₦airaland Forum

The house of representatives says the alterations made to the 2018 budget are justifiable.

AbdulRazak Namdas, spokesman of the lower legislative chamber, said this in a statement issued after President Muhammadu Buhari signed the 9.12 trillion budget into law.

Buhari had expressed reservations with some alterations in the budget, wondering why the lawmakers introduced 6,403 projects into it.

“The national assembly made cuts amounting to N347 billion in the allocations to 4,700 projects submitted to them for consideration and introduced 6,403 projects of their own amounting to N578 billion. Many of the projects cut are critical and may be difficult, if not impossible, to implement with the reduced allocation. Some of the new projects inserted by the national assembly have not been properly conceptualized, designed and costed and will, therefore, be difficult to execute,” the president had said, disclosing that he would send a supplementary budget.

But in his response, Namdas said the national assembly “has a job to do”.

He also absolved the lawmakers of blames for the delay in the implementation of the January-to-December budget cycle, one of the complaints raised by Buhari.

Namdas said heads of ministries, department and agencies (MDAs) should take responsibility for the delay.

“The house of representatives is appreciative of President Muhammadu Buhari in signing the 2018 Appropriation Bill into law and wish to make the following observations,” the statement read.

“That the budget is usually a proposal by the executive to the national assembly, which the latter is given the constitutional power of appropriation to alter, make additions, costs or reduce as it may deem necessary. The Legislature is not expected to be a rubber-stamp by simply approving the Executive proposals and returning the budget to Mr. President. Therefore, the additions Mr. President complained of in his speech are justifiable.

“We are on the same page with Mr. President in his desire to return our budget cycle to January-December. By the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007, the budget estimates should be with the national assembly around September of the year. In the case of the 2018 budget, the estimates came behind schedule in November 2017, even though this attempt was seen as one of the earliest in recent years. Going forward, we urge the executive to speed up the reporting time to the National Assembly by complying fully with the FRA.

“Besides, there were delays that should be blamed on the heads of MDAs. Mr. President will recall that he had to direct ministers and heads of agencies to go to the National Assembly to defend their proposals. This came after the National Assembly had persistently raised the alarm over the non-cooperative attitudes of these government officials. On this grounds, the delay in passing the budget cannot be blamed on the legislature.

“New projects in budget. On this aspect, we have to remind Mr. President that we are representatives of our people and wish to state that even the common man deserves a mention in the budget by including projects that will directly affect his life positively. Some of the projects designed by the executive, as high-sounding as their names suggest, do not meet the needs of the common man.”

He also defended the N14.5 billion increase in the budget of the national assembly, saying the lawmakers slashed their budget compared to 2015.

“Before 2015, the budget of the national assembly was N150 billion for several years. It was cut down to N120bn in 2015 and further down to N115bn in 2016. In 2017, the budget was N125bn and N139.5bn in 2018. This means that the budget of the national assembly is still far below the N150bn in the years before 2015.

“While we commend Mr. President for a good working relationship, we also wish to state that we have a job to do, which requires adequate funding as well. The additional costs and projects to the budget were done in good faith for the sole purpose of improving the lives of Nigerians.

“Finally, we welcome the proposal by Mr. President to forward a supplementary budget to the national assembly to address other areas of pressing demands and commend the President and the entire executive arm for a cordial working relationship.”

https://www.thecable.ng/breaking-alterations-made-budget-2018-justifiable-house-reps-replies-buhari/

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) says it has started printing ballot papers, with which a referendum would be conducted for the people of the South East to vote if to remain in Nigeria or secede.

The group said it plans to hold the referendum latter this year, and that it was determined to ensure that the exercise took place without violence.

A press release by the Media and Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr Emma powerful called on the people of the area to ignore rumours by sponsored individuals who have equated referendum to call for war, saying that both were different.


He said, “Efforts geared towards this first referendum is gathering unstoppable momentum with dates for the exercise to be announced soon. 40 million ballot papers are being printed and readied for distribution to every clan and village in Biafraland for all adults over the age of 18 to express their preference.

“For those that set out to mislead the populace by equating IPOB’s call for referendum as a call for war, in order to mask their betrayal of the people, will no doubt find another reason or excuse to object to this upcoming plebiscite.”

The group reminded that it would not be the first time a referendum was going to be held in the country, as it has been held previously, and did not amount to war either.

“It is worth reminding that on the 11th February 1961, Nigeria conducted a referendum for the people of Southern Cameroon to determine whether they wish to be part of Nigeria or merge with the Francophone northern Cameroon.

“This referendum resulted in the peaceful secession of the then NCNC controlled Anglophone Cameroon from Nigeria. In other words, they voted to leave Nigeria for good. That was democracy in action not war.

“No war was fought and no ethnic group was threatened with annihilation. If those parading themselves as leaders, with their much touted academic accomplishments, are not aware of this relatively modern history, then the pervading ignorance in Nigeria, occasioned by the spectacular collapse of the education system, is more generational than earlier thought.

“If those that claim to be the elite in the society cannot reference Southern Cameroons as a case where referendum resolved an intractable issue, then their supposed elitism is founded on pure fantasy.

“Again, on the 13th of July 1963, Nigeria conducted another referendum which led to the creation of the defunct Mid-west from the supposedly Yoruba dominated Western region. The old Mid-Western region comprised of parts of today’s Delta and Edo states. No war was fought, no ethnic group was threatened with extinction.

“Those that canvassed for a referendum then were not labeled war mongers. It speaks of the magnitude of prevailing ignorance in Nigeria that people are in this age unaware of the fact that referendum has been used in Nigeria before to resolve a seemingly intractable issue.”

The group, therefore, alerted that plans were at advanced stages in preparation for the first in its three-stage referendum process towards the peaceful, non-violent restoration of the nation of Biafra.

It said, “Our decision to hold the first of the three plebiscite later this year has vindicated IPOB’s resilience in sticking to the principles of non-violent agitation for Biafra, in the face of government brutality and treachery from enemies within.”

Through this age-long democratic process, IPOB said, it shall return power to the long suffering downtrodden masses, to enable them determine their destiny which it said was cruelly taken away by successive Nigerian governments.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/06/19/ipob-commences-printing-40-million-ballot-papers-referendum/

The mother of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, Falmata Abubakar has finally spoken on how her son became a terrorist.
Fatima, speaking with the Hausa Service of the Voice of America, VOA, in the village of Shekau, Yobe State, said Mr Shekau’s late father was the Imam of the village Mosque before his death.

