₦airaland Forum

Friday Olokor, Abuja

A former chairman, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, Dino Melaye, has said he was born an actor and a politician.

Melaye made the claim in an interview with journalists in Abuja during the premiere of a movie titled, ‘Lemonade, written by Joy Idoko and produced by 100% Joy Media Productions, where he featured prominently.

He also explained that he participated in acting “to send a message to Nigerians”, ameliorate problems and “get Nigeria out of the cocoon.”

While calling on the government to create laws that would promote entertainment in Nigeria, Melaye said he participated in the movie “to send a message to Nigerians, to ameliorate our problems and to get Nigeria out of the cocoon will be a very strong way to correct the ills in the society.”

He said, “I am born both as an actor and a politician. The entertainment industry is a very strong sector of our national life that should be encouraged. It is richer than oil because oil is exhaustible but these ideas rule the world as I speak to you. I believe that entertainment industry is one of the strongest weapons that we can be used to ameliorate our problems in this country.”

Idoko said, “Lemonade is a movie I shot; it is very dear to my heart because the story about Lemonade is the story that a lot of people are going through. People talk about domestic abuse, domestic violence and all that but people don’t talk about emotional and mental abuse.

“The setting was Abuja and I decided to cast with Senator Dino Melaye because we wanted to cast a real life Senator, we needed to cast a politician and I didn’t want to cast an actor as a politician.”

https://punchng.com/i-was-born-an-actor-politician-melaye/

Ade Adesomoju, Abuja

Human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), who leads Mr Omoyele Sowore’s defence team, has asked the Nigerian Bar Association to take disciplinary actions against lawyers in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet over what he described as desecration of the court with Sowore’s rearrest at the Federal High Court in Abuja, causing a disruption of court proceedings.

He said his legal team would meet on Saturday to determine the next line of action.

He said there were 10 lawyers with four of them Senior Advocates of Nigeria, who ought to live up to their oath to defend the Constitution and other laws of the country, by ensuring that the rule of law was observed by the government.

The SANs in the cabinet are Vice President Yemi Osinbajon (SAN), Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Minister of State for Labour, Mr Festus Keyamo; and Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola.

He said, “Even though President Muhammadu Buhari has a duty to caution the Department of State Services, the blame of the desecration of the court today (Friday) rests squarely on lawyers in government, who are under a duty to ensure that the rule of law is observed.

The SANs in the cabinet are Vice President Yemi Osinbajon (SAN), Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Minister of State for Labour, Mr Festus Keyamo; and Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola.

He said, “Even though President Muhammadu Buhari has a duty to caution the Department of State Services, the blame of the desecration of the court today (Friday) rests squarely on lawyers in government, who are under a duty to ensure that the rule of law is observed.

“They have all taken the oath to respect the Constitution and other laws of the country. That Constitution guarantees the independence and impartiality of the courts.

“They therefore cannot sit in a cabinet under a regime that terrorises the courts and subverts the rule of law.

“It is a matter the Nigerian Bar Association should take up against the lawyers in the cabinet by instituting disciplinary proceedings against them.”

Faulting the arrest of his client, he described it as contemptuous.

He also noted that it was not backed by any arrest warrant or detention order of court.

He said, “There is no warrant of arrest, there is no detention order. What the DSS did today was the height of contempt of court.

“Nobody is above the law. You either abolish the courts or allow them to function effectively.

“This is a situation where the DSS operatives invaded the court and forced the judge to adjourn proceedings; they chased the judge out of her court, disrupted the proceedings and forced the judge to adjourn all cases.

“These are manifestations of fascism, which cannot be accepted in any civilised society. This has never happened in Nigeria where you take over a court forcefully in order to arrest an unarmed citizen.

“You remember that it was the illegal invasion of the National Assembly by masked DSS men that led to the dismissal of the former DG, DSS, by this government.

“So for the same barbaric conduct to occur again is unacceptable. This is a regime that parades 10 senior lawyers, including four Senior Advocates of Nigeria.”

Asked if he had been informed of any reason why his client was rearrested or whether he was going to be freshly, he said “no”

https://punchng.com/sowore-discipline-osinbajo-other-lawyers-in-cabinet-falana-tells-nba/

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri – Abuja

The Federal Government, on Friday, said it has succeeded in securing variation of the United Kingdom court order that previously mandated it to make a cash payment of $200million as security, pending the determination of the appeal it lodged against Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID) Limited, P&ID.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami made this known in a statement that was issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu.

He disclosed that the variation request which the UK court granted on Thursday, followed an appeal FG filed against the payment of $200m security component which was a condition for stay of execution of the judgment in favour of P&ID.

According to the statement, the Court granted FG’s request for variation of terms of the order seeking to provide a bank guarantee in place of direct deposit.

“Our application for variation of the order was allowed and we are as a result not making cash deposit but posting a bank guarantee,” the AGF stated.

He said: “We remain in control of our funds by the act of acceptance of the guarantee.

“The Government is not paying the $ 200m cash but positing a bank guarantee by the variation of the order.

“The advantage of the variation in the judgment from direct deposition of cash to posting of bank guarantee is that the money and its control resides in the Federal Government unlike when otherwise.

“The success recorded so far in relation to the $200m security deposit is that the amount of money remain in our custody, and we are simply providing a document.

“It is only when our case did not succeed, which we never anticipate, then the court can order the withdrawal the amount as stated in bank guarantee”.

Malami said FG’s requested for change in the method of paying the security deposit because it believed that the entire

contract would be quashed on the basis of fraud.

He reiterated Nigerian government’s commitment to vigorously pursue the case with a view to setting aside the $9.6billion judgement liability against the country, as well as quashing the entire controversial gas supply contract P&ID is laying claim to.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/11/pid-fg-secures-variation-of-uk-court-order-on-200m-deposit/

By Rasaq Adebayo

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has on Tuesday ordered the state’s Vehicle Inspection Officers, VIOs, to desist from operating during the morning period.

According to the governor, the move is to curb traffic gridlock experienced during the peak periods as it is perceived that VIOs contribute to the gridlock as they normally stop vehicles during peak periods to demand for vehicle documents.

The governor, who addressed newsmen after presiding over the Security Council Meeting at the State House, Ikeja, said VIOs would now operate on the road for only three hours.

According to him, the officers would now operate between 12.00pm and 3.00pm.

“We are going to restrict the operation of the men of the VIO to off peak period between the hours of 12 mid-day to 3p.m,” he said.

https://dailypost.ng/2019/11/27/lagos-govt-restricts-vios-from-morning-operation-gives-reason/

Chukwudi Akasike, Olaleye Aluko, Ademola Babalola, Ibadan, Sola Shittu, Raphael Ede and Sampson Itode

•ASUU members shun FG order, CONUA complies

There were indications on Tuesday that any federal university lecturers that failed to register for the Integrated Payment and Personnel Information System might forfeit their December salary.

