₦airaland Forum

The Mavrodi Mondial Moneybox, popular Ponzi scheme known as MMM, payment suspension for one month was top on Google search this week, an official said on Thursday.

The Google’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Anglophone West Africa, Mr. Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, made the disclosure in a statement in Lagos.

He said that the search was as from December 7 to 14.

According to him, it is described as a period of shocking realities and rumours, as some of the stories that trended this week include the popular Ponzi scheme MMM, the collapse of a church in Uyo.

He said that the rumour of an air crash and the election of a new president in Ghana, among several others, also got people’s attention online.

He said, “An air of panic started on the Internet, following the news that popular Ponzi known as MMM is suspending further payment to its existing members for one month.

“The anxiety which has followed the decision has been met with varied reflections by people, who see the suspension as an impending collapse.”

Countdown to the Grammys Award and following several months of speculations, the 59th Grammy Awards which would be broadcasted live on Feb. 12, 2017, was filled with as much surprises as expected, Kola-Ogunlade said.

He said that leading the award list was Beyonce, with a total of nine nominations including albums of the year, while Drake, Rihanna and Kanye West got recognised for eight nominations for different songs.

He said that once again, the leading hitmaker and singer, Tekno dropped a new song ‘Rara’ as the year 2016 draws to a close.

He said, “The song which is laced with an afrobeat led tune was produced by Selebobo.

“The song moved away from his regular crooning on women and money and the high life, to a reflection on the state of affairs in Nigeria.”

The Google manager said that Ghana’s presidential election saw Nana Akufo-Addo being elected as president and Nigerians went on Google search to support their all-time jollof rice rival.

He said, “The incumbent president of the country, President John Mahama, has conceded defeat to the newly-elected president who was running for the third time this year.

“Mahama expressed his intentions to help him settle into his new job with ease.”

The roofs came tumbling down and the day that was meant to be a consecration turned into a mourning day, Kola-Ogunlade said.

According to him, the day was meant to be a consecration into a life of service at the Reigners Bible International Church became a trending topic for tragedy after its church building collapsed.

He said, “The incident led to the death of over 200 people with several others sustaining injuries.

“Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom who was reported to have attended the event, survived with his aide. Authorities are already investigating the incident.”

Kola-Ogunlade said that the Dana Air rumoured plane crash got people’s attention online

He said, “Dana Air came out to deny the report in a newspaper which claimed that one of its plane crashed in Lagos.

“Refuting the report, the management of the airline company expressed that it was a false news, and the pictures used along with the story was of a past incident.”

The Google manager listed other trending stories this week as the regular update search on the English Premier League, news on the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr Nnamdi Kanu.

He said that Kanu stated that the secrets he would reveal at his ruling would ‘sink Nigeria.

Also searched for was Cristiano Ronaldo who again, wins the Balls D’or for the fourth time, as well as the release of the new song, ‘The Ultimate Street Anthem’ by Olamide and Burna Boy.

Google Trends launched in May, 2006, allows one to see how popular, search terms and its demography have been over time on Google.
NAN

Some youths in Durumi II, a slum in Gudu District, Abuja, have allegedly killed a middle aged man over his brother’s alleged homosexuality.

The deceased, Joy, was mistaken for his brother, Alex, who had fled the area since 2011 after the community’s youths threatened to deal with him over homosexuality.

Sources said the youths intruded the deceased’s compound at about 8.00pm last Tuesday demanding for Alex, the alleged homosexual before they pounced on his younger brother who recently came to visit his mother from Lagos.

A source told City News that the youths used axe and many other objects to hack their victim in his father’s house.

His mother, Mrs Esther, said she was in the bedroom when she heard the youth shouting, “Where is Alex, we heard he has returned home. Someone saw him when he entered this house about five minutes ago. He must die.”

She added that the youths said it was their responsibility to stop all those who were homosexuals in the community.

She said before she could rush out of the room, some of the youths had already pounced on her son striking him with different harmful objects that led to his death.

However, when our reporter called the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Anjuguri Manza, he said he was not aware of the incident.

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A Lagos businessman, Bolaji Sulaimon has been arrested by the police for allegedly engaging the services of some suspected hired assassins to eliminate his female business partner, Imman Bukola over N350,000 meant for business transaction.

