The Joint Investigative Panel set up by the Defence Headquarters to unravel the circumstances surrounding killings of three Police detectives and a civilian in Taraba during an encounter with troops of the 93 Battalion is worried over the trending confessional video of the principal suspect in the case, Alhaji Hamisu Bala popularly known as Wadume.
Wadume was re-arrested and paraded on Tuesday by detectives at the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja.
A video of his confession on how he was arrested and set free by soldiers had been trending in the social media.
The trending video showed Wadume confessing that soldiers took him to their base and had his handcuff removed by a welder before he escaped.
Sources within the panel said Wadume’s confession had put the military High Command in bad light.
It pointed out that the new development should have been ironed out with the police high command since the investigation is ongoing.
The source, who would not want his name mentioned, said: “We are seriously disturbed and alarmed by the latest video on the purported confession of the re-arrested kingpin, Wadume while in the custody of the police.
“Though it is a commendable effort for the re-arrest of the kidnap kingpin, the video recording of the alleged confession of Wadume while the panel is still conducting its investigation is quite worrisome as efforts are being put in place to ensure smooth relations between the military and the police before the offending confession.
“Though our panel was inaugurated on Friday, August 9 which had an initial one-week deadline, we have been mandated to continue and conclude the probe as soon as possible.
“The arrest of Wadume would definitely shed more light on our investigation considering the volume of arrests and interrogations so far.”
The Joint Investigative Panel headed by Rear Admiral Ibikunle Olaiya, has representatives of the Police, Army, Navy, Air Force, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Defence Intelligence Agency.
The chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Ibbi local government area and seven other people, including an Islamic cleric, were arrested by the Police in connection with a wanted kidnap kingpin, Hamisu Wadume’s case.
The APGA chairman, said to be a close friend of Wadume, had led seven other members of the party from Ibbi and an Islamic cleric to DCP Abba Kyari over Wadume case.
Daily Trust gathered that Abba Kyari ordered for the arrest of the APGA chairman and seven others over their attempt to lobby for the wanted suspected kidnapper.
They were said to be detain in Abuja and Kyari, it was gathered, had warned residents of Ibbi that the investigation penal was in the town for serious duty.
A source said Kyari and all the panel members were still in the area conducting investigation over the matter.
Kyari, the source further stated, had told the chief of Ibbi during a meeting that innocent persons in Ibbi had nothing to fear over the ongoing investigation.
Sources in the area also informed Daily Trust that 14 days after the attempt to arrest Wadume, no single kidnapping had been recorded in the area.
One of the sources, Nuhu Noka, told Daily Trust that the problem of Kidnapping along Wukari-Takum road, which was a daily affair, had subsided and no single kidnapping was recorded in the last two weeks.
He said four persons held by kidnappers at one of their den near Kofan Amadu along Takum-Wukari road had regained their freedom after about two months in captivity.
President Muhammadu Buhari says all requests by ministers-designate to meet with him should be channelled through Abba Kyari, his chief of staff.
This may effectively put a death knell on agitations against Kyari, who was reappointed in July by Buhari despite streets protests believed to have been orchestrated against him. He is regarded as the most powerful aide to the president.
Buhari also said on Tuesday while speaking the close of the presidential retreat for ministers-designate in Abuja that all federal executive council (FEC) matters should be channelled to him through Boss Mustapha, secretary of the government of the federation (SGF).
“In terms of coordination, kindly ensure that all submissions for my attention or meeting requests be channeled through the chief of staff, while all federal executive council matters be coordinated through the secretary to the government of the federation,” he said.
Buhari said as leaders, their responsibility is to meet the basic needs of Nigerians adding that majority of the citizens are anxious.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, majority of our people are poor and are anxiously hoping for a better life. A Nigeria in which they do not have to worry about what they will eat, where they will live or if they can afford to pay for their children’s education or healthcare,” the president said.
“Our responsibility as leaders of this great country is to meet these basic needs for our people. As I mentioned yesterday, this Administration inherited many challenges from our predecessors to mention a few: “A country in which 18 local governments in the Northeast were under the control of Boko Haram; Decayed infrastructure in which our rail lines and roads had severely deteriorated; A rent seeking economy that depended largely on oil revenues and imports; Significant unpaid pensions, subsidy debts, legacy contractor debts. I can go on and on.”
Buhari said the ministers-designate should use this opportunity to serve Nigerians and the country is prosperous.
“You will find that working collaboratively and purposefully will enable us to achieve quicker results, recognizing that four years is not a very long time,” he said.
“For the new ministers, make sure you engage and benefit from the experience of the older ministers and former governors in the cabinet.”
The World Bank has blacklisted six Chinese companies currently operating in Nigeria over alleged fraud and corruption .
The companies, according to an announcement published on the World Bank ’ s website , are CCECC Nigeria Railway Company Limited, CRCC Petroleum and Gas Company Limited and CCECC Nigeria Company Limited. Others are China Railway Construction ( International ) Nigeria Company Limited, China Railway 18 th Bureau Nigeria Engineering Company Limited and CCECC Nigeria Lekki ( FTA ) Company Limited.
The six companies were among several firms from different parts of the world that were sanctioned by the bank .
The publication , which emanated from the procurement unit of the bank , was entitled ‘ Procurement – World Bank Listing of Ineligible Firms and Individuals ’ .
The companies , which were accused of violating the global bank ’s procurement guidelines , would not be eligible to be awarded any World Bank contracts between June 4 , 2019 and March 3 , 2020 .
Companies involved in World Bank projects including contracts are obliged to adhere strictly to the guidelines , which stipulate a high level of ethics and frowns on all manner of fraud and corruption including bribery and misappropriation of funds.
Although the specific cases involving the blacklisted companies were not disclosed, the World Bank explained that the firms were given an opportunity to respond to allegations brought against them .
The bank said, “ The firms and individuals listed below are ineligible to be awarded a World Bank -financed contract for the periods indicated because they have been sanctioned under the bank ’ s fraud and corruption policy as set forth in the Procurement Guidelines and the Consultant Guidelines ( for projects before July 1 , 2016 ); or through the World Bank Procurement Regulations for Investment Project Financing Borrowers ( for projects after July 1 , 2016 ) .
“ Such sanction was imposed as the result of ( 1 ) an administrative process conducted by the Bank that permitted the accused firms and individuals to respond to the allegations.
“ Through July 2007 , this process was conducted in accordance with the Sanctions Committee Procedures adopted on August 2 , 2001 .
“ The process is currently conducted in accordance with bank Procedure: Sanctions Proceedings and Settlements in the Bank Financed Projects.”
It further disclosed that some of the firms were sanctioned as a result of cross -debarment in accordance with the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions dated 9 April 2010 .
As of July 1 , 2011 , the decisions had been made effective by the World Bank , Asian Development Bank , European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Inter- American Development Bank , and African Development Bank .
The World Bank added that it might apply other actions to firms and individuals that might not result in debarment.
The period of ineligibility of any of the sanctioned companies also extends to any firm directly or indirectly controlled by them , according to the World Bank .
Efforts to get specific details of the allegations tabled against the six Chinese companies were not successful as of the time of filing this report .
In response to enquiries , an official of the World Bank ’ s Nigeria office in Abuja , who did not wish to be named , simply referred our correspondent to the bank ’ s website .
The recession experienced by the Nigerian economy in 2016 as well as lower oil prices affected the revenue collected by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) between 2015 and 2018, Tunde Fowler, the chairman, has said.
Despite the challenges, Fowler explained, non-oil revenue such as VAT and company income tax — which he said are within the control of FIRS — have been on the increase compared to pre-2015 figures.
But oil-based taxes, such as petroleum profit tax (PPT), are beyond the control of the service. He was responding to a memo from Abba Kyari, the chief of staff to the president, who said there were significant variances between the budgeted collections and actual collections for the period 2015 to 2018.
Kyari also said the actual collections for 2015 to 2017 were significantly worse than what was collected between 2012 and 2014.
In the letter dated August 8, 2019, Kyari gave Fowler up till August 19 to explain the reasons “for the poor collections”.
‘WE GREW NON-OIL REVENUE’
Fowler, who is rounding off his four-year term as FIRS chairman amid speculations that he will not be re-appointed, explained in his response that non-oil tax revenue has actually been on the rise. He wrote in his response obtained by TheCable: “I refer to your letter dated 8th August, 2019 on the above subject matter and hereby submit a comprehensive variance analysis between budgeted and actual collections for each main tax item for the period 2012-2018 as requested (see appendix 1).
“Your letter stated that actual collections for a 3-year period were significantly worse than what was collected between 2012 and 2014. Total actual collection for the said period was N14,527.85 trillion, while total actual collection between 2016 to 2018 was N12,656.30 trillion.
