Security forces have uncovered a plot by insurgents to infiltrate the nation’s capital, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), using tinted vehicles and covered plate numbers, THISDAY has learnt.
It was gathered that the joint security task force, comprising the military, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and intelligence agencies, however, has intensified patrols and surveillance in and around Abuja.
Investigation also revealed that the meetings of the joint security task force under the office of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, continued at the weekend.
However, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has debunked reports that the nation’s capital was under terror attack.
A statement by the command said while security forces sustained pre-emptive measures against any eventuality, the reported attack on FCT was a clash of cultists in Mpape, an outskirt of Abuja and not an attack by terrorists.
THISDAY, however, gathered that security agents uncovered an unusual number of unauthorised tinted vehicles with covered plate numbers within the city centre.
There are certain categories of political officeholders and security chiefs allowed to use tinted vehicles and covered plate numbers.
Permits are also granted to some citizens after an application is granted.
A security source told THISDAY that “such applications are no longer granted in view of the security situation.”
With the rising number of vehicles with tinted glasses, concerns were raised that the insurgents were conducting a test run preparatory to an attack.
A security source told THISDAY that the strategy was a familiar one applied during the bombing of the United Nations office and the Force Headquarters in Abuja by Boko Haram some years ago.
“It is a familiar pattern. We are working on it”, he said.
The FCT Police Command had last week launched an operation against the use of unauthorised covered number plates and tinted vehicles.
It said the operation had become “extremely necessary due to the recent security threat analysis conducted by the joint (security) team reveals that criminal syndicates now execute their nefarious activities using tinted vehicles with covered number plates.”
The command warned those using unauthorised covered number plates and tinted vehicles within the FCT to desist as violators would be arrested and prosecuted.
Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command at the weekend debunked reports that the seat of power was under attack.
It said a cult clash in Mpape, an outskirt of Abuja, was misconstrued as an attack by terrorists.
It said in the statement by its spokesperson, Mariam Yusuf, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, that there was no such attack on FCT.
It said heads of security agencies had reassured residents of their safety.
“The attention of the FCT Joint Security Team has been drawn to a viral publication in social media purporting that the ‘Federal Capital Territory is under attack by Boko Haram Terrorists.
“The Joint Security Team of the FCT wishes to refute the mischievous publication targeted at creating palpable tension amongst the well-spirited residents of the FCT,” it added.
The command said “contrary to the speculation, the Heads of Security Agencies (HOSA) in the Federal Capital Territory in the bid to address security concerns within the FCT, held a strategic meeting on Thursday, April 29, 2021, where the team resolved to deploy alternative proactive crime-fighting measures within the FCT particularly in areas with challenging terrain, including aggressive motorised/foot patrols.
“However, the patrols will be conducted in line with the peculiarities of every terrain within the territory. In other words, the team has adopted the use of motorcycles, horses and other technical means of gathering intelligence to checkmate criminality within the Federal Capital Territory,” it stated.
The Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu has taken a swipe at Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, quipping that he is inciting Nigerians against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for calling on those agonising about the state of affairs in the country to organise and vote out the the ruling party in 2023.
Okechukwu also alleged that the Ekiti State governor had never defended President Muhammadu Buhari, the reason he had opposed Executive Order 10. According to him, with the Ekiti State governor as chairman of Nigeria Governor’s Forum, he ought to have galvanised the governors to open the frontiers of democracy at the state level.
Okechukwu also opinionated that the governors were the problems of the country’s democracy, as they have constituted themselves into emperors.
The VON DG was reacting in the statement he issued in Abuja to comments made by Governor Fayemi on the Platform, a programme organised by the Covenant Christian Centre, aired live on television.
Fayemi had on the Platform said: “If your search is a regime change in a democracy, there is only one way for regime change in a democracy. You work towards it. Another election is going to come if you do not like what APC is doing, stop agonising, organise against the party. Link up with others who are organising and then kick the APC out of office and put people that you think will do better.”
However, in the statement, Okechukwu said whereas he has tremendous respect for Fayemi, his speech at the Covenant Platform on Saturday is in simplicity anti-party and an overkill.
Mr Buhari said that the expansion of the N-Power programme would ensure job creation and poverty alleviation.
The federal government says it will expand the N-Power programme from the present 500,000 beneficiaries to one million.
President Muhammadu Buhari said this in a message to commemorate the 2021 Workers’ Day celebration on Saturday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2021 Workers’ Day theme is ”COVID-19, Social and Economic Crises: Challenges for Decent Work, Social Protection and Peoples Welfare”.
Mr Buhari said that the expansion of the N-Power programme would ensure job creation and poverty alleviation through programmes such as Safety Net Programmes to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
”We also have put in place some socio-economic policies, which also include Conditional Cash Transfer for the vulnerable poor from 2.6 million households (13 million persons) to 7.6 million households (about 32 million persons).
”COVID-19 Rapid Response Register (RRR) for urban Poor, which now has 4.8 million households (20 million persons) which also include urban poor/working class.
”Also, through the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, there is the Entrepreneur Support Programme and, this even includes the vulnerable workers amongst the urban poor.
”We also have the Artisan Support Fund, Payroll Support Fund for small scale businesses, Business Formalisation aimed at encouraging micro, small and medium enterprises by offering free registration for upcoming businesses by the Corporate Affairs Commission.
”There is also Guaranteed Off-take Stimulus Scheme for Small Medium Enterprises for producers of hygienic products and packaged food to encourage entrepreneurship and industries, “he said.
He, however, added that the National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) for young entrepreneurs had N75 billion for three years, all aimed at support for the labour force.
He also noted that in securing decent jobs, the government was inadvertently promoting social protection and people’s welfare.
”We also know that social protection gives you peace of mind and hope for a better future.
“It also ensures access to health care and income security for all and provides for you and your family when sick, unemployed, injured, pregnant or too old to work,” he said.
He noted that a happy workforce could be created by employers incorporating the decent work agenda in job creation and retention in their workplace guiding policies.
”As we all know, decent work sums up the aspirations of people in their working lives.
”It involves opportunities for work that is productive and delivers a fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for families, better prospects for personal development and social integration.
”It also ensures freedom for people to express their concerns, organise and participate in the decisions that affect their lives and equality of opportunity and treatment for all women and men,” he said.
He noted that decent jobs in our workplaces in a nutshell, therefore, reflect all the goodness in labour administration.
Buhari, therefore, said fair labour practices must be the norm in the world of work.
”So, the theme for the May Day celebration is relevant and also reflects practical and contemporary issues of our society and not just in Nigeria but globally,” he said.
Tension gripped residents of Okitipupa ,the headquarters of Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, following arrest of no fewer than 45 youths from the Northern part of the country by men of the Ondo State Security Network, the Amotekun.
The youths loaded in a truck, were said have been intercepted in front of the Okitipupa Army Barracks at about 10p.m. on Thursday and were taken to Akure, the state capital.
Many residents of the town were said to have gathered at the scene expressing apprehension that the Northern youths were in the town to causes havoc.
A source said, “The Amotekun corps arrested the Fulani youths who were loaded in a trailer in front of the army barracks. As the Amotekun corps accosted them, some of them jumped down from the vehicle and ran away into the town but about 45 of them were arrested.
“When they were interrogated, they said they were sent from the North to come and undergo military training in the barracks. After that, the Amotekun corps took them away from the town.”
When contacted, the state Commander of the corps, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, confirmed the arrest, saying investigation had commenced.
“We have commenced investigation into the matter,” Adeleye said.
Reacting, the chairman, Okitipupa Local Government, Mr. Igbekele Akinrinwa who addressed the people at the scene of the incident, alleged that it was an indigene of the town that facilitated the travellers trip to the town.
Akinrinwa said the person had also been apprehended by the state Amotekun.
He urged the people of the town to remain calm as the visitors would had been moved to Akure the state capital for further security checks and investigation.
Terrorists Are Using Guns, Others Stolen From Nigerian Military To Kill Citizens —Senator Ndume
Senator Ali Ndume has said most of arms and ammunition used by insurgents against Nigerians were stolen from the Nigerian military and other security agencies in the country.
Ndume, who represents Borno South in the Senate, added that the terrorists also get weapons from places like Libya and Chad.
“Most of the arms and ammunition they use are the ones they succeed in carting away from the Nigerian soldiers and other armed forces or security agencies,” the Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, said on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television.
“I know they have some small arms coming from up there like Libya, Chad, and all that but the bulk of the equipment they use are the ones they succeeded in stealing from our armed forces.”
Many Nigerians have been calling for the resignation or Impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari over the growing insecurity in the country.
They have complained about widespread insecurity across the country, blaming the Buhari government of not doing enough or lacking ideas required to successfully tackle the problem.
Tinubu’s comments came two days after his wife attacked Senator Smart Adeyemi for criticising uncurbed killings, maimings and destruction of assets across the country.
MARIAM ILEYEMI
Bola Tinubu on Thursday said Nigerians outraged by widespread chaos should not disparage security forces. Mr Tinubu’s comments came two days after his wife Senator Remi Tinubu attacked Senator Smart Adeyemi for criticising uncurbed killings, maimings and destruction of assets across the country.
Mr Adeyemi had decried the inability of President Muhammadu Buhari to rein in the crisis, saying the administration should not be too reluctant to seek outside help in addressing the existential challenges.
Mrs Tinubu, who was sitting beside Mr Adeyemi during Tuesday’s plenary, fired back at his colleague, saying his complaints sounded like what opposition politicians or other critics would say.
Mrs Tinubu faced widespread condemnation for her comment, with many describing it as insensitive and a furtherance of her husband’s political strategy to keep quiet amidst raging chaos with the hope that he would get the ruling party’s presidential ticket and succeed Mr Buhari in 2023.
In a thread of tweets on Thursday evening, Mr Tinubu himself weighed in on the matter, saying he was also angered and troubled by ongoing security challenges. He, however, warned that security personnel should not be criticised as a result, saying it would play into the hands of the opponents.
Read Mr Tinubu’s full statement below:
Like all decent Nigerians, I am angered and troubled by the terror and cruelty being visited upon the people of Borno, Yobe, Benue, Niger, Imo and other parts of the nation.
These attacks have caused many to disparage our military and security forces. This we must not do. Valiant men and women serve in our security forces, risking their lives to protect us.
We stand with them. Government also must continue to encourage the security forces to do their utmost to subdue this threat. The lives of innocent Nigerians and the future progress of the nation may lie in the balance.
As a people, we must never surrender to the fearful temptation to blame one another. Regardless of region or religion, we must unite against a common foe. Discord will only invite defeat.
The enemy’s attacks seem to focus on our schools, religious institutions and security forces. They seek to extinguish the light of knowledge and hope by shrouding us in the darkness of fear and brutal ordeal.
We must not tremble. They will be vanquished. In the end, tolerance, justice and compassion shall win the day.
A Lagos-based socialite and contender for the Badore chieftaincy stool, Chief Rasak Jikoji, has been assassinated.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Rasaki had a month ago celebrated a court ruling in his favour on the chieftaincy stool.
He was said to be with his personal assistant on Sunday, April 25, 2021, when he was attacked and shot dead.
Our correspondent gathered that the assailants also smashed his skull open with a big stone.
The 60-year-old was rushed to the Lagos Island General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, and the matter was reported at the Langbasa Police Station.
The victim’s aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said the attack happened around 3pm at the deceased’s house on Jikoji Court, Unity Estate, Badore.
He stated that the late socialite had invited him the previous day, adding that on getting to the house, he observed that Rasak was having a meeting with some persons.
The aide said Rasak later led his guests to a piece of land in the community.
The aide stated, “He joined them in their car, while I drove his car behind them. About 15 minutes later, he came down from their car and entered his car. He said we should return home.
“As we were approaching the gate, he wound up the glass. I was about to park when I saw two men coming towards the passenger’s side. One of them covered his face and the other had a gun.
“I believe I heard one of them say, ‘It is you that wants to become Baale’. They tried to shoot twice, but the gun did not go off. They came in front of the car and tried to shoot again.
