seunmsg:
Audu is the most popular politician in kogi state right now. He will most likely win the election especially, since his major opponent will be the under performing Gov. Idris Wada.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Thursday said it had apprehended another employee of Arik Air, Ikechukwu Chibuzor Oliver, for his alleged involvement in the smuggling of 20kg cocaine to London on Monday.
According to the NDLEA, Oliver had confessed to the crime and had revealed that he charged N400,000 for each of the three bags containing the substance.

Oliver, Arik Air’s employee in the catering department, was said to have assisted Chika Egwu Udensi to get the cocaine onboard the London-bound Flight W3101 on which Udensi arrived in the UK on Monday night.
Udensi, a senior flight attendant with the airline was arrested with the substance by the UK Border Force at the Heathrow Airport, London, shortly after the Airbus A330 landed.

The NDLEA, in a statement, said 35 years old Oliver, who is a catering loader at Arik, was found to have subverted airport security by concealing cocaine in catering supplies.

The statement by the anti-narcotics agency’s spokesman, Mitchell Ofoyeju, indicated that preliminary investigation had revealed that both Oliver and Udensi had been infiltrated by a suspected drug cartel.
Ofoyeju said Oliver had told narcotic investigators that he was
brought into the illicit drug deal by Udensi.

The NDLEA’s statement quoted Oliver to have said, “It was Chika that introduced me into the drug deal. Whenever Chika gives me the drug, I will hide it in catering supplies. Chika knows where to collect the drug inside the flight. They pay me N400,000 per bag. I was expecting N1.2m for the three bags that I smuggled into the aircraft.”

The statement added,“The 20kg of cocaine found with Chika in London was concealed within the construction of laptop bags. The quantity and estimated street value of the cocaine is over N100m.

“The latest Range Rover (Land Rover) car belonging to the prime suspect parked on the airline’s premises had been moved to the NDLEA office as exhibit.

“As part of investigation, the rented apartment of Chika on Pastor Ojediran Street Ejigbo, Lagos was searched by operatives of the NDLEA. He lives there with the mother and siblings while his wife and children are based in Canada.”

Oliver hails from the Isialagwa North Local Government Area of Abia State. The graduate of Business Administration was employed by Arik Air in 2009.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Ahmadu Giade, has directed that, henceforth, all airport workers must be extensively screened.

Giade said, “The agency has taken drastic measures to avert infiltration of airport workers by criminal syndicates. Airline officials and airport workers shall be subjected to comprehensive search. The NDLEA will resist any act capable of undermining security at all entry and exit points.”

The NDLEA boss stressed that all catering trucks, luggage trucks, aviation fuel tankers, machines and personnel whose duty directly or indirectly related to the tarmac and flight operations would be subjected to full screening.

Following Udensi’s arrest, operatives of the agency had on Wednesday besieged and occupied his Lagos house. The NDLEA stormed the house after they had interrogated pilots and flight attendants in the flight that left the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The Federal Government has asked the Ministry of Works to review the Second Niger Bridge contract and justify its actual cost.

The Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Aminu Dikko, disclosed this to State House journalists on Wednesday after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on the activities of the commission.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan had in 2014 flagged off the N117 billion Second Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State.

The project, awarded to Julius Berger in a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, is expected to link business arteries of the South East with the South West and North.

Jonathan had then announced that in order to facilitate timely delivery of the contract, his administration had made a commitment to contribute 25 percent of the construction cost in the sum of N30 billion, assuring that the project would be delivered in four years.

[b]But the ICRC boss said on Wednesday said that the commission had seen a lot of issues in the project which it was uncomfortable with and had been discussing the transaction with the Ministry of Works.

"The Second Niger bridge is one of the projects we discussed with the president. We did say yes, it is in the commission for regulatory oversight. We have been discussing the transaction with the Ministry of Works. But before it can be finalised, the commission has to give a certificate of compliance.

But we haven't proven that because we've seen a lot of issues that we're uncomfortable with. We're talking with the ministry of works for them to correct it. The communities around that area are clamouring that their lands have been taken and that they've not been compensated adequately.

"As a matter of fact, we got a letter from Onitsha Traditional Council complaining that they've not been adequately represented in this transaction. This kind of issues, we're not saying that something has not been done properly, but we need to be convinced that these few problems are sorted properly.

We will also talk about the actual cost of the bridge. Eventually, we have asked the Ministry of Works to review it and justify how much the project should cost", he said.

Dikko, who hinted that Buhari raised the issue of PPP transactions, said though the ICRC regulates how such transactions come into being, they have to be developed before they come into effect.

He said Buhari had directed that ministries, departments and agencies should ensure they have adequate funding for project development in their budgets and that if they do not, they should look for alternative ways of getting such funding.
[/b]

Ijaya123:
A crew member using the latest Range Rover? This got me thinking...

TheImp:
Tinubu is out for Fashole a thief chasing a thief.

The Unity Forum in the Senate is insisting on Alhaji Ali Ndume stepping down as Senate Leader and Alhaji Bala Ibn Na’Allah as Deputy Senate Leader as a condition for working with Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Members of the forum want Dr. Ahmed Lawan as Senate Leader with Sen. George Akume as his deputy in line with the recommendations of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

It was learnt that the new peace terms accounted for the refusal of the South-West Caucus to fill the slot of the Chief Whip of the Senate allotted to it.

But loyalists of Saraki yesterday said “the conditions are like turning back the hand of the clock.”

Some pro-Saraki Senators prefer juicy committees for those in Lawan’s camp.

Lawan’s supporters, according to investigation said that Saraki cannot be seeking reconciliation without making concessions to show respect for party supremacy.

