₦airaland Forum

By Ejike Ejike, Abuja


The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) has partnered with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to training aviation workers on how to easily detect fake travel documents in various entry points.

The training, tagged ‘Control of the Authenticity and Validity of Travel Documents’, attracted participants from the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS), Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Civil Avaition Authority (NCAA), NCAT and two participants from Ghana.

Speaking at the event in Abuja, the Deputy Rector of NCAT, Dauda Yahaya said the programme was organised following a request from ICAO and expressed confidence that the training will impact massively on participants.

According to him, “we had a request that came from ICAO that NCAT should host this training because it is a newly developed training. They feel we need to bring the knowledge and skills to people who handle our borders and in the airports particularly.”

Also, one of the instructors from the United Kingdom (UK), Mr Doug Scott explained that the training would go a long way in reducing illegal immigration and strengthen security in any country.

According to him, “From ICAO perspective, the training is to improve the facilitation of passengers through borders. The immigration officers will be able to check if the documents are genuine by authenticating and validating the documents of the passengers.

“It is just to ensure only genuine people can travel. The officers will have the capability to identify the document at the first point of the border, if they find there is issue with the document then the person is delayed and they may pass to another level of examination for further verification.”

Scott also explained that the increase in the number of travellers which has also resulted in the rise of forged travel documents also necessitated the training.

He said “the training impacts on the security of the airports because if a person is in possession of forged document you don’t know why the person has it.

“They may simply want to hide their immigration history, they may be planning to perpetrate a crime or terrorism; we don’t know, but the fact is that we must have their documents checked.”

Samson Folarin


Suspected kidnappers have killed the chaplain to the Bishop of the African Church , Ondo Central Diocese , Revd . David Ayeola .

The gunmen shot Ayeola dead in a botched rescue operation after the church declined to pay the N 100m ransom the kidnappers demanded .

The African Church had offered N 500, 000 instead .

PUNCH Metro learnt that the remains of the victim had been deposited in a morgue .

Our correspondent gathered that Ayeola , the bishop , Samuel Ojo ; and the bishop ’ s wife were travelling to Abeokuta, Ogun State , from Imojo Ekiti , Ekiti State , when they were waylaid by the gunmen on the road .

The bishop , his wife , Ayeola , and the driver of the car were said to have fled into the bush .

A source said , “ While others escaped, the chaplain was caught and abducted by the gunmen.

“ They later contacted the headquarters of the church at Akure and demanded N 100m . The church , however , offered them N 500, 000, which they turned down. ”

Another top leader of the African Church said the church ’ s leadership involved the Ekiti State Police Command in the rescue of the priest .

He explained that while trying to buy time with negotiation, the police also closed in on the hideout of the abductors.

“ On Saturday, the police swooped on the hideout of the kidnappers and there was an exchange of gunfire between them .

“ The police team was overpowered and the kidnappers decided to shoot the priest . He was shot in the side ; they ( kidnappers ) left his corpse behind . The family has taken the body to the morgue , ” he added .

When contacted , the Diocesan Public Relations Officer , Alex Akande, said he could not talk about the incident, adding that the church ’ s leadership would meet on Monday ( today) .

He said , “ The case is with the police. I don ’ t want to divulge too much information because I need to get clearance from the church ’ s headquarters . We will be having a meeting tomorrow ( Monday ); maybe I can talk after that. ”

PUNCH Metro learnt that Ayeola was not married and he had only recently finished from the seminary.

A check on his Facebook page showed that although he rarely used social media, he sometime waxed philosophical .

“ People may say many things about you , but what you say about yourself matters most . I know I shall accomplish the purpose of God for my life in the land of the living in Jesus Name. Do have a happy night rest friends , ” his last post read .

The Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer, Adeyemi Ademola , confirmed the death .

He said , “ Yesterday evening ( Saturday) , we received intelligence about where the reverend was being kept by the kidnappers . The police and some hunters went to rescue him . We discovered that the place was a very thick forest .

“ When the kidnappers noticed that the police and the hunters were coming , they shot the reverend and escaped.

“ We went after them for a while, but the team had to turn back when it was getting dark . This was to avoid endangering the lives of members of the team in a terrain that the kidnappers may be more familiar with . We took the reverend to a general hospital , but sadly , we lost him . ”

Samson Folarin


A worker with the Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Dele Ogundele, has been hospitalised after he was allegedly brutalised by a police sergeant attached to a house reportedly owned by a former Inspector- General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar .

PUNCH Metro learnt that the mobile policeman , Attah Aninoko, on Thursday dragged down Ogundele from an electric pole opposite the house and beat him up for disconnecting power to the house of the former IG .

Ogundele’ s leg was allegedly broken by the sergeant, who was reported to have boasted that “ nothing will happen . ”

The matter was said to have been reported to the police at the Ikoyi division and the sergeant was arrested.

The Head of Corporate Communications Department, Eko Electricity Distribution Company ( EKEDC) , Mr . Godwin Idemudia, who confirmed the incident, said the sergeant had been detained .

He explained that the house of the former IG owed a bill of N 154, 693. 85, adding that the name on the bill was one Yusuf .

He said , “ What we do is that anytime customers don’ t respond and pay their bills, we go out with copies of their bills . When we get to their houses , we tell them what they owe and ask if they had made any payment in the last 24 hours. If they can’ t produce any evidence of such , we disconnect their electricity .

“ That was what we did in this case . We had two of our vehicles working in the area on that day . On getting to the house around 12noon on Thursday, October 19, a man came out and we asked for evidence of payment because we discovered that the house owed over N 154, 000. When he couldn’ t produce it, we said we would disconnect the power . The man flared up.

“ The mobile policeman came out, and while our official was disconnecting the power from the pole , he ordered him to come down. In fact , he dragged the official down and beat him up. In the process , the official sustained injuries and his left leg was broken . ”

Idemudia said because the policeman was armed , other officials of the electricity distribution company were helpless and could only watch their colleague being brutalised.