“I put the car in reverse and tried to speed off. The road was not good and in our attempt to flee, the car ran into a ditch. Chief asked me to run out. I opened the door before they got to us. As we were running, they caught up with him.
“The second guy, who was chasing me, later went back. I looked behind and saw that chief had already engaged the other man who had the pistol. I believe that the gun fell at a point. But the guy, who went back, picked a stone and smashed it on his head. The other guy picked up the pistol and shot him.”
The aide said the suspects later escaped in a tricycle that he had earlier noticed on the premises without suspecting anything.
He added that upon his return to the scene, he saw Rasak in a pool of his own blood and raised the alarm, as his wife and other residents rushed him to the general hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The victim’s wife, Tofunmi, claimed that Rasak wrote a petition to the police at the Zone 2 Command over some suspicious movements around him prior to the incident.
While urging the police to get to the root of the murder, she said her husband had several enemies, who might want him dead.
She stated, “Some people came to visit us because they wanted to buy a piece of land and he took them to the site. They did not like the land. About 15 to 20 minutes later, my husband was returning home.
“Some people said they sighted strange faces around the vicinity. As he was coming, he was attacked. They shot him and used a rock to break his head to be sure that he died. I was in the kitchen when I was called, and I ran out and saw his dead body in the middle of the road. We need justice.”
A family member, who asked not to be identified, said Rasak was involved in a struggle for the chieftaincy stool of Badore.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the former occupant of the stool, Saliu Muraino Jikoji, died in June 2020 and the family nominated Rasak as his successor.
However, some community elders reportedly backed another candidate, whose name was forwarded to the local government secretariat.
The dispute was later taken to court.
Justice Idowu Alakija of the Lagos State High Court in March ordered that the parties should maintain the status quo, a ruling that the deceased celebrated as part victory.
The substantive suit was adjourned till May.
Our correspondent was told that the deceased’s five children were based abroad.
His lawyer, Olanrewaju Aiyedun, described the killing as “callous, criminal, satanic and vile.”
Aiyedun stated, “I have absolute trust and unflagging confidence in the professional competence and impervious integrity of the police to unmask the murderers and bring the marauding and cannibalistic agents of untimely death to justice.
“The assailants riled and taunted him that he wanted to become baale before they snuffed life out of him. So, those who paid for his murder are not far-fetched.
“He was shot at a very close range and they smashed his head with a heavy stone just to ensure that he was dead and to satisfy their paymasters. They have murdered sleep and they will not also sleep.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, who confirmed the incident, said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti, Yaba.
He stated, “The two persons, who assassinated him, were in a tricycle. They accosted him while in the vehicle and fired him in the chest with what appeared to be an English pistol. He ran out, but they went after him and used a stone to break his head to ensure he died.
“The driver said before they killed him, they said, ‘So, you want to be baale, it is only someone who is alive that can become baale’. It was not a case of robbery. He was a direct target. We are working round the clock and closing in on his killers.”
The real market price for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol has hit N241 per litre. This is creating a deficit of N76 per litre on every litre of the product sold at N165 subsidised price presently in place across the country. Oil marketers, who declared this yesterday, maintained that the foot dragging on subsidy removal was digging Nigeria into “terrible economic misfortune.” National Operations Controller of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria,Mr. Mike Osatuyi, who said this in an interview with New Telegraph, maintained that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was not a non-government organisation (NGO).
“It is a corporation set up to make profit and as the reality is dawning on everyone now, it can no longer pay subsidy and pay into FAAC at the same time,” he said in a telephone interview with this newspaper. “N241 is the spot pump price of petrol as at today (yesterday). That is the real price the product is supposed to sell at filling stations across the country based on the crude oil price and other international marker fundamentals. “Last month, the price was at N238 per litre. But all marketers were asked to sell the product at between N162 and N165 per litre. With these, Nigeria, through the NNPC records, has a deficit of at least N76 on every litre sold at filling station. “In all these, you will agree with me that the money has to come from somewhere. The NNPC is not a non-governmental organisation (NGO) or a nonfor- profit organisation. The subsidy is a serious burden for NNPC.
It is a serious burden for Nigeria. It is digging the country into deeper economic misfortunes.” “I have said it times without number that the subsidy regime has to end. That is the position of IPMAN. “The government usually invites marketers for meetings to discuss and we have been doing this as a group with the interest of Nigeria at heart. We have always been clamouring for removal of subsidy.” Asked whether the government is willing to yield to the call of IPMAN on subsidy removal, Osatuyi maintained that the meeting with government had been resourceful.
“The government is already lining up heavy investments for gas to serve as alternative to petrol. The government is feeling the heat of subsidy and it has been doing everything within its means to address the issue of subsidy,” he said. A financial policy analyst, Mrs. Monsurat Hassan- Hamzat, corroborated Osatuyi’s view. She told New Telegraph that the implication of NNPC not contributing to FAAC was that there will be little or nothing to share by the government at the three tiers of government by May. “What this means is that we have traded development for fuel subsidy.
We have replaced what we are supposed to use to fund the states to subsidise petrol. “And, now that the NNPC might not be able to contribute to the vault, we will all understand the implication of foot-dragging on removal of subsidy,” she said. Acknowledging that government all over the world engaged in subsidising some essential products or commodities, Hassan-Hamzat noted that petrol was now on the list of elitist products, which, based on reality on ground in the country, does not require subsidy any longer.
EXPOSED: APC Lawmaker Posted Pictures Downloaded From Internet As Constituency Projects
A check by SaharaReporters using advanced technology however showed that the post which had been retweeted by over 1, 400 users were downloaded from the internet and not ongoing in Toro Federal Constituency as claimed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker.
During the weekend, a member of the House of Representatives from Toro Federal Constituency of Bauchi state, Umar Muda Lawal on his Twitter page shared pictures of deep wells he said he was constructing in some towns and villages in his constituency.
“This time we are going outside the box to construct 10 deep wells in 10 rural towns and villages of Toro Local Government Area (LGA), because traditional wells are often more reliable and last longer than any modern small-scale water supply system. Most wells today are centuries old and still working,” Lawal captioned the pictures in a post on Twitter.
A check by SaharaReporters using advanced technology however showed that the post which had been retweeted by over 1, 400 users were downloaded from the internet and not ongoing in Toro Federal Constituency as claimed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker.
Grenell noted that Buhari, if elected will be a disaster for Nigeria and Africa.
A former envoy of the United States, Richard Grenell, had warned Nigerians not to elect Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress in the 2015 presidential election.
In an opinion article dated March 19, 2015, and published in Washington Times, Grenell noted that Buhari, if elected will be a disaster for Nigeria and Africa.
In the article titled, "Nigeria on the brink", Grenell warned that having Buhari as president will signal trouble for the West’s fight against ISIS and terrorism throughout the Middle East.
Grenell, who recently served as the Acting Director of the United States National Intelligence, had advised Nigerians to re-elect the then President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
His article read, “With the polls closed in Israel, international election observers now turn their attention to the Nigerian elections on March 28. The choice for the leader of Africa’s most populous country pits Goodluck Jonathan from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The decision by the roughly 73 million registered Nigerian voters could have a profound impact on the future of Africa.
“But Western foreign policy observers pre-occupied with the rise of ISIS in the Middle East should wake up to the reality unfolding in Nigeria. Opposition candidate General Buhari wants Sharia law throughout Nigeria. In fact, he wants it everywhere. ‘I will continue to show openly and inside me the total commitment to the Sharia movement that is sweeping all over Nigeria,’ Mr Buhari said. ‘God willing, we will not stop the agitation for the total implementation of the Sharia in the country.'
“Agitation? Is this an indication that Mr Buhari supports violence because the end goal of the terrorist attacks throughout Nigeria and Africa is an Islamic state? It is a legitimate question that should be asked by leaders of the (Barack) Obama administration.
“Boko Haram has pledged its allegiance and support to ISIS. The northern Nigerian based Islamic terrorist group wants Sharia law throughout Nigeria and beyond. They are also actively terrorizing Chad, Niger and Cameroon with their goal of an Islamic state.
“Mr Buhari has also spoken sympathetically about members of the terrorist group Boko Haram, has cautioned against a rush to judgement on its members and has personally been selected by the terrorist group to lead its negotiations with the Government of Nigeria.
“Mr Buhari’s election as Nigeria’s head of state would be a disaster for Africa. It would also signal trouble for the West’s fight against ISIS and terrorism throughout the Middle East.
“Islamic radicals have Africa on their target list and young Nigerians are reported to be interested in ISIS’ messages. Nigeria is at a tipping point. Tunisia, where the Arab Spring uprisings began, saw a deadly Islamic terrorist attack at a popular museum killing 23 people this week.
“ISIS attacked a hospital in Libya within the last few days and Boko Haram killed 54 people with 4 suicide bombers in Nigeria last week. The West, and specifically the Obama Administration, need to wake up to the growing problem.
“The French government has been fighting ISIS in Africa for the past two years, starting in Mali but with little help from the Obama Administration. As terrorism grows in yet another region of the globe, American and Western officials should realize they are not stopping the advancements of Islamic radicals. Al-Qaida is not dead and ISIS is not a JV team.
“The recent moves by the White House against Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu signal a willingness by President Obama and his team to intervene in foreign elections. The sitting President Goodluck Jonathan has committed to defeating Boko Haram and overseeing a free and fair election.
“The Nigerian economy has been growing faster than South Africa’s. Imagine what Nigeria could do for Africa if it was also free of Boko Haram’s violence. The Obama Administration should be doing more to ensure Africa’s most populous country doesn’t slip away.”
Grenell's article gained relevance as the President Buhari-led administration has been accused of treating terrorists with kid gloves.
The Presidency has been criticised by the public recently for defending the embattled Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, over his past comments in support of terrorist groups like the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement aligned itself with the submission of the embattled Minister that he was young when he made those statements and his position had since changed.
There have been several calls for the minister's resignation after multiple reports accused him of endorsing terrorism and extreme views. The presidency, in the statement, claimed that the calls for the minister's resignation were politically motivated.
This attracted outrage from Nigerians who have tagged this government as a ‘terrorist sympathiser'.
Telecoms regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has fined the three leading mobile network operators in the country to the tune of N78.5 million.
New Telegraph learnt that MTN, Globacom, Airtel, and 9mobile were all found to have breached the rules guiding them in the process of replacing SIMs for their customers, thus incurring the wrath of the regulator.
However, while three of the operators are to pay the fine, 9mobile was said to have been issued a ‘strong warning’ by the commission as it recorded the lowest number of breaches.
According to the NCC, the infractions were discovered in its SIM replacement audit conducted in the fourth quarter of 2020. “All the four mobile network operators, MTN, Airtel, Globacom and 9Mobile (EMTS), were found to be in absolute breach.
Of the SIM Replacement Guidelines at the last SIM replacement audit exercise conducted by the commission. A notice of sanction was consequently issued to the respective MNOs to show cause why appropriate sanctions should not be imposed for the violation,” NCC stated in its enforcement report obtained by our correspondent.
According to the telecoms regulator, each of the telecoms operators was sanctioned according to the number of infractions recorded against its network. Specifically, Airtel was fined N3.2 million for 13 infractions recorded on its network, while Globacom is to pay the sum of N39.2 million for 37 infractions. MTN, which is the largest operator by subscriber number, was fined N36 million in respect of 24 infractions discovered on its network.
According to the SIM Replacement Guidelines issued by the regulator, “a SIM can be replaced if it is faulty, damaged, stolen, lost, obsolete (but eligible for replacement or an upgrade), and any other reasonable legitimate reason or condition necessitating a SIM replacement.
Provided that an operator may refuse a SIM Replacement request where there are reasonable grounds to believe that the replacement ought not to be carried out and the Commission is notified within 24 hours of such a decision.”
