₦airaland Forum

The immediate past Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) for the All Progressives Congress(APC).Last Friday, Chukwu registered as a member of APC at his Ugwuegu Ward in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State in the presence of scores of his supporters; APC members and officials. Chukwu’s defection to the APC, an opposition party in Ebonyi State, has heated the political landscape in Ebonyi State as several of his supporters are expected to join him in APC. Professor C.O. Onyebuchi Chukwu is an Afikpo indigene born April 22, 1962. He was the Minister of Health until his resignation in October 2014. He has had a distinguished career in academia, medicine, administration, government and public service.




http://dawntodusknews.com/former-minister-in-jonathans-administration-dumps-pdp-for-apc/

For More:

http://dawntodusknews.com/details-10-sacked-dgs-of-parastatals-in-trouble-over-alleged-fraud/

Ten of the 26 Directors-General and Heads of parastatals sacked yesterday by President Muhammadu Buhari may be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission(ICPC) for investigation. The agencies under the searchlight of either the EFCC or the ICPC include National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), National Broadcasting Commission(NBC), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Bureau of Public Enterprises(BPE), National Women Development Centre(NWDC); Industrial Training Fund(ITF); Nigerian Investment Promotion Council; Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) and Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSIT), among others.


The allegations include:


- A DG allegedly spent N200 billion on PDP's 2015 presidential campaign.
- Female DG allegedly donated N700m to PDP’s presidential campaign in 2015
- Another reportedly furnished office at N800m
- A DG allegedly constructed a store at N240m instead of N40m
- A DG reportedly failed to account for revenue after diverting equipment to his private medium
- N15b found in a DG's secret account in violation of TSA
- A DG leaves N6billion debt for an agency generating at least N9b monthly
- A DG's Personal Assistant remanded in prison for alleged N17m bribery till the DG was sacked
- Another DG implicated in alleged N68b fraud
- Some of the DGs awarded contracts to their cronies
- One of the heads of the media agencies could not account for all the advertisement cash raked in by his agency during the 2015 campaign


http://dawntodusknews.com/details-10-sacked-dgs-of-parastatals-in-trouble-over-alleged-fraud/

By JUMI RHODES


Since the investigation into the $2.1billion arms deal blew open, big shots in the Goodluck Jonathan-led administration are being interrogated almost on a daily basis. The arrowhead of this scandal is the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki(retd.) who has been in detention since December 2015. Though the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) has said Goodluck Jonathan can only be summoned on President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive, there are indications that with the recent arrest of the former president’s ex-aides, he(Jonathan) may be invited by the anti-graft agency. It is worthy of note that a lot of Nigerians are of the view that only God can save Goodluck Jonathan from being prosecuted! In no particular order, Dawn-To-Dusk News who can directly or indirectly influence the decision of EFCC on Goodluck Jonathan.


1. President Muhammadu Buhari

2. Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo(retd.) - Former Head of State/President

3. Gen. Ibrahim Babangida(retd.) - Former Head of State

4. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma(retd.) - Former Minister of Defence

5. Mr. Ahmed Joda - 86-year-old Super Permanent Secretary in the 1960s

6. Prof. Tam David-West - Former Minister of Petroleum

7. HRH Alhaji Umar Faruk - Emir of Daura {Buhari's hometown in Katsina State}

8. Chief Audu Ogbeh - Minister of Agriculture; Former PDP national chairman

9. Justice Umar Abdullahi - Former President of the Court of Appeal; President Buhari's classmate/close friend

10. His Eminence Sa'ad Abubakar III - Sultan of Sokoto; Spiritual Leader of Muslims in Nigeria

11. Prof. Itse Sagay - Chairman, Presidential Anti-corruption Advisory Committee



http://dawntodusknews.com/2-1billion-arms-deal-10-prominent-nigerians-who-can-save-goodluck-jonathan/

For More:


http://dawntodusknews.com/nigerian-army-releases-275-boko-haram-suspects/

The Nigerian Army has released 275 Boko Haram suspects,the Theatre Commander of the Operation Lafiya Dole in the North East, Major General Hassan Umar has disclosed.According to Umar, the suspects have been in detention for some time. Their release according to the Theatre Commander followed a thorough interrogation by the Nigerian Army.


Addressing the released suspects in the presence of Governor Kashim Shettima at the Parade Ground of the 212 Battalion, Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri on Friday, General Umar said, “In line with principle of justice, equity and fairness, these 275 suspects after undergoing thorough interrogations, we found out that they have no reason to stay in detention, but to be released with immediate effect so that they will reunite with their families and become useful to the society.


"The detainees comprised of 142 males, 49 females, 22 under-aged boys, 50 under-aged girls, 2 Nigerien and 2 Cameroonians. We want to use this opportunity to congratulate all the freed suspects and I urge them to shun any act of violence in any society they found themselves. I want to also commend the effort of our security outfit, particularly the interrogating team whose unflinching support led to the release of these suspects we are all witnessing today”.


http://dawntodusknews.com/nigerian-army-releases-275-boko-haram-suspects/

For More:


http://dawntodusknews.com/deinde-fernandezs-wife-halima-remembers-him-with-epic-pictures/

It's been 6 months since Ambassador Deinde Fernandez passed away. He was buried in September 2015 in Brussels, Belgium at a solemn church service. Earlier today, his wife shared pictures of her with the late billionaire bizman with a message:




Today the 1st of February makes it 6 months since you departed, every single second of every single day your absence is felt worse than a dagger to the heart. May Allah accept you among the blessed ones. Rest in peace Ajinijiniogun. Abagbagorogoro, adunbilegun. Alabanuwe asasin. The great Garsan Fulanin kano. Ya Allah make his grave wide and comfortable, fill it with noor and musk. Admit him to the highest rank of Aljannat firdaus. My Kabiesi may you find favor with the Lord.




http://dawntodusknews.com/deinde-fernandezs-wife-halima-remembers-him-with-epic-pictures/

Editor's Note: This article was written by The Economist in September 2013 to mark the 170th anniversary of the appearance of the first issue on September 2nd 1843.


