₦airaland Forum

dopedealer:
Please kindly specify the state and local government this event took place and Confirm the months they were not paid and why . The Information will make a complete report

Thanks for your comment....but I did stated that it was for the month of April, and I said it's National Hospital.... it's Abuja.

Good day house..I feel Nairaland can be of help to some batch A corpers that served in National Hospital.

Some batch A corpers(my kid sister inclusive ) that did their service in National Hospital are yet to receive their April monthly allowance.
National Hospital paid some corpers last month and left majority out.
Funny enough, when the other corpers raised alarm, the management quickly apologized and asked them to come drop their account details for immediate rectification that it was just a minor mix up.

It will surprise you all to know that, these same corpers went to National Hospital this week and were told in clear terms that the salary voucher for this month has been prepared without rectification of their problems.
One of the workers secretly told them that some people deliberately did not want to rectify the issue so they can probable claim the money, afteral they have passed out already.

Pls, these batch A corpers probably may not know a Senator or the CMD to fight on their behalf, but we all can help make this known to the general public so we know how wicked and corrupt some people can be.
I promised my sister to do my part by helping them post it on Nairaland, Pls the Mods and Supermods should do theirs too by moving this to front page.

If anyone feels what I Have posted is false, such person can come up.
Thanks.

stanbic
uba
Ecobank
GTB..

l luv Gtbank e services though recently I applied for token and I was debited more than once......I complained and was made to understand by one of the customer rep that the issue now is that no one was ready to accept the blame because such person will be made to pay the money....I was asked to write a complain to head office(and I'm living in Abuja )......I even met the operational manager, he told me that my issue was under investigation(I was like WTF).....finally, I gave up on the issue becos the cost of my transportation to the bank had even exceeded the money I was asking for a refund........till now my money was not refunded.....GTBANK did yahoo yahoo to me....

UBA.......honestly, I don't know why I'm still using it......they keep using my money to test run their debit machine..

ramdris:
Thanks bros for your mature response.
With all due respect, where u in Nigeria during NADECO era? If yes, then u should know the gallant role TINUBU played and if no, I humbly suggest u research it.

Also, u will agree with me that any Government in power need an opposition to keep them in check. Imagine Tinubu joining PDP then! Am not saying the man is a saint, my simple message is that, he just like PMB decided to be in opposition base on their believe that PDP is a no go area and that to me earn them my respect.

Thank u!

Though I'm not a fan of Tinubu, I honestly don't like him.
But Politically I do respect him with this point of urs abt him and some others!

Noted:
Keep calm!
Who cares ?

There are indications that President Muhammadu Buhari may carry out a major shake-up in the top echelons of the military.

It was learnt that service chiefs and other senior officers across the various arms of the military might be relieved of their posts to pave way for new hands.

Findings showed that Buhari would replace the service chiefs with equally experienced officers.

It was gathered that all but one of the military chiefs would be disengaged by the President, while appointing new officers who would be expected to implement the new phase of the war against the Boko Haram sect in the North-East.

Sources said that there was anxiety in the military over the looming change of guard which is expected to affect all the services, including the Army, Navy, and the Air Force.

It was gathered that the military chiefs were acutely aware of the fate that might befall them, having reached the pinnacle of their career.

A source said that the President may be considering one of the service chiefs to ensure smooth transition between the present military chiefs and their successors.

But another source said this was not likely, noting that the only service chief that might be retained is the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, who was appointed a few months ago by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

One of our correspondents gathered that Buhari would likely appoint his “loyalists” and those he had worked with into top positions.

It was also gathered that Buhari might have made up his mind to use policemen and soldiers as presidential security, while whittling down the influence and presence of the Department of State Services at the Presidential Villa.

It was also learnt that Buhari indicated his preference for policemen and soldiers trained in body guard protection instead of the usual teams of DSS personnel used by his predecessor.

A source said that the President is unhappy with the agency over the “various negative security reports it wrote against him during his struggle to become the President, including the report on the recent certificate saga.”

Security sources said the rejection of 253 DSS operatives by Villa authorities last week was informed by the President’s directive that he did not want the agency’s personnel around him.

One of the sources said, “The President has yet to forgive the DSS for what he sees as its antagonism against him before the last general elections. So, the President has decided to keep the agency at arm’s length and for his security, he will be using policemen and soldiers.”

The source added that though a DSS operative would still occupy the post of the Chief Security Officer of the villa, “the CSO will be a mere figure-head because he would have no control over the security at the villa.”

Further findings showed that since Buhari was sworn in, information about his itinerary and schedules were no longer passed to the DSS as is the tradition under the former President.

Our correspondents learnt that under the last administration, the CSO would always be informed about the President’s movement and daily itinerary, but this was said to have changed since Buhari assumed office. Presently, it was gathered, it is only the President’s Aide-de-Camp that knows Buhari’s daily schedule and the CSO had to rely on his contacts within the villa to know the President’s movement.

When contacted, the DSS Deputy Director, Public Relations, Marilyn Ogar, had told one of our correspondents earlier in the week that she could not comment on the issue of posting of the service officers at the villa.

“I don’t have such information and I cannot comment on it,” she said.

Also, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Sheu, declined to comment on the issues of appointment.

He said Buhari could not make any pronouncement on appointments or any other issue until he received the report of his transition committee.

Shehu recalled that Jonathan submitted its handover note to Buhari on the eve of his (Jonathan) exit from office.

He said the President thereafter handed over the note to a committee led by Ahmed Joda to study and make recommendations.

He added, “The Joda committee was given two weeks to study Jonathan’s handover note and make recommendations.

