₦airaland Forum

By Lami Sadiq,



[quote]Two youths from Tudun Wada in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State died between Thursday and yesterday while celebrating the conditional release of a former governor of the state, Jonah David Jang, by a Jos High Court.

Daily Trust gathered that the deceased, Peter Sirfwang Kefas and Jerry Sunday, were among a group of merry-makers speeding in a bus along Rayfield Club when the driver lost control of the vehicle.

Hundreds of youths, mostly supporters of Jang who now represents Plateau North in the Senate, had turned out Thursday in solidarity with the senator who is facing a 12-count charge of corruption and misappropriation of N6.3 billion while in office. Some of the youths were seen hanging from vehicles that sped along major highways.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


A young lady, Goodness Kingsley has been swindled after suspected conmen deceived her, opened her legs and purportedly removed a cowry from her private part in Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the victim was told that there were other strange objects inside her private part and she can never marry and if at all got married, that her husband will die unless they were removed.

The incident happened at Mosalasi Street in Igando area of Lagos where the fraudsters used as their chamber.

Following the encounter, the victim went to her boss’ store at the Ikotun Market and stole N376, 000 belonging to her boss, Mr. Obinna Ateli.

She went handed the money to the conmen and they opened her private again and inserted their fingers inside it and asked to go and she will urinate those things.

However, she did not pass out anything again and by then her boss, Mr Ateli had discovered that such amount was stolen from his provision store in the branch store.

The boss, summoned her and asked what happened to the money, she then revealed what happened.

Police sources said the victim stated that her boss gave her some money to go to the bank to deposit and she accosted the fraudster who prophesied what have been happening to her and her family which she said was accurate.

She was taken to Igando for deliverance and was asked to remove her pant where one on them inserted her finger and removed the cowry to her surprise and she completely believed them.

According to the victim, she was placed on oath never to tell anyone how she was healed and she accepted and started bringing money to the amount.

However, her boss did not take it kindly, he went to the police at Ikotun Division and reported and the victim was arrested and charged before Ejigbo Magistrates court.

She pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Supol Kenneth Asibor did not object to her bail.

Thus, the presiding Magistrate, Mr T.O. Shomade granted her bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She was remanded in prison custody pending when she will perfect her bail.

The matter was adjourned till 6 June 2018.

Gladmore Ncube

[img]http://www.b-metro.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Thelma-Moyo-497x415.jpg[/img]

A BULAWAYO man got the shock of his life when he discovered that his wife, whom he had not had sex with in over a year, had given birth to twins.

As if to add salt to injury he later found out that the man who had fathered the children was none other than his own brother.

Benedict Ndiweni of Pumula South suburb is customarily married to Thelma Moyo (pictured above).

The couple has not been living together for two years as Benedict has been staying in the rural areas while Moyo has been working in the affluent suburb of Matsheumhlophe as a maid.

The arrangement worked just fine in the first year with Moyo frequently taking time off from work to visit her husband in Nyamandlovu.

“Since we got married a couple of years ago I had been living with my wife in the rural areas but due to economic hardships we decided it would be better if she relocated to Bulawayo and work as a maid.

“My brother Clemence also lives in Bulawayo and my wife used to visit him, something which I didn’t mind. My wife would come to Nyamandlovu after every two months,” narrated Benedict.


[img]http://www.b-metro.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Bennedict-Ndiweni.jpg[/img]
Bennedict Ndiweni


He started to smell a rat when his wife started making excuses not to visit him.

“In the second year she stopped coming to visit in the rural areas and at one point even stopped calling or texting.

“The same goes for my brother Clemence, we used to communicate but he suddenly stopped calling and always claimed he was broke to buy airtime,” said Benedict.

In brutal fashion Benedict was tipped by a friend that Clemence and Moyo had been spotted together at a local hospital.

But as far as he knew none of them was ill.
“I can’t believe that my own brother impregnated by wife. I want nothing to do with her and the twins that she gave birth to,” he added.

When contacted for a comment a jovial Clemence said he was blessed to be a father to the twins but immediately hung up when asked by the B-Metro about his relations with Moyo.

According to Benedict his wife had since changed her phone number.

lalasticlala

By Ahmed Tahir Ajobe,


The Niger State Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Hajiya Ramatu Yar’Adua has expressed renewed optimism that the state may soon join the league of oil producing states.

Briefing journalists on the outcome of the weekly state executive meeting yesterday in Minna, the commissioner said the seven wells drilled at the Bida Basin have confirmed existence of oil in commercial quantity.

Daily Trust recalls that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in collaboration with the state-owned Ibrahim Badamasi Babaginda University Lapai commenced oil exploration in both Bida and Sokoto basins.

Prof Nasir Maiturare, the institution’s Vice Chancellor, told newsmen recently that researchers have submitted two reports on the activities to the Corporation while awaiting the third one which he said would be out soon.

Mrs Yar’Adua confirmed that there was significant progress showing existence of crude in commercial quantity especially at the Bida basin from the shallow wells established in the villages of Gulu, Bakani, Makera, Kudu, Enagi, Kutigi and Kontagora.

She said that the executive council has approved the payment of N145m out of N380m bill presented by a consultant oil firm that carried out the technical job that established workable data bank on the presence of oil in the basin.

She disclosed that two investors based in United Kingdom and Canada have expressed interest in doing the seismic data analysis to come out with blocs before handing over to the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

By Simon Echewofun Sunday


The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says it has granted a ‘No Objection’ to 22 firms to procure and install meters for customers under the 11 Distribution Companies (DisCos).

A statement by the General Manager, Public Affairs, Usman Abba-Arabi, said the ‘No Objection’ qualifies intending investors to participate in the meter procurement process in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

The MAP Regulation that enabled new investors to finance mass metering plans for electricity users was brought into effect by NERC on April 3, 2018.

It mandates the DisCos to engage meter assets providers who fund purchase, installation and replacement of meters to meet DisCos’ metering obligations to their customers.

“This is to ensure that all electricity customers are metered thereby reducing incidences of estimated electricity billing to the barest minimum,” NERC said in the statement available on its social media platforms.

The commission said the approval was given after it had conducted due diligence on the supporting documents to the applications submitted by interested investors as prescribed by the regulation.

NERC however said more applicants can do so as the exercise is continuous.

Among the approved firms are Huawei Technology Company Nigeria Ltd, Bilview Energy Ltd, Chintech Electro Nigeria Ltd, Holley Metering Ltd, MEMCOL, and Meron Nigeria Ltd.

Others include Integrated Power, MBH Power, Trimani Engineering, Sapropel Energy Resources, Megawatt Distribution International, and Unistar Hi-Tech Systems.

