There were indications yesterday that a three-man team will review the response of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, to a query issued to him by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN).
The three leaders, who will come up with an advisory on Magu, are Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and AGF Malami
Magu has responded to a query. He sent copies to the VP and the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari.
It was not immediately clear yesterday what the Acting Chairman of EFCC said in his response, but a source said he denied any wrongdoing.
The source said: “Magu has sent his response to the query to AGF Malami with copies made available to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari.
“Basically, he denied all the allegations of fraud levelled against him. He insisted that he was never fraudulent in any manner whatsoever.
“A three-man team, including the VP, the AGF and the DG of DSS, is reviewing the response. The team may come up with some recommendations for the President.
“What is certain is that the President will have the opportunity to hear all sides of the allegations against Magu. “
Senate Leader Ali Ndume yesterday insisted that Magu had not been rejected because due process was yet to be followed.
He said the confirmation processes had not taken place.
He also said Magu’s disqualification could not be done in a closed session.
Ndume said: “My position on Magu is clear and I stand by it. Magu has not been rejected. Check our votes and proceedings. It is clear and concise.
“The Senate President while reporting progress of the Executive Session, said: “Following the security report on Magu, the Senate decided not to confirm Magu and communicate the same to Mr. President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces.’
“That was our position and the Senate President aptly reported progress of the Executive Session. So, I wonder how and where rejection was brought in. “We have not rejected him because that cannot be.
In spite of a passionate plea by a housewife to the court to save her 18-year-old marriage, an Agege Customary Court in Lagos granted the prayers of her 50-year-old husband and businessman, Kingsley Onyenobi, and severed the relationship.
The estranged husband said he bought a brand new car for her only for her to give out the car to her church pastor on the pretext of “sowing seed”.
The court ruled that allegations of infidelity and threat to life brought against the woman by the husband were weighty enough to warrant the dissolution of the marriage.
The President of the court, Mr Phillip Williams, who handed down the verdict, said he was fully convinced that the couple could no longer live together as husband and wife.
He said, “The two of you should go your separate ways without any molestation or harassment,” he ruled.
“The court has no choice than to dissolve the union in spite of the fact that the wife still claims she loves her husband.”
The petitioner had on February 11 filed a petition against his wife, Chioma, citing lack of care, infidelity and threat to life.
The mother of two, who is also businesswoman, denied the allegations and pleaded with the court not to dissolve the marriage, saying “I still love my husband.”
She said, “Please help me to beg him, I am not ready to leave my husband because I still love him.”
Earlier, the petitioner told the court that the wife had not given him peace of mind.
He described the woman as careless and uncaring as her attitude led to the death of their set of twins.
The estranged husband said he bought a brand new car for her only for her to give out the car to her church pastor on the pretext of “sowing seed”.
“I injected millions of naira into her business and she could not give proper account till date; my wife is wasteful.’’
In her defence, the respondent told the court that when she went for her church convention and the Holy Spirit told her not to go back home with all she brought to the venue.
He said, “So, l left my car, jewellery and other things for the church.’’
She said she could not stay at home most of the time because of the spiritual war the petitioner and his family had been waging against her.
“My pastor advised me to leave the house for some time.” NAN
The State Security Service (SSS) sent two different and contradictory security reports to the Nigerian Senate on the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report today. While both reports stated that Mr. Magu had some “integrity issues,” they differed on the actions they suggest the upper chamber take on the confirmation of the EFCC boss. One of the reports suggested that clearing the anti-corruption fighter would spell danger for the administration’s anti-graft war.
The State Security Service (SSS) sent two different and contradictory security reports to the Nigerian Senate on the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report today.
While both reports stated that Mr. Magu had some “integrity issues,” they differed on the actions they suggest the upper chamber take on the confirmation of the EFCC boss.
One of the reports suggested that clearing the anti-corruption fighter would spell danger for the administration’s anti-graft war.
The other described Mr. Magu as having performed excellently so far, and should, therefore, be favorably considered for the post of substantive chair of the EFCC.
Three senators told PREMIUM TIMES in separate interviews that the two reports were dated October 3, 2016, with one addressed to the acting clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, and the other to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Ita Enang.
The two reports were also signed by the same official, Folashade Bello, on behalf of the Director-General of the SSS, Lawal Daura.
The two documents were sent to the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki.
The senators, who requested not to be named, so they are not accused of divulging proceedings at a closed session, said both letters were read to lawmakers during the executive session held to decide the fate of Mr. Magu last Thursday.
“The two letters contain almost the same allegations against Magu,” one of the senators said. “But they are different in the recommendations made.
“While the report addressed to Ita Enang was dated August 25, 2016, the one to the acting clerk was dated September 21, 2016. But both were signed by the same Folashade Bello on behalf of Daura.”
Another Senator disclosed that in the letter written to Mr. Enang, the SSS stated that “although they found some adverse things about Magu, he should be cleared given his excellent performance. They said he should be given a chance to run the commission.”
However, the senator said, the same SSS in the report addressed to the acting clerk about a month later asked the Senate not to confirm Mr. Magu.
“That other report concluded by saying Magu is integrity-challenged and will constitute a liability to the anti-corruption stand of the Buhari administration,” he said. “We can’t understand why the SSS cannot get its act together to issue a single report and make the same recommendation.”
A third senator told PREMIUM TIMES the Senate decided not to confirm Mr. Magu because of the two contradictory reports.
“It is our position that given the two confusing reports, it is only the president that can decide whether he still wants the man to run the EFCC or not. The ball is in his court,” he said.
The spokesperson for the Senate, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, had told journalists on Thursday that the upper chamber decided against confirming Mr. Magu based on adverse security report from the SSS and that the Senate would write to the president intimating him of the decision.
Contacted on Monday for comments on the two contradictory reports the Senate received, Mr. Abdullahi said he would not join issue with anyone on the decision taken on the Magu affair.
“We have a moral, legal and constitutional duties to vet nominees, and that is what we did,” Mr. Abdullahi said. “Every necessary administrative action were taken.
“What usually happen in every confirmation hearing was what took place. Whoever is not satisfied should explore other avenues to make his or her case. As far as we are concerned, we have done our job.”
In the reports, the SSS, among other allegations, accused Mr. Magu of benefitting from proceeds of fraud from an individual it (SSS) is prosecuting.
The agency alleged that the suspect, Umar Mohammed, who was a member of the presidential panel on arms procurement, paid the rent and furnished Mr. Magu’s official residence in the Maitama district of Abuja.
It also claimed that Mr. Magu used Mr. Mohammed’s private jets for trips outside Abuja.
A fact-check of the allegations by this newspaper indicates they were largely false.
The presidency said on Sunday that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to investigate allegations of corruption against Mr. Magu and other officials of his administration accused of corruption.
The police in Kano on Monday arraigned one Kabiru Iliyasu in a Magistrates’ Court for enticing a married woman.
Iliyasu, 40, who resides at Unguwar Dabai Quarters, Kano, is facing a one-count charge of enticing married woman.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge but the Senior Magistrate, Aminu Fagge, ordered that he be remanded in prison.
The prosecutor, Insp. Yusuf Sale, had earlier told the court that the Iliyasu committed the offence on Nov. 25.
Sale said Nasiru Yusuf of the same address reported the case to Rijiyar Zaki police Division, Kano, on Nov. 25.
He said that on the same date at about 5 p.m., Iliyasu allegedly sent his phone number to Mariya, who is wife to the complainant, Mohammed Yusuf, through Miss Islam Umar of Unguwar Dabai Quarters Kano.
He added that the defendant told Islam to tell Mariya that the phone number belonged to his wife, Hajiya Binta and that she should call her.
He noted that when Mariya called the number, she found out that the number was actually Iliyasu’s number and the defendant went ahead to entice her and even lured her to unknown destination and was later arrested.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 389 of the penal code.
Meanwhile, the senior magistrate had adjourned the case until Jan. 5 for mention as he ordered his remand. (NAN)
A 22- year old suspect, Falope Oluwole, arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command, has disclosed that he duped over 33 men while pretending to be a lady on Instagram.
Falope according to a statement by the Police was arrested when officials of the RRS decoy team, who had been monitoring him for some weeks, trailed him to a popular club in Ikeja City Mall on Thursday evening.
The officers were reported to have monitored him, and those he was interacting with at the club before arresting him and a colleague late in the night.
It was gathered that the suspect recently celebrated his birthday at Hard & Rock, Lekki, Lagos, week before his arrest, where he spent over half a million on foods and drinks.
The suspect, a 100 level part time student of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos, who allegedly confessed committing the crime, said that he has been in the business for more than two years.
The Police revealed that Falope’s activities on Instagram was placed under investigations when it received a complaint about an Instagram handle @blackberbiedoll, used for criminal activities, which was later traced to him.
Apart from @blackberbiedoll, which he prominently used for fraudulent activities, he maintained @froshwhite007 and @froshwhite separately for same purpose.
The complainant, Bernard stated that he got a friend request from @blackberbiedoll. “Apparently, the picture on the account was that of a lady. The lady in question messaged me on BBM. Honestly, I thought I was chatting with a woman who claimed to be in Nigeria at the time.
“She lied to me that her father was a Nigerian and her mum, a Kenyan, and so we got talking. At a point, she lied that she was building a beauty outfit in Ikota Shopping Mall, VGC and that she was in need of some money to complete the mall”,Bernard added.
He explained further, “I had to transfer N1million to her. Weeks later, I grew suspicious of the account name Olawole Israel Oluwaseun Falope. I ran a search on Google, and then discovered it was all scam.
” Immediately, I reported the incident to Instagram and that account was blocked and later suspended to prevent others from falling victim”.
Another victim, who did not want his identity disclosed said he paid N100, 000 into her account to support her bogus fashion outfit.
Admitting the allegation, the suspect noted that since he started the fraudulent act about two years ago, he had duped no fewer than 33 men pretending to be a lady on Instagram and that the least amount he received from any of them was N80,000.
“When I started, much as I pretended to be a lady on phone, some men on the other side didn’t believe me. I then downloaded an app on Google which transformed my voice into that of a lady whenever I am having conversation.
I got several pictures of Shayla, a pretty United States based lady on my profile. Since then, men have been disturbing me and calling to request for a date”, he stated.
He said, “what I do is that I assess people based on their appearance on Instagram, add them and thereafter open up conversations with them before I start bringing up all manners of stories in order to dupe them.
” At a point, I lied to most of them that I had an accident and I lost my ATM. I told them that I need some money. Some of them were generous enough to drop money into my account”.
“I lied to them that I was putting up a boutique and saloon at Ikota, VGC and Lekki, and that I need money to finish setting up.
” I know I made a mistake downloading Shayla’s pictures and used them for fraudulent purposes. I am telling you the truth, those that I have collected money from cant be more than 33”, he explained.
Investigations revealed that the owner of the profile pictures the suspect used, @Shayla had complained to Instagram that some Nigerians were using her profile pictures to scam unsuspecting members of the public.
It was also disclosed that the suspect claimed to be a friend of Toke Makinwa, Tonto Dike, Don jazzy, Peter Okoye, Toyin Aihmaku, Tee Y Mix, Oristsefemi, Timaya, Sean Tizzle, Dami Adenuga, Femi Otedola, Mike Adenuga jnr, Ramsey Noah e.t.c.
