₦airaland Forum

By Nhlalwenhle Ncube


HOW about instead of cash, I pay in kind?

That’s what a Beitbridge based married cross-border trader had in mind when she begged to pay a $210 debt with sex.

Unfortunately the man she owed turned down her plea and demanded his rightful dues — money.

Embarrassed by the failed plan, she then threatened to fabricate a rape report if he told anyone.

Emmanuel Danda realising that Hilda Musesengwa was capable of anything dragged her to the civil court.

But the sleek Musesengwa managed to get away without paying at once and promised to pay $7 a week. But still, she hasn’t owned up to the legal route.

“Both are cross border traders and they met in Mozambique sometime in July.

“Musesengwa then borrowed $210 from Danda promising to pay him as soon as they returned home. However, she did not fulfill her promise as she always came up with excuses.

“After putting her under pressure, Musesengwa phoned him and suggested that they have sex to cancel the debt,” said a source.

Danda, knowing that she was married, turned down the offer and that day marked the beginning of threats.

“In a bid to avoid paying the debt she threatened to report a rape case against Danda and that is when I advised him to take the matter to the civil court.

“Though she promised to pay $7 every week, she never did and even after engaging her husband they never paid up to date,” said the source.

Danda confirmed.

“All I need is my money because every cent counts. I am really disappointed by this woman’s actions.

“I’m just from reporting the matter to the police and I will do anything to get my money back,” he said.

Danda abruptly hung up the phone and since then is unreachable.

Efforts to get a comment from the Matabeleland South police spokesperson were fruitless, the reference number for the case is 324083

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The family of Mr. and Mrs. Efe Eligiator was shocked after they discovered that a criminal suspect, Emmanuel Ogwuche slept with them in the same apartment before he stole some of their household items and escaped.

The incident happened at Ako-anu street, Tejumola Estate in Idimu area where the family resided, while the suspect Ogwuche lived at Okonuola area of Egbeda in Alimosho Local government Area, Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Ogwuche allegedly carted away some of their household items including plasma television, mobile phones and other appliances and escaped.

The father of two kids sneaked into the victim’s apartment in the night and waited till morning when Mrs. Eligiator opened the gate for her husband to go to work.

When she was done opening the gate, she returned to their apartment but could not find her mobile phone and also discovered that the Samsung plasma television in their living room was also missing. She raised an alarm which attracted other neighbours.

It was then they embarked on a search for the items in the area and met Ogwuche. He was interrogated and searched, and the missing phone was found in his pocket. He was almost mobbed before he took them to an uncompleted building where he hid the television set and other items.

The suspect, a 27-year old stylist was handed over to the police at Idimu Division where he made confessional statements.

At the police station, Ogwuche confessed that despite the fact that he was a stylist, he also specialised in burgling and robbing houses.

In the recent past he had been arrested and jailed in Ogun State, but relocated to Egbeda after his release from prison and continued his criminal activities.

He revealed that on the fateful day, he went to the house earlier in the day, monitored the area and came in the night.

He sneaked into the house, slept with them before he carted away the items in the morning when Mrs. Eligiator went to open the gate for her husband’s exit.

The Benue State-born Ogwuche was charged before Isolo Magistrates court for stealing.

He pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. A.O. Adedayo granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with one sureties in the like sum.

He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail condition. The matter was adjourned till 31 October, 2017.

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The Federal Government said on Friday that its plan to generate 20, 000 megawatts of electricity over the next four years was on course.

The Minister of State for Power, Alhaji Mustapha Shehuri, gave the assurance in Funtua, Katsina State when he inaugurated a 132/33 KV transformer that would boost power supply to local governments in Katsina South by 200 percent.

He said that the government was replacing faulty transformers nationwide and installing new ones in order to ensure steady power supply to Nigerians.

Shehuri said that ongoing transmission rehabilitation and expansion programme would facilitate full utilisation of the more than 7000MW of power currently available.

“Government is determined to provide safe, reliable and sustainable power supply to the citizenry,’’ the minister emphasised.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 60MVA 132/33 KV power transformer project in Funtua, fully funded by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), was successfully energized on Oct. 10.

The Minister also inaugurated a 40MVA 132/33KV mobile power transformer in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Earlier, TCN Managing Director, Usman Mohammed said efforts were on to complete the installation of power transformers scattered across the country using its engineers and other in-house staff.

He said that the company’s Regional Managers had been mandated to supervise the installations.

Mohammed said TCN has successfully achieved frequent control, first of its kind in 20 years.

He announced that TCN would establish three additional sub-stations in Kaduna at Keke, Rigasa and Kakau to boost power transmission in the state capital. (NAN)

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There were indications that the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party might move against Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State. During the latest National Executive Committee of the party, members of NEC discussed his matter at its 76th meeting which was held in Abuja on Tuesday.

Fayose, who came late to the meeting but was allowed to speak as the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum during which he castigated the ruling All Progressives Congress party. He also lambasted the Federal Government, saying the way it is fighting war against corruption was like Satan calling Judas Iscariot a sinner.

Besides that, he also said that armed robbers are now calling some people thieves in Nigeria.

However, at the meeting, Senator Abiodun Olujimi a former Deputy to Fayose during his first tenure as governor of Ekiti state accused him of turning Ekiti State upside down with his actions.

Speaking under "Any Other Business" on the party's NEC agenda, Olujimi said the party is on the verge of losing the governorship election in her state if Fayose is not cautioned.

She accused the governor off unleashing his terror gang on members of the PDP in the state. Also, PDP's spokesman, Dayo Adeyeye said the chairman of the party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi has promised to look into the issues raised.

Adeyeye spoke with journalists after the PDP NEC meeting. According to him, " Senator Abiodun Olujimi raised the issues happening in Ekiti State under the AOB of the NEC agenda. She mentioned the unconstitutional manner the governor is running the party in the state. "She also raised the assault on members of the party by the governor. She mentioned the violence and act of impunity by the governor.

"But the chairman has promised to take some actions on the matter so that we don't lose the governorship election in the state next year."

Mr. Adeyey did not disclose the exact action (s) the PDP is planning to take but sources within the party hierarchy told SaharaReporters that they will sacrifice Fayose if need be to enable the party do well in the upcoming guber election in the state. Mr. Fayose recently declared his intention to run as the Presidential candidate of his party, but that declaration and the euphoria that followed was shortlived as the Economic and Financial Crimes commission swiftly arrested two of his commissioners and the PDP leadership also distanced the party from his ambition.

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By John Mkom Jalingo.


At least one person has been confirmed dead,with shops worth millions of naira looted and burnt following a clash between Muslims and Christian youth in Dan-Anacha, a town in Gassol local government area of Taraba State.

An eyewitness, Mr. Titus Gowon told our correspondent on phone that trouble started at about 8:00pm on Sunday following a misunderstanding between Muslims and Christian youth at a brothel in the town.

According to him, a Christian youth was sighted with a Muslim’s praying bead and was accosted by four Muslim boys who accused him of blasphemy, beat him up and handed him and his friend to the police for detention.

He narrated that worried by their actions and why the police have to detain the two, some youth mobilised and went to the police station demanding for the release of the boys.

