₦airaland Forum

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday, made good his threat to deal ruthlessly with top civil servants who altered figures in the 2016 budget thereby making nonsense of his zero budget plan. No fewer than 184 top budget officials were flushed out of budget duties and sent to establishments that have little or nothing to do with budget, as a punishment for their roles in padding this year’s fiscal document, now before the National Assembly.

A top official in the Budget office confirmed that 22 top officers from the Budget Office of the Federation were affected in the mass deployment. The rest were moved away from budget-related duties in other Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs. Vanguard learnt that out of the 22 top officials indicted in the budget office, four were directors on Level 17, six were deputy directors while 12 were Assistant directors.

As the affected officials were moved from their posts in the Budget Office, 14 other directors said to have been ‘tested’ have been redeployed to the same office with immediate effect. The order to remove the tainted officials from their previous posts to other duties, was conveyed to the affected offices by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, according to finding by Vanguard. All the affected officers, according to the directive, are to report in their new locations on or before the close of work today.

When contacted, the Media Adviser to the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Mr. Akpadem James, confirmed the development but declined to give further details. It would b recalled that while in Saudi Arabia last month, President Buhari had threatened to punish all those who were involved in the padding of the budget. Apart from removing the director of budget, he also merged the budget office with the planning ministry.

: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/breaking-news-buhari-sweeps-off-184-top-officials-over-budget-padding/

God bless you Justice Okon Abang...This nah die hard.. I always love Justice Okon bail conditions for criminals.. Good Job..

OGACLO:
From wch state particularly?

sokoto....

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed former Lagos Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, as his Senior Special Assistant on Sustainable Development Goals.

Her appointment was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, today.

Orelope-Adefulire served as Deputy-Governor of Lagos State under the administration of Babatunde Fashola.

Prior to that, she was the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in Lagos State.

http://www.punchng.com/38934-2/

Tinubutoto:
tomorrow when Olisa Metuh is freed by d court, u will come ye n oozes nonsense about same court and judiciary been our problem? bloody hypocrites

Keep dreaming....Olisa will not escape this....

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday dismissed an application for bail filed by the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh (retd.).

Justice James Tsoho, in a ruling, upheld the objection by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to the application, ruling that the detention of the ex-CDS was backed by a subsisting court order.

Meanwhile, the EFCC had on Monday filed 10 counts of money laundering against Badeh and a firm, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, accusing them of fraudulently removing N3.97bn from the account of the Nigerian Air Force in between January and December 2013.

Badeh was said to have perpetrated the fraud along with Iyalikam Nigeria Limited while he was the Chief of Air Staff.

Badeh, in his bail application, had faulted his detention by the anti-graft agency, contending that the remand made by a magistrate’s court in Lagos, was wrongly obtained by the EFCC.

He argued that the administrative bail granted him by the EFCC was to onerous to meet. Badeh also claimed to be ill.

But in his ruling, Justice Tsoho held that the court could not on the strength of a mere bail application filed by the ex-CDS, determine whether or not the remand order was validly obtained.

He said since Badeh did not apply for a judicial review of the decision of the Lagos Chief Magistrate’s Court, the legitimacy or otherwise of the order for remand could not be determined.

The judge ruled, “To make pronouncements on the legality or otherwise of the remand order, there must be an application for judicial review. This is an application for bail.

“The law is that an order of a court remains subsisting until set aside following due process.

“Proper machinery has not been put in place for interference with the order made by the Chief Magistrate’s Court. The application fails and it is hereby dismissed.”

The EFCC had told the court that Badeh was initially arrested in relation to alleged money laundering involving the diversion of about N4bn belonging to NAF, while serving as the Chief of Air Staff in 2013.

The commission stated that it granted Badeh administrative bail, but was on the process of perfecting the bail when it discovered that he was also allegedly involvement in another fraud in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.

The EFCC said it consequently moved Badeh to Lagos for investigation into the NIMASA case, obtained an order of remand till March 23 from a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos.

It said Badeh’s detention was on the strength of the order of remand by the Lagos Chief Magistrate’s Court.

Meanwhile, Badeh has been scheduled to be arraigned before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja on 10 counts of money laundering on March 7.

Badeh was said to have perpetrated the alleged fraud along with Iyalikam Nigeria Limited while he was the Chief of Air Staff.

The anti-graft agency in the charges numbered, FHC/ABJ/CR/46, 2016, accused Badeh and Iyalikam Nigeria Limited of spending the total sum of N3,974,362,732.94, on acquisition, construction, renovation, furnishing of various property, including a shopping mall in many choice areas of Abuja.

