₦airaland Forum

Residents of Ibafo in Ogun State have been thrown into mourning after a tenant identified as Abdullahi allegedly slaughtered his 85-year-old landlady, Raliat Olasupo with a knife.

Abdullahi committed the act during an altercation over N9,000, which the deceased was supposed to pay him for roofing one of the rooms in the house.

It was learnt that the deceased popularly called Iya Ibadan, prior to her death had accused Abdullahi of being a trouble maker, and had got the police to arrest and eject him from the house.

Tragedy however struck on Friday when Abdullahi allegedly sneaked into the 85-year-old’s room at about 8pm, and murdered her with a knife.

Following the discovery of Olasupo’s corpse by her tenants and neighbours, the matter was consequently reported at the Ibafo Police Division, and Abdullahi was arrested.

Reacting to the incident, a tenant said Abdullahi, who had lived in the house for about four years, slaughtered the deceased with a knife and staggered out, behaving like a drunk.

He said, “On Friday, we were sleeping when there was an alarm at about 10pm. All of us rushed into the landlady’s room, and found her in a pool of blood. There were knife cuts on her neck and other parts of her body. Abdullahi was still around the area.

“Abdullahi used to be a good friend of the landlady, but they fell out about two weeks ago. There was an issue bordering on the roofing of one of the rooms in the house, and Abdullahi was the one who coordinated the people who worked there.

“I think the work was not properly done, and the man demanded N9,000 from the landlady as payment for the work. So, they had a disagreement.

“Some days ago, the landlady brought policemen from Ibafo to warn Abdullahi, and to ask him to leave the house. His property was thrown out, and the landlady warned him not to return to the house.”

The tenant added that they were shocked when Abdullahi, who had threatened to deal with the landlady, then showed up on Friday to attack the woman in her room.

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the incident noted that the matter has been transferred to the State Department of Criminal Investigation, Abeokuta, for further investigation.

“The suspect is in our custody, and investigations are ongoing on the matter. The matter is now with the SDCI, Abeokuta. When we conclude our investigation, the suspect will definitely be charged to court,” Adejobi said.


http://dailypost.ng/2015/09/08/85-year-old-landlady-slaughtered-by-tenant-over-n9000/

Menh...

President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday, stated that he would name his cabinet this month.

The president gave the assurance in Aburi, at a joint press conference with President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana.


“After I was sworn-in, I said I will have my cabinet in September. I expect that Nigerians should ask me questions after the 30th of September, if I do not do so,” President Buhari said while responding to a question on the appointment of ministers.

Buhari also stated that the Nigerian military, alongside the Multi-National Joint Task Force, had made remarkable progress in the fight against Boko Haram since he assumed office as President.

“The first thing I did after I came into office was to reorganize the military; and clear orders were given to them in terms of retraining, re-equipping and redeployment of troops.

“In the northeast, the military is gaining ground and Boko Haram has been limited to the Sambisa forest.


“Internally Displaced Persons are gradually moving back home and they are being reintegrated into their respective communities,” President Buhari said.

On the declaration of assets, the President affirmed that it was a constitutional requirement that all public office holders in Nigeria should declare their assets before and after their term in office.

“I recall that in 1975 when late Murtala Mohammed became the Head of State, we were lined up – governors, ministers, members of the Supreme Military Council. Officials of Ministry of Justice were brought and every individual was made to declare his assets.

“All Heads of States and Government, governors, ministers, permanent secretaries have to declare their assets because it is a constitutional requirement.

“I have declared my assets four times. When I was governor in 1975, I declared. After being Minister of Petroleum and as a member of Supreme Military Council, I declared. When I was Head of State and now as a President, I have also declared,” he added.


http://dailypost.ng/2015/09/07/expect-my-cabinet-this-month-ive-declared-my-assets-four-times-buhari/

Former chairman of the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme, Christopher Kolade, on Monday, said he resigned his position in 2013 because its operations were becoming tainted with corruption and politics, thereby losing its credibility.

He said some officials of the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan were practising “something that was lower than the transparency”, expected of an interventionist agency like SURE-P‎.

He said he met resistance when he raised the issues as he was overruled by some powerful forces within the administration.

He spoke on Channels Television Programme, “Views From The Top” anchored by Modele Sarafa-Yusuf.

Mr. Kolade, 83, quit his position as chairman of SURE-P in November 2013, citing advanced age at the time.

He said having attained 80 years, he wanted to slow on energy-demanding activities.
“I explained in the letter (to the president) that having done this SURE-P programme for two years and because within the next month I would be clocking 81, I am giving up some activities that take my energy,” he said.

The former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom was appointed head of the SURE-P in February 2012 by Mr. Jonathan, after nationwide protests following the hike in the prices of petroleum products.

The SURE-P was mandated to convert saved fuel subsidy money into jobs, roads and other people-oriented programmes.

The media had speculated in 2013 that Mr. Kolade resigned due to corruption at the agency.

Speaking on the TV programme, Mr. Kolade said he left his position because “he realized that some of the values and standards agreed on in the beginning had become diluted”.

He said he found out that some of the decisions the agency was making did not meet up with the standard they had set it up for.

“The government realized people would not believe what they were saying,” Mr. Kolade said.

“And the President said ‘we need to gain credibility with the people in this programme. So we believe that if you and your committee can manage this thing transparently in accordance with what we agreed, then that credibility will be there’.

“Now that’s fine. But when I discovered that there were individuals in the system that were practicing something that was lower than the transparency that we went in with, I raised the issues. And I discovered that political affiliations and things made this difficult.”

The former SURE-P boss cited an instance when the agency decided to employ 5000 youth from every state of the federation.
According to him, when it commenced the process it was told the arrangement it adopted was not acceptable.