“While at the police station, the Muslim boys in their numbers attacked them, leading to the escalation of the misunderstanding.

Taiwo Amodu -Abuja



The last may not have been heard about the crises currently rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This is because Sunday Tribune can reveal that the meeting between the chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and the governors elected on the platform of the party, held last Wednesday, was characterised by a stormy session.

The agenda of the meeting called at the instance of Chief Oyegun, was to sound the governors out on the party’s national convention which had been aborted twice this year.

Other issues discussed were the interim report of the party’s Committee on True Federalism led by the Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and the report of the committee on APC Constitution amendment presented by its chairman and the party’s national Legal Adviser, Muiz Banire, (SAN).

A party source revealed to Sunday Tribune that the APC constitution amendment committee report was an alleged ploy by Oyegun to justify his move to seek postponement of the convention till March 2018.

While the party’s national legal adviser reeled out about 88 items to be amended in the constitution and ratified at the convention, a livid Bauchi State governor, Mohammed Abubakar, stood up to counter Oyegun and Banire as he declared that time was of essence and the party could not use the constitution amendment to seek for a delay in the National Executive Committee, (NEC) and convention meetings which he noted were long overdue.

The governor declared pointedly at the meeting that as a lawyer, he knew the implication of the serious breach on the APC constitution by not holding its convention as statutorily provided.

“Any agitated member of our party can go to court to seek redress and cause more confusion for us. We must proceed with the October 30 and 31 for national caucus and NEC meetings,” the Bauchi governor reportedly told the gathering.

Abubakar further argued that the meeting of governors and certain members of the National Assembly called at the instance of Oyegun was not known to the party constitution and therefore not superior to NEC.

The source further revealed that Oyegun’s argument that the convention being planned for November be shelved until March 2018 when his leadership tenure was expected to end in order to save cost was equally overruled by the governors.”

The Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai also expressed concern over the absence of South-West governors at the meeting and called on the NWC to reach out to them,” the source revealed.

Sunday Tribune investigations revealed that the APC constitution, (October 2014, as amended) stipulates that the meeting of the highest organ of the party, the national convention must be convened once in two years but it has since been observed in the breach by the Odigie-Oyegun-led National Working Committee.

Further investigation, however, revealed that same constitution empowers the national chairman to summon a meeting of NEC, which shall fix date for national convention.

Article 25 (B)( i, ii) of the party constitution reads:’’ The National Executive Committee shall meet every quarter and or at any time decided by the national chairman or at the request made in writing by at least two-thirds of the members of the National Executive Committee provided that not less than fourteen (14) days notice is given for the meeting to be summoned;

“Without prejudice to Article 25(B(i) of this Constitution, the National Working Committee may summon an emergency National Executive Committee meeting at any time, provided that at least seven (7) days notice of the meeting shall be given to all those entitled to attend.’’

Sunday Tribune recalls that only the national convention can take decisions on sensitive matters like removal of national officers, election of presidential candidate, ratification of amendment of the party constitution and its policies and programmes.

Posted by: Tunde Oyesina





The last may not have been heard in the allegations of corruption and counter-allegations by Senator Isah Misau (Bauchi Central) and the Inspector- General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, on alleged abuse of office. The Federal Government had, last Thursday, arraigned Misau before an Abuja High Court on a fivecount charge bothering on alleged injurious falsehood against the IGP, Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Police Service Commission (PSC).

The senator, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was consequently admitted to bail in the sum of N5 million, with two sureties in like sum. However, part of the documents in his (Misau) defence before the court was a Police document which showed that the IG approved two Jeeps for the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, and a bus for the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.

But a top police source, who prefers anonymity because the case is pending in court, said that there is nothing illegal in the donation as there is no law which bars government agencies from assisting each other. He, however, denied that vehicles were donated to the President’s wife.

He rather stated that the vehicles were given to the police officers attached to the President’s wife. According to the documents before the court cited by New Telegraph, the vehicles were approved for the President’s wife early this year, in response to a request signed by one SP Sani M. Baba-Inna, ADC to the wife of the President. In the letter, dated January 17, 2017 and addressed to the IGP, the ADC requested for Toyota Sienna Space bus and Toyota Hiace Bus to compliment the vehicles attached to Her Excellency, the wife of the President.

The ADC further stated in the request letter that the said vehicles, if approved, will be used to support Her Excellency’s private movement and utilities. In a response to the request, the Office of the IGP on January 18, 2017 directed the Force Transport Officer to provide two Jeeps for the wife of the President.

In the same vein, the office of the IGP, on August 8, 2016 approved the release of a bus for NIPPS, Kuru. The approval was sequel to a letter of request dated August 8, 2016, signed by the Institute’s Acting Director General, Jonathan M. Jumai. In the said request letter, dated 8th August 2016 titled “RE: REQUEST FOR INTERVENTION IN THE ACQUISITION OF PROGRAMME/ VEHICLES AND CONSTRUCTION OF DIRECTING STAFF QUARTERS”, the Acting Director General of NIPSS, Kuru, one Jonathan M. Juma, requests the IGP’s assistance in the construction of one “Directing Staff quarters (4-bedroom bungalow)”.

The letter reveals that the NIPSS had requested “programme vehicles for the use of its Senior Executive Course Participants” and their “Directing Staff”, ostensibly for use during their local and “strategic studies tours”; Juma then indicates that the Institute will be “highly appreciative” of the IGP’s assistance in that regard. In the document sighted by our reporter, the IGP then inscribed “Approved” on the correspondence, and to minute it to the Force Transport Officer (FTO).

The IGP inscribed a handwritten note in the margin of the letter directing the “O/C ALL” to “issue one (1) bus with inscription Donated by: The Nigeria Police Force.” It is the contention of the defence team that such approval by the Office of the IGP may have contravened the police budget for 2016 and 2017 since there was no provision for same in the approved budget.

However, in his further reaction to the document, the police source said: “There are police officers in the Villa, that is, Mopol 24, they are in the Presidential Escort. They use police vehicles and, as such, they have right to request for vehicles from police, if they have additional needs for vehicles because all those attached to the Vice President and the President’s wife are police officers.

The wife of the President did not request for any car from the IGP, rather it is the police attached to her that requested for additional vehicles to complement the ones they have. “For me, I don’t think, there is anything in that, that is abnormal. For NIPSS, there is an interagency co-operation.

For instance, there are military, police officers and others serving in NIPSS. So, if NIPSS is requesting something from the police, if the police have it, they can give it to them. It is just like War College. You know that every year, the IG goes to lecture them, same way, the Chief of Army Staff does.

During the lectures, each of the organisations promises what to do for them. Even as at the now, the police have promised to help with their library. “IGP did not give out the vehicle in his personal capacity, lest it will be said that he used police money to give out gift to NIPPS and wife of the President. But, since it is official, there is nothing wrong in it.

There is nothing wrong for an organisation to partner with another towards achieving a goal. “For example, in the police, if we are having joint operation, we can call on the FCT to assist us with vehicle.

Like the Ministry of Works, they can donate vehicle for police, during Highway Patrol, even they buy cars for Road Safety. So, there is nothing wrong for one agency to assist another agency. “NIPSS is a government agency and they can request for the assistance of another government agency.

