₦airaland Forum

By Yusha’u A. Ibrahim, Kano


Thousands of constituents from Kiru/Bebeji federal constituency, yesterday, disowned Honorable Abdulmumini Jibril Kofa for calling President Muhammadu Buhari to resign.

The constituents, who stormed the state secretariat of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Hotoro, also vowed to recall the lawnaker from the house.

Speaking on behalf of the constituents, a Chieftain of the party, Alhaji Muntari Isiyaku, said members of the party from Kiru and Bebeji were convinced that Kofa had committed a political suicide and that the appropriate punishment was to disown and recall him from the NASS.

"It is a gross unethical misconduct for a prominent member of the APC like him to make such a declaration on the President. If not for anything, at least they belonged to the same party. If we allow Kofa to go scot free, that would set a bad precedent and spell doom for APC's in the future," he said.

Isyaku stated that the people of Kiru/ Bebeji constituency were fully behind President Buhari and would remain with him.

Also, speaking, former Campaign Director of the embattled legislator, Alhaji Musa Salihu Bebeji, said by his current political antecedents, Kofa had completely lost grip, assuring "we will ensure his recall feom the National Assembly.

"As far as I know, Kofa cannot boast or claim to have executed constituency project that were worth N12m. for the past six years he has execute a single project in his constituency. Recalling him is the way out. we see no reason why he should be addressed as our representative." he said.

In his remarks, Chairman, All Progressives Congress(APC) Kano state chapter, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas said the action of the legislator would be fully investigated by the party.

"We will act as requested by thousands of the constituents. You have voted him into power, he betrayed you and you disowned him. The leaderahip of the party will ensure that every action of misconduct must be thoroughly probed," he assured.

He reaffirmed that the APC in Kano was wishing Buhari well, stressing that the leadership of the party and governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje were ever ready to support his policies and programmes aimed at moving the country forward politically, exonomically and socially.

Enyioha Opara, Minna

A House of Representatives member, representing Bosso, Paiko Federal Constituency in the Niger East senatorial zone of Niger State , Salihu Adamu, narrowly escaped death last Monday when aggrieved youths in his constituency beat him beyond recognition.

Our correspondent learnt from a very reliable source that he was first hospitalised in the Tunga area of the state capital following the assault before being transferred to a medical centre in Kaduna.

According to findings the vehicle in which the lawmaker was travelling was also damaged by the angry youths.

It took the intervention of men of the Niger State Police Command who were invited by some people at the scene of the incident for the lawmaker to be save.

Trouble was said to have started when the lawmaker drove into one of the villages in his constituency to attend a political meeting.

The youths who were said to have haboured resentment against the politician took exception to his attending the meeting because he had failed to visit them since he was elected almost two years ago.

It was learnt that immediately he arrived the meeting the youths advised him to leave in his own interest but the lawmaker ignored the threat.

An eyewitness said , “ One of the youths first slapped him and another hit him in the stomach making him to fall to the ground.

“ It then became a free for all as every youth there tried to take their pound of flesh from the politician . ”
When contacted the State Police Command Public Relations Officer , Bala Elkana , confirmed the incident.

“ It was a politically motivated attack, ” Elkana said , adding that three suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident.

The police spokesman also confirmed that the legislator was admitted to a private hospital in Minna before being moved to Kaduna.

The Fleet Commander, Western Naval Command (WNC) Rear Admiral Daniel Ikoli was Wednesday found dead at his Apapa, Lagos residence.

Ikoli, who was Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT and later appointed into the presidential committee on the probe of arms deal, was said to have been found in a pool of his blood.

It was gathered that the senior officer left the office on Tuesday afternoon after complaining he wasn’t feeling too well.

The Nation reports that Rear Admiral Ikoli was battling an undisclosed illness, which made him loose weight.

He also became withdrawn contrary to his usual boisterous personality.

It was also gathered that the deceased was suffering from depression caused by the high dollar rate and unavailability Foreign Exchange (FOREX) for his children’s tuition.

According to sources, Ikoli usually expressed worries about the possibility of assassins going after him as a result of his membership in the committee.

Officers who worked under the deceased have expressed shock over his death, insisting he might have been assassinated.

According to a close aide to the deceased, a boy who lives at his home claimed he heard gunshot from Ikoli’s room and took cover.

He said: “The boy said he heard gunshot and when he did, he took cover. His wife is in Abuja and his children school abroad. His orderly and Naval Assistant (NA) usually go after dropping him.

“The bullet hit him on the chest. Three bullets were seen in his room. No one can really tell what happened but the position he was seen suggests he might have been scared of something or someone.

“He was a nice and intelligent officer. He was the one who spearheaded the renovations at BEECROFT when he was Commander. It’s a sad news really.”

Contacted, the command’s information officer, Lieutenant Commander Chinwe Umar said the police have been invited for investigation.

She said: “In the early hours of Wednesday, April 5, gunshots were heard in the vicinity where Rear Admiral Teikumo Daniel Ikoli resides in Apapa.

“When his room was opened, he was found dead. Police have been invited and investigation is ongoing. When the situation is clearer, an update would be given.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has blamed political parties for the high incidence of court-nullified elections by nominating candidates who do not adhere to the rules and due diligence.

The chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said that as a result of the lack of due diligence, some of the parties have fielded ex-convicts and candidates with forged certificates for elections, thereby causing the elections to be nullified at the courts.

Yakubu, who promised to take steps to reduce the malfeasance during elections, said the commission would step up its partnership with civil society groups, especially in civic and voter education and election monitoring and observation.

Speaking at the formal presentation of INEC’s Strategic Plan for 2017-2021 to stakeholders on Tuesday in Abuja, Yakubu said the management of INEC has decided to set up a special prosecution unit staffed by trained prosecutors to facilitate prompt and more efficient prosecution of electoral offences.

On the monitoring of party primaries, Yakubu said the powers of the commission were limited under the present electoral law, adding that INEC is bound to accept any candidate submitted to it by the leadership of a political party to avoid running foul of the law.

However, the INEC boss took a swipe at the attitude of some of the political parties which he accused of not paying attention to due diligence in deciding on the choice of its candidates for election.

“If political parties had carried out the due diligence on their candidates, we will never have the kind of problems we have with numerous elections being nullified on account of improper conduct of party primaries.

“It has been observed that some parties have nominated persons such as ex-convicts as candidates and INEC has no power to rejects such candidates, only for the courts to nullify the elections after they have been conducted.

“Some have even nominated candidates with cases of certificate forgery, only for the court to nullify the elections,” he said.

On the relationship between INEC and the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), Yakubu said the commission has extended assistance to the state electoral bodies in the conduct of local government elections.

He gave examples of such collaborative ventures with SIECs in Lagos, Sokoto, Niger and Kaduna States, adding that whereas Sokoto has received assistance in deploying its card readers for the state’s local council polls, Kaduna State has expressed interest in going a step further by working with the commission in test-running the electronic voting initiative during its local council elections.

While lamenting the predicament of the commission, especially in curbing electoral malpractices and violence, Yakubu said that the commission has decided that in the absence of an enabling law establishing an electoral offenders’ tribunal, it would set up a special unit for the prosecution of offenders.

“In order to facilitate more effective prosecution, reduce impunity and enhance deterrence, the commission will establish a prosecution unit staffed by trained prosecutors to facilitate quicker and more efficient prosecution of electoral offences,” he said.

The INEC boss said so far, the commission in collaboration with the police and the Federal Ministry of Justice, has successfully prosecuted and convicted 61 electoral offenders out of 126 cases since the last general election in 2015.

He also commented on the actions taken against the commission’s staff indicted by the police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) probe panels, saying that 23 officials had been placed on interdiction until their trial in court is concluded.

He said the affected staff were being prosecuted in court by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution.

“All the 23 affected staff have been placed on suspension and on half salary until they prove their innocence at the courts and we are going to do the same thing with the other 202 staff indicted by the EFCC who are still being investigated by the commission.

“While we continue with these efforts, my position has consistently been that it is very, very difficult for one to prosecute himself.

“INEC has been saddled with the responsibility for the prosecution of electoral offenders but look at the challenges we have.

“When you want to make arrests of electoral offenders, the commission has no police to make the arrest. Secondly, we have to investigate it so that you can have the evidence that will make for successful persecution.

“We have no powers under the law to conduct investigations, so how do we successfully prosecute?
“That is why I said consistently that this country needs a special electoral offences tribunal which every violator of the electoral law will be subjected to, be it INEC staff or any other person.

“This is the solution so that if you violate the electoral law, you would know that there will be justice for whoever is involved,” he stressed.