Still in the list are Imperial Infrastructure Development Company, Ratio Consulting, Protogy Global Services, Paktim Metering, Sabrud Consortium, Tinuten, Kayz Consortium, BTS Power, CIG Metering Assets, and Cresthill Energy.

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https://cdn.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/23160106/4C8C768C00000578-5761169-Police_try_to_separate_the_couple_as_the_young_man_cries_in_pain-m-4_1527071648750.jpg

A 23- year - old man in eastern China had to be rescued by Police after his soon - to - be ex -girlfriend apparently bit his tongue and refused to let go .

According to some onlookers , the bizarre incident happened when the man had proposed to break up with the 26- year - old woman, and she asked for a last kiss.

Officers in Anhui Province had to use pepper spray on the woman to free the man , according to Police .

The woman ’ s parents explained to Police that their daughter recently became ‘ mentally unstable ’ after being scammed while shopping online, and that could be the cause of her behaviour .

The parents said their daughter and the man had been in a relationship for several years. They didn’ t comment on whether or not they were breaking up .

The incident happened on the street of Qianshan in Anhui Province on May 20.

Mobile phone footage has emerged online, which shows the couple appearing to be kissing outside the town’ s disease control and prevention centre.

The man can be heard crying and struggling to break free as his girlfriend bites on his tongue .

According to Police , the man , surnamed Liu , was taken to the hospital . He didn’ t sustain major injuries .

His girlfriend , surnamed Zhou , was taken to her parents’ house to be looked after .

Police officer Wu Changfeng said : “When we arrived , some passers- by said the couple were talking over issues of a breakup. ”

Officer Wu added that the woman’ s parents had claimed she had suffered from mental health problems in the past.

“ Her parents said she had received treatments in Hefei for five years and then she had fully recovered, ” policeman Wu said .

What type of anti-corruption crusader chooses Abacha, a proven thief, who was also a blood thirsty buffoon, as his mentor?" Omokri wondered.

“When I schooled in England, my university had a module on Abacha’s thievery. This is the man Buhari aspires to be? The man who exiled Tinubu and NADECO!”


Reno Omokri, former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has taken to Twitter to weigh in on President Muhammadu Buhari’s insinuation that Olusegun Obasanjo, former President, wasted $16 billion on power with nothing to show for it.

He also censure Buhari for praising Abacha as a man who helped improve infrastructure, regardless of what anyone thinks about him.

While receiving the Buhari Support Organization (BSO) led by the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Ahmeed Ali, on Tuesday, Buhari had declared that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has questions to answer over the spending of $16 billion on power project during his administration.

Obasanjo has since offered a punchy reaction, referring Buhari to his book ‘My Watch’ and previous probes by the ICPC and EFCC.

Describing Buhari as an “ungrateful ignoramus”, Omokri tweeted on Wednesday: “Buhari is an ungrateful ignoramus for saying he is paying Obasanjo’s debt. Obasanjo did not spend $16 billion on power.

“Obasanjo actually paid ALL our foreign debt and left a total reserve of $67 billion. It’s Buhari who has borrowed more in 3 years than PDP borrowed in 16 years.”

Speaking on Abacha on Tuesday, Buhari had also said: “No matter what opinion you have about Abacha, I agreed to work with him and the PTF road we did from here to Port Harcourt, to Onitsha, to Benin and so on... On top of other things in the institution, education, medical care and so on.”

Picking on that, Omokri mocked Buhari‘s anti-corruption war, asking: “What type of anti-corruption crusader chooses Abacha, a proven thief, who was also a blood thirsty buffoon, as his mentor?

“When I schooled in England, my university had a module on Abacha’s thievery. This is the man Buhari aspires to be? The man who exiled Tinubu and NADECO!”

By Habibu Umar Aminu, Itodo Daniel & Balarabe Alkassim


[img]https://images.dailytrust.com.ng/cms/gall_content/2018/5/2018_5$large_BUkar,_Wakili_and_Buba_170.jpg[/img]



Constituents of members of the National Assembly who died recently have cried out over the failure of Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara to declare such seats vacant to pave the way for INEC to conduct by-elections.

The senators who died are, Ali Wakili (APC, Bauchi South), Mustapha Bukar (APC, Daura zone) and a member of the House of Representatives, Buba Jibrin (APC, Lokoja Federal Constituency).

People spoken to urged the leadership of the National Assembly to set politics aside and do the needful, saying it was against the letters of the Nigerian Constitution to be denied representation in national discuss.

INEC could only organize by-elections within 90 days subject to receipt of notice of vacancy from the legislature; and in the event the National Assembly remained silent, the seats could continue to remain vacant.

The Chairman of Daura Emirate Development Association (DEDA), Aliyu Bala Daura, appealed to the Senate to communicate to INEC so that the processes for replacement of Senator Bukar could start.

“We are concerned and keenly watching the development and will take a look at what the law says should the period expire and no action is taken,” he said.

On his part, a youth leader, Musa Badamasi Daura, said the zone was deeply concerned because they had no representation in the Senate.

“With the apparent silence by the Senate president, the stakeholders should team up and ensure the right thing is done. In Katsina, we in Daura are out of the bargain. This is the senatorial zone of the president and it has no representation,” he said.

A constituent from Bauchi Local Government, Danlami Inuwa, lamented that the senatorial zone had lost its good representation since the death of Senator Wakili on March 17.

“The Nigerian Senate has not been fair to us. Many people are now interested to fill the seat but they have refused to even declare the seat vacant so that INEC can prepare for the by-election.

“I wonder what is keeping the Senate from declaring the seat vacant and giving us the chance to elect another person to represent us. The politicians in the state are also not showing seriousness. The APC and opposition political parties are also not putting enough pressure on the issue,” he said.

Another constituent and a former commissioner from Bogoro Local Government, Audu Gani Bogoro, said some vested interests had deprived the people of Bauchi South the chance to be represented at the Senate.

“If I have the means, I would have taken the National Assembly to court for not declaring the seat vacant because they are denying us access to representation at the national level. We don’t have anybody to talk on our behalf at the Senate; so, for us, it is a great injustice,” he said.

A constituent from Lokoja, Umar Ali, expressed sadness that no step had been taken to replace Rep Jibril who passed away 56 days ago.

“Honestly it is a very sad development; we have been discussing this issue for some time now because, if the law says there should be a by-election after 90 days and after about 56 days of the death of our representative, nothing has been heard, then it is quite unfortunate.”

On his part, Ishaq Dan-Imam from Kogi LGA said, “I feel very bad over the development because I believe we, the constituents, are losing out as a result of non-representation at the House of Reps more so that we have had a very vibrant and rugged legislator who protected our interest very well before his death.

“Several projects which he attracted to his constituency were ongoing but his death has now slowed down the pace of those projects. For instance, the Medical Centre Project at Koton-Karfe is now suffering neglect because of his death,” he said.