The PUNCH gathered that officials at the Accountant General of the Federation Office had arrived at some universities and begun the enrolment of workers in the institutions despite the opposition of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

At the University of Port Harcourt, a top official, who does not want his name mentioned, said the Federal Government officials, who would carry out the enrolment of lecturers and others, arrived at the institution on Monday and had since begun the exercise.

The source told one of our correspondents that measures had been put in place to ensure that any lecturer who stayed away from the enrolment for the IPPIS would not get his or her December salary.

He disclosed that the government officials for the exercise were working directly with the university’s bursar.

“Those who don’t enrol will not get their salaries; it is as simple as that. Their salaries in this December may not likely come, unless they (government officials) did not finish their work in December. If they finish in December, that is when they stop paying those who refuse to enrol because the platform is to make people to stay in their universities and teach,” he added.

At the Ebitimi Banigo conference hall of UNIPORT, it was observed that an IPPIS enrolment requirements form was posted on one of the doors.

The requirements include letter of first employment, letter of last promotion, evidence of transfer (if any), staff identification card and birth certificate/declaration of age.

It was learnt that the officials would carry out the exercise for two weeks.

https://punchng.com/ippis-unregistered-lecturers-may-forfeit-dec-salary/

A federal high court in Abuja has threatened to jail Yusuf Bichi, director general of the Department of State Services (DSS), over the continued detention of Omoyele Sowore, convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement, and Olawale Bakare, an activist.

Ijeoma Ojukwu, the judge, gave the warning on Monday.

The judge had previously issued a “notice of consequences of disobedience of court order” otherwise known as form 48 on the DSS.

“Take notice that unless you obey the direction contained in the order of the federal high court of Justice, Abuja made on the 6th November 2019, which ordered you to release the defendants/applicants in suit no: FHC/ABJ/CR/235/2019 forthwith, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison,” the notice read.

“A copy of the said order of court earlier served on you is hereby annexed for your on the spot reference.

“This court has been informed that even as at today, Tuesday the 12th November 2019 you are yet to comply with the lawful order of the Federal High Court by refusing to release the defendants/applicants namely: Omoyele Stephen Sowore and Olawale Adebayo Bakare (Mandate) in your custody.

“You are hereby directed to comply with the court order forthwith or you will be guilty of contempt of court.”

The DSS arrested Sowore on August 3 and he has been in custody since then despite being granted bail twice.

The activist and his co-accused are standing trial on seven counts of treasonable felony, fraud, cyber-stalking and insulting President Muhammadu Buhari

https://www.thecable.ng/court-threatens-to-jail-dss-dg-over-failure-to-release-sowore/

Edward Onoja, deputy governor of Kogi state, has described Yahaya Bello as a “governor with swag”.

Swag is slang which loosely translates as being stylish.

In a tweet on Sunday, Onoja said Bello is his “boss, leader and friend”.

“My boss, my leader my friend. Governor with swag! Who want tamper there?” he tweeted.

Until last month, Onoja was the chief of staff to Bello. He emerged the deputy governor following the removal of Simon Achuba.

The Kogi house of assembly had removed Achuba under controversial circumstances.

Bello and Onoja were elected for a second term in last week’s election.

https://www.thecable.ng/extra-yahaya-bellos-deputy-describes-him-as-governor-with-swag/

Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayelsa State, has queried the decision of the state Governor, Seriake Dickson, to appoint 35 permanent secretaries three months to the end of his administration.
Dickson at the weekend inaugurated 35 permanent secretaries and a Commissioner, Mr. Felix Sam-Ateki and charged them to work with the incoming administration to ensure full implementation of the civil service reforms.

The governor said his administration would soon receive the formal report of the reforms which he noted would be one of the key documents to be handed over to the next government.

While congratulating the new permanent secretaries on their appointment, Dickson called on them to avoid partisan politics and focus on the execution of policies and programmes of government.

He said: “As you go to your various Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure the public/civil service is programmed and made ready to work and support policies and programmes of the next administration, you are not to dabble into the political squabbles of the day.

“You are not to be part of the dust of political conflicts . I charge you all to maintain neutrality and focus on the execution of the policies and programmes of government.

“I urge you all and the entire civil service to brace up to execute the policies of the government of the day loyally and as ably as you can.”

But the APC in a statement signed by its State Secretary, Alabo Martins, chided the governor saying that the party was aware of many clandestine indiscriminate employment going on across various MDAs without recourse to due process.

He said while they were not averse to such appointments, especially if they were in tandem with civil service rules and regulations, they had their reservations with regard to the timing of the appointments.

Martins said: “If the outgoing administration was aware of the existence of these vacancies in the top echelon of the public service of the state and that the situation was creating a lull in the service, why were the vacancies left unfilled until the eventide of the administration.

“No doubt, the appointments are in bad taste just as the motive is clearly political and an effort to put the popular in coming government on a bad light by ensuring that we are financially transgulated.

“We appreciate the fact that until February 14, 2020, the present administration has the constitutional powers to hire and fire but this responsibility should be carried out in the best interest of the state and its people. We must say that the present scenario is just for the satisfaction of some political interests and therefore falls far short of the wider interests of the state.

“We advise the Government to concentrate on completing uncompleted projects,such as the 8year old Isaac Boro express way. We also call on bayelsans to hold the restoration government response in the future if some of these decisions are reviewed for the betterment of bayelsa

“We are aware that employment is a means of empowering citizens of the state, mostly the youths. It curtails restiveness and other social vices in the state.

However, the employment of the the restoration government does not follow acceptable procedures, apart from the Forest Officers and few others.

“The government did not lift embargo on employment until January this year when one thousand graduates were employed. But, pockets of employment were carried out from time to time with names directly forwarded by His Excellency the outgoing governor”.

Martins said the appointments were supposed to be on geographical spread to the eight local governments areas but that they were one-sided with some local councils having more than others.

“The rules and procedures do not allow applicants to apply for employment directly to the Governor. But, this is practice in the state. Integration of officers from the plastic industry was haphazardly done. It created avenue for irregularities in the system which allows illegal employments into the civil service.

“This created irregular transfer of officers from one organisation or establishments to another under the governor’s directives. The officers are moved without promotions and were stagnated on grade level for example environmental sanitation authority staff moved to SUBEB, and from SUBEB to civil service. Then from SSSB/Radio Bayelsa etc to the international institute of tourism and hospitality and to the civil service.

“Transferring officers to MDAS without considering the promotion prospects and headship of department by deserving or serving officers.

No vacancy is sort in the relevant grade and cadre before the transfer is effected.

No proper applications and routing of letters by applicants before transfers are effected for some officers”, he said.

https://thenationonlineng.net/apc-kicks-as-dickson-appoints-35-permanent-secretaries/

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to address the issue of violence during elections in the country.