Some of the assets were said to have been purchased, renovated and furnished for a son of the former Chief of Air Staff, Alex Badeh (Jnr.).

http://www.punchng.com/court-dismisses-badehs-bail-application/

daveemuobo:
because you're not used to clear,detailed explanations coupled with grammar like tachometer and "Advance auto guys" which seem too much to comprehend..





OP,i think its most likely an electrical ish which shows up with heat (thermal expansion).good rewire you need there

Thank you... I will look into it

cocoduck:
This is an electrical issue so u need a wiring diagram. To get a direction, to to bbbind.com and check the tsb or technical service bulletin and a wiring diagram for ur car also use Google search for ur car. This aii usually a problem of corrosion

Okay...will speak with my rewirer....I was thinking towards that direction though...

Please I need more contributions........

mayor2013:
What other lights are illuminated on your instrument cluster? Check the connector of your vehicle speed sensor could be highly corroded or dirts could cause it to have a partial contact. Your instrument cluster could cause that as well. But that should be final phase if after doing the former. If you are in lagos and you need to fix the problem. Free diagnosis for you. 08165520837 or 08156087872. Bbpin is 7BE1C522

Unfortunately I'm not in Lagos now....but will look into your suggestions above... many thanks bro

My 1999 Camry LE (4 cylinder automatic) recently started acting up. The speedometer stops registering anything (needle remains at 0mph when car is moving), and the LCD odometer goes blank. The tachometer seems ok. Check engine light comes on. This will last a while and then go back to normal. Sometimes the check engine light will come on by itself without the speedometer and odometer issues and the transmission will act more normal. I took it to Advance Auto Parts for a diagnosis and got a P0500 code (vehicle speed sensor). I replaced the vehicle speed sensor, and my first trip to work with the new sensor was fine. After 3-4 hours in the sun in the parking lot, I started the car, the odometer goes blank again and speedometer non-functioning. I took it to a mechanic who disregarded the code generated by the Advance Auto guys, did his own diagnostics, and said the speedometer cluster was the issue. He re-calibrated the speedometer and reset the check engine light and said it would probably solve the problem for a while. I drove the car home with no problem and left it in the driveway in the sun. Two hours later I went to start the car, and the problem was there again. I think heat may be exacerbating an electrical problem. Does that make any sense? I don't have a whole lot of money to start throwing around at expensive possible solutions that do not turn out to solve the problem, so I would like to see if someone has a suggestion for a solution that makes the most sense. If you have a suggestion or a good idea of what the problem may be and how to fix it, please explain to me in simple terms why you think that way. Thank you

DOLLAR = N197

Please let me explain to those of us who don't understand Economic terms. Dollar has not increased since Buhari became president

1. Dollar is not our currency so dollar should not be our business

2. Our problem is not d government but our problem is our importers and consumers

3. Naira has remained at 197 naira to 1 dollar since Buhari became president

4. Buhari has promised not to devalue the Naira and he has maintained that promise

5. Both at CBN and at interbank rates, dollar has remained 197

6. However because we are too lazy to produce what we use in Nigeria we import even toothpicks and matches

7. Buhari does not like d importation of luxury goods because luxury goods is d reason for most corruption, that is why he banned 41 products from having access to forex

8. However when Nigerian importers insisted on importing those 41 products, FG asked them to find their dollar at d BDCs parallel market also known as black market

9. And to discourage the pressure Nigerians are mounting on the Naira just to get dollars for importation, CBN banned DMBs from selling dollars to BDCs

10. To survive the pressure of excess dollar demands, BDCs resorted to sourcing for dollars from neighbouring countries through illicit money laundering routes

11. Because of the risks faced by BDCs to source for dollars, and because of the increase in demand for dollars by importers because China just resumed from their business holidays, BDCs keep increasing the price at which they exchange dollars to naira and now it is 400 naira to 1 dollars

12. However that does not mean that govt has changed the exchange rate because if our genuine importers go to CBN and fill Form M to import raw materials for local production, they will get dollars at 197 naira each

13. So the problem is that we love to consume luxury foreign products yet we are too lazy to manufacture them here.

14. For example u will see a dull girl using iPhone 5 without even knowing simple physics and computer engineering part of how that phone was produced

15. I want Buhari to ban every foreign product from Nigeria until Nigerians learn to produce and use Made in Nigeria products

16. Let us stop complaining about dollar as if dollar has become Nigeria's currency

17. It is even bad enough that most of those complaining about the high exchange rate of dollar do not have 1 single dollar in their purse.

shammah1:
I'll be alive and strong by God's grace. Nigeria will be great again. You can't even answer a simple question. You allowed sentiment to take hold of you. I'm not wiked and I'll not insult you back.

