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 Politics › Metuh Gave Me $2m Cash To Invest – Witness by Dotng(op): 3:33pm On Jan 25, 2016 |
Metuh gave me $2m cash to invest – Witness The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday opened its case with two witnesses against the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, in the charges of money laundering involving the sum of N400m which he allegedly collected from the Office of the National Security Adviser in November 2014. The trial commenced before a Federal High Court in Abuja after the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, overruled objection by Metuh’s lead counsel, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) to adjourn the trial. Ikpeazu also informed the judge on Monday that since Metuh had been unable to meet the bail conditions granted him on January 16, the defence had filed an application for variation of the terms. He urged the court to adjourn the proceedings as the inability of his client to meet the bail conditions had adverse effect on his preparation for the defence. The prosecution led by Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, opposed the application for adjournment and his objection was upheld by the judge. Tahir then proceeded to open the prosecution’s case on Monday with the testimony of an employee of Asset and Resource Management Company Limited, Nneka Ararume, who narrated how he collected a total sum of $2m cash from Metuh at his house in Prince and Princess Estate, Abuja. Ararume who described her position with the company as Wealth Manager, said the instruction given to her by Metuh was that the money should be invested. She explained further that she went ahead to change the money to its naira equivalent through two bureau de change operators she engaged. She said, “He gave me the sum of $2m in $100 bills. It was taken to bureau de change operators who would then transfer the money to ARM. From there (Metuh’s house) I proceeded to Mr. Sie Iyenome’s office at Wuse 2 where I gave him the sum of $1m. “I also invited Mr. Kabir Mohammed and I also gave him the sum of $1m to transfer the naira equivalent in favour of Destra Investment Limited. Later on the same day, December 2, 2014, Mr. Kabir and Mr. Sie Iyenome confirmed the receipt.” The prosecution also called Iyenome as its second prosecution witness, who also narrated how he changed the $1m to its naira equivalent and paid it to ARM. Both witnesses were cross-examined by the defence counsel. Trial has been adjourned till tomorrow for the prosecution to call more witnesses. The prosecuting counsel said he had 16 more witnesses http://www.punchng.com/27572-2/ |
| Business › Anxiety As FG Completes Review Of Mtn’s N34bn License by Dotng(op): 8:57am On Jan 16, 2016 |
Anxiety as FG completes review of MTN’s N34bn license The federal government has concluded the review of the 700MHz spectrum license sale to MTN Nigeria by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). An official of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) told Daily Trust that the spectrum sale may be cancelled following the ongoing probe into the activities of NBC. However, NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Prof Umar Danbatta on Friday told journalists in Abuja that the Frequency Management Council would soon wind up its review and make the outcome public. He said: “The Frequency Management Council has indeed intervened and the sale is being revisited and very soon the Nigerian public would be informed about this very important intervention.” Danbatta, who had earlier received the Secretary of the African Telecommunications Union, AbdoulKarim Soumaila, added that the NCC would not join issue with NBC in public on the matter “but we intend to avail ourselves of existing mechanism for arbitration and mediation through the Frequency Management.” The NBC Director General Emeka Mba was arrested on Monday by the operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly operating a secret account into which about N17 billion out of N34 billion paid by MTN Nigeria for the 700MHz license was kept. http://dailypost.ng/2016/01/15/anxiety-as-fg-completes-review-of-mtns-n34bn-license/ 2 Likes 1 Share |
| TV/Movies › Reps Bill To Break Monopoly Of DSTV Passes Through 2nd Reading by Dotng(op): 11:25pm On Jan 14, 2016 |
Reps pass bill to break monopoly of DSTV A bill meant to make broadcasting more competitive in the country was passed through second reading in the House of Representatives Thursday. The bill sponsored by Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Nnena Elendu- Ukeje is titled ” a bill for an Act to amend the National Broadcast Commission Act cap N11, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2014, to provide for competition in Nigeria, promote efficiency and Expand opportunities for Nigerians’ participation in world markets while at the same time recognize the role of foreign completion in Nigeria, and for other matters related thereto.” Elendu- Ukeje while speaking on the bill said it is meant to strengthen the National Broadcast Commission as an independent regulator. According to her, the bill will also create room for competition through deregulation, liberalization, privatization, ensuring free market operation and also enforce penalty(s) to parties that go against the provisions of the law. The piece of legislation, she said, will prevent price or rate fixing, price discrimination , restrictive exclusive content, abuse of dominant market position, and unconstitutional boycotting. The proposed law, she said, is a remedy to the obvious lacuna in the NBC Act and strengthens the NBC as Nigeria has no set of codified laws that speaks to the subject matter. Her words: “this is one sector that does not suffer from customer ignorance as this sector has been subject to motions/ petitions on the floor of parliament and litigations in the court of law. “Justice Chukwujeku Aneke of the a federal High Court had on May 28th 2015 dismissed a suit against DSTV over increase in subscription fees as Nigeria is yet to have a codified set of rules promoting competition in that market. “Competition laws exist under different names in different climes. From antitrust law in the US to anti monopoly laws in China and Russia, and Trade law in the UK and Australia, the underlying factor for these laws us consumer protection.” According to her, Fourth Schedule, Section 39(1) of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria states expressly that every person shall be entitled to own, establish and operate any medium for the dissemination of information. She said the institution went further in Section 16(2c) that “the state shall direct its policy towards ensuring that the economic system is not operated in such a manner as to permit the concentration of wealth or the means of production and exchange in the hands of few individuals or groups. “The intendment of these two provisions is that by liberalizing communication and media, that the sector be competitive in line with our economic policies.” The bill passed through second reading without debate when the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara called for a voice vote. http://thenationonlineng.net/reps-pass-bill-to-break-monopoly-of-dstv/ 22 Likes 5 Shares |
| Politics › Re: Igbo Intimidating Buhari With Biafra To Get Appointments – Sagay by Dotng: 9:12pm On Jan 07, 2016 |
tuale4u:Your last paragraph sums up the reality of the Nigerian political situation. Every propaganda is meant to advance the cause of the political class. 1 Like |
| Romance › Re: When She Says "I Want A Man With Vision" by Dotng: 7:41pm On Dec 18, 2015 |
Toks2008:This makes a lot of sense. In the same vein I must commend women who look beyond themselves to be someone who makes their husband to believe in himself no matter what the circumstances may be. When he has no hope or direction they help him create one. These are the ones that change the world. 1 Like |
| Politics › REVEALED: 7 Reasons Why Black Americans Hate Africans by Dotng(op): 11:53pm On Dec 10, 2015 |
REVEALED: 7 Reasons Why Black Americans Hate Africans Not all Africans Americans hate Africans. But sadly, there are MANY who do harbour extremely negative feelings towards us – whether due to a misplaced sense of superiority, a hypersensitive cultural chip, or just pure ignorance. It is a shame that many of us are still letting ourselves play into the global Neocolonial agenda that hurts us ALL as Afro people. We stay separated and at odds when we have so much in common – both historically and culturally since we have that Afro connection. The following “reasons” that many African Americans hate Africans have roots in the intense social programming that the USA executes so well over its citizens. 1. They Think Africans sold Them The very premise of this way of thinking is ridiculous. Before African Americans becameAfrican Americans, they were just AFRICAN. So technically, we sold ourselves! But the thing many of them don’t know is – history, and not taught from a white western lens. Colonisation in Africa first came about in the 1600’s before the full-fledged “scramble for Africa” in the 1800’s. The Europeans had already come to the continent and had started their exploitative activity at a lesser severity. Africa had already dealt in and experienced the (Arab) “slave trade” as well as their own traditional practices as ALL human civilisations worldwide had already been partaking in slavery in one way or another. All this occurred before Africa was “Africa” of today – do the math. Many of you are aware of Nubia, ancient Egypt) and other pre-colonial African kingdoms, as well as the original Jews being “black” (in today’s sense of the word) but you don’t factor in the slave activity that went on within the international slave activity kingdoms in those times. What Africans did not foresee and eventually lost out was: ~European manipulative strategy to pit ethnic groups and kingdoms against one another ~Chinese gun powder ~Europeans eventually creating the concept of “race” to justify the severe maltreatment of the “inferior” Africans in the slave trade and natural resource exploitation. But again. We sold ourselves, and we were NOT the only people to do this in the world. Look across ALL cultures in history and you will see the same thing. Not justifying it, just expanding upon it. NB: MAJORITY of Africans being shipped off were kidnapped and taken against their will by the Europeans, not sold. There were certain Africans who may have participated in this but it was almost always under force or manipulation to survive, protect their families and their kingdoms. 2. They Think Africans Didn’t Try to Help Them In the (unsound) minds of people with this view, from the 1800’s to the 20th century, we Africans were having a good old time while our continent was pillaged and our people oppressed. Only Afro people in the USA seemed to have it hard. We should have somehow tried to rescue the African slaves in the USA from slavery. I guess, we could have taken off our own chains to make the trip over. And while we were at it – we could have also gone over to South America and all the islands to save them too! Never mind that we did not have the means nor the actual freedom to do so! Not to talk about how we are STILL being neocolonised right now. 3. They Think Africans Played No Part in Afro Progress This one just shows the American in them to be so self-absorbed as to believe that they are THE reason why black people worldwide are in a better position today. Their arrogance outweighs their ignorance as there were, and still are, MANY Africans, Afro Caribbeans and Afro Latinos who have contributed to the collective pursuit of justice and equality for Afro people in the world. 4. They Think Africans Are Primitive Nude Apes Dying of Aids and Ebola It is so sad. The USA has done an excellent job of brainwashing majority of African Americans to generally reject, deny and abhor their African heritage by filling their minds with negative images of who we are as Africans. They spew the same racist diatribe of many of their white counterparts, and make the extra effort to separate themselves from us as much as possible. I get it, who wants to be associated with negativity? But we are talking about a nation that uses up around 85% of the world’s resources. Majority of them have access to the internet. They could actually take the initiative to get informed instead of complacently swallowing what their media feeds them. NB: A warm gaze in the direction of the African Americans who are curious and make an effort to decolonise their minds, embrace their heritage and discover who Africans really are. I see you, and you’re family. 5. They Think Africans Are Arrogant It’s crazy. When Africans are just ourselves as we naturally exhibit diverse aspects of our cultures, to some, we are arrogant. I recognise that the African slaves in the US were made to abandon most of their culture which is painful to live out today, but this does not mean that we should then hide ours. I actually feel that the only original culture from the USA comes from African Americas. Their entire urban cultural movements and music has influenced the entire world’s collective pop culture. That is impressive and they should be proud! What’s more, you all still have access to us, so all roots need not be lost. You can get reconnected as Africa’s nations are still very much here! And we can make jokes about how so much of our combined cultures have been stolen and appropriated. On another note: Are there certain Africans who may look down on African Americans as lost? Sure. I am not justifying their behaviour, but take a moment to see it from their point of view. It’s like a girl separated from her sister at birth and fed lies her whole life by her kidnapper. Only to then shun her sister on meeting her and insult her with so many untrue statements that show how much she does not know, and not like, about her own self and family. This is the experience of many Africans in the USA. It is highly off-putting, and not everyone will have the patience to positively deal with that. NB: The same cultural put down that you may see from Africans towards African Americans occurs between Europeans and white Americans. Many Europeans, perhaps less open about it, feel white Americans have no culture and are uncouth. Furthermore, even certain Africans are judged by other Africans. For not speaking a local language fluently or whatever. It is not just you. 6. They Think Africans Are Self-Hating and Not “African” Sigh. We are ALL victims of colourism and as Afro people with a shared colonial history that subjected us to the same hateful programming by the Eurocentric oppressors. We are all still trying to heal from generations of trauma. It is so counter-productive to be so self-righteous and judgemental. Instead of condemning certain Africans who may need to wake up, or (incorrectly) presuming to be able to tell us who we are as diverse people from a huge continent, better to extend a hand in solidarity as we all try and promote Afro-Love between each other, and to the rest of the world. 7. They Think Africans Prefer White People Another questionable way of (not) thinking with a twisted premise. Like all black people own each other and must “stick together” in militant fashion. The whole “us versus them” attitude is extremely foul. It does not encourage progress but only hurts all of humanity. In addition, Africa is a continent of 54+ countries. To completely strip its people of their individuality is already offensive in of itself. There might be some Africans who hate white people, others who do not. But nobody should be hating anyone to begin with, and I personally feel that it is just so silly to even factor other people into the equation at all when it comes to us as Afro people moving forward. There may be some Africans who are painfully ignorant with a colonial mentality, but majority have REAL life to contend with, and without the blue passport privilege, so prefer to invest their time in improving their lives instead of “hating the white man” as their priorities are in check. In any case, “race” aside – who would feel all fuzzy and warm inside in face of this kind of above “reasoning”? Trust that nobody likes to be stereotyped, judged and shunned. How Do We Move Forward? I know all this, deep down, comes from a place of pain, but it needs to stop – and on ALL sides, African, African American, Afro Latino, Afro Caribbean alike. If we are going to heal from our history and move beyond the current neocolonial challenges of our present, we have to do better. We need to truly learn our diverse collective history and open honest (however uncomfortable) dialogues between one another. We need to respect and embrace the things we have in common, as well as where we culturally differ – which is often beautiful to behold. We will make so much more collective progress as Afro people in this Neocolonial world if we connect in positive empathetic solidarity. And through our self Afro-Love, the rest of the world will eventually catch on too. Weigh In ~What are your thoughts and feelings on this? ~How do you, as an African or someone of Afro descent view Africans and the other Afro Diaspora? ~Do you feel that there is a cultural disconnect between us? ~Would you consider it important enough to be explored and addressed? ~What would be a way to move forward? http://howafrica.com/15290-2/?utm_source=&utm_medium=facebook