Most newspapers and magazines use bylines to identify the journalists who write their articles. The Economist, however, does not. Its articles lack bylines and its journalists remain anonymous. Why?


Part of the answer is that The Economist is maintaining a historical tradition that other publications have abandoned. Leaders are often unsigned in newspapers, but everywhere else there has been rampant byline inflation (to the extent that some papers run picture bylines on ordinary news stories). Historically, many publications printed articles without bylines or under pseudonyms—a subject worthy of a forthcoming explainer of its own—to give individual writers the freedom to assume different voices and to enable early newspapers to give the impression that their editorial teams were larger than they really were. The first few issues of The Economist were, in fact, written almost entirely by James Wilson, the founding editor, though he wrote in the first-person plural.



But having started off as a way for one person to give the impression of being many, anonymity has since come to serve the opposite function at The Economist: it allows many writers to speak with a collective voice. Leaders are discussed and debated each week in meetings that are open to all members of the editorial staff. Journalists often co-operate on articles. And some articles are heavily edited. Accordingly, articles are often the work of The Economist's hive mind, rather than of a single author. The main reason for anonymity, however, is a belief that what is written is more important than who writes it. In the words of Geoffrey Crowther, our editor from 1938 to 1956, anonymity keeps the editor "not the master but the servant of something far greater than himself…it gives to the paper an astonishing momentum of thought and principle." The notable exception to The Economist’s no-byline rule, at least in the weekly issue, is special reports, the collections of articles on a single topic that appear in the newspaper every month or so. These are almost always written by a single author whose name appears once, in the rubric of the opening article. By tradition, retiring editors write a valedictory editorial which is also signed. But print articles are otherwise anonymous.



Different rules apply on our website, however. A few years ago we decided to start using initials as bylines on our blog posts, to avoid confusion on our multi-author blogs (such as Democracy in America, which covers American politics). Our journalists can and do disagree with each other on our blogs, so we use initials to enable readers to distinguish between different writers. This approach is not without its faults (we have four staff members with the initials "J.P.", for example) but is the best compromise between total anonymity and full bylines, in our view. We also identify our journalists when they appear in our audio and video output. And many of them tweet under their own names. The internet has caused our no-byline policy to fray a little around the edges, then, but the lack of bylines remains central to our identity and a distinctive part of our brand.

Photo News:



Award-winning gospel singer Kirk Franklin will feature in hip-hop star Kanye West’s soon-to-be-released album Waves. 2 Chainz uploaded a photo on Instagram that shows Kanye, Mike Dean, A$AP Bari and Kirk Franklin.



http://dawntodusknews.com/pic-kanye-west-features-gospel-singer-kirk-franklin-in-new-album/

By JUMI RHODES


The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said should former president Dr. Goodluck Jonathan be fingered in the arms deal scandal, he will be probed. Mohammed's response is coming about 48 hours after the ex-president addressed a world press conference in Geneva on Wednesday,27th January 2016. Recall Jonathan had mentioned Mohammed during the press conference that,"As for the Information Minister(Lai Muhammed), you quoted, I was not president in 2006 but in 2010.He said about 15 former governors of states were corrupt. I believe for the Minister of Information to say that, he must name the 15 governors. I also believe the list must be with our security network. The truth will still come out."


On Friday, 29th January 2016, Lai Mohammed was at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife where he delivered a speech at the Faculty of Arts Distinguished Guest Lecture with the theme "Nexus between Corruption and Under-development of the Nigeria State". Speaking to newsmen shortly after the lecture, Mohammed said, “The presidency does not micro-manage the anti-graft agencies and the presidency does not decide who to be probed at any point in time. The anti-graft agency will probe him if they feel that he has questions to answer and they would do their job at the appropriate time.”



http://dawntodusknews.com/lai-mohammed-replies-goodluck-jonathan-on-arms-deal-investigation/

By JUMI RHODES


In his lifetime, billionaire businessman Deinde Fernandez was very close to all his children. At the age of 74, he married Kano bizwoman Halima in 2003. Despite marrying at that time, he ensured his children remained close to him. He was buried in September 2015 in Brussels, Belgium with some of his children in attendance, including his first child. Less than 5 months after Fernandez's burial, the relationship Halima has with the children may have gone sour. Halima had yesterday posted on Twitter a letter written in 2006 by head of the Olumegbon family(which the late Deinde Fernandez hailed from), showing that only her marriage to the late bizman is legitimate. This apparently did not go down well with 2 of Deinde Fernandez's children who are social media-friendly. Abimbola Fernandez posted on Instagram:



"Nigerians, I present the real Halima - not only is she a trash bag she also tweeted "go bury that whores ashes" my dead mother was cremated and not buried. One can only assume she's referring to dads children who were born of African American mothers in the above tweet which includes me. Go back to Kano and be with your family. You're not a part of ours and aren't entitled to anything. #WheresYaPapers? #YouHidTheWillInThatSafeRight? Didn't dad tell you he wanted to be buried back home? Why didn't you invite his children to his funeral? Why are you legally battling his heirs? Bleep outta here."



While Antoniette, another of Deinde Fernandez's daughter, replied that:



"Babes this is horrendous but hilarious. Don't let it get to you. Evil always shows itself up! Love you beautiful"


Let's tell you a bit about the £8.7billion estate Deinde Fernandez left behind. His millions flowed in daily from oil, gold and diamond interests in Cayman Islands, a British Overseas Territory, encompassing 3 islands in the western Caribbean Sea, and some of Africa’s mines. He was the first private Nigerian to lift crude oil partnering with major oil companies including Tenneco and Texaco. In Swaziland he once had a beef factory; in Angola he operated oil fields in Cabinda; and Geneva where he had a trading company dealing in oil and gemstones from Congo. Deinde Fernandez owns houses in choice destinations in USA, Belgium, Nigeria, and a French hunting château that once belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte. His 19th-century Chateau de Bois Feuillette, seats in 25 acres in Verberie, Picardy, 40 miles north of Paris, and is believed to be worth £15 million. He was a wine connoisseur whose wine cellar was worth £2 million.




