₦airaland Forum

Adelani Adepegba,


Weapons that have been used in intercommunal violence that has killed thousands of people in Nigeria were trafficked from Ivory Coast , Libya and Turkey .

A new report by the Conflict Armament Research group said s ome of the weapons from Turkey were linked to a major organized trafficking network.

It explained that the weapons were used in the killing of more than 3 , 600 people and displaced 300, 000 since 2014 ,

It noted that fighting between farmers and herders over land has gone on for decades in the middle belt and north .

The report further said armed groups involved in the bloodshed in Kaduna , Katsina and Zamfara states possessed significant numbers of factory-produced small arms manufactured in Europe , East Asia , the Middle East and North America , ” according to the three - year study.

It said, " Weapons that Conflict Armament Research documented during field operations in three northern Nigerian states have commonallities with small arms previously in service with national defence forces in Côte d’ Ivoire and with weapons that CAR has documented in Libya. "

It noted that the set of weapons from northern Nigeria also includes Iraqi assault rifles manufactured in 1987.

It further said the terrorist groups have used weapons from the same batch with batch markings rendered illegible .

The report read , " Predictably , given widespread weapon diversion from many governments in the region , CAR has traced four weapons in the data set to the stockpiles of Nigerian defence and security forces .

" Nigerian - manufactured small - calibre ammunition— including cartridges manufactured as recently as 2014— is the second - most prevalent type of ammunition in this data set . "

The study further noted that in 2016, the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons and the Mines Advisory Group, collected weapons in Katsina , nearly 6, 000 in Zamfara, and almost 700 in Benue.

Desiderius Erasmus, the Dutch humanist and theologian who was also the leading renaissance scholar of Northern Europe, got it completely right when he aptly said that “war is delightful only to those who have had no experience of it.” There is also the African proverb that says, “he who wears the shoes, knows where it pinches.”

For President Muhammadu Buhari, a retired General of the Nigerian Army, he has worn the shoes of war and knows exactly where it pinches. And whereas millions of compatriots could afford to play politics with the war against terror, he is one of the last set of people to do so, because he did not, and still does not, find war delightful. In his prime, Buhari sacrificed it all to fight a battle to keep Nigeria as one. Let’s not forget that about a million lives were lost in Nigeria’s unfortunate civil war that was fought 50 years ago.

If he who knows what war in real terms means, who also knows more than everyone else the challenges the Nigerian military is facing in fighting the war against terror, insists on retaining the current crop of service chiefs, then there must be a reason. And knowing President Buhari very well, any dispassionate Nigerian could attest to the fact that the reasons must be very cogent.

If also, as President of Nigeria or any other country, you keep changing security or service chiefs on account of being asked to do so by mostly the opposition, then, in a four-year tenure you would end up with perhaps a hundred service chiefs. You can then be sure of reaping tons of chaos. And if you are the President of a vast country like Nigeria, who decides to pull the trigger just for the heck of it or because some people want you to do so, you would as well be the country’s undertaker, as the country would die in your hands and posterity would record you as a weakling who allowed himself to be negatively influenced and toyed with.

Permit me, from the outset, to make this categorical statement: I, for one, cannot dispute the fact that there are rising incidences of insecurity in Nigeria. Ten months ago, my grown-up daughter was kidnapped, and the family was fast losing all hope of ever reuniting with her, until the Nigerian Army intervened and rescued her without us paying a dime. Not to the kidnappers, not to the army personnel that rescued her, not to anyone else. It is a story I have narrated twice on these pages. So, I cannot deny that there are serious insecurity issues in Nigeria. But I also strongly feel it is uncharitable to fall for the temptation, as many compatriots are influenced to do, of condemning the security services, or in particular the service chiefs, just because that’s the narrative the bandwagon wants us to key in to. In my about 50 years of sojourn on planet earth, I have strived to always be my own person. I do not allow myself to be influenced by the bandwagon. And that’s how every Nigerian with any sense of dignity should be.

More than every other Nigerian, President Buhari knows the very reasons why the attack against the service chiefs is gaining more traction and momentum, more so in the last few weeks: First, some unpatriotic elements, for political and pecuniary reasons, have succeeded in dividing Nigerians along religious and tribal lines. There have been countless newspaper reports erroneously describing the service chiefs as coming from one religion and tribe. And in Nigeria, a country with the highest number of churches in the world, religion is good business.

Here, you see imams and pastors smiling to the bank every day. Some even own two or more private jets, all courtesy largely of their ability to manipulate members of their congregation. This is the truth nobody wants to hear, but denying it will not give it another name.

It doesn’t even take President Buhari to know that the distribution of the service chiefs is evenly spread between the south and the north, and between Islam and Christianity. The Chief of Defence Staff, who is the overall boss in the Nigerian military, is from the South. Same with the Chief of Naval Staff. Both of them are also Christians. On the other hand, the Chief of Army Staff and his Air Force counterpart are Muslims from the North.

If you want to be fair to President Buhari, you ought to discern that incidents of insecurity have been more pronounced in the North. So, even if the service chiefs are more from that region, there is little or nothing wrong because it is for strategic reasons. Countering guerrilla warfare, such as the one deployed by bandits and Boko Haram terrorists, entails an extensive knowledge of the local environment. That obviously also explains why the National Security Adviser and the army chief are both from Borno, the birthplace of Boko Haram. The air chief is also from the North-East.

The other reasons, much as some may deny it, have to do with the fact that many Nigerians from the South-West, the region that controls the media in Nigeria, are not happy that the government of the day had declared Amotekun, the local security outfit formed by governors of the region, as illegal. When the Attorney-General of the Federation made that declaration, a friend told me some hawks from the South-West would come up with something that would rattle the rest of Nigeria and force the rest of us into submission.

It cannot be lost to any discerning mind that attacks against the Buhari administration took a dimension for the worse after that infamous declaration, so much so that government was forced to meet with governors from that region on the same matter, during which some concessions were made. I am by no means blaming the South-West because that is what strategic planning is all about. If other parts of the country cannot see the wisdom in media investment, then they must be ready to have the national agenda set for them. For as long as the rest of the country remains aloof, the South-West will continue to dictate the tune for the rest of Nigeria, and we will have no choice than to dance to those tunes, good or bad.

Every week, the President receives intelligence reports showing the dangerous antics of some senior military officers, some of who erroneously feel the only reason they are not service chiefs is because the ones holding the offices are still very much there. Those ones sponsor negative newspaper publications and influence sermons in churches and mosques against the incumbent service chiefs, on one hand, and the President of the country, on the other. They feel that only by this wrong strategy would they pressure the government to drop the incumbent holders of the offices and have them announced as replacements. But this strategy only goes to show the narrow vision of those pursuing this dangerous path.

At most, only four people could be appointed service chiefs at any one time. And the President of Nigeria is at liberty to pick from hundreds of senior military officers, some of whom have never even dreamt or worked towards it, just as he did when appointing the current holders of the offices. Hardly does President Buhari appoint desperate seekers of political appointments, even career-based ones, like in the military. So, today, I have very bad news for those undermining the system in desperation to be picked as service chiefs: They will not succeed. If they want to bet on this, I am ready to do so with my last dime.

I also want to say that the existence of the current service chiefs has nothing to do with claims of stagnation in the various branches of the military. Even recently, hundreds of officers were promoted to the post of major-general and brigadier-general. The Chief of Army Staff even recommended to the President, who doubles as Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the promotion of Lamidi Adeosun, a major general, to the post of lieutenant general, the same post held by the army chief. Welfare of troops is being improved, and, under the current service chiefs, especially that of the army that mainly constitutes the bulk of the military, not a dime belonging to those troops gets delayed in being paid. There was a time years back when troops were getting shortchanged. Under the current leadership, that has since become history.

There are reports that insecurity in Nigeria tends to increase because some of those desperate office seekers in the military deliberately sabotage the war against terror so as to cast the present holders in bad light. You may think that those engaged in this unpatriotic act would stop once the present crop of service chiefs are dropped. But they will not, inasmuch as they are not the direct beneficiaries. But there is no way President Buhari could pander to the wishes of some subversive elements and thereby destroy the armed forces. These are vested interests who are going to the ridiculous extent of undermining our security for personal aggrandizement. The intelligence services should do more to fish out all those commanders and senior officers that have not taken their job seriously, as well as those that make silly mistakes or encourage others to do so.

There are definitely many of them. And they should without delay be shown the way out.
I was surprised that Senator Ebaribe was calling on President Buhari to resign from office, citing rising incidences of insecurity as the reason. But the distinguished senator failed to take into consideration the fact that if security failure is the only reason why a government, or a president should resign, then many presidents globally will not be in office today. Or they will have been forced out of office midway. Chicago, in the United States, is reported to have one of the worst records of killings in the world. But I did not hear anyone asking President Trump or any president before him to resign on that score.

