if this is true, this is a welcome development and a step in the right direction. Mr Mark in this 8th senate is the chairman of sleeping and observation committee so who is he representing. in fact this man na stomach infrastructure.
@ op I choose not to believe this news cos just last week this man was made the chairman of a senate standing committee. how will the chairman of the committee of observation and bench warming be thrown out just like that. it is not done anywhere. if he is not there who will do the observation. even international body do send observers. pdp sent Mr mark as an observer in the 8th senate.

abeg o pls I need clarification. is it the Bode George that promise to go on exile if Buhari win the presidency. I taught his wife followed him to exile.

HUSBAND SCARCITY!!!
This may not be the best time for me to write on this because of misinterpretations, but I can no longer resist the push. "Husband Scarcity" has become one of the challenges faced by many young girls today. If you go to prayer houses, majority of the intentions are prayer for a life partner.
And this calls for concern. Casting our minds back to the time of our mothers and grandmothers, was there really much of a "Husband Scarcity" problem? Or, maybe there were more men than women then, or there was an adequate corresponding numbers of both genders.
I don't think so. Maybe then, the women had values and were prepared to build a home and not park into a built home. Then, once a young man comes of age and can at least feed himself and his wife, he goes out in search of a wife and the woman really appreciates him and helps him to build a future.
What am I really trying to say? We created what we now see as "Husband Scarcity" for ourselves. Today, the reverse is the case. Ask an average girl to define her dream husband; you get things like "he has to be tall, handsome, fair, and rich, own a house at least, and be presentable" and then she adds "God fearing" in order not to sound so worldly. Then, check the number of girls around you and the number of men that meet that standard, and you will see the problem. You hear girls say, "I cannot suffer in my father's house and then go and start suffering with a man."
What a wonderful dream! What if from the beginning, you have everything you want and there is no suffering, and later in the marriage, the table turns around, then comes suffering? Will you run away? No one prays for suffering, but it is good to start small and end big, than start big and end small. The problem is that the description majority of girls give of their ideal man is virtually the same. When 50 girls want the same kind of man and the man that fits what they want is just 1 man, and the man can only pick one. Then, what.

Hi, fellow nairalanders. good day to u all. As I was about leaving my office today, something just down on me to drip this little observation of mine. It may not have been observed by others but women naturally posses a habit of crying at times they say they only cry to pour out their heart.
However, last week I was having a little chit chat with this friend of mine. Along the line she gave me a long episode of how she pour out her heart to her man by shedding a bucket full of tears. The worst of it was the guy felt embarrassed by what she did. let me give u two instances from my own part.
1. I can remember those days when I told my babe that am leaving town for another place to go and school and immediately she started shedding tears I was thinking is it that this babe don't want me to go to school or what . if she don't want me to go to school it means na bad belle she be if not y the crying.
2. Another instance was when I told her we won't see for the next two week and she started crying a river.
My question here is: is cry the only way of feeling remorse or an act of apologising.

hi fellow nairalanders. I went for an inspection in a particular school in federal capital territory and I saw this write up by a primary five pupil on how to make Nigeria look like a first world country.
I was amaze the writing was legible and very matured. findings from me revealed that she is just nine years old and a pupil of PIA. for our educationists in the house, take a look and drip your comment.

IMMEDIATE past Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs
Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is battling with cancer in
London and being investigated by UK’s National Crime
Agency (NCA) for alleged corruption, has asked
Nigerians for a special favour. She wants Nigerians to
pray for her as she undergoes cancer surgery next week.
Speaking
through
Oscar
Onwudiwe,
her family’s
lawyer,
according
to online
newspaper,
The Cable,
Diezani,
who denied
reports of
her arrest,
said she
was
undergoing
cancer
treatment in
the UK and
“hopes to come out strong to face all the allegations.”
In a statement, Onwudiwe said: “The Madueke family,
like most other families, has its own challenges. For
instance, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke has been
receiving treatment for cancer in the UK which started
while she was in office. She completed months of
chemotherapy just last week and she is scheduled to
undergo surgery next week in London.

The family has been bearing this challenge with prayers
and as much grace and fortitude as possible; and would
plead with all reasonable Nigerians to pray for her
recovery so that she can face these allegations and give
account of her stewardship.”
The call for prayers came after an earlier statement
released on Thursday in which the family revealed the
state of the former minister. Onwudiwe had made the
following statement:

“The stories are false but it(sic) feeds the mood of the
moment; hence, the silence from Diezani all along. It is
worth emphasising that Mrs Alison-Madueke was never
arrested or detained and her passport was never seized.
She was merely invited, and she honoured it promptly.
But there is a limit to how much any reasonable person
can bear the tactics of these … We all know that what
makes a lie fly is the little truth contained therein.

This happens to be the weapon used to defame highly-
placed people.” Onwudiwe also accused the Nigerian
media of reporting “laughable claims” of a purchase of
an apartment in Hyde Park with an “amount which
embarrassingly ranges from £12.5 million sterling to £13
billion sterling (N3.9tr).

“This claim is utterly false and laughable, for the
amounts mentioned are only in the imagination of the
reporters. This property is quite popular. It belongs to a
well-known eminently successful Nigerian entrepreneur
who would also find this allegation embarrassing as the
intention to sell the property has neither been
contemplated nor disclosed to any person.”

Mixed reaction greets Diezani’s prayer request
Diezani’s request elicited mixed reactions from some
Nigerians. While some said they would not pray, others
said they would pray for the speedy recovery of the
former minister to enable her face her graft trial.

We will pray for her and all Nigerians – Ikokwu
Second Republic Politician, Chief Guy Ikokwu, who has
always called for the restructuring of the country and
adoption of the parliamentary system of government to
check corruption, urged Nigerians to pray for the former
oil minister.

‘’We will pray for her and all other Nigerians, both those
who are ill and well so that God bestows His mercy on all
for the right things to be done in the nation. Nigeria
needs God’s mercy. God knows those who are guilty and
those who are not guilty,’’ he said.
We will pray she recovers and asks for God’s
forgiveness – Sarah Jubril
Former Presidential Candidate, Mrs Sarah Jubril said
apart from quick recovery it is also good for Diezani to
ask for God’s forgiveness if she is guilty of the graft
allegations.

Her words: ‘’Thank God she believes Nigerians have a
forgiving heart. We will pray she recovers and ask God
for forgiveness if the allegations against her are true.
Thank God she is alive. I wish her quick recovery. It is
good she has the humility to ask Nigerians for their
prayers. We hope to see her in good health soon.’’
She doesn’t deserve our prayers – Gbagi
However, former Minister of State for Education,
Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, disagreed and urged Nigerians
not to pray for her. ‘’How can we pray for her when she
put Nigeria into bankruptcy? Let her go and ask
forgiveness from God.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/10/cancer-pray-for-me-diezani-begs-nigerians/

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) last
night confirmed that multiple explosions rocked the twin
districts of Nyanya and Kuje at the Federal Capital Territory
killing an unconfirmed number of persons and destroying
property.
Scores of persons were said to have died in the explosions
which unconfirmed sources said happened between 9.30
and 10pm. The blast at Kuje was said to have occurred
between the Market and the Local Council headquarters.
NEMA however disclosed that it was yet to ascertain the
number of persons that died in both incidents even as it
said rescue services ambulances had ferried several
injured to hospitals in Abuja.
A NEMA statement signed by Manzo Ezekiel reads,
“Following the unfortunate explosions that occurred this
night in Nyanya and Kuje, which are two satellite towns in
the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, the National Emergency
Management Agency (NEMA) has deployed its rescue
teams in the evacuation of the victims to various hospitals
in Abuja.
“The explosions which occured almost simultaneously
have resulted in a number of deaths and injuries but the
rescue operations coordinated by NEMA are still ongoing.”
More Details Later.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/10/abuja-bombings-many-feared-killed-as-security-agencies-nema-rescue-victims/

Akure—FORMER Police Affairs Minister, Alhaji Jelili
Adesiyan, has said neither himself nor his colleagues
and their aides are being victimised by the new
administration.
Speaking with newsmen in Akure, the Ondo state capital,
Adesiyan said probing the ministers should not be seen
as victimization by the President Muhammadu Buhari
administration.
Adesiyan however kicked against the selective probe of
the President Jonathan administration but said that it
should be holistic “even when President Buhari was the
military Head of State”
The minister, who was asked to react to alleged
victimization of former Ministers under the Jonathan
administration said “I am not seeing them doing it.
“I was a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
whatever you are doing, you must be prepared because
somebody somewhere, some time will ask questions.
“When Chief Obasanjo, the past President wrote a book:
“My Watch,” somebody, Yinka Odumakin wrote another
book: “Watch the Watcher.”
“Whatever they are doing today, somebody will do it to
them tomorrow now; what they are doing is not new and
it is good.
“When I was being appointed as a minister, I knew there
would be a day of reckoning one time, and that was why I
had to caution myself and make sure that everything I
did was done by the rule, everything I did from the
beginning to the end, followed due process. I trust most
of the ministers did that too.’’
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/jonathans-ministers-aides-not-victimised-by-buhari/

