₦airaland Forum

The All Progressives Congress Kaduna State Campaign
Council on Wednesday suspended its rally for the
Kaduna Central Senatorial District, also know as zone
two.
The rally, which is slated for Saturday, has been shifted
because of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential
rally, scheduled to take place on the same day.
The Director-General of the Kaduna APC Campaigm
Council, Mr Ben Kure l, said though the APC had long
planned its campaign rally for the same day, the party
decided to shift the rally because of its commitment to
peace.
“Our teeming supporters always make our rallies
colourful with their passion and enthusiasm. We have a
duty to avoid having them on the streets when a rival
party is doing a rally,” he said.
Kure also urged the party supporters to continue to be
peaceful and avoid responding to provocative
statements from the ruling PDP.
According to him, it is expected of supporters to
respect the members and supporters of other political
parties’ as fellow citizens and residents, who just
happen to have different political parties.
“The APC has momentum and its supporters are focus
on the party message. Our supporters must continue to
shun any act of stoning, pelting or any manifestation of
intolerance or violence,” he said.
He thanked the people of zone one, otherwise known as
Northern Senatorial zone, for the successful campaign
in the area.
“From Kudan to Lere, Kubau, Soba, Sabon-Gari to Zaria,
the people showed that the APC is their firm choice. We
thank them for embracing the message of change,” he
said.


source: http://www.punchng.com/news/kaduna-apc-postpones-rally-for-jonathan/#comments

Troops in Maiduguri, Borno State, ‘mistakenly’ opened
fire on the convoy of Governor Kashim Shettima as it
approached a military garrison near the airport.
Shettima was on his way to visit soldiers, who were
wounded in the simultenous Boko Haram attacks on
Maiduguri, Monguno and Kodunga when the incident
occurred on Monday.
Security sources, according to SaharaReporters, said
the governor’s protocol unit was to blame for the
incident as it failed to notify the military authorities
about Shettima’s intention to visit the military facility on
Monday evening.
An aide to the governor was quoted by the online news
portal as having said that the governor, who was
unharmed in the encounter, returned to his office
unruffled.
The report however did not say if anyone in the convoy
was hurt. It also was silent on whether or not Shettima’s
security aides returned fired.
A Government House source however claimed that the
governor’s convoy heard sporadic gunshots about one
kilometre from the 33 Battalion and therefore made a
U-turn.
He added that Shettima stopped his convoy at the 707
Housing Estate to calm tensions and debunk the
rumours that the gunshots were by Boko Haram
insurgents that were attacking people at Njimtilo.
Our correspondents could not get the spokesman for
the 7th Div., Col S.K. Usman, to comment on the issue
as calls to his mobile did not connect.
Attempts to also get the reaction of the Director of Press
and Communication to the governor, Mallam Isa Gusau,
were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
Calls to his mobile indicated that it was either switched
off or out of coverage area.
But the state Commissioner for Infromation,
Mohammed Bulama, said what happened was a
“friendly gunshot.”
“It was not an attack on the governor. It was a friendly
gunshot that was not directed at Gov. Shettima nor his
convoy. The shots were fired into the air by soldiers
who were hailing the governor for saluting their effort
in repelling the insurgents.”
Fleeing residents of Monguno on Tuesday told The
PUNCH in Maiduguri, that corpses of people were
decomposing on the streets of the captured town.
One of them, Babagana Modu, who arrived in
Maiduguri on Monday evening, said, “The pathetic thing
is that our dead family members are allowed to
decompose on the streets without burial.
“The fools (insurgents) are treating us worse than an
animal. Definitely, these people do not know any God.”
A woman, Yagana Mohammed, who lost her husband
and two children to the attack, said she would have
preferred to die too.
She said, “I would have liked to be killed with my dead
husband rather than living with the memory of the day
he was slaughtered. The matter is made worse by the
fact that there would be no grave for me to show to my
other surviving children.
“How will I explain to them when they grow up that
their father and brothers were slaughtered and left to
rot on the streets.”
The military is however still engaging the insurgents in a
battle to reclaim the town.
It was gathered that more troops were deployed in the
town with an instruction to chase the terrorists out .
“As I am speaking to you our men are still engaging the
insurgents and hopefully they will push them back soon
and allow the people of the town to return home,” a
military source told The PUNCH.
Meanwhile, a suspected Boko Haram bomb maker has
been arrested by security operatives in Potiskum, Yobe
State.The man, identified simply as Ba’na, is suspected to
be behind the fabrication of explosives used in a series
of Boko Haram suicide attacks.
According to an Agence France Presse report on
Tuesday, the suspect was arrested with nine
accomplices.
“He confessed to being responsible for the manufacture
of the explosives used in at least three suicide attacks
and the car explosion outside the divisional police
station,” a police officer told the AFP .
Ba’na was said to have moved to Potiskum from
Damaturu three years ago and worked as a stonemason
and water vendor before getting married.
“He was quite good at his disguise and his mason and
water vending jobs gave him perfect cover,” the officer
said.
But the spokesman for the Nigerian Police Force,
Emmanuel Ojukwu, told the news agency that he did
not have any information on the arrest.
Potiskum, the commercial capital of Yobe State, has
been hit by a wave of bombings in recent months,
including a suicide attack on a secondary school in
November in which 58 people were killed.



source: http://www.punchng.com/news/soldiers-open-fire-on-borno-governors-convoy-in-error/

The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has berated
Governor Ayodele Fayose for the arrest of students’
leaders who participated in the campaign rally of the
party’s presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu
Buhari, in the state on Saturday.
According to the opposition party, the National Vice-
President, External, National Association of Nigerian
Students, Tosin Ogunkuade, has been arrested on the
order of the governor for addressing the crowd during
Buhari campaign in the state on Saturday.
A statement by the APC state Publicity Secretary, Taiwo
Olatubosun, said Ogunkuade’s offence was that the
student leader highlighted the challenges facing the
Nigerian students, saying the present government was
not capable of addressing the hardships being faced by
the students in accessing quality education.
“He said to the applause of hundreds of students in
attendance that Buhari presented a better hope for
students in their educational pursuits,” Olatubosun said.
But Fayose said that those arrested were the APC thugs
caught with dangerous weapons and recruited by one
APC member in the House of Representatives to
terrorise supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party in
Erijiyan and Ikogosi-Ekiti.
Olatubosun said thugs trailed Ogunkuade to Ikogosi-
Ekiti just 24 hours after he spoke, “where he and other
students were seriously injured after they were attacked
with machet and other dangerous weapons.
“After these students were attacked at Ikogosi, they ran
to Efon-Alaye Police Station to report the matter. To our
surprise, the police detained them before they were
transferred to Aramoko-Ekiti Police Station.
“To our shock again, just this morning, one of their
colleagues, Damilare Bewaji, who went to visit them at
the Aramoko Police Station, was also arrested and
detained by the police on the order of the governor,”
he added.
Olatunbosun described the arrest as one in the series of
other attacks on the APC sympathisers and supporters
after Saturday’s campaign.
“Just this morning, the home of a former Commissioner
for Finance under Governor Kayode Fayemi, Dapo
Kolawole, escaped being razed on the order of the
governor.
“His offence was that he pasted the APC flags and
posters of the party’s candidates on his building and
Fayose does not want to see these posters on his way to
Ijurin where he is billed to install the Oba of the town.
The thugs shot at Mr. Kolawole’s compound as well as
that of his father, Pa Kolawole.
“It is curious that the students, who were the
complainants, are now being turned into the accused,
as the police are being forced to slam criminal charges
against the innocent students.”
The APC spokesman urged the police to stop being
partisan in the handling of political crisis in the state
while he reminded the governor that he did not have
the monopoly of violence.
However, Fayose in a statement by his Special Assistant
on Public Communications and New Media, Lere
Olayinka, announced that four APC thugs had been
arrested by the police.
“The thugs were arrested with guns, axes, cutlasses and
other dangerous weapons while trying to escape
through Efon-Alaaye at about 3am today.
“The thugs were Odebunmi Idowu (from Ilupeju-Ekiti),
Aliyu Yusuf (from Ibadan), Oladayo Obikoya (from
Ikogosi) and Ogunkuade Oluwatosin (a.k.a Jasper).
“They were arrested in a red-coloured Nissan Sunny
with registration number Ekiti AH 176 EFY, and were
moved to the Aramoko-Ekiti Police Station, where they
were detained briefly before they were moved to the
Police Headquarters, Ado-Ekiti,” the statement said.


source: http://www.punchng.com/news/apc-fayose-clash-over-student-leaders-arrest/