Parts of the requirements for SIM replacement as stipulated in the guidelines include that “the SIM must have been registered in accordance with the registration of telephone subscribers regulations issued by the commission; the subscriber requesting for the replacement must provide the following: information about the three most frequently called numbers from that SIM, which must be verified by the network service provider.
The frequently called numbers must have been dialed at least five times over 30 days. “Where the SIM to be replaced is a data SIM, the subscriber will be required to provide any two of the following: Last recharge amount and date, name of internet bundle value activated and data allowance allocated, last three sites visited, an affidavit signed by the subscriber and a passport photograph of the subscriber where the replacement is to be done by a proxy.”
However, the regulator did not specify which of the guidelines was breached by the operators. The regulator also stated in the guidelines that any SIM replacement done in violation of the rules would be sanctioned in accordance with the enforcement regulations.
“A network service provider shall be held liable for any SIM replacement carried out in violation of these regulations or done fraudulently by its agent or dealer. The subscriber can pursue any other remedies against a network service provider for any SIM replacement done fraudulently by such network service provider or its agent or dealer,” it added.
Over one week after security forces arrested 400 Bureau De Change (BDC) operators alleged to be financial sponsors of Boko Haram, senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has opposed moves by the Federal Government to opt for a secret trial.
According to media reports, the businessmen were arrested in an operation, coordinated by the Defence Intelligence Agency and in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The operation was said to have been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020.
Ndume while addressing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, said: “The presidency said recently that Nigerians would be shocked if it revealed the identities of those who are sponsoring Boko Haram insurgents. Can you imagine that 400 BDC operators are the people funding Boko Haram.
“When the BDC operators are arrested, what will the government do with them. The presidency is already saying their case is confidential. What is confidential about it?”
He called on the Federal Government to expose the identity of the sponsors and those arrested. He said those found guilty must be brought to justice.
He said: “The presidency should expose the identities of the BDC operators so far arrested and carry out their trial in public. If any of them is innocent, he should be allowed to go while those found guilty must be made to face the music.
“When I was wrongly accused, I was tried publicly and I was vindicated. The trial lasted six years in an open court. If there is any criminal act linked to anybody. No matter how highly placed, let the evidence be placed before the public, there should be no secret trial. Nowadays, criminals are arrested and paraded without further action. Nobody knows what happens to the people who killed 11 soldiers in Benue State recently? What happened to those who beheaded policemen in Cross River State?
“If everyone is doing what he is supposed to do as defined by our constitution and laws, we would not have these problems. Citizens should expose suspicious movements.”
Elias Mbam, chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), says a review of the remuneration of political and judiciary office holders has begun.
The RMAFC chairman disclosed this on Saturday at Amagu community in Ikwo LGA of Ebonyi, during the seventh ‘Ofala’ festival and 30th anniversary of the coronation of Ezeogo Aloh, Erima-Ogwudu III of Amagu kingdom.
Mbam was conferred with a chieftaincy title of ‘Aka Ekpuchi Onwa II’ by the traditional ruler on Saturday.
Speaking to journalists after the ceremony, the RMAFC chairman said by the end of the year, something concrete would be arrived at.
He, however, did not indicate if the review will reflect an increase or decrease.
Mbam added that a public hearing will soon be held for Nigerians to contribute to the process.
“One of the major responsibilities of our commission is to determine remunerations appropriate for political and judicial office holders,” NAN quoted him as saying.
“In doing that, the financial situation of the country, at any given time, is taken into consideration, including inflation and the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), among others.
“The commission, being conscious that a lot has happened since the last review, has commenced the process of another review to reflect the changing realities.
“We have progressed and we believe that before the end of 2021 something concrete will happen. It is a process and the process at the end determines what it will be. When we go through the process, if it comes out to be increase, we increase; if it is decrease, we do it.”
In October 2019, Chris Ngige, minister of labour, had disclosed that a presidential committee had been set up to review the salaries of political office holders — according to Ngige, the last time a holistic review of salaries was done was in 2011.
However, in February 2020, the labour minister had announced that the process had been suspended until issues relating to the new minimum wage are sorted out.
12 years after casting the die in the fight to extinguish what started as skirmishes in the northeastern part of the country, troops are...
When about 30 armoured vehicles procured from around the world arrived the battle-front, military high commands in Abuja thought that would soon turn the tide in the intractable insurgency in the north-east part of the country. Soon, a tally showed that 16 of those precious equipment were either destroyed or taken away by the insurgents.
The Abubakar Shekau-led Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) are using lapses in command structures on the side of the Nigerian military to inflict heavy losses on troops and convert military supplies for their own use, Daily Trust on Sunday reliably gathered.
Informed sources told our correspondents that the two Boko Haram factions have for a long time largely relied on weapons confiscated from the military after sacking troops from their camps.
Data tracked by Daily Trust on Sunday show a consistent pattern of attacks on military formations around the terrorists-infested areas in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. During such attacks, armouries, vehicles and food supplies are usually looted.
For instance, between 2018 and the first quarter of 2021, the two factions of the Boko Haram have raided at least 38 military formations in the North East and in most instances carted away military hardware.
Insiders and security watchers say far too many raids have been launched on some military formations that have not been reported by the media. This is besides hundreds of troops killed by the terrorists during such attacks.
Our correspondents report that recent attacks on military formations are a continuation of a deeply entrenched onslaught on Nigeria’s security architecture in the North East.
It started with attacks on police stations after the Shekau-led Boko took up arms against the Nigerian state especially from 2019, from where the insurgents made up their first stockpiles of arms.
The terrorists thereafter “descended” on military formations, making it easy to refill their armouries as they continued with their war of attrition.
Experts say defensive strategy often used by the military in holding on to positions is a major loophole being explored by the terrorists in launching attacks on the sentry troops.
Another major cause of the frequent failure of the troops is said to be in the choice and deployment of officers, especially frontline commanders leading the men.
Preferential posting of some officers and favouritism is also affecting troops’ morale and discipline. This, insiders say, has roots from recruitment into the elite Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) where VIPs corner the admissions.
Getting arms with ease
There is a general consensus among security experts that even though the two factions of the Boko Haram capitalize on Nigeria’s porous borders to bring in arms, they nonetheless get large chunk of their fighting equipment by attacking military formations.
Nigeria is bordered by Benin, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger and shares maritime borders with Equatorial Guinea, Ghana and São Tomé and Príncipe.
With an area of 923,768 km², the troubles in Sudan, Libya and Chad, occasioned by shortage of manpower to protect its borders especially in the Lake Chad region, make Nigeria increasingly vulnerable to arms proliferation.
“But beyond the crises in our neighbouring countries and our porous border is the problem within our military system,” said Salihu Bakhari, a retired military officer and a security expert with deep knowledge of happenings in the North East.
“Go and review all the videos of the guns, APCs, rocket launchers, gun trucks, Hilux vehicles and other weapons being used by the Boko Haram. You will see that they took them from our troops.
“The terrorists have in the past ten years raided hundreds of military formations and whenever the troops ‘tactically withdraw’, the attackers simply take all the arms left behind by the troops,” Bakhari said.
He said the introduction of Super Camps Strategy (SCS) by the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, did not help matters.
Daily Trust on Sunday recalled that In July 2019, the military high command ‘improvised’ the concept of SCS as a result of multiple factors, including continuous attacks on the scattered Forward Operations Bases (FOB) of the military.
Over time, the FOBs, situated in villages and smaller towns especially in northern and southern parts of Borno State, became vulnerable to attacks because of inadequate manpower and equipment.
The Super Camp Strategy led to the establishment of few well-constructed military strongholds. It brought to the end the concept of smaller military outposts with a higher probability of being attacked by Boko Haram invaders.
About 12 of such camps were established by the military but findings revealed that many of them have been attacked by the terrorists in the last two years and key military assets carted away.
Over 70% of military weapons end up with Boko Haram
One source disclosed that over 70 per cent of the weapons and other military equipment procured by the federal government to fight the insurgents end up in the hands of the Boko Haram forces.
He said routine pictures from operations released by the military often show officially branded vehicles as “recoveries” from the insurgents.
The situation, sources say, has become a huge headache and dilemma for the top echelon of Nigerian security architecture.
“There is now a big debate going on for and against deployment of more weapons. It is a dilemma because you cannot afford to have ill-equipped troops but the big question is of what use is procuring more weapons when we know that most of it will end up in the hands of the insurgents,” a source said.
Another intelligence source said, “I won’t be able to put a percentage on the quantity of arms and other equipment that the terrorists have snatched from our military and other security agencies.
“However, it could be within the range of 50 per cent now compared to 2012-15, where it could be said to be about 65 per cent. These were failures of commands and the lack of patriotism and professionalism.
“Failure of commands is due to inexperience on the part of some of the commanders in the field because when confronting the terrorists, most of the commanders lack the desired field experience to turn the tide against the well organised, motivated terrorists, due to their religious ideological training and drugs the influence.
“Most of our troops, due to the nature of the recruitment process, training and equipment shortcomings, are always willing to take to their heels and abandon all arms/ammo at their procession,” he said.
Two security sources told Daily Trust on Sunday that the Air Force’s renewed vigour is helping in boosting the morale of ground troops as fighter jets are sent on missions even at night when there is overwhelming attack.
The Air Force is also expected to launch a convert unmanned aerial vehicle with a capacity to carry out solo missions on targets very soon.
On his part, public affairs analyst, Abubakar Mohammed Kareto, said Boko Haram insurgents had in the past few months displayed some worrisome caches of arms and ammunition stolen from military formations even after the troops had claimed such attacks were repelled.
“We may not completely rule out the possibility of Boko Haram getting their weapons from Libya and other war ridden African countries, but it is glaring that each time Boko Haram and ISWAP overpowered a military base, they seize caches of assault rifles and hundreds or thousands of rounds of ammunition they could use in later strikes. This has fuelled their bloody rebellions for over a decade now.
“The video released by ISWAP on the recent attack on Damasak have exposed the fact that the vehicles used for the attack were seized from police and the army.
“We have also seen the recently released pictures by Boko Haram of seized vehicles from the military in Dikwa,” he said.
On how to turn the tide against the terrorists, Kareto said, “preventing unexpected battle losses is almost impossible for peace operations; we have seen many instances in Mali, Somalia and other terror ridden places.
“But they (Nigerian Armed Forces) must do more to ensure that arms and ammunition are not diverted or lost through other means, such as abandonment, illicit transfers, corruption and poor management of recovered material.
“The Nigerian Army can also strengthen the security around its military-bases to prevent infiltration by Boko Haram.”
Lake Chad strategic for insurgents
Another source said there is a need for re-strategize and re-assess the operations against the terrorists, saying the Lake Chad Basin is strategic to Boko Haram in term of getting the supply of weapons from Libya.
The source explained that some of the weapons being deployed by the insurgents came through Nigeria’s porous borders. He, however, confirmed that troops had abandoned weapons severally after heavy attacks by insurgents.
The source noted that if the military must win the war, they need to bring in some of their finest officers who had performed well. “It is disturbing to see Boko Haram using stolen weapon from the troops,” he said.
The Secretary- General of Retired Military Veterans Federation of Nigeria, Dr Awwal Abdullahi Aliyu, said the source of arms and ammunitions for Boko Haram is a double edge sword as they come from within and outside the country.
Dr Aliyu said: “It used to be external after the fall of Libya and other African countries that had security issues. Most of the weapons came across our borders through Niger, Chad and Cameroon but after the Joint Military Task Force of the West African region, their supplies got short.”
He said it was because of the shortage of supply that forced Boko Haram to resort to attacking military formations within their area of operation to cart away weapons and vehicles.
“So, at the beginning, to a large extent, they were using arms and ammunitions that were brought in from outside the country but most recently, they have been attacking and carting away machineries of the armed forces,” he said.
Aliyu, who is also the Deputy National Coordinator of Retired Members of Nigerian Armed Forces, however, said this is not to say that most of the weapons used by the insurgents presently were those carted away from military formations as the terrorists were still operating with a good number of the arms that infiltrated the country’s porous borders.