Chicago has recorded more homicides and shooting victims than New York City and Los Angeles, combined. It has been the same in Johannesburg, here in Africa. When there are incidences of surge in insecurity, the citizens are not expected to use it as political tool against any incumbent president. They rather have a responsibility to help the security services with intelligence to nip the matter on the bud.

I dare say that if all the people of Maiduguri will today decide to end Boko Haram, it will come to an end. Sadly, as it is true from the very beginning, there are still people in that city who regard Boko Haram members as their own, and who still do everything to support and shield them. This is just the bitter truth.

Terrorists also thrive in publicity. I recall the Chief of Army Staff telling the management of Sun newspaper recently that terrorism will come to a total end in Nigeria if the country’s press want it to end. He said the press can ensure that by stopping the free publicity it inadvertently accords terrorists, by publishing their atrocities on front pages of our national and regional newspapers. Other countries, for example Turkey, was only able to nip the dastardly activities of PKK in the bud because its press are united in according that terrorist group only a scant mention in their papers and radio/TV.

It is true that Boko Haram has been defeated. More than everyone else, President Buhari knows this. But what we have are two issues: one, the remnants trying to appear to still be relevant by hitting mostly soft targets. And the second, the African wing of ISIS, called ISWAP, which has access to sophisticated weapons and foreign funding. Let’s not even forget that some countries are being accused of sponsoring insurgency and terrorism in Nigeria. A lot of Nigerians do not also seem to know that the entire annual budget of the three branches of the military is not even up to the budget of New York Fire Service. Nigeria failed to utilize the great oil boom days when Jonathan was President to acquire modern weapons that will have wiped out Boko Haram in no time.

Rather, contracts were allocated to stooges who ended up acquiring obsolete equipment from Ukraine and Eastern Europe. And even though President Buhari has as far back as 2015 promised to see to the end of Boko Haram, his ability has been hampered by inability to fully give the military the kind of funding it deserves. The money has been stolen, shared to politicians by the then National Security Adviser to prosecute the 2015 presidential election for the then government in power to be returned to office. Instead of holding those people responsible for sowing the seeds of our ruination today, we are busy chasing shadows and allowing partisan and religious considerations to rest the blame on the wrong doorsteps. Before we open our mouths to condemn the military, let’s try to find out the billions of dollars the United States spends in Afghanistan or Iraq alone. Or the several billions spent recently by the United Nations for peacekeeping in Mali. Yet, the war in Afghanistan is still ongoing, even if the Taliban has largely been defeated, just like Boko Haram here.

President Buhari has made it very clear that changing service chiefs during war is a dangerous strategy. Firstly, you are encouraging the terrorist by giving them the impression they are winning. Secondly, the transitional period of handingover and taking over will be used by terrorists to inflict damage from which we may not easily recover. If, for example, the right thing was done at the right time by previous administrations, Boko Haram that started with a ragtag army will have been obliterated since. But at a stage President Jonathan had a very erroneous feeling that Boko Haram was put up as an army to undermine his government, forgetting that the sect started fighting the Nigerian state at a time a northern Muslim, Yaradua, was president.

President Buhari, being a retired army general, is professionally competent to assess if his service chiefs are functional or not. Sacking of the service chiefs will not change anything considering the fact that those that are qualified to take over from them have all along been integral parts of the decision making processes. There is therefore nothing new they could offer, that they are not offering at the moment.

As for those citing our laws to explain that the tenure of service of the chiefs have since elapsed, they are either ignorant or have deliberately chosen to ignore the fact that when the country is at war, even elections – the fulcrum of democratic processes – can constitutionally be postponed.

The Nigerian legislature, which calls for the resignation or removal of the service chiefs, should not allow itself to be used by politicians that are at daggers drown with the current service chiefs, especially since the reelection of President Buhari to a second term of office.

In any case, the main reason insecurity has been on the rise in Nigeria is far beyond the reach of the military. Any discerning Nigerian knows the main cause of insecurity globally is poverty. This obviously explains why President Buhari is determined to lift one hundred million Nigerians out of poverty.

Our legislators receive the highest salary and allowances in the whole world. A good start is for the two chambers of the National Assembly to unite and do as little a task as slashing their humongous allowances even if by half. With that alone, millions of cottage industries would be established, and tens of millions of jobless Nigerians, some of who the terrorists readily recruit to unleash terror, will in no time be lifted out of poverty. There is even a suggestion that the National Assembly is trying to divert attention from Senator Abdul’Aziz Nyako’s grievous accusation that politicians are the real causes of insecurity in Nigeria.

Of course another way the legislators could help in stemming insecurity in Nigeria is for them to stop over stretching our police force, DSS and the military as their orderlies and security guards. Right now about half of our policemen are serving our politicians, most of them in the National Assembly. Yet, they have the temerity to talk about rising insecurity without removing the speck in their eyes to see that they too, are playing a major part in making it so.

If the service chiefs had failed, the federal legislators will not have found the peaceful atmosphere to engage in the kind of debate they did last Wednesday. Recall that until Buhari became President, Boko Haram was threatening to take over Abuja, with bombings right in the city centre, and in many other cities of the country. It is amazing we have forgotten so soon.

Ali Datti-Yako, the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the last Saturday’s by-election for Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency has reportedly perfected plans to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kano State.

DAILY NIGERIAN reports that Mr Yako defeated former chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation Abdulmumin Jibrin of APC with 35,094 vote margin.

While Mr Yako scored 48,601 votes, Mr Jibrin got 13,507 votes.

During the build-up to the rerun election, sources revealed that APC leaders in the state had struck a deal with Mr Yako to move to the ruling party after winning the election.

Barely two days after Mr Yako was announced winner of the election, the lawmaker-elect was seen in viral pictures holding his Certificate of Return with the APC chairman, Abdullahi Abbas.

Another picture showed Mr Yako shaking hands with the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, signifying romance with the ruling party.

Although Mr Yako did not officially announce his defection to APC, sources confided to DAILY NIGERIAN that party leaders are planning to stage a grand reception for the newly-elected lawmaker.

Other sources however said Mr Yako, who is a close associate of PDP stalwart Hamza Maifata, was only “deceiving the APC leaders” as he plans to remain in the opposition party till the end of his term in office.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved the signing of an agreement with the Island of Jersey and the United States of America for the repatriation of $321m stolen assets recovered from the former military ruler, late Gen. Sani Abacha.

Addressing State House Correspondents after a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Mohammadu Buhari, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said council okayed the tripartite agreement to be signed next week for the purpose of repatriation of the looted assets.

Malami disclosed that the recovered funds will be expended on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Abuja-Kano road and the 2nd Niger Bridge respectively.

He recalled that during Buhari’s first term, the administration succeeded in enhancing the recovery of the looted asset by over 1,300 per cent.

“It is in line with that spirit of aggressive recovery of looted assets that the office of attorney general has been pursuing the recovery of looted assets,” Malami said.

“We have overtime been discussing with other jurisdictions including the Island of Jersey and the United States for the purpose of the repatriation of looted assets connected to Abacha family, Diezani Alison-Madueke, Kolawole Aluko among others.

“It is within this context that we have now come to terms with this jurisdiction – the Island of Jersey, United States of America and indeed Nigeria by way of negotiating for the repatriation of sizable assets.

“As it is, we have concluded on the understanding that the sum of $321 million will be repatriated in due course inclusive of James Ibori assets as well.

“We are hopeful that by next week we will sign the agreement for the looted assets. The assets that are going to be repatriated is located and in the custody of Island of Jersey. But the United States of America came on board because it has obtained an order for forfeiture against the assets, considering that the medium of exchange used in the looting the assets is the US dollar.

“Arising from that the three jurisdictions will naturally be factored into the repatriation processes.
So the amount upon signing the MOU will be remitted from the Inland of Jersey within a number of days agreed upon.

“Within 28 days, the money will be repatriated from the Island of Jersey to the United States and thereafter within 45 days, it is agreed by the parties that the United States of America will make the necessary arrangement for the eventual repatriation to the Nigerian state.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday arraigned a former executive director of Punch newspaper, Azubuike Ishiekwene, before an Ikeja Special Offences Court, Lagos.

Mr Ishiekwene was arraigned on allegations bothering on forgery of document and intent to defraud in the sum of N350 million.

Mr Ishiekwene was charged alongside Olalekun Abdul, Adeyinka Adewale (absent), and Morakinyo Bolanle (now at large) on a 15 count charge.

