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Politics › Re: Buhari’s Chief Of Staff Ill, Flown Abroad For Treatment by DAVECENA(op): 4:10am On Dec 03, 2016

I hope he gets well in time for the duty ahead....I suggest you read "The spiritual side of Aso rock" by Abati and draw your conclusion....Just saying tho.

Politics › Buhari’s Chief Of Staff Ill, Flown Abroad For Treatment by DAVECENA(op): 4:09am On Dec 03, 2016

The Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Abba Kyari, is sick, our correspondent has learnt.
Kyari has not been sighted lately at the Presidential Villa.
Multiple Presidency sources who spoke with our correspondent on Friday evening said Kyari had been flown abroad for treatment.
Although none of them could confirm the nature of his sickness or the hospital where he is receiving medical attention, the government officials said Kyari had been battling the ailment for sometime.
They said the illness was responsible for his long absence in the Presidenti al Villa recently, which some media reports attributed to suspension by the President.
Our correspondent, however, learnt that Kyari was responding to treatment abroad.
Presidential spokesmen, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, could not be reached on the telephone for comments as of the time of filing this report on Friday.
They were attending a dinner organised in honour of the visiting King Mohammed VI of Morocco at the time.

source:
punchng.com/buharis-chief-staff-ill-flown-abroad-treatment/

Politics › Perish The Thought Of Biafra, Buhari Tells Agitators by DAVECENA(op): 7:43am On Dec 02, 2016

To ethno-cultural militant groups calling for the break-up of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari has these words for them: Nigeria will not disintegrate.
President Buhari stated this on Thursday during a meeting with the South-East Council of Traditional Rulers at the Presidential Villa.
He said the question of carving another country out of Nigeria was misplaced.
According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President insisted that efforts should be geared towards harnessing the potential of the country instead of calling for a division of the country.
“The question of having another country out of Nigeria is going to be very difficult. From 1914, we have more than 200 cultures living with one another. God had endowed this country with natural resources and talented people. We should concentrate on these and be very productive,” the President said.
Addressing specific issues raised in the address by the traditional rulers, the President gave assurance that the South-East would also benefit from the new railway system being put in place by his administration.
On their request for more representation for the South-East in his government, the President said that he was “very conscious of the sensitivities of the South-East”, on account of which, he gave the region’s four out of five states senior ranking ministers in the federal cabinet.
Buhari used the occasion to appreciate the good work of the ministers from the region, saying that they were doing very well for the country.
He appealed to the traditional rulers from the South-East to persuade their people to give his government a chance and to continue to serve as beacons of culture and tradition of their people.
The President assured the delegation that kidnapping and cattle rustling, which he described as “unfortunate,” would be the government’s next target, now that “we have managed to calm down the North-East.”
Taking note of the commendation for his administration’s war against corruption and insecurity by the traditional rulers, Buhari expressed frustration at the endless nature of some ongoing trials, citing some of the cases as going far back to the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“We are asking the judiciary to clean itself. Nigerians are tired of waiting. They want some actions,” he said.
The President said he hoped that the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Attorney General of the Federation would come to some form of agreement by which specially designated courts would give accelerated hearing to some pending corruption cases, arguing that “we want Nigerians to know we are serious.”
Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the South-East Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Eberechi Dick, dissociated the monarchs from the ongoing clamour for Biafra Republic.
Dick said they were committed to the nation’s unity.
He, however, called the President’s attention to some of the demands being made by the agitators.
He said, “On the issue of the agitation by some of our youths like IPOB and others for Biafran Republic, we have continued to engage and preach to them that every problem of the nation can be best resolved through peaceful dialogue and respect for the rule of law.
“While we assure Your Excellency of our total belief in one united and indivisible great nation of ours called Nigeria, we also want to call the attention of the Federal Government to some of their mentioned grievances for serious considerations.
“Their agitations include neglect of the South-East in the Amnesty Programme, deplorable state of federal roads and other infrastructure in the South-East, relegation of oil producing states of the South-East in NDDC projects and programmes, exclusion of the South-East in key federal appointments; and anti-nationalistic treatment of Igbo people by other Nigerians.”
They also called the President’s attention to the activities of kidnappers and cattle herdsmen posing serious security challenges to the people of the region.
Buhari’s comment on Nnamdi Kanu’s detention not binding on court –Judge
Meanwhile, Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday said President Muhammadu Buhari was only expressing his personal opinion when he said last year December that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, could not be granted bail.
The judge said this in her ruling on the bail applications filed by Kanu and his co-accused persons.
President Buhari, had in his first presidential media chat, in December 2015, said the likes of Kanu and the immediate past National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, who was accused of spearheading the diversion of over $2bn meant for arms procurement, could not be granted bail because of the gravity of the offences they had committed.
Though Justice Nyako refused to grant bail to Kanu and his co-accused persons, she pointed out while alluding to the issue of Buhari’s comment raised in the application filed by defence lawyers that the President was entitled to his personal opinion.
The judge said the President’s personal opinion was not binding on the court.
The judge said, “President Muhammadu Buhari is entitled to freedom of expression and his opinion.
“However, it does not necessarily have the force of law on the court.”
Kanu and his co-accused persons are being prosecuted by the Federal Government for offences including treasonable felony and an act bordering on terrorism.
The three other accused persons are National Coordinators of IPOB, Mr. Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.
The defendants were, in the 11 counts, accused of managing an unlawful society, publication of defamatory matter, illegal possession of firearms and improper importation of goods.
Onwudiwe was specifically accused in one of the counts of an act bordering on terrorism.
All the counts were in connection with the accused persons’ alleged broadcasts on Radio Biafra and the agitation for secession from Nigeria, states in the South-East and South-South zones and other communities in Kogi and Benue states to constitute a Republic of Biafra.
Ruling on the applications filed by the four defendants on Thursday, Justice Nyako held that the defendants were not deserving of being granted bail as most of the charges preferred against them were “ordinarily not bailable”.
Before the case was heard on Thursday, Justice John Tsoho, who was handling the case before Kanu accused him of bias, had some weeks ago, refused to grant bail to the accused persons.
The case was transferred to Justice Nyako on account of Kanu’s allegation and all the accused were re-arraigned before her on November 8.
The lawyers to the four accused persons filed fresh bail applications which were subsequently argued on November 17.
Ruling on Thursday, Justice Nyako held that she had no reason to “deviate” from the earlier “findings” of Justice Tsoho, who had refused to grant bail to the accused while presiding over the case.
Justice Nyako ruled on Thursday that though the case started de novo (afresh) before her, there were no new facts and circumstances that could warrant her to grant bail to the accused as the charges preferred against them were “serious offences”.
She said as an alternative to granting bail to the defendants, she preferred to order an accelerated hearing of the case.
The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Shuaibu Labaran, after the judge delivered her ruling on Thursday, moved his application for witness protection.
He sought an order of the court “granting leave to the prosecution witnesses to be protected by giving evidence behind screen to be provided by the court.”
All the four defence lawyers opposed the application.
The judge fixed December 13 for ruling.