Top security officials just confirmed to SaharaReporters
that Islamist fighters today overwhelmed the 243
battalion of the Nigerian Army stationed at Monguno
Barracks. The insurgents killed an undetermined
number of soldiers and wounded the brigade
commander of the barracks.
Our sources said soldiers who put up resistance to the
invading insurgents were killed, adding that many
soldiers then ran in different directions. They disclosed
that 1,400 soldiers were stationed at the barracks at
the time of the attack, adding that military authorities
were not aware of their exact whereabouts or how
many of them had been killed. “We still don’t know
what has happened to them [soldiers], but we know
that Boko Haram now controls the barracks and
Monguno town,” one officer based in Abuja confirmed.
Despite the losses, Nigerian Defense Headquarters said
the military was conducting air raids around the
besieged barracks, adding that soldiers had to tactically
withdraw from the town due to injuries sustained by
the brigade commander and others.
Contrary to our earlier report that Nigerian troops had
repelled attacks on the barracks, our sources said the
military facility had fallen to the Islamist terrorists.
“They [Boko Haram] have gained full control of the
barracks, together with all the weapons there,” one
senior military source told us over the phone.
The source echoed a statement by another military
source in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State, that the
Islamist fighters had killed many soldiers and a huge
number of civilians in Monguno.
Monguno town, home of the overrun barracks, is 85
miles from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.
Boko Haram began attacking Monguno and Maiduguri
simultaneously since last night, but Nigerian troops
succeeded in repelling them from Maiduguri. After an
intense battle in the state capital that lasted several
hours, Nigerian troops were able to repel the insurgent
attack. Nigerian troops said they had killed more than
100 Islamist fighters in the Maiduguri offensive.


source: http://saharareporters.com/2015/01/25/boko-haram-sacks-monguno-barracks-fate-1400-soldiers-unknown

A group of ex-militants in the Niger Delta, led by
Government Ekpemopulo (aka Tompolo), on Friday met
in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, and threatened
war over what they described as coordinated attacks on
the campaign team of President Goodluck Jonathan in
some Northern States. The group vowed to resort to
violence and engage in armed confrontation with
anyone or group plotting to derail Mr.Jonathan’s
second term ambition.
Those who attended the meeting, held at the Banquet
Hall of the Bayelsa State Government House, included
Kingsley Kuku, a special adviser to the president and
chairman of the presidential amnesty program, Mujahid
Asari Dokubo, Mr. Ekpemopulo, Victor Ben Ebikabowei
(aka Boy Loaf), Eris Paul, also known as General
Ogunboss, and Pastor Reuben.
Addressing the gathering in Ijaw language, Mr.
Ekpemopulo, better known by his nickname of Tompolo,
said he would not dwell on the recent cases of
intimidation and attacks on President Goodluck
Jonathan, but called on the youths and the political
figures from the region to forgive one another and
forge a united front. “Let us unite and within seven
days, you will see what will happen,” he said.
The participants acknowledged that various issues had
polarized members of the Ijaw ethnic group since Mr.
Jonathan’s ascension as president, but they urged the
youths of the region to work towards the re-election of
President Jonathan in the February 14 presidential
election.
Mr. Asari Dokubo, an unrepentant militant who has
often invoked war if Mr. Jonathan was voted out, told
the gathering that the recent stoning of President
Goodluck Jonathan's campaign convoy by youths from
some Northern States was an open declaration of war.
“This action is calling the Niger Delta youths to war,” he
said.
Mr. Dokubo added: “Every Niger Delta youth should go
and prepare for war. For the past four days, I have not
slept well nor have I had a change of clothing. I have
not been to my house. This is the time. The Northern
youths are trying to know how important you are. After
this time, no one will play with us. After the 2015
[election], no governor will play with us. We are saying
we will fight with anything and everything that we have.
Ijaw people cannot continue to suffer while other
people enjoy.”
In his speech, Victor Ben Ebikabowei, the former deputy
commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of
the Niger Delta (MEND), declared that his recent
decision to resign from the administration of Governor
Seriake Dickson as director general of the state’s Youths
Development Center, was based on the anticipated “call
to war.” “All of us are strategists. I am not a politician
and no politician can I intimidate me. I resigned my
appointment because I know this day will come,” he
said.
He added: “They want to use the issue of insecurity
along the waterways of the Niger Delta to keep us busy.
And today, they are intimidating our own [Jonathan]. I
am Boy Loaf. I have retired but not tired. I will go back
to the creeks if possible. Whether they like it or not,
President Goodluck Jonathan will win. Now that the oil
is below $50 per barrel, they want to use Boko Haram
to take power. If they take power, we will demand for
all the years of benefiting from oil. Nobody can
intimidate the Niger Delta. Gone are the days you
[could] intimidate people with the rifle."
Mr. Kuku, who read the resolutions of the meeting,
announced that the youths of the region had resolved
to support the re-election of President Goodluck
Jonathan and would not take lightly any attacks on the
campaign entourage of the president.


source: http://saharareporters.com/2015/01/24/ex-militants-regroup-bayelsa-threaten-war-if-jonathan-loses-election

Lagos based lawyer, Festus Keyamo, has urged
Nigerians not to be deceived by the lies of the Goodluck
Jonathan campaign organization against the All
Progressive Congress, APC, presidential candidate,
Muhammadu Buhari.
Mr. Keyamo said the president and his handlers have
failed to understand that the 2015 presidential election
was not about human rights or religious issues, but
about insecurity, corruption and the economy.
Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES earlier in the week, Mr.
Keyamo said, “It is not a campaign that should be
dominated by human rights record because that is not
an issue now because we have a competition in place.
Chapter 4 has not been suspended, unlike in 1984.
Now, this campaign is dominated by two centre things –
there is a third one that is also crucial – which are
insecurity, corruption and of course the issues of the
economy is hanging in there too. So, let us be clear in
making our decision. We know exactly what we are
doing. This not a campaign that should be dominated
by human rights record; that is where the PDP is getting
it wrong.”
He said it was time for Nigerians to realize that Mr.
Jonathan had no clue or idea on how to run Nigeria. He
added that the country was at a crossroad and needed
a commander-in-chief at the helms of affair.
“This is the time we need a commander-in-chief in this
country. At some other time when we want to be
chopping cabbage, maybe Jonathan can come back,”
Mr. Keyamo said. “But I cannot entrust the next four
years of my life, my children, under the smoke of
ethnicity in the hands of Jonathan. He has no clue, he
has no idea of how to take this nation out of the hands
of insurgents.
“It is under a Jonathan administration that insurgencies
germinated, grew and dominated us because he does
not have the knowledge either historically, learning by
training or simple intelligence to understand the
dynamics of war. This is what concerns us all, our lives
and property, the primary duty of government – he
does not have it and that is why whatever his military
chiefs tell him, he takes. They are all feeding fat on the
situation and because of the issue of corruption the so-
called ex-generals are all part of the game.
“Ask yourself these questions: for the five years of
insurgency where do these insurgents come from?
Where are these camps? The Nigerian Air Force, Army,
Nigerian Navy cannot find and destroy them? It is an
indelicate mix of incompetence and corruption on the
part of government.”
He noted that a part of the country had been annexed
by the insurgents and this happened under Mr.
Jonathan’s watch.
“Look at what is happening in other parts of the world,
they nip (terrorism) in the bud, they do not allow it to
grow. Here, it has become a daily affair. Even in Kenya,
there is insurgency but you hear of it once in a while.
Before Jonathan, there has not been a total control of a
territory by insurgents but under Jonathan they have
achieved that.”
Mr. Keyamo said it was not possible for Mr. Buhari to
“islamize” Nigeria and rule like a dictator as the
constitution was still in place and other arms of
governments were there for checks and balances.
“There is the National Assembly and you have to get an
average of two third of all the House of Assemblies
across the federation,” he said. “There is a constitution
that states that Nigeria shall be a secular state, so you
have to amend the constitution. When they feed the
country with all these rubbish it makes me cry. There is
absolutely no truth in it.
“And then, I was shocked the other day when Pastor
Tunde Bakare said all the aides of Buhari are Christians
– the driver of many years is a Christian, the cook of
many years is a Christian.
“This is a campaign that is so clear that it is between
black and white and they are trying to create a shade of
gray.”
He noted that times have changed since Mr. Buhari first
ruled as head of state.
“We have a constitution that enables Chapter 4. The
first thing the military does when they get into power is
to put ouster clauses and form decrees in respect of the
court, like Degree 2 is an ouster clause. These were the
decrees and rules Buhari operated with. Now, times
have change, things have change, that it is practically
impossible for anybody to come in and suspend human
rights. That means that person cannot be president.”
War on corruption
The Delta State born lawyer reiterated that Mr. Jonathan
was not sincere with his anti-corruption fight. He
questioned the supposed plan by the president to fight
corruption if re-elected.
“After six years, he is just planning,” Mr. Keyamo said.
“All the president represents about anti-corruption has
come together in one singular act in the appointment of
Femi Fani Kayode as director of media and publicity for
his campaign organization. This a campaign dominated
by the team of corruption, a person facing trial for
money laundry. We have a problem of corruption and
corrupt members are dominating this team. If (the
United States President, Barack Obama) does this that is
the end of Obama.”
Mr. Keyamo insisted that Mr. Jonathan had “no
appetite” to fight corruption.
“He went to the east and said Jim Nwobodo should be
prosecuted according to the volume of money he
allegedly stole; if it’s too much the government would
look into it, if not they would have to let him go.
“That is the president’s view on fighting corruption.
After six years he wants to use technology to fight
corruption. This man is a joke.”
Mr. Keyamo said some parts of the media, but not
PREMIUM TIMES, were complicit by “burying” stories on
corrupt leaders.
Fayose’s infamous advertorial
Mr. Keyamo condemned the advertorial by the Ekiti
State Governor, Ayo Fayose, suggesting the possible
death in power of Mr. Buhari if elected.
“That advertorial is spiritually offensive, politically
incorrect,” he said, calling it the product of a warped
mind.
“Is it the age that is more important than the character,
or the character is more important than the age? Which
is more important? Or do you want to put a man that is
35 and who is an armed robber? Or a prudent 90 years
old with integrity. We are getting it wrong.”
He said his decision to back Mr. Buhari came after a
careful study of the situation of things in Nigerian and
going by the falsehood he sees in the media, it was time
to stop fence-sitting.
“If you look at the mass media now, the volume of
falsehood that is being fed to the people lately is so
sickening. You will see fraud in the faces of those
supposedly singing out achievement all just to swindle
people to get their votes. For some of us who sit down
to look at these things just keep getting angry because
people who do not have access to facts, who do not
have access to figures, who do not have access to
history can be easily misled.
“There is a problem on ground and except we cry out
from now to February 14 – I am ready to leave my
work, leave my office and go on a campaign against this
government. I can leave my life in their hands. Like (Mr.
Jonathan) said, Americans supported George Bush (in
the war on terror) so let us also support this
government. But people are dying every day in Nigeria.
Are people dying every day in America?”
Mr. Keyamo urged Nigerians to be careful as the
elections get closer. He also warned that security agents
not be used to rig elections. He said it was the character
of the ruling party to use security agents to rig, but
stated that while the PDP had the security agents, the
APC has the people.