How Boko Haram survives on weapons stolen from Nigerian military
Faulty recruitment and status symbol
Most of the experts that spoke to Daily Trust on Sunday said to win the war against the Boko Haram, the federal government must prioritize competence and interest in the recruitment of officers and men of the armed forces.
They said the issue of corruption, favouritism and nepotism must be halted; while young men who are willing to serve their father land should be allowed to join the service.
Allegations are ripe that only the children of governors, ministers and top traditional rulers make it to the NDA, while for ordinary Nigerians to join the lower ranks in the army, navy or air force, they must have somebody to give them a note.
Speaking on this, Dr Aliyu said assertions that there is political influence that goes into the recruitment into the NDA is true adding, “Even at the recruitment level where you have other ranks, the same thing is at play because in Nigeria today, it is in the armed forces and other uniform cadre that recruitment is regular. Youths today just want to get a job not because they are committed to defending the nation and even the recruitment itself, the number of officers recruited into the armed forces is inadequate.”
To end the 12-year warfare with Boko Haram, Dr Aliyu said Nigeria must not only recruit adequate security forces to tackle insecurity in all the regions of the country but must also capitalize on intelligence gathering.
“This must not be left to the security forces alone, Nigerians must provide basic and necessary intelligence for the armed forces to succeed. I will also advise the Defence Headquarters to also engage the retired members of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other sister security agencies that have served and left because they live in the communities and interact with the people…They know a lot that the serving personnel may not know,” he said.
Commanders directing troops through phones from Abuja
On the claim that senior officers born with golden spoon don’t stay at the battle front, one of our sources said, “It is an open secret that a number of commanders, who happened to be from privileged families, abscond from their areas of command at will.
“There are cases of commanders directing troops through their phones from Abuja or other places,” the source said.
He said the privileged backgrounds of such officers make it difficult for discipline to be enforced.
Another source said, “Some of the troops believe that the war is imposed on them and would not be sacrificed for what does not concern them. Therefore, it won’t be out of place to place emphasis on recruiting more indigenes of the communities where the terrorists operate from to confront them.”
According to the source, “Political influence in recruitment process is an age old issue, and unless the military and other security agencies have people who would call a spade a spade, it would be difficult to cut the political influence from our recruitment process.
“With the conversation of the NDA into a degree awarding institution, most elite want their wards to have automatic employment which the military provides.
“Even in the means of deployment, the same elite insist on their wards posted within none threat or violent areas.
This is the true reflections of our fighting lives, and it does have morale side effects to those who are constantly being posted to the war theatre,” he said.
On his part, Kareto said, “The recruitment process into the army has always been poorly managed; there has been wide spread irregularities as alleged by applicants.
“Those involved are always accused of receiving bribes during the exercise. Children of highly placed individuals are the major beneficiaries of NDA admissions, those who don’t have connections are often dropped no matter their qualifications.
“We can’t get the best result when we drop merit and accept candidates into army based on nepotism, or when money exchange hands. The military needs to cleanse the process. This is the first step in attaining success in battle,” he said.
Ransom payment empowers insurgents
Dr Theophilus Abbah, who did extensive study of terrorism for his doctoral thesis, explained that the size of the Nigerian fighting forces vis-a-vis the country’s size was lamentable. He also bemoaned incessant ransom payments which, he said, boosts activities of the terrorists.
“For a country that is actively at war against terrorists, bandits, armed robbers, kidnappers, and even separatists, the size of the Nigerian Army is too little. Pakistan is fighting terrorists, just as Nigeria does. The size of Pakistani army is put at 1,204,000, while it has reserve of about 550,000. But Nigeria, as at 2019, is said to have only 120,000 fighting forces.
“Going by the spate of attacks in Nigeria, one could say terrorism is worse in Nigeria that it is in Pakistan. But with its size, the Pakistani Army can overwhelm terrorists in its territory. But in Nigeria, we have seen that terrorists and bandits have overwhelmed our military,” he said.
Dr Abbah said there is need for massive recruitment of soldiers. He suggested proper training and conversion of those already helping the security forces into the mainstream.
On sourcing of weapons, Dr Abbah also mentioned the possibility of the insurgents relying on the cache of weapons the routinely capture from government troops for action. He however proposed a close watch at Chad as a major supply base.
“Most times we are consoled that Boko Haram uses weapons stolen from Libya. It may be true, but we have a buffer country – Chad. The late Chadian President Idris Deby had battled forces supported by Libya to a standstill, so I feel it would be a difficult task for terrorists to smuggle as much weapons as Boko Haram has used through his country,” he said.
It’s not true – Army, says more troops underway
In its reaction, Nigerian Army said it was untrue to say that the Boko Haram insurgents were using weapons and equipment belonging to the military in its campaigns.
Army spokesperson, Major General Mohammed Yerima, told Daily Trust on Sunday that the insurgents have their own sources of weapons “from Libya and Mali”.
On manpower, he said the army has constantly recruited and will soon inject fresh 7,500 into the fighting force.
Gen Yerima also denied allegations that some privileged officers abscond from their duty posts in the frontline.
“That is not possible. Nobody posted to any command, under this current leadership would dare not go. We have also not declared anybody as deserter. If we have a case of desertion we have our process and we will catch whoever is it and try the person.”
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday approved the restoration of the permits on Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 123, 124, 126 and 137 to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and, by extension, Addax Petroleum.
The Nigerian government, through the national oil company, had been in a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) with Addax Petroleum, a subsidiary of SINOPEC, the national oil company of People’s Republic of China, on these oil blocks.
PSC is a contractual arrangement for exploration and production of petroleum resources where the contractor undertakes all the financial, technical and operational risks associated with petroleum operation in return for a share of profit, after production cost, payment of royalty, and taxes. In this case, the assets are owned by the NNPC which brought in the contractor, Addax.
THISDAY checks last night indicated that the decision to return the operating permits on the four facilities was taken by the President to avert a major face-off with the Chinese government which is assisting the federal government with huge loans for several infrastructural projects across the country.
A source knowledgeable on how the decision was arrived at stated that the matter was escalated to President Buhari after an analysis of the diplomatic implications, as well as the image problems that the revocation would have caused. The conclusion was that it would have portrayed the Nigerian business environment as being operated by the whims of certain individuals, rather than adherence to rules.
While the NNPC, which Addax was directly partnering in the PSC, it was learnt, was not in the know of the processes leading to the cancellation, the president, the source said, also considered the legal implications if the matter eventually ended in court.
“The revocation was not even done with any consultation with the direct party, the NNPC. That was a big blunder which they should have known because if those guys go to court, they would win because in reality, they do not have any contract with the DPR, but with the NNPC.
“Ordinarily, it is the NNPC that should have communicated to Addax, as contractor, to say we are terminating this contract, and there are steps to it.
“So, it would have become an embarrassment to Nigeria even both in diplomatic terms, because China will feel slighted that we can’t even follow our own rules and considering the number of projects like the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas project they are assisting us with, they would have just messed things up,” the source said.
If due process was followed, the source added, it would have been the NNPC that should have communicated the decision to Addax on the prompting of the DPR, the regulator, a step that wasn’t taken. “As far as the guidelines were not followed, there were always going to be problems,” the source noted.
According to the source: “It would have been embarrassing if the Chinese withdrew from all the projects in retaliation because once they find you can’t even obey your own laws, they too can renege on some of the partnerships they have with us.”
Revocation Done Without Any Consultation with NNPC
Another source, an insider at Aso Rock said the federal government hinged its decision to restore the assets to the NNPC because it had a PSC agreement with Addax and the revocation was done without any consultation with the national oil company which was the concessionaire.
The source said following the revocation of the assets, Addax wrote the DPR and NNPC, and threatened to utilise all government, diplomatic and legal means to seek redress, describing the exercise as an attempt to expropriate its interests in Nigeria.
The source explains further: “While the revocation of an oil mining lease is indeed within the purview of the Minister of Petroleum Resources but the Act stipulates that the Minister informs the Licensee or Lessee of the infractions and give Lessee time to respond or rectify the situation prior to such revocation, which it was gathered was never done.
“Also, under the PSC arrangement, the NNPC was the lessee while Addax was merely a PSC Contractor, therefore the regulator couldn’t have revoked a lease from a party who is not the lessee. Therefore, the NNPC ought to have been informed as the lessee of any infractions in relation to the operation of the leases and afforded adequate time to provide appropriate explanations on the said infractions, as well as reasonable time to remedy the alleged infractions.
“Also, in the case of a PSC, revocation can only be directed to the Lessee and the Lessee will then be obligated to properly communicate the situation to the PSC Contractor and resolve the issues contractually in line with the provisions of the PSC.
“Therefore, the ability of the NNPC and the newly appointed Contractor Parties to properly utilise the assets may be severely hampered if Addax goes ahead with its threat to legally challenge the revocation process as regards compliance with the Petroleum Act.”
Citing the diplomatic implications of the revocation of Addax’s contract, he noted that China, the parent country of Addax is the largest trading partner of Nigeria representing over 20 per cent of international trade and almost three times the next largest trading partner, saying Addax diplomatic threat was thus not inconsequential and should be taken seriously.
In addition, he pointed out that China provides financing for key infrastructural projects like the railways, Abuja -Kaduna -Kano Pipeline amongst others, stating that the revocation action could also threaten the realisation of these critical projects
“In addition, Addax has over 5TCF of Gas. OML 137 has about 3TCF of NAG, NNPC as a concessionaire has held several engagements on the development of both upstream as well as midstream of the gas development. Already, engagements are to be progressed with Addax on the development of a Gas Development Agreement (GDA) and an NNPC subsidiary (NGMC) will market the gas on behalf of the PSC,” added the source.
Buhari Reverses Revocation
The President, in the press statement yesterday by his Media Assistant, Garba Shehu, said the leases were being restored to NNPC in line with the current administration’s commitment to the rule of law, fairness and to enable a stable business climate for investment.
“This development reaffirms the commitment of President Buhari to the rule of law and sanctity of contracts,” the statement said.
While directing the DPR to retract the letter of revocation of the leases, the president also instructed the NNPC to take advantage of contractual provisions to resolve issues in line with the extant provisions of the PSC arrangement between NNPC and Addax.
Buhari further stressed that the restoration of the blocks to NNPC would boost the organisation’s portfolio, thereby making the corporation to, on the long run, boost its crude oil production and in turn increase the revenue it generates into the Federation Account.
The statement read, “In line with the current administration’s commitment to the rule of law, fairness and enabling a stable business climate for investment, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the restoration of the leases on OMLs 123, 124, 126 and 137 to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, which is in production sharing contract with Addax Petroleum, a company wholly owned by Government of the People’s Republic of China on the blocks. The leases belonging to the Federation were revoked on March 30, 2021.
“While directing the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR to retract the letter of revocation of the leases, the President also directed NNPC to utilise contractual provisions to resolve issues in line with the extant provisions of the Production Sharing Contract arrangement between NNPC and Addax.
“The restoration of the blocks to NNPC will boost the organisation’s portfolio, thereby making the Corporation to, in the long run, boost its crude oil production and in turn increase the revenue it generates to the Federation Account.”
On April 6, the DPR, the oil and gas industry regulator, publicly announced the revocation of the four oil blocks of Addax Petroleum Exploration Nigeria Limited for, as it said, non-development of the assets by the company.
The Director, DPR, Sarki Auwalu, revealed that the government had awarded the assets to Kaztech/Slavic Consortium, owned by Emeka Offor and chaired by Oye Hassan-Odukale respectively.
The DPR director claimed that the government’s action was prompted by Addax’s failure to operate the facilities and inability to add value to the assets, a development he likened to sabotage.
He said over 50 per cent of the assets under Addax’s control were undeveloped and were not being operated “in a vigorous manner”, stressing that this constituted revenue loss to the government.
On Thursday, the regulator pressed forward with the process of handing over the assets to the new owners by setting up a committee in preparation for the formal ceremony, culminating in the takeover by the new operators.