It advised the President to end all attempts to bring the issue of running for another term in 2013 to public discourse, saying “the issue of third term is a dead end.”

The party said this in a statement on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, a day after President Buhari said he has no third term agenda.

The President had told leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at a meeting on Friday in Abuja that he could afford to be reckless because he had no plans to remain in power after his second term.

In its reaction, the PDP faulted the violent incidents recorded in the just concluded governorship election in Kogi and Bayelsa States.

It asked President Buhari to focus his attention on how to tackle the killings and purported alteration of election results alleged by the ruling party under his watch.

“Touting a respect for the constitution as a way of bringing the issue to public discussion cannot give it a life,” the party stressed, adding, “The PDP notes that if President Buhari seeks to uphold the constitution, he should have used the APC NEC meeting to directly and strongly condemn his party’s resort to violence, killing, forceful invasion of polling units and alteration of results to seize power in the November 16th Kogi and Bayelsa states governorship election as well as the Kogi West Senatorial election.”

Probe Violence

The PDP asked President Buhari to summon the nation’s service chiefs and order a presidential investigation into the violence recorded in the elections.

It alleged that a police helicopter was deployed in one of the states to teargas voters, warning that “such a failure, however, registers grave meanings to Nigerians.”

“It is also unfortunate that instead of taking concrete and decisive steps to bring the perpetrators of the heinous crimes in Kogi and Bayelsa to book and give assurances of electoral reforms, Mr President is rather seeking to make discourse of an unattainable third term.

“The PDP urges Nigerians to note Mr President’s well-informed fears that the APC might not survive his tenure,” the party said.

It accused the APC of causing division and hardship in the country, saying that was why some Nigerians resorted to suicide and slavery mission abroad as options.

“… Mr President should know that Nigerians’ expectation of him, in this second and, of course, last term, is the restoration of rule of law and a legacy of electoral reforms that will guarantee free, fair and credible election in Nigeria.

“Anything short of this is unacceptable,” the PDP said.

https://www.channelstv.com/2019/11/23/tackle-electoral-violence-not-third-term-pdp-tells-buhari/

Nicholas Ibekwe

The United States government has charged the founder of Nigerian airline, Air Peace, Allen Onyema, with an alleged $20 million fraud and money laundering, the US Department of Justice, announced on Friday in a statement.

According to the indictment, Mr Onyema allegedly moved the funds from Nigeria through U.S. bank accounts using falsified documents in the purchase of airplanes. Charged alongside Mr Onyema is the airline’s chief of administration and finance, Ejiroghene Eghagha, who was indicted for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

In a bid to expand its regional and local operations, in September 2018, Air Peace placed an order for 10 Boeing 737 Max 8 and earlier this year the airline purchased 10 brand new Embraer 195-E2 planes from Brazil in a deal said to be worth $212.6 million.

According to U.S. prosecutors, in 2010, Mr Onyema opened several bank accounts in the U.S. and moved over $44.9 million into the accounts domiciled at Atlanta. In May 2016, Mr Onyema alongside Mr Eghagha, prosecutors said, allegedly used a series of export letters of credit to transfer more than $20 million into the bank accounts. The letters were used to fund the purchase of five Boeing 737 passenger planes. Prosecutors, however, said the letters were accompanied by fake supporting documents such as purchase agreements, bills of sale, and appraisals proving that Air Peace was purchasing the aircraft from Springfield Aviation Company LLC, a business registered in Georgia.

The investigators from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Treasury claimed that “Springfield Aviation Company LLC, which is owned by Onyema and managed by a person with no connection to the aviation business, never owned the aircraft, and the company that allegedly drafted the appraisals did not exist.”

“Eghagha allegedly participated in this scheme as well, directing the Springfield Aviation manager to sign and send false documents to banks and even using the manager’s identity to further the fraud. After Onyema received the money in the United States, he allegedly laundered over $16 million of the proceeds of the fraud by transferring it to other accounts,” the statement claimed.

“Onyema allegedly leveraged his status as a prominent business leader and airline executive while using falsified documents to commit fraud,” said Byung Pak, a US attorney

“We will diligently protect the integrity our banking system from being corrupted by criminals, even when they disguise themselves in a cloak of international business,” Mr Pak added.

“Allen Onyema’s status as a wealthy businessman turned out to be a fraud. He corrupted the U.S. banking system, but his trail of deceit and trickery came to a skidding halt. DEA would like to thank the many law enforcement partners and the subsequent prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office who aided in making this investigation a success,” Robert Murphy, the special agent in charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division.

“This case is a prime example of why IRS-CI seeks to partner and leverage its expertise in an effort to thwart those seeking to exploit our nation’s financial system,” added Thomas J. Holloman, IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office.

“With the importance of our banking system to the movement of money around the world, those attempting to use intricate schemes to commit bank fraud through the use of falsified documents and other means should know that the odds are now heavily stacked against them as law enforcement is combining its talents to protect the sanctity and integrity of the nation’s financial system,” he said.

“Onyema setup various innocent sounding multi-million dollar asset purchases which were nothing more than alleged fronts for his scam,” said acting special agent in charge, Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in Georgia and Alabama. “I’m proud to be part of a team of law enforcement agencies that come together to identify and attack criminals that attempt to profit from the exploitation of our nation’s financial systems.”

The Department of Justice, however, reminded the public that “the indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.”

Mr Onyema recently endeared himself to many Nigerians when his airline helped in evacuating hundreds of Nigerians caught in recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

In the heat of xenophobic attacks in September, his airline offered free travel to Nigerians willing to return to the country after several Nigerian businesses and nationals were attacked in South Africa.

He was lauded for the initiative and was honoured by the National Assembly for his patriotic effort.

Neither Mr Onyema nor airline’s spokesperson could be reached for comment at the time of publication. The story will be updated with their comments as soon as we could reach them.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/364724-u-s-government-charges-air-peace-founder-onyema-with-20-million-fraud.html

The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, PACAC, Professor Itse Sagay, SAN, has said only corrupt elites see no positive difference in the President Muhammadu Buhari-led anti-corruption war.

Sagay made the assertion on Wednesday in Abuja when he led members of the committee on a solidarity visit to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that PACAC was established in 2015 by the Buhari administration as part of deliberate efforts to combat corruption in the country.

PACAC’s mandates include the promotion of reform agenda in the anti-corruption crusade, advising on the prosecution of the war against corrupt practices and implementation of reforms in the nation’s criminal justice system

Acording to him, President Buhari’s administration has brought a paradigm shift in the anti-graft war.

“When Nigerians pretend by asking what difference has his government brought in the fight against corruption, it amazes me.

“For me, it is a sign of bad faith being expressed by the elites who were the beneficiaries of corruption.