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| Politics › FG Now Pays Transport Surcharge, Not Subsidy On Imported Petrol – PPPRA by Dotng(op): 7:30am On Dec 08, 2015 |
FG now pays transport surcharge, not subsidy on imported petrol – PPPRA The Federal Government is now paying for transportation surcharge on imported fuel not extra cost of fuel, due to the drop in the global oil price to about $45 a barrel. A check by Daily Trust on the template of the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) published on December 3, 2015 indicated that the landing cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) locally known as petrol has dropped to N80.69k per litre as against N88.7per litre on September 3, 2015. The template published by the pricing agency in its website, indicated that the landing cost plus other margins of the petrol per litre is now N96.18k. This translates to payment of N10.7k transportation expenses such as trader’s margin, Nigeria Port Authority charges, jetty depot thruput charges, lightering expenses and storage due to the inability to refine fuel locally. Other expenses that gulped N15.49k on each litre are that of distribution expenses such as retailers, transporters, dealers, bridging fund, Marine Transport Average (MTA). C+F (Cost, Insurance and Freight) as at that date was N69.99k at the Conversion Rate (MT to Litres): 1341 and Exchange Rate (N to $) at 197. With C+F at N69.99k plus transport margins of N10.7 k, Nigerians should be paying N80.69k per litre if the fuel can be refined locally. Currently, the three local refineries in Kaduna and Port Harcourt and Warri are virtually refining nothing. With the combined refining capacity of 445,000 barrels per day, the three refineries if fully working can atleast provide about 40 per cent of the country’s daily fuel need. Reacting to the situation, a lecturer at Economics Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and member, Daily Trust Board of Economists, Dr Muttaka M. Usman said although the country has no capacity to refine local fuel due to poor refineries, the government should look at total domestication of fuel refining in the near future. Usman said with this situation, it’s the right time for government to exit the so called fuel subsidy and concentrate in building more local refineries in collaboration with private managers. According to him, many countries own refineries but hand them to private sector to manage, a situation that reduces serious maintenance burden on government. http://dailytrust.com.ng/news/business/fg-now-pays-transport-surcharge-not-subsidy-on-imported-petrol--pppra/123004.html |
| Politics › Re: Sahara Reporters Posts Dino Melaye's Foreign Account Details And Check Book by Dotng: 8:37pm On Dec 06, 2015 |
Manspeaks:The last twitter picture shows September 2015. |
| Politics › How DSS Forcibly Ejected Its Former DG From Residence by Dotng(op): 10:21am On Dec 03, 2015 |
How DSS Forcibly Ejected Its Former DG from Residence * Journalists harassed, phones seized * Fani-Kayode warns Nigeria is being turned to police state Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), numbering about 20, on Wednesday forced their way into the Lagos residence of their former Director General, Col. Kayode Are, ejected his property and allegedly held him and his family hostage. In true Gestapo-style, the operatives had arrived the residence on Alexander Road, Ikoyi, but when the family refused to open the door, they allegedly broke down the doors and windows. According to reports, the eviction was carried out after the incumbent Director General of DSS, Mr. Lawal Daura, was alleged to have ordered that Are, who headed the same agency under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, must be removed from the house, which the DSS believes is an official residence that still belongs to the agency. Are had however obtained a court injunction restraining the DSS from evicting him from the residence, but the DSS flouted the court order and evicted him forcibly. Storming the house with three buses, the operatives forcibly broke into the house and harassed the residents after they could not produce a legal document to back their invasion. Having no option than to pack, the family called in three trucks to help them convey some personal effects, but were unable to move their electrical appliances. In an interview with THISDAY, an aggrieved family member, who was around when the DSS personnel struck, said the incident was nothing short of an invasion. She said: “It happened around 12.30 pm when they struck all dressed in black. Mummy (Mrs. Are) had just come back from the hospital because she wasn’t feeling well. “We were discussing when they stormed the house. We saw them from the window and she asked them who they were but they refused to disclose their identity. “Mummy went and locked the door and the next thing they did was to break our doors and windows. The two female DSS operatives fought her (Mrs. Are) they tried to seize her phones. “In the process, the one with the red hair even bit her. According to them, they were acting on orders from above. “They first told us that they will take all of us to Abuja but we refused and they seized all our phones. Daddy (Col. Are) wasn’t around at the time. “When he came back and the DSS personnel saw him, they were perplexed because they claimed that they did not know that it was his house they were sent to. “They started pleading with him that they were only obeying orders. As we speak, we are still parking our property but I don't know when we will finish. “They have not allowed us to go out and refused to permit people to come in to help us. We are currently at their mercy.” Meanwhile, the operatives also harassed the THISDAY crime reporter, Miss Chiemelie Ezeobi, and two others from Vanguard, Esther Onyegbula and Akeem Salau, by seizing their phones immediately they realised they were journalists. After the initial questioning which led to them refusing the three journalists from entering the compound, one of the operatives called back the journalists and seized their phones. Handing the phones over to the same female operative who allegedly bit Mrs. Are, she tried to go through the phones to ensure no pictures were taken. The already tense situation was finally doused by a senior operative who ordered them to release the phones to the reporters and escort them out. Are, a retired Nigerian Army colonel, was DSS Director General from 1999 to 2007 and briefly served as acting National Security Adviser (NSA) in 2010. He also served as an officer in the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) until his retirement by former military head of state, General Sani Abacha. He was appointed DSS DG by former President Obasanjo and was replaced by Afakiriya Gadzma. Reacting to the forced eviction, a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, condemned the invasion and expressed concern that Nigeria was descending into a police state. According to Fani-Kayode, Are had called him yesterday to complain that his house was under siege and that gunshots were being fired at him and his family in the evening. He said: “I have just spoken to Colonel Kayode Are, the former DG of DSS during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration and the former acting National Security Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan and I am deeply concerned. He told me that his house is under siege and that gunshots are being fired at him and his family as we were speaking. “I am not sure what the issue is about but a situation where security men go to the home of a respected patriot like that and start shooting at him and his family for whatever reason is unacceptable and extremely dangerous.” The former minister linked the ordeal of the former security chief to the ongoing arrest of some leading political lights in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “When you consider what is happening in Are’s home and marry it with the shameful manner in which Col. Sambo Dasuki, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Governor Attahiru Bafawara, Alhaji Bashir Yuguda, Nnamdi Kanu, Godswill Orubebe, Bukola Saraki, Sule Lamido and others are being persecuted, threatened and demonised by the federal government, it is clear that we are now in a police state in which law and order has broken down and in which anything can happen. “The case of Dasuki was particularly bad. He was barricaded in his home against court orders and treated like an animal for three weeks. He was humiliated and subjected to mental and psychological torture for no just cause for that period of time even though the courts had told the SSS to let him travel out of the country for urgent medical attention. “Instead of doing so after three tortuous weeks, the SSS stormed his home, held everyone captive at gunpoint, grabbed him in front of his family, bundled him into a car and carried him to an unknown destination without any lawful authority or any arrest warrant,” he said. Fani-Kayode warned that the Muhammadu Buhari administration was “playing a dangerous game of Russian roulette with a loaded gun and if they are not careful it will soon explode”. “If they are not careful they will soon lose the confidence and trust of the people. They do not fear God. They are vindictive, petty, vicious, unforgiving and unjust and if they continue in this way, apart from alienating the people, they run the risk of provoking the wrath of God,” he warned. http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/how-dss-forcibly-ejected-its-former-dg-from-residence/226989/ |
| Politics › No Political Will To Prosecute High-profile Corruption Cases, Says CJN by Dotng(op): 5:51am On Dec 01, 2015 |
ABUJA — The blame game between the Judiciary and Executive arm of government continued yesterday, with the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, decrying what he termed “lack of political will to prosecute high-profile corruption cases.”http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/12/no-political-will-to-prosecute-high-profile-corruption-cases-says-cjn/ 1 Like |
| Crime › Estate Residents Lament As Robbery Of Vehicle Parts Rise In Lagos by Dotng(op): 5:41am On Nov 28, 2015 |
Estate residents lament as robbery of vehicle parts rise in Lagos As the yuletide season draws near, criminal gangs have stepped up robbery operations in different parts of Lagos, specifically targeting vehicles parked in estates. In the last one month, Saturday PUNCH learnt that so many car owners who live in estates have woken up to see their vehicles stripped of parts. On Saturday, November 14, the robbers hit Yetunde Morgan Estate in Ojodu area of Lagos around 6am and burgled at least a dozen vehicles parked outside the houses of their owners. One of such car owners, Mr. Victor Adigun, was about to leave his home that morning when he noticed that his car had been reduced to a shell of its former self. The robbers smashed one of the windows of Adigun’s Lexus SUV to gain access into the vehicle. “They removed my gear box, the window controls of my two front doors. I have not even finished fixing the car and I have spent N160,000 already,” he said. According to him, one of the robbers might have been wounded when his vehicle’s window was smashed as he saw a smear of blood on one of his seats. “If we live in an ideal society, all we need to trace the criminals is the blood sample one of them left behind. We are still shocked that while they burgled more than 10 vehicles, none of our security men at the gate of the estate could give any explanation about how the robbers came and left. Alone, I need almost N200,000 to completely fix my vehicle. I can imagine the expenses that other residents would have incurred too,” Adigun said. He explained that he had already spent N150,000 to fix the gear box of his car. On the window that was smashed alone, Adigun said he spent N10,000. “I have yet to fix the window regulators because I was told I would need N32,000 for that,” he said. Other residents of the estate have the same stories to tell with many of them losing car parts worth hundreds of thousands of naira. One of the residents of the estate had the headlights and roof rails of his SUV removed along with other car parts that are easily detachable. The dexterity with which the robbers work has raised suspicion that they are car part dealers working with auto mechanics and electricians. One of the victims in the estate told Saturday PUNCH that he had an intrusion alert in his vehicle, which could have triggered the alarm system in his car. “Nobody heard anything because these people know how to disable any security device in a vehicle. They know what to look out for because they have the skills. I am sure if we go to Ladipo (auto part market in Mushin, Lagos), it is these same people who would sell vehicle parts to Nigerians there,” he said. One shocked resident of the estate explained he had spent the night at work and only came home some minutes before 6am just to rest for a little while. He was alerted moments later that his car was among those burgled by the robbers. The robbers had also removed his car’s window regulator, head lamps and gear box. The story of these residents bears similarity to that of another neighbourhood in Iyana Isolo area of Lagos where residents woke up to learn that a number of vehicles in the front of their houses had been raided and robbed of auto parts. One resident shared a photograph of what the robbers did to his car. The robbers had removed the entire unit on the dashboard, which contains the CD player, air conditioning and fan regulators. Only the wires connecting these regulators could be seen in the gaping hole left on the dashboard. It would be recalled that in August, a suspected thief who was caught while trying to steal the brain box of a car, was beaten and set ablaze by an angry mob in Apapa area of Lagos State. The suspect was reportedly caught around 4am by some residents, who tied him up after beating him and left him till morning when they set him ablaze. Few months ago, some residents of Harmony Estate, Ifako, Gbagada, Lagos caught an auto parts robber with a peculiar modus operandi. The robber drove into the estate in a white Hummer SUV like a wealthy man to avoid suspicion. His targets were gear boxes, brain boxes and window controls of vehicles. Residents had said they had been noticing that their vehicles had always been burgled and parts removed but had not been able to catch any robber in the act. The day the robber was caught around 7am, the auto parts