₦airaland Forum

Leke Baiyewu, Abuja
The Organised Private Sector, a body of employers in the private sector of the economy, has said it agrees with a new minimum wage of N30‎,000 as recommended by the tripartite committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The position was made known at the public hearing organised by the House of Representatives on the New Minimum Wage Bill presented by President Muhammadu Buhari last week.
Details soon.

https://punchng.com/breaking-organised-private-sector-approves-n30000-minimum-wage/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met with the Catholic Priest, Ejike Mbaka, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

Details soon…


http://thenationonlineng.net/buhari-mbaka-meet-aso-rock/

The Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to suspend Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

According to the group, Onnoghen "failed the integrity test".

The President suspended Onnoghen on Friday and appointed Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed to take his position, although in acting capacity.

According to Buhari, Onnoghen's suspension is the result of an order by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), before whom the suspended CJN is standing trial for fraudulent declaration of assets.

A statement by Johnmark Ezonebi, leader of the group, issued on Saturday, applauded Buhari for the move.

The statement read: “We, as a group agitating for the overall development of the region, do applaud President Muhammadu Buhari for the suspension of the CJN of the federation, Mr Ononghen, because the CJN has failed the integrity test and he did not have the boldness and the courage to fight the anti-corruption war which Mr President has been fighting against since he came on board in 2015.

"The six-year administration of former President Goodluck 'Badluck' Jonathan was characterised by massive corruption, looting and gross non-supervision of his appointees with no completed project in the long-neglected region set the people and region back to the stone age of underdevelopment.

“Without much ado, we want to say that President Buhari’s fight against corruption, which was the signpost of the previous PDP administrations, had clearly defined his stand on the development of the region."

The group also commended the present administration “for the smooth take-off of academic activities at the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko”, as well as the president’s directive for the “approval of the dredging of the Escravos Warri River at the cost of N13billion to enable cargo vessels access Warri sea port, which will in turn boost economic activities in the Niger Delta”, among other listed achievements.

The group, however, urged the president “to try as much as possible to direct the immediate release of the Gas Flare Penalty Fund for affected oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta”.

http://saharareporters.com/2019/01/26/niger-delta-militants-applaud-buhari-suspending-onnoghen

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo says Nigeria is back to the Abacha era when state institutions were used to fight perceived enemies of the head of state.

He was speaking on Sunday in his state of the nation address which he tagged “Points for Concern and Action”.

Sani Abacha, a general, was the military head of state from November 1993 till his death in June 1998 and was accused of using dictatorial powers to rule the country.

TheCable understands that Obasanjo decided to address the nation following recent developments in the polity, including the trial of the chief justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, over an alleged false declaration of assets.

Obasanjo said: “Today, another Abacha Era is here. The security institutions are being misused to fight all critics and opponents of Buhari and to derail our fledgling democracy. EFCC, Police and Code of Conduct Tribunal are also being equally misused to deal with those Buhari sees as enemies for criticising him or as those who may not do his bidding in manipulating election results. Criticism, choice and being different are inherent trade mark of democracy. If democracy is derailed or aborted, anarchy and authoritarianism will automatically follow.

“Today, as in the day of Abacha, Nigerians must rise up and do what they did in the time of Abacha. Churches and Mosques prayed. International community stood by us Nigerians. I was a beneficiary and my life was saved. Well-meaning Nigerians took appropriate actions and made sacrifices, some supreme, some less than supreme but God had the final say and He took the ultimate action.”

Obasanjo was jailed for life by Abacha on 1995 over an alleged coup plot, but he was released in 1998 after the death of the military ruler.

He was then twice elected president of Nigeria, from 1999 to 2007, having been a military head of state himself from 1976 to 1979.

More to follow…

https://www.thecable.ng/breaking-nigeria-is-back-to-abacha-era-obasanjo-hits-buhari-again

The US chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has kicked against the visit of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

The party said the visit does not absolve Atiku of the purported corruption allegations against him and he should still be held accountable.

Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), visited the US after 13 years, and for the first time since he left office as Nigeria’s vice-president.

In a statement issued by Adeshegun Labinjo, chairman, US chapter of APC, the party said even though it does not object to Atiku’s entry into the US, “the questionable character of the individual does not evaporate because he has stepped on the soil of America”.

“A thief remains a thief no matter where he or she visits. Obviously, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku has every reason to have kept off the USA given the cloak of corruption he is wearing,” the statement read.

“After a long spell of noticeable absence and factual concerns about Alhaji Abubakur Atiku’s antecedents in the USA arising from his dealings with former Congressman William Jefferson of Louisiana, who was convicted and served a jail term on account of bribery resulting from a telecommunication transaction in Nigeria, Atiku is now here again in the US.

“Congressional records point to the fact that Atiku engaged in money laundering through his wife who was then resident in the USA.

“We see Atiku, who is the 2019 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of Nigeria, as a self-centered corrupt Vice President under President Obasanjo’s regime.

“Certainly, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku‘s entry and presence in the USA is a mockery of President Bush Presidential Proclamation 7750 which affirms the denial of US visa to foreign officials involved with corruption and other supporting legislations by the congress. APC-USA believes that Alhajl Abubakar Atiku should be held accountable for his involvement m money laundering.”

Atiku is billed to meet with the US Chamber of Commerce on Friday.

https://www.thecable.ng/a-thief-remains-a-thief-no-matter-where-visits-says-apc-on-atikus-trip-to-us/

A rally organised by the Peoples Democratic Party in Jigawa State turned violent on Thursday.