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By Ismail Mudashir




The National Assembly panel, probing invasion of the Senate yesterday decried delay in completion of police investigation on the matter, over a month after the incident.

The joint committee of Senate and House co-chaired by Senator Bala Ibn Na-Allah (APC, Kebbi) and Rep Betty Apiafi (PDP, Rivers) made the position known, when the commissioner of police in charge of IG monitoring unit, Abu Sani appeared before the panel.

Suspected thugs numbering five had on April 18, this year invaded the Senate and carted away with the Mace, the symbol of authority of the Senate.

Sani had told the committee that the investigation into the matter was inconclusive and assured the panel that they were working to get to the root of the matter.

He said the suspects arrested in connection with the matter have denied their involvement.

“The CCTV that was supposed to capture what happened from outside to inside the chamber was not functional. That would have assisted in puncturing the denial of the suspects,” he said.

He said the internal security of the hallowed chamber that was left in the hands of the Sergeant at arms compounded the matter.

He said the Sergeant at arms (National Assembly) relied on GSM to communicate rather than radio when the thugs struck.

The police commissioner said they were still trying to establish the link between the suspects in their custody and those that carted away with the Mace. He presented an interim report of the police to the panel.

Our correspondent reports that when Rep Apiafi expressed reservation over the delay in the completion of the investigation, Sani said it could take up to 10years. She replied by saying it could even be 30 years.

In his submission, Na’Allah said the police was not adhering to rule of law in their investigation, “Otherwise the suspects would have been charged to court through FIR (First Information Report).”


Why I won’t talk - Omo-Agege

Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta) declined to speak when he appeared before the panel.

“I would have loved to take this opportunity to respond to the allegations raised. But I am here to inform you that I have gone to court and parties have been served.

“The action was taken on the May 21, 2018 and all the parties enumerated have been served.”


Ndume denies directing mace bearer

Senator Ali Ndume (APC,Borno) yesterday denied the allegation that he stopped the deputy mace bearer from taking the mace from the table when the thugs struck.

Ndume spoke when he appeared before the panel, saying he lacked the authority to do so. He promised to submit a memo to the panel on how to review the National Assembly security architecture.

“I didn’t know in my whole years in this National Assembly that we are that exposed, for some people to just come in and take the mace and run away.

“For me to prevent somebody or to advise somebody not to do his job is just totally out of place because I don’t have the authority to do that. I did not do that, I cannot do that and I’m not supposed to do that,” he said.

By Onwuka Nzeshi Abuja 



Former Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole yesterday apologised for the ‘sins’ he committed against constituted authorities during his days as the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), saying there was nothing personal about his actions and he did not mean any harm.

The apology came as Oshiomhole met with the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, principal officers and other members of the red chamber at the National Assembly.

The labour unionist is a frontline aspirant for the National Chairmanship position in the forthcoming National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and several members of the 8th Senate were governors of various states when Oshiomhole led organised labour to strikes in the country.

Oshiomhole was at the Senate to solicit the support of the party’s caucus in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

On his entourage were the Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang; former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Alhaji Abdulwaheed Umar; Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon, a former member of the House of Representatives and a host of others.

“I confess that while I was in the NLC, I troubled quite a number of the governors who are now senators. We had disputes. I led protests, not against them, but against the governments they headed at that time.

Somehow, to be very specific, I will be able to say that those robust and sometimes quite intimidating engagements and some might say harassment of some of these governors who are now senators, that somehow, they all understood that there was nothing personal about those issues.

“I can say that while in office and even long after I left office, I have managed to maintain friendship and respect for them.

Even before I became the Governor of Edo State and while I was seeking the Office of Governor, to my very pleasant surprise, many of them were readily available to lend me support and they did give me the support. Suffice it to say that in the end, I was able to win and I became the Governor of Edo State,” he said.

Oshiomhole explained that he was at the National Assembly not only to solicit their support for his ambition, but to share his vision with them on what he would do differently to enhance the image of the party when he gets there.

He noted that the support of the party caucuses in the two chambers of the National Assembly was very critical to the realisation of his ambition as, according to the APC Constitution, every member of the party in the parliament is an automatic delegate to the National Convention.

He explained that given his background in labour unionism and his foray into politics, he was in a good position to understand the challenges of a government and the challenges of a political party.

In a veiled reference to the lingering feud between the executive and legislature, Oshiomhole said that such a relationship could have been better managed through negotiation and compromise.

“We cannot dream of a party in which there are no disagreements. If we have one like that, it means the party is not democratic.

I have not participated in a military government; there is also some form of conversation, if not debate, at the level of the Armed Forces Ruling Council. At least, we hear rumours that some Generals agreed and some Generals disagreed and when they cannot finalise the conversation at the table, then they finalise it with the gun.

But as democrats, the only tool that is lawful and legitimate is the power to persuade, articulate, negotiate and to have a compromise,” he said.

He vowed that if given the opportunity to run the APC as National Chairman, he will not allow a situation where personalities, party organs and arms of government will be fighting one another while the party remains a “siddon look” party.

In response, Saraki said there was no doubt that the former unionist had the capacity to lead the party.

The Senate President expressed delight that Oshiomhole made it a point of duty to meet personally with the APC Caucus in the Senate to solicit their support for the party convention which comes up early next month.

The meeting subsequently went into a closed door session.

By Mojeed Alabi 



In his continued campaign for improved governance in Nigeria, Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has adopted a new theory, which he tagged; “3Gs,” saying any leader at any level, who cannot give or get people to give, must be ready to get out of power.

Speaking today in his capacity as the Chairman of the convocation lecture at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Obasanjo who decried the falling standard of education in Nigeria, said for Nigeria to reclaim its old glory, the nation’s leaders at all levels must be able to address issues of leadership, development, governance, and core values.

He said the nation’s tertiary institutions have failed in their responsibilities to provide sound leadership for the country, saying all the country’s academic and research institutions, that were once of global standards no longer meet “even African standard.”

The Guest Lecturer and the National Universities Commission’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, said the country’s tertiary education institution’s have failed woefully in two of the three responsibilities of research and community service.

lalasticlala

The Coalition of Northern Youths has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar not to contest the 2019 presidential election.

In a communique issued at the end of their summit in Kaduna on Monday, the group urged the two leaders to leave the stage for younger people between the ages of 18 to 60.

Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, spokesman of the group who signed the communique, said they had earlier advised Buhari to leave the stage for younger people.

“We have advised him (Buhari) to look for younger person who has the integrity like him to run for the presidency,” the communique read.

“Anybody above 70 years of age should give way to younger generation.”

They said the advice became imperative in view of the fact that Buhari and Abubakar who are both in their 70s “participated in debates that gave birth to the current national arrangement that is largely acknowledged as having failed our national aspirations”.

