₦airaland Forum

I thought a press release is supposed to be different from a letter.

Happy Children's day to my baby sis

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that the national publicity secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh be remanded in Kuje prison.

The court’s order came after the Metuh’s oral bail was denied. After taking his plea, counsel to the PDP spokesperson, Ifedayo Adedikpe prayed the court to permit him make an oral bail application for his client. But the court denied him that.The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) had on Friday, January 15 arraigned Metuh before Justice Okon Abang over allegations of illegally receiving public funds.

Abang further adjourned the case to Tuesday, January 19 for hearing on bail application. Metuh was accused of having collected N400 million from former president Goodluck Jonathan.

The accused PDP spokesperson who accepted receiving such money from Jonathan has however refused to disclose details of the assignments he did for the former president.

Metuh has been in detention since Tuesday, January 5 and was also reported to have torn and chewed a statement he wrote at the EFCC.A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that the national publicity secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh be remanded in Kuje prison.

The court’s order came after the Metuh’s oral bail was denied. After taking his plea, counsel to the PDP spokesperson, Ifedayo Adedikpe prayed the court to permit him make an oral bail application for his client. But the court denied him that.


The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) had on Friday, January 15 arraigned Metuh before Justice Okon Abang over allegations of illegally receiving public funds.

Abang further adjourned the case to Tuesday, January 19 for hearing on bail application. Metuh was accused of having collected N400 million from former president Goodluck Jonathan.

The accused PDP spokesperson who accepted receiving such money from Jonathan has however refused to disclose details of the assignments he did for the former president.

Metuh has been in detention since Tuesday, January 5 and was also reported to have torn and chewed a statement he wrote at the EFCC.



Earlier this week, Metuh filed a suit through his lawyer before a Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking his immediate release from custody.

In the suit, the spokesman claimed that his arrest was part of a sinister plan of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to silence the opposition.

Meanwhile, EFCC had on Wednesday, January 14, revealed the reason they are yet to release the spokesperson for the opposition party.

According to Rotimi Jacobs, counsel of the anti-graft commission, who spoke with reporters briefly after an Abuja Federal High Court, presided by Justice Abang Okon suspended hearing on Metuh’s case till January 20, “It is not unlawful to detain somebody on the order of the court. There are misinformation everywhere, it’s not done like that. We cannot ignore the law; we cannot do things without due process.

“Under the criminal justice act, you can arrest somebody and go to court to validate it. We have the order.
https://www.naij.com/697164-breaking-metuh-remanded-kuje-prisons.html
Cc: Mynd44 OAM4J

Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, on Thursday, briefly visited the Presidential Villa, Abuja.Upon his entry into the Presidential Villa, clutching a file with EFCC insignia, he headed straight for the office of President Muhammadu Buhari, where he barely spent 10 minutes.
It was not certain whether he met with Buhari, as the president was presiding over the meeting of National Research and Innovation Council, NRIC.
He however refused to speak with the State House Correspondents on his mission to the Villa when approached.
When the State House Correspondents pressed further, his response to questions was “not now, not now,” as he made his way out of the villa with his orderly.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/efcc-boss-ibrahim-magu-visits-aso-rock/
Cc: OAM4J Mynd44

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on the night of Wednesday, arrested a former military governor of Kaduna state and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Jafaru Isa.

Isa is the first chieftain of the APC arrested by the EFCC since the beginning of a sweeping probe into the alleged diversion of $2.1 billion meant for arms purchase by officials of the immediate-past administration.The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on the night of Wednesday, arrested a former military governor of Kaduna state and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Jafaru Isa.

Isa is the first chieftain of the APC arrested by the EFCC since the beginning of a sweeping probe into the alleged diversion of $2.1 billion meant for arms purchase by officials of the immediate-past administration.


The former governor and one-time governorship candidate of the defunct CPC in Kano state, is a close friend of the embattled former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

Isa who is also a close political associate of President Muhammadu Buhari, was arrested at his Abuja residence located at Ajayi Crowther street, Asokoro.