he had already removed were found in the vehicle. Residents descended on him and brutalised him with anger until the police were called in. As the auto part robberies continue to rise, more residents believe that the police should do more to monitor and clamp down on possible suspects in auto part markets at Ladipo in Mushin, Owode Onirin at Mile 12, Ebute Metta and Ikeja, where they believe the loots from these robbery operations invariably end up. We’d hand over criminal traders to police – Lagos auto part market leader Our correspondent spoke with the President of the Ladipo Auto Market Association, Mr. Kingsley Ogunor, who said he doubted that the criminals were working for auto part traders under his jurisdiction. He said, “All these allegations are insinuations, I have not heard of any case where a robber is caught and he said he was sent by an auto part trader here. “But I cannot rule out such things. Anybody can steal with the hope that they would be able to sell to a trader here. We always tell our traders that they must never associate with criminals or buy auto parts from criminals. “I know in every 12, there must be a Judas, I cannot completely vouch for the traders here. But we try to inculcate a high level of discipline in traders doing legitimate business here. We don’t protect criminals, anytime anybody indulges in a criminal activity, we hand them over to the police,” he said. Bring security men for profiling, police urge residents The spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Joe Offor, said that police authorities are aware of the problem and doing all they could to handle the situation. But he said a solution once proffered by the police had not been followed by the residents of the estates. Offor said, “During a recent forum with representatives of residents of Lagos, we advised that estates should bring their security men for profiling so that we would get to know their characters and whether they are fit to safeguard such places’ lives and property. “We would be able to give them tips that could assist in handling incidents in their neighbourhood. We have tried to find a way of synergising with private security outfits to handle security in their areas of assignment. “All those present at the forum showed excitement at the proposal but we have heard nothing from people about it. We have not got much cooperation from residents of the state. “There is no way we can post a policeman to man every house in Lagos. We need the partnership of these people. In the areas where these robberies are prevalent, we would intensify our vehicular and foot patrol,” he said. http://punchng.com/estate-residents-lament-as-robbery-of-vehicle-parts-rise-in-lagos/
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| Politics › Buhari Must Investigate The Turkey Ammunition Shipment To Boko Haram Incident by Dotng(op): 6:07pm On Nov 26, 2015 |
WHY BUHARI MUST INVESTIGATE THE TURKEY AMMUNITION SHIPMENT TO BOKO HARAM INCIDENT In March of 2014, a senior adviser to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan discussed shipments of weapons to Nigeria with the 50% government owned national Turkish airline, according to the leaked conversation. The Turkish Airlines official reportedly said, “Lots of material is on its way to Nigeria right now. Is it going to kill Muslims or Christians? I am sinning right now, you should know.” Another man in the recorded tape, alleged to be Mustafa Varank, a senior aide to Recep Tayyip Erdogan responded that he would look into it. Ref: TheTimes & Reuters. It was not the first time Turkey had been exposed discussing and/or supplying ammunition to Daesh (ISIS) and related terror and rebel groups. See: Al-Monitor; Reuters. An official statement by Turkish airlines categorically declared that it “had not transported arms to Nigeria from Turkey or other countries.” However Nigeria made two contradictory statements on the headlines, one very suspicious statement was by the Navy spokesman, Commodore Kabiru Aliyu who told Nigerians that Turkish airlines did indeed ship ammunition to Nigeria, not as they denied, and that, that March the Navy took delivery of arms imported by the airline through Lagos. Disturbed by the real and action-necessitating revelations, that March, ENDS released a statement requesting official communication from Nigeria’s Jonathan government and full investigation into the alleged Turkey arms to Boko Haram terrorists’ mess. Dasuki-and-JonathanIt is recollected that this was the time of the Jonathan, Ihejirika, Ayo Oritsejafor, Gusau and Dasuki era where millions of dollars were allegedly laundered abroad and a government signatory arms-for-terror smuggling ring was recognized to be in operation. This was a time when weapons and cash drops to terrorists by helicopters were regularly sited and reported in Boko Haram’s jungle territory. The recent shooting down of a Russian airline by the Turkish government which happened by all accounts well within Syrian territory as the site of the ejected pilot landings further confirms, raises serious questions on the Erdogan government. The surviving pilot just told journalists that Turkey had not given them any warning before they were shot out of the skies over Syria. The well known operation of a Daesh-Turkey, Free Syrian Army aided free trade border where hundreds of Daesh oil tankers pass daily to sell oil to Turkey and earn millions of dollars for financing global terrorism raises even more flags. Indeed it was the week Russia announced that it had destroyed 1000 Daesh oil tankers which were going to Turkey to sell their oil that Turkey shot down the Russian jet. Turkey that has not shot at a single Daesh terrorist has rather shot down a Russian jet fighting Daesh. We therefore strongly urge the Buhari-Osinbajo government to thoroughly investigate the past noted incident of Turkish airlines alleged ammunition shipment to Nigerian terrorists and all other Turkish interactions with Nigeria, Boko Haram and former government officials within the military and National Security office for evidence of terror linkage. We have often repeated and insisted and insist that the war against Boko Haram can never be won without the sponsors and facilitators local and international being brought to book. Dr. Peregrino Brimah; http://ENDS.ng [Every Nigerian Do Something] Email: drbrimah@ends.ng Twitter: @EveryNigerian http://newsrescue.com/why-buhari-must-investigate-turkey-ammunition-shipment-boko-haram-incident/ |
| Phones › The Phone You Only Have To Charge Once A WEEK by Dotng(op): 3:24pm On Nov 26, 2015 |
The phone you only have to charge once a WEEK: British scientists create material for the screen that uses no power ~British scientists have created material to replace screen glass for phone. ~More than 90 per cent of a device’s battery power illuminates the screen. ~But the discovery is significant because the new material uses no power. ~It means tablets, smartwatches and phones could all be charged weekly. British scientists have created a material that replaces the screen glass for phones, tablets and smartwatches, but uses no power – meaning they could be charged weekly. The hassle of having to charge your smartphone for hours a day could become a thing of the past. The discovery is significant because more than 90 per cent of a device’s battery power illuminates the screen. Technology firms have focused on improving battery life. But the British experts say tackling the main drain on a gadget’s power may give better results. Oxford University engineer Dr Peiman Hosseini, who invented the material, told the Sunday Telegraph: ‘You have to charge smartwatches every night. But if you had smart glass, you could recharge it just once a week.’ The innovation uses electrical pulses to create displays that require no power and can be viewed even in direct sunlight. Dr Hosseini’s company, Bodle Technologies, hopes to have a prototype in a year. ‘This is the right moment to be an academic at Oxford,’ Dr Hosseini said. Battery life is seen as a major stumbling block for modern computing and technology. While the power of technology and lifestyle gadgets has improved exponentially in recent years, batteries have not kept pace. The success of smart watches, including Apple’s version, is thought to hinge on solving this problem - because few users are willing to charge a watch every day. Gadget firms are also desperate to solve the problem. The discovery is significant because more than 90 per cent of a device’s battery power illuminates the screen Apple, for example, is investigating using fuel cells to power its phones and laptops, and this year was granted a patent for a system it claimed could power its devices for weeks. In 2012 US energy secretary Steven Chu called for a big push to improve batteries, challenging scientists to produce a battery with five times the capacity within five years. Aside from mobile gadgets, improving battery technology is seen as being key to the success of electric cars, which currently have a limited mileage before they must stop to be recharged. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3329782/The-phone-charge-WEEK.html 2 Likes |
| Politics › Kogi Poll: PDP Weighs Options To Oust APC by Dotng(op): 6:10am On Nov 26, 2015 |
Kogi poll: PDP weighs options to oust APC LOKOJA — National leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were last night locked in a meeting with some of the party’s governors in Abuja, weighing options to disqualify the All Progressives Congress, APC, from the December 5, supplementary elections in Kogi State. Two options were being weighed at press time to push forward what some party leaders said were the advantages open to the party by the death in the process of election of Prince Abubakar Audu, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC. The meeting was being hosted by Governor Segun Mimiko of Ondo State in the Ondo State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja. Irrespective of the decisions in Abuja, the party’s standard bearer in the election, Governor Idris Wada went to court seeking to be declared winner of the election as the candidate with the highest number of votes alive. Meanwhile, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, waited to no avail till the close of work, yesterday, for the APC to submit the name of a replacement for the late Audu. The APC, which was in the lead until the death of Audu, was itself increasingly being saturated with the politics of a replacement for Audu. A meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC, called to deliberate on choosing the process of replacing Audu failed to hold. National chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun blamed the failure on the burial ceremonies of Mama H.I.D. Awolowo that took place in Ikenne, Ogun State. He promised the meeting would hold today. Besides the PDP, other political parties were also taking positions against INEC’s decision to allow the APC field a replacement for the late Audu. Among the parties that took position against the APC, yesterday, were the Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA and the Democratic Peoples Congress, DPC. PDP leaders meet Among those present at the PDP meeting last night were the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, who chaired the meeting; some members of the NWC, members of the Board of Trustees, BoT and some governors. The meeting which took place under the aegis of the National Caucus, according to a source in the meeting, was pondering options to remove the APC from the fray on the basis of the death of its candidate. One option, Vanguard learnt, was for the party to go to court to remove the APC from the contest on the claim that it no longer had a valid ticket of a governorship candidate and a deputy governorship candidate in the supplementary election. Another option also being weighed was to press INEC to declare the PDP’s standard bearer, Governor Idris Wada as winner of the election. The basis of that submission, it was learnt, would include the fact that Wada as the second highest scorer should be declared the winner on the basis of being the only one with a valid ticket after the completion of the election. Vanguard sources disclosed that court papers including the originating summons have been prepared with the legal officers of the party waiting for the go-ahead from the National Caucus. That meeting was still on-going at press time, and the party is expected to unfold its resolution today. The party was also, last night, deliberating on what sources disclosed as the “increasing reign of impunity in the country,” with the case of Kogi State as an example. Party leaders. it was learnt, were vexed by what they described as the suppression of the will of the people of Kogi through the instrumentality of security forces. Wada goes to court Vanguard learnt, yesterday, that Governor Wada approached the Federal High Court in Lokoja to be declared winner on the claim that he is the candidate with the highest number of votes alive. According to sources privy to the court action, Wada is arguing that the difference in votes between him and Philip Salawu, the Labour Party candidate is more than 49,000 and as such there should be no supplementary election. Wada, it was further gathered, argued that INEC would not have considered a supplementary or a re-run election had it been that it was the candidate that took third or fourth that died. Meanwhile, INEC officials, yesterday, waited in vain for the APC to present a substitute. The NWC meeting of the APC scheduled for, yesterday, to deliberate on the issue could not hold. The national chairman of the party, Chief Odigie-Oyegun cited the burial of Mrs. Awolowo as the reason noting that many NWC members were at the burial. “The meeting did not hold again today. Almost all of those who were supposed to be part of the meeting are not around. They are all attending the burial of Late Chief Mrs. Awolowo. The meeting is likely to take place on Thursday afternoon,” Odigie-Oyegun said. Race for APC ticket hots up Meanwhile, interest groups within the party have continued to push forward their cases in the race to replace Audu at the top of the ticket. Among those taking front roles are Rep. James Faleke, Audu’s running mate in the inconclusive election; Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the runner-up in the APC primary election that was won by Audu, and Alhaji Isah Echocho, who recently defected from the PDP to team up with the APC against his former party. Yesterday, supporters of Faleke styled as Kogi Youth Vanguard took their case to the national secretariat in the form of a demonstration for Faleke to emerge at the top of the party’s governorship ticket. Spokesman of the group, Bamidele Peters giving the basis of their agitation said: “We think the election should be allowed to be concluded and that there should be no replacement of the candidate until that was done. The party will after the election be able to replace its candidate. “Our own interest under the circumstance is to ensure that the supplementary election is concluded. Even if the party will want to replace its candidate it should be after the election and I feel that if possible the running mate, Abiodun Faleke should be allowed to step in to replace the late governorship candidate. “Section 181 of the Nigerian Constitution should be made to apply under the circumstance to enable the party resolve the crisis of substitution in which APC finds itself now,” he said. Sources close to Bello said he was also weighing the option of a formal petition to the party to take what his associates claimed as his natural right to replace Audu on the fact that he was second in the primary contest that produced Audu as the candidate. Echocho’s bid was also being galvanised by those aligned to him who claim that he is in the best position to defeat Wada on the basis of what is claimed as his grassroots support across the state. Another consideration that was yet to get serious attention yesterday was Mohammed Audu, the son of the late Prince Audu. Those canvassing Mohammed Audu it was gathered last night, were also projecting Senator Dino Melaye, APC, Kogi West as his running mate. Some party activists were, however, canvassing that should a replacement be taken from outside Audu’s Kogi East, that his son, in the person of Mohammed should be chosen as the deputy governorship candidate. The APC’s permutations nonetheless, the smaller political parties were yesterday aligning with the PDP in opposing INEC’s decision to allow the APC field a replacement for Audu. The gubernatorial candidate of the PPA, Mr. Emmanuel Enesi Ozigi faulted the submission by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubkar Malami that the APC was at liberty to substitute its gubernatorial candidate. Ozigi said it was not fair and justiciable for APC to produce a fresh candidate to contest elections for only 91 units with them who had gone through the rigour of election from the beginning. In an interview with journalists in Abuja, the PPA candidate called for a level playing ground for all the contesting parties and their candidates. “Another person who is a face of that party might not have gained this mile the late Prince Abubakar gained. So, if you are bringing somebody in now, I am afraid I do not know what is going to be the outcome of the supplementary elections.” That is why I am saying for us to have level playing ground; we should all go back to the drawing board and have a fresh election.” The Democratic People’s Congress, DPC has also called for a fresh election. In a statement by the National Chairman of the party, Rev. Olusegun Peters, the party said it was wrong for INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation to allow the APC to substitute its candidate. “The party rejects the Independent National Electoral Commission’s position to continue the 21st November poll by conducting a supplementary election for 91 polling units on 5th December 2015. “It is inappropriate for INEC to direct APC to choose another candidate to substitute the late Audu and continue the governorship election when the people voted for the candidacy of Audu and not the yet to be selected candidate the electorate did not vote for. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/11/kogi-poll-pdp-weighs-options-to-oust-apc/ |