“It is not compulsory that the gifts you give out be included in the budget,” he stated.

Posted by Onyekachi Eze, ABUJA


As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) begins the count down to its December 9 National Convention for the election of the party’s leadership for the next four years, aspirants seeking to occupy the National Chairmanship position have been visiting founding fathers of the party and elders for their blessing.

Those who have publicly declared to lead the party in the next dispensation are former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran; former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George and former Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

Media mogul, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, is also intensifying campaign to occupy the number 1 position in the party, so also is former Minister of Sports, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja.

Last week, PDP governorship candidate for Lagos State in 2015, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, visited Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, to intimate him of his intention to run for the chairmanship.

Former Oyo State governor, Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja, and former Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, are also said to have interest to vie for the position.

The number seems to be increasing everyday. Apart from the 2008 National Convention, never in the history of PDP has the chairmanship position attracted this number of aspirants. The position has been zoned to the southern part of the country.
What are the chances of these aspirants when delegates from 36 states of the country and Abuja gather to elect the next PDP National Working Committee (NWC)?


Chief Bode George

Bode George appears to enjoy wide support among most members and lovers of PDP across the country because of his contributions, antecedents and consistency. He has served in many capacities at top most leadership level of the party since its formation in 1998. The National Chairmanship is the only office left for him to occupy.

In terms of experience and party politics, Bode George is shoulder high above the other contenders, and in terms of contact and connections, he has no equal.

Now that PDP is no more in government, the party needs a leader with character. It needs a National Chairman who can command respect and enforce party discipline, especially in ensuring that the party’s ticket in election does not go to the highest bidder.

George have all these qualities, and even more, and that is why he seems to be enjoying the support of party faithful.

Those who oppose his candidature said George plays a divisive politics. They blamed the inability of PDP to win Lagos State governorship on his style of politics. There are fears that such might be the case at the national level if he wins the chairmanship.

Also, PDP governors seem not be too comfortable with George’s candidature because he might be too high-handed. The governors want a National Chairman they can control, and that is why George might not enjoy their support.


Prof. Adeniran

Prof. Tunde Adeniran is one of the founding members of PDP. He served as Minister of Education in the first tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. A political scientist, Prof. Adeniran was a member of Ibrahim Babangida Political Bureau of 1986.

Gentle and non-controversial, the former education minister seems to be enjoying the support of some founding fathers. It was rumoured that Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Senator Buruji Kashamu, were bankrolling his ambition. This was denied by the Director-General of his campaign, Shehu Gabam, though Buruji was sighted at his public declaration in Abuja last month.

Adeniran may not be the type of National Chairman PDP needs now that the party is in opposition. As a political scientist, he knows that there are war-time and peace-time leaders. PDP now needs a tough and rugged leader, to be able to return to power in 2019.

Also, there are fears that he could be easily manipulated by the governors who want to hijack the structure of the party.


Otunba Gbenga Daniel

Daniel’s victory in 2003, when he defeated an incumbent governor who was a candidate of a popular political party in Ogun State then, was astounding. He demonstrated again this feat when he left PDP to Labour Party and made the party a dominant party in the state. Only a politician with a grassroots support could achieve these feats.

As a former governor, Daniel is looking forward to enjoying the support of his ‘brother’ governors. His ambition was said to have born out of the fact that former Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, whom the governors wanted, declined to join the race in deference to Chief Bode George.

But the battle may not be easy for Daniel. The Ogun State chapter of the party said it was not aware of his ambition to run for the chairmanship. Besides, he is at war with Senator Kashamu who is from the same state. Kashamu will deploy everything within his power to stop him from becoming the National Chairman.

Again, Daniel if facing a moral burden: he is a returnee to PDP, having left the party in 2011 to the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN). He will have to convince the delegates to the convention why he deserves their votes after he abandoned the party and worked against its success, for more than three years. If others had done same, there would have been no PDP to seek its chairmanship now!


Dr. Raymond Dokpesi

Dokpesi has contributed much to the success of PDP especially in Edo State where he comes from. Despite the control of the state by the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dokpesi worked hard to win two senate seats for PDP in 2015.

On many occasions, he offered his media platform, the African Independent Television, free of charge, for live broadcast of PDP activities.

The problem with Dokpesi’s ambition is that he is from South-South while majority of PDP members want the chairmanship to go to South West, for equity and justice.

(The Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi said micro-zoning is not binding.)
Again, many feared that he might be too rigid and difficult to control.


Prof. Adedoja

Prof. Taoheed Adedoja contested the PDP chairmanship in the August 17, 2016 botched National Convention.
No one knows where Prof. Adedoja is coming from but he may turnout to be a dark horse. He might be playing the same card Prince Vincent Ogbulafor played in 2008 when he became the only available option after the frontline contenders failed to reach a compromise.


Jimi Agbaje

If the 2016 second Port Harcourt convention had succeeded, Mr. Jimi Agbaje would have been the PDP National Chairman. He was the choice of the PDP governors who were ready to do anything to produce him.

But a lot has changed since then. It does appear that the governors are not looking on his side this time. Their anger was that Agbaje was sitting on the fence during the struggle to retrieve the party from Senator Ali Modu Sheriff. A would be party chairman should be able to declare his stand on any issue!


Prince Uche Secondus

Though his ambition is still in the realm of speculation, the former PDP Deputy National Chairman may spring a surprise. He was to retain his former position if any of the two conventions in 2016 had succeeded but things have changed since then.

It was gathered that certain forces are pushing him to run for the Number 1 position of the party even though he is from South-South. And, except the more than five aspirants from South-West put their house in order and present one or two persons to the delegates to choose from, Secondus might benefit from their disagreement.

His sour point was that he served in the immediate past NWC and party members blame PDP misfortune in 2015 on impunity and imposition, which the former NWC allegedly engineered.

Also, certain elements from the North are not too happy with him for attempting to deny them the opportunity to serve out the region’s tenure when Alhaji Adamu Mu’Azu resigned. The consequence of his ‘intransigent’ led to the coming of Sheriff and the pains inflicted on the party.

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Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri, Paul Obi in Abuja and Daji Sani in Yola



The United Nations has said in spite of efforts by the Nigerian military to contain the menace of terrorism in the North-east, three local government areas in Borno State still remain completely inaccessible to aid workers as a result of the threat posed by the Boko Haram sect. The organisation, which stated that though accessibility to most parts of the crisis-ravaged region could improve at the end of the rainy season, however raised the alarm that the same circumstance could equally increase the rate of attacks from the terrorist group.

In its monthly report, titled, “North-East Nigeria: Humanitarian Situation Update” for the month of September, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), while highlighting the prevailing security challenges, argued that many local government councils in Borno State were no longer accessible for humanitarian aid.

It stated that insecurity, presence of mines, improvised explosive devices, and unexploded ordinances had continued to slow down the response of humanitarian agencies in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

While not specific about the particular local governments affected, the UN reiterated that in the three affected states, three local governments remained completely inaccessible, with 26 partly accessible, and 37 fully accessible. It added that all the inaccessible and most of the partially accessible local government areas were in Borno State, the birthplace and hotbed of the Boko Haram insurgency.