The highlight of these collection figures was that during the period 2012 to 2014, out of the N14,527.85 trillion, oil revenue accounted for N8,321.64 trillio n or 57.28% while non-oil accounted for N6,206.22 trillion or 42.72% and during the later period of 2016 to 2018, out of the N12,656.30 trillion, oil revenue accounted for N5,145.87 trillion or 40.65% and non-oil revenue accounted N7,510.42 trillion or 59.35%. FIRS management has control of non-oil revenue collection figures while oil revenue collection figures are subject to more external forces.”
TheCable can also report that Fowler is upbeat that the initiatives he introduced have improve Nigeria’s tax revenue collections.
He wrote: “The non-oil revenue collection grew by N1,304.20 trillion or 21% within the period 2016 to 2018.
“Kindly note that the total budget collection figure during 2012 to 2014 stood at N12,190.52 trillion compared to N16,771.78 trillion for the period 2016 to 2018, which represent an increase of 37.58%.
“Please note that the variance in the budgeted and actual revenue collection performance of the Service for the period 2016 to 2018 was main attributed to the following reasons:
“1. The low inflow of oil revenues for the period especially Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) was due to fall in price of crude oil and reduction of crude oil production. Notwithstanding government efforts to diversify the economy, oil revenues remains (remain) an important component of total revenues accruable to the Federation.
The price of crude oil fell from an average of $113.72, $110.98 and $100.40 per barrel in 2012, 2013 and 2014 to $ 52.65, $43.80 and $54.08 per barrel in 2015, 2016 and 2017. There was also a reduction in crude oil production from 2.31mbpd, 2.18mbpd and 2.20mbpd in 2012, 2013 and 2014 to 2.12mbpd, 1.81mbpd and 1.88mbpd in 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively.
“2. The Nigerian economy also went into recession in the second quarter of 2016 which slowed down general economic activities. Tax revenue collection (CIT and VAT) being a function of economic activities were negatively affected but actual collection of the above two taxes were still higher in 2016 to 2018 than in 2012 to 2014. During the years 2012, 2013 and 2014, GDP grew by 4.3%, 5.4% and 6.3% while in 2015, 2016 and 2017 there was a decline in growth to 2.7%, -1.6% and 1.9% respectively. The tax revenue grew as the economy recovered in the second quarter of 2017.
“3. It is worthy of note that strategies and initiatives adopted in collection of VAT during the period 2015-2017 led to approximately 40% increase over 2012-2014 collections. In 2014 the VAT collected was N802billion, compared to N1.1 trillion in 2018. This increase is attributable to various initiatives such as ICT innovations, continuous taxpayer education, taxpayer enlightenment, etc embarked upon by the Service.
“4. Furthermore, it is pertinent to note that when this administration came on board in August 2015, the target the target for the two major non-oil taxes were increased by 52% for VAT and 45% for CIT. Notwithstanding the increase, FIRS has in line with the Federal government’s revenue base diversification strategy has grown the non-oil tax collection by over N1.304 trillion (21%) when the total non-oil tax collection for 2016-2018 is compared to that of 2012-2014.
“I am confident that our current strategies and initiatives will improve revenue collection and meet the expectations of government. “Please accept the assurance of my highest regards.”
PRESIDENCY: FOWLER NOT UNDER INVESTIGATION
Meanwhile, Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, has said Fowler is not under investigation.
In a press statement on Monday afternoon, he said it is necessary “to state categorically that the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Babatunde Fowler, is not under any investigation”.
“The letter from the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, on which the purported rumour of an investigation is based, merely raises concerns over the negative run of the tax revenue collection in recent times,” he said.
“Taking a cue from today’s (Monday) presentation of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Retreat for Ministers-Designate, Federal Permanent Secretaries and Top Government Functionaries , which dwelt on an ‘Overview of the Policies , Programmes and Project Audit Committee,’ a body he chaired, projected revenue of government falls behind recurrent expenditure even without having factored in capital expenditure.
“Consequently, it would appear that the country might be heading for a fiscal crisis if urgent steps are not taken to halt the negative trends in target setting and target realisation in tax revenue.
“Anyone conversant with Federal Executive Council deliberations would have observed that issues bordering on revenue form the number one concern of what Nigeria faces today, and therefore, often take a prime place in discussions of the body.
“It is noteworthy and highly commendable that under this administration, the number of taxable adults has increased from 10 million to 20 million with concerted efforts still on-going to bring a lot more into the tax net.”
Police arrest three students over alleged rape in Ondo
by Damisi Ojo,
Men of the Ondo State Police Command have apprehended three students of the School of Health Technology, Akure, over alleged gang-raping of a female student.
The suspects according to the command are: Aderoboye Damilola, Eyitayo Charles and Blessing Michael.
They were said to have committed the crime last week Wednesday at the residence of the boyfriend of the student's.
Sources said the case had been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the command for investigation.
Police spokesman, Femi Joseph, said the command had begun investigation into the matter.
According to him, “We have commenced investigation into the matter, and after the investigation, the suspect would be charged to court.”
A source narrated that the victim was gang-raped by the suspect in the boyfriend’s house, which is not far from the campus of the institution, at Oda Road, area of Akure.
He said” The lady (victim) went to visit her boyfriend in the late evening on Wednesday but she did not meet the boyfriend at home but she met another boy who is a friend to her boyfriend.
“She then decided to wait for him (boyfriend) suddenly, the three boys (suspects) entered into the room with dangerous weapons and asked the boy they met inside to have sex with the lady but he refused. It was after that that they raped the lady.”
Winifred Oyo-Ita, the head of service of the federation, has offered to immediately proceed on retirement in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, TheCable understands.
The widow had been under pressure from her immediate family to retire after news reports emerged that she was being probed over an alleged N3 billion contract scam.
Although she has vehemently denied involvement in any scam, she bowed to family pressures and sent in a letter on Sunday offering to proceed on retirement, TheCable can report. Buhari is yet to take a final decision on it but TheCable learnt that he is favourably disposed to the option.
“Mrs Oyo-Ita has sent in her letter of retirement,” a family member, who asked not to be named, told TheCable on Monday morning.
She was absent at the presidential retreat for ministers-designate, federal permanent secretaries and top government functionaries held at the state house conference centre in Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently questioned Oyo-Ita over allegations that she used front companies to get contracts when she was a permanent secretary before her appointment as head of service by Buhari in 2015.
There were insinuations that she was being “punished” for “falling out” with Abba Kyari but TheCable learnt that the president’s chief of staff was unaware of the EFCC probe until it was leaked to the media.
Oyo-Ita has also told her associates not to drag Kyari into the matter because “it is not true”, according to a family member who spoke with TheCable.
The EFCC said the petition against her was written in 2014 when President Goodluck Jonathan was still in office.
TheCable, however, learnt that Oyo-Ita was not the subject of the probe.
It was also reported that N600 million was traced to the account of one of her aides who has been quizzed by the anti-graft agency and released.
However, Oyo-Ita also denied the allegation, saying the money was meant for the death benefits of staff and was meant to be kept in a designated account for that purpose by the project accountant.
“She denied knowing anything about where the money was kept and said there was no fraud involved, at least not from her end,” the family member said.
Lagos – The recently announced Commissioners and Special Advisers-designates by Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu is already brewing discontent in the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Daily Independent has exclusively gathered.
Governor Sanwo-Olu had last month released a list comprising 25 commissioners and special advisers’ nominees that had been screened by the state House of Assembly. The governor also released a final list of 13 nominees last week Tuesday.
However, some party faithful especially in Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Shomolu and Ifako-Ijaiye have kicked against the lists, alleging that none of their representatives were included in the proposed cabinet despite working assiduously for the party’s victory in the just concluded elections.
While appealing to party leaders, especially the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to address the injustice, the aggrieved party faithful, who have been grumbling silently over the issue have also threatened to embark on peaceful protests to the party secretariat located at Acme Road.
Addressing a press conference at the weekend, the APC youths in Ajeromi- Ifelodun led by Hakeem Babalola said it is worrisome that no representative of the local government is included in the cabinet despite their contributions to the party’s victory both in the Presidential, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
He added that in 2015, the two House of Assembly seats in the local government, the House of Representatives seats and the governorship election was won by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He however said with concerted efforts of party leaders and members, all the elections conducted recently were won by the APC, including the governorship election where Governor Sanwo-Olu got 43,975 votes as against 14,690 votes scored by Jimi Agbaje of the PDP.
“All Progressives Congress youths of Ajeromi Ifelodun is demanding the inclusion of a party faithful from the Local Government to be included in the ongoing formation of the Lagos State Executive Cabinet from the Governor, H. E. Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu and Lagos APC Leaders”.
“It was to our utmost displeasure over the recent lists of Commissioners/Special Advisers that were forwarded to the House of Assembly by the Governor which had no one nominated from Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government. When the initial list was released more than four weeks ago, we thought we were going to be considered in the second list. But to our utter dismay, no person from Ajeromi Ifelodun was listed neither in the first nor in the 13 names made public on Tuesday, August 13, 2019 which was termed as the “final list” by the governor’s media aide.