The incident happened at Igando, a suburb of Lagos, where the business transaction was carried out and where both the suspect and the complainant also reside.

Sulaimon has been arraigned in court and charged with conspiracy, threat to life and stealing and was remanded in prison custody.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Sulaimon allegedly hired and sent some men to attack Bukola in her house in the night to avoid given her the money after she demanded for it.

The money in question was the sum he (Sulaimon) collected from her and was finding extremely difficult to pay back. He then allegedly started plotting to eliminate her.

On the day the incident happened, Sulaimon reportedly sent some men to Bukola’s house to attack her and by divine providence, she escaped and the act was exposed by one of the suspects he sent.

The matter was reported to the police at Igando division and Sulaimon was arrested and charged to court.

According to Bukola, she gave Sulaimon the money for business transaction on Iron rods which they agreed he would supply.

He said he collected the money and did not supply the items and when she demanded the refund of her money, he started threatened until he sent some men to kill her.
When Sulaimon was arraigned, he pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, Mr A.A. Fashola granted him bail in the sum of ..
He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail condition.

The matter was adjourned till 25 January 2017.

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Three staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) involved in the collation of results at Rivers East senatorial district have walked out on the returning officer.

The officials, who attempted to sneak out of council hall, Port Harcourt, venue of the exercise, left one after the other.

When TheCable approached the one who walked out last, he declined to speak.

Asked if the election had been declared inconclusive, he said: “I am not the one to decide that. The returning officer is still there.”

Responding to a question posed by this reporter, Oji Ekumankama, the returning officer, expressed worries.
“I am very disturbed at the moment,” he said.

“We just have to announce a winner. Even if everyone leaves, I will still remain here. As the returning officer, I have nowhere to go until the result is announced.

“I know that something is wrong somewhere, but this is our country, we will all do our best to develop it.”

Asked if he has communicated with appropriate authorities, he said: “They are aware.”

No sooner than the officials departed did agent of parties and journalists also made their way out.

Only the agent of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is in the hall at the moment.
The collation commenced around 11pm on Saturday, and ended by 5:25am on Sunday.

The officials had announced that Ikwerre and Emouha were the only local governments of the eight in the district where results had not been declared.

They promised to make official announcement as soon as they got it.

However, around 10am, words went round that a powerful politician had hijacked the result of Ikwerre, where Nyesom Wike, governor of the state, and Rotimi Amaechi, hailed from.

TheCable made efforts to reach the duo for their reactions.

While Amaechi, who spoke through David Iyiofor, his media aide, denied the report, Wike could not be reached for comments.
Simeon Nwakaudu, his spokesman, did not respond to the mail sent.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in Port Harcourt, Ogu/Bolo, Okrika, Omuma, Obio Akpor, and Etche local governments – the six areas where results have been announced.

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Senators have expressed disenchantment with the outcome of the process that led to the recruitment of 10,000 police officers and personnel, by the Police Service Commission (PSC).

New Telegraph gathered from senior National Assembly sources, that the lawmakers gave vent to their anger at an executive session the Senate Committee on Police Affairs had with the Chairman and Commissioners of the Police Commission on Wednesday.

One of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said senators were visibly angry that most of their constituents, whose interests they had pushed, did not make the final list of successful candidates, whose names were released on Tuesday.

He further disclosed that the House Committee on Police Affairs may likely invite the management team of PSC, to also register their displeasure. It was, however, gathered that the Sir Mike Okiro-led PSC team took time out to explain the transparent nature of the recruitment exercise, which has attracted commendation from some Nigerians.

The National Assembly source said the lawmakers were made to understand that the commission could not have accommodated all interests, considering the fact that their mandate to recruit 10,000 personnel was not extended.

“May I inform you that the Senate Committee on Police Affairs held an executive session with the Police Commission team on Tuesday, where they registered their disenchantment over the final recruitment list.

“Their anger stemmed from the fact that many of their constituents were not among successful candidates to undergo training.

“But, the team maintained that the federal character principle and transparency, formed the foundation of the recruitment process,” the source stated.

New Telegraph learnt earlier that the Clerk of the Committee had worked with the PSC team. Others, who were said to have worked with the team, were the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Training, as well as representatives of the Federal Character Commission (FCC).

