₦airaland Forum

African leaders have backed a Kenyan proposal pushing for a pullout from the International Criminal Court, leaders said Sunday, repeating claims it unfairly targets the continent. Chad’s President Idriss Deby, elected African Union chairman at the two-day summit, criticised the court for focusing its efforts on African leaders. “Elsewhere in the world, many things happen — many flagrant violations of human rights — but nobody cares,” Deby said at the close of the summit late Sunday, which had an official theme of protecting human rights.

No legally binding decision was made, and the decision to leave the ICC’s founding Rome Statute is up to an individual nation. The decision is a “proposal…for the AU to develop a road map for the withdrawal of African nations”, a Kenyan presidential statement read. The war crimes trial of former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo began last week, rekindling a bitter row across Africa over the international justice system.

Set up in 2002 as the last resort to try war criminals and perpetrators of genocide never tried at home, the ICC has opened probes involving eight nations, all of them African: Kenya, Ivory Coast, Libya, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Uganda and Mali. The AU, led in particular by Kenya, has accused the court of unfairly targeting Africans for prosecution as the majority of its cases come from the continent.

This included a failed case to try Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and a faltering case against his deputy William Ruto, for allegedly masterminding deadly post-election violence in the east African country in 2007-2008 in which some 1,200 people died. “We refuse to be carried along in a vehicle that has strayed off course to the detriment of our sovereignty, security and dignity as Africans,” Kenyatta said in a statement.

In November 2015, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom, speaking for the AU at an annual meeting between the 123 countries that have signed up to the Hague-based ICC’s founding statute, said it was “no longer a court for all.” Around one-third of its member states are in Africa. But while leaders criticised the court, others said that was a mistake.

“Leaving the ICC with no credible mechanism for justice for mass crimes in sight would be an error of colossal proportions,” Kenya’s Daily Nation said in an editorial. “It is far better for member states to stay in the court and advocate reforms, rather than bolting and leaving millions on the continent unprotected by an international court which can step in when national institutions fail.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/african-leaders-back-push-for-icc-pull-out/

hbd to him

lalasticlala

They have their own agenda and this is what we are seeing about the Speaker and the Senate President. We believe they are not going to 2019 on the platform of the APC just like what Hon. Aminu Tambuwal did to PDP the other time where himself and others came together. The game going on in the National Assembly shows that they have Tambuwal solidly behind them.



Interesting....Saraki's body language said it all...

happy new month my guy

OnankpaBa:
We all knew where Saraki belongs. He should leave. Nobody is going to miss him. But if he thinks he is going to win in 2019. I laugh in spanish

Following the recent budget controversy, controversial new House rules and equal allocation of Committee leadership among the ruling All Progressives Congress and PDP, Hon. Mohammed Musa Soba in an interview with DAILY POST’s Atek’ojo Samson Usman in Abuja said the actions of Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Dr. Bukola Saraki communicate their intention to abandon the APC before 2019.
He also accused the Speaker of being dictatorial by introducing new House rules that tend to stop the members from challenging him for his wrongdoings. He said such rules were the reason some of them have gone to Court against the leadership of the National Assembly.

Excerpts:

Can we know you formally?

My name is Honourable Mohammed Musa Soba. I represent the good people of Soba federal constituency of Kaduna State.

Why did you and other members of the House of Representatives go to Court to challenge the Speaker? What informed your action?

For a start, I want to tell you that rules can be challenged in the Court of Law. It is not that the House of Representatives is law itself. If the rules made are draconian and dictatorial, they can be challenged in Court of law. You see, it is not for us to engage everybody in a rowdy session. When the rules were purported to have been passed, we have our reservations because it was a voice votes and by standing rules of the House, certain decisions are not by voice votes. Such decisions are taken through clear cut voting pattern. To start with, we are in a democratic setting, democracy is supposed to be practiced within the general principles of the Constitution and extant laws, but from what is happening in the House of Representatives and with what they call new House rules, they have vested too much powers on the Speaker and the intention is to make the Speaker a dictator within the legislative setting. I am one of those members that dragged the House leadership to Court for it to interpret and tell us within the precincts of our legislature that the Speaker can become so dictatorial in such a manner that his personal opinion can become part of the rules of the House because when you go through the new House rules, they will tell what in the opinion of the Speaker and I asked how can the opinion of the Speaker become part of the House rules?
Honestly, it is not about picking the mace for whatever reasons, but to confer powers on the Speaker for anybody’s intention towards the mace, that is too draconian. This is because the Speaker can interpret your action and punish you by suspending you from 30 plenary. How can the people of my federal constituency send me here only for my fate to hang on somebody’s mercies? Only for somebody sitting down here to say I have suspended you, suspend me for what? Nobody has power to suspend anybody. There is a constitutional provision which requires the number of days a member should sit for plenary, nobody can suspend anybody. If any member’s sitting falls short of minimum requirements, he could be recalled and so it is irreconcilable that if somebody sits down here and say I have suspended you, he can even send you packing from the National Assembly.