“The last time we had a cabinet member in Kalejaiye Adeboye Paul was in May 2011 and throughout the second term of Gov. Babatunde Fashola and the only tenure of his successor in office, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode, we had no one representing and fighting for our collective interests as a LG in the cabinets. Ever since, we have had no new state government projects with practically no state government presence. In the build up to the last general elections, the atmosphere was highly tensed. Our Local Council Development Area was involved in a fracas during the Ward Congresses held in May 2018 that led to the loss of life of a party faithful.
“In the primaries, we endured a torrid time with the direct mode of nomination which also claimed some lives of party members. We had the toughest elections so far in our Local Government with the House of Representatives election, conducted twice, though with a success crowned in the end. It was turbulent and all leaders and members toiled day and night before we could grind those wins out. We struggled, suffered, sacrificed a lot of things and kept pushing for the party to come out victorious. A number of militating factors have always contributed to our woes and are sometimes why we find it difficult to win elections and get the people on board.”
Also speaking, another chieftain of the party, Bilyaminu Faniran alleged that one of their leaders in Ajeromi- Ifelodun, Kamal Bayewu who has contributed immensely to the sustenance of the party contested for the senatorial election in 2015 but was prevailed upon by the party leaders to step down.
“As a loyal party man, he promptly complied with the directives and asked all his supporters to queue behind Senator Solomon Adeola (Yayi). He also did that in the 2019 elections but till now, he was not compensated for his loyalty. Even President Buhari admitted mistakes in his cabinet formation in 2015 and said loyal party members will be compensated now. Our leaders in Lagos APC should do the same he said. In Ifako- Ijaiye and Shomolu, party leaders also claimed they feel their effort towards the success of the party in the last election is not appreciated.
“We feel marginalised in Shomolu. When the final list was released on Tuesday, angry party youths threatened to storm the party secretariat to register their grievances but we appealed to them to be patient that the party will look at it” a party leader who spoke on condition of anonymity said.
However speaking with our correspondent, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, the state chairman of the party said with just 40 cabinet members, there is no way a member can be picked from the 57 local governments and local council development areas (LCDAs).
While appealing to the party members to shelve the planned protests, he said the party leaders will look at their complaints and ensure they are accommodated in subsequent appointments that will still be made by the governor.
“It is not possible to pick cabinet members in all the local governments because we have limited number of positions. Do you know how many local government and LCDAs that we have? 57 in all and the number of people in the cabinet should not be more than 40. So, definitely it can’t go round the 57 councils”.
“But next time, some of them will be considered for what they want now. Some of them have also served in the past while others who are picked now did not. So, we have to make sure it is equitably done so that nobody will feel marginalised”.
“For those who are aggrieved, if this time around, nobody was picked from their local government, that shouldn’t be the end of the world. There are other appointments that will still be made.
Appointing cabinet members is the prerogative of the governor and other party leaders but we will ensure that every local government will be taken care of”.
“If cabinet positions doesn’t get to them now, we will ensure that they benefit from other appointments that will be made. So, they should shelve their protests. Their grievances has been noted and will do what we can to address it” he said.
.....Why Police Flew Under Radar To Arrest Suspect
.....How Gov, Army Rift Led To Murder Of Policemen
Nicholas Uwerunonye
The inability of security agencies to arrest Hamisu Bala, alleged kidnap kingpin, popularly known as ‘Wadume’, has continued to fuel the insinuations that Bala has ties with army operation in Taraba and other conflict areas of North East.
Bala, an alleged notorious kidnapper was at the centre of the tragic Army/police confrontation that led to the killing of three members of the crack Inspector General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
So far, search for the fugitive has yielded nothing. “It is very much like Wadume vanished into thin air all of sudden,” explained a security source in Jalingo, Taraba State capital.
This, according to the source couldn’t have been possible unless the fugitive is well connected.
“We wouldn’t be surprised if Wadume winds up dead because the manner of his rescue from police arrest by a crack team like IRT leaves so many questions unanswered” the source added. While this may be purely speculative, the method of the fugitive’s escape appears to give credence to this thinking.
Wadume strangely escaped custody despite being under police standard lockdown with hands cuffed to the back and legs in manacles. Police authorities have queried the Army who ambushed the team of police operatives on why the suspect wasn’t taken into custody and processed for future reference.
Even more, Sunday Independent investigations revealed what appears to be a strong link between the suspect and local politicians in Taraba State.
For instance, Gen. Ishaya Bauka (Rtd), a senatorial candidate in the state in the last general election in February, is believed to have been in bed with him as a political associate. The General had contested against the Taraba South Senate slot under the All Progressives Congress (APC) along with others, but was defeated by a rampant politician, Emmanuel Bwacha, of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
When asked by Sunday Independent what his relationship with the fugitive is, the retired Army chief answered in the oblique: “Who told you that he is my associate?” When asked to explain that multiple sources in Ibi made the link to him, the General clammed up, stating that he would rather wait for the outcome of the ongoing investigation being carried out on the killing of the police before talking.
But as Sunday Independent told the General, multiple sources in the Jalingo and Ibi Wadume’s riverine locality, say that the fugitive has long been an associate of politicians, police officers and Army men station in Taraba.
With his deep pocket suspected to be proceeds of crime, Wadume has been a regular donor to political campaigns, charity and other contributions. He is believed to have worked extensively for the retired General during the election in Ibi.
In the run up to the election in February, the fugitive was said to have bought speed boats for locals with the aim of wooing them politically to his side.
Again, the General was mute on this report. Efforts made to reach the state’s APC, chairman, Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi, was not fruitful as he repeatedly declined picking calls made to his phone.
Police sources have rebuffed speaking officially on the matter since the probe commenced, but back channel efforts by Sunday Independent also yielded insight into the background leading to the Taraba police killing tragedy.
A senior officer in intelligence gathering in the police hinted that they were well aware of Wadume’s possible links with security officers in the state.
“We flew into the state on a need-to-know basis because there were credible intelligence that the suspect might be tipped off of our presence. The IRT is an elite investigative team with experience in tracking and effecting arrest of high profile suspects. They take a lot of factors into account in doing their tasks. So the Taraba matter was treated with the professionalism required,” explained the police officer.
But there are other angles to the matter and this has to do with the unending silent rift between the Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, and the Nigerian Army.
For some, observers and insiders, the tiff may well account for the avoidable murder of three police officers along Jalingo-Ibi Road.
Governor Ishaku and high ranking indigenes of the state believe, and have been open about it, that elements responsible for the conflict in the state are strongly embedded in the Army operations in the state. Theophilus Danjuma, retired General, former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), had once sensationally alluded to a collusion between Army in Taraba and herdsmen militias then on killing rampage with equal reprisals from locals in Taraba.
The Governor had also been involved in open altercation with the Army high command on the matter, for which both he and the soldiers have traded accusations bordering on partisanship in the conflict.
“Operations such as the one going on Taraba can only be successful if the Army or any security agency has the maximum support of the state governor,” explained a security source in Jalingo.
According to him, the absence of such critical support exposed the Army to remote manipulation by men like Wadume with deep pockets and with ties to politicians.
Though President Mohammadu Buhari has ordered a probe of the incident that led to the killing of the three police officers and the investigating team comprising men of the Police, Department of State Services (DSS) and Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) have since swung into action on their mandate, Sunday Independent findings revealed troubling level of mistrust between the Army, on the one hand, the state government and members of the public on the other hand.
“It is an open secret that state governors provide huge logistics, reliable intelligence for security operations in conflict areas. With the volatile situation in Taraba, the Army will need to rely on willing partners. This is what men like Bala (kidnap kingpin) has been providing for the Army and other security agencies by proxy,” explained another security source.
This position was further heightened by Pogu Bitrus, the national president, Middle Belt Forum (MBF), who said “The recent killing of the police operatives on a covert assignment in the state after arresting and handcuffing Wadume, justified Danjuma’s allegations that the military is indeed colluding with insurgent elements to invade communities.”
•EFCC grills two Permanent Secretaries over scandal
•Releases suspect with N600m in account on bail
by Yusuf Alli,
TWO Federal Permanent Secretaries and three Directors of Finance have joined the list of those questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with the ongoing probe of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita over an alleged N3billion contract scam.
Another suspect in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) who was detained after freezing the N600million in his account, has been released, The Nation learnt yesterday.
The released suspect is said to be a Project Accountant in the OHCSF.
Oyo-Ita herself is weighing options opened to her as she anxiously awaits the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari on her fate. She does not want to be dismissed from office by the president, sources said.
The Nation also gathered that some highly-placed Nigerians may have been trying to intercede on her behalf with the President.
The options being considered by Oyo-Ita include a soft-landing by getting the authorities to hear her own side of the story; retirement or resignation; and a waiver from prosecution after returning funds allegedly traced to companies linked to her.