The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, spoke with Charles Otu in an exclusive interview, on why his boss, cannot ask ministers named by accused judges to step aside. Mr. Adesina who also spoke on other national issues insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari was not interested in naming and shaming corrupt politicians but means business in recovering all the nation’s looted funds.

What has been the experience managing the image of a President in the mould of Muhammadu Buhari?

To further expatiate on this means if you had anticipated some of the issues now before the world and Nigerian media from Mr President?
Managing the media of the President has been quite challenging and fulfilling. Challenging in the sense that the President is a man of few words, preferring more that his actions speak, rather than words. Such a person, therefore, does not want someone chirruping like a cockatoo. You must know what he wants to speak on, when he wants to say it, and what he would rather keep quiet about.

The fulfilling part of the assignment is that since the President is as straight as an arrow, you don’t need to spin anything on his behalf. No fib, no yarn. Just say it as it is. Whatever we say to Nigerians then, they can take it to the bank, knowing that we won’t lie to them. Unfortunately, some Nigerians have got so used to being lied to, and they expect this government to also lie to them. No, we won’t do that.

It is the contention of people in many quarters that the President and his team in the executive are more interested in naming and shaming corrupt persons than following the due process of the law to get corrupt persons nailed. What’s your take on this?

That question has come from a mind-set. Some people believe that the anti-corruption war is about naming and shaming. No, it is not. Cast your mind back to the broadcast of the President on May 29, this year, he said clearly that the intention was not to shame or ridicule anybody, but to retrieve ill-gotten monies. And this is a believable President. When he tells you that it is not about naming and shaming, you would do well to believe him.

Some Nigerians argue that with the on-going trial of Saraki as the head of the legislative arm of government at CCT and now the decision of the FG to try some allegedly corrupt judges, the executive may hit a dead end if it continues to pitch itself against the other arms of government. Is the Presidency concerned about such views?

The Executive is not pitching itself against any other arm of government. What the leadership is pitching itself against is corruption, and corruption should be fought to a standstill, no matter whose ox is gored.

Why does the Presidency appear ‘mute’ on the allegations leveled against some serving ministers by the embattled judges facing trial over allegations of corruption?

You said they were allegations. Allegations are not indictment. However serious allegations are, they remain allegations. Anybody can wake up and allege anything.

As long as they are not backed with evidence, they are not actionable. But back up your allegations with unimpeachable proofs, and see whether President Buhari will not act on it, no matter who is involved.

There have been promising assurances by the FG that the remaining Chibok schoolgirls would be released. How soon would that be? Also, if we say that Boko Haram has been degraded, what’s FG doing to tackle other aspects of insecurity particularly the increasing spate of kidnapping?

To ask when the other Chibok girls will come, is to ask me to play God. But just as the first set of 21 are back, we believe others will come. It may happen as we speak now, tomorrow, or next week. Government is committed to get them back, and negotiations are in progress.

On the other forms of insecurity like kidnapping, armed robbery, pipeline vandalism etc, one thing you will agree with is that this government does not lack capacity to secure the country. And that capacity is being deployed, and evildoers will always have the law at their heels.

We know that the President globe-trots to establish ties with neighbouring and other world leaders. How have such trips impacted Nigerians, particularly our battered economy?

The results of foreign shuttles by our President are evident. For instance, he visited all our immediate neighbors, and they joined the coalition against Boko Haram, with the result that the insurgency has been degraded.

Also, you have investments in billions of dollars attracted to the country. The Chinese are here, and soon you will see results, particularly in rail transport. Equally, the profile of Nigeria has gone up in international circles. We are no longer a pariah nation, and the integrity of our President has rubbed off on the average Nigerian. We are no longer seen solely as a country of scammers and fraudsters.

Lastly, what would you call President Buhari’s greatest achievement so far in office?

Tough question. There are many achievements, but to me as a person, the greatest is the victory against insurgency in the Northeast. By the time President Buhari came in May 2015, Boko Haram was running riot round the country. They had planted themselves in Northeast, Northwest, North-central, including Abuja, the federal capital they were in Kogi State, and about entering the South-west and South-south. If that had happened, nobody could have predicted what would happen to the country.