It was gathered that the two sides had met with President Muhammadu Buhari on how to restore the lingering Cold War in the Senate.

While pro-Saraki Senators are pushing for an unconditional reconciliation, those in Lawan’s camp said the Senate President should defer to the party and the crisis will be over immediately he does so.

A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The loyalists of Saraki met with President Muhammadu Buhari for reconciliation without making any concrete offer to pacify the aggrieved.

“They only said if all the parties are reconciled, they know what to do to accommodate all. That is a flat and tricky reconciliation proposal.

“They were not forthcoming on the fate of Lawan and Akume who are central to the politics in the Senate.”

A respected Senator said: “The aggrieved Senators want Ndume and Na’Allah to step down for Lawan and Akume in line with the wishes of the party. They said the day Saraki defers to the party, the disagreement within the APC Caucus in the Senate will end.

“The Lawan group said it has nothing personal against Saraki but he should make concessions too in order to put the crisis behind the Senate. The loyalists of the President of the Senate want to eat their cake and have it.”

A third source said: “When the Abdulsalami Committee members met with Saraki, they expressed concern that the crisis in the Senate was heating up the polity.

“They also advised Saraki to accommodate all and ensure reconciliation to stabilize the Senate.”

As at press time, it was not immediately clear if Ndume’s recent shuttles to the South-West were connected with the demands of the Lawan group, the position of the South-West Caucus or the peace terms of Saraki.

“I know Ndume is unrelenting in his shuttles and talks with party leaders. He seems to be playing the role of a crisis manager now, the source added.

The letter, referenced APC/NHDQ/NAM/01/015/05, said: “Please find below for your necessary action names of principal officers approved by the party, after excessive consultations for the 8th Senate as follows: Sen. Ahmed Lawan (Majority Leader)–North-East; Prof. Sola Adeyeye (Chief Whip)–South-West; Sen. George Akume (Deputy Majority Leader) —North-Central; and Sen. Abu Ibrahim (Deputy Chief Whip) —North-West.”

But adopting Caucus Politics to sideline the Lawan group, Saraki’s power sharing formula led to the emergence of the following principal officers: Ali Ndume( Senate Leader); Bala Ibn Na’Allah( Deputy Senate Leader); Francis Ailimikhene (Deputy Chief Whip).


Although the office of the Chief Whip was ceded to the South-West, Senators from the geopolitical zone have spurned the offer from Saraki.

The Senators from the South-West insisted that Lawan and Akume must be accommodated before considering any offer from Saraki.

A Senator said: “Our colleagues from the South-West prefer not to fill the Chief Whip slot at all if Saraki does not make concessions.

“So far, they have spurned the office in spite of the fact that a high-ranking Senator, Prof. Sola Adeyeye, has been recommended for it.”

Lagos – The Lagos State Police Command on Saturday said it had arrested one Friday Aguibosim for allegedly impersonating former Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Kayode Aderanti, who had been transferred to Abuja.

According to a police source, who did not want his name mentioned, the 27-year-old Aguibosim was arrested on Aug. 12 for opening a Facebook account in the name of the former Lagos commissioner of police.

“The suspect opened a Facebook account in the name of the former Lagos CP and requested policemen who wished to go on a peace keeping mission to pay money into a particular Fidelity Bank account.

“The account was traced to the suspect at Ihiala, Anambra before he was arrested,” he said.

The source said that Aguibosim had an accomplice, one Emmanuel Ekene, who also operated another Fidelity Bank account but the police said they were still on his trail.

The suspect, however, told NAN that it was his cousin, one Victor Uzogba, who received money through the account which he later learnt was fraudulent.

“My cousin said I should give him my account number that somebody wants to deposit money into the account and I asked him what about his own account.

“He said he had no ATM card for his account and so, I gave him my account. Later that day somebody paid N30, 000 into the account. I withdrew the money with my ATM card and gave it to him.

“The police later came and arrested me after tracing the account to me. I have been trying Uzogba’s telephone line since then but it is not reachable.

“It was when I was arrested that I was told that he has a Facebook account which he is also using to defraud people,” the suspect said.

The source said that the police were making efforts to arrest his accomplice currently at large. (NAN)

A new innovation that would enhanced better relationship between oil companies and host communities is in the offing, as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has hinted that it may settle for the option of community-based policing to protect the vast artery of oil and gas pipeline network across the country.

Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, group managing director, NNPC, disclosed this while receiving Perry John Calderwood, the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, during a courtesy visit to the NNPC Towers, Abuja.

Kachikwu pledged to give a lot of attention to the perennial menace of pipeline vandalism and oil theft, saying, “I intend to give a lot of energy to the issue of oil theft and pipeline vandalism. We must keep the losses from oil theft to the lowest figure possible.

“I don’t believe in the arm-for-arm approach, we must engage the host communities and inculcate in them the need to see the assets in their domain as their own.’’

The NNPC boss noted that in the months ahead, the Corporation would initiate discussions with community leaders and interest groups with a view to fashioning out a workable community oriented pipeline protection format with less emphasis on the use of brute force to secure the lines.

On the state of the refineries, he solicited for support from Canadian companies and service providers, stating that Nigeria could make do with Canada’s vast experience in refining and expertise in oil and gas operations.

In his response, Calderwood said the Canadian government and business entities were willing to work with the NNPC in growing the Nigeria oil and gas industry to enviable heights.

SupremeCourt justices and judges serving on nine election petitions tribunals have been placed on a security agencies’ watch-list, it was learnt yesterday.