He said, “We started by saying that we would offer employment to 5000 youths from every state. Of course if you are sitting in Abuja, and you want to identify 5000 youths in all the states, it is difficult unless you involve people who are on the spot.

“Now, it was the feeling of our committee, led by me, that to identify people in the states, we needed people who were political neutral. In other words, get civil servants to go in there and say according to the criteria you‘ve agreed, these are the 5000 youths from this state. But we were told that would not be acceptable.

“So something was set up called State Implementation Committees made up mainly of people with political affiliations with one party or the other. When that was brought into play, I pointed out that I feared this would politicize what we were trying to do.  And that therefore I felt we should take politicians out of this. But I was overruled by those who had the power to overrule me.

“And then, it started happening. I got complaints from Abia state, from Ekiti state  that many of the youths being recruited into the programme were supporters of party A or party B and I went back, and said what I suspected is beginning to happen.

“So we need to kill this thing right away and go back to what we agreed.  Now, somehow, we couldn’t do that.  And for me, if you destroy the foundation on which you are setting up something like that, if you feel that credibility is the key to success in this thing, and then you undermine credibility by politicizing the issues, you are shooting yourself on the foot. And I’m not very good at shooting in the foot because I find out I can’t walk very well after that.”

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/189652-real-reason-i-resigned-from-jonathans-govt-as-sure-p-chairman-christopher-kolade.html

By Henry Boyo

The release of licenses, in June this year, to 65 Nigerian companies to establish local refineries must be welcome news to everyone who is unhappy with the overwhelming Foreign Exchange bill for our fuel imports.

The licenses were granted barely two weeks after President Buhari’s inauguration, and probably provide a strong indication of PMB’s burning desire to reduce Nigeria’s huge fuel import bill and hopefully also reduce or eliminate the incidence of subsidy in fuel pricing.

Indeed, in an attempt to attract investors to this venture, the Department of Petroleum Resources(DPR) is reported to have reduced the licensing fee for new refineries from $1million to just $50,000.

It is however, not yet clear if the 18 companies which had earlier paid $1m and received licenses since 2002 to establish refineries would now be favored with a partial refund to maintain some level of equity in the application fee.

Nevertheless, Nigerians may also wonder why, till date, only one of the 18 licensed companies had actually come on stream with a modest capacity for just 1,000 bpd output of diesel.

Curiously, industry observers may similarly wonder why nothing came out of the celebrated Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Federal government with an American and Nigerian Joint Venture Group in July 2012 for the construction, within 12 months, of six modular refineries, with a combined capacity of 180,000 bpd at an estimated cost of about $4.5bn.

Incidentally, the promoters of the project had claimed that, within 30 months, “the six refineries would produce 30m litres per day of refined products, as the entire modular refinery complex, including all piping and electrical fittings would be built and test operated in the United States to ensure that each of the six plants will achieve 100% of their projected average 5m litres per day production capacity before 2015.

The firm assurance by Olusegun Aganga, the serving Minister of Trade and Investment, at that time, that his ministry would work together with the DPR and the NNPC to ensure the actualization of the project, makes the apparent failure of the venture, more disturbing. Instructively, Nigeria’s estimated daily domestic demand of about 40m litres would have been adequately covered if existing government refineries produced just 10m litres to compliment the output expected from the 2012 MOU with the American-Nigerian consortium.

Indeed, in July 2012, we had cautioned in a related article titled “6 new refineries, Hurray, but not yet Uhuru” that “in its anxiety to facilitate adequate fuel supply, the Nigerian government appeared constrained to fetch water with a porous and poorly cellotaped basket! The ultimate result can only be frustration and failure”.

The unanswered question therefore, is why companies which received licenses to establish refineries continue to dash our expectations for self sufficiency in fuel supplies. With this hindsight, what changes, we may ask, have now been made to guarantee that the 2015 batch of 65 licensees would not also disappear and frustrate our country’s hopes of ultimately becoming a net exporter of fuel.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/65-more-refineries-hurray-but/

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it will no longer condone the continued unlawful use of state apparatus by the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government to harass its elected officials at any level across the country.

The party said the government, last Friday crossed the line in unleashing the Department of State Services (DSS), now under the direct command of its member, Alhaji Lawal Daura, to invade and occupy the Akwa-Ibom State Government House, Uyo, in violation of the constitutional immunity of the government house.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in a statement on Sunday, cautioned that the invasion and other flagrant abuse of power by the APC-led Federal Government were clear recipes for constitutional crisis, civil unrest and avoidable anarchy in the land and called on Nigerians and the international community to take copious note of that.

The party said its investigations had shown that the DSS acted on the express orders from the Presidency, which had been in desperate bid to destabilize and forcefully take over Akwa-Ibom and other PDP states.

“We have information that the DSS, acting on the instructions of the Presidency, occupied Akwa-Ibom State Government House, ransacking guest houses for no just cause,” PDP said.

“If such terror can be unleashed on a state government, one can only imagine the fate of regular citizens in the hands of this administration that has continued to show unparalleled disdain for constitutional order, with heinous penchant for oppression.

“We have also been made aware of plans by the APC government to stage similar invasions and unlawful assaults on other PDP states, including Rivers, Delta, Abia and Taraba, where electoral officers are already being hounded and harassed by the DSS, who are also directly interfering in the activities of the election tribunals, in furtherance of APC’s desperation to take over these states.

“The PDP recalls similar action by the APC controlled police, which in July, sealed local councils in Rivers State and barred caretaker committees lawfully appointed by the state government from taking charge of the councils.

“We wish to restate that the PDP lost a general election and not a war. PDP states are not occupied territories but part of the Nigerian nation; its members are not prisoners of war, but free citizens in a democratic state.