He said policemen from the Ikoyi division were alerted and the cop was arrested. Ogundele was said to have been taken to a hospital.

“ When he was taken to the station, he started boasting that nothing would come out of the case .

“ We believe that nobody is above the law .
The case should not be swept under the carpet . The Divisional Police Officer has assured us that justice would be served , ” he added .

The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous -Cole, denied that Ogundele’ s leg was broken , adding that the power company was being mischievous .

He said , “ This people know that the property belongs to a former civil servant and they are just trying to be mischievous .

“ They came and said the house owed some bills and before the residents could go in to bring out their record, they had cut off power . There were policemen in the area and they tried to intervene.

“ There was nobody that suffered any broken leg or any injury . Care should be taken not to damage the good name of the former civil servant . The DPO is trying to mediate and the case is under investigation. ”

By Kayode Tokede, Lagos


With the Cash Reserve Ratio at 22.5 per cent, a total of seven Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) deposited N2.14 trillion with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) between January and June 2017, LEADERSHIP can report.

CRR is the amount of funds that DMBs have to hold as reserves either in cash or as deposits with the apex bank. The CBN uses the CRR to drain out excess liquidity from the DMBs. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the CBN in March 2016 had resolved to raise the CRR to 22.5 per cent from 20 per cent, in a move aimed at tightening liquidity from the system.

The committee towards the end of 2015 reduced the CRR from 25 per cent to 20 per cent with a view to channeling the liquidity arising there to the real sector while in July 2015, the CRR was pegged at 31 per cent.

The seven DMBs had deposited a total sum of N2.1 trillion with CBN in 2016 and the funds are not available for use in day-to-day operations. According to LEADERSHIP investigations, Tier-I banks deposit with CBN continued to rise despite drop in customers’ deposit in the period under review.

Of the N2.14 trillion CRR with CBN, First Bank of Nigeria Holdings Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTBank) Plc and Zenith Bank Plc deposited estimated N1.2 trillion or 58.1 per cent. The breakdown revealed that, GTBank’s mandatory deposit (CRR) with CBN moved to N350.9 billion as at June 30, 2017 an increase of 7.3 per cent from N327 billion reported in 2016.

Zenith Bank’s CRR rose by 4.4 per cent to N467 billion as at June 30, 2017 from N447.49 billion in 2016 while First Bank of Nigeria Holdings Plc reported a drop of 22 per cent in mandatory deposit with CBN to N424.5 billion from 543 billion in 2016. The likes of United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) deposit with CBN rose by 6.3 per cent to N342 as at June 30, 2017 from N321.9 billion in 2016.

Access Bank Plc restricted deposited with CBN gained 8.7 per cent from N250.8 billion reported in 2016 to N272.7 billion as at June 30, 2017. Stanbic IBTC Holdings and Fidelity Bank Plc deposited N127.6 billion and N154 billion to CBN, an increase of 43.8 per cent and 9.98 per cent over N88.77 billion and N140 billion reported last year.

While commenting on the MPC decision to increase the CRR to 22.5 per cent, the CBN governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele noted that the committee noted that the excess liquidity in the banking system was contributing to the current pressure in the foreign exchange market with a strong pass-through to consumer prices.

“The committee further noted that, previous efforts to reflate the economy in order to spur growth, did not elicit the required response from DMBs, hence the surfeit of liquidity in the interbank market.

“Obviously, the attendant low rates at that market have not transmitted to the term structure of interest rates. Concerned about the need for low interest rates to support growth and employment, the committee urged the CBN to explore innovative ways of ensuring the unhindered flow of credit at low cost to key growth sectors, even as monetary policy has to, under the circumstance, address the liquidity surfeit in the banking system as well as the pressure on exchange rate and consumer prices.

“The committee hopes that fiscal and other structural policies would soon be deployed to strengthen the overall response of macroeconomic policy to the shocks.” The CBN has continued to invest the deposited funds to key sectors of the nation’s economy.

Hitherto, the managing director, Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adnori said the mandatory deposit by Banks into CBN’s has sustained liquidity in the economy. He noted that the CBN had to strike a balance of how many public funds that include government deposit that are being accessible by the banks.

He said, “The major reason CBN increased CRR to 2.5 per cent is for banks to discharge their obligations to customers efficiently. The CRR increased from 20 per cent to 22.5 per cent is to safe guide customers deposit with CBN. A lot of money is borrowed out by banks and the mandatory deposit with CBN is to protect cash withdrawal.”

Samson Folarin


A 52-year - old retired civil servant , Paul Akpederi , is cooling his heels in a Lagos police cell after eating the forbidden fruit .

The Delta State indigene, who lives on Adegbite Street , Ori-Okuta, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State , was alleged to have raped his 15- year -old daughter , Rose , for over three years.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Paul started sexually abusing Rose when she was in Junior Secondary School Three .

When the secret got to the knowledge of a teacher , Paul allegedly changed her school
The suspect was said to have continued the abuse until she got to Senior Secondary School Two in her new school .

Rose’ s former teacher was said to have run into her sometime in October 2017 and told a friend about Rose ’ s plight, who then alerted the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender through the agency’ s social media platform .

Our correspondent learnt that officials of the agency reported the case to the police at the Owutu division , who then arrested the suspect and rescued the 15- year -old .

A social worker , who was part of the rescue, told our correspondent that Paul started sleeping with his only daughter after separating from her mother .

He said , “ The man had been defiling his daughter since the wife left him . She is their only daughter and when the marriage broke down , he took custody of her. That was when the problem started .

“ He started sleeping with her when she was barely 12 years old . She was in JSS 3 then . They were about to start their final exams in the junior school when her colleagues found her crying uncontrollably . When they could not console her , they called the attention of one of their teachers , who then took her to a room .

“ She told the teacher what she had been going through and the teacher informed Rose’ s pastor at a branch of the Redeemed Christian Church of God , who counselled her. Her father was invited and that was the end of the case .