They were alleged to have committed offences bothering on conspiracy to forge, forgery, using false document and falsification of books and accounts which are contrary to section 411, 365, 366 and 335 (2) of the criminal laws of Lagos state of Nigeria 2015 and also obtaining money by false pretence contrary to section 1(1),(2) of the advance fee fraud and other related offences Act No.14 of 2006.

The EFCC prosecutor, Joy Amahian, told the court the defendants used a false document titled “Board Resolution of Cleanserve Integrated Energy Solution Limited” dated September 27, 2010, to open an account with Keystone Bank PLC, formerly known as Bank PHB.

The prosecutor further alleged that the defendants had intent to defraud and obtain credit facility for Cleanserve Integrated Energy Solution in the sum of N350 million by false pretence from Wema Bank by falsely representing to them that the “Board Resolution of Cleanserve Integrated Energy Solution” dated December 14, 2010, is genuine which representation they knew to be false.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor said the defendants should be remanded in prison, and added that one of the defendants, Mr Adewale, had absconded.

But counsel to Mr Adewale, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, a senior advocate of Nigeria, denied his client was on the run, saying he merely travelled out of the country.

The defence counsel urged the court to grant bail to Mr Abdul, the first defendant.

“The first defendant has been on administrative bail of the EFCC since 2018 and anytime he was invited to their office he never failed to honour their invitation.

“The interest at this stage is to ensure that the defendant comes for trial.

“We plead that he drops his international passport and if we can have a trial date for Friday, we will bring him to court. I undertake to also bring Adewale to court,” he said.

Muiz Banire, a senior advocate of Nigeria and counsel to Mr Ishiekwene, urged the court to grant bail to his client because the correctional facilities are congested.

“The maximum capacity of the prison is 800, as at today it is 3000,” Mr Banire said.

The judge acceded to the requests of the defence lawyers and granted bail to their clients.
“Due to the personal plea of the defence counsel on their attendance in court and the forfeiture of their international passports, temporary bail has been granted therein for the hearing of the bail application,” said Mojisola Dada, the judge.
The case was adjourned to January 31 for the continuation of trial.

A housewife, Rabi have allegedly set herself ablaze over jealousy and rivalry in Gayawa area, Ungogo Local government area of Kano State.

It was gathered that Rabi’s husband, Badamasi married another wife some times back and this didn’t go down well with Rabi leading to her action to set herself ablaze.

The action of Rabi has put her relatives in the state of mourning as they expressed unhappiness with the circumstances surrounding her death.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the police, DSP Abdullahi Haruna told our reporter he was trying to make an inquiry from the Divisional Police Officer, DPO of the area.

However, as at the time of filing this report, DSP Haruna is yet to issue any official statement on the incident.

The newly elected Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambwal, has alleged a deliberate attempt to oust governors elected under the party with a view to creating a one-party state.

Speaking to journalists at the end of the 88th National Executive Committee (NEC) of the main opposition partyM in Abuja on Monday, he did not, however, say how or by who.

Tambwal said that the PDP Governors will provide the necessary support to enable Emeka Ihedioha retrieves his post as Imo State governor if the Supreme Court decides to review the case.

The Sokoto Governor, who succeeded outgoing governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, said he would do everything to bring together, all governors elected under the party as he begins the mission to reposition the PDP.

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Reactions continue to trail the sex videos involving known married women and teenage girls circulating Jos the Plateau State capital for few weeks now.

Daily Trust reports that videos involved different girls and women being filmed by a cameraman and a producer/director who initially interviewed them, before stripping them naked and having sex with them on camera.

And upon circulation of the videos, some of those involved could no longer stay in their communities due to stigma and other fears.

Among the recent happenings on the pornographic videos is the ordeal of one Amanda Mary Abel, 23, who lives in Utan area of Jos North local government.

Amanda told our correspondent that rumours have been making the rounds in their community and beyond that she was one of the girls in the video, thereby leading to hostile behaviours towards her, endless gossip about her and backbiting.

She said she did not earlier understand what was going on until her paternal aunties and her grandmother called her to a meeting to rain insults on her for involving herself in a pornographic film.

She said her people stumbled on a still picture of the pornography which showed the side face of the girl whom she was accused of resembling, and that all her pleas that she wasn’t the one was discarded and thereafter everyone became hostile to her.

The hostility, Amanda said, extended to the community and the church, explaining that two Sundays ago a woman praying in church about the pornographic incident was indirectly mentioning her in the prayers.

According to her, she could not take it any longer and almost stabbed herself recently since no one wanted to believe her.

However, her ex-boyfriend came to her aid and assisted her to source for the video of the actual pornography at the cost of N8,500 from some boys who are already marketing them since they were highly sought after, but have become scarce.

“I want the whole world to know that I was not involved in any pornographic film and the person I was being mistaken for me is not me. My name is Amanda Mary Abel, I live in Utan are of Jos North local government and I have a salon. I am Irigwe by tribe from Miango in Bassa Local Government Area. People should please disregard the rumours making the rounds that one of the girls seen in the pornographic picture/video is me. We may look alike from the side but it is not me. A frontal view of the girl and myself clearly shows our differences, however.

“I have already gotten the video and pictures of the girl they are mistaking me for and I have screenshot both of us side by side. The video is 73 megabits and 23 minutes. Anyone who wants to confirm should contact me and I will send both our both, so that the person can see our differences. Many people have tried to pacify me that I should not bother myself since I am not the one, but it doesn’t work that way, and such accusation is not easy to bear.

“In fact, I think mine is even worse than that of the girls who perpetrated the act because theirs is not wrong accusation since they actually did it. But mine is a wrong accusation and it is more painful. Anyone who has been wrongly acussed before of something grievous will know what I am talking about.

That is why I can’t keep quiet, and so it is imperative to clear the air and I want my face shown so that I can be distinguished from any other person. It is not that I am better than the girls who found themselves in this situation. But I am trying to clarify the accusation in order to avoid miscalculation from any quarter,” she said.

A 30-year old housewife, simply known as Mrs. Adama, has expressed her frustration since she got married to her husband and filed a petition before the Court over her husband’s inability to satisfy her.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that Mrs. Adama instituted a suit against her husband before a Magistrate Court in Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto State over the inability of the husband to satisfy her when it comes to marital affairs.

An embittered woman told the Court that she had been without sex and stated that the last time the husband slept with her was five months ago and had stopped since then. She said her husband had not shown sexual interest in her despite trying every efforts to possibly attract him to no avail.

Mrs. Adama however, stated that the husband does his possible best to see that he caters for the daily needs like food and clothing but it was only sexual satisfaction that he had failed to fulfill.

The husband, in his response, told the Court that the allegations by his wife were not true and said the wife was trying to tarnish his image because she wants to bring in another man into the house.

He admitted that he knows it has been a while that he had not engaged in sex with her but it was not up to the time the woman told the Court.

When asked whether he has any erectile dysfunction or sexual impotency, he replied that he actually does not have such problem that it was only the misunderstanding between them that made it take a long time.

After submission from both parties, the Court postponed the hearing of the case till 4th February, 2020.

A serving governor is topping the list of suspects being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for an alleged N6,549,942, 637.14 fraud in an arms deal. Also under scrutiny are the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, a former Chairman of Skye Bank, Mr. Tunde Ayeni, retired Air Vice Marshal Salihu Atawodi and four others.

The alleged fraud was perpetrated by the defunct Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Security (PICOMSS), which was headed by Atawodi. About N4.9billion cash was said to have from PICOMMS accounts without any specific project in mind.

The serving governor was alleged to have received N1, 475, 144,199.15 of the withdrawn cash for the purpose of lobbying members of the House of Representatives to convert PICOMS into an agency. The name proposed was Maritime Security Agency. The governor was chairman of the House Committee on National Security, Intelligence and Public Safety at the time and he was said to have convinced Atawodi’s PICOMS to part with the cash. The sum received was such a top secret that a former Speaker was given a “ridiculous N1million” as his share.

Some former members of the House of Representatives who benefitted from the bribe-for-bill cash from the governor might be invited for questioning,the Nation gathered last night. Sources said the governor was initially cooperating with the EFCC on the investigation, only to stop honouring the invitation of the anti-graft agency two days before he was declared elected by the Supreme Court. He currently enjoys immunity from prosecution by virtue of his office, but he may still face trial after his tenure. The remaining seven key suspects are expected to be arraigned in court soon.