“So, they are undergoing the pains of having to earn their living rather than simply collecting unearned money, easy money that used to go round the country.

“These are people who were building edifices without sign of employment of any sort,” Sagay said.

The professor of law attributed much of the success story to efforts of the EFCC, which he said had surpassed other agencies in the fight against corruption.

He said the recent arrest of former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke, in the United Arab Emirates was the latest in the EFCC’s achievements.

Responding, the Acting Chairman, EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, who reassured of the commission’s commitment to fighting corruption, stated “this is the mandate given to us by the president.

“We want to thank Sagay and his team for coming over because I see this visit as an oversight one.

“There is no money that can force Sagay and his team to come and pass commendation on the commission. We are proud of this gesture and we will keep taking what we are doing seriously.

“Anytime there is anything wrong, Sagay will call and shout at me by asking me to do the needful and I take correction quickly.

“And when he noticed we take correction, he will call and acknowledged, ” he said.

The EFCC boss said that the Commission had enjoyed lot of literature from PACAC which had served as guide for its operations, and assured that the commission would do the right thing always.

https://dailypost.ng/2019/11/20/sagay-reveals-those-questioning-buhari-govts-anti-corruption-war/

Success Nwogu and Daniels Igoni

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Seriake Dickson, has said leaders of the All Progressives Congress are using the image of former President Goodluck Jonathan to give legitimacy to the alleged electoral fraud the party committed during the just-concluded governorship election in the state.

Dickson, who stated this during a press conference in Yenagoa on Tuesday, said the move was a strategy designed by the APC leaders to justify the irregularities and the takeover of Bayelsa “by force.”

Some APC leaders, including the governor-elect, David Lyon; Governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru; Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu; and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipreye Sylva, had visited Jonathan after the APC defeated the PDP in the Bayelsa governorship election.

But Dickson said the APC leaders were aware that Jonathan did not contribute to their manipulation of the electoral process to gain the upper hand against the PDP.

The governor said, “That’s why they had to be taking David Lyon to him (Jonathan). They had to be talking about him; they had to visit him and appear to be celebrating a victory never earned.

“Like Pontius Pilate, they are preparing the window by which they will wash their hands strategically, and put it at his (Jonathan) doorstep; that he endorsed, sanctioned (and) legitimised it. That’s the game they are playing,” he added.

Dickson, who stated that he had “implicit confidence” in the judiciary to deliver justice on the pre-election related cases filed before it, called on the people to show restraint and not resort to violence.

Meanwhile, the PDP, on Tuesday, disowned a report that Jonathan risked suspension over the party’s defeat.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in an interview with one of our correspondents said he was unaware of any plan by the party to suspend Jonathan.

Ologbondiyan said, “I am not aware (that Jonathan faces suspension). I am not aware that the PDP is planning anything like that.”

https://punchng.com/apc-using-jonathan-to-legitimise-fraud-says-dickson/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the collation of results of the governorship election in Kogi State.

Details shortly…

https://www.channelstv.com/2019/11/17/breaking-inec-suspends-collation-of-kogi-election-results-till-monday/

Mansur Ibrahim

A collation officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kogi state on Sunday presented a N50,000 bribe politicians offered to a presiding officer in Igalamela-Odolu local government area of the state during Saturday’s election.

There was widespread financial inducement by politicians during the election.

The collation officer presented the money at the INEC headquarters in the state while submitting the result of the local government he coordinated.

More to follow…


https://www.thecable.ng/just-in-collation-officer-in-kogi-presents-n50k-bribe-offered-by-politicians/amp

BY DAVID O ROYAL

President Muhammadu Buhari has explained that 35 aides were not sacked from the Office of the Vice President instead they were redeployed to a new ministry.

The President who fielded questions from NTA State House Correspondent at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, upon his return from a private visit from the United Kingdom described the interpretations of his directives as a sack as ‘unfortunate’.

The President described what happened as a re-organisation and not a sacking, stressing that, a new ministry has recently been created, that is, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

“They said 35 people were sacked in the Vice President’s office but we just created a ministry and we reorganized but people are giving it an ethnic and political dimension. It is unfortunate,” the President said.

It would be recalled that while media report had widely reported the sack of 35 aides including the circulation of a list of those sacked, informed sources insisted that what the President directed was a redeployment and not a sack.

The President’s comment in the NTA interview last night on arrival from his UK private trip indicated that although some Presidential aides had confirmed the sacking of 35 aides, the President only gave express instructions for redeployment to ministries not sacking.

Meanwhile, President Buhari assured Nigerians that he was more energized and ready for work. “We are going to work harder to be accountable and try to make Nigerians see why we do certain things. Accountability from bottom to top is absolutely necessary,” he said.

It would be recalled that some people had reported and claimed that President Buhari had sacked 35 aides in the Office of the Vice President to whittle down the powers and influence of the Vice President.

Some also claimed that the sacking of the 35 aides were to reduce the influence of the Vice President ahead of 2023 elections and were masterminded by a certain cabal with the Presidency.

The Presidency has however always maintained that the President and his deputy, Prof Osinbajo enjoy a very good relationship.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/11/osinbajos-35-aides-buhari-clears-the-air-says-they-only-created-new-ministry-video/

The electoral commission, INEC, has reacted to a Federal High Court ruling which invalidated the candidacy of David Lyon, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming election in Bayelsa State.

PREMIUM TIMES reported Thursday how the High Court in Yenegoa, on Thursday declared that the APC does not have a governorship candidate in the election taking place on Saturday.

The court presided over by Justice Jane Inyang ruled that the governorship primary conducted by the APC in the oil-rich state was not done in compliance with the guidelines and the constitution of the party, and, therefore, the party has no candidate.

The APC is yet to react to the development, coming barely two days before electorates hit the polls. When contacted, the party’s spokesperson, Lanre Issa-Onilu, said it will soon communicate its reaction via a statement.

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday had also disqualified Mr Lyon’s running mate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, from participating in the forthcoming election on the grounds that he provided conflicting information on the documents he presented to INEC.

In its reaction, INEC said the election will go on despite the disqualification of the APC candidate.

“The court did not say INEC should stop the election”, said Sarian Dangosu, INEC publicity secretary in Bayelsa.

“The court only said those who do not have candidates will be disallowed therefore, the other 43 candidates will go to the polls,” she noted.

APC conundrum
Saturday polls in Bayelsa was expected to be a straight race between candidates of the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but for the controversy trailing Mr Lyon’s emergence.

Mr Lyon, a relatively unknown aspirant then, defeated five other aspirants in the APC governorship primary in September, including Heineken Lokpobiri, a former minister of state for agriculture and rural development, who was seen by many as a front-runner in the race.

Mr Lokpobiri scored 571 votes, the second-lowest in the primary, while Mr Lyon, who had the backing of the Minister of State for Petroleum and former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, had 42,138 votes.