“ The man , who was desperate to cover up the crime , changed her school and she lost contact with the teacher . ”

PUNCH Metro gathered that the defilement continued until Rose got to SSS 2 in her new school.

It was learnt that the teacher in her former school ran into her one day and they had a brief discussion about her ( Rose) welfare.
The teacher , who suspected the abuse was still continuing , reportedly informed a friend , who wrote about Rose ’ s ordeal on OPD ’ s Facebook page on October 9.

A member of the OPD team that visited the victim ’ s school said she initially denied the defilement and attempted to exonerate her father .

He said , “ She kept lying and when we didn ’ t get a breakthrough, we got in touch with the mandatory reporter ( teacher ) who then assisted us in trailing her to her parent’ s house. The police arrested the man and rescued the girl .

“ They were both taken to a police station . During interrogation , the girl again denied that anything happened . Her father suddenly became aggressive and said we didn ’ t have his permission to interview his daughter .

“ The girl was taken to the OPD ’ s office at Ikorodu , where she opened up to an officer .
We took her to a home in Ijede , where she was placed in a shelter and protective custody. ”

The social worker who interviewed Rose said she gave a chilling account of her ordeal.

“ She said her father had been sleeping with her since she was in JSS 3 and he slept with her at least three times in a month. She said he slept with her in August and September 2017 as well. She explained that he always poured his semen into her private parts and he never used contraceptives . She said anytime he slept with her, he would tell her not to tell anybody. The girl said she could not tell people because she thought nobody would believe her, ” the official said .

It was gathered that she was placed on medication over complaints that she had yet to see her menstrual period , just as some growths were allegedly spotted in her private parts .

She was reportedly taken to Mirabel Centre, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, for medical tests .

Our correspondent gathered that the result of the tests , which had been given to the police, showed that Rose’ s hymen was broken and there was “ continuous penetration ” of her private parts .

PUNCH Metro learnt that after the victim’ s confession, the Owutu Divisional Police Officer requested that she be brought back to the station .

In a drama that ensued at the DPO ’ s office , Paul, who had initially boasted, was alleged to have become humble after being confronted with his daughter ’ s confession .

“ When the DPO asked what he had to say to the daughter ’ s allegations , he said , ‘ Oga , I am in your hands o’ . The DPO ordered that he should be taken back to the cell , ” a source said .

The Director of the OPD , Mrs . Olubukola Salami, confirmed the incident, adding that the agency would pursue the case to the end .

She said , “ We cannot stop re -emphasising the zero tolerance of the Lagos State Government for domestic and sexual abuse . OPD is alarmed at the high rate of incidents of sexual abuse , especially by people of trust. OPD is not only interested in arresting and prosecuting perpetrators, it is also interested in curbing this rising trend. ”

The Lagos State police spokesperson, ASP Olarinde Famous -Cole , said the suspect would soon be arraigned in court .

He said , “ The case was reported at the Owutu division and the DPO led a police team to arrest the suspect . The girl was taken to a hospital where preliminary medical tests were conducted on her to be sure she was not infected or had any pregnancy or mental issue as a result of the sexual abuse .

“ The case will be transferred to the Gender Unit of the state police command for further investigation before the case will be charged to court . For now , we are working with the girl’ s confessional statement . ”

chiochio1:
He was only acting up, if he really wants to commit suicide he knows best place and time to do it.

By Orjime Moses, Abuja



Three aspirants for the office of the North East National Vice
Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has called on party faithful to disregard a call for a caucus meeting.

In a statement signed by the three aspirants: Dr Umar Duhu; Alhaji Usman Iya Abbas and Alhaji Umar Sani the group said, the sponsor of the notice for the meeting wants to installed himself to the position of the North East national vice chairman of the APC when there are other contestants.

“We saw with regret an advertorial in the Daily Trust of October 9, 2017 purportedly issued by a faceless desperado and code named ‘Organizing Committee’ calling for a caucus meeting.”

“In the advertorial, he is calling for the North East Zonal meeting for the sole purpose of inaugurating him and other self- acclaimed and nonexistent North East zonal executive members of the All Progressives
Congress (APC).”

“It is instructive therefore, we set the records straight and call on all the peace loving APC Members in the North East Zone and the general public to completely disregard the said advertorial as it is completely fouls, malicious and the hand work of a desperado whose
intent is to ascend the throne he was never elected to occupy. It is also important to also state that, the said advertorial is without the blessings of either the National Chairman of the APC, the Deputy National Chairman – North who was supposed to be the convener and indeed, the National Working Committee of the APC,” the contestants said.

“We are therefore resolute and will leave no stone on turned to ensure that, no such imprudent and fruitless exercise take place anywhere in the North East being the original jurisdiction for such exercise, until the right thing is done by the Leadership of the APC,” the contestants added.

Friday Amobi, Port Harcourt


There was pandemonium in Rumuagholu community , Obio /Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State following a report that a middle - aged man , had allegedly attempted to commit suicide over N 27m debt, a source disclosed .

The man, Mishack Okonye , who is the Managing Director of CMIK High Global Service , was said to have incurred the huge debt, which he had been battling to offset .
It was gathered that Okonye , had allegedly worked for a firm , Bua International Limited in Port Harcourt .

It was further learnt that Bua still owed CMIK over N 27 million and Okonye had sold most of his property in order to pay for the machineries and labours he hired for project .

Mrs. Millicent , the wife of Okonye, who narrated how her husband had attempted to commit suicide over the debt , noted that God ’ s intervention saved him .

Millicent disclosed in Port Harcourt that she met her husband , Meshach Okonye , trying to take a concoction in order to terminate his life.

She narrated that the cause of her husband ’ s attitude was the debt burden on him , adding that several persons have been coming to demand that Okonye pay them the money he owed them .

Millicent explained that those her husband also borrowed money from to execute the project had been threatening him for over two years now .

She explained that her husband did a job for one Bua International Limited , recalling that over N 27, 750, 000 was still not being paid, resulting to his husband being indebted to many persons .

The woman noted that her husband had sold off most of his property in order to be able to clear the debt because the company he worked for refused to pay .