The tribunals are those of Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Yobe, Gombe, Benue, Plateau, Kogi, Delta and Taraba states.
Besides, a governor and a former governor are being investigated for allegedly offering to pay for some judges’ vacation trips .

According to sources, the Federal Government is disturbed that some governors and candidates in the last general elections have become desperate in their bid to influence tribunals.

It was gathered that some petitioners and defenders had been dangling mouth-watering bribes before judges to sway judgment in their favour.

The development was said to have irritated the Muhammadu Buhari administration, which asked security agencies to bring errant judges to book.

It was learnt that the row generated by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike’s controversial visit to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmood Mohammed, has further motivated the government to ask security agencies to watch and protect judges.

“The new administration is out to protect the sanctity of the judiciary. The era of impunity, judgment-fixing and hijack of the court or tribunals for selfish ends is gone,” a source said.

It added: “The position of the Buhari administration is that each litigant and respondent should go to the tribunals to defend his or her petition. This position applies to all political parties.”

It was learnt that security agencies have been trailing a governor and a former governor who offered to pay for some judges’ vacation trips.

“The serving governor has been boasting that there is no judgment he cannot fix because he has the head of one of the courts at his beck and call. He also said he will be paying for vacation trips of some judges.

“The former Chief Justice of Nigeria threatened to sanction the said head of a court when insinuations of his under-the-table deals got to her.

“The ex-governor is also noted for bragging that there is nothing money cannot buy.”

A source at the Supreme Court, who spoke in confidence, confirmed the development.

The source said: “All judges are really on security watch-list, including those at the apex court. The security agents were called in to monitor judges and movement of money.

“There is no tribunal sitting without any official of the Department of State Services attached to it.

“But there are more discreet security personnel putting close tabs on election petition tribunals than those officially attached.

“The position of the government is that these judges must be allowed to discharge their duties without fear or favour.”

Determined to stave off pressure from election petitioners, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, recently banned politicians from his residence – a developmentThe Nationreported exclusively .

He also directed that his security detail from the State Security Service (SSS) and police orderly will henceforth be part of any interaction with Politically Exposed Lawyers seeking audience with him.

The CJN has limited official courtesy calls by governors with outstanding petitions against them at election tribunals.

The CJN put all these measures in place following subtle moves by some election petitioners to drag the Judiciary into politics.

Olukat:
GMB is not a respecter of peace. Let's wait and see where this "militarycrazy" would land us. Let him keep dishing out orders

The impending gradual release of excess water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon and the heavy rains expected in coming months will result in massive flooding across the country soon, the Federal Government has said.

This, it said, poses serious threat to lives and property in Nigeria, adding that the various flooding types to be experienced include river flooding, coastal flooding and flash flooding.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Nana Mede, said the government was deeply concerned about the likely loss of lives and properties as well as other negative environmental consequences which the floods would bring.

Mede, who spoke during a press briefing at the ministry’s headquarters on Monday in Abuja, stated that it had become pertinent for citizens living along flood plains to prepare for relocation to areas considered to be safe and remain at alert for any eventuality.

She said, “The impending gradual release of excess water from Lagdo Dam by our neighbouring country, Cameroon, which they have hinted could take place anytime soon and the massive rains in the coming months poses serious threats to lives and property. The states that are likely to be affected are Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe, Bauchi, Benue, and Kogi.

“On a general scale, the massive rains are also expected to cause flooding in many parts of the country. River flooding will affect Sokoto Rima, Niger, Benue and Anambra states. Coastal flooding resulting from sea level rise and tidal surges will likely occur in Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta and Lagos states.

“Flash floods could be experienced in some urban locations such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, Sokoto, Birnin Kebbi, Ibadan and other towns along the country’s coastline.”
The government urged people living in the outlined areas to immediately clear their drainages, culverts and canals.

Mede observed that earlier in the year, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency made predictions that the rains would come late, adding that when it does, it would be massive and could be disastrous in terms of environmental impact such as flooding with its attendant consequences of loss of lives, properties, livelihoods, outbreak of diseases and disruptions of socio-economic activities.

She said, “Furthermore, the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency has also presented the 2015 Annual Flood Outlook for the country to the public and it also confirms that there is every possibility of flooding.

“The ministry is therefore appealing to states, local governments, NGOs, churches, mosques, traditional rulers and community based organisations to take immediate steps to sensitise the people and communities as well as ensure that all the necessary things are done to avoid unnecessary loss lives and properties.

“In extreme cases, state governments and local authorities should prepare to evacuate residents. Public places should be designated and prepared for any eventuality. The ministry has already called for emergency meeting of stakeholders to discuss on elaborate strategies for tackling the impending flood.”

The Federal Government, in 2012, spent over N17bn in tackling floods and its effect across the country, while about 360 lives were lost and properties worth billions of naira were destroyed.

President Muhammadu Buhari has constituted a seven-member committee to advise him on his plans to tackle corruption, THISDAY can exclusively reveal.

Named as the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-corruption, investigation by THISDAY reveals that the committee will be formally inaugurated this Monday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Members of the committee are drawn largely from the academia.
They are Professor Femi Odekunle, a professor of Criminology at the Ahmadu Bello University; Dr. (Mrs) Benedicta Daudu of the University of Jos; Professor Etannibi Alamika, a professor of Criminology and Sociology from the University of Jos; and Professor Sadia Radda also a professor of Criminology.

Others are Professor Itse Sagay (SAN), a professor of Law and a fierce commentator on national issues; Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, also a professor of Law at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies; and Mrs. Hadiza Bala Usman.

Curiously, no judge either sitting or retired made the list, a development that is causing disquiet among judges.
Many on the bench consider the president’s decision not to include one of their own in the committee as a vote of no confidence on the bench.

