₦airaland Forum

MY dear children. This is a happy moment for me and for all Nigerians. I welcome you back to freedom. It is a moment your parents, the Nation and the International Community have been eagerly waiting for, since your abduction on 14th April 2014.


We must from the onset, thank Almighty God for this day that 21 of the Chibok girls have again breathed the air of freedom and are reunited with their parents. We are equally prayerful, that God in his infinite mercies and benevolence, will see to it that the girls remaining in captivity will be freed and returned to us soonest.



All Nigerians recall, sadly the night of 14th April 2014, 276 young female Nigerian students were abducted from the Government Secondary School in Chibok Borno State by the Boko Haram.


Fortunately, 57 of the kidnapped school girls were able to escape, leaving 219 in captivity. One of the abducted girls, Amina Ali was found in May 2016. And today we are here celebrating the freedom and return of another 21 girls that regained freedom on Thursday 13th October. We are equally as hopeful as we are praying, that the remaining girls will be freed and returned to us without further delay.


The release of these 21 girls followed a series of negotiations between Government and the Boko Haram group, brokered by our friends both local and International. Since this Administration assumed office, we have been working towards the safe release of the girls. The Nigerian DSS, Military and other Security Agencies have spared no effort to secure our girls. These 21 girls are the manifestation of our doggedness and commitments to the release and return of the Chibok girls.


While joining their parents to rejoice and praise the Almighty, we shall redouble efforts to ensure that we fulfill our pledge of bringing the remaining girls back home.
Already, the credible first step has been taken and Government will sustain the effort until all the remaining girls return safely



These 21 girls will be given adequate and comprehensive medical, nutritional and psychological care and support. The Federal Government will rehabilitate them, and ensure that their reintegration back to the Society is done as quickly as possible.


Aside from rescuing them, we are assuming the responsibility for their personal, educational and professional goals and ambitions in life. Obviously, it is not late for the girls to go back to school and continue the pursuit of their studies.


These dear daughters of ours have seen the worst that the world has to offer. It is now time for them to experience the best that the world can do for them.  The Government and all Nigerians must encourage them to achieve their desired ambitions.


The Federal Government appreciates the patience and understanding of the parents of all the abducted Chibok girls.


We equally thank Nigerians and the International Community for their support and prayers, and for never losing confidence in our ability to secure the safe release of our girls.


Once again, I congratulate the 21 released girls, their parents, the Chibok Community the security agencies and all Nigerians on this day of delight and rejoicing.


Thank You.

THE Ogun State Government has announced a reshuffle in the membership of its Executive Council.








The exercise affected four Commissioners and four Special Advisers to the Governor.


Those affected include Ronke Sokefun, who before now was the Commissioner for Agriculture.


Sokefun moves to the Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning.


Bashorun Adebola Adeife, who used to be the Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning, now moves to the Ministry of Inter-Governmental Affairs.


Also affected is the erstwhile Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Barrister Leke Adewolu, who now superintends the Ministry of Special Duties.


One of the newly sworn-in Commissioners, Abiola Kufile-Okonji, is now in charge of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, while a Consultant to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Ronke Onadeko, will oversee the Ministry of Agriculture pending the appointment of a substantive Commissioner for the Ministry.


The affected Special Advisers are the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Bayo Adeyemi, who now moves to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology; Yinka Odufuwa, hitherto of the Ministry of Agriculture, moves to Forestry, while Akinola Lawson, formerly of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, moves to Special Duties.


Others are Segun Adesanya of the Ministry of Special Duties, who moves to Youth and Sports, while Gbenga Opesanwo is in charge of Transport.


The reshuffle takes immediate effect.

A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the founder of Daar Communications and Holdings Plc, Raymond Dokpesi, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that payments made to the defendant were legitimate by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s standard.



The witness, Aliyu Mohammed, a staff of the Central Bank and manager of its payment section, said disbursements made to Daar communications were in conformity with the due process for such by his office.

Mr. Dokpesi is facing trial for alleged involvement in the diversion of billions of naira meant for the purchase of arms by the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

The broadcast magnate was absent at Wednesday’s sitting.

Mr. Mohammed had said during examination by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, that disbursements of funds follow a given procedure where verifications for payment-instruments are made before they are finally authorised.

“The procedure for payment is such that the paying organisation will bring the payment instrument through an officer authorised to do so. The officer will confirm the mandate before us by writing his name, signature, status, phone number and thumbprint as well as the date. After we receive it, it will be passed for verification.

“The verification will include cheque of the authorised signatories of that account, (operators of the account). The mandate must also be written in a letter headed-paper. The date and account number to be debited will also be included.

“After the verification exercise we will check whether they have complied with all due processes for the payment. We will then pass it for payment and debit the account stated in the mandate while crediting the beneficiary accordingly,” he said.