As the nation awaits President Muhammadu Buhari’s
ministerial list, the President on Tuesday said he would head
the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
Buhari dropped the hint in one of the interviews he granted
one of the foreign media in his hotel shortly before departing
New York.
The President was in New York to participate in the 70th
United Nations General Assembly.
“I will serve as the Minister of Petroleum Resources
myself,” Buhari told his interviewer.
The nation’s petroleum sector has been said to be
enmeshed in corruption with millions of dollars said to be
missing in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
Shortly after assuming office, Buhari sacked and replaced
the management of the company.
The new management had started a general reorganisation
of the firm.
Buhari had on Monday said the trial of those who looted the
NNPC would commence soon.
Meanwhile, ministerial list that President Muhammadu
Buhari will submit to the Senate on Wednesday (today)will
not contain all the members of his proposed cabinet, THE
PUNCH has learnt.
Buhari was inaugurated on May 29, having defeated former
President Goodluck Jonathan in the presidential election
held in March.
Investigation by one of our correspondents on Tuesday
revealed that what would be transmitted to the Senate this
week would not be a complete list of nominees.
A top government official familiar with the arrangement
confided in one of our correspondents that Buhari would
send the names of the nominees to the Senate in batches.
“What the Senate will be getting on Tuesday or Wednesday
will not be a complete list. The names will be sent in
batches but quite a number will be on this first list while
others will be compiled and sent later,” the source said.
The President may have decided to send the names in
batches in order to meet the September deadline he set for
himself rather than waiting to compile the full list and fail to
beat the deadline.
Efforts made by one of our correspondents to get an insight
into the list of the first batch of would-be ministers did not
however yield any positive result on Tuesday.
The issue of the list has however been generating concerns
among members of Buhari’s delegation to the 70th United
Nations General Assembly holding in New York.
Many of the politicians on the President’s delegation who
felt they might be considered for ministerial positions were
getting in touch with Nigeria intermittently on the telephone
for latest information on the list while they also kept making
themselves visible for Buhari.
Some of them who could not hide their anxiety were heard
asking Nigerian journalists if they had latest information on
the list.
Prominent chiefs of the All Progressives Congress on the
President’s delegation include a former Rivers State
Governor, Rotimi Amaechi; a former Ekiti State Governor,
Kayode Fayemi; and a former member of the House of
Representatives, Abike Dabiri-Erewa among others.
Meanwhile, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said on
Tuesday that his leadership would not employ vendetta in
the screening of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s wise
men.
Saraki, who stated this in his welcome address to his
colleagues at a plenary after their six-week recess,
expressed confidence that Nigeria’s economy would
experience a turn-around with the appointment of ministers.
He said, “As we await the list of ministerial nominees this
week, I believe the presence of ministers will create the
space for greater policy engagement with the executive arm
of government.
“It will also enable us to begin to respond in a more
systematic manner to the various economic and social
challenges before us, especially through our various
committees that will also be constituted soon.
“On this note, I want to urge you all my colleagues to ensure
that what is uppermost in our minds as we begin the
constitutional task of screening of ministerial nominees is
the overall interest of our country, informed by the enormity
and the urgency of the challenges before us.
“Once the list is submitted, let us ensure that we treat it with
dispatch and thoroughness. We must not be held down by
unnecessary politicking.”
http://www.punchng.com/news/i-will-be-petroleum-minister-says-buhari/

Abuja - The rescheduled Bayelsa State governorship
primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will hold
on Tuesday, reports Daily Post.
The party had cancelled the previous primary due to some
irregularities.
National Chairman of the APC, John Odigie Oyegun who
announced the date on Monday at the end of the party’s
National Working Committee (NWC) meeting, said the
NWC sees it as a duty to provide a level playing ground for
all those who aspire to offices in this party.
He noted that that the process that led to last Tuesday’s
primary could not meet the standards which the party has
set for itself.
When asked to respond to the threat by the former
governor of Bayelsa State and one of the aspirants seeking
the ticket, Timipre Sylva, who claimed to have won the last
primary election, the APC national chairman said that
Sylva can go to court to seek redress.
http://m.news24.com/Nigeria/Politics/News/APC-holds-fresh-Bayelsa-governorship-primary-20150929

happykidArotiba:
ooooh! dey should av continued wen dey fell now.

its only lizard that does that.

According to Jesus, many of the so-called churches
today that are large and famous are actually spiritually
dead.
In many churches today, pastors are preoccupied with
the size of their congregation. Some take a census every
church-service. Others keep statistics of the number of
people who answer their altar-calls. When pastors meet
socially, how big their church is determines their social
status and prestige; ensuring that many are prone to
exaggerate their numbers. The bigger the church, the
more highfalutin and celebrated the pastor.
However, the wisdom of God is contrarian, she shouts in
the street; she lifts her voice in the public square: “No
king is saved by the multitude of an army; a mighty man
is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope
for safety; neither shall it deliver any by its great
strength.” (Psalm 33:16-17).
Let me apply this scripture more precisely to the context
of mega-churches. No man is saved by the size of a
church, neither is the wicked delivered by the great
charisma of a pastor. When we are preoccupied with
size in churches, we are guilty of trusting in the multitude
of our mighty men. (Hosea 10:13).
First become last
“This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by
might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of
hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? Before
Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!’” (Zechariah 4:6-7).
One of the great mountains before Zerubbabel was
Solomon’s temple. Those charged with rebuilding it were
concerned the new temple would not have the splendor
and majesty of the old. But God is not concerned with
size and other physical attributes. Through Haggai, he
declares: “The glory of this latter temple shall be greater
than the former.” (Haggai 2:9). Accordingly, Zechariah
asks: “Who has despised the day of small
things.” (Zechariah 4:10).
Indeed, according to God’s kingdom dynamics, “every
valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill
brought low.” (Isaiah 40:4). God says: “All the trees of
the field will know that I, Yahweh, have brought down the
high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the
green tree, and have made the dry tree flourish.” (Ezekiel
17:24).
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/beware-of-celebrity-pastors-and-mega-churches/

New York – President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria
yesterday in New York, United States of America
impressed it upon the minds of world leaders to work
assiduously for the elimination of hunger, illiteracy and
disease by 2030.
The president made the remark while addressing the
United Nations Plenary Summit for the Adoption of the
Post-2015 Development Agenda at the UN general
assembly.
The social vices were the focal points of the contained
post-2015 Development Agenda adopted by world
leaders on Friday.
President Buhari said that the priority of his government
was to run a transparent and accountable public revenue
management system that would ensure a Leeds
development of Nigeria.
He noted that his administration was taking steps to
improve and streamline internal generation of revenue,
and to plug all loopholes that have led to illicit capital
flight from Nigeria, adding that his government was also
putting mechanisms in place to prevent oil theft and
other criminal practices that are detrimental to Nigeria’s
economy.
President Buhari however said that he was pleased that
world leaders had reaffirmed their commitment to
sustainable development, international peace and
security, and the protection of the planet.
“These are really the major issues of the day. For the
first time, we have at our disposal a framework that is
universal in scope and outlook, with clearly defined goals
and targets, and appropriately crafted methods of
implemen-tation.
“The Declaration that we have adopted today testifies to
the urgency and the necessity for action by all of us. It is
not for want of commitment that previous initiatives have
failed or could not be fully realized. What seemed to be
lacking in the past were political will and the required
global partners-hip to pursue and implement the
programmes to which we committed ourselves.
“This Declaration enjoys global consensus. We have
agreed to deliver as one and to leave no one behind.’’
This is a promise worth keeping. We have agreed to
create viable partnerships and to adopt the means of
implementation for the goals and targets of the global
sustainable development agenda in all its three
dimensions; namely economic, social and environmental.
“The Post-2015 Development Agenda and the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) together with the
Addis Ababa Action Agenda that we adopted in July
2015, offer us a unique opportunity to address the
unfinished business of the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs).
“They also provide the basis for a new set of global
development priorities to usher in a peaceful and
prosperous world, where no one is left behind, and where
the freedom from fear and want, and for everyone to live
in dignity, is enthroned,” President Buhari said.
Noting that illiteracy, hunger and diseases are
associated evils that go hand in hand with poverty, the
President urged the assembled world leaders to do
everything possible “to eliminate these ills from our
midst by 2030 as the Declaration loudly proclaims”.
“The bottom billion that has neither safety nets nor social
protection, need to be rescued from their perpetual state
of hopelessness, fear and indignity. This is a task that
should have been accomplished decades ago. Now that
it has fallen on our shoulders to discharge this
responsibility, we should do so with the enthusiasm and
commitment that is worthy of the cause.
“We must adopt targeted interventions at both policy and
practical levels, to address extreme poverty and combat
illiteracy, hunger and diseases. We must create viable
partnerships that bring together national, regional and
global actors with shared objectives to carry this
forward.
“We must also create the enabling environments for
executing this global agenda, by developing the relevant
frameworks for working with different types of partners
and constituencies that recognize the contributions of
civil society, religious and cultural bodies, private sector,
academia and most importantly, governments.
“Just as the relative success of the MDGs was
underpinned by national ownership, the Post-2015 and
the SDGs frameworks must also be guided by national
priorities and ownership. Domestic resource mobilization
supplemented by improved terms of trade between
industrial and developing economies should drive the
implementation processes in both streams. The
facilitation of remittances by migrant and overseas
workers, as well as efficient tax collection are needed as
complimentary sources of financing for development,”
the President said.
He said that Nigeria was proud to have availed her
services to the United Nations in co-chairing the
Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable
Development Financing, whose work contributed in no
small measure to the expansion of financing for
development strategies.
Also speaking on the strides Nigeria has recorded in the
elimination of HIV and prevention of mother to child
infection if the virus, president Buhari stated that the
country over 63 000 pregnant women were given access
to anti- retroviral therapy in 2014.
“For over 30 years, HIV as a public health challenge has
been causing havoc and untold hardship in virtually
every part of the world. To date, several million children
have been orphaned and some communities have been
devastated, while economic activities have been
disrupted.
“Unfortunately, Sub -Saharan Africa bears a
disproportionate burden of this epidemic. The good news
is that the effort of the global community has resulted in
greater control, less spread and better management.
“Furthermore, we have made significant progress
towards the interception of mother to child transmission
of HIV. In 2014 alone, over 3million pregnant women
were tested for HIV and 63,000 of these tested women,
accessed anti-retroviral therapy”, he said.
While pledging the support of Nigeria in arresting the
scourge, he urged the world to work towards ending the
menace of HIV and AIDs, Tuberculosis, Malaria and
other communicable diseases by the year 2030.
“Nigeria will continue to work with development partners
and key stakeholders to strengthen the means of
implementation of the SDGs as elaborated in the Post-
2015 Development Agenda. At the continental level,
Nigeria remains fully committed to the outcome of the
Abuja process as evident in the 2002 Declaration, the
Action Framework on Roll – Back Malaria. In addition,
the 2013 Abuja + 12 Declaration is a strong commitment
towards eliminating HIV and AIDs in Africa by 2030.
Globally, the United Nations Political Declaration on HIV
and AIDS of 2011 is a major reference point for
intensifying efforts to eliminate the epidemic.
“Nigeria appreciates the support of our development
partners for their support and commitment to the total
eradication of HIV/AIDs, Tuberculosis and Malaria as
well as other deadly communicable diseases, for
example Ebola, when an epidemic arises.
“I therefore encourage you to continue in your efforts to
sustain the fight against infant and maternal deaths, HIV
and AIDs, Tuberculosis, Malaria and other communicable
diseases, high on the global development agenda.
“Let us work together to make HIV and AIDs history by
2030”, the president said.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/world-post-2015-devt-agent-buhari-urges-world-leaders-to-conquer-hunger-others-by-2030/