They include Mrs. Winifred Atawodi; Aeroconsult Limited, Xanatos Limited and a daughter of the ex-PICOMMS chairman, Eleojo who is under investigation. The EFCC has already blocked the following amounts in Mrs. Winifred Atawodi’s accounts: N141, 611, 736.8 and $228, 428.16. Another N200million has been placed on Post No Debit (PND) in First Mutual Micro-Finance Bank traced to Purple Pepper Farms Limited allegedly owned by Atawodi’s daughter (Eleojo). About five hectares of land worth N245million have been seized from the Atawodis. The EFCC has also uncovered how $6.12million was invested by the Atawodis in Midland Corporate Investment Limited account with Sun Trust Savings and Loans Real Estate Limited.

From the cash, AVM Atawodi allegedly transferred $408,000 transferred to an auto firm in the United States called Hennessy Cadillac for exotic vehicles including a Rolls Royce. About $808, 851 was located in Wells Fargo Bank 2 in the name of United International Enterprises. Detectives have identified a house allegedly owned by Atawodi in Lot of the 17th District of Fulton County in Georgia at 3266 Ferncliff Lane, Atlanta Georgia 30324. Despite the seizure of the passports of the Atawodis, one of the daughters has applied to travel abroad for medical treatment in order to sell the house in Atlanta.

The EFCC has also been alerted by some foreign collaborating anti-fraud agencies of plot by the daughter to sell the house. Investigation revealed that PICOMMS was set up between 2008 and 2012. It was disbanded in 2013. The committee was expected to guarantee safety on the sea and waterways. Findings by detectives revealed that AVM Atawodi, his friends and immediate family feasted on the resources allocated to PICOMMS including donor agencies funds. Others funding PICOMMS were the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA), NIMASA, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Ministry of Defence (MOD).

A document obtained by The Nation indicated that on 12th November, 2010, AVM Atawodi made PICOMMS to issue out contracts for Maritime Domain Monitoring System for Maritime Surveillance at a cost of $32,337,163.00 to Xanatos Company Limited linked with a former Chairman of Skye Bank, Mr. Tunde Ayeni. “The fraud was detected in the course of reviewing how funds were disbursed from PICOMS to Xanatos Company Limited and other beneficiary companies. Xanatos Company Limited made a lot of questionable payments obviously from the contract sum.

“One of the companies was AUSWEE Investment Limited where Atawodi, his wife and children are directors. Checks on AUSWEE acronym revealed as follows A(Amana); U(Uneku-the daughter); S(Salihu); W(Winifred Abiodun Atawodi-wife); E(Eleojo-another daughter); E(Ebi-another daughter). But one Roland Uhuago, who is an associate of AVM Atawodi, was used as a front for AUSWEE. From the statements of accounts of PICOMS in Polaris Bank, Union Bank and ECOBANK, there were many cash withdrawals and cash movement lodged in Sun Trust Savings and Loans through a former director of the finance firm, Mr. Mohammed Jibril. About $5million was invested on behalf of the Atawodis by Jibril.

“During that period, about N4.9billion was withdrawn in cash in 2011 which they claimed they used for an unclear purpose. We have seized the passports of AVM Atawodi and some members of his family to restrict their movement to the country pending the commencement of their trial. Based on the depth of investigation, EFCC has blocked the accounts of Mrs. Winifred Atawodi’s with N141, 611, 736.8 and $228, 428.16. Another N200million has been placed on Post No Debit (PND) in First Mutual Micro-Finance Bank traced to Purple Pepper Farms Limited allegedly owned by Atawodi’s daughter (Eleojo).

About five hectares of land worth N245million have been seized from the Atawodis. The land was bought from Hilton Hotel and the relevant agency in the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has confirmed it.” On the involvement of ex-Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State, the brief on the case indicated that his company Aeroconsult Limited was awarded a contract for the construction of a hanger in Benin Airport for the sum of N2, 780, 649, 450.00 described as an inflated rate.

“Aeroconsult also sublet their contract to Olutoyi Estate Development and Services Limited in which N700million was given to the company. From the inflated total cost of the hangar, about N550million was given to AUSWEE. And from the N500million, about N484, 000,000 was transferred to Vector Integrated Services Limited owned by Atawodi. This company has an account with Union Bank where Mrs. Winifred Atawodi was a manager before she retired. The withdrawal from AUSWEE to Vector Integrated Services was from Atawodi. And from Union Bank, some of the cash were moved into the account of Vector Integrated Services Limited in Fidelity Bank.”

A top source in EFCC said: “When we invited the former Governor of Kogi State, Capt. Idris Wada for interrogation, he insisted that the contract was well-executed. But we detected evidence of transfers to AUSWEE which suggested that the hangar contract was inflated. The ex-governor and Aeroconsult have more questions to answer, especially when fresh transfers were made in 2018 and 2019 to AVM Atawodi.”

Regarding the serving governor, the source added: “The N1, 475, 144,199.15 was converted to dollars and handed over to the governor when he was a member of the House of Representatives. The owner of the Bureau De Change used by PICOMMs, Sharif Shanono has been quizzed and he has provided evidence of transactions. We also observed that on 21/12/2011, about N250million was transferred from PICOMMS account to Saab Global Links Limited account 1012330930 belonging to Shanono.

“We were on the case before the governor’s election was validated by the Supreme Court. In fact, he was to appear before our detectives two days to the Supreme Court judgment but he stayed away to await the verdict and avoid being detained.

“While going through records, detectives were able to confirm how a paltry N1million was given to a former Speaker of the House of Representatives. Now that the governor has immunity, we have to wait till 2023 when he completes his tenure before resuming his investigation and trial. We are likely to invite some former members of the house who benefitted from the bribe-for-bill cash. The bill was titled, “Maritime Security Agency Establishment Bill (MASECA) 2010 to change PICOMMS into an agency. So far, seven out of the eight suspects implicated in this fraud may face trial.”

Human rights lawyer , Mr Inibehe Effiong, says the Department of State Services has arrested his client who is also a campus journalist , Ayoola Babalola, for allegedly publishing articles critical of the President, Maj. Gen Muhammadu Buhari ( retd. ) , and All Progressives Congress chieftain , Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Effiong made the allegation during a chat with
Sunday PUNCH .

He explained that Babalola , a student of Mass Communications at Gateway Polytechnic , Abeokuta , was the editor of a campus newspaper known as “ GAMPOSA Trumpet”.

In the 2019 edition of the newspaper in November 2019, the newspaper published an article titled , “President Buhari does not believe in Nigeria ” which was written by Apostle Alfred Tseye- Okotie .

In the article , it was stated that the Buhari regime did not want Nigeria to be good .
In a second article titled , “Will EFCC investigate Chief Bola Tinubu?” it was insinuated that the EFCC may not act on the petition it received as regards the alleged cash- laden bullion vans seen in Tinubu’ s Lagos home on the eve of the 2019 general elections.

In a third article written by Femi Adeyeye in October 2019 titled , “Sowore , An Equal Opportunity Offender” , the newspaper wrote glowingly of Sahara Reporters Publisher , Omoyele Sowore , who was at the time being detained by the DSS for allegedly planning a revolution against the government.

In a statement later , Effiong said, “Late on Friday , January 24 , 2020, I was alerted that my client Mr Ayoola Babalola , a courageous student activist and young journalist, was arrested and charged to court for allegedly publishing certain articles in a Campus Newspaper called GAPOSA Trumpet in which he served as the editor .

“Babalola recently graduated from the Gateway Polytechnic located in Sapaade , Ogun State, where he read Mass Communications.

“The articles which were deemed critical of President Buhari , APC Leader , Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the EFCC also led to the dismissal of a lecturer of Gateway Polytechnic who served as the producer of the campus newspaper .”

Effiong alleged that Babalola was arrested on Thursday in Abeokuta by the DSS and taken before a Magistrate Court on Friday.

“His appeal to the DSS for him to be allowed to contact me as his counsel was rebuffed . Mr Babalola was only able to contact me through a third party from the Ibara Maximum Prison in Abeokua where he was remanded by the court , ” the lawyer said.

He said Babalola was arraigned on six counts bordering on alleged incitement , conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace and others for allegedly publishing critical articles against President Buhari .

It was stated that Babalola had informed his lawyers of the plans of the DSS to arrest him even before the actual arrest happened.

The Spokesman for the DSS , Peter Afunaya, neither responded to calls nor a text message on Saturday .

“I condemn this despotic and needless actions by the SSS . It is a shame that at a time the country is battling serious security challenges , the DSS rather than protect Nigeria , is paranoid about any form of criticism against the Buhari regime , ” Effiong said.

Sex, breastfeeding within six weeks of Lassa fever treatment increase risk of infecting others —Researcher

Experts have warned that if persons who have been treated for Lassa fever engage in unprotected sex within six weeks of surviving the infection, they risk transmitting the virus to others.