Three private jets flew him between his properties. His newest private jet was a new Falcon 900 valued at over $40 million. Deinde Fernandez also had proceeds of the sale of shares in Sandcat Petroleum, Sanantonio, Petro-Inett, Sandcat Enterprises, View, Grantdale, Inuola, Sandcat Goldfields, Voguehope, Woods, Goldfields, Voguehope, and Petro-Inett Equatorial Guinea. He had bank accounts in Scotland, Ireland, Switzerland, France, Hong Kong, the Cayman Islands and the United States. Deinde Fernandez was a car collector, and owned a fleet of customized luxury cars including Bentleys, and Rolls-Royces. He owned the 150-foot headship yacht, Yemoja. These and more are some of the properties his wife and children will control.


http://dawntodusknews.com/inside-deinde-fernandezs-8-7-billion-estate-his-wife-children-will-control/

ABUJA—The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has fixed February 4 to hear a fresh suit lodged against the Federal Government by the convicted kingpin of the Boko Haram sect, Kabiru Umar. a.k.a. Kabiru Sokoto.

The High Court had on December 20, 2013, convicted and sentenced Sokoto to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of masterminding the Christmas day bomb blast that killed about 44 persons and wounded 75 others at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church at Madalla, Niger State, in 2011.

In his judgment, trial Justice Adeniyi Ademola said he was satisfied that the federal government successfully established the culpability of the convict beyond every reasonable doubt, noting that ‘Sokoto’ had in two separate confessional statements, admitted that he had prior knowledge of the attack.

The court noted that the accused person, throughout the trial, never showed any remorse for his actions, describing him as “a pathological liar with no regards for the truth.”

Besides, the court observed that ‘Sokoto’ had in a statement he voluntarily made on January 14, 2012, shortly after he was apprehended, confessed that he was a key member of the Boko Haram sect.

Justice Adeniyi who read a portion of the said statement where the accused person averred: “Here in Abaji, nobody knows that I am a Boko Haram member, much so, I have about 500 children that I teach Quran”, added that ‘Sokoto’, in page four of his statement, confessed that under his supervision, “the Madalla church bombing was carried out by one Bashir Mohammed, Muhktar Kafanchan and others who I cannot remember their names now.”

The court further noted that one of the eight Boko Haram members the accused gave AK-47 Rifles and directed to bomb police stations and other government agencies in Sokoto state, after he was caught by a team of policemen during a shootout, exposed the operations of the sect and fingered

‘Kabiru Sokoto’ as the person in charge of the coordination of bomb attacks.

Meantime, Sokoto who earlier instituted N300 million suit against the government over alleged torture, yesterday, re-approached the high court, accusing the federal government of frustrating his efforts to get his conviction upturned at the Court of Appeal.

In a fresh motion on notice he filed through his lawyer, Mr. Sheriff Okoh, Sokoto further alleged that the Comptroller of Prisons and his men have made it impossible for him to have access to his lawyer, to enable him perfect his appeal process.

The motion which has the Comptroller General of Prisons, CGP, and Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, as respondents, is seeking an order from the court, compelling the respondents to allow Sokoto who is currently detained at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, Lagos, to have access to his legal team.

The applicant is equally seeking a declaration that the federal government, by denying him access to his lawyers, have thus violated his right to fair hearing, right to counsel and access to justice.

In a supporting affidavit deposed to by Okoh, it was alleged that several applications to the CGP by Sokoto’s lawyer for opportunity to see him, were turned down.

“We have made several personal contacts with the 1st defendant (CGP), his men: S. N. Nwanchukwu (PSO), E. O. Ogundele (DCG) among others, at the Nigeria Prisons headquarters, Abuja in a bid to persuade them to permit us to see the applicant, but they kept making us indulge in fruitless returns for approvals from the 2nd respondent (AGF) that has not come for over two years.

“Wherefore, we verily believe that their actions are aimed at ensuring that the applicant’s appeal of his conviction and sentence continues to be frustrated in perpetuity.”

“The applicant’s appeal before the Court of Appeal is being delayed as a result of the conduct of the 1st respondent and men under his command and supervision,” Okoh averred.

When the matter was called up yesterday, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba who was assigned the case-file, observed that there was no evidence before the court to show that the respondents were duly served with the process.

Consequently, Justice Dimgba directed Sokoto’s lawyer to go and serve the respondents and return to court on the next adjourned date.
It will be recalled that ‘Sokoto’ was on May 20, 2013, docked before the court on an amended 2-count terrorism charge.

Aside allegation that he trained over 500 men on how to manufacture and detonate Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, the federal government, alleged that he had prior knowledge that the sect planned to bomb the church on Christmas day but failed to disclose it to law enforcement officer as soon as reasonably practicable.

He was said to have between 2007 and 2012, at Mabira Sokoto, Sokoto state, facilitated the commission of terrorist act including planting bombs at the Police headquarters and some government organizations in the state. He was charged under section 15(2) of the EFCC Act, 2011, and section 17 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011.

FG told the court that the accused person instituted his terrorist training camp at Abaji, a suburb town in Abuja.

Though he was previously arrested by the Police in Abuja on January 14, 2012, Sokoto was declared missing two days later.

His mysterious escape from custody had culminated to the sack of the erstwhile Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim and former Commission of Police in-charge of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Zakari Biu who was out rightly dismissed from the Force. However, he was subsequently re-arrested on February 10, 2012.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/boko-haram-kabiru-sokoto-sues-fg-over-conviction/

…says case not concluded

By Tare Youdeowei

Former Delta State governor, Chief James Ibori, has expressed shock at a statement, credited to the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, that about 6.9 million British Pounds Sterling was being expected as Ibori loot.

