₦airaland Forum

umar745:
Senator Melaye is not from Kogi central.

By Tom Moses

UYO— Luck ran out of four young men said to be trading in human parts as they were, yesterday, arrested by operatives of Criminal Investigation Department, CID, of Akwa Ibom State Police Command, when the suspects went looking for a buyer of a human skull in their possession.

The suspects are Emmanuel Edet Ikot, 17, from Edeabasi, Oron; Ubong Udong, 18; Bright Effiong Okon, 19 and Okon Ita, 20, from Orukim.

The alleged leader of the group, Emmanuel Edet, denied the accusation, saying he only stumbled on a human skull while working at an uncompleted building for a man (names withheld) in Oron.

The Akwa Ibom State Police Public Relations Officer, Delia Nwawe, who spoke on behalf of the Commissioner, Mr. Murtala Mani, said the suspects were arrested by officers of the CID of the command in Mbo Local Government Area on receiving an alert from vigilant youths in the area.

He said with the arrests effected, the suspects would be charged to court for the law to take its course.

Speaking with Vanguard, leader of the gang, Mr. Emmanuel Edet, said: “I was paid to cut grass and clean up an uncompleted building by one man in Oron.

“As I was clearing the place, I stumbled on a human skull. I then rushed to inform my friends of what I found and in the company of those my friends, we went to pick the human skull.

“After picking it, we decided to sell it, but we did not know of any possible buyer. So, it was suggested by one of us that we take it to a native doctor in Mbo. The four of us went together but on our way, we were held by the youth leader of Mbo.

“After the skull was found on me, he called the police to arrest us. That is why we are here. I have not sold human parts before.”

“Are we in recession? Technically, yes we are, “she said. “The previous administration was borrowing to pay salaries. We were taking panadol when we had cancer”.

Despite promises to the contrary and stipulations in the power purchase agreements, electricity distribution companies (Discos) have no plan to meter every customer now or in the near future.

Discreet but extensive checks by the Nigerian Tribune at the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), in Abuja, revealed a general agreement among the stakeholders that current electricity charges are still below commercial rates despite multiple increases in recent years.

Although efforts by the Nigerian Tribune to obtain copies of Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) between the companies and BPE was unsuccessful, as they were said to be confidential documents, an official said the Federal Government has actually not adhered to its side of the bargain, thus, making it difficult for regulators to also insist on strict adherence to the agreements by the investors.

The source admitted that part of the deal was for distribution companies to progressively minimise power losses by ensuring that every consumer is captured in the revenue sheet and meters provided, but said that it was equally agreed that government ministries, departments and agencies in the federal and sub-national levels must pay off their accumulated debts.

“However, a memo suggesting that the debts be deducted from source was sent to the Minister of Finance, who in turn forwarded it to President Goodluck Jonathan. Jonathan approved it, but nothing happened until that administration ended and since the present government came in, nothing has also been done about it.

“Right now, customers especially governments are owing the companies over N80 billion and they cannot even go to banks to borrow money because they have used their facilities, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s N200 billion loan that is inadequate, to solve their challenges,” the source explained.

Another official in another agency said “Discos prefer to purchase their meters from offshore sources because there, they have opportunity of credit facilities whereas Nigerian meter manufacturers insist on cash payment.”

The source said depreciation of naira has made the N49,000 meter price grossly unrealistic even as the Discos have not been allowed to transfer the increment to customers.

Nigerian Tribune further gathered that the fixed charges that was removed from monthly bills shortly before the 2015 elections was a political decision because the industry was not ripe for such removal.

It was further learnt that the Federal Government was also responsible for a substantial part of the woes in the industry by not expanding transmission facilities as agreed thus suppressing expansion of electricity generation by Generating Companies (Cencos).

Some of the Gencos have doubled their capacity since private investors took over but since transmission capacity is less than 6,000 megawatts, such Gencos are being asked to produce less than their capacity.

Meanwhile, there is serious lobbying by senior civil servants, politicians and businessmen for government to review the power privatisation.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that civil servants and politicians believed they have lost great sources of making extra money and appointments while powerful businessmen who lost out during the privatisation process are pushing for its cancellation so that they could also partake.

However, an official told the Nigerian Tribune that there are some clauses in the SPA that make it difficult for any rash decision “because if the cancellation comes from government without the companies being in default, treasury will, aside returning their purchase fund, calculate the profits that they would have made over a period of five years and pay the companies.

“But if it is proved that the companies were the ones that failed to meet the terms of agreement, government will re-purchase the company for just US$1.”

James Onyimba, traditional prime minister of Ugwuleshi in Awgu local government area of Enugu state, has narrated how two monarchs from the area spent 38 hours in police cell over slain cows.

Onyimba narrated the ordeal on Wednesday in Enugu while testifying before the panel of inquiry into the the suspected herdsmen killing of people and destruction of property in Nimbo community.

He gave the name of the traditional rulers as Paulinus Ikpo of Onoli Awgu and Alo Okeke of Umuhu village.