However, a source in Borno State identified the three unreachable local councils as Abadam, Kukawa, and Mobbar.

“Most roads to the south, south-west and east remain unusable due to security concerns and most humanitarian personnel movement is done through air assets. Cargo, however, is being transported via road with armed escorts as a last resort,” the UN said.

According to it, “No humanitarian aid is currently reaching locations in these LGAs outside of the LGAs’ main towns called ‘headquarters’. Major humanitarian supply routes towards the west, north-west and north are open for humanitarians without the use of armed escorts. Following advocacy efforts, Konduga and Mafa are now also accessible to aid groups without military escorts.”

But the UN has complained that the failure of donors worldwide to fully meet their financial commitment towards the North-east has made it impossible for interventions. The UN said, “As the response enters the final quarter of the year, additional funding is needed to meet the targets laid out in the 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan.

Certain sectors that are key in kick-starting the transition into the recovery phase, such as Health, Education and Response and Recovery Planning have continued to be dramatically under-funded with 21, 12 and 5 per cent of the required funding received as of 30 September.”

But the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, while speaking to THISDAY, said the Army would not comment on the matter until it had studied the report. Usman noted that while the Army was not in a haste to dispute the UN OCHA report, it would be discreet in responding to such report.

In a related development, the Nigerian Air Force yesterday said it had bombed Boko Haram locations and scattered their hideouts. NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, stated, “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Component of Operation LAFIYA DOLE conducted an attack on a location in URGA area close to KONDUGA.

“Previous intelligence reports gathered through Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions by NAF ISR platforms, had indicated the presence of a large number of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) in DURWAWA settlement in the outskirt of URGA.

“Accordingly, one Alpha Jet aircraft was detailed to carry out air interdiction on the target. Overhead the location, the aircraft acquired and attacked the target twice with bombs.”

Adesanya maintained, “Subsequent Battle Damage Assessment revealed that the aerial attack set off a fire, causing damage to the BHT structures within the settlement and neutralizing most of the BHTs while a few of them fled the location. The aerial attack by the NAF is in furtherance of efforts at ensuring the complete decimation of the BHTs and breaking their will to continue their terrorist attacks on innocent Nigerians.”

But in what seemed like a confirmation of fears raised in the UN report, Boko Haram insurgents at the weekend abducted three young women in Maggar village of Madagali council, Adamawa State.

Chairman of the council, Yusuf Muhammad, confirmed the abduction to THISDAY and revealed that the women were abducted by the insurgents while working on their farms on the outskirts of Maggar village He said soldiers and local hunters had been mobilised to track down the abductors with a view to rescuing the victims. But at the time of filing this report, there was no news on their whereabouts.

Muhammad lamented that the insurgents had been launching a series of attacks on his council, saying proactive measures need to be taken by the federal government to curtail the attacks in the area.

Eyewitnesses from the area have also confirmed the development.

Magar is a remote village, about 25 kilometres from Gulak town, the headquarters of Madagali Local Government Area. The area had fallen to Boko Haram control before its liberation by the military in 2015.

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Lois Apollos was born in Mubi Local Government Area of a Adamawa State 18 years ago, but left home in 2015 in search of better life in Gombe. With only primary school education, she got a job as a restaurant attendant on the outskirts of Gombe metropolis, but later fell out with the restaurant owner, one Madam Rhoda, and left for Alkaleri in Bauchi State.

“There, I met the father of my child, Lawal,who sells Suya at a place called Junction Masuri. I later moved to his one-room apartment,” Lois said.

“When I told him that I was pregnant, he agreed to be responsible, but when he was convinced by his friends, he asked me to go and find the father of my child,” she added.

Confused on where to go next, Lois returned to her parents in Mubi, but according to her, they sent her away, saying they would not harbour her with a pregnancy outside wedlock. She then returned to Gombe, where she revealed her predicament to one Haladu, a yam seller at New Mile 3 along the Gombe-Yola highway, and confided in him that she would also abandon the child after delivery. But Haladu introduced her to a woman, Hadiza, who agreed to take the baby when she put to bed.

“When Hadiza came, she told me that she wanted the baby. I thought she was joking, but when the pregnancy reached nine months, she persuaded me to go to a hospital where a medical doctor induced the labour and I delivered the baby.

After the delivery, she settled the bills and gave me N10, 000 and left for an unknown destination with the child. She also asked me not to return to Mile 3.” But Lois returned to Mile 3, and people started asking her about the baby.

“With no answer to their enquiries, I had to leave the place, to stay with my friend at a village called ACG. But for three weeks after delivering the baby I could not sleep well, so I returned to Haladu and asked him to take me to the woman who took my baby away,” she said. The police later helped her trace Hadiza and recovered the baby.

“The police recovered the child from the woman and gave me a letter to the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare which reunited me with my child and brought us to this village in the ministry’s official vehicle,” she said.

The police then invited Lawal, the father of the child, who agreed to take responsibility for the child’s upkeep, but he was not seen afterwards.

“When the police invited him, he came, and agreed that he was responsible for my pregnancy and would now take responsibility for the child’s upkeep. Hadiza was crying when they took the child from her, begging us to leave him to her,” she added.

When Daily Trust visited Lois at the ACG village along the Gombe-Yola highway earlier this week, she was cuddling her one-month-old baby under a tree at about noon, singing softly. She said she was starving, having not eaten since the previous night. Lois also said the baby is not named yet.

“Since my reunion with the child and subsequent relocation to this village about two weeks ago, neither the officials of the ministry nor the father has visited me. Baby is ill and I don’t have enough breast milk to give him. Because he was away from me for about a month, the breast milk has ceased and I do not eat good food to stimulate the flow,” she said.

When Daily Trust contacted the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, the officials denied knowledge of the case. The Director of Social Welfare at the ministry, Mr. Endiley Mailafiya, said his office was not aware of the case.

However, the Gombe State Police Command Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Obed Mary Malum, confirmed the incident, saying the command actually recovered and handed over the child to his mother, Lois.

“We have since reunited the baby with his real mother through the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare,” DSP Malum said.

Some stakeholders in the oil sector are pushing for the removal of Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum resources.

This is as a result of the minister’s claim that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) awarded N25 billion contracts without due process .

Although, Kachikwu later recanted , saying the issues he raised were on governance and the “way to go about it”, some major marketers and key unions in the sector are said to be miffed.

The unions consist of the leadership of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), the petroleum tanker drivers branch of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN).

Others are the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMA), the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Major Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN).

An industry source quoted one of the union leaders as saying “Kachikwu has lost all moral and credible integrity to lead or supervise the oil and gas industry”.

The source said some of the unions are plotting to embarrass the minister with fuel scarcity in order to make him resign.

In a position paper recently written to the presidency, the leadership of NARTO described Kachikwu’s allegations as a display of “immaturity”.

“We would like to reiterate that the comment made by the minister were an act of immaturity and an indirect affront on the personality of President Muhammadu Buhari who is the substantive minister of petroleum resources,” read the paper signed by Kassim Bataiya, NARTO president.

The petroleum tankers drivers are said to have recommended the minister’s sack to Buhari.