On the effort to enforce adherence to the rules by the political parties, the INEC boss said the commission would step up action on monitoring political party activities, especially candidates’ nominations and campaign finances in order to reduce the impunity perpetrated by the leadership of these parties.

In the same vein, the Inspector General of Police (IG) assured INEC that the Nigerian Police would do everything within their powers to check rigging and electoral violence in future elections in the country.

The IG, who was represented by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Oluwole Olakode, said that the police would collaborate more with INEC to weed out the bad eggs that continue to perpetrate electoral malpractices.

Earlier, while unveiling the electoral body’s five-year strategic plan titled, “Making Votes Count,” containing the roadmap and initiatives that the commission intends to implement between 2017 and 2021, INEC’s consultant, Otive Igbuzor, said that the careful implementation of the plan would pave the way for the smooth conduct of credible and transparent elections in 2019 and beyond.

A guest speaker at the event and the Director General of the Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu, also urged the federal government to ensure adequate funding for INEC to enable it conduct credible elections.

According to Okechukwu, the only thing that can help deepen democracy in Nigeria is the ability of the electoral umpire to organise credible elections.

lalasticlala

A cancer nurse, Michael Ohaegbu, attempted to kidnap a 16-year - old girl with intent to commit a sexual offence, a prosecutor told the Hull Crown Court, according to reports by the British Press.

He is also facing three counts of voyeurism after another lady complained that he filmed her naked twice without her consent.

The Hull Daily Mail reported that the prosecutor, Charlotte Baines, told a jury that Ohaegbu, 42, had in the first case attempted to drag the teenager into his car around 12:30am on September 26, 2016.

The nurse who worked in the oncology ward at Castle Hill Hospital allegedly approached the girl and asked her for a light before asking her to get in the car.

After she declined, he went after her, causing her to start running out of fear, but he drove after her and caught up with her and grabbed her arm when her bag got stuck in a railing.

Baines said despite her repeated refusal to get into the car, Ohaegbu tried to force her in and told her “repeatedly to get in the car, and was getting angry because she kept refusing ”.

Fortunately, an old friend of hers saw what was happening and called the police and gave them the car’ s registration.

When Ohaegbu was arrested over an hour later , he allegedly smelt of alcohol, failed a breath test and was identified by the teenager as her attacker.

Also, Baines told the court that there were 16 condoms, three tins of Vaseline, and a roll of tape in the glove box of the car.

She said when the police questioned him, he said the condoms were from a health centre and the Vaseline was for dry skin without giving any explanation for the tape.

Baines was quoted as saying, “ It is the prosecution's case that the defendant has committed a number of offences against both of these females.

“ All of them were planned by the defendant, albeit concerning completely separate complainants, and are separated by time , but they have common features, and were offences carried out against their consent, and were motivated by the defendant’ s sexual gratification . ”

Ohaegbu however denied the allegations of attempted kidnap , assault , committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence , and three counts of voyeurism.

The British Government will release information about Nigerians, who own property in that country next year.

Prof. Bolaji Owosanoye, Executive Secretary, Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York that negotiations on this had reached advanced stage.

Owosanoye said the measure being taken by the governments of both countries was aimed at stepping up the fight against corruption.

“There’s no doubt that rogues in government oppress and impoverish their people by corruption and this must be sanctioned by collective action.

“We need to make sure that there is no safe haven for corrupt officials to run to.

“Britain has promised that by 2018, she will provide Nigeria with the information about who owns what and where; that’s very helpful.

“These include all the houses that have been bought by public officials or accounts that are held by public officials on which they are right now not paying taxes or which they cannot explain the sources.

“So if you cannot buy a house in England, you have to look for somewhere else.

“But if all countries criminalise this, then it becomes much more difficult unless you want to buy the house on Mars,” he said.

The presidential aide also explained that Nigeria and other African countries, who are victims of illicit financial flows, must challenge developed countries to block illicit financial flows from developing countries.

“Receiving states – the countries of the North – need to be proactive to block the proceeds of crime even before a request is made by victim countries.

“This is because, in many situations, it is clear that illegality is taking place.

“We think that reversing the burden of proof to improve the confiscation of criminal proceeds of crime would help, especially when we are going after the asset and not necessarily the person.

“If the person who claims to own the asset would not cooperate in giving information, then this should be a point in favour of the state,” Owosanoye said.

He contended that the burden of proof for criminal proceeds should shift to the suspects and not the government, citing the case of a former Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

“A former Managing Director of the NNPC was found with nine million dollars cash and over 70 million naira in his house in a small place he has built.

“He said the money is a gift. He was asked if he could tell the very generous angels who gave him this money.

“He’s not been able to provide that information. That sort of disposition should be used to penalise a claimant of asset who cannot justify the origin of the asset.

“The proposed “Unexplained Wealth Order in England,’’ which hopefully we were told would pass through the legal process this year, should really help to deepen the conversation in this regard.

“It (Unexplained Wealth Order) would help to quickly recover assets,” the presidential aide said.

Owosanoye said available research records showed that about 60 per cent of capital flight from Africa came from Nigeria because of the size of its economy. (NAN)

lalasticlala

To repatriate a $550million loot traced to ex-Head of State Gen. Sani Abacha, the Federal Government is to resolve two legal hurdles in the United States.

The hurdles are:

• an application filed before a court by Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu and his wife; and
• an action by a United States lawyer, Godson Nnaka, who is fighting to have part of the money.

Besides, the government is seeking “political solutions” to the conditions set by the Swiss government for accessing the loot, The Nation learnt yesterday.

The Swiss government would like to monitor what Nigeria does with the loot, a development which the Federal Government considers as an affront on the country’s sovereignty.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Acting Chair Ibrahim Magu, who returned from the US on Sunday, were said to have made progress in “negotiating the last phase of the process for the release of the $550million”.

Pending legal cases in the U.S. by the two Nigerians and the conditions attached to the use of the loot have caused the delay in repatriating the $550million loot.

The U.S. insisted on the removal of the legal obstacles before it could invoke the procedure for the release of the funds to Nigeria.

Following likely loss of the $550 million, President Muhammadu Buhari has chosen to resolve the stalemate through “political solutions”.

A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The Federal Government is inching closer to the resolution of legal hurdles and the template for the release of the $550 million Abacha loot. We have spent close to 20 years pursuing the repatriation of these stolen funds; it is time to get over it.

The source added: “The government is trying to prevail on the Governor of Kebbi State, Alh. Atiku Bagudu and a U.S.-based lawyer, Mr. Godson Nanka to withdraw their pending matters in some courts in the U.S..

“The government has decided to plead with Bagudu and his wife, Aisha to withdraw their suit in the U.S., which is inhibiting the process of releasing the cash, which has been stashed in Switzerland.”

In the suit number 13-CV-1832 (JDB), Bagudu and his wife urged the court to reverse its judgment, which declared that the money attributed to them was illicit fund laundered into the U.S. and therefore forfeited to the American government.”


Relying on 18 USC 983 (a) (4) and Rule G (5) (a) of the Sup¬plemental Rules for Admiralty or Marine Claims and Assets Forfeiture Actions of the Fed¬eral Rules of Civil Procedure (Supplemental Rules), Bagudu said: “I have a claim to and interest in the property alleged to be subject to forfeiture in this action.”

“If we continue with this suit without a political solution, the $550 million will still be held up in the U.S..

“The President has asked AGF Malami to discuss with the governor and his wife to withdraw the matter in the interest of the country. I think Bagudu has agreed to do so.”

Also, a U.S.-based lawyer, Mr. Godson Nnaka, who was recruited in 2004 by the Federal Government to recover funds stolen by the late dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha, had instituted a case in a U.S. district court against the Federal Government.

He has asked the court to declare that he is entitled to 40 per cent of the recovered loot. He also pleaded with the court to make him the funds’ exclusive attorney.

“He alleged that he was excluded from the fund recovery case after spending much time and money in tracing the looted funds.

“So far, we have no choice than to negotiate with the counsel. This is another legal challenge which the U.S. is using to delay the repatriation,” the source said.

A government source also made some clarifications on why the U.S. and Switzerland were involved in the loot recovery.

The source said: “The looted funds originated from the US jurisdiction to Switzerland. Many U.S.-based banks or financial institutions were involved in the wiring of the funds. They include Chemical Bank, New York; Commerzbank AG, New York; Marine Midland Bank, New York (now HSBC USA, NA; Morgan Guaranty Trust Company, New York (now JP Morgan Chase); ANZ Banking Group, New York; Bankers Trust Company, New York; Barclays Bank, New York; Citibank NA, New York; and Chase Manhattan Bank, New York.

“About $321million of the cash is said to be stashed in some banks in Switzerland. So, tracking the assets is an intertwined challenge between the U.S. and Switzerland.”