Her camp was in a dilemma yesterday on whether she should attend the presidential retreat for ministers-designate tomorrow. She has been receiving treatment in an Abuja hospital in the last one week.
Investigation by The Nation revealed that the quizzed Permanent Secretaries and Directors of Finance confirmed the award of the contracts to the firms associated with Oyo-Ita.
It was learnt that they made payment vouchers and other relevant documents available to the EFCC investigating team.
A top source said: “our detectives have interrogated two Permanent Secretaries and three Directors of Finance of some of the ministries where contracts linked with the Head of Service were awarded.
“The investigating team has made progress because these officers are ready to testify against Oyo-Ita. They kept records and made all relevant documents available.
“We will soon release the details of our findings to the public to prove that our operatives had a good trail of these contracts and some money.
“We are expecting Oyo-Ita to recover as fast as possible in order to be able to report for interrogation on more issues we have raised for her. Some clues have led to the uncovering of more links.”
Responding to a question, the source said the “suspect in whose account we found N600million has been released on bail but his movement restricted pending the conclusion of investigation.
“All the invited Permanent Secretaries and Directors of Finance were also placed on administrative bail.”
A reliable source in the presidency confirmed that “she has been contacting highly-placed Nigerians to intercede on her behalf but we do not know what she wants from the President.
“Only the President can determine her fate in the light of the report of the preliminary investigation of the EFCC.
“I think when the President returns, he will look at the issues dispassionately and take a decision in the interest of the public.
“If you have observed the President since 2015, he does not rush to judgment on any case unlike during his tenure as a Military Head of State. “The only constant thing about President Buhari is that he will not condone corruption no matter how big you are.”
A source close to her said: “Certainly, she wants to be allowed the benefit of the doubt. She prefers a soft landing to being hurled before a court.
“Many people are out to prevail on the President to negotiate her exit. The soft-landing options being considered by Oyo-Ita and her strategy team border on getting to hear her side, either retirement or resignation and a waiver from prosecution after returning funds allegedly traced to her or companies linked with her.”
The Lady who was found dead in a Port Harcourt hotel on 15 August, after being strangled by a stranger, has been identified.
She was Jennifer Nwokocha, from Omoku, headquarters of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni council area of Rivers state. She was found dead Thursday morning in a room at Grand Venice Hotel on Woji Road.
Her friends who identified her claimed that she was lured into agreeing for a night romp with a yet-to-be identified man for a fee of N10,000 and the Nigerian barbecued beef, popularly called Suya, as an extra.
Jennifer Nwokocha wrote the last UTME conducted by Joint Admission and Matriculation Board,JAMB and nursed hopes of gaining admission into University of Port Harcourt, her friends said.
According to them, the alleged killer came to the hotel at about 10 pm on Wednesday night and offered to pay Jennifer N10,000, which to her was a big deal.
The late Jennifer’s friends later raised alarm at about 8 am the next day.The killer had also stolen her phone and her money before fleeing the hotel.
According to one of her friends,” when the killer came into the hotel, he requested that Jennifer be called for her, describing her as “that neat girl”.
“Later Jennifer came and whispered to me that they had negotiated and settled for N10,000 for the night. I left them as the late Jennifer said the man had opted to sleep with her in her room.
“The next day, at about 8am, we found out that Jennifer had not woken up and when her door was opened, she was found naked with her hands tied behind her back with pillow case and another pillow case was used to tie her neck, perhaps to strangle her.”
Detectives from the homicide department of the state police command promptly arrested Jennifer’s friends for interrogation.
Her manner of her death was similar to the killing of Precious Ewuru in a hotel in D/Line about two weeks ago.
Nnamdi Omoni DSP and spokesman of the Rivers Police Command said a Task Force would be set up by the Command to enforce the directive that CCTV Cameras be installed in all hotels.
The Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Friday in Katsina assured Nigerians that the 2020 national budget will be passed before this year’s Christmas
Lawan who made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen shortly after visiting Katsina State governor, Aminu Bello Masari, at Government House, said the National Assembly is expecting the budget from the executive by September and hoped to deliberate and pass it within two months.
He said: “The process would return Nigeria to the annual budget of between January and December and guarantee fiscal discipline.”
He assured that the Ninth Assembly would also pass the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, to ensure the oil and Gas sector are given the desired reform.
Alhaji Lawan further expressed the resolve of the two wings of the National Assembly to work harmoniously for the rapid reformation of education, agriculture and other sub-sectors of the economy.
He was accompanied by some members of the leadership of the Senate as well as senators representing Katsina South, Mallam Bello Mandiya, and that of Katsina North, Senator Ahmad Babba Kaita.
The Senate President and his delegation had earlier paid Salah homage to President Buhari in Daura.
The delegation later joined Governor Masari, his deputy and Secretary to the Government of Katsina State, Dr Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa, for Jumma’at prayer at Modoji Mosque.
The Federal High Court, Abuja will on Monday deliver its ruling in a suit, seeking to stop President Muhammadu Buhari from inaugurating the 43 ministerial nominees over the exclusion of an FCT indigene from his cabinet list.
The applicant, Mr Musa Baba-panya, who was also the counsel in the case, had, on Thursday, approached the court with an exparte motion, asking the court to stop the president from going ahead with the inauguration.
In suit number: number: FHC/ABJ/CS/878/19, Baba-panya, who is also an indigene of Karu in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said the president’s action was contrary to an Appeal Court judgment delivered on March 15, 2018.
President Buhari is the 1st defendant while the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) is the 2nd defendant in the case.
The president will be inaugurating the 43 ministers-designate earlier confirmed by the Senate on Aug. 21.
The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation had, on Aug. 6, said that the inauguration would hold at the Federal Executive Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Baba-panya, who argued that the Appeal Court’s ruling was a compelling order, said it was served on the president through the AGF.
The lawyer, in an originating summons dated August 7 and filed August 8, said that ”the 43 confirmed ministerial appointees now awaiting swearing-in or inauguration as the Federal Executive Council is incomplete, illegal, unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.”
”The 1st defendant stands in contempt of law and court for his brazen refusal to comply with the tenor of the Abuja Division of Court of Appeal judgment of 15/1/2018 compelling him to the immediate and forthwith appointment off an indigene of FCT, Abuja as minister of the federation,” he said.
Baba-panya, who was in court with another lawyer, Sylvanus Tanko, prayed the court to grant an interim injunction restraining the president from inaugurating the confirmed ministers-designate pending the determination of the motion on notice.
He said allowing the president to go on with his decision would mean that ”he is going to constitute an illegal cabinet.”
According to him, the violation of the FCT indigene’s rights to ministerial representation has been going on since May 29, 1999.
”So it is not a personal issue. All previous presidents have also violated our rights,” he said. He said despite the fact that President Buhari presently has 43 ministerial-designate, he was yet to meet ”the minimum requirement of the constitution which is at least one minister each from the 36 states including FCT, making a total of 37.”
He said: ”if the court would not be inclined to grant the interim injunction order, we have prayed in the alternative for the court to issue an order on the Mr President and the AGF to come and show course why it should not issue an interim injunction.”
He said he had a substantive suit which seeks 12 reliefs and five issues to be determined. He reminded that efforts had been made since July for the matter to be heard.
The lawyer, however, wanted the court to determine ”whether 1st defendant is an offender of the Oath of Allegiance and Office, and a contemptnor of a valid court judgment and the rule of law.
”Whether 1st defendant is no longer a fit and proper person to continue holding or remain in the office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and if so what consequences?
”Whether damages and costs are not only warranted but same are to be so awarded.” Justice Taiwo Taiwo, therefore, ordered that the suit should commence during the vacation period of the court.
The judge struck out the initial application restraining the Senate from conducting the confirmation of the ministerial nominees as prayed by the plaintiff and adjourned the matter until Aug. 19 for ruling.
The Nigerian army has announced the appointment of a new acting General Officer Commanding(GOC), for 7 Division Maiduguri. He is Brigadier-General AK Ibrahim. He is also the new theatre commander for Sector 1 Operation Lafia Dole. He takes over from Major-General Bulama Biu, who has been appointed acting commander, Sector 3 Operation Lafiya Dole and Sector 3 Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
The redeployment which takes effect from August, 14,according to a letter announcing the postings from the office office of the military secretary army, also announced the appointment of Major-General Major-Generals CG Musa and BA Akinroluyo, have been redeployed to the Training And Doctrine Command(TRADOC), Minna, while Major-General O Adeniyi is to remain in as theatre commander.
Others include Colonels IA Ajose, a who has also been redeployed from 5 Brigade to TRADOC, while OA Awolo, is now commander 707 Special Forces Brigade.
The appointment it was gathered is aimed at re-strategizing the counter insurgency operations to bring the war to an end in the very shortest possible time.