source: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/features-and-interviews/175521-interview-president-jonathan-joke-festus-keyamo.html

Thousands of troops were seen from the Maiduguri
airport's Jos road leading to the shut down of major
roads and streets in the city. Several of the soldiers who
appeared well kitted with brand new rifles were
stationed five meters apart.
The development has made many residents uneasy as
they complain that soldiers have made it impossible to
move around the city making life more difficult for
them.
A journalist, Kolo Dala, told our correspondent that he
suffered a lot before he could reach the Government
House Maiduguri where he was to meet colleagues
because it took him more than an hour instead of
fifteen minutes to get there.
Another resident, Yusuf Usman, said he saw heavy
presence of military and policemen that looks better
kitted and battle-ready which made him wonder if Mr
President could deploy the troops to fight Boko Haram
so as to put an end to the insurgency that had put
Borno state in a virtual lockdown.


source: http://saharareporters.com/2015/01/24/thousands-troops-deployed-maiduguri-ahead-pdp-presidential-campaign-rally

The Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has
redeployed 14 Assistant Inspectors-General of Police to
various departments, zonal commands and formations
of the force.
One of them is the AIG in charge of Zone 7, Abuja, who
was moved to Lagos in what our correspondent
gathered was informed by the general elections.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu,
in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, however, said that
the exercise was due to the promotion of some senior
officers and vacancies occasioned by retirements.
Mbu, a former Rivers State Commissioner of Police, had
a running battle with Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Shortly
after he was transferred to the Federal Capital Territory
as CP in September last year, he described himself as a
lion who tamed ‘‘the leopard of Port Harcourt” in
apparent reference to the Rivers State governor.
As the CP in charge of the FCT, he issued a directive
banning the #BringBackOurGirls coalition from holding
street protests, but he was overruled by the then IG,
Mohammed Abubakar. The BBOG however sued the
police and the case was decided in their favour.
Just last week, he threatened to “bring down” any
community that killed policemen in the course of duty.
Others affected by the movements which took
immediate effect are Aderenle Shinaba, who goes to
Zone 4 in Makurdi, Benue State; Johnson Ogunsakin of
Training and Development; Zone 6, Calabar in Cross
River State; and Patrick Dokumor of the Nigerian
Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Jos in Plateau,
Zone 7, Abuja.
Ikemefuna Okoye of the Ogun State Command
Command goes to Zone 11, Osogbo in Osun State;
Kalafite Adeyemi (Commandant of the Police Staff
College, Jos, Plateau State), was deployed to the
Maritime Force Headquarters; Jubrin Adeniji of the
Maritime FHQ was moved to the 2i/C Force Criminal
Investigation Department, FHQ; and Olufemi Adenaike
of the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies
in Jos to the Training Unit of the FHQ.
Lawal Tanko of the Federal Operations was redeployed
to the Police Mobile Force, FHQ, Abuja; Ballah
Nasarawa of the Intelligence Unit to the Police Staff
College, Jos; and Umaru Manko of Zone 2, Lagos to
NIPSS Kuru.
Irimiya Yerima of NIPSS goes to the Communication
Department in FHQ, Abuja; and Mark Idakwo of Zone 6,
Calabar moves to Federal Operations, Abuja.
Those who were retained in their zones and formations
are Tambari Muhammed, AIG Zone 1, Kano; Mohammed
Abubakar, Zone 3, Yola; Musa Daura, Zone 5, Benin;
Christopher Dega, Zone 8,Lokoja; Usman Gwarry, Zone
9, Umuahia; Bala Hassan, Zone 10,Sokoto; Mohammed
Gana, Zone 12, Bauchi and Sule Mamman, AIG Force
Secretary, Abuja.
Others are Adisa Bolanta, Police Academy; Edgar
Nanakumo, Force Animal Branch; Sabo Ibrahim, Border
patrol; Wilfred Obute, Armament FHQ; Ibrahim
Maishanu, Force Info-tech; Yahaya Ardo, CTU, Abuja;
and Buhari Tanko, Special Duty.
In the statement by Ojukwu, Abba charged the affected
officers to bring their experience to bear on their new
postings and be more service-oriented in the discharge
of their duties.”
He also urged the public to help the police in ensuring
improved safety and security of the country.
Meanwhile, the Police Service Commission has
approved the promotion of CP Adenike Fehintola Abuwa
to the rank of AIG with immediate effect.


source: http://www.punchng.com/news/ig-sends-controversial-mbu-to-lagos-ahead-of-elections/

Cameroon said Wednesday its forces have freed a
German hostage kidnapped six months ago in Nigeria
by Boko Haram, as African leaders appealed to the
United Nations for support in fighting the Islamist
militants.
“A special operation led by Cameroonian armed forces
along with security services of friendly nations
succeeded this night (Tuesday) in freeing Nitsch
Eberhard Robert, a German citizen abducted in Nigeria
in July 2014 by the Boko Haram sect,” the Cameroon
presidency said in a statement.
A spokesman for the German foreign ministry
confirmed the man’s release, adding that he was now in
Cameroon’s capital Yaounde.
No further details were immediately available about the
hostage or the raid itself, including where it took place.
The release was announced a day after Boko Haram’s
leader Abubakar Shekau mocked African leaders who
were meeting in Niger to try to forge a united front
against the Islamists.
“African kings… I challenge you to attack me now. I am
ready.”
Boko Haram — which has been waging a brutal
insurgency in Nigeria since 2009 — previously abducted
foreigners in Nigeria and Cameroon, but all have since
been released.
However, more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by the
militants in April last year in one of the most shocking
acts of their insurgency are still missing.
As news of the German’s rescue emerged, the African
Union announced it has asked the Security Council to
approve a mandate for a regional force and a fund to
help finance it.
“Boko Haram is a threat not only to Nigeria and the
region, but also to the continent as a whole,” AU head
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said in a statement.
Nigeria’s army has come under fire repeatedly for
failing to crush the militants, whose insurgency has left
13,000 people dead and forced 1.5 million from their
homes.
Boko Haram has also been stepping up attacks in
Nigeria and neighbouring Cameroon, where it abducted
dozens of people Sunday.
Niger said Wednesday the headquarters of the regional
African force set up to fight Boko Haram will now be
transferred to Chad after its base in the Nigerian border
town of Baga was overrun earlier this month by the
Islamist militants.
– Regional efforts hamstrung –
Chad is seen as having the most capable military in the
region and at the weekend sent a convoy of troops and
400 military vehicles into neighbouring Cameroon to
battle Boko Haram.
Two Cameroonian soldiers were wounded in heavy
clashes Tuesday with Boko Haram in the far north of
Cameroon, which borders Nigeria.
“We managed to repel the enemy,” a Cameroonian
military commander told AFP on condition of
anonymity. “We saw signs that made us think Boko
Haram lost men.”
Regional efforts to fight Boko Haram have been
hampered by Nigeria’s reticence, with Abuja looking
suspiciously on any foreign military intervention on its
soil.
“Nigeria feels it can take care of the problem itself, but
(Boko Haram) is no longer just impacting Nigeria, it’s an
issue for the whole region,” said an African diplomat
based in Ethiopia’s capital.
Nigeria and its neighbours held talks this week in
Niger’s capital Niamey on speeding up the creation of
the force to fight the militants.
Anger against the militants is growing in Cameroon, with
protesters hitting the capital’s streets Wednesday with
signs saying “Beat it Boko Haram,” and “I am Kolofata,”
in reference to town that has suffered repeated attacks
from Boko Haram.
The group’s leader Shekau claimed responsibility for the
assault on Baga in a video posted Tuesday which is
thought to have killed hundreds and is considered the
militants’ deadliest attack.
In his 35-minute message Shekau said: “We will not
stop. This is not much. You’ll see.


source: http://saharareporters.com/2015/01/21/cameroon-frees-german-abducted-nigeria-boko-haram

The Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has
redeployed 14 Assistant Inspectors-General of Police to
various departments, zonal commands and formations
of the force.
One of them is the AIG in charge of Zone 7, Abuja, who
was moved to Lagos in what our correspondent
gathered was informed by the general elections.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu,
in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, however, said that
the exercise was due to the promotion of some senior
officers and vacancies occasioned by retirements.
Mbu, a former Rivers State Commissioner of Police, had
a running battle with Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Shortly
after he was transferred to the Federal Capital Territory
as CP in September last year, he described himself as a
lion who tamed ‘‘the leopard of Port Harcourt” in
apparent reference to the Rivers State governor.
As the CP in charge of the FCT, he issued a directive
banning the #BringBackOurGirls coalition from holding
street protests, but he was overruled by the then IG,
Mohammed Abubakar. The BBOG however sued the
police and the case was decided in their favour.
Just last week, he threatened to “bring down” any
community that killed policemen in the course of duty.
Others affected by the movements which took
immediate effect are Aderenle Shinaba, who goes to
Zone 4 in Makurdi, Benue State; Johnson Ogunsakin of
Training and Development; Zone 6, Calabar in Cross
River State; and Patrick Dokumor of the Nigerian
Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Jos in Plateau,
Zone 7, Abuja.
Ikemefuna Okoye of the Ogun State Command
Command goes to Zone 11, Osogbo in Osun State;
Kalafite Adeyemi (Commandant of the Police Staff
College, Jos, Plateau State), was deployed to the
Maritime Force Headquarters; Jubrin Adeniji of the
Maritime FHQ was moved to the 2i/C Force Criminal
Investigation Department, FHQ; and Olufemi Adenaike
of the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies
in Jos to the Training Unit of the FHQ.
Lawal Tanko of the Federal Operations was redeployed
to the Police Mobile Force, FHQ, Abuja; Ballah
Nasarawa of the Intelligence Unit to the Police Staff
College, Jos; and Umaru Manko of Zone 2, Lagos to
NIPSS Kuru.
Irimiya Yerima of NIPSS goes to the Communication
Department in FHQ, Abuja; and Mark Idakwo of Zone 6,
Calabar moves to Federal Operations, Abuja.
Those who were retained in their zones and formations
are Tambari Muhammed, AIG Zone 1, Kano; Mohammed
Abubakar, Zone 3, Yola; Musa Daura, Zone 5, Benin;
Christopher Dega, Zone 8,Lokoja; Usman Gwarry, Zone
9, Umuahia; Bala Hassan, Zone 10,Sokoto; Mohammed
Gana, Zone 12, Bauchi and Sule Mamman, AIG Force
Secretary, Abuja.
Others are Adisa Bolanta, Police Academy; Edgar
Nanakumo, Force Animal Branch; Sabo Ibrahim, Border
patrol; Wilfred Obute, Armament FHQ; Ibrahim
Maishanu, Force Info-tech; Yahaya Ardo, CTU, Abuja;
and Buhari Tanko, Special Duty.
In the statement by Ojukwu, Abba charged the affected
officers to bring their experience to bear on their new
postings and be more service-oriented in the discharge
of their duties.”
He also urged the public to help the police in ensuring
improved safety and security of the country.
Meanwhile, the Police Service Commission has
approved the promotion of CP Adenike Fehintola Abuwa
to the rank of AIG with immediate effect.


SOURCE: http://www.punchng.com/news/ig-sends-controversial-mbu-to-lagos-ahead-of-elections/

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday said no
great leader would encourage youths to attack others
because of political differences.
Although, he was not specific, Jonathan was apparently
reacting to an attack on his convoy by some suspected
political thugs during his Tuesday visit to Katsina.
Speaking at the Aminu Kano Triangle Square, Dutse in
Jigawa State, in continuation of the Peoples Democratic
Party’s presidential campaign, Jonathan recalled that
past leaders harped on unity, unlike current leaders.
He said leadership should not be about intimidation.
He said, “Leadership is not about intimidating people, it
is not about threatening people.
“One thing about democracy is that people should be
free. Freedom is the hallmark of democracy, democracy
where you are not free, democracy where you will live
in bondage, is not democracy. Nigerians will never be
in bondage, this country must be united.
“Sule Lamido mentioned Aminu Kano; he talked about
Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello; these are
great Nigerian leaders that talked and spoke about
unity, encouraged the unity of this country.
“They never encouraged young people to attack others
because of political differences.
“We believe in one Nigeria and we just celebrated our
centenary as a nation. Nobody can disintegrate this
country, we will remain united.”
Jonathan restated his position that Nigeria, under his
watch, would overcome the challenges currently posed
by the Boko Haram sect.
He said his administration would not allow any person
or group to disintegrate the country.
In his remarks, Governor Sule Lamido alleged that those
who did not support the presidential candidate of the
All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari, in the
North were being vilified, called names and
blackmailed.
He said the only thing the APC had was Buhari’s
popularity.
Lamido added that the North was liberated by Aminu
Kano, regretting that leaders were being nsulted by the
youth of the region because they had different political
views from that of Buhari.


source: http://www.punchng.com/news/great-leaders-dont-ask-youths-to-attack-others-jonathan/#comments

Unidentified political thugs on Tuesday attacked the convoy of President Goodluck Jonathan in Katsina State during the continuation of his re-election campaign.

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), is from the state.

Trouble started when Jonathan, accompanied by Vice President Namadi Sambo; National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu; and Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State among others, decided to pay a courtesy visit to the late President Umoru Yar’Adua’s mother, Hajiya Dada.

As the President and members of his entourage made their way into the Yar’Adua Quarters, the brooms-wielding youths, who were suspected to be members of the APC, chanting “Sai Buhari,” surged forward.

Security agents had a hectic time dispersing the crowd.

The youths regrouped and again moved to attack the President’s convoy as he was ready to leave the residence after the visit.

Security agents fired tear gas canisters to disperse the youths to allow vehicles in the convoy speed off.

As the presidential delegation made their way towards the Katsina Airport, the youths hurled stones at the convoy.

No case of injury was however reported.

While addressing a rally earlier at the National Youth Service Corps Orientation Camp in the state capital, Jonathan had attributed his Presidency to the late President, who, he said, chose him as the Vice President in 2007.

For this reason, the President promised to always meet the needs of the people of the state before they ask.

“But for you, I would not have been here today. It was your own son that brought me as his deputy. Anything that you want from me, we will do it without you asking for it.” he said.

He listed some of the achievements of his administration to include the establishment of a federal university and establishment of Almajiri schools among others.

On security situation in parts of the country, Jonathan said, “We have challenges like many other countries in the world but we are still managing because of our focus. We will get through our challenges because we are working hard and you know it.”

Jonathan asked them to vote for him and Sambo to enable them to continue to work for the peace and progress of the state.

Earlier, while on a courtesy call on the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Usman, Jonathan recalled that his political odyssey at the centre started in Katsina when he became vice president to the late Yar’Adua.

SOURCE: http://www.punchng.com/news/hoodlums-stone-jonathans-convoy-in-katsina/

Petroleum Minister announces a reduction in pump price PMS from #97 = #87.This will be effected as from midnight.

Soure:NTA NEWS

more details later…….

Where were you when Governors pustrated for OBJ?

rexkexmilan:
Creating a thread is not compulsory.
If you ain't got Better information, you can as well humbly STFU!

hmm

Below are Some Quotes Gej made,some questions he asked and possible replys he likely never knew.

* “They said they will fight insecurity. When he (General
Buhari) was Head of State, did he buy one rifle for the
Nigerian soldiers?"..........No he didn't but not a single soldier was sentenced to death neither did they run from the battle front as witnessed twice in this administrastion for lack of equipments?

* "They refused to equip them. No attack
helicopter, nothing."…………He talks about attack chopper.Buhari may not have provided it but we never heard about Air-force Jet crash as compared to this administration were we've lost over 4-5 jets to insurgents.

* " "Under my govt, Nigerians did not queue for fuel.".........Is this statement really in order? OR has he forgotten that Pengassan went on strike due to his inability of maintaining the nations 3 surviving refineries.

* “I stand by due process. Any country that does not
respect due process is a jungle,”...............Does he really respect due process?Has he easily forgotten the initiator of NASS siege?What about the redrawal of Tambuwal security details?What about the attack on APC data centre? What about the arrest of Lai mohammed during osun state elections.?NIGERIA IS A JUNGLE!!!

* "Our economy is the biggest in Africa because we are planning."............ Nigeria is the third country in the world with the highest number of displaced persons(IDP's).Highest rate of unemployed youths leading to increased number of insurgent attack,Corrupt Govt officials acting in immunity.Indeed we are african's biggest economy.

* "I have no enemies."........... At least we can weigh this statements.After he rubbished Amaechi with the Army? This statement is out of context.

* "Under Buhari I queued up all night to buy two tins of
milk, as a Ph.D student.".........Gej was born on 1957.Was he a PHD student at 27?

* "I directed INEC yesterday that every Nigerian must
vote.".......... Every Nigerian can't vote.Indegenes in states pf APC strongholds are complaining of their inability of getting their PVC.

* "I plan to create at least 2 million jobs per year."..........If he couldn't do it since 2009-2015(6 years),how will he do it in 4 years?