But President Buhari rallied the military, and today Boko Haram is circumscribed in Sambisa forest. It is a great achievement and life has returned to hitherto beleaguered areas. Millions of Nigerians are applauding. I am, too.

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CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The police has commenced investigation to unravel the circumstance that led to the threat to life of a female pastor by fellow tenants who banned her from invoking Holy Ghost during prayer in their house in Idimu Lagos.

Prophetess Love Sunday Akpan of the New Jerusalem Healing Ministry was recently attacked and her life was threatened by some tenants who had warned her to desist from saying such prayers again in their compound.

The incident happened at 12 Ola Ogundipe Street, Banmeke, Shasha area of Lagos where Akpan rented a three-room apartment and used one of the rooms for healing prayer.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the tenants were angry that such invocation was affecting their lives and warned her not say such prayers again.

Four of the tenants have been summoned by the police at Area M Command, Idimu to explain their role that led to threat to life of Prophetess Akpan.

The suspects are Mrs Ebere Rafiu Balogun, Daramola Otuyelu, Mama Destiny and one Israel.

The suspects were summoned following a petition written by Akpan to the Area Commander, Idimu Command, ACP C Akika for incessant threat to life, intimidation and harassment.

According to Akpan, she rented the apartment where she lives with her family and was not using the place as church.

She said whenever she prayed and mentioned ‘Holy Ghost’, her co-tenants become angry and always said they were hurt with the prayer.

She said trouble started when some of them came to her and asked her not to say such prayer and she thought they were not serious.

Akpan said she became worried when they started threatening and attacking her and she had to report to the police.

When our correspondent visited the Command, the Area Commander, Akika was not around to comment on the matter.

However, police source confirmed the report and told our correspondent the police have since commenced investigation into the matter.

When our correspondent visited the house, one of the suspects claimed that they warned her not to do so because she was disturbing the tenants with such prayer.

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Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jigawa State have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in large number over what they describe as dismal performance of their former party at both state and national levels.

The decampees were from Birnin Kudu, the local government area of former governor Sule Lamido.

Receiving the decampees over the weekend in Birnin Kudu, the North-West PDP national vice chairman, Ambassador Ibrahim Kazaure, said they were formerly members of the PDP.

Kazaure said he was not surprised over their defection, stressing that no sensible politician would give a second thought to abandoning the APC because of its failure.

Africonji:
OYEGUN is a fOOLLANI slave. He and Tunubu and the rest Southerners slaves in APC don't know that Buhari and Saraki are Foolanis and were working together on Foollani agenda to enslave the country from the very beginning. So now they are trying to reconcile with Saraki? No more anti-party accusations? Confused fools. No more room for APC in 2019. Mark my words.


Biafra.a is only lasting solution to the problems of this country.

By Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

Determined to find a way to augment the shortfall in revenues accruing to them from the Federation Account, some states gathered in Enugu and considered creative ways to boost their revenue base.

The states, namely Enugu, Rivers, Delta and Lagos as well as the FCT, Abuja at the Enugu meeting received training on resources mobilisation, responsive fiscal governance and participatory budget process for effective service delivery.

In order to generate more revenues from taxation and stem tax avoidance, the states agreed to put systems and strategies in place to ensure that their taxes work for the people, especially the poor.

“We seek tax reforms that promote an ICT database system, fair representation, transparency and progressive tax laws, policies and practices (e.g. tax to service agreements) capable of addressing poverty and inequality,” a resolution issued at the end of the training stated.

In this regard, participating states commended the leadership already shown by Lagos State in this respect. They also recommended the Lagos model to other states.

The states agreed to, as a matter of urgency, work out strategies for improving service delivery by transforming their internal processes and providing exemplary leadership to the people.

They also agreed to develop smart strategies for formalising the informal sector, particularly the non-oil sector.

They called on governments to provide active support to both Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and large industries, especially in the area of value chain development, in order to improve revenue mobilisation and fiscal independence.

Not less than 106 participants from Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) from Enugu, Delta, Lagos and Rivers States attended the training which was organised by Oxfam in conjunction with the Enugu State Government.