write ur sallah shout out to a Muslim pal out there.
As for me mine goes to the distinguish senator of our time and the senate president senator Bukola saraki who will soon be cooling in kirirkiri.
type urs........

HE Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja,
yesterday, ordered the arrest of the Senate President, Dr.
Bukola Saraki following his refusal to appear in court to
face a 13-count criminal charge that was preferred
against him by the federal government.
The tribunal which is headed by Justice Danladi Umar,
directed the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr.
Solomon Arase and other relevant security agencies in
the country to arrest the Senate President and produce
him in court on Monday for arraignment.
Saraki was in the charge before the CCT, marked
ABT/01/15 and dated September 11, 2015, alleged to
have falsely declared his assets, contrary to the
constitutional requirement.
He was accused of deliberately manipulating the assets
declaration form that he filed prior to his assumption of
office as the Senate President, by making anticipatory
declaration of assets.
The offence was said to have been committed while
Saraki held sway as a governor.
Aside allegation that he owned and operated foreign
bank accounts while being a public officer, Saraki is
expected to explain before the CCT how he acquired
some assets which the federal government believes were
beyond his legitimate earnings.
Meantime, Saraki who was billed for arraignment
yesterday, refused to appear before the tribunal, even
though he sent his team of lawyers, led by a former
President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. J.B.
Daudu, SAN, to file memorandum of conditional
appearance on his behalf.
When his case was called up, one of his lawyers, Mr.
Mahmud Magaji, SAN, notified the tribunal about the
ruling by Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Abuja
Division of the Federal High Court, which had on
Thursday, summoned the Ministry of Justice over the
charge against Saraki.
Justice Mohammed had after he heard an ex-parte
application by Saraki, also summoned the Chairman of
the tribunal, Justice Umar and that of the Code of
Conduct Bureau, CCB, Mr. Sam Saba, to appear before
him on Monday.
They were specifically asked to appear to show cause
why an interim order of injunction stopping Saraki’s trial
should not be granted.
Meantime, irked by Saraki’s absence at the tribunal for
the commencement of his prosecution yesterday, the
Ministry of Justice, prayed the Justice Umar-led panel to
order for his arrest.
Moving the oral application for a bench warrant to be
issued against Saraki yesterday, a deputy director in the
office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. M.S.
Hassan, maintained that the accused person, “cannot sit
in the comfort of his chamber and object to his trial in
absentia”.
The prosecution further contended that Justice
Mohammed lacked the powers to summon the CCT and
CCB chairmen, even as it accused Saraki of engaging in
“forum shopping” in a desperate bid to scuttle his trial.
Hassan argued that going by the provision of section 396
of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015,
Saraki, could only object to the trial after he had entered
his plea to the charge against him.
“My lords, the provision of this section is clear to the
effect that any objection to a charge shall be raised after
plea, which means that the accused person must be in
court and the charge read to him before any objection.
“Moreover, paragraph 17 of the Third Schedule to the
1999 constitution, as amended, empowers this tribunal to
try the accused person”.
The prosecuting counsel described Saraki’s contention
that he cannot be prosecuted in the absence of a
substantive Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, as
“a clear misconception of the law”.
He argued that the power to initiate criminal proceeding
before any court or tribunal is not limited to the AGF
alone, adding that section 175 of the constitution
provides that any officer in the office of the AGF is
qualified to initiate criminal proceeding in any court of
law or tribunal in Nigeria, except the court martial.
Placing reliance on decided case law in FRN vs Adeyemi,
2010, 10-NWLR, and section 2 & 4 of the Law Officers
Act, the prosecution stres-sed that in the absence of a
substantive AGF, the Solicitor General of the Federation
could perform all the duties that were imposed by the law
on the office of the AGF.
“We also rely on section 24(3) of the CCB &Tribunal Act
to submit that the charge against the accused person is
proper and competent.
“The Federal High Court lacks the power to compel this
court before it. They are both superior courts of record
with coordinate jurisdiction, and are both recognised by
the constitution. Appeals from this court go straight to
the Court of Appeal.
“The Federal High Court does not have supervisory
jurisdiction over this court. It only has power over
inferior tribunals, not a court of competent jurisdiction as
this court.
“The accused person cannot stop us from performing
our constitutional duties. He cannot sit in the comfort of
his chamber and say my lawyer will do it for me. This is
a criminal case, not a civil matter.
“We therefore urge my lords to issue a bench warrant for
the arrest of the accused person”, the prosecutor added.
BENCH WARRANT
Ruling on the application , the tribunal while upholding
FG’s argument, stressed that Saraki, having sworn to
protect the constitution, ought to have shown respect to
the tribunal by appearing before it today.
“I have taken notice of the fact that there is no
incumbent AGF in office, but that does not preclude any
officer from the Ministry of Justice from initiating this
criminal proceeding “, Justice Umar held.
The tribunal noted that whereas the AGF has the sole
right to exercise the power of ‘nolle prosequi’ (power to
terminate charge), it said that such exclusive right does
not include the initiation of criminal trial.
It further observed that Saraki was duly served with the
charge and a notice to appear in court yesterday, on
September 16.
“This tribunal is established under section 15(1) of the
Fifth Schedule to the 1999 constitution as a special
vehicle vested with the powers to promote probity and
accountability in the public service.
“This tribunal has coordinate jurisdiction with the FHC. In
view of section 306 of the Administration of Criminal
Justice Act, this tribunal cannot accede to the request to
halt this proceeding. A superior court of record cannot
issue an order prohibiting or restraining the proceeding
of another court of equal status.
“This tribunal has called the defendant to come before it
and stand trial. As a senior citizen he is expected to
show respect to constitutional provisions which he has
sworn to protect.
“The tribunal hereby orders the IGP or other relevant
security agencies to arrest and produce the defendant
for prosecution. In view of the foregoing, the tribunal
orders a bench warrant to be issued against the
defendant”, the court ruled.
Spirited effort by Saraki’s lawyers to persuade the
tribunal to consider the position of the accused person as
the Senate President and stay the execution of the bench
warrant against him on the undertaking that he will be
available for trial on Monday, failed flat yesterday.
SARAKI APPEALS
Meanwhile, in a swift reaction, Saraki, yesterday, went
before the Court of Appeal in Abuja to challenge the
powers of the CCT to try him, as well as the refusal of
the tribunal panel to discharge the bench warrant for his
arrest.
In his one ground of appeal, Saraki, insisted that the trial
tribunal erred in law and also acted without jurisdiction
by countenancing and assuming jurisdiction over his
criminal trial/ prosecution for a charge that is being
challenged at the FHC Abuja in suit No FHC/ABJ/
CS/775/2015, between him and the Ministry of Justice
and 3 Ors.
He argued that the tribunal acted in disobedience to the
order the FHC made on Thursday. Listing the particulars
of error by the tribunal, Saraki, told the appellate court
that “as at the time the lower tribunal overruled the
appellant’s application to discharge the order for bench
warrant for his arrest by the respondent, there existed an
order of the FHC, Abuja, dated September 17, which was
served in the lower tribunal, who were party to the suit”.
It was his argument that having filed an application
challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to adjudicate
on the charge before it, he needed not to be present in
court yesterday.
More so, Saraki, argued that the tribunal did not avert its
mind to the decided case laws in Doma vs Ogiri, 1997, 1-
NWLR, and that of Ojukwu vs Governor of Lagos state,
1986, 3-NWLR.
He therefore sought an order of the appeal court setting
aside the order of arrest that was issued against him by
the tribunal.
The embattled Senate President had in a13 -
paragraphed affidavit that was deposed to by one Efut
Okoi, told the high court on Thursday that his trial was
politically motivated.
He told the court that since May 29 when the life span of
the administration of former President Goodluck
Jonathan expired, the administration of President
Muhammadu Buhari had yet to appoint an AGF.
“That upon assumption of office, President Mu
hammadu Buhari has made several appointments
ranging from the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation to Senior Special Advisers and Special
Assistants.
“That I also know of fact that President Muhammadu
Buhari is yet to appoint Ministers and other key Executive
Officials.
“That is is also a fact that the Federal Ministry of Justice
does not have an Attorney General/ Ministry of Justice
yet”.
He argued that on September 14 when the 4th
Defendant/Respondent (M.S. Hassan) took steps to
initiate the charge before the CCT, he was never directed
by any AGF to do so, since there exists no substantive
AGF.
“That the charge pending before the CCT is predicated
upon the falsehood that the plaintiff/applicant did not
declare his assets in 2003, 2006 and 2011.
“That the applicant has consistently declared his assets
as required by law at every point before resuming any
political office and that of 2015 was not exception.
“That the 2nd defendant/Respondent had investigated
the assets and ascertained the claims made by the
plaintiff”.
He said that he submitted his asset declaration form in
2007, 2011 and 2015, saying “the present charge was
initiated due to external influence and undue interference
on the CCT”.
He told the court that the CCB never wrote to him to
complain of any inconsistency in his asset declaration
form.
Saraki averred that the charge was “purely a malicious
and politically motivated prosecution aimed at
undermining the person and office of the Senate
President.
“That it is a fact that this charge pending before the CCT
is a case of desperation to intimidate the applicant due
to his recent stance on national issues.
“That the applicant had suffered series of harassment
and intimidation in the hands of the officials of the 1st
defendant”, he added.
In the charge, Saraki was accused of breaching section 2
of the CCB and Tribunal Act, an offence punishable under
section 23(2) of the Act and paragraph 9 of the said Fifth
Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
FG alleged that Saraki claimed that he owned and
acquired No 15A and 15B Mc Donald, Ikoyi, Lagos,
through his company, Carlisle Properties Limited in 2000,
when the said property was actually sold by the
Implementation Committee of the Federal Government
landed properties in 2006 to his companies, Tiny Tee
Limited and Vitti Oil Limited for the aggregate sum of
N396, 150, 000, 00.
He was alleged to have made false declaration on or
about June 3, 2011, by refusing to declare plot 2A Glover
Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, which he acquired between 2007 and
2008 through his company from the Central Bank of
Nigeria for a total sum of N325, 000, 000, 00.
Similarly, Saraki was said to have refused to declare No1
Tagnus street, Maitama, Abuja, which he claimed to have
acquired in November 1996 from one David Baba
Akawu.
Some of his alleged offence while in office as governor,
which are said to be punishable under section 15(1) and
(2) of the CCB and Tribunal Act, Cap C15, Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria, 2004, were allegedly committed
between October 2006 and May 2007.
His actions were classified as a gross violation of the
Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria 1999, as amended.
“The Federal High Court on Thursday, September 17,
2015, therefore ordered that the all parties in the case
should appear before it on Monday, September 21,
2015. The implication of this ruling by a Court of
competent jurisdiction is that the sitting today has been
overtaken by event. It is for this reason that Dr. Saraki
chose to go about with his normal official schedule.
“Today at the Tribunal, Counsel to the Senate President,
Mr. M. A. Mahmud (SAN), raised a motion stating that
there is a pending constitutional matter before the
Federal High Court to be decided on Monday and that the
Tribunal should hold the trial until the constitutional
matter is disposed of.
“We are however dismayed that the Tribunal chose to
disregard the order of the Federal High Court and the
motion to suspend hearing till Monday when all parties
are expected to argue their positions on the
constitutional matter.
“It is also a surprise to us that despite the application by
the lead counsel to the Senate President that he will
produce Dr. Saraki on Monday and the personality of the
person involved as the Number three man in the country,
the Tribunal insisted on issuing a warrant of arrest as if
its intention is simply to embarrass Dr. Saraki. We are
not unmindful of the fact that the Tribunal is acting under
political influence and external pressure. This is
dangerous to our democracy.
“The conduct of the Tribunal today left nobody in doubt
that it cannot do justice on the matter before it. It is also
clear that today’s decision is an abuse of the rule of law
which portends danger to our judicial system. The
Tribunal has equally set a bad precedent in the way and
manner it conducted itself during the proceedings.
“We want to emphasise the fact that this is not part of
any war against corruption but using state institutions to
fight political opponents and seeking to achieve through
the back door what some people cannot get through
democratic process.
“We need to caution here that in a desperate bid to settle
political scores and nail imaginary enemies, we should
not destroy our democratic institutions and heat the
polity for selfish reasons. Let us all learn from history.
“The Senate President is a law abiding citizen who will
not do anything to undermine the judicial process and
authority. However, Dr. Saraki will always act to protect
his fundamental human rights.
“The Senate President is a law abiding citizen and his
absence from the Tribunal today was based on the legal
advice he received from his counsel that the Tribunal will
respect the decision of the Federal High Court which is
obviously a superior court of records. Also, he relied on
a letter from the Chief Justice of Nigeria directed to the
Chairman of the Tribunal last May that they are not
judicial officers and are inferior to the regular High Court
as defined by the law and that they take official oath not
judicial oath.
“We will like to state therefore that Dr. Saraki will not do
anything to undermine the judicial process and authority
but he will always act to protect his fundamental human
rights.”
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/alleged-false-declaration-of-assets-court-orders-sarakis-arrest/