“We invite Nigerians and the international community to note that never in the history of our democracy have we witnessed such a divisive government, whose actions and constitutional violations have so polarized the polity along its fault lines, while undermining national unity and cohesion, a development that spells doom for our democracy, if left unchecked.

“Finally, we wish to state categorically that as citizens of this country, we can no longer continue to stomach such brazen attacks on our members and elected officials. The PDP will therefore hold several leadership and stakeholders meetings to come up with its response to this barefaced assault on our democracy. Enough is enough!”


http://dailypost.ng/2015/09/07/buhari-dss-carrying-out-terrorism-on-nigerias-democracy-pdp/

The need to get the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to optimise its potential as the nation’s cash cow informed President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of Col. Hameed Ali as its Comptroller-General, the Presidency said at the weekend.

Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Media and Publicity Mallam Garba Shehu said the government believes that the Customs Service could triple its revenue target.

Fielding questions from reporters, he said: “Do you, in all sincerity, know Col. Hameed Ali?

“If you do know him, how many of his types do we have in this country? This is the man who many probably felt should have gone to head the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). But, looking at the critical place of the Customs in the economy of this country, you need somebody like him.

“After oil, the next revenue spinner for the government is the Customs. In these few days we have been listening to briefings, I have seen people flying ideas that Customs revenue can be tripled and that there are ideas that can lead to the revenue being tripled on the basis that corruption is eliminated.

“I think that Col. Ali has a rare breed of reputation that will be difficult to find. There might be a few people in the Customs, but maybe they are too low in rank to warrant this appointment.

“I think the President has done the best thing anybody can do for the Customs and for the economy of this country. Otherwise, smuggling will ruin Nigeria. Look at what is happening in the textile industry in Aba, Ikeja, Kaduna, Kano and Gashua.

“There was a time when they used to employ about 400,000 people. All the textile companies in the country today can no longer employ more than 30,000 people. We have more Nigerians in need of clothing today than those so-called glorious days of the textile industry. This is just one example.

“Look at the issue of rice. Ebonyi, Anambra, Niger, Osun, Kebbi, Sokoto and Kogi states have been brought together by the President and given the marching order to produce the rice need of this country. The rice industry in this country has failed because cheap Asian rice is being dumped here. The President did not ban importation because that would have offended the World Trade organisation (WTO).

“What he has done is to say if you want to import rice, go and source your dollars anywhere you can get it. But the CBN and the banks will always supply to manufacturers who want to bring in spare parts, equipment and employ Nigerians and for those who want to pay for medical bills abroad and maybe for school fees.

http://thenationonlineng.net/why-buhari-gave-ali-customs-job/

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated Dr Akinwumi Adesina and Ms Arunma Oteh, who were recently appointed into top positions in the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Bank respectively.

These appointments Jonathan said serves as testimony to the fact that his administration had a good economic team that managed the affairs of the country.

Akinwumi who was President Jonathan’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development has just assumed duty as the President of the AfDB, while Oteh, who was the Director-General of Securities and Exchange Commission, was appointed as the Treasurer and Vice President of World Bank.

In separate letters of congratulations to both Adesina and Oteh which Jonathan personally signed, the former President described them as high achievers and Nigeria’s worthy ambassadors.

On Adesina’s choice as AfDB chief, Jonathan said: ““Given your exemplary record of performance, while serving as the Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development in my cabinet, I have no doubt that you will deploy your energy and the bank’s resources to ensure that Africa experiences a new era of accelerated development.”

“You were not only a critical voice in my economic team, you also walked the talk, and earned the praise of our countrymen and women, by ensuring that Nigeria’s quest for self-sufficiency in food production became achievable dream.

“I am particularly pleased with your emergence as the AfDB boss; a development, I believe, has come as a reward for having served your country meritoriously”, the former President said, adding that “It also attests to the fact that my Administration had a good team that managed the affairs of the country.”

Similarly, the former President in a letter to Oteh praised the former SEC boss’ profound knowledge of capital markets, describing her as being conversant with the challenges of the economies of emerging markets.

“I am delighted that you are going to your new job, fresh from the experience of having led the recovery and growth initiatives of the Nigerian Bourse in the wake of the decline, occasioned by recent global economic recession and financial crisis.

“I am particularly pleased that you are being rewarded and elevated on the world stage, after serving your country meritoriously, at a time I was the President. This is a clear testimony to your capacity, high integrity, and tenacity of purpose. It is also a vindication of the decision of my Administration to stand by you, believing in your
abilities and competence, even when questions were being raised in some quarters over your choice.

“I am convinced that the experience you gathered as Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Nigeria (SEC) gave you deep insights on how to tackle the peculiar challenges of a developing nation. The World Bank can draw from this to ensure that its future partnerships with emerging economies in Africa and other parts of the world are anchored on policies that will lead to sustained growth and development, which is a sine qua non for lifting millions of people in the developing world out of mass poverty, ” Jonathan stated.


http://thenationonlineng.net/adesina-oteh-we-had-a-good-economic-team-says-jonathan/

The anti-corruption campaign of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration appears to have taken a bigger bite as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secretly frozen the bank accounts of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s associates, SUNDAY PUNCH has learnt.

One of our correspondents learnt that the move by the anti-graft agency was aimed at scuttling the tranfer of the alleged looted funds from the accounts for other reasons.

A member of a key transition committee of the All Progressives Congress, who spoke to one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity, on Friday, said the need had become necessary in view of the magnitude of the alleged theft of public resources by the affected persons.

The APC chieftain spoke on the heels of the condemnation of President Buhari’s ongoing probe of the last administration of the Peoples Democratic Party and recovery of funds looted by public officials.

The affected accounts, SUNDAY PUNCH learnt, belonged to Keketobou Foundation, owned by former Special Adviser to Jonathan on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, and Mieka Divers Limited as well as Global West Vessels Limited reportedly owned by ex-Niger Delta warlord, Mr. Government Ekpompolo, aka Tompolo.