source:
punchng.com/perish-thought-biafra-buhari-tells-agitators/

Education › FG Sacks 12 Auchi Poly Randy Lecturers After Punch Report by DAVECENA(op): 7:23am On Dec 02, 2016

Five senior lecturers and seven other workers at the Auchi Polytechnic have been sacked for offences bordering on sexual harassment and extortion of female students in the school.

Fifteen other lecturers and one instructor were also demoted in relation to the same offences.
The disciplinary actions were announced on Thursday by the Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education, Dr. Masa’udu Adamu-Kazaure, in Kaduna.

Adamu-Kazaure said the decision was endorsed by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu.

The sacking and the demotion of the lecturers followed a Saturday PUNCH ’s story of April 9, 2016, entitled, “School where prostitutes assist male students to get marks.” (See the article here on Nairaland
https://www.nairaland.com/3038166/sexual-harassment-auchi-polytechnic-prostitutes)

The story had detailed how male students of Auchi poly hired prostitutes or begged their girlfriends to sleep with lecturers in order to earn higher grade in their courses.

It also narrated how some of the lecturers preferred to accept cash, ranging from N10,000 to N20,000, rather than sex to award grades, usually not above ‘C’ to male students.
Adamu-Kazaure commended Saturday PUNCH “for a job well done.”

He said, “When we saw the report, we promptly informed the Minister of Education, the ICPC, the EFCC and the Department of State Services and constituted a fact-finding committee with a view to getting to the root of the matter and proffering a lasting solution to the problem. Members of the committee included members of staff from the Federal Ministry of Education, the NBTE, the EFCC and the DSS.”

He said the report of the committee was submitted on June 14, 2016 at the 160th Regular Meeting of the NBTE where it was deliberated upon before being sent to the Minister of Education for approval.

The outcome of the committee’s report, he explained, was the dismissal and the termination of the appointments as well as other disciplinary actions taken against the culpable lecturers and workers of the institution.

He said, “The approval involved the dismissal from service of the polytechnic of two chief lecturers, two principal lecturers and one lecturer I.

“Also, four chief lecturers, one principal lecturer, one lecturer I, one lecturer II and one higher technician had their appointments terminated.

“The honourable minister also approved the demotion of one chief lecturer, four principal lecturers, three senior lecturers, three lecturer I, four lecturer II and one senior instructor.
“One chief lecturer, one principal lecturer I and one lecturer III were warned; while a chief lecturer and one senior technologist were advised on good conduct.

“Two senior lecturers were cautioned, an assistant lecturer is to be mentored; one ND student is to be advised, while another student, Gideon Adaengel, is denied admission into the polytechnic.”

He thanked Saturday PUNCH for putting the board, committee and the management of the institution on their toes to perform their statutory function better.

“I will write a letter commending The PUNCH editor,” he added.

http://punchng.com/fg-sacks-12-auchi-poly-randy-lecturers-punch-report/

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Politics › Re: N200m For Ex-govs Can’t Get A House In Banana Island – Okonoboh Speaker EDHA by DAVECENA(op): 8:10pm On Dec 01, 2016

Just when I thought we had seen it all.Why won't they increase the fees of AAU,Refuse to pay salaries and pensions if not to maintain their flamboyant life style.......There is a God Watching Us.

Politics › N200m For Ex-govs Can’t Get A House In Banana Island – Okonoboh Speaker EDHA by DAVECENA(op): 8:10pm On Dec 01, 2016