Many party chieftains said the primaries left much to be desired, accusing the party national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, of conducting another undemocratic election.

Felix Oboro, a party chieftain and former senator from Bayelsa, said Mr Lokpobiri would have made a better governorship candidate for the APC.

He said Mr Lyon has an obscure background. Nobody knows anything about him, he said.

After the primaries, Mr Lokpobiri approached the court, asking it to declare him, and not Mr Lyon, the authentic candidate of the APC.

If Thursday’s ruling stands, the ruling APC will suffer yet another defeat caused by internal wrangling within the party hierarchy.

It was the same internal party crisis that caused APC loses in states such as Zamfara and with Rivers. In Rivers, the party’s candidates were disqualified before the general elections and thus could not take part while in Zamfara, the candidates who had earlier been declared winners were disqualified by the Supreme Court and opposition candidates then declared winners. Like Bayelsa, in both Rivers and Zamfara, the cases were taken to court by aggrieved APC members.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/362864-bayelsa-governorship-inec-reacts-to-court-judgement-disqualifying-apc.html

Simon Onu, a van driver with Bayelsa Radio, has been shot dead while several others sustained injuries at a political rally in Nembe Bayelsa state.

The gunmen were said to have invaded the rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday afternoon while the event was ongoing.

This is coming three days to the governorship election in the state

Fidelis Soriwei, spokesman of Seriake Dickson, the governor, alleged that the attack was carried out by thugs of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Thugs of the All Progressives Congress led by Gabriel Jonah and one Kodjo Samfired at members of the Peoples Democratic in a bid to prevent the gubernatorial rally of the party for Nembe Local Government Area,” Soriwei wrote on Facebook.


The attackers also opened fire at the Protocol bus of the Bayelsa State Government House at a junction between Bassambiri and Ogbolomabiri.

“One of the PDP members died of gunshot injuries while several others sustained serious injuries and have been rushed to the hospital.

“Meanwhile, Bayelsa State Governor, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, has insisted that the rally must go on.

“The Governor who condemned the violence urged the security agencies to take full control of the situation for the PDP rally to hold peacefully.”

Watch video of the attack below.



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


https://www.thecable.ng/driver-shot-dead-as-gunmen-disrupt-pdp-rally-in-bayelsa/

Sunday Aborisade, Abuja

The Senate on Wednesday approved the N10bn loan refund for Kogi State despite stiff resistance from the opposition senators.

No sooner had the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Loans, Senator Clifford Ordia, laid the report of his panel on the issue at plenary than the Senate President called for the debate on it immediately.

Details later.


https://punchng.com/breaking-senate-approves-n10bn-loan-for-kogi-amidst-protests/

Soni Daniel – Abuja

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured a 20-year jail term for Mr. Olanrewaju Kayode, a part-time examiner at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, for committing examination malpractice.

The sentence was handed down by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, after having found Kayode guilty of all charges preferred against him.

Kayode was a part-time examiner who assessed and marked students’ examination scripts in the Department of Accountancy at The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

He was arraigned by ICPC in June 2016 on a five-count charge for allegedly collecting various sums of money from five students of the institution and attempting to assist them to alter and secure higher examination scores on different scripts written outside the examination hall.

ICPC seizes 44 assets worth N14.7bn
All offences contravened sections 9, 9(2), 9(2a) and 10b of the Examination Malpractices Act, CAP E15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and punishable under the same.

The final judgment against Kayode was secured after the ICPC through prosecution counsel, Barr. Aderonke Bisi-Balogun proved beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed all the offences leveled against him.

Justice Abdulmalik, in handing down the judgement, stated that the convict was to serve four years jail term on each of the five counts bringing the total to 20 years imprisonment.

The sentence is to run concurrently commencing from June 20, 2016, the first day of his arrest.

A statement by the ICPC Spokesperson, Mrs. Rasheedat Okoduwa, and made available to Vanguard on Sunday, said the development marks a major victory against examination cheats in the country.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/11/ibadan-poly-lecturer-jailed-20-years-for-exam-malpractice/

The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami has extended the deadline given to the Nigerian Communications Commission NCC, on the reduction of data prices in the country.

The Minister had issued a five-day ultimatum to the regulatory body to meet with other stakeholders with a view to review downward the prices of data in the country.

He had argued that his office was inundated with complaints from concerned Nigerians about the high cost of data compared with countries with lesser population.

However, in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by the Minister’s spokesperson, Uwa Suleiman, the Minister noted that it had received NCC letter that action is being taken on the matter.

The statement reads : Following the five day ultimatum issued by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami to the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) on the 5th of November 2019, to resolve the challenges of illegal data deductions and review the cost of data downward, the commission has risen up to the task and efforts are in top gear to carry out the Minister’s directives.

“In a letter from the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), received by the office of the Honourable Minister on the 8th of November 2019, the telecommunications regulator, intimated Dr Pantami of the strategies been taken to stem the tide of short changing subscribers by Mobile Network Operators.

“In its earlier attempts to tackle the challenges, the Commission informed the Honourable Minister that it had issued a directive to all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) on the attendant penalties associated with Automatic Renewal and Forceful Subscription to Data and Value Added Services. The penalties include considerable financial sanctions on the erring operator.

“The letter stated that, in response to the directive of the Honourable Minister, the Commission reviewed the Nigerian Communications Act of 2003 on its rule-making powers and process. The Commission is in the process of carrying out a study on the End-of-Session Notification for Data Services and depending on the outcome, may issue a direction in accordance with the Act.

“Furthermore, in a bid to protect consumers, the Commission also notified the Honourable Minister of their regulation of the initial directive to include refunds to the consumer in established cases of unauthorized subscription.

“The Nigerian Communications Commission also assured the Honourable Minister that it has been working assiduously round the clock to enforce the Federal Government’s directives and has requested the good graces of the Minister to extend the deadline which expires today, 8th November 2019, to enable it properly re-strategise and fully implement long term solutions as directed, to the challenges.

“Dr Pantami has graciously granted an extension with the understanding that the Commission will resolve these issues within the shortest time possible.

“The Honourable Minister, hereby assures the general public that the current administration will neither tolerate acts of injustice nor the shortchanging of its citizens as it is working tirelessly to ensure that subscribers get full value for their money. “

https://thenationonlineng.net/breaking-minister-extends-deadline-on-reduction-of-data-price/

By Muideen Olaniyi

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday apologised as his security aides beat up a photojournalist with the Vanguard Newspapers, attached to the State House, Abayomi Adeshida. This happened at the State House Banquet Hall during the opening of the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission chaired by Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

This was two days after 35 aides of Osinbajo were reportedly sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a tweet, said the incident was “regretted”, but had been resolved “and I’ve apologised to him for any embarrassment caused.” Adeshida had alleged that he was taking shots of the vice president taking a tour of the exhibition stands at the event when five personnel of the Department of State Security pounced on him. He said Osinbajo was, at that moment, being presented a copy of magazine as souvenir at a particular stand.