Africa’s richest woman has been revealed as the owner of a £13million home in one of London’s most exclusive areas that has caused anguish for neighbours.
Isabel dos Santos, the daughter of Angola’s controversial former president Jose Eduardo dos Santos, plans to demolish the house and rebuild it as an ‘iceberg’ mansion.
She has been given permission to raze the property and construct a four-storey home in its place, complete with an underground swimming pool complex.
Mrs dos Santos, 46, also plans to install a hot tub, wine cellar, massage room and walk-in safe underneath the sprawling home in Kensington, west London.
But the plans caused fury among wealthy neighbours, with one resident claiming the proposal would ‘create resentment, divisiveness and poor community feeling’.
The revelation, unearthed by ‘Finance Uncovered’, that she owns the luxury home is likely to stoke widespread concerns about the origin of Mrs dos Santos’ wealth.
Despite presenting herself as a self-made entrepreneur who rubs shoulders with the A-list elite, opponents have described her as the beneficiary of kleptocracy in Africa.
The majority of her nearly £2billion wealth was amassed while her father Jose Eduardo, 76, served as ruler of Angola for 38 years.
Critics of dos Santos claim he murdered many politicians, journalists and others during his spell in power.
He was also accused of monopolizing and exploiting oil and diamond resources and seizing control of almost all aspects of government power.
Critics further claim his daughter Isabel acquired her own fortune by using her family’s power to take stakes in firms doing business in Angola, where many people live on as little as $2 a day.
Angola, a country of 18 million people, lies on the western coast of southern Africa and is rich in diamonds and oil.
The country was wracked by 27 years of civil war which finally ended in 2002, leading to a huge jump in oil revenues from $3 billion in 2002 to $66 billion in 2008.
Transparency International, the NGO that investigates government fraud, recently ranked Angola 165th out of 180 countries in its corruption perception index.
Mrs dos Santos studied engineering at King’s College, London, before opening her first business at the age of 24, a restaurant called ‘Miami Beach’.
Amid rumours that she has invested in properties in London, it has now been revealed how she bought the Kensington home for £8.65million in 2007.
The leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, otherwise known as Shi’ites, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky will leave Nigeria for India alongside wife and a couple of family members and three security operatives, DAILY NIGERIAN has learnt.
Last week, Justice Darius Khobo of Kaduna State High Court granted Mr El-Zakzaky and wife leave to seek medical attention in New Delhi, India.
The court ordered that they be released to go to the hospital and return for the continuation of their trial after their discharge from the hospital.
Spokesman for the State Security Service, SSS, Peter Afunnaya later released a statement, saying the service would comply with the order.
Against speculations that the Shi’ite leader would travel in “a privately chartered aircraft”, insiders told DAILY NIGERIAN that he would travel in first class cabin of Emirates.
The Shii’te leader is currently at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja awaiting to board Emirates Flight EK786 to Dubai enroute to India at 6pm today, sources familiar with the travel arrangements told this newspaper.
Insiders told DAILY NIGERIAN that Mr El-Zakzaky appeared strong today as he was escorted into the airport, but his wife came in motorised wheelchair.
The sources said there is probability that National Intelligence Agency, NIA and foreign service officials will also join them at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, India.
Mr El-Zakzaky and wife will be escorted by his son Muhammad, family doctor Ramatu Abubakar, a family friend Zainab Hamid, two SSS operatives and a police doctor.
The Kaduna State government last week laid out seven conditions for Mr El-Zakzaky to meet before he is allowed to travel out, but it is not clear whether the Shi’ite leader met the conditions.
One hundred and eighty -four physicians from seven Islamic countries in a letter to the Federal Government called for the transfer of jailed Shiite leader, Sheikh Ibrahim el -Zakzaky , to a well - equipped hospital due to his critical conditions .
As reported by the Fars News on Sunday , the group of doctors from Pakistan , India , Iran, Afghanistan , Syria , Lebanon and Iraq in the letter pointed to el -Zakzaky ’s physical conditions , and asked the Federal Government of Nigeria to transfer him to a well -equipped hospital as soon as possible .
The full text of the letter is as follows: “ In the name of God, the healer, From the community of doctors To the President of the Republic of Nigeria , Mr. Buhari.
In the past several months , the world has constantly received troubling news regarding the health of one of the prominent figures in Nigeria , Shaikh Ibrahim Zakzaky .
Both Shaikh Ibrahim Zakzaky and his wife are kept in prison and the health status of both of them is very alarming .
We have chosen to be doctors even after knowing that this job is very difficult and troublesome, but we chose to save people ’ s lives and preferred the health of the society over our personal interests.
According to the medical reports regarding the health status of Shaikh Ibrahim Zakzaky : 1 . He is suffering from a total blindness in the left eye , and is also suffering from vision problems in the right , eye including glaucoma and progressive macular atrophy. According to the diagnosis of the visiting physicians , Shaikh Zakzaky will lose his vision sooner or later if the current circumstances do not change .
2 . He has shown symptoms of Ischemic heart disease which can lead to Myocardial Infraction .
3 . He is also suffering from severe cervical spondylosis which has resulted to nerve root compression and symptoms are progressive causing insomnia .
4 . The experiments show that he has heavy metal toxicity including Lead and Cadmium .
Laboratory tests that are performed on May 31 st , 2019 show that blood lead level is 171 .94 µg / dl . Later on June 18 th, 2019 this level was reported to be 231. 48 µg while in the last laboratory test the blood lead level was three times more than the toxicity level ( grade 5 of poisoning ) .
“ Based on the points highlighted above , Shaikh Ibrahim Zakzaky should be transferred to a well - equipped medical center that has Neuro -ophthalmologist , glaucoma specialist and low vision expert , cardiologist , orthopedist and neurologist . Also he may need to have a surgery to reduce intraocular pressure .
“ We , doctors of different nationalities cannot take the health of any human for granted . This is something that is inherent in our obligation as doctors . Ignoring the critical health status of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky can end up in irreparable consequences .
“ We request the government and parliament of Nigeria to immediately transfer him to a well -equipped hospital to prevent any unfortunate incidents .”
The News outlet then listed the doctors who signed the letter as follows:
1 . Dr Abbas alahmad , Pediatrician , Syria 2 . Dr Abd alkrim Hariri , Neurosurgeon, Syria 3 . Dr Abd almonaam hsanato, Radiologist, Syria
4 . Dr Abdo salami , Dentist , Syria 5 . Dr Addel maheiri , Maxillofacial Specialist , Syria
6 . Dr Ahmad alrahal , Otorhinolaryngologist, Syria
7 . Dr Ahmaad alzien , Thoracic Internist , Syria 8 . Dr Ahmad nasrullah , Dentist , Syria
9 . Dr Ajmal Farooq , General practitioner , India 10 . Dr Alla Aldrin Hassan , Neurosurgeon, Syria
11 . Dr Allaa allnassan , General Surgeon 12 . Dr Amar kiali , Ophtalmologist , Syria
13 . Dr Anas hellali , General Surgeon , Syria 14 . Dr Asma Khalid, General practitioner , Pakistan
15 . Dr Bakri dablloni, Orthopedic Surgeon , Syria 16 . Dr Bassel alshaher, Dentist , Syria
17 . Dr Bsam kedeh , Gastroenterologist, Syria 18 . Dr Fadi alaar, Vascular Surgeon , Syria
19 . Dr Farhat , General practitioner , Pakistan 20 . Dr Fizza Batool Zaidi , General practitioner , Pakistan
21 . Dr Furqan Ali khan , General practitioner , Pakistan
22 . Dr Hania Batool Zaidi , General practitioner , Pakistan
23 . Dr Hassam Saleem , General practitioner , Pakistan
24 . Dr Hassan alkhatib , Vascular Surgeon , Syria 25 . Dr Hassan Khalil, Internist , Syria
26 . Dr Houda abdalhadi, Internist , Syria
27 . Dr Ibrahim hadid, Urologist, Syria 28 . Dr Idrak Hussain Bhat , General practitioner , India
29 . Dr Iftikar Hussain, General practitioner , India 30 . Dr Kashaf Zehra Durrani, General practitioner , Pakistan
31 . Dr Mamdoh zitoni, Orthopedic Surgeon , Syria
32 . Dr Manaaf sharbjii , Orthopedic Surgeon , Syria
33 . Dr Mhmmod Nasser, Gastroenterologist, Syria
34 . Dr Mirza Arsalan , General practitioner , India 35 . D . Mohamad mohiedin , Pediatrician , Syria
36 . Dr Mohanad battal , Pediatric Surgeon , Syria
37 . Dr mohanad naasan , General Surgeon , Syria 38 . Dr Mohanad zanoube , Ophtalmologist, Syria
39 . Dr Mohd Yaseen Mir, General practitioner , India
40 . Dr Motaz alhmod , General Surgeon , Syria
41 . Dr Muhammad Ajmal Hussain, General practitioner , Pakistan
42 . Dr Muhammad Ali Kazmi , General practitioner , Pakistan
43 . Dr Muhammad ali raseed , General practitioner , Pakistan
44 . Dr Muhammad Amjad Hussain, General practitioner , Pakistan
45 . Dr Muhammad Baqir, 4 year resident internal medicine , Pakistan
46 . Dr Mouhamad batikh, General Surgeon , Syria
47 . Dr Muhammad Farhan , General practitioner , Pakistan
48 . Dr Myllad zahlloq , Vascular Surgeon , Syria 49 . Dr Ossama attar , General Surgeon , Syria
50 . Dr Owais Raza General practioner ( MBBS ) , Pakistan
51 . Dr Owais Siddique, General practitioner , India 52 . Dr Raja Munawa , General practitioner , India
53 . Dr Saman Fatima , General practitioner , Pakistan
54 . Dr Samer alhames , Thoracic Surgeon , Syria 55 . Dr Samer sharbo , Vascular Surgeon , Syria
56 . Dr Sami bitar , Nephrologist , Syria 57 . Dr Saqib Hussain , General practitioner , India
58 . Dr Sharaf ud deen , General practitioner , Pakistan
59 . Dr Showkat Hussain Dar , General practitioner , India
60 . Dr Shyar mostafa , Neurosurgeon, Syria 61 . Dr Suhail Ahmad Mir, General practitioner , India
62 . Dr Syed ali kuamil , General practitioner Pakistan
63 . Dr Syed Muntazir Mousavi , General practitioner , India
64 . Dr Syed Wafadar Hussain Naqvi , General practitioner , Pakistan
65 . Dr Syeada Maimoona Batool Rizvi, General practitioner , Pakistan
66 . Dr Taher farfotli , Neurologist , Syria 67 . Dr Tahssin hmidi , General Surgeon , Syria
68 . Dr Waael akari, General Surgeon , Syria 69 . Dr wisaam dieb, General Surgeon , Syria
70 . Dr Yamen yousuf , Neurosurgeon, Syria 71 . Dr Yassin alrahal , Orthopedic Surgeon , Syria
72 . Dr Yousef sabsabi, Orthopedic Surgeon , Syria
73 . Dr Zaher and allaziz , Vascular Surgeon , Syria
74 . Dr Zaher batal , Nutritionist , Syria 75 . Dr Zaid Jeelani , General practitioner , India
The Emir of Gwandu and the Chairman Kebbi Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Muhammadu Bashar, has attributed the current security challenges in the country to the way in which Nigerians have been ignoring God’s commands and adopting satanic behaviours.