Kunle Aderinokun in Lagos, Francis Ndubuisi, Tobi Soniyi and James Emejo in Abuja

The presidency has faulted allegations made by former CBN Governor, and Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammad Sanusi II, on the state of the economy, maintaining that the former apex bank boss did not get his facts right.

Sanusi had at a policy dialogue organised by the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD), criticized President Muhammadu Buhari administration for relying on massive fiscal expansion and a faulty foreign exchange policy that discourages investment to get the country out of the current recession.

The former CBN governor, who delivered a keynote address titled, “A Plan to Restore Confidence, Direction and Growth”, had frowned on a development whereby the CBN had become government’s lender of “first” resort rather than last, accusing the apex bank of a clear violation of CBN Act of 2007 (Section 38.2) which limits advances to the federal government at 5 per cent of the previous year’s revenues.

Sanusi had put the CBN total loan, overdraft to government at N4.7trn adding that the current CBN overdraft to federal government was more than 10 times the prescribed limit and even rising further.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, yesterday agreed that the government had overdrawn its account but disputed the figures put forward by Sanusi.

The statement issued by the presidency reads: “With every respect to the Emir, you know he is my ruler, because I come from Kano.

“He doesn’t have his facts as far as those issues are concerned. The issue in CBN, that government has overdrawn its Central Consolidated Account is true, but the overdrawing is within limits.

“The overdraw does not exceed 1.5 trillion. It is incorrect to say, as he did that the account was overdrawn by 4.5 trillion.

“But even assuming that he was correct. This is a government that has money in excess of the amount he mentioned in the Treasury Single Account, TSA. It is just like you, a bank customer operating two accounts, one in the red and the other, well funded to the point that it can at any time wipe the indebtedness on the other. Would any bank manager lose his sleep over this?

“This, I am told is what the IMF found at the CBN and they said it is perfectly normal.
“As for his opposition to the USD 30 billion loan, I am aware that the Minister of Finance is responding to that.

“As a private citizen, I want to read his statement again. I thought that the borrowing is for projects that include the railway and electricity development in the country.”

Also reacting to Sanusi’s critique of the economy, CBN said the current economic managers were not the architects of the current economic crisis.

Rather, CBN argued that the current economic crisis was caused by the failure of past public officers, who had the power and opportunity to set the economy on the path of greatness but failed to do so.

CBN Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Isaac Okoroafor, said, “We should not forget that the seed of our current economic crisis was planted by the failure of those who occupied public office in the past but failed to act in the long term interest of the Nigerian economy. It is easy to criticize from outside. It is always easier and the grass greener when people are out of office.

“The challenge we face today is a choice between pandering to the established interest in Nigeria’s speculative economy and the protection of the wages of the real stakeholders who work hard on fixed incomes; for they are the core victims of Naira depreciation.”

The banking watchdog noted that at this critical time when the country is deep in recession, “the CBN will continue to explore avenues with the Federal Government in order to find solutions to the current economic situation.”

It added that, “Already Nigerians are waking up to the call to be more productive and to look inwards and to be less dependent on the importation of foreign goods and services.”

In his critique of the economy, Sanusi had said the CBN was no longer independent and that the relationship between the apex bank and the federal government was no longer healthy. He had also criticised the implementation of the June 2016 FX reforms by the CBN, arguing that the creation of four new market rates would defeat the objective to unite the market in single, transparent rate.

But reacting to the criticism, CBN said it had “set up an inter-bank foreign exchange market where anyone who wishes to buy foreign exchange can bid for and buy through their banks. Or is it not true that CBN allocates dollars?

Arguing that, “there is nowhere in the world that the Central bank sits by and allows vicious speculators to solely distort the value of its currency endlessly,” the apex bank noted that, “All central banks intervene to buy or sell in the market to ensure that the local currency is protected from dubious attacks.”

The CBN urged its former governor to explore the channels of advice and contribution of ideas, which are open, rather than playing to the gallery by casting aspersion on its efforts to salvage the economy and the people in leadership at this critical time.

“The channels for advice and contribution of ideas on the current economic situation by all patriotic Nigerians are open. It is rather unfortunate that some people have chosen to play to the gallery and to make statements to disparage those in leadership at this time in total insensitivity to the larger interests of the Nigerian economy.”

