₦airaland Forum

As the accusations and counter-accusations continue between embattled Senator Shehu Sani and CEO of ASD Motors, Alhaji Sani Dauda, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may be inching closer to administering a lie detector test on both men.

Dauda says the senator extorted $24,000 from him under the guise of helping him resolve an ongoing case with the EFCC. He said he gave Sani $10,000 in November 2019, which he said the former lawmaker promised to pass on to EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu.

The ASD Motors boss also accused Sani of asking for N4m to be given to Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Tanko.

However, Sani has vehemently denied the allegations, saying that the only transaction he had with ASD Motors was car purchase.

However, The Nation reported, quoting an unnamed EFCC source, that investigators will interview Dauda’s wife on Monday over the matter before deciding whether to proceed with the lie detector test which will determine who is lying between the two men.

Also called a Polygraph, a lie detector test is a device or procedure that measures and records several physiological indicators such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while a person is asked and answers a series of questions.

Wikipedia says, “The belief underpinning the use of the polygraph is that deceptive answers will produce physiological responses that can be differentiated from those associated with non-deceptive answers.”

The EFCC recently said it obtained a court order to detain Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate, for 14 days.

Sani was arrested on Tuesday, December 31.

The Zamfara government has earmarked N7 billion in the 2020 budget for the construction of a new Government House, according to the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Bala Bello.

Bello disclosed this in Gusau on Thursday after defending the 2020 budget proposals of his office at the House of Assembly.

Bello said that the state government resolved to construct a new government house ‘considering the need for it the state’.

“You know our current government house was the Gusau local government Secretariat during the old Sokoto state,

“It was used as a temporary government house when the state was created in 1996.

“We need a modern government house to fit into the league of modern states in the country.

“We also considered getting a new government house to take care of the shortage of government offices.

“When the project is completed, the current government house will be converted to a Secretariat,” he said.

Meanwhile, the state government has also earmarked N700 million in the 2020 budget for procurement of relief materials for Internally Displaced Persons and assistance to disaster victims in the state.

The Senior Special Assistant to the state Governor on State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Maj. Aliyu Maradun, rtd, disclosed this after defending the 2020 budget proposal of the agency.

Maradun said that part of the money would be used for execution of some capital projects by the agency.

Ola Ajayi – Ibadan


FULANI herders in Oyo State have filed a suit against the state government and the State House of Assembly saying an anti-grazing law recently passed is a gross violation of their fundamental rights.

The herders under the aegis of Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria also joined the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state in the suit.

The law which had been debated, passed and signed into law by the executive arm was aimed at checking persistent farmers-herders clash in the state.

The National Industrial Court has declared as null and void, payment of pension and gratuity to former governors and deputy governors.
The court gave the judgment on Thursday while ruling in a suit brought against the Taraba State government by Alhaji Garba Umar.

Umar, the Claimant, was once the acting governor of Taraba State. He had dragged the state government to the court, claiming that he was entitled to gratuity as a former governor of the state, 300 per cent of his salary as medical allowance and other benefits as provided in Taraba State Governor and Deputy Governor’s Pension Law, 2015.

But in its ruling, the court held that it appeared that there was a “contradiction by the provision of section 124(5) ‘of the 1999 Constitution’ which enabled the House of Assembly of a state to provide for pension or gratuity to governors and deputy governors which items are also placed under the exclusive legislative list under Part 1, of the Second Schedule to the 1999 Constitution.”

“The question then is how to reconcile these two provisions of the constitution. The answer is by adopting a purposeful approach by which the court is required to look at the constitution as a whole and construe its provisions in such a way as to give effect to the general & specific purposes for which it was enacted; that is good governance and the welfare of all Nigerian based on the principles of equality and justice.”

The court went further to hold that the state houses of assembly in Nigeria lacked the power to fix any amount in remuneration to its past governors and deputy governors as “pension or gratuity unless the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission first of all determined an amount as pension and gratuity to past governors and deputy governors in which case such amount, so fixed, shall not exceed the amount as have been determined by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.”

It said since the commission had not fixed any amount as pension and gratuity to past governors and deputy governors in Nigeria that any law made by any state house of assembly granting pension and gratuity to its past governors and deputy governors was therefore null and void.

The court, therefore, ruled that the Taraba State governor and deputy governor’s pension law, 2015 is null and void.”

Recall that a Federal High Court in Lagos had also in early December 2019, given a similar judgment.

Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo ruling on an application for an order of mandamus in suit number FHC/L/CS/1497/2017 brought by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), had ordered the federal government to recover pensions collected by former governors now serving as ministers and members of the National Assembly, and directed the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN to challenge the legality of states’ pension laws permitting former governors and other ex-public officials to collect such pensions.

Aidoghie Paulinus , Abuja



The High Commission of Nigeria in Ghana was neither evicted from its chancery nor its residence, says Ferdinand Nwonye, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Nwonye disclosed that the property sited on 10, Barnes Road, Accra, Ghana, is one of the official quarters of the High Commission.

Nwonye told Daily Sun that the lease agreement signed between the Nigerian Ministry of Finance and the Ghana expired in August, 2019. He said that the Ghanaian government ought to have informed the Nigeria of the expiration of the lease, but instead decided to lay claim to the property.

“We are working on it; there is no cause for alarm. It is not our chancery, not our residence, it is just one of our official quarters and have been unoccupied for sometime. Though we have some items inside it, no one is occupying it,” Nwonye said.

Nigerian High Commission in Ghana, was alleged to have been forcefully evicted from its diplomatic property in Accra and re-allocated to Amaco Microfinance in August 26, 2019 by Ghana’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources with the consent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.

Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana, Michael Abikoye, confirmed receiving a terse letter dated December 27, 2019 from solicitors acting on behalf of Amaco Microfinance Company Limited, Accra, directing the high commission to vacate the property.

“As at December 31, 2019 the property has been broken into by the company and is being ransacked with the likelihood of being effectively occupied,”Abikoye said.

In order to increase the number of quality of teachers in the country, the federal government has approved an establishment and immediate take-off of new six Federal Colleges of Education in each of the geo-political zone in the country.

According to the public relations officer of National Commission for Colleges of Education, Mr Ameh Isaac, the newly approved institutions would be situated in Bauchi, Benue, Ebonyi, Osun, Sokoto, and Edo states, where there were no presence of Federal Colleges of Education.

Mr Ameh noted that details on the take-off of the institutions would be made published through the committee set up by the Federal Ministry of Education to be chaired by Permanent Secretary of Education.