“This committee just finished its assignment on Wednesday evening and may present its recommendations to the President on Friday.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/buhari-plans-military-shake-up-angry-with-dss/

Noted:

There are strong indications that two power blocs within the All Progressives Congress are now engaged in a fierce battle for the soul of the party.

Saturday PUNCH’s investigations on Friday revealed that the battle between the two power blocs to control the party: one led by Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu and the other led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, played out during Tuesday’s National Assembly leadership elections.

The ruling party’s preferred candidates in both the Senate and the House of Representatives were defeated by party members who contested the elections against the wishes of the party.

The battle for supremacy between the two power blocs led to the emergence of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Ike Ekweremadu, as the Deputy Senate President.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that both Atiku and Tinubu were desperate to have maximum control over the party structure so that party decisions could favour them at all times.

It was learnt that the two blocs wanted their candidates to emerge principal officers of the National Assembly since that would automatically qualify their candidates to become members of the party’s National Executive Committee, which is the highest decision arm of the party.

Senator Bukola Saraki emerged the President of the Senate at a time when leading figures of the party including Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande and APC Senators as well as members of the House of Representatives were waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari at the International Conference Centre for a crucial meeting.

The party’s NWC earlier held a shadow election in which Senators Ahmad Lawan and George Akume emerged as the party’s candidates for Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively.

But, Atiku, Saturday PUNCH learnt that Atiku was never in support of the mock election believed to be spearheaded by the APC national leader as the former Vice President was bent on breaking Tinubu’s influence on the party’s NWC.

As things stand, most of the current members of the APC’s National Working Committee are Tinubu’s loyalists.

With the outcome of the National Assembly leadership elections, there are strong indications that the Tinubu camp, which many agree, boasts of the likes of Lawan and Akume are not prepared to let the matter rest.

Sources said the Tinubu camp, though still jolted by its initial ‘defeat’ would likely spring a surprise in the days ahead.

It was gathered that members of the Senators Unity Forum, who supported the party’s candidates are queuing behind Tinubu and are likely to continue to do so in the days to come.

It was learnt that in supporting the aspirations of Saraki and Dogara, Atiku had argued that democracy could better be served when the principle of internal democracy is respected.

It was further learnt that Saraki’s publicised visit to Atiku’s residence a few hours after his emergence, was part of the power play.

By virtue of their new positions as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Saraki and Dogara, have become automatic members of the National Executive Committee, the highest decision making body of the party.

Their positions also confer on them automatic membership of the party’s Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee.

A leading member of the party’s NWC, who confided in Saturday PUNCH, explained that the unfolding scenario is likely to open up new frontiers in the power struggle within the party.

According to him, decisions at NEC from now on will be keenly contested by the two power blocs.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that the outcome of the National Assembly elections would likely affect decisions to be taken on ministerial nominees as some of the candidates in Tinubu’s camp may be rejected during screening by the Saraki/Atiku group.

He said, “It is obvious that with what happened on Tuesday at the National Assembly, two (dominant) power blocks have emerged in the party.

“We hope to heal the wounds created by the contests, but there is mutual suspicion between the two groups.”

When contacted, the Director-General of the Atiku Media Office, Mazi Paul Ibe, said, “Atiku did not orchestrate the emergence of the new leadership in the National Assembly and insinuating that amounts to nothing but political mischief, as he had refused to leave the party or work for the PDP even when the then President Jonathan was desperate for Atiku’s support.

“The visits of politicians and APC leaders including that of the Senate President are common political rituals in Atiku’s Asokoro residence. For the purposes of emphasis, the President has confidence in him and that explains why he had drafted him as an envoy of sorts in the race leading up to the emergence of a Nigerian President of African Development Bank.

“It is baseless and unfounded to suggest that Atiku conspired with the PDP or Saraki to ‘sabotage’ the APC. He would have congratulated Senator Ahmed Lawan (or any other leader) if he had won. It is simplistic to attribute conspiratorial agenda to an innocuous congratulatory visit.

“Atiku’s loyalty to his party is indisputable. He remains a loyal party member. He, in fact, threw his political assets behind the Buhari presidential campaign. Any suggestion that he conspired with Saraki or anybody is the figment of someone’s imagination.”

Attempts to get a reaction from Tinubu’s Spokesperson, Mr. Sunday Dare, were unsuccessful.

Calls to his mobile phone at 5:21pm and at 7:14pm were neither picked nor returned. A response to a text message was still being awaited as of the time of filing this report at 7:24pm.

But, a member of Saraki’s Like Minds group of Senators, Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara South), said Saraki’s emergence, has no negative implication for party cohesion.

He said, “We are already reaching out to everyone. At the leadership level, we are reaching out to individuals.

“The Senate President is a very generous Nigerian with a very large heart. He has already extended his hands of fellowship to every senator and he has assured us all that he would carry everybody along. It is not going to be a case of winner-takes-all.”

Also, a member of the Senate Unity Forum, Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central), said the party leadership is currently working tirelessly to ensure that the party remains a formidable and united entity.

The South East Zonal Spokesperson for the APC, Osita Okechukwu, said the party was seeking ways of moving forward.

According to him, it will be futile to begin to apportion blame and look for scapegoats because doing so will provide an avenue for those who do not wish the APC well to cash in.

He said party leaders deserve the respect of all party members, adding that if the wise counsel of President Muhammadu Buhari for non-interference in National Assembly issues was adhered to, the party would not have found itself in this situation. He, however, said it was time to move on.

Okechukwu said, “It is the desire of our opponents for there to be a rift but there is no rift. As a party, the only thing we need now, more than ever before, is unity.