When asked on location of her son, Abubakar said she had no idea where her son was or his situation.
“I don’t know whether he is dead or alive, only God knows, I have not seen him in the last 15 years.
“It was in the course of seeking Islamic knowledge that her son came into contact with the founder of Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf. She said the late Boko Haram leader was the one who indoctrinated her son.
“I did not set my eyes on him since he came into contact with Mohammed Yusuf.

“I know he is my son, and everyone knows a mother’s love for her son, but our attitude to life is different.
“He has put so many people in serious difficulty, I pray that God guides him right.
“I will not curse my son, he has chosen a path different from the one we put him on, only God knows what he has become now”.
The Nigerian military has repeatedly claimed to have killed Mr Shekau.

Those claims have turned out false.

The Boko Haram leader is on the Nigerian government’s list of most wanted terrorists. The United States government also has a bounty on him.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/06/14/shekaus-mother-speaks-whereabouts-boko-haram-leader-became-terrorist/

Former Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, on Wednesday, resigned his membership from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The letter which was personally signed by the former governor and addressed to the leadership of the party in the state, stating his intention to resign his membership from the party.

The read “I hereby with utmost humility inform you of my decision to resign my membership of the PDP with effect from today, June 13, 2018, for some well-thought-out personal reasons.

“It was an honour working the many prominent Nigerians with whom I shared the PDP platform for the entire period I was in there as a member. Accept please the assurance of my very high regards.”

However, Nigerian Tribune gathered that the former governor and his followers from PDP will today (Thursday) rejoin the Labour Party.

Mimiko, who was governor of the state for two terms of eight years will be returning to the party after some four years of collapsing the structure of the LP to the PDP ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Mimiko has been keeping mute over the development as there have been speculations on his defection in the last couple of months

One of the aides of the former governor, however, confirmed that the official declaration of Mimiko and his followers will hold at the Ondo Civic Centre in Ondo town on today, Thursday.

According to him, Mimiko will register as a member of an LP in his ward tomorrow before moving to the civic centre for an official declaration.

He said, “The official declaration of Mimiko and his followers will hold at the Ondo Civic Centre in Ondo town on Thursday, and this will signal the rebuilding of the structure of the LP which was collapsed into the PDP in 2014.”

Speaking on Mimiko’s defection, the Chairman of the PDP in the state, Chief Clement Faboyede, said Mimiko’s defection would not affect the fortune of the party in the state.

Faboyede who expressed surprise at the news of former governor and leader of the party in the state said “the PDP is a very big party that can be likened to an orange tree and if you pluck from it, it does not kill the orange. Therefore the party will survive.

“Dr Mimiko is one of the big fish that left the PDP before and the party is still striving now, we will just hope all these are rumour and that it will not come to happen.

“We really love Dr Mimiko and always want to be part of his political planning. We are hoping he will not leave, and if he does, the party (PDP) will survive.

Mimiko informed us of his intention and we feel he is entitled to his own opinion and calculations and he hinged his defection on what he said was his belief and can no longer stay in PDP

He has communicated that he is going to consult, and he gathered and talk to every stratum of party members and gave reasons, while some agreed and some did not agree and we tried at our own level to discourage him but he has picked a date.

“I believe he is a member of the party until he leaves and If he leaves, good luck to him and goodbye to him. If he eventually leaves, PDP will not and will never die”

Mimiko and his supporters left the LP on October 2, 2014, to collapse the LP structure in the state into the PDP ahead of 2015 election.

http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/150595/

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the immediate sack of a senator, Atai Aidoko, as the member representing Kogi East.
The court presided over by judge, Gabriel Kolawole, ruled that Mr Aidoko was wrongly presented as the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the December 2014 Primaries conducted by the PDP.
Following the presentation of Mr Aidoko as the party’s flag bearer, Mr Aidoko’s challenger, Isaac Alfa, began a legal battle for the nullification of Mr Aidoko’s election.
An appeal court had ordered parties to return to the trial court to allow it determine the rightful owner of the suit, thus rendering the seat vacant.
However, Mr Aidoko refused vacating the office and has appeared repeatedly at Senate plenaries since then.
On Wednesday, the court ordered the PDP and Mr Aidoko to pay Mr Alfa N750,000 each.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/272269-breaking-court-sacks-nigerian-senator.html

The embattled commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Dickson Akoh, has pleaded with President Muhammad Buhari to prevail on the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to unseal its headquarters in line with various court orders.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja Wednesday, Mr Akoh said his group remains a non-confrontational and law abiding organisation and has explored all lawful means, including seeking political solutions to its ordeal, but to no avail.

“In view of the landmark ruling yesterday coupled with other previous judgements and the resolution of the House of Representatives, we wish to renew our appeal, as part of our last resort, to President Muhammadu Buhari, to please direct the Inspector General of Police to order his men to vacate the premises of the headquarters of our organisation in the interest of equity, fairness and justice.

“We are also appealing to the Attorney-General of the Federation, the National Human Rights Commission, Civil Society Organisations, Human Rights Activists and other well-meaning Nigerians to urgently intervene in this regard, especially in prevailing on the Nigeria Police to respect the rule of law as a frontline Law Enforcement Agency,” Mr Akoh stated.

He said the police and its allies have achieved their overall intent, which he said was to stop the Nigerian Peace Corps Establishment Bill from becoming a reality.

“The clampdown and the purported charges against me and indeed this organisation were essentially to stop Mr President from assenting to the NPC Bill and stopping the Legislative Arm of Government from doing the needful.”

Mr Akoh further said his organisation and he have not committed any known crime under the laws of Nigeria. He pledged to present himself for prosecution when the police comply with court orders.

“We are ever ready to defend ourselves before any court of law as it is our wish to clear ourselves of any allegations.

“In a civilised society where the Rule of Law is supreme and respected by institutions of government and individuals, it is expected that the police comply with valid court orders and subsequently come before the court to prove its allegations against us, if any at all.”

He expressed regrets that after securing a court judgement, the police and others have continued to clamp down on his organisation. This, he said would only paint the country in bad light before the international community.

“The action of the IGP in disobeying valid court orders with brazen impunity and his selective victimisation of innocent Nigerians must be quite disturbing to all lovers of democracy.

“The truth is that, he is only courting more enemies for this administration that is known for its strong aversion to all manner of impunities, which is injurious to our president, who is doing all that is humanly possible to place Nigeria on the path of economic and political recovery,” Mr Akoh said.

The headquarters of the corps has been under siege by the police for over a year. It was taken over by the police on the day the office was officially launched.

Mr Akoh had claimed the organisation, currently registered as a non-governmental organisation, pays as much as N13.5 million rent annually on the sealed office.

During the office controversy between the peace corps and police, the former suffered a major setback when President Buhari declined to assent to its establishment bill. The lawmakers had tried to convert the peace corps into a paramilitary organisation.