* "They want to build prisons for you but we will build
schools, we will build universities, secondary schools and
primary schools."............ Well, we know who prisons are
meant for or is he afraid of something here?

* " If somebody tells you that the best way to fight
corruption is to arrest your uncle or father and show
him on television, well, you won’t stop corruption, you
will even encourage corruption. we must set up institutions,
strengthen them to prevent people from even touching
the money and that is what we are working on and we
are succeeding".Institutions? How many corrupt officials has he convicted? Is it about granting presidential pardon to a corrupt individual or dropping corruption charges against Abacha's son because he is in pdp?

* "We have scholarship for everybody but you must first of all make First Class from your university and then we test the best brains and send them to the best 25 universities in the world".….why not the best universities in Nigeria if he is indeed re-branding our Educational systems and universities?

* "I said we must establish these 12 universities in the
remaining 12 states, start as small universities and grow
and we have done that successfully and they are
growing gradually".……Does Delta state have a federal university?

Goodluck Jonathan is insulting the integrity and personality of nigerians.He may have immunity as a president but not anymore when het becomes an Ex.He has indeed played on our patience,but come FEBRUARY 14th,WE WILL SHOW HIM THE EXPRESS WAY TO OTUOKE.

(To be Continued on PT 3)

One of the 54 soldiers sentenced to death by a Nigerian
Army court martial for mutiny and conspiracy to
commit mutiny has taken to the social media to express
his frustration.
The soldier, who bears the name Fahat Fahat, posted on
his Facebook page on Friday that all the soldiers asked
for were better weapons.
“Hello ladies and gentlemen. I am soldier and I am
sentence to death by the Nigeria army (sic) (be)cause
we did not go to fight Boko Haram without equipment.
We ask for weapon instead dem gave death sentence
(sic),” he posted in a chilling message that gives a
firsthand insight into the likely state of mind of the
soldiers.
Fahat’s wall showed different pictures and posts of an
excited soldier. In one post, he said, “I am a commando
trooper, Jumper Canta Force Galopa Amphibios (sic).
Above I am a gorilla, the king of the jungle. I am trained
to kill the wicked. I am proud to be a killer. We do good
things to good people and bad things to bad people.
One man one bullet, sometimes, one man, one
magazine.”
But the tone of his messages seemed to change from
October 2014.
In a cryptic message on November 24, 2014, Fahal
posted in caps, “I am sick and tayerd with dis forking
alpha romeo mike yankee seriousely (sic)” Meaning: I
am sick and tired of this f****** Army seriously.
Another soldier, Fredrick Ayonronmi, who is Fahat’s
friend but not one of the convicted soldiers, also took
to Facebook to express happiness after an operation.
“Lord, thank you for my life, because I am a survivor of
Boko Haram attack in Vimtim Forest. After five days in
the bush, Lord I praise you,” his post read.


source: http://www.punchng.com/news/we-asked-for-better-weapons-got-death-sentence-condemned-soldier/

A chartered jet conveying former head of state
and a leading candidate of the opposition All
progressives Congress (APC), retired General
Muhammad Buhari was prevented from
landing in Makurdi today around 1pm.


A source close to the general told
Saharareporters that some 20 minutes before
landing, the pilot was informed that the jet did
not have permission to land in Makurdi, citing
an order from above.
Attempts by General Buhari’s handlers to speak
with aviation authorities failed as they claimed
persons involved in reversing the order could
no longer be reached by phone.
SaharaReporters reached out to Nigeria's
minister of aviation, Osita Chidoka, who
claimed he was not aware of such
developments.


source: http://saharareporters.com/2014/11/26/buhari’s-jet-barred-landing-makurdi

President of the Nigeria Football Federation,
Amaju Pinnick has given a hint that Super
Eagles coach Stephen Keshi won’t be fired by
his board, but rather would send him for a
refresher course abroad.
Upon announcing the sacking of Keshi a month
ago, Pinnick revealed the coach and his
assistant turned down the opportunity to go
for refresher courses to be sponsored by the
board.
Nigeria’s coach Stephen Keshi gives a press
conference at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba on
June 15, 2014, on the eve of their Group F
2014 FIFA World Cup football match against
Iran. AFP PHOTO
However, events took a different turn when an
order from the country’s president, Goodluck
Jonathan forced the NFF to reinstate the coach
and his technical crew.
According to Pinnick, his board is fully focused
on ensuring the Eagles prepare well for the
2017 AFCON and 2018 World Cup qualifiers by
sending the team handlers to new courses
abroad to broaden their scope and knowledge.
“In the short term package to reposition our
football we will send some of our coaches and
ex internationals to England for refresher
courses in match reading,” said Pinnick.
“They will also receive orientation abroad on
crisis management and other related courses
that would help us improve on the quality of
information to be given the coaches before,
during and after games.”
He also confirmed the Eagles will play most of
their friendly games at home starting with the
25 March 2015 friendly against Brazil at the
Uyo township stadium.
The idea of playing most of the proposed
friendly games in Nigeria is to showcase the
county’s huge tourism potential and culture as
a way of putting the country on a positive
footing in the eyes of the world.


source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/nff-send-keshi-refresher-course-abroad/

Vimtim, the hometown of the Chief of Defence
Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, in
Adamawa State, has been recaptured by the
Boko Haram insurgents.
Reports from the area indicated that before
the incident on Thursday, the troops on guard
and the residents fled the town, leaving the
insurgents to freely loot and burn properties.
The takeover of Vimtim came a day after Mubi,
the second biggest town in Adamawa, was
overrun by Boko Haram.
As of 11.am on Thursday major public places
in the deserted town like the Mubi
International Cattle Market, the local
government secretariat and some private
buildings were still in flames.
The state government dispatched over 100
buses to Mubi and its environs to move
trapped residents to the Internally Displaced
Persons Camp in Yola.
Governor Bala James Ngillari gave the order on
Thursday afternoon when concerned citizens of
Mubi briefed him on the current development
in the town and its neighbouring communities.
Their leader, Joshua Atiku, advised the
governor to consult with the Federal
Government on the possibility of Cameroonian
authorities allow fleeing people access into
their country.
Atiku disclosed that thousands of people
escaping into Cameroon were stranded in
border towns owing to the fact that the
Cameroonian gendarmes denied them entry.
Investigations however revealed that there are
concerns in military circles about the invasion
and taking over of Mubi by the insurgents.
It was gathered on Thursday that the top
leadership of the military were of the opinion
that the reason given by soldiers for their
“tactical withdrawal” from the commercial
town on Wednesday was less than satisfactory.
A source, who confided in one of our
correspondents, said that some of the events
in the battle for Mubi would become issues for
investigations soon.
The source added that the military leadership
were viewing the said “tactical withdrawal as
an act of cowardice and indiscipline.
He said, “You must note that enough arms and
ammunition were provided for these people
(soldiers); there were enough men and
weapons; also the issue of welfare was
adequately taken care of.
“Productivity is expected to be high when such
arrangements have been put in place. I can tell
you that reinforcement from other military
formations has been made.
“This issue of tactical withdrawal is being
viewed in high military circles as indiscipline
and cowardice even though there are clear
manifestations of exaggeration in some of the
incidents.”
Another military source told one of our
correspondents that the insurgents had as of
Thursday hoisted their flag at the palace of the
Emir of Mubi and other parts of the town.
He said that a medical doctor and owner of a
popular clinic in the town was among those
killed by the insurgents who also razed the EYN
‘Church One’. The church is said to be the
largest in Mubi.
Efforts to speak with the Director of Defence
Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, on the
capture of Mubi and recapturing of Vimtim
proved abortive as calls to his mobile
telephone did not connect.
A text message sent to him on the issues was
not replied by him as of 7pm on Thursaday.
Meanwhile, a source in the 23 Brigade of the
Nigerian Army, Yola has debunked reports that
some Nigerian soldiers fled the battle ground
in Adamawa to Cameroon on Wednesday and
Thursday.
“I don’t know which of the soldiers fled to
Cameroon but our soldiers actually retreated
for re-enforcement,” he told one of our
correspondents on the telephone.
However, More doubts have engulfed the state
of the ongoing peace talks between the Federal
Government and Boko Haram.
The Chief of Defence Staff had directed all
service chiefs ‘to comply with the ceasefire
agreement between Nigeria and Boko Haram in
all theatres of operations’ on October 17,
2014.
However, the declaration of the ceasefire has
been marred by vicious attacks by the sect.
On Thursday, some of the military chiefs
declined to comment on the ceasefire when
they were asked by journalists at the Defence
Headquarters in Abuja.
Efforts made by journalists to get the response
of the Minister of Defence Lt. Gen. Aliyu
Gusau, were not successful as he simply smiled
and went into his car.
However, when he was prodded further, he
referred the journalists to the CDS, who
according to him, would address the media on
the issue.
He said, “No, no, no, the CDS would speak to
you, the CDS would speak to you.”
But when the journalists who were gathered in
front of the Naval Headquarters sighted the
CDS as he left the venue of the inauguration of
the Naval Headquarters Extension Building, he
politely refused to make any comment.


source: http://www.punchng.com/news/boko-haram-recaptures-defence-chiefs-hometown/

