₦airaland Forum

Why is it that everything about Buhari is blunder?

How can a court under his watch issue this kind of search warrant and use it nationwide to crack down on judges?

Are we in northern States of Nigeria?

​NIGERIA’S military says it is not aware of the twenty one Chibok schoolgirls released by the Boko Haram insurgents on Thursday.


The Defence Headquarters said it is conducting “serious operations to rescue them and other Nigerians in Boko Haram captivity.”

This was contained in a news alert from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday morning.

It stated: “Military is unaware of the release of some Chibok Girls but serious operations are on to rescue them and other Nigerians in Boko Haram’s captivity – DHQ.”

However, Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu on Thursday confirmed that 21 of the Chibok girls, out of the over 200 abducted in April 2014, are in the custody of the Department of State Services.

He said in a statement released Thursday, “It is confirmed that 21 of the missing Chibok Girls have been released and are in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS. The Director-General of the DSS, Malam Lawal Daura has just briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the matter.”

Shehu added: “The release of the girls, in a limited number, is the outcome of negotiations between the administration and Boko Haram, brokered by the International Red Cross and the Swiss government. The negotiations will continue.”

sirequity:
http://www.socialtimesng.com/2016/10/we-will-probe-tinubu-jonathan-ameachi-obasanjo-efcc/

joto:
A simple edit tool on a computer by a decent user can make a difference.
Like I said earlier, what if it was "photo-shopped"?

ahamonyeka:
This OP sef.attention seeker are you telling me now buhari was the one who did printing so,you've seen where a printer spells words wrongly even after giving him the right information?

I can see you are looking for a way to make FP.

Gerrrrarahia man onye nzuzu.

THE Director of the State Security Service, has been summoned over the weekend crackdown on senior judges across the country.



The House of Representatives also constituted an ad-hoc committee to investigate the clampdown and said they hoped Lawal Daura, the DG of SSS, will appear before it for further explanation.

Scores of SSS operatives conducted a night raid of the residences of some judges between Friday and Saturday, accusing the judges of fraud.

The operation, largely unprecedented, has continued to generate views amongst Nigerians.

The Senate condemned the raid, but refused to summon Mr. Daura.

The House said the SSS must explain where it derived the power to raid judges’ homes.

The motion was tabled by a lawmaker from Rivers State, Chinda Ogundu.

The six-state sweep also included Mr. Ogundu’s state of Rivers, where Governor Nyesom Wike foiled an attempt to arrest a judge attached to the Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court.

A lawmaker, Mojeed Alabi, suggested that the House should respect the principles of separation of powers and stay away from the matter, but the House approved the motion nonetheless.

THE Senate on Tuesday condemned the invasion‎ of the residences of Judges by operatives of the Department of State Services over allegations of corruption.








The Upper Chamber however kicked against the request to summon the Director General of the DSS, Lawal Daura, to explain why his men invaded the Judges’ residences without recourse to the National Judicial Council.


The decision of the Senate was sequel to a matter of urgent national importance brought under Orders 42 and 52 of the Senate’s Rules Book by Senator Joshua Lidani.


Lidani in a point of order raised over unlawful arrests of Judges by the official of the DSS, expressed the full support of the Senate to the fight against corruption, but decried the unlawful approach adopted by the DSS.


Lidani said: “The fight against corruption should be done within the confines of the law.


“The Senate supports the fight against corruption, but with strict observance to the principles of separation of power.”


Seconding the motion, Senator Dino Melaye said it was wrong for the DSS to invade the Judges’ residence without recourse to the Judiciary.

EKITI State House of Assembly has suspended the member representing Ikole Constituency 1, Gboyega Aribisogan.








As at the time of filling this report, Social Times gathered that Aribisogan was suspended for 180 legislative days‎ over alleged anti-party activities.


Details later...

Northern Nigeria has had to grapple with some appalling news report over the years. The region is not aided by the Boko haram insurgency. Consequently, many Nigerians especially in the South, have demonized the region that anyone who wants to travel there will be discouraged.