“We need to unite especially in the National Assembly to be able to deliver on our promises to the Nigerian people. I dare say, we also need bi-partisan support if we are to get things done because we need each other.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/atiku-tinubu-fight-to-control-apc/

Noted.

Modified...
In just few minutes, I made FP twice but my bank account still remain same.
So what's the fuss of FP and FTC all abt?

President, Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Augustine Alegeh
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN), has said the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as the Senate President is not illegal.

About 51 senators of the All Progressives Congress had, on Wednesday, threatened to go to court to challenge Saraki’s emergence.

However, Alegeh told our correspondent during a telephone interview on Thursday that Saraki’s emergence as Senate President was a moral issue and not a legal one.

An APC senator, Barnabas Gemade, had said that the 57 senators that were present when the election for the Senate President took place were not enough to pick a new leadership of the Senate.

However, Alegeh said the 57 senators that were in the chamber when the election of Saraki took place were enough to form a quorum. He explained that having formed a quorum, the decision taken at the time was binding on the Senate.

He said, “Inaugurating the National Assembly is considered as an ordinary business and for an ordinary business, the requirement of a quorum is one-third. So, legally, there was a quorum. You can argue from a moral perspective but legally, it is in order.”

He said, “The general election was held in March/April and we are in June. There was enough time for the party to meet with the lawmakers and agree on all these issues. Why wait till the last minute?

“We must understand that if a time had been fixed for the inauguration, one would expect that all those who want to be inaugurated, given the importance of that event, should have arrived on time. The Clerk of the National Assembly, who is in charge of determining such, said there was a quorum. It will be difficult for me to fault that.

“We must understand that the National Assembly belongs to the entire country and parties from both sides are members of the Assembly. So, for a meeting of one of the parties to lead to the closure of the Assembly would be unfair.”

“There is a need to have respect for institutions. If the Senate was having an inauguration, other people should respect that fact and schedule meetings appropriately. The day for the inauguration of the House is a very important day in a democracy.”

The senior advocate said the incident showed that the National Assembly was becoming increasingly independent.

He said the fact that Saraki emerged Senate President against the wishes of his party did not imply that Saraki would fail.

He said, “The APC were very active in aiding Aminu Tambuwal to become Speaker in 2011 even though the PDP wanted somebody else. And if you look at the performance of Tambuwal, you will find it admirable to a large extent. He was not impeached and there were hardly any threats of impeachment. He had a handle of the House even though he was not the favoured candidate of the party.

“The lesson to learn is that the legislature is becoming increasingly independent of the party and the executive.”

The NBA president said now that elections were over, the National Assembly needed to be more united in order to deliver the change Nigerians demand.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for not interfering in the affairs of the legislature. He urged the APC to quickly resolve its internal conflict so as not to make the same mistakes that the PDP did.

He said, “The issue that led to some APC members joining the PDP should not be quickly forgotten.”

http://www.punchng.com/politics/sarakis-emergence-not-illegal-nba-president/

The All Progressives Congress has said that whatever disciplinary action it will take against the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and   its members for defying its directive on the election of the National Assembly leadership will follow due process.

It said this just as The PUNCH learnt that the Presidency had intervened in the crisis the election of Saraki and Dogara on Tuesday had generated.

The party had conducted mock elections in which Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila emerged as its consensus candidates for the Senate Presidency and House speakership.

After the mock polls, the APC directed its other lawmakers not to contest the positions but ensure that Lawan and Gbajabiamila became the National Assembly leaders.

But this was not to be as Saraki and Dogara did not only contest but won with the support of opposition Peoples Democratic Party lawmakers.

In the Senate, an opposition member, Ike Ekweremadu, surprisingly retained his post as Deputy Senate President.

Ekweremadu defeated an APC Senator, Ali Ndume, who also defied the party’s directive by contesting. The APC anointed candidate for the post   is Mohammed Mungono.

The APC spokesman, Lai Mohammed, who spoke with journalists after an emergency National Working Committee meeting of the APC in Abuja, insisted that the party had not made a U-turn on its earlier position   that the errant lawmakers   would be sanctioned.

The APC spokesman had in a statement on Tuesday said, that the election of   Saraki and Dogara   was unacceptable.

He had said, ‘‘The APC leadership is meeting in a bid to reestablish discipline in the party and to mete out the necessary sanctions to all those involved in what is nothing but a monumental act of indiscipline and betrayal to subject the party to ridicule and create obstacles for the new administration.’’

When asked on Thursday if the party would still   go ahead with plans to punish Saraki,Dogara and others, he replied, that the   “sanctions would follow due process.”

He added   that the errant lawmakers would be notified about their alleged offences and given an opportunity to respond.

When asked why the members of the SUF were at the NWC meeting, he said,   “They are our senators that wanted to confer with the party leadership; they came to confer on the crisis in the National Assembly.”

On the threat by the SUF   to contest Saraki’s election in court, the APC spokesman said, “I think the party made its expression clear on the matter, that it is unhappy with the outcome of the election and I think we won’t say anything beyond that.

“What the senators will do is within their capability and rights.”

It was also gathered that Saraki, who was due to pay a courtesy visit on the party leadership had a rethink on learning that the SUF members were meeting with the NWC.

However, Mohammed said he was unaware of the planned visit by Saraki.

“I’m not aware, probably if you wait you will see him,” he told the journalists, who also informed him that an advance team of security details from the Senate President’s office were sighted earlier in the day at the party’s secretariat.

APC NWC meets Gbajabiamila, other Reps

The APC leadership also   met on Thursday with some of its House of Representatives members   as part of efforts to douse the tension in the National Assembly.

The members were led by Gbajabiamila and   Mungono.