“I know all of them. I attend a lot of shows, I meet them, take photographs with them, even exchange numbers. Like sister Toke Makinwa, Tonto Dike, Uncle Ramsey Noah, these are the kind of celebrities I look up to and I want to be like them”, he stated.
But RRS investigators confirmed that he was following a lot of Nigerian celebrities on Instagram but they could not confirm if any of them fell prey to Falope’s antics, as many his Instagram chats with them got no response.
They added that a Ghanian business man who Falope claimed to have met at a popular club in Nigeria rebuffed his request to engage him in a chat.
They noted that Falope claims of being a halfcast, Fashion designer, stylist, cosmetologist, model were all part his fraud to make people fall for him. He was never a trainee or a specialist in any of this.
Our source added that he is not an half cast as he claimed to be, rather he bleached his skin.
“He didn’t deny this claim. He admitted bleaching his skin to escape the taunting of girls that he was a very ugly guy”, the source stated.
Items recovered from the suspect included, an iphone 6, 1 Samsung Galaxy A5, an Apple tablet, hand and neck chains, some new notes and a handbag.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Suprintendent Dolapo Badmos, warned Nigerains to be careful on the internet because scammers are on the prowl world wide. The suspect has been transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigations.
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) says its members would begin a three-day nationwide warning strike by January 9 2017, in protest of the anti-labour practices of international oil companies.
Tokunbo Korodo, the south-west chairman of the union, told NAN in Lagos that the warning strike was inevitable because all other options had failed.
He noted that in spite of the federal government’s directive that both the workers and oil companies should maintain status quo, the latter party is acting above the law.
Korodo said NUPENG has to “take the bull by the horn” as it appears that the oil companies are more powerful than the government.
“We are not gaining anything by going on strike because it is not a joyful thing but as a union, we have to protect and fight for the welfare of our members.
“We have sensitised the public and also seek the intervention of the federal government over the anti-labour activities of the IOCs on our members but we are not getting results.
“Our members that put in their best within the duration of time they worked were not paid their severance packages by their employers when they sacked them.
“This is a big slap and it will not be allowed. What they are practising here in Nigeria, they cannot practise in their countries, so that is why we say enough is enough. We will take the bull by the horn.
The chairman said what led to the planned warning strike was inherited by the present administration, while some occurred within the same government.
“Two hundred and fifty members of our union were affected by the divestment by Chevron Nigeria Ltd., in the south-east. And this is giving us a serious concern because they cannot feed their families.
“The minister of labour, Chris Ngige, asked all parties to maintain the status-quo ante and we complied because we respect the authority.
“But the IOCs seem to be above the law or more powerful than the government; they failed to maintain the status-quo ante being amicably agreed to both parties.
“Chevron had to tell our 250 members that their contract with it was no more binding on it because it cannot trace the company that employed them as contract workers for it.”
“The minister said that Chevron had to pay the sacked workers but its management refused to comply. It got to a time when Sen.Ngige called for a meeting in Abuja to mediate; at times its representatives would not show up.
“We would risk our lives and resources to Abuja, no IOCs member would come. Even when their representatives came, they would be those without a mandate to represent the organization just to frustrate the discussion.”
He alleged that all the IOCs in the country were involved in these anti-labour practices.
“We do not want the public to see the strike as if we are unnecessarily punishing Nigerians. That’s why we are using this period to protest by asking tanker drivers to hang green leaves on their trucks and our members to wear red cloth.
“By next year, if our grievances are not addressed within this period, we will proceed on a three-day warning strike. If the government and people concerned are not able to apprehend and resolve it, we may be forced to turn the strike into an indefinite one.” (NAN)
TOLUWANI ENIOLA writes that with the current economic recession, overseas-trained Nigerians who spent millions of naira on foreign degrees, are finding it difficult to secure jobs after returning home
After spending over £15000 (over N4m) and more than a year of rigorous studies at the Birmingham City University, United Kingdom, Titus Agu’s joy knew no bounds in 2014 when he successfully completed a master’s degree programme in Environmental Sustainability.
Brandishing his certificate with smiles, Agu posed in his convocation robe as the photographer took turns to capture the moment. He believed that with his second degree, his dream to be gainfully employed in one of Nigeria’s multinational companies was about to come to reality.
Agu’s expectation was that upon arrival in Nigeria, he would be gainfully employed to compensate for the huge cost of his education in the UK. This is because, in the nation’s labour market, those who study abroad often get better recognition than their counterparts from varsities in the country.
The same degree could be obtained for less than £2000 (N500, 000) in Nigerian universities. But the prestige attached to a UK education and the prospects of getting a good job in the country often makes Britain and other foreign countries a desirable option.
According to a 2016 ranking of universities across the world released by the Centre for World University, no Nigerian university is ranked among the world’s top 1000 varsities.
Things started to fall apart for Agu when he could not get a job months after returning to the country. Applying to relevant companies suddenly became a frustrating routine. He got no response from the scores of places he submitted his curriculum vitae to and the only interview he attended was not successful.
Sharing his experience with SUNDAY PUNCH, Agu said, “I left for the UK in 2012 for further studies because of the prestige and quality of education in Birmingham City University.
“I expected that I would have a better chance of securing a job in top-ranked companies in Nigeria. I chose the UK because the mode of learning there is better compared to Nigerian varsities.
“When I returned home, I applied to many companies but got no response. It’s very unfortunate that my master’s degree certificate could not fetch me a job in the country, especially when one considers the investment put into getting an elite education.”
Agu noticed that he was getting frustrated and humbly became an apprentice to a local cobbler to learn shoemaking, after sitting idle at home for months. According to him, becoming a cobbler, despite having two degrees, is akin to a curse. But he has been able turn the ‘curse’ into a blessing.
Narrating his experience, he said, “Learning shoemaking didn’t go down well with many who felt that I was demeaning myself making shoes because I hold a master’s degree from the UK. Becoming a cobbler despite my education was a foolish decision to some people. They felt that with a foreign degree, I shouldn’t be doing what is considered a job for uneducated folks in the country. Joblessness spurred me to consider entrepreneurship.”
Pains of foreign degrees
Agu’s fruitless search for job is the same fate many Nigerians who spent millions of dollars and pounds to study in the UK, US, Canada and other countries suffer.
Every year, owing to the low quality of education in some Nigerian varsities, job prospects and better opportunities, many Nigerian students opt for overseas education.
The 2016 Open Doors report on International Educational Exchange indicated that 10,674 Nigerians were studying in the United States during the 2015-16 academic year.
The report, published annually by the Institute of International Education, in partnership with the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, stated that the figure marked the highest number of Nigerians studying in the United States since 1986. There are millions of Nigerians studying in the UK, Canada, Russia, Ghana among others.
The upsurge of interest in foreign universities’ degrees is fuelled by the perception that such degrees command prestige back home and gives the holders an edge over other job seekers who studied in Nigerian universities.
But with the biting hardship caused by the economic recession, these returnee graduates are no longer as popular as they used to be.
Some of them, who spoke with SUNDAY PUNCH, said their failure to get jobs at home made them feel that their acquisition of education abroad was a waste of resources.
Ada Ihuoma, a 24-year-old MBA graduate of the University of Huddersfield, UK, has been searching for jobs to no avail since she returned home from the UK a year ago.
Ihuoma, who obtained a BSc degree in Nigeria before travelling to the UK, said she was beginning to regret spending over N6m, the estimated cost of her MBA in the UK, because of her inability to get a job.
“My job search has been fruitless since I returned to Nigeria. After earning a degree in Computer Science, I couldn’t get a job. So, rather than wait for a job, I reasoned that an MBA would not only increase my chances of securing a job but also boost my education profile.
“Some days ago, after ruminating on my inability to secure a job in Nigeria, I wished I had the N6m I used in obtaining the MBA. There are so many lucrative business ideas I would like to prosecute now. Although I do not regret going abroad to study, I don’t find it funny that I am jobless,” she told SUNDAY PUNCH.
Also, Yewande Osamein, a graduate of Advertising at the University of West-London, is facing a similar challenge. Since she returned to Nigeria last year, Osamein said employers have not been forthcoming with responses on her series of applications for jobs.
Osamein said she spent up to N20m on her degree, adding that the hope of getting quality education and better job chances also made her consider travelling to the UK.
“Getting a job, even with a UK-degree in Nigeria is daunting. Inability to get a job after investing much in education is frustrating. It is high time the governments raised the bar of the country’s educational system for an enabling environment for the youth to get jobs,” she told our correspondent.
Big loss for Nigeria
Recent statistics released by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics showed that the economic recession has led to 1.5 million job losses. In the 2016 report on underemployment and unemployment in Nigeria, the NBS stated that the country’s unemployment rate rose from 10.4 per cent in the last quarter of 2015 to 12.1 per cent. The fear of unemployment has led to an increase in the proportion of Nigerians who stay in their countries of study after graduation.
Since he graduated three years ago from a Russian university, Bode Ngochindo, told our correspondent that the frightening unemployment situation in Nigeria had made him stay back in Russia. Ngochindo said unemployment was scaring many Nigerian graduates from returning home.
He added that many Nigerian students with brilliant ideas considered it unwise to return home because of the low chances of achieving their visions in the country.
Just like Ngochindo, Fadekemi Adetosoye, a Political Science bachelor’s degree holder from the University of Pittsburgh, US, is not finding it easy getting a job with her degree which she spent about N55m to obtain.
She is employed in the United States but would not risk coming back home because her applications for job in Nigeria have not been fruitful.
Adetosoye, who shared her story with SUNDAY PUNCH, said, “I currently work as a consultant in the US. I am hoping to apply the experience in the Nigerian market. I have had difficulty applying on the websites of a few multinational companies, and it has also been a challenge to reach out to their HR contacts as well.
“It usually involves knowing someone who can help link one in the right direction to get things going. It’s tough, but that’s the nature of things. I guess, and I’ve learned to accept it and adapt as needed.”
Apart from the fact that Nigeria is losing some of its best brains to other countries, the nation is losing millions of dollars yearly due the rush for overseas education.
Experts say the rush to foreign varsities by Nigerian students underscored the importance of an urgent overhaul of the country’s university system.
A Non-Governmental Organisation, Exam Ethics International, estimated that Nigeria lost N1.5tr as capital flight to overseas education. The estimated loss figure of N1.5tr is more than one-sixth of the country’s 2016 budget.
Stakeholders say the UK, US, Canada, South Africa, Ghana and other the countries are inadvertently profiting from the failure of Nigeria to revamp its university education.
The National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, said the rush for overseas education was unfortunate, noting that if the Federal Government could invest in the education sector, Nigerians would be encouraged to study at home.
Ogunyemi, who lamented the loss to overseas education, said he envisioned a new Nigeria typical of the 1950s and 1960s when citizens of other African countries came to study in Nigerian varsities.
He said, “I think we should first ask why Nigerian students are going out to study abroad. If we fix our educational system, we will stop this exodus and education tourism. Considering the amount of money we are losing, it calls for concern.
“Ultimately, we have to address the issue of why our youths are going abroad for education in places that ordinarily would not have been of interest to them. Many of them are also taking risks by going to volatile areas.”