Asked to be specific, the source said the government had signed a pact with Switzerland.

“The pact, which is titled a “Letter of Intent on the restitution of illegally-acquired assets forfeited in Switzerland,” was signed by Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and the Swiss Head of Foreign Affairs Department, Didier Burkhalter. The document reveals that $321 million acquired illicitly by the Abacha family was initially deposited in Luxemburg before being confiscated by the Swiss Republic Judiciary and Canton of Geneva following a December 11, 2014 forfeiture order.

“If the $321million loot is released, the total repatriation to Nigeria by the Swiss authorities will amount to $1.044billion in 12 years.

“The Switzerland government has released $723million to the country in the last 11 years.

“Well, as for the conditions set by Switzerland , the Federal Government regarded as an affront on its sovereignty. Some of the conditions include the use of the funds for projects that will benefit all Nigerians and that World Bank should “ supervise the spending of returned assets by the Nigerian government”.

The government submitted five project proposals to the Swiss government bordering on social benefit projects for the 2016 budget but the looted funds were not released.

The Federal Government and Switzerland last month signed an agreement on the return of the $321million.

A rights lawyer Femi Falana(SAN) had asked the Federal Government to reject the conditions attached to the repatriation of the stolen funds in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said allowing the World Bank “to supervise the spending of returned assets breaches international law principles and standards”.

By Chijioke Jannah

A 29-yr-old man, Olanimu Babatunde, also known as Kokomaster has died of exhaustion after having an all-night sex romp with no fewer than four ladies in his house on Thomas Street, Lagos Island.

His young sex partners, now answering questions on the man’s curious death from the police, claimed that they never knew Olanimu was dead until around 4am on the fateful day when they realized he no longer responded to their touch.

“We thought he was enjoying it, so we were taking turns and just having fun. It was when we realized he was no longer responding that we screamed,” one of the suspects told the police.

According to an eyewitness, identified as Jide, who rushed to the scene when he heard the girls screaming, Olanimu was confirmed dead same day.

He said: “The girls, who were already intoxicated at that time, said they thought he was enjoying it, so they kept going on taking turns and just having fun. It was when they noticed that he wasn’t breathing that they started screaming.

“People rushed into the deceased’s apartment to find the four undressed girls and his lifeless body. They immediately alerted the police, who came few minutes later to arrest the suspects.”

In their statement to the police, the ladies said: “We met Olanimu on Wednesday evening when we were coming from a friend’s birthday party which we attended at Surulere. We were at a bus stop when a car suddenly stopped in front of us.

“The driver asked where we were heading, we said we were going anywhere he was heading to. He smiled and asked us to get in. When we all got in, he enquired if we were hungry, we said yes, so he took us to a restaurant and we all ordered whatever we wanted to eat. While we ate white rice and pepper soup, Olanimu ate pounded yam and egusi soup.

“After we finished eating, we continued our journey.

Now, it was dark, when we arrived at Olanimu’s residence. We got out of the car and entered his apartment. While we were seated, he asked us what we wanted and we said we wanted to get high and that he should turn on the music, so he did and afterwards arranged drinks for everyone. While we drank and danced Olanimu, started touching us, kissing and spraying money. Overwhelmed by happiness, we responded and equally caressed him.”

They later ended up in his room and continued what they had started doing in the sitting room, handling one another, and having sex.

Police investigation, it was gathered, ruled out initial suspicion that Olanimu probably died of poison.

Rather, it was linked to sex induced exhaustion. The girls were released on bail last Saturday morning, while the remains of the deceased had since been buried by his family in line with Muslim rites.

lalasticlala

Femi Ogbonnikan


The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saturday, frowned at what it described as an open romance between one of its members, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and a former governor of Lagos State and All Progressives Congress leader, Bola Tinubu describing it as not just anti-party but also a mockery of the defeat of the PDP in 2015, an election Tinubu played a key role.

Speaking against the background of a recent advertorial placed by Fayose to celebrate Tinubu’s 65th Birthday, the Lagos State PDP Chairman, Chief Segun Adewale described the romance between Fayose and Tinubu as unfortunate and a major blow on the confidence reposed in him by the grassroots members and supporters of the party.

Adewale, a former PDP Lagos West Senatorial aspirant in the 2015 elections, lamented in a press release, how some leaders of the party, including Fayose, have completely sold out to individuals within the ruling APC to the detriment of the PDP members.

“I am surprised that Governor Ayodele Fayose, the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, could throw cautions to the wind and rub his alleged alliance with the leadership of the ruling party in the South-west on our faces. As a leader and beneficiary of the PDP’s goodwill, I expect him to clearly understand and demonstrate that members and supporters are looking up to him and such unguided action demoralises them.

“No doubt Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu paid his dues towards the success of the APC in the last general election. He deserves the admiration of members of the ruling party for providing a responsible leadership within his party. I want to advise Governor Fayose to emulate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s team spirit and respect for party organs in his dealings within the PDP and not embark on actions that may further demoralize our members.

“The political sagacity of Tinubu is worthy of study by upcoming politicians.

However, open acknowledgement of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s doggedness that saw our party out of power in 2015 is a mockery on the PDP,” the Lagos PDP Chairman said.

Continuing, Adewale stated that the attendance of Fayose, in company with other APC leaders, at the inauguration of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, some weeks ago, was an affront on the South-west PDP leadership, while he neglected the welcome party and Thanksgiving service organised by the good people of Ondo Kingdom in honour of former Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

“Unequivocally, the said advertorial is a confirmation of Governor Fayose’s anti-party activities that have fully come to the fore. I wonder how the APC would have viewed such advertorial for former President Goodluck Jonathan by former Governor Fashola or Governor Aregbesola, for instance, in the build-up to the 2015 general election.

“Even during the First or Second Republic, no opposition leader openly embraced Pa Obafemi Awolowo despite Awo’s popularity, achievements and sagacity. The fact that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has done very well for himself and his political party is not an excuse for Governor Fayose’s demonstration of impunity and disregard to party’s loyalty.

“It is an aberration for Governor Fayose to publicly acknowledge the role played by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in destroying the PDP that made Fayose what he is today. It is impossible to also forget the role played by Asiwaju Tinubu in the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari as the president, a decision that has brought untold economic hardship on Nigerians.

“Obviously, the choice of President Muhammadu Buhari wasn’t in the interest of the people but for personal aggrandisement of a few politicians,” he said, appealing to the PDP members to remain steadfast, because the storm would be over soon.

By Chukwu David


The Senate will not rescind its decision to reject the appointment of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, to substantive capacity, New Telegraph investigations have revealed.

This is, however, notwithstanding its official statement to welcome President Muhammadu Buhari’s peace initiative on the deteriorating Executive/ Legislative face-off. Most of the senators, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, for obvious implications, said that the move by the President to broker peace and end the current executive-legislative acrimony was welcome. Ironically, they reasoned that though such move was a responsible initiative, the upper chamber would, by no means, be persuaded by anybody to reverse its position on Magu.

The lawmakers said that they would be surprised and embarrassed too, if President Buhari should attempt to convince the Senate to confirm Magu, in total disregard to the report of the Department of State Services (DSS), which indicted the EFCC acting chairman of corruption. According to the lawmakers, Buhari’s insistence that Magu must be confirmed to head the anti- graft agency, despite the unfavourable security report on him, is antithetical to his (Buhari’s) professed fight against corruption in the country. One of the senators said: “The decision of Mr. President to broker peace between the Senate and the executive is a welcome development. It shows that he is aware and also worried that the current bickering between the two arms of the same government is not healthy for our democracy.

“As a senator, I am also seriously concerned about the recurring quarrels between the National Assembly and the Executive because it is negatively affecting governance; it is hampering development. However, as important as the peace initiative is, it cannot be to persuade us to confirm Magu because there is a pending security report against him.” Another senator also told New Telegraph that: “The President did well by setting up a committee to reconcile the Senate and the executive, but that reconciliation effort cannot make the Senate to change its position on Ibrahim Magu because we cannot sweep the DSS’ report under the carpet. ”

In fact, I am of the opinion that President Buhari is setting a bad precedence in this country by not removing Magu from that office, three weeks after the Senate rejected his nomination for the second time.

Nigerians all know that Senate did not reject him based on its own report or observation, but based on security report from the DSS.” Also speaking, one of the senators noted that by setting up a reconciliation committee to bring the two arms harmoniously together, President Buhari had demonstrated that he was concerned about the adverse effects of continuous bickering between the Senate and the executive.