Another significant fault the report found was
that a number of cash advances were used to
pay staff allowances. Cash advances for staff
training were also reportedly transferred into
the bank accounts of NPHCDA accountants,
amounts as high as N91 million (US$600k)
going to individual staff members. “The audit
noted instances of discrepancies between the
cash advance transferred to the accountants’
bank accounts and the amounts withdrawn by
the accountants for planned programme
activty Gavi says.
The Global Alliance for Vaccines and
Immunization (GAVI), a public-private global
health organization that assists with vaccine
procurement, yesterday released the findings
from an audit of $29 million USD in funding
given to Nigeria between 2011-2013.
The Programme Fiduciary Oversight team of
Gavi, which is based in Geneva, found that the
Nigerian Federal Ministry of Heath and the
National Primary Health Care Development
Agency (NPHCDA) were guilty of arrant
malpractice and fraud.
Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, immediate past
Nigerian Minister of Health
Photo Credit:
AP
The findings, released in Geneva, claim that the
funds—intended for procurement of vaccines
and health systems strengthening for children
in Nigeria—were badly misused.
“The report describes systemic weaknesses
regarding the operation of controls and
procedures in national systems used to manage
Gavi cash-based support,” Gavi stated.
Specifically, the report found that only an
approximate “40 per cent of the total
expenditure of N4.5bn (US$29m) in the period
2011-2013 was spent on procurement with the
main categories being: printing N919m (US $
5.8m); incinerators N184m (US $1.2m); drugs
N243m (US $1.6m); rehabilitation and
equipping of medical facilities N437m (US $
2.8m); other procurement N90m (US $397k),
motor vehicles N17.8 (US 113k).”
SaharaReporters extensively reviewed the final
report, noting that after the release of a
preliminary report of the audit, cash-based
support was suspended in April 2014.
“Remediation of the identified weaknesses will
need to be undertaken before disbursements
can start again,” the final report
recommended.
Disbursed funds that had not been used were
also frozen.
Following this, Gavi assigned UNICEF Nigeria to
supervise pediatric health systems
strengthening activities. “Gavi has asked
UNICEF Nigeria to oversee the implementation
of a limited number of activities that are
deemed critical to routine immunisation and
health system strengthening,” it said.
As part of its report, Gavi has officially called
for the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) to investigate the finding
and assure reimbursement of a portion of the
funds.
“Gavi and its partners have a zero tolerance on
the misuse of funds. When misuse is identified
Gavi requires reimbursement,” Gavi said.
“Inappropriate use of funds not only
undermines confidence in development
support but it means that the desired
beneficiaries, who often already live in
challenging circumstances, do not see much.”
“As a result of specific findings the
Government of Nigeria has agreed to repay
funds deemed to have been misused, which are
quantified as US$ 2.2 million.”
The audit presents major questions for both
the Nigerian Ministry of Health as well as
NPHCDA. Weak leadership, disorganization, and
conspiracy to commit fraud were all factors
that the health organization feels contributed
to the mismanagement of funding. “The audit
identified fundamental weaknesses in controls
around procurement including a lack of
segregation of duties, ineffective oversight, and
indications of collusion that created an
environment that Gavi believes resulted in
irregular activities.”
Among the irregular activities mentioned in the
report were weaknesses in the management of
disbursements to states.
In the year 2012, the total amount disbursed
to the states was US $2m, despite an approved
budget of US$3.2m. At the close of 2013, the
total amount of advances disbursed was US $
1.4m, despite an approved budget of US $
6.4m.
“At the states, zones and LGA level, the audit
noted delayed liquidation of advances and in
many instances, no liquidation at all. For
several states, advances remain outstanding for
months or years. As at 31 December 2013,
N157m (US$1m) was outstanding with N125m
(US $935k) outstanding for more than 12
months. At the zone level, as at 31 December
2013, N37m (US $239k) was outstanding for
more than six months.
Failure to properly track and ensure taxes
were properly and justly paid was also a
substantial issue.
The report said, “Total tax remitted to the
Federal Internal Revenues Services (FIRS) for
the period 2011–2013 according to the bank
mandates was N62m (US$390,000) for Value
Added Tax (VAT) and N89m (US$560,000) for
Withholding Tax (WHT). The audit was unable
to verify that payments were correctly made to
the relevant tax authorities: specific accounts
are not maintained in the accounting system
for VAT and WHT to record and monitor the
taxes paid.”
Another significant fault the report found was
that a number of cash advances were used to
pay staff allowances. Cash advances for staff
training were also reportedly transferred into
the bank accounts of NPHCDA accountants,
amounts as high as N91 million (US$600k)
going to individual staff members.
“The audit noted instances of discrepancies
between the cash advance transferred to the
accountants’ bank accounts and the amounts
withdrawn by the accountants for planned
programme activity,” Gavi says.
As a result of the findings, the oversight team
made an extensive amount of
recommendations to the organization.
The most significant of these was a full audit
of all high-risk expenditures in prior years.
“Because of the identified weaknesses in
controls and indications of misuse, Gavi will
undertake a full-scale audit to cover both
select, high-risk expenditures in prior years,
and other expenditure from the period
2011-2013 not examined in the course of this
audit,” the report stated. Gavi also made clear
their intent to seek repayment for missing
monies through the EFCC.
While the Nigerian medical entities implicated
in the report did not speak to the press on the
matter, an October 17 letter titled Letter of
Understanding on the Principles regarding the
Gavi Cash Program Audit 2011-2013” and
signed by immediate past Minister of Health,
Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu acknowledged
weaknesses in the management of Gavi funds.
The letter, which was written in response to
preliminary reports, assured Gavi that the
Nigerian government would refund
misappropriated money and would welcome
further audits of Gavi funding.
The letter also promised steps would be put in
place to deter corruption and increase
accountability. “In response to the CPA, the
Ministry of Health and NPHCDA have
introduced a number of measures to
immediately enhance the transparency and
accountability of systems. These include the
upgrading of the Internal Audit Unit to a
department empowered to undertake physical
verification; the introduction of routine checks
to validate that purchased assets have been
delivered and installed appropriately across
the country; and the computation of a fixed
asset register."
The letter furthers, “The Ministry of Health and
Gavi appreciate the role of partners,
particularly UNICEF and WHO, in channelling
Gavi funds during the transitional period while
the executing entities are strengthening their
capabilities. For the longer term, the
appointment of a fiduciary agent was agreed to
oversee the financial management of Gavi’s
grants at both federal and state levels.
The appointment of a fiduciary agent to
oversee the financial management of Gavi’s
grants to Nigeria, at both federal and state
levels, has also been agreed between Gavi and
the Government of Nigeria. The fiduciary agent
will also be tasked to help remediate the
weaknesses identified at Nigeria’s National
Primary Health Care Development Agency.
“This appointment will also support the
enhancement of executing entities’ capacities
to strengthen systems of transparency and
accountability,” the statement concluded.


source: http://saharareporters.com/2014/10/30/nigerias-ministry-health-others-mismanage-29-million-meant-vaccination-children—auditors

KADUNA – Well known Islamic Cleric, Sheik Dr.
Ahmed Gumi has foretold of violence should
President Goodluck Jonathan go on to contest
and win the 2015 Presidential election.
Gumi made this known in an open letter he
wrote the President yesterday and made
available to Vanguard in Kaduna.
Reads the letter: “We have never met despite
the fact that we were all born and we lived for
more than half a century in this great vast
country Nigeria. It’s here we all grew up and
were educated and I presume except by divine
prudence it’s here that we will all be buried.
“So what truly matters is the legacy that we
will bequest our children and the next
generation of Nigerians to come. We will not
want it a burnt country with hundreds of
thousands dead, maimed or displaced people
because of the thoughtlessness and
recklessness of its stewardship.
“Nigeria today is a single railway line with two
heavily loaded trains spending towards each
other in opposite direction.
“You need to come out of the cocoon and face
the reality. Denial of the truth can never solve
problems.
“Mr. President, from what I heard from people
who are close to you, is that you are humble
with a soft heart. But still humility is never
enough for an effective leadership. Leadership
is about listening and taking the good advices
from people of wisdom not from those that
benefit from you or have any agenda other
than the unity and progress of this Nation.
“The mantle of the leadership of this country
was given to you under oath. Almost four years
ago you swore to protect ‘the interest of the
sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well-being
and prosperity of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria’. You said: ‘ I will not allow my
personal interest to influence my official
conduct or my official decisions; and ‘I will do
right to all manner of people, according to
law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-
will’
“Unfortunately, many people including me
before God believe you broke some of your
oath. I’ll only need to refer you back to the
honest open letter advice you were given by
your political godfather. You appear more Ijaw
than Nigerian. It’s seldom fathers will deceive
their children. Yet you never listen. And sadly
by your recalcitrance you are dangerously
leading this nation to chaos and turmoil that
only God knows were it will end.
“Muslims have officially registered to you on
occasions your partiality. Northern groups
have complained about your bias. The youth
about your neglect.
“You have divided the nation gravelly on the
religious divided. Already we heard a call in a
church that you are now a savior. Now, not of
Nigeria but the church in Nigeria. With this
religious zeal on both sides, each side looking
at the wrong people for salvation the nation is
heading towards disaster.
“My fellow country man, it’s unfortunate that
your stand on many issues have made you into
a polarizing figure while the exalted office you
occupy needs a nationalistic one. Surely with
the Christian votes and northern PDP followers
you can win another election but you will also
set the nation into another turmoil because
that segment of the nation that rejects you do
so because they believe rightly or wrongly you
are involved negatively in the Boko Haram
Saga. The natural thing any good leader will do
in this situation is to step down for a person
all the segments of the nation will have
confidence with for their well-being. A credible
person that will not stir apprehension. The
decision is not about your rights but about
responsibility.
“Therefore as you pray in the Holy Land seek
for God’s indulgence to show you the light of
honor and do the right thing. It’s God’s
command that Nigeria stay united and ‘what
therefore God hath joined together, let not
man put asunder’.
“A word of wisdom says: ‘He who consults is
never disappointed and he who seeks God’s
choice never regret’ so please don’t brush it
aside call men of wisdom to advice you too.
“I for a start, I am hereby candidly advising
you to relinquished your presidential ambition
because of peace, stability and well being of
millions of innocent Nigerians. There are many
politicians that can ‘finish’ it on your behalf.
The PDP can present Akpabio or Obi or Orji
etc.
“I rest my case here.
“Ahmad Gumi”


source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/2015-jonathans-re-election-will-set-nigeria-ablaze-gumi/