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said he left in the
national treasury over N287bn, made up of $2bn, £100m
and N10bn in cash and property, being the loot recovered
from the late dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha.
Obasanjo left office as President in 2007 after serving two
terms of eight years and handed over to the now late former
President Umaru Yar’Adua.
The N287bn figure was arrived at using an average
exchange rate of N125.88 to a dollar in 2007 and an
average exchange rate of N247.99 to a pound in the same
year.
The former President said the funds were paid into the
treasury through the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Obasanjo’s revelation was contained in the Vol. II of his
memoir, My Watch. His take on the Abacha loot is slotted
under the sub-heading “Recovery of looted funds” on pages
494 and 495.
He said, “In total, by the time I left government in May 2007,
over $2bn and £100m had been recovered from the Abacha
family abroad, and well over N10bn in cash and properties
locally. All were paid to the public treasury through the
Central Bank.
“Enrico (Monfrini, a Swiss lawyer) told me by the time I left
government that if he continued to get support for his work,
there was still about $1bn he believed he could still recover
from the Abacha family and cronies.”
The former President said that there was a time he got a
report that £3m cash was seized from an agent of the late
military dictator by customs officials at an airport in UK and
that the British authorities asked the Nigerian government to
prove ownership of the money.
He said the British government however refused to release
the money to Nigeria despite showing details that it was
taken from the CBN.
“I went to London to have a meeting on another important
issue with (former British Prime Minister) Tony Blair and I
took the opportunity to raise the issue of the £3m, using the
Yoruba anecdote of the thief who stole palm oil from the
ceiling cupboard by getting somebody to help him so as not
to spill the red palm oil on himself or the floor. The man who
assisted became an accomplice. Tony got the message and
the £3m was released to Nigeria the following day,”
Obasanjo stated.
A former finance minister in the Obasanjo administration,
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, told The PUNCH last year through
her Special Adviser on Communication, Mr. Paul
Nwabuikwu, that contrary to reports that the sum of $2bn
was recovered from the Abacha’s loot, only $500m was
recovered under her as Obasanjo’s finance minister.
The minister made the clarification amid differing figures on
the actual amount recovered.
For example, the pioneer Chairman of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, had in
November 2006, in London, said Abacha looted over $6bn
from Nigeria and that $2bn of the loot had been recovered.
He mentioned same figure in the same month during the
12th International Anti-Corruption Conference in Guatemela
and later in Dakar, Senegal, at the 2nd Annual High Level
Dialogue on Governance and Democracy in Africa.
http://www.punchng.com/news/obasanjo-i-left-n287bn-abacha-loot-in-treasury/

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has
reacted to a position canvassed by Governor Ayodele
Fayose disparaging President Muhammadu Buhari as a
dictator violating the nation’s law of immunity by allegedly
sending Department of State Services, DSS, operatives to
comb the Akwa Ibom Government House where they
allegedly discovered a large cache of weapons and cash.
It said the operatives had not violated the nation’s law by
moving against illegal arms dump large enough to topple a
democratically elected government.
APC’s Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said in a
statement that the DSS operatives acted in the nation’s
interest to check what would have been a threat to national
stability and a reversal of fortunes for the nation’s
economy.
Reminding Fayose that the law allows secret service
operatives to strike at any part of Nigeria under security
threat to maintain peace, Olatunbosun said:
“Let us educate Fayose that a Government House is not the
same as foreign embassies or missions that enjoy physical
immunity from security activities by local armed forces.
“While a governor enjoys immunity from physical and body
security search, the same cannot be said of the Government
House because no law in the nation’s constitution says the
Government House should be a breeding ground for
insurrection and insurgency where state enemies can
assemble arms to topple a legitimate government and we
suspect Fayose as an accomplice in the arms stockpiling
saga in the Akwa Ibom Government House, otherwise there
is no reason for him to be edgy and agitated in his
response,” he explained.
He berated the governor for trying to whip public sentiment
against Dss
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/no-immunity-for-govt-houses-apc-reminds-fayose/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday said that the anti-
corruption campaign of his administration is a fight for the
soul and substance of the nation.
The President stated that corruption is so endemic in the
country that it constituted a parallel system, noting that it
was the reason for poor policy choices, waste and bare-
faced theft of public resources.
Buhari said this in his goodwill message to the Conference
of Catholic Bishops of Nigeria in Port Harcourt.
The President who was represented by Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo said graft had been cited as the main reason for
the prevalence of poverty in the midst of plenty and waste of
resources in the country, according to a statement by the
Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Vice
President, Laolu Akande.
Buhari said, “Corruption in our country is so endemic that it
constitutes a parallel system. It is the primary reason for
poor policy choices, waste and of course bare- faced theft of
public resources.
“Our fight against corruption is not just a moral battle for
virtue and righteousness in our land, it is a fight for the soul
and substance of our nation.”
Giving an insight into the way corruption destroys the
nation, the President told the Second Plenary of the
Conference that “it is the main reason why a potentially
prosperous country struggles to feed itself and provide jobs
for millions.”
Buhari attributed infant and maternal mortality, and deaths
from preventable diseases to the greed and corruption of a
few.
http://www.punchng.com/news/anti-corruption-campaign-is-battle-for-nigerias-soul-buhari/