| Politics › N1tn Fine: Buhari’ll Decide Mtn’s Fate, Says Minister by Dotng(op): 3:53am On Nov 25, 2015 |
N1tn fine: Buhari’ll decide MTN’s fate, says minister The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, said on Tuesday that President Muhammadu Buhari would decide MTN Nigeria’s fate regarding the N1.04tn fine imposed on it by the Nigerian Communications Commission. He stated that the President would take the final decision on the matter at the appropriate time and “in the public interest.” The minister also said that Buhari’s decision would be on the basis that the “government and MTN are on the same page that rules had been broken in this instance.” Shittu stated this on the sidelines of the Alliance 4 Affordable Internet Nigeria Coalition Conference in Lagos, according to an online publication, Technology Times. “The issue is now before Mr. President. He will take the necessary decision at the appropriate time. I think Nigerians will expect that Mr. President would do the best to ensure that the public interest is guaranteed,” he said. The minister dismissed reports that the government was negotiating with the MTN Group and was considering slashing the fine, saying there was no conflicting position on where the government stood on the matter. Shittu noted, “Recall that there were violations, which were established against MTN. The violations were to the tune of five million (unregistered SIM cards). That is a whole lot. “There are many countries where subscribers are not up to half of five million. In the case of Nigeria, we had more than five million violations. The good thing is that MTN did not contest the fact that they had violated the regulations and guidelines. They never contested it. They admitted they were at fault. “They apologised for their role in the saga and they made a commitment that what happened would never happen again. And of course, they made a plea for the review of the payment terms.” http://punchng.com/n1tn-fine-buharill-decide-mtns-fate-says-minister/ |
| Politics › Kogi Scenario: AGF Should Head To Supreme Court by Dotng(op): 5:13am On Nov 23, 2015 |
Kogi scenario: AGF should head to Supreme Court LAGOS—The death of the Kogi State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Abubakar Audu, weekend, has brought to fore the need for drafters of the country’s constitution and Electoral Act to be more forward looking in preparing those documents to ensure that all scenarios are captured in the documents. Today, the Electoral Act only provides that in case a candidate dies before an election, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is mandatorily required to postpone the poll. It stated in section 36 “(1): “If after the time for the delivery of nomination paper and before the commencement of the poll, a nominated candidate dies, the Chief National Electoral Commissioner or the Resident Electoral Commissioner shall, being satisfied of the fact of the death, countermand the poll in which the deceased candidate was to participate and the Commission shall appoint some other convenient date for the election within 14 days.” But no provision was made for a situation, where a candidate dies during election like what has happened in Kogi State. The Electoral Act and constitution did not give the electoral body the power to pursue a specific line of action in this kind of situation, particularly where an election is inconclusive as it is in Kogi State today. It will be recalled that INEC had declared the Kogi gubernatorial election inconclusive following the cancellation of the results of the poll in 59 polling units from 18 of the 21 local government areas of the state. Announcing the decision on Sunday in Lokoja, the state capital, the Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Emmanuel Kucha, said the cancellation of 49,453 votes in 18 local government areas. The issues that arose from of the Kogi scenario include, should the electoral body substitute the governorship candidate with his deputy, who only emerged a deputy by being selected by the gubernatorial candidate? It must be remembered that the deputy did not emerge the candidate of the party and his ascending to the substantive position of governor is only when he has been sworn-in alongside the governor and death comes knocking or the governor is incapacitated, as provided by section 181 of the constitution, which provides: (1) If a person duly elected as Governor dies before taking and subscribing the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office, or is unable for any reason whatsoever to be sworn in, the person elected with him as Deputy governor shall be sworn in as governor and he shall nominate a new Deputy-Governor who shall be appointed by the Governor with the approval of a simple majority of the House of Assembly of the State.” Interestingly, the Kogi election was declared inconclusive before Abubakar Audu’s death, as no winner was announced by INEC. So, what should INEC do? The quickest and perhaps the most viable, which will placate any form of protest and to serve as a precedence is for the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, to approach the Supreme Court straight away with an application for the interpretation of the constitution, so that the apex court can clear the coast on what should be done in the immediate, whether a fresh election should be held in the state or the APC deputy candidate should stand in place for Abubakar Audu or proffer the way forward in the interim. Then afterwards, the National Assembly should amend the Electoral Act on what should happen, since amending the constitution is far more problematic given the processes that must be followed. Also, to ensure that all scenarios are captured in the Electoral Act, so that we are not left gasping again, when some other thing happens in the course of election, the Federal Government, should also propose an amendment of the Act, which can be presented as an executive bill to the National Assembly proposing the required amendments to the Act. The makers of our laws must start being broad and forward looking and make laws that will stand the test of time, so that we don’t repeat the Rotimi Amaechi’s case against Celestine Omahia, which the apex court after adjusting warned should not be cited as precedent. News Analysis by Innocent Anaba, Head, Judiciary, Law and Human Rights http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/11/kogi-scenario-agf-should-head-to-supreme-court/ 3 Likes |
| Politics › Ooni-elect’s Traditional Coronation Holds Today by Dotng(op): 5:01am On Nov 23, 2015 |
Ooni-elect’s traditional coronation holds today The Ooni of Ife-elect, Prince Adeyeye Ogunwusi, is expected to leave Ilofi, where he has been undergoing installation rites in the past 21 days later on Sunday (yesterday) Ogunwusi, who was appointed as the 51st Ooni of Ife, will on Monday (today) go to the Ile Oodua, the palace where he is expected to be crowned traditionally the same day. One of his close aides, Mr. Biyi Odunlade, said this while briefing journalists on Sunday. The new monarch, who will be crowned by traditional chiefs at a ceremony for only the initiated, will later appear in public briefly. His inauguration and elaborate ceremony will hold on Monday, December 7. He said, “The Ooni will leave Ilofi later tonight (Sunday) and he will be crowned tomorrow (Monday). The Ooni does not receive the crown in the public. Unlike other Obas, who are crowned in public, Ooni of Ife doesn’t receive the crown in public. “The traditional crowning will be done at the palace on Monday (today) but the inauguration would hold on December 7. The Ooni will come out to see some people after the traditional coronation.” The Obadio of Ife, Oba Olajide Faloba, when contacted, also said Ogunwusi would be crowned on Monday. He said the traditional coronation would hold on Monday and the inauguration ceremony, which would hold later, would be an occasion for the presentation of staff of office to the new Ooni. Governor Rauf Aregbesola approved the appointment of Ogunwusi as the Ooni of Ife in a letter by the Secretary to the Osun State Government, Moshood Adeoti. http://punchng.com/ooni-elects-traditional-coronation-holds-today/ |
| Politics › Lai Mohammed Lambasts NTA, FRCN, NAN, Calls Them Second Fiddle by Dotng(op): 7:33pm On Nov 20, 2015 |
Lai Mohammed lambasts NTA, FRCN, NAN, calls them second fiddle Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed on Thursday criticized the Federal Government-owned media organizations and accused them of playing second fiddle. He said the public owned media houses are not considered credible because their staff have thrown professionalism to the wind while also showing total disregard for editorial independence. He stated this in Abuja during his maiden meeting with heads of parastatals under the ministry. The minister also said the government-owned media organizations always complain of financial woes, forgetting that there is a link between credibility and profitability. "Advertisers will surely flock to more credible media organizations, and of course it is also true that content drives advertisement," he said. "Public broadcasters have mortgaged their credibility on the altar of political correctness, and yet they are endowed with highly-trained and well-qualified personnel, better infrastructure and a wide reach," Mohammed said. The minister also said that leadership will be provided for the Federal Government-owned media organizations in a manner that will make them to become the first source of information, so that they can more effectively function as a vehicle for the change mantra of the Buhari Administration, and also regain their lost glory. Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/lai-mohammed-lambasts-nta-frcn-nan-calls-them-second-fiddle/120253.html#9rdoTCjyOHMMWblF.99 2 Likes |
| Politics › Who Was Sambo Dasuki Fronting For In Goodluck Jonathan’s Government? by Dotng(op): 6:39am On Nov 20, 2015 |
Who Was Sambo Dasuki Fronting For In Goodluck Jonathan’s Government? By Abiodun Ladepo Of all the accusations levelled against Sambo Dasuki, the ones that should rile every Nigerian, if true, are that he directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to transfer the sum of $132,050,486.97 and €9,905,473.55 respectively to the accounts of Societe D’equipmente Internationaux in Africa, United Kingdom and United States of America for un-ascertained purposes, without any contract documents to explain the transactions, and that he spent extra-budgetary interventions of N643,817,955,885.18 and $2,193,815,000.83 respectively without accountability . One individual…just because he is the National Security Adviser…could, without congressional allocation, direct the CBN to divert funds appropriated for one purpose in the National Budget, to other purposes not specified in the Budget? And this was allowed in a democratic dispensation? I think even before the DSS or the EFCC or the Police invite him, the Senate or a joint committee of the Senate and the House of Reps should invite him to testify about where he got the authorization to spend money they did not appropriate. They should also ask him where he got the money to purchase those houses in Asokoro, Utako, Sokoto and Dubai. And as soon as he leaves the witness seat, the CBN officials who effected the transactions for him should be asked to explain under what fiduciary authorities they made such transactions. These are pretty darn serious allegations from which anybody with a scintilla of integrity should not even attempt to run. All those judicial acrobatic displays his lawyers are giving us – the pliant judges that would issue perpetual or temporary injunctions and his sudden need for medical treatment abroad – are just fantastic summersaults that aren’t alien to President Muhammadu Buhari’s monkey. If you held the position of National Security Adviser, you should be volunteering yourself for scrutiny to those with the need-to-know privilege and explain what you have done. But there are more. Dasuki is being asked to explain the “fictitious and phantom” contracts for the purchase of four Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha jets which cost $7 million each, along with contracts for 12 helicopters, explosives and ammunition of various prices and quantities paid for but which were allegedly not supplied. The government is also asking him to explain why he funded 53 failed contracts awarded at $2,378,939,066.27 and N13,729,342,329.87 respectively; and why he paid N3,850,000,000.00 to a single company without documented evidence of contractual agreements or fulfilment of tax obligations to Nigeria. The good thing is that Nigerians are not fools. We understand why this is not an easy task for Dasuki. This is uncharted terrain for him. He had been used to calling the shots and being treated with Pontiff-like deference. Now, somebody is daring to ask him questions! His embarrassment started with the July brazen invasion of his homes by men previously under his authority where they recovered seven high caliber rifles, (high assault weapons), several magazines and military related gears. They also recovered 12 new exotic vehicles, five of which were bullet proof. And Sambo could not produce evidence of ownership. If these were parts of the perks of his office as the NSA, nobody in the Federal government had any inkling of such properties having been officially given to him. Then this: the accusation that massive corruption took place under his watch. Dssuki cannot claim, like he is trying to do, that he spent Nigeria’s money on national security matters that only he is trusted with its secrecy. What country allows that? He needs to wake up quickly and smell the