Further investigations by our correspondents also showed that one of Jonathan’s close allies, Mr. Kime Engozi’s accounts had also been flagged.

Engozi is the contractor handling the N30bn Maritime University contract at Okerenkoko in the Gbaramatu area of Delta State.

Besides, funds already approved for the commencement of the university are said to have remained frozen in a Yenagoa branch of the United Bank for Africa Plc.

The NIMASA Technical College at Okoloba, also in Delta State, is also said to be facing an uncertain future as there are fears that the institution might be scrapped.

Accounts linked to the former Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, are also said to have been frozen by the EFCC.

The source, who is now in the Presidency, said although he could not confirm if Jonathan’s recent meeting with Buhari discussed the issue, the action to ‘flag’ the said accounts might have been for security reasons.

The source also said the opposition Peoples Democratic Party was ignorant of the workings of the Federal Government, especially on security.

The source added, “This is not a matter of lobby or any politics that should be shoved aside; what is at stake is the nation’s security and nothing more.

“When the PDP says the current anti-corruption drive is selective, we continue to laugh at them because they do not seem to know what is at stake at all. If only they know, all the noise they have been making won’t be made at all.

“How many of these PDP elements know that just one individual benefitted from a single NIMASA transaction to the tune of N13bn, not to talk of about $57m he was said to have benefitted from controversial contract deals?

“Are these the things they ask us to sweep under the carpet? Certainly, we cannot because apart from the angle of the impunity and financial recklessness, does it make any sense if any responsible government allows such individuals, who had threatened war in the event that Jonathan did not win to have such huge sums in bank vaults? Such accounts must be flagged, of course.”

However, the PDP has asked President Buhari to follow the rule of law in his government’s determination to fight corruption.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh, in an interview with one of our correspondents on Saturday night, asked the President not to spare anyone, including his friends and members of the ruling APC in the crusade.

Metuh said, “We are not against the war against corruption, but what we are saying is that the President must follow the rule of law.

“The law says every accused person is innocent until proven otherwise. Then, the President must also look at his party; he shouldn’t spare his friends.

“If any of our members is found to be corrupt, let them face the law of the land. But no one should be tagged as being corrupt when the court has not said so.”

He also asked the President to fund the anti-corruption agencies adequately, while saying that the agencies should also conduct what he described as “water-tight investigations” before rushing to the court.

Repeated calls to the mobile telephone set of the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, were neither picked nor returned.

Also he had yet to reply a text message sent to him at 8.52pm, asking for his comments on charges that the APC-led administration was hounding members of the opposition PDP and associates of Jonathan, as of the time of filing this report.

Tompolo is not under any investigations by the EFCC, but Kuku has a date to keep with the anti-graft agency in September, having gone for a knee surgery in the United States of America in July, while the former NIMASA boss has been under investigation for over month.

However, Akpobolokemi’s interaction with the EFCC has been linked to business deals by him while he held sway at NIMASA and the ex-warlord.

SUNDAY PUNCH also learnt that EFCC’s seizure of Akpobolokemi’s international passport and a N38m worth bullet-proof Toyota Landcruiser was already heightening speculations that he might be prosecuted if findings by the investigators indict him.

At least three close aides and confidants of the ex-NIMASA boss, including the current Executive Director in charge of Maritime Safety and Shipping Development, Mr. Ezekiel Bala Agaba, have been guests of the EFCC in the last ten days.


http://www.punchng.com/news/probe-jonathans-associates-accounts-frozen/

Worried by the raid of Akwa Ibom Government House by the officials of the Department of State Service (DSS), the State Governor Udom Emmanuel on Friday night summoned the meeting of all security chiefs in the state.

The two-hour meeting, which started at about 6pm was presided over by the governor and ended around 8pm.

A Government House source, who preferred not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the development, said the governor expressed sadness over the conduct of the security operatives during the invasion of the government house.

The source said: “The governor was not happy over the development. He told the head of the DSS in the state that there was no way such invasion would have taken place without his knowledge.”

An online medium, Premium Times, in its report on Friday said men of the DSS uncovered arms and ammunition and stockpiles of dollars from the Akwa Ibom State Government House in Uyo.

The arms and ammunition were reportedly discovered during a surprise raid by officials of the agency.

The operation was jointly carried out by operatives from the SSS headquarters in Abuja and the state command according to the online newspaper

The DSS officials were said to have acted based on security reports.


http://thenationonlineng.net/dss-raid-governor-summons-security-chiefs/

I LOVE NIGERIA...

There were strong indications yesterday that President Muhammadu Buhari is on the final lap of consultations with some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

It was learnt that the President has met with some leaders of the party on the shape of his cabinet, those who may be on board and what he intends to do.

But he is yet to unveil his list of cabinet members to the leadership of the party.

A top member of the APC, who spoke in confidence, confirmed that the President is working with the party.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the President in the past two weeks has met with some leaders of the APC to “feel their pulse and rub minds” with them on the choice of new ministers.

It was learnt that the President has met with some leaders of the party in the last one week in particular.

It was gathered that in one of the meetings, Buhari restated his pledge to the nation to submit the list of his cabinet to the National Assembly this month.

A top source said: “The President is on the last lap of consultations on his cabinet. I am aware that the President met with some leaders of the party and those in his think-tank.

“I think he is almost set with his team to meet the September deadline.”

A member of the National Working Committee of the party said: “As far as the list of ministers is concerned, the President is working with the party. Most people do not know that Buhari is a party man to the core. He believes in the supremacy of the party.

“I am aware that the President has met with some leaders of the APC to discuss his plans, the shape of his cabinet and his targets.