“ I was out and something prompted me to go back to the house. When I got home, I saw my husband in a strange mood . I discovered that he wanted to drink something I saw in a cup.

“ I will not be happy and I will not take it lightly if my husband hurts himself because of debt that Bua International Company owes him , ” she cried .

She called on the government agencies, well -meaning individuals to prevail on the Bua International Limited to pay her husband so that he could pay of the debts her incurred in the project .

Meanwhile, when the management of Bua International Limited was contacted on the debt owed the contractor, one of the officials of the firm , simply identified as Rabiu, said he would not be able to speak on such matter .

May her gentle soul rest in the bosom of the lord

Eniola Akinkuotu , Abuja


Mrs. Patience Jonathan says her foundation Aruera Reachout Foundation, spent over N 3. 5bn for the treatment of 700 children and adults with heart-related ailments .

She, therefore , rubbished allegations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that she used her foundation to launder stolen funds.

Patience , who is the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan , said this in a statement by her Chief Press Secretary , Belema Meshack-Hart , on Thursday.

Mrs. Jonathan said her foundation “ is a non -governmental, not - for -profit organisation established in 2006. ”

She said the foundation had a medical unit which sponsors the treatment and surgery of children and some adults with heart conditions.

The statement added , “ Till date , over 700 children have benefited from the Aruera Reachout Foundation, this alone cost the foundation billions, it is not news that the logistics involved in the treatment of heart disease cost over N 5m per child .

“ This demonstrates the caring and maternal nature of Nigeria ’ s former first lady . God has used her as an instrument to positively touch the lives of some of our nation ’ s sick children, to make them healthy and happy through the appropriate medical intervention , it is now strange and sad that the EFCC will allege that such foundation only existed to launder funds .

“ The many sick children that would have died but now live a happy life will stand as testament against the baseless propaganda and shameless allegation of the EFCC . It is worthy of note that the foundation which is duly registered by the CAC is free to receive donations from reputable individuals and organisations for its projects just like any other NGO. ”

Patience also rejected the ownership of a $12m account in Diamond Bank which the EFCC allegedly traced to her.

The statement read in part, 'For avoidance of doubt Mrs . Patience Jonathan does not have $12, 831, 173 domiciled in Diamond Bank as alleged by the EFCC . Anyone with proof should provide evidence and take
advantage of the whistle -blower policy . ”
The former first lady also berated the EFCC for saying it had traced N 2. 1bn to Magel Resort Ltd . , a hotel owned by her late mum , Mama Charity Oba.

She urged the EFCC to let her late mother rest in peace .

Patience added , “ The former first lady had no dealings with the hotel until the demise of her late mum after which the hotel was handed over to her with the presentation of the death certificate of her mum.

“ This can be confirmed by Zenith Bank . Mrs . Patience Jonathan does not own Magel Resort Ltd. neither did she open the hotels account with Zenith Bank. The late mother of the former first lady should be allowed to rest in peace . ”

Mrs. Jonathan further rubbished reports that a N 200m IT contract was awarded to Magel Resort LTD , describing it as a figment of the imagination of the EFCC .

johnime:
ngozi.odum@aiicoplc.com Client Service Excecutive

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has appealed to the Federal Government to include pastoralists in its health programmes to avoid transfer of diseases from humans to animals.

The National Secretary of the association, Alhaji Baba Ngelzarma, made the appeal while speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.

Ngelzarma who expressed regret over the neglect of the livestock sector, said that pastoralists were not usually considered while designing government health programmes.

The national secretary said that the population of pastoralists and herdsmen across the country was over 30 million and should not be neglected in any government programme.

“Pastoralists do not benefit from government health programmes. Today, if they are sick, they only go to the patent medical stores in nearby communities to get treated.

“They and their families are not captured in the immunisation, maternal health and meningitis programme.

“When people are designing these government health programmes, they do not put pastoralists’ into consideration, and this is the easiest way to transfer diseases from humans to animals because they move from one place to another,’’ he said.

The MACABAN scribe called on the government to collaborate with the association to sensitise and educate pastoralists across the country to reduce vices among them.

According to him, the value chain in the livestock industry is contributing immensely to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The national secretary said that some members of the association were victims of the insurgency in the North-East, with more than two million cattle lost to the crisis.

Ngelzarma however said some of the herdsmen have been included in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) programme of the Federal Government.

He said that the group was compiling information on members affected by the Boko Haram crisis, which it would forward to the Presidential Committee on
North-East Initiative.

Ngelzerma appealed to government at all levels to accord maximum attention to the livestock sector to encourage them. (NAN)

Some commuters at the Nyanya Bus Terminal in Abuja are demanding tighter security at the station due to what they describe as inadequate security arrangement at the location.

They say that security reinforcement at the terminal would safeguard the lives of passengers and other users of the station.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the terminal was reopened on July 4, after it was shut in April 2014 following the bombing of the place by Boko Haram.

The bombing, according to the Abuja Emergency Management Agency, left more than 70 people dead and almost 200 others severely injured.

Mr Godwin Agi, a commuter, told NAN that the traumatic experience of the 2014 bombing had prevented him from going to the station to catch a bus before now.

“To be frank, I was afraid of coming into this terminal to board a bus, but from the new arrangement, people are becoming more and more confident coming here.

“However, I can say I am not very satisfied with the security arrangement here because for me, there is really nothing here that can safeguard passengers’ lives.

“Unless there is a hidden security system that has been put in place here that we cannot see or do not know about.

“I cannot see any proper security apparatus in place.”

Agi urged the operators of the terminal to create an atmosphere conducive for passenger’s use by keeping the environment clean and providing shelter where passengers could take refuge from the rains and the heat of the sun.

Another passenger, Mr Sunday Akunjo, called on the management of the terminal to show commitment to safeguarding the lives of passengers at the station by ensuring that its workers constantly monitored the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras installed in the place.

According to him, it is not enough to mount the cameras and other security equipment in the station if they will not be deployed toward ensuring the security of lives and property.