Mr. Mohammed added that his office had authorised the disbursements of over N2 billion in four trenches to Daar Communications from payment-instruments forwarded to them, (CBN) by the office of the NSA, early last year.

He said the payment mandates received from the office of the NSA were signed by Mr. Dasuki and the Director of Finance at the NSA, S. A. Salisu.

The payments were for the purposes of media campaign by Daar communications, he said.

During cross-examination by counsel to Mr. Dokpesi, Wole Olanikpekun, Mr. Mohammed said similar disbursements are currently ongoing at the CBN, from payments instruments passed on to his office in the same manner, as was done under Mr. Dasuki.

The following conversation ensued between the defence counsel and the prosecution witness:

Mr. Olanikpekun: Did you follow the due process before the account was opened for the said payments?

Mr. Mohammed: Yes we did.

Mr. Olanikpekun: Are Dasuki and Salisu still the signatories now?

Mr. Mohammed: No it is the present NSA and his director of finance.

Mr. Olanikpekun: While the signatories to the account has changed. The procedure for payment are still the same. Are you still following the same procedure?

Mr. Mohammed: Yes we are following the same procedure.

Mr. Olanikpekun: Apart from the authorised signatories. You also have another column to show that the payments were duly confirmed.

Mr. Mohammed: There is provision for confirmation before me.

Mr. Mohammed then explained that other payment instruments were contained in the same documents as those used for transfer of funds to Daar Communications presented in court.


He said N2 billion was paid to a company, A. R. security solutions, for personnel support, while N500 million was paid to Dalhatu investments for equipment’s procurement.

He added that over N600 million was paid to fund the Presidential Air fleet, from the while N13. 6 million was also paid for supply of rice to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs.

Another payment of N75 million was also made to CinC Security Department.
Other payments were made to accounts belonging to various beneficiaries, including Onile Nigeria Ltd, which received N200 million for consultancy services: Vibrant Resources Ltd, N450 million for security service; and Jawaz Multipurpose E-Venture Ltd which received N148 million as payment for supply of security equipment.

Several other beneficiaries were also paid based on Mr. Dasuki’s instructions, he said. These include General Hydrocarbon Ltd whose account was credited with N100 million as payment for energy consulting and another sum of N293.5, million which was said to have been paid from funds belonging to the NSA for de-radicalisation project.

Another N400 million was also paid to Coose Ltd for supply of security equipment, said Mr. Mohammed.

Asked whether the payments made were all legitimate, Mr. Mohammed responded in the affirmative.

Mr Olanikpekun: All the payments on the vouchers are legitimate.

Mr. Mohammed : Yes sir; they are.
The prosecution counsel, Mr. Jacobs, visibly surprised by his witness’ testimony, attempted to question Mr. Mohammed based on his last response; but the defence counsel objected.


An argument ensued.

After the argument, the trial judge, John Tsoho, asked the witness to clarify his response and he repeated what he had said.

“Because they have complied with all the due process. We are comfortable and the process is legitimate to us,” said Mr. Mohammed.

(NAN)

THE Peoples Democrataic Party (PDP) has suffered set-backs to put its house in order by harmonising its contending interests amid resolve by governors of the party not to be part of the process.








The indication emerged on Tuesday when the inauguration of the PDP Reconciliation Committee billed to hold at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja was cancelled.


The two factions of PDP led by Ali Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi have been holding talks on reconciliation, and are to widen the scope by setting up an expanded Committee to bring the aggrieved members back to fold from their different factions.


Makarfi and Sheriff had after series of meetings agreed to setup a reconciliation committee of 28 members, comprising 14 persons from both camps to smoothen the peace process.


All along, the governors of PDP, led by Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his counterpart from Ekiti, Ayodele Fayose have not been part of the peace deals struck by Makarfi and Sheriff.


Both Wike and Fayose had said they were being kept in the dark on the reconciliation efforts and hence would not be part of the talks at the instance of the factional leaders.


The issue of Ondo state governorship election, in which case Modu Sheriff has schemed Jimoh Ibrahim to upstage Hon Eyitayo Jegede as the candidate of the party is said to have signalling the cold attitude of the PDP governors towards the reconciliatory moves by Makrfi and Sheriff.


The PDP governors are said to have been discouraged with the moves by Sheriff to set up a Campaign Committee for Jimoh Ibrahim towards the governorship election in Ondo State as well as his resolve to inaugurate a parallel party executive for Delta State, despite the existence of a substantive party executive in the state.


Sheriff was yet to submit the list of his 14 members to form the 28 members peace reconciliation committee ahead of the inauguration yesterday.

THE Senate on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to set machinery in motion to conduct housing and population census in 2018.



Emanating from a motion by Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi at plenary on Tuesday in Abuja, the Senate also urged the government to make adequate provision of fund for the exercise.


Moving the motion entitled: “A call for The Federal Government to Expedite Action on the Planned 2018 National Census,” Hunkuyi reminded the government of constitutional provisions for the conduct of census.