coffee very fast. He needs to recognize that the days or arrogance, nobody-can-touch-me and kleptomaniac impudence are over. This government…this President…is not playing. The interesting thing about these power plays is that everybody knows what is really going on. Dasuki knows he is NOT the real target of Buhari’s investigation. Yes, he will pay for being complicit in the frauds, but he is not the biggest fish being sought by Buhari. There is no way any single person could steal so much all by himself in our system of government. And Dasuki himself almost admitted that much when he threatened to expose others. The way military procurement works, the end-user unit commander sends a request of what he needs to his higher command. The request makes its way up the chain of command until it gets to the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), if it is a big-ticket item…like buying a tank or a plane. The CDS runs the request back down the chain of command to ascertain the need for the equipment. Upon approval and if there is not an already allocated pocket of money for purchases like those, he and all the other Service Chiefs (Navy, Air Force and Army) deliberate about the request. They have to do this because one of them may have to sacrifice its own request in order to accommodate the new one. Once approved (in Nigeria), the NSA is officially notified. He reviews it and (only in Nigeria and before Buhari) by-passes the Minister of Defense altogether and takes it up to the President. Upon approval by the President, the Minister of Defense is directed to make funds available to the NSA for the items. The Defense Minister now, of course, has to know how much the item costs. Normally, contractors already registered by the government would bid for the supply and the one most favorable to the government will be awarded the contract. The Defense Minister now raises funds for the purchase. But when things are not normal, you have the Defense Minister, in cahoots with the NSA and all those in the chain of approval, selecting whatever company in which they have interests to supply the item. This is where the tire meets the road and this is where the unscrupulous government official makes his heist. Was the contract executed at all? If not, who pocketed the money? Who else pocketed the money? (We all know you cannot steal N100 belonging to government without the acquiescence and connivance of the civil servants in the Ministries.) Did anybody follow the procurement rule of going all the way to the end-user unit to verify physical presence of the item? Was it ACTUALLY SUPPLIED? Was it ACTUALLY RECEIVED? If so, did it get to the requesting unit? Did it get to the troops? Are we sure somebody did not divert the weapon to another country even after receiving it? Or how come our troops regularly ran out of ammunition? Was the contract inflated or hyper-inflated to make room for kickbacks? How many people received kickbacks? For Buhari who has said openly that he wants to be remembered for fighting corruption, it will be an unmitigated disaster for his legacy if such a gargantuan fleecing went on in his primary constituency – the military – and he failed to unearth it and punish the culprits. Dasuki should therefore stop reveling in his delusion of grandeur - seeing himself as such an important guy against whom Buhari would be vindictive. Yes, he stabbed Buhari in the back by joining Babangida in the 1985 palace coup that ousted Buhari. Yes, Babangida made him his ADC and helped accelerate his promotion. But he is just a pawn in these power games. Dasuki is right; it was not he alone…all by himself…who is culpable. And Buhari knows that! Buhari knows that Task Force and Division Commanders knew of and approved these arms purchases; Service Chiefs knew too; Ministers of Defense and of Finance knew; CBN officials knew; civil servants in the Ministries of Defense and Finance knew; Chiefs of Staff to the President knew; the Vice President knew; and the President knew. It is why Buhari will keep his foot on Dasuki’s throat until he fesses up. Nobody wants ordinary Dasuki. The fishes that Buhari really wants are peeing on themselves right now, hoping Dasuki would keep quiet forever. But in Buhari’s world, it is like the Yorubas say: “If you pull on "gburu", "gburu" will pull on the rest of the bush? Others, including The Clueless One, who all ate "Gbi" will die "gbi". In an environment where people feel shame, Dasuki would bury himself in ignominy for being the NSA who almost spent Nigeria into bankruptcy while Boko Haram grew from strength to strength; from rag-tag suicide bombers to a sophisticated insurgent army complete with full-spectrum infantry weapons, tactics and techniques; for our soldiers falling like ninepins to militants, running out of ammunition and other critical supplies during battles, therefore being forced to turn tail and run for dear lives. Under him, Nigeria hired mercenaries to help defend its territorial integrity and honor. Dasuki, as NSA, single-handedly caused the 2015 general elections to be postponed when he shamelessly announced that the military was not going to be able to guarantee security for the elections. Under him, gun-running became almost like selling pure water as every ethnocentric militant group became armed to the teeth. Under him, Nigeria ferried raw cash aboard a private plane and smuggled it into South Africa. Nigeria almost became a pariah nation with nobody willing to sell weapons to us in open markets like all respected and respectable countries do; we resorted to buying weapons on the black market. Dasuki should be ashamed that he had no grasp of NATIONAL SECURITY and was just ripping the nation off. He took advantage of GEJ’s naiveté and recumbent morality and constituted himself into an institution in government, riding everybody roughshod like Nigeria was his fiefdom. He was a fraud. Many have questioned his qualification for that office. Was he trained in anything other than handling a gun? Other than participation in two coups, was he ever exposed to a real military conflict anywhere in the world? Did he have the spread and depth of intelligence collection and dissemination; the depth and spread of Nigeria’s political, economic and social fibers to hold that position? Didn’t this guy get the NSA job only because he was a protégé of Babangida? Was this Babangida’s way of getting even with Sanni Abacha who deposed and banished Dasuki’s father, Ibrahim Dasuki, as Sultan of Sokoto in 1996? Nigerians are excited about the prospect of nailing a big fish in this anti-corruption crusade. Yes, they are disappointed that all the noise about Saraki and Alison-Madueke fizzled out and nobody is talking about those folks anymore. They wonder now if their excitement about Dasuki will also come to naught. They are eager for answers to just one question: Who really was Sambo Dasuki fronting for in Jonathan’s cabinet? That is the main question to which Buhari is also seeking answers. Shikenan! Abiodun Ladepo Ibadan, Oyo State Oluyole2@yahoo.com http://saharareporters.com/2015/11/19/who-was-sambo-dasuki-fronting-goodluck-jonathan%E2%80%99s-government-abiodun-ladepo 2 Likes |
| Politics › Dasuki Lied, Shunned Arms Probe Panel’s Invitation –presidency by Dotng(op): 3:46am On Nov 20, 2015 |
Dasuki lied, shunned arms probe panel’s invitation –Presidency The Presidency has faulted the claim by the embattled former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), that he was not invited by the presidential committee, probing the purchase and supply of arms during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. A source in the Presidency, who spoke on condition of anonymity on Thursday, told The PUNCH that the Federal Government was in possession of evidence to show that Dasuki was duly invited to clear his name. He said the Department of State Services duly invited the ex-NSA, who however refused to honour the invitation. The source explained that a summons served on Dasuki was duly acknowledged by his lawyer. The former NSA had, in a statement on Wednesday, said he was never invited by the John Odeh-led panel to verify the findings of the committee before he was indicted. Dasuki, who was indicted along with others, was alleged to have awarded N333bn “fictitious and phantom” arms contracts. But he described the panel’s submission as baseless and lacking in diligence. The PUNCH had on Thursday reported that some former service chiefs would be invited by security agencies to answer questions relating to the interim report submitted by the panel. But the source in the Presidency faulted Dasuki’s claims. He added, “Don’t forget that the DSS is on that committee probing those arms deals. “He was invited by the DSS and he refused to honour the invitation despite that his lawyer acknowledged the document. “Instead for Dasuki to honour the invitation, he remained indoors and was whipping up sentiment. “If he is taken to any court without his statement, the case will automatically be thrown out.” The top government official added that all steps being taken by Dasuki to subvert the system and escape justice were known to security agencies and the government. He said at the appropriate time, Nigerians would know more about the allegations against the ex-NSA. According to the report, some of the service chiefs would be charged to court, while others would serve as prosecution witnesses during the trial of Dasuki and others. A source in the DSS on Thursday said, “Not all ex-service chiefs who will be invited, will be charged to court. Some will be witnesses. The fact that we are inviting them does not mean that they have been indicted.” When contacted to respond to Dasuki’s claim, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the committee’s work was ongoing, adding that what was submitted to the government was the preliminary report. “We won’t reply Dasuki. Investigation is still ongoing and it will not be appropriate for us to be replying him. What the panel submitted is just the preliminary report,” he said. Meanwhile, The PUNCH on Thursday obtained a copy of a letter by the DSS, dated November 4, 2015, inviting Dasuki to “meet and have audience with the Director-General, State Services on Thursday, November 5, 2015, by 1100 hours at the National Headquarters of the State Security Service, Aso Avenue, Maitama,, Abuja”. But Dasuki, through his counsel, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), had described the invitation by the DSS as violating an order of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he is being prosecuted for money laundering and illegal possession of firearms, granting the ex-NSA permission to travel abroad for medical treatment. Incidentally, the order of Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja was granted on November 4, the same date the letter of the DSS’ letter of invitation carries. The DSS letter, with reference number LSD.860/T, and signed on behalf of the DG of DSS by A.B Abdullahi, also read, “The invitation becomes necessary to enable you to make some clarifications on matters under investigation by the Service”. The DSS, through another letter, dated November 7, 2015, invited Daudu to appear with his client (Dasuki) at the DSS headquarters in Abuja by 12noon on November 9, “to have an audience with the Director-General State Services”. FG didn’t flout order on Dasuki’s travel, says AGF The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Thursday said the Federal Government had not flouted the order of the Federal High Court in Abuja, granting Dasuki a permission to travel to the United Kingdom to attend to his health. Justifying the continued barricade erected by the operatives of the DSS at Dasuki’s Abuja home, Malami said the action was taken due to the refusal of the ex-NSA to submit himself to investigation on further allegations apart from the charges that were already preferred against him before the Federal High Court. The AGF, who was fielding questions from journalists and members of staff of the ministry after reading his maiden address on the occasion of his assumption of office on Thursday, argued that the action of the government with respect to Dasuki’s case was in the public interest. At the occasion, attended by directors and other staff of the ministry as well as heads of various agencies under the supervision of the ministry, Malami assured the workers that he would give adequate attention to staff welfare. Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Dasuki had been arraigned on four counts of money laundering and illegal possession of firearms, had on Monday directed the AGF or his representative to appear before the court on November 23 to clarify the FG’s position on the order granted the ex-NSA. While responding to a question which raised allegation that the Federal Government had flouted the November 3, 2015, order of Justice Ademola, which had permitted Dasuki to travel abroad, Malami gave an undertaking to the effect that under President Muhammadu Buhari, “there shall not be flouting of court orders.” He added, “In some of these cases, some of these high profile culprits may be involved in multiple cases that might require investigation. If you are granted bail in respect of one issue, and the need arises for further investigation in other criminal offences, the law of the land requires investigation and you are bound, as a good citizen of the country, to submit yourself to investigation. “The interest of the nation reigns supreme above an individual interest. So, when the national interest is at stake and it has to be investigated, individual interest naturally gives way. “You can be granted bail with respect to one case and there can be other cases that public policy demands investigation. It is only natural to allow investigation to be concluded having regard to public interest that reigns supreme over and above an individual interest. “The point for consideration is whether the public interest is there as against individual interest. But as it is, this government is going to uphold due compliance with the rule of law and sustain public interest and sustenance of its tenets.” President Buhari had on Tuesday received the interim report of the 13-man committee, set up by the Office of the National Security Adviser to audit the procurement of arms and equipment in the Armed Forces and Defence sector from 2007 to date with a directive that all indicted persons be arrested and brought to book. Malami added on Thursday that his administration would undertake an audit of high profile corruption cases “so that those who are found wanting through the compromise of investigation and prosecution processes shall be prosecuted.” Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Taiwo Abisogun, called for the support of the members of staff of the ministry and agencies under it for the new Attorney General of the Federation to achieve his set goals. Director of Public Prosecutions in the ministry, Mr. Mohammad Diri, urged the AGF to stop engaging private solicitors to handle cases for the government, assuring the minister that the ministry had competent lawyers. The November 7 letter, also signed by A.B Abdluahi, stated that the fresh invitation was sequel to Daudu’s “request in an earlier discussion with the Head of Legal Department of this Service”. But in his response to the DSS’ latest letter, Daudu wrote a reply, dated November 8, 2015, indicating that they could not honour the invitation by the Service due to alleged violation of the court order granted Dasuki to travel abroad earlier on November 4. Daudu’s letter with reference number JBD/ABJ/DSS/357/2015, read in part, “It is now clear that the defendant (our client) has been and is being frustrated in his desire to receive medical attention with his medical practitioner of choice abroad before his trail commences. “It is our client’s instruction and our considered opinion that this request or ‘invitation, coming at a time the ‘Service’ is in breach of a court order, is a subtle attempt to remove the sting from this act of ‘Executive Lawlessness’. “It is therefore for the foregoing reasons that our client and by extension, we, his counsel, are unable to accede to your request as described above”. http://punchng.com/dasuki-lied-shunned-arms-probe-panels-invitation-presidency/ 2 Likes |
