy) to appropriate court standards.
• Prepare detailed written reports subject to third party review (civil and/or criminal) and testify as required in legal proceedings.
• Manage whistleblowers while maintaining the strict confidence.
• Liaise effectively and maintain a network of contacts with relevant law enforcement agencies, criminal justice bodies and other key stakeholders.
• Manage third party contractors including forensic accounting firms and forensic IT contractors.
• Respond to company emergency situations that may require travels at short notice
• Participate in various audit activities as required.

Requirements
A bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, forensic accounting or Law with 5-7 years substantial experience within a major corporate organization in law enforcement, and conducting investigations into fraud or financial crimes. The preferred candidate should have a proven track record of analyzing vast amounts of data and information and cutting through to the key elements without getting lost in the detail (Speed and Simplicity).

• Ideally a result oriented, confident self-starter with high level energy and creative ideas.
• Deliver sound judgment in relation to the requirements of assessing compliance matters in an international context
• Able to judge an audience and deliver information in a relevant, concise and clear manner.
• Operates with unquestionable honesty and integrity and ability to maintain a high level of objectivity.
• Strong conceptual and problem solving skills with ability to grasp complex situations.
• Able to operate in culturally sensitive situations while taking a structured and effective approach to challenge.
• Stellar communication, interpersonal and data analytics skills.
• Able to operate in fast-paced, rapidly changing environment.

Click link to apply
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/new-job-offer-at-shell-petroleum-development-company-spdc/

The challenge mounted by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the outcome of the 2015 gubernatorial election in Abia State on Tuesday was in vain as the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia struck out the petition for negligence and lack of diligent prosecution.

Chief Nyerere Chinenye Anyim had filed a petition before the tribunal seeking nullification of the governorship election won by Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The ruling PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were also joined as respondents.
But the matter died when neither the APC candidate nor his counsel showed up at the tribunal when the matter came up Tuesday.

Counsels to the respondents had told the tribunal that aside from being absent in court neither the petitioners nor their counsels were in court even as there was no letter from either explaining their absence.

Citing relevant portions of the Electoral Act, INEC counsel, Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, prayed the tribunal to apply the mandatory provisions of the relevant section of the law, which he said mandated the tribunal to dismiss the petition because the petitioners failed to appear for the matter.

Corroborating the INEC counsel his PDP counterpart, Henry Balaogu, observed that the petitioners and their counsels were in the court on the last day of adjournment and there quite aware of the day’s sitting.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/tribunal-rules-out-apc-petition-in-abia/

Speaking to State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa last night after breaking fast with the president, Tinubu said he respects Buhari and remains loyal to him.
Ostensibly, the dinner with the president was held in furtherance of the peace initiatives by the ruling party to reconcile the warring factions in the National Assembly.
APC lawmakers in both chambers of the federal legislature have been at loggerheads since the elections last month that threw up Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President and Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Speaker of the House of Representatives, in defiance of the preferred nominees of the party for the posts.
The former Lagos State governor said: “I have no demands. If you understand what party politics and leadership is all about, it is about loyalty and commitment to the values, which the leadership believes in.
“I believe in what the president believes in. I respect him and I stand firmly loyal to his cause. So you can go to any length of speculation that you might want, I have not responded to all of that because I understand the president and the president understands me clearly.”
When asked about the crises in the National Assembly, Tinubu was evasive in his response, stating: “That is an area where I am very cautious of my position and my utterances. I still want to keep my side of the interpretation or analysis to be able to achieve a resolution of the matter as quickly as possible.”
He stated that he was in support of what the president had carefully enumerated and articulated to the party on the issue, adding: “The party is supreme. The party must have disciplined leadership and followers. The party’s process must be respected because that is the confidence and the trust of the people.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/i-have-not-made-demands-of-buhari-tinubu-says/

As President Muhammadu Buhari prepares to meet with his United States counterpart, Barack Obama, in the White House next Monday, the US government is expected to make another case asking the Nigerian government to repeal its law against same-sex unions.
Making this known Monday, the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, stated that the US would continue to persuade Nigeria until it legalises same-sex marriage.
According to the Nigerian Pilot, Thomas-Greenfield revealed America’s plans yesterday during a live-web chat with journalists in Washington DC.
US recently legalised gay marriage, a development, which sparked off mixed reactions across the globe.
Thomas-Greenfield, who said the US had adopted the protection of the rights of same-sex people as part of its foreign policies, vowed that Washington would continue to mount and sustain pressure on Nigeria and other countries to reverse their laws against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT) community.
She said: “As a government, it is one of the highest priorities and strongest values that discrimination against anyone based on their sexual orientation and gender identity is wrong. We believe human rights should be available to everybody.
“As a policy, we will continue to press the government of Nigeria, as well as other governments which have provided legislation that discriminate against the LGBT community.”
Thomas-Greenfield, who did not agree that pressuring Nigeria to reverse the anti-gay law amounted to interference, said Nigeria and Uganda have the hardest legislation on the gay community.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/us-well-persuade-nigeria-to-legalise-same-sex-marriage/

A mobile court sitting in Asokoro, Abuja at the weekend ordered the seal-off of 36 houses in the area for the occupants’ failure to obey a redecoration order by the development control department of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

The court summoned 41 residents of Churchill Street; Omar Bongo Close; Daniel Arap Moi Close; Paul Biya Close; and Queen Elizabeth Street, all in Asokoro, while only five of them appeared in court.

Delivering judgment, Magistrate Folashade Oyekan, gave the residents in court two weeks to redecorate their buildings while the department was ordered to seal-off houses of the rest who failed to honour the court sermons.