“The CCTV and other security gadgets are manmade and require continuous monitoring in the control room.

“I am of the view that the operators be more committed because they must be active to be able to utilise the gadgets.”

He said that the presence of a military post or patrol around the area would continue to boost security in the terminal.

He urged the operators to ensure that the activities of touts were discouraged as it would help strengthen security in the area.

However, another passenger, Mrs Ebere Opara, expressed joy that the terminal had been reopened after a lengthy closure and congratulated the authorities for installing security gargets at the terminal.

She said: “I am very happy with the security arrangement here and I know that the place is well secured now.

“So I feel safe coming to this place to take a bus to my destination.

“Nigerians should not be afraid to use the terminal because I think that the place is ok for us.

“At first I was afraid to come here, but upon seeing the security measures in place here, I felt safe.

“I am happy that the place is neat, organised and devoid of touts.”

Responding, Mr Salisu Muktar, the Operations Manager, Nyanya High Capacity Bus Terminal, said activities at the terminal were picking up when compared to commuter traffic at the beginning of July when the station was reopened.

“We do not have problems with patronage now because passengers are really coming here.

“We have security men at all the entry and exit points; our taskforce is also doing its job by ensuring that private vehicles are not parked at random.

“We have a security system in place to ensure that we safeguard the lives of commuters coming here to board the bus.

“At the beginning, we faced the challenge of patronage, but we dialogued with other unions operating in the area and agreed on certain issues.’’

He said part of the agreement reached was to allow members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to operate inside the terminal.

Muktar said it was also agreed that the other two unions – the Self-Employed Commercial Drivers Association and the National Association of Road Transport Owners would operate outside the terminal.

He said the terminal management was currently collecting 5 per cent dues from every NURTW vehicle loaded in the terminal.

The operations manager added that taxis loading at the terminal were for long distance journeys. (NAN)

By Kayoede Tokede,

In a renewed strategy to recover a whopping total debt obligation of over N4.6 trillion owed Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) by recalcitrant debtors across the country, AMCON yesterday met with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The purpose of the meeting, LEADERSHIP Friday gathered, was for both agencies to consolidate on the gains of their relationship, especially as it borders on investigating, prosecuting and compelling all obligors of AMCON in accordance with the relevant statutes.

The meeting between the two government agencies led by AMCON managing director/chief executive officer, Mr. Ahmed Kuru and EFCC’s acting chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu resolved to take another look at some banks and their officials that were instrumental to the abuse and violation of internal processes that led to the huge non-performing loans in AMCON’s portfolio.

The agencies are planning to revisit, reinvestigate and duly prosecute such banks and the officials involved.

The EFCC acting chairman who welcomed the AMCON boss and his team described the assignments of both agencies of government as “very tough, overwhelming and challenging”.

Magu, however, said he was happy that AMCON under Kuru is doing everything within its mandate to confront the obligors with all the risks involved in the process of doing so.

He said it was for this reason that EFCC established AMCON desk with dedicated EFCC officials who ensure that all AMCON related cases in EFCC receive speedy attention.

Magu assured Kuru that the AMCON Desk at EFCC will continue to be functional adding that the EFCC is willing to increase the number of personnel on the desk if so required and would be willing to establish a Lagos branch if necessary to make sure these huge loans are recovered in the interest of the Nigerian economy.

Condemning the impunity with which the transactions were done, the EFCC boss affirmed that some of these obligors “who took loans without the intention of paying back” did not envisage that someday an agency like AMCON will come knocking on their doors, seeking to recover the loans.

According to him, given the similarity in the objectives of both agencies, there is need for joint trainings towards fostering better understanding between AMCON and the EFCC.

While reaffirming the commitment of the EFCC to cooperate and provide the much needed support to AMCON, Magu urged AMCON to ensure that justice is done in all cases because most of the obligors may not have acted alone in their unwillingness to repay, but with the connivance of some of the bank officials whose motive was to cheat the banks ab-initio.

He disclosed that “in appropriate circumstances, these bankers would also be called upon to account for their roles in granting these questionable facilities”.

On his own part, Kuru who thanked the acting chairman of EFCC for graciously receiving the AMCON delegation expressed appreciation for Magu’s passion and cooperation in the collaboration with AMCON toward recovering the enormous bad debts from recalcitrant obligors of AMCON.

While appreciating the immense contribution of the AMCON Desk at EFCC, Kuru who thanked the acting chairman for creating the unit that has led to several recoveries added that AMCON is willing to provide the required support to the AMCON desk at EFCC by providing information, logistics and training to the team to enable them carry out their assignment without hitches.

He also thanked all EFCC staff members who are currently on the AMCON Desk for a job well-done since it was established.

Recounting AMCON’s role in the economy, especially in the banking sector, Kuru also stated that since its establishment, AMCON acquired debts from 22 banks worth N3.7 trillion and provided financial accommodation to 10 banks of about N2.2 trillion.

He observed that despite AMCON’s recovery efforts, the corporation still holds unresolved loans in excess of N4.6trillion which represents about 75 per cent of total national budget.

The MD noted that failure on the part of AMCON to resolve the debts will have far reaching implication for the nation at large.

The AMCON boss who further stated that EFCC and AMCON have similar mandates of ensuring economic stability highlighted some of the challenges militating against AMCON’s recovery efforts including slow judicial process, concealment of assets by the obligors, forged documents and in some instances, collusion between the bankers and the obligors among others.

In this report, Jonathan Nda-Isaiah details some key decisions President Buhari will likely take when he returns from his medical trip and why he is bound to take them.

Happenings around the seat of power in the past few days indicate that President Muhammadu Buhari is expected back in the country any moment from now. From the press briefings by presidential spokesmen on recent visits by some governors to the president in London to the hint by wife of the president, Aisha Buhari, that the president will chase “the Hyenas and Jackals away from the kingdom” when he returns to the country, the country’s political firmament is already saturated with issues about Buhari’s next line of action on arrival.