Although some of these widespread reports are blatant ‘lies’, we at Jumia Travel recognize the beauty, hospitality, and congeniality of Northerners. Thus, we identify some of these lies or perceptions so as to dispel them. Perhaps, this will reassure or embolden visitors to explore places like Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna and other Northern cities.


They are religious fanatics


Islam is the dominant religion in the North. Hence, their values and beliefs are greatly influenced by the religion. There are many dos and don'ts that are normally overlooked in the south. Some Nigerians see this as fanaticism which is not the case. But, if you can adhere to and respect these cultural and religious beliefs, you will live peacefully among them.


They are deprived


The influx of underprivileged Northerners into Lagos, the heartbeat of Nigeria have resulted in the generalization that any individual who hails from the region is deprived. No. There are many of them who are very comfortable and wealthy and have never been to Lagos or Abuja. In fact, the richest man in Nigeria and Africa, Aliko Dangote is from the region!


They hate education


Boko Haram means western education or non-Islamic education is a sin. This is what Boko Haram is propagating. However, beyond Boko Haram, Northerners are now embracing education. Not only the education of the male child but also the female child. Even though there should be more enlightenment, parents are sending their wards to school.  





They are impeding Nigeria’s development


A number of political commentators have suggested that the north is preventing Nigeria from reaching its potentials. This is actually wrong. In almost every Nigerian region, there are challenges. The government is doing its best to tackle some of these difficulties. It is very unfair to isolate a region and say it is impeding Nigeria’s development.


They are hostile


Northerners are arguably the most hospitable in Nigeria. They will offer you shelter and food as well as treat you like one of their own. But what they only want from you is not to desecrate their religion and culture.

SENATOR Otunba Dino Melaye is in the news again! This time, he has not challenged the Lion and Jewel of Bourdillion to a fight.


Latest information is that Melaye, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), representing Kogi West in the National Assembly on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has bought a classic Rolls Royce estimate at $400,000 (N180 million).


A report  revealed that the Rolls Royce was acquired two years ago in Las Vegas, United States of America.


The picture of the Rolls Royce was secretly taken in his garage, during a visit to his residence in the high brow Maitama District of the FCT in Abuja, during a visit on Wednesday.


A source close to the Senator    described Senator Dino Melaye  as  “very smart, he actually got the car from Las Vegas two years ago. At that time, he was busy committed with anti-graft crusade as Executive Secretary of Anti-Corruption Network (ACN) but decided to keep it in secrecy."


Checks have confirmed that the Rolls Royce which is a 1923 model is 93 years old, and is used by only a few persons in a special grade.


While no reason has been given why Dino Melaye had decided to keep it for the last two years unannounced, it is believed that he would steal the show in the National Assembly whenever he brings the car.

THE Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has stated that his ministry will not award any new contract for the construction or rehabilitation of federal roads until existing ones are completed.



Mr. Fashola said past administrations in Nigeria awarded contracts for 206 roads at about N2 trillion naira, which were mostly unpaid for.

He was responding to questions from State House correspondents on Wednesday at the end of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council.

He spoke on the terrible state of some roads within the Federal Capital and the reason his ministry appears to be more interested in the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Mr. Fashola said the roads went bad at a time when there were resources but the governments of the time refused to fix them.

“What we have done was first to say that we would not award any new road contract,” he said.

“We would deal with the over 206 roads that have been awarded but not funded for over three years.”

Mr. Fashola also said because of the limited resources available to his ministry, road projects have to be prioritized.

He said the Lagos-Ibadan expressway is a very important road for the whole country and carries the heaviest traffic.

“Now the budget that we have for the three ministries that I superintend is in the region of N400 plus billion and over 200 billion is dedicated to roads across the country.


“So that is the deficit that we have to deal with and in making those choices we then have to deal not with roads that necessarily border us but roads that carry the heaviest traffic,” he said.

He said attention is being given to roads that have economic significance for the country such as routes for the evacuation of fuel and food produce going to the different parts of the country.

The minister also disclosed that the council approved the purchase of three transformers of 150 MVA to be installed in sub-stations of Shiroro in Niger, Osogbo in Osun and Kumbotso in Kano as requested by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN.