Adeshida, who said he was not told what he did wrong, alleged that the security details hit and dragged him on the floor. Adeshida, who said his camera was damaged, added: “I was shocked when these DSS men started beating me for no apparent reason. They tore my Presidential Villa accreditation tag on the shirt and dragged me on the floor while hitting me and kicking me.”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/osinbajo-apologises-as-aides-beat-journalist-at-villa.html

…Stakeholders suggest solutions

Ade Adesomoju, Abuja

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), and others on Tuesday said corruption had not ended despite the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s efforts to stamp out the scourge.

Speaking at an event in Abuja, the stakeholders highlighted steps that needed to be taken to strengthen the government’s anti-corruption agenda.

The event, tagged, ‘One-day Dialogue Session on Strengthening the Anti-Corruption Agenda: Ensuring Accountability and Transparency’ was co-organised by PACAC and the Centre for Democracy and Development with the funding provided by MacArthur Foundation.

Others who delivered goodwill messages suggesting various ways of boosting the fight against corruption at the event included, the Director of CDD, Idayat Hassan, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Suleiman Kwari, and the Director, Africa office, MacArthur Foundation, Kole Shettima.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Special Services, Amina Shamaki, the SGF said the Buhari administration had since 2015 when it came on board, recorded “unprecedented level of successes” in the fight against corruption by securing “the most number of convictions, including very high profile personalities” and making “world record recoveries in terms of money and assets”.

But he said despite the successes recorded, the anti-graft war had not been won.

He said, “Nonetheless, we should not rest on our oars with the illusion that the war has been won despite the level of the successes I have enumerated.

“While the fight has been very successful in tackling monumental corruption, less grandeur cases are perceived and even reported.

“While the government has displayed uncommon courage to relieve its appointees especially, in its agencies, of their positions and responsibilities, there still exist some level of infractions on Public Procurement Act, and other laws. These tend to diminish the efforts of government in this direction.”

To end corruption, he said there was the need to bring about “innovative legislations, policies and measures to deal decisively with the lingering acts of corruption.”

He also said the roles of audit departments/units and auditors in aiding and abetting corruption in ministries, departments and agencies should be addressed.

He advocated that auditors who sanction corrupt payments should be prosecuted alongside the main culprits in corruption cases.

He added, “I should like to see the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation come up with innovative policies and measures to empower auditors to halt any payment that is clearly in breach of Public Procurement Act, Financial Regulations, Public Service Rules in particular, and other laws, in general.

“For such auditors that compromise, or are complicit, such policies and measures should isolate them for disciplinary action which should not preclude prosecution.”

On his part, Sagay said the consequence of corrupt acts, included “massive unemployment, unequipped clinics and hospitals, wretched schools, colleges and universities without facilities, bad roads, lack of electric power and so on.”

“Deaths on the roads, deaths at hospitals, deaths at maternity facilities, follow and militants, kidnappers, armed robbers, murders, suicides are also a direct product of this Nigerian culture,” he added.

As a short-term solution to the corruption problems, Sagay suggested that “the existing Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit structure be adopted as the centre of Nigeria’s intelligence databank for sharing information and intelligence on corruption.”

The CDD director, Hassan, who was represented by the organisation’s Senior Programme Officer, Lukman Adefolahan, also said “a lot more still needs to be done
to strengthen the fight against corruption, promote accountability and transparency”, despite “the great strides” that had been made in the fight against graft.

She added, “These different dimensions of corruption have characterised Nigeria’s landscape and by implication made it be consistently rated among the most corrupt countries in the world by Transparency International in its Corruption Perception Index.”

She called for “pragmatic measures to curb corruption” for Nigeria’s future given the implication of the problem on security, political, social, and economic prospects of the country.”

Senator Kwari said the Senate through its committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes “is also reviewing all the anti-corruption and financial legislations with a view to bringing them in line with current day realities and making them more effective.

https://punchng.com/corruption-hasnt-ended-despite-buharis-efforts-sgf-sagay-others/

John Ameh, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Mrs Sarah Omotunde-Alade, as Special Adviser on Finance and the Economy, the Presidency has said.

The office is domiciled in the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

“Dr Alade, who holds BSc (Economics) and PhD in Management Science (Operations Research), retired from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as Deputy Governor in 2017 after spending 23 years in the apex bank.

“She had also acted briefly in 2014 as the CBN Governor”, a State House statement by Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, said on Tuesday.

https://punchng.com/breaking-buhari-appoints-sarah-alade-as-sa-finance-and-economy/

Okoi Obono-Obla, former chairman of the Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), says he is being persecuted by the office of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo for his loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The SPIP was established to investigate cases of corruption, abuse of office and related offences by public officers.

In a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, the ex-SPIP chairman alleged that some principal members of the office of the vice-president asked him to compromise an investigation but he refused to do their bidding.

He said he is being persecuted for choosing to be loyal to the president, adding that he incurred the wrath of the office of the vice-president because he “refused to do their dictates and bidding”.

“My travails started with my appointment as Chairman if the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property in July 2017!” the letter read.

“The Panel was constituted when the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo was Acting President. He accordingly appointed one of his Special Assistants, Adeniran Gbolahan, as Secretary. Later I had a bitter disagreement concerning whether or not the Panel should wait for mandates from the Vice President before it can commence any investigation.

“The Secretary enjoyed the support of the Vice President through the Deputy Chief of Staff, Ade Ipaye. Mr. Ipaye sided Mr. Gbolahan against me.”

Obono-Obla alleged he was also encumbered from investigating cases of corruption among some members of the national assembly by the office of the vice-president.

“Mr. Ipaye then wrote a letter stopping an investigation of a case of contract scam reported by Nigerian Ports Authority….. In April 2018, Mr. Ipaye invited me to his office and instructed me not to proceed with the investigation of some members of the National Assembly,” he wrote.

“In February 2019, Mr. Ipaye wrote to me instructing me to suspend the activities of the Panel on the purported ground that Government was reviewing its operations.

“When the Secretary of the Panel, Mr. Gbolahan left in 2018, he was replaced by Mr. Obinna Ogwuegbu, a nominee of the Vice President who started another bouts of antagonism and malice against me on the prompting of Mr. Ipaye.”

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) declared Obono-Obla wanted.

The president also dissolved the panel pending the outcome of an investigation into allegations of forgery and financial impropriety against him by the ICPC.

But the ex-SPIP chairman said the ICPC is being used as a tool by the ”conspirators” against him.