According to Premium Times, operatives of the anti-graft commission invaded his residence around 9pm, and then whisked him away a few minutes later.

It is gathered that the retired brigadier general, was invited last week to appear before the commission on Wednesday, January 6,to clear the air on “some questionable receipts” from the former NSA.

Rather than honouring the invitation, sources said, Mr. Isa wrote a letter to the EFCC through his lawyer, seeking a postponement of his appearance date on the grounds of death of a relative.

Apparently dissatisfied with his excuse, the EFCC however arrested him to clarify the “questionable receipts”.

Investigators believe the retired soldier received over N100million from Mr. Dasuki.

https://www.naij.com/688304-dasukigate-efcc-arrests-buharis-associate.html

Good

That's good.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, re-arrested the former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, over fresh allegations of fraud to the tune of N12, 905, 485.
The former DG was arrested shortly after his trial was adjourned by Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, where, alongside five other individuals, he is facing criminal charges to the tune of N2.3 billion. Akpobolokemi’s arrest was on the strength of fresh evidence that he allegedly converted N11, 737,854,485 and another N816,000,000, meant for the development of the temporary site of the proposed Nigeria Maritime University, Kurutie, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, for his personal use.
The suspect was said to have obtained a presidential approval of N13, 000,000,000 through the office of the then National Security Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Colonel Sambo Dasuki( retd) for the acquisition and development of a temporary site for the Nigerian Maritime University.
Of the total approved amount, N11,737,854,485 was allegedly paid into a company suspected to be owned by Chief Government Oweize Ekpemupolo, a.k.a Tompolo.
A source in EFCC said that after the said money was paid, the DG caused the sum of N6, 000,000,000 to be moved into another account belonging to one of the associates of the indicted DG.
Also, the sum of N816, 000,000, allegedly obtained through a presidential approval for the Voluntary International Maritime Organisation Members State Audit (VIMSAS) implementation in Nigeria, was diverted to Akpobolokemi’s personal use.
From the courtroom, the operatives moved the former DG to their detention centre where he is being quizzed.
Source: www.vanguardngr.com/2015/12/efcc-re-arrests-akpobolokemi-over-fresh-n12-9bn-fraud-allegation/