During the previous government, I protested against Obj, GEJ & PDP when they went wrong and nothing has changed.

I stand with Nigeria & not Buhari or any party...

Keep wailing.....the truth is that you refuse to see anything good in this administration..... stop deceiving yourself that you stand with Nigerian.... we are not that gullible....

shammah1:
What's this one saying? Fayemi, Sylva Timpre, Atiku, Amaechi, Fashola, Tinubu etc... Are they saints? TonyeBarcanista said nothing but the reality. Buhari's government is incompetent and super clueless. Just as Tonye said, I also sympathize with you die hards Buharists who are too blind to see

Well... I pray God will spare your life to see when our country is moving forward, Nigeria shall rise up again no matter what you people say... Buhari's governments will be incompetent and super clueless in the face of wicked people like you.... Bad losser...

Truth234:
The economy is not in the best shape but when you compared the state of Nigerian economy to similar nations, generating 90% of their foreign revenue from oil you will agree with me that Nigeria is not doing bad at all.

Currently, among such nations, Nigeria is the best in term of investment destination. When you look at emerging-economies, Nigeria is second after China, the 2nd largest economy in the world. Mind you, China has lost over $4 trillion this year, Brazil two years ago was most thriving emerging economy and currently relegated to junk by credit rating, same with Venezuela, Argentina, etc.

In Africa, South Africa is regarded as business powerhouse, but this year alone South Africa has suffered from global financial slowdown and Rand lost about 30% against the US dollar, 2016 economic growth forecast was cut to 0.9% from 1.7%.

The same thing happened to Angola, even after devaluing her currency, Kwanza, slides 40%. Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Asia-Pacific (Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, New Zealand, etc) are all suffering from global financial crisis but somehow Nigeria has been able to manage it better.

Please note that this situation is similar to what happened in 2008 (recession), with even lower oil prices but because of 2008 experience, financial institutions, Central banks, etc. are making adjustments to their monetary policies just like this administration is doing. Even at that, Abenomics developed by Abe, Japan Prime Minister has failed. So Nigeria situation is not unique.

This administration is not A Government Of Failure, Tears And Disappointment but of hope, determination and strength, even in the face of global pressure to devalue and succumb to IMF cabal, We stand and soon we will all reap from this administration. Stay positive.

God bless you for this wonderful right up......

85

The Olubadan-Designate, High Chief Saliu Adetunji may be installed as the new Olubadan of Ibadanland on Friday, March 4.

The Olubadan-Designate,High Chief Adetunji disclosed this over this over the weekend while receiving Juju music maestro, Chief Ebenezer Fabiyi Obey in his Popoyemoja, Ibadan residence.

High Chief Adetunji noted that the date was arrived at after extensive consultations with stakeholders in the state.

According to him, the coronation had not been held before now because the late Olubadan Odulana Odugade deserved to be given a befitting burial, which was successfully completed last week.

“Sincerely, the Olubadan-in-Council must not only make, but submit their endorsement of the new Olubadan to His Excellency, the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi. Then, the Governor must ratify the decision.



“Once you cross the barrier, you get the date. So, the date is Friday, March 4 at Oja’Ba, Ibadan where the previous Olubadan received their staff of office. But, Saturday, March 5 is for big reception at a venue that is yet to be decided,” he said.

Earlier, the Juju music maestro, Chief Ebenezer Obey had described the Olubadan-elect as a dependable and reliable pillar in music recording, composition, promotion, advertisement and marketing.

He said nothing could be too much for any musician to do to ensure the success of Olubadan’s coronation. He prayed for continued peace, progress and development in Ibadanland under the new leadership.

The Olubadan-in-waiting spoke in the same vein in a message he sent through his Media Aide, Mr. Adeola Oloko to the President of Ibadan Descendants Union, Mr. Laja Akintayo, saying Friday and Saturday, March 4 and 5 this year remain sacrosanct.

The Ibadan Descendants Union in the United States had asked to know the date of the coronation and to determined the extent of their involvement.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new-olubadan-to-be-installed-march-4/

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders remained disunited last night over the choice of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as acting chairman.

The choice has pitched President Goodluck Jonathan against members of his former cabinet.

Jonathan backed Sheriff but some of his ministers disagreed.

The ex-ministers said they might review their membership of the PDP should Sheriff’s candidacy be upheld.