Speaking to journalists, the FCT prosecutor, Barr. Arome Tokula, said the accused persons failed to comply with an order of the department, instructing them to repaint their dilapidated houses, saying the offence contravened Section 35 Sub Section 1 (E) of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) Act of 1997 and punishable under 2 (B) of the same section.

In his remarks, the department’s head of aesthetics and amenities, Mr Dominic Odenigbo, advised Abuja residents to always comply with directives of the department, noting the administration’s desire to ensure that Abuja remained a decent city.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/court-orders-seal-off-of-36-houses-in-asokoro/

The President got some kudos yesterday from his All Progressives Congress (APC) party for coming to the aid of “the long-suffering workers” with a multi-billion-naira package that will ensure salaries are paid and make it easier for the states to meet their monthly salary obligations.

In a statement in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said it was particularly delighted that the President had shown that he is truly the father of the nation by eschewing partisanship in approving the intervention fund for all the states, irrespective of which parties they belong to.

‘’We say this because when states were financially handicapped during the tenure of the last Federal Government, opposition states were hung out to dry why states belonging to the then ruling PDP got generous bailouts,’’ it said.

APC said by his action, President Muhammadu Buhari has practicalised his deep understanding of the essence of governance which, more than anything else, is the about the wellbeing.

The party said worthy of commendation is the fact that the special intervention fund approved by President Buhari was packaged without any external borrowing, despite the paucity of funds occasioned by the fall in the price of crude oil and the unprecedented profligacy of the immediate past administration that dried out the pot of national resources.

It said so early in the life of his administration, Buhari is walking his talk by showing that with prudence, financial discipline, plugging financial leakages and a deep sense of patriotism, even the nation’s dwindling resources can still be more effectively utilised for the benefit of Nigerians, rather than be looted by thieving public officials who abuse their offices.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/apc-to-buhari-kudos-for-ending-workers-woes/

The Accountant-General of the Federation Alhaji Ahmed Idris, yesterday said the bailout funds for states are not coming from the $2.1 billion in the Excess Crude Account.

He said the cash was sourced from the accrued Company Income Tax (CIT) realised from the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

He said the funds in Excess Crude Account were intact and the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was yet to touch it.

The AGF made the clarification in a statement through Kenechukwu N. Offie, the Head of Press in his Office.

There have been allegations that the President emptied the treasury to rescue cash-strapped states, which are unable to pay their workers.

The statement said: “The Accountant-General of the Federation Alhaji Ahmed Idris has noted with great concern that the information in the public domain is inconsistent with the details of the amount distributed at the emergency Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting held on Monday 6th July 2015.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/bailout-funds-not-from-2-1-billion-in-excess-crude-account/

Twelve professors have signified their intentions to succeed the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Isaac Adewole.

Of these 12 professors, only one, Professor A. Adedeji, is eyeing the job from outside the University of Ibadan community.

Others within the varsity system are Professors O.O Layiwola (Institute of African Studies), O.O Akinyinka (pediatrics), F.O Egbokhare (iinguistics and African ianguages), Arinola, O. Sanya (physiotherapy ), B.O Fagbemi (Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology), L. Popoola (Forest Resources Management), A.I Olayinka (Geology), A.I Oluleye (Industrial and Production Engineering), O.D Olaleye (Virology), A.E Falaye (Aquaculture and Fisheries Management) and A.A. Agbaje (Political Science).
The incumbent Adewole is serving out his second term of five years as the institution’s head. He will take a bow in November.

The current holder’s tenure has been adjudged as one of the best in recent years with a generally peaceful tenure pervading the varsity’s community.

The chairman of the ‘University of Ibadan Community Forum 2015’, Professor Nelson Fashina, has said the forum put together by all the unions in the premier university , would host a platform during which the candidates will interact with the university community towards a democratic emergence of a new vice chancellor.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/who-is-going-to-be-the-next-vice-chancellor-of-ui-has-12-jostle-for-the-post/

SALES AND MARKETING EXECUTIVE

Job Type: Full Time
Qualification: BA/BSc/HND
Experience: 3 years
Location: Lagos

The individual will be responsible for providing Sales, Marketing & Business Development support, as well as supervising the day to day operations of the company office in Nigeria. The role is to develop and maximize the sale of properties and to ensure the commercial success in this market. The role also involves identifying business opportunities.

Responsibilities

1. Plan, promote and manage the operation to achieve set objectives, budgets and Business plan.
2. Research new Immigration agents and companies that we could potentially cooperate in Nigeria.
3. Assists in the development of annual sales goals for the Nigerian Market
4. Follow up clients from Exhibitions or Private Seminars in Nigeria as well as foreign clients that have not concluded a contract of sale.
5. Develop and implement Training Programs to the Nigerian Agents, both in terms of property (Product Knowledge Training)
6. Identify and attend trade shows/ exhibitions and other business functions to keep abreast of developments in the marketplace and to find potential new business.
7. Locate potential business deals by contacting potential customers; discovering and exploring opportunities
8. Proactively initiate and engage sales calls to new prospects
9. Work on ad hoc projects delegated by the Sales & Marketing Director.
10. Ensure that regular and effective communication is maintained with all customers.
11. Act as an on-going link between the customer and the company and maintain good long-term relationships.
12. Assist in the designing of cutting edge marketing material to be used in our various exhibitions and presentations both at home and abroad
13. Assist Directors in presenting the company to big potential investors and Key agent accounts
14. Provide Marketing and Sales support to the agents with the assistance of our Marketing Department
15. Gather market and customer information (Nigerian Clients).

Qualification and Experience
Relevant first degree in, Social Sciences, Economics, Finance, Marketing or such related field from a reputable institution.
Minimum of 3 years experience.

Click link to apply
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/07/job-in-a-real-estate-firm-via-global-profilers/