A statement by Mr. Tony Eluemunor, his Media Assistant, said “There is no Ibori loot anywhere in the world. Such money, whether in British pounds, American dollars or the Nigerian naira just does not exist. This is because the Ibori London trial is not yet over. It is an incontrovertible fact that the confiscation hearing has not started at all, and remains months away into the future.

Ibori
Ibori
“This makes it disappointing that a high official of state such as the Attorney-General may have been misled into believing that an Ibori loot not only exists anywhere, but he even put a figure (6.9 million pounds) to it.

“With all due respect to the Minister and the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, it is curious that such a misleading statement could have come less than a week that dozens of well-respected foreign media organisations, including the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, The Times of London, The Guardian of London, and a host of Nigerian news outlets reported that the case against Ibori and his associates have become shaky as some operatives of the London Metropolitan Police have been accused of bribery and corruption in the course of their investigations. Thus, at the January 21, 2016 hearing, the prosecution was forced to withdraw its case against one of Ibori’s counsel, Mr. Bradesh Gohil.

“It had charged Gohil of leaking fabricated documents to media organisations and members of (British) Parliament, but Gohil turned the case against the Police, accusing them of misleading the court with tainted evidence from corrupt operatives and of withholding key documents which could have proved police corruption.”

Eluemunor said that he assumed that the Minister might have been misquoted and so did not issue a rebuttal immediately, but it was only when he failed to retract the statement after 24 hours that he decided to give Nigerians (including the Minister) the true perspective of the Ibori London trial and state categorically that the so called “Ibori Loot” Mr. Abubakar Malami saw as a “low hanging fruit ripe for plucking” must have been a terrible mirage.

“This has done nothing though to affect in any way, the high regard Chief Ibori and his Media Office have for President Buhari, his administration and ministers, including the Justice Minister, Mr. Malami. Chief Ibori wishes them well in their stated bid to leave a better Nigeria than they found it.”


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/ibori-to-justice-minister-no-ibori-loot-anywhere/

By JUMI RHODES


Although his net worth is about $14.1billion as of today, Aliko Dangote deplores being wasteful with money. The billionaire CEO/founder of Dangote Group is Africa's richest man. Dangote owns a private jet, a yacht as well as choice properties in Ikoyi, and Victoria Island, exclusive playgrounds of ultra-wealthy Nigerians in Lagos. By the standards of some Nigerian billionaires,Dangote is not that extravagant, but is not always so frugal.


Dangote's longtime friend Bismarck Rewane, CEO of consultancy firm Financial Derivatives,in an interview with Reuters recalled a business dinner they had at Eko Hotel in Victoria Island. According to Rewane, when he and the billionaire businessman left in Dangote's black Mercedes, the hotel staff had charged 5,000 Naira for parking, which was in excess, but nothing for a man of Dangote's wealth.


Suspecting the rip-off, Rewane said Dangote negotiated it down to 1,000 Naira. In Rewane's words, "He(Dangote) spent a good few minutes doing it. I said to him: 'let's just go. Our time is more valuable than a few thousand naira. But he wouldn't let it go. He smiled afterward. He was so happy he'd got a good deal."



http://dawntodusknews.com/day-aliko-dangote-bargained-n5000-eko-hotel-car-park-fee-to-n1000-friend-recounts/

By JUMI RHODES





Former president Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has said he is willing to work with President Muhammadu Buhari should he be called upon. Jonathan made this known during the world press conference he held yesterday at the Geneva Press Club in Switzerland. Jonathan spoke on corruption allegations against his government. Below are answers to some of the questions he took from international journalists who were at the world press conference Excerpts:



WORKING WITH BUHARI
I am a former president. I can not throw myself to the government. It depends on the assignment the president will give me. If my president gives me any assignment,I will do it. Just like when I was in office, we gave assignments to former heads of states. So I am free to work for the president, and indeed for any African president that wants to give me assignment.



ON DIEZANI, KOLA ALUKO...
I have an idea of quite a number of things you are raising. While some are isolated cases, they are all linked up. I would not want to make strong statements in my country that are not allowed. While as a president if I really worked hard to ensure separation of powers, and independence of the judiciary, I will not as a former president now reverse the gear.




ON MISSING BILLIONS
I have said some of the figures they are mentioning, they have not even mentioned all. Sometimes they are a bit careful, they would not say all these monies they are claiming got lost in the 5 years that Jonathan was the president. Some people think I have been the president of Nigeria from independence. They don't know I was president for just 5 years.They said we lost up to 150 billion dollars in foreign lands. We could not have lost 150 billion dollars in the 5 years I was president. Nigeria would have collapsed if that happened.



ON LAI MOHAMMED'S ALLEGATION OF 15 CORRUPT EX-GOVERNORS
As for the Information Minister(Lai Muhammed), you quoted, I was not president in 2006 but in 2010.He said about 15 former governors of states were corrupt. I believe for the Minister of Information to say that, he must name the 15 governors. I also believe the list must be with our security network. The truth will still come out.These figures that are being mentioned I don't want to go into them. Let the security and court sort out these issues. At the appropriate time I will speak. But the figures are quite alarming.




NEGOTIATION WITH FAKE BOKO HARAM NEGOTIATORS
We did not negotiate with Boko Haram. The government never set up a negotiation team.People do all sorts of things in the name of politics with very serious national issues. The group we negotiated with was the militants in the Niger Delta and we came up with the Amnesty Programme because they had identity. If we had negotiated with Boko Haram, we would have come up with a programme.