In his words of appreciation, the Executive Secretary of National Commission for Colleges of Education, Bappa-Aliyu Muhammadu, commended the federal government for its effort to establishing additional Federal Colleges of Education in all the six geo-political zones in the country.

In addition, the Executive Secretary said the newly approved colleges would not only create more job of opportunities for Nigerians but would also improve standard of education and increase quality teachers in the country.

He also appealed to the host communities, where the institutions will be sited to give maximum supports that will aid smooth take-off of the institutions.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Kabiru Adjoto, on Sunday vowed that he would stage a nationwide massive protest against the national chairman of the party, Oshiomhole which will be tagged ‘Oshiomhole Must Go’ early in the New Year.

“I’m championing a massive Oshiomhole Must Go protest which will kick off early next year with thousands of corroborators across the 36 states of the federation,’’ Adjoto, told party members at his country home at Ikakumo in Igarraland in Edo.

“The protest will be unabated until Oshiomhole honourably resigns before he buries the APC,’’ said Mr Adjoto, the immediate past speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly.

The APC chieftain, who is currently the special adviser to Gov. Godwin Obaseki, said he would soon open “a can of worms that would seal the political fate of Oshiomhole’’.

According to him, the can of worms when opened, will make Edo people to stone the former Edo governor, who is currently battling his political survival in the ruling APC in Edo.

“As I promised a few months ago, I’m vigorously set to open horrible can of worms that will make Edo people to stone Oshiomhole on the street as we enter the New Year.’’

Mr Adjoto, however, did not disclose the `sins’ of Oshiomhole that would make the masses to rise against their former two-term governor.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Oshiomhole has been pitched in a tense political battle with Obaseki as the countdown to the governorship election in the state draws near.

Edo State is scheduled for governorships polls in August next year, in an election expected to be characterized by back-stabbing, betrayals and violence.

Mr Adjoto also spoke on the speculation that Obaseki was planning to defect to the PDP, describing the speculation as baseless.
“The governor will enjoy the ‘privilege of first refusal’ during the forthcoming APC governorship primaries as enjoyed by Oshiomhole in 2012,’’ he stated.

The former speaker noted that the APC national chairman was driving himself into “irredeemable political oblivion because of sheer greed and hypocrisy”.

He stressed that Oshiomhole had played god severally by hypocritically reversing himself on principles that fetched him enormous political fortunes.

“Oshiomhole became governor on the heels of fighting god-fatherism and the tenets of one man, one vote.

“He has now turned himself into not just a godfather but an untamed emperor, who is fully out to ruin the gains of democracy.

“He has also at different fora ridiculed the nation’s judiciary which gave him the ladder to climb to power,” Mr Adjoto stated.

At the event, the Woman Leader of the APC, Ward 7 in Akoko-Edo, Victoria Balogun, described Adjoto as a grassroots politician with a cult of following.

She lauded Adjoto for making positive impacts on the lives of the people of his community, assuring the former speaker that women in Akoko-Edo would support the re-election of Obaseki.

A member of the House Representatives has kicked against the plan to spend N37 billion for the renovation of the National Assembly complex.

Bamidele Salam, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party representing Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency, said the National Assembly does “not need a 37 billion Naira renovation of that edifice.”

“Apart from the Chambers of the NASS which need some upgrade in the audio and recording system, the entire structure needs no renovation more than our classrooms, hospitals and roads which are mostly in a decrepit condition,” Salam said in a Facebook post on Sunday.

“As an advocate of an aggressive microcredit strategy for job creation, I would rather want to see 370,000 small businesses get 100k interest free loan within 12 months rather than have 1 edifice swallow that sum within the same period,” he said.

He also said he will put opinion forward on the floor of the House of Representatives when the House reconvenes in January.

“If we mop up all funds voted for renovations of the Presidential villa and other offices of political leaders and top civil servants, we will raise more than a quarter of a trillion Naira that can be injected into SMES in the coming year.

“I will, by God’s grace, be making this open advocacy on the floor of the House of Representatives when the House reconvenes in January. It is never too late to change a wrong policy,” Mr Salam emphasised.

President Muhammadu Buhari approved ₦37 billion for the renovation of the National Assembly complex

The allocation was first mentioned by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, who said Buhari approved the amount after lawmakers met with him to explain the poor condition of the legislative building in Abuja.

The budget has attracted widespread condemnations from man Nigerians who took to social media to speak against such spending by the lawmakers.

Lawan, in the defence of the budget, told journalists that no major renovation had been done on the National Assembly property for 20 years and many parts of the property had become dilapidated.

“The phase one renovation will commence – the chambers and committee rooms in the white house. ₦37 billion was sourced and was given. It was put under the FCT, not national Assembly. All we require is to have the complex renovated,” Lawan said.

“When we are through with phase 1, we will go to phase 2. It is not under the control of the National Assembly. The complex is a national asset and is for the FCDA to take care.”

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticised former Lagos State governor Akinwunmi Ambode for abandoning the Lagos light rail project while he was the governor of the state between 2015 and 2019.

“We borrowed to build a light rail in Lagos, embarked on the project and a succeeding governor abandoned the project for his full term of four years at 65 per cent completion when he should have started paying down on the loan,” Obasanjo said on Friday in Lagos as a keynote speaker at the “Why I am Alive” campaign.

Obasanjo also criticised Ambode of prioritising the construction of Oshodi bus interchange. The terminus was commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari days before Ambode left office even though the project was not completed.

The formal construction of the rail lines began under Babatunde Raji Fashola, who is now Nigeria’s works and housing minister. He was succeeded by Ambode, who Obasanjo said abandoned the rail project that was almost completed.

State officials said, at different times, that the rail lines were a part of the blueprint for the development of the state. Ambode, who was kicked out by his own part after first term, was accused of abandoning the blueprint by his party.

On July 16, 2015, about two months after he came into office, Ambode assured that he would deliver the project to Lagos residents in 12 months.

That deadline fell on July 2016. However, five months after he promised to deliver the project in 12 months, he shifted the completion date to December 2016. But in November 2016, the governor made another volte-face, saying it would now be completed before the end of 2019.

The idea of developing a light rail network for Lagos was first muted in the 1980s but was resuscitated by former governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the early 2000s, while Obasanjo was also the president, with a formal announcement of its construction in December 2003.

The entire rail project was designed to run through various areas of Lagos, under a seven-line network codenamed: Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Purple, Brown and Orange lines.

The initial $135m proposal was part of the greater Lagos Urban Transportation Project, which was to be implemented by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).