Realising the tough opposition against him, the minister was said to have reached out to the stakeholders but they reportedly turned him down.

As of the time this report was filed, the minister was not available for comments as Uche Adighibe, spokesman of the ministry, did not respond to a text message sent by TheCable.

A Director in the Kogi State Civil Service , Mr Edward Soje has allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself on a tree in Lokoja , the state capital .

The News Agency of Nigeria gathered on Saturday in Lokoja that the dangling body of Soje was found on a tree behind the mammy market at the Maigumeri barracks , the Nigeria Army Command Record.

The 54 - year - old civil servant decided to take his life barely 10 days after his wife of 17 years gave birth to a set of male triplets in a private hospital in Abuja . The couple had been childless before then .

Soje, a Grade Level 16 Officer in the Kogi State Teaching Service Commission, was being owed 11 months ’ salary arrears as at the time he took his life .

He hailed from Ogori town in Ogori - Magongo Local Government area of the state .

He had before killing himself travelled to Abuja and left a suicide note for the wife who also works in one of the federal ministries .

“ Psalm 121 :3 God will not suffer your foot to be moved: He that keepeth you will not slumber . Amen . You and the three boys , the God Almighty will keep you and prosper you , amen . I love you , ” according to the suicide note .

Confirming the incident , the state police command Public Relations Officer , ASP William Aya said that the dangling body of Soje was found on a tree behind the barracks at about 5 :55 p. m on Oct . 16.

Aya said that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Area D Division received information about the incident from the military intelligence office in the barracks.

“ Police moved to the scene , removed the corpse to the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja . Investigation is still ongoing, ” Aya said .

The police spokesman said that nothing was found on the man to help trace his address and family .

However , a search party organised by his relations and friends, found his corpse at the morgue of the hospital on Friday, Oct . 20 .

Family sources said that Soje had before the incident been going through a lot of financial pressure due to non - payment of his salary for 11 months by the Kogi State Government .

He was among thousands of civil servants being owed between two and 21 months ’ salary arrears by the state government.

As a way out, he was said to have sold his only car and a three- bedroom bungalow he was building at Otokiti area of Lokoja .

The building which was at lintel level was sold by Soje at a giveaway price of N 1.5 million in April to meet urgent family needs, it was gathered.

According to the sources, Soje’ s financial woes became compounded when the wife gave birth to a set of triplets through Caesarian operation in a private hospital in Abuja on Oct . 7 .

The deceased remained in the hospital to look after wife and children until Oct . 13, a day before the naming ceremony when he decided to come back to Lokoja .

On getting to Lokoja , Soje went straight to his bank to collect the remaining N 30, 000 in his salary account with one of the commercial banks and thereafter informed the bank in writing about his decision to close the account .

He immediately left Lokoja for the hospital in Abuja where he rejoined his wife and handed over the N 30, 000 cash to her .

On Oct . 14, Soje and wife were joined by two pastors and few relatives to perform a brief naming ceremony for the triplets in the hospital .

He later left the hospital on the pretext that he wanted to pick few things from the wife ’ s apartment in Abuja with a promise to come back quickly .

But Soje did not return for hours and did not pick any of the many calls made to his telephone line, a development which forced the wife to send somebody to the house to go and ascertain what was happening to him .

The person , on getting to the apartment knocked the door severally but no response and decided to call his telephone number.

On hearing the telephone ringing out from the apartment, the person was said to have knocked severally again but no response , this made him to seek the assistance of neighbours to force the door open.

When the door was opened , the people were shocked when they saw Soje’ s telephone handset placed on a suicide note on the centre table in the sitting room while he was nowhere to be found .

When the wife was informed, she quickly contacted some people to begin a search for him in Abuja while relations and friends in Lokoja were also informed of the development .

Efforts made to locate him did not yield fruit until relations decided to visit hospitals in Lokoja , the decision paid off eventually on Friday , October 20 when the corpse of Soje was found in the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre , Lokoja .

A member of the family said that the management of the hospital explained to them that Soje’ s corpse was brought in by the police , who found it dangling on a tree .

A member of the family , who spoke on condition of anonymity , described the late Soje as a “ very quiet and lovable human being. “

He said that some members of the family have been sent to Abuja to break the news to the wife and refused to answer further questions.
NAN

From: Paul Osuyi, Asaba


A suspected armed robber, who was attempting to escape after his arrest, was on Wednesday shot dead by security operatives in Delta State.

The suspect, whose identity was yet be verified, as at press time, reportedly jumped out of a moving police patrol van.

He was subsequently gunned down allegedly by enraged police officers who were taking him to the station.

The incident occurred at Agidiesei Quarters, Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State.

A source at the Ogwashi-Uku police division told our correspondent that operatives of anti-robbery squad of the command had accosted a three-man gang suspected to be armed robbers during the wee hours of the fateful day.

The source said the operatives decided to search the suspects, adding that the suspects took to their heels on sighting the officers alighting from the patrol van.

“However, one of them was caught, and in the process of searching him, a locally made cut-to-size gun was found in his bag and he swiftly arrested.

“But on their way to the police station, the boy jumped down from the moving police vehicle in a bid to escape, hence, he was shot. He gave up the ghost at the station,” the source said.

According to the source, operatives of the division have spread out dragnet to trap down the other fleeing members of the gang.

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Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu


A pro-Biafra group, the Biafra Zionists Federation, (BZF), on Tuesday appointed a former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as Ambassador to the United States of America.

The group also appointed Dr. Dozie Ikedife as the Chairman of National Committee for Biafra’s independence and Hon. Kanu Agabi as Attorney General of the Federation.

BZF berated Igbo leaders over their recent meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Villa, Abuja, describing the visit as futile and self-serving.

It accused Igbo leaders of going to Aso Rock to share war bounties, while the agitators were dying in the struggle for the restoration of Biafra.

The leader of the group, Mr. Benjamin Onwuka, who issued a “stern warning” to the leaders in a statement made available to journalists in Enugu, accused the Igbo leaders of working against the interest of the common man in the street.

Re-call that at the meeting attended by select South-east leaders and the governors from the zone, President Buhari dismissed insinuations that he was marginalising Ndigbo.

He also announced a change of his name to Onwuka Nsiegbe, vowing that with the support of the US, he would before this year’s Christmas re-declare Biafra at Lokoja in Kogi State.

According to him, “We are hopeful that Biafra is going to be approved in December by the US because this problem of Biafra is not about IPOB or Nnamdi Kanu, it is about America’s support. We are now waiting for President Donald Trump’s endorsement before Christmas; whatever we are doing is based on America’s diplomatic engagement.

“Therefore, the Republic of Biafra will be announced in Lokoja; Lokoja is an Igbo land; as at 1914 when the amalgamation took place, Lokoja was part of Igbo land; Igbo land extends up to Plateau State; it used to be called Arochukwu kingdom; so, Biafra is going to reclaim her sovereignty from Lokoja.

“Biafra issue is a diplomatic matter; if America does not support us, it will not work; so, IPOB or Kanu cannot get Biafra; what the IPOB is doing is a waste of time. We are hopeful that our diplomatic approach will make it come true.