He recalled that the last census was conducted in 2006 during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and that by the 10-year provision for the exercise to be conducted, it out to be this year.


He said that delay in the issuance of a proclamation by President Muhammadu Buhari and poor release of funds to the National Population Commission were major setbacks to the conduct of the exercise.


Hunkuyi said that in accordance with best international practices, a well planned and executed population census should take a minimum of two years.


He said: “It is only pertinent that subsequent population census should be carried out within an adequate timing and an objective of conducting an acceptable exercise.


“Secretary to Government of the Federation, NPoPC, Ministry of Budget and National Planning and other supervising agencies must make adequate provision in 2017 budget as critical prerequisite to achieving 2017/2018 population census.”


Senator John Enoh, in his contribution, reiterated the need for relevant government agencies to include the total cost of conducting the census in the 2017 budget.


Enoh stressed that the Federal Government should adhere to the United Nations provision that censuses should be conducted every 10 years.


Senator Emmanuel Bwacha said that there was the need to keep records of births, deaths and the entire population of the country.


Bwacha said: “If they tell us the number of people that have been killed in the North-East, some of us will faint.


“It is important for us to support this motion and ensure that funds are released for the conduct of the national population census and call on President Buhari to make a proclamation.”


Senator Ajayi Boroffice observed that there was no reason why money should not be made available to the population commission to conduct census.


Boroffice said: “The huge sum of money we will use in getting data from abroad is expensive.


“Let us channel that money into NPoPC so that they can conduct the census.”


Other lawmakers who contributed supported the motion.


The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, warned the NPC not to conduct a national census that would become an issue for deliberation.


Ekweremadu said that every Nigerian must be counted and that information technology should be deployed in order to produce acceptable results.
Ekweremadu said: “I want to thank the sponsor of the motion.


“As we approach the next census, we must take advantage of the development in technology and make the results of the exercise acceptable.


“All the previous exercises have been disputed. We want this exercise to count; every Nigerian must be counted and no one should be counted twice.


“If we do this, we will be able to plan.”

THE State Security Service has released a blogger, Emeh James Anyalakwe, Social Times has learnt.








Anyalakwe, who Publishes IgbereTv News [www.igberetvnews.com], it was gathered was arrested in the early hours of Friday, Blessing Okoro, a sister to the blogger said in a statement.


The operatives who reportedly stormed the blogger's residence were alleged to have whisked him away alongside his phones, laptop, his wife's phones, and other gadgets found in his residence in Uyo.


Speaking to Social Times on the incident, a close source to the blogger who happens to be his cousin said Anyalakwe was released lately same day of his arrest.


On why he was arrested the source said the blogger was arrested over publications on his website.


As at Press time, the blogger alongside the DSS are yet to comment for this story.


More Details Later...

THE Abia State online media practitioners have condemned the arrest and detention of a  blogger Emeh James Anyalakwe by men of the State Security Service (SSS).








In strong worded press release, the union demanded for the immediate release of Anyalakwe while calling on well-meaninng Nigerians to intercede and help facilitate his release.


“Freedom of the Press is one very key factor in any democracy and whenever the media is silenced then what is in practice is not democracy.


“Gone are the days when Security operatives are used to intimidate, clampdown and close down news platforms, in today’s world the court is the proper place to seek redress on any issue," a statement by the group secretary, Iroegbu Emenike partly read.


Anyalakwe, who Publishes IgbereTv News [www.igberetvnews.com], Social Times gathered was arrested in the early hours of Friday, Blessing Okoro, a sister to the blogger said in a statement.


This is coming barely a month after a blogger based in the Northwestern state of Katsina, Jamil Mabai was arrested on September 19 over a post on his blog where he criticised the State Governor, Aminu Masari, for buying coffins with public funds despite owing workers salaries.


The operatives who reportedly stormed the blogger's residence were alleged to have whisked him away alongside his phones, laptop, his wife's phone, and other gadgets found in his residence in Uyo.


Efforts to speak with Anyalekwa's wife who was present when her husband was whisked away was abortive as there was no means of communicating with her as at press time.


The blogger who is alleged to have been publishing pro-biafran news alongside "some sensitive anti-Buhari publications", was first taken to an unknown destination in Uyo, before flown to Abuja, the nation's Capital.


Phone calls placed to DSS Headquarters by this reporter was picked at first but was later hanged up after this reporter made  introduction asking for comments on this story, subsequent calls and text messages were not replied to as at the time of filling this report.


Recently, another blogger, Emenike Iroegbu, who who publishes Abia Facts Newspaper was accused of defaming Mr. Ikpeazu, Governor of Abia State.


He was arrested on the orders of the State Governor, while at his residence in Akwa Ibom State.


Also another blogger, Abubakar Usman, was recently arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and was accused of “cyber stalking”.