According to data published by the NNPC, Addax pumped an average of about 30,000 barrels per day in 2019, equivalent to about 1.5 per cent of the country’s output.
Abubakar Sadiq Yusuf Sanga and Precious Nwakacha have been identified as the remaining two of the three students of Greenfield University, killed by their abductors.
Precious was from Nnewi Anambra state.
Sadiq Yusuf was the son of Malam Yusuf Mu’azu, a Director of Kaduna Ministry of Works.
He was buried on Friday, with outpouring of condolences to the father, who was also a former chairman of Jemaa LGA.
Yusuf’s body, along with those of Dorathy Yohanna and Precious Nwakacha were found in Kwanan Bature Village, close to Greenfield University, where they were captured on 20 April.
The Kaduna state commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan announced the shock find.
He said the bodies were taken to a mortuary by him and the Commander Operation Thunder Strike.
At least 17 of the students abducted by the terrorists are still being held, along with two female staff of the private university.
Nearly two months after the confirmation of the four immediate past Service Chiefs as noncareer ambassadors, there is an uneasy calm on the delay of their postings as envoy-designates to Nigerian Missions abroad. President Muhammadu Buhari had, on February 4, forwarded the names of the four military chiefs who served his administration for five years and six months to the Senate for confirmation as envoys, less than one week after their resignation from service.
The Senate subsequently screened and confirmed the Service Chiefs on February 23, but they are yet to get their posting from the president and this has generated ripples in some quarters.
The former Service Chiefs are the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin; former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai; former Chief of Air Staff, Ibok Ibas; and former Chief of Naval Staff, Abubakar Sadique.
Sources conversant with the development told New Telegraph that aside from the perennial challenge of logistics and paucity of funds that still kept some of the already screened, posted, and inducted 109 ambassadorial-designates in the country, the former Service Chiefs’ posting is being meticulously handled to avoid any diplomatic ‘embarrassment’.
It was also learnt that the ongoing probe by the House of Representatives on the $1billion Excess Crude Account funds meant for arms procurement for the military is also a subject of consideration in where and when to post the former military chiefs. Recall that the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd) had alleged that $1 billion funds meant to purchase arms to tackle insurgency during the ex- Service Chiefs’ tenure got missing. However, in a later statement by his office, the NSA recanted his earlier allegations, saying he was quoted out of context.
Describing the situation as becoming dicey, the source, who pleaded for anonymity, said President Buhari, upon his return from medical check-up in United Kingdom, is expected to weigh in on some of the recommendations to him on his former Service Chiefs, especially whether they should be posted to any of the Western countries, Asian countries or as a statutory representative of the country in any of the United Nations arms.
He said, “Ordinarily, the diplomatic process of posting an ambassadordesignate is cumbersome. Do you know that many of the already posted and inducted ambassador-designates are still in the country because of diplomatic logistics with the host countries and some other issues?” The source said: “When someone is to be posted out as an ambassador, the country he or she is to be posted to will be communicated to him.
Then, the country where he is to resume will be notified in writing. The country will then accept or reject him. If he is accepted, a document known as ‘Agreement’ will be forwarded to Nigeria. Then, the ambassador will be given a letter of credence, which will be presented to the President of that foreign country.
“The fear around the former Service Chiefs is that they may be rejected by some countries based on some allegation against them while they are serving. Also, this recent probe by the House of Representatives is another sour point for their clearance because anything associated with corruption is frowned at by some countries, especially those in the West.” While stating that Nigeria would benefit from the experience of the former chiefs if posted to countries in the arms industry, he said it is also possible that petitions and protest may follow the service chiefs by some Diaspora Nigerians when they are eventually posted.
While feigning ignorance of possible reshuffle of the initially posted ambassadors to accommodate the former military chiefs, he said the process is not one of quick fixes as there are parties involved. The appointment of the Service Chiefs had been trailed by condemnations, with many Nigerians suggesting that the President’s decision was aimed at shielding the former military officials from possible prosecution, especially by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The allegations against the former military chiefs include the 2015 massacre of more than 350 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), a Shiites sect, violent attacks on members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), last October’s shooting and of innocent Nigerians who took part in the #EndSARS protest at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, and the extrajudicial killings in Oyigbo, an Igbo settlement in Rivers State,among others.
But explaining grounds by which an ambassadordesignate can be rejected, a former Director-General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, said the national interest of a receiving state is what is generally considered in accepting or not accepting an ambassadorial nominee.
“Look at the case of the former Service Chiefs that have been appointed as ambassadors, there have been accusing fingers pointed at them as engaging in malpractices and all those things. For any country that is preaching and fighting against corruption, you are now posting somebody that has been publicly accused of sponsoring sharp and corrupt practices as an ambassador.” Akinterinwa, who is the President/Director-General of the Bolytag Centre for International Diplomacy and Strategic Studies (BOCIDASS), noted further that: “Under normal circumstance, if the Service Chiefs have been accused of sharp corrupt practices, war crimes and crime against humanity, now the ICC is supposed to declare them wanted and the Buhari-led administration thinks to find a way of protecting them, he reappoints them as ambassadors.
“Those who are seeking to prosecute them, they work in solidarity. The country you want to send them to may not accept and they will just simply say that you should find another candidate. And the principle of sovereign equality says you cannot query anyone for not accepting your candidate. “So, you have a right to accredit people and send them out as a country.
But where you are also sending them to, the right exists to accept or reject and they do not owe you any explanation because the sending and receiving states are both sovereign states.” On his part, the Permanent Representatives of the CCDI to the United Nations, Mr. Olufemi Aduwo, said allegations against the ex-service chiefs over their antecedents in office can’t be a basis for their rejection as ambassadors. Speaking with New Telegraph, Aduwo, who is the Executive Director of Rights Monitoring Group (RMG), said, “The major allegation anyone can level against them has been recently diffused by the United States government, which is how the military handled the October 20 Lekki Toll Gate issue. “When it comes to the issue of posting of envoys in the diplomatic circle, complaints and agitation does not really matter; what counts is the interest of the nation and the impact the person coming will make. I don’t think they will have problem anywhere they post them. “I think the delay in the postings of the former Service Chiefs has to do with the Nigerian factor.
I believe Mr. President will post them to where he wants them to function. I think the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also in cash crunch and it is a major issue. We currently have many countries without ambassadors and that is not good for our image,” he said. Meanwhile, it was learnt that the House of Representatives’ ad hoc committee investigating procurement of arms by the nation’s security forces may summon the former Service Chiefs to brief it on the purchases made.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, while appearing before the probe committee, was quoted to have told the Hon. Olaide Akinremi-led committee that: “You may wish to recall that I took over the mantle of leadership barely two months ago. “The period from which you wanted this report, having been summarised in the executive summary, explain whatever details you will require; issues of procurement that you so demand to know were done by specific individuals. “I will rather you call these individuals to come and explain to you very specific issues. The general issue has been contained in the report and the summary. It goes to speak about the entire report and it explains it.”
THE end to the chaotic Apapa-Oshodi expressway gridlock may not be farfetched any longer, following the just awarded Section 2 of the ever busy dual carriageway to Dangote Construction Company Limited.
The Section 2, which begins from Sunrise bus stop to Cele bus stop, was not awarded when sections 1 and 2 were awarded to Dangote for reconstruction in 2019.
The section had been under procurement, until it was awarded this week.
Consequently, this section has remained the major cause of the gridlock being experienced on the expressway over the years, because of its dilapidated state, arising from many years of neglect by the Federal Government.
Confirming the contract award to Vanguard, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mr. Olukayode Popoola, said: “Dangote has started mobilising to site, which means reconstruction works on the section will begin any moment from now.”
On whether November 2021 initial deadline is still feasible with the award of the section 2, Popoola said: “No. Because of the just awarded section 2, that date is no longer feasible. The new delivery date now is 10 months added to the initial handing over date.”
Also speaking with Vanguard on the situation of the section, Team Lead, Bulk Truck Operations of Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Israel Ogundiran, said with the first section from Liverpool to Sunrise almost completed, the award of the second section is a welcome development.
Apapa-Oshodi on lockdown
Meanwhile, the traffic on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway assumed a new dimension yesterday, as commuters and motorists had a hectic time navigating their destinations following total blockade of expressway and service lane by Apapa bound articulated trucks and tankers.
Motorists spent several hours between Fatgbems Junction and Ottor-Wharf.
Oshodi bound commuters and motorists were not spared the agony as commercial bus drivers, driving against traffic towards Mile 2, took over Fagbems portion of the road riddled with craters, thereby making difficult for Oshodi bound motorists to gain access.
The craters on the expressway have caused truck drivers, commuters, motorists and cyclists to make use of the service lane which condition is not as deplorable as the expressway.
This is why vehicular movement into Apapa is sluggish and takes hours to navigate the chaotic traffic.
The condition of the road has worsened as motorists move more into Apapa.
There was a drama at the cargo area at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, when one of the 250 cows flown into the country through the airport broke loose from its crate, leaving airport workers at the tarmac running for cover.
According to information gathered, the cows which were flown in from New Jersey, United States, by the Ekiti State government in crates on a chartered cargo special flight, were being offloaded at the Gate 3 between the Skypower Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) and the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) sheds when the incident occurred.
The bubble burst when one of the crates carrying the cows got damaged and the ground staff could not secure the cows after offloading which forced one of them to break loose and started chasing airport workers present on the tarmac.
The drama did not last for too long as those on ground were able to bring the cow under control.
The cows have successfully been loaded into waiting vehicles for their transportation to Ekiti State.
The cows were said to have been imported into the country by Ekiti State government in partnership with a private organisation for their Dairy Farm in Ikun.
Inadequate emergency preparedness, response and policy intervention were largely responsible for why the country appears to be troubled by banditry...
By Abbas Jimoh
The Federal Government has said that inadequate emergency preparedness, response and policy intervention were largely responsible for why the country appears to be troubled by banditry and other insecurity challenges.
The Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, said this on Wednesday in Abuja at the formal launch of a 352-page book titled: “A Planner’s Perspective on Disaster and Conflict; Issues of Forced Displacement of Persons, Management in Nigeria”, authored by Bassey Ita Etim-Ikang, a director in the ministry.
According to Akume, who was a former Governor of Benue State, banditry and other challenges cannot be overcome without the participation of all Nigerians, thus everyone must be involved in finding a lasting solution to the challenge.
“The challenges facing Nigeria includes but not limited to inadequate emergency preparedness and response, the gap between relief materials management and durable development projects, and ad-hoc planning and policy intervention.
“There is also lack of institutional and legal framework for the management of internally displaced population in Nigeria, insufficient or absence of inter-agency collaboration which mostly results in agencies working at cross purposes with duplicative activities.
“The lack of a defined strategy and appropriate national framework of cooperation among relevant agencies and institutions to design sustainable action plan for medium-long terms projects have been a huge deficit for policy makers.
“Therefore, all efforts to minimise the vicious cycle of violent conflicts and crisis arising from abject poverty and deprivation including lack of inclusive management structure based on bottom-top approach to grassroots participation that recognises peace and confidence building mechanism have just been put in place by the ministry,” Akume said.
The Author, Ikang, who is a Director of Human Resources, in the ministry, said his motivation to write the book stem from the dilapidated structure and rising cases of killings and insecurity ravaging the country.
“The Book will impact greatly on humanitarian state and non-state actors, policy makers, the academia, the students, most especially the students in conflict management will find the book a tool in their hands. I believe that the agencies that are saddled with management of disaster and conflict will be the great beneficiary of this book,” he said.
He said that internally displaced persons (IDPs) should be catered for and rehabilitated in order not push them into crime, which they may see as the only means of survival and which may in turn worse the situation in the country.
The Chief launcher and Plateau State Governor, Simon Bako Lalong, assured that he would continue to rally his colleagues to foster unity and deal decisively with those fomenting crises in the north and across the country.
Lalong who is also the Chairman, Northern Governor’s Forum (NGF), said that he would share copies of the book to governors for them to study and utilise the knowledge to tackle violent conflicts in the region.