The group maintained that Nigerians were becoming worried that the older people who have dominated the political scene since independence have not move the country forward.

They called on Nigerians to insist on generational change in the leadership of the country.

“Frustrated young Nigerians, having paid their dues in the national development effort, have been manifestly left to suffer from the suffocating consequences of the prevailing exclusive and defeatist leadership selection process being imposed on the country over the years, by succeeding ruling elites,” they said.

“It is time they formed a rallying point from which younger Nigerians can make a strong demand for a new political order, to usher in a generational power shift, as reparation for past marginalisation in the nation’s political leadership.”

The group also frowned at what it described as “the seeming endorsement by some northern leaders of a brand of restructuring that clearly places the region at a disadvantage” declaring that it is unacceptable and must be discountenanced.

The group said the north will “not settle for any restructuring plan that is not total, comprehensive and wholistic.”

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Posted By: Precious Igbonwelundu




A 26-year-old nursing mother, Mrs. Adetola Adelani, has told detectives how one of her friends, Jackie, lured her to a hotel in Ajah to be kidnapped.

Adelani, who was allegedly kidnapped on April 30, regained her freedom on May 15, after her abductors withdrew N126,000 from her husband’s account through his Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card in her possession.

The victim told police detectives she had left home about 1:00 p.m. on April 30 to buy petrol when she received a call from Jackie to meet her at City Spice Hotel, Ajah.

Briefing journalists on the incident, the state Police Commissioner, Imohimi Edgal, said: “On reaching the hotel, she met Jackie with someone she introduced as Ahmed Olaoluwa. Her friend then collected a whitish powder substance suspected to be cocaine from Olaoluwa and gave to the victim to sniff, claiming that it would be good for her.

“She sniffed the power and became weak. In her state of stupor, she was led by Olaoluwa and one Muri Adeleye, who later joined them to a United Bank for Africa (UBA) Automated Teller Machine (ATM) gallery in Ikota, where she was made to withdraw the sun of N126,000 for them from her husband’s account.

“She was kept in City Spice Hotel, Ikota, for 24 hours and was later moved to Mirage Hotel. She was again taken by the suspects to withdraw more money only for them to realise that the account has been blocked.

“This made the suspects to collect her phone and detain her for two weeks hoping that the account would be unblocked for them to get more money.”

On why the account was blocked, Edgal said the victim’s husband suspected something was amiss after he received debit alert of N126,000 from his account and his wife’s number was not going through.

“After calling her mother to find out if she was at their residence in Surulere and got a negative response, the victim’s husband, Michael Salawu, was said to have gone to the nearest bank to block his account,” the police commissioner added.

When the nursing mother was not seen till about 7:00 p.m., Edgal said her mother lodged a complaint at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and an investigation commenced.

He said: “Two suspects Ahmed Olaoluwa, 41, and Muri Adeleye, 29, were arrested on May 19, at Mirage Hotel, Ikota. They confessed to the crime. The victim’s phone and carious charms were recovered from them.”

by Mansur Ibrahim



Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, says he regrets supporting Bukola Saraki to emerge senate president.

Speaking on Hard Copy, a Channels Television programme, the lawmaker accused Saraki of targetting those who oppose him.

In March 2017, the lawmaker was suspended for “embarrassing” Saraki and Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west.

Ndume had demanded that the upper legislative chamber investigate the allegation that a vehicle imported without appropriate customs documents belong to Saraki while he also moved for a probe into the allegations of certificate forgery levelled against Melaye.

During the television programme, Maupe Ogun, the presenter, had asked the senator If he regrets supporting the senate president and he said: “Yes, I do. Look at the senate now, we have been reduced to unbearable level of integrity, just because of few people, few person, that is wrong.

“I don’t want to be individualistic about it. We put the leadership there for Saraki; if you want me to be specific about it, and then it turns out to be another thing. We have senator’s president now, instead of senate president.”

Ndume said his relationship with Saraki went sour because of his love for the truth.
He maintained that he has a cordial relationship with his colleagues at the upper legislative chamber.

“I speak the truth a lot even if I’m alone, and I stand by it. We started with the issue of Magu, I was with you on national TV and that is history now, then we came out and the second issue was that of the car importation, and the issue of Dino Melaye’s certificate and then I was shockingly suspended for 180 days and it was not the committee that recommended that,” he said.

“My colleagues did not not know about the report that was used to suspend me illegally and unconstitutionally for 180 days. That’s why I went quietly to court and you see the response of my people then.

“It is not fair for one among equal to take himself up, and use, take advantage of the gavel to rule instead of to lead, instead of to preside, that is what the constitution says. The senate president is to preside, he doesn’t even have a vote, he has no voice.

By the time you accept being the senate president, you have lost your right to some extent as a senator until the senate ties, that is when you come in to break the ties. This is not the case, as senate president will say, ‘I direct so so so and my members…’.

“I mean, it’s very unfortunate, I personally did not expect this. That is how we got it wrong, because once an individual thinks he owns the senate, and he dishes out the direction, and dishes out what he thinks, you’ll always get it wrong… 108 heads are better than one. But for now, senate at certain point is like Dino and Saraki. It is very unfortunate.”

Peter Dada , Akure



Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State has said that the educational reform, which took place in Kaduna , will also be carried out in other northern states after the 2019 elections.

It would be recalled that the Kaduna State Government sacked about 22, 000 teachers for incompetency in 2017, as part of the efforts to reform the education sector in the state . The action had attracted much criticism from various quarters in the sector.

El Rufai , who was the guest lecturer at the 4 th Distinguished Guest Lecture of the University of Medical Science, Ondo town, Ondo State, said the decision to sack incompetent teachers was taken by all the northern state governors , but most of them could not carry it out for the fear of losing the next governorship election scheduled for 2019 .

At the lecture titled ‘ Transforming Nigeria ’ s educational System: Looking back and looking forward , ’ the governor said the educational policy and programme of his administration were aimed at eradicating the poor educational system in Kaduna . He said , “We have different governors ’ fora in the country .

We also have the Northern Governors Forum where we share experiences . I can tell you that many of my colleagues from the northern states told me that what I was doing was right . They told me that they had more serious cases in their states , but they couldn ’ t do anything about the problems .

“ So I think after the next election , you will see a lot of the reforms happening because many of the governors will decide to do the same thing . It is just that they are not as reckless as I am . We took a collective decision because it was the right thing to do .

If you don’ t do this , why not walk away from the governor’ s seat?
“ What is more important to me is education . Many of my colleagues have talked to me in private that they would do the same thing (sack teachers ) after the election . ”

The governor explained further that in spite of the criticism that greeted his action , President Muhammadu Buhari and some prominent Nigerians commended him for it .