In this interview with ALEXANDER OKERE, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Dr. Justin Okonoboh, speaks on the controversial Pension Rights Law, which was amended to include N300m worth of houses for the immediate past governor, Adams Oshiomhole, and his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu
Why did you think it was necessary to review the law to include N300m houses for former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, and his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, at a time when the country is in recession?
It was an existing law. What they (citizens) do not know is that laws are not made for specific people. When a law is made, it is for everybody who falls under what the law is talking about. Laws are not made for particular periods. Any law you make can operate in periods of recession; it can operate in periods when there is abundance. A law is meant to last forever, except there is need to adjust the law. The social media, these days, have become a tool for mischief. People went to town, either ignorantly or out of mischief, to start suggesting that it was made because of a particular group of people and that it should not have been made at this period. There is no period you cannot make laws.
The amendment we made has not even become law yet; it has not been assented to. No budget has been made for such an amount. Even if there is a budget, it still depends on the availability of funds. And because they (critics) have a particular set of people in mind, they are telling us that those people already have houses and the rest. But they have forgotten that we are in a new era; time will come when you will find governors without houses. I campaigned with (President Muhammadu) Buhari in 2011. It was then that we discovered that he had only two houses; one in Katsina State and the other in Kaduna State. He did not even have (a house) in Abuja.
Governors are going to come that would really work for the people and would not be interested in anything and they might not even have houses. So, whether you have three million houses or you do not have a house, it is a law. Some governors might say that they do not want the house, (but) it is a law. These are things that people look forward to when they are in offices, and it might reduce the tendency for them to want to keep acquiring here and there. It (the law) already operates in three states. So, I do not see any reason for the hullabaloo. I expected that when people hear things like that, they would come and ask us and then, we would explain to them rather than go to town to talk.
But some people have said that the amendment was made at the instance of the immediate past governor and that it would not benefit his predecessors. How do you react to that?
Some even believe that we have to be giving the amounts involved to the former governors every year. No! When laws are made, they are not made in retrospect; from the day we start, it is forward. All the governors and deputy governors that will come will benefit from it, but if you are impeached or removed from office for any reason, you cannot benefit from it. It is for those who have served meritoriously, to encourage them.
Don’t you think that it was a wrong time to do so with the recession and economic challenges the country is going through?
Some say that N200m is too much. We do not believe so. I live in Lagos; N200m cannot buy you a house in Victoria Island, let alone Lekki or Banana Island. When we make a law like this, we must put something that will make the law to last for at least some time. I can tell you (that) in 10 years, N200m will mean nothing. People who want to build a house then would be talking about a billion naira or something like that. So, a law must be made in such a way that, next year, you do not start doing an amendment. That is why the budget is there. And it is subject to availability; we didn’t give any time limit. For the people (governor and deputy) who just left their offices, if it is (after) 20 years that the state has the money, that is what the law says. So, it is not something that will stretch the state’s resources or anything. So, we want those who do not understand to come so that we can explain to them.
Civil servants get peanuts even after working for 35 years and that is even if they are paid, but someone serves as governor or deputy governor for four or eight years and gets entitled to so much. Do you think it is fair on civil servants and pensioners?
That is where (critics) are missing it. We are not making laws for pensioners. We want pensioners to be paid. But what we did was a law (with) no budget. It has nothing to do with money or finances now. It is just a law. After we have made the law, if the executive so chooses to put it in the budget and it comes here, it still depends on availability of funds. At that time, they would not be blaming us; they would have shifted over to the executive. I have said that it is a law for two million years, except it is amended or reviewed; it is just a law.
Would you say you have done the right thing, if you consider the life of luxury governors have in office, in addition to security votes they get and other funds, to still use state funds to pamper them after leaving office?
What the law knows is that they were on salaries and allowances. If you are imagining other things, they are not known to the law. I want people to know that this is not a person; it is a law.
Don’t you agree that the pension benefits may not be in line with the desire of the new administration?
It is in line. There is nothing enforcing executive to implement it at any particular time. In fact, this administration might find it difficult to do it; maybe the next government would do it for them. The part of the amendment that is time bound is the one that has to do with the cars that must be changed every five years. So, if they say they cannot afford it now, so be it.
Some Nigerians believe that the motion was even Oshiomhole’s idea with the speed with which it was acted upon. Is that not the case?
No, he did not have a hand in it. It was strictly a bill of the House. I do not know what you mean by having a hand in it; the ex governor has never had anything to do with it. What power does a governor leaving office have over the House? I visited him (Oshiomhole) recently, but I do not want to say that he was lonely. I went to his house that used to be filled with people but there was nobody there. He was leaving and had no such force over the House.
How do you react to the claim that a former Speaker of the House, Victor Edoror, was suspended for rejecting the bumper pension packages for the former governor and deputy governor?
First, we had two laws. The first one was about virement; the governor (now former governor) wanted sub-headings. That was what the former speaker spoke against and he spoke outside House rules, because for that bill, some members had moved and seconded the motion. I had thrown the question to the House to say ‘ayes’ and ‘nays’ and the ‘ayes’ had it. I had also hit my gavel before he jumped up to say that we had not followed due process. I told him that he was already outside the rules but whatever he was saying was noted; I just gave him that respect. Actually, I should have dealt with him for that because you do not get up except the Speaker said you should speak. That was for a different day entirely.
The day we did this amendment was the day he was suspended. He did not even say a word but that was not why he was suspended. The reason he was impeached was because of financial misappropriation. A committee was set up to investigate it by the erstwhile speaker (Elizabeth Ativie). He was invited by that committee but he did not show up and then it (the committee) wrote an interim report indicting him greatly. I felt he should have a fair hearing. The report came to my table recently and for the sake of fair hearing, we set up another five-man committee to look into at all the issues, so that he would have a chance to attend. It is to submit its report in three months and within that period; he should be on suspension while he is being investigated. That was simply what we did. It was not connected to anything we were discussing in the House.
Some groups have protested against the recent action of the House of Assembly. Do you agree that the protest was justified?
Well, we were elected to speak for Edo State. There is no time Edo State will speak with one voice; it is not possible. Some will have dissenting voices. Even in the House, most times, we do not speak with one voice; that is why we have the ‘ayes’ and ‘nays’. When we come out with any report, we do not expect that everybody will just take it and applaud us. Some might have something to say against it. I was actually told that some civil society organisations were coming today (Monday) to close down Ring Road and I was prepared to address them. That was why we did not sit on time. We waited till 11am but they did not show up.
We had even decided while sitting that if they showed up, we must go out to talk to them because though we were elected, we are not perfect people. They have to rise up on their own to tell us where we are missing it. We must work with civil society organisations. But at their level, it should not have been about taking to the streets. We should not be talking on the streets. They should bring out all their points against this law and submit them to us. We can invite them and we all talk. If it were a new law, we would have had a public hearing. But it is not a new law.
But many of the CSOs want the law to be reversed. Is that not a just call?
Why? Based on what? They could be speaking from an emotional point of view. They could be speaking from a point of ignorance, thinking that the law was made because of a particular set of people. But it is for all. Who knows who will become the governor tomorrow?
What will the House do if the current governor rejects the bill or amendment?
If we feel the bill should go, with two-third majority, we will pass it. If we feel that there is urgency, we might use a two-third majority to pass it into law.
source:

punchng.com/even-n200m-will-not-get-house-banana-island-oshiomhole-okonoboh-edo-state-speaker/

Crime › Re: Man Caught With Heroin At Airport Four Days After Wedding (photos) by DAVECENA(m): 1:20pm On Dec 01, 2016

Politics › Re: Senator Ibn N'Allah Raised The #NoDataHike Motion In The Senate by DAVECENA(m): 12:51pm On Dec 01, 2016

GurlFriend:
Senator Ibn N'Allah, Deputy Senate Leader was the senator who raised the motion in the senate to quash the proposed data tariff hike.