A member of the team, Sani Zoro, said the meeting was essentially to look for a way forward out of the situation the party had found itself.

Zoro said the APC had commenced the process of deescalating the crisis with an approach which would involve the Presidency, the National Assembly and the party’s leadership.

According to him, what is uppermost in the minds of party leaders now is how best to leave the past   and forge ahead.

He said, “The solutions that are being worked out by the party, the Presidency and the National Assembly are being triangulated.

“I can assure you that it will accommodate all the concerns and fears and at the end of it, it will provide a single template that all will key into.   All that has happened is in the past because we have to defend the government that we have put in place, war cannot be the solution.”

“Measures have been agreed upon that will deescalate the crisis. I assure you that those who are the masterminds of the crisis who thought they are going to benefit politically from it will be surprised.”

Zorro added that it would not be out of place if the APC took appropriate actions against   all its   National Assembly members who   entered into an “unholy alliance” with members of the opposition PDP.

I won’t go to court, says Gbajabiamila

Gbajabiamila   told journalists after the meeting that they   were prepared to work in the interest of the party and the Federal Government.

He said that members of the APC in the House decided to visit the national leadership of the party on how to unite and strengthen the party for service delivery.

Asked if he would challenge the election of Dogara in court, he said, “Go to court for what? But I don’t k know about the Senate. I can only speak about the House. Nothing happened in the House; we had an election so it is different from the Senate. In the Senate, people were deprived of their fundamental rights to express themselves by voting.”

Mungono, in his comments,   said it was normal in political settings for more than one person to show interest in a position.

He however said when a political party   chooses to organise an in-house election where candidates emerge, all loyal   members must   respect it.

Mongono said, “As it is now, that (the election of Saraki and Dogara) is a reality on the ground. And we have to deal with it. We are loyal members of a party that is in control of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and as such, we will not take any step that will affect the interest, the peace and order and good governance of this country.”

It was also learnt in Abuja on Thursday that   Presidency might have intervened in the crisis generated by the election of   Saraki,     Dogara and Ike Ekweremadu, a PDP lawmaker.

A high ranking member of the APC made this known to The PUNCH on Thursday shortly after the NWC also met with some of the SUF members.

The SUF comprises 27 senators solidly backing Ahmed Lawan, the anointed candidate for the Senate Presidency.

They and Lawan were also among the 51 senators that were waiting for a scheduled meeting with Buhari at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, when 57 of their colleagues elected Saraki, a former Governor of Kwara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, as Senate President.

Shortly after the NWC meeting started, the APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, allegedly received a message that his attention was needed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa.

The high ranking party source,who did not want his name in print, also said that Saraki and Dogara might only be cautioned by the APC for defying its directive not to contest the two highest positions in the National Assembly.

He said, “Our leaders at the highest level have waded into the matter As I speak to you, the general feeling is that, we cannot afford to allow the National Assembly issue to further polarise our party.

“Saraki, Dogara and their supporters are most likely to get away with words of caution because the deed has been done.”

The party source however said the Presidency was   disturbed about the emergence of Ekweremadu   as deputy president of the Senate.

When one of our correspondents contacted   the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity,   Garba Shehu, and Mohammed on the Presidency’s alleged intervention, they said they were unaware of it.

Don’t harass N’Assembly Clerk, PDP warns APC

The PDP has asked the Presidency and the APC not to intimidate or harass the Clerk of the National Assembly,   Salisu Maikasuwa, and the National Assembly Service Commission for their roles in the controversial elections of the leadership of the National Assembly.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh, in a statement   on Thursday, said that any attempt by the APC to transfer its frustration to Maikasuwa and the commission   would amount to   victimisation.

He said the undertone of the statement by   Buhari’s spokesman, Shehu, that the Clerk was notified of a meeting between the President and the APC lawmakers       “amounts to putting undue pressure on civil servants in the National Assembly for performing their legitimate duties and sends a serious signal which should not be ignored.”

Metuh described as unfortunate, the fact that the APC displayed its “arrogance and disrespect for the dictates of the constitution” by attempting to adjust the President’s promulgation order on the National Assembly and seeking to put their interest over and above the supreme law of the land.

He added, “It is a clear mark of disrespect to the constitution for the President and his party to fix a meeting for him to address their legislators the same time he had directed the Assembly to be inaugurated in line with the constitution.

“For 16 years that PDP nurtured democracy in this country, there was never a day it attempted to arm-twist or intimidate the bureaucracy of the National Assembly to do its bidding given our recognition and respect for the independence and sanctity of the legislative arm.

“The National Assembly is the citadel of democracy and represents the collective voice of all Nigerians. The PDP, even in opposition will continue to protect its sanctity and will therefore resist any attempt by the APC to undermine its independence and those of other democratic institutions in our country.”

Metuh noted that the position of the APC and the Presidency clearly negated Buhari’s well-received and praised assertion in his inaugural speech that he belonged to everybody and not to anybody.

He said, “By the last minute attempt to shift the inauguration time for party interest, the President violates his Presidential oath to defend the constitution and serve the nation without fear or favour and irrespective of party, religion and tribe, as he did not consider the interests of other political parties and the generality of Nigerians.”

Metuh added   that emerging events have continued to justify PDP’s position that the APC was ill-equipped and unprepared for the challenge of ruling the country.

According to him, these became glaring in the way and manner the APC handled a very vital issue like the inauguration of the National Assembly.

He said, “From March 28, 2015 to June 9, the APC had about 74 days within which it was expected to put its house in order and present its leaders for the 8th National Assembly, but it could not because of the greed and selfishness of its so-called godfathers who instead chose to fix their party meeting the same time the President was scheduled to inaugurate   the National Assembly.”