On the submission by Sanusi that the federal government may not get creditors to grant its request to borrow the proposed $30 billion, even if the National Assembly approves it, the Debt Management Office (DMO) kept mute.

THISDAY’s efforts to get reaction from DMO on the development was futile as its Director General, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, did not respond to enquiries. He neither picked his phone calls nor replied text messages sent to him on the issue as at press time.

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A severe jungle justice was served to some suspected kidnappers including a young woman, by an angry mob in Lagos after the suspects were caught.

A young woman and two men who are suspected to be kidnappers, were earlier on Thursday, caught, stripped naked and mercilessly beaten at the Itokin area of Epe, Lagos State.

The identities of the suspects and more details of the jungle justice were not ascertained as at the time of filing this report.

See another photo below

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The Senate yesterday brought to an end the controversy on who succeeds a dead governorship or presidential candidate who dies before the announcement of the result of an election.

Considering the report of the Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on INEC Act Amendment Bill, the Upper Chamber approved a clause, which provides for the conduct of a fresh primary within 14 days to choose the new candidate.

The bill, which is sixth amendment to 2010 Electoral Act, also provides that the INEC shall suspend the conduct of a new election for 21 days when the death of a candidate is recorded after the commencement of an election and before the announcement of result.

The new provision was an attempt to resolve the problem that erupted in the nation’s political environment due to the sudden death of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abubakar Audu, at the November 21, 2015 governorship election in Kogi State before the announcement of the election result.

The development provoked controversies, which were contested from the High Court to the Supreme Court because his running mate, Mr. James Faleke, insisted that he must automatically inherit the votes of the deceased candidate.
Faleke, however, lost the case, a situation that attracted public outcry.

Against this background, a new Section 3 has been inserted into the new Electoral Act, which provides that:
“If after the commencement of poll and before the announcement of the final result and declaration of a winner, a nominated candidate dies, (a) the Commission shall, being satisfied of the fact of the death, suspend the election for a period not exceeding 21 days; (b) the political party whose candidate died may, if it intends to continue to participate in the election, conduct a fresh direct primary within 14 days of the death of its candidate and submit a new candidate to the Commission to replace the dead candidate; and (c) subject to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection, the Commission shall continue with the election, announce the final result and declare a winner.”

The new bill also provides a legal backing for the use of manual voting in situations where card readers malfunction.

Whereas the manual option has always been adopted as an alternative to the malfunctioning of card readers, the new provision is meant to make the action legally valid. Since the card reader is mainly needed for accreditation, the new amendment provides that once the presiding officer at the election is convinced that the intending voter is the owner of the voter card, he should go ahead to accredit him.

Thus Section 49(1-4) of the Electoral Act being amended, provides that:
“The Presiding Officer shall use a Smart Card Reader or any other technological device that may be prescribed by the Commission from time to time for the accreditation of voters, to verify, confirm or authenticate (a) the genuineness or otherwise of the voter’s card; (b) that the voter’s card presented by the voter is registered at the polling unit in the constituency in which the card is presented; (c) the biometric connection or otherwise of the intending voter with the voter’s card; and (d) the number of duly accredited voters in the polling unit.

“(3) An intending voter shall not be accredited to vote in an election if the voter’s card presented by him to the Presiding Officer is not (a) a genuine voter’s card issued by the Commission to the intending voter; (b) registered at the polling unit in the constituency in which the card is presented, and (c) biometrically connected to the intending voter.

“(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (3) (c) of this section, the Presiding Officer on being satisfied that an intending voter is the owner of the voter’s card, may accredit the intending voter to vote in the election.”

Meanwhile, the Senate could not pass the bill yesterday because it did not conclude its clause-byclause consideration of the report and, therefore, deferred further consideration of the bill to another legislative day.

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) is set to announce Bolaji Abdullahi, former minister of youths and sports, as its national publicity secretary.

TheCable understands that the mini convention for the ratification of Abdullahi’s appointment will hold at Chelsea Hotel in Abuja by 11am on Thursday.

The position for the ruling party’s spokesman has been vacant since Lai Mohammed was appointed minister.

Timi Frank, deputy national publicity secretary, was prevented from taking over from Mohammed.

