₦airaland Forum

Oyo State House of Assembly on Thursday acknowledged the receipt of the names of 14 commissioner-nominees from Governor Seyi Makinde.

Presenting the list under Message from the Executive on the House Order paper during plenary, Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin said the letter accompanying the list requires the lawmakers to consider and screen the nominees to enable them to support the governor’s administration.

The list includes a former speaker of the state House of Assembly, Right Honourable Kehinde Ayoola, a former loyalist of Ex-Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, the Director-General of Seyi Makinde Campaign Organisation, Chief Bayo Lawal, lawyer son of former Assembly speaker, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, Mr Seun Asamu, two professors, a former female lawmaker among others.

Names on the nomination lists include Mr Adeniyi Farinto, Mr Adeniyi Adebisi, Mr Muyiwa Ojekunle and Prof Oyelowo Oyewo.

Others are, Mr Rahman Abdulrahim, Mrs Funmilayo Orisadeyi, Dr Bashir Bello, Prof Daudu Sangodoyin, Mr Olasunkanmi Olaleye and Mr Akintola Ojo.

Subsequently, after the presentation, the Speaker directed the nominees to submit 14 copies of their curriculum vitae and credentials to the office of the Clerk of the House on or before Friday, August 2, to enable room for screening.

Speaker Ogundoyin had earlier denied receipt of the list before plenary to douse tension and pressure of stakeholders to know the details of the nominees before it’s presentation before the lawmakers.

Speculation was also rife that last minute adjustment and fine-tunings was made on the list as the plenary did not start until around noon, unlike in time past.

Makinde’s letter as presented by the Speaker reads, “May I use this opportunity to bring to the notice of the Honourably Speaker and the House of my desire to submit the list of personalities who will be considered worthy of appointments as commissioners in our state. The list is herewith attached.

“I, therefore, request for the screening and approval of the honourable house for the personalities to serve as commissioners. Please accept the assurance of my personal regards.”

The Speaker, however, added that the days of the screening for the nominees would be announced later.

Also at plenary, the bill for the Oyo State Open rearing and grazing regulations, 2019 passed the first reading.

In a motion jointly presented by Honourable Jacob Bamgboye (Oriire) and Oluseyi Adisa (Afijio state constituency), the lawmakers “urged traffic regulatory agencies including Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Oyo State Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA) to ensure safe transportation through enforcement of traffic laws and application of sanctions by impounding any truck and detaining any negligent truck driver that fails to properly secure their container while driving on Oyo state roads.

“Urge the Federal Ministry of Works and the State Ministry of Works and Transport to direct all contractors handling road construction within the state to provide or build ‘shoulders’ at either or both sides of the roads

“Urged the executive arm of Government through Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority to ensure that all articulated vehicles carrying containers secure them properly while driving on Oyo state roads to prevent further loss of lives and properties.”

https://thenationonlineng.net/oyo-assembly-receives-reads-makindes-list/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday explained how Nigeria under his leadership was pulled out from the grip of economic recession.

The president spoke during a presidential dialogue session held at the state banquet hall in Abuja.

“Through various monetary and fiscal measures, we restored economic growth, curbed inflation and shored up our external reserves,” Mr Buhari said in his welcome address. “We have witnessed eight quarters of consistent marginal growth of the economy over the past two and a half years.”

The Nigerian economy slipped into recession in early 2016.

This is largely because the country’s economy heavily relies on oil revenue. A slide in oil prices and low output due to renewed insurgency in the Niger Delta region had hit the country and plunged her into recession which threw businesses and families into hardship.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced that the country was out of recession in September 2017 but many Nigerians still complained of economic hardship.

The statistics bureau would later in 2018 restate its position that the country was out of recession but said the exit would be felt gradually.

In his address, Mr Buhari said progress in the agricultural sector especially in food production and processing “through our food security and Anchors Borrowers Programmes was also key in pulling the economy out of recession.

He said the programmes provided concessionary credit facilities to farmers in crop production as well as large-scale investors in food processing and manufacturing.

“To consolidate on these and other successes, we will continue to provide incentives that will facilitate investments and create jobs in key import substitution programmes.”

Mr Buhari said the policy dialogue session was conceived to advise the government over the next four years.

“It is also to deliver our promises in a manner that reflects true changes to the livelihood of the people; and discuss and propose for Federal Government’s approval, key strategies and high impact initiatives to stimulate economic growth and development.”

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/342730-how-nigeria-pulled-out-of-recession-under-my-watch-buhari.html#

Peter Dada, Akure

South West Governors’ Forum on Monday called on the Federal Government to set up ranches across the country and discouraged nomadic system of cattle rearing.

The forum, which comprised six state governors in the region, lamented the spate of killings and other forms of criminality in the region, which they said needed serious attention.

The Chairman of the South West Governors Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu stated this when he led other members of the forum on a condolence visit to the leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti after the funeral service for his daughter, Mrs Funke Olakunri in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Akeredolu said, “We are ready to protect our people. No doubt, we are faced with many security challenges. We are ready to tackle security challenges in the region.

“All the governors are saddened by the killing of Funke, it shouldn’t have happened, it has brought us down, we should hide our face, we should be blamed.

“But we are prepared to face this challenge. It’s a security challenge. Something drastic and urgent needs to be done. ”

Also speaking at the visit an Afenifere Chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo condemned the activities of the Fulani herdsmen and urged the governors to collectively fight the menace of insecurity ravaging the region.


https://punchng.com/fasorantis-daughter-south-west-govs-reject-nomadism-demand-ranches-in-states/

President Muhammadu Buhari has unveiled a new power target for the country, following the signing of electricity road map agreement between the Federal Government and German-based Siemens. The signing of the implementation agreement was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday.

The Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), Dr. Alex Okoh signed on behalf of the federal government and the Chief Executive Officer of the Siemens, Mr. Joe Kaeser signed for the firm.

The deal, our correspondent reports, was the product of a meeting President Buhari held with German Chancellor, Angela Merkel on August 31, 2018.

Speaking during the signing of the agreement, the president said the government’s goal was to deliver electricity to Nigerian businesses and homes. The target are in three phases. 7,000 megawatts in 2021, 11,000 in 2023 when the president’s second term will elapse. The final phase has a target of 25,000mw. The president said: “My challenge to Siemens, our partner investors in the Distribution Companies, the Transmission Company of Nigeria and the Electricity Regulator is to work hard to achieve 7,000 megawatts of reliable power supply by 2021 and 11,000 megawatts by 2023 – in phases 1 and 2 respectively. “After these transmission and distribution system bottlenecks have been fixed, we will seek – in the third and final phase – to drive generation capacity and overall grid capacity to 25,000 megawatts.”

He said, with the strong commitment to the development of Mambilla Hydroelectric and the various solar projects under development across the country, the long-term power generation capacity will ensure adequate energy mix and sustainability in the appropriate balance between urban and rural electrification. “Our intention is to ensure that our cooperation is structured under a Government-to-Government framework. No middlemen will be involved, so that we can achieve value for money for Nigerians. We also insist that all products be manufactured to high quality German and European standards and competitively priced.

“This project will not be the solution to all our problems in the power sector. However, I am confident that it has the potential to address a significant amount of the challenges we have faced for decades,” he said. “It is our hope that as the power situation improves, we will improve investor confidence, create jobs, reduce the cost of doing business and encourage more economic growth in Nigeria,” he said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/breaking-buhari-unveils-new-electricity-target-for-2021-2023.html

Operatives of the Operation Puff Adder of the Bayelsa State Police Command have arrested four in-laws of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan over alleged involvement in the theft in his Otuoke home, Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.