The president’s decision to exclude members of the bench from such an important committee may not be unconnected to his experience with the judiciary when he challenged three previous elections he contested in 2003, 2007 and 2011, a presidency source familiar with the development told THISDAY.

While challenging the results of presidential elections in which his opponents were declared winners, Buhari attended courts religiously and was able to assess judges closely.

He was said to have been disappointed with the way judges denied even the obvious while ruling against him.
During his recent visit to the United States of America, Buhari's conviction that the Nigerian bench stinks of corruption was further confirmed by the United States' Attorney General, Loretta Lynch.

Also, the US Department of State made it clear to Buhari that the judiciary must be purged of corrupt judges before he could expect the US to collaborate with him.
Details of the committee’s mandates will emerge today after the inauguration.

*Professor Odekunle is a 1968 graduate of the University of Ibadan and bagged his Ph.D. in sociology and social psychiatry from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in the United States in 1974.

He taught at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Kaduna State, from 1970 to early 1990. In 1994, he was appointed Chairman, Advisory Committee to Chief of General Staff (CGS), General Oladipo Diya, on Socio-Political and Economic Matters.

Known as an avid opponent of corruption, Odekunle organised the first Anti-corruption Conference in Nigeria in 1987 bringing together not only people in government but petty traders on the streets to address the issue.
He is the author of Fighting Corruption and Organised Crime in Nigeria.

*Etannibi Alemika is a professor of Criminology and Sociology of Law, specialising in criminology, sociology of law, criminal justice reform, policy and practice, and security governance.

He holds BSc and MSc degrees in Sociology from the University of Ibadan, and an MSc and PhD in Criminology from the Department of Social System Sciences, Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania.

He is a board member of several professional and academic organisations, including CLEEN Foundation in Nigeria; African Civilian Policing Oversight Forum (APCOF); and Altus Global Alliance, and a member of the American Society of Criminology and Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.

*Owasanoye is an erudite Professor of Law. He graduated from the University of Ife, Ile-lfe in 1984 with an LL.B (Hons) Upper Division and was called to the Bar in Nigeria in 1985.

He obtained an LL.M from the University of Lagos in 1987 and holds the following certificates: Legal Aspects of Debt and Financial Management from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) (1991); Legislative Drafting from the Royal Institute of Public Administration in the UK and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies 1992; and Negotiation of international Trade Agreements from the International Law Institute, Washington.

*Sagay is a distinguished legal scholar, a professor of Law and human rights activist, and a former Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Benin.
He is a constitutional law expert and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). A prolific writer, Sagay has written many books and countless articles.

Former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, on Sunday disproved a claim by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that the late legend, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, was never elected the Yoruba leader.

Osoba, who presented an August 13, 1966, edition of Daily Sketch that reported the unanimous election of Awolowo by leaders of diverse political leanings, said Obasanjo’s statement was an outright disruption of facts.

He disproved the former president’s claim during an interaction with select journalists in Lagos, saying the first Military Governor of Western Region, Major General Adeyinka Adebayo ,presided over series of meetings that threw up Awolowo as the Yoruba leader on August 12, 1966, in Ibadan.

He added that Obasanjo was the then Garrison Commander at the now 2nd Machanised Division of the Nigerian Army and a member of Adebayo’s cabinet, hence there was no way he would not know about Awolowo’s emergence.

He named leaders of diverse political interests who attended the Ibadan meeting “to include late Dr. Koye Majekodunmi, who had different political ideology with Chief Awolowo. Late Chief TOS Benson, a staunch supporter of the late Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe till death, was not part of Awolowo’s political family.”

Osoba also named the Chairman of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Chief Adisa Akinloye and a chieftain of National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) late Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya among those who elected Awolowo as the Yoruba leader.

He said: “I want everyone to know Awolowo was released from prison two weeks before his election as the leader of the Yoruba.

I will give you more facts. He was unanimously elected by all stakeholders. On August 10, 1966, Adebayo held meetings with intellectuals and activists, among others.

“On August 11, 1966, Adebayo held meetings with the traditional rulers in Yoruba land. On August 12, Adebayo also held the meeting of all stakeholders and there was not a dissenting voice against Awolowo’s election as the Yoruba leader. These are some of the facts. So, I can never agree with Obasanjo.

“I was present at the forum where Awolowo was unanimously elected the leader of Yorubas. The election involved all stakeholders including political actors, cultural leaders and intellectuals in Yorubaland.

“I have records to prove Awolowo was elected aside the newspaper publications made after the election in Ibadan. I disagree with Obasanjo on his claim that the late legend was handpicked by some of his supporters,” he said.

The former governor faulted Obasanjo on another claim that late Chief Adisa Akinloye kicked against the election of Awolowo, noting that even until his death, Akinloye “was one of the admirers of Awolowo.”

He therefore said Akinloye “was the one who coined the word Afenifere. I was close to Akinloye even during his days in London where he exiled. He never disagreed with the fact that Awolowo must be respected as a person.

“There is a difference between being members of different political parties and having respect for a particular person. When Aminu Kano was alive, he often visited the Sardauna of Sokoto for consultation. But they never shared the same political ideologies. I do not know why anyone should denigrate the reputation of Awolowo.”

He explained the rationales behind Awolowo’s emergence as the leader of Yoruba, noting that before his imprisonment, the Action Group (AG) “had been winning elections in other regions aside the Western region.

“Awolowo had won election in Ogoja area in Cross River State. He also won election in the Middle Belt. Likewise, Awolowo made edgeway in Kanuri. He succeeded in creating Pan Nigerian image for himself despite some claims that he was tribal.