On Monday, December 7, 2015, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari presided over the Federal Executive Council (FEC), where a sum of N6.04 trillion was approved as Nigeria’s expenditure for the 2016 budget under the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).
Eyebrows were raised and observers believe the budgetary provisions far outweigh the country’s previous budgets, in fact, it remains the highest by any Nigerian leader ever.
But, there are certain conditions responsible for this rise (of about 15%) in the budget, as well as certain changes to the ‘business as usual’ budgets of Nigeria, believed to be Africa’s largest economy.
Naij.com has identified five stunning facts every Nigerian should know about as the west African nation begins its year-long spending.
1. No more kerosene subsidy
Although not clearly stated, the president has tacitly done away with kerosene subsidy in the new expenditure of the Nigerian nation as there was no clear provision for it in the budget submitted to the council. Although it is yet to be seen how this will improve the nation’s economy, there are indications that this new move by the president, who has been increasingly criticised for his late submission of the budget, will go a long way to ensuring that the country does not spend as much as it used to in that sector of the economy.
2. Two sources have been identified for funding of the budget
After the approval of the president’s budget presented at the FEC, the minister of budgetary and national planning, Senator Udo Udoma, said that the country is looking at obtaining funds from two different sources.
He told journalists that Nigeria is looking at increasing non-oil revenue. This means that more money will be demanded from the various government agencies, and their revenues will be closely monitored by the federal government with a view to getting more money from President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war will also serve as a source of funding for the budget.
The minister also said that the recurrent budget for this year will be narrowed down drastically as the country is looking at a situation where savings from overheads take serious prominence.
Aside from these two major sources identified to fund the budget for next year, President Buhari’s anti-corruption battle which is toughening up by the passing of each day, and is expected to be responsible for about N350.33 billion in 2016.
3. Four key areas top the budgetary allocations
Power, health, education and agriculture are foremost in the president’s mind for next year’s spending as they have taken on a greater priority.
Signalling a diversification of the economy away from its dependence on oil, the agriculture sector, alongside power, takes top spot in the budget, a situation which the country has not witnessed in the past 10 years.
Both sectors are likely to gulp a total of N200 billion each, which is about 20 percent of the total budget.
This clearly shows President Buhari’s reason for his appointment of the former Lagos state governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola to head the power sector which has suffered huge setbacks in the country and his (Fashola’s) subsequent meeting with Dr Ibe Kachikwu of the petroleum resources ministry.
President Muhammadu Buhari seems to have entrusted so much into the hands of Babatunde Fashola
It is believed that the president made the appointment based on his belief that Fashola would not hesitate to step on toes when he swings into full action in the coming years.
And since the president already stated that it is unwise and unsafe for the country to keep depending on the oil and gas sector for survival, the agriculture sector, under the watchful eyes of Chief Audu Ogbeh and Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, will also have a major role to play in the diversification of the economy. 4. Nigeria already made provisions to borrow N1.835.88 trillion
Apart from domestically generating funds to finance the expenditure for the next fiscal year, the budget indicated that the present federal administration is to borrow the sum of N1.835.88 trillion. This is further broken down thus: the sum of N1.2 trillion would be borrowed domestically while foreign borrowing would be pegged at N635.88 trillion for the period under review.
Nigeria will need to borrow N1.8trillion to fund the budget next year.
Although the fresh policies and measures taken by the president are in a bid to encourage the rapid diversification of the Nigerian economy away from its current over-dependence on the oil and gas sector, the nation will still have to seek assistance on how to go about some of its projects.
The capital projects (the country’s focus for next year), rather than recurrent expenditure, will take about 30% of the entire allocation.
5. Oil price benchmark for 2016 is fixed at $38 per barrel
Over the last two years, oil prices have been consistently inconsistent, with Nigeria, Africa’s leading oil exporter and producer, suffering a huge loss during this period.
This is apparently responsible for the cut in the oil price to an all-time low of $38 per barrel of crude oil with a projection of 2.2 million production barrels per day, according to the framework for the budget. Although the country is not totally deviating from oil production and exportation as one of its key areas, the over-dependence on the sector and the corruption linked to it in recent years, especially with the infamous indictment of former petroleum minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke in a $20 billion fraud, will seemingly reduce in the coming years.
Thus, expectation from the sector is in line with the economic realities of the moment within the country.

K

How about a breakdown?

A prosecution witness has given details on the alleged bribery and money laundering offences by former Gov. Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State on Monday at a Federal High Court, Abuja.
The witness, who introduced himself as Abu Sule, claimed that the ex-governor had forced him to work as a proxy to buy N270 million apartments in Abuja. The money for the house purchase was provided by Mr. Ohakim but the property was registered in Sule’s name. In court the witness said: “My name is Abu Sule, I am the Managing Director of Tweenex Consortium HD Limited. The defendant, in 2012, requested us to find a house for him to buy and we eventually got one at No. 60, Kwame Nkrumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja. The property was valued at 2.29 million dollars which was about N270 million as at that time. He brought the money in dollars. He said that I should go and pay for the house. The following day, I called the owner of the house, one Alhaji Isah Maidabino, and we met at Unity Bank, Maitama. Maidabino collected the money and he gave me the original title documents. I informed Ohakim and he told us the name we should use in the Power of Attorney and the Deed of Assignment. He said I should use the name of my company for the Power of Attorney and the Deed of Assignment and I went ahead to do it because Ohakim has been my benefactor. Justice Adeniyi Ademola adjourned the trial till January 26, 2016 for the defendant’s lawyer, Awa Kalu (SAN), to cross examine the witness on the veracity of his testimonies. Besides, the judge granted the application of the defendant to travel abroad for medical treatment.
It would be recalled that Ohakim, who was the state’s governor between 2007 and 2011, was arrested by the EFCC operatives on June 18 at his residence in Asokoro, Abuja , after he failed to turn up as requested by the commission. .”
Source: https://www.naij.com/659715-ex-gov-ohakim-forced-buy-n270-million-home-witness.html

I wonder what will happen if Sylva loses the election. This same people will not waste time switching allegiance. Politics in Nigeria has always been about selfish interests.