The in-laws carted away jewellery, customized walking stick and other valuables worth over N300m.

The four persons included two brothers of former first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, and two other ladies suspected to be members of Jonathan's family.

The two brothers of Patience were identified as Mowsor Princewill Oba and Boma Rasheed Oba.

The other two female suspects have yet to be identified.

It was gathered that one of the arrested suspects, who is a member of the management staff of the Aridolf Resort, Hotel and Spa owned by Patience had duplicated the keys to the rooms where the valuables were kept and perpetrated the gradual looting of the room.

It was gathered that after some domestic staff of the former president discovered the theft, he was informed and he quickly called in men of the Bayelsa Police Command to arrest them and recover the loot.

A source close to the former first family said that Patience was shocked by the theft.

The source disclosed that the suspects were showing signs of remorse and regretted their action.

“They are already making useful confession to the police and some monies from the proceeds are being recovered,” the source said.

http://saharareporters.com/2019/07/21/police-arrest-four-ex-president-jonathans-laws-over-theft-jewellery-valuables-worth-n300m

The Presidency on Friday urged the El- Zakzaky-led Shiite members to allow the court decide the fate of their leader.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, appealed to the Shiite members to desist from needless violent street protests and await the decision of the court in Kaduna where their leader is currently being tried.

Shehu said “The issue of El-ZakZaky is before the court in Kaduna and his supporters should focus on his on-going trial instead of causing daily damages, disruptions and public nuisance in Abuja.

“It is wrong to be in court and resort to violence at the same time in order to get justice for anybody accused.

“The destruction of public property in the name of protest is not within the right of this group of Shiite members and no government anywhere would have tolerated a situation where any group would take over public roads in cities as they have done in Abuja and interfere with the rights of other citizens who are prevented from reaching their destinations.

“We imagine a situation where families are taking their loved ones to hospital for emergency treatment and they are held up needlessly by the protesters. No government anywhere in the world would turn a blind eye to this unlawful behaviour.”

According to him, the Federal Government no longer have hand in the matter.

“As far as this country’s Ministry of Justice is concerned, the case involving El-Zakzaky is no longer in its domain.

“The Federal Government no more has hands in the matter and to that extent, the government at the centre can be said to be clear of any alleged violations of court orders as being trumpeted everyday.

“These rallies and street dances ostensibly to openly insult the President and other leaders, threatening bloodshed will lead nowhere because President Buhari will not ask the country’s judiciary to abandon due process and set a suspect free.

“At the same time, the administration is determined to enforce the decision of the court clearly issued. The Buhari administration has absolutely no hand in the on-going court case and the courts are free to determine the bail request and the final outcome.

“The mentality that you are above the law and that your own rights are superior to other people’s rights is unacceptable.

“You can’t be provoking other citizens by interfering with their own rights on public roads and disrupting their businesses and call it democratic freedom. In democratic traditions, their rights end where the rights of others begin.

“Law abiding citizens must avoid deliberate lawlessness. It is not within the rights of any group to enter protected public institutions such as the National Assembly by force to attack police and destroy public and private property.”

He noted that it is always advisable to embrace dialogue and eschew violence so that Nigerians can continue to live together in peace.

“We, therefore, appeal to the Shiite group to stop deliberate provocations that result in violence and fatalities and allow the trial of El-ZakZaky to take its course.” he stated

https://thenationonlineng.net/courtll-decide-el-zakzakys-fate-presidency/

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the immediate implementation of the National Minimum of Wage of N30,000 monthly to all federal civil servants earning less than N30,000 monthly. The Executive Chairman, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, (NSIWC), Dr. Richard Onwuka Egbule, disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday.

He said based on the approval from the president, the implementation takes effect from the 18h April, 2019.

Dr. Egbule explained that the civil servants affected are only those who earn less than N30,000 monthly adding that with the implementation of the minimum wage, no FG staff will earn less than N30,000 per month.

According to him, the salaries structures affected include; the consolidated public service salary structure (CONPSS); consolidated health salary structure (CONHESS); consolidated research and allied institutions salary structure (CONRAISS); consolidated tertiary institutions salary structure (CONTISS II) and consolidated tertiary educational institutions salary structure (CONTEDNESS).

Dr. Egbule however noted that “the negotiations between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council on the consequential adjustments arising from the new national minimum wage for officers who earned salaries above N30,000 per month before 18th April, 2019 in the federal civil service will continue.”

He assured that the “outcome of such negotiations will be implemented with the effect from the date an agreement is reached.” He also said all arrears arising from the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage will be worked out by all concerned agencies in partnership with the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation. He also said those who earn N30,000 and above now will still get their salaries adjusted after the negotiations with the unions.

“The law says you cannot pay anyone less than N30,000. So to comply with law, all those earning less than N30,000 as at 18th April 2019 must have their salaries adjusted” he said. He also said money for the implementation has been captured in the 2019 budget thus implementation will be seamless.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/buhari-orders-immediate-payment-of-n30000-minimum-wage-for-some-civil-servants.html

Bola Tinubu, a national of leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says those blaming herdsmen for the death of Funke Olakurin, daughter of Reuben Fasoranti, do not have evidence.

Speaking when he paid a condolence visit to the family of Fasoranti in Akure, Ondo state capital, the APC leader said kidnapping is not peculiar to any ethnic group or a particular set of people.

Asked to react to the allegation that herdsmen were behind the attack, he said: “I am extremely concerned about security but I don’t want stigma. I can go through history of kidnapping and we know how it started, where it all started, there are lot of copycats, how many years ago have we faced insecurity in this country and cases of kidnapping? Is Evans a herdsman?”

Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, suspected kidnapper better known as Evans, was arrested by the police in 2017. He is still under trial.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qvqh0TRTSGE

https://www.thecable.ng/video-is-evans-a-herdsman-tinubu-speaks-on-murder-of-fasorantis-daughter/amp

Prof. Itse Sagay, Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), has frowned at the continued detention of the leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Zakzaky is being held by the DSS since December 2015 while facing charges for culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, and disruption of public peace.

DAILY POST recalls that the members of the movement had invaded the National Assembly to demand the lawmakers’ intervention in the release of their leader.

During ensuing confrontation with security agents, several vehicles were damaged while five policemen were injured.

Fourty suspects were arrested in connection with the incident.

In his reaction, Sagay advised the Federal Government to obey court orders and release El-Zakzaky on bail instead of detaining him perpetually without trial.

“I have already expressed this opinion almost a year ago that in the absence of anything that I know, apart from the fact that everybody is aware of, I think the best option is to release him, even if it is on bail.

“That is better instead of keeping him there and using him as an attraction for these gatherings that are disrupting everywhere and creating a level of anger and emotions that can upset the society and create unnecessary tension.

“Except if there is something we don’t know, I really don’t see why he is being kept for all these years. That is my sincere view,” he told Daily Independent.

https://dailypost.ng/2019/07/12/el-zakzaky-sagay-advises-buhari-govt/

The General Overseer of the Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleiman, has alerted that the new Nigerian passport has herdsmen inscribed in it.

The fiery pastor made the statement on Thursday while condemning the Ruga programme by the federal government.

He said it was shameful how a certain extraction of Nigerians could now represent the 6 geopolitical zones in the country, saying everything is now clear that there is a ‘fulanization’ agenda being aimed at Nigeria.

Apostle Suleiman said he gets “irritated when people say our speaking against fulanization is political.”

He said he loves the Fulanis especially because “there are good ones with a great heart. very nice and loving fulani men/women” He, however, said that the bad ones “are doing so much damage to that extraction.”