About 15 ex-ministers in Jonathan’s cabinet met last night in Asokoro, vowing to resist the Sheriff’s imposition

The ministers’ session was still on as at 8.30pm.

It was learnt that Dr. Jonathan has called to congratulate Sheriff who he allegedly described as “the right choice for the opposition”.

A top source said: “Jonathan believes that Sheriff has the guts, influence, native wisdom and the wherewithal to lead PDP to displace the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Jonathan and the governors teamed up to choose Sheriff who was part of the leaders who coordinated the merger of parties into the APC.

“Their aim is to have an opposition with much bite in the light of the way the APC government is exposing Jonathan’s tenure.

“They are looking at the rough side of politics towards 2019 and they think Sheriff can withstand the APC.”

A source at the ex-ministers’ session said: “We are parting ways with ex-President Jonathan if he is adamant on Sheriff. The battle line is drawn. We respect our principal, but he got it wrong this time around.

“We do not need Sheriff to reform PDP. And he cannot actually lead the party for some obvious reasons. He is not a team player and he has many controversies surrounding his style of politics.

“We knew the NWC and the governors have a different agenda. With Sheriff, the PDP cannot go far in 2019. Jonathan and these leaders should listen to the Board of Trustees (BOT) members.

“Jonathan can afford to take the risk with Sheriff because he has reached a dead end politically. We will not allow the ex-President to ruin our own future. Public perception does not favour Sheriff.”

The spokesman for former ministers in Jonathan’s administration, Dr. Suleiman Abubakar, in a terse statement in Abuja, said: “Our rescue mission has failed, the redemption boat has capsized and our journey to recovery has come to an end.

“Whosoever partook in the decision does not mean well for the party and democracy in Nigeria. It is obvious the fifth columnists have hijacked the party and they are hell bent on sinking it deeper into irrecoverable level of the pit.

“Some of us would rather review our membership than subject ourselves to selfish interests of a cabal whose main goal is political profiteering. After all our umbilical cord is not tied to any party.”

A member of the National Working Committee (NWC) insisted: “we subjected all the candidates to a rigorous test and it was Sheriff that excelled”.

Sheriff did not officially take over at the secretariat yesterday but was in Umuahia for his first official shuttle – the thanksgiving service by Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

He reiterated that he will lead the party to victory in 2019.

He said: “We are here today, we are starting from here, and we are going to Aso Rock, Insha Allah by 2019.

“We will head from here and we will do it together. This my long cap is prepared to lead my colleagues and brothers to Aso Rock, Insha Allah.

“By the grace of Allah, nothing will deter this party from going to Aso Rock in 2019. By the time we put down our master-plan I am sure they (APC) will go back to where they came from. And Insha Allah, nothing will stop us.

”From what I have seen in the stadium, it is clear that his (Ikpeazu’s) election is the election of the people. It is election that God has destined. It is not election that we call it election by air, election by writing. This is the election of the people.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/ex-ministers-to-jonathan-we-dont-want-sheriff/

viickerz:
football is sweet


liecester fvck up.

tottenham will win the league

quote me anywhere

Keep dreaming dear

Ok

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered an immediate investigation into allegations of fraudulent padding of allocations in the 2016 budget, with strict orders that all cases of discrepancies, errors and ambiguities be resolved promptly, a senior government official told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday.

An extensive analysis of the budget by PREMIUM TIMES exposed questionable details, with the National Assembly on Tuesday suspending deliberations on the document indefinitely.

The chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Danjuma Goje, (APC-Gombe State), and his House of Representatives counterpart, Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC-Kano), said the suspension was necessary to enable the National Assembly carry out “proper clean-up” of the budget.

Earlier, a senior presidency official blamed “budget mafia” for the controversial contents, in reference to civil servants responsible for preparing the budget.

Another top administration official on Thursday gave PREMIUM TIMES further details on how the government was responding to the embarrassing budget allocations.
He pleaded anonymity, and said the government was avoiding publicly stating its position on the matter for now to avoid playing into the hands of its critics.

The official said both the Finance and Budget & National Planning ministries were determined to effect the necessary corrections and turn in a clean copy of the document for approval.


He blamed most of the errors in the budget on “over-ambitious civil servants” in the budget office who handled the preparation of the document prior to the appointment of ministers by Mr. Buhari.

He said by the time the ministers were eventually appointed, they had no sufficient time to properly scrutinize the budget for errors, in view of the tight deadline each of the ministries got before the final presentation to the joint session of the National Assembly on December 22, 2015.

