₦airaland Forum

Personnel of the State Security Service, SSS, are currently laying siege on the private residence of the immediate past National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, in Asokoro district of Abuja.

A source said that the operatives, led by one Mohammed, arrived Mr. Dasuki’s residence at about 6:40 pm and asked all the soldiers on guard to stay away. They said they were at the property to see the former NSA for official reasons.

The source also said another set of SSS operatives are presently carrying out a similar siege on Mr. Dasuki’s family House, owned by his father, a former Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Dasuki, in Sokoto metropolis.

“They have descended on our House and have so far searched the whole House including a large container that has been in the compound for many years,” the source said of the Sokoto Home.

He also said the operatives have locked all occupants of the House inside and are not allowing anyone in or out of the building.

Our Abuja source said the SSS operatives are still outside the residence of Mr. Dasuki insisting on “seeing” him.

“He has refused to let them in and right now they are threatening to force themselves in,” he said.

Mr. Dasuki was relieved of his appointment as NSA this week by President Muhammadu Buhari. He was appointed NSA by former President Goodluck Jonathan on June 22, 2012 to succeed, Andrew Azazi, who died in a helicopter crash in Bayelsa state.
http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/sss-operatives-takes-over-ex-nsa-sambo.html

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Former Military President Ibrahim Babangida has asked President Buhari to find new ways to fight insurgency in Nigeria. Babangida gave the charge in his Sallah message to Nigeria. He said the blood letting in the last four weeks has been alarming but that he is however confident that President Buhari will "put the final nail in the coffin of Boko Haram". Full text of his sallah message after the cut..



Let me convey my warm wishes to all Muslims home and abroad for the successful completion of the Ramadan exercise. As much as one would have appreciated our efforts as devout Muslims who have observed the obligatory month of Ramadan, the incessant killings and bloodlettings by members of the Boko Haram leave a sour taste in my mouth.

For want of no discernible ideology, they have continued to portray Islam in very bad light, making members of other religions to perceive us with scorn. Islam, which I was born into, some 74 years ago, is a very peaceful religion that preaches brotherliness and togetherness. It is a religion that encourages love, affection and respect for our neighbours and mankind. It is one religion that has an abiding influence on its adherents to cooperate with one another and promote peace in their respective communities. May God touch the hearts of these insurgents so that the untoward act of bloodletting will permanently cease. Happy eid-el-fitri to all.

Events in the last four weeks have continued to raise our adrenaline, in a season of apprehension and utter suspicion, about our security engagements and the sum total of our collective sufferance as a nation. The heightened tension is occasioned by renewed hostilities and mindless bombings predominantly by suicide bombers who have decidedly chose the option of death to life.

We have seen the worst of human follies in the conduct of these avoidable carnage and bloodletting by unscrupulous persons under the guise of religion, doing havoc to our sense of nationality. At this stage of our national history especially with the insecurity we presently experience, it is appropriate for us to device new ways and means of confronting this hydra headed insurgency, without making such initiatives public knowledge.

Media intelligence is required in helping to assemble information and distilling such information in a manner that would benefit the fight against terrorism. Going by the news and information we get everyday, I feel very strongly that the media has a greater role to play in the management of information.

The type of headlines and lead stories that are promoted in favour of the insurgents could only help to motivate members of Boko Haram rather than demotivate them. I expect, with a deep sense of patriotism, to see a greater deal of positive news promoted in support of military efforts at confronting this menace than a celebration of Boko Haram carnage, day in and day out. Strategic efforts and initiatives of the military targeted at curtailing the spread of the Boko Haram should remain most often top secret within military hierarchy and the presidency.

Collaborative efforts should also follow similar pattern so that little or limited information is let loose for the consumption of members of the sect. Coordinated efforts by the security agencies should be strengthened and refocused to gain new dimensions towards combating the unwholesome activities of this sect, and when such dimensions are sought and cultivated, they should remain the exclusive preserve of top military brass. Information management is very key to confronting an unconventional warfare such as the one under reference, which is further complicated by the unfashionable method of suicide bombings.

It is a strange dimension to this whole exercise of insurgency and has further compounded our earlier strategies in helping to nip this monster in the bud. The media it must be emphasized, has a greater role to play in this information management system where a well defined synergy is encouraged between members of the media and the military hierarchy.