According to him, “That’s the new nigeria passport..it now has herdsmen inscribed in it…it’s shameful that a certain extraction now represents a nation with 6 geopolitical zones..everything is now very clear..God will frustrate every evil agenda in nigeria.job 5v12,eccl 8v11.
“I get irritated when people say our speaking against fulanization is political..have you heard me complain of economy?of the increase of Nigeria debts?that’s for politicians to tackle but security is for all of us..human life is sacrosanct.

“I love fulanis..there are good ones with a great heart.very nice and loving fulani men/women..but this herders are doing so much damage to that extraction..

“I responded to someone by saying rearing cattle isn’t the definition of agriculture..I still repeat it…agriculture is too elaborate for you to streamline it to cattle rearing..so pls keep retweeting my earlier tweet if you like.i will stand by it.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/07/breaking-new-nigeria-passport-has-herdsmen-inscribed-in-it-apostle-suleiman-alerts/

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has said it was running at a loss insisting the pump price rate of N145 per litre for Premium Motor Spirit. (PMS) was the bane of its revenue drive.

The new Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mele Kyari offered the disclosure on Wednesday when the heads of revenue generation agencies and corporations met with the leadership of the Senate at the National Assembly complex in Abuja. It was part of the Senate leadership interface with such agencies aimed at boosting revenue for the country.

Kyari said the pump price of PMS otherwise known as petrol in Nigeria was over 70 per cent less the price of N350, per litre in the neighbouring countries where the products were being smuggled to for higher profits.

He further noted that the Nigerian pump price of N145 was the cheapest in the entire West African Sub-region.

He said:” It is even very difficult for us to make the Petroleum Product available at N145″.
Speaking on upstream sector investment the NNPC GMD expressed concern that Nigeria was yet to earn the volume of revenue it generates from crude oil from its gas production.

He disclosed that its daily production of crude oil has recently increased to 2.3million barrel daily production compared to 1.6m barrel recorded on daily basis in 2016.

He assured the Senator that the corporation would meet the revenue projection of the Appropriations Act since according to him, the NNPC was working tirelessly with the customs and security agencies in controlling and containing cross border activities of the oil smugglers.

In his own submission, the Director of Department of Petroleum Resources ( DPR), Rufai Ahmed Ishaku, called on the National Assembly for the speedy passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, as he expressed the hope that it would significantly transform the oil and gas industry and attract revenues.

In his presentation, Controller General of Custom, Hammeed Ali informed the lawmakers that Custom Service has generated N653.3 billion by the end of June 2019 adding that N1.202 trillion in 2018.

“We collected N1.202 trillion in 2018 and as of June this year, we have collected N653.3 billion. We will surpass 2018 revenue by the end of the year, he assured.

The Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Services ( FIRS), in his own submission, informed the Senate leadership that in the last 2 months, FIRS has generated about N6.5 billion.

He added that by the end of this quarter, the agency would have been able to generate about N500 billion from its aggressive revenue drive in meeting the projections made in the 2019 budget.

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan told chief executives of the revenue agencies that the purpose of the collaboration was to gear them up in making more revenues for the government for effective and efficient budget implementation.

” It is very worrisome that the country within the last few years have been resorting to borrowing from external lenders for implementation of capital components of the yearly budget.

” This is not good for the country economically when we have agencies that can assist in generating revenues at home for the execution of such projects.”

https://tribuneonlineng.com/225460/amp/

…Presidential candidate, party secretary insist on prosecuting case

Ade Adesomoju, Abuja

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Movement, Chief Frank Igwebuike, has applied to the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal for the withdrawal of the party from a petition challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari at the February 23, 2019 poll.

In a motion filed earlier on Tuesday before the five-man tribunal led by Justice Mohammed Garba, the PDM National Chairman stated that the party had “in its wisdom re-evaluated the probability of the petition succeeding and decided to withdraw from the petition”.

The motion was anchored on a certain March 5, 2019 letter credited to the Independent National Electoral Commission acknowledging the party’s list of candidates submitted for the 2019 general elections but informing the party that “the period of submission of candidates has passed”.

But the PDM’s presidential candidate, Pastor Aminchi Habu, and some other members of the National Working Committee have opposed Igwebuike’s application, insisting that the party would prosecute the case to the end.

The National Secretary of the PDM, Abubakar Gwada, said in a counter-affidavit opposing the motion that the party “is still very much interested in support of the instant petition and a decision to withdraw the name of the 2nd petitioner (PDM) from this petition can only be taken by the National Executive Committee of the party or the National Working Committee of the party”.

https://punchng.com/our-petition-against-buhari-wont-succeed-allow-us-to-withdraw-pdm-chairman%e2%80%8e-tells-tribunal/

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun State, Mr Habeeb Adewale has flayed the leadership of the party for “presenting a candidate of unimaginable deficits for the 2018 gubernatorial poll” in the state.

He said the personality of Senator Ademola Adeleke was an albatross of the party during the election, and the integral factor that was responsible for its defeat, saying Adeleke lacks requisite academic and mental strength to stand for election of that magnitude.

The assertion was contained in an open letter Adewale sent to members of the party in the state, a copy of which was obtained by DAILY POST on Tuesday.

“The greatest disservice Dr Deji Adeleke did to our party was presenting senator Ademola Adeleke, knowing fully well that he didn’t have the academic and intellectual capacity for the job. If we won’t deceive ourselves any longer, a member of the family was the one who first blew the whistle and let the cat out of the bag before the ruling party and others picked it. Osun people were with us and their only expectation from us was to present an efficient, not a trifling, candidate with the capacity to perform and restore ease to the suffering masses.

“I have been a loyal member of the PDP for the past 16 years and I was hoping that a victory for the party would compensate many of us who have stayed through thick and thin because we ought to have won at first ballot and averted the waste of money at the courts and dire disappointment. We had every reason to win and we should have won”, Adewale said.

He carpeted national officers of the party for misplacing their priorities during the electioneering and allowed the ruling party to take advantage of some avoidable mistakes made by the party.

“Our leaders failed us. When the Ogunbiyi & Adeleke feud started, it should have been nipped in the bud. Sincere, genuine and frantic efforts should have been made to reconcile both sides. The leaders failed to speak out and meditate for so long. I almost felt that our national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus did not wish our party well in the State.

“It is also sad that PDP parted ways with Otunba Iyiola Omisore and lost his huge followers to the Social Democratic Party. Notwithstanding, the outcome of the first ballot gave us a second chance, going by the political atmosphere against the ruling party. But, the opportunity for a golden goal was bungled too. No thanks to those who talked down the simple but logical step to prevail on the political giant. They confidently fumed that we were going to win with or without the short but mighty gladiator and his supporters at the crucial period.

“It is indeed obvious that most people’s loyalty is to the aspirants and not to the party, as such they cannot see anything wrong in their deeds and actions. This is a big shame and it must be corrected. It is even a bigger shame that we won no fewer than 14 local governments during the governorship elections but struggled to defend and hold on to just three seats at the state House of Assembly.

” I wonder why some of our senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates could not raise funds to support their own elections but fought tooth and nail to get the tickets as if the race was automatic. How Atiku Abubakar’s support funds developed wings and vanished into the deep pockets of some people sucks and still hurts.

“At the heart of this terrible situation, we have found ourselves are three musketeers. They were the ones who sent a thief to the farm and still called the farm owner to come to catch the thief. Sadly, they didn’t lose anything. No political dealer lost out outright in the struggle. We the members and a few leaders with good intentions are the losers.”

https://dailypost.ng/2019/07/09/adeleke-vs-oyetola-pdp-fire-fielding-candidate-without-academic-intellectual-capacity/

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has put everything in place, to ensure that Video Assistant Referees (VAR), is used from the quarter-finals of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

The technology was not used in the group stages and Round of 16 fixtures.