To enable the budget to be cleaned up of all the controversial allocations, the official said a high-powered panel had been constituted with a mandate to investigate all observations and concerns by individuals, media and agencies, particularly the National Assembly.

“The presidency has ordered the immediate investigation of all the allegations and issues, particularly on padding, raised by the National Assembly on various ministries, departments and agencies of government,” he said.

“The investigative panel is expected to critically look into the budget item-by-item, incident-by-incident, with particular attention to the reactions from the National Assembly, ministries, media, civil society groups or indeed anybody that raised concerns regarding the padding of the budget.

“All corrections would be made to ensure that the budget was passed as soon as possible. I assure you government is working cautiously on the corrections with the intention of correcting any error or malfeasance spotted in the 2016 Appropriation Bill. If there is any error whatsoever, it is being sorted out straight away,” the official added.

It remained unclear what sanctions the government was considering for officials that might be found to be involved in padding the budget. Our first source had said those involved might be fired.

The House of Representatives had asked government to order the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to arrest and prosecute top civil servants behind the budget padding scandal.

On its part, the Senate said, apart from the prosecution of the civil servants, the Minister of National Planning and Budget, Udo Udoma, and other top officials of the ministry should also be sanctioned.

However, the official exonerated the minister, saying “That the budget could be presented the day it was presented and in the manner it was done was due to the extra effort and hard work by the ministers who inherited what the civil servants had already prepared.
”By the time they took over, most of the ministers did not have a good grasp of the details of the budget of their ministries”.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/198335-2016-budget-fraud-buhari-orders-probe-wants-questionable-allocations-scrapped.html

The Federal Government on Thursday sealed a pact of $11m (N2.17bn) with the Japanese Government for an emergency improvement of electricity supply facilities in Abuja.



The project to be implemented by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency and the Ministry of Power is aimed at procuring and installing power capacitor banks at the existing two sub-stations in Abuja and neighboring Nasarawa state.



This, according to the agreement, would decrease the transmission loss and assist in stabilizing power supply to approximately 7,000 households within the Federal Capital Territory.



The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma, signed the pact on behalf of the Federal Government while the Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria Sadanobu Kusaoke, signed on behalf of his country.



Speaking at the event, Udoma said the pact marks the process for effective implementation of the electricity supply facilities grant project by the Japanese government.



He noted that the project has been designed to support Nigeria in promoting social-economic and infrastructural development.



He said, “The sustained implementation of this project is expected to pave way for a significant access to quality socio-economic services, thereby leading to reduction in unemployment in the country and promoting community empowerment.



“The Federal Government remains committed to working closely with various stakeholders in the economy to achieve sustainable economic development.



“This ministry will ensure that we create an enabling environment required for the sustainability of this partnership.”



When asked by journalists how a padded budget was sent to the National Assembly without the ministry detecting the figures, the minister replied that such occurrence was not unusual with budget proposals.



He said the issue is currently being discussed with the National Assembly and would soon be resolved.



He said, “It (padding) is normal in a budget process. Proposals are presented, sometimes issues are on and they are sorted out. So it’s fairly routine and it shouldn’t be over emphasized.



“These are routine things which are resolved as they come up and so it’s not an issue and we are discussing amicably with the National Assembly.”



In his remarks, the Japanese envoy said Nigeria’s power sector had been one of the priorities in Japan’s development cooperation in Nigeria.



He said, “Power sector is a key to improve the quality of life for people and also to promote industry.



“Power supply is one of the determinant factors when both domestic and foreign investors decide whether or not to invest in the county.

“Our mantra is to accelerate Nigeria’s economic development by helping attract more investments by improving power sector.”



He assured that the power supply project would make the FCT more attractive to investors as well as residents living in the nation’s capital.

http://www.punchng.com/fg-seals-n2-17bn-electricity-supply-pact-with-japan/

The Consumer Protection Council on Wednesday directed MTN Communications Limited to pay within 14 days the sum of N1.85m to one of the winners of its Ultimate Wonder Promo for lack of due diligence.

The council’s order came on the heels of a complaint brought by Mr. Omeje Fidelis against the telecommunications company alleging that he had been underpaid after he was declared winner of N2m in the said sales promotion, which was held in 2012.

According to Omeje, he participated in the promo and was called through MTN line 180 on October 10, 2012 that he had won N2m in the Ultimate Wonder Promo and that on October 12 of the same year he got a text message informing him of the presentation ceremony fixed for October 19 at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.