“We want to restate our ministerial appointments. They include Foreign Minister, Patrick Utomi; Finance, Arunma Oteh; Governor of the Central Bank of Biafra, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo; Information, Amarachi Ubani, currently at Channels Television, Lagos; Trade and Industry, May Okafor, currently at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Transportation, Prof. Jerry Gana; Aviation, Labaran Maku; Secretary to the Government of the Republic, Beny Lar; Education, Gabriel Oluwole Osagie; Energy, Prof. Barth Nnaji; United Nations, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, the current chairman of Ohanaeze; Defence, internal affairs, agriculture, police, air force, prison service, customs, would all be Israelis.”

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TUNDE OYESINA and AKEEM NAFIU


There is a heightened anxiety ahead of tomorrow’s hearing in a treason case initiated against leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, by the federal government, following what will become of his sureties in court as his whereabouts remains unknown. TUNDE OYESINA and AKEEM NAFIU report




Although there are a few cases rolled into one against the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, fate of his sureties will top one of the issues Justice Binta Nyako will determine in court tomorrow in one of the applications initiated by the federal government.

The federal government in one of the applications has asked the court to revoke the bail granted to Kanu in April on the ground of ill-health which appeared to have been allegedly breached by the IPOB leader since he was allowed home on bail.

But Kanu whose whereabouts had remained unknown since September 14 when the military allegedly invaded his Abia state residence, may have put his sureties on imprisonment path should he fail to show up in court tomorrow for the hearing of the felony case against him
A surety, under the law, is someone who has presented himself to guarantee the presence of a defendant who has been admitted to bail during trial.

While the Federal Government said that the sureties risked imprisonment should Kanu be absent in court tomorrow, IPOB is insisting that the FG is in the best position to tell the world where Kanu is, and as such, the sureties cannot be held responsible for his absence.

At the moment, it is being rumoured in some quarters that Kanu had escaped to the United Kingdom through Malysia. This is just as members of his group are alleging that it is the military that abducted him when it raided his home.

Kanu was arrested in October 2015 following allegations of treasonable felony by the federal government and was held in the custody of the State Security Service till January 2016 when the court ordered that he be kept in prison custody.

The Federal Government consequently arraigned Kanu and three others before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a five count criminal charge bordering on treasonable felony.

The trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako had on April 25 admitted Kanu to bail on health ground. As part of the bail condition, he was asked to produce three sureties, namely; a highly respected Jewish leader, a highly placed Igbo person and a respected person who resides and owns property in Abuja .

The Chairman of the Senate’s South East Caucus, Eyinnaya Abaribe; a Jewish priest, Immanuu-El Shalom and an accountant and Abuja resident, Tochukwu Uchendu, were Kanu’s sureties. Each of the sureties was asked to sign a bond of N100 million each.

However, speaking on the legal implication of Kanu’s failure to attend court on the next adjourned date, Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Prosecution, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, in an exclusive chat with New Telegraph Law in Abuja noted that Kanu has violated all the conditions prescribed by the court and government had sought the revocation of his bail.

He said: “Following the military exercise carried out by the military in Umuahia, Abia state and the subsequent proscription of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has not been seen and may have gone underground.

“So, it is not likely that he will appear in court on the next adjourned date for fear of being arrested by the police or security agencies.

“Kanu had sureties that entered into recognizance or signed bail bonds as ordered by the court that led to his release.

“The position of the law as provided under Section 173 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, is that, a defendant whom recognizance was entered on his behalf and who is subsequently released on bail is bound to appear before the court at every time and place to which during the course of the proceedings, the hearing may from time to time be adjourned.

“It follows that if Kanu fails to appear before the Federal High Court on the next adjourned date, the judge will likely order a warrant for his arrest.

“The implication of the failure of Kanu to appear in court on the next adjourned date on those who stood sureties for his recognizance is that his recognizance shall be forfeited”.

In his own submissions on the issue, Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN) noted that it may be hasty to begin to deliberate on what may happen on October 17.

“Why should we be concerned about a surety who is not worried about himself? Let’s wait till that date. Kanu may even show up in court and if he did not show up, the court will decide what to do. I am not supposed to tell the court what to do”, the silk said.

To a former Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Adekunle Ojo, the position of the law is clear on what happens if an accused person fails to show up for his or her trial without genuine reason.

“The sureties will be asked to show cause why they should not face the consequences of the accused person’s action. The defendant may have his bail revoked for not showing up in court to attend his trial. By the time the bail is revoked, the sureties may have to face trial for standing surety for an accused person that cannot be found.

“Primarily, their best bet is to ensure that Kanu attend court tomorrow because the consequences might be too great for them”, he said.

However, IPOB has faulted claims by the president’s aide saying they are capable of influencing the court’s decision.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB said, “The fact that Nigeria government sued a person or group of people does not allow it to usurp the exclusive judicial discretion of the court or the trial Judge.

“One lawyer, called Obla in the Presidency was heard threatening jail on the sureties of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as if he has assumed the position of the trial Judge in the court.

“It is important for IPOB to educate Nigerians to know that it is still in the discretion of the trial judge to tell the world on October 17, 2017 whether it is Nigerian Army which invaded the compound of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and took him away or his sureties who were not even consulted by the Army before the extra-judicial invasion that should produce him in the court”.

Meanwhile, Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to direct the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, to produce his client in court tomorrow.

The originating summons which listed the Chief of Army Staff as the sole respondent was brought pursuant to Section 40 of the Federal High Court Act, F 12, LFN 2005 and Section 6(6)(1)(4) of the Constitution
The lawyer cited Section 40 of the Federal High Court Act which empowers the court to order that a Writ of ‘Habeas Corpus ad Subjiciendum’ be issued on the respondent, to produce the applicant in court, in view of the hearing of his case tomorrow.

Ejiofor submitted that Kanu is the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group largely made up of People from South-Eastern part of the country, mostly Biafra extraction; who are at all times materials lawfully exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights to self determination, freedom of Association and peaceful assembly.

He further submitted that Kanu was arrested on the 14th day of October, 2015 and consequently arraigned in court along other defendants on the 20th day of January, 2016, on 11-count charge of treasonable felony, conspiracy to commit treasonable felony, belonging to an unlawful society, importation of goods, publication of libelous matters, etc.

“Six out of this eleven count charge had since the 28th day of March 2017, been struck out by the court, including allegation of belonging to an unlawful society.

“The applicant was granted bail on the 25th day of April, 2017, by His Lordship Hon, Justice Binta Nyanko.

“The applicant is still enjoying the bail granted him by the court seized of the matter, when the prosecution filed an application on the 25th day of August 2017, requesting the Court to revoke the bail granted the applicant.

“Hearing on the matter is slated to commence on the 17th day of October, 2017,” the lawyer said.

He further told the court that on the 12th September, 2017, the Nigeria military soldiers acting under express command handed down by the respondent, violently invaded the applicant’s home in Afara-ukwu Ibeku, Umuahia Abia State, wherein scores of his relative were brutally wounded and many killed.