However, it will make its debut on Wednesday, July 10.

First for the last-8 clash between Senegal and Benin, then the subsequent game between Nigeria and South Africa.

Souleyman Waberi, the CAF exco member from Djibouti and chairman of CAF’s referee’s commission, told Osasu Obayiuwana of the BBC: “We are very ready. We have used VAR offline (in test mode) for five games in this tournament, starting with the Egypt vs Uganda match.

“Everything has worked well. Refereeing experts from FIFA have checked things and are satisfied.”

Waberi also revealed that CAF expects to use VAR for the 2020 CHAN from the start of that tournament.

The tournament will be hosted by Cameroon, who will also host the 2021 AFCON a year later.

https://dailypost.ng/2019/07/08/afcon-2019-caf-confirms-use-var-nigeria-vs-south-africa-games/

An attack on farming communities in Katsina, by herdsmen, on Wednesday led to ‘loss of lives’, the presidency has said.
The casualty figure was not contained in the Friday statement by President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu.

Mr Shehu, however, said the president “warned herdsmen and communities to stop taking the law into their hands by resorting to violence at every provocation.”

Read Mr Shehu’s statement below.

Following a brief on incidents that triggered violence and loss of lives in Katsina State on Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed immediate reinforcement of the security architecture in the state, and prosecution of all those involved in the conflict.
President Buhari warned herdsmen and communities to stop taking the law into their hands by resorting to violence at every provocation, adding that the herdsmen returning from the South due to the rainy season must respect the boundaries of farmers and villagers, while the communities must refrain from attacking herdsmen.

The president commiserated with families that lost loved ones in the attacks from herdsmen, assuring the state that the security structure will be further strengthened to avoid unnecessary violence between herdsmen and communities.
President Buhari, who commended the state government for providing logistic support to security outfits to carry out their operations of protecting innocent citizens, said the federal government will continue to create enabling environment for citizens to go about their businesses without fear of harassments or violence.

The president directed security outfits in the state and all parts of the country to work towards preventive, rather than reactionary measures; strengthen inter-agency intelligence sharing and deploy updated security platforms; and ensure partnership and harmonious relationship with community leaders and members for local intelligence.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/339102-buhari-talks-tough-warns-herdsmen-farming-communities-against-violence.html/

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed shock at Friday’s verdict of the Supreme Court that affirmed Mr Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the governor of Osun State.

In a statement on Friday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said that fact that the Supreme Court had a split judgment also spoke volumes on its verdict in this matter.

The statement reads: “Our study of the judgment however shows that the Supreme Court did not negate the position of the PDP and millions of Nigerians that our candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke won the election but based its verdict on reservations over issues of technicalities arising at the election petition tribunal.

“Nevertheless, our party stands with overwhelming majority of Nigerians on that undeniable fact that the people of Osun State, by the votes cast at the poll, preferred Senator Adeleke as their governor.

“The PDP, as a law-abiding party, however, urges the people of Osun state to remain united, calm and not lose hope in our democratic process and the quest for a government that truly represents their wishes and aspirations”.

https://thenationonlineng.net/osun-supreme-court-verdict-shocking-says-pdp/

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to depart Abuja on Saturday for Niamey, Niger Republic to attend the African Union (AU) Summit, scheduled to hold on 7th July.

A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said Buhari will participate in the 12th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union on African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the First Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the AU and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in Niamey.

The Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union is expected to launch the operational instruments of the Agreement establishing AfCFTA.

The instruments include: AfCFTA Rules of Origin, Tariff Concession Portals, Portal on Monitoring and Elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers, Digital Payments and Clearing Systems and African Trade and Observatory Dashboard.

“Prior to the Summit, the Buhari Administration had embarked on extensive consultations with stakeholders, culminating in the submission of the report by the Presidential Committee to Assess Impact and Readiness of Nigeria to join the AfCFTA.

“The committee had recommended that Nigeria should sign the Agreement which aims to boost intra-African trade.

“President Buhari will sign the AfCFTA Agreement on the margins of the AU meeting in Niamey.

While formally accepting the report on June 27, President Buhari said: “For AfCFTA to succeed, we must develop policies that promote African production, among other benefits.

”Africa, therefore, needs not only a trade policy but also a continental manufacturing agenda. Our vision for intra-African trade is for the free movement of ‘made in Africa goods.’ That is, goods and services made locally with dominant African content in terms of raw materials and value addition.”

President Buhari will be accompanied to Niamey by the First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari; Governors Babagana Zulum, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and Aminu Bello Masari of Borno, Kebbi and Katsina States respectively.

Other top government officials include: Permanent Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Mustapha Suleiman; Permanent Secretary Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Sunday Akpan; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Nuratu Batagarawa; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mahmoud Isa-Dutse; Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; and Director-General, National Office for Trade Negotiations, Amb. Chinedu Osakwe.

The President will return to Abuja at the conclusion of the Summit.

https://thenationonlineng.net/buhari-attends-au-summit-in-niger-republic/

In a saner clime someone like this will face the full wrath of the law regardless of his/her status. Anyway, let's see how this will pan out

Senator Elisha Abbo, who was seen in a viral video assaulting a lady at a intimacy gadget shop in Abuja, has surrendered himself to the operatives at the FCT Police Command for investigation.

Following public outcry and protest against his act, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu on Wednesday ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault on a female Nigerian by the Senator Abbo.

The IG had specifically directed the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, CP Bala Ciroma to provide a personal and round-the-clock supervision of every facet of the investigation, including the Forensic analysis of the video currently in circulation as well as the actions and inactions of the Policeman seen in the video footage.

As a follow-up to the order, CP Ciroma said an invitation letter was written to the Senator.

The CP, while confirming to The Nation that the Senator has surrendered himself at the Command, said the Senator got to the Command on Thursday afternoon, adding that investigation has commenced.

Confirming his presence at the Command, Ciroma said: “Yes, it is true that he has surrendered himself. He has already come in and we are investigating.

‘He came into the Command this afternoon after we sent an invitation letter to him based on the directive of the IGP and he honoured it.”

It is, however, unclear whether the Senator would be detained after interrogation or not.

https://thenationonlineng.net/just-in-embattled-senator-abbo-surrenders-to-police-for-probe/

AHMED MUSA

Abuja – Another round of drama is imminent in the House of Representatives as factional leader of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Caucus, Kingsley Chinda (Rivers) has occupied the seat meant for the Minority Leader.

Recall that, the House Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila on Wednesday announced Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta) as the House Minority Leader as against a list said to have been sent in by the opposition PDP.

Chinda’s group had protested the announcement by the speaker, accusing him of plotting to undermine opposition parties by foisting leaders on them.

But both Gbajabiamila and the Elumelu faction contended that the announcement was in line with Order 7 Rule 8, 12 and 14 which deal with matters of ranking and the rights of all minority parties to produce principal officers and not a particular party as the PDP had done.

But Chinda’s group on Thursday has taken positions in the front row meant for principal officers from minority parties with the support of members such as Tajudeen Yusuf from Kogi and Sergius Ogun from Edo.

Chinda is being joined by Muraina Ajibola (PDP, Oyo) who was purportedly picked by the party to be deputy minority Whip and two other unknown faces.

It remains to be seen what will happen when the speaker comes into the chamber, accompanied by Elumelu and his fellow announced minority principal officers, as the probable thing would be to ask Chinda and his group to vacate the seats.

https://www.independent.ng/breaking-more-crisis-looms-in-reps-as-chinda-occupies-minority-leaders-seat/

former Minister of Education and Youth Development, Professor Ben Nwabueze (SAN) made a brief appearance this morning before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) in Abuja, announcing himself as the leader of the petitioners’ legal team.