The president had jetted back to London on May 7 this year for further medical checks.

While he is away, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has held forte admirably in the absence of his boss. Even though Osinbajo has proven to be a worthy and competent deputy to his boss, piloting the affairs of the country in the absence of the president has not been rosy for the Professor of Law.

Just as he braces up to address sectional agitations threatening the unity of the country, executive-legislative impasse sets in as if it is calculated to distract the acting president. Insurgency in the Northeast, which before now, seemed contained, has also reared its head as if it is bound to join forces with farmers/herders’ clashes and the growing spate of kidnapping to make the country ungovernable for Osinbajo in the absence of his boss.

There is a congruence of opinion among analysts, policy makers and keen observers of the polity that President Buhari will hit the ground running by taking certain crucial decisions and make some sweeping changes when he comes back. This is even so when his deputy, some weeks ago, embarked on a trip to London to brief the president on the state of affairs in the polity.
That trip by Osinbajo, according to close watchers, was not ordinary. The thinking is that a toad does not run in the daytime for nothing, to borrow a leaf from Chinua Achebe. Anything that would warrant Osinbajo to seek audience with his boss on one-on-one basis in faraway London when he is supposed to be holding forte for him, must be something for which crucial decisions are required.

Below are some pending decisions the president is expectedly going to make on arrival, according to close sources in the seat of power.

Cabinet Reshuffle
It is expected that the president will reshuffle his cabinet immediately he comes back. The acting president penultimate Wednesday swore in two new ministers from Kogi and Gombe states without assigning portfolios to them. Reliable sources at the presidential villa told LEADERSHIP Friday that the president will assign the portfolios for the new ministers himself in the course of reshuffling the cabinet.

Political pundits have contended that the cabinet, as presently constituted, cannot take Nigeria to the Promised Land by delivering the much needed change Nigerians desire. With such perception in the public domain, there are indications that sweeping changes are expected. While some ministers will be outrightly sacked, some will be redeployed to other ministries.

As if it was part of what they agreed with the president when he travelled to London, that he should make some minor appointments pending his return to carry out the major shakeup, the acting president, on Tuesday, appointed Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye as new chairman for the ICPC.

In a statement issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Osinbajo also appointed 12 others as members of the ICPC board, while Musa Abubakar, a professor, will serve as secretary.

The acting president also appointed Ekpo Nta, the former ICPC boss, and 10 others for the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission. He also appointed Special Assistant to the president on prosecution as chairman of presidential investigation panel for the recovery of public property.

The statement also noted that “these appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.” But Senate’s role in the confirmation of some presidential appointees has generated controversy, following Osinbajo’s endorsement of the view of Lagos lawyer, Chief Femi Falana that Ibrahim Magu, the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), does not need to be confirmed by the Red Chamber.

Report Of SGF, NIA Probe
Three weeks before the president jetted out to London, he suspended the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal and director general of National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ayo Oke over allegations of financial sleaze.

The president had directed his deputy to investigate the duo and report back to him in two weeks. Members of the investigation panel are the National Security Adviser, General Babagana Monguno (rtd) and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami.

Babachir was investigated for allegedly awarding contracts worth millions of naira to Global Vision Limited, a company in which he had interest, under the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE).

A Senate committee on Humanitarian Crisis in the North-East, which had earlier found the suspended SGF culpable of alleged complicity in a N200 million grass-cutting contract to clear “invasive plant species” in Yobe State, had demanded his resignation and prosecution.

Oke was probed over alleged $43.4m operations cash found by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at apartment 7B in Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos. He had reportedly claimed that the money belonged to the NIA and was approved by former President Goodluck Jonathan for some covert operations.

However, just before submitting the report, the president left the country. Sources in the presidency said the acting president had recommended that Lawal and Oke be relieved of their jobs. It is expected that President Buhari will name a new SGF and NIA boss immediately he comes back.

Board Appointments
Less than two years to the next general election, most of the appointments to federal government boards are yet to be made. Most of the people who worked for the victory of the president at the polls are becoming disgruntled that two years after, they are yet to be compensated for their efforts.

Recall that six months into the administration of President Buhari, appointees of former President Goodluck Jonathan were still holding key board appointments much to the consternation of APC members. The president is expected to fill the boards with certain appointments so that governance can move forward.
The Country’s Unity

There is no doubt that Nigeria has never been this divided since the civil war. There are threats of secession from the South East. In the North, a coalition of Arewa Youth Group also issued quit notice to Igbos living in the region to vacate before October 1. To balance the terror, a coalition of Niger Delta groups also issued a similar ultimatum.

Although the acting president had done well in calling leaders of thought from both the North and South East to douse the tension in the country, it is expected that President Buhari will continue in that direction by calming the tension in the country with further meetings with leaders of thought in the country.

Delivering On Campaign Promises
President Buhari hinged his campaign on a tripod- fighting corruption, tackling insurgency and reviving the economy. While he performed well in the first two areas some few months into the administration, the fight against corruption and insurgency is fast losing steam.

Boko Haram has regrouped in Sambisa Forest, the incidents of suicide attacks have increased and the federal government is also losing high profile corruption cases in the court.

The economy is still in recession, despite assurances that the country will soon exit recession.

The president needs to rejig the war against corruption and insurgency and revive the economy. He has less than two years to deliver on his mandate and the clock is ticking fast.

Author: Nnenna Ibeh


- Some protesters have flooded a court in Abuja in solidarity to oil mogul Ifeanyi Ubah

- The protesters made up of market women and civil society organizations said Ubah's detention by the Department of State Service is unconstitutional

- The group also said that the detention of the oil mogul is a threat not only to the rights of Ubah but to Nigeria's democracy

On Friday, May 19, some Nigerians stormed the Federal High Court in support of the oil mogul Ifeanyi Ubah who was arrested by the Department of State Services over illegal diversion of petroleum products.

The group made up of market women, civil society organizations, Igbo groups and labour unionists said there were out in solidarity with the oil mogul.