In addition, Ejiofor submitted that on the 14th day of September, 2017, the Nigerian military led by soldiers of the Nigerian Army invaded Kanu’s house on a murderous raid, where life and mortar bullets were fired on unarmed and defenseless populace, leaving 28 persons dead and abducting many.

“The applicant who was in the house during this bloody onslaught by the soldiers, has not been heard from or seen after this bloody attack in his home by the agents of the respondent since the 14th day of September 2017.

“That the invading Soldiers in their desperate bid to ensure that the applicant is caught in the attack climbed stairs to his bedroom upstairs to shoot him; walls of his bedroom were riddled with bullets.

“The invading soldiers who had direct contact with the applicant on this fateful day (14th day of September 2017) should be in a position to produce the applicant before the court. It is either the respondent’s rampaging soldiers abducted the applicant during this raid or must have killed him in the process,” he further said.

In an affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by one, Prince Mandela Umegborogu, it was averred that on the 12th day of September 2017, Nigerian soldiers numbering about 200, armed to the teeth, invaded Kanu’s home in Afarauwku-Ibeku, Umuahia, in Abia State.

It was also averred that the invading soldiers were deployed to the South-East by the respondent in a covert operation tagged, ‘Operation Python Dance II (Egwu eke II), an exercise exclusively under the respondent’s command and control.

The deponent averred that the soldiers, who also drove in a purpose-built sophisticated armored personnel carrier, fired live bullets on the relatives of the applicant, leaving scores brutally wounded.

According to the deponent, on the 14th day of September, 2017, the soldiers invaded the applicant’s home for the second time and raid left 28 persons dead while over 48 persons were arrested and taken away to an unknown destination.

He said Kanu was sitting inside his bedroom when the soldiers invaded his home and that by virtue of this contact, the soldiers must know where he is at the moment, his fate and state of health.

Ogbonnaya Ikokwu , Umuahia



THERE was confusion at Alayi , a community in the Bende Local Government Area of Abia State last Wednesday , following the death of a middle - aged man identified as Emma Orji, who was accused of committing adultery with a housewife in the area .

It was gathered that the housewife had left her husband’ s house under the guise of going on a brief visit to her parent ’ s village , but she was found copulating with Orji three days after she left her husband.

According to sources from the community, adultery is a sacrilege in Alayi and it attracts some punishment including flogging the man in question in public .

It was learnt that some angry youths from the community allegedly whisked Orji away for the punishment , but he was found dead the following day.

Irked by Orji’ s death , some of his relatives and friends invaded the home of a resident , who was believed to have spearheaded the killing of the deceased.

The relatives of the deceased were said to have set the resident ’ s home on fire also burnt his car and household items.

A native of the area , who pleaded anonymity , told Southern City News that the tradition only permitted some level of punishment to anyone found in the act, but not killing the person .

However , the father of the deceased, Elder Orji, who lamented the gruesome murder of his son by hoodlums , called on the Abia State Government to ensure that his killers were fished out and made to face the appropriate sanction under the law.

The Special Adviser to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu , on Security Matters , Captain Awa Udensi ( retd . ), who visited the community, condemned the gruesome killing of the deceased by youths in the area .

He said the security of lives and property of Abia people were paramount to the present administration , vowing that the government would ensure that the perpetrators of the act were brought to book .

The Chairman of the Bende Local Government Council , Chief Gabriel Elendu , also visited the community in company with the Divisional Police Officer condemned the act .

Elendu said those involved in the murder of Orji and the those who set the house of the suspect ablaze would face the wrath of the law.

He warned youths to desist from taking the laws into their own hands while vowing to get to the root of the incident, saying government was doing everything possible to promote peace and protect the lives and property of citizens in the state.

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The Executive has concluded plans to submit the 2018 budget to the National Assembly before the end of this month.

This disclosure was made by the minister of state for Budget and National Planning Hajia Zainab Mohammed at a press briefing to mark the end of the 23rd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja on Thursday.

Hajia Mohammed said the prepared 2018 budget will be presented to President Muhammadu Buhari shortly for the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval before the budget is finally transmitted to the National Assembly.

“We are working closely with the legislature. We want to ensure the budget is passed in December so that it start to work from January 2018” she said.

Zainab Mohammed who was silent on when the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) will be presented to the National Assembly said she was optimistic that the 2018 budget will passed in time to meet the January commencement of the fiscal year as planned.

The MTEF is supposed to be submitted to the legislature months before the budget but with the minister’s revelation that the budget will be submitted this month, it is unclear if the budgeting process will not be thrown into another controversy.

The MTEF is supposed to guide the legislators in passing the main budget and pointing them in the general direction of government’s fiscal activities for the coming three years.

Speaking on the power sector tariff crisis, Zainab Mohammed stated that “it is clear no new investor will come without tidying the issue tariff adjustment. They insist the current tariff is not sustainable but the new tariff will be a joint agreement with all stakeholders.”

The Federal Government she said: “will carry out another privatisation exercise for the power sector because what we sought to achieve by the previous privatisation has not been achieved. It has not worked well.”

According to her, “government is still a shareholder in the current arrangement and so we want to call all existing stakeholders to the table and agree on way forward. We will agree on the level of shareholding and other issues so that this power issue can be addressed once and for all.”

Power she said “is key to economic development and it is something the government is determined to ensure it works.”

On private sector players’ worry that government heavy local borrowing has crippled banks’ ability to lend to them, the Minister said “the government will reduce local borrowing for private sector to get adequate credit to operate.”

Regarding recommendations aggregated for the successful execution of the government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), she said: “We will review them and we have said the functional economic laboratories will be set up across the country in two weeks from now. We are not waiting for months. It is part of the recommendations.”An issue that generated a lot talk at the summit was the multitude of bills pending before the National Assembly which if passed will accelerate economic growth.

Zainab Mohammed on her part said “there are pending bills and we always try to carry out economic impact on them. For instance, the Competition Bill has the capacity to create 381,000 jobs annually, generate revenue of N148.3 billion yearly. It will also lead to a 10 per cent reduction in price of goods.”

“For the National Transportation Commission Bill, it will also boost job creation and government revenue”.

Despite these positive outlook, the bills have been pending in both chambers of the National Assembly for years.

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By Mojeed Alabi


The Registrar of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Dr. Iyi Uwadiae has expressed shock at the dimension the examination malpractices are taking on the continent of Africa and particularly Nigeria.

He said while private candidates now go to examination centres with guns while some private schools in connivance with the candidates now drug invigilators using dangerous chemicals.

Uwadiae stated this at the WAEC international centre in Lagos during a media briefing to announce the details of the examination body’s proposed international summit On examination malpractices.

According to the registrar, waging war against examination malpractices has become very expensive and more difficult particularly with the advent of social media.

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Posted By: UGOCHUKWU UGOJI-EKE,


Prince Emmanuel Kanu, the younger brother of the Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra ( IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has alleged that soldiers have again invaded their Afaraukwu Umuahia family home and carted away some household items.

Prince Kanu said that the invasion by the soldiers took place on Sunday afternoon.

He accused the invaders of looting the palace and making away with such items as television, generating sets, clothes among others belongings of the family.

Kanu called on the international community to prevail on the Nigerian Army to stop raiding their home, and to produce his bother whose whereabouts according to him has remained unknown since after the September 14 military invasion of the compound.