The lawmaker, however, frowned that the President had not thought it necessary to take decisive actions on critical resolutions of the Senate on some public officers serving in the executive arm. He stated that his silence on Magu and Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), the Comptroller of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), was encouraging them to disregard and disrespect the apex chamber.

“Peace is good and every sane human being wants to have peace. However, if President Buhari really wants to have peace with the parliament, let him call his appointees to order and also comply with the resolutions of the Senate.

“I am telling you this, and I want you to take this seriously, if it is about Magu, that initiative will not yield fruit. In fact, his removal of Magu from that office will mark the beginning of any peace initiative; else, we will continue to deceive ourselves, and there won’t be any peace at the end of the day.

The Customs boss also needs to be cautioned and disciplined by the President for being rude to the Senate.” One of the senators who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, described as bizarre, the President’s insistence on Magu, in spite of the indictment from the DSS.

“I can best describe what is happening as bizarre because the President gave the impression that he was going to fight corruption and rout it out from our system. But unfortunately, his body language speaks to the contrary. For God’s sake, what is so unique and special about Magu? I am saying this because we have also heard that the socalled peace initiative was targeted at persuading the Senate to confirm Magu.

“I wish him luck in whatever he is doing to bring the two arms of government together because it will enhance good governance and rapid development in the country, which is why we are in government. But if it is to apply diplomacy and get Senate to confirm Ibrahim Magu, that will be a great miracle if it happens because I will liken it to raising the dead from grave,” the lawmaker said.

Meanwhile, senators have reacted to the call by Muslim Rights Concerns (MURIC), in which it urged President Buhari to shut down the Senate before the Chamber could shut down the people, accusing the apex assembly of sliding into authoritarian dictatorship. Senator Yele Omogunwa (APC, Ondo South) reminded the group that Nigeria is running a democratic system that is anchored on separation of powers, which provides for checks and balances, stressing that no arm has the constitutional power to shut down another arm. “Have you forgotten that there is separation of powers for checks and balances?

Their call is an indication that they do not understand the meaning of democracy. The framers of the constitution are wise enough not to allow for what they are calling for,” he said. Similarly, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP, Abia South) pointed out that such call was borne out of ignorance, because it is undemocratic and unconstitutional for the President to contemplate shutting down any arm of government. “Anyone making such call is unaware that we are running a constitutional democracy. No arm of government can shut down another arm of government,” Abaribe told New Telegraph.

lalasticlala

By Ben Ezeamalu


The management of Lagos-based television station, Television Continental (TVC), on Sunday disputed police claim that 13 students of the University of Lagos were remanded in Kirikiri prison over unlawful invasion of the television facility at the Ikosi neighbourhood of Lagos.

“The Management of Continental Broadcasting Service Limited (owners of TVC) refutes these stories and categorically states that TVC has no hand in the arrest of the students.

“TVC did not at any point report or lodge any complaint at the police station,” remarked Abisola Agbaje, the legal manager of TVC in a press release in Lagos.

Ms. Agbaje said, “Truly, the Students came into our premises on Friday the 31st of March, 2017 on or about3 p.m. to protest the “alleged rustication by UNILAG”.

“The protest was peaceful which we have on record and the students left our premises peacefully.”
She explained that the report of the protest was yet to be aired because as at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 2, Unilag authorities were yet to respond to the allegation, and that “as a responsible media organisation, reputed for fair and balance reportage we had to hold on until we get UNILAG authorities side of the story.”

Ms. Agbaje’s position was corroborated by the deputy chief executive of the station, Lemi Olalemi, who, non-plussed at police claims, said the students who came to the facility were “really well behaved and did not do anything untoward to warrant arrest in my opinion.”

He joined Ms. Agbaje to “call on the Nigerian Police to step forward and state when, and if TVC indeed lodged a formal complaint that led to the arrest of the students.”

PREMIUM TIMES learnt the students, protesting the rustication for two semesters of a visually-impaired student, Lawrence Success, were arrested
on Friday and charged to a mobile court on Saturday for criticising the institution’s management.

The magistrate ordered their remand at Kirikiri Prison pending their bail application and adjourned the case to April 6, for determination of their bail.
The institution’s semester examination is scheduled to begin on Monday.

The police prosecuting counsel, Effiong Asuquo, the Officer in Charge, Legal, of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti, had told the court that the accused committed the offence on March 31.

He said the accused engaged in “riotous invasion” of TVC, protesting the alleged rustication of one of their students.

According to him, the students also invaded the main campus of the University of Lagos, Akoka, and disrupted normal activities in the institution.

The prosecutor said the alleged invasion by the students was a ploy to stall commencement of exams.

He said the offence contravened Section 168 (1) (d), and Section 2 of the Criminal Law, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

lalasticlala

Kaltume Ibrahim Mai-Kaji of Sabuwar Kaura village in Doguwa Local Government Area of Kano State and Aminu Ali of Jidawa village in Jigawa State had spent several years dating before they eventually got married in 2013 when she clocked 15 years.

Surprisingly, after they got married, Kaltume refused to allow her husband have sexual affairs with her. Anytime she was invited to bed she would decline. Ali had severally complained about his wife’s attitude to his parents, but each time he reported the case he would be told to exercise patience.

Ali’s parents always told him that such attitude was normal, especially to young couples like them. He was always advised to intensify prayers and give his wife sometime to adapt to her new environment and social status.

Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that in his quest to solve the problem, Ali had tried several herbs on his wife, but all in vein. Kaltume never slept with her husband throughout her stay with him.

After several unsuccessful attempts, Ali sought the intervention of his father-in-law, Mallam Ibrahim Mai-Kaji, believing that he would find a lasting solution.

Mai-Kaji, therefore, asked his son-in-law to send Kaltume back home. When she returned home, many herbal medicines were administered on her, but there was no improvement.

Finally, her father invited one Mallam Shu’aibu Wanzam, a local barber from Agaji village, to circumcise Kultume, thinking that it would solve her problem. Unfortunately, in the process of circumcizing her, Wanzam removed a portion of her private part. As a result of this, she can no longer urinate like a normal person. The 19-year-old Kaltume currently urinates through a tube that was carefully strapped above her sex organ, which medical doctors confirmed was completely damaged.

Speaking to our correspondent, Kaltume’s father said: “When my daughter was sent back by her husband, I also tried herbal medicines in my effort to solve her problem. I thought a local barber could help us; hence I invited Shu’aibu Wanzam to see if the problem was related to his job.

“I told him to treat her if he could or we would try another means of solving the problem. After he checked her, Wanzam said he could treat her and I gave him the go-ahead. I did that to save my daughter’s marriage because my son-in-law had been to several places searching for solution.

“Wanzam and his friend came to my house and did their work, but unfortunately, since then, the girl has been unable to urinate through the normal process. It is now three years and some months. We have been to Doguwa Hospital and the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), but there has not been any improvement.

“A tube was attached to her urinary tract, which is being changed every two weeks. We visit Doguwa Hospital every two weeks to replace the tube.”

Responding to the allegation of forceful marriage, Mai-Kaji said he did not marry his daughter off against her wish, adding that she loved her husband prior to their marriage and still loves him.

“Before she got married, Kaltume was in the habit of rejecting every suitor that approached her. Whenever her mother asked her to talk to them she would say no. She would say there was no need to deceive the person if she would not marry him.

“At last, she chose her current husband and stopped collecting gifts from other men or talking to anyone as a suitor. Anytime she was offered a gift she would turn it down because she already had a suitor. Till today, Kaltume loves her husband,’’ he said.

Asked if she had a peculiar sickness that might have made her reject sexual advances from her husband, Mai-Kaji said he was not aware of any. “As a child she had never been sick for more than three days, neither did she show any sign of mental disorder, either before or after her marriage. We have not noticed any defect in her.

“Because of her condition I have not been able to sleep. My wish is to see my daughter out of her present condition. I am seriously worried about her situation. I feel very sad whenever I see her in that condition. But I will continue to pray for her. I do not have many children and don’t know what to do,’’ he said.

Sympathising with Mai-Kaji over the condition of his daughter, Mallam Ibrahim Sallau Sabuwar Kaura, his neighbour, said, “Mai-Kaji has been up and doing to save his daughter. He has spent a lot on her, yet there is no improvement. It is really pathetic.”

When the case was reported to the Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi ll, he summoned the affected family and the ward head of the area to his palace on Monday, March 27, 2017. When Kaltume’s ordeal was narrated to him, the emir wept and cursed those who contributed to her condition.

Sanusi also sacked the ward head for allowing genital mutilation in his area of jurisdiction. “I will not allow this barbaric practice to continue in Kano under my watch. Any traditional ruler who allows this to happen in his area will lose his title and anybody who contributed to it would be punished accordingly.