On a good day, as is often said, the idea of taking some Boko Haram suspects and prisoners to Anambra State, should not be public knowledge, if we are truly serious about information management. Each time we celebrate the dastardly acts of Boko Haram on the front pages of our newspapers and electronic platforms, it is a score for Boko Haram.

We must weigh such information against our collective national interest. Do we subscribe to Boko Haram or to the Nigerian nation? Since we are of good consciences and subscribe to the Nigerian nation, military efforts and achievements in the fight against insurgency should be given primacy than what a suicide bomber has just done.

We must make it a duty to encourage and motivate our military personnel; those who have died in the course of this struggle and those who are still there on the battle field trying to make the Nigerian society safe for all of us. The families of those who have lost their gallant fighters and bread winners must be catered for beyond the present tokenism.

This initiative will serve as incentive to others who are still in the trenches battling to keep us safe. The President, General Muhammadu Buhari as a Military Officer, understands the import of these altruistic suggestions and I trust that he will take steps to apply some of them that fit into the mainstream strategies already in place.

The approach has to be a holistic one, well coordinated with full onslaught launched by the day and night to route these insurgents to surrender. Let me join millions of Nigerians home and abroad in condoling with the families of those who lost their beloved ones during this carnage. Let me also commend the efforts of the Federal Government in helping to address the plights of the Internally Displaced Persons across different locations in the country.

The renewed interest of the international Communities in helping out with superior military hardwares towards combating this menace is a welcome development. Our Islamic clerics should do more in their daily sermons to prevent new converts and recruits into this deadly group. Both religions preach the virtues of good and pious life tempered with the fear of God or Allah.

We must continuously preach sermons that deliver the right messages to our people without ambiguity. I have implicit confidence in my mind that President Muhammadu Buhari will put the final nail on the coffin of Boko Haram so that Nigeria can truly assume her greatness in the comity of nations.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/find-new-ways-to-tackle-insurgency.html

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A woman, identified simply as Mrs. Ajibola, was found to have committed suicide at their residence at Number 4, Ajebamidele Street in the area.
The 46-year-old mother of three was said to have hanged herself at about 6.00 p.m. on Tuesday after claims that she had tried many times to do so without success.
Prior to Ajibola's death, she had reportedly informed landlords in the area of her intention to address a 'press conference' slated for 6.30 p.m.

"It was when some of us arrived to listen to what she had to tell us that we discovered that she was nowhere to be found."it was when we were searching for her that we saw her dangling body hung on the ceiling in her house," a landlord who pleaded for anonymity said.

The source said the victim had been sick and treated several times, adding that "many times, she had threatened to take her own life. There was even a time she said she would jump into the well and we had to announce to all landlords that they should make sure that their wells are well secured."
Another witness, who also pleaded not to be quoted, said the deceased was full of life when she saw her on Tuesday morning, describing her as gentle and jovial.
She said:

"It's unfortunate that we lost her but I think she had been sick for some time."

The Police Public Relation Officer, Mr. Alberto Adeyemi, who confirmed the incident, said the command had launched investigation into the suicide to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/mother-of-3-finally-hangs-self-in-ekiti.html

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https://c.files.bbci.co.uk/E892/production/_84283595_img_0936.jpg
The finishing touches are being made for the unveiling of Sunday Oliseh as the new coach of Nigeria's national football team - the Super Eagles.

Fans are also arriving at the stadium here in Nigeria's capital, Abuja.

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http://www.360metrosports.com/2015/07/photos-nff-set-stage-as-they-plan-to.html

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So this woman short like this .....Well thank God say my President tall oo
Drop your caption?

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/08/what-is-wrong-with-this-picture.html

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A federal court in Abuja has granted former Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, and his two sons, bail.

They are to be released from prison once the bail conditions are met.
Mr. Lamido and his sons are facing money laundering charges, brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

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[img]http://2.bp..com/-nbJYPjQRcX0/VaVYC0dfWKI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/OrzkBPVCpX0/s320/free3.jpg[/img]

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/photos-lamido-and-son-smile-after.html

cc: lalasticlala this na front page tins

Feeling empty and, perhaps, reminiscing the days when it wielded unimaginable powers at the centre and in several states, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said former President Goodluck Jonathan caused its failure at the last general elections.