Also, a financial expert, Yemi Soladoye, in an interview with SUNDAY PUNCH, maintained that the country was losing too much to overseas education in foreign exchange.
Soladoye asked the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to revamp universities in each region of the country so that Nigerians would be encouraged to study in the country.
“I cannot blame parents and guardians who prefer their wards to study abroad. These parents are not necessarily rich but they believe that quality education is the greatest legacy they can give their children.
“But this rush for overseas education calls for concern. It is an opportunity for the government to invest in education because we are losing much in foreign exchange. I will encourage the government to build world-class universities. This is achievable if we put resources into this.”
Returnee graduates losing relevance
A human resources manager at a job recruitment firm in Lagos, Toju Ashogbon, told our correspondent that his firm has over 2,000 CVs of Nigerian with foreign degrees in its inventory looking for jobs.
Ashogbon said the applicants are no longer as attractive as they used to be as employers now prefer hiring graduates from the country’s private varsities because they could offer them less renumeration than overseas graduates.
The HR expert noted that its firm had secured employments for over 500 graduates, including those who studied in the UK, the US and other top destinations, with the average starting salaries ranging from N80,000 to N120,000 monthly.
“Graduates from private universities in Nigeria have a competitive edge over those returning from the UK, US and others. Clients now prefer hiring graduates of private universities because they can offer them a little less than the foreign graduates and still get the same quality of job delivery and performance.
“Owing to the recession, a candidate who is good and can take less is preferred to one who studied abroad, who usually have higher expectations in terms of salaries,” he told SUNDAY PUNCH.
Another HR expert, Afolabi Akindele, buttressed Ashogbo’s views. He maintained that graduates who studied abroad have lost their advantage in the local market because they often lack the skills needed in organisations.
He stressed that skills acquisition was as important as the quality of education.
Speaking on ways to be successful in the crowded labour market, Akindele said, “Graduates, who studied either in Nigeria or abroad, should focus on skills acquisition rather than mere paper qualifications. It is a big problem for us in Nigeria because we tend to celebrate paper qualification than skills.
“That’s why some people claim to have studied abroad and when you give them the job, they cannot do it. The graduates need to invest in skills acquisition, developing problem-solving competencies and leadership qualities. These are what organisations are looking out for in any candidates. An organisation wants to solve problems. If you don’t have the required skills to solve the organisation’s problems, your paper qualification, irrespective of how prestigious the university which issued it, it is useless.”
Ashogbon advised the returnee graduates to consider entrepreneurship, noting that their frustration in getting jobs back home points to the fact that Nigeria needs more of job creators than job seekers. Agu called on graduates who are finding it difficult to get jobs to embrace entrepreneurship. According to him, he now lives a better life after he made the decision to learn a trade.
He said, “Being a cobbler has become very rewarding for me although there are many challenges. The beauty of it is that I now have my shoemaking business which I have been running for over one year. I make more money than most companies would have paid me monthly and I am happy.
“I engage about 10 workers who are also learning the trade under my supervision. Creating shoe factories in all cities of Nigeria is my goal. The same people who jeered at me for becoming a cobbler despite my UK degree now patronise me for footwear.”
Contrary to the initial claims by some Nigerians that President Goodluck Jonathan was pressured to concede defeat during the 2015 general elections, the former president said on Saturday that he took the decision out of his own volition devoid of any pressure or persuasion.
Dr. Jonathan made the statement in a speech at Bingham University Nasarawa state, where he alongside former military Head of state Yakubu Gowon were conferred with honourary doctorate degrees.
He said he took the decision to save the nation from state of anarchy that would have ensued after the elections saying no one’s political ambition worth the blood of any Nigerian.
In his words, ‘’It is my belief that no one’s political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. And I am fulfilled knowing that my conceding while the votes were still being compiled, which was born out of my personal principles and convictions, is generating positive impact in other nations. Let me make it clear, that I was not persuaded to do so by anyone within or outside the country. I know it was the right thing to do.
‘’My mantra “my ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian” is my vow. It was not just a political slogan. One of the reason I convened the 2014 National Conference was to come up with a polity devoid of tension and crisis. A polity that will bring unity to this country. A polity that will not divide us along tribal, ethnic or religious lines’’ he added.
Fresh insights emerged yesterday on why the Federal Government cannot stop the promoters of the Mavrodi Mundial Moneybox (MMM), which suspended the accounts of about 3.3 million Nigerian participants recently.
Investigations by Saturday Telegraph revealed that despite many warnings by government agencies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) among others, the Federal Government, instead of using moral suasion to dissuade people from doing it, ought to have used the Chinese model through the Facebook to shut down their site in Nigeria!
It was also gathered that since “there was no centralised account,” the “Nigerian Law is against “wonder banks” and Ponzi schemes, it will be difficult to track the money and know the entire amount involved.
“They can only be traced if there is a centralized account where people make lodgements into.” Investigation also revealed that: “Nigeria’s porous laws were fully exploited by the scheme, hence it contravened the CBN act which regulates: “Deposit Money Banks,” that is, all registered banks that are accepting ‘deposits’ from the general public, but not transactions between individuals.”
A financial expert, who confided in this newspaper, stated that the anti-money laundry laws also stipulated some thresholds, which MMM ensured that “investment’’ did not exceed N2 million (below the AML reporting threshold) and this would also be split into fragments such that a transaction of N2 million can be paired with 10 people.” The source noted that: “MMM operates as an online based social network, where people pay money to those ‘’paired’’ with them.
It is called HELP. Lodgements made into people’s bank accounts cannot be recalled by the depositors, except with a court order.
Since people are paired with strangers and they willingly pay into the accounts they were given, it would not be possible for them to recall their funds.
“The mathematical algorithm behind the MMM is so complex that it is expected to endure for a very long time, as long as people continue to pledge help. The reward system is hinged on greed, 30 per cent flat in 30 days.
“A lot of bankers did it. It is also possible that they could have advised “customers” to do it because of the interest reward. Introducers too also get 10 per cent of the invested funds. “Many Muslim northerners that have apathy towards interest did not do it.
Igbos and Yorubas are fully enmeshed in it.” Similarly, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has said the virtual and anonymous operating style of MMM makes tracking the accounts involved very tasking.
The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer , NDIC, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, stated this yesterday at the ongoing workshop organised by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (INDIC) for Business Editors and Finance Correspondents in Kaduna State. According to him, MMM has no office, no fixed address and do not operate an account.
He explained that the accounts created by MMM are “dummy” accounts that are difficult to track. As the NDIC boss put it: “It is MMM today, it could be YYY tomorrow.”
Noting that the CBN and the NDIC was disturbed that about 3million Nigeri-ans had joined the scheme as at October 2016, Alhaji Ibrahim emphasised that all hands should be on deck to prevent people from patronising the scheme, which according to him resulted in participants losing between in $50million and $1.5billion in Russia, the country where it originated from.
According to him, other emerging ponzi schemes include, Givers’ Forum, Ultimate Cycler, Geo Helpworldwide, I-Charity and Zar Fund. Meanwhile, more reports are emerging of the panic that has gripped many Nigerians following the announcement by the operators of MMM that the scheme has been suspended until January next year.
A member of the NYSC serving with a national daily, was recently caught in the organisation’s restroom weeping his eyes out.
When concerned staff inquired what was amiss, he said that he invested the money his parents sent to him for his sister’s wedding coming up in a few weeks in MMM.
He said he had hoped that he would have reaped a 30 per cent interest on the money without his sister’s knowledge, but with the suspension of the scheme, the money was trapped and he did not know what to tell his parents.
China may withhold part of the $29.9 billion loans on which Nigeria partly pins its hope of financing next year’s N7.298 trillion budget. The Chinese government is said to be upset by the Federal Government’s diplomatic recognition of Taiwan as a sovereign nation.
The “cold war” over Taiwan may also affect the implementation of the $80billion MoU between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and China.
The Nation learnt that the Chinese Government raised the matter when President Muhammadu Buhari visited Beijing. He assured his hosts that the status of Taiwan Marketing Mission will be downgraded, nothing has been done, a source said yesterday.
Taiwan and its associated territories are regarded as a province of China.
But the Chinese government got intelligence report that Taiwan Marketing Mission had been operating as a full-fledged mission since the days of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
All efforts to reverse the status were said to have fallen on deaf ears.
Nigeria is seeking $29.9billion loans to augment its plans to finance its budget which was presented to the National Assembly on Wednesday by the President. Of the $29.9billion loans, the Federal Government’s share is $25.8billion. The states will have a $4.1billion facility.
The details of the loans are as follows:
• The external borrowing plan is a three- year plan covering proposed projects for 2016 – 2018. As such, the borrowings will be phased over the three year period. • The borrowings are highly concessional (non-commercial), with low interest rates and long tenors. • The funding is being sought from multilateral institutions, including the World Bank, Africa Development Bank (AfDB), Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and China EximBank. • The planned Eurobond issuance in the international capital markets is the only commercial source of funding.
But the expected components from China EximBank may not come until the diplomatic status of Taiwan Marketing Mission is “well-defined”, the source said.
The source, who pleaded not to be named because of “the sensitive nature of the matter”, said: “The Chinese government is now a bit reluctant to grant loans to Nigeria through its EximBank because of the issue of distrust between the two nations over Taiwan.
“The Chinese government is unhappy with the Federal Government that it is operating a two-China diplomatic policy. The government relates with China and Taiwan on equal basis.
A government source said: “It is not correct to say that Nigeria is operating a two-China policy. I am aware that since February 10, 1971, Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China have established diplomatic ties and the issue of Taiwan had been carefully handled.
“In spite of the fact that Nigeria has a representative office in Taipei, Taiwan, the two nations agreed in 2005 that “the PRC is the only legitimate government representing the whole of China and Taiwan is an unalienable part of its territory.
“We have not deviated from this agreement. If there is any infraction, the Federal Government has to investigate it thoroughly before taking a clear-cut position.”
But the Nigerian-China Friendship Association (NICAF) on Wednesday expressed concern over the location of the Embassy of Taiwan in Abuja.
The association asked the government to probe the circumstances behind the upgrading of Taiwan Marketing Mission to an Embassy.
The President of the association, Chief Jacob C.K Wood, said: “Nigerians are free to travel to China and Taiwan to do business. We respect freedom of movement and human rights but business should not be mixed with politics.”
Wood said the UN was yet to withdraw its “One China” policy and expressed confidence that the “Federal Government will not recognise Taiwan as a sovereign country”.
All attempts to get the reaction of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria were unsuccessful. An official said: “Sorry, we cannot speak to you on this matter.”
MMM crash: Banks to sack workers who introduced customers to scheme
Indications have emerged that many bank workers may lose their jobs over the recent crash of the Ponzi scheme MMM.
Banks may sack workers that introduced customers to scheme
NAIJ.com gathered that some banks are seriously considering sacking their workers who were found guilty of introducing customers to the Ponzi scheme.
The bankers were said to have got customers of financial institutions involved in the scheme in order for them to make 10 per cent commission.
A reliable source said: “Just learnt hundreds of bankers may lose their jobs for luring their bank customers into investing in the failed MMM. Just for 10% commission.”
Recall that reports about the freezing of accounts of participants in the MMM Ponzi scheme emerged on Tuesday, December 13.