“I have directed the Commissioner of Police to arrest Wanzam and whoever had a hand in this heinous crime. They will be punished. If the commissioner fails to do something, I will personally petition the Inspector-General of Police on this matter. I will follow Kaltume’s case to its logical conclusion. I will not let this matter to be carpeted,” the emir warned.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Kano State command, DSP Magaji Musa Majia, said Kaltume’s father had been arrested while efforts were being made to arrest the local barber.

Majia said Kaltume was taken to the hospital for medical examination and advice on what should be done to save her life. “We will do our best to save her life. At the same time we will not relent in our efforts to arrest the local barber that mutilated her,” he assured.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


A 34-year old woman, Gloria Moses has been arrested and charged before Ogba Magistrate’s court for allegedly attacking his neighbour, Gift Augustine with shovel in Lagos.

P.M EXPRESS gathered that fight broke out between the women after Gloria refused Gift’s children from plucking unriped mango fruit from their compound.

The incident happened at 55 Ige Faniran Street, Command area, Ipaja where they reside with their families.

The two women from Ebonyi State, it was gathered had been at loggerheads before the incident, engaged in public fight over the refusal of the victim to allow the suspect’s children to pluck the fruits which resulted to exchange of words.

In the process, the suspect allegedly carried a shovel and hit Gift’s jaw which fell off and she was rushed to hospital.

The matter was reported at Meiran Police division and the woman was arrested along with her husband’s friend, David Nwoha and detained over the assault.

They were charged with conspiracy and serious assault on the victim .
They pleaded not guilty .

They presiding Magistrate granted them bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

They were remanded in prison custody pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.

The matter was adjourned till 30 April 2017.

Olufemi Atoyebi, Ibadan

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibadan zonal office, Oyo State, on Thursday said a herbalist had been arrested by its operatives for falsely obtaining N 45m from a victim under the pretext of offering herbal and spiritual healing.

A statement from the EFCC Head of Public Affairs in the zone, Ayo Oyewole, said the suspect, Aminat Okiribiti, 34, committed the crime with two other accomplices at large, one of who is said to be her husband.

The statement said, “Aminat ( Okiribiti) was arrested for an alleged case of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences . In a rehash of the old infamous advance fee fraud tactic of spiritual help and solution to all problems, a victim recounted her ordeal in the hands of a syndicate to our operatives, signalling a warning to the public.

“Aminat, alongside other three cohorts still at large, conspired, using the decoy of providing cure and spiritual solution to the health challenges of the victim’ s children and fleeced her of the sum of N 45m.

“Aminat, who is married to one Wande Okiribiti, 47, who is still at large , confessed that some of the money obtained from the victim was collected through her ( Aminat’ s ) bank account domiciled in one of the new generation banks located in Ibadan. ”

The statement said Aminat and the victim met sometime in October 2014, at Utako , Abuja , adding that the suspect would be charged to court at the end of investigation.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


The police have arrested a minister with the Mountain of Fire Ministry, Oshodi District, Lagos Pastor Franklin Chinedu for allegedly defrauding a widow, Charity Onje Isaac who was paid her late husband’s gratuity.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the victim, Charity was deceived through a false prophecy and lost the N850,000 she was paid by her late husband’s employer, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN.

The incident happened at Biliaminu Close, Oke-Afa area of Isolo where the victim allegedly surrendered the money as requested by Chinedu.

It was gathered from the victim that Chinedu prophesied to and asked her to give him the money as he was divinely directed by God.

The Benue State-born widow obediently gave him the money but later realised that she had been duped.

However, she went back to the pastor’s house only to discover that he had moved out from the apartment to another rented three bedroom flat.

Narrating how the whole scam happened, the widow told our correspondent that she met Chinedu who told her about the death of her husband and the gratuity.

He also told the woman that serious prayer is needed to be done so that FAAN can release her husband’s money.

She said when the money was eventually released, Chinedu invited her and told her that God said she should give him the money.

Charity said she did not know what came over her as she handed the money to him.

She said she realised what happened when she had no money to feed the family, and she started looking for the pastor and then reported to the church what happened.

The matter was reported to the police at Ejigbo division who arrested Chinedu and charged to court for fraud.

Chinedu who hails from Iseke in Ideato in Imo State said he prayed for the woman and the money was paid and he borrowed the money from her but was unable to raise money to pay her back.

When Chinedu was arraigned, he pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, Mr Akeem Fashola granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail.

The matter was adjourned till 26 April 2017.

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

The Federal Government on Wednesday said despite pressure from groups and individuals , it would not disclose the amount spent on President Muhammadu Buhari’ s recent medical treatment in London, the United Kingdom.

The Minister of Information and Culture , Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this while answering reporters ’ questions at the end of the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council at the Presidential Villa , Abuja.

Buhari had been under pressure to disclose the amount spent on his 49-day medical treatment in London, saying it is still important for the citizens to know the cost of the President ’ s medical treatment abroad.

The Punch had in line with the Freedom of Information Act sent a letter to the Presidency requesting it to provide for public consumption Buhari’ s medical bills incurred in the UK.

But Mohammed said the request should be considered on the basis of national security and morals.

He said he was not aware of anywhere in the world where the President was forced to divulge his medical bills.

The minister said even the FOI Act excluded issues bothering on national security .

Mohammed said , “ This matter ( the President ’ s medical bill) has come several times and our position on the matter is quite straight forward.

“ What are the President ’ s conditions of service ? What are his entitlements in terms of his well- being and health care ? The state is supposed to take responsibility for these.

“ We believe that asking for how much has been spent on the health of the President is an issue that we should weigh very well both for national security and also for moral issues. I don’ t know why we must divulge such very sensitive information.

“ I might be wrong but I don’ t have experience else where that the President of any country will be ill and be forced to disclose how much the state has spent on his health.

“ Yes, there is Freedom of Information Act but it is also carved in such a way that when such information is likely to endanger national security , I think it is an area that is not covered . ”

The Socio- Economic Rights and Accountability Project, Centre for Anti -Corruption and Open Leadership, Human rights lawyer , Mr . Femi Falana ( SAN) , and the Campaign for Democracy, among others , had said it had become imperative to release the President ’ s medical bill in the UK because his administration rode to power on the pedestal of transparency, anti - corruption promise and change and therefore could not afford to hide such information from the public.

Buhari had written the Senate that he would embark on medical vacation for 10 days , between January 23 and February 6, 2017 and that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo would act on his behalf.

However, a second letter written to the Senate on February 5 informed the lawmakers of the President ’ s wish to extend his leave indefinitely. The letter had stated that the extension was to enable him to complete and receive the results of a series of medical tests.

lalasticlala

By Zakariyya Adaramola & Ojoma Akor



The Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Prof Usman Yusuf said 23,000 ghost enrolees were discovered with the help of Information Technology by a team from some Federal Government agencies.

Yusuf disclosed this yesterday at the official presentation of ISO-IEC 20000 certificate to Galaxy Backbone [GBB] by the deputy British High Commission, Harriet Thompson in Abuja.

He said NHIS under him was able to deploy ICT to plug leakages in the disbursement of NHIS funds to Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) and discovered 23,000 ghost enrolees in the process.

“We have been able to save millions of naira for the Federal Government and this is why the HMOs are after me,” he said.

NHIS General Manager, Media and Public Relations, Abba Zayyan said each enrolee is entitled to N1,000 per month , this amount covers the capitation fee and the fee for services saying “If you multiply N1,000 by 23,000, you will have N23 million per month, if you multiply to a quarter, that is three by N23 million, you will have about N69 million or roughly N70 million. There are four quarters in a year, if you multiply N69 million by 4 you have nothing less than N270 million per annum, and if you multiply based on the number of years the padding started, let’s say since the scheme started, that is 11 years ago, you are going to have close to N3 billion.

“But the relevant department is still computing the actual years when the padding started, as soon as they finish we would be able to come up with the actual figure, because we just discovered these ghost enrolees.”

Temitope Ogunbanke and Murtala Ayinla


The Federal Government has revealed it was already copying the Lagos State template to revive the economy, assuring that the country will soon be out of the economic recession.

It promised to help entrepreneurs to grow Made-in- Nigeria products to boost the country’s economy.

Speaking yesterday at the 9th Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Colloquium in Lagos, President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the Minister for Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd), said that the Federal Government has already put policies in place to encourage and facilitate Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to promote madein- Nigeria goods. The colloquium had the theme, “Use what we make, Make what you use.”

It was meant to mark Tinubu’s 65th birthday. Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, said the Federal Government recently released N1 trillion for capital expenditure to make the economy productive, adding that measures were being taken to bring about multiple streams of revenue. The minister implored Nigerians, especially businessmen and the rich, to pay tax to increase government’s revenue.

