₦airaland Forum

Action Has Been Too Slow On SGF, NIA DG Probe Report – Sagay
wetinhappen.com.ng

Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay
The delay in deciding the fate of the suspended Secretary to the Federal Government, Mr Babachir Lawal, and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, has continued to generate debate and attract criticism for the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration.

On Sunday, it was one of the President’s advisers that faulted the delay.

The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay, said in an interview on Channels Television that action has been “much too slow” and called for definitive action.

Despite faulting the pace of the probe, Professor Sagay has no doubt about the commitment of the government in fighting corruption.

“I have no doubt in my mind that the present government is actually fighting corruption in accordance with its mandate and promises. There is no question about that,” he said during an appearance on Sunday Politics with Seun Okinbaloye.

“But on the specific issue of the suspended Secretary to the Federal Government and the Director of the NIA, I would agree that action has been much too slow and there should be immediate decision on this matter so that we can put it to rest and move on. I agree with that.”

This comes more than five months after the President suspended SGF and NIA DG, pending the conclusion of investigation into separate allegations of corruption against them.

In suspending both men on April 20, 2017, President Buhari constituted a three-man committee comprising the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the National Security Adviser, headed by the Vice President, to probe them and submit their report in 14 days.

It, however, wasn’t until August 23 that the report was submitted as the President travelled to London on May 7 and spent more than three months there on medical vacation.

More than one month after receiving the report, however, Nigerian have no idea what the findings of the committee are or when the President would take a decision on the report.

Beyond the criticism that has trailed the delay in deciding the fate of both the SGF and NIA DG, the Buhari administration’s anti-corruption war has been labelled selective with many people arguing that it is targeted at members of the opposition.

For Sagay, who believes the government is fighting corruption with “all its might and resources”, there is no justification for such a view.

“I think there is an even-handed approach to the issue of fighting corruption. Everybody who is suspected of corruption or the commission of economic and financial crimes will be investigated and the EFCC and the ICPC who are the bodies who are invested with the authority to act in such matters will act in accordance with their own priority,” he said.

“I think we should make it clear. We cannot handle all cases of corruption at the same time. As you know, in this country, cases of corruption go right from the top and permeate to the lowest level. So, there are hundreds of thousands of corruption cases. It makes sense for the agencies to choose what to pick and what to drop.”

IG kicks as Senate closes National Assembly Police Division
theeagleonline.com.ng



The Inspector General, Ibrahim Idris, has kicked against the closure of the Police Division in the National Assembly allegedly by the Senate.
Idris described the closure as “illegal”.

The Senate had been engaged in a face-off with Idris following a protracted fight between Senator Isa Misau and the IG.

However, the IG was also accused of removing the Officer-in-Charge of the Division without recourse to the leadership of the National Assembly.

These, it is believed, led to the closure of the Police Division in the National Assembly on September 12, 2017.

Idris, in a letter dated September 19, 2017, entitled: “Re: Sealing and closure of Nigeria Police National Assembly Division,” said the action was tantamount to a criminal act, especially when it was not ordered by any competent court.

The letter, which was personally endorsed by the IG himself, was addressed to some high-ranking persons at the National Assembly.

The protest letter reads in part: “I am constrained to bring to the attention of the Chairman, National Assembly and President of the Senate, the sealing and closure of the Nigeria Police National Assembly Division since September 12, 2017 till date (seven days now).

“Preliminary inquiries initiated upon getting this report revealed that one Ibrahim Ndako – Sargent-At-Arms of the National Assembly and personnel on the said date evicted the duly posted Divisional Police Officer and staff from the police station in full glare reportedly on the instruction(s) of one M.A. Omolori – Clerk of the National Assembly and sealed the office(s).

“Pursuant to this, on September 17, 2017, I directed the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command in whose jurisdiction the National Assembly is domiciled to meet with the said M.A. Omolori – Clerk of the National Assembly and ascertain the circumstances that led to what is manifestly and unlawful action. Regrettably, this entreaty was bluntly rebuffed.