“I have suffered so much persecution and witch-hunting because of the fact that I have carried out my assignment with patriotism, dedication, commitment and conviction. I don’t deserve this persecution and witch-hunt because of my refusal to be disloyal to Mr. President and allow the office of the Vice President to use the Panel to serve vested interest,” he said.

“The ICPC which is now being used against me is under the protege of the Vice President, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye. Professor Bolaji Owasanoye was part and parcel of the conspirators against me!

“I was also persecuted by the National Assembly! The whole issue of my purported certificate forgery was masterminded by the House of Representatives to get back at me because I had the guts to initiate an investigation against some powerful Senators.

Obono-Obla said he had called the attention of Buhari to the challenges, but nothing has been done.

“I am open to any probe but also the matters I investigate are facts against the Nigerian people and I’m not deterred. Someday Nigerians will know who their true enemies are,” he said.

“I had briefed Mr. President on the 13th June 2018 on all these interference and challenges but no action was ever taken to address all the concerns raised by me.

“In all of it all, I strove to do my job in a dedicated and committed manner. However, the most painful aspect is the hostilities I have faced ridicule and embarrassment to my person when I was being hounded and harassed without due process of being heard concerning any allegation against me.

“If I have done anything wrong, I should be removed from office but I should not be humiliated and reduced to nothing. It sends a wrong signal to me that I was given a job which merely exposed me to hatred and attack. And why should that be?”


https://www.thecable.ng/osinbajos-office-persecuting-me-for-being-loyal-to-you-obono-obla-writes-buhari/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has contacted ‘internationally certified’ auctioneers overseas to auction off the $40 million (about N14.4 billion) jewelry, recovered from a former Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.

EFCC acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu said 242 trailers and tankers recovered from internet scammers will also be auctioned off.

Magu spoke at the commission’s Lagos Office at the ongoing EFCC stakeholders conference on crusade against cybercrime fraudsters.

Details shortly…

https://thenationonlineng.net/breaking-efcc-invites-foreign-auctioneers-to-sell-diezanis-n14-4bn-jewelery-houses/

By Nwafor Sunday

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, has on Tuesday said that it would lead the 2023 National Committee on Igbo presidency project to visit some prominent Nigerians, informing them on the need to support an Igbo stock come 2023.

Abia Assembly concludes capacity building workshop(Opens in a new browser tab)
The group said that the likes of the former aviation minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Ango Abdullahi, Junaid Mohammed, ACF Scribe Sani, and Coalition of Northern Groups would be consulted.

Disclosing this in a statement duly signed by the groups Deputy President General, Comrade Obinna Achionye, and the Secretary General, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the group opined that South East should be encouraged to produce a president.

The statement reads thus:

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide lauds Nigerians irrespective of tribe and religion who believe in the principle of equity, justice and fairness in the country.

“For proper integration, Unity and maintenance of healthy democracy, the South East should be encouraged to adopt the Yoruba Model of 1999, and Northern Model of 2019 were major political parties in 1999 adopted all Yoruba candidates and in 2019 were PDP and APC featured all Northern Presidential Candidates!! They should respect the rotational Presidency structure. What is good for the Goose is also good for the Gander.

“A Nigerian President of Igbo stock will soon emerge, and we have activated Unity of purpose among the ranks and files stakeholders of Igbo.

“The 2023 National Committee on Igbo presidency project, a new political organ and platform that will independently drive the 2023 Igbo Presidency project has emerged.

“It is an assemblage of tested sons and daughters with proven track record of accomplishment in their various areas of expertise and human endeavour.

“They have devoutly placed the collective bargain and aspirations of Igbo ahead of other interests.

“These persons are determined through moral persuasion and well articulated Master plan designed by late Chuba Okadigbo of blessed memory, as a guiding principles and Compass to methodologically and systematically build bridges across the country and form alliances with all, and consciously ensure the enemies within are suppressed with truth and reconciliatory measures to prevent the repeat of Jos Convention PDP 98, were few Igbo leaders sold out against Dr Alex Ekwueme.

“This committee will be under Natural oath of allegiance to the great Igbo deity, never to betray this Igbo Presidency project whose time has come. There’ll be effort to address Biafra agitators to mellow down and allow God’s will to be done.

“After due consultations with all the 69 OYC affiliated groups, students Union leaders, opinion and Community based leaders, respected and erudite statesmen, Igbo Traditional Rulers, Religious leaders, Women leaders and importantly our politicians, it’s collectively resolved that Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro should head the 27 Man-2023 National Committee on Igbo presidency project, with a clear mandate to reach out to all and Sundry especially those detractors who are yet to see why their Zones shouldn’t hold on to power beyond 2023.

“There’s nothing amiss like in a multi party democracy, to engage your opponents through fruitful discussions, dialogue and moral persuasive speech aimed at Cross fertilizing ideas on Igbo presidency project.

“On that note, ACF Scribe Sani, Junaid Muhammed,Anglo Abdullah, FFK, Coalition of Northern Groups and other Critics, as well as those who had openly declared support for the Igbo Presidency struggle are top of the list to be consulted.

“We insist everyone will be consulted to gain confidence of all Nigerians before the end of 2021.

“Igbo Youths wish to state categorically that the current 2023 Igbo Presidency National committee is open to all Nigerians to join not necessarily limited to Igbo folks.

“It’s subject to ratification and review periodically to fine turn with the realities on ground and consideration to the fact there will be attempt to blackmail or canjole or derail this people’s movement.

“We are fully aware of the fact that some elders who are advised to play advisory role may not be comfortable with the new role, but we assure them only their blessings are required until 2023 Presidential election draws nearer, were they’ll openly play prominent roles.”


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/10/igbo-2023-presidency-well-consult-fani-kayode-ango-abdullahi-junaid-mohammed-others-ohanaeze/

Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

LABOUR leaders said on Monday they will insist on the ‘consequential increment’ in their negotiation with states on the payment of minimum wage.

Any governor not ready to pay should be ready for a showdown, they threatened.

Labour leaders who spoke in separate interviews with our correspondents, ;the union leaders were united that states should pay as expected.

Secretary-General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Musa-lawal Ozigi, said: “The governors are jokers. You know why? Because they were part of the minimum wage committee, they cannot say they don’t know what happened. The state governments are only playing games. They were represented in the minimum wage committee. They cannot come round to deny their responsibility. They are simply courting labour anger and we are ready for them.

“The statement is only to test Labour’s resolve to ensure that the dividend of minimum wage gets to everybody and we are ready for them.

“All the governors in Nigeria receive the same salaries. Even the states that cannot produce anything, they receive the same salaries with states that can produce something. So, they cannot also deny their workers what they should get.

“We have finished battling with the Federal Government and the consequential increase has been signed. It is time to go to the states to ensure that justice is done to everybody.

“Once the template we signed with the Federal government is passed to the states, we will then know which state said it cannot implement or pay. The template is not for negotiations but for implementation.