Also, a former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, said those drumming up war do not understand the ripple effect as it would continue to affect the country’s economy, as investors will run to other African countries to do business.
The Federal Government is currently investigating how a stowaway found his way into a Lagos-Amsterdam flight on Monday, Daily Trust can report.
The body of a Nigerian man was found underneath a KLM flight that landed in Amsterdam on Monday.
Already the Dutch authorities have launched an investigation into the man’s identity and cause of death after he was discovered inside a wheel arch.
“We are investigating the discovery of mortal remains in the landing gear of an airplane from Lagos (Nigeria),” the Dutch police force wrote on Twitter.
The man, who is thought to have been a stowaway, was suspected to have died of hypothermia ostensibly due to loss of oxygen.
The incidents of stowaway are not new in Nigerian aviation with youths taking daring moves to hide under the gear compartment of aircraft.
On April 2, 2017, another stowaway was found on a Lagos-London Med-View Airline flight but the boy miraculously survived the over six hours flight to London Gatwick where he was arrested.
Within the period, another stowaway was arrested on an Arik Air Lagos to Benin flight. Investigation revealed that the young man thought the plane was headed abroad.
On the Monday incident, airport sources said the yet to be identified man must have beaten airport security to hide in the aircraft.
A source at the airport said authorities are already looking into how the man found his way to the parked plane prior to departure.
The South-West Regional Manager the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Victoria Shin-Aba said investigation is ongoing on the incident.
She said, “We are trying to investigate it whether it is from here (Lagos Airport) or somewhere else. We are trying to find out through the CCTV and this is ongoing.”
Spokesman of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Police Command, Olayinka Ojelade said he has not been briefed on the incident as he just resumed at the command as PPRO.
Kelly did not only destroy Helen Iluobe, but he also duped her of a piece of land at Ijegun
A bigamist, Kelly Felix Iluobe, known to marry women fraudulently is currently on the run.
According to reports, Felix married a woman identified as Helen Princess Iluobe, claiming to have AA Genotype when it is AS.
The three children, who have been produced in the marriage are said to be suffering from Sickle Cell Anaemia.
The disease already cost them their first child.
Helen is presently left with two children living with Sickle Cell Anaemia while her husband, who had also defrauded her of landed property, is on the run.
Kelly is also said to have married Helen with a false identity, Moses Adams Iluobe, his elder brother's name.
However, according to reports, Kelly, alongside his surety, Festus Idemudia, has been arrested by police officers of Akinpelu Police Station Oshodi and transferred to the Gender/Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba.
A report by a mandated reporter read, “Helen has two daughters living with Sickle Cell Anemia due to the deceitful ways of her husband who lied about his genotype that he's AA meanwhile he's actually AS.
“The fraudulent husband, Felix Kelly Iluobe got married to another woman in September 2020 in Edo State.
“Kelly used his elder brother's name, Moses Adams Iluobe to get a marriage certificate at the high court, bearing Helen and Kelly’s picture but with Kelly's elder brother's name – Moses Adams Iluobe.
“The good news is Kelly Felix Iluobe’s elder brother, Moses Adams Iluobe, whose name appear in all Kelly Iluobe's documents, has been arrested along with his surety, Festus Idemudia by the Officer-in-charge, Human Rights, Akinpelu Police Station, Oshodi and they were duly transferred to the Gender/Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, SCID, Panti.
“Kelly Iluobe is said to be outside Nigeria somewhere in Brazil, the usual fraudulent lie. We discovered Kelly Iluobe is working closely with his elder brother and his surety in defrauding women.
“Kelly did not only destroy Helen Iluobe, but he also duped her of a piece of land at Ijegun, which he sold despite not having original documents.
“When their first child passed away at the age of three, Kelly Iluobe showed no sign of concern whenever the remaining two surviving daughters suffered a crisis.
“Kelly Iluobe is in the habit of putting unsuspecting vulnerable ladies in the family way and moves on to another after he has sucked his prey dry.”
President Muhammadu Buhari government is suffocating in many ways: One is the unjust manner in which it relieves many Nigerians of their rights to farming, thereby causing an acute shortage of food in the country. The tyrannical regime of General Sani Abacha between 1993 and 1998 would indicate a fluid ounce if scaled alongside the present Mephistophelian APC-led government. When President Buhari emerged Head of State in 2015, people heaved a sigh of relief from poverty and corruption. States that felt marginalised saw life through rose-coloured spectacles, armed with the belief that the ‘change’ and ‘restructuring’ promise would bring good tidings. Unfortunately, it did not take too long before reality dawned on the electorate. With the rabid dogs in President Buhari’s second tenure snarling dangerously, Nigerians eventually, in the year 2021, find the All Progressive Congress an ill wind that blows nobody any good.
As efforts towards salvaging the perishing ship of the party and bringing succour to the people, Nigerian columnists, critics, and literary writers have railed; protesters have wailed whilst unrepentant gunmen and kidnappers have waxed violent. But all efforts at getting the APC government back on track and staunching the funereal tears that daily drip down the sunken cheeks of the masses are of no avail.
Both at home and abroad, many people attribute the huge problems confronting Nigeria to President Buhari. The view is rife that President Buhari is callous, nonchalant, incompetent, psychotic, and favours his tribe. Although some of these claims could be true, I will not finger President Buhari as the cause of the challenges Nigeria is facing.
President Buhari’s office can be likened to a bee colony made up of innumerable workers. The APC as the ruling party in Nigeria features the good and the bad, dissemblers and sycophants. There are also others with no portfolios yet are mini-gods and -goddesses who brainwash and reorient their ‘subjects’. They are sycophants, who because of what they benefit from the President, align in thoughts, actions and tenets with tribes remotely different from theirs. Worse still, they turn a blind eye to his peccadillos and maladministration. Blames should stop streaming into President Buhari’s living room, but make a beeline for the bad eggs in his government.
Party defection very well illustrates the sycophantic traits of President Buhari’s cabinet. Inasmuch as politics has become a do-or-die affair in Nigeria, the relish with which Nigerian politicians defect from one party to another should not swing surprises. Defected politicians, in order to justify their actions, usually cite internal wrangles, lack of cohesion, lack of consultation, dictatorial tendency, party inefficiency, etc. as major excuses for leaving their parties.
I have asked: Why does the APC win more members when its government fails to reduce the price of fuel to the amount it once promised Nigerians? Gowon in 1973 left the price of fuel at 8.45kobo, from 6kobo. Murtala left it at 9kobo in 1976 whilst Shagari, in 1982 moved it to 20kobo from Obasanjo’s 15.3kobo. Babangida left it at 70kobo. Shonekan,₦5.00;Abacha, ₦11.00;Abubakar, ₦20.00; Obasanjo in 2007 left it at ₦75.00;Yar’ Adua slashed it to₦ 65.00; Jonathan left it at ₦97.00;Buhari in 2015 reduced it to ₦86.50kobo and later increased it to ₦146.00 in 2016.Then in 2020, Buhari increased it again to ₦165.00 and doused people’s expectation.
What incentivises Nigerians to defect to a party that cannot pay the ₦30,000 minimum wage? What is left of a government under whose watch hospitals have become necropolises? Why do people still defect to APC that has no plan to reduce the soaring prices of food and other essential commodities? Why the acceptance of a party that cannot secure lives and properties in Kaduna, Borno, Ebonyi, Oyo and Imo States?
The lies told by stalwarts of APC further illustrate the sycophancy in the President Buhari APC-led government. The sycophants, of course, make it their primary assignment to distort facts about the state of affairs in Nigeria. Regarding the progress made in the war between the Nigeria’s Army and Boko Haram, the Minister of Information and Culture never gives instances when the insurgents kill scores of Nigerian soldiers. One learns often: ‘Boko Haram has been technically defeated’ when actually the insurgents wax stronger.
From Borno State, lies are packaged and sent to President Buhari who himself knows the truth. Borno State has been battle-scarred due to incessant attacks by bandits. Thus, the exodus of its people from the State is a strong evidence that Borno State is not the ‘Home of Peace’ it is designated as. Really, the State, as well as Kaduna, has not ‘enjoyed relative peace more than any state in the Niger Delta’.
In Kano State rent the air utterances that insulted the Yorubas. We were told that ‘there is harmony between the Fulanis and the Yorubas’ when actually the large scale killings of the latter by the so-called Fulani herdsmen forbid any sincere person to think so. The Yorubas and the Fulanis may be in each other’s pockets in Kano and Lagos States, but not ‘where’ I can think of. Whether the context of the utterance was a conflict resolution meeting or a party convention, the interlocutor had the objective of securing his pocket and cementing his political bromance with President Buhari.
On the EndSARS reports handed in recently, the likes of Femi Falana fulminate against the inaccuracies that typify the reports reeled off by the US Department of State. Again, the aide who maintained that ‘Wailing won’t stop President Buhari from going on medical trips’ is a sycophant that cannot aid in building Nigeria. Utterances, acts and misleading information such as the ones highlighted in this write-up enormously detract from the dignity of the sycophants and tell the inquisitive public how much distrust to expect from the APC-led government.
In conclusion, the trouble besetting Nigeria at present arises from the fact that the sycophants in President Buhari’s cabinet take undue advantage of the free hand given to them. President Buhari started well by initially fighting corruption and prosecuting looters until sycophants closed in on him. But the President should not be a passive bystander; he needs to visit the grass roots and see things for himself. To see how well the funds budgeted for COVID-19, East-West road, refinery rehabilitation TUCANO Jets, health and education sectors, 774,000 jobs, unemployed graduates’ stipends, NDDC, etc. are spent, the President does not need wraparounds; he should peer into the nation’s coffers with probing lens. To ascertain the scourge of hunger in his country, he should tour Edo State, Oyo State, Ebonyi State, and Owo in Ondo State and see how much arable land the people have lost to snaggle-toothed nomadic Fulanis. The fair-weather friends called defectors, on their own part, should endeavour to learn the art of consistency, transparency and democracy.
By Sanni Onogu, Abuja The Senate on Tuesday referred a petition against chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Danladi Umar over alleged assault on a guard, Clement Sagwak, at Banex Plaza, Wuse 2, Abuja.
The incident occurred on March 29, 2021.
Sagwak had also petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to probe the incident.
Senator Istifanus Gyang (Plateau North) submitted a petition on the incident to the Senate on behalf of his constituent, Sagwak.
Sagwak, had in his petition dated April 9 2021 and signed by his lawyer, Samuel Ihensekhien, accused the CCT chairman of abuse of power, assault, torture, and ‘xenophobia’.
A viral five- minute video captured Umar and the guard having an altercation at the plaza.
Sagwak, 22, and an employee of Jul Reliable Guards Services Limited, told the Senate he was attacked by Umar last month.
He said he was assaulted by Umar and a policeman attached to him after he informed him (Umar) that his car was not properly parked.
He said the CCT boss slapped him several times and forced him to kneel down in the presence of everybody while undergoing his lawful activities.
Senator Gyang said his constituent is asking the Senate to investigate the incident and ensure justice is served.
He called on the Senate to give the petition a speedy consideration.
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, referred the petition to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to report back to plenary in four weeks.
Mike Ejiofor, a former director of the Department of State Services (DSS), says the “military forces” have been intimidated in the south-east — and as such, the new security outfit, Ebube Agu, will get little support.
He said Ebube Agu is “unfortunate” and needs a legal framework and structure to function.
Ejiofor spoke on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, on Monday.
He said: “What are the structures on ground before the formation of Ebube Agu? Is there any legal backing to Ebube Agu? The Eastern Security Network (ESN) that was formed, we all agree it is illegal and cannot take charge of the security space in that area.
“There is nothing on ground in the south-east to support Ebube Agu, so it’s quite unfortunate. It’s just like putting the cart before the horse. There should have been a legal framework before the launch of the operation Ebube Agu.