NAIJ.com recalls that the DSS arrested Ubah on May 5, over allegations of illegal diversion of fuel products supplied by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Some protesters have flooded a court in Abuja in solidarity to oil mogul Ifeanyi Ubah

Although, Ubah has denied allegations against him, he also said a statement that the NNPC is owing him and his company Capital Oil Limited a huge sum of money running into billion.


The protesters made up of market women and civil society organizations said Ubah's detention by the Department of State Service is unconstitutional

But in their agitation, the group led by the publicity secretary of a human rights group, Human Watch Tunde Tunde said the incarceration of Ubah is a not just a threat to the oil mogul bu to Nigeria's democracy.


The group also said that the detention of the oil mogul is a threat not only to the rights of Ubah but to Nigeria's democracy

"Why overheating the Polity? This is a mere commercial transaction between NNPC and Capital Oil which should be resolved inline with the contractual principles . Using coercion forces of the govt on this issue amount to threat to Nigeria Democracy," Tunde said.

The group added that government commitment in fight corruption and the challenges of the Nigerian people is in question.


The group made up of market women, civil society organizations, Igbo groups and labour unionists said there were out in solidarity with the oil mogul.

the protesters who simply identified herself as Edith said: "Imagine that over 2000 workers and their families are under economic threat due to the government action on Capital Oil . I was thinking that govt should be more considerate on the plight of the people than hitting the people hard through their malicious actions against Capital Oil and Gas ?"


The group added that government commitment in fight corruption and the challenges of the Nigerian people is in question.

Also, a security consultant Godwin Ayo told journalists at the protest that the Nigerian Security agency should upgrade its operational tactics and understand the modern ways of securing the Country .

Ayo said: "Just look at the way they ended up making Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who was unknown by Nigerians until they arrested him famous."

"Today, we are making the same mistake. You arrested Ifeanyi Ubah on issue that has to do with Commercial transactions which ought to be treated in a civil court and today, not only that you are creating panic in the system and building unnecessary tension in the the polity, but you are even making him a hero." he said.

"Government should not be seen as the one creating multi lines of regional and ethnic tensions and mutual distrust among its citizenry by its actions," Ayo concluded.

[Ramon Oladimeji


The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday ordered the final forfeiture of the sum of N 449, 597, 000 found in an abandoned Bureau de Change shop in Victoria Island, Lagos by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The forfeiture order was made by Justice Rilawan Aikawa following a motion on notice taken before him by the anti -graft agency.

The judge ordered that the funds should be forfeited to the Federal Government as no one came forward to claim it .

The judge had earlier on April 19 ordered the temporary forfeiture of the money and adjourned till Friday for one Mohammed Tauheed , who was joined as respondent in the suit , and any other interested party to appear before him to give reasons why the money should be finally forfeited to the Federal Government .

On Friday, counsel for the EFCC, Idris Mohammed, told the judge that the interim order of April 19 had been advertised in the newspaper on May 11, so as to bring the case to the notice of Tauheed any interested party.

He added that apart from the newspaper publication , Tauheed was also served with the motion on notice .

He urged the judge to order the final forfeiture of the money since neither Tauheed nor anyone else came forward to claim it.

Justice Aikawa , in a short ruling , granted the application .

The judge held , “ This court ordered , among others , the respondent ( Tauheed) and any other interested party to show cause, within 14 days , why the interim forfeiture of N 449, 597, 000 should not be made final. As far as my record shows, neither the respondent nor any other interested party has filed any affidavit or any other process to show cause why the interim order should not be made final.

“ In the instant case , the respondent has , additionally , not filed any process in response to the motion on notice . In the circumstances , I have no option but to grant the application as prayed.

“ Accordingly , I hereby ordered that the sum of N 449, 597, 000 found in possession of the respondent, which sum is reasonably suspected to be proceeds of an unlawful activity, be finally forfeited to the Federal Government . ”

An investigator with the EFCC , Moses Awolusi , had, in an affidavit filed before the judge , stated that operatives of the anti - graft agency found the N 449, 597, 000 on April 7, 2017 in several “ Ghana Must Go ” sacks in a shop numbered LS64, located on at Legico Shopping Plaza, at Victoria island , Lagos .

He said the EFCC found out that the shop had not been opened for two years, adding that the anti - graft agency recovered the money after investigating intelligence information received on Tauheed.

According to the investigator, Tauheed allegedly conspired with the owner of the abandoned shop to launder the money.
Awolusi said Tauheed had earlier been brought to the EFCC office by the Chairman and Vice- Chairman of Legico shopping Plaza, Mr . Sulaiman Daba and Alhaji Ishaq Ayandiran , respectively .

He said during the visit , Tauheed told the anti - graft agency that he received the money in cash from a serving government official , whose name he refused to disclose “ for security reasons. ”

He said Tauheed , in the presence of his lawyer , later agreed to return the money to the Federal Government , which is the rightful owner of the funds strongly suspected to be proceeds of criminal activities of the unnamed serving government official .

The EFCC said it would be in the interest of justice for the court to order the permanent forfeiture of the money to the Federal Government .

Peter Dada ,

Akure

The abductors of the Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Hospital Management Board, Dr. Niran Ikuomola , have reduced the ransom placed on the victim to N 20m .

Ikuomola , together with his driver, was kidnapped in Kogi State on his way to Abuja for an official assignment on Sunday.
It was gathered that shortly after, the abductors called the family on the telephone and demanded for N 70m ransom.

A source close to the family said on Thursday that the abductors had called the wife of the victim , Mrs . Omonike Ikuomola , to inform the family about the reduction of the ransom, adding that the family could not still raise the money.

He said , “ The wife was contacted on the telephone again and they ( abductors) reduced the money to N 20m , the wife begged them to accept N 2m , but the abductors rejected it.

“ As I am talking to you now , the family has no way of raising the money. ”

As of the time of filling this report, the permanent secretary was still in the kidnappers ’ den as any agreement had not been reached on the ransom.