But the irony is this same senator is one who, months back, proposed a bill to censor social media in Nigeria. Very ironic indeed.

http://www.lailasblog.com/2016/12/meet-senator-who-raised-nodatahike.html

No wonder this Hausa men hardly were suits.....Looks good on him tho.

Politics › Re: Senator Ibn N'Allah Raised The #NoDataHike Motion In The Senate by DAVECENA(m): 12:49pm On Dec 01, 2016*

Little wonder this hausa men hardly wear suits....looks dope in it tho

2 Likes

Politics › Re: NASS Wants Financial Autonomy For Lgas, State Assemblies by DAVECENA(op): 4:36am On Dec 01, 2016

Most LGA's tend to owe salaries due to the overbearing influence of the presiding governor. Inasmuch as I've never agreed on any issue partaining to NASS,I must say kudos to them on this one.

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Politics › NASS Wants Financial Autonomy For Lgas, State Assemblies by DAVECENA(op): 4:35am On Dec 01, 2016

THE National Assembly is set to grant financial autonomy to local government councils and state Houses of Assembly to reduce alleged influence of governors in their financial management.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, dropped the hint, yesterday, in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

He reiterated the resolve of the National Assembly to grant financial autonomy to the 774 local government councils in the country.

Dogara noted that lack of elections at the local government level were crippling democracy and denying the much needed development at the third tier of government.

Dogara said the House under his leadership, was in the process of granting financial autonomy to 36 State Houses of Assembly.

He decried a situation where governors had constituted themselves as middlemen that continuously hijacked funds meant for the councils in the name of joint account, describing the arrangement as “evil”.

Dogara described the existence of caretaker committees manning the affairs of the local government councils in some states as an aberration and illegality which must stop.

He revealed that new clauses might be introduced in the constitutional amendment bill that would not only outlaw caretaker committees but also stop allocation of funds from the federation account to local governments with no democratically elected councils.

As a step to end the alleged illegality perpetrated by state governments, the speaker disclosed that the parliament would consider abolishing States Independent Electoral Commissions, SIECs, and empower the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to take over their functions.

source:

www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/nass-wants-financial-autonomy-lgas-state-assemblies/

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Politics › Re: Akintunde Akinwande Shuns Senate’s Screening For NERC Job by DAVECENA(op): 4:31am On Dec 01, 2016

So much controversies since this man was nominated for the top job.Baba should let him go biko.....

Politics › Akintunde Akinwande Shuns Senate’s Screening For NERC Job by DAVECENA(op): 4:22am On Dec 01, 2016

ABUJA— AGAIN, President Muhammadu Buhari’s nominee for the position of chairman of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Professor Akintunde Akinwande, yesterday failed to present himself for Senate screening.

For the second time in one month, the nominee shunned the Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe-led committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy.

The committee had, last month, invited Akinwande and other nominees for screening, but the screening was put on hold due to failure of Akinwande to appear, just as he failed to fill all the columns where he ought to have provided his needed information for the committee.
But in a swift reaction, the Presidency denied the reports, saying Akinwande was simply trying to formalise his resignation from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he works.

But at a second screening session convened yesterday by Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe and other members of the committee, Akinwande was not just absent, but informally told the committee that he was not available for the job.

A source in the committee disclosed that Akinwande sent a text message to a member of the committee that he was not interested in the job.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, who tried to persuade the committee not to interprete Akinwande’s absence to mean that he had declined the President’s nomination, said: “I would want to plead with the committee that the nominee was simply absent. I will communicate with the President and get more information about him and get back.”

This remark was quickly rebuffed by members of the committee, who openly declared that they had tried enough and would not be ready to reconvene a third screening session for Akinwande.

At this point, a member of the committee, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi (APC, Kaduna North) who threw a question at Ita Enang, querried: “But if somebody says I will not be able to make it, what does he imply?”
Apparently confused about the development, Enang could not respond to Hunkuyi’s question.

Meanwhile, the committee has disclosed that it would prepare its final report and submit to the Senate which will take final decision on Akinwande’s nomination.
According to a source, Akinwande turned down the nomination “because he was not consulted before the nomination was made and was not ready to leave his present businesses to take up the job.”

Nominee calls for thorough monitoring of DISCOs
Meanwhile, Sanusi Garba, the Vice Chairmanship nominee from Katsina State during the screening, yesterday, lampooned the power sector, saying to say it was in bad shape was simply an understatement, even as he said that deficit revenue in the sector was approaching one trillion Naira.

According to him, the sector is that bad because it lacks a good regulator, promising that the new board, when put in place, would right the wrongs, adding that Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs, went into agreement to run the sector, but noted that because of lack of proper supervision, they had failed to function properly.

He said it had become imperative for the sector to be overhauled, if Nigeria must attract foreign investors.
Others who appeared for the screening were Nathan Rogers Shatti; Professor Frank Okafor; Musiliu Olalekan Oseni and Dafe Akpeneye, among others.

source:
www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/buharis-nominee-akinwande-shuns-senates-screening-nerc-job/

Politics › Re: N4.7bn: Obanikoro Returns N134m To EFCC ….says I’ll Repay N450m In 2017 by DAVECENA(op): 4:21am On Nov 30, 2016

Inasmuch as I support his anti-corruption campaign, I'm still skeptical on the funds returned.What has he used it to do in this recession?