Mr. Fashola, who did not mention the cost of the transformers, said the purpose of the purchase which overrides the cost implication is to “continue to reinforce, expand and maintain the existing transmission capacity so that as the progress of our incremental power initiative expands and achieves its purpose, transmission company is able to competently deliver the power.”

THE Naira on Wednesday appreciated against the dollar in all the segments of the foreign exchange market.








The currency gained 9.97 points to exchange at N310.24 from N320.21 it recorded on Tuesday, representing an appreciation of 3.1 per cent.


It also gained a point against the dollar at the parallel market, exchanging at N475 from N476 posted on Tuesday, while it closed against the Pound Sterling and the Euro at N590 and N510, respectively.


At the Bureau De Change (BDC) segment of the market, the naira traded at N354 against the dollar, and at N580 to the Pound Sterling and N510 to the Euro.


Traders at the market said that the sale of foreign exchange to BDCs was already easing the liquidity challenges at the market.


The resumption of the sale of the currencies to BDCs was restored, the naira had been on a steady path to recovery.


Industry watchers believe that if the new arrangement continued, the Nigerian currency would regain its lost glory.


(NAN)

A Nigerian journalist, Jaafar Jaafar has  offered his beetle car to President Muhammadu Buhari urging the president to adjust his  “lifestyle to set example of austerity measures that will earn him (Buhari) accolades in Nigeria and respect globally.”








Jaafar’s letter making the offer reads:  “Dear President Buhari,


“Independence Day Gift”


“I am offering my Volks Wagen Bettle (sic) 1500 model to you as a gift to celebrate Nigeria's Independence Day."


Justifying his offer, Jaafar  said; “Since you steered the country into recession, only the citizens bear the brunt of your actions and inactions, while nothing has changed in you and your family's opulent lifestyle.


“I have a belief adjusting your lifestyle to set example of austerity measures will earn you accolades in Nigeria and respect globally."


He said further that “Sir, the country will save a lot if those fuel-guzzling 8-cylinder engines in the presidential fleet are reduced and your car replaced with a 4-stroke engine car.


“The car is in clean shape with sound engine to boot. It is just as fit as fiddle. But if you think the sound of the engine will cost Nigeria another N20m to format your auditory system in London, I will retrofit a silent engine into it before delivery.


“Attached herewith is the picture of the car for your perusal.


“Accept the assurance of my change if you change.


“Sincerely, Jaafar Jaafar.”

THE wife of Nigeria's Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has been rescued from her abductors.



Margaret Emefiele was kidnapped on Thursday on the Benin-Agbor Expressway by heavily armed gunmen.

She was abducted alongside her driver and four other women.

Though available information was sketchy as at press time, we gathered that a combined security team rescued her at about 12:30am on Saturday (today).

We equally gathered that Margaret has since been moved to Asaba, the Delta State capital.

VICE President Yemi Osinbajo has said that it would be a misnomer and an act of madness if what he and President Muhammadu Buhari are in government for is to make money.



“It is madness for anybody in our position to be looking for money. God put people in a position of authority for them to be able to do something for their people.

“I think if any Nigerian gets the chance to be president of the country, there is nothing he/she is looking for anymore except that while there, you improve the lot of the people.”

The Vice President spoke yesterday, Thursday when he received a delegation of Christian Ministers Welfare Initiative also known as the Pastors’ Forum, Taraba State, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Osinbajo sworn that President Buhari’s dream is to make sure Nigeria is great again and that he has no other objective other than seeing this dream come true.

“This morning, I had a meeting with the President and he repeated to me twice, he said ‘at my age there is only one thing I am looking for, I want to see a great Nigeria.’ He has no other objective and I feel very inspired by that,” Prof Osinbajo stated.

Linking the economic situation to corruption and official graft, the Vice President said: “no economy can tolerate the level of corruption seen in Nigeria without the consequence. Nigerian lives were being lost and yet people cannot account for $15 billion meant for purchase of security equipment to fight the insurgents.”