“Another reason was that at that time, General Yakubu Gowon had emerged as the Head of State and Awolowo did not support him. Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu had also emerged as leader for the Igbos,” he said.

But he said there was no clear-cut leader in Yoruba land, explaining that the Yorubas “needed someone who would be the rallying point. But there was no one who could contest it with Awolowo.

“Besides, the militants, the Agbekoyas, were holding the military to ransom at that time. It was only Awolowo who could go into the jungles to persuade them to lay-down their arms. These were some factors that led to the emergence of Awolowo as the Yoruba leader,” the former governor explained.

He said it was imperative for him to put the record straight “to avoid the distortion of history. I hate to play the role of a mind reader. But my worry is that if I failed to come out as someone who was involved in the activities leading to the election of Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, history would be distorted.

“In future, historians, researchers will base their conclusions on the Obasanjo’s record of events. He was also an active participant in events at that period. As the Garrison Commander in Ibadan, he was an active member of General Adeyinka Adebayo’s cabinet.

I do not think he would have forgotten so soon the sequence of events that threw up Awolowo as Yoruba leader,” Osoba said.

Over 1,000 traders at the popular Alade Market, Ikeja area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria have been given 60-day ultimatum to vacate the market to pave way for its redevelopment into a mega shopping mall.

Ikeja Local Government has inaugurated a 16-man committee to facilitate the movement of the traders within the next 60 days.
The council, concessionaire of the market and the association of Market Women and Men have agreed to the ultimatum.

Adekunle Adeokun, Executive Secretary of Ikeja Local Government presided over a stakeholders’ meeting held at the council’s head office, Ikeja where all parties agreed to relocate from the market before or on October.

He said, however, that few concerned traders “are still resisting our plan to redevelop Alade Market to the true status of Africa’s model megacity despite all we have put in place to ensure their successful relocation.”

According to him, the council had already directed all owners of shops and concerned traders “to quit within a period of two months. The concerned traders are not owners of shops in the market. They simply rent shops from the shop owners. So, they cannot stop us from redeveloping the Alade Market.

“We have waited for five years. We agreed to build 200 more shops to accommodate all legal traders in the alternative market.

We plan to reconstruct two roads to avoid traffic congestion in the area within the timeframe. We have agreed to build a bridge that enable customer and traders to enter and exit the market from Oregun road.”

Managing Director, Master Reality International Concepts Limited, the concessionaire, Lai Omotola said the government “has given 60-day extension for the relocation of the market and all the traders. The deadline will elapse on October 7 and all the traders, except few concerned ones, have agreed to the relocation plan.”

He stated that the Iyaloja-General of the Association of Market Women and Men, Mrs. Shade Tinubu-Ojo had held a meeting with the market people and the concessionaire on Thursday, noting that they all agreed unanimously.

“The Iyaloja-general pleaded with the concessionaire to make the alternative market habitable and comfortable for all the traders.

A 16-man committee headed by the Deputy Executive Secretary, Prince Oluranti Olufon had been put in place. The committee comprises six members from the market, five from the council and five from the concessionaire,” he said.

No fewer than 500 migrants from West African countries, including Nigerians, who were deported from Gabon, berthed at the National Inland Waterways Authority jetty in Calabar, Cross River State, on Thursday, after four days on the high sea.

One person, whose identity could not be disclosed, allegedly died shortly before the migrants departed Gabon.

They alleged that the corpse was removed from the ship, marked EMILIANA CARNEIRO L-05-IS-2017.

A breakdown of the deportees shows that 36 of them are from Nigeria, Mali (130), Burkina Faso (87), Senegal (51), Niger (39), Guinea Conakry (37), Ghana (eight), Togo (43), Benin (21) and Gambia(three).

It was learnt that the Gabonese authorities had on June 23 deported 590 citizens of other West African countries through the same Calabar waterways largely as a result of lack of valid documents.

Apart from the Nigerians, who were allowed to NIWA office to be scrutinised by the immigration authorities for proper documentation, the other deportees were escorted straight into four waiting luxurious buses with capacity of 60 passengers each and 10 Toyota Hiace buses (18-seat each).

The Controller of Nigeria Immigration Service in Cross River State, Mrs. Funke Adeuyi, confirmed that the deportees were over 500 as against the 455 figure that was in the manifest.

She said the migrants would be transported to the nearest boarder to their country, adding that the Calabar waterway was used because it was more cost effective to Gabon.

An angry Nigerian from Akwa Ibom State, Victor Elijah (35), said he could not fathom why he was deported, insisting that he had all his valid documents with him.

Elijah, who said he did legitimate business in Gabon, lamented that apart from his business that was shut down, he had unfortunately been separated from his wife, a Gabonese, and his only son.

He said, “I have spent more than 10 years in Gabon doing legitimate business. I used to travel from Gabon to Dubai to buy goods. I have all their documents required of a foreigner.

“I only had problem with my neighbour and one day, I just saw that I was to be deported. I have no regrets coming back to my country but I hope someday I will reunite with my family.”

A deported Ghanaian, Maku Adamou, admitted that he did not have a valid document.

By Vincent Ujumadu

Awka—TWO persons were beheaded at Eziagulu Otu, near the embattled Orient Petroleum Resources Ltd in Anambra East Local Government Area yesterday by armed men suspected to be from Ibaji in Kogi State, who allegedly attacked the people in their farms.

Four others, who sustained injuries have been admitted at a private hospital in Onitsha.