Prof Nwabueze, who was brought in on a wheelchair, later read a prepared speech before the commencement of proceedings and took his leave about 30 minutes later.

The Senior Advocate, who was allowed to address the tribunal while sitting, said his appearance was to underscore the importance of the case for the nation’s democratic development.

Meanwhile, the tribunal has suspended proceedings to rule on an issue raised by the respondents, to the effect that the petitioners have not properly complied with an earlier order of the court.

Details shortly.

https://thenationonlineng.net/breaking-87-year-old-prof-nwabueze-leads-atikus-pdps-legal-team/

African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in the 2019 governorship election in Oyo State, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, on Tuesday, withdrew from the coalition with the state governor, Mr Seyi Makinde.

Lanlehin, who is the leader of ADC, said in a statement that his withdrawal was consequent upon the reluctance of Governor Makinde to honour the terms of the pre-election agreement reached among the coalition parties.

Lanlehin as ADC candidate, Sharafadeen Alli as Zenith Labour Party governorship candidate and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, teamed up to unseat the All Progressives Congress (APC) by stepping down for Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In the statement, Lanlehin explained that his pulling out was personal, adding that ADC was “at liberty to remain in the coalition and believes it [ADC] should, in fact, remain.”

According to the statement signed by his Media Bureau, “Lanlehin, going forward, states that while he remains a committed member of the ADC, he would adopt a “siddon look” posture in the governance of Oyo State and allied matters.”

Nigerian Tribune gathered that part of the terms of agreement was to cede 30 per cent of all appointments to ADC, while ZLP takes 15, PDP gets 50 and SDP, 5 per cent.

It was gathered that there had been bottled up animosity over the implementation of the agreement shortly after the election.

A series of peace meetings, it was gathered, were summoned to paper over the cracks, with elder statesman and Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, intervening in one of the meetings.

https://tribuneonlineng.com/223145/

South East Governors have reached an agreement with Miyetti Allah following the Federal Government’s proposal for the establishment of Ruga settlements in some states.

The South East Governors Forum said the proposed deal was struck with members of the Miyetti Allah as a panacea to achieving lasting peace among farmers and herdsmen.

Chairman of the South East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi, said there was no plan for any Ruga settlement in any part of South East and South South, rather, the zones can make a very good business with the sale of grasses to the herdsmen in exchange for meat.
Umahi, spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor, noting that there would be no part of the South East that will be given out for the establishment of Ruga.

He noted the zone is purely agrarian with limited landmass for farming and therefore cannot accommodate Ruga.

Umahi, according to the statement, said the zone actually proposed a deal with MACBAN to take their cattle to the Northern parts where the grazing reserve was established long time ago and rely completely on the grasses grown in the South for feeding of their cattle.

It would be recalled that the Ebonyi Governor was appointed Chairman Technical Committee on Farmers and Herdsmen clash carved from the Federal Economic Council under the chairmanship of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

The governor had made a recommendation for revamping of the already existing grazing reserve in various parts of the North to enable farmers to have unhindered access to their farmlands while herdsmen rely solely on proceeds from the farmers.

“The way it works is that the herdsmen will bring down their cows to the South East and sell us as meat while they will load the grasses which are grown here in the same trailer with which they transported their cows to feed their cattle in those grazing reserve which should be made comfortable for them.”

The statement also quoted Umahi as saying that with this proposed deal, herdsmen are expected to embrace anti-open grazing by returning to the ranches in the north and do their business on the trade-by-barter basis of selling cows to the south and buying grass to feed their cows in the north.

https://tribuneonlineng.com/222739/

DESPITE not requesting, ministerial lists are being reportedly prepared by state chapters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the consideration of President Muhammadu Buhari for his next cabinet, Saturday Tribune has learnt.

Although governors elected on the platform of the party have also publicly conceded the absolute right on federal cabinet appointment to the president, it has also been gathered that the state helmsmen have not given up on having an input in choosing ministerial appointees from their states.

With the president in the middle, political factors and factions within the party at the state level are now pulling strings in different directions to win what is considered the most important battle after the poll.

(DSS) included celebrated economist, Professor Pat Utomi.

When contacted, Prof. Utomi denied undergoing any kind of screening at the secret police headquarters.

Another featured name, Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, did not pick his calls.

As usual with political seasons after a general election, state chapters of the party are witnessing high-profile contention which the president is not likely to factor into his next selection.

It was learnt that he is possibly stepping out of his usualness to put in place a legacy cabinet, which reportedly informed his decision to keep the first-term cabinet in place all through as a way of fully compensating party faithful through the appointees.

Apart from the decision to have a much smaller cabinet in his second term, the president and his core team of loyalists are said to be head-hunting experts who are not completely disconnected from their people and bases.

Such experts reportedly include those with connection to national and regional leaders who are in disagreement with him.

A celebrated professional who is not particularly of the president’s hue but also not overtly partisan was reportedly checked on recently by someone close to the Buhari camp.

There were no firm commitments on both sides.

While the kind of Hadi Sirika, immediate Minister of Aviation, with filial relationship with the president may not have much difficulty returning, same as his Water Resources counterpart, former ministers scheming a return, especially from the Southern part of the country, may have to fight bigger battles to get in.

Adebayo Shittu, the immediate Minister of Communications from Oyo State, is an unapologetic Buharist and despite the opposition from the state chapter to his first-term nomination, the president stuck with him to the end.

His name is also reportedly missing from the three-man list put together by APC structure in the state for presidential consideration but his hopes are not gone with the omission.

He is said to be accessing the direct route he has to the president to stage a comeback and his biceps have now been strengthened with the court judgement that he needed not to observe the mandatory NYSC scheme to serve as minister.

Tendencies in the state are, however, united in opposition to Shittu, Saturday Tribune learnt.

If Shittu is returned, the party may suffer high-profile defection, as being currently threatened. Buhari is not seeking re-election and such threats may come with minimal force.

But the president is said to be more interested in making the party more popular with the populace by going after those with records of performance in their chosen fields.

Some of his known friends with ministerial interests, according to findings, may be compelled to let go for him to achieve his second-term agenda.

The most recent visit of the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, to Aso Rock Presidential Villa was said to be partly about the president’s Next Level agenda and a general idea about those to deliver on it.

Embattled Senate returnee and immediate past governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, is another established friend of the president like Shittu. While he is not on the ministerial card, his long-drawn political battle with the Lagos political establishment and one of his predecessors, Segun Osoba, is reportedly featuring in the contest for Ogun slotIn Lagos, there is virtually zero presence of the immediate past governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, in the state political firmament, but his shadow is still looming large in the ministerial race, expected to be largely determined by his estranged godfather, Bola Tinubu.

With a Christian governor replacing him, his consideration on the basis of religious balancing and harmony by the state chapter is also almost nil, though there are talks of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu serving a term, as a completion of the Ambode tenure.

If Sanwo-Olu eventually serves two terms, the Christian faith would have been represented for 12 straight years, which many of those of other faiths are reportedly not finding acceptable.

Ambode is allegedly tapping into his newfound friendship with the president as leverage, even though sympathy is reportedly thin for him among party chieftains outside of the state, especially in the South-West.

However, being an alleged major contributor to the presidential campaign that got Buhari re-elected, he is expected to fight to the end, like Shittu.

Wale Edun, a banker and a former commissioner in Lagos, is said to be the stakeholders’ choice.

Though Ogun State is Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo’s base, nothing serious could be currently traced to him as being a part of the struggle, though he is expected to play a role in the eventual nominee, an influence he conceded to Amosun in 2015.