NAIJ.com recalls that some banks warned their customers over participating in the scheme. Some banks even wrote letters to their customers warning them away from MMM.
A woman, Mrs Esther James who was allegedly raped by her church pastor, Treasure Igbonazabi, while pregnant, has finally delivered a set of twins.
P.M.EXPRESS gathered the woman put to bed after months of apprehension due to complication arising from the assault by the pastor.
Pastor Igbonazabi of the Living Word Revival Assembly Church in Egbeda, Lagos was arrested and charged to a Lagos court with sexually assault and rape of Esther inside the church premises located at Samuel Banjo Street, Car Wash Bus Stop, Abule-Odo, Egbeda, Lagos.
Esther was eight-month pregnant when the incident happened.
Due to the forcefully penetration by the pastor, Esther was injured and started bleeding from her private and was rushed to a hospital where she has been under special intensive care unit until she delivered.
The husband, Mr. James confirmed the news as he expressed gratitude to God after the delivery. The husband, James
Esther was under intense pressure to withdraw the matter before the court because of the negative image it has on the church, but her husband insisted she must first deliver before he could consider any other thing due to the complication.
Though the church management has sacked Igbonazabi from the church, he is still facing trial at the court for the alleged offence.
P.M.EXPRESS had reported that the police at Area M Command, Idimu arrested and docked Igbonazabi for allegedly sexually assault and rape Esther inside the church premises.
The suspect was arraigned before Magistrate’s court sitting in Ejigbo with conduct likely to cause breach of public peace, assault and having forcefully carnal knowledge of the victim.
He was remanded in prison custody.
The cleric, who hail from Ihiala town in Anambra State and married with four children, allegedly tore Esther’s pant who is married with five children and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her from her back.
Pastor Igbonazabi was said to have had anal sex with the pregnant woman.
The victim said she went to fetch water from a tap inside the church premises in the evening when Igbonazabi came out from his apartment wearing boxer pant, grabbed her and tore her pant and forcefully penetrated her from her back when her husband had not returned from work.
The James family moved into the church premises after the husband’s business collapsed and they were unable to pay for their rent in January this year.
When they moved into an apartment inside the church and became a full member of the church, Igbonazabi started pestering Esther for sex before she became pregnant.
The woman said she was afraid to tell her husband for fear of losing the accommodation offered to her family by the church until the day the pastor allegedly raped her.
She said she couldn’t hide what the pastor did to her especially with the bleeding thus she told her husband what happened.
The matter was reported to the police who arrested Igbonazabi and charged him to court where he pleaded not guilty.
Igbonazabi had confessed he had been sleeping with Esther in the church premises and denied he raped her as claimed by the police.
The presiding Magistrate, Mrs J.O.E Adeyemi granted the suspects bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum and remanded in prison untill he will perfected his bail conditions.
The matter was further adjourned till 30 January 2017.
There must be something Asiwaju Bola Tinubu knows or does that is beyond other politicians; for he is the only politician since 1999 that sponsors people into political offices and they remain faithful and loyal to him.
In the three zones of the North as well as in the South-East and South-South, sometimes the relationship between a political godfather and a godson does not even last until the inauguration before turning sour.
But in Tinubu’s case, no matter the attacks the public may heap on him about his political and financial stranglehold on his godsons’ tenures, they still remain loyal to him and maintain sealed lips. Whatever the reason for his ability to maintain a firm control over his protégés, Tinubu deserves commendation.
For long, there have been rumours over a frosty relationship between him and President Muhammadu Buhari. It is widely acknowledged that Buhari’s candidacy in the 2015 election got a big boost due to Tinubu’s support and media packaging. Buhari was effectively packaged as an angel with no blemish but with the Midas’ touch to cleanse Nigeria and catapult her into the First World in the twinkling of an eye. The rumours about the rift between Buhari and Tinubu have refused to fizzle out despite all efforts made to deny them.
It was rumoured that Buhari made key political appointments, especially from the South-West, without any recourse to Tinubu, who is the godfather of the All Progressives Congress in the South-West as well as the National Leader of the APC. Then, when Prof John Paden presented Buhari-endorsed biography in October, a controversy arose from it.
Rather than the public being concerned about the messages from the book, what occupied the attention of the public was the claim by the author that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was not nominated as Buhari’s running mate by Tinubu, but was chosen by Buhari in spite of Tinubu’s opposition to it.
There was also the rumour and gloating about the demystification of Tinubu over the governorship election in Ondo State. It was alleged that Tinubu supported Mr Olusegun Abraham in the APC primary but Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, supported by Buhari and the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, won the primary and went ahead to win the election on November 26, 2016. The result of the APC primary in Ondo State led to an exchange of words between Tinubu and Odigie-Oyegun, which further confirmed the suspicion of a rift between the APC leadership and Tinubu. The eventual victory of Akeredolu in the election was seen as the defeat of Tinubu in the APC politics in the South-West, where it was believed hitherto that any candidate backed by Tinubu in any APC election would win.
It was this seeming exclusion of Tinubu and others who worked for the emergence of the Buhari presidency that made the wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, to break protocol by granting an interview with the BBC in October in which she lamented that her husband had been hijacked by some people who did not work for his electoral victory.
These actions, seen as acts to whittle down the powers of Tinubu, made some of his loyalists recently to organise some activities in the South-West, especially in Lagos, with the theme: I Stand with Tinubu. They held a walk and a rally to show support for Tinubu.
Some opponents of Tinubu have said that his sidelining by Buhari serves him right, for he was warned about the consequences of working for a Buhari presidency. But some of his opponents have also kept their political differences aside and spoken against the sidelining of Tinubu, seeing it as a disservice to the South-West rather than to Tinubu as an individual. On his own part, Tinubu has publicly carried on as if all is well, insisting that he will not leave the APC, a party he was instrumental to building.
However, the part that is surprising is from the Buhari’s angle. Even though he has not said anything to confirm that he is intentionally sidelining Tinubu, his actions point to an affirmation. It is obvious that no powerful president would want to have anybody lord things over him, but there is no way a Tinubu can lord things over President Buhari. The office of the Nigerian President is too powerful for such to happen, unless the President willingly allows that.
What does Buhari lose by having more friends than foes around him? Nothing. The North was the core support base of Buhari during the 2015 election. The South-West was the core media base. Even though the votes of the South-West were split between the APC and the PDP, more went for the APC than the PDP. But most importantly, the media support for the APC from the South-West burnished Buhari’s image before the election and has helped to keep Buhari presidency afloat since May 29, 2015.
As a powerful president (with INEC under his control) and a retired general, Buhari can do without Tinubu and get his wish willy-nilly during the 2019 election, either as a candidate or a President who wishes to install his preferred as his successor. If protesters fill the streets in response to a poorly conducted election, he can release the soldiers on them. But what is the essence of taking a more tortuous route when there is a smoother and shorter route?
The South-East and South-South were not favourably disposed to the presidency of Buhari. Since assuming office, he has done little through his actions and utterances to win their hearts. The South-West has been his strong ally. Rather than worm his way deeper into the hearts of the South-West, Buhari seems to be more concerned about creating some enemies there.
Whatever some people may say, Tinubu is the political leader of the South-West. Unlike other zones which have not had any central political leader since the exit of the first generation politicians, the South-West voters listen to the voice and direction of Tinubu. The reason the South-West still supports Buhari is because Tinubu is still with the APC and has not withdrawn his support.
If Buhari counts on getting positive electoral results through unorthodox means, he may not need Tinubu by his side. But if he needs to get positive electoral results via votes in a free and fair election, he needs Tinubu as an ally.
Buhari needs to start playing politics the way it should be played by maintaining his friends and reaching out to his opponents, so as to win them over. This does not mean sharing money or food to people.
It means taking different steps to make those who voted for him to feel proud that they voted for him and to make those who did not vote for him to vow to vote him if he presents himself again. It means inclusive governance: seeing Nigeria as one people with no first-class and second-class citizens. It also means visionary, purposeful people-centred governance.
An astute politician does not need to burn his or her bridges. A savvy politician does not need to ignite many fires around him, which will make him always quenching fires with no time for governance. A seasoned politician never tells a man directly or indirectly: “You can’t do anything to me.” It is completely unnecessary.
Buhari should change his brand of politics to achieve more results and have a happier following. –Twitte @BrandAzuka
The dead body of Anthony Okeyim, a colonel and Commandant, Command Secondary School, Ibadan, was on Monday found at his apartment located within the school’s premises.
Adekunle Ajisebutu, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, who confirmed the incident to journalists in Ibadan, said the force was treating the issue as a suspected case of murder.
“I can confirm to you that the deceased was found dead in front of his apartment around 6.30 a.m. on Monday.
“We are treating it as a case of suspected murder,’’ Mr. Ajisebutu said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the deceased was reportedly strangled to death by suspected assassins who attacked him in front of his official quarters.
“The state Commissioner of Police, Samuel Adegbuyi, had visited the school immediately the case was reported.
“Police investigation had begun and the investigating team is working with the Military Police investigating team.
“We have also beefed up security around the area,” Ajisebutu said.
A friend of the deceased, who preferred to remain anonymous, told journalists that the late Mr. Okeyim was promoted three weeks ago and was waiting to be decorated with his new rank. (NAN)
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the retirement from service of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Olonisakin, and the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas. New Telegraph gathered from highly placed military sources that the Minister of Defence, Brig.- Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd), has since sent letters to the Service Chiefs, wherein they were directed to handover on or before Friday, December 16.
It was gathered that Olonisakin and Ibas’ disengagements were based on their attaining the official years of retirement from the military. Available records indicate that the Service Chiefs belong to the Regular Course 26 of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
While Olonisakin was commissioned Second Lieutenant on December 18, 1981, Ibas’ commissioning took place in 1983. One of the sources, who spoke in confidence, said the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, will take over from Olonisakin in acting capacity.
Abubakar is the most senior Service Chief after Olonisakin, who was the Head of the Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Niger State. A former President of a Special Court-Martial, Air Vice Marshal James Gbum, is to assume the position of CAS, also in acting capacity.
“I can tell you reliably now that President Buhari has replaced the Chief of Defence State, Gen. Olonisakin, and the Naval Chief, Ibas. “Don’t forget that they are due for retirement, since they both belong to the 26 Regular Course on NDA.
“Also note that the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal S. Abubakar, will now assume the CDS position, as the next most senior of the Service Chiefs. “Already, the Minister of Defence has sent letters to the affected senior officers,” the source said.
It was not clear as at the time of filing this report who will replace Ibas. By this development, only the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant- General Tukur Buratai, retained his position.
New Telegraph learnt that President Buhari may adhere largely to the principle of seniority in his choice of substantive appointments. It will be recalled that Olonisakin and other Service Chiefs were appointed by President Buhari in July, 2015.
The knack by top officials of the Buhari administration to blame previous administrations for performance has been faulted by Senator Ridwan Adesoji Akanbi.
Speaking on Friday at the valedictory lecture of the out going executive of the Oyo State National Union of Journalists, Akanbi said the Buhari administration knew what the state of the nation was before it came on board.
According to him, “blaming Jonathan for Nigeria’s problem is unacceptable. We knew what was on the ground before we came in. Unfortunately, prices were skyrocketing when APC came in, but excuses are not acceptable.”