Cool.

Hmmm

Nigeria @ 55 has come a long way. This is a time to reflect on out past years, note our mistakes and failures as well as plan how to avoid them in future. This is not a time for quarrels despite religious, tribal and ethnic differences but a time to remember the goals of our heroes past which is to make Nigeria the greatest nation on earth. I believe in the NIGERIAN project.
God bless President Muhammadu Bihari
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Buhari/Osinbajo - The best thing to happen to Nigeria since bread and akara

MISSNORA:
I support anything he virtually does

Makes two of us.

Tales by the moonlight

ok

Ok

The days of "stealing is not corruption are over".


President Muhammadu Buhari is the best thing to have happened to Nigeria since bread and akara

With the former Chief of Staff to governor Sullivan Chime put in its custody, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission today took on the current Peoples Democratic Party chairman in the State, Ikeje Asogwa, over allegation of money laundering.
Asogwa, who served as the Managing Director of the Enugu State Housing Corporation, is currently being interrogated by agents of the anti-graft agency in Abuja.
The suspect arrived the headquarters of EFCC in Abuja about10.30am July 31. He was still being interrogated as of press time.
Impeccable sources at the anti-graft agency disclosed that Asogwa’s invitation followed the discovery that Enugu state funds was moved through him ostensibly for housing development but with no trace of the houses as the funds are believed to have been diverted.
His interrogation come a day after Ifeoma Nwobodo, Chime’s ex- Chief of Staff, was grilled for alleged money laundering and misappropriation of funds. She is still in the custody of the agency.http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/07/breaking-news-efcc-grills-enugu-pdp-chairman-
Cc: Lalasticlala

The resignation letter of the National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, has been rejected by President Muhammadu Buhari, gongnews has reported. The report said Dasuki’s resignation was rejected on the ground that he must account for funds received and spent under his tenure in the prosecution of the Boko Haram insurgency. President Buhari was reported to have said Dasuki’s resignation is‘unacceptable’ ” following intelligence reports showing the fake military hardware, consumables and large cache of money unaccounted for due to improper filing of contract papers under the office of the NSA” the paper reported. Government sources was also that the unaccounted funds poses a “significant financial risk and demonstrates a lack of internal control over the NSA’s office which diminished the roles and powers of the Ministry of defence and more than $50 billion in which contract files were incomplete or could not be located at all which he has to account for before leaving government”.
Sambo has come under increasing pressure over his leadership of the NSA’s office and how it was heavily politicized before and after the political transition process. The Presidency is also concerned about some deals coming out of the NSA’s office, especially the issue of $9.3m South African arms deal and repeated reports that Nigeria was conned into a failed Boko Haram “ceasefire” deal to the tune of almost $500m.
www.naij.com/483681-buhari-turn-down-nsas-resignation-letter.html

President Muhammadu Buhari said on June 13 that he had directed the release of $21million, out of the $100million pledge, to the Multinational Joint Task Force within the next week. Recall that speaking last week at the Lake Chad Commission meeting Nigeria’s president
promised to pay $100million pledged by Nigeria towards the Multi-National Joint Task Force’s effort to defeat Boko Haram .
“Permit me, at this junction, to recall that Nigeria has already pledged the sum of $100 million for the smooth take off of the MNJTF. I hereby reassure you that my government will keep faith with this promise.”
The pledge is likely to be fulfilled in the nearest future, based on the fresh reports. It should be noted that during the Saturday meeting Buhari also praised Nigeria’s allies over boldly fighting under the umbrella of the MNJTF to tackle Boko Haram
www.naij.com/460750-president-buhari-orders-release-of-21m-to-mnjtf.html .