The rally was held in Gwaram Local Government Area and attended by thousands of PDP supporters including a former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido.

The violence is believed to have started when a police officer, trying to maintain peace, shot one of the participants. The victim reportedly died.

A mob at the rally then turned on the police officers at the rally, burning down a police vehicle.
Details later…

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/306272-breaking-one-shot-police-vehicle-burnt-as-violence-mars-pdp-rally.html

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has finally served the criminal charges on false asset declaration directly to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen preparatory for his arraignment on January 22, 2019 at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

DAILY POST had reported that at the hearing on Monday, a clerk of the Tribunal, following a query from the Chairman, Danladi Umar, confirmed that the charge was received on behalf of the CJN, by one Sunday O. Osai who was identified as his personal assistant.

He then applied to be allowed to effect another service of the charge on Justice Onnoghen.

But despite the latest development, the CCT will still have to contend with orders of a Federal High Court and National Industrial Court both in Abuja which restrained it from proceeding with the arraignment of the CJN pending the determination of two different suits before them.

According to PRNigeria, an impeccable source on Wednesday stated that the order of the two courts may not be binding on the tribunal because they are courts of coordinate jurisdiction which by law have equal powers.

The source added that charges were served personally on the CJN on Monday 14, January 2018 by 3.30pm in his office at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Abuja.

Justice Onnogen, it was gathered, personally received the charges and signed for it, a condition required before he could be properly arraigned at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

With the endorsement of the service of the charge, the coast is clear for the Buhari Government to formally arrign Justice Onnoghen on January 22, 2019 before Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar led-tribunal.

The CJN was billed to be arraigned on Monday, January 14, but he was absent on the ground that the condition precedent for his appearance had not been lawfully met by the prosecution.

Legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) who led a retinue of Senior Lawyers to defend the CJN, informed the tribunal that his client was not at the tribunal to take his plea because he had not been served with the charges against him as required by law.

Besides, Olanipekun also told the three-man tribunal that the CJN is challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to try his client and that the 6 count-charge was not competent in law.

The ground of objection by the CJN is that as a serving judicial officer, he can only be punished for any offence committed by the National Judicial Council, a body empowered by the 1999 Constitution to deal with erring judicial officers without any recourse to any law court.

Although the Federal Government lawyer Alhaji Aliyu Umar (SAN) had sought to know why the CJN was absent in court, the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Umar directed the prosecution to do the needful by serving the charge on the person of Justice Onnoghen directly as required by law.

The Tribunal Chairman said that although the charge was said to have been served on a personal assistant to the defendant, there is no established facts, that the charge was conveyed to the CJN by his aide.

The Federal Government had filed criminal charges against Justice Onnoghen on the ground of his alleged failure to declare his asset as a substantive CJN as required by law.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has employed the services of a former Commissioner of Justice in Kano State, Aliyu Umar, to head the team of prosecutors.

Umar was the prosecutor during the trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu before an FCT High Court.

SANs that are part of the CJN defence team include Wole Olanipekun, Adegboyega Awomolo, Kanu Agabi, Chris Uche, Yusuf Ali, Garba Tetengi, Effiong Offiong, Kehinde Ogunwumiji, Paul Erokoro, Tawo E Tawo and Victoria Awomolo.

http://dailypost.ng/2019/01/16/breaking-buhari-govt-refuses-back-ccb-formally-serves-cjn-onnoghen/

A federal capital territory high court on Monday dismissed the suit filed by Ladi Adebutu to challenge the nomination of Buruji Kashamu as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun state.

Kashamu, senator representing Ogun east and Adebutu had been at loggerheads over the governorship ticket of the PDP in the state.

In the suit, Adebutu asked the court to declare him the authentic candidate of the party for the March 2 governorship election.

While delivering judgement, Ajoke Adepoju, the presiding judge, said the case filed by Adebutu cannot be maintained to declare him the governorship candidate of the PDP.

Adepoju said although Adebutu was nominated by the national working committee (NWC) of the party, the primary election where he emerged as candidate was conducted in violation of a subsisting court judgment.

The judge held that the PDP national working committee acted in bad faith by flouting a subsisting judgment of a federal high court delivered by Ibrahim Buba.

Adepoju added that the judgment was binding on the party and must be respected to protect the sanctity of court in the interest of the rule of law.

The judge said the national working committee cannot not conduct a valid primary election without the Ogun state chapter of the party until the judgment of the federal high court has been set aside by a higher court.

Adepoju dismissed the suit in its entirety, citing the need for sanctity and judgments of courts to be protected by parties or individuals.

With the judgment, Kashamu and the candidates that emerged through the primary election conducted by the Adebayo Dayo-led faction remain the party’s flagbearers for the forthcoming election.

On Thursday, Kashamu had called on his supporters to work with Adebutu in the interest of the party.

https://www.thecable.ng/kashamu-retains-guber-ticket-as-court-strikes-out-adebutus-suit

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned Doyin Okupe, a former Senior Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan, on a 59-count charge bordering on “money laundering and criminal diversion of funds” to the tune of N702million.

According to Tony Orilade, acting Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Okupe was brought before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of a Federal High Court, Maitama, along with two companies — Value Trust Investment Ltd and Abrahams Telecoms Ltd — allegedly involved in the commission of the fraud.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Dr. Doyin Okupe, being the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan from July 2012 to May 2015, and being the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, and a signatory to the bank account of Abrahams Telecoms Ltd, on or about the 3rd October, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, directly took possession or control of the sum of N35 million, transferred to the account of Abrahams Telecoms Ltd from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria purporting to be for special services when you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity.”