“What they are trying to do is like involving community policing. If you go to the south-east, I can tell you… right from Onitsha to Umuahia, you will not see a single police or military checkpoint, and what does that tell you? Our military forces have been hoard[ed] and intimidated going out of the field, because of these people.”
He said vigilantes in various communities are now taking charge of security in parts of the south-east.
The former DSS director said the adoption of true federalism is the solution to the problem of insecurity in the country.
He said the establishment of state police is long overdue and that the call for restructuring must be heeded.
“There have been series of agitation for the rejigging of the security architecture, that took government a lot of time to effect change in the leadership of the various security agencies, especially the arm forces, that people have been talking about that it is queued towards a particular geopolitical zone,” he said.
“Now there has been a rejig, we have new heads of security agencies but again the bandits will now tell you that, if you think rejigging or changing the leadership is the problem, that is not the problem.
“The problem is structural, we need to look at the various components in the country and restructure. There has been a lot of agitation, calling for restructuring, we need to practice true fiscal federalism, until that is done, we will continue to have that problem.
“The security architecture, for instance, we will need to look at the issue of the establishment of state police. I continue to emphasise on this, and people will begin to say why do you always talk about the establishment of state police, security problem is local, so the solution too must be local.”
The former DSS director added that if the various security challenges in the country are not dealt with, the 2023 election is not guaranteed.
Malami Angry, Opposed To Recent Raid, Arrest, Exposing Rich Suspects Allegedly Funding Boko Haram – Source
A top source in government told SaharaReporters how Malami was opposed to the raid and subsequently at loggerheads with the task force for carrying it out.
Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) is unhappy and angry about the recent arrest of some persons allegedly funding Boko Haram terrorists, including operators of some Bureax De Change said to have been facilitating the transfer of money to the terrorists, SaharaReporters has learnt.
A top source in government told SaharaReporters how Malami was opposed to the raid and subsequently at loggerheads with the task force for carrying it out.
It had earlier been reported how about 400 persons were arrested for allegedly funding Boko Haram terrorists.
The series of arrests were made in Kano, Borno, Abuja, Lagos, Sokoto, Adamawa, Kaduna and Zamfara, according to a Daily Trust report.
It was also reported that traders at the foreign exchange open market in Wapa, Fagge Local Government, were picked up on March 9, 15th and 16th.
Meanwhile, according to the source, apart from Malami opposing the raid, he also opposes having the names of those arrested released to the public.
“Malami was opposed to the raid and now he opposes having the names of those arrested revealed. So, he is fighting the task force that carried out the raid. He is saying it was illegal.
“You see, some of those arrested were people he had freed through his Special Fiat Court that sat in Niger state and parts of Abuja. Those guys are wealthy and he wants to collect money from them and let them off,” the source told SaharaReporters.
It has been reported that 19 Bureax De Change owned by persons with “direct connection with Boko Haram” were uncovered, while over N300 billion was found to have been pumped into the funding of terrorism in the country.
So, there is a huge amount of money involved, transferred through illicit means.
Those arrested are reportedly being kept in military and Department of State Services facilities in Abuja and other places.
But despite Malami’s resistance to having their names revealed to the public, the identities of some Bureau De Change operators arrested for facilitating the transfer of money to the terrorists have been revealed.
Some of them were traders at the foreign exchange open market in Wapa, Fagge Local Government of Kano state and identified as Baba Usaini, Abubakar Yellow (Amfani), Yusuf Ali Yusuf (Babangida), Ibrahim Shani, Auwal Fagge and Muhammad Lawan Sani (a gold dealer), according to a Daily Trust report.
Despite being the nation that has suffered the heaviest casualties through Boko Haram atrocities for many years, with over 30,000 thousand people killed and millions of others displaced, Nigeria has shown weakness in dealing decisively with the terrorists and blocking their source of funding.
It took a court in the United Arab Emirates in 2020 to jail six Nigerians for funding the terror group.
In November 2020, there were reports of how six Nigerians were facing prison terms of 10 years to life after a federal appeals court in the United Arab Emirates upheld their convictions for funding the terrorist group Boko Haram.
The accused were initially tried and convicted in 2019 following their arrest in 2017.
The court in Abu Dhabi therefore sentenced Surajo Abubakar Muhammad and Saleh Yusuf Adamu to life in prison. Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, AbdurRahman Ado Musa, Bashir Ali Yusuf and Muhammad Ibrahim Isa were each given a ten-year sentence.
The court judgement said between 2015 and 2016, the accused transferred $782,000 from Dubai to Nigeria to benefit Boko Haram.
Following the successful trial of the six persons in the UAE, which was a smack in the face for the Nigerian government, an embarrassed presidency felt it had to do something to save its face, with the international community already doubting its commitment to the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the country.
In March 2021, Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the Nigerian Government had arrested some Bureau De Change operators who were facilitating the transfer of money to Boko Haram terrorists.
He had said some Nigerians transferring money to the sect from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were working with the BDC operators.
“Bureax de change are facilitating money to terrorists. We have already worked with the UAE. Convictions have been achieved of Nigerians who are transferring money to Boko Haram terrorists and this also happens domestically. And I tell you that by the time we finish this investigation, the shocking details will surprise many Nigerians,” Shehu had said.
In February 2018, a Nigerian court in Kainji, Niger State freed 475 Boko Haram suspects, with those released for lack of evidence far outweighing those convicted of being members of the Islamist militant group.
According to the Justice Ministry, some were suffering from mental illnesses but it was not clear whether the conditions existed before their arrests.
Also, at a mass trial, held in October 2017, more than 400 suspects were released, with just 45 jailed for their roles in the Boko Haram insurgency.
The AGF and Justice Minister, Malami had told the BBC that the released suspects would be rehabilitated before being allowed to return to their families.
Just last weekend, governors of the states battling with Boko Haram terrorism in the North-East asked the Nigerian Government to issue a special fiat, different from the general one issued earlier, to enable them to speedily prosecute suspects arrested for terrorism.
In separate interviews with Sunday PUNCH, the governors of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states who spoke through their Commissioners of Justice and Attorneys General, noted that the fiat issued by Malami, which allowed states to prosecute federal offences, was not enough to prosecute suspected terrorists.
For instance, Commissioner for Justice in Borno State, Mr Kaka Shehu Lawan, confirmed receiving from the AGF the “general fiat” to prosecute federal offenders but noted that they needed “specific” fiat for cases related to Boko Haram.
Shehu, who spoke on behalf of Governor Babagana Zulum, said, “Yes I am in receipt of the general fiat by the Attorney General of the Federation to prosecute all offenders who commit federal offences in any of the 36 states of the federation but he (Malami) didn’t give us a specific fiat to prosecute Boko Haram insurgents.
“What we want from the Attorney General of the Federation is for him to give us a specific fiat and collaboration to prosecute Boko Haram insurgents in the three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states where the Boko Haram insurgents commit crime against the Nigerian federation.”
While the salaries of police officers in Lagos are under the jurisdiction of the federal government, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu says that his administration pays them.
Mr Sanwo-Olu was also angry that President Muhammadu Buhari had ignored demands for state police.
Mr Sanwo-Olu admitted, “It’s a huge annoyance, and it’s a really easy thing that we’re trying to fix here.” “At the moment, we are supporting the Lagos state police command in all matters.”
“We are paying their salaries,” the governor said, expounding on the extent of funding. As a result, we are already incurring those costs. But if we know there are state police, it will support us.”
He revealed this on Channels TV Sunday evening while discussing why he ditched Amotekun for LNSC.
“We should make state policing happen,” Mr Sanwo-Olu said, emphasizing the importance of each state having power over its police. That is one of the most important items I believe will assist us. It’s been said many times.
“Intelligence is now the key to modern crime prevention. It’s about how good you can smell a black spot until it becomes an endangered species for you, because that’s what knowledge is all about, and you report that information to the people in charge.”
He suggested that Mr Buhari and his security advisers were not in tune with modern methods of cracking crimes, saying, “Those are the kind of conversations that we need to make a quick decision on in this country. We are supporting the Lagos state police command in all affairs and ramifications.
“But as it is still a federally-controlled police force. There is a limit to which we can intervene in their modes of parameter and their rules of engagement.”
Regarding the recent launch of body cameras for state-owned security operatives, the governor pointed out, “We said we need to stay along the line where we have a comparative advantage. These are our own security operatives.
“We want to hold you accountable. We want you to be accountable for your action and inaction. You are going to go through this protocol.”
Sounding pained that the police did not take a similar step, he said, “We cannot force the Nigeria police. We can persuade them.
“We are trying to encourage them. But it also has consequences that they need to also be accountable for this.”
According to him, however, the police are considering providing body cameras for their officers.
“They need to know that in the events of issues or case, you will be held accountable.
“So they are looking at their own protocols, their own internal issues in their own internal structure.”
Mr Sanwo-Olu added, “Maybe they will come back to us. Let’s start with the one within our control.”
So, why is police in Lagos been controlled by the centre if it can't fulfill its obligation of paying their salary
State asked the Federal Government to issue a special fiat, different from the general one issued earlier, to enable them to speedily prosecute suspects arrested for terrorism.
In separate interviews with Sunday PUNCH, the governors of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states who spoke through their Commissioners of Justice and Attorneys General, noted that the fiat issued by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, which allowed states to prosecute federal offences, was not enough to prosecute suspected terrorists.
Boko Haram insurgents had been at war with the Nigerian state since 2009 and the terrorists have killed millions of Nigerians, including women, children and pupils; many more have been displaced while some have gone missing for years with no trace of their whereabouts.
Reports said there are about 5,000 Boko Haram suspects located in different custodial centres in the country, and the Federal Ministry of Justice had proposed N2bn for its legal services in the 2021 fiscal year.
The Solicitor-General of the Federation, Dayo Apata, said in November during the ministry’s budget defence at the Senate that N350m from the sum would be used for the prosecution of Boko Haram suspects.
He added, “On the trial and prosecution of Boko Haram (suspects), you will recall that last year we had to create a jurisdiction in Kanji Dam in which 3,000 inmates were prosecuted. How do you prosecute 3,000 inmates in a place? We had to bring four judges from the Federal High Court and pay the legal aides.
“When we look at the N2bn, it’s a tip of the iceberg of what it intends to do. Presently, there is a camp in Maiduguri which we are going for another prosecution. This is what the N2bn is going to do. So, there is no overlapping.”
Already, there are concerns over the delay in the prosecution of thousands of arrested Boko Haram suspects. This is in addition to a lawsuit filed by about 101 suspects against the Federal Government challenging their continuous detention for 12 years without prosecution. In the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, the suspects also asked the court to free them and direct the Federal Government to pay them N303m as compensation.
In November 2020, however, governors in the North-East, under the auspices of the North-East Governors’ Forum, at a meeting in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, asked the AGF for fiat for the states to prosecute terrorist suspects instead of transferring the cases to Abuja.
The chairman of the forum and governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Zulum, said at the event, “At the moment, the process is a bit cumbersome as all suspects charged with terrorism and terrorist-related offences have to be transferred to Abuja for prosecution, as only the Attorney-General of the Federation has the statutory powers to prosecute terrorists; according to the provisions of the anti-terrorism law.
“We need to obtain prosecutorial fiat from the Attorney-General to enable us to prosecute those charged with terrorism in our respective states, instead of referring them to Abuja.”
Meanwhile, The PUNCH reported on October 7, 2016, that the AGF issued the fiat at a meeting with the state AGs on the said date in 2016.
The Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Dr Umar Gwandu, and some state Attorneys General also confirmed to our correspondents on Thursday that the minister wrote all the Attorneys General, giving states the permission to prosecute suspects arrested for federal offences in their domain.
Sequel to the fresh request by the governors that they needed a fiat amid concerns over the delay in prosecuting the Boko Haram suspects, Sunday PUNCH asked some of the affected states why they were requesting for a fiat when one was issued since 2016.
The attorneys general of some of the states told our correspondents that they needed a special fiat from the AGF to prosecute the suspected terrorists, claiming that the one issued previously did not cover terrorism.