WHY HE DIDN'T HEAD TO TRIBUNAL
Human beings are designed for different things, by evolution or by creation. We are very religious in Nigeria. One thing I believe is that I did not go into politics because of what I stand to benefit. I also believe it takes the sacrifice of individuals to build a society. So as African leaders,we must be ready to set standards that others can emulate.In Nigeria it is worrisome that anybody who does not win an election will go to the tribunal. So I felt that tradition must also change.At any particular time, leaders must be ready to make sacrifices for their people.



http://dawntodusknews.com/goodluck-jonathan-speaks-on-buhari-lai-muhammed-diezani-geneva-press-conference/

By KIKELOMO IWAJOMO


The immediate past president of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, earlier today, held a world press conference in Geneva, Switzerland.The press conference was part of activities lined up by the Circle of Diplomats (Circle Diplomatique) in his honour ahead of a dinner tonight at the Intercontinental Hotel, Geneva. The former president addressed two most crucial topics in Nigeria and West Africa at the press briefing: security and civil peace in Nigeria and West Africa; and improvement of health and education of children. He also spoke on his Goodluck Jonathan Foundation.


At the press conference which had in attendance accredited United Nations correspondents and Swiss journalists, Goodluck Jonathan responded to a question raised by a French broadcast journalist on the controversial $2.1billion arms deal. In his words, Goodluck Jonathan said:"I would have loved to speak extensively on this issue. When I read the newspapers, people say President Jonathan must comment because it is a controversial issue. In our country(Nigeria), there are laws: when issues are before a court of law, people who have one thing or the other to do with these issues are not expected to make comments because it is considered as prejudice.



"As a former president if I make comments, it will affect the witnesses, court processes and so on. So I will not make any comment until most of these things are settled. One thing I would want Nigerians to know is that the way we had issues in the country, I tried to build institutions, I strengthened the judiciary and that is why I would not want to do things not in line with standard judicial practice. I encouraged separation of powers.



"I strengthened the electoral body Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) that conducted the 2011 and 2015 elections. Both our local and international observers were quite happy with the outcome. Towards the 2015 election, the country was so tense, some thought Nigeria was going to disintegrate. The cleavages between the North and South; Christians and Muslims; was so sharp and we were also faced with terrorism. So to conduct elections peacefully across that kind of country takes a lot.I would not want to comment specifically on the $2.1billion arms deal because it is not proper. But at the appropriate time I will speak on it. Thank you for raising this issue."



http://dawntodusknews.com/goodluck-jonathan-speaks-on-2-1billion-arms-deal-geneva-press-conference/

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God(RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye is set to host the February 2016 anointing service themed 'Arresting The Arrester' which holds on Friday, 5th February at the Redemption Camp, Km 46, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway by 7pm. The theme for this anointing service is significant as it is the title of one of Adeboye's published books Arresting The Arrester, a book that highlights the story of Elisha and King of Syria. The Holy Ghost services have been consistently held for over twenty years now and today, the crowds in attendance run in the millions every month. From the Redemption Camp, Enoch Adeboye faithfully travels many miles to work in Lagos and also ministers all over the world.



http://dawntodusknews.com/pastor-adeboye-set-for-arresting-the-arrester/

By JUMI RHODES



Former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has given an insight into how corrupt leaders have looted Nigeria's treasury over the years. Okonjo-Iweala, who served in the last administration as Coordinating Minister of the Economy, revealed this in her book 'Reforming The Unreformable: Lessons from Nigeria'{originally published in 2012}. As excerpted from the book are 4 methods the former minister reveals leaders and public officials loot Nigeria's money:


CORRUPTION ON A GRAND SCALE: THEFT OF PUBLIC ASSETS BY HIGH PUBLIC OFFICIALS

"On September 15, 2005, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha(now deceased), (then) governor of the Nigerian state of Bayelsa, was who was arrested at London's Heathrow Airport and interrogated on allegations of money laundering by officers of the London Metropolitan Police's Specialist and Economic Crime Unit. From the airport he was taken to his home in the Paddington area of London. A search of the home resulted in the discovery of the equivalent of 920,000 pounds... In all, he was charged with laundering more than 1.8million pounds. He asserted his innocence. He was granted bail, pending trial. He then jumped bail and escaped from the UK disguised as a woman. He fled to Nigeria, where the constitution grants governors, presidents, and vice presidents immunity from prosecution while in office."



CORRUPTION FROM THE TOP: THEFT OF PUBLIC ASSETS BY A FORMER DICTATOR

"In August 2004, authorities in Switzerland accepted the argument of Nigeria's lawyers that an Abachar-run criminal organization existed whose purpose was to engaged in the looting and laundering of Nigerian public funds....In the five years of Abacha's rule, an estimated US$3billion to US$5billion of Nigeria's public assets were looted and sent abroad by Abacha, his family, and their associates. At the upper end of the range, the amount stolen is larger than the 2006 education and health federal budgets combined..


Of the amount stolen, more than US$2.2billion was carted away from the Central Bank of Nigeria in truckloads of cash in the form of foreign currency and travelers checks... Another classic method of corruption practiced by the Abacha criminal organization involved contract inflation. One particularly odious case was a Nigerian Family Support Program contract for Pasteur Merieux vaccines. The US$111 million contract was awarded to Morgan Procurement Ltd, a company belonging to the Abacha family. The true value of the vaccines was US$22.5million."



CORRUPTION FROM WITHIN: CORRUPTION BY FOREIGN COMPANIES AND THEIR DOMESTIC PARTNERS IN CRIME

"Nigeria is replete with accounts of such corrupt and corrupting behavior by foreign companies. Siemens, to its credit, admitted paying 10 million euros to Nigeria government officials between 2001 and 2004 to facilitate contract awards. Sometime in 1994, the TSKJ consortium made a bid to provide services to a US$12 billion LNG gas project in Nigeria. This initial bid was not accepted. ... In December 1995, TSKJ was awarded a US$2billion contract for the Nigerian LNG proect. Years later, evidence was produced that the TSKJ group had internally discussed making payments of about US$180million to various foreign accounts of Nigerian officials to help TSKJ obtain its lucrative contract."