.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President
Yemi Osinbajo will make their assets declaration
public after same would have be verified by the
Code of Conduct Bureau.
Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on
Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu disclosed this
in a statement Saturday evening.
There has been an outcry over Buhari’s decision
to not make his asset declaration public as he
promised during his campaign tour.
The Code of Conduct Bureau had claimed that it
lacked the constitutional powers to Make Buhari’s
assets declation public.
But in a statement in Abuja Saturday, Garba
quoted Muhammadu Buhari as saying that ” in
fulfillment of one of their campaign promises, his
declared assets and those of Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo will be released to the public upon the
completion of their verification by the Code of
Conduct Bureau (CCB).
“It is hoped that this process will be completed
before the expiry of the 100-day deadline within
which they said they would do this” he said.
Mal. Garba Shehu noted that “the duly completed
forms by both the President and the Vice
President were submitted to the CCB on May
28th, a clear day ahead of their inauguration.”
He said this statement was warranted by the
need to clarify some suggestions that the
President and the Vice-President may not, after
all, declare their assets publicly.
“While such public display of concern is
appreciated and valued, it must be said that it is
a little precipitate.
“As required by law, the declaration and
submission of documents to the CCB have been
made, but there still remains the aspect of
verification which the Bureau will have to conduct
to authenticate the submissions made to it.
“In the circumstances, it is only after this
verification exercise, and not before, that the
declaration can be said to have been made and
validated; and only after this, will the details be
released to the public.
“There is no question at all that the President and
the Vice President are committed to public
declaration of their assets within the 100 days
that they pledged during the presidential
campaign.
“The President and the Vice President wish to
thank Nigerians for their show of concern, and for
the confidence they have shown in their leaders’
integrity, as evidenced by the high pedestal of
uprightness and expectations on which they have
placed them” the statement added. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/buhari-osibanjos-assets-to-be-made-public-after/

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is the
first African to have been appointed co-chair
of the InterAction Council of Former Heads of
State and Government during the 32nd annual
plenary meeting in Newport, United Kingdom. “I am humbled to have been elected as Co-
Chair of the InterAction Council, a position that
has been held by some of my great friends
who were also my mentors over the years –
Helmut Schmidt of Germany and the late
Malcolm Fraser of Australia – and also to
serve alongside my longtime friend Jean
Chrétien, the former Prime Minister of
Canada,” Obasanjo said on Friday after his
appointment.
“We will continue the Council’s important
work, but also look at some issues that are of
particular concern to me, like youth
engagement and employment. Africa has many
problems but also great opportunities, and the
IAC will look at both.”
Obasanjo has governed Nigeria as both the
head of a military administration (1975-1979)
and then as a democratically-elected civilian
president (1999-2007). He was a founding
member of the InterAction Council, taking leave
for the years when he resumed office as
president in 1999.
Obasanjo has assumed the position from Franz
Vranitzky, former chancellor of Austria
(1986-1997), who served as co-chair from 1
July 2010 until now.
Established in 1983, the InterAction Council of
Former Heads of State and Government is an
international organization addressing political,
economic and social problems of
the humankind. The membership is comprised
of over thirty former heads of state who
submit their proposals of actions directly to
national and international decision-makers.
In its 32-year history, the InterAction Council
has been at the forefront of many prominent
issues, most notably the 1997 drafting of
the Universal Declaration of Human
Responsibilities, a document that
counterbalances the UN’s Declaration of
Human Rights; the 2010 Hiroshima
Declaration, a powerful plea for the
abolishment of nuclear weapons; and the 2012
report, The Global Water Crisis: Addressing an
Urgent Security Issue. www.naij.com/454297-obasanjo-appointed-co-chair-of-interaction-council.html