The president cited paucity of funds and duplication of duties of existing security agencies as his main reasons.

The bill also suffered another setback few weeks ago when members of the House of Representatives rejected a move to override the president’s veto.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/272267-order-police-to-unseal-our-office-peace-corps-begs-buhari.html

Innoson has today admitted that there was no Supreme Court judgement against GTBank.

After falsely claiming a victory at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Chairman of Innoson Motors, Dr Innocent Chukwuma has admitted to completely distorting the directive of the Supreme Court and publicly apologized for spreading fake and malicious news.

Innoson had earlier deleted his declaration on social media that the apex court has ordered GTBank to pay him N14bn within 14 days.

This was followed by a statement by his spokesman Cornelius Osigwe in which Innoson walked back from his false declaration stating instead that “There have been a lot of misinterpretations on the Press Release published by Innoson Group on the decision of the Supreme Court”.

This retraction, judicial analysts believe, was advised by Innoson’s lawyers who fear that contempt of court charges on defaming the Supreme Court may be brought against the embattled businessman.

Last week Thursday, Innoson caused a social and online media storm by falsely claiming that the Supreme Court had ruled in his favour for GTBank to pay him N14bn. However, records of the court proceedings showed no such ruling.

GTBank had also advised the public that Innoson’s claims were “false, mischievous and malicious”.

“There was no directive or Order issued by the Supreme Court of Nigeria to the Bank to make any payment to any of its debtor Customers. We again reiterate that there is no iota of truth in the falsehood being peddled by desperate and mischievous elements and the General Public should disregard same in its entirety,” part of the Bank’s press statement read.

As facts on ground became clear that Innoson’s claim on social media was entirely false, the embattled businessman moved to silently delete the Fake News Tweet from his company’s Twitter Account.

On Monday, June 11, 2018, innoson apologized for misleading the public.

However, Nigerians did not take the company’s lies lightly.

“I cannot believe this, how can someone have total disregard for the highest court in the Land and go on a rampage spreading fake news. This Innoson and his team of lawyers and advisers have no shred of credibility” a Twitter user said.

Another user, whose tweet appears below, lamented that Innoson had fooled Nigerians.

https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/06/we-lied-about-gtbank-supreme-court-judgment-innoson-admits/

President Muhammadu Buhari has formally conferred the title of Grand Commander Order of the Niger on human rights activist, philanthropist and democracy hero, Gani Fawehinmi.

The award was received on his behalf by his wife Ganiat Fawehinmi.

Details later…

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/06/12/breaking-buhari-formally-confers-gcon-title-on-gani-fawehinmi/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday described Nigerians as a people who are “intellectually aggressive and economically ambitious”.

He said the country has a youthful and “aggressive population” that are innovative and resilient.

The president was quoted to have made the comments in Rabat, Morocco, during a meeting with Saadeddine Othmani, Prime Minister of Morocco, at the Royal Guest Palace.

Garba Shehu, senior special assistant on media and publicity, quoted the president as saying: “Nigerians are intellectually aggressive and economically ambitious.

“I received some of our students here yesterday and I am really impressed with the zeal and fearlessness they exuded.

“In Nigeria, we have a very young and aggressive population and we are working very hard to create the enabling and inclusive environment for their contributions to be better appreciated.”

Buhari said his administration was interested in partnerships with countries that can explore Nigeria’s huge potential, adding that the country is on the verge of an agricultural revolution.

“We need to do more to improve our statistics on food production and, graciously, the weather has been auspicious in the last couple of years for agricultural growth. We are happy that through partnership with you and hard work, the price of fertiliser is already down by 50 percent,’’ he said.

During his visit to the North African country, President Buhari signed three agreements, namely; Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project, vocational training in agriculture and building of a chemical plant in Nigeria.

Commenting on the gas pipeline project, he said: “We have a huge gas reserve in Nigeria, and we should be known more for gas exploration than for crude oil. So, we are happy with the new partnership with Morocco.”

https://www.thecable.ng/buhari-nigerians-intellectually-aggressive-economically-ambitious/

Ade Adesomoju, Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has explained to the Federal High Court in Abuja how it uncovered about 19 houses allegedly bought by the immediate-past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Maduke, in Nigeria, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

It also explained that an Executive Director in First Bank Nigeria Limited, Mr. Dauda Lawal, helped Diezani to transfer to the UK for the purchase of some real estate properties in London.

EFCC also said Benedict Peters whom it described as a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s contractor during Diezani’s reign as the petroleum minister, contributed $60m to the $115m allegedly provided by the ex-minister to bribe electoral officers for the 2015 general elections.

The Nigerian properties were said to be in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

The anti-graft agency also said Peters was a “suspect under investigation for Petroleum subsidy fraud” from whom $400m had been recovered.

EFCC says Peters is the “alter ego” or owner of two companies registered abroad – Collinwood Limited – Rosewood Investment Limited -, and a Nigerian company, Aiteo Energy Resources.

The anti-graft agency’s explanation gave these details in the papers which it filed in objection to some applications urging Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja to lift the interim forfeiture order hanging on some of the 19 properties in the UK and US.

Upon an ex parte application titled, ‘In the matter of 19 real properties purchased by Mrs. Diezani Alison-Maduke’, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja had on June 29, 2016 granted an order of interim forfeiture in respect of the properties.

But the trio of Peters and two of the companies said to be his, Collinwood Limited and Rosewood Investment Limited, filed a motion dated January 10, 2017, challenging the interim forfeiture order in respect of some of the properties in the UK and the US.

The applicants denied that some of the properties which the court ordered their interim forfeiture were theirs and not Diezani’s as alleged by the EFCC.

The properties interested in by the applicants included the ones at 5 Park View; 83 – 86 Prince Albert Road; St. John Wood, all in London NW8 7RU, UK; as well as 270-17 Street, Unit 4204, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

http://punchng.com/how-we-uncovered-diezanis-19-us-uk-nigeria-properties-efcc-%E2%80%8E/amp/?

The Federal Government has declared Friday, 15th and Monday, 18th June as public holidays to celebrate the 2018 Id-el Fitr.

The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr M. B. Umar on Monday.

He congratulated the Muslim faithful on a successful completion of the Ramadan and enjoined all Nigerians to use the occasion of the celebration to pray for the peace, unity, prosperity and stability of the nation.
Dambazau urged all Nigerians to be inspired by the virtues gained during the Holy Month of Ramadan to live a life of sacrifice, charity and love for one another.

He encouraged all Nigerians to join hands with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari in taking the nation to greater heights.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/amplite/fg-declares-holidays-to-mark-id-el-fitr-255850.html

The presidency has lambasted those condemning the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to honour late MKO Abiola.