He said residents of the community were accused of killing four cows belonging to Adamu, a Fulani herdsman, whose cattle graze in the area.

The prime minister said sometime in March, the monarchs went to the police area command in Oji River to intercede for their subjects, but were thrown into cell.

“The owner of the cows reported the matter to the Area Command in Oji River and the police along with the cattle breeder insisted on the payment of N400, 000 as ransom,” he said.

“On the day our people were mandated to make the payment, the monarchs only went with N200, 000 as they were not able to raise the complete ransom.

“The then area commander insisted that the complete sum must be paid and detained them in the cell.”

Onyimba said when their subjects got wind of the information that their traditional rulers were in cell, they ran around to borrow to make up the money.

“It was not easy for our people to raise the remaining balance but before we could do, 38 hours had already lapsed,” he said.
He said the monarchs were subsequently released following the payment of the ransom.

Onyimba accused security operatives of being biased in handling issues between herdsmen and farmers in the state.

According to him, shortly after this incident, more than 10 acres of farmland were completely ravaged by cattle belonging to the herdsmen.

“When the matter was taken to the same police station, the owner of the cattle only agreed to pay N70,000 even when the destruction was valued over N2 million,” he said.

“The police eventually allowed him to get away without paying anything.”

Onyimba appealed to the government to set up security posts, especially in the communities at the boundaries of the state as most residents no longer go to farm because of fear.

By Evelyn Usman

For some time now, traders at the popular Mushin market in Lagos state have suffered untold pains ät the hands of burglars who broke into their shops at ungodly hours, carted away cash in the shops and goods worth several millions of naira.

Crime Alert gathered that these burglars usually visited with trucks used in loading the stolen goods which were sold at give away prices to ready buyers. The goods which ranged from household appliances, clothings, foot wears and baby range of products are usually taken as far as Onitsha market, Anambra state and the popular Aba market in Abia State.

TRADERS complain
Worried by the spate of these attacks, the traders lodged complaints to the Police at Mushin, consequent upon which strategic measures were put in place to curb the alarming menace. The strategy paid off following the arrest of three suspected members of one of the robbery gangs that specialized in the act. They were arrested while trying to break into one of the shops last week.

No regrets:
When approached, one of the suspects who identified himself as Ifeanyi Okolie, showed no sign of remorse. He blamed his indulgence on what he described as ‘the harsh economic situation in Nigeria’.

Okolie, was paraded at the Lagos State Police headquarters alongside other 45 robbery suspects that have been terrorizing the state.

According to him, members of his gang usually retired to hotels at the end of any successful operation where the loot is squandered on commercial sex workers and expensive clothes. He told Crime Alert that robbers usually settled for commercial sex workers in order to avoid selling out their true identities.

How I was lured into robbery
His words: “My friend, Chukwuemeka lured me into robbery. I saw him dolling out money to some friends at a beer parlour last year.

We all call him big boy because he could pay as much as N30, 000 to N50, 000 for drinks at a sitting. When I went to him to show me the way, he told me what he was into but said he had never killed anybody. I decided to join him because of hardship.

Harsh condition
If not for the harsh condition, I would not be standing here today. I want the Federal Government to come to the aid of idle youths by providing us work to do to earn a living just as it is being done elsewhere in the world.

We go for cash only:
“If I can get something to keep me busy, I won’t go into robbery. The first time I went with them, we burgled a tile’s shop. We do not steal goods because one will easily be arrested. What we do is to go for the cash. Traders usually keep cash in their shops.

They have an inbuilt safe in their shop where they keep money. At the end of the first operation, three of us got N550, 000 each. The gang leader got the largest share. Out of my share, I bought a fairly used car for N200, 000. I bought some new clothes and kept the rest at Motilado hotel in Isolo,” he stated.

lalasticlala

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN ), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, yesterday told the Senate that the nation's economy had entered into a deep crisis, as it remained recessive in the first and second quarters of the 2016 fiscal year.

Emefiele, who met with the apex legislative chamber in a closed- door session for two hours, also said that Nigerians would have to pay more sacrifices because inflation would further skyrocket.

This was as the apex chamber appreciated the enormous economic challenges facing the nation , commending and supporting the CBN for its policies so far to strengthen the ailing economy. A senator, who attended the session, disclosed to
New Telegraph that Emefiele had to own up to the true position of the economy because it appeared that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC ) had lost hope of proffering solution to the worrisome situation.

The senator, who spoke under the condition of anonymity , noted that based on the briefing of the CBN boss, the Federal Government might not be able to sustain up to 75 per cent of salary payment in the 2016 budget implementation. The lawmaker also expressed pessimism on the ability of the economic team of President Muhammadu Buhari to come up with strategies that would use the agricultural sector to diversify the economy.

The senator, who is a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said that the only way to rescue the economy from further recession was for government to reflate the system, stressing that it was the measure applied by other economies that faced the challenge of recession.

“The CBN governor admitted that the economy is in trouble. And from the look of things, it is not going to get better. Salaries may not get 75 per cent implementation when you see the level of budget implementation so far. The CBN governor admitted that the economy was in recession in the first quarter and in the second quarter. In fact, they may not get 60 per cent implementation. “Reflating the economy is what other economies in recession have done, but that is not happening here.