Assessing events leading to, during and after the elections, on Saturday, even as the report of the Senator Ike Ekwerenmadu committee on the issue is being awaited, the party specifically traced its problem to the insistence by Jonathan to run for a second term. It would be recalled that the issue of an agreement that the immediate past President would not go for a second term was a thorny one, with ex-President Obasanjo saying there was such an greement, though ‘a gentleman’s deal’ that did not require the parties signing any document. The pro-Jonathan campaign however swore severally that there was nothing like that, challenging those who argue otherwise to produce the signed agreement detailing terms of the pact.

Notwithstanding, the party said it has learnt its lessons and would in future not take the zoning arrangement enshrined in its constitution for granted.

Addressing newsmen yesterday in Abuja, PDP National Vice Chairman (South South), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh said it was pure mischief that prevented party members from insisting on the retention of the zoning arrangement, as he disclosed that the former president actually breached an agreement to run for just a term.

Taking a look into the past of the party yesterday and assessing what went wrong, Ojuigoh insisted that there was a gentleman arrangement by the 34 ‘great’ men that formed the PDP in 1998 that they would start shifting power eight years to the north and eight years to the south, adding that it was enshrined in the PDP constitution.

With former President Olusegun Obasanjo utilizing the eight years term of the South, the batton he said was given to former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who unfortunately died in offic,e even before completing his first four years in office.

Jonathan, he noted, was given the opportunity of being the party’s candidate, following the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

Ojougboh stressed that President Jonathan, indeed agreed with the party leaders to serve a single term and let power return to the North, but breached the agreement. This, he regretted was with the connivance of some party leaders who threw their conscience to the winds.

At the last poll, President Muhammadu Buhari, he said, benefited from the anger of the northerners who overwhelmingly voted for him in a show of rejection of Jonathan who was perceived as a betrayer and treated so.

“When PDP had the first shot, everybody cooperated, Obasanjo became president. After eight years, it was the turn of the North to become president then problem started. Some people started toying with the idea of third term. PDP said no, PDP members of the National Assembly and other parties said no, it will not work.

“The PDP had to produce a candidate and that is how Yar’adua came. Unfortunately, Yar’adua did not survive so the North said look this presidency is our own, we have to utilise our allotted eight years and they were right.

“Jonathan himself said he will do only four years. Emirs, leaders and stakeholders in the country accepted that Jonathan will do only four years so that the power can shift to the North. When time came, a lot of Macabre dances started; people started putting pressure here and there, and people started encouraging Jonathan to contest. Unfortunately, Jonathan didn’t have the nerves to say no, I will keep my agreement.

“So Jonathan contesting meant that zoning formula had been breached. The North didn’t take kindly with it; they said no, this is not what we agreed. Even the christian North that used to be very friendly, especially the North Central said we had an agreement. Some governors about five of them left the party because of that because they saw what was happening. So it was this pressure that the North now agreed that they must take power back, that it was their turn.

“Fortunately or unfortunately, only two candidates were presented at the election whether you like it or not; Jonathan and Buhari. Buhari is from the North, Jonathan is from the South. The south had done more than enough for the time been for the agreement of 1998/1999. So the North said look we are going to vote for our son whether he is good or bad,” he said.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/jonathan-cost-us-2015-elections-pdp.html

cc: lalasticlala

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has disclosed that the payment of taxes is a matter of self-interest not just civic duty, stressing that one cannot be a successful entrepreneur by cutting corners. He disclosed this on Saturday, July 11 at the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme, TEEP Boot Camp 2015, held at the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.



“The payment of taxes and other obligations; be it moral or civic, for the purpose of development of the economy, for building infrastructure and other services are all important in business,” he stated.

Osinbajo, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the event, explained that the ground for entrepreneurial success is character, adding that the pivotal role of exemplary character in entrepreneurship, which in turn could become the platform for the growth of business and development of a nation’s economy.



The Vice President asserted that the core of success in business is integrity, honesty and trust in the conduct of business, adding that credit worthiness is important in business, because when trust fails every other thing fails.



He expressed optimism that Africa now stands at the phase of greatness after many years of being regarded as ‘the dark continent’, recording highest figures in poverty poor health-care, illiteracy, and poor human development.



Osinbajo commended Tony Elumelu, the founder of the programme, for “investing substantially in the ideas and vision of many young Nigerians and Africans, and helping to shape the future of the continent by building confidence in the young men and women to direct the success in the coming years.”

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/payment-of-taxes-goes-beyond-civic-duty.html

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The Akwa Ibom state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has accused the former governor of the state, who is now a senator, Godswill Akpabio, of bribing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commissioner in the state, Austin Okojie.