But a decade after, the Lagos rail project, despite its benefits to Nigeria is yet to materialise. Lagos State government said in August 2018 that the Mile 2-Marina section of the project will be operational in 2022.

“This light rail is important for the whole of Nigeria not only with respect for man-hours of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that would have continued to be saved but because such loans are federally guaranteed,” Obasanjo added.

“This type of situation was not in Lagos alone but variously in other states like Rivers and Cross River. And the problem is not limited to states.”

A New York apartment hurriedly purchased by a shoddy company registered in the American state of Delaware is raising fresh questions over the circumstances leading to the conferment of diplomatic status on Nigeria’s former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, by the Commonwealth of Dominica.

The revelation first emerged in “Diplomats for Sale”, a 53-minute feature by Qatari international broadcaster, Al Jazeera.

PREMIUM TIMES has obtained additional details regarding the controversial relationship and probable reason why Mrs Allison-Madueke is yet to be extradited to face trial, despite efforts by Nigeria’s anticorruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Mrs Alison-Madueke, a powerful member of the Goodluck Jonathan administration, is being investigated by Nigerian and British authorities over alleged money laundering and corruption cases.

She was first appointed into the cabinet by former President Umaru Yar’Adua. Upon Mr. Yar’Adua’s death in 2010, President Jonathan appointed Mrs. Alison-Madueke to the Petroleum Ministry.

Mrs Alison-Madueke was seen as perhaps the most powerful minister under the Jonathan administration, and her tenure was tainted with widespread allegation of corruption.

The International Corruption Unit (ICU) of British National Crimes Agency (NCA) arrested Mrs Alison-Madueke and four others on October 2, 2015.

The UK authorities said the arrest was part of an investigation into a case of bribery and money laundering which was started in 2013 when Mrs Alison-Madueke was in office.

In Nigeria, the anti-corruption agency, the EFCC, has filed a number of actions against the former minister.

Mrs Alison-Madueke was famously fingered as the person behind a $20 billion slush fund investigators said was used to fund the campaign of President Goodluck Jonathan and bribe electoral officers in 2015.

A number of officials of the electoral body, INEC, have been convicted for receiving cuts from the money.

A diplomatic status for Diezani

On May 23, 2015, while still in her position as Nigeria’s petroleum minister, Mrs Alison-Madueke met Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit in London.

Mr Skerrit came to the London meeting with two things—a Dominican diplomatic passport for Mrs Alison-Madueke and an appointment letter for the Nigerian minister as Trade and Investment Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Dominica.

Issued on May 21, 2015, the diplomatic passport is expected to expire on May 20, 2020.

Though the Nigerian constitution does not bar citizens from taking another nationality, or for those with dual citizenship to hold public offices, a legal practitioner, Dija Hashim, said the propriety of taking such citizenship while still in office is in question.

Ms Hashim described as greater infraction taking up another country’s assignment when one was still serving in another’s official position.

The ‘benefits’ for Mrs Alison-Madueke

Diplomatic passports confer bearers a number of benefits and privileges, from mundane courtesies to more serious protections.

PREMIUM TIMES could not establish if Mrs Alison-Madueke assumed the status conferred on her

“A diplomatic passport gives diplomatic immunity,” says Habib Habu, a retired diplomat, citing provisions of the Vienna Convention of 1963.

He said even those outside their countries of posting can benefit from privileged immunity, which a country may confer out of courtesy.

The Al Jazeera investigators say a passport “could shield her from criminal charges”.

It is unclear if Mrs Alison-Madueke has her Dominican diplomatic status in fighting her legal battle in the UK. But if she did, it could confer certain privileges that can hamper the cases, according to legal and diplomatic experts.

The EFCC has grumbled over the slow pace of Mrs Alison-Madueke’s investigation in the UK and her planned extradition.

It is not immediately clear if the slow pace has anything to do with her status, her lawyers could not respond to PREMIUM TIMES’ enquiry on this.

The EFCC in a statement in March said it was baffling that after four years, the former minister had still not had her day in court.

“We are intent on bringing Diezani to justice and despite the spirited efforts of the commission in ensuring that she returns to Nigeria and face trial, she has been held back in the UK by an investigation that has spanned almost four years without any signal about when she will be available in Nigeria for prosecution.

“The EFCC has been frustrated over Diezani, a development that prompted it to seek her extradition to Nigeria, so that she can have her day in court.”

Questionable relationship

It is unclear how Mrs Alison-Madueke developed a relationship with the Dominican Prime Minister, Mr Skerrit. But it is common for official and unofficial agents to broker a deal for such relationships.

Dominican government is known to grant citizenship to persons from around the world in exchange of investment in the Caribbean nation. The initiative is, however, a subject of huge controversy.

Mr Skerrit is known for cosying up with controversial persons around the world and is fingered in a money-for-diplomatic passport racket by a recent Al Jazeera investigation.

In the film, Al Jazeera Investigations Unit got evidence of the country’s trading off its diplomatic positions to persons who can pay their way.

In a secret filming, a former prime minister of Dominica, Oliver Seraphin, was shown negotiating for such a deal. He agreed to broker a deal for a passport at $470,000, with $400,000 going to the prime minister.

Mr Seraphin confessed to how Mr Skerrit use monies from similar corrupt deals to oil his political machine back home.

A house for the Skerrits?

Four days after the meeting between Mrs Alison-Madueke and the Dominican prime minister, a company called Poros Holdings LLC was formed in Delaware, on May 27, 2015.

Not many details about the company are known as the American state is known for its corporate secrecy, making it a preferred destination of shoddy businesses.

Curiously, the company paid for the apartment in upscale Long Island without recourse to any mortgage.

Evidence shows that the prime minister’s wife had it registered. PREMIUM TIMES also obtained pictures of the Skerrit’s in the apartment.

Mr Skerrit confirmed use of the apartment by his wife “for mailing purposes” as he denied ownership of the house.

“Mere residence is however not proof of ownership as I could also have occupied the apartment on a rental basis,” he wrote in an email to Al Jazeera.

Mr Skerrit, who is facing re-election threatened to sue Al Jazeera after the release of the documentary.

No link with firm, apartment says lawyers

Mrs Alison-Madueke’s lawyers, CSL, have not responded to PREMIUM TIMES’ emailed inquiry on the matter, which was first sent on November 24, and a reminder sent days later.

But in a response to Al Jazeera, the lawyers denied that the company was linked to Mrs Alison-Madueke, but confirmed her holding of Dominican diplomatic passport. The lawyers also said the ex-minister earns nothing for her appointment.