The economic team is not able to come up with strategies on how they can even use agriculture to diversify the economy. ” The source further said that Emefiele did not want to disclose certain critical issues raised by the senators because they were serious policy issues that had to do with the competence and capability of the ruling party.

However, in a press statement issued by the leadership of the Senate at the end of the executive session, the Upper Chamber said that the governor of the CBN presented a comprehensive and lucid account of the performance of the Nigerian economy in the last one year.

The statement claimed that Emefiele ’ s presentation began with current global economic conditions, which had been characterised by external shocks, including the sharp decline in commodity prices, the geopolitical tensions along important global trading routes and tightening of Monetary Policy in the United States of America.

It further said that the appearance of Emefiele was in line with Section 8 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007, which requires that the governor of the bank provide, to the National Assembly, periodic updates on the activities of the bank as well as the performance of the economy.

The Senate ’s statement reads: “He drew linkages of these occurrences with the Nigerian economy, especially with respect to the over 70 per cent decline in oil prices from about $116 per barrel in June 2014 to about $30 per barrel earlier in the year.

“The governor’s presentation also gave us an insight into the bank ’ s decisions in the Foreign Exchange Market and the rationale underlying the recent re- introduction of a flexible exchange rate mechanism in Nigeria.

“He also delved into the health of the financial system and discussed the bank ’ s detailed examinations of financial institutions, as well as its zero tolerance for insider dealings by board and management of deposit money banks.

In sum, the governor declared that the strategic health of Nigeria ’s financial system is still strong at this time. “After the presentation , many senators asked a host of pertinent questions and raised issues concerning the banking system, the slippage in economic growth for the first quarter of 2016, the gradual rise in inflation , fall in foreign exchange reserves and policy coordination between the fiscal and monetary authorities.

“Following an exhaustive response by both the governor and his team , the Senate acknowledged that these are indeed difficult times all over the world and not just in Nigeria. “The Senate also acknowledged the pains that many people may be facing at this time , especially in light of increases in price of electricity and fuels.

But having carefully considered the policies of the CBN, the Senate would like to commend and support these policies because they are mostly geared towards increasing local production, creating jobs here in Nigeria, safeguarding our commonwealth and expanding economic opportunities and growth in Nigeria.

“It is critical that we all put hands together to seek long term solutions to our underlying problem of non -diversification of foreign exchange earnings and revenues, rather than pointing fingers or apportioning blames.

The International Monetary Fund slashed its growth forecast for the Nigerian economy this year on Tuesday, saying a combination of plunging oil revenues and weakened investor confidence will push it into recession.

The IMF said it expects Africa’s largest economy to contract by 1.8 percent this year, after having forecast in April a 2.3 percent expansion.

Nigeria’s stall, and sluggish activity in the number two economy, South Africa, is expected to pull down economic growth across sub-Saharan Africa, the IMF said, forecasting a “dramatic implication.”

“In 2016, regional output growth will fall short of population growth, implying declining per capita incomes,” it said.

Nigeria’s economy has been battered hard by the plunge in oil prices, the main source of the country’s income, as well as prices of other key commodities.

In addition, rebels in the southern oil region have forced crude production cutbacks, and internal unrest, especially attacks by the Boko Haram group in the north, has also hurt the economy.

Inflation hit an 11-year high of 16.5 percent in June as prices of food and energy jumped after the government freed up the naira currency in April, allowing it to plummet against the US dollar.

Also weighing on output have been electricity shortages due to rebels’ sabotage of the gas pipelines that fire power plants.
AFP

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MIKOLOWISKA:
what is your suggested solution

A television/film producer has narrated how policemen followed him to an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) to collect a N10,000 bribe.

Benjamin Ogunbodede, an unmarried man, was illegally arrested and detained by police officers attached to Ajuwon Police Station in Ogun on an adultery charge and was eventually extorted of his money after being detained overnight

Solomon Arase, former inspector-general of police (IGP), has denied the allegation that he took away 24 police vehicles while leaving office.

On Sunday, Ibrahim Idris, his successor, accused him and the deputy inspectors-general (DIG) who retired along with him of illegally leaving service with vehicles belonging to the force.

The acting IGP had said he had written to Arase and all the officers concerned to return the vehicles to avoid sanction.

But speaking from London, where he is billed to attend the graduation ceremony of his son, Arase expressed shock over the allegation.

He wondered why Idris, who could have sent him a “text message”, decided to address the media on the issue.

He also denied receiving any letter from his successor on the development.

“I suspect there must be a disconnect somewhere because every information needed by my successor are provided in my handover notes,” Arase said in a statement.

“I’m also not aware that any letter was written to me because if there was any dropped in my house, someone would have alerted me.

“It’s unfortunate that this matter is being made a media issue because my successor has my telephone number and could have called me for any clarification or even sent me a text message rather than addressing the media on an issue well documented in my handover notes.”