“The economic template we copied from you (Lagos) is now being implemented for economic recovery of the country and we are not ashamed to say it. The impact of that template is that many of the states are now copying it, especially in the area of Internal Generated Revenue (IGR).

We are following that which you laid down. “The situation we found ourselves today demands that we have multiple sources of revenue. We need to create jobs for people. We need to drive the economy by creating jobs. We will change Nigeria by consuming what we make in Nigeria. Using what we make and consuming what we make is the best way towards economic recovery.

“The tax mobilisation we copied from Tinubu is what we are using and we thank you for leading the way in tax collection. As a matter of fact, when you (Tinubu) embarked on aggressive tax collection, which eventually led to increased IGR in the state, many people complained. But the truth is that we all can see the massive infrastructural development achieved from that aggressive tax collection,” she said.

Minister of Trade and Investment counterpart, Dr. Okechukwu Enelemah, assured entrepreneurs that government will make it easier for people to do business by creating a friendly environment, where business can grow. “Government is doing a lot to ensure that small and medium scale businesses grow in Nigeria.

We would make it easier for entrepreneurs to do their business in Nigeria,” he said. While stressing the need for Nigerians to embrace Made-in-Nigeria products, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar disclosed that some of the equipments being used presently by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) were locally produced at a reduced price.

Lagos State Governor, M.r Akinwunmi Ambode assured that his administration would continue to improve on indices of the ease of doing business to ensure that more products are made in Nigeria for the development and growth of our nation.

Also speaking, Tinubu said it is time for the Federal Government to press forward with its national industrial policy and national infrastructural plan, especially by creating infrastructural funding from financial institutions.

Tinubu, who commended the present leadership of the country, also advocated the need to embrace other forms of power generation and incentives to bring back some of the manufacturing companies that hitherto left Nigeria due to unfriendly business environment. He also urged Nigerians to embrace Made-in- Nigeria products to grow Nigerian economy, adding that “Not only must we use what we make and what we use; we must fix our minds to make what the world values.” There were presentations by small scale business owners of made-in Nigeria products on their successes and challenges.

Dignitaries that graced the event include Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo, governors of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kaduna, Plateau, Kebbi and Sokoto, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Uguru Sanni; Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Mr. Femi Otedola. Others are former Vice- President Namadi Sambo, senators, politicians, and entrepreneurs, among others.

Solaade Ayo - Aderele

Academics have said that Dino Melaye’s donning of academic gown to the Senate plenary session on Tuesday is a “ juvenile attempt” at proving that he attended the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Senator Melaye had stormed the National Assembly Plenary Session on Tuesday ( today) in what academics described as “ceremonial” gown , rather than an academic robe.

The senator representing Kogi West has been under fire in the past week, as critics allege that he did not earn an academic degree from the ABU as claimed.

In his defence, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Ibrahim Garba, had deposed before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on Monday that Melaye earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography from ABU, with a Third Class.

Speaking to The PUNCH online, Professor of History and a former Dean of Faculty of Arts at the Lagos State University , LASU, Ojo , Abolade Adeniji, said if Melaye felt that his appearing in what he thought was an academic gown would confirm his claim that he attended ABU, it is “ juvenile. ”

Adeniji said, “ This is a juvenile attempt at justifying his claims that he attended ABU . He has only made a fool of himself.

“ What the senator has done is unusual, and this should be a source of concerns to his fellow senators.

“ The senatorial position is an exalted one that should not be trivialised the way Senator Melaye is doing.

“The appearance he assumed today is not for an adult, much less a senator. He looks so cheap. It ’ s a political drama that was meant to prove that he has a degree. ”

Another academic, the Dean of Arts Faculty and Associate Professor of English Language at LASU, Dr . Adeleke Fakoya, said the gown that Senator Dino Melaye wore “is a ceremonial one."

“This is a ceremonial gown and not an academic robe. It is a ceremonial uniform usually worn during formal ceremonies in any Ivory Tower.

“ Even then, you can only wear such ceremonial robes if you are a part of the procession in the academic environment; never in the context in which Senator Melaye wore it today.

“ The type of gown that the senator wore in that photograph is usually worn by vice- chancellors, registrars, deans, etc .

“ If Melaye intended it to prove that he graduated from ABU , then he missed it big time because the type of gown he is wearing is not for someone being conferred with a first degree, to start with.

“ It is a ceremonial costume that should not be worn in frivolous manner as this senator has done . It ’s either hired or stolen. ”

On the implications of Senator Melaye’ s action, Fakoya said it wouldn’ t change anything.

He said it’ s like the case of a church leader who chooses to wear a Pope ’ s gown .

“ It won't make that person a Pope, because we know the processes involved towards becoming a Pope.

“Ditto for academics. You must earn what you claim to possess, academically or by way of honorary bestowal.

“ The onus is on anyone to justify his claims to any degree, instead of treating sacred objects with frivolity as we have here. ”

The letter used by the convicted former Adamawa governor, Bala Ngilari, to secure bail is fraudulent, an official has said.

The letter, which supposedly confirmed Mr. Ngilari’s bad health situation, was the major one he presented to a Yola High Court and upon which the court granted him bail.

Justice Nathan Musa of the Yola High Court on Monday granted bail to Mr. Ngilari, currently in the prison for a five-year jail sentence.

The former governor has appealed against his conviction.

Peter Tenkwa, the Controller of Adamawa Command of the Nigerian Prison Service, NPS, told journalists on Monday in Yola that he was not aware of the letter and had communicated to the prison headquarters.

He said the headquarters directed him to issue a query to officials involved in the matter, including the Deputy Controller of Yola Prison, Abubakar Abaka, and a Superintendent of Prisons, John Bukar, in charge of health.

“Nigeria Prison Service, as I stated, knows nothing about this letter; whoever wrote that letter is on his own. I have been directed to query the officers involved.”

Mr. Tenkwa said that all he knew was that he got a letter dated March 23 from Adamawa Ministry of Justice on health facilities in Yola Prison where Mr. Ngilari was remanded and that after accessing the facilities, he replied to the letter, informing the ministry that the facilities were okay.

“We have enough medical facilities to handle high profile inmates like Ngilari; we even received some supply of drugs on Friday,” Tenkwa said.

Mr. Tenkwa, however, said that he had yet to get a release order from the court regarding Ngilari’s bail, adding that whenever he received it, he would contact the service’ legal department before acting on it.

Also commenting on the issue, the Attorney-General of Adamawa and Commissioner for Justice, Bala Sanga, said the bail granted Mr. Ngilari was a disturbing development.

“The chamber of attorney general is very worried and disturbed about this granting of bail pending appeal to our former governor; this is a legal remedy that is very rarely granted.”

Mr. Sanga said that he was more disturbed that the letter acted on in granting the bail was not exhibited with the appellant’s application nor attached to the documents.
“Technically what this means is that the letter was not even before the court.

“So, the court, in my opinion, has no business relying on a document that was not before it to arrive at a decision.”

Mr. Sanga said that the purported letter claiming that Ngilari was facing serious health problem was dated March 23, while the letter to the ministry from the prison service, which confirmed that the authorities had the necessary facilities to handle Mr. Ngilari, was dated March 24.

“This is very scandalous, if indeed the prison says it did not issue the letter.

“We intend not to file a complaint against whoever wrote that letter but to refer the matter to the police for prosecution because the court relied significantly on that letter to grant the bail,” Mr. Sanga said.

Mr. Sanga said that the disease was not contagious hence the bail was unnecessary.

Justice Musa, on March 6, sentenced Mr. Ngilari to five years in prison, without an option of fine, for violating the Public Procurement Act in the award of contract for the procurement of 25 vehicles.

Mr. Ngilari was given an option to select a prison of his choice to serve the term.

lalasticlala

By Ismail Mudashir

There is an ongoing plot in the Senate to suspend former majority leader, Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) over his motion that led to investigation against Senate President Bukola Saraki and Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West), Daily Trust has gathered.

Ndume who was removed as Senate Leader in January, raised a point of order last week notifying the Senate of media reports alleging that the Senate was on vengeance against the Customs Comptroller-General, Hamid Ali over a seized SUV car allegedly belonging to Saraki.

He also said that there were reports that Senator Melaye possesses a fake Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria academic certificate.

It was gathered that as a result of the allegations, Senators are plotting to send Ndume away from the Senate.

A Senator who spoke to our correspondent said it would be difficult for Ndume to survive the plot. “We are not happy with him at all. He is on self destruction and it is the wish of many of us that he should be suspended,” a Senator said.