But when contacted the Desk Officer of Operation Python Dance in charge of Abia State said no household items were removed from Kanu’s home.

According to him, the operation was based on the intelligence that arms were hidden in the compound.

He said “the things removed may be technical items”, adding that “somebody was arrested with weapon in the compound”.

The Army Officer who preferred to be simply identified as Desk Officer for the operation also said it was a joint operation with the police, and directed further enquiries to the police.

Efforts to get the reaction of the police however was not successful as the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr. Geoffrey Ogbonna did not pick the calls to his cell phone.

He also did not respond to a text message sent to his phone as at the time of filing this report.

The Commissioner of Police Mr. Anthony Ogbizi did also not pick his calls even though it rang out twice.

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An Ikorodu Customary Court in Lagos State has dissolved a six-year-old marriage between a herbalist, Fakoya Amos and his photographer wife, Bukola.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN), Amos, 40, had sought dissolution of their marriage over alleged infidelity, troublemaking and child paternity against Bukola.

Dissolving the marriage, the court president, Mrs Funmi Adeola, ordered the couple to maintain peace.

She also ordered Bukola to stop bearing the man’s name and return her child to the owner, after a DNA test revealed the true father.

The court president said “since it has been confirmed that the child does not belong to the petitioner, you are hereby ordered to stop parading yourself as his wife.

“The child must be properly taken care of and be taken to his biological father.”

Adeola had, during the hearing, ruled that a DNA test be performed to confirm the paternity of the child.

The herbalist, who resides at UNILAG Estate in Ikorodu, Lagos State, had in February, urged the court to dissolve the marriage, saying he suspected his wife was flirting.

He also said he suspected the only child of the union was not his.

The respondent, Bukola, 30, denied the allegations but admitted that she had an affair with another man, which resulted in pregnancy.

The respondent, who also accused her husband of battery, had earlier begged for reconciliation.

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CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

https://pmexpressng.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG-20170929-00265.jpg


A visit to a notorious jungle located at Nkutaku Community in the Ogbaru local government Area of Anambra State has shown that there were always good and ugly sides of a community and the security agencies appeared helpless because they seemed to be part of the system there.

This notorious place is popularly called “Kara” located along Atani Road in Ogbaru Local Government, very close to Uga junction in Onitsha metropolitan city.

P.M.EXPRESS investigation revealed that there were three major atrocities being committed there with the knowledge of the security agents has remained unabated.

According to some residents, apart from the fact that the place is haven and hide out for criminals, it also acts as their take off point for operations and drugs are peddled freely there.

The most dangerous trend there is that female and male prostitution strive like the biblical city of Sodom.

The few female sex workers who spoke to our correspondent expressed dissatisfaction over their predicament as the male sex workers have taken over the business meant for women.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that what makes this jungle unique was that the male sex workers were virtually from all the tribes in Nigeria mainly, Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Ibibios and even Togolese.

The patrons who visit there daily to satisfy their sexual desires also cut across tribes and make choices from the varieties of men available.

P.M.EXPRESS visited the place in the night to find out what was really the motivation for men to embark on such unacceptable act in the society and those patronizing them.

Some of the patrons who spoke to our correspondent on condition that their names will not be published revealed how the place operate and that the major patrons visit there for sexual satisfaction mostly in the nights.

One of the patrons simply known as Steve said that the place has been in existence for several years because of the search for sexual satisfaction by both men and women patrons.

He said it was all started by a particular tribe but with time other tribes joined because it was a lucrative business.

Steve explained that a male sex worker collect between N10,000 and N20,000 for a round of sex because of the status of the patrons involved.

As for ‘take-away’ popularly known as day break, male sex worker charge between N20,000 to N50,000.

However, it was gathered that the workers prefer using the jungle because of the risk involved in following unknown clients to their homes.

A resident and patron simply called Timmy disclosed that the place operates from evening time till early in the mornings because the clients usually prefer to come in the night to avoid people seeing them.

He said all manners of people visit the place such as top politicians, senior civil servants and businessmen, who engaged homosexuals for various reasons.

Timmy also explained that there were men who do not have any sexual contact with women but preferred their male counterpart because of certain commitments.

He said the incidents of robbers using the place as their hideout have really reduced due to the booming male sex workers business that attracted people of various responsible status.

Besides some security personnel also come to the place for the same purpose who they popularly called ‘money business’ in the area.

Steve said that men who preferred sleeping only with men but found it difficult to lure young boys to sleep with, usually sneaked into the ‘Kara’, engaged young boys and settled them

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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja


The Federal Government has revealed plans to adopt a new approach to recover stolen funds stashed abroad.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, who briefed State House Correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, yesterday, said the approach was to negotiate directly with the Ministry or Department of Justice of the United States of America or other judicial agencies in the countries where looted funds from Nigeria were being kept, instead of hiring expensive lawyers.

He said other countries where the government has been working assiduously to repatriate stolen funds included the United Arab Emirates, Germany and Liechtenstein.

He, however, did not say how much money had been stolen from the country so far.
“It’s an ongoing thing, we have been discovering all the time because you see the sophistication that there is today in hiding money around the world is amazing, even western countries themselves have a lot of problems and it takes them a lot of time and they discovered about the Panama papers. Nobody knew about all those funds illegally stashed until you suddenly have the revelations under the Panama papers. So, it’s really an ongoing thing and then new ones coming up all the time.”

Asked what strategies were being put in place to recover the monies, the Foreign Affairs Minister said: “We cooperated with David Cameron when he was the prime minister of the UK to organise a global conference on anti-corruption.

You know for a very long period of time, it was not a priority for industrialised countries to worry about money flowing from developing countries into their banks because, as far as they are concerned, they have their own image of rulers of third world countries, so the president’s strategy was to put it on the front burner for them to buy into.”

The president had consistently expressed worries that despite strenuous efforts to retrieve monies stashed away various foreign bank accounts in Europe and America in particular, their governments were reluctant to assist in repatriating them.

Buhari is unhappy that the foreign governments were introducing various technicalities, which have caused a slow down in the effort to recover the monies.
He is also alarmed that despite the anti-corruption war of his administration, some governments we reportedly demanding for firm guarantee that the monies, if retrieved, would not be re-looted by corrupt officials in the country.

Part of the president’s agenda at the just concluded 72nd United Nations General Assembly in New York was to seek the cooperation of world leaders for the repatriation of the looted funds.

On why Buhari’s presentation skewed towards the international community, Onyeama explained that it was meant for a global audience, hence contained issues of global concern but, which also had implications for Nigeria’s wellbeing.

“First and foremost, he was speaking to the international audience on a global stage and the UN is there for global issues, so I think its absolutely in order because Nigeria is part of a global community addressing global issues. But he addressed all those issues covering also all the things that affect Nigeria as a country. When Mr. President came in, he outlined three priorities security, governance anti-corruption and the economy.

“On anti-corruption which is a priority for us he called on the international community to insist and maintain good governance and he himself talked about good governance being a priority for this country and wanted the international community to key into it because we are looking to these countries to help us get the stolen funds back.”

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