Lobbyists are reportedly doing covert operations around him through some clergymen close to him, particularly a televangelist based in Lagos.

The tall, fashionable pastor was deeply involved in campaign strategies during the presidential contest.

In Osun State, the battle is said to be mainly among the Iyiola Omisore integrated group, immediate minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole and immediate past Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

However, a dark horse may emerge in a professional being packaged by influential Abuja-based APC faithful, loyalists, lobbyists, sympathisers and financiers.

When Omisore was cajoled into forming an alliance with the APC to ensure Gboyega Oyetola’s survival in the last contentious governorship contest, the agreement allegedly signed with him and his group was not only hazy but much of it was shrouded in secrecy and suspense.

Ekiti State is said to be relatively quiet with the technical ouster of former Governor Segun Oni from influence sphere, but it is not certain if Femi Ojudu and Governor Kayode Fayemi are in concert.

As the leader of all the governors and the president’s friend, Fayemi is expected to have the final say, even if the nomination would end up being on a regional basis.

The disposition of Buhari to the re-election bid of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State is not clear and despite the huge presence of the Lagos political family in that state, the president is expected to resolve the tussle.

It is yet unclear who will be the beneficiary of the president’s final decision.

https://www.independent.ng/ministerial-nomination-tension-grips-apc/

A Federal High Court in Lagos Friday held that President Muhammadu Buhari dismissed Mrs. Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia as a judicial officer on November 7, 2018.

Justice Mohammed Rilwan Aikawa held that, thus, Ofili-Ajumogobia cannot – by claiming that she is a judge – stall her trial for alleged money laundering.

The charge was brought against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),

Justice Aikawa stated this while dismissing Ofili-Ajumogobia’s preliminary objection challenging her trial as well as the court’s jurisdiction to try her.

The judge read out the President’s memo of November 7, 2018, approving Ofili-Ajumogobia’s dismissal from the Bench as recommended by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

He said: “The president has approved the recommendation of NJC and has therefore approved the dismissal of the 1st defendant/applicant.

“In my view, the first defendant (Ofili-Ajumogobia) has been dismissed as a judicial officer.

“In the light of this, she can stand trial as she is no longer a judicial officer.

“The application lacks merit and is accordingly dismissed” the judge held.

Earlier in the ruling, the judge disagreed with the argument of the first defendant’s counsel that the exhibit marked ‘Restricted’ is a private document.

He held that the document exhibit EFCC 02, though marked ‘Restricted’ but bearing the coat of arm of Federal Republic of Nigeria qualified it as a public document.

“An official letter from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Chief Justice of Nigeria is a public document,” Justice Aikawa said.

In the same vein, the application filed by the second defendant Godwin Obla (SAN) to quash counts one, two and three for abuse of court process or in the alternative separate his trial from the charge against the Ofili-Ajumogobia and be tried separately was also dismissed by the court.



Referring to the trial of the defendants at the Ikeja High Court of Lagos State, Justice Aikawa said in that judgement, the case was only struck out.

“The defendants in that trial were not discharged and acquitted.

He held that they could therefore be re-arraigned before another court if the prosecution wishes to reopen the case.

On issue of the matter in the Appeal Court, the judge said provisions of ACJA had not rendered trial in the matter invalid.

Consequently, the court rejected Obla’s first prayer.

It also refused the second leg of the application.

In conclusion, Justice Aikawa held: “The trial of the two defendants will go together. I therefore refuse the second application.

After the ruling, prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo made an oral application for accelarated hearing of the matter. He prayed for a date for commencement of trial.

After conferring with the defence counsel comprising Mr F.O. Dawodu (SAN), for first defendant, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) and Ferdinand Orbih (SAN), for 2nd defendant, a date was agreed on.

Justice Aikawa then adjourned the matter to October 24 and 25 for commencement of trial.

The EFCC charged Ofili-Ajumogobia and a Senior Advocate of NIGERIA (SAN) Godwin Obla, on 18 counts bordering on Conspiracy, Unlawful Enrichment, retention of Crime Proceeds and Money Laundering.

They pleaded not guilty and were each admitted to bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.

The defendants were first brought before an Ikeja division of the High Court of Lagos State which struck out the charge on jurisdictional grounds.

The EFCC then preferred same charges against them at the Federal High Court.

In the charge, EFCC alleged that the defendants conspired on May 21, 2014, to indirectly conceal different sums of money, in the Diamond Bank account of Nigel & Colive Ltd, a company alleged to be operated by Ajumogobia.

They were further alleged to have conspired to retain in same account, the sum of N500 million, which they both reasonably ought to have known formed part of proceeds of unlawful acts of unlawful enrichment.

Specifically, Ajumogobia was alleged to have on different dates in 2014, retained sums of monies like: N5million, 150,000 dollars, 20,000 dollars, 30,000 dollars, 50,000 dollars, and 55,000 dollars in the Diamond bank account of Nigel and Colive.

Besides, the Commission also accused Ajumogobia of indirectly concealing the sum of N12million in the same account, and making false statement to the EFCC that the money was payment for sale of a landed property.

The alleged offences contravene the provisions of Sections 15 (2) (a) and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.

https://thenationonlineng.net/just-in-buhari-has-sacked-you-judge-tells-ofili-ajumogobia/

The federal government says it has started establishing settlements for herdsmen across the nation.

Mohammadu Umar, permanent secretary in the ministry of agriculture and rural development, made this known in an interview with NAN in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said the farm settlements when fully established would address the incessant clashes between cattle rearers and farmers.

Umar explained that the pilot programme had already commenced on a 31,000-hectare in Kotongora, Niger state.

According to him, the required facilities for a basic life and treatment of cattle are being provided to enhance productivity.

He said the government would replicate the programme in selected states as work “is ongoing in the 12 pilot states”.

According to him, six settlements will be established in each of the pilot states.

Umar, who added that the centres would be expanded and adequately equipped, and assured the beneficiaries that government would do all that was necessary to enlighten the herdsmen on how the use of ranches could make make cattle rearing more profitable.

He said the government would sensitise the herdsmen to the social and political benefits derivable from such settlements.

The permanent secretary explained that various spots would be established for the pastoralists to be able to milk their cows.

He also said that dispensaries would be established to prevent the misuse of antibiotics.

The “Ruga Settlement” idea was an initiative of the national economic council (NEC) presented under the national livestock transformation plan (2018-2027).

According to the permanent secretary, nomadic livestock production in Nigeria is facing major challenges and is at crossroads due to declining availability of pasture, overgrazing, and expanding fatal conflicts between pastoralists and crop farmers.

He said the impact on food and nutrition security as well as Public safety and national security are huge and far-reaching, therefore government is bent on making the plan to work as it has commenced.

“Under the new plan, cattle herders are expected to be registered and recognise with cooperatives for the purpose of the ranching scheme,” he said.

“These cooperatives will then be able to get rental agreements for land from state governments and also benefit from ranch resources on several terms including loans, grants, and subsidies.”

Suffyan Koroma, Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) country representative, said the workshop was organised to prepare the organisation’s representatives and respective countries and regions to work out ways to tackle the impending dangers of AMR and AMU.

“This is because the misuse of antibiotics in agriculture contributes to the spread of AMR and also undermines the efficacy of veterinary and human medicines,” he said.

“FAO is set to provide support to governments and stakeholders to adopt measures to minimise the use of antimicrobial and reduce AMR.”

The representative said that toward that end, FAO had outlined global action plans for 2016-2020.

“The plan include awareness, surveillance, strengthened governance related to antimicrobial use and AMR in food and agriculture and promote good practices in food, agriculture, human animal systems and prudent use of antimicrobial,” he said.