The Dominican prime minister claims the passport was issued “after due diligence” and before corruption allegations against the former minister become public.

https://guardian.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/IMG-20191227-WA0020.jpg

A Nigerian innovator, David Adeyemi, has became the first Nigerian and African appointee of The World Student Organisation.

David, 22, was appointed as the Nigeria Country Director for World Student Organization, after beating over 11,000 other African innovators.

He had record breaking scores in all the assessments he was put through during the interview period.

“His versatility swept us off the floor during our interview session and the entire World Student Organization community is looking forward to his exploit and contributions,” Dimas Satrio Pradhana, World Student Organisation Founder, said in a statement sent to The Guardian Nigeria.

“We have been watching his sustainability, community development, security and environmental projects and innovations for about 3 years now and we are really awed to see such an extremely talented and passionate young Nigerian interested in contributing to the development of his country in his own little way,” Pradhana added.

The World Student Organization is a Berlin-based organization founded based on the concerns of youths towards rising and present global issues. It seeks to connect students worldwide in order to come up with solutions for these issues.

As the country director for World Student Organization in Nigeria, David will be keened solely on collaborating with social innovators and organizations across the country.

“I will be overseeing other African countries for a very short period of time, because my primary goal is for Nigeria,” David told The Guardian Nigeria.

Two presidential aides have swelled the ranks of people bidding to replace Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu.

Also, a governor in the North has withdrawn his support for Magu’s re-appointment following alleged refusal of the EFCC boss to halt ongoing investigation into some accounts of the state.
It was also learnt that some lobbyists are pushing for what is now known as “Ribadu Treatment” for Magu.

A former Chairman of EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, was sent on a compulsory study
leave at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS) in 2007, demoted in August 2008 to a Deputy Commissioner of Police and frustrated out of the Nigeria Police Force.

He was reinstated by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan culminating in his retirement as an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG).
President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to make up his mind on who heads the EFCC despite the intense jostle for the job.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that lobbying for the office of the EFCC chairman has delayed a definite pronouncement by the President on Magu, who has acted in the role for four years.

It was learnt that plot to “push Magu to NIPPS through the backdoor” could not sail through because no one was prepared to offend President Buhari.

The race for the office was compounded in the last one week by the interest of “very close” aides to the President, it was learnt on Thursday.

A source said: “Following the end of the tenure of the 8th Senate and the exit of ex-President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, it was assumed that it will be an easy ride to re-nominate Magu as substantive chairman of EFCC.

“Since August, a memo has been in the works to re-present Magu to the 9th Senate but it has got stuck due to intrigues over the post within and outside the Presidential Villa.

“So far, we have four top police officers, including a retired Commissioner of Police, jostling to displace Magu. Two “very close” aides to the President are the latest entrants. These have the backing of the powers that be and they wield much influence.

“Magu’s achievements do not count to these aides and their backers. The only thing working for the Acting EFCC chair is his stellar performance since 2015. Being from a poor home with limited connections due to the nature of his job, Magu is looking forward to God and President Buhari to decide his fate.”

Investigation revealed that a governor from the North, who used to be the arrowhead of lobbyists for Magu’s re-nomination has backed out because the Acting chairman of the EFCC has refused to bend the rules.

The governor is unhappy that the EFCC has been probing the accounts of his state, following the interception of some suspicious payments.
His assumption is that it will be difficult to control EFCC under Magu.

“The Acting EFCC chairman is insisting on fairness to all whether a friends or not. He said the ongoing investigation does not mean the governor is corrupt. He feels that the governor might not be aware of a systemic challenge in his government which he needs to address to block leakages.”

Another source added: “We have a few other former and serving governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who do not want the President to retain Magu. They alleged that if Magu gets a substantive appointment, he might be more “punchy.”

“The argument of the police chiefs are selling the ‘Ribadu treatment’ for Magu is that he ought to grow professionally instead of remaining with the EFCC.

“The challenge they have is that they do not know how the President will react if Magu is sent to NIPPS without Presidential approval.”

Tiwatopebabe:
Who, exactly who, spotted these elephants?

Amanda4life:
Bokoharam has deceived them, by changing to elephant.

If you have fought native war or village war you will understand.

Make dey no land there o.
Those elephant will change back to humans with sophisticated machine guns

nuelzy:
it is bro.. 100%

As Nigerians look forward to the New Year with better performances from the country’s national football teams, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has revealed plans to renew the contract of Super Eagles Head Coach, Gernot Rohr for another term.

The Franco-German who was contracted in 2016 for an initial two-year contract has been threatening to open talks with other countries if the NFF fails to speak on a new deal for him before the end of next month.

But yesterday, President of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick said in Lagos that Rohr’s contract will be renewed but with stringent conditions that includes him staying in Nigeria.

“We are going to renew Rohr’s contract with Nigeria before it expires. Unlike the previous contract, we are going to insist now that he stays in Nigeria with accommodation for him in which ever city he prefers between Abuja and Lagos,” revealed the NFF chief during a media parley in Lagos yesterday.

Rohr’s initial monthly salary of $45,000 was increased to $55,000 after he qualified Nigeria for the World Cup in Russia as well as the AFCON 2019.

Part of Rohr’s new contract will be to have a harmonious working relationship with the federation’s Technical Committee.

“He should be ready to work with the Technical Committee. We don’t want repeat of some of the things that created problems to happen again as we aim to move the game forward in the New Year.”

Although, there have been subtle move by the gaffer to get the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, to intervene on his contract matter, it is believed that the minister made it known to him that only the NFF have the right to decide whether to keep him or ask him to take a work from the job.

On the position of the Sports Minister not happy with the state of the game in the out going year, Pinnick said the minister has every right to speak on our performance as the head of sports in the country.

“Don’t forget the minister is the chief sports officer of the country. We don’t feel bad he spoke his mind on the state of football in Nigeria. We believe his intervention is bound to be a wake up call for us and the players,” stressed Pinnick who is looking forward to the New Year with enthusiasm.

“Year 2020 is full of so much promise for Nigeria football. We have the qualifiers for both the AFCON 2021 and the World Cup 2022. We need to get our acts right from the first kick of the ball in the New Year because there are no longer minnows in African football.

As part of the plans to put the administration of the game in proper perspective in the 2020, Pinnick hinted of plans for the NFF to relocate to the Sunday Dankaro House after years at the Glass House the federation has shared with the Federal Road Safety Commission.

“I want to assure you that the NFF secretariat will relocate to the Sunday Dankaro House before the end of January.”