We are representatives of our people and we should be guided in whatever we do. Of course, it is unreasonable for anybody to approach the mace in a rowdy session to embarrass everybody. We are not in support of that, but these kinds of enormous powers for the Speaker to deal with virtually all the 360 members of the House of Representatives is rather dictatorial and we are not going to succumb to that. So who is going to regulate the conducts of the Speaker? These are the people who would tell you that as a House of Representatives, we are autonomous. Some people feel that they are superior to others. Others feel that they can do anything they like and nothing will happen. I want to tell you that we will not agree. We are here with equal rights, equal basis in a democratic setting. As it is now, you cannot challenge the Speaker for his wrongdoings because in his interpretation, he could call for your suspension. Are we in banana republic? We are nobody’s boys and we cannot be subservient to that at all.

Don’t you think such rules were introduced to stabilize proceedings of the House in the best interest of the party (APC)?

That is not true. If you want peace and unity, you cannot get it on the basis of dictatorship. You can only get it within the context of constitutional provision where rights of people are sustained irrespective of your sentiment. We are regulating the conduct of the executive, the Judiciary is there to interpret and so the whole thing is intertwined in such a way that there is checks and balances. Those watching our plenary could see that everybody is at the mercy of Mr Speaker. He decides to take ‘aye’ or ‘nay’ depending on what he wants and not what the entire House wants. What kind of Parliamentary system of government is that? We cannot tolerate such jamboree anymore.

What is the way forward now?

The way forward is for those who think they can rubbish the programme of government to realize that they cannot. We came here with some agenda to be executed through our party and if they cannot assist the government to do that, we are certainly going to fight. Like I told you, they are people planning for 2019 and they are not going with the APC. They have their own agenda and this is what we are seeing about the Speaker and the Senate President. We believe they are not going to 2019 on the platform of the APC just like what Hon. Aminu Tambuwal did to PDP the other time where himself and others came together. The game going on in the National Assembly shows that they have Tambuwal solidly behind them. Of course, the party will do something and in the House, we will do something.



http://dailypost.ng/2016/02/01/saraki-dogara-may-dump-apc-before-2019-hon-soba/

Unidentified armed men on Friday kidnapped King Josiah Umukoro, the Odion-Ologbo of Olomoro Kingdom, Isoko South council area of Delta state, from his palace.

Although facts surrounding the kidnap his kidnap were sketchy as at press time, it was gathered that he was apprehended by his kidnappers about 7:30am on Friday and was whisked away to an unknown destination.

Sources alleged that the monarch was whisked away in a RAV 4 Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), painted in dark green colour, The Nation report.

It will be recalled that barely a week ago, a similar incident reportedly happened where the late king of Ubulu-Uku in Aniocha North council area of the state, Obi Akaeze Edward Ofulue III, was kidnapped.

Obi Ofulue, who was allegedly kidnapped by suspected Fulani herders, was found dead about a week ago.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Celestina Kalu, DSP, confirming the incident, said there was no lead yet on the kidnap of the monarch, but said the command had commenced moves to secure his release.

Kalu said, “No lead yet, it happened this morning, but we are on their track.”

The Isoko South council chairman, Sir Itiako Constantine Ikpokpo, in his reaction said, “Yes, he was abducted this morning in Olomoro. I was alerted at about 8:30am.

“The police and army swung immediately into action with the help of the vigilante.”

The Chairman expressed confidence that the abducted monarch would be rescued, saying, “We are confident he will be rescued.”

Cc: lalasticlala

http://dailypost.ng/2016/01/29/armed-men-kidnap-another-traditional-ruler-from-royal-palace-in-delta/

pishure or idonbiliv

President Muhammadu Buhari will leave Abuja Wednesday on a three-day state visit to Kenya.

According to Femi Adesina, his Special Adviser to the President Media and Publicity, on arrival in Kenya, President Buhari will join his host, President Uhuru Kenyatta and other dignitaries at a memorial service for Kenyan soldiers, who were killed by Al-Shabaab in Somalia on January 15.

After the memorial service in Eldoret, President Buhari will proceed to Nairobi for bilateral talks on Thursday with Kenyan Government officials, led by President Kenyatta.