CORRUPTION FROM THE BOTTOM: PRIVATE INTIMIDATION

"A systemic rot has befallen Nigeria's once-solid system of public tertiary education... Tales abound of public health workers asking for under-the-table payments for services and diverting hospital supplies, drugs, and equipment to the privae clinics. Nigeria is bedeviled by very poor provision of public services in education and health, largely because of corruption and undermining of institutions by a small percentage of the population."



http://dawntodusknews.com/ngozi-okonjo-iweala-4-methods-corrupt-nigerians-steal-nigerias-money/

The Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has said the claims by Otun Seriki of Ibadan, Chief Adebayo Oyediji, that he is the next Olubadan of Ibadanland, are futile. Ajimobi made this disclosure during an interview with State House correspondents shortly after a meeting he had with President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.Ajimobi stated that, “The beauty of the Olubadan institution makes it unique in the whole of Nigeria. It is the only institution where we know the next 20 or 50 Obas. We don’t fight for it. Every house can produce an Olubadan, including my house. So, it is not limited, like in some areas where you say this is the only family or these are the families. Every son of Ibadanland can become the Olubadan of Ibadanland.



“Therefore, we feel it is a rancour-free succession programme where everybody is qualified to be there. So, we know the next to the next. In fact, we know the next 100th Olubadan. The Seriki House started during the period of the late Chief Adisa Akinloye and it has been decided even long ago that to be Olubadan from the Seriki line, you have to join if there are concurrent deaths of both the Ekerin and Ashipa, then you can qualify as Seriki to be Ekerin. But now, there is no vacancy for any Ekerin. The man (Oyediji) who lays claim to be the next Olubadan, even if he were to be a Seriki now, which he is not, he will only be promoted to Ekerin. He cannot come from Seriki to be Olubadan. It is not going to happen. We have had one before that was promoted to Ekerin, and along the line, he died. So, the people laying claim to Olubadan are just embarking on an exercise in futility.”



http://dawntodusknews.com/gov-ajimobi-why-oyediji-cannot-become-olubadan-of-ibadan/

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed 19 charges at the High Court of Zamfara State against serving senator(representing Zamfara West Senatorial District) and former governor Sani Yerima. Yerima, who left office as governor 2007,is set to face trial for alleged mismanagement of N1billion loan meant for the repair of Gusau Dam in 2006. Yerima will be tried along with three others — Alhaji Hashim A. Dikko, Development Management Limited and HAD Nigeria Limited. According to ICPC, about N425, 491,736.75 of the N1billion was allegedly diverted to other purposes, including assistance to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), furniture allowance, consultancy fee, Ramadan feeding, Hajj and purchase of cars.


The charges against Senator Sani Yerima are that he:



- on or about November, 2006 whilst being the Governor of Zamfara State at Gusau spent money allocated for one project on another to wit: out of N1 billion additional budgetary allocation by Zamfara State House of Assembly for the repair of collapsed Gusau Dam and settlement of the victims of the said dam, which was obtained through a bank loan, spent the sum of N20m purportedly on assistance to INEC and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000;


- on or about October 2006 spent N10million purportedly on donation and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000;
spent N43,008,000 purportedly on surveillance of guests and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000;


- spent N21,450,000 purportedly on settlement of publication equipment and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000;



- spent N64,332,734 purportedly on sponsorship of government officials to Hajj and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000;



- spent the sum of N32,646,286 purportedly on settlement of accommodation and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000;



- spent N15,800,000 purportedly on furniture allowance and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000;



- spent N29,200,000 purportedly on purchase of 2000 Nanfang motorcycles and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under
Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000; and



- that Sani on or about October 2006 spent N23,859,692 purportedly on payment to automobile company and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.



http://dawntodusknews.com/apc-senatorex-zamfara-governor-sani-yerima-for-trial/

By JUMI RHODES




The death has been announced of the 40th Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1. The first-class king, who ascended the throne on Friday, August 17, 2007 at the age of 93, died in his sleep on Tuesday night. His remains have been deposited at the UCH mortuary. With the demise of Oba Odugade, the next high chief to become the Olubadan is the current Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Saliu Adetunji. Oba Odulana was born April 14, 1914, in Igbo Elerin, Ibadan, to Pa Odulana Ayinla. He began his elementary education at Saint Andrew’s School, Bamigbola, Ibadan in January 1922 and transferred to St. Peter’s School, Aremo, in 1929. He completed his middle school education at Mapo Central School in 1936.



He was an Army officer during the 1939 World War II. After returning from World War II in 1945, he was appointed to be in charge of the demobilisation of returning soldiers in Lagos. He briefly worked with United Africa Company (UAC) as a produce clerk before commencing his teaching career at the Church Missionary Society (CMS) Elementary School, Jago, in 1938. He also taught in several schools from 1939 to 1942 and was with the Colonial Office Education Department in 1964.




He went into politics in 1959 as a member of the House of Representatives and was appointed parliamentary secretary to Tafawa Balewa. He was Minster of State for Labour and, in 1964, he led the Nigerian Parliamentary delegation to the London Constitution Conference to restructure the former British colonies of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (now Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia). He joined the royal chieftaincy line in 1972 as the Mogaji of Ladunni compound in Ibadan, and in 1976, he was conferred Jagun-Olubadan. He was a co-founder of several organisations such as the Ibadan Economic Foundation and the Ibadan Progressive Union (IPU).