Abuja – The Chris Giwa-led board of Nigeria
Football Association (NFA) has taken charge as
ruled by the judiciary, a member of the board,
Yahaya Adama, said on Friday in Abuja.
Adama told newsmen at the Glass House
secretariat of the NFA the board has returned
to power as demanded by the court and was
“ready to save the Nigerian game”.
Justice Ambrose Alagoa of the Federal High
Court in Jos had on Thursday annulled the
Sept. 30 NFA elections in Warri.
He had also declared as null and void the NFA
Elective Congress held on that day, thereby
restoring to power the Giwa-led board which
was elected in Abuja on Aug. 26.
The decision had meant the board led by
Amaju Pinnick should vacate office.
Adama, who was at the Glass House in
company of another board member, Sani
Fema, to await the board chairman, Chris
Giwa, said the board had immediately swung
into action.
“Immediately after the court ruling on
Thursday, the board led by Giwa had met in Jos
to discuss emerging issues affecting Nigerian
football.
“The board consequently reviewed a number of
decisions taken in recent days at the NFA, one
of them being the issue of the Super Eagles’
technical crew.
“Also, the board nullified all decisions taken by
the Pinnick-led team since Sept. 30. All
committees appointed by the illegal NFA board
have been dissolved,’’ he said.
Adama said further that the board felt “so
strongly about sustaining the out-of-contract
assignment given to the Stephen Keshi-led
Super Eagles technical crew.
“This is a very critical moment, and Nigerians
want the national team to play well, win and
be a pride to them. This calls for greater hard
work from the coaches.
“They (the team) must win the remaining
qualifying matches against Congo Republic and
South Africa for Nigeria to be at the 2015
African Nations Cup finals.
“Emphasis now is supposed to be on
concentration for the two games,’’ he said.
The NFA board member said the board has
made interim appointments into four
committees in view of the short time available
for the 2013/2014 season to end.
“The Match Commissioners’ Appointments
Committee has Adama Yahaya as Chairman,
Patimidi Tukuru, Prof. Abu Mallam and
Donatus Mbaezue as members, and Emmanuel
Adesanya as Secretary.
“The Referees Committee has Suleiman Muazu
as Chairman, Sunday Audu, Ahmed Maude and
Chidi Offor as members, and Sunday Okayi as
Secretary.
“The Disciplinary Committee has Iyke Igbokwe
as Chairman, Abdulkareem Ibrahimand Andrew
Abah as members, and Lawrence Katken as
Secretary, while Appeals Committee has Leye
Adepoju as Chairman, Godwin Odekina and Ray
Nnaji as members, and Okey Obi as Secretary,’’
he said.(NAN)


source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/giwa-led-nfa-board-takes-charge-nullifies-pinnick-led-board-decisions/

The Sudanese Ambassador to Nigeria Dr.
Tagelsir Ali is dead, the country’s embassy
confirmed on Friday in Abuja.
The Media Adviser to the embassy, Mr.
Mohammed Abdulrahman, told the News
Agency of Nigeria that Ali, 66, died at about
1am on Friday at the National Hospital, Abuja.
“He had malaria; there were some
complications and he passed away around 1
am early this morning.
“There is a Presidential jet coming by 5 pm to
take the remains to Sudan for burial.
“He was 66 years old. He loved working in
Nigeria and had zeal to develop the bilateral
relationship between Sudan and Nigeria and
was able to stretch himself very well,” he said.
Abdulrahman said that the embassy had
received many visitors since the diplomat’s
demise was announced, adding that a
condolence register had been opened for him
at the embassy.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Mr. Martin Uhomoibhi, said that the
ministry was aware of the ambassador’s death.
Ali was posted to Nigeria in February, 2012.


source: http://www.punchng.com/news/sudanese-ambassador-to-nigeria-dies-in-abuja/

…NFF appeals
Nigeria is in danger of another FIFA ban after a
court ruled that elections that ushered in Delta
FA chairman Amaju Pinnick as president of the
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) last month
were illegal.
World football governing body FIFA have
warned that should anything hinder the newly-
elected NFF executive committee led by Pinnick
from operating, they will move for an
automatic ban for the country till the next
FIFA congress in May.
On Thursday, Justice Ambrose Allagoa of the
Federal High Court Jos ruled against the NFF
elections in Warri of September 30 as well as
the congress preceding it because they were
against his orders.
“I have set aside all the proceedings and
decisions of the Warri Extra Ordinary meeting
of the 20th September and the Elective
Congress of 30th September which were direct
contravention of the orders of this court as
granted on the 19th September,” said Justice
Allagoa.
“Nobody should foist on the court a complete
case of hopelessness so that the principles of
law and justice can be upheld. Its not enough
to say that the order of court was wrongly
made, no matter how unorthodox, its
subsisting orders, unless set aside, remains law
and must be respected.
“Defendants in this matter have not filed any
counter affidavits in this court to contest the
facts. There is no motion nor Memorandum of
Appearance. This is a court of Record. On this
note, the court has no option to protect the
integrity and sanctity of court. Court orders
are not tea party. Nobody is above the law.
Impunity must be stopped.”
Some persons on behalf of Chris Giwa, who
maintained he was elected NFF president on
August 26, took the matter to the court even
though FIFA statutes forbid football matters to
be deliberated in a civil court.
FIFA did not recognise the election of Giwa
and warned he and his supporters to vacate
the NFF office in Abuja.
In July, Nigeria was suspended briefly after
another Jos court sacked the NFF then led by
Aminu Maigari and the country’s sports
minister appointed a civil servant to run the
federation.
NFF appeals
The executive committee of Nigeria Football
Federation has filed for appeal against the
ruling of the Federal High Court, Jos Judicial
Division of Thursday, which annulled the NFF
elections of September 30.
The Judge had given the order annulling the
elections despite a preliminary objection filed
by the NFF challenging the jurisdiction of the
court to hear the case.
NFF 1st Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi, said:
“We have been notified of the ruling of the
court, which was made in spite of our filing for
a preliminary objection concerning the
jurisdiction of the court.
“However, our lawyers have gone to work
immediately the order was made. We are
appealing the ruling and also filing for stay of
execution of the order.”
On Thursday, Justice Ambrose Allagoa of the
Federal High Court Jos ruled against the NFF
elections in Warri of September 30 as well as
the congress preceding it.
“I have set aside all the proceedings and
decisions of the Warri Extra Ordinary meeting
of the 20th September and the Elective
Congress of 30th September which were direct
contravention of the orders of this court as
granted on the 19th September,” said Justice
Allagoa.
“Nobody should foist on the court a complete
case of hopelessness so that the principles of
law and justice can be upheld. Its not enough
to say that the order of court was wrongly
made, no matter how unorthodox, its
subsisting orders, unless set aside, remains law
and must be respected.”


source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/court-sacks-pinnicks-nff/

Report from Adamawa State has it that another
set of 40 girls have been abducted by the
outlawed Islamic sect, Boko Haram.
The latest victims of the terror sect are
different from the 60 women reportedly
kidnapped from two towns in the state earlier
in the week, where the militants now controls
about three local government areas, sacking
the council executives and workers.
Details later…


source: http://www.punchng.com/news/boko-haram-strikes-again-in-adamawa-kidnaps-40-girls/

At least five people were said to have died and
12 others seriously injured when two bombs
went off in a crowded motor park at Azare
town of Bauchi State at about 10pm on
Wednesday.
Azare, which is in Katagum Local Government
area is about four hours drive from Bauchi,
the state capital.
The incident came after information filtered
into the town that a man identified as Mathew
was attacked and killed at about 9pm same day
around a settlement called Fur in Bogoro Local
Government area of the state. The attackers
went away with his head and one leg.
Incidentally, as the Bauchi onslaught came
some few hours after residents of Kampany and
Bakun Allu communities of Lafia Local
Government area of Nasarawa State were
slaughtered in their numbers by gunmen
suspected to be Fulani herdsmen on the night
of Tuesday. The attack, which began at about
11pm was said to have lasted till about 2am
the following day.
The attack was said to have left over 20 people
dead, 40 houses burnt and hundreds displaced.
A military source, who craved anonymity
because he was not authorised to speak, told
our correspondent that the attack also had the
elements of Boko Haram style as the
insurgents now occupy 18 communities in
Nasarawa State.
However, eyewitness to the Azare blast told
newsmen that about two bombs were
detonated simultaneously around 10pm at the
main motor-park along Kano road by some
hoodlums.
The witness said he counted about 15 bodies
lying down on the ground at the scenes of the
bomb blast while several others were critically
injured.