| Politics › Arms Deals: Buhari Orders Arrest Of Dasuki, Others by Dotng(op): 6:55am On Nov 19, 2015 |
Arms deals: Buhari orders arrest of Dasuki, others Panel unveils how Nigeria was duped facts & figures N643.8b •$2.1b Extra budgetry interventions $2.3b •N13.7b Failed contracts (53 out of 513 awarded between 2007&2015) N3.8b Cash paid to company without evidence of any contract N2.2b•$1.6b •€9.9b Fictitous contracts awarded Four Alpha jets 12 helicopters •Bombs & ammunition Equipment purportedly paid for but not supplied N350b •$1.6b • €9.9b Contracts awarded to two firms $132m • €9.9m CBN transfers to banks without purpose on Dasuki’s instruction Those implicated by the investigative panel on arms procurement have been ordered arrested by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Presidency said last night. On top of the list – indeed the only one mentioned – is former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki. But a source said last night that a former Chief of Army Staff was among the suspects. Another said the suspects were not named to prevent their escape from Nigeria. The interim report chronicles alleged massive mismanagement, misappropriation and outright theft of public funds in billions of naira and in foreign currencies –dollars, euro and pounds sterling. Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina said in a statement that the President issued the executive order for the arrests after receiving the preliminary report of the probe of arms procurement between 2007 and 2015 by the committee raised on August 31 by National Security Adviser (NSA) Gen. Babagana Munguno. “President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that the relevant organisations arrest and bring to book, all individuals who have been found complicit in these illegal and fraudulent acts,” the statement said last night. The preliminary report submitted by the Air Vice Marshal (AVM) O.N. Ode (rtd)-led panel listed the many cases established against Col. Dasuki, who is currently in the eye of the storm. A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered that he should be allowed to travel abroad, but the Department of State Services (DSS) said he must accept an invitation to defend himself in connection with some deals he was allegedly involved in. Col. Dasuki has declined to accept the letter of invitation, preferring to remain within his Abuja residence. But he has not been able to travel. He is on trial for illegal arms possession. Other members of the panel are: R/Adm J.A. Aikhomu (rtd.), R/Adm E. Ogbor (rtd.), Brig.- Gen L. Adekagun (rtd.), Brig.-Gen. M. Aminu-Kano (rtd.), Brig.-Gen. N. Rimtip (rtd.), Cdre T.D. Ikoli, Air Cdre U. Mohammed (rtd.), Air Cdre I. Shafi’I, Col A.A. Ariyibi, Gp. Capt. C.A. Oriaku (rtd.), Mr. Ibrahim Magu (EFCC) and Brig.- Gen Y.I. Shalangwa as secretary. Part of the mandate of the panel is “in keeping with President Buhari’s determination to stamp out corruption and irregularities in Nigeria’s public service”. Yesterday’s statement on the interim report of the panel said: “On the authority of Mr President, a 13-man committee was set up by the Office of the National Security Adviser to audit the procurement of arms and equipment in the Armed Forces and Defence sector from 2007 to date. “While the committee which was inaugurated on 31 August 2015 is yet to complete its work, its interim report has unearthed several illicit and fraudulent financial transactions. “As part of the findings, the committee has analysed interventions from some organisations that provided funds to the Office of the National Security Adviser, Defence Headquarters, Army Headquarters Naval Headquarters and Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, both in local and foreign currencies. “So far the total extra budgetary interventions articulated by the committee is six hundred and forty three billion, eight hundred and seventeen million, nine hundred and fifty thousand, eight hundred and eighty five hundred naira and eighteen kobo (N643,817,955,885.18). “The foreign currency component is to the tune of two billion, one hundred and ninety three million, eight hundred and fifteen thousand us dollars and eighty three cents ($2,193,815,000.83). “These amounts exclude grants from the state governments and funds collected by the DSS and Police. It was observed that in spite of this huge financial intervention, very little was expended to support defense procurement. “The committee also observed that of 513 contracts awarded at $8,356,525,184.32; N2,189,265,724,404.55 and €54,000.00; fifty three (53) were failed contracts, amounting to $2,378,939,066.27 and N13,729,342,329.87 respectively. “Interestingly, it was noted that the amount of foreign currency spent on failed contracts was more than double the $1bn loan that the National Assembly approved for borrowing to fight the insurgency in the North East. “The committee also discovered that payments to the tune of three billion, eight hundred and fifty million naira (N3,850,000,000.00) were made to a single company by the former NSA without documented evidence of contractual agreements or fulfilment of tax obligations to the FGN. “Further findings revealed that between March 2012 and March 2015, the erstwhile NSA, Lt.-Col MS Dasuki (rtd) awarded fictitious and phantom contracts to the tune of N2,219,188,609.50, $1,671,742,613.58 and €9,905,477.00. The contracts which were said to be for the purchase of 4 Alpha Jets, 12 helicopters, bombs and ammunition were not executed and the equipment were never supplied to the Nigerian Air Force, neither are they in its inventory. “Even more disturbing was the discovery that out of these figures, two companies were awarded contracts to the tune of N350,000,000.00, $1,661,670,469.71 and €9,905,477.00 alone. This was without prejudice to the consistent non-performance of the companies in the previous contracts awarded. “Additionally, it was discovered that the former NSA directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to transfer the sum of $132,050,486.97 and €9,905,473.55 to the accounts of Societe D’equipmente Internationaux in West Africa, United Kingdom and United States of America for un-ascertained purposes, without any contract documents to explain the transactions. “The findings made so far are extremely worrying, considering that the interventions were granted within the same period that our troops fighting the insurgency in the North East were in desperate need of platforms, military equipment and ammunition. Had the funds siphoned to these non performing companies been properly used for the purpose they were meant for, thousands of needless Nigerian deaths would have been avoided. “Furthermore, the ridicule Nigeria has faced in the international community would have been avoided. It is worrisome and disappointing that those entrusted with the security of this great nation were busy using proxies to siphon the national treasury while innocent lives were wasted daily.” http://thenationonlineng.net/arms-deals-buhari-orders-arrest-of-dasuki-others/ |
| Politics › Saraki’s Case: CJN To Set Up Fresh Supreme Court Panel by Dotng(op): 5:27am On Nov 19, 2015 |
Saraki’s case: CJN to set up fresh Supreme Court panel THE Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, is set to set up a fresh panel that will hear the appeal filed by Senate President Bukola Saraki, challenging the jurisdiction and competence of the charges by the Code of Conduct Tribunal over alleged false asset declaration preferred against him. Our correspondent learnt on Wednesday that the CJNwas set to disband the Justice John Fabiyi-led five-member panel which on November 12, 2015, granted an order of a stay of proceedings in the Senate President’s trial before the CCT. A valedictory court session is to be held for Justice Fabiyi, who attains the retirement age of 70 on November 25, 2015, his birthday. Other Justices of the Supreme Court, who are on the panel with Justice Fabiyi, are Justices Suleiman Galadima, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, John Okoro and Amiru Sanusi. The decision to disband the panel, according to judiciary sources, is partly due to the outcry generated by the Supreme Court’s ruling and the imminent retirement of Justice Fabiyi from the bench on November 25. Eminent lawyers, including Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), Chief Folake Solanke (SAN), Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), Jiti Ogunye and Malachy Ugwummadu, had described the Supreme Court’s ruling as contravening provisions of sections 306 and 369 of the new Administration of Criminal Justice Act. The ACJA prohibits granting of a stay of proceedings in criminal cases. Sources said the CJN, who was on an official trip abroad when the Supreme Court’s ruling was delivered on November 12, would likely head the fresh panel to be constituted. It was learnt that Mohammed might head the fresh panel that would be constituted due to a number of contentious issues in the appeal filed by Saraki in his appeal. A source said, “With the public interest in the case and coupled with the retirement of Justice Fabiyi next week Wednesday, the panel has to be disbanded. “It is the practice of the Supreme Court that when a number of contentious constitutional issues are raised in an appeal such as this one (Saraki’s case), the CJN is likely to head such appeal panel.” The media aide to the CJN, Mr. Ahuraka Isah, said he was not in a position to confirm the development. “There is no way I can know what has happened or what will happen. It is strictly a judicial issue that cannot come within my knowledge,” Isah, who spoke to our correspondent on Wednesday, said. With the order of a stay of proceedings by the Supreme Court, the CCT, which had on November 5, adjourned till November 19 for the commencement of Saraki’s trial, must await the decision of the apex court on the Senate President’s main appeal. Saraki, through his lawyers, led by Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), had appealed to the Supreme Court to challenge the September 30, 2015 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed that the 13 counts of false asset declaration preferred against him before the CCT were competent. The appeal court also affirmed that the Justice Danladi Umar-led CCT had the required jurisdiction to entertain the charges against the Senate President. All the arguments by Saraki’s lawyers against the jurisdiction of the CCT and competence of the charges preferred against him before the tribunal were dismissed by a two-to-one split judgment of the Court of Appeal. But the issues dismissed by the Court of Appeal form Saraki’s seven grounds of appeal, which his lawyers filed before the Supreme Court. Following an application by Saraki’s lawyers for the appeal to be heard by the full panel of the Supreme Court, the number of Justices in the fresh panel will likely increase from five to seven. The full panel of the Supreme Court comprises seven Justices as against five that were in the old panel. Part of the appellant’s grounds of appeal to be finally decided by the apex court are whether the proceedings of the CCT, which sat with only two members as against the three provided for in the provisions of Paragraph 15(1) of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution, are competent. The appellant also faulted the majority decision of the appeal court, where it held that there was a lacuna regarding the quorum of the tribunal. The Supreme Court will also decide whether the CCT is a court of limited criminal jurisdiction as held by the Court of Appeal. Meanwhile, a Lagos-based lawyer, Johnson Esezoobo, has called on the CJN to review the granting of a stay of proceedings in the trial of the Senate President at the tribunal. A statement by Esezoobo on Tuesday described the decision by the Supreme Court as an abuse of and misuse of power, advising that “institutional safeguards should be put against abuse and misuse of power”. He said, “From the provisions of the constitution, it is absolutely not a difficult issue to resolve except that the remedy available is not what we have been used to in our democratic practice. “If it is agreed that when an illegality is committed, it must be redressed, we must also find out how to go about it under the constitution.” According to Esezoobo, the order in the Saraki’s case marked the first time the apex court would commit an illegality, adding that the illegality this time round concerned a vexed national issue agitating the minds of the populace. Esezoobo added, “I sincerely believe that the President as the Head of State and Chief Executive of the Federation, by virtue of Section 130 of the constitution, has the power to express concern and call on the CJN to explain what happened. “He can do this through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation as the chief law officer of the state. In his capacity, the President as the chief executive can, through the AGF, direct the Federal Judicial Service Commission or the National Judicial Council, both as Federal Executive bodies under the Third Schedule to the Constitution, to query all the justices of the Supreme Court involved in this scandalous illegality.” A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome, has however, faulted the criticisms trailing the order of a stay of proceedings granted Senate President Bukola Saraki by the Supreme Court on his false asset declaration trial. Ozekhome described the criticisms of the order by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), and Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) as incredible “perverse interpretation” of the law, contending that the senior advocates “seek to bind the Supreme Court with the uninterpreted provisions of a law that only applies to trial courts”. Ozekhome, in an opinion article titled ‘Awomolo-Falana’s comment – A case of unfortunate sentiments Vs law’, argued that Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which states that “an application for a stay of proceedings in respect of a criminal matter before the court shall not be granted,” only applied to the trial court, and not to appellate courts. “It ought to be noted that the trial of Saraki, which is currently before the CCT, is not before the Supreme Court of Nigeria. From the plain wording of section 306, the ACJA does not apply to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, or any other appellate court for that matter, but to the CCT,” he added. http://punchng.com/sarakis-case-cme-court-panel/ 2 Likes 1 Share |
| Politics › Arrest Order: Dasuki Replies Buhari, Says Panel Never Invited Me by Dotng(op): 3:10am On Nov 18, 2015 |
Arrest Order: Dasuki replies Buhari, says panel never invited me for interrogation * Insists on open, public trial of his stewardship, not secret trial Embattled former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd.) has described reports that President Muhammadu Buhari ordered his arrest, over alleged siphoning of billions of dollars earmarked for arms purchases, as not only surprising but embarrassing. According to the ex-NSA, the 13-man panel set up by Buhari to audit the procurement of arms and equipment in the Armed Forces and Defence sector from 2007 to date, never invited him (Dasuki) formally or informally to appear before it, wondering how it (the panel) came up with the interim report without hearing from him. Responding to the order by Buhari to arrest him, the ex-NSA told PRNigeria that “I have never been invited formally or informally to appear before the panel. I am therefore not only surprised but embarrassed by seeming indictment by the panel purportedly operating from Office of the National Security Adviser that never contacted me. “For the record, I am proud to serve my nation with the best of intention and ensuring the recovery of more than 22 local government councils from Boko Haram terrorists. “Because of the pride on how we tackled terrorism and defeated Boko Haram terrorists through our gallant troops and partners in the twilight of the previous administration, that is the reason I have insisted on open and public trial of my stewardship rather than secret trial in the court as being canvassed by my prosecutors.” “I wish Nigerians will go back and reflect on what we did with even little or no supports from some countries, we performed miracles before the emergence of this administration. Even though the committee was to investigate procurement from 2007 to 2015, yet only my name is always being mentioned even when some of the issues were before I came into the government.” http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/11/arrest-order-dasuki-replies-buhari-says-panel-never-invited-me-for-interrogation/ 20 Likes |