The party’s claims Akpabio’s action is meant to frustrate the its petition challenging the election of Governor Udom Emmanuel.





In a petition on July 8 addressed to the Director General of the Department of State Security and the Inspector General of Police and obtained by Premium Times, the party, through its legal counsel, Victor Iyanam, accused Okojie of collecting the bribe from Akpabion in order to work against its interest and that of its governorship candidate, Okon Umanah, at the election tribunal.



According to Iyanam, the alleged bribe was paid by Akpabio before he left power with the aim of making the INEC commissioner feel “obliged to complete the corrupt process by doing everything possible to frustrate the governorship elections petition of the APC candidate.”



Iyanam said he was compelled to write the petition after several complaints against the continued refusal by INEC in the state to grant access to the APC to inspect election materials, despite several orders by the governorship election petition tribunal in the state.



The federal government had approved the relocation of the tribunal from Uyo to Abuja after the allegations of threats to security. The tribunal also directed that the election materials and forensic analysis should be inspected in the presence of State Security Services officials and the Nigerian police.



The petition, however, claimed that Okojie refuse the obey the tribunal’s orders, nor cooperate with the APC to carry out the inspection “principally (due) to the fact that the sum of N2.5 Billion was disbursed to him by the previous government of Chief Godswill Akpabio prior to the general elections.”





The petition also claimed that the INEC commissioner only brought some of the sensitive election materials from Uyo to Abuja and ensured that they were not handed over to anybody for custody.

“The objective of the delay tactics employed by Mr. Okojie on behalf of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is to prevent the APC candidate from using the evidence to effectively prosecute his case at the election tribunal,” the petition stated.



Okojie and some other senior INEC officials in the state were also accused of working to cause “irreparable damage to the election materials,” as most of the documents brought from Uyo were allegedly already destroyed on arrival in Abuja.

“Water was deliberately poured into the bags of materials, while some were kept under the rain, contrary to the established practice of keeping the materials in envelops according to their polling units.



“The conduct of the REC, absolutely criminal in content, reckless in execution and done with impunity, is not only a breach of public trust, but would have catastrophic consequences if allowed to go unpunished in order to serve as a deterrent,” the petition said.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has began to probe Akpabio over the alleged fraud of N108.1billion of Akwa Ibom state funds.


http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/akpabio-offered-inec-commissioner-in.html

cc: lalaticlala

The Sekem singer this time around has bitten more that he can chew as he was alleged to have beaten up his expatriate manager, Barbara, yesterday, Thursday, July 10, 2015.



It was gathered that MC Galaxy for a yet to be disclosed reason beats up the European lady who has been managing his career for a while now. The lady was said to have sustained bruises during the encounter.



MC Galaxy was arrested by policemen from Maroko police station, Lekki phase 1, yesterday evening, Thursday, July 10, 2015.








He was said to have been released this morning on bail after he signed an undertaking stating that nothing will happen to Barbara in Nigeria or else he will be held responsible.



The European lady, Barbara, works for galaxy as his manager and lives in his house in Lekki with other artists who work on his label and MC Galaxy once celebrated her as the best manager.

http://www.metroparrot.net/2015/07/photo-mc-galaxy-in-police-net-after.html

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30 year old man, Atoku Odimegwu was arraigned at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court Lagos for rape related offence.



The accuse who is a residence of 40, Ladejo Street, Ojodu Barger, Lagos is facing a one-count charge of attempted rape on his friend’s wife.



The prosecutor, Inspector Rachael Williams, made it known to the court that, the accuse who is a construction company worker, truly committed the offence at his residence on June 30.





She further told the court that, on the said date, the 37 year old woman went to the accused person’s house to collect the money he was owing her husband and on getting there, “on getting to the house, the accused locked the door and told the woman that he loves her and wanted to make love to her.

“The woman, who said she could not believe what the husband’s friend wanted to do to her, begged him to allow her to go but the man was adamant and he forcefully pushed her to the ground.

“However, the attempt to rape the woman was unsuccessful even though the accused tore her underwear but she overpowered him.’’



According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened Section 260 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.