The Nigeria Police Force said on Friday that a former
Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, and an Assistant
Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, is still in
service since his redeployment to Plateau State.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, stated
this following the claim by some activists that Mbu’s
quietness betrayed his controversial bearing, wondering if
he was still in the Force.
She said in a text message on the inquiry, ‘‘He is still with
the Force; posted to the Police Staff College, Jos, Plateau
State, as Commandant.’’
A popular legal practitioner, Mr. Jiti Ogunye, had noted that
it was unlike the police officer to keep away from the
limelight.
He said, ‘‘One is tempted to conclude that Mbu has left the
Force because of his penchant for unguarded public
utterances. It is not like him to keep quiet for so long. He is
known to speak even more than the spokesperson of the
Force. This made us to wonder if he is still in service.’’
Besides, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association,
Ikeja branch, Mr. Monday Ubani, said the change of
leadership in the country could be responsible for the quiet
nature of Mbu.
He added, ‘‘The police officer is very intelligent and
independent-minded. I discovered this when I interacted
with him. He is well loved by his junior officers because he
cares about their welfare.’’
Mbu was at loggerheads with the then governor of Rivers
State, Rotimi Amaechi, when he was serving as the CP in
the state.
Upon his redeployment to the Federal Capital Territory as
CP in 2014, Mbu described himself as the lion who tamed
‘the leopard of Port Harcourt’ apparently referring to
Amaechi.
While serving as CP in the FCT, he banned the
#BringBackOurGirls group from holding street protests but
the then IG, Mohammed Abubakar, later overruled the
directive.
While he was redeployed to Lagos to oversee the 2015
general elections, he threatened to kill 10 persons for every
policeman killed in the line of duty.

http://www.punchng.com/news/mbu-still-in-service-police/

ABUJA – The Federal Government has appointed General
Theophilus Danjuma, retd, as the Chairman of its
interventions programme aimed to assuage the effect of
poverty, deprivations and death inflicted on the people of the
North East by the notorious Islamic sect, Boko Haram.
The
Vice
President, Yemi Osinbajo, who disclosed this yesterday at
the summit organized by Northern Reawakening Forum,
NRF, in Abuja, said that streamlining all the intervention
efforts in this way will help to ensure immediate delivery of
succours to many of the problems that currently afflict the
north east.
He noted that the Federal Government has both short and
long term strategies for immediately alleviation of hardship
as well as long term plans to build infrastructure that most
affect the economic lives of the most vulnerable citizens of
Nigeria.
According to him, “Now all of the Federal Government
initiatives are now under the chairmanship of General T.Y.
Danjuma. We hope that streamlining the efforts in this way
will help to ensure immediate delivery of succours to many
of the problems that currently afflict the north east.
“We are aware that interventions are not institutions. We
have a plan of short term strategy for immediately
alleviation of hardship as well as long term plans to build
infrastructure that most affect the economic lives of the
most vulnerable citizens of our nation. But most
importantly, we will make the interventions work” he
promised.
The Vice President said further that the government is
committed to action and all the issues that affect Nigerians
in any part of the country.
He said “A close detailed analysis has been drawn for the
north east in collaboration with the affected states and
some development organizations. We have been working
and streamlining, in particular, government interventions
through the presidential initiatives in the north east victims
support group and all other initiatives” he said,
While regretting the squalid lifestyle of the people of the
north which he attributed to the mismanagement of the
resources of the government, Osibanjo said that Nigeria is a
nation of 170 million people, the sixth largest producer of oil
with over 100 varieties of solid minerals and precious
metals ; 100s of thousands of acres of arable land; the
largest economy in Africa, yet desperately poor.
For him, over 110 million are extremely poor. Maternal
mortality exceeding over 55,000 women a year and 10.4
million children out of school. A nation where, despite the
huge human and material resources, a tiny minority has
over the years stolen and squandered the common wealth.
“The 19 northern states of Nigeria, human development
indices are by far poorer than the rest of the country. The
northern states occupy 70 per cent of the landmass of the
country. They have the highest infant mortality rate, the
lowest rate of child enrolment in school, highest number of
unemployed people and of course face the challenge of
interreligious conflicts including Boko Haram terrorism.
The National Bureau of Statistics 2015 figure shows that the
poorest 10 states in Nigeria are in the north with the
exception of Ebonyi State. The northern Nigerian economic
summit in Abuja 2012, was one of the first fora to draw the
attention to some of the depressing statistics.
In his opening address, the Chairman of the Northern
Reawakening Forum, Hon. Mohammed Umara Kumalla
regretted the high scale poverty raving the Northern Nigeria,
especially the North East and the North West.
Attributing the ugly trend to scope of illiteracy in the affected
areas. Kumalla called for urgent private capital investment
in education sector in the north.
According to him.”Entrepreneurs, businessmen and other
well to do northerners must show example by investing in
education.”


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/fg-appoints-ty-danjuma-to-head-interventions-programme-for-boko-haram-victims/

just trying to hold back my tears. Buhari has been the hope of the common man and will continue to be the hope of the common man. however cheers to the Nigerian army. long live the Nigerian army and long live the federal republic of Nigeria.

THE Communities Development Committee,
CDC, of Oil and Gas Producing Communities
in Niger –Delta, has reprimanded members of
the dissolved board of the Niger-Delta
Development Commission, NDDC, for
dragging President Muhammadu Buhari to
court over the dissolution of the board.
Chairman, Board of Trustees, BOT, of the
CDCs, Prince Maikpobi Okareme, in a
statement, said, “We (oil producing
communities) are totally in support of
President Muhammadu Buhari and frown
seriously at the dissolved board members’
court action.”
He, however, advised: “Mr. President should
consult with all relevant stakeholders while
constituting the new board to reflect wishes
of the oil producing communities who are
custodians of the oil environment because
he who wears the shoes knows where it
pinches the most.”
Okareme recalled that in a communique, July
2, the CDC drew the attention of President
Buhari to the unfair appointment of board
members without compliance with the law,
especially the appointment of the former
NDDC board chair, who is not from an oil
producing community.
He said it was such anomaly and other
inconsistencies that made the CDC to call for
the dissolution of the commission’s board
and suggested that the new board should
reflect the needs of the oil producing
communities, as enshrined in the NDDC law.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/suit-against-buhari-oil-communities-berate-sacked-nddc-board-members/

ABUJA — The ongoing probe of the power sector from 1999 till date by the Senate ad hoc committee was characterized by drama and confusion yesterday, as the proceeding was disrupted by power failure eight times.
Yesterday’s proceeding started at about 11:30a.m. and ended abruptly at 4p.m. due to about 15 minutes of power failure at intervals, for eight different times, from 2p.m. when the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, was making a submission on behalf of the various electricity companies.

[img]http://cdn1.vanguardngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/412x250xJonathan-Yardadua-Obasanjo.jpg.pagespeed.ic.ttOsJXWoOm.webp[/img]
Jonathan, Yardadua and Obasanjo

The situation forced operators from the power sector to make use of their phone light and video camera light to make presentation before the committee.

Despite the situation, the lawmakers continued with the proceedings without microphones and other electrical appliances needed. The cameramen, on their part, had to use their camera lights to capture the meeting.

Following the power outage, the committee had no choice but to resort to the use of rechargeable lamps and camera lights
Chairman of the Committee, Abubakar Kyari (APC, Borno North) also had a dose of the power failure as he was interrupted while commenting on issues raised by some of the stakeholders.

‘It’s sabotage’

Moved by the development, Senator Kyari, after the session, told journalists that the committee would investigate what led to the power outages during the session, alleging that it was sabotage aimed at frustrating the committee.

He vowed that the public hearing proper on the sector would hold in due course, adding “the power outages experienced here today (yesterday) further underscores the relevance of this committee at this critical time, but we shall investigate whether or not they are deliberate.”
Other stakeholders of the power sector, who were caught in the power outage, while making presentations, were the Director-General of Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, Benjamin Ezreal Dikki; Chairman of National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Sam Amadi and some of the Managing Directors of electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs.

Investors state challenges

Earlier, investors in the sector in their various submissions lamented that they were running it at great losses on monthly basis due to myriad of factors.

In his presentation, the Managing Director of Enugu Distribution Company, Mr. Robert Dickerman, who spoke on behalf of all DISCOs, disclosed that the entire industry was being run at a deficit of N20 billion per month, which he argued was attributable to the fact that over 50 percent of electricity consumers were not metered and about 30 percent were not even on the billing system of the service providers.
He also alleged that the N100 billion subsidy injection into the sector promised by the Federal Government was not fulfilled.