Okupe pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.

Upon his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Ibrahim Audu, asked for a date for “commencement of the trial”.

However, Okupe’s counsel, Tolu Babaleiye, through a motion on notice dated December 17, 2018, prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail.

“The defendant will in no way tamper with evidence since the proof of evidence is before the court that means investigation has been concluded,” he said.

Babaleiye further urged the court to admit the defendant to bail on self-recognizance, adding: “he will not jump bail as he is well-known”.

While responding to the application, Audu argued that “the defendant was given administrative bail after he volunteered his statement thereafter, he was nowhere to be found until December 2018 in Lagos”.

He further said that “there was nothing substantial in the defendant’s affidavit” adding that there is nothing to show that the medical certificate is authentic and nothing to show it meets the requirements of the evidence act as it was electronically generated.

“The court should exercise its discretion judicially and judiciously based on materials supplied before the court,” he added, stressing that the court should take into consideration, “the gravity of the punishment in the event of conviction on the charges brought against the defendant”.

After listening to all the arguments, Justice Ojukwu granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N100 million with one surety in like sum.

He said the surety must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court, and must depose to an affidavit of means, must have landed properties which must also be within the jurisdiction of the court; must submit to the court tax clearance papers from 2016 to 2018, also have recent passport photograph. The surety and defendant must also deposit their international passports with the Deputy Chief Registrar, Litigation, of the court.

Justice Ojukwu thereafter adjourned to February 27, 28 and March 6, 2019 for trial.

http://saharareporters.com/2019/01/14/just-okupe-docked-‘diverting’-n702million-arms-fund

Five out of six governors of Nigeria’s South-South have come in defence of Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen.

The governors at an emergency meeting in Abuja on Sunday said the move to prosecute the top jurist for alleged asset declaration infractions was vindictive and persecutory, and should be condemned by lovers of democracy.

The governors consequently prevailed on Mr Onnoghen not to appear when the trial opens at the tribunal on Monday morning.

The governors at the meeting were Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, who chaired it at his guest house in Maitama, Abuja, Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Ben Ayade of Cross River and Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom.

The meeting began at about 4:00 p.m. and ended with a communique shortly after 7:30 p.m. The governors declined to take questions from reporters despite earlier promise in the announcement that there would be a press briefing after the closed-door meeting.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was not present, but his spokesperson told PREMIUM TIMES it was due to flight delays and he had sent a message that the outcome of the meeting would be binding on him.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State was absent and did not disclose a representation. He is the only governor of the ruling All Progressives Congress from the six-state South-South, the remaining five belong to the Peoples Democratic Party.

The governors are the latest to express outrage about the scheduled trial of the Cross River-born Mr Onnoghen, following a petition filed to the Code of Conduct Bureau by a civic group led by a man with previous ties to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Details shortly.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/305545-south-south-governors-ask-cjn-onnoghen-to-shun-cct.html

A 35-year-old man, identified as Uwaila, on Sunday shot dead his wife and two sons in Edo State, accusing her of infidelity.


The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident happened at Ovbiogie village in Ovia North East Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Hakeem Odumosun, who visited the scene of the incident, promised that the suspect would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigation.into the case.

The suspect was said to have shot through the door into the room where his wife and children ran into for safety and locked themselves in, following an argument.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also reports that residents of the community wailed almost uncontrollably when officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) came to evacuate the corpses.


Narrating what happened, the suspect who was in police custody, said his wife accused him of having girlfriends and threatened to retaliate by going out with other men.

Mr Uwaila said he drove out of the house in anger and came back to see that his wife locked herself and his sons inside one of the rooms.

The suspect said he shot through the door, adding that in the process, the bullet hit them on the bed.

(NAN)

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/305534-husband-kills-wife-two-sons.html

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is sympathetic to corruption.

The ruling party said this in reaction to a statement credited to the PDP.

The opposition party had said that the allegations against Walter Onnoghen, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), is a move by the APC government to constitute “a constitutional crisis” and “instill fear in judicial officers” to do its bidding.

TheCable had earlier reported that there were moves to remove Onnoghen before the elections.

The CJN has been accused of false assets declaration.

But in a statement on Sunday, Lanre Issa-Onilu, APC spokesman, said the fight against corruption remains a cardinal promise made by his party to the electorate.

“Following reports of the move to prosecute Justice Walter Onnoghen, chief justice of the federation, over an alleged infraction on the Code of Conduct laws, the swift statement by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemning the purported move has again exposed the Party as one with a natural inclination to rise up in defence of cases of alleged corruption,” he said.

“Resort to baseless postulations anytime issues of corruption is leveled against public officers only confirm what Nigerians already know. PDP and corruption are siamese twins that are difficult to separate from each other.

“One would have thought that the PDP will call for impartial investigations when corruption cases are levelled against public officers, but spinning falsehoods and conspiracies remains the opposition party’s favourite past time.

“The APC administration will not hesitate to investigate and prosecute any public officer if and when such is indicted for corruption.

“Achieving acceptable elections in all democratic climes is a collective effort which require the contributions and support of all well-meaning Nigerians, political parties, institutions and sundry interests.

“Commendably, in successive elections conducted under the APC administration, the party has played by the rules, which has led to credible elections. This cannot be said of the PDP era when state institutions were deployed to manipulate the electoral process.”