Mr. Usman was released after much public condemnation.

zubbyman:
This guy has been arrested today. dont say what you dont know

Blessynokoro:
Have replied... Waiting for ur message

zubbyman:
BREAKING: DSS Arrests IGERE TV Blogger, Anyalekwa for Criticizing Buhari; Site Shutdown

I have just been reliably informed that the Director of the popular News blog, IGBERE TV (IGBERETVNEWS), Emeh James Anyalekwa has just been arrested by people suspected to be agents of DSS over allegations of anti Buhari publications.

Seven men in two Hilux Jeeps early this morning at about 6.00am stormed the Uyo residence of the blogger and whisked him away in the presence of his wife and little daughter without disclosing the reason for his arrest and their destination.

Read More: http://www.zubbyblog.com/breaking-dss-arrests-igeretvnews-blogger-anyalekwa-criticizing-buhari/

Blessynokoro:
I guess this doesnt deserve the front page, a hardcore Biafran is the victim.

In the world of Nairaland and their admins, wrong is right as long as Biafrans re the victims.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission  has been put under spotlight on the handling of petitions against members of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The Human Rights Defenders and Advocacy Centre group has filed a petition asking specifically for  the EFCC to probe Patience Jonathan and  the source of APC campaign funds.

 

The group also wants the anti-graft agency to spread its investigative searchlight to the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu ex-Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and others over corruption allegations.

According to a report in Huhuonline, the Deputy Director of Operations, EFCC, Iliyasu Kwarbai, said this shortly after he received a petition from rights group, which staged a protest at the EFCC’s Lagos office.

“We’re investigating Patience Jonathan and if she’s found wanting, she wouldn’t go free.

“If anyone is indicted, no matter how highly or lowly placed the person is, the person would be arrested.

“The person’s status is immaterial to the EFCC. The most important thing is evidence.

“If there’s evidence that the person stole public funds, the person wouldn’t go free,” Kwarbai said

Asked if the protest staged by the advocacy group would hasten investigations against those alleged in the petition, Kwarbai said: “The protesters came to our office, not only because of Patience Jonathan, but there were also other matters.

“They talked about Amaechi, Olusegun Obasanjo, Tinubu and others.

“They came to our office and started dancing.

“We allowed them to finish dancing.

“After that, they submitted a petition against Patience.

“They want us to also investigate APC funds.

“I have already sent the petition to my chairman for action.

“Any petition brought to our office, is always investigated.

“There are however two major things the group wanted to be investigated: Patience Jonathan and APC campaign funds.”

Asked if Tinubu would be investigated, Kwarbai said: “Anybody mentioned would be investigated.

“We don’t shield anybody.

“That’s our job.”

The petition, entitled: “Demand for arrest, prosecution of Patience Jonathan, probe of APC campaign fund and no more sacred cow in the anti-corruption crusade,” was signed by the President of the group, Queen Ameh, and Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Innocent Agbo.

The group wondered why Patience Jonathan was still walking free when evidences had already indicted her.

The group urged the EFCC to go after Patience, and ex-Presidents, including Ibrahim Babangida, Abdusalam Abubakar, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan.

According to the protesters, the EFCC should begin to probe the source of the election campaign fund the APC used for the 2015 election.

RIVERS State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has described as false an online report that he bribed some Supreme Court justices to get his governorship election victory validated.


 








Wike said his election was upheld in line with the same principles of law that also validated the election of some governors who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.


 


The governor, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, was reacting to an online report that some Supreme Court justices were begged to accept N5bn bribe to validate his election.


 


The statement signed by Nwakaudu, read, “For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Wike did not bribe any Supreme Court justice or justices to get his election validated. The governor has always had confidence in the judiciary to uphold the tenets of the law.


 


“The Supreme Court upheld the election of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in line with the same principles of law and facts that it upheld the elections of APC governors, especially in Lagos, Kaduna, Zamfara, Oyo and Ogun states.”


 


The governor, however, accused the APC in the state of being behind the publication that tended to cast aspersions on his election victory.


 


But the state APC disagreed with the position of the governor, saying it had no direct or indirect link with the online medium that alleged that Wike bribed judges to get his election validated by the Supreme Court.


 


A statement issued in Port Harcourt on Thursday and signed by the state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Chris Finebone, read, “Records abound to prove that Amaechi and Peterside have, at one time or the other, came under intense scrutiny in the reports of Saharareporters.


 


“It begs the question when Governor Nyesom Wike says that the two very busy respectable individuals can spare the time to think about the governor and how to sponsor Saharareporters to scrutinise him, his infamous reputation and derelict government.


 


“It is perhaps appropriate and well-timed that the press release by Governor Wike has something to say about whether or not he bribed any justice of the Supreme Court over the 2015 governorship matter.


 


“From what is emerging today across the nation, the APC would like Rivers people and Nigerians to make their conclusions.”