“ I am very grateful to Mr. President . He came out clearly and supported what we did in Kaduna. No professor of education supported us . We had to ask ourselves questions repeatedly , if we were doing the right thing or not. But the moment we started receiving support from top Nigerians, we were convinced that we were on the right track . ” The governor stated .

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the university , Prof. Friday Okonofua , said the lecture was aimed at bridging the gap between academics , policy makers and government officials on what needed to be done to recover the Nigerian educational system to galvanise and ensure the future development of the country.

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Samuel Ogundipe



A picture is gradually emerging of the victims of murder suspects transferred to Abuja on Wednesday by the police.

At least two of the victims whom the police described as “innocent persons” in a statement on Wednesday were individuals the Kwara State police command had described as political thugs and cultists following their murder.

The police force headquarters said the suspects were recently arrested and had been transferred to Abuja for further interrogation, in a jarring operation that rattled Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Police spokesperson Jimoh Moshood described the transfer as a routine exercise in criminal investigation, but Mr Saraki appears to be having sleepless nights over the move which he saw as an attempt to frame him up.

“Investigation” into the roles of the suspects “has been completed” and they “were about to be under prosecution under the state law on the advice of DPP (Department of Public Prosecution) and the (state) ministry of justice,” Mr Saraki said at the plenary Wednesday. “All of a sudden”, he added, the suspects were “ordered to be transferred to Abuja” Wednesday morning.

The senate president quickly linked the alleged plot to the ongoing face-off between the Senate and Mr Idris. The police chief had been summoned three times by senators but failed to appear.

Mr Idris said the summon was primarily because of the ongoing prosecution of Dino Melaye, a senator from Kogi State. He said appearing before the Senate to discuss the matter could put him in legal troubles.

Mr Saraki’s comments stirred nationwide controversy on Wednesday, prompting the police to render their side of the matter.

In a Wednesday evening statement, Mr Moshood listed the names of the six suspects who were transferred to Abuja alongside 11 victims they allegedly murdered. The police spokesperson described the deceased as “innocent persons” in his statement.

But a closer look at the statement shows that at least two of the victims whom Mr Moshood described as ‘innocent’ were notorious for their alleged cultism activities in Kwara State.


Bukola Ajikobi and Bayo Ajia

Bukola Ajikobi and Bayo Ajia were amongst the three deceased that the police identified by their first and last names, the rest were only identified by their first names, making it difficult to track their background.

Messrs Ajikobi and Ajia were described as ‘innocent’ victims by Mr Moshood in his Wednesday’s statement. But media reports from the time they were killed said the police in Ilorin described them as members of cult groups terrorising the state.

The two were reportedly killed on January 18, 2016 in separate hits by rival gangs in downtown Ilorin, although Mr Moshood, in his statement, said Mr Ajia was killed this year. He declined responding to PREMIUM TIMES further enquiries and so could not clarify if the murder date he mentioned was an error.

Sam Okaula, the Kwara police commissioner at the time, said 11 suspects were arrested in connection to the killings and paraded them before the press in Ilorin.

The commissioner said the killings were linked to rival cult clashes and vowed to stymie the violence before it was too late,
Daily Trust reported.


‘Innocent until proven guilty’

Mr Moshood did not respond to repeated requests for comments about why he left out the victims’ background in his statement Wednesday. But Kwara police spokesperson, Okasanmi Ajayi, said there was no problem in describing Messrs Ajikobi and Ajia innocent despite their notorious backgrounds and the fact that at least one of them had been convicted of murder.

“They were not tried and found guilty before they were killed,” Mr Ajayi conveniently told PREMIUM TIMES by telephone Thursday evening. “So, it is appropriate to describe them as ‘innocent’ after their death.”

The police spokesperson was, however, mum when asked why the former commissioner described the suspects that were arrested in connection to their deaths as cultists before being charged to court.

He also could not immediately disclose the status of the investigation into the 11 suspects that were initially arrested in connection to the murder of Messrs Ajikobi and Ajia.

None of the six persons that the police moved to Abuja on Wednesday were amongst those arrested in January 2016 following the murder.

But Mr Ajayi, a deputy superintendent of police, said the killings are numerous and more suspects would be arrested as investigation throws up new leads.


Saraki Connection

While little is known about Mr Ajikobi, the exploits of Mr Ajia were well featured in the media shortly after his death.

This might be due to the level of his infamy around Ilorin. He had been convicted in the early 2000s for murder. The conviction was reportedly upheld by the Supreme Court.

But in 2010, Mr Saraki, then Kwara State governor, commuted Mr Ajia’s death to absolute pardon. This was months before Mr Saraki was due to complete his two-term as governor. He moved to the Senate in 2011 from the governor’s lodge.

A source close to Mr Saraki told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday night the Senate President was apprehensive that his pardoning of Mr Ajia might be used against him by the police.

“The Senate President is afraid that since the matter is related to cultism and he had pardoned a man widely known in Ilorin as a cultist in the past, then the police could easily rope him in,” the source said.

Although the police did not say whether any of the suspects had implicated Mr Saraki, but they failed to clarify when PREMIUM TIMES asked repeatedly whether or not the Senate President is under investigation in connection to the alleged crimes of the suspects.

Even if Mr Saraki was not a factor in the murder investigation, the manoeuvre by the police was unnecessary and suspicious, said legal analyst Jiti Ogunye.

By failing to render full disclosure that the killings stemmed from rival cult clashes, the police “motive becomes suspicious, thereby portraying them as waging political war,” Mr Ogunye said.

Out of the 11 persons said to have been killed, only three were named. Of the three, Messrs Ajikobi and Ajia are highly suspected of being into cultism before being killed, and the manner of their murder largely mirrored cultists’ tactics, according to media reports.

It was not immediately clear whether some of the remaining eight victims whom the police only gave their first names were also linked to cultism while alive.

Mr Ogunye warned that the police could blindside their own investigation if they continue to handle cases without considerable diligence.

“In order climes, court papers make it to the media only after they have been unsealed,” the analyst said. “The allegations by the Senate President were very specific, and his office puts him in a position to know what is going on.”

“This is why we never get to the bottom of serious murder cases in this country,” he said.
He also appeared to see a political undertone in the overall handling of the case by the police.

“We’re moving towards an election and the political alliances of everyone is well known,” he said. “We may then be inundated with prosecution or persecution of persons.”

But if Mr Saraki had no hands whatsoever in the activities of the suspected cultists, it would be difficult to successfully frame him, he said.

“It will be difficult to pin a criminal case on someone, especially when the person is innocent,” Mr Ogunye said.

BY BANJO DAMILOLA



Many Nigerian banks are ripping off customers making withdrawals via Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) by setting low maximum single withdrawal limits to cleverly sidestep the weak Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy against excessive charges, SaharaReporters can reveal.