Issa-Onilu said the APC is committed to ensuring that the forthcoming elections go on record as one of the freest, most credible and peaceful elections in the country.

https://www.thecable.ng/onnoghen-pdp-is-sympathetic-to-corruption-says-apc/amp

The Code of Conduct Tribunal has raised a panel to try Nigeria’s Chief Justice, Walter Onnoghen, who is accused of lying in his asset declaration.

The tribunal on Saturday announced that corruption charges had been raised against Mr Onnoghen and the trial will commence on Monday.

The case is built on a petition filed by a civil society group, Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

The petition dated January 7, 2019, accuses Mr Onnoghen of managing several accounts through which has been making transfers of local and foreign currencies in “a manner inconsistent with financial accuracy,” the petition signed by the group’s executive secretary, Denis Aghanya, said.

In its statement, the CCT said the trial “was consequent to application filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau to the CCT Chairman yesterday for the trial to commence against the Chief Justice of Nigeria on six count charges”.

“The application was filed yesterday by the operatives of CCB, dated 11st January, 2019 and signed by Musa Ibrahim Usman (Esq) and Fatima Danjuma Ali (Esq), containing 6 count charges all borders on non declaration of asset,” a statement signed by Ibraheem Al-Hassan, head of press and public relations of CCT, said.

A three-member panel led by Justice Danladi Umar will commence the trial on Monday at its courtroom, situated at the headquarter, along Jabi Daki Biyu, Saloman Lar way, Abuja, at about 10:00 a.m.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/305392-code-of-conduct-tribunal-raises-panel-to-try-cjn-onnoghen.html

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was reunited with the Abdulaziz Yari, Governor of Zamfara State, on Friday, as the duo shook hands at an airport in Abuja.

Yari had threatened fire and brimstone when he told the members of National Working Committee (NWC) of the party who were sent to Zamfara State to conduct the primaries that he could not guarantee their safety.

In October, he had called on his supporters to protest against the primaries, stating that: "Our issue is with the national secretariat of APC where Adams Oshiomhole continues to be a dictator to party members; he acts as a mini-god".

The event took place at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, as they prepared to embark on different journeys.

It was gathered that while Oshiomhole was waiting at the VIP lounge for his flight, the Governor heard that the National Chairman was around, and quickly rushed to meet him.

They were said to have had a brief chat, before parting ways. People in the vicinity of the airport were said to have been surprised by the development.

When they wanted to take photographs, Senator Adamu Aliero took position in the middle.

This is the first time the duo will be seen to have mended fences, after the conduct of the controversial APC primary elections in Zamfara State.

http://saharareporters.com/2019/01/12/months-after-describing-him-dictator-yari-rushes-greet-oshiomhole-abuja-airport

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has barred its members from participating in the 2019 general elections processes.

It also said the offer from the Federal Government in the efforts to meet its demands as contained in the 2017 Memorandum of Action (MoA) is still fluid and far from expectations.

It, however, allows members to voluntarily participate but without using any material that bears ASUU or insignia that relates to the union.

In a strike Bulletin 8 issued and signed by the union’s President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, a copy of which was obtained by the University of Ibadan chapter of ASUU, asked members to await further developments on the strike which are ‘rapidly unfolding.’

According to Ogunyemi, the proposal from government towards resolving the demands of ASUU as contained in the 2017 MoA is still fluid and far from expectations


The bulletin read: “Though some progress has been made with respect to discussion with Government agents (The Minister of Labour and Employment as well as Minister of Education), at the moment, the proposal from Government towards resolving the demand of ASUU as contained in 2017 MoA and Strike Bulletin 1 is still too fluid and far from expectations. Hence, it is the view of the NSCC that members should await further developments which are rapidly unfolding.

“In accordance with the ASUU’s long standing position, ASUU as a union will not participate in the conduct of 2019 general elections, although members may voluntarily participate in the conduct of the elections. However, members are prohibited from participating in the election processes using any material that bears ASUU or relates to the union”


http://thenationonlineng.net/ASUU-bars-members-participating-2019-elections/

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Wednesday debunked the latest claim by the Federal Government to have reached an agreement with the union over their lingering differences, saying the claim is not true.

The President of ASUU, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, refuted the claim in an exclusive conversation with TribuneOnline.

According to him, the negotiations between both parties in still inconclusive as the team that represented ASUU at the meeting has no final say concerning the decision making as a body on matters of such magnitude.

He explained that what they had on ground now is a proposal from the government which ASUU insisted must be written down showing her plans of action unlike all along since the commencement of the two-month-old strike that government always made verbal proposals.

It will be recalled that their last meeting happened to be the seventh time they held meetings over their differences without tangible outcome from the previous meetings.

Speaking further, Prof Ogunyemi said, “it was just yesterday (Tuesday) that government sent the proposal to us without waiting for feedback before going to the public that we have reached an agreement. ASUU does not operate in that manner.”

“The ASUU team that met the Federal Government,” he noted, “would have to consult our principal over the proposal which we are already doing.”

He disclosed that the said principal represents various organs of ASUU who will in turn pass any resolution at that level on to the National Executive Committee and then, final decision can be made.


“So, ASUU cannot make pronouncement on a mere proposal. Until our principal agrees, there is no agreement. And that is what we have always emphasised to government that we are going to consult our members and if after consultation, our members think the proposal is good enough, we will get back to government and tell them that now, we have taken a decision which becomes an agreement. But so far on government proposal, we have not taken a decision. And our strike is still ongoing,” he said.