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Politics › N4.7bn: Obanikoro Returns N134m To EFCC ….says I’ll Repay N450m In 2017 by DAVECENA(op): 4:06am On Nov 30, 2016

A former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, on Monday returned N30m to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. This brings the total amount of money he has returned to the EFCC to N134m.

A source at the EFCC said, “Obanikoro came on Monday and presented a draft of about N30m. Initially we did not want to collect it because it is small compared to what he is supposed to have given us. However, the legal department advised us to collect it.”

Obanikoro had in October returned N104m to the commission. The ex-minister, who returned to Nigeria last month after spending about 15 months in the United States, was accused of receiving N4.7bn from the Office of the National Security Adviser under the leadership of Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).
Obanikoro had said in his statement of oath at the EFCC that after receiving the money in 2014, he gave N1.219bn to the then governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, while N1.3bn was given to the PDP candidate in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

He also confessed to giving Fayose a separate $5.377m at Spotless Hotel in Ekiti State in the presence of party leaders including the then PDP Secretary, Mr. Tope Aluko.

Obanikoro was said to have kept about N785m for himself, which he allegedly spent while campaigning ahead of the PDP governorship primary in Lagos State. Mr. Jimi Agbaje won the primary.

However, the EFCC asked Obanikoro to return about N584m out of which he had already returned N134m.
At the EFCC office on Monday, Obanikoro promised the detectives that he would return the remaining N450m in 2017.

The source said, “About N450m is remaining and Obanikoro has promised to pay the rest in 2017. He will also be reporting at our office every two weeks.”
At the Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba last week, Mr. Alade Sunday, a manager at Zenith Bank, narrated how Obanikoro delivered about N1.219bn to Fayose’s aide, Abiodun Agbele, for onward transmission to his boss.
He had also said it took the cashiers about 10 days to count the money.

Sunday had said Obanikoro flew with the cash to Akure Airport and the money was loaded into bullion vans.
He had said, “When we got to the airport, we waited for some minutes before the aircraft arrived. When the aircraft offloaded its passengers, one of them appeared to me to be Senator Musliu Obanikoro and the other one appeared to be his ADC, Adewale.

“Agbele walked up to them and had a discussion with them. Thereafter, he signalled me to bring the van. Bags loaded with cash were loaded into the van and Obanikoro’s ADC, Agbele and I drove back to the bank.”
Meanwhile, it was learnt Omisore had appealed to the EFCC to return his passport to him to enable him to travel out of the country.

A source at the commission said, “We cannot return his passport to him now because he has not yet returned half of the money. He has returned only N350m out of N1.3bn. When he returns half, then the EFCC can consider returning the passport to him.”

source:

http://punchng.com/n4-7bn-obanikoro-returns-n134m-efcc/

1 Like 1 Share

Politics › Senate Drops Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla, Already Cleared Buhari’s NCC Nominee by DAVECENA(op): 5:28am On Nov 28, 2016

TWELVE days after the Senate cleared Chief Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla, Cross River, South South, as a non-Executive Commissioner on the governing board of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, it has made a dramatic turn by dropping his name from the list of successful nominees sent to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Obono-Obla’s name was removed in the letter transmitted to Buhari as one of those confirmed by the legislature.

In the letter dated November 22, signed by Senate President Bukola Saraki, a copy of which was obtained yesterday, Obono-Obla was listed as one of the three whose nominations were rejected by the Senate.
It would be recalled that Oboni-Obla was among the five whose nominations by President Buhari were approved by the Senate on November 17, 2016, while two of the nominees were dropped.

At the plenary, those whose appointments were confirmed were Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye (Chairman/Ogun/South-West), Senator Ifeanyi Ararume(Non- Executive Commissioner/Imo/South East), Sunday Dare (Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management/Oyo/South-West), Okoi Ofem; Obono-Obla (Non-Executive Commissioner/Cross River/South-South) and Clement Omeiza Baiye (Non-Executive Commissioner/Kogi/North-Central).
The lawmakers, however, dropped Aliyu Abubakar (Non-Executive Commissioner/Bauchi/North-East) and Pastor Ezekiel Yissa (Non-Executive Commissioner/Kwara/North-Central).
According to the report of Senator Gilbert Nnaji led Committee on Communications, Pastor Ezekiel was rejected because of his background as a nursing officer.
The second nominee rejected by the Senate, Alitu Abubakar, had repeatedly called for the scrapping of the Senate, even when he appeared before the Senate for screening, saying the existence of the Senate was not justifiable.
He also pointed out that the upper chamber was only wasting the nation’s resources by its existence.
Obono-Obla, who is the Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution, attached to the Ministry of Justice, protested in an email sent yesterday against what he described as back-door removal.
The mail was titled, Can the Senate President unilaterally overrule the confirmation of a nominee by the Senate?
The nominee, who asked why he was removed after the Senate had confirmed his nomination, simply said: “The entire major electronic and print media organs in the country, on November 17 and 18, 2016, carried the confirmation by the Senate of the Board of Nigerian Communications Commission.
“Surprisingly and curiously, the Senate President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, in a letter dated November 22, 2016, to President Muhammadu Buhari, titled ‘Confirmation of Appointments,’ falsely stated that the Senate did not confirm the following nominees: Aliyu Saidu Abubakar; Pastor Ezekiel Yissa and Chief Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla.”

source:

www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/senate-makes-u-turn-drops-already-cleared-buharis-nominee/

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Politics › NASS Should Publish Detail Of Alleged N500bn Running Cost— Serap by DAVECENA(op): 5:16am On Nov 28, 2016