In September 2014, the CBN re-introduced the Remote-On-Us fee to discourage abuse of the banking technology through numerous daily withdrawals, which led to increase in cash transactions and constituted a negation of the apex bank’s much touted cashless policy. The Remote-On-Us, a fee of N65, is charged when a bank customer makes a withdrawal from the ATM of a bank of which he/she is not a customer.

It was first introduced in 2012 when the CBN, in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee, made it the responsibility of a customer’s bank to pay N100 as Remote-On-Us Fee if such a customer uses the ATM of another bank. The N65 charge, according to the CBN, is only applicable after three transactions at the machine of bank that is not the cash issuer.

SaharaReporters, however, gathered from customers that most banks start charging from the first operation when a non-customer uses their machines.

At the time, all ATMs had the capacity to dispense N40, 000 in a single withdrawal if a customer was carrying out the transaction with the card issued by his/her bank, while a maximum of N20,000 could be withdrawn at once if a card issued by another bank was being used.

While this remains in operation at Access Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and Diamond Bank, many other banks have re-configured their machines to dispense lower amounts, thereby creaming off N65 on each transaction, especially from users withdrawing sizeable sums.

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) ATMs, for instance, dispense N15, 000 to non-customers and N20, 000 to their customers. As a result, customers of other banks who make withdrawals of a naira higher than the set limit on FCMB machines are charged twice.

When SaharaReporters sought clarification from the bank on why its machines have a lower single transaction limit, which means more charges, especially to non-FCMB customers, the bank’s Head of Media Relations, Louis Ibe, said it is a cash management strategy.

“The decision on the limit from other banks’ cards is to manage our cash supply, so that our customers are given more access to cash,” Ibe said in an email reply to SaharaReporters’ enquiry.

While this appears plausible, further investigation by this website revealed that some of the machines dispense lower than N15,000 to non-FCMB customers.

The FCMB machine on Isaac John, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, has a single withdrawal limit of N10,000. Similarly, Fidelity, Skye and Ecobank have their cash machines programmed not to exceed the same amount in a single withdrawal.

A banker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said banks programme to have low single withdrawal limits, so they could increase the number of times they charge N65 for use of ATMs.

“Banks are in the business to make money and they maximize every opportunity to make profit. I know for a fact that the machines are programmed to dispense N10, 000 or even less because I am in the department in charge of ATM in my branch.

“In some locations like markets, the machines are programmed to dispense as low as N5, 000. If you ask the banks, they would tell you it is to control the way people use the ATM or cash in circulation.

Whatever reason they give, the truth is they only want to make profit,” he said before jokingly adding, “you can’t blame them; that is how I get paid.”

A United Bank of Africa (UBA) customer lamented to our correspondent how she once had to withdraw a large sum from an Ecobank ATM that has been programmed not to dispense more than N5,000 at once.

“I ran out of cash while buying goods, so I went to the Oceanic Bank machine (Ecobank bought over Oceanic Bank in 2014) to withdraw money. I could not withdraw N10,000. I could only withdraw N5,000 at once and I was being charged N65 on each transaction,” she said with barely disguised displeasure.

Similarly, Skye Bank ATMs around Berger (Ojodu), Ikeja and Victoria Island, where our correspondent attempted to make withdraws, all have N10, 000 as maximum single withdrawal limit.

Each attempt on the machines resulted in the automated response: “Maximum amount exceeded. Please re-enter an amount less than NGN 10,000”.

However, the bank insisted that its machines could dispense as much as N40, 000 at a go to its customers.

“The daily limit of a customer is set on the card and such is set by the customer’s bank. Skye Bank cannot determine the daily limit and count of a customer of another bank,” Rasheed Bolarinwa, the bank’s Head of Corporate Communications, told SaharaReporters via email.


More ATM Users React

Customer displeasure at low single withdrawal limits, SaharaReporters discovered, is widespread.

A Stanbic Chartered Bank customer told this website that he cannot withdraw N40, 000 at once because the maximum limit is N20, 000.

“When I use a Stanbic card on other banks’ machines, some dispense N10,000, others N15,000. If I am making a withdrawal of N100,000, it means N65 will be charged on each transaction. The government should look into this and provide a solution,” he said.

A First Bank customer equally complained about the cash volume available in a single transaction. While stating that the machine indicates the possibility of N40,000 withdrawal at once, the limit is actually N20,000. His experience with the machines of other banks is similar.

“If one is using other banks’ machines, they also have limits, with some being as low as 10,000,” he said.

He narrated his experience when he used an ATM in Akure, Ondo State. According to him, he wanted to withdraw N15,000 from the ATM of a bank, but his request was rejected until he reduced it to N10,000.

“I felt bad. There is a regulation that if one does more than three operations, you pay on subsequent transactions.
Most banks don’t comply with the regulation.

“They start charging from the first operation because you are not using your bank’s machine,” he explained.

He suggested that any machine that advertises the possibility of dispensing N40,000 in a single transaction but dispenses a lower sum be taken out of the system.


Don’t blame the banks...

Banks, however, reject the blame being heaped on them by ATM users. A staff of Ecobank, who prefers not to be named, informed SaharaReporters that the withdrawal limits on machines are sometimes imposed by denomination of notes fed into them.

“There are some machines that dispense N20, 000. That means they have been loaded with N1000 notes and can dispense a maximum of 20 notes at once. But for machines that dispense N500 notes, it means the maximum possible is N10, 000,” he explained.

He equally informed that ATMs previously dispensed as much as N40,000, but banks were forced to reconfigure them to dispense lower amounts because the machines were experience frequent currency jamming.

“There was a time you could get up to 40 notes off the machine. But it was discovered that more the number of notes dispensed, the higher the chances of the machines to be jammed by notes. As such, they [banks) had to reduce it,” he disclosed.


Blame CBN

An Operations Manager of a new generation bank maintained that the banks are not breaking any rule, as there is none prescribing single withdrawal limits. He blamed the situation on the CBN, which he said has not made a rule on it.

The ATMs of his bank, he said, still dispense as much as N40,000 to customers at once and N20,000 to non-customers.

“The banks are free to set whatever limits they desire; they are not breaking any rules. There is no CBN law that says they cannot set a N10, 000-limit or even lower. If CBN gives a directive on what should be dispensed, the banks will obey. But in the absence of such, you cannot blame the banks but the regulator,” he told SaharaReporters.

Efforts to reach the CBN spokesperson, Isaac Okoroafor, were unsuccessful. Text messages and calls put through to his mobile line were ignored.


CPC will investigate

The Director General (DG) of Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Babatunde Irukera, informed SaharaReporters that the council has started the process of investigating all illegal bank charges. In addition to the N65 ATM charge, which he described as a violation of consumers’ rights, he said the CPC has notified the CBN of other charges and that a new guideline will released.