But when asked if there were grey areas in the proposal that would need consultation, he said ASUU might not bother about further consultation on issues that are very clear.

Giving examples, he said: “If you say you are going to set up a committee and you have set up that committee, that one is clear. And if you say you are going to pay certain money for certain purpose and you have paid, that will not also cause further argument. But where we said you should release certain amount of money in five tranches within certain period of time, and you are saying well, you have paid N20 billion, or you have paid N2 billion or N15. 4 billion, it means you haven’t started.



“So, that is the level we are now. And we don’t have a final say on any proposal that is controversial. But for areas that are not controversial as I had mentioned, we will only need to confirm payment. If paid, fine. It then means that one is settled and we now move to another one that is yet to be settled. And the one that is not settled we will need to take feedback to our members and that is the position we are at the moment.”

https://www.tribuneonlineng.com/182695/

HomepageTop Stories
BREAKDOWN: 12m housewives, 14m farmers, 22m students… the registered voters
Mayowa Tijani in On the GoTop Stories
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says 22.3 million students are registered to vote for the general elections slated for February and March — making them the highest voting bloc in the country.

Students are closely followed by farmers (crops, livestock, and fish farmers), who are numbered to be 13.6 million or an equivalent of 16.23 percent of all voters.

Housewives, at 11.8 million, will also be having a loud say in the general elections, as they form 14.10 of the country’s voting population.

In other words, of every 100 voters for the general elections, there are 22 students, 13 farmers, and 14 housewives — making about half of the voting population.


By age, 51.11 percent of the registered voters are within the age of 18 and 35, making them the deciding demographic for the general elections.

Only 3.69 percent of voters are within the age range of the two leading candidates for the presidential elections; Atiku Abubakar and Muhammadu Buhari, who are over the age of 70.

Their vice presidents, Peter Obi and Yemi Osinbajo, belong to a voting bloc that boasts of about 15.22 percent of the total voting population.

The elections — presidential, national assembly, gubernatorial — are scheduled to hold on February 16 and March 2, 2019.


https://www.thecable.ng/breakdown-12m-housewives-14m-farmers-22m-students-the-registered-voters/amp

Reports reaching DAILY POST from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital have it that the Boko Haram militants have given residents of Jakana village along Maiduguri, Damaturu road from now till Wednesday to relocate.

Jakana is about 35 kilometres from Maiduguri and had witnessed series of attacks at the height of the crises in the northeast region.

It is believed that the village is also a route linking the Lake Chad region and Sambisa forest in Southern Borno.


Residents on Monday said often time, the Boko Haram elements crossover from the northern Borno to the southern part through Jakana.

A resident of Maiduguri, who claimed to have seen residents of Jakana village living their homes while coming from Damaturu, said they were moving out in their numbers.

Another staff of one of the organisations in Maiduguri told newsmen that, “One of our staff who came from Damaturu this morning informed us that people were leaving Jakana.”


He stressed that people should keep their ears open in case of any eventuality as that road is the most important route for people coming in and out of Maiduguri.

At the moment, there is no official communication from the security authorities as neither the police or the military has made any statement on the development.

However, residents of Maiduguri have been calling on their loved ones to double check on information about the road before plying when coming to town or going out to avert any uncertainty.

http://dailypost.ng/2019/01/07/boko-haram-residents-flee-insurgents-give-borno-community-3-day-ultimatum-relocate/

Mohammed Goni, a former governor of the old Borno state, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Goni governed old Borno State that comprised of present-day Yobe State, from 1979 to 1983.

Goni’s defection was disclosed by former Senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume when he led a delegation from the North-East to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Addressing State House Correspondents after the meeting on Monday, Goni said he defected to APC due to the respect he has for Buhari and what he has done to ensure that relative peace returns to the North-East.

“I know the president very well, I was the council secretary when he was governor of North-East. He is a performer,” he said.

Goni was also in the United Nigeria Peoples Party (UNPP) and was the party’s vice presidential candidate with former Anambra governor, Jim Nwobodo.

Goni was the governorship candidate of PDP in Borno State during the 2011 election.


http://dailypost.ng/2019/01/07/2019-ex-borno-gov-goni-dumps-pdp-apc-gives-reasons/

These people are not serious

The newly appointed head of election collation centre for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the 2019 elections, Mrs. Amina Zakari has denied having a consanguinity relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Her appointment has generated myriads of criticisms and arguments from opposition’s political parties, Nigerians and Presidency.

Zakari is a princess of Jigawa State. She was born on June 23, 1960 to the late Emir of Kazaure, Hussaini Adamu. She completed her elementary education at Shekara Girls Primary School, Kano in 1971 and had her secondary education at Queens College, Lagos. Amina Bala Zakari was the former Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Her appointment took effect from the directive of the President Muhammadu Buhari following the expiration of the tenure of her predecessor, Attahiru Jega on July 30, 2015. However, since her appointment, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has delved into captious publications, insisting that she has a blood relationship with Buhari. Presidency yesterday refuted the allegation and noted that Buhari and Zakari do not share a family relationship. In a statement disclosed by the Senior Special Assistant to Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Presidency averred that “An inter-marriage occurred in their extended families, so the imputation of blood relationship between the President and the electoral commissioner is a simple lie”.