The complainant had claimed that during the said ceremony, he was presented with a dummy cheque of N2m with his name on it, interviewed and paraded before the media and the world as a winner of the said amount.



He recounted further that he was stunned to receive another call from MTN line 180 on November 2, 2012 that his winning was N150,000 and was thereafter given a Verve ATM card for that amount.

MTN, in its response to the Council’s intervention, denied the claim of Omeje, saying that he was from the on-set informed that his winning was N150,000 and that the complainant deceitfully presented himself when winners in the N2m category were called forward on the day of the prize presentation.

The company had stated further that Omeje’s antics was discovered at the verification of winners, which was done after the ceremony and he was thereafter contacted through its 180 line on his misrepresentation pursuant to which he apologised.

As a result of the development, the CPC in a statement said it demanded for the call data of the communications of the 10th of October 2012 when Omeje was informed of his winnings of N150,000, but MTN failed provide it.

The statement signed by the CPC Spokesman, Mr. Abiodun Obimuyiwa, stated that the company refused and neglected to comply with the request made both in 2012 and 2016.

It said, “The CPC, in its Orders, frowned at the consistent refusal of MTN to provide the call data records evidencing details of communication with the complainant, declaring that in the absence of this material evidence which is solely in the possession of the respondent the CPC must resolve the issue in favour of the complainant.”

“The process of the MTN Ultimate Wonder Promotion whereby the verification exercise was conducted after winners were identified, declared and winnings presented publicly is grossly flawed, lacking in transparency, inequitable and apparently calculated to deceive consumers.”

“The CPC, on the strength of these observations, therefore directed MTN to pay within 14 days of receipt of Order, the sum of N1,850,000 being the unpaid part of the N2m prize won by the complainant in the 2012 MTN Ultimate Wonder Promotion”.

Commenting on the issue, the Council’s Director General, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, reaffirmed the obligation of businesses to desist from promos that are not honest, transparent, equitable and faithful or designed to deceive consumers.

http://www.punchng.com/cpc-orders-mtn-to-pay-n1-85m-to-subscriber/

Barely two days after his inauguration, the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has dissolved the boards of ministries and parastals in the state.

He also officially terminated the appointments of all political appointees and directed them to hand over to the most senior officers in their offices with immediate effect.

The governor, who issued the directive through his Chief of Staff, Mr. Edward David Onoja, said the move was necessary to enable the new government commence the restructuring of the boards and parastatals where necessary.



He added that it would also allow the government to take stock of the state of the boards with a view to commencing the process of repositioning them through new hands for efficiency and service to the people.

The directive, however, excluded three statutory boards and the Accountant General of Kogi State.

Those excluded are the Judicial Service Commission, Civil Service Commission and the State Independent Electoral Commission.

The Governor thanks all the chairmen and members of the boards and parastatals for their services to the people of Kogi State and assured them of the readiness of his administration to move the state forward.

http://www.punchng.com/yahaya-bello-dissolves-boards-and-parastatals/

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Despite paying N170,000 to be elevated, Olubadan denied me – Oyediji
January 23, 2016