The attack came barely 24 hours after members of Board of Directors of Orient Petroleum informed Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, during a visit, that the company had acquired two new wells in Aguleri and would increase its crude oil production to 3,000 barrels per day in September.

Vanguardgathered that the attackers, who were armed to the teeth, took the farmers unawares and as many of them ran into the river, the attackers caught six of them, killing two and injuring four.

As the news of the attack reached the people of Aguleri in the upland, all those whose relations went to farm became worried. Shortly after, the victims were brought him.

At press time, it could not be ascertained if some people in the area were still missing.

*SOS

One of the distress messages sent toVanguardduring the attack read: “Information reaching our town indicates that Kogi people are attacking Eziagulu Otu and Enugu Otu in several groups and are about to overrun the area and the oil field facilities there.”

Another message from the President General of Aguleri read: “Eziagulu Otu is currently under siege by our Kogi neighbours.

“I am informed that serious fighting is going on and casualties have been recorded. We are at a disadvantage under their superior fire power. The situation is bad.”

Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hosea Karma, confirmed the incident, saying his men and the Kogi State Police Command had stepped in to stop further clash.

Icon4s:
Immediately I saw Nigerian woman i knew it will b an Igbo woman. While women from oodua republic are busy jumping from one husband to the other Igbo women are doing Nigeria proud.

Awardwinning actor cum producer, Kunle Afolayan has concluded plans to shoot a new movie in collaboration with Air France . This is coming on the heels of his endorsement as the brand ambassador for Air-France.

According to Kunle, he decided to sign the deal with the brand because he believes that the relationship will help take Nollywood to the global market and he saw the connection between his brand and Air-France.

Speaking at the unveiling of the project to the media at Air France office, Lagos, during the week, Kunle Afolayan said that the journey was to take not just him as an individual globally, but to take Nollywood to other parts of the world through this means.

“The journey started when we went for Air-France sponsored, Nollywood festival in Paris, I met with the President of Air France and discussed with him briefly on a movie,(Figurine),that we wanted to do and we need airlines to sponsors us because the movie because, it will involve us travelling to Germany and other places. And out of all the airlines that we met, it was only Air-France that saw the vision in us.

When we came back to Nigeria they invited me and we agreed on the deal. The contract involves us doing a movie with the airline. So we are working on the movie which will be out next month.

This I would say keys in well because we have people flying from one destination to the other for the movie production and being that they have passion for that, we would like to give them that platform to leverage on.

It is not just movie, we are going to create things, what ever Gold Pictures and Air-France believe in we are going to work that way. What we signed now lasts till the end of last year and if it works out well, we will continue. ,”. He said.

Responding, the Commercial Director, Air-France, Arthur Dieffenthaler, said that they are very pleased working with Kunle in this project. “Working with someone like Kunle Afolayan is a welcomed development to us. It will help us to connect to more people.

After our discussion with Kunle on a project, it connected with our core value of caring and investing in the culture of Nigeria and movie is the best way to expose peoples culture and tradition that was why we bought the idea. We also looked into quality knowing fully well that Kunle is a man that produces quality movies.

The contract will last till the end of next year. We are looking forward to having a great time with him,” he said.

Senator Dino Melaye, who has spent the last few days playing bodyguard to Toyin Saraki, the wife of Senate President Bukola Saraki, has bought a home in Abuja estimated at a whopping 1.3 billion Naira (6.5 million US dollars)

The first-term Senator’s palatial new residence is located at 11 Sangha Street, off Mississippi Street, in the Maitama upscale neighborhood of the city.

The majestic residence boasts leafy trees, ornate Roman-style columns, and decadent chandeliers hanging from its high ceilings. Our source learned that the property, which is currently undergoing some renovations, also has an indoor swimming pool.

Details of Senator Melaye’s massive new home comes weeks after SaharaReporters and SaharaTV reported on how he gloated on social media about his wealth and luxury toys, which include imported sports cars, a Harley Davidson motorcycle, and even novelty champagne with his face on the bottle.

Previously, the Senator told SaharaTV that he made N1.4m for his first month of work holding public office.

When asked by a SaharaReporters correspondent about his house and how he paid for it, Senator Melaye refused to answer the question, saying, “I am a distinguished member of the Federal government.”

When our correspondent reminded him that his assets were a matter of public interest, he ignored the question.

Nigerians have this week been curious about Senator Melaye’s consistent presence on the entourage of Toyin Saraki as she faced corruption investigations at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

I cannot throw away the sacrifice – when I was beaten and my clothes torn to shred on the floor of the House of Representatives because of my fight against corruption.

The Senator Representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the upper legislative chamber, Dino Melaye, has defended his recent visit to the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Senator was sighted at the EFCC office during the interrogation of wife of the Senate President, Toyin Saraki, by the anti-graft agency.

Melaye in a statement entitled: “Stand Up For What You Believe
In,” and issued on Friday in Abuja, said he has made sacrifices for the country and had survived assignation attempts.

He said,” I was arrested 14 times in one year by the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan because I desire a country where my grandchildren (that I may never know) will dwell in and where life is already structured for them.

I cannot throw away the sacrifice – when I was beaten and my clothes torn to shred on the floor of the House of Representatives because of my fight against corruption.

“I have come too far to compromise my stand on corruption and corrupt persons. I make bold here to challenge anybody who will controvert the truth that I have never done any government contract, either at the local government, state or federal levels.

It is not criminal to do so, but he who must come to equity must come with clean hands. I have made sacrifices to the extent of escaping assignations. Will my fellow citizens forget all these too quickly on the altar of loyalty to friends, family and loved ones?