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP has requested the leadership of the National Assembly to publicly account how lawmakers spent N500 billion as running cost between 2006 and 2016, as well as the monthly income and allowances of each Senator and member of the House of Representatives.
In a request made under the Freedom of Information Act, SERAP in the letter by it’s Executive Director, Tokunbo Mumuni, noted that; “Secrecy in parliamentary spending has resulted in lapse of accountability for Senators and members of the House of Representatives, and this could ultimately endanger the healthy development of the rule of law and good governance in the country.”
The body which has threatened to drag the parliaments to court, if its request was ignored, said the step was taken after reviewing the disclosure by Abdulmumin Jibrin that, “Nigerian Senators and House of Representatives members have pocketed N500 billion as ‘running cost’ out of the N1 trillion provided for in the National Assembly budgets between 2006 and 2016, and by former president Olusegun Obasanjo that each Senator goes home with nothing less than N15m monthly, while each member receives nothing less than N10 million monthly.”
The letter dated November 25, 2016 states in part that, “We are seriously concerned that details of the National Assembly budgets and income and allowances received by its members over the years remain shrouded in secrecy, and hidden from Nigerians. Alleged stealing or mismanagement of N500 billion of public funds may be responsible for the economic crisis and attendant hardships being faced by millions of Nigerians. Transparency in the spending by the National Assembly and income of its members is a key element of justice.”

source:
www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/nass-publish-detail-alleged-n500bn-running-cost-serap/

Politics › APC Candidate Akeredolu Leads In Ondo Governorship Election by DAVECENA(op): 9:12am On Nov 27, 2016

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rotimi Akeredolu, will likely emerge winner of the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State, SaharaReporters has learnt.
Mr. Akeredolu according to 60 percent of election results collated across the state has defeated the candidate of the People's Democratic Party, Eyitayo Jegede, and also the popular candidate of the Alliance for Democracy, Olusola Oke, to emerge the likely winner.
Although the Independent National Electoral Commission has yet to officially announce the results of the election, SaharaReporters has obtained election results from across the state showing that Mr. Akeredolu polled exceedingly well in at least 13 of the 18 local government areas of the state. Mr. Akeredolu also performed surprisingly well in Akure South local government where the PDP candidate, Mr. Jegede, hails from.
SaharaReporters learnt that, despite his seeming popularity with the masses, Mr. Oke did not have the structures on ground to secure electoral victory. Our correspondent also learned that Governor Olusegun Mimiko, realizing that his candidate, Mr. Jegede, was headed for defeat, had cut a last-minute deal with the APC candidate in the final days before the election. A source close to Mr. Akeredolu said Mr. Mimiko reached out the APC candidate in a bid to avoid the prospect of the incoming governor focusing on probing the outgoing governor's management of Ondo State over the last eight years.
Mr. Akeredolu's all but official victory was facilitated by APC governors who reportedly pumped in money to his campaign to ensure that he had a huge enough war chest to blanket the entire state.
SEE ALSO
The Ondo governorship election also provided a turf for the staging of a fierce internal war between two factions of the APC, one loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari, the other to the party's national leader, Bola Tinubu.
Supporters of Mr. Buhari, who campaigned vigorously for Mr. Akeredolu, and those who support Mr. Tinubu, who was the unseen hand behind Mr. Oke's candidacy, saw the governorship election as a testing ground. Mr. Akeredolu's triumph, which INEC is likely to formally announce soon, is seen as a political reversal for Mr. Tinubu, a former senator as well as ex-governor of Lagos State.
The Ondo governorship election was relatively peaceful across the state, according to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission who supervised the polls.

source'
saharareporters.com/2016/11/26/apc-candidate-akeredolu-leads-ondo-governorship-election

Travel › Re: Collection Of Winter Photos In My City. by DAVECENA(m): 6:12pm On Nov 26, 2016

Amefricaa:
Yes oo boss. Everything going just fine

I've been following your thread.......keep it up Man!

Foreign Affairs › BREAKING: Hillary Clinton To Beat Donald Trump - Naij by DAVECENA(op): 7:54pm On Nov 25, 2016

Hillary Clinton will be president of the United States of America if she can win the recounts in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Hillary Clinton stands a great chance of becoming president of the United States.
There are calls for Clinton to initiate a request for recount, but when Hillary hesitated, someone else did for her, Jill Stein.
According to the US electoral system, if the recounts end up in Hillary’s favour, then she will have enough votes to win the electoral college.
Already, statistics show that Hillary leads Trump in popular votes, by over 2 million votes.

Real Time Politics reports that though many claim that Jill Stein’s move is a long shot, still Wisconsin begins to recount on Friday, November 25.
The Clinton faithfuls can only hope that a miracle happens, something statistics can help prove.
Recounting of votes may help Hillary Clinton clinch the ticket to the White House.
Meanwhile, an explosive bid to topple the President-elect, pro-Clinton supporters are calling for Trump to be impeached over claims of sexual abuse, fraud and racketeering.
One of several petitions calling for his impeachment has amassed more than 33,000 signatures as fury over Trump’s Brexit-style election win boils over.
Now scores of legal experts backing the plan believe there is a “strong case” to impeach Trump and strip him of the presidency.
It comes as tens of thousands of pro-Clinton supporters sparked violence during a third day of anti-Trump protests – leaving windows smashed, buildings vandalised and fires burning.
One law professor claimed there is already enough evidence to impeach Trump.
Christopher Peterson, law professor at the University of Utah, claims he has found evidence of fraud and racketeering – criminal offences under US law.
Under article II of the United States constitution, fraud and racketeering are considered “high crimes and misdemeanors” and can lead to impeachment.

source:

https://www.naij.com/1062231-breaking-hillary-clinton-to-be-president-of-usa-as-donald-trump-goes-to-prison.html

Crime › Re: Facebook User Relates How He Was Robbed By Agents by DAVECENA(op): 10:02am On Nov 25, 2016

Cc: Lalasticlacla

Crime › Facebook User Relates How He Was Robbed By Agents by DAVECENA(op): 9:56am On Nov 25, 2016

Whenever you have any dealings with Agents,Never deal in cash......