The Commissioner for Justice in Borno State, Mr Kaka Shehu Lawan, confirmed receiving from the AGF the “general fiat” to prosecute federal offenders but noted that they needed “specific” fiat for cases related to Boko Haram.
Shehu, who spoke on behalf of Zulum, told one of our correspondents in an interview, “Yes I am in receipt of the general fiat by the Attorney General of the Federation to prosecute all offenders who commit federal offences in any of the 36 states of the federation but he (Malami) didn’t give us a specific fiat to prosecute Boko Haram insurgents.
“What we want from the Attorney General of the Federation is for him to give us a specific fiat and collaboration to prosecute Boko Haram insurgents in the three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states where the Boko Haram insurgents commit crime against the Nigerian federation.”
Similarly, the Commissioner for Justice in Yobe State, Saleh Samanja, admitted receiving the fiat from the AGF, noting however that the state would need a special fiat to prosecute Boko Haram suspects if it had any in its correctional centres, but that it did not have any of the suspects at the moment.
Samanja, who spoke on behalf of Governor Mai Mala Buni, said, “Yobe has no Boko Haram suspect in any of the correctional centres in the state, but even if we have any, we will need specific fiat from the AGF to prosecute the terrorists because terrorism is a federal offence. We have the general fiat to prosecute federal offences, but with a specific fiat, we can prosecute the insurgents.”
In Gombe State, which had been hit by the terrorist group in the past, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Zubair Umar, also confirmed as true that the Attorney General of the Federation granted fiat for states to prosecute some federal cases and not all cases.
Umar, who spoke on behalf of Governor Yahaya Inuwa, added, “I can recall a fiat from the Attorney General of the Federation, but it’s not for all (federal) cases if I remember correctly. I think there was a letter from the AGF sometimes back, giving states fiat to handle some but not all cases.”
Umar explained that he could not ascertain whether there were Boko Haram suspects in the state, but that if the state had any and was empowered to prosecute them, it had qualified personnel to do it.
He added, “There may be one or two (suspects) but it has not come to our attention officially. I don’t have such information at the moment, as you know it (terrorism) is a federal offence and we don’t normally know what is happening because it is handled by some agencies different from state ministries. So, I can’t say whether there are some or not.
However, we have qualified personnel to prosecute them. It is one of the decisions of the North-East Governors’ Forum that the Attorney General of the Federation should give state governments the fiat to prosecute Boko Haram cases and we are ready. We are just waiting for the case files and the fiat.”
But the Adamawa State Commissioner for Justice, Chief Afraimu Jingi, said on Friday that he had yet to receive such correspondence from the AGF, noting however that they needed such fiat in the North-East to prosecute the suspected terrorists.
Jingi, who spoke on behalf of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, said, “I am not aware of such correspondence or directive. If there is ever such a directive, it will be made through the governors and the governors would direct us. The directive will not come to us. In fact, we have been looking forward to that instruction.”
States free to prosecute all federal offences – Malami
Meanwhile, the AGF told one of our correspondents that the fiat issued to states by the AGF was open ended and since then states were free to prosecute all federal offences because it had not been withdrawn.
He said, “On the 30th day of January, 2017, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), wrote to the Attorneys General of the 36 states of the federation granting them non-transferable fiat to prosecute federal offences committed in their jurisdictions without further recourse is real and not a hoax, and the fiat granted has not been withdrawn.
“This is in the exercise of the powers conferred on the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice by the provisions of Section 174(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). Therefore, the AGF authorised all the Attorneys General in the 36 states of the federation to exercise on his behalf.
“The said powers conferred upon me with particular reference to the prosecution of Federal Offences which may arise within your jurisdiction and which may be practically impossible for the Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation to prosecute.
“I am not certain that the state’s Attorneys General who are legal luminaries will be demanding for ‘Special Fiat’ through PUNCH Reporter. Which fiat is special? Which fiat is not special? What constitutes ‘Special Fiat’? Were there any efforts of/by such states’ Attorneys General to convey their “insistence” to the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice since five years ago?”
When asked if the AGF would again write to the states to remind them of the power already transferred to them by virtue of the fiat following the request by the North-East Governors’ Forum, Gwandu said the media should continue to sensitise the general public to the operations, policies, decisions and activities of the government.
He added, “The fact that such fiat was granted was never in doubt. What remains now is for the media to sensitise (them to it) and make the information on such fiat widely available to the general public. There are laid-down processes of conveying information and seeking for such in a governmental operation.
“The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has always been available to serve public interest within the context of extant laws. Abubakar Malami (SAN) as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is not averse to whatever is of public interest and that which does not violate the provisions of the extant laws.”
“The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is ready to do the needful as swiftly as possible within the context of extant laws and regulations governing the operations of service. It might interest you to inquire about the corresponding steps taken by the states Attorneys General to see to the effective implementation of the fiat that was sent to them five years ago that is in 2017.”
The actions and inactions of the government in respect of the Boko Haram suspects has remained a subject of public discourse. Apart from the fact that some of them escaped during the jailbreaks in Bauchi and Maiduguri correctional centres respectively, about 1,400 of them have reportedly been rehabilitated and reintegrated into society by the government.
The pardon granted the repentant terrorists was largely criticised by many, including lawmakers, security experts and persons knowledgeable about terrorism. Some also kicked against the move because the victims, stranded in different Internally Displaced Persons camps, had been abandoned and starving while the suspects were being resettled.
For example, Senator Ali Ndume, Governor Zulum and many others warned against the move.
Zulum said during the forum’s meeting in March, “It has been confirmed that the concept of deradicalisation or Safe Corridor is not working as expected. Quite often, those who have passed through the Safe Corridor initiative, or have been deradicalised, usually go back and rejoin the terror group after carefully studying the various security arrangements in their host communities, during the reintegration process.”
Ndume, who is also from Borno State, the epicentre of the terrorism, in November accused one of the deradicalised terrorists of being responsible for the murder of an army colonel, D. C, Bako, who was killed on September 21 in an ambush. He added, “I am in disagreement with the government on the issue of de-radicalising and reintegrating (them). I still maintain that. You can’t be resettling people, pampering them while the war is on.”
States don’t need special fiat to prosecute terrorists – Lawyers
A lawyer and public affairs analyst, Mr Liborous Oshoma, described the governors’ demand for a special fiat from the AGF as buck-passing, saying they already have unlimited powers to prosecute criminal offenders in their respective states and do not need any order from the AGF’s office to prosecute some criminal suspects.
Oshoma said, “We are not in the habit of punishing criminality here; we always find a way to dress it. That is why you see this back and forth. In some cases, some of these criminal acts committed in these states do not even need a fiat of the attorney general of the federation to prosecute. Murder, for example, is a crime against the state. So, if somebody kills another, if you cannot prosecute him for terrorism, you can prosecute him for murder.”
He argued that some of those who end up as terrorists were jobless persons armed by politicians to foment trouble during elections, adding that if there had been good governance in the country, there wouldn’t have been an army of young people roaming the streets, which is an attraction for terrorist groups.
He added, “If we really want to punish criminality, fiat won’t be a problem. So, I see this (request for special fiat) as lack of the willpower to do what is right. I also think that some of these state governors are scared of the backlash; they don’t have the facilities to keep some of these persons, so they want full support. They should look for another name for it and not fiat because they already have the power to prosecute some of these offences.”
A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr Chukwunyere Uruakpa, also said the northern states did not need to wait for any special fiat to prosecute suspects arrested for committing federal offences, including terrorism.
Uruakpa explained that acts that constituted federal offences like terrorism, unlawful possession of firearms, kidnapping and others had for a very long time been in the criminal laws of the states.
He said, “In Lagos tate, Sections 403 and 404 of Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015 provides for/stipulates what terrorism is and the punishment for same. Lagos State can conveniently prosecute such. In the same vein, any other state of the federation that has similar provisions can prosecute person(s) who are alleged to be involved in the said crime (terrorism and other federal offences).
“However, in this particular instance, the extant laws of the various states, whether the Penal Code or other Criminal Laws of States, will suffice; especially because some of them provide for capital punishment. So, what the northern governors and their Attorneys General need is to know how to prosecute suspected terrorists without waiting for any special fiat. Again, where any law provides for fiat from the AGF to prosecute a case, that fiat ought to be properly given.”
UN suspends operations in Borno villages after Boko Haram attacks
Following attacks on some of its assets and staff by Boko Haram insurgents, the United Nations has suspended humanitarian operations in Dikwa and Damasak both in Borno State, North-East Nigeria.
UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator In Nigeria, Edward Kallon, made this known in a statement on Saturday, titled, ‘Statement On Un Operations In North-East Nigeria’.
Kallon said, “I am deeply concerned about the recent attacks on humanitarian operations in Dikwa and Damasak, affecting humanitarian assets and personnel.
“We have temporarily suspended operations in these areas in order to safely relocate humanitarian staff and are closely monitoring the situation.
“We intend to resume operations as soon as possible, so that civilians affected by the conflict continue to receive the assistance they need.
“I condemn in the strongest terms attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure which may constitute violations on International Humanitarian Law.”
Nigerian Army Publishes Old Photos Of Destroyed Boko Haram Vehicles To Claim Damasak Victory
The army published the photographs again on Friday to prove that it had killed about 13 commanders of the Boko Haram and the Islamic State West African Province.
The Nigerian Army posted photographs showing damaged vehicles of the Boko Haram terrorists in Damasak, Borno State, on Friday, to show its troops decimated the terrorists, but checks by SaharaReporters have revealed that the photographs are old images.
The photographs shared by the army on Friday are actually from a March 15 operation in the same Damasak, which was reported and shared by several media, including by a medium, Calibre Obscura, via https://twitter.com/CalibreObscura/status/1371524197726441472
"After a large ISIS attack in Damasak, images have been posted of nine AKs, an RPG-7 and an NSV HMG recovered by the Nigerian Army along with two technicals, all burned out. Currently, unclear who their original owner was. ISIS claim 12 dead/wounded but no proof yet," the platform has said on March 15.
But the army published the photographs again on Friday to prove that it had killed about 13 commanders of the Boko Haram and the Islamic State West African Province.
The Nigerian Army has said 13 ISWAP commanders were also killed by the troops and the air component of Operation Lafiya Dole.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen Mohammed Yerima, had stated that the terrorists were killed while attempting to loot food items in a store belonging to the United Nations and the UN drugs and ambulance.
The army spokesman had confirmed that some public properties were burnt in the town.
He had said, "A senior Commander of ISWAP, Bukar Gana Fitchmeram (aka Abu Aisha), and scores of his fighters who were on a revenge mission at Damasak, fell to the firepower of Nigerian troops Thursday. The terrorist and his soldiers met their waterloo as they made a come-back following the neutralisation of 12 high-value ISWAP commanders in Mobbar LGA.
"The deadly air strikes conducted on Tudun Wulgo, Zari and Tumbun Alhaji, Kusuma, Sigir in Ngala and Arijallamari, in Abadam, Marte and Ngala Local government Areas, led to the killing of top ISWAP Leaders. The Commanders who perished in the airstrikes included; Mohammad Fulloja, Ameer Mallam Bello, Ba'a kaka Tunkushe, Abu Muktar Al -Ansari, Ameer Abba Kaka, Abu Huzaifa, Ameer Modu Kwayem, while Goni Mustapha, who was the Chief Imam of the ISWAP, escaped with bullet wounds.
"Troops' artillery bombardment and airstrikes on April 6 also resulted in eliminating two top ISWAP leaders, including Abu-Rabi and Muhammed Likita, as well as scores of their troops and bodyguards around the axis of Kusuma, Sigir in Ngala and Arijallamari in Abadam Local Government Areas.
"The terrorists' storage facilities that housed weapons used to conduct several attacks were also targeted and destroyed in the air raid by the Air Component of Operation Lafita Dole."
Politics › Security Forces Uncover Insurgents’ Plot To Infiltrate Abuja by Islie(op): 6:59am On May 03, 2021