“To avoid speculations, Buhari has kept the list of his team under wraps, but his body language provided some inkling.

“I think going by his style, the President has not disclosed his list to anyone.”

One of the aides of the President said: “The ministerial list can be released any time. After all, there are 30 days in September.

“Going by constitutional provision, I don’t see the President appointing less than 36 ministers.

“Section 147(1-3) directs the President to appoint at least 36 ministers unless the constitution is amended.”

The section reads: “There shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may be established by the President.

“Any appointment to the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is confirmed by the Senate, be made by the President.

“Any appointment under subsection (2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the provisions of section 14(3) of this Constitution.

“Provided that in giving effect to the Provisions aforesaid, the President shall appoint at least one Minister from each state who shall be an indigene of such state.”


http://thenationonlineng.net/cabinet-buhari-begins-last-minute-consultations/

R.I.P

By Patrick Ochoga

Following the continuous neglect of the oil producing communities in the Niger Delta and the failure of the oil producing companies in meeting various agreements reached with the communities which resulted in the shutdown of operations of OML 30, 34 and 65, a group, the Niger Delta Progressive Forum (NDPF) has appealed to presidents-general of the communities to open the shutdown stations.

Spokesperson of the group, Hon Austine Ehi Atakpu at a meeting with the presidents-general of the communities that make up OML 30, 34 and 65 said the appeal was necessary to foster proper and meaningful negotiations with oil producing companies and governments.

The group stated that issues bothering on better life for the people of the communities are their core interest but cautioned that government must also be given due information and time to ensure the needs of the people are met.

Atakpu requested the presidents-general of the communities of OML 34 to open the shutdown flow station and allow full operations to resume while assuring that they should put together their grievances into a document which will be presented to the appropriate authorities to address them.

He explained that, “NDPF was formed over three months ago with members spreading across the oil producing communities in the Niger Delta region. It is not formed to make some few persons billionaires but to ensure that issues of negative impact of oil and gas production on oil producing communities are well taken care of.”

His Royal Highness, R. L Ogbon, Owhorode of Olomu Kingdom and Chief Eric Sagini, President General of Otughievwen community who spoke on behalf of the communities, said they were highly impressed with the visit of the group, adding that they are the people laying the golden egg yet nothing to show for it.

“It was this neglect among other issues that made us to form TROMPCON and HOSTCOM.” Chief Eric Sajini further stated that the Forum of Presidents-General of the area will put up a document which will contain all their grievances and send same to NDPF. He promised to reach the other members of OML 34 on the issue of the shutdown flow station for possible resolution.

“We are happy that people are rising up in the Niger Delta to fight against injustice done on us by oil servicing companies and the federal government. If you go to communities in the north where oil and gas are not produced, they have good roads and water, but we that produce the oil have nothing to show for it. I am happy that this group is made up of persons of high integrity who will nip the issues in the bud,” they added.


http://leadership.ng/news/458794/ndpf-mediates-over-shut-down-of-oil-installations

happy 4 dem...

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, has condemned Thursday’s alleged invasion of the Akwa Ibom State Government House by armed men of the Department of State Services (DSS), calling for the immediate sack of the Director General of the agency, Alhaji Lawal Daura.

Addressing a press conference in Ado-Ekiti on behalf of the governor today, Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka described the alleged invasion as part of the sinister plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to circumvent the will of the people of the South-South and South-East States controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), using the DSS.

He said; “To say the least, invasion of the Akwa Ibom State Government House on Thursday ordered by Daura, is a rape of democracy and invitation to chaos and anarchy. It is authoritarian, dictatorial and I condemn it strongly.
“It is unfortunate that this is happening under President Buhari’s watch, and painful that Alhaji Lawal Daura is drawing Nigeria back to the Military era.”

Governor Fayose, who recalled the arrest of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Austin Okojie by men of the DSS in July, wondered why “the DSS under Alhaji Lawal Daura that has turned Akwa Ibom State and other States into centre of its draconian operations has not deemed it necessary to invite for questioning, the Yobe State INEC REC, Mr. Abu Zarma in whose bank account N15 million alleged to be a bribe was found.”

Text of the press conference read in part; “Yesterday, the Akwa Ibom State Government House in Uyo was invaded by armed men from the Special Squad of the DSS. They invaded the Presidential Wing of the Government House in a commando-liked manner, ransacked it, intimidated and harassed the occupants, claiming that they were searching for bomb and documents!

One wonders when the Government House of Akwa-Ibom State turned to a factory where bombs are made. Also, we wonder why men of the DSS were overzealously looking for bomb in Akwa Ibom State Government House, instead of the Boko Haram ravaged North Eastern part of Nigeria.

“From the barbaric act of the DSS yesterday and other actions of Security Service under Alhaji Lawal Daura in the last few weeks, one can conclude that Daura is taking Nigeriaback to the 1984 era of General Muhammadu Buhari and this is unfortunate.
“No doubt, the Director General (DG) DSS, Lawal Daura is acting out a sinister script of taking over Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) controlled States in the South-South and South East by whatever means.
“Obviously, Thursday invasion of the Akwa Ibom Government House by men of the DSS and arrest of the State INEC REC are part of this sinister plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to circumvent the will of the people of the South-South and South-East States controlled by the PDP, using the DSS, but it will fail ultimately.

“If a Government House occupied by a Governor who enjoys the same immunity enjoys by the President as provided by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria could be invaded by a Special Squad of the DSS, it means Lawal Daura is moving this country towards dictatorship and it must be said clearly that Daura and his DSS men will definitely have Nigerians to contend with.
“As for me, I will continue to talk because Nigeria belongs to all of us. Nigeria is not a banana republic that can be ruled anyhow by anyone and Mr Lawal Daura and those urging him on should know that this reign of brute force over constitutional democracy will fail.