THE Federal Government would not rest on its oars until it secures the release of the remaining Chibok schoolgirls believed to still be under the captivity of Boko Haram, Vice President, Prof. Osinbajo has said.








He insisted that for the 21 girls released on Thursday to the government no swap deal was struck contrary to insinuation that government exchanged four Boko Haram members in its detention facility to secure the release of the girls.


The VP received the 21 Chibok girls on Thursday night where they are being recuperated at the Department of State Services (DSS) medical centre located along Airport Road, Abuja.


He visited the health facility in company of the Director General of the DSS, Lawal Daura; Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Muhammed; Minister of Women Affairs; Aisha Alhassan; Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Ahmed Zanaib, among others.


Osinbajo also debunked speculations that the Red Cross Society aided government in securing the release of the girls, saying all what the renowned international humanitarian organisation did was to provide medical assistance to the girls at the point when they were released to government.


He revealed separately that the Swiss government aided the negotiations and that only one out of the 21 girls had a baby.


He also disclosed that the parents of the girls would be free to visit the girls as from Friday, October 14.


“There was no swap of any kind. Even when we started negotiations, we said we will consider all options available to us. Absolutely, there was no exchange of any kind this time.


“But we must be sensitive to the fact that the government wants these girls back and alive, again, we must balance it against the security and safety of the country,” the VP said.


In a further remark while briefing State House correspondents, he said, “We should congratulate ourselves and thank the almighty God for the release and subsequent returning home of 21 of the Chibok girls who were taken almost two years ago. It is exciting news for the whole country. Everyone is really excited and I believe that we should be very thankful to God.


“I also want to thank the military and all the security services, DSS, intelligence services across the county as well as our friends and partners, internationally who have also helped in bringing happy ending of captivity of at least 21 of the Chibok girls.


“About an hour ago, I met with the 21 Chibok girls who have been brought back and they are in good health, considering the circumstances they have been held in and they are now being well taken care of in the medical facility.


“In the process of negotiation, we will look at all options and we will weigh the options carefully and decide what to do.


“But what has happened and the process we have begun is one which has not involved any type of swap of Boko Haram commanders or any militant in any way.


“It is a very good turn of event. We believe that in the next few days and months, we will be bringing in more of these girls using exactly the same kind of negotiation and the same template that we used.


“They will be staying at the hospital for some time until we are satisfied about their health condition. Their parents will be coming to join them hopefully by tomorrow, Friday.


“There will be therapy, there will be counselling. Of course, we can imagine what they must have gone through. So we expect that a lot of psychological therapy and so much need to be done to get them back.


“The Swiss government worked with us in the process of negotiation but the Red Cross is not involved in the negotiation but in taking the girls back, of course, we worked with the Red Cross because we were unable to take our own medical team there.


“The Red Cross was not involved at all in the process of negotiation. It was the Swiss government, our own officials: the DSS, intelligence and the military were the ones involved.


“One of the 21 girls has a baby. She is the only one”.

A group, the Human Rights Defenders and Advocacy Centre, HRDAC, has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to change its name and slogan from ‘Nobody is above the law’, since its could not probe and prosecute Patience Jonathan the wife of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. This came as the EFCC said that ‘Patience Jonathan will never go scot-free if she is found wanting or any other person no matter how highly placed he or she is.’ EFCC boss Magu and Patience Jonathan The group in a statement, on Wednesday, title, ‘Demand for arrest, prosecution of Patience Jonathan, probe of APC campaign fund and no more sacred cow in the anti-corruption crusade’ signed by Queen Ameh, and Innocent Agbo during a protest at the EFCC office in Ikoyi, Lagos said the EFCC was selective in its anti-graft war, as its also questioned why Patience Jonathan was still walking freely in spite of the evidence the EFCC said its has against her. ”You have found evidence incriminating Patience Jonathan but we are surprised that Patience Jonathan is still allowed to be walking freely, and even had the audacity to take the EFCC to court to demand the release of her money to her.” The group also said the EFCC should change its slogan from ‘Nobody is above the law’, since it had found it difficult not to only go after Patience, but the likes of ex-Presidents, including Ibrahim Babangida, Abdusalam Abubakar, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan. Agbo during the protest lamented that “I have been to this same EFCC to bail several people over the issue of N500,000 passing through their accounts innocently. They were invited, they came voluntarily and you people held them. But we have somebody with our money, $15m which is N6bn, walking freely. On Ibrahim Babangida, Abdusalam Abubakar, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan. Agbo said ‘we have the issue of Badamasi Babangida; it is open knowledge that N12bn gulf money was missing under his regime, nothing is done; we are aware of Obasanjo and the $16bn power funds, you people are not investigating it; we are aware of the petition against Amaechi to the EFCC; we are aware that the APC did not get the funds for its election campaign from only Buhari’s account. We are aware that you are probing the Peoples Democratic Party, why are you not probing the APC?” he questioned The EFCC Deputy Director of Operations, Mr. Iliyasu Kwarbai, speaking with the protesters vowed that if its investigation uncovers evidence of corruption against the wife of former president Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, she would not be left off the hook and that ‘Nobody is above the law’, “Let me tell you, there is no sacred cow; anybody who is found wanting, who involves himself or herself in corrupt practices will not be spared. I have received your petition, it is here and what do we do? We go into investigation immediately. Now we have seen the name of Patience Jonathan; it is here. If she is found wanting, she will never go scot-free. So also any other person no matter how highly placed he is. “We must sanitise our country and provide a very good environment that people can come and invest in; an economy that is devoid of any economic and financial crime. So, we are happy to see you here; we have received it and we are going to go into action. I am going to inform my chairman that you were here and that we’ll commence investigation immediately.”