Buhari will on Tuesday, in commemoration of the annulled June 12 1993 election, bestow national awards on Abiola, Babagana Kingibe and late legal luminary, Gani Fawehinmi.

On Sunday, presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, in an article entitled: ‘June 12 tsunami and the ones who won’t forgive Buhari’, took Buhari’s critics to the cleansers.

He wrote in part: “Chinese proverb says: Do good, reap good; do evil, reap evil. This short proverb sums the intensity of attacks against President Muhammadu Buhari, not leaving the ratcheting up of violence in some of the States after a period of relative calm, in the wake of the political tsunami honouring the heroes of June 12, 1993 presidential election, which was annulled thus preventing the widely-acclaimed winner, Chief M.K.O Abiola (of blessed memory) from taking office as the President of Nigeria.

“Even at that time, it was pretty obvious that the unjust annulment was a huge elite conspiracy, well beyond the schemes and machinations, for which the then Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida had established a formidable reputation.

“June 12 annulment was inspired and supported in spirit, cash and in kind by high-level citizens who saw an opportunity for themselves and cashed in upon it.

“Beyond the coterie of two dozen or so military officials whose names have been documented as literally having had a gun to the head of their Commander-in-Chief in trying to induce the annulment, there were tens, possibly hundreds of co-conspirators who either forced the annulment in one way or the other, or joined the sustenance of the injustice done to Abiola and Nigerian voters which, from then evolved into an industry of a kind, supplying incomes and conferring privileges of state upon those in the plot.

“Many have forgotten by now that an interim government was contemplated at that time and a number of retired army generals were on queue, having been invited to get ready to head it. There was the foremost social scientist of the Yoruba stock who prophesied to the then rulers, on the day the announcement of election results was suspended that “the Yoruba will not be angry with the Head of State if he will go ahead to annul the election.” Then he did it.

“Remember that since the incident took place, no past administration in 25 years has asked the question, why was the election annulled? Who annulled it? What were the consequences? Beyond Abiola and his late wife Kudirat, how many people did the nation lose? In terms of the economy, how much was lost? How much of a dislocation was it, socially, politically and internationally? Overall, how much damage did it cause the nation?

“Now would there be an inquisition into all of the things that happened? I have not been briefed if there is going to be any. Neither have I heard of any discussions on this. I cannot, therefore, speculate.

“Understandably, anger against the new Democracy Day and honour to Abiola in a few quarters, the intensity of attack on President’s person would mount as the momentum he gains becomes manifest, even as we recognize that the opposition had been gearing up for offensive towards 2019 elections.

“In normal times, even before the shocking master stroke honouring Abiola, President Buhari is a leader who had not been in the good reckoning of a powerful, very vocal section of the country’s elite. The reason is basically that they would lose when you put in place corruption-free governance, institute economic growth with special focus on farmers, and a strong drive for inclusiveness particularly regarding women and marginalised sections.

“The Buhari Administration has annoyed these groups by putting in place long neglected infrastructure, establishing a social welfare scheme, the Social Investment Programme targeted at the basic needs of the common citizens and has given the country a major jump in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings.

“Railways and federal roads are being rehabilitated and new ones, including a standard gauge rail are being put in place to bring better and more efficient transportation services. Power generation and distribution have more than doubled with many consumers reporting 16-17 hours and in some parts of the country, actually enjoying up to 22-23 hours of power supply a day.

“Foreign relations have improved and the awesome investments in defence and security sectors are paying off through peaceful economic activity in the Niger Delta and the on-going restoration of normalcy in the northeast and north central states.

“President Buhari’s journey to the Presidential Villa had been long and tortuous– having contested three times and ended with appeals at the Supreme Court before he was fourth time lucky. A candidate many had taken as the unlikely one considering that he had been a man who is separate from the political establishment. That he emerged at the contest as winner was itself enough to rattle the political elite.

“If you read the history of our country, hardly do we have the top elite joining hands for the good of the nation. While Buhari’s tsunami on June 12 has stoked the anger and the fear of this group, the declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day and the conferment of National Honours on MKO, his running mate Ambassador Kingibe and the foremost pro-democracy activist, late Gani Fawehinmi was, in another breath, greeted with great enthusiasm and warmth by Nigerians, most especially on the social media.”

http://dailypost.ng/2018/06/10/mko-abiola-presidency-fires-back-buharis-critics/

Ade Adesomoju

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja for a fresh order of interim forfeiture of six Lagos and Abuja properties linked to the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose.

Despite that EFCC’s fresh application was filed “ex parte”, a sort of one-sided preliminary proceeding, and the commission’s claim that the properties had been unclaimed, Fayose had, through the law firm of Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), filed a preliminary objection to challenge the forfeiture hearing.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, before whom the fresh application was filed last month, had, on July 20, 2016, granted the EFCC an order of interim forfeiture of the properties for only 45 days.

The commission also subsequently, on November 3, 2016, obtained a similar order from Justice Okon Abang, who was then permanently sitting in the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.

With the later redeployment of Justice Abang to Delta State, the EFCC, through its counsel, Mr. Offem Uket, last month, filed the ex parte application, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/388/18, asking Justice Dimgba to “vacate” the earlier order made by Justice Abang and impose a fresh order of interim forfeiture of the properties.

The commission claimed that “the properties are under the possession and control of the EFCC and have remained unclaimed, as no person, including the suspects, has indicated interest in them, after the said properties were marked with the words, ‘UNDER EFCC INVESTIGATION’.”

Four of the properties in question, numbered as Chalets 3, 4, 6 and 9, are each four-bedroomed.

The four chalets are said to be located at Plot 100 Tiamiyu Salvage, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The two other properties are located at 44 Osun Crescent and Plot 1504 Yerdseram Street, both in Maitama, Abuja.

The commission stated as part of the grounds for its fresh application that the properties were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities, involving funds fraudulently transferred from the Office of the National Security Adviser.

It said in the application that the properties were subjects of pending criminal trial involving the funds allegedly transferred from ONSA’s account.

The property at Plot 1504 Yerdseram Street, in Maitama, Abuja, was said to have been acquired in the name of Spotless Investment Limited, a company whose bank account is said to be run by Fayose and his wife.

While the other Abuja property at 44 Osun Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, was said to be acquired in the name of one Mrs. Moji Ladeji, the four chalets in Lagos were said to be “acquired in the name of J. J. Technical Limited”.

An associate of the Ekiti State governor, Abiodun Agbele, and Spotless Investment Limited are being prosecuted alongside two other companies on charges involving the sum of N1,219,000,000 said to be part of a total N4,685,723,000,000, allegedly taken fraudulently from ONSA’s account with the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2014.