The CEO, Ibadan Electricity Generating Company, Adeoye Fagbembi, who spoke on behalf of the six GENCOs, said transmission loss between them and the electricity distributors have been a big issue.

The BPE Director- General, Benjamin Dikki, in his submission, said the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has paid N5 billion of the N100 billion promised by the government, just as he admitted that the sector was presently being run at a loss by the investors, adding that the losses at initial stages were envisaged as embedded in the performance agreement reached with the investors.

50% of Nigerians don’t use meter


In his own presentation, Chairman of NERC, Dr. Amadi, who refuted allegations that the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, will soon be privatized by the Federal Government, revealed that over 50 percent of Nigerians do not have meters, thereby reducing revenue generation potentials of distribution company.

Amadi noted that lack of meters, which was a major problem, had left many Nigerians saddened, saying that one megawatt of power cost as much as $1 million.

… on power distribution

He said: “We are working hard so that none of the discos fail. Consumers are very angry about lack of meter. Only less than 50 percent of Nigerians have meters. It is one of the major problems. In the past decade, we did not invest in metering.

“A moderator brought the idea of paying for meter since customers cannot wait for too long; the customers can pay for their own meter but when the new owners came, they had to take some time to understand the way it goes.”

He agreed that metering is the major problem in the power sector because it is more expensive although it will help the country save revenue.
According to him, “each time we hit 4500 megawatts, people always say that the electricity has improved and there is always a level of comfort. We also want to put more pressure on the distribution companies and they want to see Mgbede generation.

“What has delayed many of these companies till now is because the licences could not get financed.
“In the next 20 years we will be able to have about 2000 megawatts.”

He concluded by saying that the power sector was getting better as there is need for improvement in capital investment, which should come from the private sectors.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/drama-as-power-failure-disrupts-senate-probe-on-power/#sthash.89Bz0o4l.dpuf

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Kaduna – The Group Manading Director of the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Emmanuel Ibe-
Kachikwu, on Wednesday in Kaduna said the Federal
Government would consider establishing new refineries for
optimal performance of the oil sector.
Kachikwu stated this, while addressing Energy
Correspondents shortly after he was conducted round the
Kaduna Refining Petrochemical Company (KRPC) in Kaduna.
The GMD said the NNPC was working to get the refineries
across the country to work to their optimal production with
“new business modules, new commercial modules and new
approach on how we can get to where we should be.
“What is obtainable is that most of our refineries are close
to 30 to 40 years old; we need to begin to look at building
new refineries in the same land space where they can share
facilities so that you will have something to lean on when
these old ones are beginning to kick out.
“Obviously, we need new modules because with this
modules it won’t get us very rapidly. Three out of the six
units of the plants were down.
“Some of them for a very long period. We need to sit down
and see what modules, how do you turn around the new
refinery. How do you work on emergency basis components
of the ones that is there.
“Kaduna has a very unique place in my heart like I said
because I grew up in Kano and I used to come here often.
“It is so key for the survival of the economy of Kaduna State
and the rest of the North and we really need to focus on
getting this things work and getting it to expand.
“Without them we are not going to get out of problems of
fuel supply, power supply and all that. So we are going to
have a whole commercial structure,a whole engineering
structure; a lot needs to be done different from models we
are pursuing right now “.
According to him, “what really is the truth about refineries is
that a lot needs to be done in terms of applying different
model of development. So we are going to be working to
clarify those solutions”.
He said the NNPC management was committed to ensure
that within the next 90 days time frame some elements of
the KRPC plant would work the way they would be expected.
“But never will we get it to where I will love it to be. So
simultaneous reserve will enhance process to see the rest of
the units getting to some level of maintenance and repairs.
“ On security of the pipelines, we are doing quite a lot.
“Aas you are aware that we are working with the security
forces to enhance the Warri to Kaduna points and they have
been tested now for integrity and I think by my
understanding for the last testing is that is fairly okay now
to take control if the FCC units are working.
“So on a short term basis, we have been able to deal with
that medium term basis; we are going to work with the
security agencies to ensure that the sort of destruction you
find on pipelines not just from Warri to Kaduna, but the
whole country, becomes a thing of the past.
“We working on a very enhanced, very robust, very
accelerated programme with the security forces to deal with
that.
“We are trying everything that we can to it and we are
sending a body language that the business of messing
around with the pipelines is over and I think the message is
going round as laud as ever.“
On the issue of crude oil swap deals, the NNPC boss said
that the essence of the swap cancellation was that the
company was saving over 200 million dollars by virtue of
doing that.
“You have transparency in the deal per month and you have
transparency that embedded in those processes.“
Kachikwu said that sufficiency and issue of efficiency had
nothing to do with canceling or non canceling crude swaps.
“You less discretion by whoever is making decision in terms
of allocation. We can leave trading and focus on what is
more important in the oil industry. I can assure you that
there are structures put in place.
“You will get product the way you need it. We are working
on that. Even though we have canceled swap, you are going
to have replacement swap contract lined along very efficient
and very transparent processes that will save us lot of
money.
“The refineries are not working to global best practice right
now; they are all down, so what are we talking about global
practices. We are dealing with major situation where
pipelines have perpetually tools for destruction.“(NAN)
SSA/IA

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/fg-to-build-new-refineries-for-optimal-performance-of-oil-sector-nnpc-boss/

Ahmed4002:


Aha mallam. Godiya muke dan yar bawa

ko a kara maku ne?

@ Op u have forgotten others like

I. labarin zuciya a tanbayi fuska

ii. komin Nisan jifa kasa zai sauko

iii. kwadayi mabudin wahala
iv.

Maiduguri – The Nigerian Army on Wednesday released 128
detainees after certifying that they had no link with the Boko
Haram terrorists group in Borno.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai
handed over the detainees to Gov. Kashim Shettima at a
ceremony in Maiduguri.
He said that the detainees included 109 men, seven women,
11 boys and one unattached teenager.

He said that they were arrested at different parts of the
state by the military in its anti-terrorism campaign.
Buratai said that after thorough screening by a team of
military intelligence officers, the police and the Department
of State Security Service (DSS), the suspects were found to
be clean and were released.

“The task of Operation Lafiya Dole can be seen in three
terms – to defeat the insurgents, to facilitate humanitarian
activities and observe human right and restore the
administrative functions in the liberated area.

“We are here to formally hand over those arrested in the
process of our operations; we are pleased to hand over the
128 suspects that have been cleared by the joint intelligent
core, which comprised the Army, the police and DSS,” he
said.

The COAS said that the action was an indication that the
military was made up of highly trained officers, who believed
in observing human right.

“This is clear manifestation that the army is clearly
professional,” Buratai declared and expressed optimism that
the Boko Haram terrorism would soon come to an end.
“We will continue to emphasis that this terrorism will soon
come to an end.
“We have been supported by President Muhammadu Buhari;
we are getting more equipment and we are getting more of
our troops redeployed to the operation,” he said.
He commended the Borno government for its support for the
military in the anti-terrorism war.

The military had, earlier on July 6, freed 182 suspects, after
a team of investigators cleared them of involvement with
the group. (NAN).

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/boko-haram-military-frees-128-detainees-in-borno/

The Nigerian Immigration Service has directed former
Nigerian public office holders to immediately surrender
official and diplomatic passports issued to them while they
were in office.

The action, officials say, is based on the directive of
President Muhammadu Buhari.
The categories of officials affected by the directive are
former governors, former ministers, former senators,
former members of the House of Representatives, and
former members of state Houses of Assembly.

Others are former commissioners, for special advisers/
special assistants, former chairmen/deputy chairmen of
local government areas, all retired heads of parastatals and
retired public servants.

“These categories of persons are hereby informed that
these passports which were previously held by them have
been revoked and should return them to the Nigeria
Immigration Service Headquarters Sauka Abuja with
immediate effect,” the Comptroller-General of the
Immigration Service, Martin Abeshi, said in a statement
Monday.

“Failure to comply with this directive will amount to an
offence under the Immigration Act 2015. Such unauthorized
possession will be impounded at our control posts on arrival
or departure.”

The Federal Government had on August 24 directed the
Immigration Service to retrieve all valid diplomatic and
official passports from all persons not entitled to hold such
documents.

“The attention of the Federal Government has been drawn to
the fact that some Nigerians who are not entitled to hold
diplomatic and official passports are in possession of these
documents,” a statement by Yusuf Isiaka,the Director of
Press, Federal Ministry of Interior, said at the time.
According to the statement, the measure was intended to
protect and promote Nigeria’s integrity in the comity of
nations in addition to ensuring law and order.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/buhari-withdraws-diplomatic-passports-of-ex-govs-ministers-others/

IN seizing power from General Gowon(80),the then Military
ruler, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed (1938-76) told the
nation on July 30 1975 that: “this Government will not
tolerate indiscipline. The Government will not condone
abuse of office”. He kept his word.

He retired over ten thousand public servants including top
military officers. He set up a committee that reviewed the
performances of all public officers. At the end of the
exercise, only two Ministers were found not guilty, Alhaji
Shehu Shagari(90) and Shettima Alli Mongunnu(89).
At that time Nigeria had twelve states governors: Benue-
Plateau, Chief Superintendent of Police Joseph Gomwalk,
East Central-Ukpabi Asika, Kano-Deputy Police
Commissioner Audu Bako, Kwara-Brigadier David
Bamigboye, Lagos-Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson, Mid-West-
Brigadier Samuel Ogbemudia, North Central- Brigadier Abba
Kyari, North-East Brigadier Musa Usman (Air Force), North-
West Police Superintendent Usman Faruk, Rivers-
Lieutenant Alfred Diete-Spiff(Navy), South-East- Brigadier
Uduokaha Jacob Esuene (Air Force) and West- Brigadier
Christopher Oluwole Rotimi.