The Emir said such satanic behaviours include rampant homosexuality, rape and lesbianism, which were causative factors of insecurity in the country.
The monarch made the observation while addressing his subjects after Eid-el-Kabir prayer in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday.
“The society today is bedevilled by cases of rape, homosexuality, lesbianism, kidnapping and rampant killings which resulted into the present insecurity Nigeria is faced with,” he said.
He charged the general public, especially parents to instill discipline and respect in their children by giving them sound education.
“I give glory to God for giving us the opportunity to witness another Sallah.
“The present ills in our society is also due to indiscipline and too much love for material wealth,” he said.
Bashar warned that unless the people fear to sin against God and parents remain committed to imbibing good family values, the country would continue to face instability.
The Emir also called on the people to be compassionate and supportive to the needy, saying that those who were able to sacrifice animals during the Eid should endeavour to share the meet with the poor and other needy persons.
He prayed to Allah to continue to bless the country and give leaders the wisdom to better the lives of people.
In his Sallah message, Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, prayed for peaceful return of pilgrims from Saudi Arabia.
Bagudu appealed to communities living along flood prone areas across the state to relocate to upper areas in order to avoid being affected by flood.
He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for assenting to the bill converting College of Agriculture, Zuru to the status of a University. (NAN).
The list of 25 cabinet nominees, which Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu sent to the State House of Assembly about three weeks, has stoked concern in the rank of Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) and Mandate Movement, two powerful groups that secured Sanwo-Olu’s governorship nomination.
The Council of Obas and Chief in Aworiland has equally called on the governor to more indigenes of the Awori descent in the second list of cabinet nominees, which it said, would be forwarded to the legislative arm for screening.
Multiple sources in the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) privately spoke about the disappointment the cabinet list had generated among the supporters of Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat at the weekend.
While the GAC is the highest advisory political organ in Lagos APC, the Mandate Movement is a powerful political machine loyal to the National Leader of APC, Senator Bola Tinubu and founded by former Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola.
In a statement by his Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile on July 14, Sanwo-Olu had transmitted a list of 25 cabinet nominees to the legislative arm. The list comprised the names of 17 male and eight female nominees.
The governor had equally noted that the current list “is first batch,” disclosing that consultation was going on with regard “to the complete number of the cabinet members. The new cabinet would be unique, because of its diversity.”
However, a party source told THISDAY that both GAC and Mandate were not really happy with the cabinet list because their candidates “are not really included,” each of which had been lobbying Tinubu for more inclusion.
Specifically, the source claimed that different leaders of the GAC nominated about 200 candidates for the State Executive Council while Mandate compiled its own list of cabinet nominees and submitted it to the APC national leader.
The source added that almost all the candidates nominated by the Mandate Movement, with the exception of former Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, were not accommodated in the cabinet.
He claimed that most Mandate leaders, especially a lawmaker representing Lagos East, Senator Adebayo Oshinowo; his Lagos West counterpart, Senator Olamilekan Solomon and Alhaji Abdullahi Enilolobo, among others.
Another source claimed that Akinbile-Yusuf “is the Mandate nominee from Alimosho. But other candidates the Mandate nominated from other local government areas were not included in the cabinet list. That is why its leaders are not happy.”
The source, also, added that Oshinowo “has already had enough because he singlehandedly nominated the candidate for Kosofe Federal Constituency. Aside, he nominated candidates for two state constituencies in Kosofe.”
Despite disquiet the cabinet list has generated,a 16-man committee, which the Speaker of the assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa set up to screen the nominees, though the committee may not be able to submit its report until the assembly resumes on August 19.
However, THISDAY learnt that the governor might transmit the second cabinet list to the legislative arm immediately they resume on August 19. While some claimed the second batch would only comprise, others said the list would be expanded to accommodate political interests statewide.
On this account, Ojomu of Ajiranland, Oba Adetunji Akinloye alleged marginalisation of Aworis across the state at a news conference he addressed at the secretariat of the Awori Obas within the Igando-Ikotun LCDA Secretariat complex.
Akinloye noted that Awori indigenes were not accorded the rightful position in the governance of Lagos State, adding that only one or two Awori indigenes made the list earlier transmitted to the state assembly.
The monarch said: “We want to use this medium to unequivocally remind Lagos State Government that Aworis are not happy with the way we are being marginalized in the state despite our population and also for the fact that we are the original settlers in the state.”
He, however, thanked the APC leader for providing direction for the party nationwide, emphasising that right from inception, especially during elections, Awori indigenes had shown support for the ruling party in the state.
Akinloye explained participation in politics “is anchored on the desire to use it as a route to be appointed and elected to serve the people and bring development to them. As we know, we have many Awori indigenes who are professionals, politicians and technocrats.
“We also have those who worked tirelessly during the electioneering campaign for the success of the party in Lagos State. We are hereby looking forward to see the appointment of another set of Awori indigenes who are young, vibrant and qualified, we are more than what we are getting.”
Akinloye maintained that the entire Aworis “are now waiting and hoping that justice will be done in the second batch of the nominees that will be forwarded to the Lagos State House of Assembly very soon.”
Tell her she isn't the person that you used to think she was.
If she doesn't change after the heart felt conversation
Tell her straight up that you would be exciting the next door. Life is too short and beautiful to be leaving in bondage and sadness all in the name of love
Lagos – Elder Simon Achuba, the embattled Deputy Governor of Kogi state has said he will not yield to calls by some people for him to resign his position, vowing to fight his case to the last.
The state’s House of Assembly on Wednesday began impeachment proceedings against Achuba, who has been at loggerheads with his boss, Governor Yahaya Bello.
21 out of the 25 lawmakers signed the petition against Achuba and described his offences as gross misconduct in office. The governor has however denied having a hand in the impeachment process.
Speaking with Daily Independent on whether he will resign to save him from the embarrassment from being impeached, Achuba, who insisted that he was being persecuted for demanding good governance said he will not resign.
He said the refusal by the state governor to pay him his salaries and entitlements was part of the plot to frustrate him into resigning even before he was served impeachment notice.
“ It is not true that I am contemplating resigning my position so as to avoid impeachment. I have not done anything that calls for my being impeached”.
“That is what they have been working on even before the impeachment notice was given. I am not resigning. I remain the deputy governor of the state” he said.