PassingShot:
The idiocy and pettiness of frustrated losers have no equal.
Just the omission of letter "a" in the president's name is making them hyperventilate!

IT is no longer news that we are in a recession. Nigerians are groaning under the weight of a dying economy. Food and commodity prices have skyrocketed; some have more than doubled their original prices. Commodity prices are appalling!



I was at the market recently; the woman who sold dry fish to me said jokingly, “These days people no dey chop belle full again, you go chop small, drink water and ask God to bless the remaining.” That sounded really funny and I laughed despite the reality of the situation. The naira is at an all-time low against the dollar.

The situation is worsened by the fact that people’s buying power is tremendously weakened. As food and commodity prices are going up, people’s capacity to purchase is reducing because more income is not necessarily coming in; companies are not increasing salary either. This is the unfortunate pit that we have found ourselves.

Some people say that it is the previous administration that got us to where we are, but I disagree. During former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, under the competent hands of Okonjo-Iweala, things were not as bad as this. Okonjo-Iweala kept inflation in single digits. In fact, starting from former President Obansanjo’s time, the economy witnessed an upward progression; from debt cancellation in 2005, to economic boom with the discovery of new sectors like telecommunications, and to the rebasing of our economy in 2015, when Nigeria was declared the largest economy in Africa.

It would also be recalled that as oil prices began to dwindle in 2015, Okonjo-Iweala managed to keep things going; she put austerity measures in place to serve as a buffer. Thank God for her policy direction that states should save, otherwise a lot of them would have had little or nothing to fall back on.

I strongly believe that it is high time the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari invited Okonjo-Iweala back into the helm of affairs. She is a woman of foresight with sound policies that can guide our economy in the right direction.

She has done it before. At the inception of civil rule in 1999, the economy was almost grounded due to years of corruption and embezzlement by the military. Obasanjo, in a smart move, appointed Okonjo-Iweala as the leader of the economic team that revived the economy.

This is the time we need Okonjo-Iweala the most. President Buhari needs to admit that she is skilful at resuscitating dead economies. He can leverage on her exposure and international connections for the benefit of the nation. If given the chance again, in less than a year Okonjo-Iweala will take Nigeria out of this pauperised state and begin to propel our economy in the right direction.

Bade Adebolu writes from Ado-Ekiti Nigeria. He sent in this piece via badeadebolu@gmail.com

THE Federal Government has finally agreed to consolidate the criminal charges filed against former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki and others before two different High Courts of the Federal Capital Territory Judiciary.








This followed a complaint by the former NSA that putting him on trial in two different courts on the same issues would prejudice and cause double jeopardy.


At the resumption of the trial today (October 5, 2016) the counsel to the Federal Government, Mr. Rotimi Jacob and that of Dasuki, Mr. Joseph Daudu agreed before Justice Baba Yusuf to formally write the chief judge of the FCT judiciary, Justice Ishaq Bello to consolidate the two charges in the interest of Justice.


The two senior counsels who applied to Justice Yusuf to adjourn the matter pending the time the chief judge would consider the application for consolidation. The judge who was billed to give ruling on Dasuki’s motion for consolidation put off the ruling as a result of understanding between the prosecution and the defence and adjourn the matter till October 21, 2016.


Dasuki has been put on trial before Justice Baba Yusuf and another charge was filed against him before Justice Peter Affem both of the FCT High Court on the same issue and subject.


However, Dasuki sensing danger in the abuse of judicial process applied that the two charges at the two high court be consolidated since they were on the same issues and alleged contravention of the same laws.


Dasuki who is standing trial on allegation of alleged misappropriation of fund along with four others before Justice Baba Yusuf had insisted that the charges against him by the complainant on the same issue constituted a gross abuse of court process.


In the motion brought pursuant to Section 6 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 1, 208, 396, 491 and 492 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, Dasuki had claimed that the two charges revolved around the same set of transaction and facts on the alleged funds misappropriation and the breach of trust.