Mala Buni, national secretary of the APC, signed official statements on behalf of the party.

This was part of the disagreement between Frank and John Oyegun, national chairman of the party.

Frank has been suspended from the APC ahead of his expulsion, according to the party’s authorities.

Abdullahi served as a former commissioner of education in his home state of Kwara.
He is an ally of Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Sunday and Egwin

A commercial tricyclist in Owerri, the Imo State capital, and an Abuja-based trader have been caught by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officials at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos with 6.390kg of substances that tested positive for heroin.

One of them, Cajetan Chinedu Egwin, was arrested on arrival from Kigali, Rwanda; the other, King Sunday, was nabbed on arrival from Nairobi, Kenya.

The drug with an estimated street value of N575 million was hidden in their luggage.
Egwin, 32, was caught with 3.900kg of heroin and Sunday, 38, was found with 2.490kg of heroin

NDLEA Lagos Airport Commander Ahmadu Garba said: “Egwin arrived from Kigali on a Rwanda Airline flight while Sunday imported the drug found on him from Nairobi during inward screening of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline flight. The suspects are being investigated.

“Preliminary investigation by the agency, however, indicated that drug trafficking cartels are gradually changing their mode of operation by turning to African countries in sourcing narcotic drugs like heroin. The suspects were also recruited for a fee to import the drugs into the country. Egwin who is not married said he needed money to repair his commercial tricycle while Sunday who left his wife after four days of marriage under the guise of a business trip said that he needed money for his honeymoon and business.”

Egwin, a commercial tricycle rider in Owerri told investigators that he needed money to change his tricycle.

“The engine of my tricycle which is my only source of livelihood is bad. While I was looking for money to fix it, I was introduced to the man that promised to pay me N400,000 on the condition that I will bring his drug from Kigali. I accepted the offer because nobody was willing to help me. Apart from the repairs, my rent is due and my landlord has been asking for his money,” he said.

Sunday said he made a mistake in dabbling to drug traffic stating: “I erroneously took the decision to smuggle drugs barely four days after my marriage. I was in need of money for my honeymoon and also for my business but I should not have involved myself in drug trafficking. My thinking was that I could smuggle the drug from Nairobi in two days without my wife knowing that I travelled out of the country. All my life, I have been upright in my transactions but this is a huge mistake and I regret my action.”

NDLEA’s Chairman/Chief Executive Col Muhammad Abdallah (rtd) said drug traffickers were turning to African countries to smuggle heroin produced in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Thailand and other far away countries.

”The Agency successfully foiled their plan with the arrest and seizure of the drugs. Drug cartels thought it would be easy to smuggle the drugs into the country since heroin is not produced in Africa but I am happy that we are thinking far ahead of them,” he said.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Ohaneze Ndigbo Lagos State have been thrown into crises following the N30 million donation made by the Chairman of Capital Oil, Chief Patrick Ifeanyi Uba in preparation for the 2016 Igbo Day Celebration in Lagos.

Hundreds of Ndigbo who attended the celebration held on Saturday at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos were disappointed on the shoddy preparation despite the huge amount of money donated by Uba.

Most of them left the venue in anger and rained curses on the leaders of Ohaneze for allegedly diverting the money meant for the event.

P.M. EXPRESS gathered that Ohaneze Ndigbo led by Chief Fabian Onwuhalu organised the event and sought for financial support from well meaning Igbo individuals who generously supported the celebration with their contributions.

Among the donors was oil magnate Uba, who single handedly, gave the organisers N30 million for the preparation.

However, the committees were allocated some money for the preparation and they collected the money but left many things undone.

The committee reportedly diverted the money for their personal use and accused the leadership of diverting the larger portion of the money to themselves.

It was learnt that the money meant for preparation of food and transportation were not given to the groups invited. Many were shocked that they were made to pay for chairs and tables arranged on the field.

After waiting for several hours and nothing was forthcoming, most of the attendees went away in groups dejected and sworn never to attend such event again.

Ohaneze had organized the event to bring the Igbo residents in Lagos together and to take a common position on their political future and how to make their representation to the government.

The celebration is an annual event which bring Igbo sons and daughters together to celebrate and thank God for protection and articulate issues and have a common position.