Metuh advised     that rather than vilify the Clerk, the APC should commend him for his patriotic and courageous stand that had helped minimise the embarrassment the shifting the inauguration would have brought to the country internationally.

He therefore charged the Presidency and APC to apologise to Nigerians for the embarrassment their ineptitude and inexperience had been causing the nation since they came into office.

http://www.punchng.com/news/well-follow-due-process-to-punish-saraki-others-apc/

APC should pls not make Buhari govt. Looks clueless and directionless...
Now we can all see that APC or PDP are all made of same politicians but different brand.......
OH! my people my people...and the masses keep suffering!!!!

Now they will be the first to shout impunity in Rivers State when Wike starts following the process they are laying down.
THIS CHANGE IS IN HARD CURRENCY, DEFINITELY NOT IN NAIRA.

Democracy can only be strengthened, not with only the Executive and Legislative arm alone, but with a good Judicial system also....

Cc:
lalasticlala

A Federal High Court in Lagos has overruled the provisional warrant of arrest secured by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency seeking to extradite the Ogun East senator-elect, Mr.  Buruji Kashamu, to the United States to face alleged drug  trafficking charges.

The court equally made an order halting the extradition further proceedings in an application filed by the NDLEA before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on Kashamu.

Kashamu, on Monday through his lawyers, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN) and Mr. Ajibola Oluyede, secured separate orders from both Justices Okon Abang and Ibrahim Buba of the Lagos Division of the court.

While Abang quashed the extradition proceedings and the provisional warrant of arrest issued by another judge of the Federal High Court, Buba restrained the NDLEA from arresting and arraigning Kashamu in furtherance of the extradition charges.

Oluyede had on Monday appeared before Buba with a fresh application seeking an order to nullify the provisional warrant of arrest obtained by the NDLEA against his client.

Oluyede, in a motion on notice, asked the court to nullify the NDLEA’s application to commence extradition proceedings against him in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS /479/2015 at a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The lawyer, while canvassing argument, pointed out that despite an earlier order made by Buba last Thursday, the NDLEA had not suspended action on the move to arrest, arraign and  extradite Kashamu.

He said it would be in the interest of justice to grant the fresh application.

In opposition, however, NDLEA’s lawyer, O. Ichakpa, maintained that the agency had not taken any step to undermine the processes before the court.

But Buba, after listening to the arguments of both lawyers, ordered that the NDLEA “shall not in the face of subsisting judgement, orders of the court and processes filed and pending, enforce or put to effect the warrant of arrest dated April 25, 2015.”

The judge equally quashed the move to arraign Kashamu on the extradition process filed by the NDLEA on April 28, 2015.

Buba held that the restraining orders were necessary so as not to get conflicting orders whilst cases were pending and judgments or orders were also subsisting.

The judge subsequently adjourned till June 19 for further hearing of all applications including the committal proceedings instituted by Kashamu against the Attorney General of the Federation and the NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Glade.

In a similar vein, Abang, in a ruling on a separate application argued by  Iziyon before him equally quashed the extradition proceedings and arrest warrant secured by the NDLEA on Kashamu.

http://www.punchng.com/news/kashamu-court-nullifies-arrest-warrant-overrules-extradition-proceedings/

Nice

A suit seeking fresh investigations into the murder of a late  governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Funsho Williams, was on Monday re-listed before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The applicant, Bashir Junaid, re-approached the court after the same suit was struck out on April 29, 2015 by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia for want of diligent prosecution.

The judge, however, allowed the suit to be returned onto the list after entertaining  a fresh motion and argument from the plaintiff’s counsel, Tunji Adesheye, on Monday.

Junaid, a cemetery attendant, who was arrested and detained by the police during preliminary investigation into Williams’ murder, filed the suit seeking a mandamus order compelling the Inspector General of Police to conduct fresh investigations with the possibility of a fresh trial.

The applicant, who is seeking N5bn as exemplary damages, joined a former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, and 10 others as the respondents.

Williams, who was strangled to death in his Dolphin Estate residence, Ikoyi, Lagos, on July 27, 2006, was a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party competing with Tinubu.

Junaid, in his 48-рaragraph ѕtаtеmеnt оf сlаim, alleged that the police disregarded his freely made statement, which could have assisted to unravel Williams’ killers.

He claimed that the concrete evidence that he tendered were diѕсаrded bу thе Fеdеrаl Central Invеѕtigаtiоnѕ Dераrtmеnt, Alagbon, Lagos.

Junaid, who  alleged that Tinubu used his influence with the police to exonerate himself, equally accused the police of compromise by allegedly  allowing the legal adviser to the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Muiz Banire, to change his statement after he had been cautioned.

At the Monday’s proceedings, Adesheye informed the court that in compliance with an earlier order of the court before the suit was struck out, his client had effected personal service of the concurrent writ of summons on the defendants that were outside the court’s jurisdiction.

The lawyer went on to urge the court to grant the motion seeking to re-list the suit  in the interest of justice, saying the defendants would not be prejudiced in anyway whatsoever if same was granted.

But counsel for the 1st and 4th defendants, Kingson Uwandu, while  opposing Adesheye’s submission, pointed out that the  plaintiff had yet to pay the N25,000 fine placed on him by the court when the matter was struck out.

Uwandu said it was improper for the plaintiff, who had failed to comply with an order of the court, to turn around seeking a favour from the same court.

But when probed by the court on when the order for the payment of the N25,000 fine was made against the plaintiff, Uwandu said he could not remember because he was not with the case file.

http://www.punchng.com/news/court-re-lists-suit-on-funsho-williams-murder/

mormoni:
.