Another Senator said with the revelations at the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Ndume is on the verge of being suspended. “All the allegations he raised turned out to be false. There is no need for collation of signatures. It is just a voice vote that is required. His would be worse than that of Abdulmumini Jibrin (suspended at the House last year),” he said.

Ndume, when contacted said he was aware of the plot to suspend him but that he is not perturbed saying “I’m aware of it but I’m not worried. Even when they were plotting to remove me as Senate Leader, I knew it but I wasn’t worried.”

When he appeared before the committee, Vice chancellor of the ABU, Professor Ibrahim Garba confirmed that Melaye graduated from ABU in year 2000.

“ From the records of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria , Senator Dino Melaye who was at that time named Daniel Jonah Melaye graduated with a third class degree of the Bachelors of Arts in Geography in the year 2000. And by this he is a graduate of the university,” he said.

Ndume while speaking when appeared before the committee said he raised issues on the floor in order to protect the integrity of the Senate.

“I raised a point of order. It is not personal, if there is anything that border on the integrity. Here we are that it has been proved beyond reasonable doubt that Melaye is a graduate,” he said.

On Saraki, he said, he raised the issue in order to protect the integrity of the Senate.

A 23-year-old man, Adeoye Ikugbayigbe, has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly beheading a 72year-old-woman, Funmilayo Shada, following an argument over land.

Ikugbayigbe was arrested after the deceased’s son Ekundayo Shada reported the matter to the Abigi Divisional Headquarters Monday.

According to Ogun Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Ekundayo was on his way to meet his mother at their farm when he saw Ikugbayigbe on the road holding a polythene bag.

Oyeyemi said: “As soon as Ikugbayigbe sighted him, he dropped the bag and ran into the bush. This aroused Ekundayo’s suspicion and he quickly ran to check his mother but could not find her. He later came back to check the bag dropped by the suspect only for him to discover his mother’s severed head and her wrist in the said bag.

“He quickly reported the case to the police and the DPO Abigi Division, SP Komolafe Omoniyi led detective to the scene, combed the surrounding bush and finally got the suspect arrested.

“On interrogation, he confessed to the commission of the crime claiming that he has been having a running battle with the deceased over a portion of land. The severed head and the remains of the deceased have been deposited in the mortuary while the cutlass he used has also been recovered”.

“The Commissioner of Police (CP) Ahmed Iliyasu has ordered that the suspect be transferred to Homicide section of State Criminal Investigation and Intelligent Department (SCIID) for further investigation.”

Mr. Lawal Daura, Director-General of the Directorate of State Security (DSS), Mr. Mamman Daura, the influential nephew of President Muhammadu Buhari, and Mr. Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to President Buhari, SaharaReporters can authoritatively report, have secretly begun working on a plan to have Mr. Ibrahim Magu, acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), redeployed back to the Nigeria Police Force.

The moves being made by the three men, top Presidency sources told SaharaReporters, are independent of President Buhari, who is unwilling to replace Mr. Magu.

The President is said to be unconvinced by the negative DSS report on Mr. Magu's integrity. However, the President's nephew the DSS boss and Mr. Kyari are said to be exploiting President Buhari's brittle health to replace Mr. Magu, who has obdurately resisted their attempts to teleguide him. “They are capitalizing on Buhari’s failing health to execute their project of getting Magu out because he has refused to be considering their advisory role in carrying out his job.

“The DSS boss is behind all the reports against Magu. Behind him are Maman Daura and Abba Kyari. They have failed to convince President Buhari that Mr. Magu has integrity issues," said a top Presidency source.

The failure to achieve their aim has made them approach the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Lawal K. Idris to recall Mr. Magu from the EFCC back to the Nigerian police force.

Authoritative sources said the DSS is planning to author more damaging reports on Mr. Magu's reputation with a view to making his continued stay at EFCC untenable. “In the course of the drama, they will have their way because the trio wield a lot of influence,” said a source.

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A 27-year-old, Oluwaseyi Omoniyi, has vented his anger on his mother-in-law, Yinka Onigbinde, over her involvement in the challenges his marriage was facing by allegedly bitten off one of her fingers in his home in Lagos during a scuffle.

P.M .EXPRESS gathered that Omoniyi bite her finger hard to the extent that part of it fell down and could not be replaced back.

The incident happened at Omoniyi’s residence at 14 Wale Adebayo Street, Pipeline, Idimu, Lagos. It was gathered that the mother-in-law went to Omoniyi’s house to take away her daughter`s property after she had reportedly encouraged her to leave her husband.

Our correspondent learnt that Omoniyi who hails from Kogi State married his wife from Ondo State and after their first child, they started having issues over interference by the wife’s family before the incident happened.

The mother-in-law was taken to the hospital after serious injury from Omoniyi’s action. The matter was reported to the police who arrested and detained Omoniyi.

At the station Omoniyi told the police that the victim was interfering in his marriage, a situation that led to the collapse of the marriage and the wife packed out of his house.

He said when his wife moved out, she left some of her property, but the mother-in-law still came around to take them away.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that it was during the disagreement and dragging of the property that the victim pointed her finger into his mouth and with anger he bite off one of the fingers.

He was charged before a Magistrate court sitting in Ejigbo with assault under the Criminal Code .

He pleaded not guilty .

The presiding Magistrate, Mr A.A. Fashola, granted him bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two surties in the like sum.

He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect the bail conditions.The matter was adjourned till 10 April 2017.

By Fred Itua, Abuja


THE crisis currently rocking the Senate may be far from over, as the three key actors involved, namely, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Dino Melaye from Kogi State and the immediate-past Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, have returned to the trenches.

The crisis, which began late last year when the Senate rejected a $29.9 billion loan request sent to it by President Muhammadu Buhari, may eventually lead to the suspension of Ndume, who is not ready to throw in the towel yet, despite the gathering storm against him.

Ndume had soon after the Senate rejected President Buhari’s loan request protested against the resolution. He was said to have visited the Presidential Villa where he held series of meetings with top government officials on how to prevail on the Senate to rescind its decision on the budget issue. Ndume’s move, it was learnt, angered Saraki and his loyalists, who were understood to be uncomfortable with that. Ndume was reportedly warned but did not take heed.

The last straw that broke the camel’s back was the first rejection of Ibrahim Magu, the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by the Senate.

A day after the Senate took the decision, Ndume told State House correspondents that the Senate was yet to take a position on Magu. While the controversy lasted, he reportedly made efforts to woo lawmakers loyal to Saraki to support his new move. But upon resumption from the Christmas break, Saraki’s loyalists led by Melaye, gathered signatures from All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus members in the Senate against Ndume. He was eventually removed as Leader and was succeeded by Ahmad Lawan.

Since his removal as Senate Leader, Ndume has been fighting to take his pound of flesh, particularly from Saraki, who is believed to have covertly sanctioned his removal and Melaye who executed the deal.

Sunday Sun gathered that Ndume, who hails from Borno State and is currently facing trial over his alleged links with the dreaded Boko Haram, is making overtures to elements within the Presidency, who are perceived to be unrepentant enemies of Saraki. It was learnt that even though he appears to have lost support from his former ‘lieutenants’ in the Senate, he is threatening to spill the beans on what he knew while his relationship with Saraki lasted.

For instance, it was reliably gathered that Ndume is planning to mount pressure on the leadership of the Senate and the National Assembly, where Saraki holds sway as chairman, to release details of the budget of the legislature, which has been a bone of contention for years.

There were claims in some quarters recently that the Offices of the Senate President and Deputy Senate President spend at least N1 billion monthly on operational cost.

In February, Ndume openly condemned the secrecy associated with the budget of the Senate. He noted that lawmakers were not privy to the contents of Senate budget and called on Saraki, who doubles as chairman of the National Assembly, to make it public.

Ndume had said: “We are here to pass the budget without seeing the details. This is a government of change and this must change. The details of the budget report should be considered holistically. Last year, we had several issues with the budget. In fact, to some extent, it was very embarrassing.

“Some of us do not know what was/is in the budget because the details of the budget have never been provided and this should be done this year. Senators do not know the budget of the Senate.

It should be known this year and this is very important because we cannot be taking blames or hold credit for what we do not know.”

Last week, Ndume made another daring move when he instigated the Senate to probe Saraki over the purchase of a Range Rover Sport vehicle, which was seized by Customs officers, and Melaye over certificate forgery saga.

Saraki, who is believed to have finally secured the friendship of President Buhari, is not leaving anything to chance. Sunday Sun reliably learnt that efforts are in top gear to instigate a suspension move against Ndume.

Melaye, who is also having a running battle with Ndume, is believed to be spearheading the suspension move.