He, however, commended the President for his prudence and vouched for his honesty. “Buhari’s government is prudent and you can take his words to the bank.”
He identified weak institutions and lack of will to implement populist’s policies as the major factors responsible for the lack of performance of successive governments in the country.
“Nigeria has weak institutions. Formulating policies are not a problem here, but implementation is the problem we have. We are a nation of about 200 million. People with a foreign reserve of about $20 billion. With strong institutions, you have to perform.
We have deficiencies in all phases of our of our society, education, health and others, it’s so scary.
“An example of a weak institution is the NDDC that has received about $52 billion and nothing to show for it.”
Senator Akanbi also noted that no serious businessman would think of investing in the country in its present state, blaming the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for imposing certain policies that are further compounding the present hard economic hardship being experinced by Nigerians.
“The CBN Governor has variously canvassed for high interest rates. But there are no barometers to support his suggestions. In a bad economy, you are supposed to bring down interests rates to spike business.” He enumerated other institutions that have been tainted by the Nigerian Factor.
“The recent American election was an eye opener. We know the antecedents of Finals Trump, but the strong institutions in America will whip him into line. This is what we should have in Nigeria. People say the Legislature is the most corrupt, but look at a case of one of my colleagues who told me that he spent about N500 million to get to the House, so what do you expect from somebody like that?
“look at our Judiciary. There is no way a Judge will collect bribe, except through a lawyer. And these are custodians of the law. When the DSS stormed the homes of some of the judges, they ran to us in the House, complaining about invasion of privacy and Fundamental Human Rights. But the Senate told them that even though we would have love to support them, there were overwhelming evidences against them.
“You can see that there have been a remarkable improvement in the performance of the judiciary since then.”
Farmers in parts of Katsina State are predicting big fortunes should the Nigerian government go ahead with its plan to lay oil pipelines to convey petroleum products from Niger to the country, Daily Trust on Sunday has gathered. However, some artisans in the state have expressed fears that the project, if realised, could put them out of business.
Recently, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, during a town-hall meeting with the management and staff of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemicals Company (KRPC) in Kaduna, stressed that efforts were ongoing to explore the possibility of piping crude oil from Niger Republic to be refined in KRPC. He added that President Muhammadu Buhari was personally committed to the project.
He told workers that it was important to explore alternative crude supply to the KRPC, which has been affected by vandalisation of pipelines and obsolescence. He assured that the initiative would reduce the downtime of the plant and ensure optimal utilisation.
Dr. Baru said, “Due to challenges with the aged refinery and crude oil pipelines that had been breached severally, the operations of the refinery have been epileptic. This we are determined to resolve through various intervention methods, including the evaluation of alternative crude oil supply from Niger Republic through building pipelines of over 1,000 kilometers from Agadem to Kaduna. That effort is being championed by Mr. President himself.” According to him, the corporation has already started engagements with the Nigerien minister of petroleum and the Chinese that are operating the field at Agadem.
The announcement has generated high expectations among land owners in communities where locals expect pipelines to be channelled. When our correspondent visited Yar Mutum village in Mai’Adua Local Government, villagers informed him that they had been advised to keep their lands so that they could sell them for a lot of money when the project commences.
A farmer, Malam Aliyu, said: “We have been sensitised to keep our lands because we will soon use them to make money.” He said they were told that government would pay huge compensations to route the pipelines through their property.
But mechanics, other technicians and food vendors believe that the project would put them out of business.
“Just take a look at Tafa, Marabar Jos in Kaduna, these tankers stop over and business is booming. If they stop coming we will be thrown out of business,” a Nigerien national, Abu, who runs a tea shop at the border, said.
Although the pipeline project is yet to take off and there’s no detail on the proposed route, activities of land grabbers and speculators are high among residents. Investigation by Daily Trust on Sunday revealed that the prices of landed properties have slightly increased around the area.
How Nigerian marketers patronise Niger refinery
The Soraz Refinery, located at Zinder in Niger Republic, is fast becoming a hub for Nigerian oil marketers, especially those of northern extraction. This is because of its proximity and ease of doing business, as well as profitable returns on investment.
The 20,000 barrels per day (bpd) refinery is patronised by Nigerians, mainly for its twin products of diesel (AGO) and cooking gas (LPG). The refinery is about 200 kilometres from the Nigerian border of Kwangolam in Mai’adua Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Some of the major marketers cleared by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) for the business included Rixon Energy; Safari Petroleum; Kjewel Gas and Petroleum; Himma Merchants; Whanu limited; One Ten Gas Limited; Bokir International Limited; Micpo Plc; A. A. Rano and AYM Shafa.
During a visit to the border, one would be greeted with numerous trucks waiting to move in or return from the refinery and head to their various destinations. Inquiries at the border, showed that an average of 165 trucks load daily at the refinery, out of which more than 130 come to Nigeria through Kwangolam. Out of this number, A.A Rano has the highest number of freight across the border, with an average of 30 trucks daily.
It was estimated that about 300 tonnes of cooking gas are imported from the refinery on a weekly basis. Despite the depreciation of the naira, business still booms at the refinery. And despite paying more than what they paid in the past, marketers still believe that Soraz is the place to patronise.
Our findings revealed that the wholesale price of diesel was N168 per litre in Niger last month (November). Every month, the price fluctuates, depending on transaction worldwide. A price template is issued every month in Niger. However, diesel sells between N190 to N200 in most Nigerian outlets.
Cooking gas is N150 per kilogram in Niger Republic while it sells at N250 per kilogram in Nigeria. These two commodities are the most sought after from Soraz since they have been fully deregulated in the Nigerian market.
The recent decision by the federal government to construct 1000 kilometres of pipeline from Agadem, Diffa State in Niger Republic, has elicited mixed reactions from stakeholders, especially those at the border who are making a living out of the business.
For Bashir Himma of Himma Merchants, it is a good idea since one of the main reasons that forced him and others to Niger is its closeness. According to him, they prefer to patronise the place instead of going to Lagos and Port Harcourt.
“If you also take a look at the terrain, it is flat, solid and more secure, so we worry less about the state of our trucks. And there’s less fuel consumption when lifting the commodity. It saves a lot for business,’’ he said.
Himma further said the cost of transporting petroleum products from the southern part of Nigeria to the North was discouraging. “A truck consumes about 300 litres of diesel for a trip from Kano to Soraz, but a trip to Lagos, Calabar, Port Harcourt or any depot in the South will cost at least 1, 200 litres.’’
He said if the pipeline was constructed as planned, government would have less trouble moving the product to Kaduna refinery. “We were also made to understand that since the Kaduna refinery was built for heavy crude grade as that of Venezuela, which is similar to that of Niger with high sulphur, it would be good,’’ he added.
An agent, Umar Akamashirwa, believes that the plan is good and commendable, but certain considerations must be carefully looked at to avoid vandalism and sabotage.
“This is what is forcing the government to look elsewhere. My advice is that government should confront and address the issues before creating new ones in the North,’’ he said.
He said it would also be wise for government to think of using trucks to lift crude to Kaduna refinery. “This can go on simultaneously with the laying of pipelines, which I am sure will take more than two years. So lifting with trucks will speed up the process,’’ he added.
For Salisu Mohammed, a clearing agent, it is a move to put many people like him out of business and back to the labour market. He believes that the move can only be welcomed by few businessmen. He said the ease of doing business prompted many marketers to go to the refinery in Niger Republic, not for the sake of the closeness.
“In Soraz, marketers don’t have to wait for any government bureaucracy or nepotism, it is pay and carry, no delay,’’ he said.
The chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Kano State, Alhaji Bashir Ahmad Danmalam, told Daily Trust on Sunday that the plan by the federal government to tap crude oil from Niger Republic to Kaduna refinery was a welcome development.
Danmalam said independent marketers were very much happy with the development and were ready to support government to achieve its objectives. However, he suggested that to reduce expenditure, government should construct mini refineries in states that share borders with Niger Republic, from where crude oil could be refined and sent to various states.
“Government should invite businessmen that have interest in oil business like Alhaji Aliko Dangote to build mini refineries in states like Katsina and Jigawa. This will ease the transportation of the product from Niger Republic to Nigeria because the distance is not much,” he said.
He added that the plan would not affect their business negatively, noting that currently, many people have abandoned the business because of the risk involved. He said: “Our drivers are being attacked on their way to the South to buy the product. Sometimes these bandits will kill the driver and snatch the truck, but because we don’t have an alternative way of getting the commodity, we still have to go there.
“So, if we could have the product in Kaduna, it would minimise these risks and reduce the cost of transportation. To be honest with you, this plan would be a blessing to petroleum marketers, and we are ready to support the government to achieve this good objective.”
The cost and benefits of the project
Prof. Ibrahim Ali Mohammed-Dabo of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, said if not for the constant vandalisation of crude lines in the Niger Delta region, there was no reason for the corporation to build the pipeline and import crude.
“I was initially against it, but if we have this pipeline, it would reduce vandalism. Another advantage of it is that crude thieves will not have access to market, like what you have in the Niger Delta. Up North here, where will they take it to (if they steal the crude)?” he asked.
The president of the Nigerian Association of Energy Economics (NAEE), Prof. Wumi Iledare, said while a lot of questions still needed to be asked, having the pipeline built would benefit the region.
“How are they going to pay them? Who would be responsible for funding the pipelines - Niger or Nigeria? Who are the investors? “In an economic sense, the cost analysis is positive. It will generate a lot of employment in the North. The benefits of the refinery will be high,” Iledare said.
Also speaking, the secretary-general of the Association of Petroleum Inland Basin States of the North (APIBON), Engr. Yusuf Yabagi Sani, said although the plan was a short term solution, the NNPC could have given priority to developing inland basins in the North that could feed the refinery with crude.
He said, “I believe it is a short term solution. It is ill-advised because we have our own basins. Why not concentrate efforts on our basins because running pipelines on long distances has its own challenges. This fire-fighting arrangement cannot get us out of the problem.”
Sani advised the government to deal squarely with economic reasons that push people to vandalise pipelines.
Towards the end of 2014 when the Katsina State government and an American power generating company signed an agreement for a gas powered plant, using the Sabke dam in the area, locals held on to their properties. Under that arrangement, a gas pipeline was to be laid from the Soraz refinery to power the plant at Sabke. With this development, there has been an increased talk among the local communities.
The NNPC spokesman, Ndu Ughamadu, said the modalities for building the over 1,000 kilometers from Agadem to Kaduna was being worked out, adding that it is still in its planning stage. He said that once the plan was concretised, the corporation would make it open.
“One thing peculiar about the Kaduna refinery is that of all the three refineries in the country, it is the only one that uses two crude grades. When it was built, Nigeria was importing heavy crudes from Venezuela and Saudi Arabia.
“The plan to import crude from Niger Republic is not a new thing; all along we have been importing crude oil,” he said.
Asked if the NNPC was not taking the Boko Haram insurgency in the neighbouring Niger Republic into cognizance, Ughamadu said it would not be a challenge because the Nigerian military were in control of the situation.
Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi has claimed that if he defects from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, APC, the party would collapse.
Umahi noted that anybody having such thoughts about his defection “is just dreaming”, because he remained one of the strong pillars holding the PDP.