The Vice President also explained how the factor of vandalisation of oil installations is contributory to the recession, saying that Nigeria has lost several millions of barrels of crude oil due to the activities of the militants in the Niger Delta.

According to him, by early 2016 the country was producing 5,000MW of power for the first time, but by February 2016 the Focados terminal  was destroyed by militants and 40 per cent  of the gas used to fire the power plants were lost and the country was down to 2,500MW of power.

Professor Osinbajo said that at the time the militants started blowing up oil and gas installations, the amnesty stipend were still being paid.

“Nothing changed, the only reason is that we  are investigating people who have stolen money.”

He said that the country is losing one million barrels of oil a day and 60percent of the country’s revenues, adding that there is nowhere such amount of revenue is lost without going into  some  economic challenge like a recession.

While expressing optimism that the country will come out of the recession, the Vice President said: “there is no question at all, God has a reason for bringing us in at this time and God helping us we will see a change in this country.”

Vice President Osinbajo asked the Church and all religious leaders to stand up against corruption, stressing that if this government is doing the right thing by fighting corruption, the Church should support it.

Earlier, the Chairman of the delegation, Rev, Godwin Nyiekule said that the delegation was in the State House to pledge their support to the Buhari Administration for its forthrightness and fight against corruption.

“We are happy with the government for the war against corruption crusade,” he said.

Rev Nyiekule said that the Christian Ministers Welfare Initiative is a non-partisan group but supports good persons who want to participate in government, adding that the federal government should come to the assistance of those churches whose premises are being used as IDP camps.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned indefinitely the lawsuit on the leadership tussle rocking the Peoples Democratic Party.








Justice Okon Abang gave the ruling on Thursday.


Justice Abang’s decision was to enable the Court of Appeal hear and enter its verdict in an appeal filed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi’s faction of the political party challenging his ruling querying the legality of his leadership status in the PDP.


It would be recalled that the former Governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, had approached the High Court to challenge the decision of the party to appoint Ahmed Makarfi, a former Governor of Kaduna State, as chairman of the caretaker committee to organise the party’s convention.


Abang, who presided over the matter, had in a previous ruling held that the Makarfi-led caretaker committee was a product of impunity and nullified the convention that produced the caretaker committee.


The faction led by Makarfi appealed the ruling and questioned the jurisdiction of Abang’s court in the matter.


The appeal is yet to be decided by the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal.


However, at the resumed hearing on Thursday, Abang blasted the Makarfi-led faction for going to a higher court, while its grievances had not been heard by the Federal High Court.


He further added that given the development, he would not be able to go on with the matter since the case is already on appeal.

THE Naira on Thursday hovered around N500 to $1 in the parallel or black market.








However, it sold in most of the markets visited at about N490 to $1.


There are concerns it will head into the N500/$1 rate between Friday and the weekend.


However, the Naira appreciated significantly to N305/$1 at the official interbank market on Thursday.


The Naira had been falling steadily in the last two weeks.

ABDULMUMIN Jibrin, the suspended lawmaker on Thursday gave his colleagues in the House of Representatives three days to return all questionable allowances they paid themselves.








Mr. Jibrin said any lawmaker who fails to heed his call should be prepared for the backlash that would follow when he publishes details of how such official perpetrated the fraud.


Mr. Jibrin’s statement came a day after he was suspended by the House for 180 legislative days —approximately a full calendar year as the House sits three times a week— after being found guilty of violating House ethics and lawmakers’ privileges.


It also came a month after Mr. Jibrin accused his colleagues of raking in millions in illegal allowances, and after he indicted himself as having received N650 million illegally.


To return their loot, Mr. Jibrin advised his colleagues to individually approach the appropriate authority and make arrangement on how to pay everything back into the federal purse.


“I have written to the Clerk of the National Assembly to stand by in anticipation,” Mr. Jibrin said.  


“In the face of the revenue challenges and biting hardship the country is currently facing, there is no better time the country needs such money than now.”


Mr. Jibrin said he resolved to take this action after receiving numerous enquiries from different corners on the need for him to back his allegations against the House leadership and other lawmakers with evidence.