21753

Olufemi Atoyebi

Head of the Seriki line in Ibadan, Chief Adebayo Oyediji, has alleged that he paid the sum of N170,000 to the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade, to be promoted from the Osi Seriki to Seriki Olubadan but was denied the opportunity to be elevated.
Oyediji is laying claim to the throne of the Olubadan after the death of Oba Odulana on Tuesday despite the pronouncement of the Olubadan-in-Council that Balogun Olubadan, High Chief Saliu Adetunji is the next Olubadan.
Oyediji’s claim over payment of the sum was however said to be untrue by the Personal Assistant to the late Olubadan, Chief Isiaka Akinpelu.
Oyediji had alleged that the last Otun Seriki, Chief Adisa Akinloye, was denied the opportunity to become Olubadan before he died in 2007, stressing that Seriki family was the third line in the Olubadan succession system. He also said that the said sum of N170,000 was paid in 2007 after Akinloye’s death.
Speaking on behalf of the Olubadan-in-Council on the controversy, the Ashipa Balogun Olubadan of Ibadan land, High Chief Abimbola Ajibola, said the Seriki line was not recognised and therefore Oyediji had no right to become the next Olubadan.
Ajibola flayed Oyediji’s claim that there was a Supreme Court ruling that qualified him to lay claim to the throne. He explained that the 1959 Ekerin Balogun of Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration that Oyediji mentioned in his claim could not be triggered because the condition spelt out was not met by any circumstances.
He said, “It is undisputed that the next Olubadan is High Chief Saliu Adetunji; that is the only authentic Olubadan-in-waiting, any other one is a counterfeit.”
Ajibola pointed out that no court ruling would set aside or superseded the Olubadan succession system and that the law, as spelt out, must always be respected. He also said that apart from the Olubadan-in-Council, no one could declare himself as the next Olubadan. He also said that Oyediji was an Osi Seriki and that his status did not qualify him to become Olubadan.
Speaking with journalists at the weekend, Oyediji said the Ashipa Balogun Olubadan was wrong about his chieftaincy status, claiming that he was actually Otun Seriki and that he applied for elevation before Oba Odulana died.
Asked if a receipt was issued for the payment, Oyediji said he was not issued any receipt and that the money was paid in two instalments of N150,000 and N20,000. He however said that he had a copy of the application letter, which he alleged that the Olubadan-in-Council ignored.
He said “I applied to be elevated to the post of Seriki Olubadan as the next chief to the late Chief Adisa Akinloye but the application was rejected after paying N170,000.
“It wasn’t that I didn’t make an attempt (to be elevated) but somehow, they turned me down. I ought to have been promoted but the Olubadan-in Council refused to promote me as the next Seriki (despite the payment).”
Reacting to the council’s pronouncement that Seriki line had seized to exist and that apart from the Otun and Balogun lines, Seriki line had no right to produce Olubadan, Oyediji said going by the records that was available to him, Seriki should produce the next Olubadan and that the line, which he claimed to be the third in the Olubadan succession system, was suppressed by some powerful high chiefs to achieve selfish gain. He said in the past, Seriki title holders have risen to become Baale Ibadan (now Olubadan) or elevated to the Balogun line.
He said, “Aare Latosa rose from Seriki to Balogun before he became Baale, Balogun Ibikunle also rose from Seriki to Balogun in 1870, Habibu Soallu rose from Aare Ago Seriki to Maye Balogun, Mosanya also rose from Seriki to Osi Balogun, Baale Akintayo rose from Seriki to become Baale and Baale Shittu (Son of Aare Latosa) rose from Seriki to become Balogun and in 1914, he became the Baale.”
He added that a 1989 judgment of an Oyo State High Court had favoured the Seriki line’s qualification for elevation to the Ekerin Olubadan position whenever two consecutive positions were vacant either in the Balogun or Otun line.
In his reaction to Oyediji’s claim that he paid for his elevation but was denied, the Olubadan’s secretary, Chief Akinpelu, said the late monarch had never collected any money from any chief for the purpose of being elevated.
He said, “He should produce proof of his payment to the world. How can someone go directly to the Olubadan and pay for elevation? It is a lie, no money was paid to the Olubadan. To be elevated does not attract any fee. If there is vacancy, the system is so simple that the next person will be elevated immediately. The late Olubadan wanted the Seriki thing to be abolished, how would he now collect money from him?
“He claimed that he paid the money in 2007 but that cannot be true. The late Olubadan ascended the throne in August 2007 and by that time, Oyediji was only Ekerin Seriki. How can he now come out and say that he paid to be elevated? Could he have jumped to the top of Seriki line from that position?
“He should be able to tell us who he paid the money to. He did not come to the palace and if he had sent someone to pay the fee he is claiming, that person must have spent the money. I was personal assistant to the late Olubadan and I am sure that the man did not come to the palace to pay any money. Besides, Baba did not take money from chiefs for elevation.”
Second Republic Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide said the office of Seriki no longer existed and and that the late Chief Akinloye, failed in his attempt to revive it.
“Seriki office had been abolished. It is no longer in existence. Nobody has been there for a long time so nobody can come out now and claim to be Seriki. The late Chief Akinloye wanted to revive it but it was not accepted. That office is dead and it will not be revived,” he explained.
http://www.punchng.com/27133-2/

The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has suspended the director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Peter Jack, for “misconduct unbecoming of a public officer of his cadre”.

Mr. Jack’s suspension, which takes effect from January 20, 2016, was contained in a statement by the Special Assistant on Media to Mr. Shittu, Victor Oluwadamilare, on Wednesday.

“The indefinite suspension became imperative on the strength of deluge of petitions regarding several alleged wrong-doings in NITDA and subsequent preliminary findings of an investigative committee set up by the Ministry,” the statement said.

According to the statement, some of the infractions identified by the investigative committee made up of three senior officials of the ministry, included illegal recruitment of additional staff totalling 245 within a spate of seven months.

“As at 29th May, 2015, NITDA only had a staff complement of 74.”