The two other companies along with whom Agbele and Spotless Investments Limited are being prosecuted are Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, linked to a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, and his sons and De Privateer Limited run by Agbele.

It was alleged that the funds were released in June 2014 to fund Fayose’s governorship election.

While insisting that the properties, which their forfeiture to the Federal Government was being sought were subjects of the ongoing criminal trial, the EFCC explained that the funds from ONSA’s account was fraudulently transferred to Sylvan Mcnamara Limited (Obanikoro’s company).

It said, “The properties sought to be forfeited are reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities derived from funds fraudulently transferred from the Office of the National Security Adviser to the account of Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd.

“The funds transferred to Sylvan Mcnamara Limited were later trailed to the personal accounts and companies associated to Messrs Ayodele Fayose and Abiodun Agbele.

“That there is the need to grant the interim forfeiture order to enable the properties/funds listed in the schedule above to be forfeited to the Federal Government.

“That part of the funds fraudulently transferred from the Office of the National Security Adviser was found to have been used by Spotless Investment Ltd to liquidate a loan facility it had earlier obtained from the bank.”

Last month, a lawyer from Ozekhome’s law firm, Mr. Mr. Godwin Iyinbor, appeared in the case for Fayose “in protest” against the proceedings.

He noted that he had filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the EFCC’s motion ex parte.

Uket, who acknowledged that he had been served Iyinbor’s preliminary objection, objected the protesting lawyer being heard since the motion being considered was ex parte.

But Justice Dimgba said he would hear Iyinbor since the issues raised had to do with the court’s jurisdiction.

He adjourned till September 27 to hear all pending motions altogether.


http://punchng.com/onsas-n1-2bn-again-efcc-goes-after-fayoses-lagos-abuja-properties/

.state Houses of Assembly, judiciary get autonomy

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday signed a constitutional amendment that stops a vice president who completes the term of a president from contesting for the office of the President more than once.

The same is applicable to a deputy governor who completes the term of a state governor.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday.

The term of a President or a governor can be aborted by virtue of death, resignation or removal, thereby paving the way for the Vice President or deputy governor to take over.

Enang explained that the effect of the new law, Act 16, is that having taken the oath of President or governor once, the affected person can only contest one more time and no more.

If the law had been in place, former President Goodluck Jonathan who completed the tenure of late President Umar Yar’Adua after his death would not have qualified to contest the 2015 presidential elections having contested and won in 2011.

Enang said the President also signed an amendment to the constitution that grants autonomy to state judiciary and state Houses of Assembly.

The presidential aide said the implication of the new law was that funds meant for state judiciary and state Houses of Assembly would now be going directly to them and not through state governors again.

According to Enang, the President also signed an amendment that reduced the duration for determining pre-election matters in courts to ensure that such matters do not get into the time of the elections and do not linger thereafter.

He added that another amendment increased the time the Independent National Electoral Commission has to conduct by-election in case of vacancy from the present seven days to 21 days.

Enang said, “I just want to inform you that His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari today (Friday) assented to the Constitution Fourth Alteration Bill which grants financial authonomy and independence to the Houses of Assembly of the respective states and to the Judiciary of the respective states.

“Therefore, upon this signature, the amounts standing to the credit of the judiciary are to now be paid directly to the judiciary of those states and no more through the governors and from the governors.

“And then the amounts standing to the credit of the Houses of Assembly of the respective states are now to be paid directly to the Houses of Assembly of that state for the benefit of the legislators and the management of the state Houses of Assembly of that state. This grants full autonomy now to the Houses of Assembly and judiciary of states.

“Another Act which has come into force today is Constitution Amendment 21 which relates to the determination of pre-elections matters. It has reduced the date and time of determining pre-election matters to ensure that the pre-election matters in court do not get into the time of the elections and do not linger thereafter.

“The relevant section of the Constitution has also been amended by this Act, therefore amending the constitution.

“The other one is Bill 16 which is now an Act. The intent of that Act is to ensure that where a Vice President succeeds the President and where a deputy governor succeeds a governor, he can no more contest for that office more than one more time.

“The effect is that having taken the oath of President once, he can only contest one more time and no more. That is the intent of this amendment.

“The other amendment is Bill 9 now an Act which gives the Independent National Electoral Commission sufficient time to conduct by-election. It has increased the time from seven to 21 days and generally widen the latitude of the INEC to handle election matters upon vacancy.

“These four bills, added to the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Act, have now been assented to by the President and have now become laws.

“The Constitution of Nigeria 1999 as amended is hereby further amended by the assent of the President to these bills today.”

http://punchng.com/breaking-vps-who-complete-presidents-tenure-eligible-for-single-term-says-new-law/

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Shehu Malami, to take immediate steps to publish the Presidential Order in the Federal declaring that henceforth, June 12 be observed as Democracy Day in Nigeria and that some heroes of democracy be given national honours.

According to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu in Abuja on Thursday, the president has directed on Thursday that the ordered be gazetted as follows:
Chief MKO Abiola – Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (Posthumous)
Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe – Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger
Chief Gani Fawehinmi -Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (Posthumous)
The President also directed that this should be done so that the awards slated for June 12, 2018 can go on as planned.

The president on Wednesday shifted Democracy Day celebration from May 29 to June 12 in honour of Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, who he also conferred with the national honour of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).

Others awarded national honours to wed late Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Ambassador Babagana Kingibe who both got the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).

http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/amp/june-12-buhari-directs-immediate-gazetting-of-order/

Scores of batch ‘A’ N-Power Teach beneficiaries, a social investment programme designed to engage unemployed graduates interested in teaching, have expressed fear over the two years limit of the programme.


Those who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday expressed fear that their two years engagement would soon wind-up; hence, they would again be thrown into the labour market.

NAN reports that the N-power programme of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is designed to last for two years.

Meanwhile, the first batch of the N-Power teach beneficiaries would be winding-up in November, creating fears in most of the beneficiaries recruited in both primary and secondary schools across the country.

The N-Power teach volunteers scheme is designed to help improve basic education delivery in the country.


The volunteers are to be deployed as teacher assistants in primary schools in the country, assisting with teaching, school management and other functions within the schools.

Doherty Christian, an N-Power teacher, told NAN that she was grateful to the government for engaging her for two years but pleaded with the President Muhammadu Buhari for an extension of the programme.

Ms Christian said she was already in love with the teaching job, adding that she would love to still stay around to impart knowledge in the students.

She noted that their disengagement would be a disservice to the students, since they already had shortage of teachers


but were pleased when the N-Power came to fill the vacuum.

Elizabeth Omotayo, a teacher in one of the FCT secondary schools, said most of the schools suffered dearth of teachers, adding that allowing the N-Power teachers to leave would be retrogression.