He also hinted that cadet players that have contracts with football agents will no longer be tolerated in the Golden Eaglets.

Nigeria’s cadet teams (U-17, U-20 and U-23), floundered in continental tournaments in the out-going year, rubbishing the image the country has made over the years as a super-power in youth football.

To stem the influence of football agents in the national teams, the NFF has now warned that any player that has any contract will no longer be allowed to play for Eaglets.

“We have now realized the disruptive influence of these football agents to our preparations for major tournaments as was seen in the out going year. Henceforth, any player who has any link to any agent will be shut out of our team,” Pinnick concluded.

Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has retained his position as the best performing Governor according to the assessment of the Progressive Governors Forum’s Progressive Strides Tracking Developmental Initiatives in APC states.

Addressing Reporters in his office on Wednesday, Ganduje’s Chief Press Secretary, Malam Abba Anwar, stated that the assessment was part of the strategy to further deepen good governance among All Progressives Congress (APC) states in the country.

He explained that, “under this methodology, APC states are assessed on monthly basis. The assessment cuts across all sectors of government, ranging from health, education, agriculture, housing, transport, environmental sanitation among others. All states are equally assessed and evaluated.”

According to him, “for the period of three consecutive months, that is three assessments from September, October to November, of this year, 2019, Kano under Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje takes the leading positions with various degrees of improvement from one stage to another.”

He said that, “in a letter dated October 7, 2019 and signed by the Director General of the Forum, Salihu Mohammed Lukman, that was addressed and sent to all APC governors, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje in this context, forwarding September assessment report, states that, ‘In general, there is an all-round increase in the pattern of initiatives introduced by the states with Kano state recording the most initiatives for this Month (September) with Eighteen (18) Strides, spreading across empowerment, healthcare, education, security, transportation, welfare, power, agriculture, justice and sensitisation.”

The letter revealed that, Yobe follows with 14 Strides, Borno 13, while Edo, Gombe, Kaduna, Lagos and Ogun state with 12 each. Ekiti, according to the letter, records 11, Nassarawa with 9, Katsina and Kebbi states with 7 each, Kwara and Osun with 6 each. Niger state follows with 5, Ondo with 4 and finally Kogi and Plateau states with 3 Strides each.

Anwar noted that, “some of the indices given for Kano’s emergence across the mentioned areas are, the state trains 60 youth on maintenance of high duty and articulated vehicles, distribution of 8 million mosquito nets to residents, governor Ganduje’s unrelenting commitment in attaining universal health coverage.

“Others given are the all-important Summit on education, the commendation from the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on the state free and compulsory primary and secondary schools education. It gives, as another reason, why Kano excels, the Forum mentions that the state government spends N2.4 Billion on 1,180 primary and secondary schools, as part of the free education policy.

“How Kano/France Scholarship scheme improves lecturers performance. (under this arrangement, over 40 lecturers from the state owned tertiary institutions were sent to France for their Master Degrees. Some have been absorbed for their PhDs). It is indicative to note that, Kano spends over N600m on Joint Tuition Free Post Graduate scholarship programme,” says the report sent to the governor.

“It lists among others, that Kano Hydro Electricity Power Project is set to address petroleum consumption and climate change. And that, the state sets up Tax Tribunal to resolve disputes associated with taxation.

“In the October rating, which is called “October 2019 Progressive Strides- Tracking Developmental Initiatives in APC States report,” the letter addressed to the governor reads, in part, that, “There is an all-round increase in the pattern of initiatives introduced by the states with KANO State recording the most of the initiatives for this Month with nineteen (19) strides, spreading across empowerment, job creation, healthcare, education, security, transportation, power, environment, sports (among others).”

“Kano is followed by Lagos state with 18 strides, Ekiti state with 17 strides, while Edo state records 13 strides, Katsina and Kwara states follow with 11 each, Yobe state 10 and Jigawa state with 9 strides.”

Others, according to the letter are Kaduna, Niger and Ogun states that record 7 strides for each state. Borno and Kebbi states follow with 6 each, Osun and Plateau states with 5 each and finally Gombe, Kogi, Nassarawa and Ondo states follow with 4 strides each.

According to the letter, the overall characteristics of the report shows that all states in The Forum were represented and featured in the edition.
Anwar added that, “some of the indices given for the Month of October, include, but not limited to, the issue of Roll Back Malaria, when the state spends N500 Million on anti-Malaria drugs and other others. During the World Sight Day the state offers Free Eye Treatment to over 20,000 patients. The establishment of 400-Bed spaces hospitals in the headquarters of our newly created Firts Class Emirates. The process has kick started already.

“Because of the seriousness of the state government under Dr Ganduje, a global partner, Global Fund committed N11 Billion to Malaria control in the state. The Forum appreciates that the state establishes 44 Routine Immunization Coordination Centres, across the 44 local governments. And that Kano vaccinated 2.7 children against Measles.

“The report also appreciates that, on Almajiri education, Kano recruits 600 teachers and approves the release of N200 Million for books. When governor Ganduje distributed 779,522 free school uniforms to pupils across the state, the action was commended by the APC Governors Forum.

“Another success story as featured in the October report was that Kano’s Independent 10 Megawatts Project reaches 90 percent completion stage. It also refers to the federal government’s invitation to governor Ganduje for “Clean Nigeria Campaign.” Other factors considered were the signing of Disability Law, which is about to take-off, I mean the Agency and government promise of finding justice for the 9 kidnapped and rescued Kano kids.

“In the most recent assessment report of the Month of November, Kano is consecutively leading all other states for the Third Time in the areas of security, infrastructural development, health, education, economy among other areas, as assessed by the APC Progressive Governors Forum, according to November Assessment Report released recently, by the Forum.

“In a letter sent to governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, that was attached with the full scale report of the assessment, signed by the Director General of the Forum, Salihu Mohammed Lukman, Kano is rated the highest with 22 Strides.

“The letter captioned “Forwarding November, 2019 PROGRESSIVE Strides- Tracking Developmental Initiatives in APC States,” states that “The entries for this edition witnessed more improvement as regards developmental Strides collated from the Forum States in 2019.”

“It was clear in the letter that, “In general, there is an all-round increase in the pattern of initiatives introduced by the states with KANO State recording the most of the initiatives for this Month with twenty two (22) Strides, spreading across empowerment, health, education, infrastructure, security, welfare, economy, environment, capacity building as well as justice and sensitisation.”