source: http://www.punchng.com/news/five-killed-12-injured-in-bauchi-twin-blasts/#comments

Sixty women were reportedly abducted by
suspected members of the deadly Boko Haram
sect at Waga Mangoro and Garta villages, both
in troubled Adamawa State during a fresh
attack.
Forty of the women were said to have been
abducted in Waga Mangoro and the other 20
were forcefully taken away from Grata.
Some of the fleeing residents from the area,
who called journalists in Yola on the telephone
lamented that scores of insurgents riding
motorcycles and driving vans had invaded their
towns.
The fleeing residents while lamenting the
capture of the two towns, said they were able
to sneak out of the captured towns on
Tuesday, but disclosed that their villages were
ravaged on Saturday.
One of those that was about to flee the area,
Tizhe Kwada told journalists that the area had
been under the control of the insurgents for
about two months now.
He said that though one of the attacked towns,
Garta had been under what could be termed as
the control of the insurgents for sometimes
now, but that did not stop them from
overrunning it and carting away the young
women.
Kwada claimed that the insurgents cordon off
the entire town and went from one house to
another in Garta in search of young women
who they took in their vans to an unknown
destination.
He said, “The insurgents are still in the area.
And they have slaughtered many men in Garta
and abducted many young women. We also
heard from residents of Wagga that they killed
two men and took 40 women away from
there.”
A community leader from Michika, a
neighbouring town to the two attacked towns,
Emmanuel Kwache, while confirming the
incident to journalists in Yola on Wednesday
said, “I got the information from villagers in
the area that the rampage was still in
progress.”
But when he was contacted, the Chairman of
Madagali Local Government Area, James
Watharda, said “I had all along been in Yola
since the insurgents took over the area and as
such I can speak little of happening in the
area.”
As of the time of filing the story, both the
military and security agencies could not be
reached for confirmation.


source: http://www.punchng.com/news/b-haram-abducts-60-women-in-adamawa/

Indications emerged at the weekend that
Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State may
step down for Major General Muhammadu
Buhari in the battle for the All Progressives
Congress (APC) presidential ticket.
With his possible withdrawal from the race,
the battle for the APC presidential ticket will
be a straight fight between the former head of
state and former Vice-President Atiku
Abubakar.
APC will hold its national convention on
December 2 where the presidential candidate
will emerge. According to a source, who was at
the APC Northern Stakeholders’ Meeting held in
Kaduna on Saturday, the meeting resolved that
a consensus presidential candidate should be
supported by the region.
“We are going to face an incumbent president
in an election where the ruling party will have
the national treasury at its disposal. So, we
need to conserve our energy and resources for
the general election instead of dissipating
energy on the primaries,” he argued.
The source, who does not want to be named,
said that the stakeholders meeting did not
prevail on any aspirant to step down for
anyone. He added that the meeting resolved
that the negotiations should continue after the
stakeholders’ meeting.
The source told New Telegraph that the horse
trading continued well into Saturday night till
the early hours of yesterday, before
Kwankwaso agreed to step down for Buhari.
According to him, Kwankwaso will still buy
nomination form and maintain his structure
but will withdraw at the National Convention
ground which is billed to take place on
December 2, and ask his supporters to vote for
Buhari.
The source did not mention the fate of Mr.
Sam Nda-Isaiah, the publisher of Leadership
newspaper who is also in the race. He,
however, said that Isaiah’s contest will be good
for the party because APC is erroneously seen
as a Muslim party. But spokesman of
Kwankwaso, Ibrahim Dantiye, denied any
possible withdrawal of the governor from the
race. “Nothing like that was discussed at the
meeting. The rumour is just being spread by
people who don’t mean well for the APC,” he
told New Telegraph.
Buhari, Atiku, Nda- Isaiah, Kwankwaso,
Governors Kashim Shettima (Borno) Ibrahim
Gaidam (Yobe) and Abdul Azeez Yari (Zamfara),
and Senator Lawali Shuaibu, the North West
Vice Chairman of APC were some of the
dignitaries that attended the stakeholders’
meeting.


source: http://newtelegraphonline.com/2015-kwankwaso-to-step-down-for-buhari/

A new device similar to a simple pregnancy
home-test could allow doctors to diagnose a
patient with suspected Ebola in under 15
minutes, its French developers said Tuesday.
Trials at a high-security lab have validated the
technique and prototype kits should be
available in Ebola-hit countries by the end of
October for a clinical trial, France’s Atomic
Energy Commission (CEA) said in a statement.
The diagnostic tool, not yet approved by
regulators, works by monoclonal antibodies
reacting to the presence of virus in a tiny
sample, which can be a drop of blood, plasma
or urine, it said.
A European pharma company Vedalab is
turning it into a user-friendly kit called Ebola
eZYSCREEN.
Similar to a DIY pregnancy test, a positive
result sees a small stripe showing up in a
results window on the hand-held device.
The kit is simple to use in the field without any
additional equipment, said the CEA, which also
does non-nuclear research with a possible
military or security application.
“It can give a result in less than 15 minutes for
anyone showing symptoms of the disease,” it
said.
“Current tests, which are based on genetic
detection of the virus, are highly sensitive but
need special equipment, take between two and
a quarter and two and a half hours and can
only be carried out in a lab,” the CEA
explained.
Scientists at the agency began working on the
diagnostic tool in mid-August, when the
epidemic in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone
worsened. The test is for the so-called Zaire
ebolavirus, the strain now circulating in West
Africa.
The achievement builds on previous Ebola
research funded in part by the French defence
ministry as part of its anti-bioterrorism
programme.
This research had “saved more than a year” in
development time of the diagnostic test, the
CEA said.
More than 4,500 people have been killed by
Ebola since the start of the year, almost all of
them in west Africa.
The epidemic has thrown the spotlight on poor
infrastructure in the three hardest-hit nations
but also the lack of weapons to tackle a
disease that until now had been extremely rare
and claimed relatively few lives.
Other pharmaceutical teams are also working
on fast diagnostic tools for Ebola. They include
Primerdesign, a spinoff company of Britain’s
University of Southampton, and Corgenix
Medical Corp of the United States.


source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/scientists-develop-devise-diagnose-patient-ebola-15-minutes/

Abuja – Shaibu Amodu, newly appointed Super
Eagles Head Coach, said on Sunday that there
was no cause for alarm in Nigeria’s chase for
the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) ticket.
A statement issued in Abuja by Ademola
Olajire, Assistant Director of the Nigeria
Football Association (NFA), quoted Amodu as
assuring Nigerians that the Super Eagles will
qualify for AFCON 2015.
“We have done it before; we will do it again.

“If Congo can come here and score three goals,
nothing stops us going to Congo to score three
or more goals,’’ the statement quoted Amodu
as saying.
In April 2001, then NFA sacked Dutchman
Johannes Bonfrere with Nigeria’s 2002 FIFA
World Cup qualifying ship in troubled waters.
They brought in Amodu, with Stephen Keshi
and Joe Erico as his assistants.
Nigeria needed to win all its last three matches
of the campaign to be sure of a place in Korea/
Japan.
Amodu led the team to turn back Liberia 2-0
in Port Harcourt, hammer Sudan 4-0 in
Omdurman and dismissed Ghana 3-0 in Port
Harcourt to qualify for the World Cup.
Amodu faced the same challenge in November
2009, when the Eagles needed to defeat Kenya
in Nairobi and hoped Tunisia did not win in
Mozambique to reach the 2010 FIFA World Cup
finals in South Africa.
The Eagles won the match 3-2 and qualified for
the Mundial.
As for the South African challenge, Amodu led
the team to beat South Africa home and away
in the preliminary race for the 2010 FIFA
World Cup.
As a result of CAF’s regulation for the AFCON
2015 qualifiers, the Super Eagles need to score
three goals in Brazzaville on Nov.15 and not
concede more than one to steady their
campaign for Morocco.
This is because they lost 2-3 to the Congolese
in Calabar on Sept. 6.
CAF will take into consideration the team that
scored the most away goals in the fixture
involving both teams, should both teams finish
on equal number of points.
Once Nigeria hits three goals in Pointe Noire,
and does not concede more than one, all they
need do to qualify is defeat South Africa in
Uyo on Nov. 19 to qualify for the tournament.
The 56-year-old Amodu who is taking up the
Super Eagles job for the fifth time, will have
the assistance of Salisu Yusuf, who steered
Kano Pillars to back-to-back wins in the
Nigeria Premier League.
Gbenga Ogunbote, the brain behind Sunshine
Stars FC’s rise to national and international
prominence and Aloysius Agu, one of the best
goalkeepers in Nigeria history are Amodu’s
other assistants. (NAN)


source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/2015-afcon-weve-done-will-amodu/