She called on the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to engage the N-Power teachers. This, she said, would further boost the quality of education in the FCT.

According to her, the students lack teachers in most of the important subjects, but when the N-Power teachers came, they filled the gap and they have had positive impact on the students.


Ahmed Abdullahi, also an N-Power teacher, called on the president not to disengage the teachers, adding that the ratio of teachers to students has now improved drastically.

He said rather than disengage them, the government should train and equip them, to improve the standard of education in the country.

Mr Abdullahi said that since government was poised to improve the nation’s education, the N-Power would come handy, adding that disengaging them would do the country no good.

Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice President, had in a town hall meeting with beneficiaries in Yola on June 5, said he was pleased to hear the impact of the programmes on the citizens.

(NAN)

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/271357-fear-grips-n-power-beneficiaries-over-2-year-limit.html

Imohimi Edgal, Lagos state commissioner of police, has ordered the arrest of two policemen reportedly seen counting coupons they collected from a game of gambling better known as “Baba Ijebu”.

Chike Oti, the command’s spokesman, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Oti said the command’s attention was drawn to a video on social media of the officers captured counting coupons.

According to him, witnesses mistook the money for bribe collected from motorists.

He, however, said preliminary investigation revealed the money was proceeds from the game.

He said Edgal ordered the immediate arrest and detention of the officers reportedly stationed near a Zenith Bank branch at the Opebi axis of Ikeja.

“The attention of the Lagos state police command has been drawn to the news making the rounds on a social media platform that policemen stationed near Zenith Bank, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos, were seen counting bribes received and smoking,” the statement read.

“Based on the allegation, the CP Lagos ordered for their arrest, detention and trial. Meanwhile, preliminary investigation into the case revealed that the men weren’t counting bribes received as alleged but coupons they collected from a game of gambling they played a.k.a Baba Ijebu.

“The men are currently facing disciplinary action that could lead to reduction in rank or dismissal. It is wrong to engage in such distracting activity while on duty.”

He said Edgal also encouraged members of the public to always expose, albeit accurately, indiscipline and unprofessional policemen.

https://www.thecable.ng/extra-police-arrest-two-officers-caught-gambling-on-duty/

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

Despite the security challenges being witnessed in parts of the country, President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said Nigeria under his watch was now sufficiently safe and secure.

He said since the first thing tourists all over the world looked out for was security, Nigeria was now open for tourism.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said this while receiving the Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Buhari said the security situation in the country before the inception of his administration would have made it inconceivable to host an international tourism conference in Abuja like it was being done now.

The 61st UNWTO Commission for Africa conference is holding in Abuja.

The President said, “I am pleased that the country is now sufficiently safe and secure, and the message should go out to the world for all tourists and business travellers.

“The first thing tourists look out for is security and I am happy we have it now.

“Minister Lai Mohammed has been trying to convince the world that Nigeria is safe and has great potential for tourism and investment.

“I am glad that you and your team have come here to see things for yourself.”

Highlighting the nexus between tourism and sustainable development, the President said Nigeria would not be left behind in ensuring that communities and businesses benefit from tourism development.

In his remarks, Pololikashvili commended Nigeria for the successful hosting of the conference which brings together African Ministers of Tourism, principal executives of the global tourism body and other stakeholders in the tourism sector.

The UN tourism chief told Buhari that Nigeria had huge potential to develop the tourism sector considering its large economy.

“We can do it in Nigeria, we can create, convert Nigeria to the main tourist destination in Africa. There is a huge potential here. Culture, nature, food, you have everything here.

“You are investing in agriculture, improving seamless travel through visa-on-arrival programme, reforming the economy and doing so much on security. Nigeria is safe,” Pololikashvili said.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said 166 delegates, including 26 tourism ministers from Africa were attending the UN tourism conference, holding from June 4 to June 6 in Abuja.

http://punchng.com/buhari-says-nigeria-now-sufficiently-safe-and-secure/

The State Security Service (SSS) on Tuesday partially returned some of its operatives who were withdrawn from the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.


The secret police reportedly withdrew nearly two-thirds of personal security guards attached to Mr Saraki and the remaining three presiding officers at the National Assembly on Saturday.

Over a dozen officers were withdrawn from Mr Saraki’s detail alone. But five of them have now been restored, according to sources close to the Senate President.

Details of the development were still murky as at the time of this report.

It was not immediately clear whether the personnel withdrawn from Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun have been partially or fully restored alongside Mr Saraki’s.

Details soon…

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/271135-breaking-sss-partially-restores-sarakis-security-detail.html

The Abia State Police Command has arrested members of three suspected child trafficking syndicates, including 17-year-old Gift Daniel, who sold her two-day-old baby boy for N670, 000.

The Police Commissioner, Mr Anthony Ogbizi, said this on Monday, while briefing newsmen in Umuahia on the activities of the command.

Ogbizi also said that the command arrested no fewer than 22 other suspected criminals, following raids by his men in the wake of renewed criminal acts in different parts of the state.

Speaking to newsmen, Daniel said that she was compelled to sell the baby due to financial difficulties.

She said that her first baby was sold by her own mother after delivery, hence her resolve to personally sell the second baby.

“My mother sent me away from the house, when I became pregnant for the second baby and because of the financial difficulties, I started looking for somebody to help me.”

Daniel said that she was given N50,000 by the woman who brokered the transaction, 38-year-old Ngozi Nwaiwu, while the nurse, Kate Charles, who helped her during her delivery, got N30,000.

Nwaiwu, who also confirmed the sale to newsmen, said she was trying to help Daniel, considering her plight.

Also, one 22-year-old Blessing Chukwu, who sold her three-week-old baby girl, was arrested along with the alleged buyer, Chinasa Okpara.

Other alleged accomplices, Mrs Puphemia Omende and husband, Kelechi, a medical practitioner, were also arrested.

Police alleged that the couple facilitated the transaction at their hospital in Okigwe, where the baby was born.

Okpara said that she paid N360,000 for the baby and blamed her action on her 13-year-old fruitless marriage.

Chukwu said she already had four children out of wedlock. She said that she was given N190,000, for the three-week old baby, blaming her action on financial challenges.

They were arrested at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, where the baby had reportedly been on admission for the past three weeks.

The command also nabbed 23-year-old Rose Chukwu together with her relation, Joy Sunday, while allegedly attempting to kidnap a little boy at Uzuakoli in Bende Local Government Area.

The police said duo kidnapped the boy at Township Primary School, Uzuakoli, after school and replaced his uniform with another shirt. They were taking him away when someone alerted the police.