“No reason(s) prior to and after the closure has been formally conveyed to any formation of the Nigeria Police or to the Office of the Inspector General of Police in this regard even as at the time of this correspondence…

“Furthermore, it is also necessary to indicate that this action of evicting public servant in the course of performing their lawful duties and sealing an office domiciled in a public building complex devoid of an express order from competent court is tantamount to a criminal act punishable under the Criminal Code and Panel Code of Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The implications of this action in the light of current agitations now emanating from different parts of the country negatively impact directly on the security of the National Assembly Complex, the numerous members and staff of parliament domiciled therein as well as members of the general public; an outcome, which may no doubt escalate to a serious challenge to National Security.

“Consequently, I have initiated a formal investigation to determine the background and circumstances leading to this unfortunate and unprecedented development; the outcome of which will be conveyed to your distinguished office for information accordingly.

“While appreciating your tremendous support towards the successes of the Nigeria Police Force, accept as always the assurances of my highest regards, please.”

I will win PDP seat in 2018 without INEC – Fayose
informationng.com


The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to be fair to all parties contesting the 2018 governorship election in the state.

The governor spoke on Friday in his reaction to INEC’s release of the timetable for the election.

He admonished INEC to conduct a credible poll that would be commended by the international community, noting that the June 21, 2014 election which he won, was hailed by the government of the United States of America.

He said he needed no help from INEC or any agency of the government for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to win the election, just as he urged INEC and federal government agencies not to provide help for other contestants.

Mr. Fayose and his supporters within the PDP in the state have adopted his deputy, Olusola, as the preferred party candidate for the election.

However, other aspirants have kicked against the adoption, and are going ahead with their aspirations.

“The international community as well as local election observers should from now, take very strong interest in the Ekiti 2018 governorship election and monitor INEC as it begins the processes leading to the conduct of the election,” he said.

“Concerning this election and others, INEC should be honourable by ensuring free, fair and credible elections.

“This is considering the fact that Ekiti is a state controlled by the opposition and I am the number one opposition figure in Nigeria today.

“INEC should take note that we cannot all be in the same political party and Nigeria cannot be one party state. The electoral commission should therefore be fair to all concerned.

“As for me, I do not need INEC or agency of the government to help me and the PDP candidate to win the election and INEC and federal government agencies should not also provide help for other contestants.”

INEC on Thursday announced July 14, 2018 as the date for the Ekiti State governorship election.

Mr. Fayose said the PDP was prepared for the election even before the election date was announced.

“It is hopeful that INEC will not succumb to pressure from those who may want to take Ekiti State by means other than free, fair and transparent electoral process and truncate the rights of Ekiti people to make their choice,” he said.

“To our teeming supporters, eternal vigilance is most required from now till the end of the election.

“I am confident that Ekiti people will resist any plot to subvert their collective wish because they have done it not once, not twice. Most importantly, support of the people of Ekiti for me and the PDP has never been in doubt.

“It is on this note that I call on the international community as well as local election observers to from now, take very strong interest in the Ekiti 2018 governorship election and monitor INEC as it begins the processes leading to the conduct of the election.

“The international community must monitor INEC from now and see to it that the electoral commission conducts a free, fair and credible election so that the world can be assured of a hitch-free election in 2019.

“On our part as Ekiti people, we must pray persistently because with prayers, all the plots against our collective wish as a people will come to naught.

Apologize to Kachikwu or Face Massive Attacks on Pipelines - AB Avengers Warn NNPC Boss, Baru
tori.ng


The Adaka Boro Avengers have warned that it would launch attacks on Bonny, Nembe and Forcasdos trunk lines if NNPC GMD, Maikanti Baru, does not heed to its demands.


One of the militant groups in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, Adaka Boro Avengers (ABA) has accused the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru of disrespecting the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu and also, appointing only northerners into the oil firm.

According to The Sun, ABA warned that “Nigeria’s oil sector does not belong to the Fulani’s alone but to every citizen in this country.”

They demanded that Baru should tender an open apology to Ibe Kachikwu and also, drop his appointees on the NNPC board, within two weeks, or the group would disrupt hostility at Bonny, Nembe and Forcasdos trunk lines.

A statement signed by ABA spokesman, General Edmos Ayayeibo, noted that the relative peace in the Niger Delta is still fragile.

“It as come to our notice that president Muhammadu Buhari, and his All Progressives Congress-led administration doesn’t care about the unity of Nigeria.

"We expected the number one citizen of this country to address the issues affecting every region of Nigeria on independence day, rather, he aggravated the relative peace in the various regions, especially in the Niger Delta.