Before the conclusion of his visit, President Buhari and President Kenyatta will jointly preside over a Kenya-Nigeria Business Forum in Nairobi.

The President’s entourage to Kenya will include the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance, and Industry, Trade and Investment.

At the conclusion of his visit to Kenya on Friday, President Buhari will go on to Addis Ababa for the 26th Summit of African Union Heads of State and Government.

President Buhari will also participate in a meeting of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council before returning to Abuja on Sunday, January 31st.

Cc: lalasticlala

http://dailypost.ng/2016/01/26/buhari-to-visit-kenya-participate-in-26th-summit-of-african-union-leaders/

OnankpaBa:
Call me APC Zombie...no pros..but let me tell you if you think Metuh will be out so soon, you are still seating on a long thing. He will be in chains.


Let him remain in Kuje

on sick bed

OsusuMustFlow:
The EFCC is prosecuting Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited, on seven counts of money laundering and fraudulent receipt of N400m meant for procurement of arms from from the Office of the NSA on November 22, 2014, and used the funds for the PDP’s campaign activities.

The prosecution alleged that the N400m from which Metuh was said to have given about N21m to a former Chairman, Board of Trustee of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, was “part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity” of the immediate past NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).

Now, where is Anenih?

Ade Adesomoju, Abuja

An official of the Office of the National Security Adviser, Mr. Bali Ndam, on Tuesday narrated to a Federal High Court in Abuja the processes leading to the charges of money laundering and fraudulent receipt of the sum of N400m from the ONSA in November 2014, preferred against the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh.

Ndam, a Legal Adviser at the ONSA, who appeared before Justice Okon Abang as the third prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday, said the incumbent NSA, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, sent a petition dated November 28, 2015 to the commission over “payment of contracts without award”.

Led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, the witness said “a list of companies and individuals about 78 in number” was attached to the NSA’s petition to the EFCC.

He said he could “vividly remember” that Metuh’s firm, Destra Investments Limited, with whom the PDP spokesperson is standing trial, was among the 78 beneficiaries of the allegedly ‎fraudulent payment.

But an attempt by the prosecution to tender the petition and other documents, including the electronic mandate issued by the ONSA to the Controller of the Abuja branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria for payments in favour of the 78 beneficiaries, was opposed by the defence counsel, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN).

The judge is currently writing his bench ruling on the objection raised by the defence against the admisibility of the documents.

Metuh, who has a pending application for variation of the conditions of bail granted him by the court was also produced in court on handcuffs by prison officials on Tuesday.

The court has fixed tomorrow, Wednesday for the hearing of the application for variation of the bail terms, which his lawyer said he had laboured unsuccessfully to meet.

The EFCC is prosecuting Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited, on seven counts of money laundering and fraudulent receipt of N400m meant for procurement of arms from from the Office of the NSA on November 22, 2014, and used the funds for the PDP’s campaign activities.

The prosecution alleged that the N400m from which Metuh was said to have given about N21m to a former Chairman, Board of Trustee of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, was “part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity” of the immediate past NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).

The prosecution, led by Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, opened its case on Monday by calling two witnesses – an employee of a financial services firm, Asset and Resource Management Company Limited, Nneka Ararume, and a bureau de change operator, Sie Iyenome.

While Ararume testified on how she received a $2m cash from Metuh at his home in Abuja on December 2, 2014, Iyenome narrated to the court his role in converting the sum $1m part of the total sum of $2m.



http://www.punchng.com/metuhs-firm-among-78-paid-for-doing-nothing-nsa-office/

seriously my guy...so pathetic

benedictnsi:
My brother, this is not funny....... It is pathetic

OYOKU ASANG—PUPILS reluctantly recline and sit on the floor in ramshackle classrooms to learn at public primary schools in Oyoku Asang and Okisu communities, Okobo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State because of the state government’s inability to provide them adequate chairs, benches and other basic education requirements. Uncomfortable parents/guardians are pulling out their children/wards in their numbers from the ramshackle public primary schools, citing unspeakable infrastructure decay and neglect by the state government.

Findings by Niger Delta Voice showed that pupils, indeed, sit down on bare floor to be taught at Government Primary School, Oyoku Asang, due to lack of chairs, while teachers deployed to the schools by government typically abandon their posting. We also learned that the Government Primary School, Oyoku, has only one decrepit block of four classrooms forcing primary four and five pupils to squeeze themselves into one classroom.

The pitiable situation has been like that since 2008 and several complaints by the community to the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, have not yielded positive results.