“According to the assessment, Lagos follows with 20 Strides, Jigawa follows with 17. Gombe appears with 14, Nassarawa and Yobe with 12 each, Borno, Ogun and Osun with 11 Strides each. Katsina follows with 10, Kebbi with 9, Niger and Ondo with 8 each, Kwara with 7, Edo, Ekiti and Kaduna with 6 each. While Kogi and Plateau have 4 each.

“The report shows that all states in the Forum were represented and featured in this edition of the assessment strides.

“Kano moves with significant improvement from the previous assessment. In September the state was leading with 18 Strides and in October assessment, the state was leading all other states with 19 strides. And with 22 strides for November.

“How the state moves ahead of other states, with significant increase of points, is but a clear indication that governor Abdullahi Ganduje is emphatically taking the state to greater heights. When some states are backsliding, Kano is moving forward very fastly. This calls for celebration and working harder.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday urged well-meaning Nigerians not to get carried away with the Federal Government’s release of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) and convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore, from detention.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Tuesday, directed the Department of State Service (DSS) to release the duo who had been granted bail by courts in the past.

Reacting to the development, however, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said what the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has succeeded in doing is giving itself up as a no respecter of the rule of law and court rulings.

According to him, the government merely bowed to local and international pressure following the outcry over the continuous detention of Dasuki and Sowore after the courts granted them bail.

The statement read: “What is exciting about the directive to release these people? Has this changed their penchant for disobedience of court orders and the rule of law? This government has shown to the world that it is only interested in doing things its own ways regardless of the place of law and democratic order.

“They felt the heat of national and international pressure; so, there was nothing more for them to do than to order their immediate release. Nigerians are not fooled by this and the government knows it.”

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume, has given reasons why President Muhammadu Buhari cannot afford to change or appoint new service chiefs for now.

He told THISDAY in an interview that Buhari could not afford to change the military leadership because Nigeria was in a complete state of war.

The Chief of the Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, are long due for retirement having spent more than 35 years in military service.

But the president has extended their tenure indefinitely.

It was gathered that within the military circle, officers are quietly complaining that their commander-in-chief are “suffocating” growth in the armed forces as officers who are junior to the service chiefs are being forced into retirement ahead of their seniors.

Section 8 of the public service rules stipulates that the compulsory retirement age for all grades in the service shall be 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service, whichever is earlier.

“No officer shall be allowed to remain in service after attaining the retirement age of 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service whichever is earlier,” the law reads.

Also, Section 4 of the harmonised terms and conditions of service officers (2017) states that military service of an officer is a period of unbroken service in the armed forces of Nigeria from the date of commission to the date of retirement from service.

This period of unbroken service covers date of enlistment into service as soldiers/ratings/airmen for regular commission, short service commission, direct short service commission, direct regular commission, and executive commission officers, including other commissions.

But Ndume told THISDAY that the president could not but retain the service chiefs because Nigeria is in a state of war, not only in the North-east, but all over the country with serious military deployments to quell crisis and maintain peace

He said: “We are in war. Definitely, we are in war. We are fighting the insurgents in the North-east and in the North-west.

The military is so much involved and are being deployed in so many zones of the federation. The security situation is such that that the military is involved almost in all parts of the country. So, we are in war.

“The military is so involved in so many security challenges. In fact, in almost the 36 states, in fact, this is a pointer that we are at war.

“Coincidentally, the president is a retired army general and he knows this war situation better than most Nigerians; and he knows when to change his army commanders and when not to do that. As a commander-in-chief, he understands this war situation better than we the civilians.

“I’m sure he is doing the right thing as the commander-in -chief and when he finds it necessary, he will effect changes.”

He stated that he didn’t think that changing the service chiefs would solve the insecurity in the country.

“I don’t think that changing the service chiefs will be the solution to the insecurity in the country. I don’t think that this war is not won because the service chiefs are still there and have not been changed.”

The Defence Headquarters says Leah Sharibu and some aid workers kidnapped by the Boko Haram terrorists in the northeast have not be rescued as troops are cautious not to put the captives’ lives in danger.

Acting Director Defence Information, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, said this in Abuja yesterday while addressing journalists on the Defence Headquarters Coordinated Joint Operations.

Sharibu was among the over 100 students kidnapped by the terrorists at the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College Dapchi,Yobe State, on February 19, 2018. Others were released.

Nwachukwu said: “Troops of operation Lafiya Dole troops have been treading cautiously because these people are all in the hands of the terrorists and any reckless move may result in their annihilation by the terrorists just to ward off the troops, it is a very complex and risky operation but the troops are working day and night to ensure that they are rescued”.

He said the terrorists only used the abductions to raise funds to support their illicit activities. He said that the troops would not relent until they rescued the captives.

He countered a recent statement credited to Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum that the insurgents were in control of some parts of the state. Nwachukwu said:”The terrorists have been defeated and pushed to the Tumbus where they hibernate and come out to attack soft targets.

“Boko Haram is not holding any part of our country. Boko Haram and ISWAP have been decimated and defeated. They’ve been pushed to the Tumbus, that is, the island between Nigeria and neighbouring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon where they have an enclave, where they hibernate, come out, watch out for soft targets and coordinate attacks.”

He said over the past three months, the troops deployed for operation in Hadarin Daji in Zamfara State and its environs had neutralised several bandits in fierce combats and arrested 389 others.

He said 1048 kidnapped victims were rescued and 48 suspected kidnappers arrested; while 170 assorted fire arms were recovered. He six soldiers, one air craftsman and three policemen lost their lives during the operations.

The Federal Government had yet to decide a terminal date when the country ’ s border would be reopened to neighboring countries .

The Federal Government had in August closed its borders to neighboring countries in an exercise code -named operation Exercise Swift Response

The action which had resulted in joint border operations by a combined team of security agencies had been greeted by mixed reactions from stakeholders.

While some stakeholders had described the border closure as a move in a positive direction, others have described it as a setback for the African Continental Free Trade Agreement .

Speaking during a chat with journalists on Monday in Abuja , the Minister of State for Industry , Trade and Investment, Mariam Katagum , said the Federal Government had held strategic meetings with Benin Republic and Niger to reach an agreement on modalities for the border reopening.

She said one of the fallouts of the meeting was the setting up of a joint border patrol team made up of security personnel from customs , airforce and other security agencies .

The minister said the decision to reopen the border would be based on recommendations from the patrol team on whether Niger and Benin Republic have complied with trade protocols .

She said, “ We had the strategic meeting with the three countries and what we agreed with our neighbors is to activate a joint border patrol and that border patrol comprising the customs , all the security agencies and ensure to try to follow the actual protocol laid by ECOWAS .