Director of Research and Head, Microbiology Department, Nigeria Institute of Medical Research, Lagos, Dr. Rosemary Audu, disclosed this to PUNCH HealthWise on Thursday sequel to the recent outbreak of Lassa fever in Olokoro community, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State.

She also noted that nursing mothers who survive the viral infection can transmit the residual virus to their babies if they engage in breastfeeding before the physician clears them to do so.

Audu warned that the chances of Lassa fever survivors spreading the virus after their discharge are high, saying they are “viable carriers” of the virus six weeks after they may have completed their treatment.

She noted that an infected person can transmit the virus majorly through body fluids such as semen and breast milk, and harped on safe sex within the period until the survivor tests negative to the virus.

According to the expert, a cross-sectional study carried out on Lassa fever patients within an average of six weeks after they had been discharged, showed the patients still tested positive to the virus.

Audu said the virus was “quite endemic in Nigeria,” and that a study carried out between 2017 and 2018 to know if there were other sources of transmission aside rodents, revealed that human-to-human transmission was becoming a factor.

She said, “It is possible that patients could still be transmitting the virus while recovering.

By Bisi OLANIYI, Port Harcourt

The major stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 20 wards of Port Harcourt City council area (PHALGA) of Rivers State have accused Governor Nyesom Wike of desperately lobbying to join the APC, since the former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is not allowing him (Wike) to take over the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

They also disowned ‘the foot-soldier’ of Wike in APC, Igo Aguma, a two-term member of the House of Representatives, who hails from Ward 2 of PHALGA, accusing him of being a mole and a traitor, who had been pursuing personal interest.

The PHALGA stakeholders of APC, yesterday during a news conference, after their crucial meeting at Orogbum Civic Centre in Ward 2, Ogbunabali Road, Port Harcourt, insisted that the Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, a former Rivers governor, remained the leader of the main opposition party in the state, with the members completely loyal to him and the APC.

The six-page communique was read by the leader of APC in PHALGA, Nnamdi Wuche, a lawyer, who was accompanied by a former member of the Rivers House of Assembly, Victoria Nyeche, and other critical stakeholders of the party.

The communique read in part: “The leadership of APC in PHALGA hereby dissociates the chapter from the reckless, ill-conceived and malicious conduct of one Igo Aguma against the leader of APC in Rivers State (Amaechi) and the APC. We wish to state that Aguma’s reckless behaviour in recent times came to us as a rude shock. Consequently, we hereby disown Aguma, Lasbry Amadi and their cohorts.

“We know as a fact that the Minister for Transportation has favoured Aguma in the areas of political appointments, contracts and financial support. It beats our imagination that the same Aguma will unleash such attacks on his benefactor (Amaechi) on the pages of newspapers.

“Aguma’s sojourn and success in politics were made possible by the Minister for Transportation through his appointment as the Commissioner for Sports in Dr. Peter Odili’s government.

Aguma’s commissionership slot, otherwise known as ‘compensation slot,’ was given to his father, the late Sir Emmanuel Wonukwuru Aguma. Aguma’s presence in the 5th and 6th National Assembly as a member of the House of Representatives was also made possible by Amaechi, whom he now desperately seeks to destroy.

“Aguma has nothing to offer other than his desperation to destroy the APC in Rivers State, to pave way for his sponsor, Governor Nyesom Wike, who is desperately lobbying to join and take over the APC in Rivers State, which machinations we are now determined to nip in the bud.

“Aguma’s penchant for betrayal, insubordination and disloyalty to party leadership is legendary and dates back to the 2011 general elections, which ultimately led to his replacement by Hon. Ken Chikere. Rt. Hon. Amaechi remains the leader of APC in Rivers State, as severally acknowledged by Aguma and his cohorts.”

The former member of the House of Representatives (Aguma), while reacting yesterday evening through his media aide, Minikwu Samuel, described Wuche and other stakeholders of APC in PHALGA as impostors.
Aguma, who described himself as the leader of Rivers APC Third Force, alleged that Wuche and others who were at yesterday’s news conference were Amaechi’s praise singers.

He said: “APC in Rivers State, from the units to the state level, is structurally dead and non-existent in any way, executive and leadership-wise. APC in Rivers State has no functional executive at all levels known to law or the constitution of the party. The tenure of the former leadership of the party at all levels in Rivers state has elapsed. Congresses that should have produced a new set of executives, in line with the party’s constitution, have not been conducted and matters related thereto are proceeds of judgment of the Supreme Court and current litigation, which I (Aguma) am prosecuting.

“I wish to renew my call to the APC leadership to follow the constitution of the party and save Rivers APC from destruction by Rotimi Amaechi. This I state as a law-abiding member of our great party.”

Aguma also maintained that he remained a bonafide member and a statutory executive committee member of the APC from Ward 2, Unit 25 in PHALGA.

Wike’s reaction was sought through Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, from 4:13 p.m. yesterday, through text and WhatsApp messages, which he read, but he declined to react.

Calls were then put to the MTN line of the former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers Council (Nsirim), from 5:25 p.m., but the line was later switched off.

The inability of the United States to gain access to critical data about Nigerian travellers is behind the consideration of a visa ban on the country, diplomatic sources have told TheCable.

However, the ban on “birth tourism” is not targeted at Nigerians as it is to be applied worldwide.

President Donald Trump announced at the World Economic Forum (WEF) that he was planning to extend a visa ban to more countries, with the US media naming Nigeria alongside Belarus, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Sudan and Tanzania as the new names on the list.

Although Nigeria partners with the US in the war on terror, drugs and cyber crimes, a “problematic” information flow between the Nigerian immigration and the International Police Organisation (Interpol) has made it difficult for the US to track critical data, the highly placed sources informed TheCable.

This is contrary to speculations that the US was planning a visa ban because of reported human rights infractions in Nigeria.

“A third party company currently holds Nigeria’s passport database and this is considered a hang-up by the Americans who would be more comfortable with a better information flow between Nigeria and Interpol,” a diplomatic official told TheCable.

Interpol is an international organisation that facilitates worldwide police cooperation and crime control in its 194 member countries.

The agency helps coordinate cooperation among the world’s law enforcement institutions through criminal databases and communications networks — and Nigeria is found wanting in these areas.

A diplomatic office told TheCable that the US is already implementing restrictions on immigrant visas issued to Nigerians because of the database issue.

But non-immigrant visas — such as B1/B2 issued for business and tourist purposes — are yet to be affected.

On a brighter note, according to the sources, “a software package is already being developed to allow information flow from Nigeria into the Interpol database”.

The Trump administration is expected to announce the visa ban on Monday but it is still unclear if Nigeria will be included given the improvement in the information flow.

The first travel ban issued by Trump affected seven Muslim-majority countries.
The second was issued in March 2017 and the third in September 2017.

The US supreme court upheld the travel ban in 2017 after two appeal courts had initially blocked the move .

The US government had said the travel restriction is necessary to prevent potential acts of terrorism because countries on the list do not adequately screen travellers.

At present, restrictions blocks travellers from Libya, Iran, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, North Korea and Venezuelan politicians. Chad, a West African country, was removed from the list in April 2018.

Presidential aide Lauretta Onochie has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the former minister of education Oby Ezekwesili of influencing Nigeria’s latest position on the 2019 global corruption index.

Onochie uploaded the duo’s picture on her Twitter account which she captioned ” here are the #AngryBirds who Founded Transparency International Should we listen to them? NO!”

“Should we lose sleep over their rating? NOPE! What should we do with their latest trash? BIN IT!”

Nigeria is currently ranked 146 out of the 180 countries on the 2019 corruption perception index, according to Transparency International.

The index ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption in the opinion of experts and business people, using a scale of 0 to 100, where zero means “highly corrupt” and 100 means very clean.

The report released on Thursday said Nigeria scored 26 out of 100 points, dropping from the 27 points that it has maintained since 2017. In the 2018 index, Nigeria rose by four places from 148 to 144.

In the report, Nigeria also ranked the fourth most corrupt country out of the 19 countries in the West African region.

Transparency International said the position of all countries in the report is based cases of corruption “from fraud that occurs at the highest levels of government to petty bribery that blocks access to basic public services like healthcare and education, citizens are fed up with corrupt leaders and institutions.”

But Onochie has declared that the ratings were influenced by the former president and minister. She said the report is thrash and should be thrown in the bin.

She maintained that President Muhammadu Buhari is the “UNDISPUTED Anti Corruption Champion of Africa.”

“BANK THIS!” Onochie said.

The TI report was also panned by the chairman Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Itse Sagay.