Why we withdraw our children

One of the villagers, who identified herself as Amasi, said that the poor state of schools in the area was responsible for the low population as many parents decided to remove their children from the schools accusing government of insensitivity to the plight of the pupils in the area. She complained that pupils whose parents could not afford the fees charged by private schools with better facilities eventually become dropouts.

Clan head laments neglect

At Eweme, Ward 1 in Okisu village, the clan head, Chief Ukwa Ukwa Onoh, said: “Government has neglected this area. It is a very serious situation that all the public schools in the whole of this area is facing the same problem of decayed and non-existent lack of infrastructure, no seats, no classroom blocks. “Government has not done anything for this area to improve the situation. The same situation you saw at Government Primary school in Oyoku Asang is the same thing with the school here in Okisu.”

He further said: “This is sad and we have reported to the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, many times to come to our help, but as you can see, this is simply a neglected and abandoned area. I am still appealing to government to look into our situation as soon as possible.”

It’s regrettable— Headmaster

A headmaster at one of the schools, who spoke on grounds of anonymity, said that he usually sent the pupils home whenever it rained because the roofs were leaking. “The state of this school has been like this for so many years and because of that teachers posted to the school do not stay. Parents are not bringing their children here. It is an unfortunate situation. We have been trying to draw the attention of government since 2008, but you know government has so many things that it is doing. We are hoping that one day government will remember this area,” he said.

Gov Emmanuel is committed to schools’ upgrade

Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, said the present administration was committed to education and would continue with the construction and renovation of schools across the state through the Inter-ministerial Direct Labour Committee.

“These are people- oriented programmes and Governor Udom Emmanuel has made it very clear that he appreciates those programmes and will sustain these programmes because the programmes are in the interest of the people of Akwa Ibom State. Right now, you will see so many inter ministerial jobs. We have started in many local government areas and the construction and reconstruction will continue,” he said.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/unbelievable-pupils-still-sit-lie-on-floor-in-a-ibom-communities-schools/

However, in her ruling, Justice Adebiyi refused the request to admit the defendants to bail based on the stated conditions.


mtchew.

Akpobolokemi and six other employees of the agency were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly stealing N754,740,680 belonging to NIMASA.

lalasticlala

He said, “After sending invitations to them and they have failed to turn up, the next step is to summon them.”


Isokay...are we looking at the second summon on the Minister for Petroleum?

The House of representatives said on Monday that the current Minister of Petroleum Resources would be invited to answer questions on the controversial Refined Product Exchange Agreement contracts executed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiary, the Pipelines Product Marketing Company, between 2011 and 2015.

Otherwise known as SWAP, the deals involved the exchange of crude oil for refined petroleum products in which the corporation gave out part of its 445,000 barrels daily share of crude to trading companies.

The House Ad hoc Committee , which is investigating the deals, already had evidence that crude worth over $24bn exchanged hands between the government agencies and some crude marketing firms, including Duke Oil and Tranfigura.

The committee is chaired by an All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Kwara State, Mr. Zakari Mohammed.

Mohammed told The PUNCH in Abuja that the minister would have to appear before the committee to speak on the role of his ministry in the deals.

When reminded that President Muhammadu Buhari doubles as the petroleum minister, Mohammed replied that the President could delegate his Minister of State, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, to appear before the committee.

He explained that the committee was not interested in knowing whether Buhari or Kachikwu was not in office when the contracts were signed.

Mohammed added, “This is an investigation. The committee will invite the minister we know today. If the President cannot come, that is why there is a minister of state; Mr. President can delegate him.

“Let the minister come and tell the committee that he knows nothing about the transactions because he was not the minister at that time.

“They should lead us to the minister (ex-ministers) who have the right information.”

Mohammed stated that the minister and the NNPC would be the last to testify before the panel, following which the committee would tidy up its report on the findings.

The committee had on Thursday last week summoned the chief executive officers of two firms, Ontario and Aiteo, to appear on Tuesday (today) without fail or risk arrest by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase.

The two got sub-contracts from Duke Oil’s share of 33.7 million metric tonnes of crude.

The summons followed the disclosure by the PPMC that Ontario still had $98m worth of refined products to deliver to the country while Aiteo owed Nigeria $37m worth of products.

Mohammed had complained last week that the two firms had refused to appear before the committee preferring to send legal representations.

He said, “After sending invitations to them and they have failed to turn up, the next step is to summon them.”

http://www.punchng.com/well-quiz-kachikwu-over-crude-swap-deals-reps/

una funny jare

Tunami:
yes, believe it or leave it.

really?

Tunami:
infact all apc politicians are thieves, if you like call me a wailer na you sabi.