“I have come under intense public scrutiny and pressure to prove that there exists systemic corruption in the House,” Mr. Jibrin said.


Mr. Jibrin said he was specifically demanding the return of a N10 million illegal allowances his colleagues allocated to themselves while the poor were struggling to make ends meet.

THE people of Edo State have been commended for their wisdom in voting convincingly for Mr. Godwin Obaseki, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), during Wednesday’s governorship election in the state.








Rivers State APC made the commendation in a statement issued on Thursday afternoon, in which it congratulated Governor-Elect Obaseki and Edo State APC for their victory at the polls.
 
“There is no doubt that Edo people have made the right choice because Mr. Godwin Obaseki is the best man for the job. He is tested and trusted and will continue the good work which the APC Government in Edo under the watch of His Excellency, Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole, has done in the past almost eight years. We urge the incoming Obaseki Administration to toe the developmental vision of the Comrade Governor and provide the good people of Edo State the type of governance they deserve to continue to enjoy,” Rivers APC said in the statement issued in Port Harcourt by the State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya.
 
The party congratulated all those who made the Edo election peaceful, noting that, by so doing, they have put Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, who sponsored political thugs with a view to rigging the election, to shame.


“INEC, the security agencies, the Edo State Government and the great people of Edo State have proven that with commitment and proper planning, we can make our country great and even export our brand of democracy to other African countries,” Rivers APC said.
 
“We are so pleased with the functionality of the Card Readers’ machines and believe that the National Assembly should set in motion the machinery for a law formally approving electronic voting for future elections in all parts of the country,” the party added.


"Finally, in demonstration of our happiness over this great feat by the people of Edo State, the Rivers State APC confers the title of OGBUAGU (Killer of the Tiger) in extension Destroyer of the undemocratic elements in Edo on Gov Adams Oshiomhole for demonstrating greatness and shrewdness in the politics of Edo State.


"For defeating the Igbinedions in their own Local Government, "Ovia North East and the Raymond Dokpesi in his Etsako East LGA" and most importantly for causing the Edo PDP Leadership to accept defeat even before INEC concludes collation and declaration of the entire results simply present Adams as the true OGBUAGU of Edo politics. We congratulate him for securing Edo from the hands of Treasury looters and misguided politicians.


"We urge the great people of Ondo state to emulate the Edo people during their own gubernatorial election and save their people from the dying and destroying PDP spirit," the statement concluded.

SUSPENDED former House of Representatives Appropriations Committee Chairman, Abdulmumin Jibrin,  has said the action was flawed and would not stand anywhere in the world.

 




He  said, “It is a non-issue and complete nonsense and it is not going to stand anywhere in the world.

 

“As you are aware,  the matter is a subject of litigation, I have instructed my lawyer, Femi Falana SAN to file charges of contempt against Speaker Dogara and of course the House of Representatives and I’m sure the matter will move over to the judiciary and decision will be taken. I’m pretty sure it will be in my favour.”

 

He stressed that those waiting to receive an apology from him should perish the thought because he would never ever apologise to anybody in the House of Representatives.  

“Let me say, I will never ever apologise to anybody in the House of Representatives,” Mr. Jibrin said in a statement. “I did not commit any offence.”

He insisted that he has lived above board since coming to the House five years ago adding that allegations he raised against the Speaker and other members of the body of Principal officers were yet to be addressed.

 

Jibrin said, “What is very important also is that now they have done their worst, they have suspended me, what has it changed? Has it changed the fact that the speaker conspired with other principal officers to divert N40 billion out of N100 billion meant for constituency projects."

 

The former Chairman said his suspension has provided him time to concentrate on the matter in court adding that he was confident that the suspension is not going to stand.

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Voting material have arrived at Polling Unit 005 in Benin.

An INEC adhoc staff explains the voting process to prospective voters at a primary school in Benin.

“The process has changed. Now after accreditation, you vote immediately.

“Voting starts by 8 am and stops at 2pm. Those who are in the queue when it’s 2pm will be allowed to cast their votes.”