My loyalty to friends is not only when the going is good. I will be there even when the roads are rough. The invitation of Mrs. Toyin Saraki by the EFCC, however, is not a criminal indictment. I will not abandon my friend because of mere EFCC invitation.

I also went there as a private investigator and an anti-corruption crusader to find out the extent of culpability of my sister and friend since she was not told the content of the petition against her before her appearance before the EFCC.

“My definition for friendship is he or she who walks in when others are working out. If my father is invited by the EFCC, I will go there, if a prima face case is established against him, I will shout for his prosecution. So my great people, I have no regret following my friend and sister to the EFCC.

If you are my friend, you are my friend. I cannot control what my friends will do, but they remain my friends. I am not fighting corruption out of passion only, but because it is the Godly thing to do.”

Demdem:


Nonsense.
we are talking of a faulty foundation to a structure, u are here talking about re-adjusting the structure? which one do u think will last longer?
Who even told u that the vast majority of Nigerians dont really want to go back to regional system of govt as it was in the first repulblic? NC wont give u that neither will NASS give u such. tackle the root of ur problem and leave the shafts.

The possibility of first oil from the Aje shallow-water field offshore Lagos this year has received a significant boost with the commencement of drilling on the Aje-5 production well on the Oil Mining Licence 113.

The Aje-5 well is part of the first phase of a two-phase development plan for the field.

The well is being drilled with the Saipem Scarabeo 3 semi-submersible drilling rig, Panoro Energy, one of the joint partners involved in the Aje field development, said in a statement on Monday.

The firm said, “Following drilling, the Aje-5 well will be completed as a subsea oil production well.

“The drilling and completion for Aje-5 is expected to take approximately 70 days. Following this, the rig will be used to re-enter the existing Aje-4 well to complete it as a second Cenomanian subsea oil production well.”

It added that installation of the production manifold, flowlines, umbilicals and risers would take place in the fourth quarter of this year, after which the floating production, storage and offloading vessel, the ‘Front Puffin’, would be installed and opened.

“Production is expected to commence by year-end 2015 at an initial anticipated production flow rate of approximately 1,100 barrels of oil per day, net to Panoro from these two wells, in accordance with the first phase of the approved Field Development Plan.”

The convoy carrying the wife of the former President, Dame Patience Jonathan, was stopped from taking her to the foot of the aircraft on the tarmac of the Port Harcourt International
Airport, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has said.

The former First Lady was reportedly stopped from using the VIP lounge of the airport. But the FAAN said it was not so. It was learnt that Dame Jonathan had gone to Port Harcourt on a private visit.

Sources at the airport also alleged that the former First Lady was denied access to the lounge by security operatives of FAAN, who reportedly said they were working based on orders from “above.”

But reacting to the report, FAAN, in a statement on Tuesday, described it as misleading and mischievous, stressing that the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan was not denied access to “the VIP lounge at the Port Harcourt International Airport on July 27, 2015.”

However, the authority was quick to state that what its security officials did was to stop the former First Lady’s convoy from gaining access to the tarmac where her aircraft was parked.

The General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Yakubu Dati, said the security officials explained to Dame Jonathan’s team why her convoy was stopped, adding that the officials were only abiding by international safety standards.

FAAN said, “The former First Lady’s convoy was only denied access to the foot of the aircraft during boarding formalities at the airport in line with international aviation best practices, strictly for safety reasons, as prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Our security officials explained this fact to details of the former First Lady.

“We wish to recall that former President Goodluck Jonathan, in his recent trips from the same airport, had had to walk to the aircraft from the protocol lounge, in recognition of this ICAO regulation.”

FAAN went on to explain that family members of former Presidents were officially entitled to use the VIP lounge, adding that Dame Jonathan would not be denied that right.

It said, “We wish to state that no such thing happened as Dame Jonathan, like other family members of former Presidents and other designated principal officers of government, are officially entitled to the usage of airport VIP and protocol lounges under the management of FAAN.”

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

LAGOS — CONTROVERSY has swallowed the report of the Police investigations into the alleged forgery of the 2015 Standing Rules of the Senate following its recommendation of a political solution on the issue.

The 13-page report of the Police investigations obtained by Vanguard which details submissions from seven senators belonging to the National Unity Forum led by Senator Ahmad Lawan affirmed that the amendment of the rules was not according to the laid down rules of the Senate.

The Police report termed the development as not only “criminal, but portends danger for our growing democracy.”

However, the report, which did not indict any person, drew back from recommending prosecution. The report authored by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG Dan‘Azumi Doma, concluded by suggesting that the casefile be forwarded to the Attorney-General of the Federation for his assessment as to whether a crime had been committed or whether the action laid within the internal affairs of the Senate.

The police conclusion is in the wake of mutterings by elements supportive of the Senator Bukola Saraki-led leadership of dire consequences on senators who petitioned the police for dragging the internal affairs of the Senate to the Police. The development promises a showdown between the two camps as the Senate resumes tomorrow.

Further controversies stoked the development, yesterday, following the submission by a senior staff of the National Assembly that the amendment was at the behest of the leadership of the former Senate.

Despite that submission, it emerged, yesterday, that no member of the David Mark leadership was questioned by the Senate. Senator Mark was not available for comment on the development, yesterday, as a senior aide said he was not available.

Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the Deputy President of the Senate; Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, the leader of the 7th Senate both denied being questioned by the police in separate interfaces yesterday.
Ekweremadu, who has been in media spotlight over the issue was not once mentioned in the report by the police.

Meanwhile, the report has drawn controversy upon claims that the Police received submissions from only senators belonging to the Senate Unity Forum, in the All Progressives Congress. Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, senators and senators aligned to the Senator Bukola Saraki inclined Like Mind Group were yesterday muttering that their side to the issue was not taken.