Suffixing on Presidency postulations, Zakari in an interview with BBC News Igbo distanced herself from the niggling allegation that she is bloodily related to Buhari. Her words, “I am not his niece, I am not his cousin. I was appointed on this same particular job by Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010. Prior to that I was appointed an A.S to former president Olusegun Obasanjo, and I did my job perfectly”.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/im-not-buharis-relation-amina-zakari-speaks/

…FG bans Pinnick from travelling

Success Nwogu, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the prosecution of the President of the Nigerian Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, over an alleged multi-billion scam in the organisation.

It was also learnt that the Federal Government through the Presidential investigative panel headed by Mr. Okoi Obono-Obla, had placed Pinnick on travel ban.

Our correspondent gathered on Saturday that Buhari gave the order for Pinnick’s prosecution when the Obono-Obla presented a preliminary investigation report to him.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission also addressed a report on the NFF to Mr President detailing the outcome of their investigations which tallied with what Obono-Obla’s panel had submitted to the President.

EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu had in his six-page report informed Buhari that the anti-graft agency had investigated and prosecuted the Director, Finance and Administration, Christopher Andekin; Head,

Finance and Administration, NFF, Jafaru Mamzah and a cashier with the Finance and Administration department of the NFF, Rajan Zaka over an alleged financial scam in the football governing house in connection

with financial payments from Federation of International Football Associations and Confederation of African Football to NFF between 2014 and 2016.

But Buhari who was said to have been visibly angry over the alleged monumental scam ordered Pinnick to also be prosecuted. He directed Magu to embark on a wider investigation into the remittances to the


NFF between 2017 and 2018.

The president, who was reportedly shocked by the mind-boggling report and additional revelations directed Magu to ensure a comprehensive and discreet investigation with watertight and unassailable facts and

pieces of evidence that would nail the suspects at the court.

According to the EFCC preliminary report sighted by our correspondent, EFCC stated that it commenced full investigation into the finances of the NFF where it discovered that the domiciliary accounts of the NFF domiciled with Zenith Bank and UBA had received total inflow of $16,417,761 from FIFA and CAF between January, 2014 and June, 2016 as follows:

1. 18/12/2014 Zenith Bank, Ac No: 5070407456, $8,400,000 (FIFA); 23/01/2015, Zenith Bank, Ac No: 5070407456, $450,000 (FIFA); 25/03/2015, Zenith Bank, Ac No: 5070407456, $1,081,000 (CAF); 13/10/2015 Zenith Bank, Ac No: 5070407456, $3000 (CAF); 12/01/2014, UBA, Ac No: 3000004944, $1,500,000 (FIFA); 15/01/2014 UBA, Ac No: 3000004944, $1,746,745 (CAF); 19/03/2014 UBA, Ac No: 3000004944, $249,950 (CAF); 12/12/2014 UBA, Ac No: 3000004944, $301,467 (FIFA);14/05/2015 UBA, Ac No: 3000004944, $30,000 (FIFA); 31/07/2015 UBA, Ac

No: 3000004944, $315,149 (FIFA); 14/08/2015, UBA, Ac No: 3000004944, $399,000 (FIFA); 11/09/2015 UBA, Ac No: 3000004944, $300,000 (FIFA); 16/10/2015, UBA, Ac No: 3000004944, $850,149 (FIFA); 18/11/2015, UBA,


Ac No: 3000004944, $2,990 (CAF); 12/02/2016, UBA, Ac No: 3000004944, $79,540 (FIFA); 15/03/2016, UBA, Ac No: 3000004944, $299,000, (CAF); 22/06/2016 UBA, Ac No: 3000004944, $9,930 (CAF).

Magu in the report also informed Buhari that investigation into the case had been concluded. He added that Christopher Andekin; Head, Finance and Administration, NFF, Jafaru Mamzah and a cashier with the Finance and Administration department of NFF, Rajan Zaka were indicted and arraigned on October 15, 2018 before Justice P.O. Affem of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, No 19 Maitama Abuja on five criminal charges of conspiracy and criminal breach of trust by a public officer.

The EFCC’s boss further informed Buhari that the commission also received another petition dated April 24, 2016 captioned ‘Monumental stealing and financial crisis in the Nigeria Football Federation’, from James Peters of Amal Pepple Estate, Abuja.

He stated that in the course of investigation, the Minister (Sports) forwarded to the commission, documents in support of the petition revealing sponsorship deals amounting to N1.14bn and $1.55m via his letter No. HMY &SP/003/2018/55 dates August 7, 2018.

Magu said, “Investigation into this petition has so far established that the NFF has sponsorship deals with 21 corporate organisation. The investigation further revealed that between 2008 and 2018, 11 out of the 21 corporate organisations made sponsorship payment of N5,288,990,000 and $1,550,000 to NFF as against the amounted stated in the ministers’ letter under reference above.

“One of the companies appointed as financial consultant to the NFF is owned by the 2nd Vice President of the NFF in person of Alhaji Shehu Dikko. The audit trail of the funds and its utilisation is currently ongoing with a view to prosecuting anyone found culpable of any offence.”

https://punchng.com/breaking-buhari-orders-prosecution-of-pinnick-over-nff-multi-billion-alleged-fraud/

Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, on Friday declared that President Muhammadu Buhari will be disgraced like the Biblical Nebudchadnezzar.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain said Buhari will be brought to his knees and disgraced out of office in 2019.

Fani-Kayode, a fierce critic of the Buhari-led Federal Government, said this via his Twitter handle.

According to him: “Bible says touch not my annointed and do my prophets no harm.