The acting National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, has said that some of the 55 Nigerians identified by the Federal Government to have stolen N1.34 trillion are presently part of Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet.

Secondus, in an interview, however, accused the All Progressives Congress, APC-led administration of turning a blind eye to the misdeeds of its supporters and faulted the handcuffing of PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, during his recent court appearances.

Secondus, who reiterated that PDP was not against Buhari’s anti-graft war, stressed that it must not be selective, adding that the government must adhere strictly to Rule of Law, adding that those involved, even if they are in the present government, must be brought to book.

He said: “This involves both APC and PDP. Those involved are still in the government of Muhammadu Buhari, serving as ministers, some holding ranking positions even in security agencies.

“He should bring them to book; we are not against his fight against corruption, but it should be holistic and there must be Rule of Law.

“Look at the handcuffs on PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh. It is wicked and vindictive. Nigerians should see what is happening in a democracy because Metuh is the spokesperson of opposition party. Now, no one can speak freely.

“We are operating under threat and a Police state; our families now live under threat and they are being asked questions at the airport.”


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/thieves-re-in-buharis-government-secondus/

nice one.

well said my guy...

museveni:
How easily and quickly could these people have forgotten the struggle for the emancipation of Niger Delta, a cause they pursued violently at the start of Late President Yaraduaa's regime. .

Now that they have become overnight billionaires
under Jonathan ' s regime, they wantt to quietly enjoy their money abandoning the fight for their people. Of course, they are too rich to go back to the creeks. Thank God we voted wisely regardless of the current economic recession - we will be better off at the end.

God bless our President! !!

God bless Nigeria! !!

Ex-NIMASA boss, brothers face money laundering allegations

The Federal Government has filed fresh criminal charges against a former Niger Delta militant leader, Chief Government Oweize Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), involving about N22,765,900,000.

The new charge, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos, borders on stealing, advanced fee fraud and money laundering.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed the 22-count charge against Tompolo and 12 others.

Justice Ibrahim Buba had, on January 14, ordered Tompolo’s arrest.

The judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to report in court to face a prior criminal charge against him.

The judge had, a day earlier, summoned Tompolo, but the accused did not turn up.

EFCC’s lawyer Festus Keyamo said Tompolo ignored previous invitations by EFCC during investigation.

Others accused in the first charge include a former Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi; Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, Odimiri Electricals Limited, Kemi Engozu, Boloboere Property and Estate Limited, Rex Elem, Destre Consult Limited, Gregory Mbonu and Captain Warredi Enisuoh.

EFCC, in the 40-count charge, said the suspects allegedly diverted N34 billion, which accrued from the public private partnership agreement between NIMASA and Global West Vessel Specialist Limited for personal use.

The alleged offence contravenes Section 15 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

In the 22-count charge, Tompolo will face trial along with Akpobolokemi, whose four brothers – Victor, Nobert, Emmanuel and Clement – said to be at large, allegedly aided the suspects to commit the fraud.

The other suspects are Kime Engozu, Josephine Otuaga, Rita Uruakpa and Pondi Kestin as well as seven companies – Mieka Dive Training Institute Ltd/GTE, Oyeinteke Global Network Ltd, Wabod Global Resources Ltd, Boloboere Properties Estate Ltd, Gokaid Marine Oil and Gas Ltd, Muhaabix Global Services Ltd and Watershed Associated Resources.

They were accused of converting various sums running into over N22.7bn allegedly stolen from NIMASA to their personal use between December 12, 2014 and April 10, 2015.

They were also accused of defrauding the Federal Government by making representations, which they knew to be false.

EFCC said the alleged offences contravene Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3)of the same Act.

The suspects also allegedly violated various sections of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012, including its sections 15(3) and 18(a) and are liable to punishment under Section 15(3) of the same Act, the commission said.

They were said to be liable to punishment under Section 1 (2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

In count two, the EFCC alleged that the suspects “between the 2nd day of December, 2014 and 10th April,2015 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, with intent to defraud, induced the Federal Government to deliver to you, the aggregate sum of N11, 900,000,000.00 by falsely pretending to the Federal Government that all that land and its appurtenances lying, being and situate at Mieka Dive Training Institute, Kurutie, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, to be acquired by NIMASA for the temporary Campus of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Warri South-West Local Government Area, is free from any encumbrances, which representation you knew to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section (1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3)of the same Act.”


http://thenationonlineng.net/alleged-n22b-fraud-efcc-charges-tompolo-in-lagos/

1 billion naira bail

cute

lalasticlala, i summoned you sir.

OnankpaBa:
Fayose should watch out as well.