“But from May, 2015 to 31st December, 2015, additional 245 staff were employed in questionable circumstances, despite clear instruction from the ministry directing suspension of employment in the agency,” quoting from the committee’s report, the statement said.

The committee also said allegations of financial misdemeanour against Mr. Jack would require a more detailed professional auditing of NITDA’s finances.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/197100-nigeria-minister-suspends-it-agency-boss-over-misconduct.html

Diligence:
THE CRY OF BIAFRANS HAVE REACHED HEAVEN AND WHEN ONE'S CRY REACHES HEAVEN, GOD CAN NEVER IGNORE!

Ode square root 25

[size=16pt]Igbos...can you people tell us other source of this news?[/size]

Actually, I think they should make hand cuffing standard procedure for all criminal cases. By the way, I love seeing that picture, it is a great lesson for all of us.

God Bless Nigeria!!!

The Nigeria Prisons Service has said that putting handcuffs on the National Publicity Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh while appearing for his trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday was at the discretion of the prison officer, who supervised his court appearance.

The NPS spokesman, Francis Enobore, said the officer in charge of the escort that took Metuh to court was at liberty to determine if the inmate should be handcuffed based on security situation, the environment and intelligence report made available to him.

Enobore made the clarification following comments in the media and by PDP, that putting handcuffs on Metuh is a plot by the All Progressives congress -led to subdue the major opposition party.

Enobore, in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, stated that Metuh was not maltreated in any way, stressing that handcuffing an inmate was a standard procedure, which the prison warden could employ based on the situation at hand.

He said, “Handcuffing an inmate is at the discretion of the officer in-charge, depending on the security situation, the environment and intelligence report available to the officer. Sometimes they look at the atmosphere and take the necessary decision.

“If you suspect that the atmosphere, security-wise, may not be conducive to the inmates in your custody, you can use handcuffs; to avoid a situation where you have to start telling stories, you use your discretion to study the environment and take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of the inmates in your custody.

“Remember that we not only try to secure the inmate from escaping, we equally provide protection for the inmate. The officer in-charge must ensure that the life of the inmate is not jeopardised. It is the officer in-charge of the escort that studies the security environment and takes the decision to use handcuffs.”

Asked if there was intelligence that Metuh might escape or was in danger of being harmed, Enobore said he did not know because he was not at the scene.

He dismissed suggestions that the PDP spokesman was handcuffed to please the Presidency, saying there was no political consideration in the treatment of inmates by the prisons service.

Justice Abang had, on January 15, ordered the accused person to be remanded in Kuje Prison shortly after his arraignment on seven counts of money laundering preferred against him by the EFCC.

The EFCC alleged in the charges that Metuh, who was arraigned along with a firm, Destra Investments Ltd, received N400m, part of the money meant for the procurement of arms, from the Office of the National Security Adviser in November 2014.

The EFCC alleged in the case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/05/2016, that Metuh and Destra, through their account with Diamond Bank Plc, collected the sum of N400m from the NSA office on November 22, 2015, for PDP’s campaign activities.

The prosecution also alleged that the N400m was “part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity” of the immediate past NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

It alleged that Metuh and Destra transferred the sum of N21.8m to Anenih and they (Metuh and Destra) thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended in 2012) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

The judge ordered on Tuesday that Metuh should not be released from custody until he met the bail conditions.

But in granting him bail on Tuesday, the judge dismissed EFCC’s objection to the application, ruling that the allegation that Metuh destroyed his statement and attempted to influence potential witnesses while in the custody of the anti-graft agency, was not substantiated.

Justice Abang added, “The truth of this allegation has not been established. The prosecution said that he, the first defendant, if granted bail, will try to influence potential witnesses.

“In my humble view, this is speculative. The court of law cannot act on speculation.

“The alleged conduct of the first defendant while in custody of the EFCC cannot be used as a factor or taken into consideration in refusing the bail to the first defendant.”

He said the offences that Metuh was accused of were bailable and that the accused still enjoyed constitutional right to being presumed innocent until proved guilty.

Metuh was arrested by the EFCC on January 5 and remained in the custody of the anti-graft agency till when he was arraigned on January 15.

The judge however dismissed the second prayer contained in Metuh’s bail application seeking an order restraining the EFCC from re-arresting him after being granted bail.

Metuh’s separate fundamental human rights enforcement suit is scheduled to come up for hearing before Justice Abang on Wednesday (today).

http://www.punchng.com/why-we-handcuffed-metuh-%E2%88%92-nps/