Borel Teguia, a 25-years-old renewable energy engineer from Cameroon, has come up with a prototype of a drone to monitor northern Cameroon’s borders, where attacks on civilians by the Boko Haram terrorist group have increased in recent months.
The young inventor described the advantages of this light “solar” drone over usual drones, especially in terms of its independence and flying time (from 1 to 2 hours compared to typical drones whose flying time amounts to half an hour).
“I studied in northern Cameroon, and saw many families forced to leave their homes because of the war; I told myself that something had to be done. There is nothing more horrible than war, and nothing more valuable than human life.
“I started working on this miniature device that could fly, make real-time videos and better monitor the Cameroonian borders. I wanted, so to speak, to give the Cameroonian sky an eye that would watch over its borders”, he noted.
Having worked in several local branches of EDC (Electricity Development Corporation) and Aliqo Energy, Borel founded his own company, Тagus Drone, and devoted himself exclusively to the development of his project.
“I realised that there was a huge control issue all over the African continent. Drones could be a solution. Today, drones are involved in agriculture, telecommunications, health, cinematography, construction, art and culture. This is a boon for our company”.
The engineer speaks about a drone, made of aluminium and plastic, with four symmetrical engines. The drone weighs 700 grammes; it’s quite stable, which makes it easier to control it.
Boko Haram, which has reportedly pledged allegiance to Daesh*, conducted numerous deadly attacks in Cameroon, Nigeria, and Chad.
In 2014 and 2015 the militants controlled vast territories in these countries, killing thousands of troops and civilians.
An Indian national, Lokesh Parwani, who allegedly attempted suicide after he was arrested for an alleged N116 million fraud, Thursday appeared at an Igbosere Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos.
The Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (Force CIID), Annex, Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos arraigned Parwani, the Personnel Manager of an Indian-owned firm in Lagos, on a three-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and attempted suicide.
Police counsel Morufu Animashaun alleged that Parwani and his accomplices, who are on the run, conspired and defrauded his employer of the said sum on July 19, 2019 at Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Animashaun said the defendant’s employer reported the fraud to the police which, after investigation, confronted Parwani with the allegations on July 26.
The police arrested Parwani, but he allegedly attempted to take his life by quickly eating ‘Super Kill Action Ready Bait Cake’, a rat poison.
According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened sections 411, 280(1) and 235 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 and were punishable under sections 287 and 407 of the same law.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge, which was read to him in English.
Following his plea, Animashaun, prayed the court to remand Parwani in prison custody pending trial.
But the defendant’s lawyers, Gani Oyerevuegbe and Mustapha Danisi, opposed him.
They said Parwani had no criminal record and applied for his bail “on the most liberal terms.”
They would ensure his appearance in court for trial, they added.
In a bench ruling, Chief Magistrate K. K. Awoyinka granted the defendant N1 million bail with two sureties in the like sum, one of whom must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 10 in the Lagos Civil Service.
Both sureties must be residents of Lagos State, must provide evidence of three years tax payment, “payable to the state government.
“Each surety must furnish the court with account statements with a standing balance of N1.5 million and two recent passport photographs. The defendant should deposit his international passport with the Court’s Chief Registrar,” Mrs Awoyinka said.
She also ordered the prosecution to verify compliance with the bail terms.
Awoyinka remanded Parwani in prison custody pending fulfilment of the bail terms and adjourned till September 2, for trial.
Video has captured more than a dozen people getting out of their vehicles on Tuesday to grab money that was flying all over a Georgia interstate, police said.
Dunwoody police responded to Interstate 285 around 8 p.m. Tuesday after about $175,000 (about N62 million) was reported to be “flying all over the road,” said Sgt. Robert Parsons, public information officer.
The 911 callers reported that more than 15 vehicles had stopped on the interstate in Dunwoody, some 17 miles from Atlanta, and people were “frantically taking the money,” according to a post on the Dunwoody Police Department’s Facebook page.
The post said when officers arrived, they spotted an armored truck on the right shoulder of the interstate. “The armored car crew said the side door came open while they were driving and money spilled out onto 285,” police said.
Parsons told Fox News that the crew was not sure exactly how much money spilled out of the truck, but reported it to be about $175,000.
“The company has yet to confirm the exact amount,” Parsons added.
Police said officers and the armored truck crew gathered a few hundred dollars still on hand when officers arrived, “but plenty was taken by passerby’s sticky fingers.”
“While we certainly understand the temptation, it’s still theft and the money should be returned,” police said in the Facebook post on Tuesday.
“We are thankful there were no crashes or pedestrians struck as a result of this isolated cash storm.”
On Wednesday, Dunwoody police wrote on the department’s Facebook page that some people have been bringing back the scattered bills.
The post included a picture of a man returning cash and said, “So, believe it or not, some people have been returning the money that fell from the armored car on I-285.”
“We understand it was a bizarre occurrence, but do the right thing and return the money,” police wrote in the post.
A group of concerned Ogun indigenes has berated the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, for allegedly underrating former President Olusegun Obasanjo during his visit to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The indigenes, under the aegis of Ogun Concerned Progressives, said Abiodun goofed for not acknowledging Obasanjo as one of the great indigenes of Ogun State who had played important roles in the development of Nigeria; saying posterity and history would not forgive the governor.
Abiodun had on Tuesday, July 30, led a delegation of 62 Ogun indigenes on a ‘thank-you’ visit to President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja for conferring the highest honour of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on the presumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, late Chief MKO Abiola, who is a son of Ogun State.
In his speech at the gathering with President Buhari, Abiodun listed out Ogun State’s past and living heroes and heroines, who he said played critical roles before, during and after the nation’s independence.
He mentioned the likes of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Rev’d Ransome Kuti, Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Professor Wole Soyinka, Professor Olikoye Kuti, Dr. Beeko Kuti and Sen. Olabiyi Durojaiye.
Others listed in his speech included: Chief Segun Osoba, Chief Earnest Sonekan, Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, Pa. Anthony Asiwaju and Chief Biyi Afonja.
However, the Concerned Ogun Progressives, in a statement signed by Olusegun Showunmi, expressed dissatisfaction that Obasanjo’s name was missing on the list of Ogun heroes, describing Abiodun as a hypocrite and an unserious child who seems not to remember his father’s name.
“It baffles us to note that a governor, who is still standing on one leg, could, even before finding his feet, allow his handlers to make him seem like an unserious child that cannot even remember the name of his father. Or how else can one explain the omission of the name of our father, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, from the list of Ogun State indigenes, who have made and have continued to make invaluable contributions and sacrifice for the Nigerian nation, by a man who says he is fit to lead a state as great as Ogun?” he stated.
Showunmi, who described the visit as a jamboree to waste Ogun state resources, recalled how Obasanjo was jailed and almost killed by the then Head of State, late Major Gen. Sanni Abacha, for standing against the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election.
He also noted that Obasanjo played major roles in fighting for the nation during the civil war; adding that Gov. Abiodun attempted to rewrite or falsify Nigeria’s contemporary history because of ‘pointless politics’.
“One cannot forget in a hurry that Obasanjo himself went to jail and even escaped death by a hair’s breadth in the hands of the goons of the late head of state, General Sani Abacha, over his attempt to find a way for the nation out of the logjam that resulted from the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election. He still bears the scars of the inhuman treatment he was subjected to while in prison.
“How then would anyone, who is not acting in bad taste to massage the egos of some benefactors, choose to side step the most eminent son of Africa, living? This, definitely, is the Governor’s first needless major goof,” the statement read.
Showunmi submitted that the “unwarranted omission of Obasanjo’ s name was deliberate in order to “discount or discountenance Obasanjo’s contributions” to the nation.
“As citizens of Ogun State, we reiterate that for anyone, especially in the mould of the governor to choose, on such an occasion, to discount or discountenance Obasanjo’s invaluable contributions to nation-building is, to say the least, to do a great disservice to the country itself, the current and future generations.”
He added that “Those who decided to be sycophantic in the presence of President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, over an issue they should have been dispassionate and unbiased about, should have known that the President, who has always acknowledged Obasanjo as his boss, would be discerning enough to see, through their antics, that they are confirmed hypocrites that will do the same to him when the table turns. We are sure that posterity and history would not forgive them for this travesty of justice.”
The statement maintained that “Obasanjo is a statesman and an eminent international figure, whose image would remain larger than life in the arena of global politics, regardless of whatever negative picture of his anyone tries to paint locally, now and forever.”
“His prominent place in the history of the Nigerian nation, the struggle for freedom and peace in Africa cannot be denied or extirpated by anyone, no matter how hard they try. He remains a living legend.”
The Ministry of Interior is currently undertaking a nationwide engagement with relevant stakeholders to clear the air on the controversies dogging the conduct of statutory marriage in the country .
For some time now , the Ministry of Interior and some local government areas in Lagos , Edo , Imo and Rivers States have been locked in legal battles over the right to conduct , celebrate , register marriages and issue marriage certificates .