How i was Robbed of #470,000 Today
Today is the longest day of my life, after spending sleepless nights, toiling day and night to make ends meet, some guys somewhere thinks they can just sunken me in and rob me of my hard earned money.
It was around 8AM this morning that i called a house agent that showed me some houses yesterday at Okpanam road, after many deliberations i decided to pay for one.
I was asked by the house agent to meet them up at Avanti plaza close to city complex, on getting there the two agents said i should proceed with the payment, but then i demanded to see the house owner/lawyer in charge but then one of the agents insisted i'm in safe hands, that there is no need to see any lawyer to save time.
I was already blinded by the quality of the apartment, i just wanted to pay and have the right for occupancy, so i went ahead to make a transfer to the house owner account number in the bank.
While in the bank with the two agents, i brought a fund transfer form to make the transfer, but then again the agent insisted on cash, that transfer will waste time. (Damn me for obliging) i should have known better since i was a veteran banker for 6years!
Again i agreed to withdraw cash. We both entered same keke back to the agents office (avanti plaza). On getting there, i noticed the two agents maintained a suspicious distance on me, while i was walking slowly to the office waiting for them to catch up, two men on a motorcycle with their face covered zoomed on me, snatched my bag, and #470,000 became history!
At that point i thought all hope on recovering the money zoomed off with the men on bike, but then i got home, bathed and strategised. After due consultations, i went to "A" Division Asaba to make official entry of the incidence, quite frankly i was not expecting much from the Police, i wanted to just "report" the matter to fulfill all righteousness.
When i got to the police station around 2PM, I was shocked to be told by the police that the two agents have already come before hand to make complaint on my behalf, but to their (police) credit, they declined their complaint, insisting that the main victim of robbery is the only one who can make official report of the matter.
The fast move they made to save their ass became their biggest undoing, it became even more obvious that it was a criminal conspiracy to rob me off my hard earned money.
So the onus of the matter now lies on the question of how to arrest the co-conspirators ASAP. I deviced a means immediately, i called one of the agents that i am now ready to go with them to make the complaint, of-course they initially wanted us to go and become co-complainants to a case that they obviously are prime suspects.
Great they agreed to go to station with me, unknown to them i have already tabled my case before the NPF, justice was on my side. So as soon as we got to the station, the two agents were immediately detained.
Hope of recovering the money became obvious when their relatives came, seeing the whole glaring conspiracy, they had no choice but to go for out of court settlement, of-course with my money intact.
It was already about 7:30PM, so the matter was adjourned till tomorrow and meanwhile the suspects are currently in police cell.
I do hope the matter will be resolved ASAP with me having my stolen money back.
This is the longest day of my life having spent about 7hours in police station.
I will keep it posted as soon as i get justice. I need your prayers friends.

Travel › Re: What Does It Take To Do Masters In These Countries? by DAVECENA(m): 12:53am On Nov 25, 2016

Yoshy:
Thank you so much...if you have more tips please don't hesitate to post them.

No p bro

1 Like

Travel › Re: What Does It Take To Do Masters In These Countries? by DAVECENA(m): 5:22pm On Nov 24, 2016

Yoshy:
1. so the major challenge in germany will be learning the language?
2. Can one equally get a job in Canada within 3-6 months?

1)It's not much of a challenge because you can actually study in English. Secondly,While studying you could decide to enrol for German language class in order to enhance your chances of getting a professional after your Msc.

2) Yes you can but its not that easy. That's why its advisable to hold enough cash to sustain you for at least a year. On the other hand you could be lucky to get one in time.

Travel › Re: What Does It Take To Do Masters In These Countries? by DAVECENA(m): 11:09pm On Nov 23, 2016

Yoshy:
Thanks, will it cover for the entire duration of the program?

No oooo.It's for tuition fee for the session.Canada is really expensive. But if you opt for Germany, the #2.5M will cover your expenses for a year if you don't spend extravagantly and within 3-6Months you would have been able to secure a job. If you've got the cash,go for canada but if you're trying to cut cost,Germany is the place. You'll also get to meet our brothers in diaspora.

Travel › Re: What Does It Take To Do Masters In These Countries? by DAVECENA(m): 8:39pm On Nov 23, 2016

Yoshy:
thanks man, so incase it's canada, how much will i be looking at?

.Depending on the course..... Fees for a Masters in Canada will vary considerably depending on which institution you choose and can range from CDN$7,000 ($6,295) to CDN$25,000 ($22,485).

Travel › Re: What Does It Take To Do Masters In These Countries? by DAVECENA(m): 2:33am On Nov 23, 2016

Yoshy:
Nairalanders with experience please find the time to attend to these questions. Am saving up to study abroad and work after NYSC. I think it's better i prepare early and make important decisions hence the questions; Which country will be suitable to go for a masters degree program? Especially when you intend to work and take care of your bills after entrance.
What are the requirements needed to be admitted for a masters degree program in such country?

The countries; Netherlands, Germany, Australia and Canada.
Thanks in advance guys.

You can suggest an entirely diff country from the ones above.

They all do.....First of all,Australia is the most expensive followed by Canada so if you can afford any of the 2 the better.....German universities are free save some usually costs which most be taken care of.To study in German you need at least #2.5M deposited in your foreign bank account to prove to the embassy that you are independent. After studying and you wish to stay back you'll be given a 6months visa elongation to find a job...But as an added advantage,you need to learn German while studying....
In conclusion,I'll advice you take Canada....

1 Like

Politics › Re: Ondo Election: Mimiko Meets With Buhari Again by DAVECENA(op): 1:42pm On Nov 21, 2016*

Whether he meets with buhari a million times it wouldn't still change anything.....The will of the people of ondo must prevail.....I believe Oke stands a chance of winning the polls....