He claimed that the two charges with NO FCT/HC/CR/43/2015 and another one with FCT/HC/CR/42/2015 pending before Justice Baba Yusuf of the High Court No 4 and Justice Peter Affen of High Court No 24 are identical charges emanating from the Office of the National Security Adviser and as such must be consolidated in the interest of justice and fair trial to avoid double jeopardy.


The applicant further claimed that to stand trial before two different courts and two different judges on the same set of facts and purported transaction of the office of the NSA will be prejudicial and great hardship against him as he stands the risk of double jeorpady having being charged in two different courts on the issue.


In the alternative, Dasuki prayed that is name be struck out from one of the two charges in the interest of justice.


In 30 paragraph affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by Dolapo Kehinde, the Ex-NSA was said to be standing trial before Justice Baba Yusuf on a 19 count charge for criminal breach of trust pursuant to Section 97, 309, 315 and 317 of the Penal Code and for also dishonestly misappropriated of certain properties in breach of Section 17 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act 2014.


The deponent, also averred that Dasuki and four others were also standing trial before Justice Peter Affen for similar offences on 22 Count Charge of criminal breach of trust contrary to Section 97, 309, 315 and 317 of Penal Code and dishonest misappropriation of certain properties contrary to Section 17 of EFCC Act 2014.


He further averred that the pivotal issue whereupon the two charges revolve is the purported $2.1bn alleged to have been misappropriated by the Ex-NSA.


The affidavit indicated that there was no distinction between the alleged transactions which led the filing of the two charges and therefore it is an abuse of the court for the two charges to have been filed separately.


(PRNigeria)

THE the motion filed by the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, asking the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, to disqualify himself from his trial‎.








The motion was dismissed on Wednesday.


In dismissing the motion, Umar said he cannot disqualify himself from the trial on the ground that without him, there can be no tribunal.


According to him, it is only the President and a two-third of the National Assembly that can remove him from office.

THE Federal Government on Wednesday gave a reason why it did not immediately comply with the judgement of an ECOWAS Court to release a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.








The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Court on Tuesday gave a judgement directing the release of Mr. Dasuki.


On Wednesday, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said the government needs to study the content of the ruling before acting on it.


Mr. Dasuki has been detained since last year for allegedly mismanaging billions of dollars meant for purchase of arms as well as for illegal possession of arms.


The government's stance was made known to Premium Times by Salihu Isah, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to Mr. Malami.


He said the government needs to fully understand the content of the court’s proceedings and judgement before reacting.


“We cannot just react. We will first of all study the judgement to understand it’s content before taking a stand,” he said.


The ECOWAS Court ordered the release of Mr. Dasuki on Tuesday, describing his arrest and continued detention as unlawful and arbitrary.


A three -member panel of the court, led by Justice Friday Nwoke said the search conducted at Mr. Dasuki’s residence without a warrant was illegal and against Nigerian laws.


Although the court said it would not go into the details of whether or not Mr. Dasuki’s alleged possession of arms were criminal, it added that an owner is entitled to enjoyment of its property.


The court said the manner of arrest and detention of Mr. Dasuki went contrary to article six of the African Charter on Human Rights and Article 9 (1) of the international order on civil and political rights.


“Liberty is the rule and detention is the exception,” said Mr. Nwoke, adding that the deprivation of Mr. Dasuki’s liberty should only be considered if he is convicted by a court of law.


The Court ordered the Federal Government to pay N15 million as damages to Mr. Dasuki.


With the stance of the chief law officer of the Nigerian government, Mr. Dasuki may still spend more time in jail.

A member of the group that kidnapped Margaret, the wife of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, last week has said he and his gang members were not aware of the identity of the people they abducted.


Margaret and four other persons in her company were kidnapped on Friday along the Benin-Agbor Expressway by armed gunmen.


They were, however, set free less than 24 hours after.


But one of the suspects, Musa Muhammad, said they only embarked on random kidnapping without knowing the identity of their victims.


Muhammad and five other members of the gang, who have been identified as Fulani, are at present telling the police all they know about the kidnapping of Margaret at the headquarters of the Edo State Police Command in Benin.


Muhammad was said to have been arrested a few hours after they released Margaret.


He then led the police to the five other members of the gang who have been arrested so far.


Three other members of the gang are said to be on the run.

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday unveiled a proposal to spend N6.8 trillion in 2017, with debt servicing put at N1.6 trillion.








This was based on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework read‎ on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday.


According to the MTEF, oil bench mark was put $42.50 per barrel, with production projected to be 2.2 million barrels per day and an exchange rate of N290 to a dollar.


According to the MTEF, N65 billion will be spent on the Amnesty programme compared to N20 billion budgeted for the same project in 2016.


N350 billion will also be spent on Special Intervention Programmes in 2017 compared to N300 billion earmarked in 2016.