The Balogun of Ibadan who is next in line as Olubadan,High Chief Saliu Adetunji is the founder of 3 foremost music marketing companies known as Omo Aje Sound Studio, Adetunji Label and Baba Laje Records. Adetunji's company markets Fuji maestro K1's music. The recently-elevated Adetunji became Mogaji (the head of the family) in 1976. He became Jagun Balogun (the first line on the Balogun rung) in 1978! He is now over 80 years old.






http://dawntodusknews.com/pic-3-weeks-after-promotion-adetunji-to-emerge-olubadan-as-odugade-dies-at-101/

By JUMI RHODES



Nigerian journalist-turned-author Chijioke Amu-Nnadi has been accused of inappropriate behaviour by some upcoming female creative writers. The allegation has since gone viral on Facebook. Amu-Nnadi has however apologized to the women who have been affected by his behaviour. In a Facebook post earlier, Amu-Nnadi said,” My dear friends and colleagues, I have read and heard a lot that has been said about how my manner of interaction with some younger female writers within our literary commune has been quite inappropriate.



“With sincerity I accept responsibility for the hurt a writer’s excesses have caused you all. I wish to humbly seek a lasting healing for all affected and all concerned because it was not my intention to hurt anyone. I truly regret this. I am deeply sorry and I apologize without reservation to all affected. DO FORGIVE. Thank you all for reading and for your understanding.” Amu Nnadi is the author of three collections of poems – ‘the fire within’, winner of the ANA Gabriel Okara Prize for Poetry, ‘pilgrim’s passage’, shortlisted for the 2005 Nigeria Prize for Literature, and ‘through the window of a sandcastle’, winner of the 2013 ANA Poetry Prize, runner-up to the 2013 Nigeria Prize for Literature and winner of the 2014 Glenna Luschei African Poetry Book Prize.



http://dawntodusknews.com/nigerian-author-chijioke-amu-nnadi-accused-of-inappropriate-behaviour-with-women-speaks/

By JUMI RHODES


Photo News:



HRM King Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff was at 24 years old appointed the first Military Governor of Rivers State after it was created from part of the old Eastern Region. He held office from May 1967 until July 1975 during the military administration of General Yakubu Gowon. He was also a member of the Supreme Military Council. The 73-year-old king, who is the Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass in Bayelsa State, ascended the throne of his forefathers in 1996. An ardent golf player, HRM King Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff was recently spotted at the just-held Port Harcourt Polo Tournament. He is pictured here with the Emir of Katsina, HRH Alhaji (Dr.) Abdulmumini Kabir Usman (CFR).





http://dawntodusknews.com/pics-nigerias-youngest-governor-ever-now-king-steps-out-at-polo-event/

By JUMI RHODES


Photo News:


Senator Hadi Sirika, Nigeria's Minister of State for Aviation, is a big polo player and patron. Not many know that he is the founder of Rubicon Polo Team. Sirika has been playing polo for over 14 years. He started riding horses back in Katsina and later learnt how to play polo in Lagos. He is a member of the prestigious Lagos polo club. At the just-concluded Port Harcourt Polo Tournament, Senator Hadi Sirika was one of the high-handicap players in attendance.



http://dawntodusknews.com/pic-minister-of-aviation-hadi-sirika-on-the-horse-during-recent-polo-tournament/

By JUMI RHODES


Not many know that some of Nigeria's popular politicians and businessmen are married to female judges who serve in various courts including the Supreme Court. Below, Dawn-To-Dusk News profiles these women of honour.


HON. JUSTICE MARY PETER-ODILI

A Supreme Court of Nigeria judge, Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili is the wife of former Rivers State governor, Sir Peter Odili. Before her appointment as a Supreme Court judge, she was a judge at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Judicial Division, and before then a judge at the High Court of Rivers State.



HON. JUSTICE FATI ABUBAKAR

Hon. Justice Fati Abubakar is the wife of former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar(retd.). The University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University)-trained graduate is the first female Chief Judge of Niger State.


HON. JUSTICE EBERECHI NYESOM-WIKE

Hon. Justice Eberechi Nyesom-Wike, a Rivers State High Court judge, is married to Barrister Nyesom Wike, the Rivers State Governor. The Rivers State University of Science and Techonology and University of Sussex-trained graduate's last appointment was as Chief Magistrate Grade II in 2009.

HON. JUSTICE (DR.) CHIOMA NWOSU-IHEME

A judge of the Federal Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice (Dr.) Chioma Nwosu-Iheme is the first female judge in Nigeria to read Law up to Ph.D level in the field of 'Law of Intellectual Property'. She is married to Chief Uzoma Nwosu-Iheme, a former Commissioner for Public Utilities and Rural Development, and Commissioner for Education in Imo State. The Nwosu-Ihemes are in-laws to Sir and Hon. Justice Peter Odili as one of their twin sons, Uzoma is married to Njideka Odili.

HON. JUSTICE MARYANN ANENIH

Hon. Justice Maryann Anenih is married to Chief 'Tony Anenih(Mr. Fix-It), the former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BOT). She is a judge at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

HON. JUSTICE BINTA MURTALA-NYAKO

Hon. Justice Binta Nyako is the wife of former Adamawa State Governor, Rear Admiral Murtala Nyako(retd.).

HON. JUSTICE JUMOKE PEDRO

A judge of the Lagos State High Court, Justice Jumoke Pedro is the wife of banker-turned-politician, Mr. Femi Pedro, former Lagos State Deputy Governor.

HON. JUSTICE OLUWATOYIN TAIWO

Also a judge of the Lagos State High Court, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo is married to a foremost legal practitioner, Mr. Taiwo Taiwo. Before her appointment as a high court judge in 2004, she was Chief Registrar.

HON. JUSTICE BOSEDE HAASTRUP

Having joined the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja in 2002 as Senior Registrar I, she rose through the ranks to become a Chief Registrar in 2009 till she was appointed a judge. She is married to Osun State-born medical practitioner Chief (Dr.) Adetayo Haastrup.

HON. JUSTICE RACHAEL AKINTOLA

She is the wife of Chief Adeniyi Akintola(SAN). Hon. Justice Rachel Akintola is a judge at the Oyo State High Court.