“President Muhammadu Buhari speaks to the country as if we are in a military dictatorship. We voted for him not to blame PDP, but to do what he was promising the people of Nigeria during his campaign, tagged Change.

“All president Muhammadu Buhari’s subordinates and all his appointees are ruling the country as if we are in a military era.

“Nigeria’s oil sector doesn’t belong to the Fulani alone. It belongs to every citizen in this country. The Nigeria unity has broken and the centre can not hold again.

“To Buhari, restructure the country now or you will leave us with no choice. Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria, Long live Niger Delta.”

$26bn contract: Funds for Buhari 2019 campaign – Fani-Kayode
vanguardngr.com


ABUJA-Former Minister of Aviation and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has stated that the $26 billion contract allegedly awarded by Dr. Maikanti Baru, Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is not unconnected with President Muhammadu Buhari’s bid for a second term in office in 2019.

The ex-minister stated this Wednesday on his Twitter Handle @realFFK, while reacting to Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources’ letter to President Buhari, accusing Baru of awarding a $26 billion contract without regards to due process.

The letter which is currently dominating commentaries in both the electronic and print media caught the attention of Fani-Kayode who for the umpteenth time, chided the Commander-in-Chief for Kachikwu’s ordeal. said “Ibe Kachikwu does not appreciate the fact that to Muhammadu Buhari and his tiny cabal of ethnic supremacists, pillaging $26 billion from the Northern (sorry “Nigerian”) National Petroleum Corporation is nothing. Where else do you expect him to get the funds for his 2019 campaign?” he queried, adding that the Minister ought not to have been surprised as stated in his letter.

He further added that the pains of the Minister are nothing but a continuation of the treatment being meted out to the Igbo ethnic nationality.

“Why is Ibe Kachikwu surprised that he has not been granted access to Muhammadu Buhari and that the Northern Managing Director of NNPC is undermining him? Did he expect it to be any different? Has he forgotten he is Igbo?” he wrote, adding that in the reasoning of the President, “All Southerners are slaves.”

Kachikwu had in his letter, lamented the shoddy treatment meted out to him by Baru in the past one year, saying he was left with no other option than to pen a letter to President Buhari after several efforts on his part to see him proved abortive.
While it is not clear what would become the fate of Dr. Baru in the wake of the allegations against him, there are insinuations that the Honourable Minister may throw in the towel, if there’s no official eagerness to sanction the NNPC boss for insubordination.

(CNN)Three members of the US Special Operations Forces were killed and two others were wounded in southwest Niger near the Mali-Niger border when a joint US-Nigerien patrol was attacked Wednesday, two administration officials told CNN.

The administration officials added that the two wounded US troops had been evacuated to the capital, Niamey, and would soon be moved to Germany. They were described by the officials as being in a "stable condition."

The officials cautioned that this was still an early assessment.

The US troops were part of a team advising and assisting local forces when they were attacked.

US Navy Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Falvo, a spokesman for Africa Command, which oversees US operations in the region, told CNN late Wednesday that "a joint US and Nigerien patrol came under hostile fire in southwest Niger," but said that the military was still "working to confirm details on the incident."

President Donald Trump was briefed on the attack by by chief of staff John Kelly, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Wednesday night.


A U.S. Army Special Forces weapons sergeant observes a Niger Army soldier during marksmanship training in Diffa, Niger, in February 2017.

The US military has maintained a small presence in the northwest African country with small groups of US Special Operations Forces advising local troops as they battle two terrorist groups, the ISIS affiliated Boko Haram and al Qaeda's North African branch, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb has maintained a presence in the Mali-Niger border area, despite a multi-year French-led military counterterrorism effort, Operation Barkhane, which began in 2014.

The US military has largely played a supporting role, providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets in support French forces operating in Mali and Niger. The French operation involves thousands of French troops as well as forces from Germany, Mali, Niger and other countries in the region.

"US forces are in Niger to provide training and security assistance to the Nigerien Armed Forces, including support for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance efforts, in their efforts to target violent extremist organizations in the region," Falvo said, adding "one aspect of that is training, advising and assisting the Nigeriens in order to increase their ability to bring stability and security to their people."

The US is also in the process of establishing a new drone base just outside the city of Agadez in Niger in an effort to bolster regional counterterrorism efforts.