The suspects, however, denied the alleged kidnap attempt, saying that they saw the boy wandering and felt that he missed his way and decided to help him to find his way back home.

Ogbizi said that the suspects, who were paraded before newsmen, would be arraigned at the end of investigations.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/06/05/police-bust-child-trafficking-syndicates-abia/

The leadership of a faction of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), known as nPDP, has announced withdrawal from dialogue with the APC-led federal government.


In a statement on Monday, the nPDP chairman, Abubakar Baraje, announced the decision after regurgitating the plight of members of his faction.

He accused the Nigerian presidency of double-standard and lack of good faith in the dialogue it entered with the aggrieved members of the ruling party under the nPDP.

He cited the police invitation of Senate President Bukola Saraki for questioning in a case of armed robbery and murder among indicators of the government’s alleged half-heartedness.

The nPDP were members of the Peoples Democratic Party who joined the APC in the build up to the 2015 elections.

Read the full statement below:
PRESS STATEMENT FROM FORMER nPDP


The public may recall that there have been ongoing talks between members of the former Npdp, the APC and the Presidency in recent days.

Nigerians may further recall that a team from the former nPDP led by Speaker of the House of Representatives, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara and four others, were to meet with the Vice President, His Excellency Prof Yemi Osinbajo today.

However, while we are truly and earnestly committed to achieving reconciliation, harmony, truce and cohesion in the APC as we approach the 2019 general elections, it is appears that the Presidency is not interested in the talks and that they may have been negotiating in bad faith.


We were alarmed that immediately after our meeting with the Vice President last week, the presidency misrepresented what transpired at the meeting by trying to blackmail some of the principal actors involved in the discussions in a national daily.

Similarly, the leadership of the party (APC) went ahead to ratify all the Congresses from ward, local governments, states and zonal where many of our members have complaints, effectively presenting us with a fait accompli.

The persecution of our members using state security apparatus have continued unabated.

We recognize the powers of the Police to conduct criminal investigations but by rushing to the public with the issue even when they have unfettered access to the leadership of the National Assembly suggests an attempt to undermine, caricature and humiliate the institution of the legislature.


It appears that there is a fouled and toxic atmosphere and environment of intimidation and threat to life in which we now find ourselves which may no longer be conducive for members of the former nPDP to continue with the talks. Given the unfolding events in the last 24 hours, where the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and His Excellency, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, the Executive Governor of Kwara State , both of whom attended the meeting with the Vice President on Monday 28 May, 2018 ,have suddenly been accused of sponsoring armed robbery by the Police under the directives of the Presidency.


Similarly, on Saturday, June 2nd, 2018, the Department of State of Services (DSS) also suddenly withdrew more than half of all the security details attached to the presiding officers of the National Assembly under questionable circumstances.

The nPDP leadership has decided to brief our members on the unfortunate development and get a fresh mandate if good faith returns to the discussions.

Thank you.

Signed

Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, CON


https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/271000-breaking-apc-crisis-new-pdp-pulls-out-of-dialogue-with-nigerian-govt.html

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Sunday recalled half of its operatives assigned to Senate President Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara, TheCable can report.

This is coming ahead of Monday’s talks between Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and the nPDP team to be led by Dogara.

Saraki is also a member of nPDP, the faction that broke away from the PDP in 2013 to team up with APC for the 2015 elections.

TheCable understands that the security operatives attached to the two presiding officers of the national assembly were directed to report to the DSS headquarters “with immediate effect”.

No reason was given for the withdrawal, although it is believed to have been at the instance of the presidency.

TheCable could not confirm the development from the DSS, which has not had a spokesperson since Lawal Daura was appointed its director-general in 2015.

However, sources at the national assembly confirmed the recall of the operatives.

The nPDP had recently issued an ultimatum to APC for a meeting, complaining that it had been marginalised by the ruling party after helping them to oust the PDP from power in 2015.

There are speculations that nPDP members will defect from APC and present a candidate to challenge President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019.

https://www.thecable.ng/exclusive-dss-withdraws-operatives-saraki-dogara/

By Perez Brisibe

UGHELLI – A male resident of Orumala Street in Ughelli metropolises of Delta State, who is rumored to be allegedly involved in online scams popularly known as “Yahoo-Yahoo,” last Thursday, ran amok and stabbed himself to death with a broken bottle.

The incident occurred at the Oteri town hall in Ughelli North council area of the state where the deceased had run to after his mother took him to a church in the community for prayers following his strange behavior days before the unfortunate incident.

The deceased identified as Mukoro Ovie aka close betting, who is in his early 20s, according to close friends, had celebrated his birthday last month at a popular hotel in the Ekuigbo area of Ughelli where he had lavished huge sums of monies on drinks for those who attended the celebration.

Though circumstances leading to his death were still sketchy as at press time, sources said he suddenly started behaving strangely a few days before he snapped and killed himself.

“All attempts to restrain him were fruitless as he charged at anyone that tried to restrain him as he continued using the broken bottle on himself until he slumped and died,” a resident of the community stated.

The source who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “He ran away from the church his mother took him to for prayers to the community town hall and started stabbing himself.

“The more sympathizers tried to stop him from continuously stabbing himself, the more he did so.”

Confirming the incident when contacted, a senior police officer at the Ughelli Area Command stated that they (policemen) were called to the scene of the incident by the Oteri community chairman after attempts to restrain the deceased failed.

He said: “Before we got to the scene of the incident, he had stabbed himself on the throat and had lost too much blood after which he slumped and died with his remains deposited in the mortuary.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/06/yahoo-yahoo-boy-runs-amok-delta-stabs-self-death/

BY NDAHI MARAMA, MAIDUGURI

About five military personnel paid the supreme price as a result of the Improvised Explosive Device attack and ambush laid by suspected members of dreaded Boko Haram sect in Pidang – Bita village of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno state.

This fresh attack is coming barely a week when a new acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Abdulmalik Biu who is the son of the soil assumed the mantle of leadership.
During the ambush, quiet a number of the insurgents were also killed by troops.

This was contained in a press statement on Thursday night by Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Texas Chukwu, which was made available to Vanguard.

The statement: “Troops of 271 Tasks Force Battalion deployed in Operation Lafiya Dole today Thursday 31 May 2018, while on clearance operation along Pridang – Bitta in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, fought through an ambush staged by elements of Boko Haram Terrorists.

“During the fight troops ran into Improvised Explosive Device (IED) buried along Pridang – Bitta road by Boko Haram Terrorists before encountering the ambush.

“In the fire fight that ensued, the gallant troops fought through the ambush, they neutralized several Boko Haram Terrorists, while others fled with gunshot wounds.

“Sadly, five military personnel paid the supreme price as a result of the Improvised Explosive Device attack.