Those questioned

The seven senators, who were questioned by the DIG Doma-led team, were Senators Suleiman Hunkuyi, Secretary of the Senate Unity Forum who wrote the petition to the police, Ahmad Lawan, Abdullahi Gumel, Kabiru Marafa, Gbenga Ashafa, Robert Boroffice and Abu Ibrahim.

Also questioned were former Senator Ita Enang, who served as chairman of the Business and Rules Committee in the 7th Senate; Senator Babafemi Ojudu and Solomon Ewuga, all of whom are members of the APC.

Also questioned were the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa; the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Ben Efeturi; Secretary, Directorate of Legal Services in the National Assembly, Mr. Daniel Adem and Secretary of the Senate Committee on Business and Rules, Dr. Ogozy Nma.

All of those questioned with the notable exception of Mr. Efeturi, who also doubles as the Clerk of the Senate, denied knowledge of the amendment.
The Clerk of the National Assembly, Maikasuwa, who presided over the election, is quoted in the report as saying: “that he did not refer to any Senate Standing Order/Rules but used the normal procedures for the opening of a new parliament.”

The report also quoted him as denying knowledge of the existence of the production of the Senate Standing Rules 2015 as amended.

Efeturi, on the other hand, however, affirmed that the production of the 2015 Standing Rules was in line with convention as he said that the same procedure was used in the production of the standing rules in 2003, 2007 and 2011.

Efeturi, who is about the longest serving legislative bureaucrat in the National Assembly with experience running from the Second Republic, according to the police report is quoted as saying that “the Senate Standing Orders 2003, 2007 and 2011 followed the same procedure as that of the 2015.

“He emphasised that in the parliament, amendment of Standing Orders is by practice and not necessarily by procedure. He further stated that the ruling of the Senate President on the June 24, 2015 that the Senate Standing Orders of the Senate 2015 is authentic is final, relevant and cannot be challenged. He attached a copy of the debates of the Senate on Wednesday, June 24 24 where the Senate President ruled that the Senate Standing Order 2015 was the authentic Standing Orders of the 8th Senate.”

The police in its findings nevertheless dismissed Efeturi’s contention, saying that so long as it was not done in the lifetime of the Mark Senate that it was irregular.
But despite the dismissal of that submission, the police drew back from making an indictment. Rather, the police sought counsel from the Attorney General on whether the issue was a crime or leave it as an internal affair of the Senate.

Findings

(a) That on the 9th of June, 2015, a document entitled “the Senate Standing Order 2015 as amended” was distributed to senators of the 8th Senate for their inauguration as members.

(b) That the contents of the Senate Standing Order 2015 as amended are substantially different from the Senate Standing Order 2011 as amended. Sections 2(iv), 3(3)E, I,ii,iii, G and H, 5 and 7 of the Rules are different in the two Orders.

(c) That the Senate Standing Order 2015 as amended was used by the clerks of the National Assembly and the Senate as the Senate Standing Orders to inaugurate and conduct elections into the offices of the presiding officials of the Senate viz the Senate President, the Deputy Senate President etc.

(d) That the testimonies of some members of the 7th Senate including that of the chairman of the Business and Rules Committee and Senators of the 7th Senate indicate that the Senate Standing Order 2011 was not amended during the tenure of the 7th Senate which ended on the 8th of June, 2015.

(e) That the procedure for the amendment of the Senate Standing Order as contained in Section 110 of the Senate Standing Order 2011 as amended stipulates that any amendment to the Senate Standing Orders should be in line with the following procedures:


i. Any senator desiring to amend any part of the Rules or adding any new clause shall give notice of such amendments in writing to the President of the Senate giving details of proposed amendment.

ii. The President shall within seven working days cause the amendment to be printed and circulated to members. Thereafter it shall be printed in the Order Paper.

iii. The movers of the amendment shall be allowed to explain in details the proposed amendments, thereafter the Senate shall decide by simple majority votes whether the amendment should be considered.

iv. If the decision is to consider the amendments, then another date shall be set aside by the Rules and Business Committee, whereby opportunity would be given to Senators to further propose amendments but must strictly be confined to the original amendments.

v. Two third majorities shall decide the amendments and such amendments shall form part of the Rules of the Senate.

(f) That the Clerk of the Senate, Mr. Benedict Efeturi, who doubles as the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly confirmed in his statement that the Senate Standing Order 2015 as amended was produced on the orders of the Senate leadership without following the amendment procedures as contained in the Senate Standing Orders 2011 as amended.

(g) That the allusion by the clerk of the Senate to procedure of amending the Standing Orders of Parliament through “practise and not necessarily by procedure” is a misplaced analogy and undemocratic because the Nigerian Senate has clearly laid-down without a provisio, the procedure to be adopted in amending its standing orders as contained in section 110 of 2011 Senate Standing Orders.

*Recommendations*

5. From the findings, especially from the statement of the Clerk of the Senate who doubles as the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate Standing Orders 2015 which was used to inaugurate the 8th Senate on the 9th of June 2015 was ordered by the leadership of the 7th Senate without following Section 110 of the Senate Standing Rules 2011 as amended which requires that any amendment to the Senate Standing Rules must be debated and approved by the senators on the floor of the Senate.

5.1. This practice where some group of senators amend the Rules of the Senate without following legal procedures is not only criminal but portends danger for our growing democracy and should be discouraged. However, it is recommended that the file be sent to the Attorney General of the Federation for vetting to determine if this conduct constitutes crime or should be treated as an internal affair of the Senate.