Speaking through the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Senator Emmanuel Onwe, the governor maintained that the media speculations that was planning to pitch his tent with the ruling party was the figment of the imagination of rumour mongers.
Onwe said, “There have been speculations as to whether the Governor of Ebonyi State is moving to the APC or whether he is remaining in PDP, and who is going with him and who is not going with him.
“I want to address this matter hopefully once and for all, for all Nigerians to understand that Governor Umahi is one of the centre pillars of the PDP. And I say that with a very deep conviction from my soul.
“This is a party on whose platform he has been the state Chairman for four years, a party on whose platform he was the deputy governor for four years and now, governor hopefully for eight years.
“And anyone speculating about his commitment or his strength, or his role within the party or any doubt at all about whether he is remaining or decamping, is just dreaming.”
Onwe believed that Umahi’s leadership style was one of the qualities that would lead the PDP out of its current challenges.
Woman Finds Out Man She Married and Has Been Living with for 3 Years is Actually a Woman (Photo)
A woman has been served the shock of her life after discovering that the man she married is actually a woman who claims to be a tomboy.
A bizarre case has left people in shock after a woman from Founders location unknowingly married another woman thinking she was a man. In fact, she has slept with 'him' on numerous occasions but the woman, unknown to her, used a small pestle (mutswi) as ‘his’ manhood.
However, the cunning tomboy allegedly covered the black pestle with two condoms, switched off the lights each time they become intimate and always refused to be caressed by the partner.
But three years into the marriage, Memory Danzi (34) of House Number 8647, Founders discovered that her partner was a woman recently after she noticed some blood stains on Clemence George Chibaya Chiwenga’s pants. The stains were said to be from her menstruation.
Baffled by the finding, she quickly set up a trap in the bathroom, budged in as ‘he’ was busy scrubbing ‘his’ body and behold, the person she has been calling hubby was just a woman like her, Manica Post reported .
More revelations were made open last Saturday night when Danzi made a report against Chiwenga at Dangamvura Police Station.
Police have since opened an aggravated indecent assault docket in view of the ‘pestle’ that was used by the suspect in making love to the complainant without her knowledge. The ‘pestle’ was recovered and it will be used in court as an exhibit.
When Chiwenga realised that her lover had gone to make a police report, she vanished from the scene and was later arrested on Monday night after an ambush at a garage where she was hiding.
Following her arrest, police officers were in a quandary on whether to lock her up in female holding cells or to send him to male cells.
At the police station, Chiwenga admitted that she was a woman, but due to circumstances surrounding the case the officers felt that if she was to be locked up with fellow female inmates she might abuse them like what she allegedly did to the complainant.
Placing him in men’s cells was also tricky because although she behaves and wants to be a man, she is a woman. Chiwenga was later locked up alone in a secure office for the night.
The news crew caught up with Danzi who tearfully chronicled the hard to believe events surrounding the three-year affair with the suspect whom she thought and believed was a man. She felt grossly cheated and abused.
“I fell in love with this ‘man’ in 2013, but I later went and stayed in Macheke. I came back to Mutare in 2015 and we reignited our romance. Before ‘he’ dated me, I only knew ‘him’ as a carpenter and ‘he’ used to repair my furniture. Then, ‘he’ had a wife and ‘he’ used to come to my house in the afternoon and went back to his wife in the evening. In August this year ‘he’ separated from his wife and came to stay with me at my house. ‘He’ told me that ‘he’ chased his wife away because she wanted to poison ‘him’,” she said and added:
“I was surprised one of the days when I told one of my children, Masset, to go and do our laundry. She went and did the laundry from a nearby stream. I did not know that Chiwenga’s pants were among the dirty clothes. As Masset did the laundry she noticed that the pants were stained with menstrual blood.” Masset came running and broke the news to her mother. She could not believe what she saw.
“She told me that my husband’s pants were stained with blood and asked me if ‘he’ also menstruates. I was shocked. I requested to view the pants and for sure they were stained with blood. I took the pants and hid them. When he came back at night I asked ‘him’ if ‘he’ suffers from a sexually transmitted disease for I suspected that the blood stains could have been so because of a disease.
“‘He’ played hide-and-seek and refused to tell me what was going on. For the next five days I noticed the blood stains on ‘his’ pants and my suspicion grew. “In our relationship ‘he’ didn’t want me to caress ‘him’. He didn’t want me to remove ‘his’ clothes.
“‘His’ breasts are bigger than mine and when I asked ‘him’ to explain the abnormality, ‘he’ said they were big because ‘he’ was a weightlifter. One day I gave ‘him’ hot water to bath and I followed ‘him’ in the bathroom.
When I got in I got the shock of my life. I asked ‘him’ why ‘he’ lied all these years and ‘he’ asked for forgiveness. I told ‘him’ to leave my house, but ‘he’ refused. I later discovered that ‘he’ was using a pestle in making love to me. I confronted ‘him’ over the issue and ‘he’ confessed that ‘he’ would put two condoms on the pestle each time we become intimate.
“I located the pestle and hid it. We quarrelled over the pestle as I wanted to take it to the police and ‘he’ wanted to destroy it. I managed to hide it under the mattress. Every time we slept together I felt deep pain and I had difficulties in walking because of the pestle ‘he’ used. I later opened up to my relatives and told them everything. Right now I am having endless menstrual periods because of that pestle ‘he’ used,” she said.
At the police station, Chiwenga denied ever using the pestle on the complainant. She said she used her fingers in making love and that the pestle allegations were being cooked up by Danzi in a bid to fix her for not giving her money.
A 60-year-old man was on Tuesday killed at a brothel in Maiduguri, Borno State, after a quarrel with some personnel of the Nigeria Air Force.
The fight occurred at a popular brothel located in Simari area of Maiduguri.
Witnesses said the victim, Ibrahim Bulama, was shot dead by soldiers after they clashed over a woman at the brothel.
Air Force authorities confirmed the killing, but did not clearly admit its personnel were involved in a struggle for a prostitute.
The Commander of the 105 Composite Group, Charles Ohwo, an Air Commodore, told journalists at a press briefing on Thursday that the deceased was not shot.
He said the man died when soldiers were trying to retrieve a rifle allegedly snatched from their colleague.
According to the Nigeria Air Force account, the soldier, Kamal Usman, a Lance Corporal, was on his way home from his duty post when he ran into people having an argument.
He said the armed personnel was trying to find out what happened, when his rifle was snatched.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that, on Wednesday 7th December 2016, an airman, Lance Corporal Kamal Usman, left his duty post at about 10pm, and on his way home, when he came across some gathering near a hotel in Simari area; and in an attempt to find out what was wrong, the crowd got scared and took to their heels,” Mr. Ohwo said.
“When the airman decided to check the surroundings to find out what scared the crowd, he entered one room in the hotel and found a woman laying on a bed.
“Unfortunately, the deceased old man, Bulama mobilized some people and came back to the hotel and attacked him from the back with matchets, inflicting serious injuries on his head and snatched his rifle.
“On sensing danger, the lance corporal left and mobilized his fellow colleagues for assistance. Upon arrival at the scene, they descended on the old man, and beat him to death in the process of recovering their rifle.
“The airman is now recuperating at the air force medical facility in Maiduguri, while his colleagues who were involved in the incident have been detained pending further investigation,” Mr. Ohwo said.
Witnesses questioned the Air Force’s narratives, saying it did not explain what exactly took the armed airman to a brothel, or how exactly he got to see the woman on the bed, or what he was doing with her at the time the mob mobilised to attack him.
“The soldiers have to do their investigation very well, because all we heard was that a solder was attacked by angry mob after the old man was killed,” said a source who asked not to be named for safety reasons.
Journalists were ushered into the military clinic at the Air Force base where the accused airman, who had deep cuts on his head, was admitted. He was cuffed by the legs.
Mr. Ohwo called for calm, promising thorough investigation into the matter.
Plans for the formation of a mega party are creating increasing dissonance within the two major political parties in the country with eyes turning on Senate President, Bukola Saraki, as the beautiful bride of the major agitators.
Meanwhile, promoters of the mega party, Vanguard learned, are moving to ensure that the party has a complete national outlook with faces from all geopolitical zones on board. Crucial to the move, it was learned, is the enrolment of some former governors mostly of the former ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, into the mega party. Retired generals with political bent are also being recruited into the movement, Vanguard gathered.
Meanwhile, against earlier projections of the Senate President being hounded out of office, Senator Saraki, it was learned, has become a beautiful bride to those in the APC who want to remain and those who want to opt out. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, had repeatedly been mentioned as among those to leave for the mega party. Tinubu, however, issued a rebuttal on Monday as he insisted he would remain in the party he helped to build.
Repeated efforts to get a confirmation or otherwise on Atiku’s stance, as at press time, yesterday were not successful.
Atiku and Saraki had forged a sort of collaboration just before the National Assembly leadership election in 2015 as supporters of both men within the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, closed ranks to throw up Saraki as Senate President as against the inclination of the Tinubu/Muhammadu Buhari tendency in the ruling APC.
That collaboration was underpinned by the stoicism with which Atiku’s Man Friday, Timi Frank, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, flayed the attacks against Saraki.
However, multiple sources confirmed to Vanguard that Buhari’s associates, following the fallout with Tinubu in Kogi and Ondo States, have opted to collaborate with Saraki towards ensuring the realisation of the President’s second term ambition in 2019. Towards that end, Saraki, it was learned, has become a key political strategist within the Buhari political tendency and was instrumental to the strategic political moves that helped win the Ondo State governorship election for the APC.
The position of Saraki in the APC was accentuated last week after his political godson, Bolaji Abdullahi, was named to take up the position of National Publicity Secretary, a position vacated by Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
“True, Lai Muhammed was originally from Kwara, but he was Asiwaju’s own Kwaran, who is more or less a Lagosian. When Muhammed went on to become Minister of Information, the implication was that Asiwaju and the ACN block had nobody left in the party’s executive hierarchy. Instead, it is Saraki that now has his man as the voice and face of the party,” Mr. Tope Ajayi, a source privy to the developments, told Vanguard.
The Tinubu camp, it was learned, has, however, not given up on Saraki as associates are said to be making regular contacts with the Saraki camp towards projecting a common front towards the 2019 contests.
Political commentators have also noted how the Presidency has recently been falling back to please the Senate President and sometimes making sacrifices to please him. In one of the latest gestures to the Senate President, Pastor Yissa Benjamin, a former Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly who was nominated to the board of the National Communications Commission, NCC, from Kwara State in the days of the acrimony between the Presidency and Saraki was dropped by the Senate without much of a complaint by the Presidency.
Patience Jonathan, wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, has petitioned the house of representatives over ” incessant harassment” by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In the petition presented to the house on Wednesday by Lovette Idisi, a legislator from Delta state, the former first lady cited section 36 of the 1999 constitution as amended in saying that everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
“This petition is in line with section 36 where every citizen is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” the legislator said.
“Mr. Speaker, here is a petition on the constant harassment of the former first lady. It was sent to my office. With the leave of the house, I seek your permission to lay the petition before the house.”
After the petition was laid by Idisi, Yakubu Dogara, the speaker, referred it to the committee of public petitions.