“This is because we have seen them operate before and here they are now, trying to take us back to that inglorious era of dictatorship and barbarism where Nigerians were treated with contempt. This time around, it is a democracy that can never accommodate that 1984 era of draconian rule.

“Most importantly, Lawal Daura and his desperate men should know that here in Nigeria of today, the power of the people is greater than the power of those in power and the people will always rise in defence of their government no matter how strong the aggression.
“It is on this note that I call on President Buhari to call Alhaji Lawal Daura to order. He should be made to know that his activities since he assumed office as the DG DSS are of growing concern to Nigerians and that he is becoming extremely controversial.
“His actions as the DG DSS are regrettable, unfortunate, condemnable and unacceptable because he has come to symbolise dictatorship, which democracy abhors.

“Alhaji Lawal Daura should know that he is holding the office of DG DSS that he presently occupies in trust for all Nigerians and such office is not one that can be turned into instrument of political witch-hunt.
“If Alhaji Daura continues with his use of the DSS to harass, intimidate and assault the constitution of Nigeria, President Buhari may have to show to Nigerians that he is not a party to the use of the security agency to witch-hunt his political opponents by sacking the DG DSS.”


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/fayose-to-buhari-sack-dss-boss-now-over-invasion-of-akwa-ibom-govt-house/

Ameachi wants to obstruct justice...PMB should have steered clear.

Incomplete...

R.I.P

na dem sabi...

i guarantee u, this is not Nigeria...

all dis na propaganda...

dat must be your villa...

PMB, 4yrs is a flash of time, dont waste your time on fruitless probes...

Tunde Ogunsakin, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), who former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi is allegedly sponsoring to become the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in order to truncate corruption investigation against him has been found to be a serial offender himself.
According to our investigations, Ogunsakin was in 2009 fired as director of operations of the EFCC by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua after a series of offenses including examination malpractice, bribery, and allegations of treason.

Ogunsakin is reported to have cheated in a University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) Law School examination and was in the habit of paying lecturers and students to pass him or write examinations on his behalf.

The first case in question, according to iReports NG was a compulsory GST 101, written in the 2005/2006. When he was caught , Ogunsakin was said to have evaded expulsion with the help of his godfathers and high ranking government officials.

But more was to come as in 2009, he was involved in yet another examination malpractice scandal when on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 – while he was already the Director of Operations of the EFCC – he was accused of paying a 500 level student, Bright Edobor to write an assessment test, Law of Equity (LAW403) on his behalf, as the lecturer, one Larry O.C Chukwu was not willing to succumb to his financial advances.

After the scandal had gone public, Yar’Adua was said to have ordered a thorough investigation into the allegation, prompting the EFCC to swing into action.

In the course of investigation, the authorities of UNIABUJA in a memo by the university’s registrar, M.B Modibbo and addressed to the EFCC on Monday, May 4, 2009 confirmed the 2005 incident. but claiming that the major witness had gone for youth service and later left the country, making their investigation inconclusive.
See the letter below:
President Yar’Adua proceeded to relieve Ogunsakin of his job at EFCC, but instead of prosecuting the suspect, the police authority was said to have “hidden” Ogunsakin, only for him to be promoted and posted to the Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU) a sensitive position in the police force.

Asides his academic misdemeanors, Ogunsakin, after he was sacked from the EFCC was said to have engaged in treasonable activities.

According to reports, Ogunsakin joined forces with several aggrieved personalities, including former EFCC Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu to plot the destabilization of the country. Nigeria’s Secret Police (SSS) found that Ogunsakin had held meetings in the UK to plot the overthrow of the Yar’Adua administration, prompting the SSS to detain and interrogate Ogunsakin as soon as he returned to Nigeria on allegations of gathering sensitive information on the Presidency and leaking it to the media in order to cause unnecessary embarrassment.

In 2012 a coalition of civil society groups, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), petitioned the Police Service Commission (PSC), decrying Ogunsakin’s undue promotion and seeking further investigation and subsequent prosecution of Ogunsakin for his involvement in the aforementioned crimes.
The CACOL petition had read in full:

OPEN LETTER TO SIR PARRY OSAYANDE
May 17, 2012 | Author bimmy
May 11, 2012

Sir Parry Osayande
Chairman
Police Service Commission
Abuja

PROMOTING GODFATHERISM ABOVE INTEGRITY IN POLICE PROMOTION AND POSTING: CALL FOR A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION AND POSSIBLE PROSECUTION OF DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, TUNDE OGUNSAKIN

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) is a group of civil societies, community-based and other non-governmental organizations with the objective of fighting corruption and corrupt persons by any means possible at all levels in Nigeria.

It has come to our notice that your Commission allegedly based some of your decisions and actions on conjectures rather than concrete and verifiable indices. It is against this backdrop that we would like to, for the umpteenth time, call on the Police Service Commission (PSC) and other authorities concerned to, as a matter of urgency, investigate all allegations of examination malpractices against former DCP. Tunde Ogunsakin who was seconded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as Director of Operations, and was promoted to the position of the Commissioner of Police in the recent promotion exercise carried out by the PSC.
The promotion exercise was greeted by grumblings within the top hierarchy of the Nigeria Police Force. Many of the officers who have been unjustly treated and could muster enough strength to speak out have tried to ventilate their anger and frustration through different means in the media. Just in about two weeks ago, precisely on Saturday, May 5 2012, The Saturday Sun newspaper published an interview granted by a prominent lawyer, Barrister Debo Adeleke (copy attached) who actually demanded for the removal of the PSC Chairman for allegedly promoting officers with questionable character and low integrity far and above their peers, superiors and seniors with clean and excellent records.