Having listened to the prosecutor, the Chief Magistrate, Mr. Tajudeen Elias made it known that the accused was pleaded not guilty of the charge and granted him bail in the sum of N250,000 with two sureties in like sum. The Chief Magistrate ordered the accused to pay N50,000 in to the Chief Registrar’s account as part of the bail condition and adjourned the case to August 19, 2015 for his trail.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/man-in-court-after-raping-friends-wife.html

cc: lalasticlala

The Federal Government has agreed to pay outstanding subsidy-related debt to oil product importers, Yakubu Suleiman, spokesman for the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) said on Wednesday.



“They agreed to pay the remaining balance last week. Nothing has come yet but maybe this or next week. It’s 159 billion naira” ($800 million), Suleiman said.

He said he was present at a meeting last Thursday with the permanent secretaries of finance, oil and the state agency regulating the costly subsidy scheme for gasoline and diesel.



Nigeria, one of Africa’s top producers of crude oil, subsidises gasoline and other fuels. The country must import the bulk of the 40 million litres a day that it consumes owing to a neglected refining system.



An acute fuel shortage crippled Nigeria in April and May as fuel importers shut their depots to press their case. Importers were worried that the new government, elected in March, would not honour the debt.



The presidency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to review closely the subsidy scheme, which was revealed to have paid out over $6 billion in fraudulent claims in 2012.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/fg-agrees-to-pay-159bn-subsidy-debt.html




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The Nigerian military said its troops have arrested the mastermind of last Sunday’s bombing in Jos, Plateau state, and Tuesday’s suicide blast in Zaria, Kaduna state.


The Defence Headquarters said in a tweet on Wednesday that the suspect was arrested at a military checkpoint in Gombe State.


It said the arrest followed an operation by a combined team of the military and DSS operatives.

It did not give further details.


The Plateau attack killed 44 people while the explosion in Zaria killed 26 people.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/breaking-news-nigerian-army-arrest.html

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Twitter has shut down the verified @FLON account which supposedly belonged to Aisha Buhari, wife of Nigeria’s President, Muhammodu Buhari.



image

The handle was opened on behalf of the First Lady by her handlers, and subsequently verified by Twitter only to be disowned by the Presidency during the Zahra Buhari twitter storm.

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Twitter’s public attention to the violation of its ethics due to the verification of the handle even before President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn into office.

The controversy that led to the final shutting down of the account happened on Sunday when the Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu issued a statement stating that Aisha Buhari, wife of the Nigerian President was not on Twitter.

Garba Shehu’s disclaimer eventually led to Twitter shutting down the account.

https://www.opinionriver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/image35-300x300.jpg

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/aisha-buhari-verified-twitter-account.html

cc: lalasticlala

The advocacy group for the missing Chibok girls are currently in a meeting with President Buhari..

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/more-photos-as-bbogengagespmb-meet.html

cc: lalasticlala

www.metronaija.com is with the over 200 #bringbackourgirls campaigners has we have met with President Muhammadu Buhari for the first time.



President Muhammadu Buhari is meeting with members of the BringBackOurGirls inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, security chiefs and other top government officials are also here . Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; Mariam Uwais and Hadiza Bala-Usman headed the #bringbackourgirls group to the Aso Villa


It is now 450 days since more than 200 girls were kidnapped by Boko Haram in chibok, north-east Nigeria.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/exclusive-photos-bringbackourgirls_8.html


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Reports in sections of the media today that funds will be drawn from the Excess Crude Account for the relief package approved by President Muhammadu Buhari for states and local governments, are incorrect.


For the purpose of greater clarity on the matter, the measures approved by President Buhari to deal with the problem of unpaid public sector salaries in many states are as follows:

*The sharing of the $2.1 Billion dividend paid to the Federation Account by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG);

* A Central Bank-packaged special intervention fund that will offer financing to the states, ranging from N250 Billion to N300 Billion. This will be a soft loan available to states for the purposes of paying backlog of salaries; and

*A debt relief program designed by the Debt Management Office which will help states restructure their commercial loans currently put at over N660 Billion, and extend the life span of such loans while reducing their debt-servicing expenditures. The measures approved by President Buhari definitely do not include drawing down the remaining balance in the Excess Crude Account or the "liquidation" of the account as some media outlets have wrongly reported.

No such decision has been taken or approved by President Buhari, and last week's meeting of the National Economic Council clearly concluded that the Excess Crude Account should be left untouched at this time.

FEMI ADESINA
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity) July 7, 2015

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/presidency-denies-plans-of-sharing-17.html

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