Participants for the three-day workshop were drawn from WHO, UNICEF, Animal Health Organisation (OIE) EU, Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Kenya and Sierra Leone.

https://www.thecable.ng/fg-sets-up-farm-settlements-for-herdsmen

A Kwara State High Court in Ilorin on Tuesday sentenced an internet fraudster, Temitope Charles, to 35 years in prison without an option of fine.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar, while delivering Judgement on a criminal charge brought against the convict by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), pronounced the convict guilty and sentenced him to seven years in prison on each of the five-count charge.

Abdulgafar directed that the prison sentence should run concurrently.

The Judge agreed that EFCC had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, noting that the evidence of the only prosecution witness, Olamide Sadiq, who is an operative of the commission, was very strong and reliable.

”The evidence of PW1, Olamide Sadiq, was left unchallenged by the defendant; all the chats and text messages were printed from his email address in his presence.

“I have considered the testimonies of the PW1, this honourable court is of the opinion that the PW1 is a witness of truth, the accused person indeed was in possession of fake documents, the prosecution has sufficiently link the defendant to the email address,” Abdulgafar said.

Earlier, Defence Counsel, A.B Bakare, had urged the judge to temper justice with mercy, saying that his client was a first time offender.

Prosecuting Counsel, Sessan Ola, opposed to the request and asked the court to sentence the convict according to the provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act.

Ola said: “going by the provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, the minimum punishment for this type of offence is seven years and maximum of 20 years, the court can not use its discretion outside the same.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that sometime in March, the EFCC had arraigned Charles before the court on a five- count charge bordering on internet fraud.

Charles was allegedly caught with some documents indicating that he wanted to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

One of the five-count charge read: “the suspect, who is also known as Teresa Simon, was said to have been apprehended on February 28, 2019, in Ilorin in possession of documents containing false representation with intent to defraud, an offence said to be contrary to Sections 6 and 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act,”

(NAN)


https://thenationonlineng.net/court-sentences-yahoo-boy-to-35-years-in-prison/

A few hours to the end of his reign as Ogun State helsman, embattled Governor Ibikunle Amosun contacted the state’s Commissioner of Police, Bashir Makama, confessing that he had thousands of arms and millions of ammunition in store at a secret armoury in Government House, and that he had decided to hand them over to the police.

Mr Amosun’s anointed candidate for the March 9 governorship election, Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), had been roundly defeated by Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress and the governor was now desperate to clear the Government House of any incriminating material as Mr Abiodun moved in to take charge.

Shortly after he was contacted, Commissioner Makama raced to Government House with some of his subordinates. On arrival, truckloads of arms and ammunition were brought out of a nondescript amoury inside the Ogun State Government House.

And then begun a short hand-over proceeding during which the governor surrendered at least four million rounds of ammunition, 1,000 units of AK47 assault rifles, 1,000 units of bulletproof vests and an armoured personnel carrier (APC).

At the event, Mr Amosun said he procured the arms and ammunition to check the widespread insecurity in his state of 3,751,140 residents, according to the 2006 census. He said he decided to keep them at the Government House Armoury to ensure they were not allocated indiscriminately by security agencies.

The speech making over, the arms and ammunition were driven to the police command headquarters in the Elewe-Eran area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Four weeks after the event, top Nigerian security operatives remained alarmed that a civilian governor would create an armoury and store thousands of arms there. The agents are also wondering why Mr Amosun has not been arrested and prosecuted for violating sections of the Nigeria Firearms Act.
The law forbids individuals and civilian institutions from illegally operating armouries or possessing prohibited firearms, including artillery, apparatus for the discharge of any explosive or gas diffusing projectile, rocket weapons, bombs and grenades, machine-guns and machine-pistols, military rifles (namely those of calibres 7.62 mm, 9 mm, .300 inches and .303 inches), revolvers and pistols whether rifled or unrifled (including flint-lock pistols and cap pistols).

It remains unclear how Mr Amosun obtained the weapons. Authorities are wondering how he imported the weapons, and how he transported them to Government House and stored them for prolonged periods without being detected.

Some security experts say they are suspicious he might have acquired far more weapons than he gave up to the police and that some of them might be in wrong hands already.

The former governor, now senator, declined to give his own side of the story. He did not answer or return telephone calls made to him over five days. He also did not respond to text and WhatsApp messages sent to him.

When contacted, his media adviser, Rotimi Durojaiye, requested this reporter to email him the questions meant for Mr Amosun. Five days later, Mr Durojaiye is yet to respond with answers.

‘Absolutely troubling, illegal’

Authorities at Nigeria’s key security agencies told PREMIUM TIMES Mr Amosun may have procured the arms and ammunition without securing End-User certificates from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). End-User certificates are absolutely required to import controlled products into Nigeria.

A guideline by the NSA office stipulates that End-User Certificate requests for arms and ammunition must be made by approved security agencies on behalf of themselves or their qualified vendors. Neither Mr Amosun nor his state is an approved security agency or qualified security equipment vendor.

“In line with international best practices EUCs for arms and ammunition are to be obtained before the shipment of the items from the originating country. These conditions equally apply for parts and accessories of all military armaments and hardware,” the guideline states.

A spokesperson for the Office of the NSA, the only government institution responsible for issuing end-user certificates, did not return requests for comments. But PREMIUM TIMES learnt from multiple sources within the agency that Mr Amosun or his state could not have been granted certificates to procure and store arms.

Also, the Nigeria Customs Service said Mr Amosun did not clear the deadly equipment through Nigerian ports, and that no one without an end-user certificate could be allowed to bring controlled items into Nigeria.

“Only the Office of the National Security Adviser can issue end-user certificate for importation of arms, and any person or organisation without the document cannot import weapons into Nigeria,” the spokesperson for the Nigeria Customs Service, Joseph Attah, told PREMIUM TIMES, “I repeat: weapons can never be imported into Nigeria without end-user certificates.”

Mr Attah said even security agencies, including the police, military and Customs, are required to secure end-user certificates before embarking on arms purchase.

The Customs regularly intercepts attempts to import illegal arms into the country, but the owners often disappear as soon as such illicit shipments are discovered. Yet, security analysts believe that for every container intercepted by Customs, dozens would slip through the ports due to Nigeria’s porous security measure.

Illegal possession of arms is a criminal offence under several Nigerian statutes, including the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act (1984) and the Firearms Act (1990).

In May, three Nigerians were sentenced to a combined 120 years in prison, including 20 years each for illegal possession of firearms. The Oyo State High Court relied on the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act to convict the trio.

Bolstering suspicion

Arms proliferation has long been a big driver of election-related bloodshed in Nigeria, with hundreds of deaths reported across the country in the 2019 elections alone.

In Mr Amosun’s Ogun State, a number of residents died in widespread shootings between February 23 and March 9, the days of the presidential and governorship elections, respectively.

Most of the election-related deaths, including of police officers, were reported in Ilaro, Abeokuta and Ijebu-Ode, three of the state’s largest cities. Security sources blamed the killings on arms proliferation across the state, a menace they said had been largely difficult to contain.

Security analysts and civic groups contend that politicians are the major suppliers of deadly weapons into the streets because of their desperation for victory — which they often find impossible to recover post election.

Aside election violence, arms proliferation has also been linked to the growing spate of kidnapping, banditry and herdsmen violence — claiming tens of thousands of civilian deaths within the last four years alone.

Mr Amosun also recognised the danger of arms proliferation in the early days of his administration. Less than four months after he assumed office as governor in September 2011, he raised a judicial panel to probe the proliferation of arms in Ogun.

He blamed his predecessor, Gbenga Daniel, for fostering an atmosphere of gun violence for political benefits, and imposed a moratorium on gun ownership in the state.