“Scripture cannot be broken.God’s word shall stand.The vision is for an appointed time: though it tarry it shall not prove false.

“Like Nebudchadnezzar Buhari will be brought to his knees and disgraced out of office.”


http://dailypost.ng/2019/01/04/2019-youll-disgraced-office-like-nebudchadnezzar-fani-kayode-attacks-buhari/

President Muhammadu Buhari, Friday, in Abuja called on Nigerian youths to prepare themselves for political leadership as his generation will eventually quit the scene for the younger ones to takeover.

Receiving the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing led by the Acting National Leader, Kingsley Dozie Lawrence, President Buhari described Nigerian youths as very active and critically important in the Nigerian project.

‘‘Youths are very virile and active. A greater part of the Nigerian population is made up of youths. They must always be a factor at all times.

‘‘Youths must begin to groom themselves for the leadership of Nigeria.

‘‘I said this to the leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students yesterday (Thursday) – sooner than later we will leave the stage and you will takeover. You have to equip yourselves properly,’’ he said.

President Buhari welcomed the group for appreciating his administration’s effort in providing the much-needed infrastructure across the country and for ensuring that Nigerians celebrated the Yuletide with the availability and price stability of petroleum products.



‘‘I am glad you appreciate government’s efforts. That is why we are here to make a difference in the lives of Nigerians and on infrastructure, We will ensure that the resources of Nigeria work for Nigerians,’’ he said.

On the industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the President expressed the hope that ‘‘good reason will prevail’’ in the on-going talks between the Federal Government and representatives of the union.

Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing hailed the Buhari administration for stabilising the economy, improved security during the Christmas season and sustaining the development of infrastructure, particularly the Second Niger Bridge.

‘‘We, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing, are partners-in-progress in the Nigerian Project and will extend hands of partnership to any administration that guarantees the interest and welfare of Ndigbo.

‘‘There’s no gainsaying the fact that President Buhari’s administration has impacted the Igbos in some positive ways, but there are still areas the Igbos need more impacts,’’ he said.

The Youth leader, therefore, appealed to the President to make a categorical statement on the issue of Igbo Presidency in 2023, in addition to initiating a process for the creation of an additional State in the South-East, among others.

Meanwhile, DAILY POST reports that the Ohanaeze youth wing led by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and a coalition of other Igbo groups have since dismissed the youths on the entourage as impostors.

http://dailypost.ng/2019/01/04/details-buharis-meeting-igbo-youths-emerge/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it does not plan to remove Amina Zakari as head of the collation centre committee for the general election.

The commission also denied claims that by heading the committee, Zakari will be involved in the collation of results.

INEC announced Zakari as the head of the committee on Thursday when it inaugurated key committees for the election.

But some Nigerians including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) kicked against the decision.

The opposition party had said “there is no way Amina Zakari will not allocate votes to her blood relation, President Buhari” with her as head of the committee.

However, speaking during a Channels TV programme on Friday, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, INEC director of voter education and publicity, said Zakari’s committee is “basically in charge of the physical structure” (the International Conference Centre which is the collation centre).

“The chairman of INEC by virture of the electoral act is the returning officer of the country for the presidential election. It is he who decides the validity of votes and any issues in the election,” he said.

Osaze-Uzzi said Zakari’s committee is primarily “in charge of welfare”.

“She was also very involved in negotiating with the ICC management in 2015 for the use of the facility so her duty is to ensure the facility is ready. She has no role whatsoever with the process of collation,” he said.

Asked if INEC is “considering doing anything in terms of removing her,” he responded: “Removing her as the chairman of the committee to prepare the facility? That’s not an issue. It’s a needless controversy; not an issue at all.”

https://www.thecable.ng/inec-why-we-wont-remove-amina-zakari-as-head-of-elections-collation-centre

A national leader of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, and the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, were conspicuously absent on Thursday afternoon as President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated a campaign team formed and led by Aisha Buhari.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mrs Buhari, in an unprecedented move, announced the campaign team which will work alongside the official Presidential Campaign Council.

The campaign team is described as women and youth campaign team for the 2019 election.
The inauguration, which is holding at the Banquet Hall of the State House Presidential Villa, Abuja, began some few minutes after 3 p.m.

The team to be inaugurated is chaired by the president’s wife, Aisha, and co-chaired by the wife of the vice president, Dolapo Osinbajo.

Mr Buhari chairs the official APC Presidential Campaign Council. The council is co-chaired by Mr Tinubu and they are assisted by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Mr Oshiomhole.

Mrs Buhari had publicly criticised the APC and Mr OShiomhole over the handling of the parties primaries across the country.

Details later…

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/303924-just-in-tinubu-oshiomhole-absent-as-buhari-inaugurates-campaign-team.html

By Nwafor Sunday

Miffed with the controversial prophesies of men of God in Nigeria, Dr Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, Tuesday, advised Igbo to listen to him as a good prophet, noting that the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Muhammadu Buhari will win the forthcoming election.

Addressing stakeholders and candidates of the All Progressives Congress, at the Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Office in Awka, former Anambra state Governor, reeled out what Igbo will benefit if they re-elect Buhari.


He warned them not to be cowed by the opposition’s Peoples Democratic Party, PDP fake promises.

His words, “I’m a prophet the Igbo should listen to. I said it in 2015 and I am saying it again to Ndigbo that Buhari will win the 2019 presidential election convincingly.