“I don’t have the achievement of other countries but this what I can say as far as anti-corruption is concerned there has been a great leap forward, no contest about that in the last four years, the whole fight has been transformed, there is a government that has been committed with the will to fight it,” Sagay said on ChannelsTV News at 10 on Thursday.

Sagay noted that President Muhammad Buhari was named the champion of anti-corruption by the African Union was a testament to his commitment to fighting corruption in Nigeria.

The Nigeria Governors Forum has described as too high, deductions for the budget support facility received from the Federal Government.

The chairman of the NGF and governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, said this in an interview with reporters Wednesday night after a meeting of the forum held in Abuja.

Fayemi said the governors were honouring their obligations to pay back the budget support facility despite disagreements over the mode of payment.
l
“On reconciliation for budget support facility, that is something that has been handled. We have come up with our own recommendations of special fund generally, not just the budget support facility.

“On budget support facility, specifically, states are already honouring their obligations. They are already paying back what is owned to the federal government. The question of the amount is something that we’ll continue to review.

“It is our view that we should be paying a lot less what we’re paying, but that is something that has not been addressed yet. But that has not stopped us from honouring the obligation to the federal government that lent the resources to us at the time that they did.”

The governors had, at the October 29, 2019 National Economic Council meeting, rejected the conditions set out by the federal government for the repayment of budget support facility.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, while briefing State House correspondents at the end of that NEC meeting, had said the governors opposed the initial N252m monthly repayment plan for 20 years which was deducted in September and October.

The minister had also said that the governors equally kicked against the new suggestion of N162m monthly repayment for 30 years.

Ahmed had also said the federal government would continue to engage the governors.

Aidoghie Paulinus,



An anti-foreigner shut down is ongoing in Diepsloot, Johannesburg North, South Africa, the Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA) has said.

According to NUSA President, Adetola Olubajo, violence directed at foreign nationals, including Nigerians, started in Diepsloot area of Johannesburg Wednesday evening.

A message circulated by residents of the area on Wednesday called for a total shutdown beginning from 4 am, Thursday, January 23, and directed each extension to organise itself to main roads.

The ‘no movement’ message had a further directive that all things will remain at a standstill until the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, addressed residents of the area.

The residents, in the message, demanded that the law enforcement agencies must come down to Diepsloot and close everything which was illegal and remove all undocumented foreign nationals in Diepsloot.

“When we fight, we fight together with our kids,” the message read.

Olubajo added that the angry residents of the area began burning tyres and chanting songs, saying that foreigners living in the area must leave immediately.

Olubajo, however, said normalcy was restored temporarily in the area following the intervention of the South African police, adding that violence erupted again in the morning.

“The community members want undocumented foreigners to leave the area. They accused foreign nationals of criminal activities and killing of a senior police officer,” he said.

“Our public relations team has issued a security alert to Nigerians to stay away from the area until the area is safe for foreign nationals. Though there is a heavy police presence in the area, the local residents are not backing down in their demand. The area is still very tensed and not safe for foreign nationals. We call on our nationals to exercise caution and avoid the affected areas.”

While saying that there was no death recorded in the area, Olubajo commended the South African police for their intervention, even as he said more intervention was needed to avoid casualties.

“For now, there is no record of death. We commend the intervention of the members of South Africa Police yesterday evening, but more still needs to be done to avoid casualties,” Olubajo further said.

When contacted, the Consul General of Nigeria in Johannesburg, Godwin Adama, said although there were issues in the area, he was yet to get the details of the situation.

Adama made clear, however, that “there are no Nigerians living in the area.”

The Presidency has said Nigeria will need to get proper briefing before reacting to the reported travel ban plan against the country by the United States of America’s government.

Reports emerged on Tuesday indicating that the President Donald Trump’s administration has plans to add seven countries across the world, including Nigeria, to the country’s travel ban list.

The report, which was credited to some American media, identified the countries to be affected in the new ban to include Tanzania, Sudan, Eritrea and Nigeria from Africa; Kyrgyzstan and Belarus from Eastern Europe and Myanmar from Asia.

However, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in a terse message on Wednesday evening, said Nigeria will not react to such diplomatic development based on just media report.

According to him, the government would take its time to watch how the said development unfolds, take a study and analysis of its expected reach and effect before giving an official reaction.

Mallam Garba said: “Yes we have read the news that the Trump administration is planning to add a host of African, Asian and Eastern European countries to its travel restrictions list as reported by the U.S. media.

“We are not going to react to speculations. We urge you to wait for us to see what unfolds under the new policy, its scope, its reach, the implications and its consequences before we react,” he said.

The Nation gathered that the President of the United States Donald Trump during a recent media interview, had hinted of adding some countries to the restriction list of his country.

Trump, according to reports, did, however, not give clues to which countries might be affected in the new round of restriction.

An Islamic group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the murder of Lawan Andimi, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Michika local government area of Adamawa, describing it as horrendous, ungodly and barbaric.

The MURIC director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, in a statement issued and signed in Lagos on Wednesday, said that anyone who kills innocent people does not represent Islam.

“We are at a loss for words. This killing is horrendous, ungodly and barbaric.

“We condemn it in the strongest terms possible. We reiterate our earlier declaration that Boko Haram is not an Islamic group, rather it is a group of misled zealots.

“Any group that kills at will and sheds the blood of innocent people cannot represent Islam,” he said.

“We call on all Nigerians regardless of religious background to unite against Boko Haram. We must stand up together to fight the evil in our midst,” he said.

“We charge the Nigerian military to leave no stone unturned in its efforts to eliminate the insurgents.

“Our hearts are heavy as we remember the bereaved family. But we are assured in the global reach of God’s divine umbrella.

“Only Him can console them. Only Him can heal. We pray that the Almighty God will give succour to members of the deceased’s family, his friends and associates,” he said.

He commiserated with the leadership of CAN in particular and the Nigerian Christian community in general.

He added that it was only patience and statesmanship that had kept Nigeria going in times like this.

“We are all losing our loved and respected clerics, friends and family members.

“We are all victims. Let us console ourselves and strengthen our position with prayers instead of resorting to blame game,” he said.

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri


ABUJA–The Supreme Court, on Monday, affirmed Aminu Tambuwal of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the valid winner of the last governorship election in Sokoto State.

The apex court dismissed an appeal the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, Ahmed Sokoto, filed to challenge Tambuwal’s re-election.

A seven-man panel of justices of the court headed by Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad, held that the appellant failed to adduce any credible evidence to prove his petition against the outcome of the governorship election.

Justice Musa Abba-Ajji who delivered the lead judgement, noted that whereas the appellant produced 12 witnesses before the tribunal, 11 of made their statements in Hausa language while the English version was tendered in evidence.

It held that the appellant failed to tender the original version of the statements he tendered in evidence and also failed to produce the translator to confirm the authenticity or otherwise of the 11 statements.

Besides, the apex court held that the appellant was unable to prove that the election was invalid by virtue of non compliance with the Electoral Act.

It held that he failed to discharge the onus placed on him by the law, and accordingly dismissed the appeal marked SC/1466/19.

Mobile subscribers in the country are now wary of acquiring new Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards as the possibility of such being a re-allocated number are high.

This follows the recent ordeal of one Anthony Okolie, who spent 10 weeks with the Department of State Services (DSS) for purchasing a SIM previously used by one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughters, Hanan.

Some mobile subscribers, who spoke with our correspondent following the development, expressed fear that anybody could fall victim of such situation as SIM re-allocation is a common practice by mobile network operators.

Aside what could happen in a situation like that of Okolie, they fear that a new SIM, which might be a re-allocated one, might have been used earlier by a criminal who is wanted by security agencies, who could thereafter trace the number to a new owner once it becomes active again.

Lukman Adekunle, an auto mechanic, said ever since he heard about the ordeal of Okolie, he had shelved his initial plan of getting a new line.

“I recently bought a dual-SIM phone and I was thinking of getting another line to fill the slot, not that I really need it anyway, because I already have three lines, two in my other phone and one in the new phone I just got. But with what I read about the possibility of buying a line that has been used by another person, which may lead me into trouble, I have suspended that plan,” he said.

Another subscriber, who identified herself as Joy Uche, a student, said she had bought a SIM last year, and had been receiving bank alerts from an account belonging to the previous user.

“I never saw it as a problem until recently when I heard about the guy arrested by the DSS. Then I began to think: What if I am accused of planning to collect money from another person’s account just because I am receiving alerts that I know nothing about? I had to go to First Bank last week to complain, because the account number is First Bank’s and they promised to look into it. Now, I’m even afraid of buying a new SIM,” she stated.

For Mrs Adewale, a new SIM she bought recently had almost put her into trouble and broke her home.