In September, the former first lady claimed ownership of $31.4 million seized by the EFCC.
She later asked a federal high court in Lagos to make a declaration that the funds belonged to her.
Controversial Ghanaian pastor and founder of International God’s Way Church, Bishop Daniel Obinim, has again stirred up controversies after he said he can enlarge a man’s penis by just using his hands.
He said he has the power to offer anything a human being needs, adding that he could also make women’s butt bigger.
In a scene broadcast on Obinim TV that has now gone viral on YouTube, the pastor was seen touching men by their penis and uttering some words.
His members queued up with their hands raised while he administered the ‘miraculous touch.’
He said, “If you do not like the looks of any part of your body, come to me, what do you want that I can’t offer?
“If you want big buttocks, I can do it for you, if you want big breasts, I can help. If you have a small manhood, I can change them all when I come to the spiritual realm.
The anti-corruption unit of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) says it has uncovered five foreign bank accounts operated by Abdulmumin Jibrin, suspended member of the house of representatives.
The sort codes and bank accounts numbers uncovered are Barclays Bank International Account, SC 204744 AC 33471268; Barclays Bank Reserve Account, SC 204744 AC 43707164; Barclays Bank Mortgage Account, SC 204744 AC 94030664; Barclays Bank Euro Currency Account SC 204744 AC 52339433 and Barclays Bank USD currency Account, SC 204744 AC 74521222.
In a petition signed by Ifeanyi Okonkwo, dated November 30 and addressed to Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, the NYCN said 81 Cotswold Gardens, London, NW2 1PE was the address used by Jibrin to open the bank accounts.
The petition, which was also sent to Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); and Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation, called for a fresh investigation into Jibrin over the said findings.
Furthermore, Okonkwo, the coordinator of the anti-corruption unit of the NYCN, said the fifth schedule, paragraph 3 1999 constitution as amended provides that legislators are part of the category of public officers who should not operate a bank account outside the country.
“From the copy of the (Code of Conduct Bureau) form, it was revealed that Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin declared he owns only one house — a 4-bedroom bungalow in Kaduna, which he bought in 2008 for 150 million; furniture of 2.5 million for the N150 million house; one car, which he bought in the same 2008 for 15 million. Meanwhile, he claims in the form that he does not have any vacant undeveloped plot of land, does not own a farm, Orchard or ranch, factory or other enterprise and he also perjured in his deposition that he does not own a foreign account,” Okonkwo said.
“The same Hon. Jibrin Nigerians know in Abuja leaving in affluence is the same one creating a spartan image for himself. How fraudulent? “Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin owns at least five accounts with Barclays Bank alone with a Euro account, Dollar account, mortgage account, reserve account and international account. All the accounts are functional and he uses them while still serving as a member of the house of representatives and have not declared their existence to the relevant authorities.”
Although copy of Jibrin’s CCB forms as seen by TheCable showed that he did not declare the existence of any foreign bank accounts, he described the claims of the group as all “lies and misinfirmation”.
“My attention has been drawn for the umpteenth times to yet again another bunch of lies and misinformation by the discredited and so called “Anti corruption unit” of the “Nigerian Youth Council” whose only client now is the corrupt cabal of the House of Representatives headed by Speaker Yakubu Dogara,” Jibrin said in a statement.
“The Speaker has provided the platform of the Ethics committee of the House lead by the fraudulent Nicolas Osai, whose stock in trade is now blackmail and dirty hatchet jobs, to be used by such crooks lead by one Ikenger Ugo Chinyere who was few years ago arrested for robbery-related cases. It is sad that the House of Representatives of the Nigerian people has now descended to such a low and disgusting level.
“You will recall that similar allegations were made by the same group few weeks ago that turned out to be a tissues of lies with the aim of blackmailing me and damaging my reputation. I promptly reported the matter to the police and sued the group and its sponsor to court. It is curious why the police are yet to take decisive action on the matter since the last episode.
“Even as the latest allegations still has nothing to do with my five years stewardship in the House, the question is, why has the Ethics committee or the so-called youth council turned deaf ears on the monumental allegations of 40 billion, 20 billion, 30 billion and 284 billion budget fraud? Diversion of projects by the Speaker to his farm? Millions of naira in bribe collected on 2015 MDG and car purchase in the 7th House, 500 million naira collected by the Speaker and his deputy for rents? 2billion naira worth of house the Speaker built in Abuja within 6months? 5 billion money laundering as Chairman House services in 7th Assembly, 5 million dollars bribe money collected from a former petroleum minister at the house of a Lebanese business man in Abuja? Massive farm that moved from 10 heaters to 500 hectares funded from illicit funds within months of becoming Speaker? Speaker Dogara refusal to release internal budget of the House? Fraudulent contracts and misappropriation and mismanagement of billions of naira of House allocation after deduction running cost? Why don’t the Chairman Ethics committee and the so called anti corruption group start by investigating the Chairman House ethics Committee himself who has out rightly stolen his running cost allowances. If we truly want to help the country the above mentioned is where to start from.
“On the latest misinformation, the Barclays account were opened long before I joined the house. All the accounts including the Euro and Dollar are dormant with no transaction what so ever as claimed and balance of 1 euro and 1 dollar respectively until they were closed. The mortgage account which I used to buy 81 Cotswold garden in 2009 is non performing and has been in debit. On the piece of land in my village, it is owned by local farmers who are willing to donate such lands so long as it will be used to bring massive development to our town. The allegations are false and concocted to portray me in bad light in the eyes of the public.
“I there fore wish to state that the allegations are an extension of the witch hunt by the corrupt cabal in the House. The motive behind this latest hatchet job in the name of investigating me by the Ethics committee is so glaring. The fraudulent cabal of the House are jittery, knowing full well that the arms of the law is at close length on the strength of allegations of budget fraud, abuse of office and corruption I levelled against them. And of course the international dimension of criminal case against Speaker Dogara and others for creating the monumental scam called running cost which has cost the county about 500 billion naira which my lawyers in London are preparing to file before the Interpol and FBI. The desperation is real and Nigerians can now understand why they have tried several times to kid nap or assassinate me.
“Speake Dogara has gone as far as securing the services of a former member from the south south zone who has hired private detectives to dig what ever they can find against me. I advise Speaker Dogara rather than waste his money on consultants to bring down Jibrin, he alongside his corruption cabal both within and outside the House should prepare for a long long time in jail.”
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a security guard, Haruna Abubakar, in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, for allegedly killing his friend.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Abubakar and the victim, a herdsman, whose name had yet to be ascertained, worked on a farm in the area.
It was gathered that Abubakar and the victim were on the farm on Saturday when a disagreement ensued between them. The altercation was said to have led to a scuffle, during which the 28-year-old suspect hacked the herdsman to death.
Our correspondent learnt that Abubakar dismembered the deceased, packed the parts in a sack and dumped them in a bush.
A source, who has knowledge of the incident, said the deceased’s brother, identified as Adamu, reported a case of missing person to the police when the victim did not return home from the farm on the day.
“A police team went to the farm and some persons provided useful information, which indicted the suspect. He was arrested based on the tip-off and he actually confessed to killing his friend,” the source added.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Office, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident.
She said the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, had directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, for investigation and prosecution.
She said, “The command, upon discreet investigation and intelligence gathering, arrested the suspect. The victim, aged 27, was his friend and co-worker.
“They had an altercation which resulted in a physical fight and in the process, the suspect attacked the deceased with a dagger, cut him to pieces and dumped him in the bush.
“The clue gathered by the police led to the arrest of the suspect who later confessed to the crime and led operatives to the scene where the body parts were recovered.”
The meeting between the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the party’s caucus in the Senate led by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has been postponed till Wednesday.
THISDAY gathered that the meeting, which was scheduled to take place at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, failed to hold due to lack of proper arrangement.
According a top member of the party who spoke to THISDAY, there are some persons that have not been carried along in the planned interface with the Senate caucus.
It was also learnt that some of the leaders of the party who were supposed to be part of the meeting did not get the invitation until Monday.
The source who spoke THISDAY said that some members of the leadership were outside Abuja and could not make it for the meeting.
The meeting would have been the first time under the chairmanship of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and since the inauguration of the National Assembly on June 9, 2015.
The source said: “The meeting has been rescheduled to Wednesday. There was poor communication on both sides. All things being equal, it will now hold on Wednesday”.
The rescheduled meeting is seen as part of the new realignment of forces within the APC with the party leadership now ready to embrace the Senate President initially perceived as a foe.
Expectations are that the Odigie-Oyegun-Saraki meeting is being organized to lay a new foundation for a renewed relationship between the party and its caucus at the National Assembly.
For the first time since the inauguration of the National Assembly on June 9, 2015, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will today meet with the Senate leadership at the secretariat of the party in Abuja to lay the foundation for a renewed relationship.
THISDAY learnt last night that the move was part of the fresh arrangements to strengthen the renewed relationship between the executive and the legislature as well as the relationship between the party leadership and the leadership of the National Assembly.
THISDAY was reliably informed last night that in this renewed move to bury the hatchet between the party leadership and the National Assembly, today’s meeting will set the pace for a forthcoming meeting with the APC caucus in the National Assembly.
The meeting will cement a fresh romance between the APC caucus and leaders of the ruling APC to be led by its National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
It was further learnt that the planned meeting with the leadership of the party and the National Assembly will hold before the National Assembly proceeds on Christmas and New Year break. A source privy to the information told THISDAY last night that the meeting would either take place before or after the presentation of the 2016 budget.
THISDAY further learnt that this fresh move was spurred by a piece of advice to the presidency that it was not enough for President Muhammadu Buhari to commence moves to build a better relationship with the Senate leadership without involving the party leadership.
Besides Senate President Bukola Saraki visiting the Presidential Villa three times in one week, a rare development since his emergence as the Senate president on June 9, last year, the Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, had recently visited Saraki in his office where he emphasised the need to chart a new course within the party.
Okorocha had harped on the need to ensure unity of purpose among stakeholders in the party and forge a new relationship capable of overshadowing the hitherto estranged relationship between the party and Senate leadership.
There has been no love lost between Buhari, members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC and Saraki since June 9, 2015 when he emerged as the Senate president against the wish of his party.
As a result of the situation, the NWC of the party had never attempted to meet with the Senate leadership as well as the APC caucus in the Senate as the case should be.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan made a dying minute change of mind about worshipping at the presidential villa in Abuja on Sunday.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo disclosed this at the annual end of the year thanksgiving service.
The service, which took place at the Aso Rock Chapel, was attended by former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Yakubu Gowon, former head of state; and Ernest Shonekan, one time interim president.
Former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme, Oladipo Diya, and Ebitu Ukiwe, ex-Chiefs of general staff, were also in attendance.
Vice President Osinbajo said the service was an exciting time to thank God for all he had done for the country during the year.
“Today is a special thanksgiving for the end of the year and as you have seen, all the former presidents and vice-presidents are here for the special thanksgiving service,” he said.
“They have been specially invited to come, we also expected President Jonathan, but unfortunately, he had to cancel at the last moment.
“So we are all extremely excited that we have been able to bring everyone together to thank God for our nation and to give Him thanks for the great future ahead of us.”
Gowon said he was delighted to be at the service with other former colleagues and thanked Osinbajo for facilitating his attendance.