Wats dis

so loving lalasticlala......more focus and active than our current govt.

Candidates of the All Progressive Grand Alliance and the Peoples Democratic Party have won the Brass state constituency II and Ogbia state constituency II seats in the rescheduled House of Assembly election in Bayelsa State.

However, the rescheduled election, which took place on Sunday, was marred by the hijacking of electoral materials and sporadic shootings by unknown gunmen.

The shootings took place in the full glare of hundreds of security operatives deployed in the area to maintain law and order.

It was learnt that the election in Brass state constituency II witnessed a large turnout with the APGA candidate, Alfred Watson, defeating the candidates of the PDP and that of the All Progressives Congress.

According to the result declared on Sunday by the Returning Officer, who is a lecturer at the state-owned Niger Delta University, Mr. Perekere Bertola, the APGA candidate scored 849. Voters accredited for the election were 2,805.

Bertola said the PDP candidate scored 380 votes while the APC candidate scored 476 votes.

Some of the supporters of the APGA candidate claimed that attempts by suspected PDP supporters to collude with the security personnel to declare the election inconclusive were thwarted by angry youths from the constituency.

In Ogbia state constituency II, it was learnt that the turnout of voters was poor and materials were allegedly hijacked from the voting venues by some armed men and security operatives.

Some APC leaders in Ogbia said the party’s House of Assembly candidate, Tonye Okio, was later called in the midnight by some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission to come and witness the counting of votes, stressing that this was against the provision of the Electoral Act.

Contacted on the development, Okio said the election into the seat of Ogbia state constituency II did not hold as it was marred by intimidation.

Effort to get the reaction of INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Barikor Kpagih, was not successful as his mobile phone line was not reachable.


http://www.punchng.com/politics/shootings-mar-bayelsa-assembly-rescheduled-election/

barcanista:
This is "Campaign Promise". What has been "Implemented" wrt bh? During his inauguration he said the army command "WILL"relocate to maiduguri. They are yet to do so.Look up to understand my demand. I'm not talking of rhetoric here

I think they have.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/military-bows-to-buhari-moves-command-control-centre-to-maiduguri/

cc: lalasticlala

pls do the needful....

Members of the # BringBackOurGirls (# BBOG )
advocacy are set to meet President Muhammadu
Buhari over the missin schoolgirls abducted by the
Boko Haram sect 420 days ago.
The group also said it was saddened by the
continuous death and suffering in the Northeast.
It urged Buhari to address the country on the moves
he is making to ending insurgency and bring back the
Chibok girls .
A member of the group, Aisha Yusufu, who spoke on
other members ’ behalf , said Nigerians gave the
President their mandate because they believed in
him.
She said : “ The Chibok girls have been in captivity for
419 days and they do not have the liberty to decide to
stop living the life of captivity that they have been
caused to live . Our daughters have been living in the
forest for the past 419 days and still we have not
heard anything about them .
“ Now the new President has been sworn in and we in
the # BBOG decided to give him one week in power
before writing a letter demanding to meet with him.
We will send our letter to him next week and we will
not be begging to be seen but we will demand to be
addressed as citizens of this country .
“ We are impatient and are tired of being afraid . We
are tired of wondering who will be next; we expect
that by now , President Buhari would have addressed
the country and told us what he has been doing so
far . We are tired of being kept in the dark. Nigerians
need to know of the steps being taken to end this
scourge of insurgency because our Chibok girls are
tired of waiting . ”

thenationonlineng.net/new/activists-to-meet-buhari-over-chibok-girls/

This Change must be in hard currency....because I don't seems to understand its present direction......#goes back to bed, pls wake me up when its morning!

Freemanan:
Aii... The court has taken Judicial notice

Thanks your Lordship...

Freemanan:
At least finish reading your comments before posting....

NOTED BRO:
But I didn't really post any comment relating to the topic anyway....I don't post a comment without reading the full story...
All d same,tnx.

mormoni:
Too long! I can't read all these even if u offer me Nicki Minaj

Honestly...I didn't even finish ready it.....and believe me, many people won't even read it but will comment base on the topic....

Pls do the needful

The full interview below is his interaction with us at the Premium Times. Read on….

PT: Thank you sir for granting me this audience. You promised not to keep quiet again and to ask more questions about the running of the economy after elections but you seem to have been very quiet since the elections. Can you now raise the questions?

Soludo: Great to see you too! And I hope this will be a short interview please. Two quick points: The elections have come and gone but that was the easier part. The hard part now begins. Like most Nigerians, I am happy that Nigeria made history with the election. On your question, No; there was no need to raise further questions for the outgone administration. President Jonathan raised the bar and set a new tone in his statesmanly acceptance of defeat. That was noble. Last month, the government admitted that they were borrowing since January to pay salaries. What more do you want me to say? The two articles I wrote in January and February (which Vanguard newspaper still posts on its website as ‘The Soludo Debate’) remain living documents and raised some of the salient questions, some of which may be bold markers for the new government. Our focus should be on the future and the new government.

PT: How is your relationship with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala now?

Soludo: Why do you ask? Of course, she is and will always be my dear elder sister and Madam; someone I deeply respect. We may not always agree, especially on public policy. The public spat was unfortunate. She felt she had an obligation to defend her government but she did so in a manner that I also felt an obligation to respond in equal measure. But all that is now history. There is nothing personal. Now without the encumbrances of government and its pressures, I look forward to our returning to the good old days in our personal relationship.

PT: The economy ​is really bad; falling oil price, dwindling revenue, debt, inflation, unemployment, collapsed Naira, etc. Where does President Buhari start from?