According to her, the line she bought previously belonged to a lady, but after she bought it, she kept on receiving strange calls, especially, at night.

“Every night, I received strange calls from unknown guys, even when I’m beside my husband; I kept on telling them it’s a wrong number. If not that my husband is an understanding person, it would have broken my home. He was the one that showed me that the number was used by a lady before as he saw her name and picture on Truecaller. The government should do something about this,” Mrs Adewale said.

A banker, who simply identified himself as John, said his fear about buying a new SIM is the possibility of such line haven been used previously by a shady person.

“My brother, getting a new SIM is no longer a child’s play; one has to be very careful, if all we are reading about SIM re-allocation is true. I asked myself, what if I buy a SIM that had been used by a kidnapper, who had collected ransom and dumped the line? What if the line becomes active and the security agencies trace it to me? One may be cleared after all the investigations, but before then, one would have suffered. This is why I’m not even thinking of buying any new SIM for now. Even if they give me for free, I won’t take it.”

However, speaking in a telephone interview with our correspondent, the President of Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Olusola Teniola, allayed the fears of subscribers, noting that with full registration of the SIM after purchase, the new owner is covered.

“Subscribers do not need to fear buying new SIM, what they need do is to ensure that they register the SIM immediately and make sure that the new SIM bears their full details on the operator’s database,” he said.

While justifying the need for telecom operator to re-allocate numbers, Teniola said the numbers are scarce resources which the operators pay for annually, hence, the need to re-allocate to avoid wastage.

“MSSIDN, the telephone number that we use are owned by the government. Government sells the MSSIDN to licensed operators who now sell it to consumers to provide mobile telephoning and data services. When an individual uses a number on a pre-paid plan, that number is assumed to be used constantly. And if it is not used after 30 days, 60 days, or 180 days, depending on what the service provider allows, then the service provider has every right to either de-activate the number or re-allocate it.

“The reason operators re-allocate numbers after it has been out of use for some time is because they do not want to waste numbers. They pay for these numbers on annual basis to the government through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC),” he explained.

Presently there is protocol in place which allows customers know if the SIM card they are purchasing has been previously used or not.

According to Okolie, he purchased the SIM that eventually landed him in trouble, from a roadside seller in Asaba, Delta State, unknowing that it was formally owned by the last daughter of President Buhari.

It was while he was using the SIM that DSS operatives picked him up on July 19 last year, on the grounds that he has been using the line for shady business – a claim which he vehemently denied.

According to the businessman, following his arrest, he remained in the DSS custody, bound by handcuffs, as the DSS waited for Hanan, who was in school in the United Kingdom (UK), to come and clear him but she never did.

He said that in line with relevant regulations, he had duly completed the registration of the new SIM which included capturing his finger prints and taking his mug shot.

“I approached a kit operator of the 3rd respondent (MTN) named Jeff, who captured my biometric and registered the SIM card in my name and on my behalf,” he explained. But apparently that was still not enough to save him from his ordeal.

Okolie maintained that he explained to the DSS how he bought the SIM card, but he was informed that the phone line, which was linked to his SIM card in question, was once used by Hanan.

The 33-year-old businessman has since gone to court seeking compensation for his troubles.

In the suit filed before a Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta, by his lawyer, Tope Akinyode, Okolie demanded N500 million compensation from the DSS, Hanan, and MTN.

But the DSS is insisting that Okolie had tried to exploit the fact that the SIM was once used by the President’s daughter, and was only picked up after complaints were levelled against him for trying to extort money from some individuals.

In a ploy to gain freedom, Mu’umain (surname withheld), a second year biological science student of the University of Maiduguri, had to tell Boko Haram insurgents who had abducted him that he was studying Arabic.

At least eight students of the university were abducted by the insurgents between Tuesday and Thursday, sources told TheCable.

The students were returning to school when the insurgents abducted them around Jakana area along the Damaturu-Maiduguri road.

He had told the insurgents he was studying Arabic so that he would understand and preach “the word of God better.”

According to him, they were all blindfolded and then taken away in different directions.
He was, however, freed after spending a night with the insurgents.

“About eight students have been abducted at that same spot this week. One of the abducted students, Mu’umain Mohammed, a 200 Level biological science student was later freed.

Mohammed told the insurgents he was studying Arabic in the university and this was the reason they let him go. They took him on motorcycle and dropped him in Auno where he found his way back,” one of the sources said.

Lilian Gyang, a year one student of zoology, was also identified as one of the victims abducted on Thursday.

“Lilian was coming from Jos, and they were almost here when the insurgents stopped them,” the sources said.

The insurgents have not made any demand yet.
Danjuma Gambo, spokesperson of the university, said he is unable to comment on the issue.

Sagir Musa, army spokesperson, did not pick calls placed to his telephone.

The abduction comes days after the insurgents launched attacks on communities along the Damaturu-Maiduguri road, leaving many travellers stranded .

The insurgents had also attacked the convoy of Olusegun Adeniyi , commander of operation Lafiya Dole, while coming from Jakana.

From Tuesday June 11, 2019, when the Ninth Senate was inaugurated, to December 20, 2019, when it embarked on Christmas and New Year recess, the apex legislative chamber was able to sponsor a total of 189 bills.

Investigations carried out by New Telegraph revealed that 70 senators, out of the 109 senators, sponsored these bills while 39 of the lawmakers could better be described as bench warmers within the six months of legislative engagements in the Senate, as they did not sponsor any bill.

Further statistical breakdown also shows that three out of the 189 legislative proposals were executive bills while 186 were private member bills.

It is also pertinent to note that the three executive bills had been considered and passed for third reading in the Senate. They have been signed into law by President Muhamnadu Buhari.
The three bills include the N10.594 trillion 2020 Appropriation Bill, the 2019 Finance Bill and the N278.355 billion 2020 Appropriation bill for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT, Abuja).

Similarly, apart from the three executive bills already considered and passed within the period under review, four out of the 186 private member bills were also passed for third reading.

One of the four bills, the Deep Off-shore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act CAP D3 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill 2019, has been assented to by President Buhari.

Interestingly, Senators like late Benjamin Uwajumogu (APC, Imo North), Biodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti South) and Smart Adeyemi (APC Kogi West), who joined the 9th Senate late due to electoral litigation, were among those who sponsored the 189 bills in the last six months.

Also, it is worthy of note, that most of the 39 senators who have not sponsor any bill yet, started with the Ninth Senate during its inauguration on June 11, 2019.

Some of the senators who have not made any impact in sponsorship of bills include: Lola Ashiru (APC, Kwara South), Ishaku Elisha Cliff (PDP, Adamawa North), Stephen Ekpenyong (PDP, Akwa Ibom North West), Adamu Muhammad Bulkachuwa (APC Bauchi, North), Diri Douye (PDP, Bayelsa Central) and Onor Sandy Ojang (PDP, Cross River Central).

Others are Senators Alkali Saidu (APC, Gombe North), Amos Bulus Kilawangs (APC, Gombe South), Hadeija Hassan Ibrahim (APC, Jigawa North East), Abdul-Kwari Suleiman (APC, Kaduna North), Abdullah Barkiya Kabir (APC, Katsina Central), Nicholas Tofowomo (PDP, Ondo South) and Lawal Hassan Anka (PDP, Zamfara West).

Also in this category are Senators Yaroe Binos Dauda (PDP, Adamawa South), Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP, Delta North ), Oseni Yakubu (APC, Kogi Central), Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo (PDP, Bayelsa West) and Degi Eremienyo (APC, Bayelsa East), who is now the Deputy Governor-elect for the state, among others.

Furthermore, available records show that a total of 40 out of the 186 private member bills sponsored in the Senate between October and December last year have scaled second reading.

Some of the bills include the controversial anti-social media bill titled: “Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulation Bill 2019 sponsored by Senator Uba Sani (APC, Kaduna Central), the bill seeking for establishment of the National Assembly Budget and Research Office sponsored by Senator Rose Oko (PDP, Cross River North) and the bill seeking for establishment of National Rice Development Council of Nigeria sponsored by Senator Bima Mohammed Enagi (APC, Niger South).

Others are the bills seeking for an Act to prevent, prohibit and redress Sexual Harassment of Students in Tertiary Educational Institutions sponsored by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta Central); Freedom from Hunger Bill sponsored by Senator Theodore Orji (PDP, Abia Central); National Health Insurance Commission Bill 2019 sponsored by Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC, Kwara Central) and the bill seeking for an Act to provide for constituency projects in the annual budget of the federation sponsored by Senator Stella Oduah (PDP Anambra North).