We are compelled to write this petition after our initial investigation of the various allegations against the PSC Chairman revealed that one of the beneficiaries of latest promotion and posting exercise, Mr. Tunde Johnson Ogunsakin, a Commissioner of Police, had been indicted for an examination fraud and consequently expelled by the University of Abuja. We have also established that the officer was, amidst cries for justice by other officers, posted to head a very sensitive unit in the Police Force, the Special Fraud Unit, SFU.

Despite the fact that investigations revealed that Ogunsakin was found wanting by contravening the import of oath of office he swore to be truthful and trustworthy, he did the opposite by courting so many controversies, got entangled and enmeshed in several examination malpractices in his years at the University of Abuja where the authority of the higher institution confirmed that he was culpable but was never really disciplined. Reports in our possession also indicate that Mr. Ogunsakin, was already a 400-level law student of University of Abuja when it was discovered he was not granted leave of absence to undertake a full-time course at the institution by the former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, in 2005.
Firstly, Ogunsakin was caught for an examination fraud by a hard-to-compromise lecturer from the English Department, when he was sitting for a compulsory GST 101 course in his first year at the school. The school authority confirmed this in a memo issued on 4th May 2009 when the police chief was caught in yet another examination fraud. The memo endorsed by the school’s registrar, M.B Modibo with reference number UA/R/GEN/50 disclosed, “the above named student (Tunde Ogunsakin-matric no.05251064) was alleged to have been involved in some form of examination malpractice during the 2005/2006 academic session”. The police officer, who was the Director of Operations in EFCC then, was again caught by another lecturer, Larry O.C Chukwu on April 7, 2007 when he (Ogunsakin) sought the assistance of Yinka Afolayan, a 400-level law student of the University to write an examination on his behalf due to his absence from school. Afolayan in turn contracted the services of a 500 level student of the same institution, Bright Edobor who finally wrote the course assessment test on Law of Equity (LAW403) for the police officer.

The scandal became a public issue when an online publication reported the fraud on 22nd April with a full report of the scam on the cover page of a Nigerian national paper, Compass on 24th April 2009. That was said to have prompted late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua to order for the sack of Ogunsakin from the EFCC with another directive that disciplinary action should be taken against him.

Unfortunately, years after that presidential order, both the PSC and the police authority have only succeeded in ignoring that directive and compensated Mr Ogunsakin with promotion from the rank of a Commissioner of Police to the next rank of Commissioner of Police as well as a juicy posting to the most sensitive organ of the police force, SFU.
Meanwhile, with the arrays of detailed investigation conducted on the aforementioned crimes allegedly committed by “CP” Ogunsakin, ridding the Nigeria Police Force of the bad officers who smear and bring the name of the country into disrepute, which should be the ultimate objective of the Police Service Commission, could be in jeopardy. A situation where questionable characters and elements are elevated to higher position of authority in public offices thereby promoting mediocrity should always be discouraged. Conversely, a situation where people with proven credibility, impeccable character and unassailable integrity are ignored and forgotten must be outrightly condemned while those of questionable characters must be maximally punished to serve as deterrent to others.

Our Demands:

* That the recent promotion exercise in the Nigeria Police Force should be reviewed, whereby records of performance and integrity would be used as cardinal criteria for promoting and posting in the force.
* That the House of Reps or its relevant committees should be allowed to set up public hearings where aggrieved officers can present their complaints in regard to the recent promotion and posting exercise in the police force.
* That officers with questionable records and/or indictments should be flushed out of the police to pave way for committed and dedicated officers with clean records.
* That those whose cases may not warrant outright sack should be removed from sensitive positions.
* That Mr. Tunde Johnson Ogunsakin’s case and others in his shoes should not be buried under the usual Nigerian carpet but should be made as good examples conducts not expected of a disciplined force
* That administration, promotion and posting process of men of the police force should be devoid of influence of godfatherism and nepotism.
We shall be grateful if this Petition is given speedy and adequate attention it requires. Even when we are hopeful that being a responsible and responsive body, the PSC will not ignore this Call, however we shall henceforth closely monitor your commission’s consideration of our aforestated demands if they would be heeded or ignored. If heeded we shall openly acknowledge you for it but if ignored, we shall, in our characteristic way of pursuing the cause of justice, not hesitate to follow up the demands with street processions and other forms of protests.

Thanks in anticipation of your prompt, kind and favourable consideration of this request, sir.

Yours faithfully,

Debo Adeniran

Executive Chairman, CACOL

08037194969

dadnig@yahoo.com

www.deboadeniran.com, www.debo-adeniran..com

Friday, May 11, 2012


http://www.thetrentonline.com/uncovered-amaechis-candidate-efcc-ogunsakin-involved-exam-malpractice-expelled-uniabuja/

how things can change so fast...