“ The committee met on November 25 and it is only when that committee is certain that all the countries are respecting the ECOWAS protocol that they will recommend a day for the opening of the border .”

The Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Richard Adebayo, said that the ministry is currently carrying out a review of the country ’ s trade policy as well as the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan to reflect current economic realities .

He also said that the automotive policy is being reviewed , adding that a meeting would be held with stakeholders in the auto sector on January 28 to get their input to the policy .

He said after the stakeholders ’ meeting , the executive would present a bill to the National Assembly for the policy to become law .

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has urged customers not to pay N50 charge to businesses for using point of sale (POS) machines.

Musa Jimoh, a director in CBN’s payment system management department, explained the apex bank’s merchant charge directive on Monday.

“The stamp duty is a fee regulated by an act. The CBN doesn’t regulate the stamp duty so we can’t change anything. Stamp duty as it is today has been misinterpreted,” Jimoh said.

“Our circular that talks about merchants paying stamp duty according to the law does not say that the stamp duty should be paid by the consumer. That’s actually a misrepresentation of the CBN’S directive.

“What our directive says is that merchants should pay all necessary charges as regulated by the government agency including stamp duty. When there is an electronic transaction to an account other than savings account and the transaction amount is more than N1,000, you have to pay stamp duty.

“Our explanation to banks is that we would like the merchants to comply with this directive by ensuring that every single payment customers make to them, the merchants pay the regulated stamp duty of N50.

“What has happened is that they have transferred this fee, blatantly and openly to the consumers. This is very wrong.

“No single individual should pay N50 in addition to the cost of the good. Stamp duty is not to be paid by individuals that are consuming the goods and services of the merchant. The merchants who are receiving the money are the ones who are supposed to pay.”

It had earlier been reported that consumers would pay more for POS transactions after the CBN said stamp duty would be charged on individual transactions rather than previous plans where charges occurred on aggregate transactions.

Kano – Despite intervention on the protracted feud between Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, governor of Kano State, and Muhammad Sanusi II, the emir of Kano by two former military Heads of states, General Yakubu Gowon (RTD) and General Abdulsalam Abubakar( RTD), Ganduje is set to travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday evening to celebrate his 70 years in the Holy city of Islam.

A source close to the development told Daily Independent that the two heads of military junta had contacted Ganduje through the Chairman Nigeria Govenrors Forum, Ekiti state Governor Kayode Fayemi.

The source further revealed that Ganduje told Fayemi that he has concluded plans to visit the republic of Saudi Arabia to perform lesser hajj, stating that he won’t be available until January, 2020.

According to the source the duo of Gowon and Abdulsalam had insisted on meeting the Governor in Kano instead of Abuja where the Governor was when he was contacted.

Similarly, the federal government backed committee led by General Abdulsalmi was also working in another direction to resolve the dispute.

A statement sighted by this tabloid signed by Adamu Fika Wazirin Fika, disclosed that “against the background of the crisis in Kano, a matter that has since degenerated into serious tension within the State, with likely consequences on peace and security with the possibility of spilling into neighbouring states, a group of elders, under the chairmanship of General Andulsalami Abubakar.”

Although Fika failed to mentioned General Gowon among the committee members but Daily Independent learnt he was among the leaders working assiduously to achieve the reconciliation.

The statement added that “two State Governors are also members of the committee. These are Gov. Kayode Fayemi (who is also the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum) and Gov. Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State.”

Fika further revealed that Other members of the Committee includes:, Alhaji Adamu Fika, Wazirin Fika, CFR, Gen. Muhammadu Inuwa Wushishi, CFR, GCON, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, SAN, Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, OFR, CFR
Dr. Umaru Mutallab, CON, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, CFR, Sheikh Sharif Ibrahim Saleh and Dr. Adamu Fika – Secretary.

Fika hinted that the committee is working with the full understanding and cooperation of the Federal Government and initial contact has been made with His Excellency the Governor of Kano, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as well as with His Highness the Emir of Kano, Sarki Muhammadu Sanusi II.

According to Fika, the feuding personalities “have each confirmed to holdback from taking any further actions until the committee has fully undertaken and finalised this exercise of reconciliation and resolution.

He added “similarly, they each has respectively undertaken to call on all their supporters and sympathisers including social media operators to refrain from making statements, declarations, songs, articles, blogs and all actions inimical to the spirit and process of good governance, order and reconciliation. We call on everyone to hearken to the call of their principals.”

Former Delta Governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has tackled at Governor Ifeanyi Okowa over what he described as an attempt to “spite” him.

The state Traditional Rulers Council on Thursday organised an event in Asaba to honour present and former leaders who contributed to the infrastructural, human capital developments, as well as peace building across the state.

While Okowa, his deputy, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro and former governor, Chief James Ibori, were selected to be honoured, Uduaghan was missing on the honour roll.

Taking to his Facebook page to express displeasure, the immediate past governor stated the infrastructural projects, peace, security and human capital development being enjoyed in the state are some of his administration’s achievements.

He listed some of the star projects he executed to include the Asaba International Airport, Government House, Asaba and the Dome Event Centre where the honorary event took place.
There has been no love-lost between Uduaghan and Okowa.

The bad blood forced the former governor to decamp from the People’s Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) where he contested the Delta South Senatorial seat in the March 2 polls.

The series of posts tagged: “I shall be unzipping a little today,” reads: “Julius Caesar, Animal Farm and Things Fall Apart were some of the books we used in our literature classes at FGC, Warri.
“The ‘cuts’ did not kill Ikemefuna or Julius Caesar. The shock of knowing who inflicted the ‘cuts’, killed them!

“Any ex-governor has the capacity to ensure that his state is peaceful or create a platform for crisis.

“You cannot fund and mobilise traditional rulers to Asaba to spite me. All of us get ‘smart cunny.’
“In spite of the lies out there, I was on the driver’s seat in 2014/15, to midwife the current Delta state administration.

“The critical responsibility of any state leader is to ensure that all actions maintain the peaceful nature of the state.”

Continuing, he said: “Today’s power is not in the guns you have acquired. Power is in the handset we are all carrying.

“In sponsoring an action, do you assess the ethnic and political implications at all? Some actions are just damn silly!

“Congrats to those being honoured by ‘some’ Delta State Traditional Rulers today!
“Interestingly, you are being honoured for: Peace and Security, human capital development, and Infra development.

“On the infrastructural development, those coming by air will be landing at Asaba Airport built and put into use in my administration.