Amosun, police in conspiracy of silence

PREMIUM TIMES’ efforts to get Mr Amosun’s comments were rebuffed by the politician. Several text messages, WhatsApp messages and telephone calls to his two active telephone lines went unacknowledged or returned over five days.

Mr Amosun’s spokesperson, Rotimi Durojaiye, also took questions from PREMIUM TIMES on behalf of his principal, but said he could not respond to them because he was unable to reach his principal after several attempts. Mr Durojaiye served as Mr Amosun’s special adviser on media and publicity when he was governor.

The police also declined to give comments. Force spokesperson, Frank Mba, directed all enquiries about police involvement in the matter to Commissioner Makama.

But when PREMIUM TIMES sent a set of five questions to Mr Makama, he declined to respond. This was despite his initial promises that he would respond to the enquiries once he received the questions, which were sent to his telephone line and also through the state police spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi.

Some of the clarifications PREMIUM TIMES sought from Mr Makama included whether he asked Mr Amosun the source of the weapons before or after he accepted them, whether it was appropriate for a civilian governor to stockpile a massive cache of weapons and why he was yet to escalate the matter to Force Headquarters nearly a month later.

There was consensus amongst several police chiefs who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Makama should have at least invited Mr Amosun for questioning after receiving the arms and ammunition from him. Mr Amosun lost immunity from arrest and prosecution on May 29 when his tenure ended.

Two police sources told PREMIUM TIMES the commissioner had been making frantic moves to quickly inform Force Headquarters ahead of this story’s publication.

“He is afraid he would be in trouble if the headquarters learnt about the matter in the media,” a police source said Sunday evening.

Even though there were initial claims that the State Security Service’s state director, David Tuksa, was also present when Mr Amosun handed in the weapons, the agency’s spokesperson completely distanced the Service’s officials from the matter.

“Our state director was not there and the SSS did not take any part in the matter,” spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, told PREMIUM TIMES.

Minimising a carnage

Top national security officials believe the quantity of weapons Mr Amosun held was large enough to destabilise a country.

“You can overrun a country with that quantity,” a top security official told PREMIUM TIMES. “Imagine given 1,000 thugs AK47 rifles — what is the size of the Gambian Army for instance?”

The official, who had served two national security advisers, said there were legal options Mr Amosun would have pursued if the arms were primarily imported as donation to the police.

“When Tunde Fashola bought weapons for the police during his tenure as governor in Lagos, he obtained an End-User certificate, and the weapons were delivered to the police and not to his official residence,” the official said, adding that he was amongst those who worked on the matter at the time.

Multiple security sources told PREMIUM TIMES the SSS became aware of the arms in the Ogun Government House Armoury just as the 2019 elections were about to begin.

“We immediately placed him and his surroundings under a heavy security watch,” an SSS agent who had knowledge of the operation told PREMIUM TIMES. “We knew he had enough arms to make the state a field of dead bodies during the election if he wished.”

Another senior law enforcement official said he was convinced Mr Amosun handed over the weapons because it became too late for him to relocate them and he knew the incoming governor would not give him a cover.

“It was too late for him to organise an efficient logistics for the relocation of the remaining weapons,” the official said. “He also did not expect the incoming governor, Dapo Abiodun, to continue keeping the arms in Government House as a cover-up.”

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/336813-amosun-surrenders-1000-ak47-rifles-4million-bullets-acquired-before-2019-elections.html

A popular Ebonyi-based pastor, Simeon Ononogbu, has blamed “deceitful” spirit for the failed prediction that the Super Falcons will reach the semi-finals of the FIFA Women World Cup in France.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Ononogbu, a self-acclaimed forecaster, predicted in an interview that the Falcons would reach the semi-finals of the tournament, while the hosts, France would place fifth (best-placed quarter-finalists).

The former Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ebonyi branch, sought the understanding of Nigerians on the failed prophecy, noting that he will be more careful in future prophecies.

“It is a pity that the prediction on the Falcons failed which means that it was not a revelation from God.

“We have so many spirits that can deceive people and if we are not careful, we will make mistakes such as this,” he said.

He said that several spirits abound which behaved like God’s spirit to talk and deceive men of God.

“The bible says that some spirits at times, transform into angels of light to talk to us.

“We have “fallen’’ spirits that deceive the children of God because we are humans and weaker than the other spirits,” he said.

Mr Ononogbu, however, revealed that the prophecy on the Falcons could also have failed because he failed to interpret the revelation properly.

“At times when we don’t interpret properly, we will have problems out of it and this can also be seen as a wrong interpretation,” he said.

He, however, insisted that in spite of the failed prophesy, the revelation of France placing fifth in the tournament still stands because it is from God.

“This particular interpretation was clearer than that of the Falcons and we should wait till the end of the competition for its fulfilment,” he said.

Mr Ononogbu urged Nigerians not to judge him with the failed prophesy as he had correctly made eight-significant prophecies which were fulfilled.

“I earlier predicted the visit of Rev, Uma Ukpai to Ebonyi and those who refused to heed the directive on the venue saw the number of people that died,” he said. (NAN)

https://www.independent.ng/pastor-blames-deceitful-spirit-for-prophecising-super-falcons-will-reach-world-cup-semi-final/

Olu Onemola has stepped down from his position as special assistant to the senate president on new media.

Onemola was appointed by Senate President Ahmad Lawan on June 19. He held same position while working for Bukola Saraki, Lawan’s predecessor.

However, his appointment and that of others who worked for Saraki sparked controversy.

In an internal memo to Lawan, seen by TheCable on Sunday, Onemola said he would want to be excused “from taking up this national assignment” because of the controversy it has generated.

“As an individual who prides myself in always setting a high standard and significant precedents I feel honoured to have been asked to fill this vital role in the service of our great country,” he said.

“I thank you sir, for the offer to continue on to serve and promote the work of the 9th Senate of the Federal Republic which I am sure is home out of your patriotic desire to serve the Nigerian people.

“However, at this time, given my personal antecedents, and the controversy that this has generated, I would respectfully like to be excused from taking up this national assignment.

“It is my hope that whoever does fill this role, builds upon what we have started in terms of opening up the activities of the Nigerian Senate to the public.

“I will be ready and available in whatever way to give my recommendations if and when requested as the new team begins its work.

“I have communicated my decision to the Chief of Staff, Babagana Muhammad Aji, and I wish the new team all the best as they work to meet the demands of the Nigerian people.”

This is coming barely days after the senate president had withdrawn the appointment of Festus Adedayo as his special adviser on media and publicity.

A group known as All Progressives Congress (APC) Stakeholders Forum had accused Lawan of rewarding people who have insulted President Muhammadu Buhari.

https://www.thecable.ng/olu-onemola-steps-down-as-lawans-aide

Bauchi State House of Assembly is currently in disarray as members have elected two Speakers in separate elections.

Eleven out of the 31 elected members of the Assembly sat as early as 7:00 am and elected Abubakar Suleiman as the Speaker of the House.

Suleiman is a member representing Ningi Central Constituency and a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Danlami Kawule a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Zungur/Galambi was also elected as the Deputy Speaker by the same group of lawmakers.

The situation took a twist as 18 members of House held a parallel election in front of the Assembly complex around 11:00 am.

The members stood in front of the statue of the Mace symbol and elected Kawuwa Damina as the Speaker of the House.

Damina is a former Speaker in the 8th house of Assembly and a member of the APC. He was returned in the parallel election through a voice vote.

More to follow…

https://www.channelstv.com/2019/06/20/breaking-confusion-in-bauchi-assembly-as-two-speakers-emerge/