Other bills that have scaled second reading in the Senate within the period under review are some of those seeking for alteration of provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

They include the one sponsored by Senator Gabriel Suswam (PDP, Benue North East), which seeks for a definite and certain day for convening the first session and inauguration of elected members of National Assembly and State House of Assembly after their dissolution by the President and Governor, pursuant to sections 64(3) and 105(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

Most of the 186 bills are still at the first reading stage, being legislative proposals listed on the Senate’s Order Papers between 19th November and 20th December, 2019.

However, the Hate Speech Bill sponsored by Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger North), which passed through first reading on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, was never listed for second reading before adjournment for Christmas and the New year.

The delay in listing this proposal for second reading may not be unconnected with the controversies it generated in public domain, after it was introduced in the apex legislative chamber for consideration.

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr.Ogbonnaya Onu,yesterday, assured that the vision to launch Nigeria into space was still on course and would be achieved in no distant time.

Onu said with the support of President Muhammadu Buhari, the ministry would continue to work towards achieving the dream no matter how long it takes.

The minister spoke in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, while delivery an address in his alma mater, Izzi High School Old Students Association (great COSCO)’s national convention.

The event was held at the old school ground, presently occupied by the Faculty of Education,Ebonyi State University,Abakaliki (EBSU),Ishieke campus.

Onu urged students of the school to take interest in engineering and science courses, especially as they proceed into tertiary institutions.He said without trained engineers, the nation’s dream of going to space would end as a mirage.

Onu was reacting to after students of the school during a welcome song, took turns to mention the professions they would love to pursue, but surprisingly, none of them mentioned engineering.

He said engineering was vital to the development of any nation,and called on the management and teachers of the school to take urgent and sustainable measures to encourage the students to show interest to science and technology.

The minister donated 10 laboratory kits, 10 HP laptops, two desktop computers and copies of 12 different books he authored to the school.

President Muhammadu Buhari will leave Abuja tomorrow (Friday) for London to participate in the inaugural UK-Africa Investment Summit holding on Monday, January 20, 2020.

President Buhari will be accompanied to the Summit by Governors Yahaya Bello, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya and Okezie Ikpeazu of Kogi, Gombe and Abia states respectively.

Also on the presidential entourage are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd); and the Director General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

The summit, hosted by the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, is expected to bring together African leaders, international business chief executives and heads of international organisations.

While in the United Kingdom, President Buhari will hold a meeting with the Head of the Commonwealth, Prince Charles in Glasgow, Scotland.

The President and his delegation will also have bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Johnson as well as heads of multilateral organisations.

Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, in a statement issued on Thursday, said the event is convened “to create new partnerships that will deliver more investments and jobs” to the benefit of people and businesses in African countries and the United Kingdom.

Apart from highlighting new perspectives on UK-Africa Partnership for Prosperity, issues of Sustainable Finance and Infrastructure; Trade and Investment; Future African Growth Sectors and Clean Energy and Climate, are expected to dominate presentations and discussions during the Summit.

With the expected take-off of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in mid-2020, the London investment summit will provide Nigeria with the opportunity to project itself as a leading investment destination for new industries.

In addition, the summit will deepen Nigeria-United Kingdom investment ties post-Brexit given that Africa currently represents just two percent of British trade activity, with Nigeria accounting for only 10 percent of that total.

The Nigerian delegation to the investment meeting will further showcase what the Federal Government has done through policies and legislations to improve the investment and business climate in the country.

President Buhari is expected back in Abuja next Thursday.

The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd .) , will embark on a six -day trip to London on Friday , according to the State House. He is to participate in the inaugural UK - Africa Investment Summit , while in London.

The summit itself opens on Monday , January 20 , but Buhari jets out of Abuja on Friday .
Buhari is expected back in Nigeria on Thursday , next week .

It will be his first foreign trip this new year .
The Presidency , in a statement by Buhari’ s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina , explained that the British Prime Minister , Boris Johnson , would play host to the summit.

African leaders , business owners and heads of international organisations are billed to be in London for the summit to engage in discussions “ to create new partnerships that will deliver more investments and jobs . ”

The UK and Africa are expected to benefit from the outcomes of the talks.

It explained further , “ Apart from highlighting new perspectives on UK -Africa Partnership for Prosperity , issues of Sustainable Finance and Infrastructure ; Trade and Investment; Future African Growth Sectors and Clean Energy and Climate, are expected to dominate presentations and discussions during the Summit.

“ With the expected take -off of the African Continental Free Trade Area in mid -2020 , the London investment summit will provide Nigeria with the opportunity to project itself as a leading investment destination for new industries.

“ In addition , the summit will deepen Nigeria -United Kingdom investment ties post - Brexit given that Africa currently represents just two per cent of British trade activity, with Nigeria accounting for only 10 per cent of that total .

“ The Nigerian delegation to the investment meeting will further showcase what the Federal Government has done through policies and legislation to improve the investment and business climate in the country . ”

Other engagements of Buhari while in London include holding meetings “ with the Head of the Commonwealth, Prince Charles in Glasgow , Scotland ” , and bilateral talks Johnson “ as well as heads of multilateral organisations ” .

The Presidency listed those to be on Buhari’ s entourage as Governors Yahaya Bello , Muhammad Inuwa and Okezie Ikpeazu of Kogi , Gombe and Abia States respectively.

“ Also on the presidential entourage are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama ; Minister of Industry , Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; the Minister of Finance , Budget and National Planning , Zainab Ahmed ; the National Security Adviser , Major General Babagana Monguno ( retd ); and the Director -General, National Intelligence Agency , Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, ” the statement added.

The Presidency yesterday said governors hijacking funds meant for their local government would face trial immediately after leaving office.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang, according to a statement by his spokesman, Edet Etuk, gave the warning yesterday while featuring on the Federal Radio Corporation Network Service programme, “Issues of the Moment” .

Enang charged the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Attorney-General of the Federation to monitor the spending of allocation of funds to the states.

“Let the governors know that they would be made to stand trial in accordance to the extant law when their immunity is eventually lifted,” Enang said.

He said most of the local government secretariats had been taken over by weeds; “while most of the primary healthcare centre do not function.”

Oil prospecting has begun in Keana local government area of Nasarawa, the state governor, Abdullahi Sule, has said.

The gorvernor disclosed this on Wednesday while hosting the Alago ethnic nationality who were on a courtesy visit to the Government House in Lafia.

“The first area that will produce oil in commercial quantity from the northern region will most likely be Alago area, as the process is ongoing for oil prospecting in Keana local government.

“Most of you may not know what is happening because you will think we have talked about it and the matter is gone. Oil prospecting is like agriculture or sugar, it takes time.

“Oil prospecting requires various seismic tests, which means the investigation into what kind of oil you have; what quantity of oil is there; where exactly is it located; where do we drill the real well that we can hit the oil rather than drilling on a dry area? All that requires a lot of work and it requires high technology.

“We are hopeful that it will be the first area that will produce oil in commercial quantity, not only in Nasarawa state but most likely in Northern Nigeria,” he said.

Governor Sule said that the Alago land is blessed with human and material resources.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation and the Andoma of Doma, HRH Ahmadu Aliyu Ogah Onawo, expressed gratitude to the governor, describing him as a leader who has come with the intension to convey goodness to the length and breadth of the state.

“We are begging for every good that you do, for every local government, our local governments are there. For every good that you do for every people, our people are counting on you,” he stated.

Also speaking, the chairman of Keana local government council, Adamu Adigiza, said, “I am expecting the oil prospecting team’s result anytime and hoping that they find oil in large quantity for its output to be utilized for the development of the state and the nation at large.

There was a mild drama on Wednesday at Ijare town in Ifedore local government area of Ondo state as community chiefs led youths of the town to chase away herdsmen that have been causing problems for the community.

The herders however left their cows behind and ran for their lives.

A source in Ijare town said the incident occurred after warnings have been given to the herdsmen by the community on the need to leave Ijare town following destruction of many farmlands by their cows.

It was gathered that the herdsmen refused to leave but went far into distant place to rear their cows, a development that the community leaders were not comfortable with.

On Wednesday morning, youths of the community traced the herdsmen, who took to their heels,leaving their cows behind.

The cows that are almost one hundred were later led to the palace of Olujare of Ijare, Oba Oluwagbemigun Kokotiri for safety.

According to a source: “ These herdsmen have been adamant and it was high time they left. We didn’t harm them but we were surprised the way they ran away like being chases by a lion.

“They have been destroying our farms and we could no longer condone such losses again.We don’t have problem with them but we don’t want them and their cows in Ijare anymore.

It would be recalled that thunderstorm killed many cows in Ijare town last year on the hill top.