Soludo: I don’t envy President Buhari and his team. His government will preside over the transition to a post-oil economy, and it won’t be a tea party. If Buhari works 8 hours a day, he last less than 7,500 hours left to bring about change in his first term in office or less than 9,700 if he works 12 hours a day, with three substantive annual budgets to go before the next elections. The clock is ticking already. But the Rescue, Stabilize, and Transform (RST) Plan requires a 24 by 7 operation. There must be something in the President’s natal chart that keeps bringing him to govern us just when things are in shambles. But I see hope; I see opportunities. The president and his team have a historic opportunity to create a new Nigeria without oil; a Nigeria powered by competition and compassion. Fortuitously Nigeria’s centenary was last year, 2014. This year marks the beginning of the next 100 years. President Buhari and the new crop of elected officers at all levels must lay the foundation for the next Nigeria; a re-engineered Nigeria with the structures and incentives to move from cake-sharing or consumption to cake-baking or production. Old thinking and ways of doing things won’t work. But an attempt to drive change from Abuja will fail. It will be akin to trying to clap with one hand. A coordinated national (not federal) response is required.

On your specific question as to where President Buhari should begin, let me say that I don’t want to join the new industry in town which is ‘agenda setting’. Everyone is grabbing the microphone to ‘set agenda’. That’s ok. I am aware that the transition committee is working hard on an agenda, and I believe that the committee is made up of eminent Nigerians. For me, let us wait for them to unveil their action plan and we would have something to comment upon or contribute to. I am aware that the African Heritage Institution (Afriheritage) is planning a session focused on the agenda after it is announced. So, I won’t join this fashion parade of the day. Not yet.

PT: Let me be more specific. With the terrible condition of the economy, and the high expectations of Nigerians on the new government, what practical steps should Buhari take to create jobs speedily?

Soludo: I told you I do not want to discuss specifics now. For sure, job creation should be the focus of the new post-oil economy. Nigeria certainly needs a Job Manifesto, with a target of 8 – 12 million jobs over the next four years. This is easier said than done. We are diversifying the economy by-passing the manufacturing/industrial sector to the tertiary sector (services). Creating value-adding jobs in such an economy with one of the highest rates of urbanization in the world will task our creativity to the limit. The agenda will require a kind of coordination between the federal and state governments in a manner never seen before. Luckily the APC states are in majority and I hope their party will rein them in. I have read some newspaper reports that solid minerals sector and agriculture will be the new kids on the block to mint the jobs. That won’t happen! At least not in the manner it is being romanticised about. They would have very limited impacts on job creation over the next four years, and over the long-run agricultural transformation will actually reduce jobs. The prospects of the solid mineral sector will depend on the policy framework and even legislation, the dynamics of commodity prices especially given the apparent end of the commodity super cycle, and the nature of forward and backward integration with the rest of the industrial structure. Anyway, let us wait for government’s agenda before we can comment, please.

PT: In your previous answer you alluded to changing the structures of Nigeria. What should President Buhari do with the report of the recent national conference?

Soludo: It is up to him to decide what to do with the report. A fundamental point however is that you can’t create the new Nigeria, a post-oil competitive economy without fundamentally altering the existing constitution. The current constitution and the political-governance structures created by it are designed to share and consume the oil rent. A system designed for consumption cannot become efficient for production. Ours is a dysfunctional unitary-federalism, with a queer fiscal federalism and it won’t go too far. The federating units were created by the central government; it also created the local governments. Every month, both the governors and their local government chairmen are supposed to beseech Abuja to collect their allocations, each supposedly with powers to do whatever they like with the allocations. As oil stumbles, the fiscal viability of these creations is coming into question. Suddenly, states and LGAs designed to collect and spend oil money will be required to produce and create wealth to survive. We will see how the old order will give rise to the new without some creative destruction. The problem with the structure is that those who benefit most from it are required to dismantle it— the incentives are incompatible. We need to study the UAE (United Arab Emirates) model of competitive federalism—that created the incentives for Dubai and other prosperous non-oil regions to emerge. I have written a lot on this subject, and we can talk about this the whole day. The point is that APC cannot deliver sustainable change to Nigeria if it does not go to the roots, and effect systemic change. Tinkering at the margins will amount to papering over a cracked wall.

PT: That reminds me of the ongoing debate about local government autonomy and joint account with the states. Shouldn’t the local governments be autonomous?

Soludo: Autonomy from who? I know that it makes for our emotional satisfaction to “deal with the state governors” and let the LGAs have ‘autonomy’— but only in the sense of getting their “allocation” directly and unhindered by state governments but with no incentive-sanctions regime that ties such grants to certain productivity and fiscal viability criteria. The mistaken belief is that such autonomy will ensure that resources get to the ‘grassroots’. It is a funny argument which proceeds from the old model of ‘sharing the cake’. We must decide whether we want a federal or a unitary system; not both at the same time. Are the states the federating units or both states and local governments? Funny enough the same constitution gives the state assemblies the power to create local governments and maintain oversight over them. At the same time, the constitution lists the LGAs created by the military as the ones to collect “allocations” from the Federation Account. I want to see examples of federal systems in the world where the local governments directly receive statutory allocations from the federal government and with statutory powers to spend as they wish without performance-based criteria attached to such receipts. The mind-set is rooted in the past, but the problems are unfolding in the future. When it comes to incentives and sanctions regime for creating prosperity and accountability, our current constitution is a funny document. It is even worse for effective macroeconomic management.

PT: The contest is on for zoning and sharing of political offices, and there are fears of marginalization by people from the south east and south south because of their poor support for President Buhari and APC during the elections. How should Buhari assuage the fears of these zones?