“Asaba Airport had transported 100,000 plus of passengers, including every past and current presidents/VPs in Nigeria before I left office.

“I wish you a great ceremony as you use the event centre and Government House complex built by my administration.”

By Wale Odunsi

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, shunned former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, on his 57th birthday.

Similarly, Saraki was silent as the nation’s leader clocked 77 years old earlier on Tuesday.

A reason for this might be ascribed to events and circumstances before and during Nigeria’s 2019 keenly-contested elections.

DAILY POST reports that the duo and the arms of government they led from 2015 till 2019 were mostly in the news for animosity.

It was an open secret that Buhari and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) wanted Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila (as against Saraki and Yakubu Dogara who eventually emerged) as Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives, respectively.

As fate would have it, Lawan from Yobe and Gbaja, as fondly called, are occupying the exalted positions today.

In 2018, Saraki, despite surviving alleged attempts by the presidency to impeach him, greeted the president on his birthday.

He tweeted, “Happy Birthday to President Muhammadu Buhari and many happy returns”.

In 2017, Buhari felicitated with the former Kwara State Governor.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, iBuhari commended Saraki for his commitment to peace of Nigeria.

He said “The President believes that at 55, and having served as a two-term governor, senator and Senate President, Dr Saraki has demonstrated commitment in the pursuit of a prosperous, united and peaceful Nigeria.

“President Buhari prays that God Almighty will grant him more years of good health, wisdom and fulfillment in the service of God and country,”

Despite efforts, the relationship between Buhari and Saraki, who narrated how he donated billions to the party’s 2015 campaign in states, totally crumbled six months to general elections.

It would be recalled that on July 19, 2018, Buhari held a closed door meeting with Saraki as head of aggrieved members APC members threatening to pull out.

The parley, at the instance of some APC Governors, followed Saraki’s meeting with PDP chieftains a day earlier in Ilorin.

In what rattled the ruling party, Saraki dumped the APC with 15 Senators. Most of them, including him, crossed to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

They were Dino Melaye, Kogi; Rabiu Kwankwaso, Kano, Lanre Tejuoso, Ogun; Shaaba Lafiagi, Kwara; Rafiu Ibrahim, Kwara; Barnabas Gemade, Benue; Abdulazeez Nyako, Adamawa.

Others were Monsurat Sunmonu, Oyo; Usman Nafada, Gombe; Suleiman Hunkuyi, Kaduna; Ibrahim Danbaba, Sokoto; Ubale Shittu, Jigawa, Isah Misau, Bauchi; Suleiman Nazif, Bauchi.

Additionally, former Speaker Dogara and a number House members defected.

At many instances afterwards, Saraki, who vied for the presidential ticket and later emerged as Campaign Director General to PDP and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, attacked the Buhari government.

Currently, the government appears to be fighting back. Sources confirmed to DAILY POST that the onslaught against the politics heavyweight is far from over.

In the last two months, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) got forfeiture orders on Saraki’s house in Ikoyi and Ilorin. They agency is targeting more.

Last year, Saraki and the federal government, through the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) had a prolonged battle over some of his assets

After his acquittal by the Supreme Court, President Buhari hailed Saraki’s resilience during the trial many critics said he must have endorsed.

He said: “I have seen many instances where individuals and groups seek the destruction of the judicial institution in the foolish thinking of saving their skin, instead of going through the painstaking process of establishing their innocence.

“In the case of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, I have seen him take the tortuous path of using the judicial process. He persevered, and in the end, the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court, says he is not guilty as charged.

“This is what I have done in the three elections in which I was cheated out, before God made it possible for me to come here the fourth time I ran for the office.”

Buhari added that Saraki’s journey “from the lowest to the highest court of the land provides an important example for Nigerians to emulate.”

Human Right lawyer, Chief Femi Falana, Wednesday, warned President Muhammadu Buhari against allotting oil blocs to individuals in the country.

Falana vowed to drag the President to court if he does otherwise.

He spoke as a guest lecturer at a Public lecture entitled: “Politics In Nigeria, Finding A Balance Between Political Interest And The Demand For Good Governance” organised by Imeri Convergence 2019.

On the proposed $29.6bn loan approval being sought by the President at the Senate, Falana said the nation would be plunged into perpetual indebtedness which generation unborn would bear part of the brunt if the Senate should approve the loan.

The nation according to him “is currently serving its debt with 50 per cent of its annual budget.
Instead of taking loans, he advised the present administration to block leakages in the system.

He, therefore, called on Nigerians to take their destiny in their hands.

On the allocation of oil blocs, the human right lawyer said “non of the beneficiaries of oil blocs in the past had the technology to explore the oil, but rather they travel abroad to look for companies they sell or lease the oil blocs to at huge amount of money.

Falana described the sharing of oil blocs as a corrupt way politicians share the wealth among themselves and their associates.

On restructuring, he said that the present administration was not interested in the issue of restructuring and that Nigerians should stop thinking President Buhari will do it.

On Sowore travails, Falana expressed worries that the present administration prefers obeying other country’s court verdicts while disobeying the ones in Nigeria.

” If you continue to disobey court orders no country will invest in this country. If you want Nigeria to work then our government must obey court orders.

He described Sowore as a victim of injustice.
Senator Bode Olajumoke charged politicians to shun politics of bitterness for the development of the nation.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu enjoined the people to always express their grievances in a way that would not encroach the rights of others.

One of the discussants, Chief Sola Ebiseni condemned the lopsidedness in the appointment in the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC), saying Ondo State should produce the next Managing Director of the commission.

He was, however, advised by Falana to drag the Federal Government to court , saying it’s a breach of the Act that established the Commission.

The University of Abuja, UniAbuja has dismissed a professor and former dean of the Faculty of Agriculture over allegation of sexual harassment.

A source disclosed that the University senate approved the dismissal of the lecturer after reviewing the report of the 8-man committee set up to investigate the allegations.

It would be recalled that a female student of the university had in July this year, alleged that a professor in the Department of Agriculture of the university allegedly demanded for sex in order to give her marks.

The lecturer had earlier been issued a query after he was caught pants down during a sting operation by policemen of the Gwarinpa police station.

Daily Trust gathered that following threat by the lecturer that the student, with registration number: 16211546, would not pass a course he was taking unless she gave in to his sexual demands, she reported the matter to security operatives, who organised a sting operation.

The sting operation was carried out by men of the Gwarinpa police station, where the professor was caught pants down in a hotel room in the highbrow estate of the Federal Capital Territory.