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, has insisted that he will not back down on his claim that the Jonathan administration expended N140 billion on the yet to be completed 2nd Niger Bridge in Anambra State.
Similarly, the governor has stood his ground that the sum of $700 million was surreptitiously moved from the Sovereign Wealth Fund for the same bride, which has not risen above the foundation stage.
Oshiomhole, who made the claims in reaction to denials by former Works Minister, Mike Onolememen, asked him to apologise to Nigerians over
his misdeeds as a minister.
In a statement released by the governor in Abuja on Monday, Oshiomhole asked the former minister to direct his energy to the managers of the SWF who had depleted the savings on the claim that the money was meant for the controversial bridge rather than attacking him.
Oshiomhole’s statement which was signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Peter Okhiria, was made available to Vanguard in Abuja on Monday.
“They told our committee that about $700m dollars were taken from the Sovereign Wealth Fund for the Second Niger Bridge project.
He said: “Rather than crucify Comrade Oshiomhole for the disclosure, former Minister of Works should direct his energy and explanation to the managers of the Sovereign Wealth Fund who have depleted the savings on the explanation that it was meant for the 2nd Niger Bridge.
“Fully aware that not much has been achieved on that project, Onolemhemen and the managers of the Sovereign Wealth Funds should explain to Nigerians what really transpired instead of asking Comrade Oshiomhole to apologize to Nigerians.
The real people who should apologise to Nigerians for their many sins against the country are those who expended so much of our resources without any corresponding achievements to show for it.”
According to Oshiomhole, any right thinking Nigerian should be ashamed of the state of Nigerian roads especially with the enormous resources budgeted for road rehabilitation and construction.
The governor regretted that rather than build new roads and rehabilitate them, the ministry under of Works under the former minister vandalised existing roads and made them almost impassable.
The governor said: “In Edo state, the Aduwawa end of the Benin-Auchi road is almost impassable especially during this rainy season. As we speak, erosion has cut off the Benin-Auchi road into two and motorists are going through hell passing through that road.
“What about Benin- Abraka road; one hell of a road completely abandoned and vandalized. In the name of politics, they came trying to impress Edo people but ended up depressing all of us.
“When we complained of utter neglect of Edo state in the scheme of things, they hurriedly brought caterpillars to site and vandalize the roads, pretending to be working.
“If you visit Federal Government roads today in Edo State, you will weep for Edo people. People should find time to pass through Uromi-Agbor road, a major highway connecting the Eastern part of the country, it is an eye sore, yet we had a Minister of Works who hails from Uromi.
“Former Minister Onolemhemen should explain to Nigerians how he expended the billions of naira that were budgeted for the Ministry of Works because what we have on ground as a product of such expenditure cannot score for any pass mark.
“Roads from Oyo to Ilorin, Ilorin to Jebba and Bida, from Ore to Ijebu-Ode, from Ikom to Calabar, Onitsha to Enugu are amongst the several roads that explain the sad commentary on the state of Nigerian roads.
“Aside from being death traps, they represent in graphic terms, the poor performance of the last regime in terms of roads construction and rehabilitation. Rather than hide his head in shame; Onolemhemen is still oozing out diatribe against Nigerians. We deserve explanation and no amount of blackmail can stop us from speaking out about the fate of our country,” the governor said.

An auto crash along Ibadan Ogbomosho road in Oyo State on Sunday has left about seven persons dead, while several others sustained various degrees of injuries.

An eyewitness while commenting on the trgedy said the casualty rate is high, adding that when he got to the scene of the accident after it had occurred, people were seen assisting the victims.

The crash was said to have occurred when an Ilorin-bound commercial bus overtook a Sport Utility Vehicle, and failed to manoeuvre its way back into its lane. It was learnt that the driver of the SUV refused to make room for the commercial bus driver to join the lane as he increased his speed.

The eyewitness affirmed, “When the driver of the SUV increased speed, there was an articulated truck coming from Ilorin. The driver of the truck saw the commercial bus and applied brake.

“The impact of the brake was so much that the truck kept moving and the commercial bus driver could not control the bus, which was coming from Lagos at top speed. It collided with the truck.

“Six persons died on the spot, while another victim died on the way to the hospital. Only the driver of the bus survived the accident.”
The incident was said to have caused a major gridlock which lasted for over 30 minutes.

In an apparent deference to the admonition of President Muhammadu Buhari for it to prune down the number of personnel attached to VIPs, the Nigeria Police has reduced the number of security detail attached to Governors.

This followed the reorganisation of the functions of police officers and men, which has led to police security attached to the governors being reduced to a maximum of 62 men – which is a unit – from the 150 policemen which some governors used to have to secure them.

Disclosing this in Lagos over the weekend, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase expressed worries that too many of their officers and men were doing jobs other than their core police duties, yet they were being promoted.
“When these people now have to be deployed from these special assignments back to their core duties, they may have lost touch,” he said.

He explained that this necessitated the decision to withdrawal security from unauthorised persons who use police orderlies for personal aggrandisement rather than as a result of a real threat to their lives. Such people, he said, should find other ways to secure themselves.

Arase further disclosed that deployment of policemen for guard duties had ensured that out of the about 305, 000 policemen engaged by the government, only about 150,000 were available for core duties.

He added that 40,000 policemen across ranks were due to attend promotion courses which he would ensure as soon as funding is available.

Lack of hospital bed at the University of Port harcourt Teaching Hospital(UPTH) lead to the unjustifiable death of this 200L student of Uniport...

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, will on Monday lead the Nigerian delegation to participate in the 4th United Nations Conference of Parliamentary Heads holding at the organisation’s headquarters in New York, United States.

This is contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to Senate President on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu released in Abuja.

The statement said that the Senate President is billed to address the session of the world forum on Wednesday September 2 and later hold a press conference immediately after the speech.

It said that this year’s conference which will be declared open by the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, will feature presentation of reports and general debate on “placing democracy at the service of peace and sustainable development.”

It said that other issues billed for debate include ‘Challenges facing Parliaments today’, ‘Parliamentary Oversight: challenges and opportunities ‘, while a bi-lateral meeting with Dr. Saraki is expected to be hosted by the Speaker of the Israeli Parliament (Knesset), Mr. Yuli-Yoel Edelstein.

It added that the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) and selected Heads of Parliaments (GLOBE International Representation) are also expected to meet on the sidelines of the conference.

Saraki is accompanied on the trip by Senators Andy Uba, Shehu Sani and Dino Melaye.

Others on the entourage include Special Adviser to the Senate President on Economic Matters, Dr. Uchendu Okoye and Special Assistant on Public Partnerships.

It said that the Saraki and his team departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for New York on Saturday ahead of the conference which begins on Monday 31st August 2015 and ends on Wednesday September 3, 2015.