HON. JUSTICE HARRIBA DAGOGO-JACK

A judge of the Rivers State High Court, Hon. Justice Harriba Judith Dagogo-Jack is the wife of Engr. Reynolds Beks Dagogo-Jack, the former chairman, Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP) and former Commissioner for Works and Transport in Rivers State.

HON JUSTICE KUDIRAT KEKERE-EKUN

Also a justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the University of Lagos and London School of Economic and Political Science-trained graduate is married to Mr. Akin Kekere-Ekun, a distinguished retired banker; onetime Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Habib Nigeria Bank Limited.

HON. JUSTICE ADEDAYO OYEBANJI

The Lagos State High Court judge is married to Mr. Tunji Oyebanji, the Chairman/Managing Director of Mobil Oil Nigeria.



http://dawntodusknews.com/nigerian-politicians-and-bizmen-married-to-female-judges/

By JUMI RHODES




The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh who is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said rather than refund the N400million reportedly traced to the account of a company he has a stake, he would go on hunger strike. The N400million is believed to be part of the misappropriated $2.1 billion arms cash allegedly diverted by Col. Sambo Dasuki, the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA). EFCC boss Ibrahim Magu disclosed Metuh's position in Lagos yesterday during a meeting with online reporters. According to Magu, the anti-graft agency has vowed to bring corrupt Nigerians to book owing to the shocking funds embezzled by the past administration. In another development, Metuh, on Monday, filed a suit before the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).Metuh is demanding the enforcement of his fundamental rights in a matter filed pursuant to Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure rules 2009 made by the Chief Justice of Nigeria pursuant to the 1999 Constitution.



http://dawntodusknews.com/olisa-metuh-embarks-hunger-strike-vows-not-refund-n400million/

By JUMI RHODES





Former senator/minister who recently defected from PDP to APC, Senator Jim Nwobodo, has revealed how disbursed the N100 million he received from former PDP National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu. Nwobodo however denied ever collecting money from Col. Sambo Dasuki who he said he had never met. In a statement by John Okoreni on behalf of Nwobodo, it stated in parts that: “The attention of Senator (Dr.) Jim Nwobodo has been drawn to news items where it was mentioned that he received the sum of one hundred million naira (N100,000,000) from Bashir Yuguda, ex-Minister of State for Finance for the purpose of the last presidential election.





“ Senator (Dr.) Jim Nwobodo states as follows: That he was the chairman of the Contact Committee of the PDP Presidential campaign for the South East Zone.The Committee was appointed by the party and inaugurated by its then National Chairman, Dr. Adamu Mu’azu. That the Committee oversaw the five states of the Zone, namely: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo State.



“Members of the Committee were three for each state; Senator Jim Nwobodo, Chairman (Enugu), Chief Onyema Ogochukwu, Secretary (Abia), Ambassador Ojo Maduekwe (Abia), Senator Adolphus Wabara (Abia), Prof. A.B.C. Nwosu (Anambra), Senator Ben Ndi Obi (Anambra), Senator Joy Emodi (Anambra), Ambassador Frank Ogbuweu (Ebonyi), Senator Ben Collins Ndu (Enugu), Ambassador Fidel Ayogu (Enugu), Chief Emmanuel Iwanyanwu (Imo), Chief Achike Udenwa (Imo) and Chief Innocent Nwoga (Imo). That the only fund received by the committee for its work in the five South-Eastern states was N100million and the money was received from the then National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Adamu Muazu, for logistics, travelling, mobilisation of party members in the zone for the presidential election.




“That the fund was properly disbursed to the states and duly signed by members of the Committee for each State and accounted for to the party. That at no time did Senator Jim Nwobodo receive the money from any person other than the then National Chairman of the party. That it would be unusual for Senator Nwobodo and other members of his committee to query the source of the campaign fund coming from the National Chairman of his party for official functions and purposes. This statement is meant to put the records straight and correct the impression making round in the media on the alleged distribution of money by Bashir Yuguda as it concerns Senator Nwobodo.”



http://dawntodusknews.com/dasukigate-how-i-shared-n100million-i-received-from-ex-pdp-chairman-jim-nwobodo/

Nigeria's central bank on Monday announced it was stopping the direct sale of US dollars to bureaux de change to protect the under-pressure naira and conserve depleted foreign reserves. The Central Bank of Nigeria will now "discontinue its sales of foreign exchange to BDCs (bureaux de change)", governor Godwin Emefiele said in a speech in Abuja. "Operators in this segment of the market would now need to source their foreign exchange from (an) autonomous source."



He added: "Commercial banks will now be allowed to accept cash deposits of foreign exchange from their customers." Oil sales contributed some 90 percent of the country's foreign exchange earnings. But as the cost of a barrel plunged below $40 a barrel this month, forex earnings have fallen to as low as $1 billion a month, said Emefiele. At the same time, forex demand in Nigeria's import-heavy economy has risen, which combined with rising inflation and slowing GDP growth has led to the depletion of foreign reserves, he added.



The CBN has been under pressure to devalue the naira, which is officially pegged at 197 to the dollar, although on the tolerated black market, exchange rates can be as high as 250 naira. Restrictions on the forex market have been introduced to conserve reserves, including reducing the amount the CBN sells to each bureaux de change operators each week from $60,000 to $10,000. But Emefiele said the bank noted with "grave concern" that some operators were flouting limits on them providing $5,000 or less to clients.


Instead, some had become "wholesale dealers" illegally handling millions of dollars per transaction. "Operators in this segment have not reciprocated the Bank's gesture to help maintain stability in the market," he added, accusing them of being "greedy" for selling at higher rates. Demand for operating licences has sky-rocketed to nearly 150 per month as individuals seek to cash in, he added, leading to the "gradual dollarisation" of the Nigerian economy.



Source: AFP





http://dawntodusknews.com/cbn-stops-dollar-sales-to-bureaux-de-change/