3 Likes

Politics › Ondo Election: Mimiko Meets With Buhari Again by DAVECENA(op): 1:41pm On Nov 21, 2016

https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/punchng/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/19144550/Buhari-696x522.jpg

Governor Olusegun Mimiko is again meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

This is the second time the governor will be visiting Buhari since the crisis over who the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state governorship election is started.

He also met briefly with the President inside his aircraft when he (Buhari) visited Akure, the state capital for the grand finale of the governorship campaign of the All Progressives Congress on Saturday.

Details later.

http://punchng.com/ondo-mimiko-meets-buhari/

Politics › Senate Forgery: Police Submit Fresh Report, Indict Saraki, Ekweremadu by DAVECENA(op): 2:49am On Nov 20, 2016

There are strong indications that the police have submitted to the National Prosecution Coordination Committee, another report on the investigations into the alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Orders, 2015.
SUNDAY PUNCH gathered that in the fresh report, the police indicted the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Dr. Ike Ekweremadu.
It was gathered that the Special Investigation Panel, headed by the retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Ali Amodu, explained that a former Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, could not have committed the alleged offence without the connivance of the two principal officers.
The SIP was set up by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to investigate high-profile cases.
The Federal Government had, on October 6, 2016, withdrawn the charges of criminal conspiracy relating to the alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Orders, 2015, filed against the Senate President and his deputy at an Abuja High Court.
The government, it was reported, had found out that the investigation was inconclusive and the evidence was not strong enough to sustain a diligent prosecution of the accused persons.
Following this discovery, the Ministry of Justice filed an application to amend the charges.
In the new charges, only Maikasuwa and a former deputy clerk, Mr. Ben Efeturi, were listed as the accused persons.
Saraki and Ekweremadu were earlier charged alongside Maikasuwa and Efeturi for allegedly forging the Senate Standing Orders, which were used for the inauguration of the Eight Senate.
All of them pleaded not guilty to the charges before Justice Yusuf Halilu and were granted bail on June 10, 2016.
Following the amendment of the charges, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), directed the police to conduct fresh investigations into the case.
Saraki, Ekweremadu may face conspiracy charge again.
A top police operative, who confided in
SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday, said the SIP had addressed the loopholes the AGF identified in the former report.
He said, “The police have concluded investigations into the case and submitted the report to the NPCC. This was done about a month ago.”
Giving an insight into the report, a top source at the Force Headquarters said, “Conspiracy is a very wide offence and Maikasuwa couldn’t have done what he did without the connivance of Saraki and Ekweremadu.
“There is no doubt about it; they were the beneficiaries and they have to be joined in the case.”
When asked if the panel made any recommendation for the prosecution of the beneficiaries of the forgery, he stated, “There is no need to make any recommendation to prosecute them because the investigation did not exonerate them.”
On the non-interrogation of Saraki and others by the former investigators, the source stated, “It is not totally out of point. It is for Saraki, Ekweremadu and others to defend themselves in court. The fact that they were not questioned did not mean they didn’t commit the offence as alleged. The circumstances were that the investigators could not reach them just like the way the House of Representatives leadership was dodging police summons on the budget padding probe.”
He added that the evidence and corrections made on the report had been sent to the AGF by the police.
He stated, “There were certain documents and evidence they asked us to fine-tune, which we did. We got all the necessary documents, including the Hansard, where publications were made and notices were given. We looked at the Hansard. Was there any amendment during the 7th Senate? There were no amendments; nothing was adopted during the 7th Senate. We got the papers and there was nothing like that.
“So, where did Ekweremadu and Maikasuwa derive their authority from when no amendment was done on the floor of the Senate?”
Another highly-placed source, who was familiar with the police probe, informed one of our correspondents on Saturday that the SIP was able to gather the necessary evidence about how the alleged forgery at the Senate was carried out.
The source said it was now up to the AGF and the NPCC to decide whether to re-arraign Saraki, Ekweremadu and others or not.
It was gathered that the detectives were able to verify the extent of amendment to the Senate Standing Orders 2011, the individuals who authorised it, and the official who ordered the printing of the Senate Standing Orders, 2015.
The source added, “The SIP, through painstaking efforts, was able to identify who distributed the printed copies of the Senate Standing Orders, 2015, to senators-elect and it also obtained the complete Hansard of June 9 and 24, 2015, which indicated what transpired on the floor of the Senate as well as other relevant evidence. These were issues the former probe did not resolve.
“It is now up to the government to decide whether Saraki and Ekweremadu should be re-arraigned or only Maikasuwa and Efeturi would carry the can.”
One of our correspondents gathered that the SIP had to bypass the Clerk, National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, to get the necessary evidence and documents relating to the case.
When contacted on Saturday, the spokesperson for the AGF and the NPCC, Mr. Salisu Isah, said he was not aware of any fresh development in the case.
“Just give me some time to find out and revert to you,” he said.
Besides the AGF, who is the Chairman of the NPCC, the committee consists of 19 members, including the Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Taiwo Abidogun and Mr. Dipo Opeseyi.
When contacted on Saturday, Saraki decline to comment on the matter, while Ekweremadu said he was not aware of the new development in the forgery case.
The Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, said, “I have no comment on the matter,” when he was called on the telephone by one of our correspondents.
Ekweremadu, who spoke through the Special Adviser to the Deputy President of the Senate on Media, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, said, “We are not aware of that” when he was told that the police had submitted a fresh report to the AGF-led committee.
Another aide to Ekweremadu, who spoke on condition of anonymity, wondered why the police would file another report from a fresh investigation when the security agency had sworn to an affidavit that it had concluded its investigations into the case and presented it before a court.

source:

punchng.com/senate-forgery-police-submit-fresh-report-indict-saraki-ekweremadu/

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