In the coming days or weeks, one of Saraki’s loyalists is expected to move a motion on the floor of the Senate and call for Ndume’s probe over allegations that he has been disparaging the Upper Legislative Chamber.

The issue will be referred to the Senate committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions and a hurried report would expectedly be submitted, which would be used to nail Ndume and possibly suspend him for at least six months.

Sunday Sun also learnt that another motion may be sponsored by another Senator to urge the Senate to probe links of some lawmakers to Boko Haram.

The prime target, it was gathered, is Ndume who is currently facing trial over the same issue. There are fears, however, that Ndume may be standing alone as members of North-east caucus have switched camp and are currently supporting Lawan, who hails from the same geopolitical zone.

Spokesman of the Senate, Senator Abdullahi Sabi, could not be reached on how the Senate intends to resolve the lingering crisis. Series of calls to his mobile phone number were not answered.

Similarly, the Senate Leader, Senator Lawan declined to see the Sunday Sun correspondent when he made frantic efforts to get his reaction on how the Senate leadership intends to solve the tussle in the Red Chamber.

By Emma Elekwa, Awka



Fresh facts have emerged over the alleged murder of two children by their mother, at Omaba Phase II area of Onitsha, Anambra State. Daily Trust investigation revealed that the suspect, Mrs. Chinasa Orizu, had suffered from post-natal depression, having delivered about three pregnancies through Ceaserian Section (CS) without seeing a doctor, which resulted in psychiatric issues. The source said the suspect had severally complained of the husband’s alleged infidelity.

“In an effort to find solution, the woman visited a prayer house where she was asked by the pastor to fast and pray for some days. The woman started having some visions that there were witches in her residence causing disharmony between her and the husband and that she would use weapons to hit the demons until they died for her to get relief,” the source said.

According to the source, the woman immediately dashed to the kitchen and picked a hammer and went wild around the apartment. It was in the process of hitting the hammer sporadically that she struck her first child, killing him. “She didn’t even realize her child was already dead until she was done, and when she saw what happened, she broke into tears. It was her cry that attracted neighbours,” the source added.

Daily Trust further gathered that the four-month-old child who also died few minutes later, must have given up after being starved throughout the period of “prayers”.

The suspect was later arrested by police from Inland Town Police station Onitsha, who took her to police station. A police source said she is helping the investigation, adding that she may be charged to court or a psychiatric hospital as soon as the investigations are over.

Residents of the area were shocked. “This is very strange. How can somebody hack her own children to death for no just cause?” one of them said.

lalasticlala

By Dickson S. Adama, Uyo


Daily Trust: How was your relationship with ex-girlfriend Lucy like?

Iniubong Ime: We dated for about a year and I discovered she is a troublesome person. She was causing trouble between me and my mother, my siblings and my friends, she caused trouble between me and everyone close to me, and succeeded in driving people away from me. So I decided to quit. She initially left but later started coming back, pleading that I should accommodate her, and that she wasn’t working and didn’t have anywhere to stay. Rather than accommodate her, I got her a job and also rented an apartment for her.

Thereafter, I told her that I had gone beyond my ability and she could continue her life from there. I pleaded with her to understand that we could no longer date. That was last year. She relaxed for a while and this year, she started coming around again. She would come at ungodly hours, so I told her that I didn’t welcome such visits and whenever she came around I would send her back.

DT: How did she take it?

Ime: Of course, not peacefully. Even when she wasn’t coming around, she was always monitoring my movement and I knew it. But I didn’t bother because I had nothing to do with her anymore. Sometimes, when she spots me with anyone, male or female, she wouldn’t care to know who the person was and would just begin to insult them.

DT: How did the acid attack happen?

Ime: On Monday, March 6, 2017, I went to bed early but was woken up by a sound outside my door at about midnight. When I woke up I saw that my window net had been torn and I decided to find out who was at the door. When I opened the door, I saw it was Lucy, and before I could say anything she splashed the acid on me and ran away. I was in serious pain, and the burns on my body are severe. The only thing I could do at that point was to rush to a bucket of water which I usually kept in my room and poured it on myself with the hope that it would ease the pain. I then began shouting for help and people started coming out, including my siblings who were in the next apartment. They brought me to the hospital.

DT: After the incident, what was the reaction of her family?

Ime: Her mother was very angry. She is still not feeling well because she is hypertensive, so I can understand with her. She called me and said she would have nothing to do with Lucy henceforth. I was even told that the mother made efforts and apprehended her, took her to a local government chairman and was to be handed over to the police the next day. I don’t know what the chairman did and Lucy escaped from his custody. She’s still at large.

My aunt has since reported to the police. But our major concern now is for me to recover. My treatment bills are being footed by my family and friends and it has not been easy. You know that injuries of this magnitude need a lot of care and money. So, I will appreciate if government at any level, interest groups and kind-hearted individuals can come to my aid so that I can recover.

DT: When you recover, will you seek vengeance?

Ime: That wouldn’t solve anything. I have decided to let it go and forgive her. In fact, I forgave her from the very day it happened. I thank God I’m still alive. I won’t take her back because I had long broken up with her before the incident. But I can relate normally with her. I have no hard feelings towards her. We won’t be lovers again, but she won’t be my enemy either.

DT: Did you at any point promise to marry her?

Ime: Not at all. I don’t make promises I cannot fulfill. I only told her that if we were meant for each other, destiny would bring us together. I however advised her that if she saw any other suitor, she could go ahead and marry him.

The chances of Nigeria securing over $1.4 billion in international loans may have been thrown into question as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is expected to issue an unflattering report on the Federal Government’s economic policies next week.

According to a report seen by Reuters, the IMF is expected to warn Nigeria that its economy needs urgent reform and will also urge the government to introduce immediate changes to its exchange rate policy as the forex measures recently introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are not enough to drag the economy out of recession.

The news agency quoted the IMF as telling the Federal government in the 68-page report that: “Much more needs to be done… and further actions are urgently needed!” An online news portal, Reuters said the report which was written after a final meeting between IMF representatives and top government officials in Abuja was from the Fund’s Acting Secretary and addressed to members of its executive board and would form part of the IMF’s verdict expected on March 29, although Nigeria can request alterations.

Financial experts said the IMF report could delay efforts by Nigeria to secure the much needed loans from the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) as it would send an important signal to institutional lenders.

The World Bank has been in talks with Nigeria for a loan of at least $1 billion for more than a year and the AfDB has $400 million on offer, but discussions have stalled over economic reforms.

Nigeria is seeking the funding for infrastructure investment and to help plug an expected record deficit in this year’s budget as it boosts spending to try to end a recession.

The IMF said that if Nigeria did not remove foreign exchange restrictions and unify the exchange rates, it risked “further deterioration in (forex) reserves” and “a disorderly exchange rate depreciation”.

The report said Nigeria should also tackle its overdependence on oil, low government revenues, a large infrastructure deficit, a rising debt service and double-digit inflation.

Nigeria has not asked the IMF for fiscal support. An IMF spokeswoman declined to comment. A spokesman for the presidency directed inquiries to the ministries of finance and budget and national planning.

The finance ministry and CBN did not respond to repeated attempts to seek comment. A budget and planning ministry spokesman declined to comment.

Earlier this month, Nigeria released an Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) for 2017 to 2020 calling for a market-determined exchange rate. But analysts argue it offers few concrete steps.

The ERGP “is more optimistic on growth than (IMF) staff… does not explicitly call for tighter monetary and fiscal policy in the near term, and assumes no immediate change in exchange rate policy all of which are essential to reduce vulnerabilities and increase investors’ interest,” said the IMF. Delays in adopting these policies increase vulnerabilities and risk reforms being politicised ahead of the 2019 elections, the IMF said. Nigeria’s woes go beyond its economy, said the report, piling additional challenges onto the government.

The northeast is in the throes of a humanitarian crisis caused by the Boko Haram Islamist insurgency, which is threatening millions with starvation.

Adoption of a fully flexible exchange rate would likely see the naira, which is propped up by the central bank but trades around 30 percent weaker on the parallel market, plummet in value.

The report said Nigeria should articulate a sustainable fiscal policy and adopt structural reforms to diversify the economy away from its dependence on oil and promote competitiveness.

“The outlook is challenging, with growth expected to remain flat and macroeconomic imbalances to persist,” it said. However, reacting to the IMF report, a financial expert, Dr. David Aheruvoh, urged the government to ignore the Fund.

He said: “The government should show the IMF its roadmap and tell the Fund to leave us alone. Monetary policy cannot be tightened any further in an already deteriorating economy. Also the naira cannot be devalued because it will result in more inflation.”

Similarly, another financial expert, Dr Richard Mayungbe, faulted the IMF on its call for a devaluation of the naira.