The MTEF reads in part: “Provision in the MTEF are drawn‎ from the government’s development priorities over the medium term, and more specifically, driven by its fiscal strategy and reflect the broad aggregates of the government’s annual budget over the period.


“The aggregates revenue to the fund the 2017 Budget is projected to increase over the 2016 estimates of N3.855 trillion by about 8 percent (or about N313 billion). 33 percent of this is to come from oil sources while the balance is derivable from non-oil sources – in consonance with the government renewed focus on diversification of its revenue base.


“The planned aggregates expenditure is estimated to exceed the provision of N6.6 trillion in the 2016 budget by 13.3 percent (or about N806 billion).”

FOLLOWING the outcry that has trailed the advocacy for the sale of the country’s national assets as a quick measure to fund the 2016 budget and boost the country’s foreign exchange reserves, the President/Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has dismissed insinuations that his advocacy for the sale of the assets was self-serving, saying he was not interested in any of the assets.

A National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has denied a media report that he “bombed” President Muhammadu Buhari.








Some online media outfits had on between Monday and Tuesday quoted Tinubu as having taken on Buhari following his face-off with the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.


He was quoted to have made snide remarks about the President, including the fact that Buhari begged him to emerge president.


But in a statement by the Tinubu Media Office, the former Governor of Lagos State was distanced from the story.


The statement said: “In the past 48 hours, we have noticed the churning out of falacious and outright malicious stories in the social media concerning Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.


“We want to state that the stories are patently false and we urge unsuspecting Nigerians to ignore the lies being spread and the wicked stories about what Tinubu purportedly said or did. The stories being churned out are being done by some fifth columnists who seek to drive a wedge between these leaders. One of such stories is the one entitled ‘Tinubu Bombs Buhari,’ which is fit only for the trash can and a figment of the writer’s imagination.


“Asiwaju Tinubu remains a staunch APC stalwart and supporter of the APC government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari. Tinubu is preoccupied with assisting to find solutions to the present challenges now confronting us as a nation and nothing will distract him from doing this.”


Tinubu, according to the earlier story, allegedly spoke when he received a segment of APC chieftains from the South West who paid him a solidarity visit late on Monday.


He was quoted to have said: “I regret building APC and giving Buhari a platform to become president.


“We all knew he didn’t merit to be president, but you know how we politicians behave when we are desperate for electoral position; We beg.


“That was how President Buhari always and frequently came to my private house here in Ikoyi with his entourage which included that Nasiru and others.


“At a point, he was practically living in my house, under my roof. The room he was sleeping was just 6-7 steps from my own private room. I was building his confidence because he didn’t have it. He was even scared of Atiku and Rabiu.


“What I ate, he ate. My security was his security because he expressed fears about the security provided by the Jonathan government. He was afraid of Jonathan.


“Now they occupy Aso Rock and they think Asiwaju Tinubu is finished. He is using people I brought from obscurity against me. Now they say my mouth is smelling. They say I’m no longer relevant. The battle line is drawn, I will show them the meaning of Asiwaju.


“I know they have surrounded my house. They are there outside. You can’t see them but I know where they are. I see them, but I am not afraid of them. They know that.”


When asked “what next” by one of the loyalists, who said: “What do we do now?” Tinubu was quoted to have replied: “Don’t worry, just watch. Time will tell, I built this party and I can destroy it, but for now I vow, PDP must win Ondo State.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, September 27, 2016, arraigned a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman O. Jibrin and two others: Rear Admiral Bala Mshelia (rtd) and Rear Admiral Shehu Ahmadu (rtd) before Justice A. S Umar of the FCT High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on a 4-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy.


They were docked alongside Habour Bay International Limited


A press release from EFCC Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren said the naval chiefs whilst in office allegedly bought a house worth N600million from the account of Naval Engineering Services without the said purchase contract being captured in the budget.


It was also alleged that, the documentation for transfer of ownership of the property was done such that a private company owned by the family of the first defendant (Vice Admiral Jubrin) became the buyer.


The offence is in contravention of Section 26 (1) (b) and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Act 2000.


The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.


In view of their plea, counsel to EFCC, Abdullah Faruk, asked the court for a date for commencement of trial.


However, Y. C. Maikyau, SAN, representing the first and fourth accused, through an oral application made pursuant to Section 36(5) of the Nigerian Constitution sought for the bail of his clients.


Maikyau told the court that, the defendants had been enjoying administrative bail granted them by the EFCC and had never breached any of its terms.


The counsel stated that, though he had earlier filed and served the prosecution with a formal bail application, he felt the need to move an oral application subject to the discretion of the court.


Counsel representing second and third accused relied on the arguments canvassed by the learned silk in seeking bail for their clients.


In response, Faruk told the court that, he was served this morning and asked for time to enable him respond appropriately.


Justice Umar after listening to the submissions of counsel on both sides adjourned to tomorrow for hearing on the bail application.