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Governor , Mr . Rotimi Akeredolu, conveyed an emergence meeting of the state Security Council to ensure the release of the abducted medical practitioner.

Akeredolu said the government was deeply concerned about the development, adding that efforts were ongoing to secure Ikuomola ’ s release.

The Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Mrs . Hilda Harrison, who noted that the crime was not committed in her jurisdiction , said the police commands in both Ondo and Kogi states were making efforts to get the victims released.

As part of the measure to protect lives and property of the people in the state, the commissioner disclosed that the government had directed regular clearance of bushes across the three major expressways linking Ondo State with other neighbouring states .

She called on traditional rulers , caretaker chairmen and other stakeholders to implement the directive, saying clearing of the bushes would prevent criminals from having their ways .

- MASSOB has revealed the names of countries sending observers to monitor Biafra anniversary

- MASSOB’s National Director of Information, Sunny Okereafor said the observers were attracted by its non-violent policy

- He said about 20 foreign observers have indicated interest in monitoring Biafra independence on May 22 to 30

The Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign States of Biafra, MASSOB, has stated that 20 countries will be sending their observers to monitor the 17th anniversary celebration of the group billed to hold May 22nd to 30th.

NAIJ.com gathered that MASSOB’s National Director of Information, Sunny Okereafor, revealed this in Aba, Abia, adding that some of the foreign observers who he described as friends and partners of MASSOB were being attracted by MASSOB non-violent policy and would be on ground to monitor the celebrations in any Biafra city of their choice.

He further said that some of the observers will arrive from countries such as Gabon, Germany, United States of America, Netherland, Cuba, Ghana, Benin Republic, Ivory Coast, Tanzania and United Kingdom and urged Biafra people to come out en-masse and celebrate the new Biafra from May 22 to 30.



SEE 20 countries MASSOB says will monitor Biafra anniversary

Okereafor explained that as age-long friends of Biafra, the foreign observers expressed their desire to identify with the people during the celebration, adding that they are billed to commission some completed projects by MASSOB/BIM in Owerri.

“About 20 foreign observers have indicated interest in monitoring Biafra independence on May 22 to 30.

“Some of them have arrived. You can see that MASSOB/ BIM‘s non-violent approach has continued to attract foreign countries.

“From Enugu to Ogoja, Calabar, Agbor, Uyo, Aba, Onitsha, Abakaliki, Port Harcourt, Asaba and other Biafra cities, there will be massive and peaceful celebrations.

“We are celebrating the new Biafra which was launched on May 22, 200, when our leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike hoisted the Biafra flag at 175 Faulks road, Aba.

“Before that time, nobody dared to mention the word, Biafra. Now, we have achieved independence for Biafra through non-violence.”

“While displaying a copy of the Biafra passport, Okereafor charged Biafra people to make use of the document , stressing that it is valid and accepted by ‘countries friendly to Biafra’ and urged the people to ignore what he described as the propaganda of the Nigerian government.”

Afeez Hanafi



Afeez Hanafi

Oladele Ayoola, a prophet at a Celestial Church of Christ in Oke-Ira, Ogba, Lagos State, has denied the allegation that he collected about N75m, three houses and two vehicles to heal a businesswoman of fibroids.

The 45-year-old prophet said rather, he assisted the woman to cure “a strange ailment, which almost forced her to commit suicide,” adding that she gave him about N25m in tranches as gifts.



He stated that he used the money to build a four bed-roomed duplex in Ijoko, Ogun State, and admitted that the woman also bought a Toyota Highlander worth N6m for him.

The prophet denied that the woman built two houses for him in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, and bought a Lexus for him.

It had been reported that the woman had approached Ayoola sometime in 2007 through a neighbour to seek spiritual solutions to her fibroids after a doctor reportedly told her that her womb had to be removed to cure the ailment, which made blood flowed from her private parts for 14 years.

The prophet was said to have given her some concoctions and charged N98,000 for the treatment. The flow was said to have stopped after taking the herbs, but returned two weeks later.

He allegedly told the woman that her husband was behind her ordeal and advised her to bring her three children for spiritual cleansing because the husband wanted to use them for ritual.

He was said to have subsequently hypnotised the woman and asked her to build a duplex for him in Ijoko, as well as two five-bedroomed bungalows in Ado Ekiti.

However, it reportedly dawned on one of the woman’s children, a lawyer, sometime in March 2017 that the family was being duped after the prophet allegedly collected millions of naira from her for spiritual help.

The case was reported to the police at the Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, leading to the prophet’s arrest.

In a chat with our correspondent, Ayoola, who is on police bail, refuted the fraud allegation against him, saying the woman gave him money to build the house to appreciate the healing.

He said, “One Iya Ibeji introduced her to me. The woman didn’t tell me she was suffering from fibroids. It was a strange ailment. She was bleeding from the private parts every day and was very lean. She said she was fed up and wanted to commit suicide. I told her I would treat her if she could pay N98,000 and she agreed.

“Within two weeks, the blood stopped and she had a permanent healing. At a point, we became family friends. She gave me money to build a duplex in Ijoko after God used me to answer her prayers. She initially sent about N22m into my UBA account to build the house. About N3m was later sent to my Union Bank account. I would not reject gifts from somebody that God used me to heal. I also assisted her family members whenever they had any problem.”

The prophet explained that the woman bought the Toyota Highlander for him when he was to be made a chief in Ado Ekiti. He said his relationship with the family began to turn sour in 2014 when the woman’s husband asked him to steer clear of the family.

“But she was not the one who built the two houses in Ado Ekiti for me. There are several persons God is using me for. In 2014, her husband told me to leave the family alone, but the woman begged me not to. She bought the Toyota Highlander for me for N6m.

“I was surprised when some policemen from SFU came to arrest me in Ekiti. I was detained in their office for 16 days and the Highlander was seized. I didn’t collect anything from the lawyer as claimed and didn’t hypnotise anybody,” he added.

Ayoola said he was ready to forfeit the house in Ijoko and the Highlander, which was in police custody.