Only two of the Governors, Brigadiers Oluwole Rotimi and
Mobolaji Johnson were cleared of corruption. Quite a
number of public servants, Ministers and Governors had
their assets seized. No one was prosecuted for corruption.
In taking over power from President Shehu Shagari, the then
Major General Muhammadu Buhari told the nation on
January 1, 1984 that: “the change became necessary in
order to put an end to the serious economic predicament
and the crisis of confidence now afflicting our nation”. He
said: “the situation could have been saved if the legislators
were alive to their constitutional responsibilities. Instead, the
legislators were pre-occupied with determining their salary
scales, fringe benefits and unnecessary foreign travels, et
cetera, which took no account of the state of the economy
and the welfare of the people they represented”.

To mark his one hundred days in office on April 7, 1984, the
then Major General Muhammadu Buhari further told the
nation that: “we took over from the defunct civilian
Administration at the Federal and State levels a financial
situation of vast indebtedness. In fact, the depth and
seriousness of the financial predicament of the State
Governments and, by implication, of the nation has become
clearer and clearer, day by day. The Federal Government
had to assist State Governments recently with a sum of over
N 600 million as loan to enable them pay all arrears of
wages and salaries before the end of April 1984”.

At that time he was 42 and still vibrant, resounding and
resonant. As a military officer with regimental discipline he
turned to decrees to administer the nation.
They are (1.) The Constitution and modification decree 1 of
1984, which he signed into law on February 9 1984 (2.) The
state security detention of persons decree of 1984, which he
signed into law on February 9 1984, (3.) the Federal Military
Government Supremacy and Enforcement of Power of 1984
which is known as decree 13, which he signed into law on
May 13, 1984,(4) the Exchange Control (anti-sabotage)
decree 1984 otherwise known as decree 7 which he signed
into law on April 5 1984, (5) the counterfeit currency special
provision decree 1984 otherwise known as decree 22 which
signed into law on May 17, 1984,(6) the Public officers
Protection against false accusations decree 1984 which he
signed on April 17 1984, (7)the robbery and fire arms
special provision decree 1984 which set up special tribunal
for the trial of armed robbery and special cases, ( Political
Parties (Dissolution and Prohibition) Decree, 1984: this
Decree provides for the dissolution and Prohibition of
political parties and other similar organisation and forfeiture,
disposal and discharge of the assets and liabilities of the
dissolved political parties and state Creation movements
and (9) the Banking (Freezing of Accounts) Decree, 1984:
which empowers the Head of the Federal Military
Government, where he suspects or believes that any person
has been involved in certain offences, including bribery and
abuse of office, to issue or cause orders to be issued
authorising an investigation into the accounts of such
persons and restricting the operation of such accounts on
such conditions as may be prescribed in the order.
He also set-up the recovery of public special Military
tribunals amended decree 8 of 1984 which he signed into
law on April 5 1984.

In setting up the decree 8, he created in addition, tribunals in
five zones of the country. The Enugu zone made up of
Anambra, Imo, Cross Rivers and Rivers states was headed
by Air Commodore M. Muhammed. Other members include
Lt. Col. V.L. Malu, Navy Captain T.U. Odibo, Wing-
Commander R.B. Suara and Mr. Justice A. Idoko.
For the Jos zone which comprised Plateau, Bauchi,
Gongola, Benue and Borno states. Brigadier Peter
Ademokhai was named as the Chairman. Other members of
the tribunal include Lt. Col. I.O. Adebunmi, Navy Captain
Jubrin O. Ayinla, Wing- Commander S.O. Cole and Mr.
Justice J.D. Ogundere.

For the Kaduna zone made up of Kaduna, Kano,Niger,
Sokoto states and the Federal Capital Territory. Navy
Captain M.A. Elegbede was named as the chairman. Other
members were Lt-Col. I.D. Gumel, Lt.-Colonel M. Maina,
Wing Commander J.P. Obakpolor and Mr. Justice P.K.
Nwokedi.
For the Ibadan zone made up of Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Bendel
and Kwara states, Brigadier C.B. Ndiomu was named as the
Chairman. Other members are Commodore I.J. Ogohi, Lt.-
Colonel Yohanna Madaki, Wing-Commanders C.C.
Ohadumere and Mr. Justice S.U. Minjibir.
As for the Lagos zone made up of Lagos state, Brigadier
P.U. Omu was named chairman. Other members are
Brigadier M.M. Nassarawa, Navy Captain J.N. Kanu, Lt.-
Colonel Yinka Martins and Mr. Justice T.A. Oyeyipo.

Major General Buhari at that time was young, vibrant and
patriotically adventurous. On August 7 1985, he was toppled
at 6.00 a.m. via an announcement by the then Commander
of the Armoured Corps of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier
Joshua Dongoyaro.
On that day Major General Ibrahim Babangida took over as
the head of state.
Major General Buhari was detained for three years
thereafter.
He was first detained in a government house at Alagbaka in
Akure, where he became my neighbour before he was
eventually transferred to Benin City.

On November 24, 1993, General Babangida signed the
forfeiture of assets (release of forfeited assets decree 24)
and returned some of the forfeited properties to former
governors under General Gowon including Faruk and his
wife, Brigadiers Samuel Ogbemudia, David Bamigboye,
Alfred Diete-spiff and Chief Edwin Clarke who served as
Gowon’s Minister of information. The Decree rubbished the
anti-corruption crusade of General Murtala Muhammed.
In taking over on May 29 1999 from General Abdusalam
Abubakar, President Olusegun Obasanjo set up three panels
to probe the administration of General Abdusalam. The
three panels were headed by Dr. Christopher Kolade,
Brigadier (rtd.) Oluwole Rotimi and Alhaji Igudu Inua. No one
has so far been prosecuted. But it was understood that the
Kolade’s panel recovered some money to the coffers of the
Central Government.
Now President Muhammadu Buhari is back in power. Fully
experienced and fully cautious. At seventy-two, having
passed through many ordeals he is now more scrupulous
and punctilious. In the last few weeks the country has been
treated with stories of massive looting by the Goodluck
Jonathan’s government.

It appears it is the misfortune of President Muhammadu
Buhari to head a corrective regime instead of a regime of
continuity. Things have to be so bad that he has to step in to
remedy a worse situation. That is the cross he has to carry.
To his credit, and in the words of President Barak Obama,
“he is a man of integrity”- a befitting testimonial that is very
rare among leaders of today’s world.

No more decrees to govern this time. No more Supreme
Military Council to guide him. He has to rely on his
conscience and his God. The constitution has bestowed on
him the sole authority to shape our lives about 180million of
us-all blacks. In the immediate he has to reconstruct his
government and recover the loot from the officials of the
previous government.
If he recovers the lot without prosecution, he is bound to
lose a lot of goodwill. If he prosecutes few, he will be judged
selective. Even if he prosecutes at all, he should be prepared
to face the consequences for corruption has a way of
fighting back. President Buhari has a big burden on his
shoulder to carry.

With eminent and close friends like Major General
Mohammed Magoro(rtd.), Major General General Paul Tarfa
(rtd), Alhaji Mamman Daura, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, Lt.General
(rtd.) Alani Ipoola Akinrinade, Alhaji Gidado Idris ,the only
SGF who served two Heads of States,Alhaji Hayatudeen,
Pastor Tunde Bakare, Prince Tony Momoh, Alhaji Sule
Lamido Sanusi,the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ismaila Issa Funtua,
his inlaw, General T.Y. Danjuma(rtd.), former Inspector
General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie-his classmate,
Alhaji Babagana Kingibe,former SGF, Dr. (Mrs) Mallia
Zayyad, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Hakeem
Baba Ahmed, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and others around him,
I am sure President Muhammadu Buhari will never walk
alone.
ERIC TENIOLA, A FORMER DIRECTOR AT THE PRESIDENCY,
STAYS IN LAGOS.
Mr. Eric Teniola, a former director at the presidency, wrote
from Lagos.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/buhari-after-100-daysb/

The mobile market in recent time has witnessed an influx of
various phone brands, but neither of the high-tech
companies has reached their goals in the Nigerian
marketplace. However, Infinix Mobility has marked its entry
with a significant turning point in the telecommunication
ecosystem. Recently, in collaboration with Google, Infinix
Mobility launched Infinix Hot 2 as the first official Android
One product with lollipop 5.1 in Africa.

In its three years, Infinix Mobility has built a strong
reputation in the Nigerian market and globally from the
Middle East, Europe and South East Asia regions.
Technology and innovation at fingertips
By April, a technology storm hit Nigeria; African market is a
special market—facing energy issues, Bruno Li, Country
Manager for Nigeria, stated, “As a High-tech company, it is
our duty to deliver product that brings concrete solutions to
the market.” Infinix Hot note a 2 days battery life
smartphone and super fast charging technology (30 min
charge 7 hours use) was released by the manufacturer.
June 2015, the honourable successor of Infinix Zero series,
Zero 2 delivered high specs and premium design, first of its
kind on the continent. With its 5 inches HD Super Amoled
and an ultra efficient 13 MP camera, Zero 2 brings to Africa
bright and sharp vision of the High tech industry. Talking
about design, the device weighs only 118g.