The LGAs have insisted that their statutory powers to register marriages are being usurped by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Interior . For instance , Eti- Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State is seeking a court order to take over the popular Ikoyi Marriage Registry being operated by the Ministry of Interior , on the contention that the Federal Government , through the Ministry of Interior , has no business operating a marriage registry .
The stand - off between the Federal Government and the LGAs has created confusion in the land as to which is valid between the marriage certificate issued by the Ministry of Interior and that issued by the LGAs .
It was, therefore , not surprising that the conference hall at Sheraton Hotel in Lagos was filled to capacity last week Thursday when the sensitisation train of the Ministry of Interior berthed in Lagos .
At the conference with the theme , “ Achieving harmonious compliance with the conduct of statutory marriage in Nigeria, ” the stakeholders , including representatives of the LGAs , were eager to know the true position of the law on who has the statutory powers to conduct , celebrate , register marriages and issue marriage certificates .
The Permanent Secretary , Ministry of Interior , Mrs Georgina Ehuriah , a lawyer , knew what was at stake and she took the issues head -on . Alluding to the raging controversy , Ehuriah began by explaining that the stakeholders ’ conference became necessary because there was a need to address and lay to rest issues such as “ The poor understanding of the Marriage Act leading to non-adherence to its provisions ; the proliferation of marriage certificates and other essential marriage documents ; and the raging controversy between local governments and the Ministry of Interior as to who is constitutionally mandated with conduct of marriages leading to litigation.”
Citing sections 24 , 30 ( 3 ) and 30 of the Marriage Act , Ehuriah declared that only the Principal Registrar of Marriages was authorised to print and distribute marriage certificate to places of worship throughout Nigeria.
“ The implication is that any certificate not printed by and delivered by the Principal Registrar of Marriages is illegal and cannot serve the desired purposes , ” she stressed .
She noted that only 4 ,725 places of worship were licensed by the Ministry of Interior to conduct marriages . Out of this number , however , Ehuriah pointed out that only 314 had renewed their licences. She advised the defaulting places of worship to do the needful to avoid marriages being conducted by them to be invalidated .
“ The implication of this is that marriages conducted in unlicensed places of worship are not in line with the Marriage Act and cannot serve legal purposes when the need arises ; and as such unlicensed places of worship are operating contrary to Section 6 ( 1 ) of the Marriage Act ,” Ehuriah stressed .
The Permanent Secretary, however , said that the Ministry of Interior was willing and was already making arrangements to give couples whose marriage certificates were not issued in line with the Marriage Act opportunity to bring them to conformity.
The Kaduna State Government has indicated its intention to file an appeal against the Monday ’s decision of the state ’s High Court which granted permission to the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh El -Zakzaky , and his wife , Zeenat, to seek medical trip in New Delhi , India .
The Director of Public Prosecutions , Kaduna State, Mr Dari Bayero , confirmed this to The PUNCH on Tuesday .
This was despite the Monday ’ s pledge by the Department of State Services , which had been keeping custody of the couple since 2015 , to comply with the court’ s order .
Bayero said the government would file the appeal against the decision of the court along with “ terms of agreement” for the cleric’s planned foreign trip .
He said , “ We are filing an appeal against the decision tomorrow ( Wednesday ) . “ We are also filing along with it terms of agreement on the trip. ”
However, El -Zakzaky ’s lawyer , Mr Femi Falana ( SAN) , told our correspondent on Tuesday that he was not aware of any terms of agreement to be filed after the “ clear and unambiguous ” ruling of the court permitting his clients to embark on the foreign medical trip.
Falana said he would go by the announcement by the DSS to comply fully with the order of the court.
He said, “ I am not aware of any terms of agreement. The court ’s ruling , which was essentially meant to save the lives of the applicants ( El -Zakzaky and his wife ) , is clear and unambiguous .
“ The authority , the State Security Service , which is keeping the custody of the applicants , has signified its intention to comply fully with the court order .
“ That is where we stand and it is in line with the rule of law . “ If they are not satisfied with the court’ s order they know what to do .”
Justice Dairus Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court had on Monday granted an application by the couple for permission to seek “ urgent medical treatment at Medanta Hospital , New Delhi , India and to return to Nigeria ( for continuation of trial) as soon as they are discharged from the hospital.”
The judge directed that the trip must be under the strict supervision of the state government ’ s officials .
He also warned them not to go to any other hospital apart from the one they requested the court to allow them to visit.
The couple had told the court through the application that they were battling , among other ailments that could not be treated in Nigeria , heavy metal poisoning caused by pellets of gunshots in their body .
The couple’ s application was opposed by the Kaduna State Government , insisting that the couple’s ailments could be treated In Nigeria.
El -Zakzaky said he “ suffers from severe recurrent stroke and shock,” with his only remaining eye almost going blind.
The cleric said his wife too “ suffers from heavy metal poisoning ” as a result of “ gunshot pellets lodged in the iliac region of the abdomen .”
“ That the heavy metabolic poisoning is 200 per cent higher than normal in the body system of each of the applicants ,” a further affidavit filed in support of their application stated , in part .
Falana had alleged that the couple were shot at by soldiers in the aftermath of the bloody clash between Shi’ ites and the soldiers in the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen . Tukur Buratai , in Zaria , Kaduna State in December 2015 .
He attached to the application as exhibits medical reports issued after medical tests jointly carried out on the applicants by their personal physicians and government ’ s doctors.
Less than 25 minutes after unknown gun men shot dead the Catholic Priest, Rev Fr. Paul Offu last Thursday, his bank account was emptied by a yet to be identified person who was said to have made frantic and frequent withdrawals until the last money was withdrawn, according to a reliable source working in an old generation bank (name withheld) where the late cleric operated an account.
The inside source informed Daily Trust that considering the time of Offu’s murder and when the withdrawal was made, “it makes one to wonder how fast the killers (assuming they actually made the withdrawal) were able to rush to the bank and withdrew all the cash,” asking rather angrily: “Who was, indeed, responsible for disclosing the pin number of the priest ATM?”
According to the source, who argued that, while she was not holding brief for those that killed the priest, “there was need for the security operatives to look inward and ascertain who actually did the withdrawals from the murdered priest bank account shortly after he was killed.”
She said that the inbuilt camera in the ATM would likely capture the face of the person apparently without the individual knowing it.
“It is not certain that the person or persons who made the quick withdrawal from Fr Offu’s bank account destroyed the camera before operating the ATM. So the police could exploit this angle and make sure they leave no stone unturned in their investigation,” she said.
Fr Offu was shot dead, while a commercial driver, Mr. Kenneth Igwe, who was said to have encountered the gunmen while in the operation, was kidnapped by the gun men that quickly disappeared into the bush. But Igwe’s decomposing corpse was later found in the bush by security forces on Monday.
Before his death, Fr Offu was the Parish priest of St James the Greater Parish, Ugbowka in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State. But he hailed from Okpatu in Udi Local Government Area and was reportedly dragged out of his car and killed on Ihe-Agbudu Road in Awgu Local Government Area of the state.
However, the security operatives have mobilized and begun a manhunt for the killers. The State police spokesman, SP Ebere Amaraizu said that the police would fish out all those who were involved the crime and make them face the law.
Femi Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says the government will be making a mistake if it files charges against Omoyele Sowore.
Sowore, who is the convener of #RevolutionNow movement, has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) since Saturday.
The DSS had accused him of threatening public peace and safety with his planned nationwide protest.
But speaking at an event organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) on Tuesday, the senior lawyer who though did not mention President Muhammadu Buhari’s name directly, said Sowore had briefed him from detention that in the case he would be charged, his first witness would be someone in government who in 2011 also called for a revolution.
Then a presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Buhari had called for a revolution in Nigeria – although through an electoral process.
Sowore, according to Falana, refused to write a statement, insisting the DSS allow him to speak with his lawyer.
“I do hope that the government will not be stupid to charge Sowore. In fairness to them (DSS), they gave him a telephone to phone me. Of course I knew they were monitoring the phone, and I told him I hope they won’t charge you, because if they do, some of the people in government will be our witnesses,” he said.
“You know why? One of them, I won’t mention his name. In 2011, he asked Nigerians to learn from the Egyptian revolution and be ready for a revolution in Nigeria. So, he will be my first witness.
“The late Chief Gani Fawehinmi and four other people were charged with treasonable felony by the Ibrahim Babangida junta. I was one of them. We were detained in Kuje prison for two months. We were taken to the court, and what was the offence? I think we went beyond Sowore. We posted thousands of posters across the country, that Babangida must go. That was the treasonable felony.”
Falana, who stood in defence alongside Fawehinmi, said they argued that the then military president did not come to office through constitutional means.
He added that those in government now harassing Nigerians with treason would someday, too, be tried for treason.
It is not clear if Sowore will be charged as Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesperson is yet to respond to messages seeking development on the matter.
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