Soludo: You have raised many issues at the same time. First, given the peculiar manner the election was done in the two zones, it is difficult to know exactly how the people voted. There is no question that a majority of people in the two zones preferred Jonathan but we know what happened during the Presidential-national assembly election. Prof. Jega and INEC did a great job but we still have a very long way to go. Second, the Constitution of Nigeria creates an absurdity in the name of federal character whereby a minister must come from every state. So, states in the south east and south south must have ministers in the federal cabinet. Third, and more substantively, I believe that the clamour for offices is simply a power game by the elite, which has only a symbolic or emotional significance to the masses. Yes, for some reasons, people like to see someone that shares their interests or attributes in government—it has a feel good factor. But if occupation of such office has any personal benefits, it is largely to the occupant of the office and his friends and family.

Our recent history has shown that it hardly matters where the occupant of a particular position comes from. I am not sure how the welfare of Ota/Ogun people changed because Obasanjo was president of Nigeria, or how the man in the street of Katsina or Otuoke/Bayelsa prospered more than others simply because their son became president. The south east voted massively for ‘one of their own’ in 2011 as president, and also had Secretary to Government, Deputy Senate president, Deputy Speaker, Minister of Finance and coordinating minister of economy and a coterie of other appointments. Yet, the zone had the least capital expenditure in the five year presidency, and there is hardly any motorable federal highway in the south east. For me, this bickering for sharing of positions is an elite game for their personal rather than national considerations. What the ordinary Nigerians want are institutionalized processes to guarantee their security and prosperity. They want services and don’t care who gives it to them. Our federal cabinet is nothing but a miniature United Nations whereby each minister represents his or her state but no one represents Nigeria. At this critical crisis moment, perhaps what Nigeria needs is something akin to selecting the best 11 for our national football team: no one cares which state or zone they come from; everyone wants Nigeria to come home with the cup.

PT: Talking about positions in the government, there are rumours in town, especially on social media and even in some newspapers that you are being tipped to serve in the cabinet of the current government. Are you likely to serve in the government or am I speaking with the prospective Finance Minister as speculated?

Soludo: Nigerians and their rumours! I am glad you said they are rumours and such rumours are normal. For sure, I wish the new government success and for the sake of Nigeria, everyone must contribute to assist President Buhari succeed. I will contribute in whatever way I can. However, everyone can’t sit in government in order to serve: some will be there on full time basis while others can contribute from outside. For me personally and at this point in time, I am not disposed or available for full time public service now; perhaps in the future it could happen, but not now. For now, my hands are full with several other experiments I am involved with (especially abroad) in the private sector, charity, think-tanks, and the international community. I am part of a major initiative in Africa’s mining and solid minerals sector, and this takes me through several African countries, etc. I am having great fun exploring totally new vistas of opportunity that are central to Africa’s great leap in the 21st century. I read that President Buhari will give priority to solid minerals. We can provide free advisory services and perhaps assist to mobilize investment in the sector or in any other areas if our advice is needed. In effect, there are several ways we can assist the government to succeed but not necessarily to take up full time appointment. No, not now!

PT: So, who and who would you recommend to be part of the best 11 in the cabinet?

Soludo: There are many eminent Nigerians who are not only bold, critical thinkers but also with high execution capacity that the president can choose from. I wish him and his team good luck.

PT: Do you agree with the suggestion of the current CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, that Nigeria should sell off its oil stakes and retain say, 25% only?

Soludo: I won’t comment on it in detail until I read the study. From what is reported in the newspapers so far, I will surely have many questions and I have hinted the Governor on this.

PT: Some CBN staff are currently being tried for alleged fraud regarding circulation of old notes, and the EFCC says this has been on for years – apparently more people may have been involved. Were you able to deal with that kind of fraud when you were in charge?

Soludo: First and foremost, I can’t imagine how such a fraud could be executed successfully given the architecture of controls and security at the CBN. Such would require the collusion of tens of persons from different departments and agencies, including law enforcement agencies and commercial banks. It is very unlikely to happen without someone blowing the whistle or leakage of information. I am particularly happy therefore that it was the CBN that discovered the fraud and reported to the law enforcement agencies. This is the important point.

PT: Years after leaving the CBN, give us your assessment of the bank under your successors.

Soludo: I still reserve my comments for now. When I was in office, I made it a policy never to comment on my predecessors, and after I left office I also insisted on a self-imposed five year gag order not to comment on my successor. Several times I was under immense pressure to break it but I thank God that I kept to it. The five year ban is now over, but it is not yet time to comment.

PT: The National Bureau of Statistics recently came up with a revised methodology for calculating unemployment, with the claim that unemployment now stands at about 6%. Are you as concerned as many Nigerians who believe that claim is baseless?

Soludo: Integrity of our national statistics is a very serious issue. I don’t comment on statistics without serious scrutiny. Having not had a chance to thoroughly examine the reviewed methodology, I will not comment on its veracity or appropriateness. It is one thing to have a new methodology, it is yet another to have a comprehensive, credible labour market survey. I will need information on these two parts to make informed judgment. Already, the NBS/past government have created the baseline data for the performance evaluation of the Buhari administration in the areas of poverty and unemployment. According to them, unemployment is about 6% while poverty is about 32%. If true, then the Buhari government is challenged to beat these numbers. The government must support NBS to be independent and do its job without interference.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/features-and-interviews/184511-interview-i-am-not-available-for-public-service-now-soludo.html

Cc:
lalasticlala

I don't really care who becomes the Senate President though, but just wondering while Bukola Saraki is just too desperate........hope he doesn't mind if PDP uses him as Deputy to David Mark instead.