“It will be good and in the interest of the Igbo if we give Buhari another four years. By then, it will be ‘a pass and pass out’ for him instead of giving these sugar-coated PDP deceivers the chance to come and destroy and take this country to the precipice again.

“Those who abandoned the party at the last minute, thinking the party would not win any election would live to regret it.

“We should give President Muhammadu Buhari maximum support in the 2019 general elections that is the only and shortest way to get the presidency for the Igbo.

“Restructuring by the PDP is a proper deceit because the issue of restructuring is a constitutional matter. Nobody can do it unilaterally without recourse to the National Assembly. Restructuring is a broad area.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/im-a-prophet-buhari-ll-win-2019-election-ngige-boasts/

The Nigerian Prison Service has barred friends and family members from visiting Deji Adeyanju in Kano prison.

The order came after a meeting between the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau and officials of the Nigerian Prison Service.

Deji was rearrested and charged for culpable homicide by the Nigerian Police, over a case said to have been decided upon by the Kano State High Court in 2009.

On Friday, December 21, 2018, he was remanded in prison custody after a Kano State magistrate court declined jurisdiction to hear the case. Meanwhile, on the same day, a high court in Abuja had ordered Adeyanju's immediate release from detention, a directive that was ignored by the Police.


A source close to the prison service revealed that the order was handed down after the Minister got a report that some members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), popularly known as Shi'ites, visited the activist in Kano prison.

It was gathered that some of the clerics from the sect paid a solidarity visit to him on Christmas Day, a move some people in government are said to not be comfortable with.

With this new directive by the prison officials, family members and friends will not have access to celebrate the beginning of 2019 with him.

http://saharareporters.com/2018/12/31/prison-officials-bar-deji-adeyanjus-friends-family-visiting-him

Suspected Boko Haram fighters who invaded Buni- Gari, a town in Yobe state, got more than they bargained for when some hunters engaged them in a fierce battle on Sunday.

A resident of the town who disclosed this to TheCable said the insurgents struck around 5pm.

He said though soldiers were not on ground when the attack was launched, the hunters succeeded in forcing the insurgents to beat a retreat.

More to follow…


https://www.thecable.ng/breaking-local-hunters-chase-boko-haram-fighters-from-yobe-town/amp

As the hide-and-seek game between Dino Melaye, the senator representing Kogi Central District in the National Assembly, and the Nigerian Police Force continues at his residence in Abuja, SaharaReporters can authoritatively report that the power supply to the lawmaker's house has been cut off by the security operatives, who have been keeping vigil at the house.

The Police had invaded Melaye's house on Friday, over allegations he was culpable in the shooting of a police officer in July 2018.

We'll Continue Waiting At Melaye's House Until He Surrenders Himself, Say Police
27 Comments 19 Hours Ago

According to a source, policemen have disconnected the building from the national grid with the view to rendering the home inhabitable.

Speaking on the incident via phone call on Friday, the lawmaker had said he would not be intimidated by the pressure and promised to honour the Police invitation as soon as he arrives Abuja.

http://saharareporters.com/2018/12/29/police-cut-power-supply-dino-melayes-house

The Nigeria Police Force has expressed its determination to stay at the residence of Dino Melaye, the senator representing Kogi West District in the National Assembly, until he surrenders himself for arrest.

According to a statement by acting DCP Jimoh Moshood, Force Public Relations Officer, Melaye is scheduled to face trial for his alleged culpability in the attempted murder of a policeman in Kogi State.

Moshood noted that the Force had written the clerk of the National Assembly calling on Melaye to report himself for investigation, but the lawmaker had "bluntly refused to report himself to the Police".

The statement read: "The Police operatives currently in the residence of Senator Dino Melaye are to effect his arrest to answer to the case of attempted culpable homicide on the shooting of a Police Officer, Sgt Danjuma Saliu, attached to 37 Police Mobile Force (PMF) while on duty at a stop and search point along Aiyetoro Gbede, Mopa Road in Kogi State.

"The above offence was committed by Senator Dino Melaye and his armed thugs in Kogi State on 19th July, 2018 when they shot and wounded a police officer, Sgt Danjuma Saliu, attached to 37 Police Mobile Force (PMF) while on duty at a stop and search point along Aiyetoro Gbede, Mopa Road in Kogi State. The Police officer is yet to recover from the gunshot injury he sustained during the attack and still under intensive medical care.

"The Police investigators have written the Clerk of the National Assembly for Senator Dino Melaye to report at Kogi State Police Command, CIID, Lokoja for him to answer to these offences against him under investigation in Kogi State Police Command but he has bluntly refused to report himself to the Police.

"The Police operatives will continue to be in wait at the residence of Senator Dino Melaye until he surrenders himself for arrest. The offence for which Senator Dino Melaye is being investigated is capital in nature and not compoundable.

"The Force will not tolerate attack on his personnel by any individual no matter how highly placed. The law must take its course. Members of the public will be kept informed on further development in the investigation of the matter."

http://saharareporters.com/2018/12/28/well-continue-waiting-melayes-house-until-he-surrenders-himself-say-police

President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Akwa Ibom State for the flag-off of his presidential re-election campaign.

Buhari arrived Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, on Friday afternoon.

He was accompanied to the stadium by politicians on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), amid chants of "four plus four" from the crowd, meaning a seconf term of four years in addition to the current term.

Leaders of the party are currently declaring the campaign open.


http://saharareporters.com/2018/12/28/breaking-buhari-hailed-four-plus-four-he-arrives-akwa-ibom-flag-presidential-campaign