“The remains of the deceased personnel have been promptly evacuated to 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital.” Chukwu’s statement concluded.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/05/boko-haram-kills-five-soldiers-borno-ambush/

The ‘Not too young to run’ bill does not affect age limit of senators and governors in the country.

This was disclosed by President Muhammadu Buhari who signed the bill into law on Thursday.

The bill seeks to reduce age qualification to hold elective office in the country.

The age bracket for those seeking election into state houses of assemblies will be reduced from 30 to 25 years, while that of the house of representatives will be reduced from 30 to 25 years.

The law will also reduce the age limit for the office of the president from 40 to 35 years.

The bill had also sought to reduce the age bracket for the office of a governor from 35 to 30, and that of the senate from 35 to 30.

“Surprisingly, the age limits for senators and governors was not reduced, as originally proposed by the sponsors of this bill,” Buhari said when he signed the bill.

“This is an issue that may need to be addressed going forward.”

It is not yet clear why the lawmakers removed the provision.

TheCable reached out to Sabi Abdullahi, spokesman of the senate, and Abdulrazak Namdas, spokesman of the house of representatives, but neither of them responded to the enquiries sent to them.

https://www.thecable.ng/shocker-buhari-says-age-limit-of-senators-govs-not-reduced-in-not-too-young-to-run-law/

By Emeka Mamah

Enugu—The Imo State Working Committee, SWC, of All Progressives Congress, APC, has petitioned National Working Committee, NWC, urging the party to take appropriate disciplinary measures against Governor Rochas Okorocha over alleged anti-party activities.

This was contained in a release signed by the state’s APC Publicity Secretary, Mr. Nwabueze Oguchienti.

Oguchienti’s statement reads: “Pursuant to Article 21D (11) of the APC constitution, the State Working Committee, SWC, has made appropriate recommendations to the NWC of our great party to take adequate disciplinary measures against the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Anayo Ethelbert Okorocha, for engaging in various anti-party activities, which could lead to breakdown of law and order in the State.

“The party also stressed that it has noticed with concern, the illegality being perpetrated by some elements in the party after successful congresses in the state. Some of the elements, who are impersonators, led by one Mr. Chris Ogoma recently appointed by Governor Okorocha as acting chairman of the party, have been reportedly collecting items from members of the party, particularly aspirants jostling to contest the proposed local government area elections for forms for various elective positions.

“The party frowns on the development, as only the constituted executive of the party led by the Chairman, Dr. Hillary Eke, is legally permitted to handle such issues.

“These elements, who are now impersonating the office of the state chairman and other officers of our great party have been defrauding our party members particularly aspirants to the proposed local government area elections.

The SWC, after an elaborate meeting resolved “that all aspirants to the proposed local government elections are advised in their own interest to deal only with the Dr. Hillary Ekeh led executive committee, which is the duly elected and recognised Exco of our great party in the state. Any dealings with any other person (s) is a nullity and of no effect.

“It is our position that such persons do so at their own risks. The state congresses have come and gone and officers at the various levels have emerged and it should be noted that only the political parties can sponsor candidates to an election.

“That all aspirants to the local government elections are further advised to pay for their party Nomination Forms directly to Imo State APC account, warning that no cash payment should be made to anybody.”

In a bid to restore sanity in the party, the SWC at the said meeting also suspended the following from the party for anti-party activities and impersonation: Mr. Chris Ogoma, Mr. G Asika and Mr. Obioma Ireagwu.








https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/05/okorocha-faces-suspension-alleged-anti-party-activities/

Players and officials of Nigeria’s senior national football team, Super Eagles, are currently at the presidential villa for a farewell meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, ahead of their trip to Russia for the World Cup.

The team is lead by NFF President, Amaju Pinnick.

The session was earlier slated for Tuesday evening.

It would be an opportunity for the president to wish the three –time African champions well on their way to a sixth appearance at football’s biggest showpiece.

The meeting is coming hours before the eagles are due to fly to London for a pre-World Cup friendly against England’s Three Lions at Wembley Stadium on Saturday evening.

From London, the delegation will fly into Bad Tatzmannsdorf, a city in Austria where they will spend eight days at the world–renowned Avita Resort before flying to Russia.

In-between the final camping in Austria, the team will play a final pre-World Cup friendly against the Czech Republic at the Rudolf Tonn Stadium (just outside Vienna) next Wednesday.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/270292-just-in-buhari-meets-super-eagles.html

The Anambra State Police Command says its attention has been drawn to reports that over 2,000 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are set to hit the streets and roads of Onitsha in Anambra State for their sit-at-home order on Tuesday, May 30.

The command declared that the agitators will be dealt with, warning that under no circumstance should any person or group stop others from moving about.

SP Haruna Mohammed, Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra, in a statement on Monday, said IPOB is still a proscribed organisation and that all its activities remain illegal.

He stated that the Commissioner of Police, Garba Baba Umar, has enjoined all the good people of the State “to disregard alleged calls by any group urging them to sit at home on the May 30 and go about their lawful businesses.”

“The CP further assured the Public that adequate security arrangements have been put in place by combined Security forces in the State to proactively nip in the bud any threat emanating from such groups.

“The Command will therefore not hesitate to deal decisively with and in accordance with the law any individual or groups under any guise that will disrupt Public Peace in the State,” the statement added.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/05/29/biafra-ipob-looking-trouble-police-blow-hot-sit-home-order/

President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration has degraded the capacity of the Boko Haram insurgency leading to the release of 106 Chibok and 104 Dapchi girls, and over 16,000 other persons held by the insurgents.

President Buhari stated this in a broadcast to mark the 19th year of Nigeria’s nascent democracy and the 3rd Anniversary of his administration in Abuja on Tuesday.

He observed that before the inception of current administration three years ago, Boko Haram had held large areas of land spanning several Local Governments in the North East region.

He, however, noted the re-establishment of the authority of government in all the areas hitherto controlled by the insurgents in the North East.

According to him, his administration is pained over the grievous loss of lives and properties occasioned by the carnage of insurgency and other forms of criminality in the country.

He assured Nigerians that government would not rest until all criminal elements and their sponsors were brought to justice.

He revealed that government was boosting the capacity of the security agencies through recruitment of more personnel, training, and procurement of modern equipment, enhancement of intelligence gathering as well as boosting their morale in the face of daunting challenges.

On the conditions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), President Buhari disclosed that the Federal Government had improved the mechanism for the distribution of basic aid, foods and essential commodities using various strategies in collaboration with local and international organizations at the IDPs’ camps.

http://punchng.com/democracy-day-we-secured-release-of-106-chibok-104-dapchi-girls-16000-others-from-captivity-says-buhari/