| Politics › N1.04tn Fine: NCC Considers Mtn’s Plea For Leniency by Dotng(op): 2:56am On Nov 17, 2015 |
N1.04tn fine: NCC considers MTN’s plea for leniency The Nigerian Communications Commission has said it is looking into a plea for leniency made by MTN Nigeria Communications Limited on the fine of N1.04tn imposed on the company for its failure to disconnect 5.2 million unregistered subscribers. In a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, and made available to our correspondents on Monday, the regulatory agency hinted that the consideration of the plea had affected the deadline for the payment of the fine, which expired on Monday. Ojobo said MTN, along with other mobile operators, had been fined in August for a similar offence, adding that while the other operators decided to comply, MTN remained recalcitrant. He added that the fine was the last resort since other avenues employed by the regulatory agency had failed. Ojobo said, “The fine of N1.04tn on MTN Nigeria by the NCC was done in the interest of the public, which has been at the receiving end of security challenges. Consequent upon the overwhelming evidence of non-compliance and obvious disregard for the rule of engagement by MTN, the NCC had no choice but to impose the sanctions. “MTN, in a letter of November 2, 2015, admitted the infraction and pleaded for leniency. The commission has acknowledged this and is looking into the plea without any prejudice to the fine. The fine remains but the appeal and other engagements with MTN may affect the payment deadline. “The fine that was imposed on MTN was the second within two months after the operators were given a seven-day ultimatum to deactivate all unregistered and improperly registered SIM cards. While others complied, MTN did not.” Telling the story of the fine for the first time, Ojobo said, “On August 4, at a meeting of all the representatives of the mobile network operators with the NCC, major security challenges through preregistered, unregistered and improperly registered SIM cards topped the agenda, after which the operators were given the ultimatum to deactivate such within seven days. “On August 14, three days after the ultimatum expired, the NCC carried out a network audit; while other operators complied with the directive to deactivate improperly registered SIM cards, MTN showed no sign of compliance at all. “Four operators, MTN, Airtel, Globacom and Etisalat, were sanctioned in August for non-compliance with the directive to deactivate the improperly registered SIM cards. MTN got a fine of N102.2m; Globacom, N7.4m; Etisalat, N7m; and Airtel, N3.8m. Others complied, while MTN flouted the fine. “Based on the report of the compliance audit team, an enforcement team, which visited MTN from September 2 to 4, 2015 wherein MTN admitted that the team confirmed that 5.2 million improperly registered SIM cards were still left active on their network; hence, a contravention of the regulations was established.” The commission also said, “Consistent with the commission’s enforcement process, MTN was by a letter dated October 5 given notice to state why it should not be sanctioned in line with the regulations for failure to deactivate improperly registered SIM cards that were found to be active at the time of the enforcement team’s visit of September 15. “On October 19, the commission received and reviewed MTN’s response and found no convincing evidence why it should not be sanctioned for the established violations. “Accordingly, by a letter dated October 20, 2015, the commission conveyed appropriate sanctions to MTN in accordance with Regulations 20(1) of the Telephone Subscribers’ Registration Regulation 2011, to pay the sum of N200,000 only for each of the 5.2 million improperly registered SIM cards.” Ojobo added that the regulations on SIM card registration were developed with the full participation of all key industry stakeholders, including all the mobile network operators. Meanwhile, the MTN Group has advised shareholders to continue to exercise caution when dealing in the company’s securities until a further announcement is made on the N1.04tn fine imposed on it by the NCC. The company also claimed that the NCC had agreed that the fine N1.04tn would not be payable until negotiations between the two parties had been concluded. The MTN Group said this in a statement it made available to one of our correspondents on Monday through the Public Relations and Protocol Manager of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Funso Aina. The statement read in part, “Shareholders are referred to the announcements issued by the company on the Stock Exchange News Service Limited on October 26, 2015; October 30, 2015; November 2, 2015; November 3, 2015; and November 9, 2015, respectively. “Shareholders were advised in previous SENS announcements that the company would update shareholders on all material developments on this matter.” The group recalled that the Executive Chairman, Mr. Phuthuma Nhleko, had personally met with the Nigerian authorities to continue the ongoing discussions with them regarding the fine. It added, “These discussions include matters of non-compliance and the remedial measures that may have to be adopted to address this. “Although the Nigerian Communications Commission set a deadline for the payment of the fine by Monday, November 16, 2015, shareholders are advised that the Nigerian authorities have, without prejudice, agreed that the imposed fine will not be payable until the negotiations have been concluded.” http://punchng.com/n1-04tn-mtn-fine-remains-ncc-insists/ |
| Politics › Re: 14 African Countries Forced By France To Pay Colonial Tax by Dotng(op): 4:22pm On Nov 16, 2015 |
TonySpike:Thanks for your intellectual discourse TonySpike. It's people like you that I look forward to interacting with on Nairaland. Short of resorting to usage of negative language, I intentionally left the poster you were trying to educate to his fate. Some people are so narrow minded that they lack the capacity to engage different issues without allowing those issues to infect them. 1 Like |
| Politics › Re: 14 African Countries Forced By France To Pay Colonial Tax by Dotng(op): 3:32am On Nov 16, 2015 |
#7. Obligation to make French the official language of the country and the language for education Oui, Monsieur. Vous devez parlez français, la langue de Molière! A French language and culture dissemination organization has been created called “Francophonie” with several satellites and affiliates organizations supervised by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs. As demonstrated in this article, if French is the only language you speak, you’d have access to less than 4% of humanity knowledge and ideas. That’s very limiting. #8. Obligation to use France colonial money FCFA That’s the real milk cow for France, but it’s such an evil system even denounced by the European Union, but France is not ready to move from that colonial system which puts about 500 billions dollars from Africa to its treasury. During the introduction of Euro currency in Europe, other european countries discovered the french exploitation scheme. Many, specially the nordic countries, were appalled and suggested France get rid of the system, but unsuccessfully. #9. Obligation to send France annual balance and reserve report. Without the report, no money. Anyway the secretary of the Central banks of the ex-colonies, and the secretary of the bi-annual meeting of the Ministers of Finance of the ex-colonies is carried out by France Central bank / Treasury. #10. Renonciation to enter into military alliance with any other country unless authorized by France African countries in general are the ones with will less regional military alliances. Most of the countries have only military alliances with their ex-colonisers! (funny, but you can’t do better!). In the case France ex-colonies, France forbid them to seek other military alliance except the one it offered them. #11. Obligation to ally with France in situation of war or global crisis Over one million africans soldiers fought for the defeat of nazism and fascism during the second world war. Their contribution is often ignored or minimized, but when you think that it took only 6 weeks for Germany to defeat France in 1940, France knows that Africans could be useful for fighting for la “Grandeur de la France” in the future. There is something almost psychopathic in the relation of France with Africa. First, France is severely addicted to looting and exploitation of Africa since the time of slavery. Then there is this complete lack of creativity and imagination of french elite to think beyond the past and tradition. Finally, France has 2 institutions which are completely frozen into the past, inhabited by paranoid and psychopath “haut fonctionnaires” who spread fear of apocalypse if France would change, and whose ideological reference still comes from the 19th century romanticism: they are the Minister of Finance and Budget of France and the Minister of Foreign affairs of France. These 2 institutions are not only a threat to Africa, but to the French themselves. It’s up to us as African to free ourselves, without asking for permission, because I still can’t understand for example how 450 french soldiers in Côte d’Ivoire could control a population of 20 millions people!? People first reaction when they learn about the french colonial tax is often a question: “Until when?” For historical comparison, France made Haiti to pay the modern equivalent of $21 billion from 1804 till 1947 (almost one century and half) for the losses caused to french slave traders by the abolition of slavery and the liberation of the Haitian slaves. African countries are paying the colonial tax only for the last 50 years, so I think one century of payment might be left! 3 Likes |
| Politics › Re: 14 African Countries Forced By France To Pay Colonial Tax by Dotng(op): 3:31am On Nov 16, 2015 |
#3. Right of first refusal on any raw or natural resource discovered in the country France has the first right to buy any natural resources found in the land of its ex-colonies. It’s only after France would say, “I’m not interested”, that the African countries are allowed to seek other partners. #4. Priority to French interests and companies in public procurement and public biding In the award of government contracts, French companies must be considered first, and only after that these countries could look elsewhere. It doesn’t matter if the african countries can obtain better value for money elsewhere. As consequence, in many of the french ex-colonies, all the majors economical assets of the countries are in the hand of french expatriates. In Côte d’Ivoire, for example, french companies own and control all the major utilities – water, electricity, telephone, transport, ports and major banks. The same in commerce, construction, and agriculture. In the end, as I’ve written in a previous article, Africans now Live On A Continent Owned by Europeans! #5. Exclusive right to supply military equipment and Train the country military officers Through a sophisticated scheme of scholarships, grants, and “Defense Agreements” attached to the Colonial Pact, the africans should send their senior military officers for training in France or French ran-training facilities. The situation on the continent now is that France has trained hundreds, even thousands of traitors and nourish them. They are dormant when they are not needed, and activated when needed for a coup or any other purpose! #6. Right for France to pre-deploy troops and intervene military in the country to defend its interests Under something called “Defence Agreements” attached to the Colonial Pact, France had the legal right to intervene militarily in the African countries, and also to station troops permanently in bases and military facilities in those countries, run entirely by the French. When President Laurent Gbagbo of Côte d’Ivoire tried to end the French exploitation of the country, France organized a coup. During the long process to oust Gbagbo, France tanks, helicopter gunships and Special Forces intervened directly in the conflit, fired on civilians and killed many. To add insult to injury, France estimated that the French business community had lost several millions of dollars when in the rush to leave Abidjan in 2006 the French Army massacred 65 unarmed civilians and wounded 1,200 others. After France succeeded the coup, and transferred power to Alassane Outtara, France requested Ouattara government to pay compensation to French business community for the losses during the civil war. Indeed the Ouattara government paid them twice what they said they had lost in leaving. French military bases in Africa
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| Politics › Re: 14 African Countries Forced By France To Pay Colonial Tax by Dotng(op): 3:28am On Nov 16, 2015 |
Below are the 11 main components of the Colonisation continuation pact since 1950s: #1. Colonial Debt for the benefits of France colonization The newly “independent” countries should pay for the infrastructure built by France in the country during colonization. I still have to find out the complete details about the amounts, the evaluation of the colonial benefits and the terms of payment imposed on the african countries, but we are working on that (help us with info). #2. Automatic confiscation of national reserves The African countries should deposit their national monetary reserves into France Central bank. France has been holding the national reserves of fourteen african countries since 1961: Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. “The monetary policy governing such a diverse aggregation of countries is uncomplicated because it is, in fact, operated by the French Treasury, without reference to the central fiscal authorities of any of the WAEMU or the CEMAC. Under the terms of the agreement which set up these banks and the CFA the Central Bank of each African country is obliged to keep at least 65% of its foreign exchange reserves in an “operations account” held at the French Treasury, as well as another 20% to cover financial liabilities. The CFA central banks also impose a cap on credit extended to each member country equivalent to 20% of that country’s public revenue in the preceding year. Even though the BEAC and the BCEAO have an overdraft facility with the French Treasury, the drawdowns on those overdraft facilities are subject to the consent of the French Treasury. The final say is that of the French Treasury which has invested the foreign reserves of the African countries in its own name on the Paris Bourse. In short, more than 80% of the foreign reserves of these African countries are deposited in the “operations accounts” controlled by the French Treasury. The two CFA banks are African in name, but have no monetary policies of their own. The countries themselves do not know, nor are they told, how much of the pool of foreign reserves held by the French Treasury belongs to them as a group or individually. The earnings of the investment of these funds in the French Treasury pool are supposed to be added to the pool but no accounting is given to either the banks or the countries of the details of any such changes. The limited group of high officials in the French Treasury who have knowledge of the amounts in the “operations accounts”, where these funds are invested; whether there is a profit on these investments; are prohibited from disclosing any of this information to the CFA banks or the central banks of the African states .” Wrote Dr. Gary K. Busch It’s now estimated that France is holding close to 500 billions African countries money in its treasury, and would do anything to fight anyone who want to shed a light on this dark side of the old empire. The African countries don’t have access to that money. France allows them to access only 15% of the money in any given year. If they need more than that, they have to borrow the extra money from their own 65% from the French Treasury at commercial rates. To make things more tragic, France impose a cap on the amount of money the countries could borrow from the reserve. The cap is fixed at 20% of their public revenue in the preceding year. If the countries need to borrow more than 20% of their own money, France has a veto. Former French President Jacques Chirac recently spoke about the African nations money in France banks. Here is a video of him speaking about the french exploitation scheme. He is speaking in French, but here is a short excerpt transcript: “We have to be honest, and acknowledge that a big part of the money in our banks come precisely from the exploitation of the African continent.” |