He said he was more excited with the children who came also to do their thanksgiving and prayed to God to bless the children in a special way.
He enjoined the children to keep the faith with other Christians “to always make sure that we keep this country one and together”.
Ita Enang, senior special assistant to the president on national assembly matters, thanked the the vice-president and the organisers of the service for bringing the past and present leaders together.
He said the event was specifically to thank God for helping the country steer the economy.
In his message, Seyi Malomo, the chaplain, said thanksgiving was an injunction from God, adding that everyone in spite of status must thank God in all circumstances.
“As we thank God, He will restore the good days to the nation,’’ he said and predicted that time shall come when people will queue in embassies to visit Nigeria.
The service was Obasanjo’s first visit to Aso Rock since two weeks ago when he launched a public attack on President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking at the first Akintola Williams annual lecture in Lagos, Obasanjo told Buhari to focus on setting the country on the right path, instead of giving excuses.
He also advised Buhari to get the best hands in the country to assist him in tackling the current challenges, saying the country was more factionalised than it was in the past.
“It is easier to win an election than to right the wrongs of a badly fouled situation. When you are outside, what you see and know are nothing compared with the reality,” he had said.
“Once you are on seat, you have to clear the mess and put the nation on the path of rectitude, development and progress, leaving no group or section out of your plan, programme and policy and efforts.”
Vulcaniser bus-stop is very popular on Akowonjo-Egbeda road in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State. Not far from this bus-stop, on both sides of the road, are some church buildings. Boldly written on the sprawling signboards at the entrance of the two front church buildings are “Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.”
Members are decked in all white attires, giving a first time visitor the impression of a white garment church in the mold of Cherubim and Seraphim, and Celestial Church of Christ – but that’s where the similarity ends as this church differs greatly with these two in terms of doctrine and beliefs.
The SATURDAY SUN team had set out initially that evening for an interview with the founder of the church, a man highly revered and almost worshipped as a deity by members. Popularly called King Olutanmole of the Universe, the man said to be in his 60s is always regal in appearance. Investigations by SATURDAY SUN revealed that King Olutanmole’s original name is Christopher Yomi Jacobs and he hails from Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State.
He started his ministry at Ilupeju area of Lagos in 1972 from a modest bungalow. Few years later when his ministry started growing, he moved to Akowonjo his present site where he was reported to have acquired large expanse of land through a female member of the church who was related to landowners in Akowonjo.
The old woman now deceased was elevated to the position of Mother-In-Israel as a result of her activities in the ministry. Her house is not far from the church.
Although several attempts made to book an appointment for interview with King Olutanmole were futile, Saturday Sun’s team observations while on visits to the place to book appointment with Olutanmole was revealing.
Although it was learnt that members of the church have been barred from speaking to the media about anything concerning the church, some observations that were made during the visits were confirmed by some members who pleaded anonymity.
While on one of the trips, it was noticed that members live together like in a commune. If you were outside or inside the church you may not know this, but a close observation one evening revealed that after their service, members rather than trooping outside to take commercial buses home or drive outside the premises were seen moving towards the back of the church.
But here it is a no-go area for non-members. It is here you have apartments where members live. Even on a particular day after a group of children had just finished playing football and other games on an open field located very close to the church, about 100 of them were moving into the commune. Boldly inscribed at the back of their Tee-shirts is ‘Olutanmole kids.’
Around 7 pm, some members of the church working in other parts of Lagos were also observed coming in through the main gate as they headed for the narrow path that led to the commune.
Curious about this, our team sought to find out where those trooping towards the back of the church were going. “They are going home – they are going to their residences. Their homes are inside the church but at the back. Although a visitor or non-member will just think that it is the only church we have here,” a member who pleaded not to be named declared.
Continuing he said: “We have rules for them. You have several families living here. Many even want to leave their house and join others that are living here because those that are living here enjoy Olutanmole’s special grace and favour.”
At another section of the church you have what looks like a mini supermarket but what is mostly on sale here are spiritual items like holy water, oil, rosary, books, all bearing the photos and the inscription, ‘King Olutanmole of the Universe.’
The holy water is put in kegs of various sizes, and with price range with the lowest being N250. Speaking on the holy water, another member who also spoke on condition of anonymity said there is no ailment that the water can’t cure. Thinking we are visitors that had come for spiritual counseling, he implored us to buy any of the items, insisting that buying them and using is like having personal encounter with Olutanmole himself.
“It is not easy to see Baba Olutanmole. Some people have been on the waiting list for more than six months. Some even for one year, they have not been able to see Baba. Buy those spiritual items, they will work wonders for you, they will solve all your problems at least until you are able to see Baba Olutanmole,” he pleaded.
On another Sunday when the SATURDAY SUN team was asked to try and see whether Olutanmole would be able to see them, it was another shocker. Inside the sprawling well-decorated church that looks like a cathedral, you see this giant seat facing you. The seat has all the marks of royalty. You will think that it is a specially designed seat for a royal father. That is where King Olutanmole sits and conducts service whenever he is around.
In a section, you see testaments written inside a glass enclosure and they are referred to as their seven commandments. This provoked another curiosity, and further investigations revealed that members of the church had long time ago jettisoned the 10 biblical commandments generally believed by many churches.
Confirming the development, another member speaking on anonymity said: “We no longer have anything to do with the 10 commandments again. We no longer believe in the Laws of Moses. Some years ago, around 1989 God revealed certain things to Baba while he was on the prayer mountain. When he came back, he told us that God told him to jettison the old 10 commandments and in its place have our new set of laws which are seven. If you even wake a five year old member of our ministry, he will recite the seven commandments without stress.”
And these are the seven commandments in Olutanmole’s church namely: Be Obedient, Worship God at all Times, Be Faithful in your Deeds, Be Obedient to God the Father, Be Obedient to God the Son, Be Obedient to the Holy Spirit, and Be Obedient to Olutanmole.
One interesting aspect of the Sunday Service at Olutanmole’s church is that there is no limit to the number of hours members can stay.
On this, another source in the church explains, “We complete or round off service as Olutanmole wishes. If Baba wishes that it should be two hours, so be it or if he says it is 24 hours, so also be it.”
While not describing Olutanmole as God, members fervently believe that he is Jesus Christ personified on earth. In fact, their major belief which they also professed during the Sunday worship was that they pity other Christians that still believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ. To them, Jesus Christ is not coming back again.
“Baba, King Olutanmole is Jesus Christ and he is the one that will take us to heaven to meet God and Jesus Christ his beloved son. This is why this ministry is called Kingdom of Heaven on Earth”.
Taken up on this, he fired back: “Have you not read anything about Baba? Although Baba hardly talks to the media, he rarely does, on such occasions, which are few he had declared that he is the one that is being expected, that he is the messiah who will take us to heaven. Forget about Jesus coming back again.” It was also gathered that members that work in the church’s schools (Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary School), hospital, and bookshop earn salaries but the take home is not what can be considered as living wages.
A non-member of the church who works in the hospital but who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “We are working like slaves. It is nothing to write home about. Our own condition is even a bit better compared to what members experience. We have a situation whereby father, mother and the children either work in the hospital, bookshop, bakery or in one of the schools but their collective take home pay is not up to N20,000. What do you call that? Although, they dare not raise their voice or complain because they revere or do I say fear Olutanmole.”
Another issue that is shrouded in mystery is the number of wives and children Olutanmole has. A source told Saturday Sun that King Olutanmole is married to almost 100 women, and has numerous children, but another source countered that he has only one wife who has seven children for him.
It was gathered that Olutanmole also made it a rule that anybody getting married to any of his daughters must quit secular work and join his ministry. Not only that he must leave his house and move to the commune inside the church.
It was further learnt that one of the two men married to one of his daughters had to resign from his lucrative job as a banker to take up residence in the commune. Always a beehive of activities, the church’s headquarters at Akowonjo is always besieged by visitors from different parts of the country and even from outside.
One of the strict rules in the church is the one that forbids members from eating anything containing palm oil every Friday.
Members are also required to pay obeisance to King Olutanmole like other earthly royals. While greeting him, you must not stand but prostrate or roll on the ground before him, while he also reportedly have the right to change name of members to whatever pleases or suits him.
Members are also required to pay spiritual visits to the ministry’s prayer mountain located at a spot between Ogun and Ondo States at least twice in a year.
“You can’t claim to be our member without going to Baba’s prayer mountain at least twice in a year. And you don’t go there to eat, but to meditate and fast in order to enjoy numerous spiritual benefits,” another member declared.
To his neighbours at Akowonjo, King Olutanmole of the Universe remains an enigma but to numerous followers, he remains a hero, a savior and the long-awaited messiah.
Some of them that also spoke with Saturday Sun expressed fear about being seen or quoted on Olutanmole.
“We see a lot of people going inside that place including big men who drive in big cars, but honestly what goes on in there, I don’t know. There is something mysterious about the man called Olutanmole. His members hardly venture outside the commune inside the church, and not only that they hardly interact with neighbours”, one of the neighbours stated.
Continuing the man said: “Although, neither Baba Olutanmole nor his followers have been violent since the church started several years ago at Akowonjo, but when you mention that place, some people are uncomfortable. I don’t know why.”http://sunnewsonline.com/life-inside-a-strange-lagos-church/
Muhammad Sanusi II, emir of Kano and former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), says the apex bank is illegally lending to federal government.
Sanusi also said “the problem of the current government is not having the right policies to fix the current economic woes”.
Speaking at a policy monitoring dialogue hosted by Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, at Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, Sanusi said the CBN had been lending to the government above the limits stipulated by the CBN Act of 2007.
Sanusi’s presentation showed that CBN’s lending to the government since Buhari came in had spiked from about N1.5 trillion to over N4.5 trillion.
“The CBN-FGN relationship is no longer independent. In fact, one could argue their relationship has become unhealthy,” he said.
“CBN claims on the FGN now tops N4.7 trillion — equal to almost 50% of the FGN’s total domestic debt. This is a clear violation of the Central Bank Act of 2007 (Section 38.2) which caps advances to the FGN at 5% of last year’s revenues. Has CBN become the government’s lender of last or first resort?”
He said no one was willing to lend to the Nigerian government, further stating that “if senate approved, I want to see who will lend you $30billion when you have five exchange rates”.
Sanusi said the country is enmeshed in heavy debts, stating that out of every N1 Nigeria makes, 40 kobo goes to debt and 60 kobo is left for salaries, health, education, power, infrastructure.
He said oil is merely a working capital that cannot make the country rich. Nigeria produces one barrel for 80 Nigerians; Saudi Arabia produces one for 3 Saudis, Sanusi said.
He noted that in every economy, growth is driven by “consumption, investment and net export”, adding that “our exports cannot grow, without regulatory certainty or an increase in the price of oil”.
He lamented that the country was spending money on repaying debts and also on recurrent expenditure, as against education, healthcare, power, and other infrastructure.
The emir also stated that Nigeria is the lowest per-capital spender on development in Africa.
On speaking truth to power, Sanusi said: “I cant apologise for being who I am. The government I served, I did not keep quiet. When I am not serving the government, I cannot keep quiet.”
Politics › Osinbajo, DG DSS, AGF To Review Magu’s Response by Islie(op): 9:09am On Dec 22, 2016