“We are not asking the federal government to help us in telling states what to do with the template. Labour will do its own job.

The General-Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Emmanuel Ugbaoja, said: “It will be a function of collective bargaining and not a function of directive from a governor. The leadership of labour in the various states will negotiate with the government in those states.

“We are done with that of federal government the negotiation moves to the state level. That’s what the situation is.”

NLC Deputy President, Comrade Amaechi Asugwuni, who appeared on Politics Today on Channels Television yesterday, said labour would apply other tactics to get governors to comply with the implementation of the new minimum wage.

Asugwuni said: “It is true that every state will have to re-engage labour at the state level. It is going to be a product of collective bargaining at the level of the state. The Joint Negotiating Council and the state government will look at the agreement at the federal level using it as a guide to also produce their own table at the state level.”

https://thenationonlineng.net/were-ready-for-them-say-nlc-tuc/

President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja Monday for Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to attend the third edition of the Future Investment Initiative organised by Saudi’s Public Investment Fund.

According to a release posted on the Instagram handle of a presidential aide, Buhari Sallau, the theme of the programme is, ‘‘What’s Next for Global Business?’’

The statement revealed that the event, which holds from Tuesday, October 29 to Thursday, October 31, will focus on three key pillars: Sustainable Future, Technology for Good and Advanced Society.

“The three-day event will be held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia and chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, deputy premier, chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs and PIF.

“Given the increased investor confidence in Nigeria’s economy, President Buhari will use the occasion to speak about the economic opportunities that abound in Nigeria, the effectiveness of his administration’s policies to improve the business environment, and invite investors to the country,” the release noted.

Continuing, it said, “It is noteworthy that the total value of capital inflow into Nigeria increased from $12bn in the first half-year of 2018 to US$14 billion for the same period in 2019.

“The Nigerian delegation will leverage on the resources in Saudi’s PIF, which aims at becoming one of the largest and most impactful sovereign wealth funds in the world, to seek foreign investments in critical projects in the country’s oil and gas sector, particularly the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas Pipeline – the 614 km-long natural gas pipeline currently being developed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

“Nigerian officials will see also take advantage of the summit to accelerate discussions on the planned interest of the Saudi oil company, Aramco, to revamp Nigeria’s refineries and new investments in the oil and gas sector.”


https://punchng.com/buhari-leaves-for-riyadh-on-monday/

Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

THE federal government has voted N793 million to restart the Integrated Almajiri, Qur’anic and non-formal schools into formal education in ten states.

The new pilot project is expected to take no fewer than 10 million out-of-school children who are mostly Almajiris off the streets to acquire education and skills.

The government said that the existing Almajiri/Tsangaya schools lack vocational skills. The pilot test will take off in nine states, eight of them in the north and only Oyo State in the south.

The other states are Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Niger, Adamawa, Bauchi, Yobe and Jigawa.

The new project will be implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education through the Universal Basic Education Commission in collaboration with states Ministries of Education, State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) and the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies.

The government has voted N416 million for the project in 2019, N329.3 million in 2020, N36 million in 2021 and N11.7 million by 2022.

The government stated these in the Short and Medium Term Blueprint/Work Plan on the implementation of Education for Change: A Ministerial Strategic Plan (MSP) document obtained by The Nation in Abuja.

The government noted that by 2021, all Almajiri children would be fully integrated into formal school system.

According to the government, the previous 157 Almajiri/Tsangaya schools built by the federal ministry of education and handed over to states as provided for by law were abandoned.

The government blamed this on lack of sensitisation of religious community leaders and other stakeholders on the programme.

To avoid a repeat, the government said that it would hold series of meetings in four geo-political zones with the highest concentration of Almajiri children while a campaign on the new project would be held in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to get a buy-in for the new project.

https://thenationonlineng.net/almajiri-education-fg-votes-n793m-for-almajiri-education-in-kano-oyo-seven-others-state/

By AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

Six female students, Vice Principal and Matron of Engravers College, Kaduna who were abducted earlier in October have regained freedom.

The school girls and their teachers were kidnapped by gunmen during a midnight attack on the boarding secondary school on Thursday, 3rd October.

Kaduna Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the development in a statement Saturday morning.

According to Aruwan: “The students and staff of the Engravers College who were abducted have regained their freedom today, Saturday, 26th October 2019.

“We are relieved that this criminal violation of the right to liberty is over and that they are all back safely.

“The victims, most of whom are minors, and their families will now be focusing on recovering from this undeserved trauma. We appeal for considerate reporting of their ordeal and respect for their privacy.

“As we continue to combat banditry, kidnapping and other crimes, the Kaduna State Government urges all our communities not to give comfort to criminals by dividing victims and inserting ethno-religious narratives for the activities of ruthless miscreants.

“The state government calls for vigilance in all our communities and continued cooperation with the security agencies in this battle to secure our state and all who live in it.” He said.

It was however gathered that N13.6 million ransom was paid for the relaese of the eight victims.

The Nation recalled the kidnappers had demanded N20million ransome for each of the abductees,after dropping initial collective demand of N50million.

https://thenationonlineng.net/just-in-n13-6m-ransom-paid-as-kaduna-school-girls-teachers-regain-freedom/

I have no information on the status of the CCTV —Finance Minister

The House of Representatives Committee on Finance has demanded further explanations on the $460m Abuja CCTV project from the Ministry of Finance.

Chairman of the committee, Rep. James Faleke (APC-Lagos), at a budget defence session with the ministry on Thursday in Abuja, said there was the need for Nigerians to get value for monies paid.

“Before this administration, we collected some loans and the one that strikes me the most is the $460m for CCTV installation in Abuja.

“I want to know the position of this loan. I am sure we are paying back, but the CCTV is not working.

“Any time we take loan from China, the Chinese will come and do the job, they will bring all their equipment, the personnel and the goods and yet we do not have value for the money, especially that of the CCTV.

“Where are we? I need you to look into it and send us a memo on this particular project,” he said.

Responding, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, said Nigeria was servicing the loan but she had no explanations on the status of the project.

“We are servicing the loan, but on the project, we will have to ask the Federal Capital Territory Authority because the project was deployed in the FCT.

“I have no information on the status of the CCTV.

“The conditions of the loans that we take from China always will be that a Chinese company will provide the infrastructure services.

“These are loans that are of three per cent, the rail lines are being rolled out, the Abuja-Kaduna, Lagos-Ibadan rails are all loans from China and are being executed by Chinese companies,” she said.

Ahmed said the Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano airport rehabilitation projects were done by Chinese companies and were supervised by the relevant ministries and the National Assembly to ensure quality work.

She said there were a lot of Nigerians working with Chinese on the projects.

(NAN)

https://punchng.com/reps-balk-as-nigeria-repays-460m-chinese-loan-for-failed-abuja-cctv-project/