“Very shortly, we will open a very large investigation into these bank charges and bank operations with respect to consumers protection.

“Two things that have delayed the investigation is that we needed to curate more information and have a lot of data and secondly, we have a memorandum of understanding that we are negotiating with the CBN. “But we have not been able to negotiate key issues in the memorandum of understanding,” he disclosed.

Irukera added that the envisage investigation will commence in “in a matter of weeks”

lalasticlala

by Dyepkazah Shibayan



Baba Ngelezarma, national secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has blamed governors for clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

The clashes have led to the loss of many lives and destruction of properties worth millions of naira in Benue, Plateau, Taraba states among other states.

Speaking at a town hall meeting organised by the federal government in Abuja on Thursday, Ngelezarma said his organisation is not opposed to ranching but the government should make it attractive to the herders.

“We are not opposed to ranching, all that we are saying let us begin to identify grazing reserves, let us know their current status in the view of developing them and making them attractive to the pastorialist. The cow to them is a thing of prestige, a means of livelihood,” he said.

“You have to put something in place for them to see before you accept. A lot has been said about this issue. Up till now, nobody is looking at the root cause of the crisis and the people responsible are the state governors.

“How I wish through chairman of the governors forum or northern governors forum is here. He is supposed to be here. All the grazing reserves we have in the country are located in the northern part of the country.

“The state governors have more responsibility than the federal government because this is their primary assignment, they are custodians of the land, they are the custodians of security, education in their states. The federal government’s hand are tied, we know that.”

He said the association submitted a road map to Kashim Shettima, chairman of the northern governors forum, on ways the crisis could be resolved.

On his part, Peter Mayowa, a representative of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said the open grazing should be allowed to continue while the government gradually introduces ranching.

“If you introduce a policy it will be difficult to implement, let the two (open grazing and ranching) together. The old one will phase out,” he said.

Earlier, Lai Mohammed, minister of information, reiterated that the clashes between herdsmen and farmers is not religious.

“For those who might be tempted to view the clashes between farmers and herdsmen from the ethno-religious prism, I will cite two instances to debunk such postulation.

Zamfara state is probably the epicentre of cattle rustling in Nigeria. Those who rustle cattle are Muslims. The owners of the cattle they rustle are Muslims. Both groups most likely belong to the same ethnic group,” the minister said.

“Then, there is the case of Kebbi state, where 70 percent of those who are in jail are there due to the clashes between farmers and herdsmen. The farmers whose crops are eaten by cows are Muslim Fulani, and the herders whose cows eat the crops are Muslim Fulani: same religion; same ethnicity.

“Yet, clashes still occur, to such a level that people land in jail. I have cited these examples so that we can be open to interrogating the real causes of the incessant clashes that have captured national and international attention and turned former neighbours to bitter enemies, so that together we can help to evolve a lasting solution to this crisis.”

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By Uchenna Inya 

https://newtelegraphonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/The-girl.jpg


A 14-year-old girl in Umuifi community, Anioma-Isu in Onicha local government area of Ebonyi State, Favour(surname withheld) was yesterday allegedly raped by Herdsman in the area.

The victim who is a student of Union secondary school, Agueke-Isu in the area has been taken to a medical facility for treatment.

Narrating her ordeal, the teenager who is very sad over the rape said she was on the farm fetching vegetables when the herdsman besieged her and raped her.

She called on the state government to look into the activities of Fulani herdsmen in Umuifi community in order to avert any negative the episode involving young girls in the near future.

“I went to the farm to fetch vegetables when I was attacked by a Fulani herdsman.

He came to our farm with his cows and cross the cow around; he asked me if am with water and food, I said no; he now went and got more cows to surround me; he told me that if I allow him to have sex with him, that he will give me N700. I refused and started running away. He chased me and used the back of his cutlass on my back
so I fell and he raped me.

“I feel sad; I want the government to come to my aid as young girls like me are no longer safe to go the farm and help our parent; the government should make sure the Fulani herdsman is prosecuted according to the law. Every Fulani herdsman with bad intention should be meant to leave our land.”

Chairman of the community, Festus Nwachukwu who confirmed the incident, condemned the activities of Fulani herdsmen in Umuifi Anioma-Isu community, describing it as a threat to agricultural revolution of the state.

According to him, even though the suspect has been arrested by the police, the act that was committed by the Fulani herdsman is an abomination to community’s land.

“We are going to carrying out a cleansing ceremony on the land so that it will remain fertile.

The Fulani herdsmen are destroying our farms; if you want to talk to them they will threaten you with knives; our major occupation is farming; we can no more farm because of this menace; they are fond of using their cows to destroy our farmlands and crops.

“The government policies on agriculture are being threatened in Onicha LGA. I came back from church and learnt that this girl was raped by a Fulani man when she went to the farm to get vegetables; and that if she refuses he will kill her; he used the knives to beat her on the back and then raped her.

What has happened is an abomination in our land; the man has damaged the fertility of the land and we are going to use cows, fowls and many cartons of beers and palm wine to bless the land”, he said.

A member of the State Committee on Herdsmen, Mr Amechi Oken who extolled Governor David Umahi for putting types of machinery in place to checkmate the excesses of herdsmen in the state added that the Committee usually visit locations were skirmishes between herdsmen and farmers occur in order to proffer solution.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Loveth Oda said the matter has not been reported to her office and promised to carry out further investigation into it. ENDS

by Dyepkazah Shibayan




The national assembly has summoned Ovie Omo-Agege, senator representing Delta central, and Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, over their alleged roles in the theft of the senate’s mace.

On April 18, Omo-Agege invaded the red chamber with suspected thugs and the mace, the symbol of authority of the upper legislative chamber, was stolen in the process.

Ndume was accused of preventing the serjeant-at-arms from guarding the mace.
The senate had given the police a 24-hour ultimatum to recover the mace and it was returned to the senate the next day.

Speaking at the resumed hearing of a joint ad hoc committee of the senate and house of representatives, on Tuesday, Bala Na’Allah, its chairman, said the two lawmakers were invited based on the testimony of the sergeant-at-arms which indicted them.

Na’Allah said it was in order for them to respond to the allegations levelled against them.

“Based on the testimony of the sergeant at arms before the committee, you are alleged to have prevented the mace keeper from taking away the mace to safety,” the chairman read out the letter inviting the lawmakers.

“The committee has, therefore, deemed it necessary to invite you in order to respond to that allegation. As regards to Omo-Agege, based on the testimony of the DPO, the SSS and the sergeant at arms, you are alleged to have entered the national assembly accompanied by seven persons who allegedly took the mace of the senate during plenary session on April 18, at about 11:30 am.

“All those who testified, stated that the said people were cleared into the chamber based on your confirmation that they were with you.