| Politics › Re: 14 African Countries Forced By France To Pay Colonial Tax by Dotng(op): 3:28am On Nov 16, 2015 |
As these numbers demonstrate, France is quite desperate but active to keep a strong hold on his colonies what ever the cost, no matter what. In March 2008, former French President Jacques Chirac said: “Without Africa, France will slide down into the rank of a third [world] power” Chirac’s predecessor François Mitterand already prophesied in 1957 that: ”Without Africa, France will have no history in the 21st century” At this very moment I’m writing this article, 14 african countries are obliged by France, trough a colonial pact, to put 85% of their foreign reserve into France central bank under French minister of Finance control. Until now, 2014, Togo and about 13 other african countries still have to pay colonial debt to France. African leaders who refuse are killed or victim of coup. Those who obey are supported and rewarded by France with lavish lifestyle while their people endure extreme poverty, and desperation. It’s such an evil system even denounced by the European Union, but France is not ready to move from that colonial system which puts about 500 billions dollars from Africa to its treasury year in year out. We often accuse African leaders of corruption and serving western nations interests instead, but there is a clear explanation for that behavior. They behave so because they are afraid the be killed or victim of a coup. They want a powerful nation to back them in case of aggression or trouble. But, contrary to a friendly nation protection, the western protection is often offered in exchange of these leaders renouncing to serve their own people or nations’ interests. African leaders would work in the interest of their people if they were not constantly stalked and bullied by colonial countries. In 1958, scared about the consequence of choosing independence from France, Leopold Sédar Senghor declared: “The choice of the Senegalese people is independence; they want it to take place only in friendship with France, not in dispute.” From then on France accepted only an “independence on paper” for his colonies, but signed binding “Cooperation Accords”, detailing the nature of their relations with France, in particular ties to France colonial currency (the Franc), France educational system, military and commercial preferences. |
| Politics › Re: 14 African Countries Forced By France To Pay Colonial Tax by Dotng(op): 3:27am On Nov 16, 2015 |
In fact during that turbulent period of African fighting to liberate themselves from European colonization, France would repeatedly use many ex Foreign legionnaires to carry out coups against elected presidents: – On January 1st, 1966, Jean-Bédel Bokassa, an ex french foreign legionnaire, carried a coup against David Dacko, the first President of the Central African Republic. – On January 3, 1966, Maurice Yaméogo, the first President of the Republic of Upper Volta, now called Burkina Faso, was victim of a coup carried by Aboubacar Sangoulé Lamizana, an ex French legionnaire who fought with french troops in Indonesia and Algeria against these countries independence. – on 26 October 1972, Mathieu Kérékou who was a security guard to President Hubert Maga, the first President of the Republic of Benin, carried a coup against the president, after he attended French military schools from 1968 to 1970. In fact, during the last 50 years, a total of 67 coups happened in 26 countries in Africa, 16 of those countries are french ex-colonies, which means 61% of the coups happened in Francophone Africa. |
| Politics › 14 African Countries Forced By France To Pay Colonial Tax by Dotng(op): 3:26am On Nov 16, 2015 |
14 African Countries Forced by France to Pay Colonial Tax Did you know many African countries continue to pay colonial tax to France since their independence till today! When Sékou Touré of Guinea decided in 1958 to get out of french colonial empire, and opted for the country independence, the french colonial elite in Paris got so furious, and in a historic act of fury the french administration in Guinea destroyed everything in the country which represented what they called the benefits from french colonization. Three thousand French left the country, taking all their property and destroying anything that which could not be moved: schools, nurseries, public administration buildings were crumbled; cars, books, medicine, research institute instruments, tractors were crushed and sabotaged; horses, cows in the farms were killed, and food in warehouses were burned or poisoned. The purpose of this outrageous act was to send a clear message to all other colonies that the consequences for rejecting France would be very high. Slowly fear spread trough the african elite, and none after the Guinea events ever found the courage to follow the example of Sékou Touré, whose slogan was “We prefer freedom in poverty to opulence in slavery.” Sylvanus Olympio, the first president of the Republic of Togo, a tiny country in west Africa, found a middle ground solution with the French.He didn’t want his country to continue to be a french dominion, therefore he refused to sign the colonisation continuation pact De Gaule proposed, but agree to pay an annual debt to France for the so called benefits Togo got from french colonization.It was the only conditions for the French not to destroy the country before leaving. However, the amount estimated by France was so big that the reimbursement of the so called “colonial debt” was close to 40% of the country budget in 1963.The financial situation of the newly independent Togo was very unstable, so in order to get out the situation, Olympio decided to get out the french colonial money FCFA (the franc for french african colonies), and issue the country own currency.On January 13, 1963, three days after he started printing his country own currency, a squad of illiterate soldiers backed by France killed the first elected president of newly independent Africa. Olympio was killed by an ex French Foreign Legionnaire army sergeant called Etienne Gnassingbe who supposedly received a bounty of $612 from the local French embassy for the hit man job.Olympio’s dream was to build an independent and self-sufficient and self-reliant country. But the French didn’t like the idea.On June 30, 1962, Modiba Keita , the first president of the Republic of Mali, decided to withdraw from the french colonial currency FCFA which was imposed on 12 newly independent African countries. For the Malian president, who was leaning more to a socialist economy, it was clear that colonisation continuation pact with France was a trap, a burden for the country development.On November 19, 1968, like, Olympio, Keita will be the victim of a coup carried out by another ex French Foreign legionnaire, the Lieutenant Moussa Traoré. http://www.systemiccapital.com/14-african-countries-forced-by-france-to-pay-colonial-tax/ |
| Politics › ICPC Discovers N292m In Retired Perm Sec’s Account by Dotng(op): 6:27am On Nov 13, 2015 |
ICPC discovers N292m in retired perm sec’s account The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission has traced N292m to the account of one of the permanent secretaries that were retired on Tuesday, The PUNCH has learnt. It was gathered on Thursday that the ICPC made the discovery during the discreet investigations into the five months the permanent secretaries presided over ministries in the absence of ministers. Anti-graft investigators were said to have commenced probe into the permanent secretaries’ reign shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari submitted the ministerial list to the Senate. It was learnt that the investigators became curious upon discovery that the account of one of the permanent secretaries swelled up to N292m in the last five months. Our correspondents learnt that three more permanent secretaries might also face trial for alleged corruption. There had been a report on Thursday that five former permanent secretaries would face trial for alleged corruption. It was learnt that the ICPC’s investigations were not limited to permanent secretaries that were compulsorily retired on Tuesday but also those who served in the past five months and still in service. Findings showed that the ICPC might invite some of the permanent secretaries for interrogation upon the completion of its investigation next week. A source in the ICPC, who confided in one of our correspondents, said, “It is true that the ICPC is probing the activities of the permanent secretaries. About N292m was traced to the account of one of the recently retired permanent secretaries. “The commission has concluded investigating some of the permanent secretaries while others are still being investigated. For those that we have concluded investigations on them, we have sent their files to relevant places for action. “It is not exactly true that those who were not sacked by the President in the recent exercise are innocent. They are also being investigated.” It was also learnt the ICPC had been investigating some directors and that the Federal Government had directed anti-graft agencies to place emphasis on recovery of funds from corrupt former public officers. A Presidency source stated, “I can tell you that the focus of the government is changing. The President is more interested in recouping the stolen money. “The President and his advisers are not unmindful of the fact that prosecution could take a long time. The President is more interested in recouping the money. “What is happening is that the anti-graft agencies go for the facts, very strong facts that cannot be denied, confront the people with the evidence and ask them to return the funds if they don’t want to go to jail. “And many of them are cooperating. I can tell you for sure that people are returning money.” Our correspondent could not get the Resident Consultant, Media and Event, of the ICPC, Mr. Folu Olamiti, to react as his telephone indicated that it was switched off or in an area outside network coverage. Buhari however on Thursday warned civil servants at all levels that his administration would not condone any act of indiscipline and corrupt practices. He also justified his administration’s decision to drop the previous practice of administering written and oral examinations on civil servants for ascension to the rank of permanent secretaries. Buhari spoke at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, shortly after administering oaths of office on 16 out of the 18 new permanent secretaries whose appointments were approved on Tuesday, after retiring 17. The remaining two new permanent secretaries were said to be out of the country as of the time their appointments were announced and that they would take their oaths at a later date. The President said the responsibilities bestowed on the permanent secretaries were enormous and that the success or otherwise of the government would depend on their competence, ability and capacity to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently. He said, “I must, however, sound a note of warning. It is within public domain that ministers as chief executives of their ministries as well as other government officials involved in policy formulation and implementation often complain of the intolerable levels of incompetence, indifference or even suspected sabotage by some of the top echelons of the civil service. “Even where permanent secretaries, in some instances, are exempted from these accusations, they are still responsible and liable for failing to provide the required leadership, control and direction. “This administration will not condone any excesses, indifference, incompetence and corrupt practices in any form. “Permanent Secretaries are therefore advised to note these words of caution and disseminate them to all civil servants accordingly. “I am sure the permanent secretaries and all other civil servants appreciate the fact that I have always considered the civil service as an indispensable reservoir of experience, expertise and loyalty. I, therefore, consider the service as a dependable ally in my quest to change this country for the better.” Buhari said if Nigeria would realise its full potential for greatness, its civil service must first understand and accept the “change mantra” of the present administration and lead its spread through all the institutions of governance and the economy. He said his administration would give all the necessary support, protection and encouragement to the civil service to do its work, adding that he had faith in the ability and quality of the Nigerian civil service to provide stability and the desired change. Meanwhile, the President of the Nigerian Voters’ Assembly, Mashood Erubami, has backed efforts of the Buhari administration to sanitise the civil service. Erubami, in an interview with one of our correspondents, supported the merging of ministries by the President. He said, “The adoption of alignment and merger of ministries towards sanitising the civil service and improving the efficient service delivery in the public service also fit with the portfolios,” he said. Erubami added that Buhari had met the expectations of the people by putting round pegs in round holes. He said, “The posting of Prof (Isaac) Adewole to man the Ministry of Health is an indeed a round peg in a round hole just as Abubakar Malami in the Ministry of Justice. Other ministers who might not have been posted to ministries of their professional callings are also in good stead because of their accrued knowledge, experiences and exposure in general administration. “We had looked for ministers that have the genuine interest of the country in their hearts and love the country. We had expected ministers who would think beyond the box, come together to discuss and set standards for their own programmes and policies that will stand them out as the best crops of ministers that Nigeria will ever have. “However for these ministers to be valuable to the people and the nation, they will be expected to rise up immediately after the allotment of portfolios and show daily commitment to actions, which will meet the genuine expectation of the people. This should be so because the immediate past government had inflicted lots of damage in the lives of people as a result of years of clueless and directionless governance.” http://punchng.com/icpc-discovers-n292m-in-retired-perm-secs-account/ 1 Like |
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