This year event was themed Mkpokota Ndigbo meaning “Bringing Ndigbo”, but the together seems to have ended in a sad note thereby dividing the Igbo more.

The president of Ohaneze could not be reach as he was said to be too busy to attend to our correspondent.

lalasticlala

The Nigeria Petroleum Corporation [NNPC] is exploring the possibilities of piping crude oil from Niger Republic for refining in Kaduna, NNPC Group Managing Director [GMD], Dr Maikanti Baru said on Friday.

Baru who paid courtesy visit on Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i in Kaduna, said President Muhammadu Buhari was personally committed to the project.

He said that it was important to explore alternative crude supply to Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, which has been affected by vandalism of pipelines and age.

“Due to challenges with the aged refinery and crude oil pipelines that had been breached severally, the operations of the refinery has been epileptic.

“This we are determined to resolve through various intervention methods including evaluation of alternative crude oil supply from Niger Republic through building of a pipelines of over 1, 000 kilometers from Agadem to Kaduna.

“That efforts is being championed by Mr President himself.

“We have already started engagements with the Nigerien Minister of Petroleum and the Chinese that are operating the field at Agadem.”

Baru also pledged to sustain efforts at enhancing energy supply to power industries in Kaduna through the development of Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline, as well as development of power plants in Kaduna and Abuja.

“These projects will be given special attention during my tenure.”

The GMD disclosed that the College of Ptroleum Resources in Kaduna would start operation on Januarry 1, 2017, and thanked the state government for undertaking to construct internal roads in the school.

He urged the governor to sensitise resident against sabotage of the nation’s oil assets due to its adverse effect on the community, environment and national economy.

Responding, El-Rufa’i said the corporation has assumed a new toga since Baru took over, adding that prompt remittances by the corporation to the Federation Account has remained consistent.

“We are very interested in the NNPC because how well you do affects our lives as states and as a country.

“This is why many of us are quite gratified you are in charge, and already results are beginning to show as remittances to the Federation Account are higher, state governors are happier than before,” he said.

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From Fred Itua, Abuja

senate President Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday night in Abuja, said lawmakers were tired of passing annual budgets which are not fully implemented.

Saraki, while presenting a keynote address at the 2016 Awards/Dinner for Senators and Journalists covering the Senate, organised by the Senate Press Corps, called for close collaboration between the parliament and journalists.

“I think we are all tired of having budget documents that, at the end of the day, when it comes to implementation, they don’t mean anything. But, when we all come together and put all our best efforts, we have something that we will be proud of.

“And, it is also in this spirit that I am confident that this time around, we will also be able to pass the 2017 budget at the earliest time possible than we have seen in the last few years,” he said.

He urged the media to collaborate with the upper chamber in its efforts aimed at pulling the nation’s economy out of recession. He urged the media to always ensure truth and objectivity in their reportage of events so as to adequately inform and educate the people about the activities of the parliament.

Saraki said he will continue to plead for “objectivity and truth in your reporting. We must also continue to educate our good people on the efforts we are making in the Senate. I believe that over the last few months, a lot of work have been going on in the Senate, showing that it is more business-like approach and I am confident that during the remaining period of our tenure, we will definitely lay a foundation that others after us will build on.

“Some of the comments you might have heard today and you will hear in the during the budget process, are not comments that are against government. They are comments that will ensure that the product that we will deliver is a product that Nigerians will be proud of.”

Some of the award categories and the recipients include: Parliamentary Media Award for Leadership – Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume; Lawmaking Facilitator of the Year Award – Sen Andy Uba; Senator of the Year Award – Senator Dino Melaye; Gender Rights Senator of the Year Award – Senator Abiodun Olujimi; Senate Committee Chairman of the Year Award – Senator Samuel Anyanwu; and Outstanding Grassroots Parliamentarian Award – Senator Kabiru Gaya.

Others are: Most Innovative Constituency Project of the Year Award – Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; Apostle of Peace in the Senate Award – Senator Barnabas Gemade; Parliamentary Advocate for Infrastructural Development Award – Senate Olugbenga Ashafa; Parliamentary Leader of the Decade Award – Senator David Mark; and Parliamentary Bureaucrat of the Year Award – Mr. Olajide Owolabi Adelami.