The committee in pursuance of this has deemed it necessary to formally invite you to respond to these allegations on Wednesday, May 16 at 11:00am.”

At an earlier hearing, the police accused some unnamed lawmakers of colliding with the suspects said to steal the mace.

“There should be cooperation between security agencies and the lawmakers but in this case, the attack came from the roof as the senators are not helping security matters,” Sulu-Gambari Abdul, divisional police officer (DPO) of the national assembly, had said.

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Security was on Monday beefed up at the National Assembly, Abuja, ahead of expected resumption of Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege following Thursday’s Abuja High Court nullification of his suspension by the Senate.

Strengthening of security arrangement at the complex, especially around the Senate Chambers is to forestall likely security breach as recorded on April 18, when some hoodlums stormed the chambers and made away with the Mace.

The incident which occurred while plenary was ongoing in the chambers was linked to Omo-Agege, who defied the suspension order on him and attended the proceedings, accompanied by some strange fellows into the chamber.

Apart from full security detail in the chamber of the red chamber on Monday, police officers were seen at the lobby leading into the chamber, a development that is unusual on a non-sitting day.

Sergeants-at-Arms were also seen in clusters discussing in hush tones, and apparently perfecting the security beef-up.

Some staff of the assembly, who pleaded anonymity, told our reporter that the development was not unconnected with the expected return of Omo-Agege to the chamber on Tuesday after the court judgment in his favour.

They confirmed that the move to check likely break down of law and order as experienced when the mace was forcefully taken away.

Omo-Agege had gone to court to challenge his 90 legislative days suspension by the Senate and the court in its ruling declared the action unconstitutional, saying that the Senate could not suspend a member beyond 12 days .

His suspension was based on is comment that amendment to section 25 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), bordering on reordering of elections sequence was targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari.

By Bola Ojuola,


A middle-aged man simply identified as Ayokunle said to be one of the leaders of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Ondo town had committed suicide through the consumption of a substance suspected to be poison.

Sources also said that the deceased, a father of four own a commercial vehicle and until his death a transport drivers plying Ondo/Akure road.

He was said to have obtained a short term loan not too long ago from a cooperative society operating but unable to pay back.

This development, sources close to the family said have generated argument and disagreements between the deceased and the operatives of the cooperative society.

A source close to the family of the deceased said he was last seen on Friday night, hale and healthy, before going to bed.

He was said to have swallowed the substance with a cup of water and was found dead in the morning.

Although, no suicide note was left behind, the deceased according to sources may have committed suicide because of the debt.

When journalists visited the house of the deceased located at Oke-Ibukun in Ondo city few hours after the news of his death broke , members of his family were seen inside the house holding meetings on what next to do and how to bury him.

Residents of the area were also seen in groups discussing the development, while the wife of the deceased whose name was given as Kemi was noticed in a two storey building opposite the house with sympathizers who came to pay condolence.

One family member explained that the remains of the deceased would be buried as soon as the family concludes their meeting.

Contacted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Yaba divisional police station, Mr. Kolawole Boluwaji, a Superintendent of Police ( SP), said information concerning the incident was yet to be reported at the station, but promised to investigate the matter.

The federal government on Monday in Abuja announced that $320 million stolen funds by late military dictator, Sani Abacha , would be spent on the Conditional Cash Transfer scheme of the administration to support the poor.

Declaring open the 8th Commonwealth Conference of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa, Mr Buhari, represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said it was one condition given by the Switzerland authorities for the repatriation of the funds.

Mr Buhari said that The Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) after its inaugural meeting in Washington, DC, in December 2017, had facilitated efforts toward asset recovery and return.

“The GFAR saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and the Government of Switzerland for the return of an additional $320 million of the Sani Abacha loot.

“Included in that agreement is the commitment that the funds would be invested in one of the Nigeria’s flagship social investment programmes, the Conditional Cash Transfer scheme targeted at the poorest and most vulnerable households in our country.’’

The president declared that corruption had continued to be one of the greatest challenges in the continent and called for international collaboration to stem the “scourge”.

He quoted a 2014 report by the One Campaign titled: “One Trillion Dollar Scandal”, which claimed that developing countries lost $1 billion annually to corporate transgressions, with most of them traceable to activities of companies with secret ownership.

The president recalled another report in 2015 by the High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa, chaired by former South African President Thabo Mbeki, which stated that Africa had lost over $1 trillion over a 50-year period.

The report added that Africa had lost more than $50 billion annually to illicit financial flows mostly perpetrated in the extractive sector and through companies with hidden ownerships.
Mr Buhari noted that the cost of corruption imposed on all African countries and governments a moral obligation to fight it with vigour and political will.

He said it should be done by strengthening all institutions and systems involved in law enforcement as well as in promoting a culture of transparency and accountability.

According to him, while public sector corruption is the usual focus, the private sector’s complicity is significant, such as when large multinational corporations engage in tax evasion or transfer pricing.

He noted that it was the complex web of public-private collusion and connivance that resulted in proceeds of corruption ending up in foreign countries and especially in their financial institutions and systems.

“Dismantling the conspiracies that facilitate export of stolen assets is probably as important as the theme of this conference, “Partnering towards Assets Recovery and Return.”

“It underscores the fact that fighting corruption is futile if we do not ensure that the proceeds of corruption find no safe haven.

“Recovering stolen assets not only accomplishes the goal of restitution, it also serves as a potential deterrent to future corruption,’’ he stated.

Mr Buhari decried the absence of a legal basis for cooperation in some countries, differences in legal and procedural frameworks, language barriers, bank secrecy, jurisdictional issues, a lack of funding as obstaclestoeffective mutual legal assistance.

He, however, expressed gladness on the renewed commitment to collectively identifying the most effective means of overcoming all of the existing legal and technical obstacles to asset recovery and return.

The president urged African countries to come together to keep the issue of asset recovery and return on the front-burner of international discourse and also work hard to build cooperation and mutual understanding with global partners.

“We must insist that recovered stolen assets be returned to the country of origin, without any preconditions, in line with Article 51 of United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC),’’ he added.

Mr Buhari said that states should agree to apply the highest standards possible of transparency at all stages not just of the recovery and return process, but also in the management and disposal of recovered and repatriated assets.

He also called on governments of African States to adequately fund their anti-corruption agencies as the fight against corruption was far more sophisticated, vicious and nuanced than ever before.

“We must provide adequate resources to investigate, adequately equip operatives, protect their families, protect whistleblowers and witnesses.

“Let me say to you Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa that you have found yourselves in roles that could change the destinies of your nation if you deliver on your mandates.

“You simply cannot afford to fail; on our part as the Government of Nigeria we are irrevocably committed to the fight against corruption,’’ the president declared.
(NAN)

madgoat:

madgoat:
We all have a right to masturbate.