The biggest surprise is the unique material selected by
Infinix R&. In fact Zero 2 comes with a Kevlar battery back
cover that is used in aeronautic equipments, safety and
military industry. Kevlar is highly resistive against shock and
five times lighter than steel.

This time, Infinix decided to launch the device in the most
prestigious university of Nigeria, Unilag University. Bruno Li,
Infinix Nigeria Country Manager said “Being closer to our
fans and end-users is what makes us understanding the
market. We like to interact with our users either online or
offline. “

Infinix Mobility partnered with Google, Jumia and MTN,
three pillars of the High-tech ecosystem. Infinix launched
Infinix HOT 2, the 1st official Android One product with
lollipop 5.1 in Africa. Moreover the device comes with a
2GB RAM which will be a standard for the market. The
operating system will be getting an update to the latest
Android version up to two years. With the Hot 2, the largest
African operator MTN is offering 1GB data for 500 Naira to
fit consumers need in data connection. Finally HOT 2 has
break new records with 30 000 units sold online in seconds.
A brand built by industry people:

The device is a brand built by people who understand the
industry. Thus Infinix Mobility has set a benchmark and
here is how. Infinix Mobility is a Hong Kong based company
Headquartered in Shanghai for its research and
development (R&) center, and Paris as design center.
While Shenzhen the electronic hub of the world is Infinix
production center. To have a better understanding of Infinix
Mobility there is no doubt that its success definitely comes
from experienced executives of the industry.

Benjamin Jiang, CEO of Infinix Mobile, is an art bachelor
graduate of Hefei Technology. He may answers questions
around why Infinix smartphones designs are so trendy,
catchy and unique (i.e. Infinix zero 2 made of Kevlar). In
2003, Jiang joined the Bird Company Limited, pioneer
Chinese mobile phone company, as Head of Project
Management.

The following year, the company was listed in Shanghai
Stock Exchange later the company received a government
subsidy of 14 million Yuan. By 2007, he joined Longcheer
Holdings, a leading Chinese mobile handset design house
as General Manager of International Business Unit. Since
2012 Jiang has been the CEO of Infinix Mobility.
Online smartphone and emerging markets:

Finding the right partners at the right time and place is also
part of the smartphone success story. When Infinix
launched the Infinix Zero last year, it made Infinix Zero the
leader and best selling online smartphone in Africa.
Nigerian consumers loved the phone and bought 150,000
units. The phone made with gorilla glass and sporting an
octa-core processor from Mediatek, a High Definition, HD
screen and a 13 Mega Pixel camera with flash LED. The
device brought innovation to the Nigerian market. The
success in Nigeria was later extended to East-Africa, Middle
East and South East Asia.

In November 2014, the smartphone manufacturer set
Christmas mood with Infinix HOT. The device seems to
match Nigerians taste of 5.0 inches screen, pocket friendly
and colorful smartphone—yellow, red, white, black and pink
—that reach 100 000 hands. The worldwide German
statistics institute Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung
showed that Infinix HOT raised the bar and surpassed
brands like Samsung and Nokia in Q1 2015.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/how-infinix-mobile-is-changing-africas-smartphone-ecosystem/

Kaduna State Government said on Saturday that the
state had discovered that about N4bn state fund was saved
in 470 accounts in 23 commercial banks.
The government noted that the immediate past Peoples
Democratic Party administration in the state operated these
accounts in different banks over the years with various
names.

According to the state, but for the adoption of the Single
Treasury Account system recently introduced by the
incumbent administration, nobody would have been able to
trace and uncover the accounts and the said money.

The state Deputy Governor, Barnabas Bala, stated this in
Kafanchan in Kaura Local Government of the state at the
Third Town Hall Meeting initiated by the government to
interface with the people of the Southern Kaduna Senatorial
District.

The Governor Nasir el-Rufai- led All Progressives Congress
administration had in August, adopted the STA, directing all
commercial banks keeping the state government fund, to
remit such money to the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Bala, while addressing the people of the zone, said the
system had begun to yield positive.
He said the STA, which had been in operation since
September 1, was aimed at ensuring transparency and
accountability in governance.

“With the system we have been able to trace and discover
the sum of N4bn in different account names in 23 banks.
The STA is to ensure that public funds are traceable and for
the sake of accountability in the state,” he added.

He said despite the autonomy granted to local governments
in the state by the current administration, some councils in
the state were highly indebted.
He maintained that top on list of indebted council was
Kaduna North Local Government with a debt profile of
N3.4bn and Kaduna South with with N994m.
The deputy governor pledged that the state would
domesticate the Freedom of Information Act, which would
enable the people of the state to ask questions on how
“their money are being spent.”

According to him, the executive has sent the document to
the State House Assembly for domestication.
“Government is to domesticate the Freedom of Information
Act, which will enable the people of the state to ask how
their funds or resources are being spent. It has been sent to
the State House of Assembly,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bala said the government was determined to
continue with the recovery of land, encroached on by
unauthorised persons in government-owned schools and
hospitals in the state.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Malam
Uba Sani, urged the people of the zone to be wary of those
he described as detractors, who would stop at nothing to
pull down the government for their selfish gains.


http://www.punchng.com/news/kaduna-uncovers-n4bn-in-470-bank-accounts/

The anti-corruption campaign of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration appears to have taken a bigger bite as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secretly frozen the bank accounts of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s associates, SUNDAY PUNCH has learnt. One of our correspondents learnt that the move by the anti- graft agency was aimed at scuttling the tranfer of the alleged looted funds from the accounts for other reasons. A member of a key transition committee of the All Progressives Congress, who spoke to one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity, on Friday, said the need had become necessary in view of the magnitude of the alleged theft of public resources by the affected persons. The APC chieftain spoke on the heels of the condemnation of President Buhari’s ongoing probe of the last administration of the Peoples Democratic Party and recovery of funds looted by public officials. The affected accounts, SUNDAY PUNCH learnt, belonged to Keketobou Foundation, owned by former Special Adviser to Jonathan on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, and Mieka Divers Limited as well as Global West Vessels Limited reportedly owned by ex-Niger Delta warlord, Mr. Government Ekpompolo, aka Tompolo. Further investigations by our correspondents also showed that one of Jonathan’s close allies, Mr. Kime Engozi’s accounts had also been flagged. Engozi is the contractor handling the N30bn Maritime University contract at Okerenkoko in the Gbaramatu area of Delta State. Besides, funds already approved for the commencement of the university are said to have remained frozen in a Yenagoa branch of the United Bank for Africa Plc. The NIMASA Technical College at Okoloba, also in Delta State, is also said to be facing an uncertain future as there are fears that the institution might be scrapped. Accounts linked to the former Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, are also said to have been frozen by the EFCC. The source, who is now in the Presidency, said although he could not confirm if Jonathan’s recent meeting with Buhari discussed the issue, the action to ‘flag’ the said accounts might have been for security reasons. The source also said the opposition Peoples Democratic Party was ignorant of the workings of the Federal Government, especially on security. The source added, “This is not a matter of lobby or any politics that should be shoved aside; what is at stake is the nation’s security and nothing more. “When the PDP says the current anti-corruption drive is selective, we continue to laugh at them because they do not seem to know what is at stake at all. If only they know, all the noise they have been making won’t be made at all. “How many of these PDP elements know that just one individual benefitted from a single NIMASA transaction to the tune of N13bn, not to talk of about $57m he was said to have benefitted from controversial contract deals? “Are these the things they ask us to sweep under the carpet? Certainly, we cannot because apart from the angle of the impunity and financial recklessness, does it make any sense if any responsible government allows such individuals, who had threatened war in the event that Jonathan did not win to have such huge sums in bank vaults? Such accounts must be flagged, of course.” However, the PDP has asked President Buhari to follow the rule of law in his government’s determination to fight corruption. The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh, in an interview with one of our correspondents on Saturday night, asked the President not to spare anyone, including his friends and members of the ruling APC in the crusade. Metuh said, “We are not against the war against corruption, but what we are saying is that the President must follow the rule of law. “The law says every accused person is innocent until proven otherwise. Then, the President must also look at his party; he shouldn’t spare his friends. “If any of our members is found to be corrupt, let them face the law of the land. But no one should be tagged as being corrupt when the court has not said so.” He also asked the President to fund the anti-corruption agencies adequately, while saying that the agencies should also conduct what he described as “water-tight investigations” before rushing to the court. Repeated calls to the mobile telephone set of the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, were neither picked nor returned. Also he had yet to reply a text message sent to him at 8.52pm, asking for his comments on charges that the APC- led administration was hounding members of the opposition PDP and associates of Jonathan, as of the time of filing this report. Tompolo is not under any investigations by the EFCC, but Kuku has a date to keep with the anti-graft agency in September, having gone for a knee surgery in the United States of America in July, while the former NIMASA boss has been under investigation for over month. However, Akpobolokemi’s interaction with the EFCC has been linked to business deals by him while he held sway at NIMASA and the ex-warlord. SUNDAY PUNCH also learnt that EFCC’s seizure of Akpobolokemi’s international passport and a N38m worth bullet-proof Toyota Landcruiser was already heightening speculations that he might be prosecuted if findings by the investigators indict him. At least three close aides and confidants of the ex-NIMASA boss, including the current Executive Director in charge of Maritime Safety and Shipping Development, Mr. Ezekiel Bala Agaba, have been guests of the EFCC in the last ten days.
http://www.punchng.com/news/probe-jonathans-associates-accounts-frozen/